Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/364

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THE TAJ MAHAL AT AGRA.

CHAPTER XI SIR THOMAS ROE'S FIRST AUDIENCE WITH THE GREAT MOGUL

SIR THOMAS ROE is one of the most distinguished and picturesque figures in the history of international diplomacy, and his presence at the court of Jahangir, the Great Mogul, as accredited ambassador of King James of England, gained advantages for England that were of the greatest value, as has been pointed out in a previous volume (vol. iv, pp. 67-79). His diary is well known, but its value consists in its record of court life at the Moghul capital, and not in its meagre account of the country in general. An event of great import for English history was the meeting of Sir Thomas, as a royal envoy, with the Great Mogul. Roe had been seriously ill at Ajmir, but the emperor was so desirous of seeing him that he sent a special messenger to inquire whether his condition would not allow him to come to court. The emperor gave strict orders to his messenger and, as Roe says, "chardged him to see mee, so that I was forced to admitt him into my Chamber, wher he saw my weaknes and gave sat-

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