The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 18.2
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 18.2
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18.2.1
June 17. — I sent both to Hoja Nazzan, who had finished the account for both and had offered the 17,000 Mamoodies in his name, and to Mochrebchan, before whom the Gouernor was Content to pay it: to lett them know for the Princes sake and peace I was ready to accept the offer made, but that Zulpheckcarcon was started backe and would not pay it : that if they would tye him to his woord, I was content to be the looser : if not, I would goe instantly with full complaynt to the king, wherin hee would wrong his Master, whose name would come in question many wayes. Hoja Nassan answered he should not flye from his woord : though hee had not confessed by particular so much debt, yet in grose he was content to pay it, and soe this day hee would meete our Merchantes there and procure his Chop. This day the king remooued to Asaph Chans to moorne there. June 18. — Mochrebchan sent to me to Come to Court: that my longer absence would bee ill taken : that his Maiestie did expect mee : and that hee which would effect any busines with the king must bestow some labor in visiting him. For Zulpheckcarcon hee answered that hee was agreed to pay vs 17,000 Mamoodies and that hee was a base fellow to refuse it : that hee would Compell him to satisfye vs, or pay it him selfe and tell the king that hee did it on the others woord, and soe take the debt vpon him.
18.2.2
Asaph chan returned me answere of my last Message : that hee was most reddy to doe mee or my Nation any Curtesye, as he had euer : that on the Morrow the king went to Hauaz lemall and returned the Next day, when he would send to mee to come to his house and goe with mee to the king, and that all matters past should bee forgotten : wishing mee to take no notice that my absence was any other then voluntary : desiering me to beleeue he had twenty tymes more Creditt and affection to doe my busines then Mochrebchan : that the next day he would himselfe carry me to the Prince and fully reconcile vs, and so accord all differences that I should proceed in my busines without Crosses or lett : and that I should haue reformation in all my pretences : aduising mee to accept of Zulpheckcarcons offer, and that for a little losse I should not breake off, now that all matters were so neare composed : and so desiering me not to hould him in Iealoosy, for hee was euer as much my frend as he durst declare against the Prince. The king commanded one of his brothers sonnes, who was made a Christian in pollicye to bring him into hatred with the people, to goe stricke a lyon on the head, which was brought before the king ; but hee beeing afrayd refusd yt. Soe the king bad his youngest sonne to goe touch the lyon, who did so without any harme. Wheratt the king tooke occasion to send his Nephew away to a prisson were hee is neuer like to see day light.
18.2.3
June 19. — The King remooued the Prince and all the Court to Hauas gemall. June 20. — The Merchannts went to Socarolloes, before whom they were referrd to make agreement and Conclusion with Zulpheckcarcon: but hee was gone with his Master. His Scriuano mett, who answered hee was that day to goe after him to bring eyther his Chop to Hoja Nasson for soe much to receiue in Suratt, or ready mony. So that I hope this quarrell is at an end. June 21. — I dispatched lettres to Bramport to Mahobet chan to desire a Command to his lieutennant at Baroch to giue our Merchants entertaynment and trade at his Port and to suffer them to hiere a house for their residence, and to procure his fauour for them in dooing them Justice and right; also I signifyed that his officers had the last yeare exacted certayne mony at the passadge of our goodes to Suratt which was not due; for which I craued restitution and redresse for tymes to Come. This I did, for that I knew not to what inconuenience the Prince might driue vs by his underhand dealing, for though now I was in hope to make a frendship with him, who was lost long before my arriuall, yet I could not discerne his hart and had experience of his falshood; and therfore would prepare a retrayt in necessitye. Besides I knew that any such doubt or report would startle him;
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for though he would that wee were wholy banished, yet hee would not that wee quitted his Port and seated soe neare him, wherby he should haue no profitt by vs, and yet the Portugall equally hindered. Lastly, if ther may bee found any roade for our shipes, the place is fitter in respect that all the Cloth and Cotten yearne sent home is bought there, besides Carriadges from thence to Suratt and all other Comodities sent from aboue passe that Towne ; so that both the way to our shipes and the duties of Baroch would bee saued ; and, which is noe small respect, the Gouernor is not only a frend to our Nation but a man full of honor and liberallity, scorning all base gettings and of all men in most high fauour with the king, beeing his only minion ; in whose presence Asaph chan is but a shaddow. The solicitation of this I Committed to Master Banghame. June 23. — The king returned to this house, and sate out according to his usuall Custome.
18.2.5
June 24. — Asaph Chan sent to me to Come to the King ; but I refusd that day, except I might haue a Chop to all porters, or some officer sent to Conduct mee, least any affront should bee offered by base people. This day I receiued from Hoja Nassan a particular of 17,000 mamoodies agreed on by Zulpheckcarcon, wherof part of the debt was the Princes, part others. Soe I sent to know what order I should haue for the mony. Zulpheckcarcons scriuano answered that I should not trouble my selfe further : that hee had order for my satisfaction, and was procuring the Princes Chop for his part, which had passd two seales, and was Collecting the rest, and that he would finish it all in a few dayes. The Prince had a sonne borne, and now beeing preparing for this warr all mens eyes were on him, eyther for flattery, gayne or envy, Non for loue. He receiued 20 lackes of rupies toward his Chardge (200,000 ll. starling) and began to deale mony liberally. But Notwithstanding this show of his fathers affection and greatnes, a Chan perswaded the king that the voyadge would be dangerous in respect of the Prince Paruis, whose honor was soe wounded that he would not returne without reuenge. The king replyed : lett them fight : I am well content ; and he that prooues himselfe the better Captaine shall pursue the warr.
18.2.6
June 25. — Asaph chan sent one of his Cheife seruants to the Court gate to attend mee, but I had resolued I would bee sent for. So hee, perceiuing I stayd long, doubted that I would not Come, caused him to Come a foote in hast to fetch mee. So I went and was receiued by the King after the ould manner, no difference, without taking any Notice of my absence. The Prince bowed himselfe. And soe I stayd his Maiesties goeing in without farthar speech. Asaph chan and diuers others saluted mee and I returnd. June 26. — I sent to Asaph chan that as I was at an agreement with Zulpheckcarcon, payment only wanted, which was most materiall : that therfore if hee would accord all other matters with the Prince, I was ready to visitt him. I heard noe answer. June 27. — I went to visitt Mochrebchan to thancke him for his voluntary kindnes. Wee had long speech. The effect was hee sought to withdrawe mee from Asaph chan offering to doe all my busines, in hope of the first sight of raretyes from England ;
18.2.7
telling me that it was Asaph chan that putt that tricke vpon mee, for when the king called him to know who had forbidd mee the Court, he answered hee knew not indeed : that hee had giuen order I should not enter the Guzelchan without especiall leaue, for that it was his Maiesties priuacye, wher were none admitted but those that were his nearest seruantes, & for that his Maiestie often did vse to drincke there, to be barbd, and such other businesses as were vnfitt for strangers to see : & that the Persian Ambassadors neuer came without sending a day before : but that other order hee neuer gaue, nor knew of any. I answered that I did accept his loue in the highest degree : that Asaph chan was as lealous of me for his sake, but that I could not absolutely quitt him first : both the articles I demanded were referrd to him and remaynd in his hand, so that I was tyed to him, and also, I knew well that if he had no affection to doe mee good yet hee had power to crose mee : that I was resolued to procure and hould euerybodyes loue and not to runne myselfe into open factions : though in my hart and inward affections I could make difference of frendes, as I did of him, from whom I had found so free and Noble kindnes. But really I trusted neither ; the one was sower, eager of bribes, proud and knew his owne strength, the other fickle, flattering, and loued to haue his power beleeued to be more then it was ; but neyther Card for vs longer then some end of their owne enticed them.
18.2.8
Soe I playd at their game, held correspondence with both, and resolued to vse both as long as I could, and to quitt him, when I must needes, that could doe mee least good. Hee asked mee what then he should doe for mee. I answered Continew his affection to our Nation: and for my particular, I desird him to remember my seruice to his Maiestie and to recommend our cause in generall termes and to signifye to his Maiestie that I well sawe our Ignorance in tymes past of what Comodityes were fitt for his Maiestie had made our trade fastidious, but that if I knew his Maiesties Mynd he should see how able wee were to serue him. Hee replyed hee would doe it; but withall he said wee brought too much Cloth and ill swoordes and almost nothing else: that euery body was weary of yt; that hee aduised wee should forbeare two or 3 yeares, and insteed therof, seeing our shippes went to China and Japan, to bring all the raretyes of those parts (which were more acceptable here then Gould), and from our Countrie the best Cloth of Tissue and richest stuffs of silke, gould and siluer that wee had, but especially good quantety of Arras for hangings, saying that the king would buy for a Leeck or two of rupzes, and euery great man in proportion. And this, I thinck, is true, and would serue for two years.
18.2.9
I replyed wee Considered this, but the Merchanntes sought proffitt: that those things were deare with vs, and the Chardg of bringing halfe as much as the goodes: and that wee feared few would Come to the Price, for that our best Clothes of gould and tissue were woorth 100 rupies a Cobde with vs, and soe meaner to 40 rupies, and ther was Arras from 20 rupies to 150 rupies a sticke (much about a Cobdee): so that if I should aduise of such things, they would answer that I had little skyll in those matters; but that if his Maiestie would make a bill of what sorts and conditions he desired, and what quantetye and what rates, and sett his Chop to it that hee would take yt, and such other great men as desired the like, I would send into England and might then wright with Confidence; and I doubted not but his Majesties will should bee in all things accomplished. He answered he would acquaynt him with my motion, which would highly Content him, and cause a bill to bee made and sealed; and for his part hee would giue mee another. Wee had some speech about the Prince, whom hee rayled at freely: that hee neuer went to him, nor had power to doe mee kyndnes there: but that, when hee was departed, hee could not harme mee. I answered as long hee had the Gouerment of Suratt his fauour was as Consequent to vs almost as his Maiesties, and that I had had a bitter experience of his affection notwithstanding his faire pretences, besides the bearing vp of Zulpheckcarcon.
18.2.10
Hee replyed hee knew it well, and would shortly tell mee how it should bee remedyed: for Zulpheckcarcon, hee desired mee not to stirr nor send after soe base a fellow: that in 4 dayes hee would see the mony paid. Wee exchanged many complements and many professions. At last hee prest vpon mee too bottles of Muske, that were sent him for a present from his gouerment, held aboue 100 ounces. woorth 500li., with much importunitye, but I refusd so great an obligation, least for that Cause I should bee tyed to him to the prejudice of the Company ; for hee would expect some recompence. I cannot bragg of this follie, but it is a vice that few in my place are guiltie off; but I had resolued, rich or poore, to doe nothing unwoorthy the Honor of my Master nor the good name of an honest man. The king this euening went to Hauas Iemall.