The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 14: To Sultan Caronne.
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 14
- Language
- English
Contents
To Sultan Caronne.
14.1.1
(Add. MS. 6115, f. 91.) 4th March, 1615[-16]. Most Noble Prince, It seemes to mee that your Highnes is weary of the English at Suratt, or else you would not refuse to deliuer me a firmaen for their saftye and good vsage, but vpon dishonorable Conditions and such as I cannot answer. Therfore I desire your highnes to giue me a Playne answer, which I require in the Name of the King of England, beinge a Frend and Confederatt of your Most Royall father. For, if your Highnes be resolued that they shall haue noe better justice then they haue had, my Master is likewise resolued not to haue his subjects liue where they shalbe Iniured, but we will seeke some other residence, wher wee shalbe better wellcome. For the losses and Injuries suffered by your last Gouernor, your Princly woord is already past for satisfaction. In all which, without your Highnes ayde, I shalbe enforced to Complayne to the King, for which I am sorry. I hope you will excuse my bouldnes, because I doe performe but my dutie. And soe I Committ your highnes to God. The English Ambassador.
14.1.2
March 5. — Mochrebchan, gouernor in the kings absence, and Haja Nassan, with some others, came of their owne accord to visitt mee, having sent woord that they would dine with mee. I entertained them as I was able, to theyr Content, but kept as much State in myne owne house as was vsed towardes me by others; but wee exchanged many complements, Mochrebchan excusing himselfe of all thinges past, professing he knewe not the English, but that now he was theyr seruant. So wee parted very good frendes; and I gaue him at his goeing six glasses guilt. March 6. — The Prince sent his principall officer to Adsmere to giue me Content, fearing I would Complaine, which hee desiered mee to forbeare and that I should haue satisfaction in my desiers, Justice for what was passed, and amendes in the future. Soe hee propounded three other articles to me, leauing out that of the Portugall, and sent them in Persian desiring mee to signe those to his Master and I should haue the firmaen deliuered vpon receipt of yt. When I had gott them translated, though in substance there was nothing which I might not assent vnto, they beeing rather friuolous then dangerous for mee or materiall for the Prince, yet in the woording and forme ther was somthing I misliked, wherin they might if they had so much cunning by hard construction bynd mee to some inconvenience, and restraine the merchants of full liberty.
14.1.3
Therfore I drew them anew according to my owne mynd, altering those clauses and reseruing the substances, and, to avoyd more messages too and fro, I sealed them, and sent them with this answere, that the Articles propounded to mee were suspitiously expressed: that I only had made them playne and keept the substance; which I had there signed and sent, wherof if he would accept, I desired the firmaen, and that resolutely: I would loose no more tyme in treatyes nor firme any other. Both he and Asaph Chan read them, and answered they liked them well: that the Alterations were not prejudiciall to their meaning; and soe deliuered the firmaen, which that night I gott translated, that I might know what I had laboured for. This day I sent the secretary a present, but it is not his Custome to receiue any thing. March 7. — I found the firmaen very effectually reapeating my Complaynts, mentioning the Injuryes in particular, and Commanding all manner of redresse; but in the end a Conditionall clause poysoninge all the rest, that which I had so often refused, that the Portugalles should haue free liberty to Come to Suratt at his Pleasure, and that wee should not molest them, take their goodes nor persons, without any promise or intimation that they should not offend nor assayle vs. Now to grant them peace in a roade of another Prince wher they are equally licenced with vs may seeme reasonable;
14.1.4
but I knew the purpose of the Portugall and the Instrument of this deuice, and that the Prince was abused and sawe not the disadvantage. First, if they had liberty to trade, they would use yt only to hynder ours; secondly, they would lye with 100 frigatts, vnder colour of this Peace, and take the first advantage to fier or assault our fleete, which is not to be avoyded, if they obteyne this liberty to mingle amonge vs; lastly, though the Prince explaynd him selfe in woordes that he ment we should not molest them except they begann the quarrell and in our owne defence, yet when a mischeefe had beefallen vs too late, of whom should wee haue sought satisfaction? The Prince had not undertaken; the Viceroy had not signed any instrument of Peace; only an Italian poore Iesuite had enformed the Prince the Portugall would be quiett—a braue securitye. Besides the folly and dishonnor, to appeare so eager of a peace, as if wee feard them, as to take it on any weake base or rather on no conditions. These considerations enforced me to refuse and send it backe: desiering to haue that clause strooke out, or else the fraud was euident, and I would neuer accept of yt. A day was demanded to giue answer.
14.1.5
March 8.—I sent for a resolution, and receiued yt: that that clause must remayne or I should not haue none. I gaue order. Suspecting the tricke, to redemand the articles signed by mee; but could not gett them, nor was the matter great, but for forme sake, and alsoe to pronounce as well my resolution, that I mente neuer to seeke farther after yt, neuer to accept yt, or any other, on ill Conditions: that I knew my way to seeke assured remedye: that I was sorry I had so long forborne yt. March 9. — The King being returnd, the Preparation for the Norose made all men soe busy that I had no oportunyte to doe myne, but purposed to prepare the King by Visitations and presents to heare my demandes with the first oportunitye. But I had no enterpreter, The brokar not daring to speake any thing that would displease Asaph Chan, nor would hee in any thing deliuer mee truly to the King. Soe I sought out a third [second?], an Italian Jeweller, a protestant, that vseth much liberty with his toung, and in whom the King takes often delight to heare him rayle at the Jesuites and theyr factions; who vndertook to say all I would deliuer him. March 10. — This day arriued our Cloth and goodes to Adsmere, having beene long on the way, to the great preiudice in the sale. March 11. — The Noros begann in the Eueninge. It is a custome of solemnizing the new yeare, yet the Ceremonye beginnes the first New moone after it, which this yeare fell togeither.
14.1.6
It is kept in Imitation of the Persians feast and signifyes in that language nine dayes, for that anciently it endurd no longer, but now it is doubled. The manner is: ther is erected a Throne fower foote from the ground, in the Durbar Court, from the back wherof to the place wher the King comes out, a square of 56 Paces long and 43 broad was rayled in, and couered ouer with faire Semianes or Canopyes of cloth of gould, silke, or veluett, Ioyned together and susteyned with Canes so couered. At the vpper end were sett out the pictures of the King of England, the Queene, my lady Elizabeth, the Countesse[s] of Sommersett and Salisbury, and of a Cittizens wife of London ; below them another of Sir Thomas Smyth, gouernor of the East India company. Vnder foote it is layd with good Persian Carpetts of great lardgnes. Into which place come all the men of qualetye to attend the King, except some fewe that are within a little rayle right before the Throne to receiue his Commandes. Within this square there were sett out for showe many little howses (one of siluer) and some other Curiosityes of Price. The Prince Sultan Coronne had at the lefte syde a Pauilion, the supporters wherof were Couered with Siluer (as were some of those also neare the Kings throne). The forme therof was Square ; the matter wood, inlayd with mother of pearle, borne vp with fower pillars and Couered with Cloth of gould about the edge.
14.1.7
Ouerhead, like a valence, was a nett fringe of good pearle, vpon which hung downe Pomegranetts, apples, peares, and such fruicts of gould, but hollow. Within yt the king sate on Cushions very rich in Pearles and Jewells. Round about the Court before the Throne the Principall men had erected tents, which encompassed the Court, and lined them with veluett, damask and taffety ordinaryly, some few with Cloth of gould, wherin they retyred and sett to show all theyr wealth; for anciently the kings were vsed to goe to euery tent and there take what pleased them, but now it is Changed, the King sitting to receiue what new years guifts are brought to him. He comes abroad at the vsuall hower of the Durbar and retyres with the same. Here are offered to him, by all sorts, great guiftes, though not equall to report, yet incredible enough; and at the end of this feast the King, in recompence of the presents receiued, aduanceth some and addeth to theyr entertaynment some horse at his pleasure.
14.2.1
March 12. — I went to visitt the King and was brought right before him, expecting a present, which I deliuered to his extraordinary content. So he appoynted I should bee directed within the rayle, to stand by him, but I, beeing not suffered to step vp vpon the rising on which the throne stood, could see little, the rayle beeing high and doubled with Carpettes. But I had leysure to veiw the inward roome and the bewty therof, which I confesse was rich, but of so diuers peices and so vnsuteable that it was rather patched then glorious, as if it seemed to striue to show all, like a ladie that with her plate sett on a Cupboord her imbrodered slippers. This eueninge was the sonne of Ranna, his New tributory, brought before him, with much ceremony, kneeling 3 tymes and knocking his head on the ground. He was sent by his father with a Present and was brought within the little rayle, the King embracing him by the head. His guift was an Indian voyder full of siluer, vpon yt a Carued siluer dish full of gould. Soe he was ledd toward the Prince. Some Eliphants were showed, and some whoores did sing and dance. Sic transit Gloria Mundi. March 13. — At night I went to the Gussel chan, wher is best oportunitye to doe busines, and tooke with mee the Italyan, determining to walke no longer in darknes but to proue the king, beeing in all other wayes delayed and refused.
14.2.2
I was sent for in with my ould Brokar but my enterpreter was kept out, Asaph Chan mistrusting I would vtter more then he was willing to heare. When I came to the king, he appoynted me a place to stand Iust before him, and sent to aske me many questions aboute the king of England and of the present I gaue the day before; to some of which I answered, but at last I sayd my enterpreter was keept out: I could speake no Portugall, and soe wanted means to satisfie his Maiestie. Whereat (much against Asaph Chans desire) he was admitted. I bad him tell the king I desired to speake to him. He answered: willingly. Wherat Asaph Chans sonne-in-law pulld him by force away and that faction hedgd the king so that I could scarce see him nor the other approach him. So I commanded the Italian to speake alowd that I Craued audience of the king, wherat the king Called me and they made me way. Asaph Chan stood on one side of my interpreter and I on the other; I to enforme him in myne owne cause, he to awe him with wincking and logging. I bad him say that I had now beene here two monthes, wherof more then one was passed in sicknes, the other in Complements, and nothing effected toward the end for which my Master had employed mee, which was to Conclude a firme and Constant loue and Peace betweene their Majesties and to establish a fayre and secure trade and residence for my Countrymen. He answered that was already granted.
14.2.3
I replyed it was true, but it depended yet on so slight a thredd, on so weake Conditions: that beeing of such importance it required an agreement cleare in all poynts, and a more formall and Authentique confirmation then it had by ordinarie firmaens, which were temporarye Commandes and respected accordingly. He Asked mee what presents wee would bring him. I answered the leauge was yet new and very weake: that many Curiosityes were to be found in our Country of rare price and estimation, which the king would send and the Merchannts seeke out in all parts of the world, if they were once made secure of a quiett trade and protection on honorable Conditions, having beene heeretofore many wayes wronged. He asked what kynd of Curiosityes those were I mentioned, whether I ment lewells and rich stones. I answered no: that we did not thinck them fitt presents to send back, which were brought first from these parts, wherof hee was Cheefe lord : that wee esteemed them Common here and of much more price with vs : but that we sought to fynd such things for his Maiestie as were rare here and vnseene, as excellent artifices in Paynting, caruing, Cutting, enamelling, figures in brasse, copper, or stone, rich embroderyes, stuffs of gould and siluer. He sayd it was very well : but that hee desiered an English horse. I answered it was impossible by sea, and by land the Turke would not suffer passadge. He replyed that hee thought it not impossible by sea.
14.2.4
I tould him the dangers of stormes and varietye of weather would proue yt. He answered : if six were putt into a shipp one might liue, and though it Came leane he would fatt yt. I replyed I was Confident it Could not bee in soe long a voyadge, but that for his Maiesties satisfaction I would write to aduise of his request. So he asked what was it then I demanded. I sayd : that hee would bee pleased to signe certaine reasonable Conditions which I had Conceiued for the Confirmation of the leauge and for the securitye of our Nation and their quiett trade, for that they had beene often wronged and Could not Continue on such termes : which I forbeare to Complayne off, hoping by faire means to procure amendment. At this woord Asaph Chan offered to pull my interpreter, but I held him, suffering him only to wincke and make vnprofitable signes. The King hereatt grew suddenly into Choler, pressing to know who had wronged vs, with such show of fury that I was loath to follow yt ; and speaking in broken Spanish to my interpreter to answere that with what was past, I would not trouble his Maiestie but would seeke Justice of his sonne the Prince, of whose fauour I doubted not, the King, not attending my interpreter but hearing his sonnes name, conceiued I had accused him, saying miofilio, miofilio, and Called for him ; who came in great feare, humbling himselfe. Asaph Chan trembled, and all of them were amazd.
14.2.5
The King chidd the Prince roundly, and hee excused himselfe; but I, perceiuinge the Kings error, made him (by means of a Persian Prince offering himselfe to enterprett, because my Italian spoke better Turkish then Persian; the Prince both) vnderstand the mistaking, and so appeased him, saying I did no way accuse the Prince, but would in causes past in his Gouerment appeale to him for Justice; which the King Commanded he should doe effectually. The Prince for his Justification tould the king he had offered me difinnaen and that I had refused yt Demanding the reason, I answered: I humbly thancked him, but hee knew it Conteyned a condition which I could not accept off, and that farther I did desire to propound our owne demandes, wherin I would Conteyne all the desires of my Master at once, that I might not daylye trouble them with Complaynts; and wherin I would reciprocally bynd my souerayne to mutuall offices of frendship, and his subjects to any such Conditions as his Maiestie would reasonably propound, wherof I would make an offer; which beeing drawne tripertite, his Maiestie I hoped would signe the one, the Prince the other, and in my Masters behalfe I would firme the third. The king pressed to know the Conditions I refused in the Princes firmaen, which I recited; and soe wee fell into earnest dispute, and some heate. Mocrebchan enterposing sayd hee was the Portugalles aduocate, speaking slightly of vs, that the king should neuer signe any article against them.
14.2.6
I answered: I propound none against them, but in our owne Iust defence, and I did not take him for such a frend to them. The Iesuite and all the Portugalles side fell in, in soe much that I explayned myselfe fully concerning them; and as I offered a Conditionall Peace, so I sett their frendship at a mean rate and their hatered or force at lesse. The king answered my demandes were Iust, resolution noble, and bad me propound. Asaph Chan, that stood Mute all this discourse, and desiered to end it, least it breake out againe (for wee wear very warme), enterposed that if wee talked all night it would come to this issue : that I should drawe my demandes in writting and present them, and if they were found reasonable the king would firme them ; to which the king replyed yes, and I desiered his Sonne would doe the like, who answered hee would. Soe the king rose. But I calling to him he turnd about, and I bad my enterpreter say that I came the day before to see his Maiestie and his greatnes and the Ceremonyes of this feast : that I was placed behynd him, I confesed with honor, but I could not see abroad, and that therfore I desired his Maiestie to lycence me to stand vp by his Throne ; wherat hee Commanded Asaph Chan to lett me choose my owne place.
14.3.1
March 14. — In the Morning I sent a Messenger to Asaph Chan, least he or the Prince mought mistake mee by the Kings mistakings that I had complayned against them ; which as I did not, so it was not yet in my purpose ; only I was willing to lett them see I did not so depend on Asaph Chan, by whose mouth I vsed to doe my busines, but that if he continued his manner of neuer deliuering what I sayd, but what he pleasd, I could fynd another way. My message was to cleare any such doubt if it remaynd, or if not, to entreat him that he would soften the Prince in my demandes concerning Suratt. He answered neyther the Prince nor he had any reason to suspect my purpose was to Complayne of them : that the error was euident enough : for his part he had euer had the loue of the English and would endeauour to continew yt. March 15. — The king sent me a tame sheepe new shorne with his owne hand, so fatt that it had not leane to eate halfe. At Euening I went to the Norose and demanded of Asaph Chan a place. Hee bad me Choose; so I went within the rayle, and stood on the right hand of the kynge upon the rising of the Throne; the Prince and young Ranna on the other syde. So that I sawe what was to be seene, Presents, Elephants, horses, and many whoores.
14.3.2
March 16-22. — I prepared my demandes perfect and in the Persian Toong. My course was by way of articles, to make prouision for our securitye and Peace and to preuent all such abuses as the former yeare had giuen me experience of; that I might doe all at once and not trouble the king with new motions and Complaynts. I proiected to haue diuers Coppies signed togither and to send two to euery factory, one to be proclaymed and after sett up in some Publique place, the other for the merchants for dayly vse. March 23. — The king Condemned a Mogull on suspition of felony, and beeing loth to execute him, both in regard of his person, the goodliest man I euer saw in Indya, and that the euidence were not cleere, hee sent him to mee by the Officers in Irons for a Slaue, or to dispose of him at my pleasure. This is esteemed a high fauour, for which I returnd thancks: that in England we had no slaues, neyther was it lawfull to make the Image of God fellow to a Beast: but that I would vse him as a seruant, and if his good behauiour merited yt, would giue him libertye. This his Maiestie tooke in very good part. 1616, March 26. — I went to the Gusell Channe; and deliuering the king a present of picturs I offered vp my Articles to his Maiesties Consideration. Asaph Chan tooke & opened them, and finding them somwhat long he found fault, to which I answered they were no longer then the many late abuses required, which I thinck made him doubt they Conteyned Complaynts;
14.3.3
so, showing them the king, they were referrd to him, with promise if they stood with his honor they should be sealed, and I should expect my answer from Asaph Chan. He stept to the Prince and togither reading one or two, finding they were not accusations, he came to mee and promised mee all fauour; only hee stuck at the length. But here fell a Crosse. I keeping the Place which I first tooke, alone and out of ranck which the kings subjects obserue, a place dessigned mee by the king, the place giuen to Sir Robert Sheirly, and indeed aboue all his subjectes, Asaph Chan sent mee a message to goe downe and stand by the doore among the kings seruants. I answered : if the king Commanded, I knew what I had to doe, but to stirr for any other I would not. He sent againe that it was not the Custome for any to stand alone : that I should goe backe in the ranck of noble men. I replyed : I was a stranger and ignorant of their Customes, but I was not ignorant that I was a kings Ambassador, and not of the qualety of seruants; that his maiestie had placed mee and saw mee now : if I did amisse hee was fittest to find faulte : if it were his pleasure I should goe home, I was ready, but one foote back I would not : and that I expected from him rather additions of grace then discurtesies. Then hee sent an Officer to Fright mee, but I went so much higher and nearer the king;
14.3.4
and standing awhile without molestation, alone and euery bodyes eyes cast vpon mee, I saw a place wherin stood only the Prince and young Ranna by the king, to which I went, resoluinge, if I must rancke, I would rancke with the best. This angred Asaph Chan woorse, who euer sought to woorke me to the humilitye of my predecessors, and to an absolute dependance and obedience on his will. So that, stepping to the Prince, he desiered him to Complayne of mee, as of a great insolency to approach him, which hee did willingly. The king asked why I went from my first place. Asaph Chan replyed that hee had sent to mee to take ranck with the noble men, and made mee moue. The king answered : then hee hath done well ; what had any man to doe to displace him ? Was it not in my sight ? What harme does hee ? Hee comes to see me ; and with such reprehension Commanding them to lett me vse my discretion. Soe I stood in Peace, but with Asaph Chans displeasure. The Coppie of my Demands follow-