Sec.7. A New-Year’s Gift.—­Suspicions entertained of the English.—­Trade of Dabul.—­Dissatisfaction of the Persian Ambassador.—­English Ships of War in the Indian Seas.

On the 12th March, 1617, I carried, as a new-year’s gift to the king, a pair of very handsome knives belonging to myself, and six glasses belonging to the Company, making an apology for the smallness of the present, which was well received, and the king used me very graciously, saying, that whatever came from my hands he looked on as a sufficient present, and as a proof of my love, and that it was now his part to give me.  He gave orders to an officer to send for Mr Bidulph, to pay him his demands to his satisfaction, and all others who were indebted to us were ordered by name to pay what they owed to the Company.  The king said likewise, that he would write to the prince in our favour.  But I found him unwilling to part with any of our things, of which the best sweet bag then lay before him.  I replied, that I was very unwilling to go empty-handed.  The king then commanded that I should come up and stand beside him on the steps of the throne, where stood on one side the Persian ambassador, and the old king of Candahar on the other, with whom I ranked.  As soon as I had taken my place, the king asked me for a knife, which I sent him next day.  The king then called the Persian to stand before him, to whom he gave a jewel and a young elephant, for which he kneeled and saluted the ground with his head.

On this occasion the same throne and furniture were used as last year, the upper end of the hall being adorned with the pictures of the king my master, the queen, the princess Elizabeth, Sir Thomas Smith, and some others, with two pieces of beautiful Persian tapestry hung below them.  The throne was of gold, bespangled all over with rubies, emeralds, and turquoises.  On one side, on a little stage or scaffold, was a company of women-singers.  I this day sent a dispatch to Surat, giving my advice respecting the trade of Persia, and of what had passed on that subject with the ambassador, and sent some remembrance to the governor, Ibrahim Khan.  I had a letter from him in return, stating that the English nation had been wronged without his knowledge; but as his authority was now augmented by Prince Churrum, we might rest confident in his protection, as while he lived and held authority at that place, we should never more be liable to abuses, but should be allowed to reside and trade in perfect freedom and security.

The 13th I sent as a present to Asaph Khan a richly embroidered pair of gloves, and a fair wrought night-cap of my own.  He received the cap, but returned the gloves, as useless in this country, and requested to have some Alicant wine, which I sent him next night.  Aganor, whose diligence now gave me great hope of success in my desires, sent his Banian secretary to inform me that he had orders for the dispatch, of the merchant goods, and that his man should attend Mr Bidulph