The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 27: To William Robbins at Ispahan. [Addl. MS. 6115, f. 166.] 17 January 1616[-17].
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 27
- Language
- English
To William Robbins at Ispahan. [Addl. MS. 6115, f. 166.] 17 January 1616[-17].
27.1
. . . Breefly our desier is, first, that a Port bee secured by the King, free for vs alone or for all indifferently, wher wee may land our goodes, and such priueledges granted to vs as in such cases are requisite; and next, that some agrement bee made and sett of Prices indifferently on both sides, according to the Condition of the Comodityes; lastly, that his Maiestie Command his silkes to bee brought downe yearly, at the seazon, to the Port (which is easier then the way of Aleppo), or to some indifferent Citty, not far vp, wher our factors may Constantly and securely reside for a staple Mart, as at Stoade or Middleborough, that wee bee not enforced to seeke and trauell to vnprofitable Marketts. A trade thus settled wilbe dureable, and by Continuance increase, wheras shuffling and vnstable Courses one syde will relinquish by incomoditye. To this Purpose, and to showe our forwardnes, wee haue now sent a ship to Jasques, to vnlade Cloth and other goodes, with our factors to attend the Pleasure of his Maiestie; and though the Comoditye bee not in quantety nor qualety such as may giue the King any great encouragement, yet hee shall see our desiers and will not judge vs by this beginning, for that wee Came not Purposely for the Place, but to trye and settle our enterteynment.
27.2
To this end I haue sent his Maiestie articles firmed by mee and Commended by his Embassador, which if you will sollicite, that the Cloth may bee taken off, and, for the future, a Certeyne Course and residence dessigned, and a firmaen both what sortes and quantetyes of Goodes, eyther of Europe, India, Chyna, or the South Islandes, his Maiestie will require, wee will then roundly and duly fullfill his desire, that hee shall find the Profitt in his owne Coffers and in the weakening his greatest enemy. If this cannot bee effected, it is not woorth labor ; wee shall both deceiue and bee deceiued. For wee ayme not at gnatts and small flyes, but at a Commerce Honorable and Equall to two so mighty Nations. You shall doe your Countrie good seruice to acquaynt his Maiestie freely with this Motion ; open his eies, that hee bee not blynded with the smoky ayer of Spanish greatnes . . . Deale in this Clearly and substancially, and beleeue not that a trade will euer proceede that is not at first settled vpon vnderstanding groundes ; and if you in your judgment and experience fynd that these conditions will not bee agreed too, the Next best seruice you can doe is to assure the King wee will not come like Peddlears, and to aduice vs, that wee spend no more tyme and trauell in vayne ... I shall not abyde in these Partes (I hope) to see any great issue ;
27.3
for in December 1617 I expect to turne my face homeward, vnlesse I be commanded by his Maiestie my lord and soueragne to visitt the Shabas, which if it so happen, I will acquaynt him not only with the affection and Power of my master to bee his frend, but with many things that are woorthy to bee knowne to so braue a Prince, wherin hee is yet vnexcersiced, and expresse more fully my Particular desire to doe him seruice. . . . January 9. — Jaddow, finding by the Invoyce small hope of sales, Picked a quarrell that hee wanted water at midnight, and without taking leaue forsooke mee. See that I resolued to bee noe longer tyed to the seruitude of such a villayne, who had so often Notoriously abusd vs ; but dispeeded a Pattamar to Adsmere to procure the Comming of a Greeke that spake excellent language to supply my vse on the way, and to sollicite my determinations at the Comming of the Presentes, and to assist Master Bidolph in the Companyes busines, hee propounding him as the fittest man in India; but I purposed only to serue my vse on him, and to proue him or to dismisse him so soone as I was settled. But for feare of his refusall or to bee destitute, I wrote to Master Shalbanck to practise with Jaffer, the brokar in Agra, to Come downe and supply the Place, resoluing soe to gett him into my Power to answere the accusations laid by Jaddow that hee should deceiue the factors of Agra in investments betweene 2 and 3000 rupees, which hee yet offered to Iustefy to Master Bidolph.
27.4
January 14. — I receiued from Agra that the Plauge was fallen to 100 a day, and great hope of the Clearing of the Towne: that Indico was like to bee at indifferent rates, and if mony Could bee fitted in tyme, that all the Cloth in barter might bee putt off; which lettres I answered perswading to Putt it in Practice by the debtes made and billes sent vp to the Creditors residing there. January 16. — I sent a Patamar expresse to Suratt, hearing nothing of the Presentes nor Cafala, to require a resolution and to convay the Packettes of Adsmere, which found now no Passadge thence.
27.5
January 18. — The king Passed betweene two Mountaynes, having Cutt the way thorough the woodes, but with soe much trouble and inconvenience to the baggage that it was left behind. Without any refreshing, I found my Tents by Midnight, having taken vp my lodging first vnder a tree. This Countrie is full of theeues, and not in perfect obedience but as they are kept by force. It belonges to a Raja that desiers not to see the king. Haud facile libertas et domini miscentur. The exactor Complaynd, and some few of the People that fled, beeing taken and Chayned by the Neckes, were Presented the king; the strongest keept the Mountaynes. At night, the king fired the Towne by which hee sate, and appoynted a New gouernor to the quarter to reedefye and repeople it and reduce it to Ciuilitie. Hee left him some horse to effect it; nam neque quies gentium sine armis, neque arma sine stipendiis, neque stipendia sine tributis, haberi queant. January 20. — The Banditi fled into the woodes, in reuenge of their towne, sett vpon a Company of stragglers behind, slew diuers, and robbd them.
27.6
January 22. — I receiued from Brampoore by Master Banghams aduise of the safe Passadge of the Agra Cafala and their goodes, but noe newes from Suratt; hee professing to haue sent 5 expresse Patamars, who were deteyned, and in two monthes hee hard not any aduise, hauing mony in Cash vnbestowed, to the Companyes losse and his greife. This made me desperat of the Presents expected, and resolued at night to visitt the king to obserue what Countenance he would show mee, or to giue occasion to aske after them. When I Came, I found him sate in a New order, so that I was to seeke what Place to Choose, loth to mingle with his great ones (which was offered), and doubted to goe into the roome where hee sate, beeing Cutt downe the bancke of a riuer and none neare him but Etimon Dowlett, his father-in-law, Asaph chan and 3 or 4 others. Soe I went to the brimme and stood alone. Hee obserued mee and lett mee stay a while, and so smiling called mee in and with his hand directed mee to stand by him, a fauour so vnusuall that it both gaue mee some Content and much Grace, which I instantly found in others vsadge. Hee prouoked mee too talke, and I calling for an interpreter hee refused it and pressed mee to vse such woordes as in Persian I had. Our discourse had not much sence nor dependance, but hee tooke it well, and with much curtesy demonstrated a good opinion. January 23. — I returned answere to Brampoore.
27.7
January 24. — Newes arriuing at Court that the Decans would not bee frighted out of their dominion (which Asaph chan and Normahall had pretended to procure this voyadge), but that they had sent their impediments into the hart, and attended in the borders with 50,000 horse resolued to fight, and that Sultan Coronne was yet aduanced no farther then Mandoa, afraid both of the Enemie and Chan Channay these Councellors changed their aduise, and declaring to the king that they conceiued the Decan before his Passadge ouer the last hills would haue yeilded by the Terror of his approach, but finding the Contrary, perswaded him to Convert it to a hunting iourny, and to turne his face toward Agra, for that the other was not an Enemie woorthy his Person. Hee replyed this Consideration came too late : his Honour was ingaged : seeing hee had so farr Passd, hee would prosecute their first councells and his Purpose, and aduenture the hazardes of both. But hee dayly dispeeded fresh troupes toward his sonne, partly from his owne, the rest Commanded from Gouermentes, according to report 30,000 horse, but not by Muster. January 28. — I receiued from Suratt that the Presents and goodes for Court were dispeeded the second of this month, and that if the Prince (which I feared) intercepted them not, I might expect them by the 10th of Feabruary.
27.8
This late Newes yet refreshed mee, who was soe weary of an Idle Iourney that I had some hope to gett liberty to goe before and to dispatch at Brampoore with the Prince according to a Promise and a resolution taken, and the Necessitye of our busines exacting that respect too him; so I attended in Patience and expectation. January 29. — The Patamar I returned with a Packett to Suratt. At night arriued Diego Lopo, the Greeke, from Adsmere, with Master Fettiplace lettres of his endeauoring Carridg to remooue the goodes for Agra; of whom I purposed to make vse during my Necessitie if I found him fitt for employment, for Jaddow in all this tyme neuer offered so much as to visitt mee, and I resolued neuer to vse him. Water is become very scarce, and though our Leskar be halfe lessened, yet passing many dayes thorough a Country wher the People were guilty of some disobedience, and for feare forsaking the villadges with their Prouisions, grayne and all other necessaries became soe deare, and the mony so abased by want of Pice, that I was at double Chardge of expence. The King, who feeles it not, takes no order. His Channs are Followed with their owne prouision and so enforme not. The strangers, the souldier, and the Poore only, as woorst able, endure the burthen. Euery other day the king remooued 3, 4, or 5 Course. Short yet of Mandoa, 60. January 30-February 2. — Euery other day 4 Course.
27.9
February 3. — Departing out of the Rode of the Leskar for ease and shade, and resting vnder a tree for the same Comodityes, came vpon mee Sultan Corsoronne, the kings eldest restrayned sonne, riding vpon an Eliphant, with no great Guard nor attendance. His People desired mee to giue him roome, which I did, but attended to see him, who called for mee, and with some gentle and familiar questions, full of Curtesye and affability, hee departed. His Person is good and Countenance Cherfull, his beard growne to his girdle. This only I Noted, that his questions showed ignorance of all Passadges in Court, in so much he neuer heard of any Ambassador nor English. February 4 and 5. — Wee rested not.
27.10
February 6. — At night wee came to a little Tower newly repayred, wher the king Pitched in a Plesant Place vpon the Riuer of Sepra, short of Vgen, the Cheefe Citty of Malwa, one Course, This Place, called Calleada, was anciently a seat of the Gentile kinges of Mandoa, one wherof was there drowned in his drinck, having once before fallen into the riuer, and taken vp by the hayre of the head by a slaue that diued; and beeing come to himselfe it was related to him to procure a reward. Hee Called for the instrument of his safety, and demanding how he durst Putt his handes on his Soueraygnes head, caused them to bee stricken off. Not long after, sitting alone with his wife in drunkennes, hee had the same Chance to slipp into the water, but so that shee might easely haue saued him, which shee did not; and beeing demanded why, shee replyed shee knew not whither he also would Cutt of her handes for her recompence. February 8. — Wee rested. February 10. — Wee remooued to a Course beyond Vgen. February 11. — The king rode to Vgen to speake with a Deruis or Saynt living on a hill, who is reported to bee 300 yeares ould. I thought this Miracle not woorthy my examination.
27.11
At noone by a foote Post I receiued that the Prince, notwithstanding all firmaens and Commandes of his father, had entercepted the Presents and goodes sent vp, to fullfill his base and greedy desier, and that notwithstanding any guift nor entreaty or Perswasions of Master Terry, to whose Chardge they were Comitted, would not part with them, but by force Compelld them to returne with him toward Brampoore; yet hee forbeare to breake any thing open, but pressed the English to Consent, which they refusing by my order, hee thought to wynn them by vexation. Such is the Custome to see all Merchanntes goodes, eauen before the king, that hee may first Choose; but I resolued to breake yt in our behalfe. The Prince to satisfie his desire, before I could haue knowledg, he sent a Post to the king to certifye him that such goodes hee had stayed, without mention of Presentes and Prayed leaue to open them, and to buy what hee fancyed. So soone as I heard of this faithlesse vniust vsadge, I resolued I was Justifiable before all the world, if I vsed the extreamety of Complayntes; that I had practised all meanes to wynne and Purchase fauour, and had suffered beyond the Patience of a free man, my former Courses will wittnes, and leaue mee without blame in ill successes, though I found it in a rougher way, seeing I could fynd no better in the smoothest.
27.12
Breefly, I resolued to appeale to Iustice by Complaynt, but as Calmely and warely as I Could, to expresse my wholle greiffe, extreame iniuryes, and long Patience. To goe to Asaph chan (though to neglect him would displease him) yet to trye him I feared would preuent my Purpose. To send to him that I desiered to visitt the king at the Guzelchan, I doubted what I entended might bee suspected if hee had heard of the Iniurye; so I practised first to avoyd preuention. The Prophett whom the king visited offered mee occasion, and my new linguist was ready. I rode and mett his Maiestie on his Eliphant and allighted, making signe to speake. Hee turned his Monster to mee, and Preuented mee: My sonne hath taken your goodes and my Presents: bee not sadd, hee shall not touch nor open a seale, nor lock: at night I will send him a Command to free them; with other very Gratious speeches that hee knew I came full of Complaynt, to ease mee hee begann first. Vpon the way I could doe noe more; but at night, without farther seeking to Asaph chan, I went to the Guzelchan resolued to prosecute the Complaynt of forceing back our goodes in respect of the Chardg and trouble, of the abuses of Suratt and all our other greeuances. Soe soone as I came in, the king called my interpreter and deliuered by his [means ?] that hee had written and sent his Command very effectually that not a hayre should be deminished.
27.13
I replyed the iniury was such, and the Chardge and abuses of our liberty by the Princes officers, that I desired redresse, for that wee could not longer suffer. It was answered what was Past I must remitt to his Sonne; but by Asaph chans mediation I could procure Nothing but very good woordes, for hee smoothd on both sides. Soe that I was forced to seeme Content, and to seeke an oportunitye in the absence of that my false frend and procurator. The good king fell to dispute of the lawes of Moses, Jesus and Mahomett; and in drinck was so kinde that hee turned to mee, and said: Am I a king? You shalbe wellcome: Christians, Moores, Iewes, hee meddled not with their faith: they Came all in loue and hee would protect them from wrong: they liued vnder his safety and none should oppresse them; and this often repeated; but in extreame drunkennes hee fell to weeping and to diuers Passions, and soe kept vs till midnight.
27.14
Iudg all men what trauell I endured by reason the factors kept my Presentes 4 monthes and sent them eauen in the Mouth of the Prince, arriued within two dayes of Brampoore; and hereby euery way our Chardg doubled. Yet I rested not satisfied, but seeing I had begunn and that the Prince was, as I feared, enough exasperated with a little, I thought as good loose him to some Purpose as to none; at least to trie the king what hee would doe. Soe I wayted advantage, but sent back the Messenger to Master Terry to stand out and attend the kinges answere, which I would speedely send him. This Iournall from this nth february, 1616[-17] is posted into another booke, for want of roome.