The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 7.12

7.12

and solicited the firmaens Promised, of which the Prince sent by his officers one for Suratt, but withall Articles for mee to signe very dishonorable, wherin among others it was required that I should firme a Peace and safe Conduct to the Portugalles shippes and frigotts to Come safely to Suratt, without any accord, promise or Counter securytye of Peace on their Partes; which I vtterly refused, but made offer that for the Princes sake I was Content to giue the Viceroy of Goa 6 Monthes liberty to enter into leauge, and to open the Portes. But the present writing was required to be sealed; wherby, besydes the folly and dishonor, they might vnder coullor of Frendship haue rode amonge our fleete with boates laden with fire woorkes to haue taken aduantage. So, as I absolutely rejected the Motion, I was answered I should then haue no firmaen for Suratt. Soe it rested two dayes. I, supposinge the fault only in the Princes officers, sent to Asaph Chan, to complayne of the vnequalle demandes of Sultan Carronne and that the firmaen promised beeing sealed was deteyned from mee, Contrarye to all the Prinnces faire woordes and his owne assurances of the Justice; but insteed of releefe I found Asaph Chan the author of this deuice and an earnest disputer for the reasonablenes therof; and soe returned me a round answer, that vnlesse I would signe the one I should not haue the other. This awaked me. I saw now the faction, but was irresolute what to doe. Asaph Chan was a broken reede;