[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy) › [The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster) › 46 # The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 46 The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 46 - **Language:** English ### [46.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.46.1) A Declaration and Instructions for the shippe entended for the Red Sea, if the Comaunder of the fleete, Captain Martin Pringe, and Master Thomas Kerridge, Cape merchaunt of the English factors, with his Consultation vpon the motions made by Sir Thomas Roe, his Maiesties Ambassadour, doe thinke it fitte to proceed in the Voyadge. (I. O. Records: O. C., No. 598.) \[February 14, 1617-18\]. 1. The shippe to proceed vpon this voyadge to bee chosen by the Admirall and a Comission from him giuen for theyr warrannte. 2. Having taken in such goodes at Suratt as Master Kerridge shall prouide, as well for a trade at Dabull as Mocha, shee shall accompany the Admirall to Dabull, where they may endevour to putt of all theyr English goodes by faire meanes, or, if not, by the surpryse of any juncke, and with them to barter for theyr Comodity fitte for the Red Sea; but to pay for it and to take nothinge els, but only signify that our Intent is to force them to vnderstand the Interest of free Commerce and that they shall not trade into the Red Sea but by our licence, beinge Lordes of the same, and not the Portingalls. At this Porte cannot be spent above eight daies; if you finde any juncke out, you may dispatch in four. ### [46.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.46.2) 3. Having finished your Intent at Dabull, you shall speedily shape your Course for the Red Sea, and, meeting any juncke of Diu or of any other Porte vnder the Dominion of the Portugall, you shall endevour to take and make prise thereof to the vse of the Company; or of any other people whatsoever beinge in league with our enemy, either of the Samorine or Decanines. 4. Beinge arrived at Mocha with such goodes as shee shall have laden vpon her or such as shee shall gett by trade at Dabull or by reprisall. The Captain and Merchaunts shall sende to the Gouernour of the Province and signify that our Intent is as well to keep the Sea free from Rouers as to demaunde free Commerce at the Porte; and therefore shall require both a safe Conducte for a Merchaunte to come ashoare and his firman for the free sale of our goodes ; and that if hee bee pleased for times to come to enterteine the English and to graunt them residence, whereby yearly our shipping will haunt his Porte with many sorte of goodes and the Seas bee thereby more secured, that then at Instant hee give his owne Contracte and therein Couenant to procure the Grand Siniors lettres for licence and Confirmation of such priveledges as are already graunted vnto our Nation for theyr abode and trafficque to Constantinople and Aleppo. ### [46.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.46.3) 5. If this faire motion of trade bee refused, then shall you endeuour to force it by staying and hinderinge the trafficque of all such roaders as you shall fynde in trade, not subiecte to the greate Mogoll, and by exchaung with them put of all your goodes laden vpon the said voyadge ; but if you meete any shippe or juncke freighted by the Portingalls or the goodes of any Moore or Banian subiecte or inhabitinge within theyr Territorie, of all \[such\] ships and goodes you shall make prise, signifieing to all persons that you proceed in this Course with the Portingalls and theyr Subiectes only to Compell them to suffer the Seas to be free and Commerce open and not to take any tribute, passe-money or Imposition vpon merchaunts goodes vpon the Sea: that whensoeuer the Portugall shall relinquish this vniust Course, that the English will agree and Consente to the free open trades and liberty of all Nations freindes with them : but if they will adhere and bee tributarie to the Portingalls, wee shall make prise of theyr goodes as the Confederates of our Enemies. ### [46.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.46.4) 6. You shall require of the Guzuratts to assist you in settlinge a trade at Mocha, and make them vnderstand that wee Intend yearely to visitt that Porte : that wee have offered to safe-Conducte or fraighte theyr goodes vpon as resonable termes as they giue vnto our enemie, which if they shall still refuse to accepte, wee shall remayne Newtralls, so in Case they bee surprised by any Dutch or French Piratts wee will no waye bee tyed to helpe or releve them : and if then they shall better vnderstand themselves and our freindly offer, the Captain and Cape merchaunt shall have full power to make Composition and Agreement with them and to take of them for the present voyadge such Content, eyther on goodes 5 per Cent, at least or by the great, as they shall agree, and shall draw from them a Confession in writinge of theyr good and freindly vsage and of theyr great security by our Company, with an humble petition to the greate Mogoll that hee wilbe pleased to give lycence to all his Subiectes to freight in English shipps aswell for Iasquis as the Red Sea, or otherwise to worke theyr owne safety by any such Composition as between themselves shalbe founde most Convenient, whereby they bee deliuered both from the feare of Piratts and from the tributes and exactions vniustly raised vpon them by the Portingalls. ### [46.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.46.5) 7. Yf you shall obtaine libertie to trade and put of your goodes, I wish you to bee wary you trust not much ashoare, nor many men at once nor any Cheife Commaunder, but only twoe merchaunts in the Company of the Captain and merchaunt of the Ghehangier, to whom I haue giuen a passe and who hath promised to assist you in all matters as frendes. 8. The generall scope of this voyadge beinge to begin a trade and to give knowledge to all the seuerall Nations that vse into the Red Sea or give any Composition vnto our Enemies for the free passage vnto any Porte, that wee Ayme at nothinge but to open the wayes for merchaunts: therefore in matter of reprisall you must have especiall reguarde that you ceaze nothing into your full possession but only such goodes as you are assured belonge properly to the Portingalls or theyr Subiectes, for that many merchaunts of India freight in theyr Shippes and may perhapps require here satisfaction; therefore, in Case of such pretence you shall there come to Composition to wafte home theyr goodes at as easy rates as the Portingalls doth, and accordinge to your discretions vse them fayerly. At leastwise you shall keep together the said goodes, putting into any such juncke a merchaunte and a Purser for prouision that nothinge bee ymbezeled away, whereby, if shee prove not good prise, wee may be Constreined to pay more then wee tooke. ### [46.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.46.6) And with all these Coasters whatsoeuer I hould it fitte that you proceed in trade with them or by Composition then by absolute reprissall, which Course will both awe these people and not give such occasion of dislike as wholy to rifle them; but in Case it be goodes of the Portingalls or of Dabull (having bene refused trade) or of the Samorine or of any of those petty Kinges in league with our enemy, of such you shall make full prize without any restitution and the same keepe vnto the Account of the Honorable Company. When you shall have finished your trade at Mocha you shall endeuour to keepe Company with the Guzuratts reladen, if so they come out tymely that you may gett into the Roade of Swally by the last of September, and shall with all Curtesy vse the said Guzuratts, but not suffer them to departe vntill you arrive at the Barre of Suratt, where you shall stay them by you and speedily advise to know in what estate our trade and Factors are; and after to proceed accordinge to such directions as you shall receiue from the Ambassadour or Cape merchaunt by his order. ### [46.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.46.7) Being necessary to send also vpon the said shippe 2 or 3 merchaunts for the Red Sea, I, being vtterly ignorant of the quality of those now supplied, cannot make absolutely choyce; but am desirous that Edward Heynes may goe as one, because hee hath often heard and must needes vnderstand my purpose in this action, with whom I request Master Kerridge to joyne any other that hee shall in his judgement know sufficient, in which hee will regard his landguage; and in this pointe of the merchaunts that hee, being neare the shipps, see hir provided of such and so many as are fitte and requisite; and in that Case whatsoeuer hee shall doe, I fully allow and Consent vnto. I have herewith sent you the Persians bill that oweth vs money, livinge at Gulkhandah, that yf you meete with any juncke of Dabull, you may pay yourselfe and give them the bill to recouer the debte of the Persian. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.46](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.roe-embassy~en-foster.46) · Pramāṇa