The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 31.2
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 31.2
- Language
- English
31.2.1
September 1. — Was the Kings Birth-day, and the solemnitie of his weighing, to which I went, and was carryed into a very large and beautifull Garden; the square within all water; on the sides flowres and trees; in the midst a Pinacle, where was prepared the scales, being hung in large tressels, and a crosse beame plated on with Gold thinne, the scales of massie Gold, the borders set with small stones, Rubies and Turkey, the Chaines of Gold large and massie, but strengthened with silke Cords. Here attended the Nobilitie, all sitting about it on Carpets, vntill the King came; who at last appeared clothed, or rather loden with Diamonds, Rubies, Pearles, and other precious vanities, so great, so glorious! his Sword, Target, Throne to rest on correspondent; his head, necke, breast, armes, aboue the elbowes, at the wrists, his fingers euery one with at least two or three Rings, fettered with chaines, or dyalled Dyamonds, Rubies as great as Wal-nuts (some greater), and Pearles such as mine eyes were amazed at. Suddenly hee entered into the scales, sate like a woman on his legges, and there was put in against him many bagges to fit his weight, which were changed sixe times, and they say was siluer, and that I vnderstood his weight to be nine thousand Rupias, which are almost one thousand pound sterling. After with Gold and Iewels, and precious stones, but I saw none; it beeing in bagges might bee Pibles.
31.2.2
Then against Cloth of Gold, Silke, Stuffes, Linnen, Spices, and all sorts of goods, but I must beleeue, for they were in fardles. Lastly, against Meale, Butter, Corne, which is said to be giuen to the Banians, and all the rest of the Stuffe; but I saw it carefully carryed in, and none distributed. Onely the siluer is reserued for the poore, and serues the ensuing yeare, the King vsing in the night to call for some before him, and with his owne hands in great familiaritie and humilitie to distribute that money. The scale he sate in by one side, he gazed on me, and turned me his stones and wealth, and smiled, but spake nothing, for my Enterpreter could not be admitted in. After he was weighed, he ascended his Throne, and had Basons of Nuts, Almonds, Fruits, Spices of all sort, made in thinne siluer, which he cast about, and his great men scrambled prostrate vppon their bellies; which seeing I did not, hee reached one Bason almost full, and powred into my Cloke. His Noblemen were so bold as to put in their hands, so thicke that they had left me none if I had not put a remayner vp. I heard he threw Gold till I came in, but found it siluer so thinne, that all I had at first, being thousands of seuerall pieces, had not weighed sixtie Rupias. I saued about twentie Rupias weight, yet a good dishfull, which I keep to shew the ostentation; for by my proportion he could not that day cast away aboue one hundred pound sterling. At night he drinketh with all his Nobilitie in rich Plate.
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I was inuited to that, but told I must not refuse to drinke, and their waters are fire. I was sicke and in a little fluxe of bloud, and durst not stay to venture my health.
31.2.4
September 9.—The King rode to the Riuer of Darbadath, fiue course, on pleasure; and comming by my house, I rode out to meete him. The custome is, that all men by whom hee passeth neare their gate make him some Present, which is taken as a good signe, and is called Mombareck, good Newes or good Successe. I had nothing to giue, nor might fitly goe with nothing, nor stay at home without discourtesie; which made mee venture vpon a faire Booke well bound, filleted and gilt, Mercators last Edition of the Maps of the world, which I presented with an excuse that I had nothing worthy, but to a great King I offered the World, in which he had so great and rich a part. The King tooke it in great courtesie, often laying his hand on his breast, and answering: Euery thing that came from mee was welcome. Hee asked after the ships arriuall, which I told him I daily expected. Hee told me hee had some fat wild Hogges sent him from Goa, and, if I would eate any, at his returne he would send me some. I made him due reuerence, and answered : Anything from his Maiestie was a feast to me. He rode on his Eliphant, and the way was stonie; and I offering to bring him toward the gate, hee bade God keepe mee, and returne to my house, demanding which it was, and praysing it (indeed, it was one of the best in the Leskar, yet but an old Church and large Tombe inclosed). Iterating his farewell, he said the way was ill, and desired me to goe home; and with much shew of courtesie tooke leaue.
31.2.5
September 16. — I rode to repay the visit of Marre Rustam, the Prince of Candahor, who at my arriuall sent word he durst not see mee, except hee asked leaue of the King or acquainted Etimon Dowlet or Asaph Chan, which at the Durbar he would. I answered : he should not need, for I neuer meant to trouble my selfe with a man so vnciuill, nor to come a second time: I knew well it was a shift out of ill manners: that the King would bee no more angry for his bidding mee welcome to his house then for his comming to mine : but that I cared not to see him, but came in ciuilitie to requite that I took so in him. His man desired me to stay vntill he told his Master my answere; but I would not, and returned. At night, I rode to Court to visit the King, who questioned about the Booke of Maps ; but I did forbeare any speech of my debts. [September] 25. — I rode to the Court, very weake, to make triall of the King about our debts ; for that Muckshud had also newly answered he had mist his Prigany and knew not how to pay, but by his house. I deliuered the King the Merchants Petition, which hee caused to bee read aloud, and the names of the debtors and sureties and summes distinctly, by Asaph Chan ; which done, he called Araddat Chan, the chiefe of his officers of Houshold, and the Cutwall, and gaue them order ; but what I vnderstood not.
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Reading the names, hee questioned their abilities and qualities, and what goods they receiued, finding some dead, some strangers : concerning Rulph, Asaph Chan offered to speake to the Prince at his arriuall to finish it. My Interpreter was now called in, and the King conuerted to mee, giuing this answere : That the Merchants had made debts at their owne wills, and not brought a note of their goods to him : therefore, if the men were insufficient, it was at their peril, for that it was no reason to expect the money from him (which, I suppose, he spake of his seruant Mergonen, who being dead, his goods were seazed for the Kings vse) : but seeing it was the first time, he would now assist me, and cause our money to be payed : but if hereafter the English would deliuer their goods to his seruants without money or acquainting him, they should stand to the hazard : but if, when their commodities came to the Court, they would bring a bill to him of all, he would first serue himselfe, and after distribute the rest to such as should buy that and if any of them failed, he would pay the money himselfe. This is indeed the custome of Persia Merchants, to bring all to the King (which I haue often seene), who takes his choice and deliuers the rest to his Nobilitie, his Scriuanoes writing to whom, and his Officer cutting price, a copy of which is giuen the Merchant, and hee goes to their houses for money;
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if they pay not, there is an expresse Officer that hath order by currant course to force them. Then was it told my Interpreter what command the King had giuen : that Arad Chan should call the debtors before him, and cause them to pay; but this pleased not our Merchants. I thought it both a iust and gratious answere; better then in such cases priuate men can get of great Princes. The King, hearing I had been sicke and wished for wine, gaue me fiue bottles, and commanded, when I had ended those, to send for fiue more, and so as I wanted : and a fat Hogge, the fattest I euer saw, sent vp by Mochreb Chan, that came from Goa, which at midnight was brought home by a Haddy with this message : since it came to the King it had eaten nothing but Sugar and Butter. I tooke this as a signe of fauour, and I am sure in that Court it is a great one. Then he sent for the Map-booke, and told me he had shewed it his Mulaies, and no man could reade nor vnderstand it; therefore if I would, I should haue it againe. I answered: At his pleasure; and so it was returned. [September] 26. — There being a Raia in rebellion in the hills, not past twentie Course from the Laskar, the King lately sent out two Vmbras with horse to fetch him in; but he defended his quarter, slew one of them and twelue Maandpdares, and in all of both sides about fiue hundred; returning scornefull messages to the King to send his Sonne, for he was no prey for ordinary forces.