The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 43: Concerning Presentes.

43

Not to followe the Course of presenting yerely in the Kings name. Once in three yere a letter and a good present. If you bring stones you shalbe welcome to all.
Furnishing yerelie 2 or 3,000li. in other fine ware or cloath of gould, silver, &c., You must yelde to haue it seene at Customehowse, and sent all to the King or prince, with whome must go a merchant, and when opened before the King (which is the slaverie here) he maie give one or two toyes (such as he seeth pleaseth) and, after, all the rest to sell. I assure you they wilbe all bought and good paiment, and the King better content then in this Course ; for our trouble is all aboute the presents, which, if all came to sell, were finished at once. I am inforced by experience to change the Course. I haue tried all waies and hazarded this yere a quarrell to avoyd an affront. I will sett downe a course to prevent their greedines and to tourne it all to proffitt, seeing they haue no honour.
This Counsell Asaph Chan first gaue, telling me we were fooles and had brought vp a Custome to our owne hurt : the King expected nothing of merchantes but to buy, and at entrance (as fashion) a toy, and when anie petition, the like : that when we gave in the name of the King it should be seldomer, and then befitting his honour. He demanded who practized this Course but yourselves, neither Duitch, Persians, nor Armenian merchantes ; neither did the King expect it. I knowe this both wise and thriftie Counsell, but your Agent resident wilbe against it. For ther is no man but will ayme at his owne proffit, my self excepted, as by my retourne it will appeare ; I neuer gaue a knife for myne owne endes, nor vsed the least basenes of begging ; my riches are accordingly.
Fitt presentes from the King: once in three yere, four or five of theis, with one of good value.
I Some good stone for once, or some rich peece of Arras, silke and gould, but one or two at most.
A rich peece of Tissue or Cloathe of gould.
A fine Crowne, sett with small stones.
A faire bed feild, with lace or some worke.
A rich feild Caparason and Sadle, the patterne from hence.
A Coate of Sattin imbrodered, the paterne from hence.
With theis:
Some Cushions, Cabbennetts, glasses, Standishes and toyes of vse for others.
Pictuers of all sortes, if good, in constant request; Some large storie; Diana this yere gave great content.