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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 57

With these he took many Mognl sliips, made descents upon the
coast, and carried off much plunder from the ports behjnging
to the King of Beejapoor. Dechiring his intention to attack the
Portuguese at Bassein and Choul, he advanced rapidly npon
Surat with four thousand horse, and arrived within fifteen miles
of it on the 5th of January, 1664, before any tidings of his
movements had been received. On his approach, the Mogul
Governor left the town to its fate, and retired into the castle,
while the inhabitants fled either in boats, or into the surround-
ing country. In this emergency, Sir George Oxenden and the
Company's servants shut themselves up in the factory with their
property, being of the estimated value of ^£80,000, and, after
fortifying the building, called in the ships' crews for its defence,
while the grabs and galivats in the river took up positions
enabling them to act with effect. " When attacked," says Bruce,
" they niade a brave and obstinate resistance, and this opposition
not only preserved the factor}^ but the town from destruction."
On the arrival of the Mogul army, after the retreat of Sevajee,
Sir George Oxenden received the thanks of the Commander for
his fidelity and the gallantry of his men.
Horace Hayman Wilson, the historian, in referring to
Mill's meagre narrative of this event, says : — •' Scant jus-
tice is done to the Company's servants in this brief notice
of a conduct highly remarkable for cool and resolute courage.
Sevajee's approach to within fifteen miles of Surat was an-
nounced on the morning of the 5th of January, npon which the
Governor retired into the castle, and the inhabitants fled from
every part of the city except that adjacent to the factory. In
the evening the Mahrattas entered, and part blockaded the
castle, while the rest plundered and set fire to the houses.
During that night and the following day repeated demands and
njenaces were sent to the factory, l)ut they were all met with
terms of defiance."
" We replied to Sevajee," writes Sir George Oxenden in his
despatch to the Conrt, dated 2()th of January, 1664, "we were
here on purpose to maintain the house to the death of the
last man, and therefore not to delay his coming upon us."
It does not appear that any organized attack was made npon
the factory, but the Mahrattas assembled in considerable
numbers before it, and broke into an adjoining house. To
prevent their establishing themselves in a situation from which
they njight offer serious annoyance, a sally was made from the
factory, which had the effect of dislodging the assailants, and
putting them to flight with some loss and three men wounded
on the part of the English ; this success was followed up with
spirit, the plundered house was occupied, several sorties were
made, and pushed even to the gates of the castle, and the
neighbourhood, for about a quarter of a mile round, was cleared