[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy) › [The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster) › 16 # The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 16: TO THE FACTORS AT SURAT. (Addl. MS. 6115, f. 93.) The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 16 - **Language:** English ### TO THE FACTORS AT SURAT. (Addl. MS. 6115, f. 93.) ### [16.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.16.1) 26 April, 1616. You may thinck I haue forgotten to write, so teadious vncertaintyes having shutt up all occasion. I was willing to effect somwhat, and by the passadge therof to make iudgment of our estimation here and what wee might discreetly hope for in tymes to Come, as well in respect of our reception, as of our meanes to continew this trade from England; soe that nowe I will giue you particular answers to all the parts of your lettres, as also some generall aduises and obseruations of myne owne The Confinuinge of this trade consists principally on two Poynts: our good reception and priueledges to be obteyned and performed to vs here: and the vent of our owne comodityes. Without the one, wee cannot abyde with honor; without the other wee will not, to no proffitt. For our reception and priuiledges they stand on doubtfull tearmes and will runne the chaunce of fortune. For the King respectes vs very well and is ready to grant all reasonable demandes; but this affection is forced and not naturall, and therfore noe permanent nor assured ground to build on. The Prince dislikes vs, and though he fauour no Christian, yet the Portugall most, and hath pleaded for him (vnder pretence of more profitt to his Port, disdainfully asking what wee bring, but Cloth and Kniues). Now this disposition is Naturall, like to Continew and in tyme vpon all aduantages to woorke or weare out his fathers better opinione, which is att best but feare and temporising; ### [16.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.16.2) for if euer the Portugall can giue vs one blowe, wee are lost here. For our second foundation of our residence in these parts, the venting of our owne Comodytye, though I haue no sckill in particular merchandize yet I vniversally discerne they will sooner and faster weaken vs here then the want of priuiledges, for I see no Comoditye that will proue staple and certaynly vendable, able to returne a ship yearly. Our Cloth will not off in many yeares; here I am perswaded twenty will not sell; the King is Glutted with the last, and no man reguardes it. Swoordes are woorse; lead and teeth, if they will vent, yet will they lade faster out then home. For one yeare gould or siluered veluettes, Grogrames, Chamletts and silk stuffes may serue vs, but constantly noething. So that my opinion is, breefly, seeing our state cannot beare the exportation of mony, except some new trade can be discouered from the East to serue this Kingdome, it must fall to ground by the weaknes of itts owne leggs. April 26. — I receiued intelligence that the Prince caused one of his seruants at the Durbar to aske the king why he mouthes and overthrowne their trade that way, besides the oppression and wrong done them (Cheefely For our cause) by the portingales, soe that of Feared euills they chose in appeareance the leaste, though it haue prooued otherwise, For since our Coming this porte is vndone, which in their greefs they spare not somtymes to tell vs ; ### [16.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.16.3) and, had the portingals in their enterprises against vs prevayled (as your lordship rightly aleageth), wee had ere now bine expulced. Soe that, as our entertaynment was in a manner Forced, our priuilidges and good vsadge (if at all as wee Feare) must accordingly bee obtayned and Continued. For the second Foundation (the vendeing of our Comodities) we make no question but that store of goods may bee brought which will yeald both good proffitt and ready monys heere. Lead, Tynn and dyuers others are staple Commodities ; 150 or 200 choise cloths will sell alsoe to good proffitt ; swords and the like are of small importe ; in lew wherof dyuers other things may bee brought, and though perchaunce they Faile on yeare in present sales, yett merchants are to seeke out and sende (at adventure) whatsoeuer may bee hoped will yeald benneffitt. And though all these should Faile, the Commodities of this Country may haue such Currant vent in some of our neighbour lands as will produce more ready Coyne then the Company shall neede to send heyther to supplie this trade " (I. O. Records : Surat Records, 841, f. 36). Roe returned to the subject on the 19th June (ib., f 104): "Without mony this trade will fall, which is one motiue not to be too base to hould it vp. That these Comodityes will vent for siluer in other Countryes our neighbors is no answere ; ### [16.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.16.4) for this \[silver\] comes not out of England which is now sent, and wee are as well members of Europe as Citizens of England, which is but one lymne and if the whole growe poore wee beare our proportion. But the losse is more particular ; for if wee did not send mony this way, the Merchant, who often sould for mony, gott more by returning it in specie very often then by investing it ; and so it Came to the Kings mynt, which now cryes like a hungry belly against this trade." The factors replied (23rd July) with some spirit : " That the Commodities from hence vendinge for silver in other Countryes Can be no aunswer, vnder Correction of your better Iudgment we apprehend it otherwise. For silver which Comes not thither Cannot Com thence, and consequently the state hath neither benefitt or preiudyce ; but Commodities Carryed from hence and transported to Forrain partes geves Double Custom, the proceede wherof by reimployment bringeth Continuall proffitt both to the state and Commonwealth. Our being members of Europe as Citizens of England were a verry good reason to Consider our proportion of the generall poverty, if the members of Europe were also citizens of England ; who, seking their owne benefitt, waye not our Losse ; As the duche transport a pound to our shillinge, the Portingal little lesse, besydes the somes Convayed from many partes of Christendom into Turkay. ### [16.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.16.5) And more particularly, the monyes sent this waye, if the trade were not, would be transported into Turky in greater somes to procure the Commodities of this place. Besides which, we intreat your Consideration that all the silver landed heer this yeere amounteth not to aboue 4000 li. sterlinge, wheras the goodes retomed vpon the vsed so good Countenance to the English that for their cause the Portugalls were barred the Port of Suratt, who brought more proffitt to the king, as many Ballaces, Pearles, and Iewelles, wheras the English came only to seeke proffitt with Cloth, Swoordes, and kniues of little estimation. The king answered only : it was true, but who could mend yt? Hereby the Princes good affection was manifest, and I had faire warning to be watchfull and to study to preserue ourselues in the kinges grace, in which only wee were safe ; but I resolued to take notice of this Lyon amounteth to fower tyrries the som, the rest is proceede of Commodities ; the Costom wherof will bringe more profitt to the Kinges Coffers then the want of a farr greater quantetye of silver to be Coyned in his mint ; wherby you maye be pleased to perceave the Crye in this respect is without Cause." Roe, in a further letter of the 20th August (MS., f. 114), rejoined with some asperity that he "doubted not but that the king may gayne in Customes wher the Common wealth doth loose, that england might profitt by Europes detriment. ### [16.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.16.6) But I proposed a generall Care, wherin if the Dutch and Portugall fayle in their duties, it doth not follow you should err in your Judgment. . . . Howeuer you esteeme that little losse, the Parliament of England, which is the spiritt and soule of the wisedome of England, more valewes 10,000li. mony in regard of substantiall wealth then 100,000 in estimation in China dishes, silkes, spices, dyes and trash, that consume in one yeare, the fuell of yearely pride and gluttony ; for in the neede or perill of the Commonwealth none of these will sett out a fleete to sea nor pay an army. And if their authorytye prevaile with you, know, if the last \[The Addled Parliament (1614), in which Roe had sat as member for Tamworth\] had proceeded, they had limited both this and the Turkish Company, supposing the Crye of the Kings mynt to be as mournfull a hearing as if the liver, the fountayne of blood, should complayne in a naturall body. For they Consider not like you that more profitt came to the Kings coffers by Customes of East India goodes then would arise by all the mony that is transported ; ### [16.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.16.7) but they regarded that so much mony in England were more esteemable then all that goods to the Common wealth, for that what soeuer comes in by Customes is the Kings owne and is payd by the mony already in the land, but the siluer that Comes to the mynt is as it were new begotten and added to the stocke of the kingdome, and is the property of diuers men, beeing enfranchised and naturalized by the Kings stampe and impression." It will be noticed that the factors, in defending the export of silver from England, took the line of argument adopted five years later by Thomas Mun in his Discourse of Trade (1621). and to make proofe if I could settle a better opinion in the Prince of our Nation. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.16) · Pramāṇa