The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 15.1
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 15.1
- Language
- English
15.1.1
Articles of Amitye, Commerce, and Entercourse, betweene the two most high and Mighty Kings, The great Mogull, King of India, and the King of Great Brittane, France, and Ireland, Concluded on by the said great Mogull on his part, and in the behalfe of the King of great Brittane by Sir Thomas Roe, knight, his Ambassador for that purpose authorised. 1 First, it is Concluded on both parts that ther shalbe a good and perfect loue, leauge, and peace to endure for euer betwixt the said mighty Princes, their subjects, and dominions. 2 Secondly, it is concluded and agreed vnto by the said high and Mighty King of India on his part, which by this writting he doth promise and to all the world declare. That the subjects of the most renowned King of Great Brittane shall come freely without any prohibition to any of the Ports or hauens in the Dominions of the said King of India, as well in Bengala and Syndu as in the lordship of Suratt, with their shipes and other vessells, and so arriued may quietly, safely, and peaceably land theyr goodes, and for their mony shall haue liberty to hire a Convenient house, wherein they may remayne, freely to sell, buy, or otherwise transport their goodes into the Mayne at their pleasure.
15.1.2
3 Theirdly, it is Concluded, that when any shipes of the said English shall arriue at any Port, the Gouernor of the Place or cheefe Cytty adjoyning shall publish 3 seuerall days this agreement, to the end that all men may freely sell at the shore any prouision of victualls and releefe and may alsoe goe aboord the shipes, trade and buy at their pleasurs, and may freely furnish the said english at the ordinary rates of the kings subjectes with boates, cartes, and other prouisions of Carriadge at their pleasurs without any prohibition, as well at the sea syde as at the rivers, in which the English haue lately susteyned great losse. 4 Fowerthly, it is agreed that the persons of English Merchants nor theyr seruants shall not be searched, nor dispightfully vsed, but that Comminge to the Alfandica they shall show what necessaryes they bring with them and what mony for expence, which shalbe free vnto them from any violence or force of the Gouernor or other Officers, and free of any Custome, soe that it exceed not 10 rialls of Eight in goodes or mony.
15.1.3
5 Fiftly, it is Agred that what presents soeuer are sent by the most Mighty King of great Brittayne, or the Company of Merchantes, vnto the said great King of India, or for any such vse, shall not be touched, opened, nor meddled with by the Gouernor or any officer what soeuer; but only beeing marked with their seale shalbe deliuered without delay to be sent to Court vnto the English Embassador or Agent there resident, that hee may according to directions deliuer them vnto the said Mighty King, wherin the English haue beene heretofore much wronged. 6 Sixtly, it is Concluded that the goodes of the said English Merchantes landed at any Port within the dominnions of the King of India shalbe dispeeded to their howse without lett or hinderance and shall not be stayed on any pretence aboue one day and Night in the Alfandica to take notice of the Number and markes, and soe shall be ther sealed and within 6 dayes after opened and rated at the house of the said Merchants by the officers of the said Custome, at reasonable prices and not exacted vpon as heretofore.
15.1.4
7 Seuenthly, it is agreed that no Gouernor nor any other officer shall presume to take by force any trifles from poore priuat men at their pleasures, but shall suffer them to make price of their owne, and soe paye for yt. Neyther shall the Gouernor, nor any other officer, by force and without the Consent of the Merchantes take into his house or Custody any of the goodes so landed, under pretence of seruinge the King, nor for his owne vse vntill such prises and dayes of payment be agreed on as shall giue content to both sides. 8 Eightly, it is concluded that for any goodes so landed and agreed for, having dischardged the duties of the Port, the said English shall haue free liberty to sell to any person, wherin the Gouernor shall not hinder them, nor force them to agree at his price ; or otherwise it shalbe lawful to Convoy and send them to any other their factory without any hinderance or other dutie required in any Place as they shall passe, the duty of the Port beeing dischardged, wherof the Iudg of the Alfandica shall giue certificatt.
15.1.5
9 Ninthly, it is agreed that what goodes soeuer the English shall buy in any part of the dominions of the said Mighty King of India shall passe safely and freely toward their Port without any enterruption or force or exaction of Convoyes, other then such as themselues shall thinck requisitt, or requiring any Custome or duty on the way vntill they arriue at their Port; wher it shalbe lawfull for them, paying the duties of the Port only, according to agreement, to ship theyr said goodes without the hinderance or delay of any whatsoeuer. 10 Tenthly, it is concluded that what goodes soeuer shalbe soe brought downe to any Port, shall not be agayne opened by the Officers of the Port, the English showeing a Certificat from the Gouernors and officers where the said goodes were bought, of the Numbers, qualeties, and Conditions of the said goodes. 11 Eleuenthly, it is concluded if any of the said English shall dye in any part of these dominions, ther shalbe no confiscation of any mony or goodes in his Custodye, but both those and all other debts shall remayne to the factors suruiving, and if all the said factors shall happen to dye, in any of their residences, The Officer of the Towne shall take notice vpon register of all such Monyes, goodes, bookes, bills, and Papers as shalbe found in their house; which beeing sealed vp shalbe deliuered to the English at their request. 12 Twelftly, it is agreed that no Custome be exacted for victualls during the abode of the shipes at any port.
15.1.6
13 Thertine, it is agreed that the seruants of the said English shall not be punished, beaten, nor Misused for doeing but their duties, whether they be English or Indians, wherby they haue not dared to speake when they haue beene Commanded. 14 Lastly, it is Concluded that in the breach of any of these Articles & conclusions by any Gouernor or Officer, and vpon any other Iust occasion, The most mighty King wilbe pleased to giue his seuerall firmanes for speedy Justice and redresse in all such Iniuryes; and vpon neglect therof, to giue condigne punishment to the offenders. And alsoe to Chop diuers Coppyes of this agreement, to be sent by the English Ambassador as well to the King of Great Brittaine for his full assurance of the Amitye and leauge concluded, as into diuers parts of the dominions of the said Mighty King of India to the end that all his officers may without excuse take notice of his Command.
15.1.7
It is farther agreed and concluded by the sayd Ambassador, on the behalfe of the most mighty King of Great Brittaine, that all the shippes and forces of the said English arriuing in any Port or Coast of the dominions of the said great Mogull shall suffer all Merchanntes to passe and repasse quietly with their shipes and goodes in Peace, except the enemyes of the said English, or any other that shall seeke to injure them; and that all the factors of the English residing in any Citty vpon the land shall behaue themselues peaceably and Ciuilly like Merchantes without offering wrong to any person what soeuer.
15.1.8
Secondly, it is agreed that they shall bring and furnish the said mighty King with all the rarietyes yearly that they can find and with any other goodes or furniture of warr which the said King shall reasonablie desire at indifferent Prices, and that they shall not conceale any rarietyes or goodes whatsoeuer (the presents only excepted) but shall make offer to the Gouernors of the Ports wher they ariue, for the vse of the said King, for which the Gouernor shall agree for the Price and pay for them to theyre Content. And if it shall happen that such Prices cannot be agreed vpon, that then the Gouernor shall not take them by force, but shall sett his Chop vpon them, and so deliuer them to the factors, to be transported to the Court, wher they shalbe showed the said King, and agreed for by the factors there resident. But if the said goodes appertaine to any priuat man, that is to depart with the said shipes, then the said Gouernor shall pay for them at the deliuery, or otherwise restore them to the owner.