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SIVAJI'S RAID UPON SURAT IN 1664.
to L'Escaliot's friend, the celebrated Dr. (afterwards Sir Thomas) Browne, who caused it to be copied into one of his note-books, now in the British Museum (Sloane MSS. No. 1861). This transcript was published in 1836 by Simon Wilkin in his edition of Browne's works2; and the portion relating to Sivaji's raid is here extracted, following, however, the Sloane MS., as Wilkin's version contains several inaccuracies. It must be borne in mind that the MS. itself is only a copy, and occasional errors are to be expected.
DECEMBER, 1921]
313
Thus farr, deare Bro[ther], I had wrote on Tuesday, the 5 of January, about ten in the morning, when on a suddan a strong alarme was brought to our house from the towne, with news that Seva-Gee, Raya or principall governour (for such assume not the name of kings to themselves, but yet endeavour to bee as absolute, each in his province, as his sword can make him), was coming downe with an army of an uncertaine number upon Surat to pillage the citty; wich newes strooke no small consternation into the mindes of a weake and efcmi. nate people, in soe much that on all hands there was nothing to bee seene but people flying for their lives and lamenting the loss of their estates. The richer sort, whose stocke of mony was large enough to purchase that favour at the hands of the Governour of the Castle, made that their sanctuary and abandoned their dwellings to a merciless foe; wich thay might well enough have defended, with the rest of the towne, had thay had the heartes of men.
The same day a post coms in and tells them that the army was come within tenne course or English miles and made all hast forward; wich put the cowardly and unfaithfull Governour of the towne to send a servant to Sevagee to treat of some conditions of ransome. But Seva-Gee retaines the mesenger and marches forewards with all speed, and that night loged his camp about 5 miles English from the citty; and the Governour perceiveing well that his mesenger returned not again and that Seva-Gee did not intend to treat at that distance, he craves admission into the Castle and obtaineth it, and soe deserted his towne.
The citty of Surat is the only port on this side India wich belongs to the Mogol, and stands upon a river commodious enough to admitt vessells of 1000 tun 7 milles up; at wich distance from the sea there stands a reasonable strong castle, well manned and haveing great store of good guns mounted for the securing of the river. At a convenient distance on the north, east, and south sides of this castle is the citty of Surrat, built of a large extent and very popelus, rich in marchandise, as being the mart for the great empire of the Mogol, but ill contrived into narrow lanes and without any forme; and for buildings consists partly of wood; the maine
partly of brik (see the houses of the richer sort),
Wilkin concluded that the letter was actually addressed to Browne, and his statement to that effect has been accepted by subsequent writers. This is wrong. L'Escaliot addresses his correspondent as 'deare bro.' and 'bro.' Wilkin boldly printed the first as 'deare Browne', though he did not venture to extend the second reference in the same manner. Clearly, however, 'brother' was intended, and we know that L'Escaliot was not related in this manner to any of the Browne family. Sir Thomas refers to him merely as my worthy loving freind'. After the chaplain's death, the Company made over his effect to a George L'Escaliot, and this may well have been the correspondent in question.
