The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 19.5.4

19.5.4

These Merchants thus baffatted at Suratt resolued to trie the vtmost by faier meanes, and desiered leaue of mee to goe in my Company to Brampore, wher beeing, as they pretended, refused audience and all satisfaction they returned to Mesolapatan, but first reauealing to mee their intents : that they feared this refusall before they vndertooke the voyadge, but yet to bee free from all scandall they had made tryall : but that it was resolued the yeare following (which is this present) there should Come a fleete to the Port of Suratt, wher, if satisfaction had beene made, they would trade, but finding the Contrarie with some shipes they would shutt vp the riuer and with others range too and againe and surprise all that Came out of the redd sea and all other trading on the Coast; all which Considered, and that this shipp desiers to Come over the barr, I had great reason to suspect that now that was in execution which was so long threatned : that this shipp should stopp the entrance to safety while the others tooke the booty, the rather because the Hollanders were soe incensed at the insolencyes offered them, and that they were a people strong at sea and revengfull, and would neyther forget to [nor ?] pardon Iniurye.