[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy) › [The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster) › 22.2 # The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 22.2 The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 22.2 - **Language:** English ### [22.2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.22.2.1) October 10. — Abdala chan, the great Gouernor of Amadavaz, beeing sent for to Court in disgrace for many insolencyes and neglectes of the kinges authoritye, and thought that hee would stand on his guard and refuse: yet the Prince Sultan Coronne, whose Ambition wrought on euery aduantage, desirous to oblige so great a man (beeing one of the Cheefe Captaynes in these kingdomes), preuayled with him on his woord to submitt. So that comming in Pilgrams clothes with 40 seruantes on foote about 60 mile in Counterfait humiliation, finished the rest in his Palanckee vntill hee arriued near the Court; but one dayes Iourny behynde hee had 2000 horse attending. This day hee was brought to the Jarruco (the Publique sitting of the king to see games, and to here Complayntes) Chayned by the feete, bare foote betweene two Noblemen. Hee Pulld his Turbant in his eyes, because hee would see noe man before hee had the happines to behould the kinges face. After reuerence made and some few questions, the king forgaue him, caused his Irons to bee loosed, and clothed in a New vest of Cloth of Gould, Turbant, and Girdle according to the Custome. ### [22.2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.22.2.2) The Prince, who entended to build his honor on the warrs of Decan, which his elder brother had left with disgrace and the great Commander Chan Channa did not prosper in (which doubtlesse was a Practiser with the Decannins, from whom hee receiued Pension) caused his father to recall Chan Channa, who, refusing to come, desiered the king not to send Sultan Coronne to that warr, but one of his youngest sonns, about 15 years of age. This Coronne tooke to hart; but prosecuting his Purpose of the warr, promised to Abdela chan the command of the Army vnder him, by displacing Chan Channa. The king, fearing troubles, and knowing all the ambitions and factions of this Sonne, the discontent of his two elder, the Power of Chan Channa was desierous to accomodate all by accepting a Peace and confirming Chan Channa in the Gouerment he held, and closely to that end wrote a lettre of fauour and Purposed to send a vest according to the Ceremony of reconciliation to Chan Channa, But before hee dispatchd it, hee acquaynted a kinswoeman of his liueing in the Zereglia of his Purpose. ### [22.2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.22.2.3) She, whether false to her frend (wrought by Sultan Coronne) or out of Greatnes of hart to see the Top of her famelye after soe many merittes stand on soe fickle termes, answered Playnly that shee did not beleeue Chan Channa would weare any thing sent from the king, knoweing his Maiestie hated him and had once or twice offered him Poyson, which hee Putting in his bosome insteed of his Mouth had made tryall off: Therfore shee was Confident hee would not dare to Putt on his body any thing that came from his Maiestie. The King offered to ware it himselfe before her for an hower, and that shee should write to testefye it; Shee replyed hee would trust neyther of them both with his life; but if hee might liue quietly in his Command would doe his Maiestie true seruice. Whervppon the king altered his Purpose and resolued to proceed in the sending Sultan Coronne, and to Countenance his reception would follow after with another Armie. Chan Channa, that discouered the storme, Practised with the Decans who were at his seruice to offer termes of Peace for a season (fynding noe other way to disolue this Cloude that hung ouer them both) vntill the king and Prince were departed and settled farther off. To this end Came two Embassadors this day from the Princes of Decan. They brought horses, barde, richly furnished for Presentes. At first the king refused to heare them, and their guift, but turned them ouer to his sonne with this answer : if hee would haue Peace or Warr, it was in his breast. ### [22.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.22.2.4) The Prince, aduanced by this fauour and swelling with Pride, resolued (though, as I was enformed, the Conditions were very honorable and such as the king would haue accepted) to goe on the lourny, answering hee would treat of no Peace vntill hee were in the feeld with his Armie : Chan Channa should not so beguile him of the honor of finishing that warr. The ambitions of this young Prince are open, the Common talke of the People ; yet his father suffers all, but entendes him not the kingdome ; for Sultan Cursoronne, the Eldest brother, is both extreamly beloued and honored of all men, almost adored, and very lustly, for his most Noble Partes ;- and this the king knowes and loues, but thinckes his liberty would diminish his owne glory, and sees not that this sly youth doth more darken him by ambitious Practices then the other could by vertuous actions. Thus hee Nourisheth diuision and emulation betweene the brethren and Putteth such Power in the hand of the younger, supposing he can vndoe yt at his Pleasure, that the wisest foresee a rending and tearing of these kingdomes by diuision when the king shall pay the debt to Nature, and that all Partes wilbe torne and destroyed by a Ciuill warr. The history of this Countrye for the variety of subiect and the many Practises in the tyme of Ecbarsha, father of this king, by him then Prince, and these later troubles were not vnwoorthy Committing to writing ; ### [22.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.22.2.5) but because they are of so remote Partes many will despise them \[and ?\] because the People are esteemed barberouse few wil beleue them ; therfore I content my selfe with the Contemplation, but I could deliuer as many rare and Cunning Passadges of State, subtile euasions, Policyes, answers, and adages, as I beleeue for one age would not bee easely equald. Only one that passed lately I cannot omitt, to show wisdome and Patience in a father, fayth in a seruant, falshood in a brother, impudent bouldnes in a faction that dare attempt anything, when the highest Maiestie giues them liberty beyond eyther the law of their owne Condition or the limitts of Policye and reason. The Prince Sultan Coronne, Normahall the deare queene, Aunt to his wife, Asaph chan his father-in-law, brother to the Queene, and Etiman Dowlett, father to them both, beeing they that now gouerne all and dare attempt anything, resolued it was not possible for them to stand if the Prince Sultan Corsoronne liued, whom the nobilitye loued, and whose deliuery or life would Punish their ambitions in tyme ; therfore Practised how to bring him into their Power, that poyson might end him. Normahall attemptes the king with the false teares of womans bewitching flattery : that Sultan Corcoronne was not safe, nor his aspiring thoughtes deposed. The king heares, soothes yt, but would not vnderstand mor then shee deliuered playnly. ### [22.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.22.2.6) This fayling, they tooke oportunitye of the kinges beeing drunck, the Prince, Eteman Dowlett, and Asaph chan mooued the king that, for the safety of Sultan Corsoronne and his honor, it were fitter he were in the keeping of his brother, whose companyes would bee pleasing one to the other, and his safety more reguarded then in the handes of a Rashboote Gentile (to whome the king had committed him) : therfore they humbly desiered his Maiestie that he might be deliuered into the handes of his deare brother ; which the king granted, and so fell asleepe. They thought their owne greatnes such as, bringing the kings authority, no man durst refuse ; and beeing once in their possession they would dispute the redeliuery. So the same night Asaph chan in the name of the king, sent by the Prince, came with a Guard to demand and receiue Sultan Cursoronne at the hand of Anna rah, a Rajah rashboot to whom the king had entrusted him. He refuseth to deliuer his chardge, with this answere: that he was Sultan Coronns humble seruant, but that he had receiued the Prince his brother from the handes of the king and to no other would deliuer him ; that hee should haue Patience till the Morning, when hee would dischardge himselfe to his Maiestie, and leaue it to his pleasure to dispose off. This answere Coold all. In the Morning Anna rah came to the king and acquaynted him with the demand of the Prince, his refusall and answer ; ### [22.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.22.2.7) and added his Maiestie had giuen him Chardge of his sonne, and made him the commander of 4000 horse, with all which hee would dye at the Gate rather then deliuer his Prince to the handes of his enemyes : if his Maiestie required him, hee was ready to obey his will, but hee would prouide for his owne innocency. The king replyed : you haue done honestly, faythfully : you have answered discretly : Continew your Purpose and take noe knowledge of any Commandes : I will not seeme to know this, neyther doe you stirr farther : hould your fayth and lett vs see how farr they will prosecute yt. The Prince and the faction the Next day, finding the king silent, hoping he might forgett what passd in wyne, tooke no notice of the grant nor of the refusall ; but it fell (not without suspition) on both partes. This I insert to this end that you may beware scattering your goodes in diuers Partes and engaging your stock and seruantes farr into the Countrye ; ### [22.2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.22.2.8) for the tyme will come when all in these kingdomes wilbe in combustion, and a few yeares warr will not decide the inueterate malice layd vp on all partes against a day of vengeance, wherin if Sultan Corsoronne preuayle in his right, this kingdome wilbe a sanctuary for Christians, whome he loues and honors, fauouring learning, valour, the discipline of warr, and abhorring all couetousnes and discerning the basse Customes of taking vsed by his ancestors and the Nobilitye : Yf the other Wynne wee shalbe the loosers, for hee is most earnest in his superstition, a hater of all Christians, Proud, Subtill, false, and barberously Tyranous. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.22.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.22.2) · Pramāṇa