The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 24.1
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 24.1
- Language
- English
24.1.1
{Addl. MS. 6115, f. 140.) 24 Nouember, 1616. My Honourable Friends, I receiued your lettre on the twelfth of October, 1616, from the Charles, safely arriued with foure ships at the barr of Suratt the six and twentieth of the former Month. Of what pasd at Sea I doubt not you will receiue ample relation; only a little difference in the report of our fleete and the Portugalls I will mention: that wee began the fight, and that no viceroy beeing sent this yeare, an ancient Souldier, Don Emanuell de Meneses, that had twice beene Generall of their Forces, was in the Admirall, who, beeing beaten, ran herselfe ashore on Angazatia, the greatest of the Islandes of Comora, wher hee gott aland with the suruiuars of his force and caused the ship to bee fiered, which but for respect of him had yeilded; that the Ilanders robbd them and sett them ashoare att Mosambique, and are nowe arriued at Goa. This tale hangs ill together; for that I know they first made fiue shot, and that it is impossible they could passe from Anguzesia to Mosambique in a Canoe, or that the inhabitants, hauing robbd them, durst carry them into their strength; or that all this could bee effected and newes of their arriuall come from Goa in so little tyme. So that my judgement is, they make their relation as neare ours as they can, with creditt, and are loth to confesse truth, that eyther all perished, or the Viceroy, which were the greatest losse and dishoner euer happened to them in India.
24.1.2
I shall not neede write you any long Discourse of your affaires, nor my opinion, for that in a Continued Journall I haue sett downe all Passages, and send you the Copyes of my lettres to your factoryes, wherin many Poynts are disputed and opened; from both which you may make best your owne Collection and judgment; for in them casually all your businese is handeled and discussed at full, and it may bee collected into such a Method as you may sitt at home and see it at once. But because some Poyntes in my last lettres I swalowed at my first Comming at others reports, which since I fynd vayne and friuolous, and others perhaps are yet vnresolued in my Generall discourse, I will runn ouer the Materiall Poyntes with breuitye. For I extreamly desier that you once vnderstood the Constitution of this trade, how to gouerne and settle it ; that by varietye of fond opinions you bee not councelled to vnnecessary Chardge, nor fall into grosse errors and damage. But first I desire you to receiue in Particular answer of your lettre that the vnkindnes conceiued betweene mee and Captain Keeling was not so far rooted that it was woorth your trouble or excuse. It is true I wrote to my Honorable frend somwhat that passd betweene vs. I did only dischardge my hart, without Purpose to haue it spread as a Complaynt ; his fauour to mee extended it beyond my meaning. Men cannot liue without some distast, especially wher fawners and flatterers seeke to endeare themselues by others disquiett.
24.1.3
Wee parted frends. It is lesse troublesome and easier to forgett discurtesyes then to lay them vp or dispute them. I was not borne to a life smooth and easy ; all my actions haue beene mingled with crosses and rubbes, that I might rather say I wrestled then walked toward my Graue. But God prouides euery man a Portion fitt for his Condition, and I am Content. I neuer doubted your performance with mee in mony nor any other contract ; I did averr soe much in that lettre and my answere to Captain Keeling. Nor will I Complayne of any Narrownes in my allowance. I made a Couenant ; I must abyde by it, and will endeauour to effect yt. I will acquaynt you in tyme with all Particulars of expence and referr myselfe to you. I know you ment not but that my labor should bee recompensd. My sincerity toward you in all Actions is without spott ; my Neglect of Priuat Gayne is without example, and my frugalitye beyond your expectation. I was neuer an ill husband of my Creditt nor any trust Committed to mee. My Patrimoniall vnthriftines only I feele and repent. I pray God I may so affect your desires as it may meritt what you giue. I will bragg of no industrie nor successe. Judge mee by my Actions, Not by the fauour of an Infidell King, with whom yet I stand on such outward showes of Creditt as Neuer any stranger did ; but want of language and an enterpreter that will deliuer mee truly is an extreame Prejudice.
24.1.4
Concerning the ayding the Mogoll or waffing his subiects into the Redd Sea, it is now vselesse, yet I made offer of your affections ; but when they need not a curteyse, they reguard it as a dogg doth dry bread when his belly is full. The King hath peace with the Portugalls, and will neuer make a Constant warr, except first wee displant them. Then his greatnes will step in for a share of the benifitt, that dares not partake the Perill. When they haue Peace, they scorne our assistance, and speake as lowed as our Canon ; if warr oppresse them, they dare not putt out vnder any protection, nor will pay for yt. You must remooue from you all thought of any other then a trade at their Port ; wherin if you can defend your selues, leaue them to their fortune. You can neuer oblige them by any benifitt, and they will feare you sooner then loue you. Your residence you neede not doubt so long as you tame the Portugall. Therfore, avoyd all other Chardge as vnnessesary, that resists not him ; hee only can prejudice you. For a Fort, at my first arriuall I receiued it as very Necessarie ; but experience teaches mee wee are refusd it to our aduantage. If hee would offer mee ten, I would not accept one. First, wher the riuer is Comodious, the Cuntry is barren and vntraded ; the Passadges to parts better Planted so full of theeues that the Kings authoritye avayles not, and the strength of the hilles secures them in that life.
24.1.5
If it had beene fitt for trade, the Naturalles would haue Chosen it, for they feele the incomoditye of a barrd hauen; and it is argument enough of some secrett inconuenience, that they make not vse of it. But if it were safe without the walls, yet is it not an easy woorke to diuert trades and to drawe the resort of Merchantes from their accustomed Marts, especially for our Comoditye, which is bought by Parcelles, and cannot be called staple. Secondly, the Chardge is greater then the trade can beare ; for to maintayne a garison will eate the Profitt. It is not an hundred men can keepe it ; for the Portugall, if hee once see you vndertake that course, will sett his rest vpon it to supplant you. A warr and trafique are incompatible. By my consent, you shall no way engage your selues but at sea, wher you are like to gayne as often as to loose. It is the beggering of the Portugall, notwithstanding his many rich residences and territoryes, that hee keepes souldiers that spendes it ; yet his garrisons are meane. He neuer Profited by the Indyes, since hee defended them. Obserue this well. It hath beene also the error of the Dutch, who seeke Plantation heere by the Swoord. They turne a woonderfull stocke, they proule in all Places, they Posses some of the best; yet ther dead Payes consume all the gayne. Lett this bee receiued as a rule that if you will Profitt, seeke it at Sea, and in quiett trade ; for without controuersy it is an error to affect Garrisons and Land warrs in India.
24.1.6
If you made it only against the Naturalles, I would agree ; to make it for them, they are not woorth it, and you should be veary warie how you engage your reputation in yt. You cannot so easely make a faier retraict as an onsett ; one disaster would eyther discreditt you, or interest you in a warr of extreame Chardge and doubtful euent. Besides, an action so subiect to Chance as a warr is most vnfittly vndertaken, and with most hazard, when the remoetnes of Place for supply, succors and Councell subiectes to vnrecouerable losse ; for that wher is most vncertaynty, remidies should bee soe much the nearer to occur to all occasions. At sea you may take and leaue ; your Designes are not Published. The roade of Swally and the Port of Suratt are fittest for you in all the Mogolles territory. I haue weyed it well, and deliuer you that shall neuer bee disprooued. You neede no more; it is not Number of Ports, factoryes and residences that will profitt you ; they will encrease chardge, but not recompence it. The Conueniency of one respectiuely to your sales, and to the Comoditye of Investmentes, and the well employing of your seruants is all Needfull. A Port to secure your ships, and a fitt Place to vnlade, will not be found together. The Roade at Swally, during the season, is as safe as a Pond; Suratt, Cambaya, Barooch, and Amadauaz are better traded then all Indya, and seated Comodiously. The inconueniencyes are — the Portugall at sea, and the landing of goods.
24.1.7
To meete with which first, you must bring to Passe that your ladinges bee ready by the end of September at your Port — which may bee effected by a stock beforehand, or by taking vp mony for three monthes — and so you may dischardge and lade in one, and depart in excellent season for England; and the Enemy shall not haue tyme with force to offend you, who wilbe Newly arriued ; and if the Preparation be ancienter, wee can know yt. For the second, to land goods without danger of Frigattes, and to saue the Carriadge ouer land, you must send a Pinnace of 60 Tunne with ten Pieces, that drawes but seuen or eight foote water, to passe vp the riuer betwene Swally and Suratt ; and so your goods wilbe safe, and in your owne Command to the Custume-house-Key ; and it will a little awe the towne. Shee may proceed after according to your appoyntment.