As I haue beene euer an enemie to the Portugals, so doe I purpose to continue for euer: I doe hereby faithfully promise to be and continue a friend to the English, and my Successors after mee: to endeauour the taking in of the Fort of Cranganor, and to possesse the English thereof, as their owne, with the Iland thereof, which is in length on the Sea-coast nine miles, and in breadth three.
Prouided, that I purpose to build therein a house for some of my owne people, to the number of one hun∣dred persons.
I will also endeauour, with the ayde of the English, hereafter to take in the Fort and Towne of Co∣chin, belonging formerly to my Crowne and Kingdome, and then to deliuer it into the possession of the English, as their owne proper lands and possessions: Prouided, that the charge of the surprize be equally borne, the one halfe by my selfe, the other by the English Nation: and the benefit of the spoyles thereof, in whatsoeuer qualitie, the one halfe to belong to me, the other halfe to the English Nation. [ 10]
The Samorine to haue no right, title or interest in the aforesaid Towne, Precincts, or appurtenances of Cochin at all.
And the Samorine doth also couenant for himselfe, his Heires and Success••rs, that the whole Trade of the English, in whatsoeuer commodities brought in, or carryed out, shall pay, yeeld or allow no manner of custome, imposition, taxe, toll, or any other duty of whatsoeuer qualitie.
And to these Couenants, which the shortnesse of time did not permit to amplifie: I the Samorine haue religiously sworne by the great God I serue, to performe accordingly, and that not only for my selfe, but for my Successours after me: and in witnesse hereof, haue laid my hand vpon this writing.
And the said William Keeling doth promise to acquaint the Kings Maiestie with the premisses, and to endeauour his Maiesties vndertaking thereof accordingly. [ 20]
A Stocke was made, as the State present permitted, and three Factors appo••••ted, George Wool∣man chiefe, Peter Needham, one of the Generalls seruants, second; my selfe (Roger Hawes) third, Edward Peake, a Youth attendant, and to learne the language; and Iohn Stamford a Gunner, to assist the Samorine, if need required in his warres. On the tenth, the ships departed, leauing vs in a shrambe at the waters side, with our goods and a Present for the Samorine, where wee con∣tinued till the thirteenth, at which time the last of our goods were carryed to the Samorines Ca∣stle: whom thus possessed of our goods, we much suspected.
On the twentieth, hee would needs see Master Woollmans Trunke, supposing wee had store of money (Needham had told him wee had fiue hundred Ryalls of eight) and finding little aboue [ 30] fiftie Ryalls, he would needs borrow fifty, which wee could not deny him, and offered a pawne not worth halfe, which we refused to take, hoping after this money lent: hee would permit vs to depart for Calicut, but found delayes. He also vrged vs to giue his brother a Present.
On the eight and twentieth, he came vp into the Chamber where we were, and gaue Master Woollman two Gold-rings, and to euery of the rest one: and the next day called vs to the sight of his tumbling sports. The same night Stamford went out with his sword in his hand, telling the Boy hee would come againe presently, and the next newes we heard of him, was that hee was met with by the King of Cockins Nayros, hauing lost himselfe (being drunke) they demanded whither he would go, he said to the Samorines, whither they vndertooke to bring him, and hee knew not himselfe betrayed till he came at Cochin. This put vs in great feare, but the Samorine [ 40] gaue vs good words, saying, he had rather now find him a knaue, then when hee should haue put trust in him.
In Aprill, we got liberty to depart with our goods for Calicut, where the two and twentieth we arriued, and were kindly entertained: but were faine to stay in the Custome-house, till wee might get a more conuenient house, which was made ready for vs the sixt of May, with promise of a better after the Raines. Faine would we, according to the Generall his order, haue sent a messenger with his and our Letters to Surat, to acquaint our Countrimen with our being heere: but the Gouernour would not consent till wee had sold our goods, for their better en∣couragement.
On the eighteenth, one was sent. Part of the goods were sold by the Gouernours procure∣ment, [ 50] to the Merchants at Calicut, soone after on the six and twentieth, and faire promises of part of payment shortly; but it is not the custome of b••st or worst in this countrey, to be as good as their word, being certaine only in dissembling. Master Wo••llman was desirous to go to Nassapore to make sale▪ but the Gouernour put him off with diuers shifts from time to time.
The third of Iuly, the messenger sent for Surat ret••rned with reports, that being well on∣ward on his way, hee was set vpon, beaten, his money and Letters taken from him: amongst which was a letter of Generall Keeling to the next Gener••ll, which grieued vs, suspecting yet he was robbed with his owne consent, and of his honesty only. A Broker of Nassapore told Ma∣ster Needham that they were sold to the Portugalls; the Gouernour hearing of it, and hanging downe his head, as guilty therein. We sold goods heere to Merchants of Nassapore. [ 60]
The seuenteenth of August, Master Woollman dyed. Our promised money we could not get, and our Br••ker told vs, that some one of the debters would goe to the Gouernour, and with a bribe procure respite, the rest refusing till they paid all.
On the foure and twentieth, the Samorines sister sent vs word, shee would both cause them to