________________
222
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1903.
Jearsey. When safely back at Peddapalle, he wrote a long, involved and querulous reply to the document of the 6th August :
"Mr. Salusbury's Generall to Metehlepatam, dated in Pettepoline, the 10th August 1666.
Mr. William Jearsey Sca., Respected Friends, The Reasons I have given noe reply to your paper of the 6th instant untill now are two, better consideration being of concernment, and opportunity, as on my Journy, which had not till my arrivall to the place last night.
My paper delivered you the day of your date acknowledged what you express, my goeing to Tanassaree, which now you say I decline under pretence of the Dutch Warr and Short warning, which was not soe much pretence as Reallity, being the same expressed by word of mouth before ; and as in that paper of mine you mention you never yet propounded any conveyance nor proposed any condition, therefore did not esteeme it other then by way of discourse, a thing not really intended, and therefore replyed would give you my Answer in two or three days, and after did not regard it, you haveing eight months agone propounded the same and not till of late dayes made mention of it againe, therefore bad little regard to your Second proposall, concluding it would be buried in oblivion with the former and not prosecuted nor observed more ; The ty me to provide being, as you say, near one month, I looke not as Sufficient for such a voyage, and to take passage on a Moores Jounck to that or any other place (unless compelled) should not of my own accord. Had your result gone along with your discourse soe long since as you speake of, there might have been conveyance of the Companys. Tis not usuall to give a Person a Commission before there is a certainty of proceeding, and very few that will promise or engage untill the conditions concluded on, and therefore that I have not resolved, you cannot impate my fault. I conclude with you I was to goe as the Companys Servant to secure what belongs to them, as alsoe what I could of Sir Edwards. The former is very legall and necessary, the Latter I will not dispute, and if my endeavours with not accomplish either, they will bee acceptable and blameless, but you never promised engagement to Secure mee Soe to the Company and Sir Edward in case of future troubles Should I prove an unprofitable Servant and retarne only with an account of charges, which conclude you have some Suspicion will prove noe better, therefor you Say you will send noe estate of the Companys, and whome you will find to expend his owne on this account shall bee glad to heare, or that you Informe how it can bee done without a considerable charge.
As you understand that Sir Edward did upon his owne humour turne mee out of Service without the consent of any body elce, you alsoe know I have bin e rer ready and willing to accept the Companya Imployment and have not removed from this place in expectation of a Settlement according as concluded on by Mr Backeridge and yoar Selves, and Since promised many times by you, although at first opposed by Sir Edward, yet after the arrivall of the Worshipfall Agent Foxcroft his power was voyde as to the Companys Servants, and since the Agent his Imprisonment the power hath laine onely in you to order the Companys affairs in these parts. I conceive you might as well have answered my Settlement to the Company as you can the continuance of a person in imployment established without your knowledge and consent by Sir Edward Winter, which may cause a conjectore or Suspicion by strangers and noe good opinion by the Company, but since you approve it I submitt and am content.
My opinion was always setled and coustant to doe the honoble. Company Service and will not say I have bin much slighted, onely this, that haveing bin called to engage myselfe with you in matters of greatest concernment in behalfe of the Honoble. Company, the Agent, &ca., concluded I might have bin accepted off and acquainted with matters of less moment, and that is the reason that I have not of late desired to acquainte my selle with either.