The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 22.6
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 22.6
- Language
- English
22.6.1
At night I sent to the Princes secretary for my promised writing; but his Highnes was loath to lett the Presentes passe without ransacking and had changed his mynd, refusing to seale the lettre. October 22. — I went early to the Secretary to know the reason of this inconstancy and the Princes resolution. He answered I could not haue the letter sealed vnlesse I would consent to haue all opened in the Alfandica, Pretending that the Merchanntes would pass vp Jewelles and Pearles to sell vnder that Coulor. I assured him on my woord they were dearer in England then here: that wee brought none: that I would not countenance any thing vnder that Coulor to abuse the Prince and dishoner my selfe: that I scorned to saue Petty Customes basely: that I gaue among the Princes Porters dayly more. I vrdged the kinges command, his Masters Promise; but no reason, no importunitye would preuayle against this gredy desier of Presentes, though in yt hee robbd his father. What will not youth and insolency attempt when it knowes no limitts, when it is aduanced beyond the Capacitye and law of reason?
22.6.2
I replied as peremptorily that I was as resolute not to bee abused: that I would keepe these aboord the shippes vntill his Maiestie sent for them, and in future tyme I would take order that my Master should send no more guiftes to be so vnciuilly entreated: that it was a busines in which my Honor was interessed, and for no Complacency I would not yeild to be riffled with my consent : that these injuryes were so grose that I doubted not the king would haue sence of them : in the meane tyme I would preuent their greedy purpose of oppression. So I rose to depart. Hee importuned mee to goe with him to the Prince and moue it once more. I replyed I had the kings order and his Masters woord before his Majestie, since his owne Command, and all this beeing retracted, I could expect no more but delay and Iniurye: that I would seeke to the king and no further. But hee pressd mee so far as I yeelded ; and at my comming I deliuered him two Plumes, and two birdes of Paradice. Hee accepted them easely, and my busines beeing mooued and my resolution made knowne not to consent to open nor to send them vp but by the handes of my seruants, att last he yeilded and gaue Command to the Secretary to dispatch mee.
22.6.3
At Night I went to the Durbar to obserue the Ambassador of Persia. I found him standing in his ranncke and often remooued and sett lower as great men came in. The king once spake to him, and he danced to the tune therof, but gaue noe present ; only the king Commanded hee should be feasted by the Nobles. The tyme was spent in seeing saddles and furniture for the remooue, of which his Maiestie gaue some to his followers, it beeing dayly expected to rise ; the kinges tentes were out 4 days since. I sent to the Secretarye for my firmaen but hee delayd yt with excuses. October 23. — I sollicited the grant ; but the Persian dined with him. October 24. — The king remooued to Hauaz Gemall, and called the Persian Ambassador, wher at night hee eate and drancke before the king with the Nobilities in the same fashion that I did the birthday; the difference only was the king gaue him for expence 20,000 rupias, for which hee made innumerable Teselims and Sizedaes, not rising from the ground in good space, which extremely pleased the king and was base but profitable Idolatrye. The Prince attending his father, I could gett noe dispatch in my busines. These Presents yet were not digested; all delayes, all fraudes practised to possesse them first. The Condition of this People, my sufferinges and trauell will appeare, I doubt not to the ease of my successors, how to deale with them.
22.6.4
I receiued lettres from Agra, aduertising all the factory were disposed away. I aduised my opinion it was to no vse to follow the Court: that it were better to abyde togither vntill wee saw where wee should settle: otherwise the chardge would bee infinite. So much I propounded to ours here, but know not their resolution. October 25. — The king returned at Euening, hauing beene ouer night farr gone in wyne. Some by Chance or malice spake of the Merry night Past, and that many of the Nobilitye dranck wyne, which none may doe but by leaue. The king, forgetting his order, demanded who gaue it. It was answered: the Buxy; for no man dares say it was the king, when hee would only doubt yt. The Custome is that when the king drinckes, which is alone, sometyme hee will command that the Nobilitye shall drinck after, which if they doe not, is an offence too; and so euery man that takes a cup of wyne of the officer his name is written and he makes Teselem, though perhapes the kings eyes are mistye. The king, not remembring his owne Command, called the Buxy and demanded if hee gaue the order. He replyed: no (falsly, for hee receiued it and by name called such as did drinck with the Ambassador);
22.6.5
wherat the king called for the list and the Persons, and fined some 1, some 2, some 3 thowsand rupies, some lesse, and some that were nearer his Person he caused to bee whippd before him, receiuing 130 stripes with a most terrible instrument, hauing at each end of fower Cordes irons like spurr rowelles, so that euery stroke made fower woundes. When they lay for dead on the Ground, hee Commanded the standers by to foote them, and after the Porters to breake their staues vpon them. Thus most cruelly mangled and brused they were carried out, of which one dyed in the Place. Some would haue excused it on the Ambassador; but the king replyed he only bad giue him a Cupp or too. Though drunckennes be a Common and a glorious vice, and an exercise of the kinges, yet it is soe strictly forbidden that no man can enter the Guzelchan wher the king sitts, but the Porters smell his breath, and, if hee haue but tasted wyne, is not suffered to com in; and, if the reason bee knowne of his absence, hee shall with difficulty skape the whip; for, if the king once take offence, the father will not speake for the sonne. So the king made the Company pay the Persian Ambassadors reward. October 26. — I sent to Socorolla for the firmaen, Hee sent mee a Copy as ambiquious and fraudulent as the former; which I refused, and drew the misliked clause my selfe, which I sent back and was promised that on the Morow it should bee sealed.
22.6.6
October 28. — The kinges day of remooue at hand, I sent to Asaph chan for a warrant for carriadges; the Merchantes, hauing sought all the towne to remooue their goodes to Agra, could find none. So I receiued order, beeing enrolled by his Maiestie, vpon my offer, for 20 Camelles, 4 Carts, and 2 Coches at the kinges Price; whereof I disposed as many as the factors needed to their vse. But it were an extreame error to omitt a Passadge, either of woonderfull basenes in this great Monarch or a triall of mee. The king had Condemned diuers theeves, among which were some boyes, Ther was noe way to saue their liues, but to sell them for slaues. His Maiestie Command Asaph chan to offer two of them to mee for mony, which he appoynted the Cuttwall, that is the Marshall, to doe. My enterpreter made answere (without my knowledg) that Christians kept no slaues; that those the king had giuen I had freed; and that it was in vayne to propound it to mee. But after of him selfe hee did. I suspected it might be a tryall of mee whether I would giue a little mony to saue the liues of two Childeren, or els I supposed, if it were in earnest, it were noe great losse to doe a good deed; and, to trye the basenes or scope of this offer, I Commanded my enterpreter to returne to Asaph chan, to tell him hee had acquaynted mee with the motion and his answere;
22.6.7
that I reprehended him for presuming in any Case to giue my resolution: that my owne reply was, if there were any mony to be Payd to saue the life of two Children to those whom they had robbd, or to redeeme them from the law, both for respect to the kinges Command and for Charetye, I was ready to giue it; but I would not buy them as slaues, only pay their ransome and free them: that if hee pleased to know the kings pleasure that I might giue them liberty without offence, I was very willing to doe it. Asaph chan replyed I might at myne owne will dispose them: that it was an extraordinarye goodnes; with many prayses accepted the mony, desiring mee [to] send it to the Cuttwall and to vse my discretion to the boyes; not once offering to enforme the king, which was one end of my liberallitye. I, that was loath to be cosened, and knew not whither this might bee the Profitt of officers or no, resolued to pay the mony, but so as the king should not be ignorant I had more mercy then he, and that a Christian esteemed the life of a Moore aboue mony.
22.6.8
So I sent a factor and my enterpreter to the Cuttwall to acquaynt him with the Communications with Asaph chan and to lett him know, if at night hee would enforme the king that I had offered to redeeme the Prisoners for Charetyes sake, if after his Maiestie would consent to their liberty, I was ready to send him mony : But to buy them as slaues, though but for an hower, I would not : they should neuer come nor bee Manumissed by mee, but that I desiered his Maiestie to pardon them vpon my redemption. So I putt them to the test of their base offer. This mony exceeded not ten Pound, a poore summe to impose on a stranger, or to be gayned by any king. The Cuttwall returned answere that hee would know the kinges Pleasure and accordingly aduise mee. Some would perswade mee this is one of the Mogols signal fauours : to Choose out such great men as hee will giue occasion to doe good and honorable woorkes, to redeeme Prisoners : and that the mony giues satisfaction to the Playntiffe robbd, and that those so appoynted by the king to ransome others make Sizeda as for some benefitt receiued ; yet I fynd not any honor in a Prince to impose it on a stranger to whom he giues neyther mayntenance nor liberalitye. I went to the Durbar to see if his Maiestie would of himselfe speake to mee, that I might deliuer myne owne offer. The Cuttwall made many motions, brought in the executioner, who receiued some Command ; but I understood it not, but expect my answere.
22.6.9
This day I sent my Secretary to visitt the Persian Embassador and to giue him welcome to this Court : That seeing ther had passed many effectes of loue and Amitye betweene our royall Masters the King of Great Brittaine and Persia, I had receiued command to giue all respect and due Complements to any of his ministers whersoeuer I mett them, and that it beeing the Custome of Europe that the last come to any Place in Curtesy is visited of him that hath longer beene resident, beeing both Embassadors of one qualetye, I was resolued to Come my selfe to see him, whensoeuer I receiued notice of his Comoditye : when I would also open some busines to him both for the Honor and seruice of his Master : But, because I knew not the Customes of these Parts, I had first sent to aduice him that I expected the same good respect from him toward my soueraigne, and that hee would in like manner after visitt mee, to whom hee should bee most welcome : and without that assurance on his woord, I durst not Come at all to him.
22.6.10
Hee receiued my message very courteously, replying hee tooke it for a great honor : that the Custome of this kingdome was that no ambassador did meete or make acquayntance without the knowledge of the king and leaue obteyned : that hee would moue his Maiestie on our behalfes and after both receiue mee with all frendship and repay my Curtesy toward him with all good correspondence : that hee knew Sir Robert Sheirly, and should bee very gladd, if I had any busines with his Master, to convey my lettres or enter into any other Communication or aduise therein according to my directions. October 29. — I receiued News of a great Plauge at Agra ; so that I Iudgd it dangerous to send vp the goodes into an infeected Place from whence No Comodytye could bee suffered to Passe, and to engage the Companyes seruantes; whervpon I persuaded the factors to remooue the Cloth within the walls of the Towne, and that I would desire of the king some secure Place for their rest vntill his Maiestie were settled. This Course will save much mony and more trouble. The brokar offered vs a sufficient roome, without danger, The king leauing a good guard for defence of such as Could not remooue; soe I resolued vpon yt.