We also stopped a bark laden with rice from Bassare,
belonging to the Portuguese, out of which we took twelve or fourteen
quintals of rice, for which we paid at the rate of thirteen-pence the
quintal. When I had taken possession of the Guzerat ship, I wrote to the
chiefs of Surat, requiring them to send me all my men, together with the
value of the goods I had landed; on which I should deliver up their ship
and people, allowing them till the 5th of October to give me an answer;
at which time, if I had not a satisfactory answer, I declared my
determination to dispose of the ship and her goods at my pleasure. There
were some 400 or 450 men aboard that ship, ten of the chiefest among
whom I brought into my ship, to serve as hostages.
On the 6th October, Medi Joffer came aboard my ship, accompanied by
four chiefs and many others, bringing me a great present, and came to
establish trade with us, and to solicit the release of the Guzerat ship.
On the 10th I left the bar of Surat, and came to Swally roads, where I
anchored in eight fathoms at high water. This road-stead is ten or
twelve miles north from the bar of Surat. The 17th, the governor of
Aamadavar [Ahmedabad] came to the water side. I landed on the 19th,
having four principal persons sent aboard my ship, as pledges for my
safety. On the 21st I concluded upon articles of agreement with the
governor and merchants, of which the tenor follows:
"Articles agreed upon, and sealed, by the governor of Ahmedabad, the
governor of Surat, and four principal merchants; and to be confirmed by
the firmaun and seal of the Great Mogul, within forty days from the date
and sealing hereof, or else to be void; for the settlement of trade and
factories in the cities of Surat, Cambaya, Ahmedabad, Goga, or in any
other part or parts of the dominions of the Great Mogul in this country.
Witnessed by their hands and seals, the 21st of October, 1612."
1. All that concerns Sir Henry Middleton is to be remitted, acquitted,
and cleared to us; so that they shall never make seizure, stoppage, or
stay of our goods, wares, or commodities, as satisfaction for the same.
2. They shall procure at their own proper cost, from the King or Great
Mogul, his grant and confirmation of all the articles of this agreement,
under the great seal of his government, and shall deliver the same to
us, for our security and certainty of perpetual amity, commerce, and
dealing, within forty days from the date and sealing hereof.
3. It shall be lawful for the king of England to keep his ambassador
continually at the court of the Great Mogul, during all the time of this
peace and trade, there to accommodate and conclude upon all such great
and weighty matters as may in any respect tend to disturb or break the
said peace.
4. At all times, on the arrival of any of our ships in the road of
Swally, proclamation shall be made in the city of Surat, during three
successive days, that all the people of the country shall be free to
come down to the shore, and there to have free trade, dealing, and
commerce with us.
5. That all English commodities shall pay custom, according to the
value or price they bear, at the time of entry at the custom-house,
after the rate of three 1/2 per cent. ad valorem.
6. All petty and pedlar ware to be free from duty, that does not exceed
the value of ten dollars.
7. The English are to have ten manu carried from the water side to
Surat for a manuda,[80] and at the same rate back; and are to be
furnished with carts on application to the moccadam of Swally for
sending to Surat, and at that place by a broker with carts downwards to
the sea side at Swally.
[Footnote 80: This unexplained rate of carriage was probably ten
manuda for one mahinoodic. - E.]
8. If any of our people die in the country, neither the king, the
governor, nor any inferior officer should pretend any title or claim to
any thing that had belonged to the deceased, neither should demand any
fees, taxes, or customs, upon the same.
9. In case all the men left in these parts should die before the return
of any of our ships, then some officer appointed for the purpose shall
make a true inventory and schedule of all monies, goods, jewels,
provisions, apparel, or other things, belonging to our nation, and shall
safely preserve and keep the same, to be delivered over to the general,
captain, or merchants of the first English ships that arrive afterwards,
from whom a regular receipt and discharge shall be given for the same.
10. That they shall guarantee all our men and goods on land, redeeming
all of both or either that may happen to be taken on the land by the
Portuguese; delivering both to us again free of all charges, or in lieu
thereof the full value of our said goods and men, and that without
delay.
11. Insomuch as there are rebels and disobedient subjects in all
kingdoms, so there may be some pirates and sea-rovers of our nation, who
may happen to come into these parts to rob or steal.
