The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 19.4.2

19.4.2

She had been at Bantam, and laden with south Comodities, had dischardged most part at Moha in the redd sea, wher shee tooke Chickenes and royalls for her goodes, and with about 100 tunns of spices and that mony Came to Suratt, pretending to seeke trade. Her People seemed not willingly to disclose their purpose but that they expected a fleete from Holland and would ryde vntill the season, and accordinly declare. Her arriuall, it seemes, made our factors at Suratt much afrayd, eyther of their purpose to doe some spoyle on the Coast in reuenge of Certeine debts oweing, or of settling a factory in India, where they would both out-present, out-bribe, and out-buy vs in all things, ether of which would be very preiudiciall to our proceedings, especially if they should robb Sultan Caronns ship expected this season in returne from Moha. So that although I had not aduise particularly addressed to mee (of which I woonder) and this Comming casually, yet I went to visitt the king and enformed him of all my lealousyes, which were noe other then to begett some in him. Hee enquired what this ship brought ? which I declared according to relation : What the fleete was like to bring? If they intended trade? Or, if they were men of warr, vpon whom the storme were most probable to fall?