The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 1.4.3

1.4.3

A preliminary conversation regarding the curiosities which the English could bring excited the Mogul's cupidity, and on hearing the ambassador's vague reference to wrongs which, if unremedied, would force them to quit the trade, he " grew suddenly into Choler, pressing to know who had wronged vs, with such show of fury that I was loath to follow yt." Roe attempted to appease him by saying (through his bungling interpreter) that he would seek justice from the Prince ; but Jahangir conceived that he was accusing the latter, and, calling for his son, rated him soundly in the presence of the Court. With the aid of a Persian nobleman, Roe succeeded in making his meaning clear, and an animated discussion then took place between him and "the Portugalles syde," in which (he says) "I explayned myselfe fully concerning them ; and .... wee wear very warme." At last Asaf Khán interposed to quiet the dispute, and it was agreed that the ambassador should submit his demands in writing, "and if they were found reasonable the king would firme them." This arrangement opened the way to a proposal by which Roe hoped to place the position of his countrymen on a safe and lasting basis, and at the same time to avoid these dangerous controversies with the Prince, by obtaining a general concession, which would apply to Surat as to any other ports where the English might settle, and which, as emanating from the Mogul himself, could not be overridden by any lesser authority.