Page 281 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

THE ENGLISH ON THE EAST COAST OF INDIA 281

as traitors to the King. In consequence, Clavell’s mission
was treated with contempt, Winter and his Council even
proceeding so far as to declare that his credentials were
forgeries.
Clearly nothing but force would break down the obstinate
determination of the Winter faction to cling to their
usurped powers. Accepting the inevitable, the Company
prepared an expedition of sufficient strength to make
resistance impossible. Five ships carrying out five com­
panies of soldiers and a Eoyal Commission with full powers
to reduce the rebel Government sailed for India at the end of
1667. A portion of the fleet anchored off Madras on May
21,1668. Two officials from shore who proceeded on board
were promptly made prisoners. Subsequently a demand
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was made by letter to Winter for the restoration of the
fort.
Winter now perceived that the end of his reign had come,
and when he had sought and obtained a guarantee for his
personal safety and the protection of his property, he handed

■1 over the government. Thereafter, George Foxcroft was
reinstalled in the Agency with all his old powers pending the
decision of the Privy Council to which the whole matter
had been referred. The order which ultimately emanated
from this high authority was that Nathaniel Foxcroft should
be sent home and that George Foxcroft should remain for
another year at the head of the Government. Winter,
it was further directed, should be permitted to stay on
for a short time to arrange his affairs and should in the mean­
time be treated with respect. Finally, a Commission, with
Sir William Langhorne at its head, was appointed to investi­
gate the whole transaction and take evidence on the spot.
Langhorne’s commission only led to a further complica-

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