The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 23.4
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 23.4
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23.4.1
I knew it not but by the Couer, which was a gould Persian veluett. Hee gott into the end; on each side went two Eunuches that carried small maces of gould sett all ouer with rubies, with a long bunch of white horse tayle to driue away flyes; before him went drumes, ill trumpettes and loud musique, and many Canopyes, quittasolls and other strange ensignes of Maiestie of Cloth of gould sett in many Places with great rubyes, Nine spare horses, the furniture some garnished with rubyes, some with Pearle and emraldes, some only with studdes enameld. The Persian Ambassador presented him a horse. Next behynd came three Palenkees; the Carriages and feete of on Plated with gould sett at the endes with stones and Couered with Crimson veluett embrodered with Pearle, and a frengg of great Pearle hanging in ropes a foote deepe, a border about sett with rubyes and emeralldes. A footman carried a foote stoole of gould sett with stones. The other two were couered and lyned only with Cloth of gould. Next followed the English Coach newly couered and trimed rich, which hee had giuen the queene Normahall, who rode in yt. After them a third of this Cuntry fashion, which me thought was out of Countenance ; in that sate his younger sonns. After followed about 20 Eliphantes royall spare for his owne ascending, so rich that in stones and furniture that they braued the sunne. Euery Eliphant had diuers flages of Cloth of siluer, guilt satten, and taffata.
23.4.2
His Noblemen hee suffered to walke a foote, which I did to the gate and left him. His wiues on their Eliphantes were carried like Parrakitoes halfe a Mile behynd him. When hee came before the doore wher [h]is eldest sonne is prisoner, he stayed the Coach and called for him. He came and made reuerence, with a swoord and buckler in his hand ; his beard grown to his middle, a signe of disfauour. The king Commanded him to ascend one of the spare Eliphantes and so rode next to him, to the extream applause and ioy of all men, who now are filld with new hopes. The king gaue him a thousand rupias to Cast to the People. His Iaylor, Asaph Chan, and all the Monsters yet a foote. I tooke horse to avoyd Presse and other inconuenience, and crossed out of the leskar before him, and attended vntill hee came near his Tentes. Hee passed all the way betweene a guard of Eliphantes, hauing euery one a turred on his back ; on the fower corners fower banners of yellow taffety ; right before, a sling mounted that carried a bullett as bigg as a great Tennis ball ; the gunner behind yt ; in Number about 300. Other Eliphantes of honor that went before and after, about 600 ; all which were couered with veluett or cloth of gould, and had 2 or 3 guilded banners carried. In the way rann diuers footemen with sckinnes of water that made a continuall shower before him; no horse nor man suffered to approach the Coach by two furlonges, except those that walked a foote by;
23.4.3
soe that I hasted to his tentes to attend his alighting. They were walled in about halfe an english mile in Compasse, in forme of a fort with diuers Coynes and bulwarckes, with high Cannattes of a Course stuff made like arras, red on the outsyde, within which figures in Panes, with a handsome gate house; euery Post that beare vp these was hedded with a topp of brasse. The throng was great. I desired to goe in, but no man was suffered; the greatest in the land satt at the doore; but I made an offer, and they admitted mee, but refused the Persian Embassador and all the Noblemen. Here first the Persian Embassador saluted me, with a silent Complement only. In the middst of this Court was a throwne of mother of Pearle borne on two pillars raysd on earth, couered ouer with an high tent, the Pole headed with a knob of gould, vnder it Canopyes of Cloth of gould, vnder foote Carpettes. When the king came neare the doore, some Noble men came in and the Persian Ambassador. Wee stood one of the one syde, the other of the other, making a little lane. The king entering cast his eye on mee, and I made a reuerence; hee layd his hand on his brest and bowed, and turning to the other syde nodded to the Persian. I followed at his heeles till hee ascended, and euery man cryed "Good Ioy and fortune," and so tooke our Places. Hee called for water, washed his handes and departed. His weomen entered some other Port to their quarter, and his sonne I saw not.
23.4.4
Within this whole rayle was about 30 diuisions with tents. All the Noble men retired to theirs, which were in excellent formes, some all white, some greene, some mingled; all encompassd as orderly as any house; one of the greatest raretyes and magnificencyes I euer saw. The vale showed like a bewtifull Citty, for that the ragges nor baggage were not mingled. I was vnfitted with Carriadge, and ashamed of my Prouision; but fiue years allowance would not haue furnished mee with one indifferent sute sortable to others. And, which addes to the greatnes, euery man hath a double, for that one goes before to the next remooue and is sett a day before the king riseth from these. So I returned to my Poore house. I demanded of Asaph Chan what remedy I should fynd against Zulphecarcon and showed his bill, desiering him to send to him or make Complaynt to the king. He putt mee off to mooue the Prince: that the king would not meddle with his seruantes. I yet, to my extreme trouble and woonder, heard noe Newes from Suratt nor Agra; resolued to follow the Prince on the morrow, and to Complayne of our debtes.
23.4.5
November 4. — I sent Master Bidolph and Iaddow to the Princes Camp to prooue whither by fayre meanes Zulphecarcon would pay the debt; for I knew how distastefull a complaynt against him would bee, and what I had suffered for this Contention. They first went to Afzuld chan, the secretary, and acquaynted him with my resolution to deliuer his bill to the Prince. He answered hee doubted not but hee would giue satisfaction without that course, and wishd them to goe speake with him, which they did, and hee resolutly answered he would pay no more. When they urged his bill hee slighted it, and bad demand it of the Prince, for whatsoeuer hee tooke from vs was for him; and that hee should pay it if he would, for that himselfe would not. Now the Prince was loose from the king, you may Iudge that which I foresaw, that the delayes and pretences for want of Certificatt from Suratt, which I had sent for 6 monthes, serued only a turne to gett at liberty and to cosen vs. I resolued in my tyme for no respect of danger or displeasure to leaue such an example, but to hazard all to recouer so little mony. If it had been myne owne I would haue giuen it rather then vndergone a New Conflict; but I purposed a fayre way without Iust exception, and that if I so suffered it was a kind of Martirdome: first to show his hand and seale to the Prince, and if I found no Iustice to deliuer it to the king, with the full Passage of all proceeding in yt. November 5.
23.4.6
— I rode to the Princes tents, about 5 mile, when he sate out. I usd some prefaces of respect, and desiered to take my leaue of his Highnes, to whom I wished a prosperous Iourny, victorye ouer his enemyes, a glorious Tryumph woorthy his greatnes, and a safe returne. I entreated him to beleeue I was his humble seruant in all respectes, reseruing my duty to my souerayne; and that hee would bee pleased to retayne our Nation in his fauour and protection. Then I presented to him Zulpheckcarcons billes for 17,000 mamoodies, of which hee had payd 9,000 and the remayner hee refused after many delayes: that I had had long Pacience for respect of his highnes, but now the Necessitye of his departure and my attendance on the king enforced mee to appeale to his Justice, wherin I doubted not to fynd releefe. Hee read it ouer, and seemed to beleeue it had beene Payd, demanding if Afsul chan knew the account. I answered: yes: that he was an instrument of the Conclusion, and it was witnessed by Mochrebchan, Hoja Nassan, and diuers, that knew wee lost for this end aboue 2,000 mamoodies, and that his owne hand and seale and his scrivanoes bills would testefye against him. Hee desiered me stay till the secretary came and I should receiue order. He rose before Afzul chan appeared and retyred, but sent Biram chan, the Commander of all his horse, to stay me a little.
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Within halfe an hower came answere that I should returne to my house, and two dayes after repayre to him: hee would examine the busines and Pay mee himselfe: that then I should take my leaue of him. He sate in the same Magnificence, order, and greatnes that I mentioned of the king; His Throwne beeing Plated ouer with siluer, inlayd with flowers of gould, and the Canopy ouer it square, borne on fower Pillars couered with siluer; his Armes, swoord, buckler, bowes, arrowes, and lance, on a table before him. The watch was sett, for it was euening. When hee came abroade, I obserued him now hee was absolute, and Curiously his fashion and actions. Hee receiued two lettres, read them standing, before hee ascended his Throne. I neuer saw so settled a Countenance, nor any man keepe so Constant a grauety, neuer smiling, nor in face showeing any respect or difference of men; but mingled with extreame Pride and Contempt of all. Yet I found some inward trouble now and then assayle him, and a kinde of brokennes and distraction in his thoughtes, vnprouidedly and amasedly answering sutors, or not hearing. If I can Iudg any thing, hee hath left his hart among his fathers women, with whom hee hath liberty of conuersation. Normahall in the English Coach the day before visited him and tooke leaue. She gaue him a Cloake all embrodered with Pearle, diamondes and rubyes; and carried away, if I err not, his attention to all other busines.