The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 22.6.4

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);