Page 145 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

ENGLISH MISSION TO THE GREAT MOGUL 145

Roe, who knew nothing of this, kept steadily pressing
his suit in the hope that by his persistency, aided by the
indispensable presents, he might some day carry his point.
In deference to the wishes of the directors he even pushed
his demands beyond the original point by preferring an
application for a safe port with permission to fortify it.
As he had half anticipated the proposal met with no
favour. Prince Khurrum treated it with scorn, observ­
ing that his father “ needed not English assistance: he
meant not to undertake war with Portugall for their sakes
and he would not on any consideration deliver up any
port to the Company.” Later, when Roe broached the
subject to Asaf Khan, the minister declined even to sub­
mit the project to the Emperor. In his view it was sheer
impertinence to raise the question.
By this time Roe had had a sufficiently long experience
of India to obtain a good general view of the position. In
a letter home at this juncture he put before the directors his
opinions as to what should be their future line of policy.
He did not favour the appointment of a permanent re­
presentative at the Mogul’s Court. “ I would sooner
dye,” he wrote, “ than be subject to the slavery the Per­
sian (ambassador) is content with. A meaner agent
would among these proud Moores better effect your busi­
ness ... I have moderated it according to my discretion,
but with a swollen heart.” He went on to suggest that
a native agent should be employed at the Mogul capital
with a subordinate at Surat. As to general policy he was
very emphatic in the view that the Company should not
allow itself to be entangled with engagements on land.
“ A war and traffique,” he wrote, “ are incompatible.
By my consent you shall no way engage yourselves but at
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