The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 21.2.4

21.2.4

for then both the king is easye and all about him soe slauish to bribes that I knew I could take my choyse of New, or returne with grace to my ould sollicitor; and then vpon deliuery of a New lettre from the King my Master, I would once more present and urdge my generall desires. The Prince I entended Cheefely to make sure vnto vs, but now hee is ready to depart for Decan, and the king some other way, wherby, as hee cannot bee my assistant here, so will hee expect some agent to attend him, and I feare that all presents and whatsoeuer els is landed shall first be brought to him, while hee is lord of the Port, which wilbe both a great inconuenience and disgrace to our goodes. But I entend to sound his purpose and maynly to oppose yt, if it runne that way. I am not sent to him but to the king. Hee would make mee, if not his seruant, yet to cast my reguard wholy toward him. September 24. — I received lettres from Agra, of the rising of Indico 5 rupies in a maund as it always doth at buying tyme; but, seeing the Company was at Chardge to keepe a factorie ther all this yeare to no purpose, if they had taken vp mony to buy at the best hand and at leysure, besides the dispatch of our shipping they had saued in price eight in the hundreth aboue the interest. Yet I wished that the Merchannts would proceed to investure according to their last purpose.