The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 5: To THE Viceroy of Goa.
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 5
- Language
- English
Contents
To THE Viceroy of Goa.
5.1.1
Most Illustrious Lord, The Injuries your Excellence or your predecessors haue offered to the subjects of the high and mighty Prince, the King of England, my royall Master, by assalting them in that peacable course of trade, contrarye to the Amytye and leauge of both our Soueraynes, although by the asistance of God you haue receiued shame and Confusion in your vnchristian Attempts, yet I haue commandement to admonish you, like the subject of a Prince at Peace with my Master, to desist from vndertaking that which can bring foorth no other effect but warr and reuenge and shedding of Christian blood. And because it can not bee supposed you haue done thus vnwoorthely without having mistaken the entent of our Comming into these parts, I haue command from his Majestie to signifie to you, as his Majesties Embassador resident at Madrill hath done there, that the English entend nothing but free trade, open by the lawes of Nations to all men, wherof in these terretoryes of the Mogull & other Neighboring Princes there is enough for both, if auarice doe not blynd all reason in your Excellence. It is not the Purpose of the English to roote out or hinder your trade ; but to Continew theyr owne in frendship, and wilbe ready as Christians to doe you any curtesye or assist your Excellence or nation in any want.
5.1.2
Neither doe they desire, if your Excellence haue any custome, reuenewe, or Gabell from the Merchants subject to the Mogull trading at sea, to take it from you or otherwise impeach your receipt therof. That it is strange that the two Mightie Princes our Masters and theyr Subjects beeing freends and in free commerce one with another, your Excellence should dare to infring yt; wishing your Excellence to remember what the wronges offered by your Nation did cost you, how many Millions, both of Men and Crownes, in the dayes of the blessed and famous Queene Elizabeth, the same force and spiritt still liuing in our Nation; aduising you to giue more reuerent tearmes of the Majestie of a Christian Kyng then your barbarous miscelaneous people haue vsed in these parts. To which purpose hauing now in frendly Manner admonished your Excellence, as befitts the Honor of a Prince tender of his Royall woord, I am to giue you farther Notice that his Majestie is resolued to Maynteyne his subjects in their honest indeauours, in spight of any enemyes; and to that Purpose hath sent me, beeing a gentellman of his Priuy Chamber and a souldiar, his Ambassador to the Greatt Mogull, with full power and Authorytye to conclude a leauge and frendship betweene theyr Majesties and theyr subjects for euer, bynding himselfe by his Royall woord to maynteyne and fulfill whatsoeuer I his Embassador shall conclude with the Great Mogull, to the securytye of theyr subjects.
5.1.3
Into which leauge I haue command to offer your Excellence comprisure; letting you knowe I am ready to goe to Adsmere, wher I will attend your answer 40 dayes, and, in case of refusall or silence, which I will vnderstand a refusall, I will proceede to such conclusions as I shall in my Judgment thincke conduceable to the ends for which I am imployed; assuring your Excellence, if you continew in this course. The Kings Majestie will not only giue protection in the way of defence, but grant his lettres of prisall free to all his subjects to make war vpon you in all parts of the Indyes, a thing infinitely desiered and dayly sued for to his Majestie, wherby you shall not be able to looke out at your Ports, much lesse to attempt to Injure vs. But, hoping you will haue more consideration, I require your answere within the tyme prefixed, and so I Committ you to Gods protection. Your frend or enemye at your owne Choyce, D. Tho. Roe, Ambassador of the Majestie of England. Suratt, October 20, 1615, stil. vet. October 20. — A lettre Came from the king, but not once named the English, as my entelligence enformed me; but concernd the Injuryes of a Merchant wroonged by the Gouernor.
5.1.4
October 21. — I rode early with Captain Peyton, Master Bonner and others, to the Tancke to take the ayre; and returned on purpose by a greene, wher vsually the Gouernor is at his exercise, to obserue his Countenance, because Captain Harris tould me he desired a frendship. When I came there, he left his play at balle on horsbacke and Came toward me. I stayed his Comming vp. After salutations, and asking of my horses and why I vsed not his, to which I answered I had these at my Command from a good frend Chrabbeckcan, he desired me to see their excersice a-horsebacke, which I accepted off. Whervpon hee sent for his bowes, and with diuers others passed many Carrers shooting backward at a marke on the ground, and after at an Eastreadge eggshell on the top of a May pole. Then hee tooke his Peece and did the like, and after with lances, counterfeyting a Chase and at the full speed of theyr horses, full of varietye, beeing veary Actiue and manly sports ; which finished, he desired me to Honor him, to see his house. I was so willing to Close with him for the furtherance of our busines that I was entreated to doe yt, though I knew I should find in my reception nothing to Content me. For after theyr rude manner at his Court gate he alighted and went in in a hurry, soe that I stayed a pretty whyle and entered with the English alone. When I came neare he mett me and led me vp into a howse of pleasure, where wee sate, discoursing of the warr, armes, and Customes of these parts.
5.1.5
Then Captain Peyton tould him the Generall had sent him a present in requitall of a former ; and soe deliuering the parcells, he tooke two things and with infinite scorne cast the rest away, saying thoose hee tooke as a token but not as a Present, repeating the valew of his. This I mention that you may know theyr custome, at least this man. So I returned to demand my goodes, to repeate the discurtesyes, but I wanted no fayre promises and excuses. Asking when I departed, I replyed : in two dayes ; wherat the Merchannts desired leaue to pass vp some Cloth in my Company, which hee flattly refused, turning to me, swearing by his head and beard he had expresse order to the Contrary, and to suffer vs only to vnlade one ship in a month, and after to depart ; and except I could dispeed and procure longer time, he must obey it I answered him roughly that we card not, yet I could not beleeue his Master was so vnconstant. Soe I tooke my leaue ; butt at night could get nothing from the Custome howse.
5.1.6
October 22. — Having advised that, seeing now in fiue weekes we hard not one woord of Master Edwardes, woondring that these Changes would be at Court without his pryuitie, and that I could not goe on my lourny with any expedition, desierous to haue some Newes from aboue and to take my prouisions with me, I resolued to addresse my Complaynt by post to Master Edwardes to deliuer to the Mogull in my Name. The Merchannts acquaynting the Generall speedily therof, who wrote his lettre to Master Edwardes, as I suppose, of Complaynt; and it beeing sent to Suratt, the Merchants dispeeded it away without my knowledge, or once asking me if I would write, which I tooke in veary ill part, hauing receiued many neglects by reason that all obedience and obsequiousnes was giuen him who could pleasur them, and it was published among them I had nothing to doe with them. Yet within one hower I sent a Post after yt, with my instructions to Master Edwardes how to proceed and how far for our present redresse here, and to dispeed yt to the factory, letting him know, since I was arriued, all the wrongs of the Kings subjects concerned me and that I should answer for them and that therfore in my name he ought to proceed, which I doubt not he will effect. The Coppie therof is registred. The Generall sent 4 of the factors for Baroch and Amadauaz by a New way from the shipes, the Gouernor suffering none to passe from Suratt.
5.1.7
October 23. — I sent two Merchants to the Gouernor to demand those things which he deteyned. He answered I might be gone to night if I would, but I should haue nothing, bidding them tend their owne busines : that they had but 15 dayes to staye. At night the Generall writte me woord of the misfortune at Adsmere, which hee receiued from Amadauaz by way of Apologye in the excuse of one Mitford, that had stabbd Master Edwardes at a Consultation for some woordes vsed ; which the Generall very rightly conceiued a great offence and dispatchd lettres to Adsmere. But I, not knowing the Contents, but weighing the offence to be of a high Nature, dishonorable to his Maiestie, whose Ambassador Edwardes pretended to be, and prejudiciall to the busines now in hand on fickle tearmes, I thought it fitt that to avoyde the scandall some part of Justice and reparation should beginn where the offence was most scandalous, and therfore wrote to Master Edwardes to cause him to be layd in Irons in his house vntill I came vp; purposing after examination to send him publiquely bound as Prisoner to the fleete, with the true Coppy of the Cause on both parts. For if authoritye haue abused itselfe, though it be free from reuenge by those that are subordinat, yet it must answere to a higher authoritye, or all bandes of Gouerment are dissolued.
5.2.1
October 24. — The Gouernor beeing gone a hunting gaue order for my dispatch, but nothing was effected. The cause of this change was the goeing of some boates to Baroch, beeing afrayd to loose our trade, wherby he betrayd his lyes of Command for our departure. October 25. — I laded my goodes, thincking the order was sufficient, but ther came some presently from the Custome house and would new search them, which I was angry at & would not suffer. Whervpon they beate one of the wagoners at my dore and would have Carried the Cheefe to be whiped, but I tooke him into my house and gaue him protection, and bad them be gone; but they offering by force to search my Chests that were laded, I showed them a swoord in a Nother mans hand that stood by, and tould them they abused vs enough at the Custome house: if they presumed yt here, I would recompence yt. Wherat they departed and wrote to the Gouernor that I drew a swoord and beate them; and tooke this occasion not to execute the Gouernors Command for my dispatch. Withall I sent speedely to the Generall, desiering him that one ship might ryde out, as if wee meant to seeke other trade, a thinge which only awed them, and tooke good effect. For the Gouernor returning at Night, I sent him woord howe I was abused by the officers of the Custome house, and he in theyr reports made that I drew a swoord.
5.2.2
He sent presently Abram Chan, the Cheefe man in the Towne and our frend, to tell me he had punished them for lying and misdemeanor toward me, and was sorry I did not beate them in earnest: that on the morow Abram Chan should come and dispatch me with his passe and lettre to the Prince and that he would present me with a horse and furniture. I thanked him, desiering expedition and no other present. Abram Chan tould me hee neuer durst visitt me before, nor meddle in my busines, the Gouernor beeing soe vnconstant; but now he had leaue, and gaue me his woord it should be effected. Thus I stood delayed in hope and doubt. Within an Hower came a lettre from the king, which was receiued with great solemnytye. The Contents I could not learne; but by the effect it was in our behalfe and some Checke to the Gouernor. For hee speedily, though it was late, sent for Master Bangham and before speech with him made Abram chan deale with him to appease me and all the english, protesting we should haue all good vsage, and gaue leaue to goe and carry our goodes vp or anywher without stopp. He was very sadd, which is a signe that the lettre was some reprehension ; for otherwise the Custome is, vpon the receipt of any thing from the king, to drincke and be veary frolicke. As yet we had not one woord from Master Edwardes, havinge beene in the Roads 6 weakes.
5.2.3
At night was a proclamation made, giuing leaue for boates to carry ouer the lead and teeth, which had now layne in the sunne a month at the water syde, and were cleft and spoyld ; which was next day performed. October 26. — I expected all day but could not procure anything; nor any answere nor leaue to loade my Chestes. October 27. — Abram chan came with a multitude of officers, and brought the Gouernors scale and sealed the kings presents, counted my Chests and gaue a warrant to carry them ; and withall brought such things as the Gouernor had left to my house, of which I tooke some ; and promised whatsoeuer was in the Gouernors handes should be deliuered the Next day. I answered : I could not accept of these, to haue the other deteyned. He sayd all should be brought, except two basens which the Gouernor had sent the Prince. I replyed they were taken from mee, and I would demand them at Court, and giue as I sawe fitt. He desired me to be Content with soe smalle a matter. The Gouernor sent me a horse to giue mee, entreating to speake well of him to the king. I answered : for his horse, I would not receiue him, but caused the bringer to returne yt : that [if?] I found my selfe yet at last well dealt with, and liberty for the Merchants to transport their goodes freely, I would make such report of him as became a frend : but otherwise I would doe my dutie to my Master and the seruice to my Countrymen for which I was imployed. Abram chan importuned me to accept of the horse.
5.2.4
I answered : the Gouernor would take yt as an ingagement to speake well of him, and ingratitude in the Contrary : that I came not to be brybed, neyther would I leaue any tye on mee, that it should not bee free, if any lettre of Complaynt came after mee, to doe my nation right against his Injuryes : and that therfore ther was no other way to deale with me but by vsinge the Merchants well, both in theyr bodyes and goodes. And so, receiuinge many promises, They and theyr horse returned. October 28. — I laded most of my prouisions, expecting the rest from the Gouernor ; but nothing came nor any answere. October 29. — I sent my Carts before, expecting those things deteyned ; but with so small hope that I resolued to goe without them. Within an hower came Abram chan with most of the things taken by the Gouernor, and a warrant for my departure. When I demanded the remaynder he desiered to be excused : that hee knew not when hee tooke them but that they were the Merchannts and offered to paye for them : but hee had sent them to Prince, beeing some 7 or 8 basons, french and other sorts. I answered : I would challendge them at Court, and Complayne of the Violence. October 30. — Many messages past about leaue for Cloth and swoordes to goe vp with mee, but none Could be obteyned; so I prepared to be gone. As I was ready, came a lettre or firmaen from the Mogull to me, staying, according to the Custome, without the towne to be mett by vs. I sent the Merchants, who brought it to me;
5.2.5
beeing procured by Master Edwardes, with his lettre; it Conteyned a Command to all Gouernors of Prouinces or townes to attend me with sufficient guard and not to meddle with any thing was myne; and in all things very fauorable except chardges, which was left vnmentioned. When I had read yt, beeing ready to goe to horse, hearing the Gouernor and all the Towne were assembled in an open space I rode that way, and showed the Gouernor my lettre, wherat he was very blancke, desiring my frendship, and offered me anything I would demand. I answered it was now too late: I only came to lett him see the king had a better estimation of Ambassadors and theyre qualetye then he, that had so ransacked mee: but I did not desire his ruyne: if he would yet giue content to the Merchanntes, I would make the best of soe ill vsage. He bad aske anything. I demanded leaue for twelue Carts to goe vp with goodes at their pleasure; which hee refused. Then I tould him I saw he would doe nothing of curtesye: It was but losse of a little tyme: I would procure it in dispight of him: desiring to know his reason why contrarye to his woord he kept our people and goodes prisoners. He gaue none, but sayd for my sake fiue Carts should haue leaue. Though I scorned this answere, yet since it was some helpe toward dispatch I seemed Content. He demanded if I were frendes. I sayd vntill I heard New Complaynts, which I expected howerly, I was;
5.2.6
and that I required his Chop for the 5 Carts presently, for I would stay for them the Morrow at my tents. He promised, and I departed foure Course from Suratt to Cumaria, expecting the Merchannts. At my goeing I had no guard from him, hauing before hyred such guard as by councell of all your factors, and such other necessary men as was requisite (hauing fine sicke men in my trayne and few perfect) to Bramport, where I hope for some ease of my great Chardge. Yet I will proue I haue in no thing taken so many nor so much as the factors thought requisite. At my goeing I was perswaded to giue in the Custome house, because I had all theyr assistance and paynes in these broyles with the Gouernor, and to others that had broked in my affayres, and to the Gouernors vnder seruants as Porters, wayters and Peons.
5.3.1
October 31. — I rested in expectation of the Merchanntes and goodes which were to goe vp ; but at night I receiued lettres that the Gouernor would not hould his woord except he might haue 30 clothes at his owne rates, wherat I sent him woord I was free of all promise of frendship, it beeing giuen vpon the last condition, which hee had dishonarably falsefyed. Nouember 1. — I went 11 English mile to a village, lying alway in my tents. Hither Abram chan sent me a bullocke to carry water, fitted with sckinns, a Cammell, with two tents and some hens. I tooke his meate and some sckinns; beeing prouided of all necessaryes I returned the rest, haueing nothing of valew to giue in requitall, which his men were hardly enforced too. This man showed me both most affection and most honor in all his actions. Nouember 2. — To Biarat 21 mile. This towne hath a walled castle, beeing [in] the border of the kingdome of Guzaratt subject to the Mogull; belonging to Abram Chan, by whose order I had a guard of horse watched about my tent all the night. Nouember 3. — I entered the kingdome of Pardaffsha, a Gentile lord of the hills, subject to none; and lodged in the feildes at 15 miles end. His Cheefe Cytty is called Mugher. He liues in a Castell in the Mountains. Nouember 4. — 9 Mile. Rocky way, by a village called Narampora. Nouember 5. — 15 Mile. In the feildes [dyning by Dytat].
5.3.2
Nouember 6. — 20 Miles to Nunderpar, a Citty of the kingdom of Bramport, subject to the Mogull; having passed a corner of the kingdom of Pardasha. Here I gott first bread since my Comming from Suratt; for though the Cuntry be plentifull, especially of Cattle, by reason of the Banians that will kyll nothing, inhabiting all ouer, yet by the same reason they would sell vs none ; and bread they make not, but dow cakes. I mett in one day 10,000 bullocks in one troupe laden with Corne, and most dayes others, but lesse ; which showes the pleanty. Nouember 7. — 18 Mile to Nimgall. Nouember 8. — 15 Mile to Sinchelly. Nouember 9. — 15 Mile to Tolnere.
5.3.3
Nouember 10. — 18 Mile to Chapre. Here, hauing pitched my tents without the Towne according to my Custome, the kings officers came and tould me that there were 200 theeues in the hills and I could not lye without great danger, perswading me to pitch within the Towne. I answered I was not afrayd : if they Came I would leaue some of them on the ground for them in the Morning, and that now I would not stirr. They replyed they could not answere it to the Mogull if any thing happened vnto me ; but if I would stay without, they desired a dischardge in writting that they had warned mee. I tould them I was resolued not to mooue, but if the dainger were soe important I required a better guard to watch with mee ; which was granted, and the Gouernor with the other officers came out with 30 horse and 20 shott and watched all Night. In the Morning they brought me to their precinctes, to whom I gaue a small present and reward to the Souldiers. Nouember 11. — 8 Mile to Arawd. Hence I sent Master Shalebanck to Bramport with the firma, to Channa Channa the Gouernor, to see what comoditye I could procure for my furtherance. Nouember 12. — 18 Mile. Nouember 13. — 18 Mile.
5.3.4
Nouember 14. — 15 Mile. I ariued at Brampore, being by my Coniecture 223 Mile from Suratt and the Course wholy East, a miserable and Barron Country, the townes and villages all built of Mudd, soe that there is not a house for a man to rest in. This day at Batharport, a village 2 Mile short of Brampore, is the stoore house of Ordinance, I saw diuers of brasse, but generally to shortt and too wyde bored. Betwen that and Brampore I was mett by the Cuttwall well accompaned and 16 Coullers Carried before them. He brought me to the Saraye wher I was apoynted to lodg (where at the gate hee tooke his leaue) beeing a handsome frunt of stone, but when I entered I had 4 Chambers alotted me like Ovens, noe bigger, round at the topp, made of brick in a wall syde. This trubled me, but my Tents were my refuge, and I sent the Cuttwall woord I would depart the Towne, scorninge soe meane vsadge. He desiered me to be Content vntill Morning. Here liues Sultan Peruies, the kings seconnd sonne, houlding the State and Customes of his father. And the Channa Channa being the greatest subiect of the Mogull generall of his Armies, wherof 40,000 horse are with him. The Prince hath the Name and state, but the Chan gouerns all.
5.3.5
Nouember 15. — I remoued into a handsome garden and sett vp my Tentts with some of my people, leaueing the rest with my goods at the Saralia ; where the Cuttwall Came to visitt me and excuse my lodging, protesting it was the best in the Towne, which after I found true, The wholle Citty (which is veary great) being all builte of Mudd baser then any Cottage, except the Princes howse, the Chan Channas, and some few others. Nouember 16, 17. — I rested, and sent about my Carriadges, only receiuing twenty dishes of meat, drest after their Country manner, sent me in Covered Platters by the Cutwall for a Present. Nouember 18. — For many Considerations, as well to see the fashiones of the Court as to Content the Prince (who desiered yt, and I was lothe to distast him, because ther was sume purpose of erecting a factory in the towne, and I found by experience swoord blades were well sould in the Armie) I went to visitt the Prince and carried him a Present. I was brought in by the Cuttwall. At the outward Courte wear about 100 horsemen Armed, being gentellmen that attend the Princes sitting out to salute him, making a lane of each side. In the Inward Courte he satte, high in a Gallerie that went round, with a Cannipe over him and a Carpett before him, in great but barborous state. Comming toward him thorowgh a lane of People, an Officer came and brought me woord I must touch the ground with my head, and my hatt off.
5.3.6
I answered : I came in honnor to see the Prince and was free from the Custome of seruants. Soe I passed on, till I came to a place rayled in, Right vnder him, with an assent of 3 steepes, wher I made him reverance, and he bowed his bodye ; and soe went within yt, wher stood round by the side all the great men of the Towne with their handes before them like slaues. The place was Covered overhead with a Rich Cannapie, and vnderneath all Carpetts. To discribe it rightly it was like a great stage, and the Prince satt aboue as the Mock kings doth thear. When I was entered I knewe not where to be placed, but went right and stood before him, wher there is an assent of thre steepes, vpon which standes his secretary to deliuer what is sayd or giuen. Breifly I tould him being an Ambassador from the King of England to his father and Passing bye, I could not but in honor visitt him. Hee replied I was veary wellcome, and Asked me many questions of the King, to which I replied as I thought fitt. But standing in that manner belowe, I demanded lycence to Come vp and stand by him. Hee answered : if the King of Persia, or the great Turke wher ther, it might not be admitted. I replyed that I must be excused, for I doubted not he would come downe and meete them at his gate, but I desiered noe more priuiledg then the Ambassadors off such Princes had, to whom I held myself equale. He protested I had that, and should in all things.
5.3.7
Then I demanded a Chaier, but I was answered noe man euer satt in that place ; but I was desiered as a Curtesye to ease myselfe against a Pillor covered aboue with siluer, that held vp his Cannapie. Then I moved him for his fauour for an English factory to be resident in the Towne, which he willingly granted and gaue present order to the Buxji to drawe a firma, both for their Comming vp and for their residence. I alsoe desiered his authoritye for Carriadges for the Kings Presents, which he gaue in Chardge to the Cuttwall. Then I gaue him my presents, which hee tooke in good part; and after some other Questions, he said: to giue me Content, although I might not Come vp wher hee satt, hee would goe into another Place, wher I should Come vnto him. But one of my presents was a Case of bottles, which tooke him vp by the way; and after I had stayed a while I hard hee was drunck, and one of his officers came to me in his name with an excuse, desiering me to goe home and to take some other tyme to returne to visitt him. This night I tooke my feevor. Nouember 19. — I sent to the Chan Channa a smale Present, but would not visitt him (expecting it from him) nor vtterly disrespect him in regard of our factory. He receiued it with great Curtesie and promised all frendship to the English. This night Master Boughton sickened.
5.3.8
Nouember 20-24. — Being veary sick, I intended nothing but to gett the firma promised and Carriadges to be gone from thence, wher in the one the Buxy and in the other the Cutwally did most manifestly abuse me, and I could find noe reamedye. In this tyme the Prince, taking knowledg of my sicknes, sent one day his swoord bearer and another day his Chamberline to visitt me, to whom I Complayned, and had promises to noe effect.