The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 17.2
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 17.2
- Language
- English
17.2.1
May 6. — Came Hoyja Nasson to account for Zulpheckcarcons debt After some particulars read, for want of one to write on their sides, he desird that some English might early on the Morow come to his howse, wher should meete a scriuano and finish that busines, and that ready mony should be deliuered or bills to Suratt at choyse; to which I agreed, and dessigned Masters Bidolph and Fettiplace to attend yt. This day I dispatched for Amadavaz 3 lettres from Asaph chan, one to the Gouernor, Abdala chan, the other to his brother, Zudgar chan, the third to Abbal the Buxy, signifing both the kings pleasure for the good entreatment of the English and his owne desire and fauour on their part, perswading to suffer them abyde in their house and to vse theyr trade with freedome, for that otherwise Complaynts would be addressed to the king by the Ambassador, to whom his Maiestie had promised speedy Justice. I wrote alsoe to Abdala chan in fayre tearmes to procure him my frend, knowing the easeyest is the safest way: but withall letting him know I must performe my duty if he neglected his. The Coppy is registred. May 7. — Hoya Nasson could not Attend our account.
17.2.2
May 8. — They Mett and the Scriuane of Zulpheckcarcon was present. They Charged him by particulars, wherof some hee denied. The Conclusion was that Hoya Nassan would goe to him and showe him our demandes and perswade him to pay vs: if not, we should on the Morowe receiue a resolute answere. To day I receiued lettres from Amadavaz that the English were remoued out of their howse by the Gouernors order, but without force ; in which they were too hastie, for they wrote to me for redresse, which I sent within two dayes, and they would not attend an answere, to the great losse of the Company.
17.2.3
May 9. — Hoya Nassan returned this answere that Zulpheckcarcon had Confessed many particulars denied by his Scriuano, and the rest hee doubted not but hee would pay, for that hee desiered peace and Frendship with mee ; and that in two dayes it should be finished. At Noone the late Buxy of Suratt came to visitt me, one well fauoured by the Prince, with whome, knoweing the qualetye of our Iniuries, having beene an eye-wittnesse, I had some Conferance about Zulpheckcarcon, in whose behalfe hee spake to make agreement. I tould him in conclusion that I would be noe longer delayed : if in 2 dayes Zulpheckcarcon did not ingenuously confesse the Iniuries and debts, and giue me satisfaction, I would acquaynt the king not only with his villany toward vs but with the oppressions of his subjects, his robberies and all his Tiranney exersised in his Gouerment, and in particular of the forcing the house of the Gouernor of Gundiuee & taking all his goodes and drowening his Mother, keeping him in a dungion to preuent Complaynts. He promised mee his endeuour to end all in the prefixed tyme.
17.2.4
At night the king sent me a woeman slaue, seruant to Normall, who for some offence was putt away. I was loath to receiue her, it beeing Midnight, but the officers would take noe refusall, having Command to deliuer her to myselfe, that I was enforced to lett one come into my bedside with her ; and soe receiued her, a graue woeman of 40 years. I demanded her fault. The officer answered the king bad him assure me she was honest, only shee had offended the woeman. The particulars shee after tould me. For that night I was forced to lodge her in my dininge roome, and early in the Morninge I sent to Asaph Chan to giue the king thanckes, but that a woeman was vnfit for my house: that shee had some Frendes on whom I would bestowe her, if it might not bee displeasing to the king, shee having beene soe neare his Person.
17.2.5
This night I was encompassed with fier, it having begane on 3 sydes; one wherof was soe vehement that it Consumed many thousand howses. Wee were all at our doore ready to shift, for wee had beene forced to loose all our goodes. Ther were burnt in one house 14 woemen and some men, and many others otherwere. My house Master Edwardes builte all of strawe sides and tops, so that it neither kept out wynd, dust, nor rayne, to our infinite discomoditye, and wee were Nightly afrayed of our liues, the fiers being soe Common that to my remembrance no night did escape without some, and soe terrible in the wyndes that all the streets beeing of straw howses and many places Grasse, hay, Corne, and wood piles, that there hath beene no possibility to come neare, it licking up all eauen to the Townes end. It had beene thrice within a quoyts Cast of my house, but the wynd fauoured, or else we had lost all. Soe that, beeing Prest by the Merchannts, whose goodes were vtterly lost if the fier took vs, and for our securitie, having scarce had one night of rest, and finding by myne owne experiance I could build sufficient roomes of bricke and lome fier-free euery way for lesse mony the[n] Master Edwardes his steward spent in straw, I resolued to pull all downe, which I did in one day; and in ten after I had finished 7 good Roomes, wherby the English shall Now bee sufficiently howsed for 20 years, with some reparation by reason of the Violent raynes, and secure both in theyr goodes and Persons.
17.2.6
May 10. — Asaph chan sent me woord that, by reason the woeman sent by the king had beene neare the king and queene and putt away in Cholar, he wished mee not to giue her libertie before he had spoken with the king; giuing me thanckes for my respect towardes his Maiestie in sending before I deliuered her. May 12. — I receiued answer that hee would send a Banian for her, and keepe her vntill the king might forgiue or dispose her; for I was in trouble with her, but had placed her in a seruantes house that was Married. This night Hoya Nassan sent woord I should know a resolution concerning the debts of Zulpheckcarcon on the Morrowe. This day I dispatched an advise to Suratt. May 13. — I receiued answer that hee had labored in the busines and had drawne him to agree to pay 17 thousand Mamodoes, which was all hee could doe, and desiered mee to accept it. It was 2900 lesse then the bill sent of the publique and priuat debt, but in consideration some things were ouerrated, both on the Companyes behalfe as alsoe of priuat mens, and that the losse was not very great, euery man beeing to beare a part, I sent Master Bidolph to see. If [in] this offer the 750 rialles acknowledged by the Prince and the bribe of the Iudge of the Alfandica were not comprehended, but that those should be payd apart, then I gaue him order to make a finall end, knoweing it better to loose somewhat then wholy to draw the Princes indignation toward vs, who much desiered an end of this question;
17.2.7
but withall I bad him make tryall to aduance as much more as could be gotten without open warr. He returned with answere that all was Comprehended in this offer, and that I must giue a generall acquittance for any further demand, for that hee had taken on him to satisfie the Royalles of eight and to Cleare all questions, and that if I would not accept of this I should seek remedie ; if I showed papers he had papers to answer them (Thus Confident he bare himselfe on the Prince) ; and that hee did offer to pay what wee could proue, which was not halfe, beeing taken on the way, in the boate and in the Towne without any order. At Euening I sent the Princes secretarie woord of this answer: that I was resolued to Complayne to the king : and that, having attended soe long for respect only of the Prince, I hoped hee would not be displeased. He answered hee would acquaynt the Prince what I said : for his owne parte he would no longer diswade mee from seekin Justice. I sent alsoe to Asaph chan to the same effect, and to lett him know that he should not bee seene in the busines to displease the Prince, but that I would deliuer my Complaynt in writing my selfe : I only desiered his fauorable good woord to the king in our behalfe. He gaue me many thancks for this respect toward him, but hee entreated mee for his sake to forbeare a few dayes : that hee would speake with the Prince and Zulpheckcarcon and procure an end.
17.2.8
Hee desiered I would not stand for 2 or 3 thousand Mamodoes for the Princes sake and his : that other wayes it should not bee lost : that he spake this for loue, knoweing the Princes affection to Zulpheckarcon and his vnreaconsilable disposition : that wee should neuer haue quiett at Suratt whilest hee was lord therof, without daylie Complaynts to the king, which would much prejudice vs to sett the father against the sonne, and giue great aduantage to our enemyes. He sent a seruant for my woeman and I was very glad to returne my present.