And, When The Conditions On Both Sides Were
Mutually Agreed Upon, I Would Reciprocally Bind My Sovereign, To Mutual
Offices Of Friendship, And To Such Reasonable Conditions For The Benefit
Of His Majesty's Subjects As He Might Propose:
All of which being drawn
up in tripartite, I hoped his majesty would graciously sign one, his son
the prince another, and I would confirm the third in the name of my
sovereign, in virtue of my commission.
The king pressed to know what was the condition in the prince's firmaun
which I had refused, which I stated. So we fell into earnest dispute
before the king, with some heat. Mukrob Khan interposed, saying he was
advocate for the Portuguese, and spoke slightingly of us, alleging that
the king ought to grant no articles to us that were unfavourable for
them. I answered, that I did not propose any against them, but only in
our own just defence, and that I had not conceived he was so great a
friend to the Portuguese. On this the jesuit and all the Portuguese
faction struck in, so that I explained myself fully concerning them; and
as I offered a conditional peace, so I valued the friendship of the
Portuguese at a very low rate, and their enmity at a still lower. After
some time, having explained my demands, the king said my proposals were
just and my resolution noble, and bade me clearly propound the
conditions I desired. Asaph Khan, who had stood silent during all this
debate, and who now wished to end it, as we were warm, now interposed,
saying, If we talked all night, it could only come to this at last, that
I should draw my demands in writing and present them; which, if found
reasonable, would be granted by the king. The king said he certainly
would do so; and at my request the prince engaged to do so likewise. The
king then rose to go away, but on my request he turned round, and I
desired my interpreter to say, That I came the day before to see his
majesty and his greatness, and the ceremonies of the feast, on which
occasion I was placed behind him, in an honourable place certainly, but
where I could not see around; and therefore humbly requested his majesty
would be pleased to let me stand on the platform beside his throne. In
answer to this, he commanded Asaph Khan to let me choose my own place in
future.
In the morning of the 14th, I sent a messenger to Asaph Khan, lest he or
the prince might have misunderstood me, by reason of the king's mistake,
and had supposed I had complained against either of them, which I did
not, neither did I so intend; yet I was willing to let them see that I
did not entirely depend upon Asaph Khan, by whom I had hitherto done my
business with the king; but, if he should continue his manner of only
delivering to the king what he himself pleased, and not what I said, I
would find another way. My message was intended to clear up any such
doubts, if they remained, and to entreat he would move the prince to
favour my demands respecting our residence and trade at Surat. His
answer was, that neither the prince nor he had any reason to suspect I
intended to complain against them, the error being sufficiently obvious;
and that, for his part, he had ever been disposed to favour the English,
and would so continue.
The 15th I went again in the evening to see the ceremonies of the
Norose; and according to the Mogul's order, I chose my place of
standing on his right hand, and on the raised platform, the prince and
the son of the Ranna standing on the other side. I here had a full view
of every thing that was to be seen; viz. the presents, and the
exhibition of the elephants, horses, and dancing girls.
The 23d, the Mogul condemned one of his own nation on suspicion of
felony; but as he was one of the handsomest men in India, and the proof
was not very clear against him, instead of condemning him to death, he
sent him in irons to me as a slave, to be disposed of as I pleased. This
was looked upon as a great favour, and I accordingly returned thanks;
yet added, that we had no slaves in England, not thinking it lawful to
make the image of God like unto a beast, but that I should employ him as
a servant, and should restore him to liberty if he behaved well. The
king was well pleased with this message.
I went to the Guzalcan on the 26th, and it delivered in the articles
which I had drawn up, which were referred to Asaph Khan for his
consideration and report. Some time after, Asaph Khan sent a message,
desiring me to remove from the place I occupied near the king, because I
stood alone, which was not the custom. I refused at the first; but, as
he still insisted I should rank myself among the nobles, I removed to
the other side, where the prince and young Ranna were. This still more
displeased Asaph Khan, who persuaded the prince to complain of me to the
king, which he did. On hearing their complaint and my answer, that I had
changed my place by order of Asaph Khan, the Mogul said I had done well,
and they were wrong to pretend to displace me. So I kept my place in
quiet. The following is the substance of the articles delivered to the
Great Mogul, which were delayed and opposed: But the conclusion
respecting them will be seen hereafter.
Proposed Articles of Treaty, between the Great Mogul and the King of
Great Britain.
1. There shall be perpetual peace and amity between the king of Great
Britain and his majesty the emperor of India.
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