The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 19.9
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 19.9
- Language
- English
19.9.1
Then he sent me woord it was his byrth day and that all men did make merry, and to aske if I would drinck with them. I answered : what soeuer his Maiestie Commanded : I wished him many prosperous dayes, and that this Ceremonye might be renewed 100 years. Hee asked mee what wyne, whether of the grape or made, whither strong or small. I replyed : what hee Commanded, hoping hee would not Command to much nor too strong. So hee Called for a Cupp of Gould of mingled wyne, halfe of the Grape, halfe Artificiall, and dranck, causing it to bee fylld and sent it by one of his Nobles to mee with this message : that I should drinck it twice, thrice, four or five tymes off for his sake, and accept of the Cupp and apurtenances as a present. I dranck a little, but it was more strong then euer I tasted, so that it made mee sneese ; wherat hee laughed and Called for reasons, almondes, and sliced lemons, which were brought mee on a Plate of gould, and hee bad mee eate and drinck what I would, and no more. Soe then I made reuerence for my present after myne owne manner, though Asaph chan would haue caused mee kneele, and knocke my head against the grownd, but his Maiestie best accepted what I did. The Cupp was of gould, sett all ouer with small Turkyes and rubies. The couer of the same sett with great turquises, rubyes and Emeraldes in woorks, and a dish suteable to sett the Cupp vpon.
19.9.2
The valew I know not, because the stones are many of them small, and the greater, which are also many, are not all Cleane, but they are in Number about 2,000 and in gould about 20 oz. Thus hee made frolique and sent me woord hee more esteemed mee than euer any Francke ; and demanded if I were mery at eating the wild bore sent mee a few dayes before? How I dresd it? What I dranck ? and such Complements : that I should want nothing in his land ; which his Publique and many graces I found presently in the fashion of all his Nobilitye. Then hee threw about to those that stood below two Chargers of new rupyes and among vs two Chargers of hollow Almondes of gould and siluer mingled ; but I would not scramble as did his great men ; for I saw his sonne tooke vp none. Then hee gaue shashes of gould and girdles to all the musitians and wayters and to many others. So drincking and commanding others, his Maiestie and all his lordes became the finest men I euer saw, of a thousand humors. But his sonne, Asaph chan and some two ould men and the late king of Candahor and my self forbare. When hee Could desired was that his Countrey-men, the English, might have a free, safe, and peaceable trade in his Dominions. The Mogol would answer that he was bound in honour to afford them that, we coming from the furthermost parts of the world to trade there ; and would often bid the Ambassadour to ask something for himself ;
19.9.3
who to this would answer, that if that King knew not better to give, than he knew to ask, he must have nothing from him. Upon these terms they continually both stood ; so that in conclusion the Ambassadour had no gift from him, but that before mentioned [the cup and stand], besides an horse or two, and sometimes a Vest, or upper garment, made of slight Cloath of Gold, which the Mogol would first put upon his own back, and then give it to the Ambassadour. But the Mogol (if he had so pleased) might have bestowed on him some great Princely gift, and found no greater miss of it, than there would be of a Glasse of water taken out of a great Fountain. Yet although the Mogol had such infinite Treasures, yet he could finde room to store up more still ; the desires of a covetous heart being so unsatiable, as that it never knows when it hath enough ; being like a bottomlesse purse, that can never be fill'd, for the more it hath, the more still it covets." not hould vp his head, hee lay downe to sleepe and wee all departed. At goeing out I mooued Asaph Chan for dispatch of my Priuiledges, assuring him his Maiestie could giue mee no present so acceptable ; if hee pleased not to dispatch mee (which I doubted not if it lay in his power) but that some other hinderance was in my way, I would on the morrow mooue the king.
19.9.4
Hee desiered mee not to doe soe, for the king loued mee and had giuen order for yt: that the preparation of this feast had hindered him, but that now hee would send it mee, and doe mee all seruice. September 3. — I went to the Prince and deliuered the Conditions demanded on my part, and withall a breefe of what I required in his firmaen ; to all which hee agreed. I gaue him for a Present a siluer watch very small, which he tooke kyndly ; but tould mee the Pictures I showed his father the night before, If I had giuen him, hee would haue better accepted then any thing ; demanding if I had no more. I answered they were toyes, only valewable in my fancy, which I neuer purposed to giue, nor esteemed them woorthy presents for Princes : but that, showeing them for the arts sake to the Paynter, hee had enformed the king and so his Maiestie had Commanded them : that I had but only that which his Maiestie had returned, which should bee at his seruice. At night I sent to his secretary for the firmaen ; who promised in two dayes to finish yt.