Editing Streynsham Master (section)

== Tenure as Agent of Madras ==

=== Shivaji's Campaign ===

In August 1678, the Maratha Emperor [[Shivaji]] sent an army of 1,500 horse to capture [[Poonamallee]].  While the Maratha army camped near [[Kanchipuram]], news reached the Council at Fort St George by means of the company's spies that the Marathas intended to proceed upon Madras, Sadras and Pulicat. However, the information proved to be false as the Maratha troops immediately returned to the north from whence they came after the siege of Poonamallee.

=== Foundation of St Mary's Church ===

The foundations of St Mary's church, the oldest [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] church in Madras, were laid during the Agency of Streynsham Master. The [[Foundation (architecture)|foundation]] of the church was laid on [[Lady Day]], 1678. The construction of the church was completed in two and a half years and it opened on 28 October 1680.

=== Lingappa Naik's Demands ===

In August 1678 Lingappa Naik, the Naik of Poonamallee, demanded a large sum of money from the EIC. The company's merchant, Kasi Veeranna (Casa Verona), declined and sent him a harsh reply.  A month later, when Lingappa visited Kasi Veeranna to express his condolences on the death of the former's wife, he asked the latter the reason why the Agent had not sent anyone to receive. To this Kasi Veeranna delivered an extremely arrogant reply which left the Naik fuming with anger.

When Kasi Veeranna died in 1680, Lingappa sent a [[Havildar]] named Shakeel Ahmed to take over the settlement of Madras from the company. He was promptly arrested by the company's troops and dispatched across the frontier. Following this act by the English, Lingappa blockaded Madras and prevented goods and supplies from entering the settlement. He demanded that the English agree to pay him an annual tribute of 2,000 pagodas in order to lift the embargo. At one point of time, the situation became so serious that the Directors of the Council even contemplated the thought of moving the company's factory to [[Gingee]]. Neither food nor fuel could be obtained, and the inhabitants starved.

On 9 April 1681 Lieutenant Richardson was sent with fifty of the company's troops to Gingee. Richardson reached the village of Khandur and besieged the town. At about midnight, Richardson took the town and drove away the Polygar. The required amount of provisions were obtained and transported back to Madras.

On 3 July 1681 Streynsham Master was replaced with [[William Gyfford]] as the Agent of Madras.

=== Reforms ===

The population of Madras had increased to the point that it seemed difficult to retain the old [[Choultry]] courts.  Hence, in 1678, the Government of Fort St George set up a judiciary with the Agent and the members of the council as judges. Two English Choultry judges were appointed to hear cases concerning their [[Indian people|Indian]] [[common people|subjects]].

Master is credited with having introduced the role of a [[scavenger]] who was required to remove the dirt and filth of the streets. Scavengers were also empowered to collect the [[house-tax]] and other [[taxes]].  [[Security guard|Watchmen]] were appointed to guard the settlement at night. [[Taverns]], [[hotel]]s, [[entertainment-houses]] and [[theatres]] had to be [[licensed]].