The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 23.6
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 23.6
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- English
23.6.1
In the way thither I receiued an answer of my lettres sent long since to Suratt, which I supposed miscarried, but found that they had kept my Pattamar one month and fower dayes, only to dispose their busines without my knowledge. They aduise mee of their sending the Iames to discouer Iasques, with the greatest quantity of Cloth, lead, quicksiluer, and teeth, and diuers factors, beeing forced to yt as a Comodity that would not vent in India (yet not many monthes since they disputed with mee that these species would driue the whole trade); notwithstanding that I had enformed them that in Persia in the hart these kynd were lesse saleable, in the sckirtes (wher was no trade) not vendible at all. Next that they haue made mony vp to Agra, which cannot be returned by the end of Ianuary. Thus without once consulting any man they doe most absurdly all of their owne heades, which I reprehended with some roundnes, and neede not repeat the reasons I gaue agaynst their courses nor my opinion, beeing sent to the Consultation and entered in its order among my lettres. They sent mee a Copy of some Clauses of the Companyes Commission which they pretend concerned mee; but in the first, about the Persian employment, they haue proceeded as if it concernd mee not. The rest are friuolous and, by misenformation into England, to no purpose; and this is all it hath pleasd them to acquaynt mee with. They confesse the receipt of the mony recouered by mee, of their better vsage at Suratt;
23.6.2
but after I had procured order to restore bribes, and brought the envy vpon mee, they release it in curtesy to procure fauour for them selues. Concerning Zulpheckcarcons remayner they write mee they haue not leysure, and are loath to offend them that owe part, and so giue mee no account. Yet I haue procured order for yt. But if I had receiued from them in six monthes a partition, I had gotten ready mony; if now it be lost I can doe no more; their negligence must answere it. November 10. — All the towne beeing almost remooued, I was left behynd and could procure no Camells nor Cartes, notwithstanding my warrant. The Persian Embassador in the same case complaynd and had speedy redresse; vpon Notice wherof I sent to the Court, and expect answere. November 11. — I receiued two warrants for Carts and Camells at the kinges Price; which I sent the officer. November 13. — After two dayes search and layeing the Townes endes I could not bee fitted; so many wanted that vsd force, the great men hauing souldiers euery wayes out to catch all vp; and it is a woonderfull matter to remooue the two leskars and all the Citty at once. I despeeded my aduise to the Consultation at Suratt, and to vrdge them to such demandes as were Needfull.
23.6.3
November 14. — I receiued from Agra that, in barter of ould Indico (a meane sort that lay on the owners handes) with halfe mony, they had Putt off 20 Clothes that were as heauy to vs and as vnsaleable; but I am of opinion if the Indico will make mony it is no ill bargayne. Cloth is drye Merchandice at best. November 16. — The king gaue order to fire all the leskar at Adsmere to compell the People to follow, which was dayly executed. I was left almost desolate ; and the Persian Embassador, who had fought, Chydd, brauld, Complaynd, but could not gett remedy, in the same estate. Wee sent to bemone on another, and by his example I began to resolue to buy ; for many would sell that at the kinges Price would not hire ; and I Cast it at the best hand I could, almost to saue the hire, though the carts were deare ; for in three monthes the Price was eaten. Necessitye enforced mee, for the Towne was burnd and desolate. I was in danger of theeues that from the army came and robbd in the night, and I could not find bread to eate ; yet I sent anew to Court, and resolued to abyde all the inconveniences of a hard seige.
23.6.4
November 17. — Notwithstanding the default of account from Suratt of the remayner of Zulphercarcon, yet I sent to the Prince for his promised bill, who vndertooke the Payment, and so I receiued his lettre Commanding to Certefye what was vnpayd of the 8,000 mamoodies demanded (for that some of it was Chardged to Abram chan) and the remayner to bee Payd to the factor at Brampoor, which lettre I sent the factors as a full conclusion. But withall I was certefyed that now the Prince was gone and I had tooke my leaue, as hee thought, Content with his Promises, hee had giuen order to entercept all the Presentes and to force them to his leskar. I returned that first they should kyll the English that conducted them ; and purposed so soone as I could gett carriadge to remooue to Complayne to the king. Iudge now the feyth of this Prince and my vexation.
23.6.5
I receiued from Goa for truth that Don Emanuell de Meneses with about 300 of those saued ashoare from out the Admirall were arriued, poore, robbd, and rifled by the inhabitantes of Angazesia, who had slayne many and forced some to Circumsicion; on the 24 of October not one of the fleete sett out from Lisbon arriued, to their great woonder : The Gallion of Mozambique was fought with by the Hollander that lately departed from Suratt, who lay off and on before Goa as shee came in to meete the shipes expected ; she was rich in Gould and other Comodityes, but shee escaped, by nearnes of the Port. Obserue the bouldness of the Hollander to attempt with one shipp and to braue the head of the Indias. I receiued a promise for Camelles to remooue. November 18. — I could not procure carriadge, but was so dayly delayed that [I] feard to stay. Two Carts I was enforced to buy, and Camells I was constantly promised. Master Bidolph remayned in the Princes leskar to gett in mony. The king was yet but 12 course from Adsmere. The Iesuite tooke his leaue of mee, beeing forced to buy carriadg, notwithstanding his order for yt out of the kinges store ; but scarcetye punnished all men. This empty tyme offering no discourse of myne owne affayres, I shall digresse conueniently to mention the estate of Sultan Cursoronne, of whose new deliuery into the handes of his enemyes euery mans hart and mouth was full.
23.6.6
The king, notwithstanding hee had so farr agreed to satisfye his proud Sonne at his departure, yet it seemes ment not to wincke at any injury offered to the elder; and partly to secure him in the handes of Asaph chan, partly to satisfy the People that murmered and feared the practice of some treachery against him, he tooke occasion to declare himselfe publiquely. Asaph chan had visited his new Prisoner and in his fashion did not acknowledg him as his Prince but rudely prest vpon him against his will and with no reuerence. Som are of opinion he Pickt a quarrell and knoweing the braue nature of the Prince, that hee would not beare indignitye, tempted him to drawe his swoord or to vse some violence, which [the] guard should suddenly reuenge, or ells it should be declared to the king as an attempt to kill his keeper and to escape. But the Prince was patienter; only he gott a frend to acquaynt the king with the manners of his Jaylor. The king called Asaph chan at the Durbar and asked when hee sawe his Chardge. He answered: Two dayes Past. His Maiestie replyed: What did you with him? He sayes: Only visitt him. But the king pressd him to know what reuerence and fashion hee carried toward him.
23.6.7
Asaph chan found his Maiestie knew what had passd, and Confessed hee went to see him in affection and to offer his seruice, but that the Prince refused him admittance into his Chamber, which, because hee had Chardge of his safetie, hee thought it both necessary for him to doe and discurtesye in the other to deny; therfore he prest in. The king returns quick: When you were in, what sayd you, and what did you? What duty showed you toward my sonne? Hee standes blanck, and confesseth hee did not any reuerence; wherat the king tould him Hee would make his Proud hart know him to bee his eldest and beloued heyre, his Prince and Lord: and if hee once heard of any the least want of reuerence or duty toward him, hee would Command his sonne to sett his feete on his Neck and trample on him : that he loued Sultan Coronne well, but hee would make the world know he did not entrust his sonne among them for his ruine. November 19. — I receiued from Agra that they receiued new bills from Suratt, when theyre Caruan was out of towne, yet that they would execute their Commission, though ther can bee no hope to arriue sooner at Suratt then the end of Ianuarye. [Thus farr went the Iournall for England. The next beginns the 20 of Nouember this present month.]
23.6.8
November 20. — I receiued from the Court a new warrant for my Carriadge, which procured mee 8 Camelles from the officer, but misserable ones, such as would not suffice mee ; so that I was compelld to dispatch my selfe away now, left all alone to buy for my supplement. November 22. — I remooued into my Tents. November 23 & 24. — I stayd for the Merchanntes ; and receiued in answere from Spahan that my lettres were dispeeded for Aleppo : that our Comming into Persia was expected, but on Conditions to fitt the Shabas, so that it might aduance his dessigne of diuerting his silkes from the way of Turkye : that the Generall of the Grand Signior lay with a mighty army at Argerome, six dayes march short of Tauris, vncertayne whether to assayle the Citty or to enter Gorgeston and Gilan, the Countryes of silkes, to wynn that by conquest which hee was prohibited by Commerce : to meete both attemptes the Shabas was encamped at Salmas, a village indifferently seated in the way: but if in two monthes the Armyes encounter not, winter approaching and the wantes that will attend such multitudes will dissolue them both without any honorable action; or if they meete, the Persian, though by report 180 thousand, will not aduenture battayle, but beeing light and able to march easely, without Cannon and baggage, will fall on and off on euery syde so on the Turkes army as hee will breake and waste him without hazard.
23.6.9
With these I receiued a Packett of lettres directed to on Ieronimo Galecia, resident in Lahor, wherin I found diuers Commissions and lettres of Deputation directed to him in the Name of Bartholomew Hagatt, consull in Aleppo, and others, constituting him as their procurator for the recouering of diuers monyes and goodes in the handes of Signor Bonelli, their factor resident in Lahor, who about ten monthes Past was slayne and robbd; with diuers Notes of seuerall Cargazons, bills of exchange and ready mony verifyed by the seale and subscription of Ieronimo Foscarini, consull in Soria, and Stepheno Sala his Chancellor, taken out of the registers of his office, all which amounted to a great summe, and were traded in Indya by the sayd Bonelli as agent for a Partnership of the Principalis of diuers Nations residing in Aleppo, to Padre Ieronimo Xauier. Which lettres and seuerall Packets comming by error into my handes, I reserued with Purpose to acquaynt the Iesuitte liuing at Court, and so to proceed as befitted.