The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 31.1.4

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?