The Ambassage of Master Henry Roberts, one of the
sworne Esquires of her Majesties person, from her
highnesse to Mully Hamet Emperour of Marocco and
the King of Fesse, and Sus, in the yeere 1585: who
remained there as Liger
for the space of 3. yeeres.
Written briefly by himselfe.
UPON an incorporation granted to the Company of
Barbary Marchants resident in London, I Henry Roberts
one of her Majesties sworne Esquires of her person, was
appointed her highnesse messenger, and Agent unto the
aforesaid Mully Hamet Emperor of Marocco, king of
Fesse, and Sus. And after I had received my Commission, instructions, and her Majesties letters, I departed
from London the 14. of August in the yeere 1585. in
a tall ship called the Ascension, in the company of the
Minion and Hopewell
, and we all arrived in safetie at
Azafi a port of Barbary, the 14. of September next
following. The Alcaide of the towne (being the kings
officer there, and as it were Maior of the place)
received mee with all humanitie and honour, according to
the custome of the Countrey, lodging me in the chiefest
house of the towne, from whence I dispatched a messenger
(which in their language they call a Trottero) to advertise
the Emperour of my arrivall : who immediatly gave order,
and sent certaine souldiers for my guard and conduct,
and horses for my selfe, and mules for mine owne and
my companies carriages. Thus being accompanied with
M. Richard Evans, Edward Salcot, and other English
Marchants resident there in the Countrey, with my traine
of Moores and carriages, I came at length to the river
of Tensist, which is within foure miles of Marocco: and
there by the water side I pitched my tents under the
Olive trees: where I met with all the English Marchants
by themselves, and the French and Flemish, and divers
other Christians, which attended my comming. And
after we had dined, & spent out the heat of the day,
about foure of the clocke in the afternoone we all set
forward toward the Citie of Marocco, where we arrived
the said day, being the 14. of September, and I was
lodged by the Emperours appointment in a faire house
in the Judaria or Jurie, which is the place where the Jewes
have their abode, and is the fairest place, and quietest
lodging in all the Citie.
After I had reposed my selfe 3. dayes, I had accesse
to the kings presence, delivered my message and her
Majesties letters, and was received with all humanitie,
and had favourable audience from time to time for three
yeeres: during which space I abode there in his Court,
as her Majesties Agent and Ligier: and whensoever I
had occasion of businesse I was admitted either to his
Majestie himselfe, or to his vice Roy, whose name was
Alcayde Breme Saphiana, a very wise and discreet person,
and the chiefest about his Majestie. The particulers of
my service, for divers good and reasonable causes, I
forbeare here to put downe in writing.
After leave obtained, and an honourable reward
bestowed by the Emperour upon me, I departed from his
Court at Marocco the 18. of August 1588. toward a
garden of his, which is called Shersbonare, where he
promised mee I should stay but one day for his letters:
howbeit, upon some occasion I was stayed until the 14.
of September at the kings charges, with 40. or 50. shot
attending upon me for my guard and safetie.
From thence at length I was conducted with all things
necessary to the port of Santa Cruz, being sixe dayes
journey from Marocco, and the place where our shippes
do commonly take in their lading, where I arrived the 21.
of the same moneth. In this port I stayed 43. dayes, and
at length the second of November I embarqued my selfe,
and one Marshok Reiz a Captaine and a Gentleman,
which the Emperour sent with mee upon an Ambassage
to her Majestie: and after much torment and foule
weather at Sea, yet New-yeres day I came on land at
S. Ives in Cornwall
, from whence passing by land both
together up towards London, we were met without the
citie with the chiefest marchants of the Barbary Company,
well mounted all on horsebacke, to the number of 40. or
50. horse, and so the Ambassadour and my selfe being
both in
Coche, entred the citie by torchlight, on Sunday
at night the 12. of January 1589.