The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 47: To King James. (Public Record Office: E. Indies, vol. i. No. 58).
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 47
- Language
- English
To King James. (Public Record Office: E. Indies, vol. i. No. 58).
47.1
The Camp of Ghehangeer Sha, greate Mogoll, 15 February, 1617[-18]. May it please your Majestie, The most gratious reception of my trauells and the Commands which your Maiestie hath vouchsafed to mee, your vnable and vnworthy vassall, haue giuen new life and quickened mee almost in the graue. Ther is no bond more stronge then that by which I am tied to your Majestie as your subiect; but that it hath pleased you out of your Royall grace to giue occasion to my weakenes, that also addeth strength and couradge to a minde already wholy deuoted and offered vp to your Maiesties seruice. The negotiation of Persia, by your Maiestie to mee Committed, was begunn a yeare past by the Factors of India and ouerture made in the name of your Maiestie, of which proceedinge I was vtterly ignorant; but had written some letters and sent diuers propositions in myne owne name, as your Maiesties minister, vnto the Sha-bas, to giue him vnderstandinge of your desires in generall and to discouer to him somwhat of the Portugalls dealings with those who too easily granted them admittance or retraicts of strength. The succeds of both is: the Sha hath sent your Maiestie a very noble lettre, procured by Edward Connock, with diuers lardge and ample Priueledges granted vnto your Maiesties subiects for their acceptance and quiett Commerce, directed for deliuerie vnto Sir Thomas Smyth.
47.2
There yet are many difficulties, vnconsidered in the beginning, which forbidd mee to giue judgment, eyther of the conueniency or possibilitie of this trade, vntill vpon knowledge of the merchants meanes to Compass it without preiudice to your Maiesties Kingdomes and to their owne profitt and securitie, their farther resolution bee declared. The particulars are both too many and of too low an Elevation to troble your Maiestie, your generall Commande beeinge obeyed. I haue opened my poore vnderstanding in the rest vnto your Maiesties Principal Secretarie, from whom you wilbe pleased to receiue lardger enformation. If I finde by one yeares Experience more that this trade may be made, by vent of the Comodities of your Maiesties Kingdom or by the Industrye of your subiects from diuers Ports, without greater exports of mony or Bullion then Europe is able to beare, considering how many wayes it bleedeth to enrich Asia, I wilbee bould to confirme in your Maiesties name the treaty already begunn, and to add to yt some other Conditions which shall as well make it profitable for your Maiesties estates as easy for your subiects; to which end I haue sent vnder the limitations receiued from Master Secretarie Wynwood, and instructions from the East Indya Companie, a commission to proceede in and perfect this affayre, or tymely to foresee the hazards and inconueniences, that wee may retyre without dishonor.
47.3
To the monarch with whom I reside your Maiesties minister I deliuered your Royall letters and presents, which were receiued with as much honor as their barbarous pride and Custoomes affoord to any the like from any Absolute Prince, though far inferior to that respect due vnto them. I haue strouen, somtimes to displeasure, with their tricks of vnmeasured greatenes rather then to endure any scorne. I dare not dissemble with your Maiestie their pride and dull ignorance takes all things done of duty, and this yeare I was enforced to stande out for the honor of your free guifts, which were sceazed vncivilly. I haue sought to meyntayne vpright your Maiesties greatenes and dignitie, and withall to effect the ends of the Merchant; but these two sometymes cross one another, seeing ther is no way to treate with so monstrous ouerweening that acknowledgeth no equall. He hath written your Maiestie a lettre full of good woords, but barren of all true effect. His generall [authorities?] are yet to publish; what hee will doe I know not. To article on eauen tearmes he auoyds, and houlds mee to his owne Customes of Gouernment by new firmans vpon new occasions, in which hee is iust and gracious. It may please your Maiestie to accept the translation, being faythfull. The original in Persian, as yet of vse to vs to vrge him to performe it, I am bould to keepe vntill I shalbee made happy by falling at your feete.
47.4
Greater matters then truth I dare not boast of, neyther will steale vayne prayses by false reports. What my endeauor is and how faythfull, what my trauell in the Camp of Confusion, I hope your Maiestie will graciouslie conceiue. This I will presume to auow that I will not liue and suffer your Maiesties Royall name to bee diminished for any Consideration; And, for the success of my employment, that I will establish your Maiesties Subiects in as good tearmes for theire trafique and residences as any strangers or the naturalls themselues enioy, or at last by our force teach them to know your Maiestie is Lord of all the Seeaes and can Compell that by your power, which you haue sought with Curtesie, which this King cannot yett see for Swelling. The Portugall is not yet wise enough to know his owne weakenes, who rather enuiously hinder vs then like noble enemies hurte vs. Lett your Maiestie bee pleased to giue mee leaue to enforme want of a peace with them (which by your royall authoritie were easyly commanded) makes all these trades of Indya and hopes of Persia heauy and dangerous to the vndertakers.
47.5
I dare not troble your Maiestie with more vnnecessarie discourse, but humbly craue pardon for so much intrusion; and that you wilbee pleased not to bee offended, after fiue yeares Pilgrimage, that I take leaue to enioy the happines of those which attend your Presence, desiring the Almightie God to make your reigne so long, so blessed, and so glorious, that your name may bee the obiect of all enuy and the example of all prosperitie. Your Maiesties most humble vassal and deuoted seruant, Tho. Roe.