The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 18.1
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 18.1
- Language
- English
18.1.1
First, I would haue demanded of Zulpheckcarcon in Generall what his offer is Concerning the finishing of the account and paying the debt. If hee offer the 17,000 Mamoodies for all, comprising the Princes [debt ?] and the 3 Cloathes Newly mentioned: Then breake off all speech and vtterly refuse yt. If he offer the 17,000 Mamoodies for the rest of the goodes and require only a dischardge for them, giuing a note of his hand that the 750 royalls is the Princes debt, for which hee will eyther gett payment here or procure a dischardge for so much in the Custome at Suratt, or else to remayne answerable, then you shall accept yt. When you are agreed of the Summe and come to speake of the manner of payment, for which somme I would, the agreement were in writting if it could bee procurd and signed by him, then yow may lett him know that you vnderstand that 3 Cloths and a halfe were deliuered to such at Suratt, and that it shalbe at his Choyse whether hee will pay for them here or to giue you his lettre to the debtor there that hee hath not satisfyed for yt, but that hee doth chardge it vpon them, requiring theyr present payment and giuing you such a Note or mentioning it in the quittance receiued, and then so much rateably shalbe abated here of the Summe agreed on : of these two propositions [I ?] only desire that you will presse him to a resolute answer, that I may vnderstand from himselfe his purpose, that I may accordingly proceed in the prosequution of Iustice.
18.1.2
June 11. — I sent to Asaph chan what Message I had Receued from Mochrebchan, but that I Could not Chainge my frendes, though I would acknowledg it a great Curtesie from the other, beeing both vndeserued and voluntary, desiering him to beeleeue the truth that I had not made any meanes to Mochrebchan to doe yt, but had only relyed on him, which hee might easily bee assured off by demanding him : that if hee pleased to lay asyde all Iealousy and to accomodate the difference betweene the Prince and mee, whose fauour I especially desiered, and to Continew the protection of our Nation, I was not so fickle to take euery occasion to forsake him, who had beene our ancient and best frend : and that I would attend a day or two that hee might bring me to the king, that no notice might be taken of any discontent betweene vs, which would perhapes, if the king asked the reason of this Chang, call many matters in question that were better passed ouer on all sides : desiering him to deale soe faierly as to send me his resolution, assuring him I would remayne his frend till hee did to openly reiect mee.
18.1.3
June 12. — Mochrebchan sent to mee to know if I would goe see the king ; but for that hee was yet in the Princes howse I would not affront him, attending vntill I had answere from Asaph chan, whom I must not loose if I would stand here. Besides, I determined, before I went to him, to know whether any fitt reconciliation could bee effected betweene the Prince and mee, and that I might have satisfaction from Zulpheckcarcon without Complaynt, first using all faire means that were honest and became my Masters Ambassador to make smooth my way, which when I could not effect, I resolued to fly to a very round Complaynt, both of our publique wrongs and robberies committed vpon vs by the Gouernor, the Princes maynteyning him in yt, and Asaph Chans Negligence and falshood for the Princes sake, and lastly I would discouer the trick putt on mee to keepe mee from Court, to this end only, that I should not seeke Justice, which I would desier very roundly of the king, or lycence to depart with all my Nation. This Night I received lettres from Suratt of the receipt of the firmaens sent downe, which for a few dayes vseth to preuaile, and gott our goodes from the Customer and procured an agreement on all particulars; some difference in price, which was referred to Abram chan the Gouernor, then absent, our very good Frend.
18.1.4
In this lettre I receiued great encouragment to putt the king to tryall for an absolute reformation and for new priuiledges, or to breake off the trade, the oportunitye beeing very good, for that many shipes were expected from the red sea this season and soe wee might dispute our Cause with aduantage. I Confesse, if it were myne owne priuat cause, I would neuer endure halfe those Iniuryes wee haue suffered; they are insupportable; the Prince beeing soe proud, and in such esteeme with his father, that nothing but Chasteninge can humble him. But I serue for a publique cause, wher are diuers dispositions to please, diuers opinions to satisfye, and I know not how it wilbe construed that I dissolue that which was neuer tyed ; all the factors here seeming discontent, and write resolutly, but if this Councell did not please in England, I cannot tell whether they would change aduise, and cast all on mee, More vulgi, suum quisque flagitium aliis objectantes. This is one of those Councelles that cannot bee praysed vntill they bee Acted ; so that necessitye shall Compell mee, and then it will Iustefye mee. But this I dare affirme, if their Shippes be taken but once in 4 years ther shall come more cleare gayne, without losse of honor, then will aduance in seauen years by trade ; and nothing is vnjust in retribution and returne of the Injuryes done vnto vs.
18.1.5
Ther is a resolution taken that Sultan Caronne shall goe to the Decan Warres and the day prefixed, having Consulted all the Bramans. Prince Paruis is Called home, whom it is reported wrote his father that if hee would send his elder brother, hee would obey, but to dishonor him by imploying this, he would first fall on him and after finish the warr. All the Capptayens, as Channa chana, Mahobet chan, chan John, refuse to stay if this Tyrant come to Command, so well he is beloued. It is true all men awe him more then the king Now that hee is to receiue the Armie. The king Cannot be remooued from his resolution to send him : so that his sudeyne departure 22 dayes from this present must hasten mee to finish this busines and to know a resolution ; for after his departure with his minione Zulpheckcarcon there is no hope to recouer a penny, nor any Justice against him.
18.1.6
June 13. — I Receiued lettres from Amadavaz, signifying that the Course I tooke with the Gouernor by Asaph chans lettre had soe farr prevayled that the 500 rupies was at sight payd, all manner of frendship offered, a new house or whatsoeuer was wanting. Concerning the firmaen sent for restitution of Custome taken the year past at Cambaya and Barooch, They are offered that of Baroch back, and all kyndnes from the Gouernor of Cambaya, promising to take such order next yeare as shall preuent all vnkyndnes. I answered this packett and aduised to accept it, though neuer so little : the example of restitution was more then the mony. June 14 and 15. — The king yet kept at the Princes house. June 16. — The Merchannts went according to my order to Zulpheckcarcon, wher, after much dispute too and fro and many complaynts of vnkindnes against mee, in conclusion hee denyed to pay 17,000 mamoodies promised, making New reckonings that the Prince had this, others that, and for his owne debt remayned but 3,000 mamoodies: but to finish for all and to haue a generall release, hee offered 12,000 Mamoodies, objecting still the 1,000 Mamoodies of Master Sadlers account, without naminge for what: or else to stay the Comming up of the ludge of the Custom house, and so to pay whatsoeuer he would say was taken. But this delay I durst not abide, for that his departure was suddeine now.
18.1.7
In my last aduise from Suratt they Confesse Master Saddlers debt was mistaken (yet they chardge some 260 rupees by particular for trifles): and concerning the 750 rialles formerly Charged to the Custome house, and beeing confessed by the Princes officers to bee receiued here, I, as was reason, euer demanded restitution; but in this second they write that they haue come to account with the Customer and are agreed on all particulars, without once mentioning the Royalles. So that I Concluded that mony was found in the Custome house and I had wrongfully demanded it, though without faulte, by Socoralles mistaking. So I knew not what to say in this uncertainty; Yet I had rather aske to much then too little; Therfore they still demand it. Zulpheckcarcon answered hee neuer tooke that mony away, but that it rested still in the Custome howse, and were not those sent the Prince; but beating this question, at last hee said those royalles sent vp were the 2,000 Mamoodies Paid in royalles to him for licence to transport vp our two Carauans of Cloth, hereby confessing the bribes playnly; and vpon examination wee found the summes to agree, no more beeing receiued: which. Seeing that I heard not one word from Suratt of the 750 Royalls, I resolued that my opinion was true that the mony was found and allowed below;
18.1.8
so that I gaue ouer that Clayme, and fell to a reckoninge apart of goodes only Chardged to Zulpheckcarcon, which beeing 19,900 Mamoodies and Master Saddlers 800 mistaken: his offer of 17,000 Mamoodies, considering price of Cloth insisted on, and many trifles of priuat mens hard too proue, and the necessitye of a peace with the Prince, they offered him a generall acquittance for the mony by him agreed on. But hee then as absolutely refusd it; yet some tymes hee was Content, sometyme not, soe that noe Conclusion could bee made. But he desiered a new reckoning and to pay his owne and assigne vnder his hand who should pay the remayner. This was a tedious course to seeke out money from diuers men, and they as absolutely refusd yt: all was taken by his authoritye and wee would seeke no further. This was the error of the first account sent vp, for had not the 750 royalls beene Charged and Master Sadlers 1,000 Mamoodies (both mistaken), I had accepted his first offer of 17,000 Mamoodies with little losse, and finished all long since with good will and had avoyeded much trouble and the Princes displeasur; but seeing one stood doubtfull, the other directly charged, I could not yeild to loose 6 or 7,000 Mamoodies, for I could not haue one Pice without a generall quittance as well agaynst the Prince as the Gouernor and all vnder him. But yet hee seemed very desierous of frendship, taking much vnkindnes at mee for bitternes against him.
18.1.9
They answered: hee deserued it, for his violence vsed to our Nation: but that which I tooke woorst was his slight and base woordes giuen of my King, my Lord and Master. He replyed: hee spake not ill of him, but, as was the Custome of this Countrye, hee only magnifyed his owne: for his hard vsage and discurtesyes to our Nation, hee sware he had expresse order from the Prince in 4 seuerall firmaens, not only to doe all hee did, but to turne vs out and suffer vs no trade. They answered they could neuer beleue yt, for that they were in presence when I demanded of the Prince if it were true (for that it was so published at Suratt) and hee forswoore it openly, giuing it vnder his hand and seale that it was a lye. He replyed with many oathes it was true, and to satisfye their incredulitye and to dischardge himselfe, he asked if they would beleue the firmaens : so hee sent for them, and caused one to bee read before our interpreter, wher the Prince gaue express order not to suffer our goodes to passe out of towne but to keepe them in the Custome howse, and ther to giue leaue to sell and when they had traded to Command all aboord and to depart, forbidding any longer residence, and that if anything came downe not traded for in towne hee should not suffer it to goe aboord ; with many other Clauses of vexation & wrong to be done vs. Now, sayd hee, you see my innocence, and that I executed my Commission with fauour.
18.1.10
They answered it could not be denyed, but that now the Prince had giuen mee a firmaen for our residence, Justice, and good reception. It is true, said hee, yet shall the next Gouernor use yow woorse, for, whatsoeuer the Ambassador can procure outwardly, the Gouernor should haue advise vnderhand how to execute his Masters will ; which I know well. But, said hee, I am sorry for any thing is past, and if your Ambassador will make frendship and force me to pay no more then due, I will endeauor to reconcile him and your Nation to the Prince. They answered I was ready to embrace peace, but would not giue away the companies mony. He replyed 3 or 4,000 Mamoodies would not make vs rich nor him poore. But of this his weaknes, to discouer his Masters secreettes and the Princes double and vnderhand basenes, I will make aduantage off if wee come not to composition. Now is euidently seene the misery of our estate and the Princes faith. Who can bee secure, or resolue wisely, when outwardly wee shall haue fayre woordes, firmaens and all desire, and in secreett aduise to wrong and abuse vs ?