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 Persia, but on presenting himself at the Shah's Court he was told that the Shah had no further use for his services. Intensely mortified at his unfavourable reception, Shirley sickened and died. His remains were in the first instance buried under the doorstep of his house at Teheran, but at a subsequent period the body was exhumed and taken by his wife to Rome, where it was buried in the Church of Santa Maria della Scala, the convent attached to which she had entered on quitting the East.

In his picturesque way. Sir Robert Shirley was a veritable citizen of the world, but he always had a warm corner in his heart for his native land, and as often as opportunity offered without detriment to his own position pushed her interests. When Richard Steele, with a companion, John Crowther, was on his way through Persia to Europe from India in 1615, he procured for him a cordial reception from Shah Abbas, who readily granted a firman for trading purposes. It was not, however, until 1617, when the East India Company sent out Edward Connock as factor to develop the Persian trade, that any practical steps were taken to turn to account the favourable prepossessions which the Shah, through the influence of Shirley, had formed of the English.

Cormock was well received by the Shah, who appears to have regarded him in the light of an ambassador from James I, an illusion which the enterprising merchant did nothing to dispel. At the interview at the palace after the inevitable letter from the monarch and the equally inevitable presents had been presented, Shah Abbas called for wine, and taking a deep draught from the large bowl which had been handed him, drank his Majesty's health, dropping upon his knee to emphasize the compliment. He