Page 117 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

ENGLISH AND PORTUGUESE RIVALRY 117

were openly antagonistic ; while in the background loomed
menacingly the Portuguese, who understood only too well
that the triumph of the English would presage the downfall
of their own power. In the circumstances, Middleton’s
departure seemed to close the entire chapter of English
endeavour in this region. But as has often happened in
the strange, eventful history of British domination in the
East, when the hour of national destiny was at its darkest
there was a dramatic transformation of the situation in a
favourable sense.
In this crisis in the affairs of the English at Surat the
determining factor was the arrival in Indian waters at the
close of 1612 of two of the Company’s ships, the Red Dragon
and the Osiander, commanded by Thomas Best. It was
an insignificant squadron, measured even by the standard
of that day. The Red Dragon's tonnage was only 600 and
the Osiander was a mere pinnace. Altogether, the crews
of these vessels did not exceed 250 in number. But if the
“ fleet ” was weak in numbers, it had the supreme advantage
of being commanded by a man of exceptional ability and
force of character, who was able to inspire the crews with
some of that spirit of lofty idealism which has done so much
in all times to build up the British Empire.
Best in his younger days had accompanied Frobisher
on his Arctic voyages, and by that experience had qualified
himself as a skilled navigator. He is revealed later as a
merchant of some standing residing in Batcliff and Lime-
house. The combination of mariner and trader doubtless
recommended him for the responsible position of commander
of the Red Dragon. Nor can we suppose that the Com­
pany’s directorate, in which there was a strong leaven of
Puritanism, was otherwise than favourably influenced by

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