The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 19.1.4

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.