The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 19.3.6

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 ;