The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 28.3

28.3

[April] 27. — By the Foot-post I receiued from Mesolapatam that the Salomon was got to Sea, and the Hosiander from Bantam arriued, who brought the ill newes of the losse of the Hector and Concord, careening in the Roade of Iacatra, on Iaua: in recompence, that the Dragon, Clove, and Defence were homeward laden from Bantam. I tooke this occasion to conuey a letter to the Gouernour of Dabul ouer-land, to apprehend the ouerture newly made by him of the trade. Though I had little opinion of the place, yet I would not neglect that, nor encourage the next Fleet to proceed but vpon better assurance then a forced friendship and offers made while their luncke was in our power. The effect was to signifie the causes of our staying their goods for refusing trade to Sir Henry Middleton: but now finding in him a better inclination, and a desire to receiue vs and to establish a friendship and league, a promise to take cloth in good quantitie, I required, if these motions were hearty and such as befitted a man of honour, that he would write to the King his Master to procure his Firman with such priuiledges as were fit for Merchants, and his promise to buy our goods and to fulfil all the friendly offers made by him his Officer, vnder his Seale, and with expedition to send it mee to the Court of the great Mogoll whereby I might receiue assurance and encouragement that they entended faith; and on such reception I did vndertake on the behalfe of the King of England a good and firme Peace toward his Master, his subiects free passage in the seas from any oppression by our Fleets, and that yearely I would either send a ship to his Port for trade or (if it so required) leaue and establish a residence in his Gouernment. I doubt not but yearely, for feare or loue, some good trade by sales may bee made; but for enuestments it will not be worth it; only I proceeded as I would haue wished all men, not with too seeming eager a desire, nor to swallow any offers and conditions hungerly; for strict care in the first setling is the best aduantage, and ifor misery of ensuing times, it being a generall rule neuer to mend your first estate, often to empaire it. Euery mans best houre is when he is new, a stranger, and at first seene; after, the naturall lenitie [leuitie?] of these Barbarians finds all that brings not change fastidious. This dispatch I committed to Master Bangham, and desired him to make diligent enquiry of the commodities, aduantages, inconueniences, humours and affections of these Decannies towards vs.
[April] 30. — The time that he brought me the excuses of the Persian Ambassadour for failing in taking his leaue of me, which he would not send by a seruant, but vttered the truth that the Ambassadour was not sicke, as he pretended, but receiuing no content from the King in his businesse, he suddenly tooke leaue; and hauing given thirty faire horses at his departure, the King gaue in recompence three thousand Rupias, which he tooke in great scorne; whereupon the King prized all that the Ambassadour had giuen him at meane rates, and likewise all that the King had returned since his arriuall, euen to slaues, Drinke, Mellons, Pines, Plantanes, Hawkes, Plumes, the Eliphant and whatsoeuer at extreme high rates, and sending both Bils made it vp in money. This base vsage and scorne caused him to excuse his not seeing Asaph Chan and Etimon Dowlet on a Feuer, which hauing done hee could not come through the Towne to mee without discouerie, but desired him to acquaint me with the truth, and to make all excuse and profession that hee would recompence this discourtesie by double friendship to my Countrimen in Persia; with some bitternesse against the King, which Aganor as freely deliuered, and I seemed as vnwilling to heare. I presented them with some Aligant and Kniues, and we parted.
May 12. — I receiued newes of a great blow giuen the Persian by the Turkes Army, so that Tauris was rased, and the Shabas not able to keepe the field.