[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy) › [The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster) › 19.5 # The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 19.5 The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 19.5 - **Language:** English ### [19.5.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.19.5.1) Asaph chan seemed greatly pleased, assuring mee of fauour from the king to our Nation and of very gratfull reception from the Prince of my endeauours ; wherat I tooke occasion to tell him how little encouragment I had yet receiued, especially in the delay of those articles propounded in the Name of my Master, which was a busines most concerned mee and was the only siment to ioyne the affections of both Nations to avoyed and disperce all Iealousyes, whereby a perfect leauge and a kind of naturall loue would growe by Continuall trafique, commerce and entercourse one with another. He answered it was his faulte, but that ther was tyme enough, it beeing 6 weekes to the shippes arriuall, before which I could make little vse of yt : but that if hee had any honor in him, I should receiue them sealed within 3 dayes, and that what soeuer else lay in him to doe mee or my nation seruice I should Command. I answered in the same mettle of obedience, but to shorten Complements hee said wee should bee brothers, and that the title should bee sufficient to expresse all profession. August 12. — I went to the Princes, to whom (as if I had reserued the secrett and misterie of the busines only for him) I desired what I deliuered might bee priuatly ; which was done. ### [19.5.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.19.5.2) First, I tould him I had great reason to suspect that the dutch fleete expected had some ill purpose, by the Carriadge of the shipp arriued, who offered to land no goodes but dealt closely, reseruing their resolution vntill the Comming of their fellowes, pretending that they entended a factory, which if they did they would vnlade and not venture to ride in soe terrible a roade open to the sea upon a lee shoare, a thing strange and with vs held impossible, that any shipp could gett in from the westward in this season, much lesse bide at Anchor the force of wyndes ordinarye vntill the change of the Monson : But for preuention, I vnderstood they desired to bring their ship, which drew but 12 foote water, over the barr and to ride in the riuer, yet without Command of any fort ; which gaue mee the most suspition, for shee would bee master of the riuer, and goe out at Pleasure ; ### [19.5.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.19.5.3) But that which did almost Confirme mee that assuredly they ment to surprise his hignes ships was That about tenn yeares since The Hollanders had a factorie at Suratt where all their Merchannts died, leauinge much goodes and mony in their house, which being veiwed and taken by Inventorie, Channa Channa and diuers great men deuided and tooke amonge them, yet sending lettres to Mesolapatan of the Particulars, offering to repay it all to any that should bring lawfull authoritie to receiue it, whervpon this last yeare The Hollanders sent ouer land two principall Merchannts from Mesolapatan to Suratt, hoping to haue found such Iustice as their promise pretended, but Contrary they were beaten and ill vsed, recouering scarcly their Chardge and some Indico that was kept vnsould, but for the mayne of the mony it was pretended to be in the handes of Channa Channa and other great men ; ### [19.5.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.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. ### [19.5.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.19.5.5) I put his highnes in mynd how easy it was to take his shipps and all others trading into the redd sea, and what losse it would bee to him and to all his subiects to haue the trade either shutt vp or to expose his goodes to yearly and Certaine danger : that therfore his highnes should well advise how those were entreated that beeing too strong in shipping were so able to requite all Iniuryes. Hee gaue mee many thanckes, with much profession of his gratitude for my good affection showed him in this intelligence ; but withall was much troubled, desiering me to giue him some councell what to doe and how to behaue himselfe at present, and to avoyd the danger of his shipes. I answered I was very vnfitt to giue him advise, being so naturally Pregnant, haueing so many wise men about him : but, seeing hee so pleased to Command, I would venture my opinione and referr it to his Judgement to execute according to his wisdome : That hee should write to the lieutenant at Suratt to giue them all good woordes, but if it were possible (vnder pretence of care of their safety) to fright them from Comming ouer the barr with the many shelffs, sandes and dangers of the riuer, and then his highnes should bee sure they would either away for feare of the weather and not returne vntill the season of Change, when I hoped our ships would be arriued to doe him seruice and to prevent any injury : or if they resolued to ride it out it was 100 to one they would be Cast away, and soe the question ended. ### [19.5.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.19.5.6) But if no perswation could preuaile but that they would ouer the barr, then the Leiutennant should perswade them to bring the ship vp to the towne, vnder pretence of better riding and more Conuenience of refreshing (which may else be refused them) and so draw them vnder the Command of the Castle, wherby they could not depart without leaue, and if their fellowes had done any thing at sea this would bee a good Pawne to redeeme yt. But because it is easier and wiselier done to prevent mischeefe then to redresse it or punish yt, his highnes might send a Post ouer land to Syndu in. 6 dayes, and thence send an aduisall frigott to his shipps to giue warning to looke out for a fleete and to keepe in sight of land, so that if such bee discouered they may shift vnder some fort or gett into Syndu : and that after, if the fleete arriue at Suratt peaceably and desier satisfaction and trade, his Highnes in honor would I doubt not cause them to haue iustice, But for trade I must referr it to his wisdome. ### [19.5.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.19.5.7) Only thus much I would signifie : they would bee very vnruly ashore, disorderly especially by drincke, and that, if any iustice were done in such Case, they would make it a quarrell, beeing desierous of any occasion, for that accept they might Command here (which would not befitt his greatnes) as they did in all other their residences, they professe them selues they shall gaine more by stealing in one yeare then by trading in many : So that if his highnes could be quiettly ridd of them, it were a happines and ease to him. But, howeuer, if his highnes saw cause to entertaine them, I hoped it should noe way bee in our preiudice, who had beene priuiledged many years by his father and were most ready to doe him seruice. Hee answered mee they should noe way disadvantage vs : that in all that I had deliuered he would follow my Councell and would not resolue anything Concerning the Hollanders without my aduise, desiering me to Continew to enforme him, and hee would apply him selfe wholy according to such instructions as hee should receiue of mee ; with many promises, good woordes, and Complements. So that I haue arriued at one of my proposed endes, and am in a faire Course to all ; but successes are subiect to the Chance of circumstances, and the myndes of Princes alter with tyme, or are ouerswayd with Passions and some tymes bought with too easy a Price. ### [19.5.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.19.5.8) Here I mooued Mir\[z\]ie Socorollo for the Princes resolution for so much of Zulphecarcons debt as hee chardged the Prince withall, for that Master Bidolph the day before had showed him his hand and seale for the whole, wherin was Mentioned to be oweing by his highnes 5,500 mamoodies, and hee desiered to show the bill to the Prince and to know his pleasure. He answered he had moued the Prince and had order for so much, and would eyther pay it on the morrow or giue warrant to receiue so much at Suratt ; and for 3,500 mamoodies which Zulpheckcarcon had previously giuen his bill to Abram chan, hee would write his lettre to Command the deliuery, which made 9,000 in all ; the remainder, which was to bee payd by Zulpheckcarcon, hee would see performed at the Arriuall of the Iudg of the Custome house, who was dayly expected. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.19.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.19.5) · Pramāṇa