The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 31: TO THE EXPECTED GENERALL WHICH SHALL ARRIUE THIS YEARE.
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 31
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Contents
TO THE EXPECTED GENERALL WHICH SHALL ARRIUE THIS YEARE.
31.1.1
(Addl. MS. 6115, f. 258.) August 30, 1617. .... The Dutch at Suratt will Plant in spite of vs; but I know no reason why wee should not beate them off at sea. Their insolencyes would be requited, especially of this man, who hath robbd with english Coulors. If his ship bee yet aliue and by search such could bee found, shee would [should ?] bee fired, her goodes seased, and as many as you could take carried home to England to answer it. Howeuer charitye now Pittyes their estate of Nawfrage, enquire of Master Kerridge their Courses to the Sowthward and you will find they merritt noe Curtesye. Therfore my advice is to woorke vpon their necessitye; no way to releeue them, but to buy their Comoditie fitt for the Redd Sea, to fitt our selues if that attempt be thought on, or for Persia; if that last yeare they sould spices at such rate in Suratt as wee might well make profitt on .... it is wisdome to vse the Present to best advantage. Now I shall come to a more generall consideration of the whole estate of the Companies affaires, which wilbe very requisite well to ponder. I doubt not but you haue brought a greate fleete and vast bellyes to bee filled, and your stock and Cargoson but according to ordinarie and woonted aduise, for that the Company will relye on our helpes toward the Sowthard, which you will finde haue these former yeares beene very bare, and that this will spare you little toward soe great a lading.
31.1.2
Therfore first I will lett you see what last yeare was Complayned off: that this factorie deuoured all the rest, and Captain Pepwell went on with little hope to make any quick returne. Master Kerridge can informe you of the wantes before you. Mesolapatan will affoord you little or nothing; Priaman and Ticoe, by a New factory (if it stand) somwhat, but their stock soe small as it will not bee seene. Bantam is suckd drye, and the decay of the trade hastened home Captain Keeling, who, foreseeing the wants if hee should haue stayed out his tyme, saw hee should both fayle of hopes and beare the blame or ill fortune of that was not his fault; therfore wisely, first considering himselfe would returne loaden (for hee that comes full home is welcome for the Present, they that follow must stand to their fortunes), to lade him the Hector and all other were emptied, and shee found vnfitt and so broken vp, and all the factories so nere socked that ther is little left to supply the last [general], who carried 3 great ships: where to fill them I know not. You will fynd the estate so much woorse by how much later you are and the greater fleete, and therfore must foresee it for your owne Creditt and the Companyes benefitt. After you are Past Bantam the other factories are of small consequence; that in Spcadana is only for a box; the Moluccoes possessed by the Dutch and wee beaten out and they to strong for vs to requite yt;
31.1.3
Japan a jest or not woorth the thincking on, if any factory remayning. The Case standing thus, the wayes to meete these feares I will scamble at and deliuer my opinion. First, at the Place wher you are, I confesse it is now the fountayine and life of all the East India trade, and therfore Principally to bee respected: but not soe as to robb all others, except it could suffice to loade all your shipps; which, seeing it will, with the stock it hath, but compasse one (and that not the greatest), the emptie bellies must bee cared for; els it will prooue a deare bargaine. It is true the feare of the Portugalls will compell vs to arrest all for defence of this; but that may bee better borne if you after know how to dispose the rest. The factors at Suratt, as men respecting in the Principall place their owne estates, will drawe from you all they can, for that they shall haue the Creditt of this, and the misery of the residue they shall not feele, or not so soone; but wee reguard not Creditt singly, but profitt and Creditt vniuersally, in the Consideration of the whole voyadge. Therfore, as you must bee liberall in sparing whatsoeuer may bee spared for this, soe you must bee veary Circumspect to saue what you can for the Sowthward;
31.1.4
I meane Mony, for your Comodity (if as other years) is only fitt for this and is lost forward, so that you may dischardge of that as much as they will take, and Keepe that redy Comodity, coyne, for Bantam, wherin the Dutch are soe furnished that they will overlay you or make you buy at vnreasonable price. Persia, I feare, will demand some, for the King will neuer tast vs without yt, for that is his end, to vent his silkes to rayse a reuenew, for the silke is all his and the best part of his Income. His Ambassador tould mee hee might buy some cloth to pay his souldiers with, but no quantety, neyther would hee truck, nor wee effect any great woorke vnlesse wee resolued to bring two thirdes mony, the rest in spices and fine ware. Our Cloth is sould Cheaper in Spahan then heare; to my knowledg the Persians bring quantetyes, which lye now at their Seray, of the same sorts and best coulors, bought at Aleppo and not vendible at home, and here affoorded at a rupie and two in a Cobdee vnder ours. This will make you see what hope ther is of raysing that way a stock by Cloth. But, with the best husbandry you can vse, fitting this factorie as it wilbe requisite, you wilbe so fleeced as you cannot haue hope by all the remayner and the proceed of the others to take in to lade one of your greatest ships, or but one at most; and you shall fynd diuers before you attending to bee serued, like men at a founteyne in scarcety of water. What then is to bee done with your fleete?
31.1.5
First, I will propose to you the red sea. Though your stock bee not great, the returne may, beeing reimployed here, and so one ship may bee occupied and fitted; and you shall haue in your way these chances: the Dabull shippes, or of the Samorin, or any other where wee trade not. Beleeue me, Sir, to chasten any of these People makes not only them but any their Neighbors the better. If it bee doubted how the Mochars will take it or how admitt your trade, I answere to the last : very willingly, in Company of the Guzerattes. Necessitie will enforce them to giue you Content, least you molest others by whom they profitt ; and ther is noe great doubt, for the Dutch had trade last yeare and good vsage in our Names, and vpon that made this second attempt which is miscarried this yeare, as if oportunitye envited vs to that in our owne Persons which others did in our shadowes. Besides, the Treachery vsed to Sir Henry Middleton was the first apperance and notice of any of our forces in that Seas ; they tooke vs for Piratts, which now they better vnderstand, and dare not offend vs, because they know wee can bee revenged, if but by keeping others from trading with them. For the former, to deale with any others that may bee safe Prise, it may bee done after trade at the seas Mouth. It wilbe long before it bee knowne, and, when it is, it matters not ; the suffering the Guzurattes to come Peaceably is fauour enough, because they are the mayne traders on that Coast.
31.1.6
Concerning the rest of your fleete, you may keepe company on this Coast and take your hazard about Zeilan. If the King of Achin bee fickle and our factorie not flowrishing, hee must bee Chastised too, and this one way, by threatening him not to suffer the Guzerattes to supply him, whom yet you may not meddle with. From thence you may attend the Passadg of the Chineses and other traders in the Southeren streightes and Chandg with them at the best hand. If you stand so low as China or towards Mocaa itselfe, suerly all is Prise ; and this may either gett you a trade or at least serue the Present, and cannot leaue the whole in woorse estate then it is, for as good wee doe it as beare the envy for no profitt, for the Dutch practise it vnder our English Crosse. Japan I doubt you will not see ; or, if you doe, I feare you shall fynd cause enough to bidd you thinck nothing frye that abides in the nett. The Portugalles I neede not any way Mention ; their Iniuries and your owne Commission will guide you. Some will say this Course will in tyme ouerthrow all trade. I am of another opinion, considering the Nature of this People, that haue no sence of honor, but only Profitt. Wee shall in tyme teach them to know their superiors ; and if they will not giue vs trade, wee can yet choose whither they shall enioy it or no. Necessitye and feare will enforce them with whom no Curtesy nor reason can preuayle. Necessitye alsoe Pleades now for vs ;
31.1.7
for, were wee admitted trade, wee want meanes for soe great fleetes to vse it and the losse at hand wilbe heavie. The gaine by good bootye once Pursed will bare out the couldnes of trafique a yeare or two; and some kind of Springes are the fresher for Cropping. Thus you haue my opinion, which vse according to your discretion; for I do not decree but only propose. . . . And so blessing the gratious God of Mercy for your safety and all your Company, to whom I desire to remember my harty english wishes, I Committ you to God.
31.2.1
September 1. — Was the Kings Birth-day, and the solemnitie of his weighing, to which I went, and was carryed into a very large and beautifull Garden; the square within all water; on the sides flowres and trees; in the midst a Pinacle, where was prepared the scales, being hung in large tressels, and a crosse beame plated on with Gold thinne, the scales of massie Gold, the borders set with small stones, Rubies and Turkey, the Chaines of Gold large and massie, but strengthened with silke Cords. Here attended the Nobilitie, all sitting about it on Carpets, vntill the King came; who at last appeared clothed, or rather loden with Diamonds, Rubies, Pearles, and other precious vanities, so great, so glorious! his Sword, Target, Throne to rest on correspondent; his head, necke, breast, armes, aboue the elbowes, at the wrists, his fingers euery one with at least two or three Rings, fettered with chaines, or dyalled Dyamonds, Rubies as great as Wal-nuts (some greater), and Pearles such as mine eyes were amazed at. Suddenly hee entered into the scales, sate like a woman on his legges, and there was put in against him many bagges to fit his weight, which were changed sixe times, and they say was siluer, and that I vnderstood his weight to be nine thousand Rupias, which are almost one thousand pound sterling. After with Gold and Iewels, and precious stones, but I saw none; it beeing in bagges might bee Pibles.
31.2.2
Then against Cloth of Gold, Silke, Stuffes, Linnen, Spices, and all sorts of goods, but I must beleeue, for they were in fardles. Lastly, against Meale, Butter, Corne, which is said to be giuen to the Banians, and all the rest of the Stuffe; but I saw it carefully carryed in, and none distributed. Onely the siluer is reserued for the poore, and serues the ensuing yeare, the King vsing in the night to call for some before him, and with his owne hands in great familiaritie and humilitie to distribute that money. The scale he sate in by one side, he gazed on me, and turned me his stones and wealth, and smiled, but spake nothing, for my Enterpreter could not be admitted in. After he was weighed, he ascended his Throne, and had Basons of Nuts, Almonds, Fruits, Spices of all sort, made in thinne siluer, which he cast about, and his great men scrambled prostrate vppon their bellies; which seeing I did not, hee reached one Bason almost full, and powred into my Cloke. His Noblemen were so bold as to put in their hands, so thicke that they had left me none if I had not put a remayner vp. I heard he threw Gold till I came in, but found it siluer so thinne, that all I had at first, being thousands of seuerall pieces, had not weighed sixtie Rupias. I saued about twentie Rupias weight, yet a good dishfull, which I keep to shew the ostentation; for by my proportion he could not that day cast away aboue one hundred pound sterling. At night he drinketh with all his Nobilitie in rich Plate.
31.2.3
I was inuited to that, but told I must not refuse to drinke, and their waters are fire. I was sicke and in a little fluxe of bloud, and durst not stay to venture my health.
31.2.4
September 9.—The King rode to the Riuer of Darbadath, fiue course, on pleasure; and comming by my house, I rode out to meete him. The custome is, that all men by whom hee passeth neare their gate make him some Present, which is taken as a good signe, and is called Mombareck, good Newes or good Successe. I had nothing to giue, nor might fitly goe with nothing, nor stay at home without discourtesie; which made mee venture vpon a faire Booke well bound, filleted and gilt, Mercators last Edition of the Maps of the world, which I presented with an excuse that I had nothing worthy, but to a great King I offered the World, in which he had so great and rich a part. The King tooke it in great courtesie, often laying his hand on his breast, and answering: Euery thing that came from mee was welcome. Hee asked after the ships arriuall, which I told him I daily expected. Hee told me hee had some fat wild Hogges sent him from Goa, and, if I would eate any, at his returne he would send me some. I made him due reuerence, and answered : Anything from his Maiestie was a feast to me. He rode on his Eliphant, and the way was stonie; and I offering to bring him toward the gate, hee bade God keepe mee, and returne to my house, demanding which it was, and praysing it (indeed, it was one of the best in the Leskar, yet but an old Church and large Tombe inclosed). Iterating his farewell, he said the way was ill, and desired me to goe home; and with much shew of courtesie tooke leaue.
31.2.5
September 16. — I rode to repay the visit of Marre Rustam, the Prince of Candahor, who at my arriuall sent word he durst not see mee, except hee asked leaue of the King or acquainted Etimon Dowlet or Asaph Chan, which at the Durbar he would. I answered : he should not need, for I neuer meant to trouble my selfe with a man so vnciuill, nor to come a second time: I knew well it was a shift out of ill manners: that the King would bee no more angry for his bidding mee welcome to his house then for his comming to mine : but that I cared not to see him, but came in ciuilitie to requite that I took so in him. His man desired me to stay vntill he told his Master my answere; but I would not, and returned. At night, I rode to Court to visit the King, who questioned about the Booke of Maps ; but I did forbeare any speech of my debts. [September] 25. — I rode to the Court, very weake, to make triall of the King about our debts ; for that Muckshud had also newly answered he had mist his Prigany and knew not how to pay, but by his house. I deliuered the King the Merchants Petition, which hee caused to bee read aloud, and the names of the debtors and sureties and summes distinctly, by Asaph Chan ; which done, he called Araddat Chan, the chiefe of his officers of Houshold, and the Cutwall, and gaue them order ; but what I vnderstood not.
31.2.6
Reading the names, hee questioned their abilities and qualities, and what goods they receiued, finding some dead, some strangers : concerning Rulph, Asaph Chan offered to speake to the Prince at his arriuall to finish it. My Interpreter was now called in, and the King conuerted to mee, giuing this answere : That the Merchants had made debts at their owne wills, and not brought a note of their goods to him : therefore, if the men were insufficient, it was at their peril, for that it was no reason to expect the money from him (which, I suppose, he spake of his seruant Mergonen, who being dead, his goods were seazed for the Kings vse) : but seeing it was the first time, he would now assist me, and cause our money to be payed : but if hereafter the English would deliuer their goods to his seruants without money or acquainting him, they should stand to the hazard : but if, when their commodities came to the Court, they would bring a bill to him of all, he would first serue himselfe, and after distribute the rest to such as should buy that and if any of them failed, he would pay the money himselfe. This is indeed the custome of Persia Merchants, to bring all to the King (which I haue often seene), who takes his choice and deliuers the rest to his Nobilitie, his Scriuanoes writing to whom, and his Officer cutting price, a copy of which is giuen the Merchant, and hee goes to their houses for money;
31.2.7
if they pay not, there is an expresse Officer that hath order by currant course to force them. Then was it told my Interpreter what command the King had giuen : that Arad Chan should call the debtors before him, and cause them to pay; but this pleased not our Merchants. I thought it both a iust and gratious answere; better then in such cases priuate men can get of great Princes. The King, hearing I had been sicke and wished for wine, gaue me fiue bottles, and commanded, when I had ended those, to send for fiue more, and so as I wanted : and a fat Hogge, the fattest I euer saw, sent vp by Mochreb Chan, that came from Goa, which at midnight was brought home by a Haddy with this message : since it came to the King it had eaten nothing but Sugar and Butter. I tooke this as a signe of fauour, and I am sure in that Court it is a great one. Then he sent for the Map-booke, and told me he had shewed it his Mulaies, and no man could reade nor vnderstand it; therefore if I would, I should haue it againe. I answered: At his pleasure; and so it was returned. [September] 26. — There being a Raia in rebellion in the hills, not past twentie Course from the Laskar, the King lately sent out two Vmbras with horse to fetch him in; but he defended his quarter, slew one of them and twelue Maandpdares, and in all of both sides about fiue hundred; returning scornefull messages to the King to send his Sonne, for he was no prey for ordinary forces.