The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 22.6.6

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;