On the 22d of May I went to the king at the durbar, to solicit his authority to get back a youth named Jones, who had run away from me to an Italian, who protected him to the disgrace of our nation, by using the king’s name.  The king gave me an order for his delivery; but the prince, who waited every opportunity to injure us, for the sake of his favourite, Zulphecar Khan, moved the king in private to send for the youth first, to the Guzalcan, which was done.  I had newly broken off from conferring with the prince, on account of his partiality to Zulphecar Khan, and had sent him word that I would no longer refrain from stating our grievances to the king in person, which was the cause of his enmity towards me.  When Jones was brought before the king, being instigated by the protection and countenance of the prince, he railed against me to my face, with the most virulent malice, beseeching the king to save his life; on which the king resolved not to deliver him up to me, but to send him as a prisoner to Surat.  But the prince, to brave me, begged to have him for a servant, as the fellow had renounced his country, on which the king did so, in spite of every thing I could allege.  On this the prince gave him 150 rupees, with the pay of two horsemen, and commanded me not to meddle with him.

On the night of the 23d, Jones came and threw himself at my feet, asking pardon for his lies and mad behaviour.  I told him I would not now keep him prisoner, as he was the prince’s servant; but I would not give him any answer till he had made public reparation for his misbehaviour, as far as he could.  Accordingly, on the next day, he contrived to get to the Guzalcan, and there asked pardon of the king for the lies he had spoken against me, denying every word he had then spoken, alleging he had done so to protect himself against me, whom he had offended, and prayed the king to send for me, that he might ask my pardon in public.  The king was well pleased, but the prince fell into a rage.  I went to the Guzalcan on the 25th, when the king protested he never believed what Jones had said against me, and that he considered him a villain, yet could not but protect him, as he had cast himself on his mercy.  Jones was sent for, and asked my pardon on his knees, declaring on oath to the king that he had in every thing belied me, and that he now made this declaration in a voluntary manner, as he durst not return to his country.  The king chid him a little, saying to me that neither he nor any good man could believe such a slanderer.  The prince grew angry, and endeavoured to make Jones stand to what he had said formerly against me; and as Jones refused, the prince basely desired him to restore the 150 rupees he had received for bearing witness against me.  Jones promised to return the money, for which purpose an under-treasurer was sent along with him to the house in which he lodged, as I would not suffer him to come to mine.