The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 33: To Captain Martin Pring.
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 33
- Language
- English
To Captain Martin Pring.
33.1
(Addl MS. 6115, f. 268.) [5 October, 1617.] Honest Man, God, that knowes my hart, wittnesse you are the wellcomest man to this Country that Could here arriue to assist my many troubles. The Company have, it seemes, entrusted more to mee then I am willing to vndertake ; for receiuing a Commission about Persia, it is soe limitted, and with soe good reasons, that I cannot proceed with such hast as a supply would requier ; neither dare I thinck it requisite to seperate your fleete, nor Convenient to venture more goodes before advice, and advice from a soberer man then Connaught, who was sett out without my knowledg and, I am sure, vpon such Conditions as the Company haue restrayned mee in. I am of a Nature not to hurt; it was the rashnes of our Merchantes last yeare, whom I would now excuse and helpe out, if anything Committed that may preiudice them. I vnderstand the Company to entend noe farther yet then a treaty of Conditions, which they heare haue begunne, but neuer sent me a Copy how they limited them. For feare of their forwardnes I sent to the Shabas by his Embassador an ouerture of a treaty, strict enough and wary on our Part, the answere wherof I expect, if Master Connocht, who is Ambassador, haue not taken vpon him to enlardg yt and promise that wee cannot performe. Therfore, the busines thus perplexed, it can from mee receiue noe farther authoritye then that I shall not Crosse any supply, if the Merchantes hould it necessarie.
33.2
But I see no fitt Cargazon to send but will weaken this too much. Steeles Proiectes are Idle and vayne, smokey ayrye Imaginations. His owne relations of Persia Contradictorye and silly, magnifying his owne woorkes. I neuer sawe him; but I suppose I vnderstand him, and woonder how the Company are so deceiued if they Putt much trust in him. That which causeth my present writing is concerning two men of warr taken by you, of which it seemes some make doubt to stay, by reason of their Commissions and the greatnes of their owners. You know your strength, what you may doe to men of their qualetye; and I know the Companies lettres patentes prohibiting any of the subiectes of England to trade this way, much more to roue. And if it prohibit it, it consequently giueth power to execute such prohibition; els were it in vayne. Therfore I desier you not only to stay them, but to take out their officers and some of their men and change them with yours for safetye, least they make escape. They will steed you well with the Portugalles, whom you may expect to Bicker with. The reason of this strict dealing is, besides the right of the company and the equitye of Nationes, the Kinges honor is engaged that wee shall not molest free merchantes, not our enemyes. I am here a Pawne, and represent his Person; assure you, what damage soeuer any of these subiectes shall susteyne by vs our bodyes and goodes shall answere.
33.3
If for any occasion of our owne you deteyne the said ship of Suratt, it is in our owne Power to free her: that is another case. I heare one Captain Newse is in one. Hee, if I mistake not, is a follower of my lord Dauers, himselfe a souldier and a valiant Man. Deale with him to bee content to referr himselfe to mee. I will vse him well and like his qualetye, and, if wee might bee assured of his fayth, perhaps some may employ him. Sir Robert Rich is my frend; but I am now a Publique minister, and cannot see anything with those eyes; yet hee shall fynd I will not vse any extreamety in the End. Ther are many Better Courses then this, to wrong his Soueraynge and his Nation. Assure them they shall be better vsed, and may thanck God they fell into our handes; for as men of warr they shall haue honest shares, if wee purchase vpon our enemies; if not, I can tell them where to make a voyadge they shall justefye. Deale effectually with them to make them frendes and faythfull; and write mee your opinion whither wee may trust or no. .... There is one Pearle in a box directed to mee, and somwhat concerning it concealed from the Merchantes. That may bee sowed so in Cloth that it may come safe and speedily by the first English; but take heed you bee cunning hiders, for here are cunning searchers. I pray loue that little woorme John Hatch, and Commend mee to him. If no lettres from the King to the Mogol nor Prince, a great error. Your loving frend, Tho. Roe.
33.4
I know not Captain Andrew Shilling but by fame to be a braue honest man, and therfore I am bound to loue him and to wish him all good. If hee will trye mee hee shall fynd I remember some of his Actions. If Captain Adames bee our ould Virgiman Adams, hee is my good frend. Commend mee to him whosoeuer, and to all our Countrimen. [October] 6. — I rode to visite the Prince, at his vsuall houre, to giue him welcome and to acquaint him with our businesse, determining to make offer of all respect to him, and to that end not to come emptie handed, and bought a fine Chaine of gold, China worke. I sent in word. He returned that I should come next morning at Sunne rise, when he sate to be worshipped, or stay till his riding to Court, which I must haue done at his doore. This I tooke in extreame scorne, his Father neuer denying me accesse ; and his Pride is such as may teach Lucifer ; which made me answere roundly : I was not his Slaue, but a free Ambassadour of a King, and that I would neuer more visite him, nor attend him ; hee had refused me Justice : but at night I would see him with the King, to whom only I would addresse my selfe ; and so departed. At night I went to the King, who receiued me graciously. I made a reuerence to the Prince, but he would not once stirre his head. Then I acquainted the King that, according to his order, I had brought an abstract of our ladings, desiring his command.
33.5
After his manner he asked what and what, and was so wonderfully satisfied, especially with Arras, that he promised mee all fauour, all priuiledges, all that I would desire. He enquired for Dogges, which I could not answere ; and for Iewels, which I told him they were dearer in England then in India, at which hee rested satisfied. I durst not name the Pearles for many reasons ; if I had, our people had beene waylaid for by the Prince, and such snatching as I could not auoyd infinite trouble ; I knew I could bring them ashoare and to Court by stealth : that the lesser expected, the better welcome : but my maine reason was, I would make a friend by them. Therefore, when Asaph Chan pressed me to know, I desired him to make that answere of dearenesse, and that I would speake with him alone. He soone vnderstood me, and made excuse.
33.6
The King being well pleased, I thought it good time to mooue againe for the debts ; and, hauing my Petition ready, opened it, and offered it vp. The King not marking, others discouered what it was, and knew the King would bee enraged that his order was neglected ; whereat one stept to me, and clapt downe my hand gently, desiring me not to doe so. I answered : Aradake Chan had absolutely refused me Iustice ; at which he, being by, came in in much feare, calling Asaph Chan, desiring him to hinder me from complaint. I answered : our ships were arriued, and we could not forbeare nor endure such delayes. So they consulted together and called the Cutwall giuing order to execute the Kings command ; who that night at midnight beset their Tents, and catched some of them. So that now we shall haue reason. I had great thanks of all the Vmreies for protecting the Queenes ship, and our courtesie to their passengers, which they enformed the King, who tooke it kindly ; and they all promised that they were obliged to loue our Nation, and would doe them all seruice ; but they wondered we could not gouerne our people, but that theeues could come out without the Kings leaue. At the Kings rising, Asaph Chan carryed me with him to his retyring place, and there first we translated the Abstract into Persian, to shew the King an houre after ; in which I inserted the money with some addition, because the King might perceiue was [wee?] brought profit to his Dominions ; next the cloath and sorts ;
33.7
then the fine wares in generall : lastly the grosse commodities; desiring his Maiestie to order what he would buy, and to giue vs liberty for the rest. This finished, Asaph Chan renewed the reason why I would speake alone, bad me be free, vowed and protested such friendship as I neuer could expect. I replyed : The reason why I desired it, was to aske his counsell ; for it was true I had somewhat, but my vsage last yeare was so bad, that I durst not trust any ; but, that he might see how I replyed [relied ?] on him, I was willing, on his oath, to reueale it ; which he presently gaue. I told him I had a rich Pearle, and some other ropes faire : I knew not whether it was fit to tell the King, lest the Prince were displeased ; I told him how in the morning I had been to visite him, and his discourtesie, and my resolution : but that I knew his fauour was so necessary for vs, that I hoped I might recouer it by this one respect that I kept the Pearle for him. This, I said, was my purpose and reason I concealed it : he was father-in-law to him, and fauorite of the King : I was ready to please both, and desired his aduice. He embraced me, and began : I had done discreetly, but I should acquaint neither : if I did, I should neuer want trouble : the King would vse me well, but keepe such a stirre to see it and get it into his hand, according to custome, and then I must sue for mine owne : the Prince was rauenous and tyrannicall, and wearied all Nations.
33.8
He bade mee steale all ashoare, trust none, and shewed mee many conueyances; bade me observe the vsage of the Portugalls, how they were ransacked ; and desired to buy it, which if I would grant it, I should haue money in deposito, what I should aske; and he would, for this trust of him, sollicite all my desires; that without him I could doe nothing. Now was an oportunitie to make a friend. I answered: I was willing, but I feared hee would reueale it; which hauing receiued his oath, and a ceremony of couenant by crossing thumbes, we embraced. I promised to be directed by him; and he to doe all that I required for the comming vp of the rest: he would take order to giue me Firmans: no man should touch any thing, but all come to me, to dispose of at pleasure: The Prince he would reconcile to me, and the next time he visited him, he would take me, and make him vse me with all grace; and for other businesse it should not be in his power to crosse me: but, if he did, he would assigne vs a Syndic, which was in his gouernment, or procure any other Port at my desire: and whatsoeuer I demanded should be performed faithfully. He also aduised me to giue his sister Normahall some toy. He said he would make the King giue me money; to which I answered: I desire you to conuert it into the well vsage of my countrey-men: I asked no more.
33.9
Thus we rose, and he carryed me in to the King, with the Note translated, who gaue mee all good vsage; asked if the Arras were a Present I answered yes; lest it should be seazed, for the Prince was by. In conclusion, hee said hee would buy all the parcell of cloath, and many other things, appointing me to send for it speedily; Asaph Chan to take order for a Firman from the Prince. Thus I had a good night; and I knew, though they are all ( ), yet in this he would deale truely, because it was to helpe himselfe, and durst not betray me till he had the Pearle, for feare to misse it; nor after, for hauing himselfe betrayed the Prince.