The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 26: To Master Secretary Wynwoode.
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 26
- Language
- English
Contents
To Master Secretary Wynwoode.
26.1.1
From the Camp of the Great Mogol, Emperour of India. Nouember 30, 1616. If my last, sent your Honour by the way of Aleppo, bee miscarried, this present discourse wilbe vndependent and obscure, which causeth mee to send a transcript that you may Command from Sir Thomas Smyth. How farre that dessigne of bringing in the Spaniard by Sheirly had proceeded, and my poore opinion, that will enforme; with the present estate of the warrs ther in preparation. What hath succeeded, your Honour shall receiue: that Sheirley was stayed at Goa, by falling short eight dayes of his passadge this past yeare, where he was entertayned with Honor and mayntenance, which makes mee iudge his offers and negotiation is gratious. The Shabas yet so dependes on that hope that hee Continewes the prohibition of exportation of silkes by Turky. Some few dayes since, I receiued advise from Spahan that Sheirley hath written to the King, that with much joy and ready embracement hee hath soe farre proceeded with the Viceroy of Goa in a Conclusion of this league as his commission hath power, and that hee is ready to embarque for Spayne to accomplish yt fully: If it proceed and take effect, I can make it euident that it will reuiue and strengthen all the ruines and decayes of the Portugall in the Indies, and make all other wauering Princes accept them only. I will not presse the consequence, wher it wilbe soe fully vnderstood.
26.1.2
The Shabas is in the feild at Salmas, a villadge indiffeirent to the wayes of Tauris or Gordgestan, attending the Turkes Generall, who, with a monstruous army (if it bee not increased by fame) is encamped at Argerome, irresolute which of those two attempts hee shall beginn, beeing not aboue five dayes from the one, and ten from the other. But these great Armies will dissolue of themselues, and I am of opinion ther wilbe noe great effect of them, the wynter approaching; and that they will treate a Peace, which the Turke will neuer embrace but with the opening of the trade and liberty of ancient Commerce; which, though the Persian yeild vnto, yet if the Spaniard accept his offers, the liberty giuen the Turke wilbe vselesse, for that the silkes shall come downe to Ormus, But I hope your Honors will prevent yt. God hath prouided you leysure. The King of Persia lately enquired anew after the English, for hee is indifferent what Christian hath the trade, so that the Grand-Signior loose yt. But his first offer to the Spaniard will take his turne, and after wee may have the leauings. Wee haue sent to Jasques a ship from our Port of Suratt with Cloth and English goods, to make the first offer of a residence, and to gett a kind of a possession. For wher it was free to refuse or accept vs, it wilbe nowe an iniurie to turne vs out, beeing come vpon assurance of his lettre receiued by mee.
26.1.3
But though I did not Consent to the goeing of this ship, because I knew both the Port vnfitt, the goods vnuendible and preiudiciall to the great expectation and promises—which makes me feare the Sha-bas will despise vs, and judge vs by this beginning, and so with the more roundnes eyther conclude with the Spaniard or make Peace with the Turke (for his dessigne is eyther wholy to diuert the trade or nothing)—yet I will mend yt as well as I can, by the helpe of an Ambassador lately arriued at this Court; who, I suppose by his humilitye, is come to gett ayd of mony, in which kynd hee often fyndes liberall releefes, and this King of India may better spare then any Monarch of the East.
26.1.4
The aduantage to bee made of yt in England is (if I may giue my opinion) that when Sir Robert Sheirley shall arriue in Spayne and negotiat his employment, the Ambassador of his Maiestie resident may craue audience, and produce the lettres of the Persian granted to us, and vrdge our possesion of the Port; and therfore requier, in the name of his Maiesty, that in this new contract either the English may bee comprehended, or at least that nothing passe on the Part of the King of Spayne preiudiciall to the subiects of his Maiestie, nor contrary to the amety of the two nations. Which if the Spaniard shall enterprise, to the expulsion of us, it is in my opinion (the trade beeing in a free Kingdome granted vs) a Iust cause of such a breach as may produce lettres of mart and reprisall in all the Eastern Parts to right our selues. I will in the meane tyme amuse the Persian with as many doubts as I can infuse into him of the Spaniard, and hopes of vs.
26.1.5
In this Court, which is nowe in the feild towards the Conquest of Decan (with an effeminat army, fitter to bee a spoyle then a terror to enemyes) I shall so far effect my imployment as to confirme our trade and people on equall conditions to the Inhabitants and borne subjects, who suffer themselues abuses of Governors which can neuer be remedyed but by an whole Change of the Regiment and forme of dominion. For the Constancy I will no farther giue my woord then our owne prosperitye, and the others feare, and the Portugalls feeblenes shall confirme to vs. The trade is profitable and fit for England, but no way vnderstood by the Company how to effect it at best aduantage, and yett we haue done little but discouer errors. I haue no Power to meddle in that ; but if I were at home tenn dayes, I could doe them better seruice then here now in ten years. To proue and demonstrate euery particular and Circumstance were rather the subiect of a booke then of a lettre. But I will doe my part euery way, according to my abilitye and judgment, faythfully and honestly.
26.1.6
Besides (though they may thinck I speake for myne own ends), I assure your Honor it is not fitt to keepe an Ambassador in this Court. I haue shuffled better out and escaped and avoyded affronts and slauish Customes clearer then euer any did. I am allowed rancke aboue the Persian, but hee out-stripps mee in rewards ; his Master lyes neere vs. But his Maiestie commanded mee to doe nothing vnwoorthy the Honor of a Christian King, and noe reward can humble mee to any basenes. I see what the Persian does and suffers. I know one that might creepe and sue would effect more busines then I ; for euery little matter cannot trouble the King, and his great men are more Proud, and expect that from mee I cannot giue them. The King of Spayne Could neuer bee drawne to send any, and their experience hath taught them that, besides hee should not bee receiued in honor correspondent to his qualetye, they know an easyer way to effect their ends. I shall not returne a rich man, and then many will condemne mee for want of Prouidence or witt to get yt ; but they know not the Indies, nor mee ; it growes heere in as rough wayes as in Europe. I will trust to the Company, and to my meritt.
26.1.7
I could write your Honor many remarckable accidents in this Gouerment and Kingdome. All the Policye and wicked craft of the Diuill is not practised alone in Europe ; here is enough to bee learned, or to be despisd. But you haue not leysure to entertayne so forreyne discourses. That Part which may bee woorth knowing — as the Proceedings of the Iesuitts, the growth of their Church, the Commixture of this Kingdome with Europe by trades, and the allyes it embraces—if I fynd not leysure to putt them into methode, I will weary your Honor with them by a fire-syde, in broken Peices. The Portugall Pursues vs here with violent hatred; but God doth Chastise him, and his Pride sees it not. The Admirall Gallion bound for Goa, a vessell of fifteene hundred tunns, armed with sixe hundred men, falling among our fleete, a small ship haled her after the Curtesy of the sea, which shee requited with sylence, except of her Ordenance. The Commander of our fleete, Beniamin Joseph, came vp with her and demanded reason, but was returnd scorne; so that hee begann a fight, in which hee lost his life. A New Commission beeing opened, Humphry Pepwell succeded him, to his Place and resolution, with the losse of his eye and other hurts fought vntill the Gallion, having her Mast shott, ran ashoare on Comara, an Hand inhabited by Moores, in the latitude of 11 degrees, 51 minutes; wher the Generall, Don Emanuell de Meneses, with three hundred escaped, but fired the ship.
26.1.8
Shee was very rich, and the succor of India this yeare; her Companions were lost at sea, and on the 14 of October, there was noe newes of any of them, which were three ships. This is the greatest disaster and disgrace euer befell them, for they neuer mist their fleete in September, nor lost any such vessell as this, which was esteemed invincible; and without supplyes they perish vtterly. The Islanders rifled the Generall and all his followers, and they are since arriued at Goa naked and bare in the Gallion of Mosambique, which had likwise beene dangered by a Hollander, but the nearnes of the Port saued her. All these considered, mee thinckes the Heauenes Conspire the fall of the Portugall in this quarter, if his Maiestie would be pleased to bend only his Royall Countenance. But I shall (I hope) returne and not expect to see it effected in my tyme.
26.2.1
I will intreat your Honor to preserue my name in the Kingis memorie, not for any worthynes, but an humble desire to serue him: and that you wilbe pleased to accept of my endeauours, and esteeme mee such as I am, one that loues and Honors you, and that will pray to God, as the best expression of my affection, to encrease you in all woorthy Honor, and to blesse you with his Holy Spiritt. P.S.—I humbly desire your Honor to doe me the fauour, to thanck Sir Thomas Smyth in my behalfe, that he may fynde my gratitude in my frends. December 1.—I remooued 4 Course to Ramsor, wher the King had left the bodyes of 100 naked men slayne in the feildes for robbery; and the Carauan at midnight departed Adsmere. December 2. — 7 Course. December 3. — I rested, by reason of rayne. December 4. — 5 Course. I ouertooke in the way a Cammell laden with 300 mens heades sent from Candahar by the Gouernor in present to the King, that were out in rebellion. December 5. — 5 Course. December 6. — 4 Course. Wher I ouer-tooke the King at a walled towne called Todah, in the best Country I saw since my landing, beeing a faire Champion, at euerie Course a village, the soyle fruictfull in corne, Cotten, and Cattle.
26.2.2
December 7. — The King remoouing, I sent for the Iesuite and Communicated with him the lettrs receiued, who undertooke the Conveyance and brake open that directed to Xauier, as his sublegatt; which concerned only the recouery of goodes, prosecution of Justice, and Constitution of the factory vnder the sayd Ihoanni Galicio, and mentioned that the Consull of the English had vndertaken to procure my assistance, and to that end had sent lettres, which I neuer saw, and thought that, notwithstanding such promise made to his Partners, hee would neyther discouer himselfe to mee nor that hee durst not to them. But finding my Countriman interessed in yt, I resolved that Galicio should repayre to Court, and furnish himselfe with what testemony he Could concerning Bonellis estate; and in requiring Justice of the King, I would testefye with him his authoritye to prosecute the Cause, and giue him all fitt assistance. To this end I caused the Iesuite to dispatch a Currier with the Particular lettres to the said Galicio and other instructions fitt, leauing the Principall to bee copyed and translated by the Padre against his arriuall.
26.2.3
The king Passd only from on syde of the Towne to the other; which was one of the best built I euer saw in Indya, for that ther were some howses two storyes high, and most such as a Pedler might not scorne to keepe shop in, all couered with tile. It had beene the seate of a Raza Rasboot before the conquest of Ecbarsha; and stoode at the foote of a great rock, very strong, had many excellent woorkes of hewed stone about yt exellently cutt, many Tanckes, arched, vawted, and discents made lardge and of great depth. By it stood a delicat groue of 2 mile long, a quarter broad, Planted by Industry with Mangoes, Tamerins, and other fruictes, deuided with walkes, and full of little Temples and alters of Pagods and Gentiliticall Idolatrye, many fountaynes, welles, tanckes, and summer howses of Carued stone, Curiously arched; so that I must confesse a banished englishman might haue beene content to dwell there. But this obseruation is generall that ruine and distruction eates vp all. For since the Proprietye of all is come to the king, no man takes care for Particulars, so that in euery Place appeares the vastations and spoyles of warr without reparation.
26.2.4
December 7.—I receiued lettres from Adsmere that the Cutwall offered to turne the factors and our goodes out of the house giuen vs, which they resisted. I had not visited the king; but dispatchd a lettre to Asaph Chan for his prohibition, who was gone 3 Course to hunt, and a note from him would suffice. My messenger mett him, on the way riding in hast to the king, but [he] desiered mee at night to come to the Gushellchan, which I did, and was well vsed and entertayned; but first demanded what present I had at my New Comming, and answeering none, hee proceeded to ordinary questions of hunting. I found his Maiestie so neere druncke (which hee finished within halfe an hower), that I had not oportunitye to moue busines to him. He sate by a fier in furres by a Tancke syde. Here I mett the Persian Embassador, who telling mee a long tale in his language, I answered in English, much to our mutuall edification; but I putt into his hand a Copy of his masters Command for the commerce of our Nations, and at parting made him vnderstand I desird a Conference.
26.2.5
December 9. — In the morning I sent to him, that I would visitt him according to my offer and confer vpon some busines which concernd his Master, but that hee had neglected that Ciuilitye which I expected, or, if he durst not speake with mee, I would advise the Shabas of his fashion towardes mee. He returned answer hee had beene in noe faulte, but the incomoditye of the Iourny and the forme of this kingdome had hindered him to performe that was fitt; but entreated mee to come to his tents on the morow, which curtesye he would repay whensoeuer I called him, and hee would effect any desier of myne toward his master, and in all thinges further the ametye hoped for betweene our Soueraynges. I went to Asaph chan, and after mutuall Complementes and offering me a roome in his quarter (which I accepted off without purpose to vse yt, for that it is impossible to obserue limitts soe strictly as to avoyde quarrelles, which dayly happen about them), I desiered his warrant for the Continewance of our house in Adsmere, which hee instantly wrote and signed, and I dispeeded. I acquaynted him with the faire and Noble vsadge of his brother-in-law, the Gouernor of Cambaya, which hee tooke gratefully, assuring mee that all the Ports and officers in his Majesties dominions had order to entreat vs frendly, and to protect vs from Iniury, if wee dreew not occasion vpon ourselues by misdemeanor.
26.2.6
Returning I veiwed the Leskar, which is one of the woonders of my little experience, that I had seene yt finished and sett up in 4 howers (except some of great men that haue double prouision), the Circuitt beeing little lesse then 20 English mile, the length some wayes 3 Course, comprehending the skirtes ; and [in ?] the middle, wherin the streets are orderly, and tents Joynd, are all sorts of shopes and distinguished so by rule that euery man knowes readely were to seeke his wants, euery man of qualetye and euery trade beeing limited how farr from the kinges tentes he shall Pitch, what ground hee shall vse, and on what syde, without alteration ; which as it lyes togither may equall almost any towne in Europe for greatnes. Only a muskett shoot euery way no man approcheth the Atasckanho royall, which is now kept so strict that none are admitted but by name, and the tyme of the Durbar in the eueninge is omitted and spent in hunting or hawking on tanckes by boate, in which the king takes woonderfull delight, and his barges are remooued on Cartes with him, and hee sitts not but one the syde of one, which are many tymes a mile or two ouer. At the Iarruca in the Morning, hee is seene, but busines or speech prohibited. All is concluded at night at the Guzelchan, when often the tyme is preuented by a drowzines which poss[es]eth his Maiestie from the fumes of Backus.
26.2.7
Ther is now a great whisper in Court about a new affinitye of Sultan Corsoronne and Asaph chan, and great hope of his liberty. I will fynd occasion to discourse it, for that the Passages are very woorthy, and the wisdome and goodnes of the king appeares aboue the malice of others, and Normahall fullfills the obseruation that in all actions of Consequence in a Court, especially in faction, a woman is not only alwayes an ingredient, but commonly a Principall drugg and of most vertue; and shee showes that they are not incapable of Conducting busines, nor herselfe voyd of witt and subtiltye. It will discouer a noble Prince, an excellent wife, a faythfull Counceller, a Crafty stepmother, an ambitious sonne, a Cunning fauorite: all reconciled by a Patient king, whose hart was not vnderstood by any of all these. But this will requier a Place alone, and not to bee mingled amonge busines, which this day I receiued from Suratt, of extreame iniuryes offered our Nation and new broyles begunn to the hazard of our Peace; but as they only send mee Complaynts and deteyne the Presents which should enable mee to effect their redresse, so they mingle their owne greuances with confession of insufferable misdemeanors Committed by the disorder of themselues, which noe warning of myne I see can prevent when such liberty is giuen to all saylors and base rascalls to dishonor and disquiett vs.
26.2.8
Besides, I find not the Principall free from all blame and occasion, for by want of Iudgment and an opinion of liberty neyther granted nor fitt for them to vse, they incurr iust displeasur, and yt breakes out into fury on both sydes; for the officers as fast complayne of vs as wee of them, and desyer mee to send a sober discreet man to gouerne our Nation, which I haue noe power in; so that I cannot tell at what end to beginn. The Prince is abscent; our enterpreter cast off; myselfe without Presents or toong.
26.3.1
Yet I doubt not once more to reconcile this brawle to Content of all sydes, if they please not to renew it on euery occasion. This rule I euer lay: wee can neuer liue without quarrell (which ingendreth often greater strifes, and the innocent suffer indifferently with the guilty) vntill our Commanders take order that noe man come to Suratt but on iust occasion and of Ciuill Carriage, and the Cape Merchant so moderate such as come that, for the glory of open house, they giue not liberty of excesse and drincking. For what Ciuill Town will endure a stranger by force to open in the streetes the close Chayres wherin their weomen are Carried (which they take for a dishonor equall to a rauishment)? December 12. — I dispatchd the Patamar back for Suratt, with order to direct the expected Caffela to Court the shorter way. Concerning their Complaynt, I wrote to the Gouernor and Admirall to giue speedye redresse, or to expect such issue as the kings Justice would affoord mee. Meanes to enforme the king I had none for want of our solicitor and linguist. With him I sent a lettre from the Prince Commanding his officers to Certefye by the Customers booke the debt of Zulphecarcon, which I could not procure from our owne factors. December 14. — I sent a Patamar to Adsmere to hasten the Comming of Iadow.
26.3.2
December 15. — Master Fettiplace arriued at the Leskar from Agra, beeing out of busines and leauing Master Shallbanck with the goodes, who determined to lock up the house and to remooue to Fettipoore for the vehement rage of the Plauge, Now their next neighbowre. December 17. — Master Fettiplace departed to Adsmere to remayne with the goodes. December 18. — I visited the king, who having beene at his sports, and his quarry of foule and fish lyeing before him, hee desired mee to take my Choyse, and so distributed the remayner to his Nobilitye. I found him sitting on his throwne, and a begger at his feet, a poore silly ould man, all ashd, ragged, and Patched, with a young roague attending him. With these kinde of professed Poore holy men the Country aboundes, and are held in great reuerance; but for woorks of chastisment of their bodyes and voluntary sufferings they exceed the bragges of all heritiques or Idolatres. This miserable wretch, clothd in raggs, crownd with feathers, couered with ashes, his Maiestie talked with about an hower, with such familiarity and show of kindnes that it must needes argue an humilitye not found easely among kinges. The begger sate, which his sonne dares not doe. Hee gaue the king a Present, a Cake, ashed, burnt on the Coales, made by himselfe of Course grayne, which the king accepted most willingly, and brake one bitt and eate yt, which a daynty mouth could scarce haue done.
26.3.3
After hee tooke the Cloute and wrapt it vp and putt in the poore mans bosome and sent for 100 rupees and with his owne handes powered them into the poore mans lap, and what fell besides gathered vp for him. When his Collation of banqueting and drinck came, whatsoeuer hee tooke to eate, hee brake and gaue the begger halfe; and after many strange humiliations and Charetyes rising, the ould wretch not beeing Nimble, hee tooke him vp in his armes, which noe Cleanly bodye durst haue touchd, embracing him; and 3 tymes laying his hand on his hart, calling, him father, hee left him, and all vs, and me in admiration of such a virtue in a heathen Prince. Which I mention with envye and sorrow, that wee having the true vyne should bring forth Crabbes, and a bastard stock grapes: that either our Christian Princes had this deuotion or that this Zeale were guided by a true light of the Gospell. December 21. — I receiued from Amadavaz of their dispatches for the fleete, as full of Complaynts that they are kept in ignorance as I, and that they conveyed a Command sent by mee for their redresse to Suratt, which I doubt not will appease all troubles.
26.3.4
December 23. — Being short about 3 Courses of a Citty called Rantepoore, wher it was supposed the king would rest, and consult what way to take, hee suddenly turned toward Mandoa, but without declaration of any resolution; in my Judgment rather sent that way by the feare of the Plauge in Agra, then any desire of approaching the warr, for wee marched euery other day only about 4 Courses, with a baggage almost impossible to bee ordered. December 24. — I receiued from Adsmere that the factors continewed in their house and that our brookar Iaddow was in the way; for whose arriuall I deferred my intention of moouing the king to heare the busines of the seuerall Complaynts from Suratt; for a redresse My firmaens from the Prince is but momentary and scarce effectuall. Iaddow my enterpreter arriued, and wee made new contract. December 26. — Wee passed thorough woodes and ouer Mountayns, torne with bushes, tyred with the incomodityes of an impassible way, wher many Camells perished. Many departed for Agra, and all Complayned. I lost my Tents and Cartes, but by midnight wee mett. The king rested two dayes, for that his leskar could not in lesse tyme recouer their order, many of the kings woemen, and thowsandes of Coaches, Carts and Camells lyeing in the woody Mountaynes without meate and water; himselfe gott bye on a small Eliphant, which beast will Clime vp rockes and passe such streightes as noe horse nor beast that I know can follow him.
26.3.5
I receiued answere from Suratt full of dispute, but no certeyntye, neither of the expected Presents nor conclusion of Zulphecarcons debt, nor busines of moment. With it a lettre from Captain Pepwell much Complayning of disrespectes towardes him, of the Cape Merchanntes obstinacye, and of opening and deteyning his lettres of aduise sent to mee, his opinions of his future voyadge by want of stock, and requiring my opinions what Course to runne if enforced as a man of warr. I dispatched a Packett to Amadauaz. December 29. — Wee sate by the riuer of Chambell. January 1, 1616-17. — I sent to Asaph chan to acquaynt him with the Iniuries of Suratt. January 2. — Hee promised to write to the Prince, but desiered Conference with me. January 3. — I visited Asaph chan and propounded to him the substance of the Complaynts: the taking a Portugall frigott, the reason, and the pressure of Sultan Caronns officers to deliuer back. Hee went from his woord to entermeddle in the Princes Gouerment, but if I would presse him, hee would make Petition to the king; but aduised mee to waigh it well: the necessitie of the Princes fauour (which hee would vndertake was not acquaynted with this New brawle): that if I complayned I might perhapes procure some Checke to the Prince, but withall the busines would Come to examination, and our owne faultes would bee reckoned and obiected, the issue of Judgment doubtfull, and the Prince would remayne an vnreconciled Enemy.
26.3.6
I answered I had forethought all this, and was as unwilling to Complayntes as hee could bee, but that the desease was such as required a desperat remedy: but if in his wisdom hee would direct mee in a better Course, I was ready to follow yt. This I did because the iniuryes beeing personall, they were recanted and reconciled, and my aduertisementes were soe in and out that I knew not whether they wished accusation or no, and wee [were ?] mingled not only with confusions [confessions ?] of our owne misdemeanors, but with intimations of greater layed to their Chardge, which, though denyed, yet they feared would bee iustifyed by periury, a small faulte among moores. Asaph chan replyed hee was very glad to see mee inclinable to a quiett way; and though hee would not write, yet hee thus aduised: That for the boate and goodes taken wee should keepe her, for the Portugals having begunn the Iniury, it was reason wee should requite it, and no exception should bee taken at it; the Couetousnes of the Princes officers for some bribe was the reason of the remanding it, not any fauour to them;
26.3.7
for the Complayntes hee wished mee to stay vntill the Presents arriued, and at their deliuerie to the king to aske leaue to goe to Brampoore to visitt the Prinnce, and, without mentioning particular offences, craue his lettre in generall tearmes to Command his Sonne to receiue mee, to heare mee in what soeuer I desired, and to doe Justice to our Nation, suffering none to doe them force, and to grant what farther Priuiledges I should fittly propound; which lettre hee would procure, and such a Course would signifie my respect to the Prince, to whom I should, with some fitt present, deliuer a breefe of all Complaynts; and having procured such Justice as I desired and settled my busines with him, I might returne to Court in double grace, and hee would write with mee to procure me Content. This Councell was such as I had taken before in myne owne Purpose with little difference, and such as necessitye showed mee to bee the right way; for I had experience by a Portugall what issue of Complayntes against the Prince would follow, formall remedy but full reuenge; and seeing it was necessarie that I must visitt him, I was loath to exasperat him against my well-come, and I found that if my occasions would haue permitted mee to giue all my attendance and respect to him, delinire ambitiosum, I should easiely Compasse him; so that I resolued to spare him as much as I could, and by myne owne trauell ouercum that I could not doe by opposition, and thus sett forward my purpose;
26.3.8
that the king was declared for Mandoa and the Nobilitye sent all in hast to build, which beeing but 8 dayes from Brampoore, it was as good as to sitt in the feildes, and in that tyme I might prouide a house by the kinges fauour or buyld it if Constrayned.
26.4
At Noone I visited the Persian Ambassador, beeing the first tyme eyther of our leysurs would permitt yt. Hee receeued mee with great respect and Curtesy. After Complementes, I generally propounded the settling of a trade, the conditions wee required, the Comoditye to his Master, and our forwardnes in sending a ship this year to Iasques vpon his Masters firmaen. Hee answered mee that his king greatly affected the comming of the Christians, especially the English, but that Shirly was now sent to make offer of the Fortes to Spayne. But vnderstanding from mee some inconveniences, wee resolued to dispeed a Post to the Shabas, and hee required mee to propound my desiers in writing, and hee would send them his Master, as well to procure the salles of the Cloth now landed as to prouide in future for a fitt Cargazon and residence on both Parts. Hee made mee a banquett of ill fruictes, but beeing a good fellow it appeared well. In his Curtesyes hee exceeded all my entertaynment in India, rayled at the Court, at the kinges officers and Councell, and vsd a strange libertye. I answered that I meddled [not ?] in cencure of other mens busines : I desired to effect myne owne. Hee offered to bee my linguist, desiered mee to Pitch my tentes by him, and whateuer I would propound to the king hee would deliuer, assuring mee the king had diuers tymes made honorable mention of mee, and expressed a desire to giue mee all content. I seemed to accept of these fauours, but suddenly knew not howe to trust them, but determined to Consider it, for it appeard a faire way and a harty motion. From hence hee proceeded to some vanetyes of his Masters purpose to take Aleppo, that hee had Conquered Babilon, and as his aduises came hee would send them mee; and desired mee to mention him to my Soueraigne in my Next lettres and in these to his Master. The Conclusion of busines betweene vs is included in my aduise to Kerridge in prosecution of his designed and in the demandes to the Shabas, which was the substance agreed on in this Conference. At my departur hee offered mee with much earnestnes a faire horse well furnished, which was brought to the doore, but I was as bountifull in refusing. Hee pressd mee the earnester, but not prevayling sent for 9 Peices of Persian stuffes, silke, and 9 bottles of wyne, that I might not depart without some testemony of his loue. I answered to effect my desiers with his Master should bee the only Pledges I would accept, wherin hee should do mee most frendship and him most seruice and honor: that I acknowledged his magnificence by his offers, but hee should not beginn a frendship at such cost: I could exchange a good hart, but had nothing, beeing a stranger, to requite Curtesye of that Nature. Hee looking earnestly vpon my swoord, I offered it, but hee by example refused it. At night I visited the king, who spent his tyme sadly with an ould man after reading long lettres, and few spake to him. At his rising, he gaue this gentellman that sate by him, a Criple for age, 5,000 rupees, and with many embracementes tooke his leaue. Passing by, hee bowed to mee. The Persian Ambassador mett here, where renewing Complements, and repenting that hee refused my swoord which hee fancied, hee fayerly beggd it, professing that liberty among frendes was good manners in his Countrye.
January 4. — I sent my swoord.
January 5. — I dispeeded answere to Suratt with my aduise and conference with the Persian Ambassador, and his opinion, and to Adsmere what I conceiued fitt for the disposure of that factory.
January 6. — I translated the Articles to send the Shabas, according to conclusion. Coppyes of all are regestred.
January 7. — These dayes were Consumed on the way, euery other remoouing about 4 or 5 Courses. Wee sate on the goodly riuer of Shynd.
January 8. — I dispeeded the Articles to the king of Persia with lettres to Robbyns, by a Currier of the Embassador, and sent Coppyes.