The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 22.6.3

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.