The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 39.13

39.13

January 22. — I went my selfe to receiue them; and carryed the Merchants with some Pearle that the Prince had bin instant to see, pretended to be Master Towersons. But he had receiued some vncertaine information of Pearles to the value of twentie or thirtie thousand pound, which he hoped to draw from vs. When his Secretarie saw the small sorts, hee replyed : The Prince had Mands of these : if we brought no better commoditie, wee might be gone, he cared not for our custome. How basely false and couetous are those of Iewels, you may iudge. I vndertooke reply : that I had procured those from a Gentlewoman to satisfie them : if they liked them not, they could not be made better : it was inciuility to be angry with Merchants for their goodwill ; but told him I came for my Firmans, and expected them. I was answered : Wee had deceiued their hopes, and the Prince would deceiue ours : Firman I should haue none : I had asked leaue to depart : I might come and take leaue when I pleased. I answered : Nothing contented mee more, but that I would visit their vniustice in an indifferent place : that I would speake with the King, and depend no more on them, for I saw all was couetousnesse and vnworthinesse. So I rose and parted. But he recalled me to come to the King and Prince together the next day : I should haue content.