The 18th, the king commanded one of his brother’s sons, who had been made a Christian out of policy, to bring him into hatred of the people, to touch a lion on the head which was brought in before the king.  But he refused it, being afraid, on which the king desired his youngest son to touch the lion, which he did, without receiving any harm.  On this the king commanded his nephew to be taken to prison, whence he is never likely again to be released.

On the 24th a son was born to Sultan Churrum, and being now preparing to set out for the Deccan wars, all men’s eyes are upon him, either for flattery, gain, or envy, none for love.  He has received twenty lacks of rupees, equal to L200,000 sterling, towards his expences, and begins to act with more than his usual liberality.  Notwithstanding this shew of his father’s affection, a khan at court endeavoured to persuade the king that this expedition would be productive of danger, as prince Parvis, whose honour would be thereby wounded, would certainly not submit without revenge.  To this the king answered, “Let them fight, and he who proves the better captain, shall pursue the war.”

The 25th I had an audience of the king, being sent for by Asaph Khan, and was received by his majesty with much courtesy.  This Asaph Khan was much in the prince’s favour, wherefore I was unwilling to disoblige him, though he had given me several provocations.  At this time Mukrob Khan, another of the great men, made me offers of service, being of a contrary faction to Asaph Khan, but I thought it best to endeavour to make friends of them both.  Among other subjects of discourse, Mukrob told me that the English brought too much cloth and broad-sword blades for sale to India, and hardly any thing else, wherefore he advised they should forbear for two or three years, and rather bring the curiosities of China and Japan, which would be more acceptable, and to bring from England the best cloth of gold, and the richest silks wrought with gold and silver, and above all things, large quantities of Arras hangings.

The 30th I visited Abdalla Hassan, having need of his friendship; and, what is rare in this country, he refused to accept of any present.  Abdalla is captain over all the soldiers maintained at court, and treasurer of all the armies.  He entertained me with great civility, and few compliments, and made me sit beside him to see the soldiers shoot at marks with their bows and firelocks.  Most of them hit the mark with a single bullet, being about the size of a hand, affixed to a butt.  We had some discourse together about the manner of using weapons in Europe, after which I took my leave and departed.

Most of July passed in soliciting the prince to sign the articles I had presented to the king, as mentioned before.  On the 13th I sent him three bottles of Alicant, and a letter concerning the difference between us and the Portuguese about trade, offering to take all the customs to farm, both inwards and outwards, for the use of the company.  The prince, according to his usual barbarous custom of transacting all business in public, caused my letter to be twice read over to him by his secretary, often interrupting him with discourse, and sent word that he would read it again at night and consider its contents, and that I should have his answer through Mirza Sorocalla.