The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 11: TO THE East India Company, by the way of Persia.
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 11
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TO THE East India Company, by the way of Persia.
11.1
14 Feb., 1615 [-16]. Honored Frendes, Since my last of the 25th and 29th of January, sent by Captaine Newport, in the later of which I made known to you some difference betweene the Prince and mee concerning the Portugalls, I haue receiued these inclosed from Persia, though not directed to mee by name, yet as I thought necessary for me to open, you having, to my knowledge, no Cape merchant in the Country I haue by two wayes ouer land dispeeded with all expidition these and theyr Coppy: not only that you may know what they Conteyne but to giue my Judgment of the busines, how it is, to what ends, by what means, and, if it be possible, which way this new resolution may be diuerted, for Master Steele hath not (in myne opinion) seene farr into the misterye if, as he writes, he beleeues he hath procured for you a trade. His owne desire to doe yt may blind his Judgment You shall fynd here among these a fayr Command to the Gouernors of Jassques and other sea Ports, if any english shipes arriue, to give them trade and entreat them frendly, and in the seuerall lettres many clauses that a trade is procured you, that ther is hope you shall haue licence to fortefye, and a great opinion of the excellency of the woorke done, flattering themselues, wheras the whole scope and marrow of the relation is quite contrary; and it seemes to me, by these very lettres that promise trade, almost impossibilitye of obteyninge yt.
11.2
For thus much I collect out of the history, which agreeing with other circumstances known to me heere is doubtlesse truth, that, before any intelligence of the Turks purpose of invasion, the Persian for many reasons was resolued against the Portugalles to open his owne way to sea and to keepe his Gulph free for all Nations and to dischardge yt of the Portugall bondage, and to this Purpose tooke Bandell theyr foort on the Mayne, distressd the Iland by cutting off provisions, and sett a day of exile to all the residers in his land. But this Cloud from Turky threatning a storme on euery side, when hee had sett that noble project afoote, diuerted him wholy to attend his owne safety and to weaken his enemy, resoluing for the present vpon his ould Course, to waste his borders that the Turke might fynd no forradge, and to forbidd all Carauans or Merchantes passadge into Turky. In this Exigent ariued Sir Robert Sheirley and was welcommed like one that brought some new hopes or remedye. He, that was to make his fortune by imployment and to mayntayne his Creditt by New projectes, finding the Emperor in trouble and irresolute, the Portugalles in disgrace and Neede, tuned the ould string of some way diuerting the whole trade of Persia from Turky;
11.3
and beeing assured that the King of Spayne would for many reasons accept of yt, solicited by the friars, men of his owne faith, he offered to procure that, conditionally the Spaniard might receiue all the silkes and haue leaue to refortefye Bandell and some other ports, the king to send royally euery yeare a fleete which should both bring ready mony for most part and for the rest should serue him with spyces, pepper, Indian lynnen, and such Comodities: That the Emperor should not doubt his fortefying, for it would be easy for him to turne them out if he procurd Peace from the Turke: in the mean tyme they were his fittest allyes, because they were euer ennimyes to the Turke. This is the resolution, and to this purpose hath Sir Robert procured himselfe an imployment into Spayne, wher I doubt not hee wilbe veary wellcome. It needes be no question wheither the Spaniard will accept off this offer. First, it will add to the Kings Coffers 1,000,000 of Crownes yearly. Secondly, it will occasion him to send good fleetes into these coasts, which will not be Idle. Therdly, it will recouer him all his reputation, that was eauen sick to death in this quarter, for the disgusts of Persia and the danger of Ormus was like a plaugesore in his syde. Lastly, the Mogull, who harkens after him and his proceedings and will judge first by the peace made, after by the number of shippes that will hant this Coast, that it wilbe wisedome to follow the example and entyrely embrace the Spaniard.
11.4
Now to the Command granted by the Persian in behalfe of our Nation, it is of no consequence, for who would doubt that he would refuse vs leaue to trade? But what Conditions are there to deliuer silke, or to receiue vs only, such as are sent into Spayne ? Sir Robert Shirly could not, beeing an English man, refuse to procure that that was euen due by Common equetye and to which the Persian was inclinable, and as yet it was folly to reject vs, beeing not assured of the Spaniard ; but he hath discouered playnely his hart another way, and knowes that if his Embassadge succeed in Spayne, this command will fall of yt selfe, for that all is conditioned to the Spaniard, and the Coast giuen him, and then we must obteyne leaue of him, not of the Persian. That he hath a message to the King of England I beleeue is a Colour to deceiue these the easier ; for how dares, or with what face can hee see his souerayne, to whom and to whose kingdomes he hath done soe ill offices ? That he will breake off with the kyng of Spayne and come for England, if Sir Thomas Smith hould intelligence with him, is a meere mockery, for that is beyonnd his Commission, or at least another string to his bow if the Spaniard refusse. No, he hath a Discalsadoe Portugall for his Confessor and hee knowes that the start in this busines wynns yt, and is sure of great reward from the Spaniard for him selfe;
11.5
and eauen this, were ther no other, makes me suspect his affection, that to wynne tyme of Steele, least hee should arriue in Christendome before him, he hath taken Robinns the Englishman with him toward Ormus, who is become keeper of the Commandes, and without whose presence it seemes Steele cannot dispatch ; which him selfe sees, though somwhat darkley. The Consequence of this is very important; eauen for his Maiesties estate, for that will add both wealth and creditt to that nation, that I can neuer beleeue wilbe our frend longer then whyle their owne wants Constreyne them. It wilbe very dangerous for your trade here, in respect that your enemy wilbecome your strong neighbour, wheras he was languishing and wearing to nothing. Therfore, if it be possible, you must seeke some preuention. For my part I haue ventured to write to the Persian kyng my opinion of his resolution and enlightned him with some better vnderstanding of the Spaniardes Nature and qualety, wher they gett footing, and to lett him see he may vent his silkes and all the Comodytyes of his Country at better rates, if he erect a free mart in some Coast towne for all Nations, then to be bound to the Spaniard, who will creepe the first yeare and insult the next; offering our selues to trade with him royally, if hee wilbe pleased to stay his resolution of deliuering him selfe into the wardship of the Spaniard. The Coppy of which at lardge is herein enclosed.
11.6
I can doe you no further seruice but aduenture my poore advise what you should doe in England, if by this lettre or Master Steeles Intelligence this Spanish negotiation come to you before Sir Robert Sheirleys arriuall in Spaine (which wilbe in July 1616), to sollicite his Maiestie to Command his Embassador resident there to woorke him to propound a peace in those seas between the English and Spaniardes and so to offer the dessigning of a free place for trade, pretending that, if the Spaniard should haue yt alone, the seas would neuer be quiett: that the English would infest the Coast, and nothing but warr would ensue: wheras there was Comodytye enough for both, and with more profitt on both sydes then eyther to defend or gayne yt by a warr. And though I doubt not but Sir Robert Sheirley vsd the woordes, of quitting Spayne and Comming for England, to abuse Master Steele, yet he may be taken in his owne Nett, and they may serue to be vrdged to him in his Maiesties name as a promise. Though this take no great effect, nor that I beleeue eyther the Spaniard will agree to peace Nor Sir Robert Sheirly effectually and Cordially moue yt, yet by the negotiation he shall loose some tyme and you may send two shipes vpon the Coast and gett this start, to offer your selues first, really there, wherby you shall engage the Emperor, eauen in good Nature, to be willing to make conditions for you;
11.7
but to expect any trade (as I signifyed in my last lettres), except it be royally vndertaken, that the Persian may be sure of full vent, is a vayne hope. You may range the Coast one yeare, and make a saving voyage, but fynd little silke, which growes aboue, nor vent much Cloth, which is Comoditye only fitt for the remotest parts, neyther doe I perceiue by Steele that much will vent at all ; but his aduise is good, that if you only serue them with Pepper and Indian Comodytye great profitt will arise. I haue breefly acquaynted his Maiestie and the lordes with the busines and my poore opinion. If I haue beene two busy I hope you wilbe mediators for mee, that haue erred out of blind zeale to doe my Country seruice. If any alterations happen, I will spend you some mony to aduise you overland, but not as others haue done. You will fynd a dear reckoning of Master Steeles employment ; and, if I durst take such liberty, I could procure you Camells loades of firmaens to no purpose. God in his Mercy giue blessing to all your endeuors, and though I doe you not that seruice you expect, yet your fauorable eyes shall perceaue I doe according to my abilitye faythfully ; referring the resolution and conclusion to your better Judgments, knoweing yt is my dutie to enforme and propound and after to execute according to directions. So tyme and matter calls on me to end without Ceremony. Ready to doe you seruice, Tho. Roe.