The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 33.8

33.8

He bade mee steale all ashoare, trust none, and shewed mee many conueyances; bade me observe the vsage of the Portugalls, how they were ransacked ; and desired to buy it, which if I would grant it, I should haue money in deposito, what I should aske; and he would, for this trust of him, sollicite all my desires; that without him I could doe nothing. Now was an oportunitie to make a friend. I answered: I was willing, but I feared hee would reueale it; which hauing receiued his oath, and a ceremony of couenant by crossing thumbes, we embraced. I promised to be directed by him; and he to doe all that I required for the comming vp of the rest: he would take order to giue me Firmans: no man should touch any thing, but all come to me, to dispose of at pleasure: The Prince he would reconcile to me, and the next time he visited him, he would take me, and make him vse me with all grace; and for other businesse it should not be in his power to crosse me: but, if he did, he would assigne vs a Syndic, which was in his gouernment, or procure any other Port at my desire: and whatsoeuer I demanded should be performed faithfully. He also aduised me to giue his sister Normahall some toy. He said he would make the King giue me money; to which I answered: I desire you to conuert it into the well vsage of my countrey-men: I asked no more.