The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 19.3
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 19.3
- Language
- English
19.3.1
August 1. — Master Fettiplace went to Zulpheckcarcon for his Scrito for our mony according to agreement; but hee refused to seale it, vnder pretence that hee would first Collect the mony from diuers that had parte of the goodes, and for his owne hee gaue a bill to receiue 3,500 mamoodies of Abram chan; but would not tye himselfe to answer other mens debts. August 2. — I wrote to Asaph chan eyther to procure the seale to my demandes before the shipes arriuall, with all the reasons I could urdge, or to deale soe Nobly as to giue me a reasolute answere; and to meete Mirze Socorolla about the farme. The Coppy is registred. Hee returned: for my Articles they could bee sealed without delay, but that by the negligence of his seruant they were mislayed, else they had bene finished, and required another Coppy: for the farme of Customes, hee would advise thereon and doe me all Frendship; but in plaine termes hee beggd a rich present for the Prince. August 5. — I seeing how Zulpheckcarcon notwithstanding all promises vsed vs, I resolued I would trye the vttmost and bee no farther abused with delaies. Soe that I tooke the occasion of his watch day at the Princes, where hee must needs bee, and ther publiquely to demand satisfaction before his face and lett his highnes know with what euasions my long patience had bene tyred.
19.3.2
But before I went in, I sent Iaddow to signifie the intent of my Comminge, whereatt hee entreated mee not to Complaine nor speake of yt for that day, and if I would trust him soe farr as to forbeare vntill the Princes goeing in, hee would returne with mee, and giue mee full satisfaction. So that I ventured once more, not for his sake, but for that I knewe it would not bee a wellcome motion to the Prince that was soe vnpleasing to his Minion. When the Prince rose and departed I, that neuer thought myselfe suer of soe vncertaine a man, desiered Merzie Socorolla to heare the Conditions agreed on and lett him know that at Zulpheckcarcons entreaty and promise to finish it now, I had that day forborne complaint, desiering [him] to wittnes to the Prince, if I were enforced, the iust cause of greeuances I receiued by his daylie falshood, repeating the debt, the abatement, and my desier, with the others promise. With much adoe I got him to Confesse the sumes, but then, beeing free for 4 or 5 daies and hauing now escaped mee, hee sought all means to deferr giuing his scri[t]o for the whole, which was that I insisted on.
19.3.3
Breefly, after many disputes Socorolla tould him plainly it was dishonest to putt vs off to any other, seeing hee tooke our goodes, howeuer hee bestowed them : for the Princes part, it was giuen as a present : but that if hee would doe as hee ought, giue me content by his bill for the whole debte and take it vpon himselfe, that hee would moue the Prince to pay as much as hee had receiued, and soe farr ease him : if not, hee would hinder him all in his power and assist mee next daye to Complayne. Diuers others councelled him and perswaded him ; soe at last he gaue his woord Publiquely, desiering me to goe with him to the Court of Guard, wher hee sate, and I should haue my desier. Socorolla intreated mee to doe soe and finish yt, and for the mony hee promised to see it performed. When wee were sate hee offered mee presents and much kind vsage. I desiered a dispatch of that I staied for, and before I could accept of none. Soe hee drewe the bill himselfe and sealed in the presents of diuers and read it to our interpreter and Master Bidolph, who said it was well and sufficient ; wherat wee tooke handes. And pressing mee to take a Gould shalh, I answered wee were but newly frendes : when I saw any constancy in his Carriadge and the mony paid, I would bee more free with him, yet I would receiue no obligation.
19.3.4
Thus this long and troublesome busines is finished, in which I was so farr from any assistance of Justice that I got the disfauour of him that should haue been my Iudge, and Asaph chan my procurator could find noe other means of reconcilment but by agreement with my enemie. Yet the losse is not great or none to the Company, for it is in their powers to make shares, more beeing recouered then their debt by 300 mamoodies or therabouts ; and in theirs not only all things at their owne rates, but the 2,000 mamoodies giuen is Comprised and restored (which was almost a shame to demand, beeing called a guift) ; and I shall desier those that deale in the busines not [to] ease themselues in their dispatches, soe gently parting with mony, and cast the burthen and envy on mee to recouer it. What paines and aduentures I ran, what I bare shutting myne eyes and ears against many ill vsages, I best know that soe often felt Nature and honor repine and obiect a stupid patience. This night the king sent 4 or 5 messengers for mee to [come to] the Guzelchan, but the first mistaking his arrand and my owne indisposition deferrd my goeing. August 6. — I was sent for to the Durbar, The busines was about a Picture I had lately giuen the king and was Confident that noe man in India could equall yt. So soone as I came hee asked mee what I would giue the Paynter that had made a Coppy soe like it that I should not knowe myne owne. I answered : a Painters reward — 50 rupies.
19.3.5
The king replied his Painter was a Cauallero and that too smalle a guift ; to which I answered I gaue my Picture with a good hart, esteeming it rare, and ment not to make comparisons or wagers : if his Seruant had done as well, and would not accept of my guifte, his Maiestie was most fitt to reward him. Soe with many passages of Iests, mirth and brages concerning the arts of his Countrye, hee fell to aske mee questions : How often I dranck a day, and how much and what ? What in England ? What beere was ? How made ? and whether I could make it heere ? in all which I satisfied his great demands of state. He concluded that I should come to the Guzelchan, and then I should see the Picturs. At night hee sent for mee, beeing hastie to triumph in his woorkman, and shewed me 6 Pictures, 5 made by his man, all pasted on one table, so like that I was by candle-light troubled to discerne which was which ; I confesse beyond all expectation ; yet I shewed myne owne and the differences, which were in arte apparent, but not to be iudged by a Common eye. But for that at first sight I knew it not, hee was very merry and Ioyfull and craked-like a Northern man. I gaue him way and Content, praysing his mans arte. Now, saith hee, what say you ? I replied I saw his Maiestie needed noe Picture from our Country. But, saieth hee, what will you giue the Painter ?
19.3.6
I answered : seeing hee had soe farr excelled my opinione of him, I would double my liberalitye, and that if hee came to my house, I would giue him 100 Rupies to buy a Nagg; which the king tooke kindly, but answered hee should accept no mony but some other guifte; which I promised. The king asked: what? I said it was referrable to my discretion. So hee answered it was true; yet desiered I would name yt. I replyed a good swoord, or Pistoll, or Picture; wherat the king answered: yow confesse hee is a good woorkman: send for him home, and showe him such toyes as you haue and lett him choose one; in requitall wherof you shall choose any of these Coppies to showe in England wee are not soe vnskillfull as you esteeme vs. Soe hee pressed mee to choose one, which I did. The king, wrapping it vp in paper and putting it vp in a table booke of myne, deliuered yt with much Joye and exultation of his mans supposed victory. Wherat I showed him a Picture I had of his Maiestie farr infearior to the woorke I now sawe, which caused mee to iudg of all other by that which was deliuered mee as the best. He asked me where I had it? I tould him. Why, said hee, doe you buy any such things? Haue not I the best, and haue I not tould yow I will giue you what soeuer you desiered ? I thancked his Maiestie, but that I held it not Ciuilitie to trouble him in such trifles, especially as a begger. Hee replied it was noe shame to aske of him, and bad mee speake at all tymes freely ;
19.3.7
pressing mee to Aske somewhat. I answered I would not choose my guifte : what soeuer came from his Maiesties handes I would receiue as a marke of honor. He replied : if you desier my Picture I will giue you one for your selfe or for your king. I answered if his Maiestie would send the king one I would gladly Carrie yt, and knewe his Maiestie would take it Frendly and esteem it much : but that since his Maiestie had embouldned mee I would desier one for my selfe, which I would keepe and leaue to my posterity as an ensigne of his Maiesties fauour. Hee replied : your king doth not desier one, but you doe : therefore you shall haue it ; and soe gaue present order for the Making. Then hee turned to rest, and wee were blindfold dismissed.