The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 6.1
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 6.1
- Language
- English
6.1.1
{AddL MS. 6115, f. 60.) Brampore, 24 November, 1615. What hath passed in my journy by sea to Suratt, wher by Godes mercy I arriued the 20th of September with your whole fleete in safety and extraordinary health, I hope you expect no more from me then I could collect by Circumstances and the outward face of what was resolued in Councell, to all which I was a stranger, no man euer acquaynting me with any proposition or conclusion. For outward things, our course, my opinion, and such like, I refer you to a journall sent herewith, which I pray accept in good part ; and though it be long, and I, as you suppose, a young marriner, yet you shall fynd some Cautions very necessary for you. What Course I tooke at my landing the journall will relate, and how euery day was spent at Suratt ; in this lettre you may expect nothing but my poore councell and judgment of this trade, and the managing therof ; wherin it seemes to me you neuer haue had any true enformation. First, for liberty of your people, I found them all in absolute seruitude, so as no priuat man, much lesse a nation, could endure. And though, when ther was no busines (as at our Comming) it seemd not so tyrannous, and that the former Gouernors were somewhat better, yet I haue enformed myselfe off all and it was euer seruile and base, since Captain Best had a ship vnder his Lee.
6.1.2
And take this generall rule : It is the Custome to Change the Gouernors here euery yeare, and some tyme the rule of the Prouince (as now it belongs to the Prince) ; that new humors must be dayly fedd ; and presents are here expected as due as the Kings customes, and not such as you will send but as they will choose. Besides, vnlesse the peace may be made with the Portugall (which I haue endeauored), the Roade is vnsafe at Swally, and you must alway maynteyne a fleete four monthes for the safety of one ship. By water in boates ther is no possibility to transport your goodes, the riuer beeing vnder Command of the frigatts and to carry them 12 mile by land is an infinite Chardge, trouble and decay of many things. Soe that, to Conclud, if a better could be procurd, Suratt is no residence for your factory ; or, if it must be, you must send a Pinnace of 80 tunns with 12 Peices, that may goe over the barr of Suratt and Carry your owne goodes to the Key, safe from frigatts and other dangers. Your goodes, when it is Come in Cartes, lyes ten or twelue dayes at the water side before leaue cann be obtayned for boates to transport them. I entend for better securitye to motion the giuing you an ould towne called Maladafar into which your ships may come with six fadome water and anchor vnder the forte, yea, they may harbor at all tymes in a storme and ride without the woormes as smooth as in Theames
6.1.3
A truce, rather then a Peace, with the Mogull is newly procured by the Portugall payeing three leeks of Rupias for the ship taken, and licence to goe to the Red Sea signed. This newes I mett on the way; a Moore comming from Court with 300 followers sent to Meca, going to Suratt to take shipping, where three shippes haue order to make ready this yeare without theyr ancient tribute to the Portugall. He had store of Indico with him. I demanded what Conditions concerning the english this peace did Conteyne. An Armenian Christian merchaunt tould me the Mogull had answered he could not put out the english, beeing powerfull at sea, but he lefte it to the Portugalls to doe what they pleased and to endure likewise theyr fortune. So that the warr is left open for both at sea, and wee must woorke and stand vpon our owne safety. The Portugall mannaginge this peace bought presently as much Indico as laded 180 bullocks and are now comming downe with yt. . . . . . . . All your goodes come by land long journyes at your chardg, both for Carts, Peons, Guardes and such trach ; wheras I suppose some residence may be had vpon some riuer that may ease most of yt . . According to such relations as I haue gotten, the River of Syndu were most comodious of all others, to which from Labor any thing may passe by water ; besides, the Cuntry is more healthy and plentiffull in Indico and Comodytyes fitt for England then these parts, the Portugall having great ladings yearly from thence.
6.1.4
Further, if you may procure the Port Jasques in Persia, the places are neighboring and a Countenance one to a nother ; or, if not, yet many Comodytyes of Persia will there be found, by reason the riuer comes from far within land, navigable with boates, and is truely the mouth of the famous Indus, and not that discribed by Cosmographers faling into the Baye of Cambaya. And since I am fallen vpon Persia, breefly ther is no such place for the benefitt of our Nation to settle a trade for venting cloth and buying silke, and for good justice toward all men. And if no greate quantety at first (beeing the south parts) will away, wherby you may returne from thence one ship: yet it may be taken in the way, and what you vent may be sould for silkes (which are very vendible here) or ready mony, wherby these parts may be furnished and the exportation of monyes saued from England. Somewhat hath beene done in this, but to no great purpose, because all the hopes giuen were before the returne of Sir Robert Sheirly. Since two Merchants haue beene dispatched to Court. . . . . I purpose to send to Hispan with all expedition, as well to enforme my selfe off all possibilitye as to procure your securytye and welcome to Cape Jasques, if you please to accept yt ;
6.1.5
and after, if I may receiue a Commission from his Majestie, by your procurement, to treat farthar with him, or to goe to his Court and meete your shipping at Cape Jasques, I doubt not to settle you such a meanes for vent of Cloth as you shall well esteeme of yt. Ther passeth yearly Carauans from Agra to Cambalu, which stands in a could part and may also vent much cloth for mony, the Cuntrye beeing exceeding rich and the Court near the Sea, vpon a nauigable river ; and seeing you send to Japan, it is not many dayes wyde of it. I entend to procure the Mogull to write in our behalfe and to know if he wilbe pleased to giue you leaue to send a shipes lading of Cloth yearly vnto him . . . .
6.1.6
The Presentes you haue this yeare sent are extreamly despised by those who haue seene them ; the lyning of the Coach and Couer of the Virginalls scorned, beeing veluett of these parts and faded to a base Tawny ; the Kniues little and meane, soe that I am enforced to new furnish the Case of my owne store ; . . . . the burning glasses and prospectiues such as no man hath face to offer to giue, much less to sell, such as I can buy for sixe peence a peice; your Pictures not all woorth one Penny, and finally such error in the chooyce of all things, as I thincke no man euer heard of the Place that was of Councell. Here are nothing esteemed but of the best sorts : good Cloth and fine, and rich Pictures, they comming out of Italy ouerland and from Ormus ; soe that they laugh at vs for such as wee bring. And doubtlesse they vnderstand them as well as wee; and what they want in knowledge they are enformed by the Jesuites and others, that in Emulation of vs prouide them of the best at any rates.
6.1.7
. . . . I can say little of the estate of your busines ; only it is kept in the brest of some few men, and your jelousy to giue mee any authorytye of your busines or factors hath disabled me to looke into many things that should haue redounded to your profitt. I know not what suspect you had that I would eyther abuse them or your stocke ; but you were deceiued to my great ease and your owne disaduantage, It beeing so diuuldged here (as I thincke, by your expresse command, or for some other vayne end) that I haue nothing to doe with the merchants nor their busines, nor that they neede make mee no account of any thing ; wherby if I but fynd just fault or giue honest councell, the meanest can say it concerns not mee, I haue not to doe with them. ... If the Generall keepe not good eyes (which I doubt not, he beeing euery way a very able man) you shalbe sufficiently abused in priuat trade ; for this I know, that many of the meanest, and vnder the degrees of factors, brought ashore 100/1., 80/1., and few vnder 50/1., which went liberally for Callicoes. . . .