History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c83.s8.31

v5.c83.s8.31

Aurangzib deeply resented this flagrant offence against his flag and his religion by the foreign misbelievers. His first retaliatory measures were to confine the English factors and stop the trade of all the European nations throughout his dominions. But he was too wise a man to be swayed by his passions. He desired above all things to secure a regular escort of European war-vessels for the pilgrim-ships to Mecca, and this embargo on European trade was only an instrument for putting pressure on them to gain that end cheaply but effectually.[*] His order ran that so long as the three European races,—Dutch, French and English,—did not agree to this demand, their trade was to be stopped, their weapons taken away, none of them was to go out armed in the city or keep any gun or musket in their houses, they were to destroy the gun platforms and embrasures constructed in their factories, their buildings were to be broken down to a low height, their flags were to be taken down, and no bell was to be rung in their churches. [I. O. L. MS. 7b, 1b.]