The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 36.1.6

36.1.6

To which end he desired to send downe a seruant, which I could not deny without losing him I had so long laboured to get ; neither was it ill for vs, for his payment is good, and it will saue vs much charge and trouble to sell aboord, especially wine and luggish that spoiles in cariage ; and he obtained leaue vnder false colours, and wrote to the Gouernour in our behalfes, with all manner of kindnesse. There is a necessitie of his friendship : his word is law ; and therefore I durst not see his vnworthinesse ; and hope by this course to winne him, at least to make present good vse of him. Vpon this occasion I moued for a Firman for Bengala, which he promised, and would neuer before hearken to. And this effect of his greatnesse [gratefulness?] I found: that hee prosecuted our debters, as if his owne ; and, passing by the Cutwalls on his Elephant, called to command dispatch, which was an vnusuall fauour ; vpon which Groo was imprisoned, and Muckshu had two dayes libertie only to pay vs ; and I doubt not but to end that in ten dayes, the summe being foure and forty thousand Rupias and the debters most shifting false knaues in India. [October] 21.