The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 52.2
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 52.2
- Language
- English
52.2.1
To the sixt, it was fully agreed vnto. To the seuuenth, it was [a]greed vnto. To the eight, it was agreed vnto that in causes of difference among ourselues it should wholy bee referred to the English; hut in case the controuersie were with More or Gentile, it should bee referred to the Governor or officers proper to doe justice. But to deliuer vp any english that fled, it was refused, vpon pretence if they turned moore they could not refuse them protection ; to which I replyed that wee would neuer consent that any should leaue his fayth, for under that coulor they might robb vs of all our goods. After much contention it was yeilded vnto, because I utterly refused all if that libertye were left to any ill-mynded person. To the ninth, it was fully agreed vnto. To the 10, it was agreed vnto, the presents beeing opened and scene, that vnder coulor of them the Prince should not bee deceiued of his rights, and, sealed, should bee deliuered to the English. But they added that if the sayd pretended presents were not giuen, that then in future tymes they should eyther pay custome or not bee deliuered to the English ; which, though most base, and in our power to giue any or none, I consented too ; but especially because ells I could haue nothing, for these presents trouble all our busines. To the 11, it was agreed vnto.
52.2.2
Hauing thus gotten what I could, a draught was made to this effect and giuen to the Secretarie writer of firmans to bee digested into forme, and was sealed and sent vnto mee. But comming to reade yt, I found prohibition to land with any sort of armes, nor no english in Suratt to weare swoord, dagger, or other weapon but a knife, my selfe only excepted and nine that I would nominate as my seruants, and in all other poynts with the like falshood and show of wicked cunning malice, not once mentioning free trade nor libertye vpon the way to pass without exactions, nor any other poynt faythfully sett downe according to meaning and good intention, but mixed with exceptions and Cauills to bring us into more danger and trouble. I had taken Leaue of Kyng and Prince and could not come to complayne without leaue, and they would also know or feare my intention that should aske yt, and so hynder mee. Whervpon I sent backe the firmaen, vtterly refusing it, and withall these reasons ensuing : First, that for this vnwoorthy suspition of our ill intents to disarme us utterly, it was a signe of no frendship, good meaning, nor fauour toward us, and for no respect I would take any so disho[no]rable conditions, but keepe our armes and vse them agaynst our enemies or any that should wrong us.
52.2.3
Neyther could I see the face of my soueraygne lord the Kyng of England and report to him I had made peace with the Ghehangier, who had giuen us full libertye of trade, and to that effect had written his lettres, and at the same instance bee contradicted by an vnder treaty with the Prince, for that one of these must needes seeme false and counterfayt; and the later most vnjust and such as our enemies could show no more malice; that eyther wee would be frends as wee ought to bee, or enemies declared. How could I command my countrimen to draw their swoords in defence of the Kyngs and Princes ships at sea, which I had promised, when the Prince will not suffer them to weare their armes for their owne defence ? That my Nation were men and reguardfull of their honor, and would neuer obey mee that had so neglected them, nor doe any seruice for them that so mistrusted and disgraced them. That in the tymes of peace with the Portugalls they neuer demanded nor offered any such condition ; nor yet did command the like vnto the Hollanders, who were crept in and offered no seruice nor assistance to the Kyng, and who in all parts sought to gett footing and to build forts, as was experienced in Mesolapatan, Belligate, the Moluccaes and other places, but that the English neuer desired nor needed any such retraicts, but came in peace to traficque in all these parts as merchants vnder the protection of the Kyngs or lords of the same.
52.2.4
That hereby wee were exposed vnto the power of all theeues and Robbers on the wayes ; wee passing yearly to Amadauaz and other parts with great summes of mony and Goods, could not keepe them, in a Countrie so ill gouerned, with kniues ; and that it was an infinite shame and scorne to the Prince to feare that a few men could surprise or take so populous a cytty as Suratt, and build forts in an hower, especially wee hauing many pledges of our fayth and good meaning in so many parts of Indya by the residence of our people and goods, one of whose liues wee would not loose for 1000 moors. Lastly, that all other poynts agreed vnto were left out or falsifyed utterly, which demonstrated ill meaning toward us ; and that it was more honorable to deale clearly and to prohibitt us all trade, giuing us license to depart ; which now I only desired, and I would soone contract our people, or settle them in Goga and Cambaya, vnder the Protection of the Kyng, whose gratious grants were to us sufficient securitie and vnder whom wee were assured to liue in safety ; for vpon no tearmes I would eyther accept this firman or stay in the port of Suratt, nor goe downe to yt, but seeke another way to ship my selfe, and after to doe that which was reason ; recalling the promise and woord I had giuen before the Kyng, and did make protestation that I was guiltless of all the euill that might succeed by this unfaythfull dealing.
52.2.5
To this I added a commission sent to the next fleete to disarme all the shipps and frigatts of the Princes ports (as appears by the Coppy), which I translated into Persian and sent with these former reasons and protestations to the Princes officers and the Originall to Suratt to bee published there ; and Xtiifirmaen and all these in the Hands of Afzulchan. A day after, new consultation was called ; and in the night I was sent for and had lardge dispute vpon all particulars, pronouncing that, if any woord were written of disarming us, I would refuse it and if all the mentioned conditions were not clearly granted I would proceed according to the declaration made. At last Afzull chan freely confessed the truth, that the firmaen was written with no good meaning, showing their feares more at lardge ; and wee came to agreement that the clause of disarming should bee left out on their parts, but that I should couenant that our people should not land in Hostile manner to annoy the peace, and many other articles which appears by my contract giuen ; which was vrdged in respect of the Ann in the red Sea, who had well followed directions, and was the only cause which drew these to agreement, showing them the way to seeke justice.
52.2.6
Vpon my agreement and Couenant to which articles demanded on their part, and after many Intricate and perplexed disputes, a new draught was made of all my demands, and anew agreed vnto, with promise that, now they had receiued satisfaction by my reasons and opening the course of our trade and intents, they would satisfy the Prince and procure confirmation with loyall and true meaning, and that, all jealousies layd aside and forgotten on both parts, wee should liue in full quiett and peace and bee receiued as frends, and justice done in all our occasions ; with many protestations of fayth and complements, not to bee hoped after in performance. The next day, Afzull chan sent to mee that he had acquaynted the Prince at lardge with this Conference and the Contract on my part, which had giuen him satisfaction, and that he had commanded to giue me a firmaen according to my desire, and professed fayth and good obseruance in all poynts ; desired that I would make ready that on my part vnder my seale ; and to show his true dealing had therwith sent me a draught of the new firmaen, which the Prince had yeilded too, with a warrant sealed to the Secretarie to pass it accordingly : and that now I might bee assured of good meaning. And it was the first tyme that euer I could gett sight of anay firmaen before it was passd, they alwayes giuing what they please.
52.2.7
I caused this draft to bee translated, and found it according to promise, effectuall in most poynts according to their formes and stile, and no materiall thing left out, and written clearly and rightly, only some clause inserted, not much to purpose, for which I was not willing to haue a new brawle, and the Prince gone. I tooke one coppy and sent the other to the Secretarie with warrant to pass yt.