The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 32: To the Commander of the Fleet.

32

(Addl. MS. 6115, f. 263.)
Mandoa; September 29, 1617.
.... Some alteration is hapned in the Proiect of Dabull, for that I vnderstand Fearne hath Robbd their great shipp. It will stirr vp the Consideration of this People, but Crosse our designe, for I feere they will not venture out, nor beeleeue vs free. If you Purpose not to trie the Port, wee shall haue leysure to Consulte of that in tyme of another Course at your departure.
That which I would most impresse into you is the Consideration of the Redd Sea, the rather for that it is reported the King sendes his sister to Mecha, which, if true, wilbe the fittest oportunitye to treat of those Conditions which Pride now will not admitt off. I assure you shee is the best Price that euer was taken In India. The King is fully resolued to visitt Guzeratt, Cambaya and Amadavaz and there will spend this yeare. The Nearenes will some way aduance our expedition. I receiue good woordes and good vsage, but without Presentes shall fynd drye effectes. Now is the last triall; for our Comoditye is badd, our Conditions vnstable; and if it mend not, wee must showe them another Countenance. A few dayes since dyned with mee an Italian that long hath vsed Persia. I enquired the estate of trade. His answere was it was not Tyerra de negocio: all the trafique lay betweene Aleppo and Casbin, for silke and mony: that only wilbe accepted: that our Cloth will neuer vent, for in experience it hath beene often tryed from Turkye and sould at extreame losse. The disposition of the King is to bee very familiar with strangers if they bee in Cash. In hope to gett, no man can escape him; when hee hath suckd them, hee will not knowe them.
October 2. — The Prince entered the Towne, and all the great men in wondrous triumph. The King receiued him as if he had no other, contrary to our expectation. Brampore left almost emptie vnder Chan Channa. I had sent to Asaph Chan to excuse my not meeting him, for I was not able to stirre, nor had no Present. All the great men, and the Kings Mother, receiued him foure Course off. I sent also some of my seruants with my iust excuse, which his pride only nodded at.
October 5. — I receiued from Surat newes of our shippes arriuall, the Admirall missing, and her Prize of Mosambique; the rest well, who had taken two English Rouers, set out by [ ] who were found in chase of the Queen Mothers ship returned from the Red-sea, which they fortunately rescued and brought safe in (if shee had bin taken, we had all bin in trouble) ; with these the Companies Letter, invoice, instructions for Persia, and diuers other notes of aduise, that by reason of the Admiralls absence they knew not what course to take with the men of Warre. I dispeeded to Surat orders about all businesse, as appeares in my Letters.