The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 41.6
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 41.6
- Language
- English
41.6.1
Master Steele hath Now fully deliuered himselfe and his woorkemen into the Kings Power, and them into his Pay; hath had speech of the like for himselfe ; and it is all our opinion hee will vpon that sett vp his rest. In woords he protested Not ; but hee hath gotten his wife vp with Mistris Towerson, as her seruant, and vowed to mee shee should liue in her house, to which end I tooke a Couenant from them. But the first day hee brake it, carried her to a house of his owne, where hee liues with Coach, Palinke, 7 horses, and ten seruants ; and, beeing stayed in my house as Prisoner, to search into his entents, he confessed hee said anything formerly and consented to the Couenants to deceiue mee and to gett his wife into his owne Power. The excuse of all is affection. [Marginal note by Roe. — Now he followes the Court with as great expence as I and as many seruants.] Send them home by force I cannot, or is now too late, vntill the King bee satisfied in his expectation of great Promises from Richard Steele. Neyther will hee proceed vpon the woorke of Agra (which was my Condition), but follow the Leskar to make Picturs, clocks, coaches and such deuices, by which hee hopes to creepe into great preferments. I assure you I write of his Courses very modestly. Wee are not yet wise enough to see any hopes nor any entents of his to effect a woork out of which you may make any aduantage. He hath professed the woorkemen are his seruants : that he spent 500 li. to bring them for the King.
41.6.2
They haue not language to denye it, nor will to follow him ; but now they are engaged, hauing receiued horses and Mony ; and when I mooue their true employment, it is replyed they are in the Kings Pay, and must obey his Pleasurs, they and their guide. [Marginal note by Roe. — When he was my toong to the King, he would deliuer his owne tales and not a woord what I commanded.] The Next difference is that hee will alsoe carry vp his woman, which I refuse, requiring her stay with her Mistris, according to yours and my intent. If hee consent, I shall giue him some employment and allowance from you ; if not, that hee will runne in all contrarie, then hee giues mee such assurance of that all men suspect, that I shall neither trust him with your goods nor pay him any wages vntill I haue meanes to send him home ; which will soone bee, if hee continew his expence and attend the bounties of this King. You see I desier noe weomens company, but labour to leaue such incumberances behynd. Beleeue mee the scandall already is not easely wyped off. Your securitie shalbe at the woorst you shall loose no more by him ; I will looke to your estate. The King is anew gone into the woods, toward Mando as reported, but wee are not certeyne. I am entering into the miserie and Chardge of following. What conclusion I shall haue I cannot presage. Hee is good to mee ; his sonne latly better, who is absolute King.
41.6.3
Hee hath granted mee a few Priuiledges, and reconfirmed our trade and liberties at Suratt, but will heare of noe more Ports ; his firmaen also for recouerie of Customes taken on the way and for your goods and seruants at Brampoore that were seized by the justice. He hath ordered all your debts in Cerkar and promised execution of the Kings sentence against other our debtors, which if wee could settle, in a Month I should doubtlesse finish. I was not consenting to the Making, yet will not leaue them alone that did mee. I am soe weary of the wayes of this Court, which are gouerned by no rule, that I must open to you my full resolution. If this Norose I can finish my desiers of vniuersall Priuiledges that shalbe of Power in all Parts of his Dominion, and recouer our debts, I shall desier to retyre and rest mee vntill the arriuall of your fleete; for the Next raynes, if I lye in the feilds or in an open house, will finish my trauells. If not, I will take my leaue, and bee ready at Suratt to meete with the ship I expect from the Red Sea, who shall both Pay mee all that is due and make those conditions bee offered which now I seeke with despayre. Assure you, I knowe these People are best treated with the swoord in one hand and Caducean in the other.
41.6.4
If I haue erred in my judgment you will easely fynd one man cannot see all. My affection to doe you right and honest seruice shall excuse many escapes. But in Generall I desier you to preserue in your opinion this thought of mee: that whatsoeuer I conceiue good for you I will Practice: neither feare nor Paynes shall diuert mee: and that when I shall be present to giue you reason of any thing I haue written, Noe man shalbe soe impudent as to contradict it: and for my life, it will not bee ashamed of any search and enquirie. The issue of all yours and our endeauours I committ to Gods blessing, who is able to Make rich and Poore, and to convert the successes of all to his Glorie. Your honest frend to doe you seruice, Tho. Roe.