The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 48: To Sir Thomas Smyth.
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 48
- Language
- English
To Sir Thomas Smyth.
48.1
(Public Record Office: E. Indies, vol. i, No. 59.) Amadauaz, 16 February, 1617[-18]. Sir, Your acceptation of my endeauours is a confirmation of the same affection which you began towardes mee when I had merited nothing. I now feare that I shall fall into another euill and bee preiudiced by too much expectation. These Princes and Customes are so Contrarie to ours that I shall trauell much in myne owne eies and performe little in yours. Ther is no treaty wher ther is soe much Prid, nor no assurance wher is no fayth. All I can doe is to serue present turnes. The People are weary of vs. The King hath no content, who expectes great Presentes and Jewelles, and reguardes no trade but what feedes his vnsatiable appetite after stones, rich and rare Peices of any kind of arte. The breefe is I haue sent you a lettre which will show his Promises, but they hould not one Minute. Feare only keepes vs in, and vntill they feele vs once more and that his owne subiectes Petition for vs, wee shall neuer obteyne more then to run out in a Chardgable trade, with much seruitude. My employment is nothing but vexation and trouble; little honor, lesse Profitt. Whatsoeuer I haue done and my opinion in all your affayres, you will fynd in generall lettrs, discourses, and other Papers directed to you.
48.2
Only, I protest, to giue you testemony of your Power in me I changed resolution to stay this yeare, which will fullfill my banishment of fiue years. In this tyme what I can add to you I will, for my owne Creditt is deeply engaged, and yet there is noe way to release me, but by a little force. The Presentes sent this yeare were too good; but (to deale playnly with my frendes) soe farr short of their greedy expectation that they rather disgrace then helpe mee. Yet I cannot bee without vntill the whole Course bee Changed. I will vse none but for your busines, and (if I may advise) I wish you send noe more in the Kinges Name, but only proceed as other Merchantes doe, which is to fiit goods that they desier, and the Merchant that goes to Court at the showing to giue one toy for his entrance. This way hath less trouble and Chardge. Wee haue only begott our selues a Custome of slauerie now duly expected.
48.3
I was not soe desierous of Command ouer your Seruantes as to procure myself trouble and envy. Master Kerridge was sufficient. Now they ioyntly cast all vpon mee, hoping to overlay mee, vnder Couler of humilytie. I will dischardg myselfe honestly of all I can doe, and may show you an example, if they which should assist crosse me not. I haue stayed Master Kerridge in the Countrie and am therby obliged to promooue the Companies recompence which he pretendes. I must say truth his Paynes is very great and his Partes not ordinarie ; only hee loues dominion, and you shall perceaue by my Courses with him and all others I will not robb him of yt. In the mayne Poyntes I wilbe assistant to prouide your lading in season, and to direct the courses of your trades. The Mechannicque part I must refer to others as burthensome. I haue receiued from you and the Company some tokens. Such as I shall vse I will make bould with, the rest convert to their vse, with as many thanckes as if I had in them receiued a Pledge and assurance of your affections. The Pearle lies vpon our handes, as beeing either ouerrated, or dearer in England than here. The sizes are too small. With great Pearle and stones according to the Tariff sent you you may Compasse this trade to Content, and by no other way. I haue recouered, by the kindnes of your Captains, a better constitution of health then formerly ; but I feare this new remooue will make mee relappes. Godes wilbe done.
48.4
I thanck you for Jhon Hatch, your bible, Peice, and oyle — all your particular loue and kindnes. Beleeue mee, Sir, I haue noe barren and vnthanckfull hart. Yet I send you Nothing but the common Phrases of such as are indebted. If I liue, you shall find what impression your loue hath made in mee ; and if I dye, you shall loose more then yet you know of, because you cannot know my hart. The ship by mee sent out wherin you were an aduenturer is returned rich, but I cannot here who hath shared her. I left all her writinges with Sir Jhon Brookes. I am not yet soe rich as to send home any mony. If Master Christopher Brookes neede any for my vse, you wilbe pleased to pay him the 100l. due for my seruantes wages, which I haue supplyed here. If not, I hope you will enter it as an encrease into the Joynt stock, and at the devision of the last soe order mee and my part of aduenture as it may beecome profitable to mee. These courses I vnderstand not ; but as by you I came to haue interest, soe vnto you I referr mee.
48.5
What was done in the busines of Persia the last yeare and since by Edward Connaughte, many relations will signifie ; wher I should beginn I know not. The Priuiledges are very good, but the Port, and ground to proceede in the trade, are yet vncerteyne. If you send next yeare meanes to supply it, wee shall proceed, I hope to generall Content. The neglect of mee last yeare makes me vnwilling to bee too forward and hath stirrd vp Master Kerridge, who takes himselfe wronged that any thing is Committed to me, to many peruerse disputes. I know not how I stand in his fauour. Having opened Connaughtes lettres to him for my information, which I could not send and bee tymely enformed, he takes it hotly ; but I haue done nothing but what is just. I looke into no more then your busines, and in that I will not bee kept in Ignorance. This is the benefitt, that if wee cannot agree (which I by all meanes endeauor) yet wee shall both bee wary of doeing ill ; and when euer I shalbe accused, it wilbe my honor. I write this because Master Kerridge doth magnifie his owne successe in Connock, and I proceede as if it concerned not mee ; but vpon the groundes of reason whatsoeuer in that busines can bee effected shall haue both our helpes : he for loue to his owne proiect, I for your generall good.
48.6
I haue signified in my generall lettres that I haue sent home Anthony Wallys and some others The rest of your seruants are for the most very Ciuill. If any ouerspend, I cannot abbridge that which they pretend Necessarie. What I can doe, not to drawe all mens ill will vpon mee, I shall by counsayle ; if I find dangerous or grosse faultes, I will stop them. The first is Master Steele, who brought to sea a mayd. Captain Towersons seruant, but great with Child, and married her at the Cape vnder a bush. I could not perswade Captaine Towersons returne nor his wiues, though I offered conditions of your losse, nor send her home alone and anew with Child among men. He pretended great matters. All your seruantes were willing to disgrace him. I was both vnwilling and afrayd to doe yt, but Consented to bring vp his artificers, who Prooue his seruantes for his owne endes. I presented them to the King ; but Steele getting accesse as linguist to his Paynter in Priuat (who was pretended to mee to bee your seruant, sent by you as cheefe in the water woorke) entreaged them and himselfe so into the Kinges seruice that I cannot without hazarding much displeasure enforce them eyther to retyre or to follow that they promised you. He surely either hopes to supplant mee, and to succeed (for so some tyme his vanetye Pretendes), or els he hath quitted his Countrie.
48.7
I dare not trust him with goodes, seeing hee will follow the Court with his wife, notwithstanding all oathes and Couenantes, and at as great Chardge as I almost. How he pretendes to maynteyne it, I cannot foresee. This only I will trye him with Patience; keepe your Purse from him ; if he runn right, I will assist him ; if not, I will doe my utmost next yeare to force him home, when the King is as weary of him as all wee. I assure you hee is now our affliction, and may bee my shame, for euer yeilding to suffer him to land. Captain Towerson Pleades leaue to trade. Hee wilbe deceiued in expectation of his frendes and I know not what in these cases [to] doe. All the ill offices are cast vpon mee. You, Sir, must bee pleased to beare part of the burthen. I will consent noe farther then I may defend my selfe, and yet would not bee ill spoken off of all men To Conclude, Sir, I am infinitely weary of this vnprofitable imployment, the successe wherof is not that I aymed at for you, and that which I hate in others, to gett an ill name. But hee that will please all men can neuer please the honestest. My Comfort is you professe you wilbe as Carefull of mee as of your owne sonn ; and at that I take you as a father. Examine all my Courses ; if I shame you in any, renounce mee and this Name of Your truly vnfeyned frend and adopted sonne, Tho. Roe.
48.8
Remember my seruice to your ladie, and I beseech almighty God to blesse you and all your famelie. Master Jhackon will I hope giue testemonie of my desieres to doe him any Pleasure.