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tor; George Pley, third; Ed- dealings with him down to the ward Pettice, fourth; William taking of Ormuz. He figures Tracy, fifth; and Robert Gipps in their letters as Duke of for a linguist. Of the others Shiraz, or as "the superthere is no need to speak, but eminent Duke in all the terriit is a part of the story that tories of Persia." The imBarker was one who can be portant fact was that he was accurately described only as a Governor of Farsistan, and was blatant cad, spiteful, insolent, much trusted by Shah Abbas. and utterly without scruple in As it was the Shah's policy lying or thieving. And Con- to make use of the English as nock was to make that dis- purchasers of his silk, and also covery to his cost. as sticks wherewith to beat the Portuguese, Connock found favour with Imam Kouli. He was helped on his way to Ispahan. Two junior factors were left to look after the goods at Jask. Barker was established at Shiraz, and Connock pushed on to Ispahan. Beggarly as the country round Jask visibly was, Connock was as hopeful as ever, firmly persuaded that Bunder Abbas (he used the old name Gombroon), Shiraz, and Ispahan were "exceeding great, populous, and wealthy." Even personal experience of the five hundred and fifty miles of rough travel between Jask and Ispahan ; of the heat by day and the cold by night; of the mountains and, what was far worse, the ever-present danger from Lar and Beluch raiders, could not diminish his faith in the value of the new traderoute.

The James (Captain Doughty), which carried them and their goods, anchored on 24th December 1616 at Jask (or Jashek), a port lying some seventy-five miles to the east of Bunder Abbas. It is a poorish haven, but it had the advantage of not being too near Ormuz. A prize had been taken on the way, for the Company's men were now capturing ships from the Portuguese wherever they found them, in retaliation for the attacks made on themselves, and to secure reparations. They knew well that the Portuguese at Ormuz would deal with them in the same fashion. A day's experience was enough to show them that Jask was a wretched fishing village lying a mile back from the shore. The whole country round was poor by nature, and had been desolated when it was conquered from the protected " King of Ormuz a few years back by the General of Shah Abbas, whom we knew as Emanguolique, or a similar corruption of his true name, Imam Kouli Khan. The Company's men were to have many

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He had not been long at Ispahan before he was told of troubles he had clearly not foreseen. Nothing need be said of the deliberate delays of Barker in forwarding the presents for the Shah from Shiraz, of his insolence, his impudent

for many reasons alleged, but principally for these here registered; that in regard his Lordship in other particulars of his said letter is far transported (in error of opinion) concerning merchandising and merchants' affairs in these parts, makes us assured that he is no less transported from, and concerning, this Persian employment, assuring ourselves it is the great devotion and zeal of his Lordship to the benefit of the Honourable Company (without relation had or at least to him known of the necessity of our trade) that truth, and now doth altogether guide him both in the past and in this at present; but more especially it was thought expedient that in a matter of this consequence we the then assembled merchants (being in this place the prime and supposed ablest servants of our worthy masters) should be all present, which not without much inconvenience could so fitly be done in after times, being some of us here to be dispersed into other factories for assistance of the common service, there to remain till the end of these our ships' despatches."

When the factors at Surat had resolved to begin, they had something even more pressing to provide for than the selection of the goods to be chosen for sale and as samples. They had to pick the men who were to form the factory about to be set up at Ispahan. Small choice was offered them, and probably they could have done

no better than they did. Indeed, if the purpose was to set the undertaking well going, they could hardly have found a better head for their mission than the man they appointed. Edward Connock (or Connok, or, once at least, Connaught) had come out with General Joseph, and had taken his part in the fight with the carrack, though he disapproved strongly of the attack. It was alleged by his enemies, who were malicious and active, that he was 'a Papist." As he did avow himself a Roman Catholic on his deathbed, it is clear that he must have practised an "occasional conformity " of his own, as, indeed, did many gentlemen of more distinction than Connock in that age. But Papist or no Papist, he was loyal to the Company, and was far less dishonest in the pursuit of his own advantage by private trade than some of those who abused him. His great merit was his invincible hopefulness. However bad the prospect might be, however hard his case for the time being, however miserable and unfit for trade the country about him, so long as health and life lasted, Connock never let go of the faith that the Happy Valley lay a day's ride ahead, or three at the very outside. Now, when there is a Happy Valley to get to, this is the kind of man who is most likely to get there.

His whole mission, himself included, amounted to six: Thomas Barker, as second fac

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tor; George Pley, third; Ed- dealings with him down to the ward Pettice, fourth; William taking of Ormuz. He figures Tracy, fifth; and Robert Gipps for a linguist. Of the others there is no need to speak, but it is a part of the story that Barker was one who can be accurately described only as a blatant cad, spiteful, insolent, and utterly without scruple in lying or thieving. And Connock was to make that discovery to his cost.

The James (Captain Doughty), which carried them and their goods, anchored on 24th December 1616 at Jask (or Jashek), a port lying some seventy-five miles to the east of Bunder Abbas. It is a poorish haven, but it had the advantage of not being too near Ormuz. A prize had been taken on the way, for the Company's men were now capturing ships from the Portuguese wherever they found them, in retaliation for the attacks made on themselves, and to secure reparations. They knew well that the Portuguese at Ormuz would deal with them in the same fashion. A day's experience was enough to show them that Jask was a wretched fishing village lying a mile back from the shore. The whole country round was poor by nature, and had been desolated when it was

conquered from the "protected King of Ormuz a few years back by the General of Shah Abbas, whom we knew as Emanguolique, or a similar corruption of his true name, Imam Kouli Khan. The Company's men were to have many

in their letters as Duke of Shiraz, or as "the supereminent Duke in all the territories of Persia." The important fact was that he was Governor of Farsistan, and was much trusted by Shah Abbas. As it was the Shah's policy to make use of the English as purchasers of his silk, and also as sticks wherewith to beat the Portuguese, Connock found favour with Imam Kouli. He was helped on his way to Ispahan. Two junior factors were left to look after the goods at Jask. Barker was established at Shiraz, and Connock pushed on to Ispahan. Beggarly as the country round Jask visibly was, Connock was as hopeful as ever, firmly persuaded that Bunder Abbas (he used the old name Gombroon), Shiraz, and Ispahan were "exceeding great, populous, and wealthy.' personal experience of the five hundred and fifty miles of rough travel between Jask and Ispahan; of the heat by day and the cold by night; of the mountains and, what was far worse, the ever-present danger from Lar and Beluch raiders, could not diminish his faith in the value of the new traderoute.

Even

He had not been long at Ispahan before he was told of troubles he had clearly not foreseen. Nothing need be said of the deliberate delays of Barker in forwarding the presents for the Shah from Shiraz, of his insolence, his impudent

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frauds, and his malicious tale- the camp of Shah Abbas, on bearing-save that there they were, and that they went on. But at Ispahan he had a freer talk with Robbins the jeweller, and learnt that it was dangerous to approach the Shah, who was a daily cutter-off of heads. Robbins began by refusing to go near him without his express permission. This great ruler, according to Asiatic ideas, was extremely suspicious. was willing to act favourably to the English, and had given them a permit to trade, but he was touchy about his dignity, and might resent being approached by a mere trading agent. Connock had, and could have, no commission. He carried with him, as a matter of course, one of those letters of recommendation, which the king gave in blank to the Company to be distributed to their agents after filling in the name of the prince they wished to approach. They were mere passports. Barker roused the anger of Sir Thomas Roe by telling him that Connock had represented this formal document as being a commission from King James to him as envoy. It was one of Barker's many lies. Connock, though naturally well inclined to make the most of himself, did no such thing. What he did was to infect Robbins with his own confidence. So soon as the presents had been reluctantly forwarded from Shiraz, the two set out on a long journey, a twenty-five days' march from Ispahan to

the frontier of Turkey. And
there Connock saw that most
formidable despot face to face.
An historian of oriental diplo-
macy would find some valuable
matter in the letters of Con-
nock, and of other factors who
came in contact with Shah
Abbas the Great. Whether
on the confines of the Turk or
at Ispahan, they discovered,
like all who have been set to
perform the same task, how
difficult it is
is to bring an
oriental ruler to a definite
engagement unless he can be
coerced; and then what a dex-
terity he has in slipping out
when he does appear to have
been subjected to coercion.
Abbas would make fine prom-
ises and confirm them by the
"word of a prince and the
sepulchres of his noble pro-
genitors." But as for keeping
his word, that was
as he
should see occasion. He was
convinced that all the Euro-
peans who came to his camp
or court were trying to
cozen him; and he was
not altogether wrong. There-
fore he set his wits against
theirs, and as neither the de-
cadent Portuguese nor the Eng-
lish Company could apply effec-
tive force, he had an unfair
advantage. Civility, fine words,
invitations to dinner he would
give freely, together with gifts
of game. He expected presents
on a large scale, and got them.
The Company poured rolls of
cloth, whole crates of Chinese
porcelain, pet dogs for his
ladies and hunting dogs for

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and endeavoured to sell at a large profit. Capitalists who were found to be in possession of more wealth than a private trader ought to have were butchered and robbed. Of course the only possible result followed. Commerce was ruined.

Nobody would buy

himself, arms and armour, and ing at a price fixed by himself, likewise portraits of English ladies of fashion-Lady Salisbury and Lady Redman-out before him in profusion. The Asylum of the World took them all. He was not niggardly in making returns, being equally desirous to let the world see how eagerly foreign princes sought his favour, and how magnificent a lord he himself was. Behind all this parade lay certain hard realities. One of them was his own character. The English factors soon discovered that he was horribly cruel and unspeakably false. He reigned by sheer terror. But they were sure that whatever civil wars might break out after his death, he would be obeyed while he lived. Not even dukes" who joined his army in the field with a following of sixteen thousand horse would dare to fail him. And withal he gave the world assurance of a man. His difficulties, and the dangers which beset him on all hands, were great, but he met them stoutly and astutely. Valour and wisdom are never daunted, and neither is the king-was the considered verdict of the factors.

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There were other realities not to be overlooked. Turkish wars had suspended all the caravan trade to Syria, and with it the Shah's revenue from customs. He had fallen back on a resource which we cannot now call old, for it has been tried by the Bolsheviks. He laid hands on all the trade of his kingdom, pay

or sell except in a peddling way to meet daily needs. In such conditions the Company's investments could not turn out well. It got very little back for the £50,000 of goods and money sent into Persia in 1618. Disease came down on its factories. The toll of English lives taken by the climate of the East was ever high in those times, and Persia was no exception. Connock died, and Barker followed him, so did others, till not a factor was left at Ispahan who could do a day's work. It began to look as if the whole Persian adventure was a disastrous failure.

Yet something had been gained. Shah Abbas had been persuaded that the English were the people who could help him to gain his heart's desire the expulsion of the Portuguese from Ormuz. While many futilities were happening in camp and court, a series of events, each small in itself but collectively very significant to the Shah, had been taking place on the waters of Oman. The English, sailing from Jask, had been capturing Portuguese prizes one after another.

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