The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 23.3.3

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.