The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.93

v4.c20.93

During this captivity, Annesley, the president of the Surat Council, and Sir John Gayer, the governor of Bombay, were tireless in petitioning the Mughul government and their friends at court, demanding their release and the restoration of their trade, and asserting "we are merchants, not pirates". Aurangzīb was too wise a man to be swayed by his passions. His chief concern was to secure a regular escort of European war-vessels for his pilgrim-ships to Mecca, and this embargo on European trade was only an instrument for putting pressure on the foreigners to gain that end cheaply. After much higgling by the emperor as to the cost of the escort, Annesley signed a bond for the purpose and the English prisoners were set free (7 July, 1696).