The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 23.3
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 23.3
- Language
- English
23.3.1
But, that your Grace may a little more vnderstand the fashion of this King and the Jesuites proceedinges, I will make you one or two merry and late relations ; and either say hee is the most impossible man in the world to be conuerted, or the most easy ; for he loues to heare, and hath so little religion yet, that he can well abyde to haue any decided. Not many dayes since, the Jesuites house and Church beeing burned, the Crucifex remayned safe, which vnderhand was giuen out for a miracle, and much talked off. I, that could be content any vse might be made of an accident to enlardg the name of Christ, held my Peace. But the Jesuite, suspecting I would not agree to the Miracle, disavowed it to mee, and made it a matter of reason, why it was not burned; insinnuating that the Moores had Caught vp this opinion of Miracle without his Consent or suggestion, though he confessed hee was glad of the occasion. But the King, who neuer lett slip any oportunity of Newe talke or Nouelty, Calls the Jesuite, and questioneth him of it. He answers ambiguously; whervpon his Maiestie demanded if he did not desire to convert him, and, receiuing full answere, replyed: You speake of your great Miracles, and of many done by you in the Name of your Prophett; if you will cast the Crucifix and Picture of Christ into a fyre before mee, if it burne not, I wil become a Christian.
23.3.2
The Jesuite refused the tryall as vniust, answering that God was not tyed to the Call of men: that it was a sinne to tempt him: that hee wrought Miracles according to his owne Councell; but offered to enter the fier himselfe for proofe of his faith, which the King refused. Heere arose a great dispute, begunne by the Prince, a most stiff Mahometan and hater of all Christians, that it was reasonable to try our religion by this offer, but withall, if the Crucifix did burne, then that the Jesuit should be obliged to render Moore. Hee vrged examples of Miracles professed to bee done for lesse Purposes then the Conuersion of soe mightie a King, and, in case of refusall of that triall, spake scornefully of Christ Jesus. The King vndertooke the Argument, and defended our Sauiour to be a Prophett, by comparrison of his woorkes with those of their absurd Saintes, Instancing the raysing of the dead, which neuer any of theirs did. The Prince replyed: to giue sight to one Naturally borne blind was as great a Miracle. This question beeing pressed hotly on both sides, a theird man, to end the Contrauersie, enterposed that both the father and the sonne had reason for thieir opinions; for that to rayse a dead body to life must needes bee confessd to be the greatest miracle euer done, but that to giue sight to an eye Naturally blynd was the same woorke ; for that a blind eye was dead, sight beeing the life therof ;
23.3.3
therfore he that gaue sight to a blind eye did as it were rayse it vp from death. Thus this discourse ended, and soe in wisdome should I ; but that I cannot leaue out an apish miracle which was acted before this King which the Jesuites will not acknowledg nor owne as their Practise ; onely of the truth de facto ther is no doubt. A Juggler of Bengala (of which Craft there are many and rare) brought to the King a great Ape, that could, as hee professd, diuine and prophesy (and to this beast by some sectes is much diuinitie ascribed). The King tooke from his finger a ring, and caused it to bee hid vnder the Girdle of one among a dozen other boyes, and bad the Ape diuine ; who went to the right Child, and tooke it out. But his Maiestie (somewhat more Curious) caused in twelue seueral papers in Persian lettres to bee written the Names of twelue Lawgiuers, as Moses, Christ, Mahomett, Aly, and others, and, shuffling them in a bagg, bad the beast diuine which was the true law ; who, putting in his foote, tooke out that inscribed of Christ. This amazed the King, who, suspecting that the Apes master could reade Persian, and might assist him, wrote them anew in court Characters, and presented them the second time. The Ape was Constant, found the right, and kissed it. Whereat a principal officer grew angry, telling the King it was some imposture, desiering hee might haue leaue to make the lottes anew, and offered himselfe to Punnishment if the Ape could beguile him.
23.3.4
Hee wrote the names, putting only aleuen into the bagg, and kept the other in his hand. The beast searchd, but refusd all. The King commanded to bring one ; the beast tore them in fury, and made signes the true law-giuers name was not among them. The King demanded wher it was ; and hee rann to the Noble-man and caught him by the hand in which was the Paper inscribed with the Name of Christ Jesus. The King was troubled, and keepes the Ape. Yet this was acted in Publique before thousandes ; but wher the abuse was, or whether ther were any, I iudge not. Only one of the Jesuites scollers ran to him with open Mouth, professing the King had an ape a good Christian. Of this accident the Jesuittes make great account ; to me they slight it, except the truth of the fact, which is not vnlike one of their owne games.
23.3.5
Your Grace will Pardon mee all this folly, to interrupt you with so much and soe vselesse tattle. I should be glad to remooue wher I might learne and Practise better matter. But I cannot repent my Journy. It hath made me know my God and my selfe better than euer I should haue learned eyther among the Pleasure of England. He hath woonderfully showed mee his mercy and taught mee his Judgmentes : his goodnes be glorifyed and magnified for euer. I humbly desire your Grace to present my Name (I dare not say my seruice) before his Maiestie my lord and Master. It is enough for mee if I bee not forgotten. I shall neuer meritt nor aspire the employmentes of his fauour ; but I will pay my vowes, and pray for his Maiestie, that hee may liue a happy and glorious long life to the Comfort of his Church, and enioy the Crowne of Crownes, Prepared by the King of Kinges for those that loue him. Wherin I haue fayled toward your Honor, or by myne owne weakenes, your Grace will measure by this rule : exigitt et postulat amicitia non quod cuique debetur, sed quod quisque efficere potest ; and you will pardon the assuming so high a woord as frendship, with this enterpretation : Seruus est humilis amicus, which, as I am bould to professe, I will be ready to demonstrate by Obedience to your Commandes. Thomas Roe.
23.3.6
November 1. — Sultan Coronne tooke his leaue and went to his tentes. The king at Noone sate out at the Durbar, where the Prince brought his Eliphantes, about 600 richly trapped and furnished, and his followers, by estimation 10,000 horse, many in Cloth of Gould with hearne top feathers in their Turbantes, all in Galanterie; Himselfe in a Coate of Cloth of siluer, embrodered with great Pearle and shining in Diamondes like a firmament. The king embraced him, kissd him, and showed much affection. At his departure hee gaue him a swoord, the scaberd all of gould sett with stones, valewed at 100,000 rupees, a dagger at 40,000, an Eliphant, and two horses, all the furniture of gould sett with stones, and for a Close one of the New Caroches made in Imitation of that sent by his Maiestie my Master, and Commanded the English Coachman to driue him to his tentes; into which hee ascended, and sate in the middle, the sides open, his Cheefest Nobles afoote walking by him to his Tentes about 4 Mile. All the way hee threw quarters of rupias, beeing followed with a Multitude of People. Hee reached his hand to the Coachman and Putt into his hatt about 100 rupias. I could not get any despatch, neyther heard any Newes from Suratt; so that Zulphecarcon is departed in our debt for want of an account, which I had often written for. I doubted our Patamars miscarriage, for it is now 36 dayes since I heard a woord. November 2.
23.3.7
— The king remooued to his tents with his weomen and all the Court about 3 mile. I went to attend him. Comming to the Pallace, I found him at the Jarruco wyndow and went vp on the scaffold vnder him, which Place, not hauing seene before, I was glad of the occasion. On two tresselles stood two Eunuches with long Poles headed with feathers fanning him. He gaue many fauours and receiued many Presentes. What hee bestowed hee lett downe by a silke stringe rouled on a turning instrument; what was giuen him, a venerable fatt deformed ould Matron, wrinckled and hung with gimbelles like an Image, Pulld vp at a hole with such a Nother Clue. At one syde in a wyndow were his two Principall wifes, whose Curiositye made them breake litle holes in a grate of reede that hung before yt to gaze on mee. I saw first their fingers, and after laying their faces close nowe one eye, Now another; sometyme I could discerne the full proportion. They were indifferently white, black hayre smoothed vp; but if I had had no other light, ther diamondes and Pearles had sufficed to show them. When I lookd vp they retyred, and were so merry that I supposed they laughd at mee. Suddenly the king rose, and wee retyred to the Durbar and satt on the Carpettes attending his Comming out. Not long after hee Came and sate about halfe an hower, vntill his ladyes at their doore were ascended their elephantes, which were about 50, all most richly furnished.
23.3.8
Principally 3 with Turretts of gould, grates of gould wire euery way to looke out, and Canopyes ouer of Cloth of siluer. Then the king descended the stayres with such an acclamation of health to the king as [w]ould haue out-cryed Cannons. At the stayres foote, wher I mett him, and shuffled to be Next, one brought a mighty carp; another a dish of white stuff like starch, into which hee putt his finger, and touched the fish and so rubd it on his forhead, a Ceremony vsed presaging good fortune. Then another came and buckled on his swoord and buckler sett all ouer with great Diamondes and rubyes. the belts of gould suteable. Another hung on his quiuer with 30 arrowes and his bow in a Case, the same that was presented by the Persian Ambassador. On his head he wore a rich Turbant with a Plume of herne tops, not many but long; on one syde hung a ruby vnsett, as bigg as a Walnutt; on the other syde a diamond as great; in the middle an emralld like a hart, much bigger. His shash was wreathed about with a Chayne of great Pearle, rubyes, and diamondes drild. About his Neck hee carried a Chaine of most excellent Pearle, three double; so great I neuer saw; at his Elbowes, Armletts sett with diamondes; and on his wristes three rowes of seuerall sorts. His handes bare, but almost on euery finger a ring; his gloues, which were english, stuck vnder his Girdle; his Coate of Cloth of gould without sleeues vpon a fine Semian as thin as Lawne;
23.3.9
on his feete a payre of embrodered buskinges with Pearle, the toes sharp and turning vp. Thus armd and accomodated, hee went to the Coach, which attended him with his New English seruant, who was Clothd as rich as any Player and more gaudy, and had trayned four horses, which were trapped and harnassed in gould veluetts. This was the first hee euer sate in, and was made by that sent from England, so like that THE EMPEROR'S STANDARD. (from Terry's "Voyage").