The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 21: The Copy of my new Demands upon refusall of the former Articles, sent this 4th of September, 1616.
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 21
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The Copy of my new Demands upon refusall of the former Articles, sent this 4th of September, 1616.
21.1.1
VVheras the most famous King of England hath sent his Ambassador to our Court with lettres to desire our frendship and to giue leaue for free trade for all his subjectes in all parts of our Dominions, which wee take in good part, and are willing to consent vnto, wee therfore Command all our Gouernors and officers of all our kingdomes to receiue the said subjects of the King of England with frendshipp and to suffer them to land their goodes in Peace and to assist them with fresh victualles for their mony, without taking any Custome for the said victualles, and, having soe landed any goodes and satisfyed for the duties of the Port according to agreement, they may haue liberty to sell to any person, in which the Gouernor nor any other shall not hinder them, nor force them to sell at a lower Price then they shall bee Content withall, not taking any things from them without payment. And further wee Command that the said English may freely passe and goe with their goodes to sell them in any place at their pleasure, and that noe exaction bee taken from them as they passe, having payd their dutyes at the Port : and that they alsoe may buy any goodes in this Country and carry downe and into their shipes, without any manner of vexation or payment, but only at their Port.
21.1.2
And further wee Command that such Presents as shalbe sent vnto vs by the King of England shall not bee opened nor searched by any body, but having beene sealed by the Gouernor shalbe sent to the Ambassador resident at our Court to be deliuered to vs, taking no Custome for them. And that, if any English shall dye in any of our dominions, wee Command that no confiscation bee made of any of their monyes or goodes, but they shall remayne to the factors that are liuing. or, if ther bee none aliue, the officers of the Place of their residence shall take note in writing of all such monyes, goodes, boockes, bills of debt, and Papers as shalbe found in their house, which beeinge sealed vp shalbe deliuered to the English at their request. And finally wee Command that no manner of Iniury bee any way offered them : but that they may quiettly buy, sell, trade, and passe vp and downe in our dominions without any extortion, payment, or hinderance what soeuer, but only the duties of the Port wher they land or ship their goodes. This wee strictly Command and Chardge, because it is our Gratious Pleasure to Content our frend the King of England, as by our lettres wee haue heretofore promised on our royall woord, and therefore wee expect that no man dare to break our said Gratious Command.
21.1.3
September 5. — Mochrebchan sent to speake with mee, who reauealed to mee in great frendship that Asaph chan was our enemy, or at beste a false frend : that hee had faltered with mee in my busines with the king : that hee would vndertake yt and effect yt. I gaue him thancks and seemed to accept of yt ; but yet I had hope of Asaph Chan, or at least was not Cleare of him, because the New demandes were in his hand, and I knew his Power, but how to trust the other I as little knew. Besides hee was to depart to the Gouerment of Amadauaz within ten dayes, and so, when I had declared a defection from Asaph chan, hee would leaue mee without any frend. I resolued to bee driuen by Necessytye. September 7. — I went to visitt the King. September 8. — Asaph chan sent mee that answer that absolutly hee would procure nothing sealed that any way Concerned the Princes Gouerment : that I should only expect from him what wee desired, whose firmaens were sufficient. And so reauealed that purpose which hee had long in practice to make vs wholy depend on the Prince. Now I had Just Cause too looke out, and was blamles if I sought new frendes when hee had forsaken mee. I resolued to try the Prince, and to seeme to depend wholy on him, having sent formerly to his secretary fower Clauses to which I demanded his firmaen for our present vse at Suratt for the fleete expected, which his Highnes had agreed too.
21.1.4
September 10. — I went to the Prince, who Cast downe to the secretary the firmaen by mee desiered and promised; so that I hoped I had beene at rest. September 11. — I receiued yt, but when I read it, it was in two of the 4 Clauses demanded and promised much different, and one whole branch left out. Soe I returned yt with a round answere I would not accept yt, nor suffer any goodes to Come a shore. Neuer man had to doe with soe much Pride, Covetousnes and falshood. At night I rode to Merze Socorolla, the Princes Secretarie, to expostulate the busines and to declare my resolution of departure; but I found the firmaen not such as I was enformed, but Conteyning all the Clauses required by mee, though in the Phrase to my Judgment somewhat restrayned; which hee expounded in the best sence, declaring that it was the Princes entent to satisfie my desier fully and that it was sufficient. I urdged the obscurnes of some poynts, desiering him, as hee had cleared his Highnes meaning to mee, soe hee would by his lettre to the Gouernor of Suratt, which hee granted, principally Commanding that the Customer should pay for 50 Clothes, which hee had many mounths since bought and now would returne them vnto the factors to their extreame losse. In the end hee opened the ould poynt of the Princes desire that I should rely on him, and not Crosse him in busines of his Gouerment with the King, and I should fynd him a better frend then I expected;
21.1.5
and finally gaue mee such satisfaction in all poynts that I was both pleased and in some hope of good successe, the rather because hee is no briber, reputed honest, and did vndertake on his Creditt (to whom the Prince had referrd all busines) that wee should not susteyne the loss of one Pice nor any the least Iniurye. So I accepted the firmaen, which vpon translation I found very effectuall. September 12. — I receiued this lettre from Socorolla to Suratt, so Punctuall and playne in our behalfe, Commanding the Gouernor to pay all ould debts of Zulpheckcarcons yeare, and that if any remaynd there that had not giuen vs Content, the difference should bee examined, the English satisfyed, and the wrong certefyed to the Prince, that gaue mee more Confidence. Whervpon I dispeeded the firmaen and lettre with myne owne to Suratt to meete the expected Generall, encouraging him to land his goodes bouldly vpon such Conditions as I sent vnto him, which the Prince had required on my part. And if I bee not deceiued our busines was neuer in so probable a way, because hee that requires conditions to be performed is more lickely to fullfill his owne then hee that carelessely leaues all things at liberty, to whom all things are lawfull. Concerning other Priuiledges I am resolued to vse the Prince and doubt not to effect that by him which himselfe hath Crossed and resisted. This day two of our factors went to Agra to invest some mony.
21.1.6
I had no authoritye, but by much perswasion and dispute I ouercome them, for in Cash was very little, and they resolued to linger vntill the arriuall of the shipes or receipt of mony for goodes sould, which could not bee gotten in two mounthes, too late to buy goodes and send it to Suratt this yeare. I preuayled so farr as to make them vnderstand the losse of tyme, and to take so much mony vp of the Sheraffes for two mounths as was due at Adsmere, to dispeed goodes to our Port. The interest is not the 100th part of the Chardge the Company beare in attending five mounthes with a fleete for the fitting and safety of on ship; and I can prooue that this yeare (which was yet most backward) a lading might haue beene ready at Suratt by the 30th of September, so that our fleete nede not to haue stayed aboue 20 dayes. So should they haue been free from the danger of enemies, that Cannot attempt them so suddenly; the shipes to the Sowthward might proceed in their voyadg, and make quicker returnes for England by a yeare, loosing the season in their abode here, which would gayne and saue the Company in the vse of their stocke in wages and other expence 20,000 li. yearly. This I can proue without any Coulor of Contradiction. For if 4,000 li.
21.1.7
had been taken vp and employed at Amadavaz and Barooph (whoose broad Cloth is fitter for England then Semianoes which are false and beaten full of holes) with those monyes made from Suratt and Brampore, and our factors here had two mounthes sooner beene ruled, this had beene accomplished; the debt at Agra, the sales at Adsmere would haue payd; what had been oweing below more then goodes sould, it had beene better to haue taken so much mony out of the fleete to pay yt, then so much to invest after the arriuall, which course last yeare stayed Captain Keeling 5 mounthes or no ship had beene despatched. And now if I had suffered them to stay the receipt of mony, from Agra nothing had beene done, but the stock had layne dead till another yeare. I know not what blindes your seruantes. They pretend want of authoritye to take vp mony, for no man can plead against the benefitt gott by yt. This error last yeare was more grosse, when Master Edwardes had in Cash almost 4,000li. 3 Months, and invested none vntill our ariuall. I did my endeauour to perswade, but you left mee so little creditt among them that whatsoeuer I motioned was contradicted, eauen to show their authoritye. This fault I touched to the Generall, and the error of factoryes, for your Chardge here is extreame and vnnecessarye. I know your busines may bee effected with more reputation with halfe the Chardge and with extreame ease ;
21.1.8
but this seemes a Paradox to your factors, but is such truth that if hee heare mee, or my Creditt Can prevayle, you shall feele the profitt ; and though in this I transgresse your order to meddle in the Merchandize, yet I cannot beleeue it is fitt for mee to see you wronged by weaknes and to say : I knowe how, but may not help it It was not your purpose to hurt your selues, but to restrayne mee from wasting your stock ; but experience hath manifested I haue more saued yt and sought to husband yt, then all those to whome it was entrusted, sparing eauen my owne allowances and necessaries to advance yours.
21.2.1
September 13. — I went to Mochrebchan, and Carried both the first articles and the breefe of them, desiering him to reade them and tell me his opinion, because that Asaph Chan obiected that there were many things in them would distast the king ; and, if hee found them no way vnreasonable nor vnfitt, that hee would acquainte the king with my Comminge to visitt him : that I was much discontent and very sadd ; but to proceede to noe particulars, for displeasing the Prince, but in generall to signifye that somewhat was amisse, and soe, recommending our cause to his Maiesties fauour, to giue the king occasion to demand of mee or Asaph chan the reason of my dislikes. For to engage or accept of Mochrebchans offer to procure the seale in Spight of the other faction I knew was both vanetye and bragges, without power to effect yt or Courage in him to vndertake yt ; or if such foolhardines for our sakes should posses him to mooue the king and to gett yt, yet the Prince would recalle yt, and my New solicitor beeing departed to his Gouerment I should be left not only destitute but a declared enemy to those that had most power to hurt mee. All this hee promised. September 15. — This day the Portugalls house was fiered and burnt downe, not sauing their Cloathes nor goodes nor Iewells that remayned vnsould ; yet the losse did not amount aboue 7 or 8,000 rupias.
21.2.2
September 16. — I visited the Prince, purposing yet to runne on in a way of seeming dependance on him, vntill I heard from our shipes and what entertaynment they were like to receiue this yeare. I found him sadd, fearing the Cominge of Sultan Paruis to Court, beeing within 8 course and importuned to kisse his fathers hands, who had granted him, but by the power of Normall was after diswaded and a Command sent that the Prince should take his Journy right to Bengal ; yea, although the King had fallen downe and taken his Mistris by the feete to obteyne her leaue to see his sonne. The Kings remooue continued, but whither noe man could certainly resolue. September 17. — I went to the Kings Durbar, hoping Mochrebchan had giuen occasion to the King to aske mee some questions, but hee had not spoken ; and Asaph chan, as soon as the king appeared, departed. Rumor reported that the King Commanded him away in displeasure ; but I found no such matter on the morrowe. September 18. — I sent to Mochrebchan, who returned my Papers with his Judgment that therin was nothing Conteyned at which the King could take exceptione, but that the Prince would fynd his liberty at Suratt therby restreyned : That he had not spoken to the king, but at his taking leaue hee would not fayle. September 19. — Mochrebchan tooke his leaue and departed to his Tents a Course out of Towne ; soe that I must attend his answere. September 23. — I went 4 Course after Mochrebchan to take my leaue.
21.2.3
But hee had not spoken to the King according to promise ; excusing himselfe that hee beeing to depart and so not able to goe thorough with that hee had begunn, it would rather rayse Jelouses then doe good : That at my first comminge I was ill aduised to vse Asaph chan, who was knowne to bee the Portugalls frend and had his factors in Goa. But that since it was not to be remedyed, hee would Commend our cause to his frend Abdala Hassan by lettre, who should effect all our busines to Content. This man was both able to doe yt, and vncorrupt. But I feared hee following noe mans busines would not for our sakes crosse the Power of Asaph chan ; but the others Confidence made mee accept of the lettre to keepe by mee, and to vse as occasion advised me. And soe, recommending our factory at Amadauaz to his fauour, I tooke leaue. But yet I stood in feare of my ould frend, to whom if I had neuer beene engaged, it was at first free for mee and had beene no discourtesye to make my owne Choyce, but now to forsake him would doubtless leaue him myne enemy. Our busines for the Present standing on good tearmes by my last agreement with the Prince, I determined to rest, and with patience to watch the aduantage of many supposed and expected Changes, and to Temporize withall vntill I saw the fruict of the Princes promises by the vsage of our fleete lookd for, and that the supply of presents were Come to my hand;
21.2.4
for then both the king is easye and all about him soe slauish to bribes that I knew I could take my choyse of New, or returne with grace to my ould sollicitor; and then vpon deliuery of a New lettre from the King my Master, I would once more present and urdge my generall desires. The Prince I entended Cheefely to make sure vnto vs, but now hee is ready to depart for Decan, and the king some other way, wherby, as hee cannot bee my assistant here, so will hee expect some agent to attend him, and I feare that all presents and whatsoeuer els is landed shall first be brought to him, while hee is lord of the Port, which wilbe both a great inconuenience and disgrace to our goodes. But I entend to sound his purpose and maynly to oppose yt, if it runne that way. I am not sent to him but to the king. Hee would make mee, if not his seruant, yet to cast my reguard wholy toward him. September 24. — I received lettres from Agra, of the rising of Indico 5 rupies in a maund as it always doth at buying tyme; but, seeing the Company was at Chardge to keepe a factorie ther all this yeare to no purpose, if they had taken vp mony to buy at the best hand and at leysure, besides the dispatch of our shipping they had saued in price eight in the hundreth aboue the interest. Yet I wished that the Merchannts would proceed to investure according to their last purpose.
21.2.5
September 25. — I Received lettres from Amadavaz, signifieing their imployments, which will rise to 800 churls; so that had the mony due here beene taken vp and employed in tyme, and at Amadavas but 20,000 rupias, to haue beene paid out of the shipes at arriuall, it is euident that a lading had beene ready by this day at Suratt, and the goodes in both parts bought at better rates by ten and twelve in the hundred. This Night I went to visitt the King, and was vsed by Asaph chan and his father with much false Curtesye; but I tooke it for Currant pay. September 30. — I went to visitt the Prince in the Morning, and tooke with mee the bill of Zulpheckcarcons debt, of which 6 or 7,000 mamoodies was behinde, and made offer to Complayne; but Mirze Socorolla perswaded me that, wee beeing now in good termes with the Prince, hee would take it ill to heare more publique exclamations on his seruant: that hee had written to Suratt to know what part other men had receiued of the goodes, and vpon answer, which hee dayly expected, hee would see vs satisfyed. At night I went to the Durbar to see the King. LONDON : PRINTED AT THE BEDFORD PRESS, 20 AND 21, BEDFORDBURY, W.C.