The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 22.5.4

22.5.4

I suspected it was not right, whervpon I sent back the lettre to the Secretary with answere that I doubted not his Highnes meaning was faire, according to the order of the king, but, to avoyd all occasion of euasion or error in those who sought all aduantage of Construction to wrong vs, I desiered him in few woordes to explayne it for future quiett, expressing the termes that the Presents are to be sent vnopened to the handes of the Ambassador at the Court. Hee vnderwrote the lettre, but with such Cunning that it might bee Construed both wayes like the ould Oracles : Concerning Presentes doe as they will, but lett the Prince loose nothing : if wrong bee offered, doe not suffer yt. Our sollicitor returned it : that it was very well and to my Content. Yet I misdoubted fraud, and sent for a translator, who found the sence so intricat and doubtfull I could scarse vnderstand the riddle. I only discouered the Cunning was to bring them into the Princes handes, as it were by error on the way, who would eyther carrie all to himselfe or send some part to the king in my Name. This abuse iustly enraged mee, both against some of our owne and my linguist that receiued it soe slightly without reading, and stirrd mee to putt it to triall ; whervpon I returned yt : that it was now more obscure then before and woorse for the correction ; that if this were all the fruictes of the kinges gracious grant, I should bee compelld to moue it anew.