The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 19.1
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 19.1
- Language
- English
19.1.1
Most Royall Prince, I Cannot but confesse and acknowledge the great Justice you haue done our Nation in the debts and extortions of Zulpheckcarcon, wherof I will speedily aduise my lord the most mighty King of England, that his Maiestie may render your Highnes condigne thanckes and that your fame and renowne may be knowne in all parts. But I cannot but greeue when I consider that your highnes good opinion and grace toward vs is auerted by some misfortune or misinformation, which by many Cercumstances is manifested to mee, Principally in that fauour your highnes hath declared to the Portugall, our enemyes. Butt if your highnes were pleased to regard the differance betweene our proceedings and theires, that wee only desire open trade for all Nations, to the enriching of your highnes kingdomes and the advancing of your Customes, wheras they haue euer sought to keepe in subjection your subiects, suffering none to trafique but them selues and exacting dutyes for licence to passe vpon your seas, contrary to all honor and Justice, calling their King in Europe King of India. In proofe wherof our readines to embrace Peace & their obstinacy in yt is sufficient wittnes; though theyr force is no way terrible to vs, that are so poowrfull in shipping that all Europe is not able to equall his Majestic therin.
19.1.2
And if your highnes suppose that the Portugall hath or would bring eyther more raretyes or more profitt to your port, I dare affirme your highnes hath receiued wrong enformation. First, for curious and rare toyes, we haue better meanes to furnish your highnes then any other, our kingdome abounding with all arts and our shipping trading into all the world, wherby there is nothing vnder the sunne which wee are not able to bring, if we knew your highnes pleasure, what you did most affect; wherof whensoeuer you shall please to giue a writing, you shall haue experience of our readines to doe you seruice. Secondly, for profitt, our kingdome is Naturally the most fructfull in Europe and the most abundant in all sorts of armes, cloth, and whatsoeuer is necessary for mans vse; besides which, your Highnes I suppose knowes not wee yeerly bring into your Port in ready mony 50,000 Rialls of Eight, for which wee only carry away Callicoes and Indicoes, to the enriching of your highnes kingdomes with siluer.
19.1.3
And that your highnes may better perceiue what profitt doth arise by our trade at Suratt, and that hereafter we may not bee vexed by officers at the Alfandica, wherby we shalbe enforced to trouble your highnes with daylie Complaynts, wee are desierous to rent our Customes of your highnes, both in and out, and will yearly pay your highnes at one payment 12,000 Rupies for our sayd Customes, So that your highnes wilbe pleased to dischardge vs of all other duties and troubles; which I suppose is a farr greater summe then euer your officers made you any account. And in all mattres wherin your Highnes shall Command, you shall fynd our Nation most ready to obey you, and myselfe in particular will not omitt all occasion to doe you seruice, wherin I doubt not I could some wayes giue your highnes content, if I had oportunitye to speake with you. Your Highnes Noble Nature will excuse my bouldnes, and that I wayte not on you myselfe, for that for want of language I could not so well expresse my desires, as by writing. The great Creator of Heauen and earth blesse you and multiply on your head all felicitye and Honor. To doe you seruice, Tho. Roe the English Ambassador. At night I went to the Durbarr to visitt the king. So soone as I came in hee sent Asaph chan to mee: that hee heard I had in my house an excellent Paynter, and desiered hee might see some of his worke.
19.1.4
I replyed, according to truth, that ther was none but a young man, a Merchant, that for his exercise did with a pen draw some figures, but very meanly, far from the Arte of painting. The king replyed that I should not feare that hee would take any man from mee by force: that hee would neyther doe me Injurie nor suffer any other; and prayed that hee might see that man and his woorke, whatsoeuer it was. I replied I had no such doubte of his Maiestie, and for his satisfaction I would bring him to the Guzellchan with such toyes as hee had, which perhaps was an Eliphant, or a deare, or such like in paper. At this answere the king bowed himselfe; and returnd that if I desiered an Eliphant or the figure or any other thing in his Cuntrie, I should not buy it nor seeke any other way but to him: that whatsoeuer I had a minde too, hee would giue mee: and that I should freely speake to him, for he was my frend. I made a reuerence and answered that I humblie thancked his Maiestie: Eliphantes were of no use to mee, neyther was it the Custome of my Nation, especially of my place, to aske anything: if his Maiestie gaue mee but the woorth of a rupy I would receiue it and esteeme it as a marke of his fauour.
19.1.5
He replyed that hee knewe not what I desiered: that ther were some things in his Countrie rare in myne, and that I should not make daynty to speake to him, for hee would giue mee such things as should bee most wellcome: and that I should bee Cherfull, for that hee was a frend to our Nation and to mee, and would protect vs from any Injurye; but desiered that I would that night come to the Guzellchan with the youth that Paynted and his Picktures. So Asaph chan wishd me to send home to fetch him to his house, whither if I would goe and stay with him vntill the king Came abroad I should bee veary wellcome, which I promised. I neuer receiued so much grace and fauour from the King as at this tyme, which all men tooke notice off, and accordingly altered their fashions toward mee. Especially it hapned well that the Iesuite was made interpreter of all this by the kings appoyntment. When the king rose, I went to Asaph Chans house (hauing sent for Master Hewes, the supposed Paynter), Asaph chan beeing gone somwhat before. I found him satt on a poore Tarras in the ayre on a sheete with other great men. His Porters stayed mee at the doore at my entrance; so that as soone as I came to him I said I was come according to his request and did often desire to visitt him, but his seruants stopped me as if I were a sutor: I entreated him to reforme it, for that it was a discurtesye to one of my place.
19.1.6
He Called his steward and Master Porter, and Commanded them that if I came my selfe no man should presume to stay mee but lett me passe into him, and that all my seruants at all tymes should bee brought into a roome to sitt downe and that his house should euer bee free for them. So I satt, and for Complement acknowledged the fauour the king had done mee so publiquely to proceed from good reports made by him of me and our Nation, which wee would with all due respect endeauour to requite. He replied he was euer my frend in his particular, but that the kings good opinion and fauour to mee proceeded from his owne good disposition. I answered: seeing he was so modest not to take it vpon him and so refuse the thanckes, yet I desiered him that hee would vse this oportunitye and season of his Maiesties gratiousnes to mooue at night the sealing of our Priuiledges, for that our shipes were ready to arriue, and if they found no alteration they would land no goodes, and I should bee reputed very Negligent in my dutie, to my vtter disgrace and ruine in my Masters fauour, who would not lay the fault on any other nor beeleue any excuse, having receiued such assurance of loue from the Great Mogull by his last lettres; and that I had a Pickture of a frend of myne that I esteemed very much, and was for Curiositye rare, which I would giue his Maiestie as a present, seeing hee so much affected that art; assuring myselfe he neuer saw any equall to it, neyther was any thing more esteemed of mee.
19.1.7
He answered it was not good to Moue yt publiquely, it might bring forth opposition and dispute: but that I should relye on him: hee would see them sealed speedely: that the kings consent was already passd by referrence to him: but for the Picture he desird I would send for yt presently, that hee might see it, and present it to the king (so nothing in this kynd once named is lett slipd, and I was engaged to my guift). I sent for yt and astonishd him, hee seeming to take extreame content, eauen to admiration; assuring mee it would bee the most welcome guift I euer presented. Suddenly hee rose (the king beeing come out) and desiered me to staye there: that hee would goe to the king and send for mee, leauing mee musique and Company. Within halfe an hower two of the kings seruants came for mee; and after some speech with Master Hewes, wherin hee was Satisfied, Asaph chan asked mee for my little Picture and presented it to the King. He tooke extreame Content, showeing it to euerie man neare him; at last sent for his Cheefe Paynter, demanding his opinion. The foole answered he could make as good. Wherat the king turned to mee, saying: my man sayth he can do the like and as well as this: what say yow? I replyed: I knew the Contrarie. But if hee doe, said he, what will you say? I answered: I would giue 10,000 rupies for such a Coppy of his hand, for I knowe non in Europe but the same master can performe it.
19.1.8
Nay, said the king, I will call 4 Paynters, my Cheefe woorke men, and what will you giue mee if they make one so like, that you shall not knowe your owne? I replyed: I had nothing of valewe to giue his Maiestie, but at the arriuall of the shipes I would giue the best rarety I could procure. He answered: that was long: but what wager would I lay in the meantyme? I replyed: I knew not what to offer in wager to so great a Prince, nor became it me to name it; but if his Maiestie were pleasd I would lay any in my Power to pay. Why, said hee, if yow will not lay with mee, lay with the Paynter. I answered: no. Sir, as I am vnfitt with your Maiestie, so your Paynter is no equall match for mee: but I will wager with Asaph chan or Abdalazan or any of your lordes. So he Commanded Asaph chan, who offered 5,000 rupies, I replyed I was Content, but mony was no honourable bett, especially among frendes: but I would lay a good horse. Soe the match was agreed on; but Asaph chan recanted in Priuat.