The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 25.1

25.1

Sir, An hower after I had sealed my letter to you in the way, the long expected Messenger returnd from Spahan, whom I dispatchd with my lettres ouer land, and with one to the Shabas; in answer of which William Robbins returnd mee a lettre, the materiall poynts wherof I send you. He promiseth hope of trade to proffitt, but withall sayth Sir Robert Shirly hath confirmd at Goa a peace with the Viceroy. But, Sir, the summe is this : except the Shabas bee assurd that wee will fetch all his comodytye by Sea, he will not loose his other wayes ; and this shipp now sent in the heate of his expectation, with such goodes as are not pleasing to him, will disgrace our great promises and hopes. If hee take any dislike and thincks this is our uttmost, or at least a sample of our best comodityes, hee will reiect vs quite, and cast off all thought of vs, and eyther the more constantly resolue to goe thorough with the Spaniard or to make Peace with the Turke. One of them he must doe. If I had beene made priuy to the purposes of your seruants at Suratt in sending a ship to Jasques, I could haue preuented the hasard they runne ; but you may now see their hast, and lack of respect to mee. If I left them as they are, it were just ; but I am to account to you, and therfore by the assistance of this Embassador, I will speedely write to the kyng, and certefye him the reason of this ships arriuall, that was not fitted for Persia, but only putt in to see the port, and to show our forwardnes.