The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 23.5
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 23.5
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- English
23.5.1
November 6. — I receiued lettres from Master Browne at Amadavaz, aduising mee of hauing gotten the Gouernor of Cambayas bill for the restitution of 1,100 Mamoodies extorted last yeare, by virtue of difirmaen by me procured. So that I haue recouered all bribes and extortions taken before my tyme with little losse. I suppose it wilbe a good example. He certefyed mee of a fray begun by the Portugalles, 5 of them setting on an English boy in Cambaya and disarming him, vpon rumour wherof Iohn Browne and James Bickford went to his rescue and were assayled by seauen of them. One shooting a Pistoll hurt John Browne in the hand, but his hart lay not thear. They defended themselues honestly, brauely, like Englishmen, kylld one, hurt some others, and Chased them vp and downe the Towne like beastes, to the great shame of such villaynes and reputation of our Nation. To reuenge this, the Portugalls beeing arriued in their frigotts, diuers Came ashore ; no more english in Towne but the 3 Mentioned. The Gouernor vnderstood the occasion, and sent the Cuttwall with a guard to our house and shutt the water Ports, expelling the Portugall and Commanding, vpon payne of Chasticement, not to meddle with the English ; and so deliuered them safe out of towne, who are returned to Amadavaz.
23.5.2
By these I receiued newes from Suratt of a resolution to send to Jasques without my knowledge, here beeing an Ambassador of the Shaw-hks that offered me all curtesy and whose aduise would haue giuen vs great light to the busines; but in 6 weekes I neuer heard woord from them, neyther doe they thinck any body woorth the Consulting but them selues. I sent downe the kinges firmaen procured by Crowther; but my aduise that it was not woorth entertayning on so feeble Conditions, with many reasons reserued to my selfe, not presupposing any man would haue presumed a conclusion without mee; for that when I motioned to send Shalbanke for 100 rupias overland to discouer both Syndu and Jasques, to bee an eye wittnesse of the fittnes of the Port and possibilitye of trade, and to haue returned before the arriuall of our fleete with full intelligence, they reiected it, and braggd they had crossd all my aduices; and now haue resolued to doe yt by a ship, at extreame perill and Chardge, and without any ground, yea, against all reason; without vouchsafing to acquaynt mee, but that I receiued the Newes by Collaterall enformation. Iudge what respect your factors giue mee: what the fruictes of diuision are, and seperating them from any relation to mee, though your last lettre signifyd you required them to Consult with mee before resolution of any Matter of such importance.
23.5.3
I must Confesse it greatly discourageth mee, and my sincere Payne, care, and toyle was not to serue to amend their follyes only at Court, but hoped to haue beene respected in my aduice only for your profitt. For your Cheefe factor hath too much suddeyne
23.5.4
East, and in consequence the usual authority in matters relating to merchandise had been withheld from the general of the 1616 fleet. Pepwell, therefore, could not reverse the decision arrived at by the assembled factors, nor could he refuse to assist in carrying it out. Roe was equally powerless, and had to content himself with watching, in a decidedly critical mood, the outcome of the measures taken, while he awaited the result of his letters home of the previous year, complaining of his own want of authority. fire and to great an opinion of his abilityes to giue a temperate aduise, as I can show abondantly and wee haue had full experience, not once asking any mans aduise from hence, but Peremptorily commanding and ordering monyes to no purpose, too late and to extreame Losse. Notwithstanding, this day I dispeeded a lettre from the Princes secretary written in his owne Name to Abram chan, Salath beage, and Isack beage, to ouersee the Customer that hee wronged not the English nor suffered any other : that the busines might bee so ordered as should preuent all future Complayntes : that the presentes should be dispatchd to Court without Custome : that what soeuer was bought should not be taken by force, but the owner payd ready mony to Content The Copy is registred. This day I wrote to the Gouernor of Cambaya to acknowledge his fauour and my thanckfullnes : that I would acquaynt the king with his honorable respect of our Protection. November 9.
23.5.5
— The Prince, beeing to remooue, sent one of his Guard in hast for mee. I was vnfitted to goe but hee Prest mee so farr that his Master did stay out to speake with mee : that hee had Commanded him not to returne without mee : that all the Court did talk of the Princes fauour to mee : that it was reported hee had desired the king to lett mee accompany him into the warrs, and that hee had promised to vse mee so well as I should confesse his fauour to our Nation. This Newes made me take horse after dinner ; but I found him Newly risen and Marching. I mett the Dutchman his Ieweller. Hee welcommed mee with good Newes of some extraordinary fauour from his master, who had sate almost an hower longer then his Purpose to stay my Comming, and such great promises that made mee beleeue none. Hee also confirmed the souldiers report of my attending the Prince. When I came vp to the trayne I sent woord I was arriued, and had answer that I should passe before to the tentes, and sitt vntill the Prince came and that hee would speake with mee. It was night before his approach. He made only a Countenance to mee, sate a little and went in among his woemen. As hee Passd, hee turned about and sent a seruant to desire mee to stay a while : that hee would com into the Guzelchan and take his leaue of mee.
23.5.6
Within halfe an hower he sate out, but I could not gett any man to putt him in mynd of mee, and hee was fallen to Play, and eyther forgott it or put a tricke of state vpon mee, that I stayed an hower. Beeing extreamely troubled, I went to the doore and tould the wayters the Prince had sent for mee : I came only to receiue his Commandes : that I had attended long and must returne to my house, it beeing late : and if his highnes had any busines I desiered him to send it after mee, for I scorned such vsage ; and so departed to horse. Before I was vp, ther came running messingers calling for mee, and I was sent for. I first complayned of my stay : that I was come only to receiue his command : that I had neyther bedd nor tent and 6 Course home : that I could not procure entrance. I found him earnest at Cardes, but hee excused himselfe of forgettfullnes, and blamed the officers formally ; but in show vsd mee with more Curtesy then ordinary, calling mee to see his Cardes and asking many questions. I expected hee would speake of my goeing with him, but, fynding noe such discourse, I tould him I was come only to obey him, and to take my leaue: that I desired his Pardon that I hasted away, for that I was to returne to Adsmere, beeing vnprouided to stay all night Hee answered hee sent for me to see me before his goeing: that I should presently bee dispatched.
23.5.7
Then hee sent in an Eunuch and diuers of his Captaynes came smiling: the Prince would giue me a great Present, and if I feared to ryde late, I should haue ten horse to guard mee, and made such a busines as if I should haue receiued his best Chayne of Pearle. By and by came out a Cloth of gould Cloake of his owne, once or twice worne, which hee Caused to bee putt on my back, and I made reuerence, very vnwillingly. When his Ancester Tamerlane was represented at the Theatre the Garment would well haue become the Actor; but it is here reputed the highest of fauour to giue a garment worne by the Prince, or, beeing New, once layd on his shoulder. Then hee bowed him selfe and I had my dischardg; but I desiered to speake somewhat more. Vsing a preface of Complementes, I acquaynted him with the letters I newly receiued from Suratt, wherin our factors acknowledge their good vsadge and the receipt of the mony according to order: that as I had Complaynd against the bad, I could not but acknowledge the Justice and goodnes of Abram Chan, who in all Poynts studyed to honour his Master with Noble actions and to protect vs from Iniury. He replyed it was his Command so to doe, and that hee was very glad that his seruants and my Countrimen agreed so well and were frendes, which hee would continew by his expresse order: that in what I found my selfe agreeued hee would bee my Iudge him selfe and right mee.
23.5.8
I desiered him to beginn his fauour by Commanding Zulphercarcon to pay the Mefic.harites the 8,000 mamodies resting of his debt. He answered that he had vndertaken to bee our Paymaster, and gaue present order to giue a bill to receiue it at Suratt; which I leaue Master Bidolph to follow. So I tooke my leaue, and Comming out was followed by all his wayters and Porters soe shamfully that I halfe paid for my Cloake before I gate out. By Morning I gott home.