The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 23.4.5

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.