The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c17.22

v4.c17.22

At this period (end of 1614) occurs the first mention of the English in the Mughul records. Hawkins had resided at Āgra as ambassador from the king of England during 1609–11 and had received a welcome, though he had been unable to negotiate a treaty.¹ The unruly behaviour of British shipwrecked sailors produced a bad impression, and trade facilities were denied. Sir Henry Middleton's action against the trading vessels from Gujarāt to the Red Sea (1612), however, created a spirit of respect, and the hope that the newcomers might be of assistance to check the claim of the Portuguese to command of the sea. The capture by the latter of four Indian ships with many Muslim passengers (1613) had been irritating as they were provided with a Portuguese pass, and Jahāngīr's mother had an interest in the cargo. A year later when Downton arrived off Surat he was pressed by Muqarrab Khān the governor, a Mughul officer who had been envoy to the Portuguese in 1607 and was in the close confidence of the emperor, to join against the Portuguese, who had been intriguing at court to get the English expelled from India. Though Muqarrab Khān promised concessions, Downton was not prepared to do more than defend himself, and Muqarrab Khān sent messages to the Dutch at Masulipatam. In January, 1615, the viceroy of Goa arrived with his fleet, having sent his smaller vessels ahead. Having no naval force, and no promise of help from the English or Dutch, the Mughul governor made overtures for peace, which were contemptuously rejected. The Portuguese, feeling sure of success in crushing the English, attacked Downton and were beaten off with great loss. They were afraid to land troops and attack Surat and withdrew to Goa. This action is mentioned with approval by Jahāngīr in his memoirs, though he passes over in silence the visit of Hawkins and his successor Sir Thomas Roe² who arrived in India in September, 1615. The effect of Downton's victory was by that time evaporating, and peace was being arranged between the Mughuls and the Portuguese. Prince Khurram, whose governorship included Surat, was in their favour and actually issued an order that the English should be allowed to trade for only a month and should have no residence, while the draft terms with the Portuguese stipulated that the English should be absolutely excluded. Roe's stout resistance to indignities and solicitations for bribes had some effect on the local authorities, and he proceeded to the royal court at Ajmer. For nearly three years he strove to obtain a trade treaty, following the court in its progress to Māndū and to Ahmadābād. By the emperor he was treated with the courtesy that was natural to him, but Jahāngīr had no inclination to deal on terms of equality with a nation of which he knew nothing except that it desired Indian trade, and which was represented to him by the Portuguese in the worst possible light. Khurram was anxious that nothing should be done to detract from his authority over the port, and Āsaf Khān, who dealt with the draft treaties put forward by Roe, showed himself greedy for gifts and unreliable in every way. By September, 1618, Roe secured a *farmān* or grant from Khurram as viceroy of Gujarāt which, though not so complete as the draft treaty he had first tried to obtain from the emperor, gave reasonable facilities for trade, but it did not allow any building to be bought or built as a permanent residence. Beyond this Roe's stay at the court and behaviour there did much to enhance the respect with which the newcomers were regarded.