oA. HK. D. Maclagan — Jesuit Missions to the Hmperor Akbar. [No. LP 
sented to the Emperor that, inasmuch as for reasons of state he was 
unable to profess his acceptance of Christianity the mission would be 
more profitably employed in some other sphere. Tle Emperor however 
refused to let the Fathers go. They tlereupon made further efforts to 
influence him towards Christianity, but it was felt that they were being 
retained merely to gratify his pride and to satisfy his intermittent 
thirst for information. It is possible also that the open adoption of the 
‘Divine Monotheism’ which took place about this time brought more 
clearly before the Fathers the hopelessness of their task. ! 
From this ‘point the mission began to break up. The native Henri- 
quez had already withdrawn to Goa, either secretly as one authority 
states, or with permission as stated by another. Then Monserrat had 
left Fathpur for Agra so as to be rather with Prince Murad than with 
the Emperor. Subsequently in April 1582, the Emperor sent an embassy 
to Goa and permitted Monserrat to accompany it. The embassy was to 
arrange among other things for a fresh mission of Christian priests to 
Akbar’s court, and the letter which accompanied the embassy is to be 
found in the first daftar of the Insha-i-Abw-l-fazl. In the Calcutta edition 
of 1810 and in the Cawnpore lithographed edition of 1849-50, the letter 
is addressed to ‘ Huropean scholars’ (Danayan-i-Farang ), but there are 
other versions which read ‘ Ruler of the Europeans’ (Firman-riwa-i- 
Farang)® and the later Kuropean authorities® represent the embassy as 
an embassy of congratulation to Philip II, who had in 1581 become 
King of Portugal as well as of Spain. In the course of the letter Akbar 
déscribes his desire to learn the truth in religious matters * :— 
‘Therefore,’ he says, ‘we associate at convenient seasons with learned 
men of all religions and thus derive profit from their exquisite discourses 
and exalted aspirations. Our language, however, being different from 
yours, we hope that you will rejoice us by sending to these parts a man 
able to represent to us those sublime objects of research in an intelligible 
manner. It has been brought to our notice that the revealed books such 
as the Pentateuch, the Gospels and the Psalms have been translated into 
Arabic and Persian. Should these books which are profitable to all, whe- 
ther translated or not, be procurable in your country, send them. Dated 
in the month Rabi-ul-awwal in the year 990’ (March-April 1582). 
1 See Catrou, English Hdition, 1826, p. 121, and Badauni quoted on p 201 vol. I. 
Blochm. Ain. 
2 Fraser, Nadir Shah (1742) 12. and appx. 40. Hough, Christianity un India, IT. 262. 
3 Catrou, English Hdition, 1826, p. 124. Bartoli, Missione, p. 72: Hanway’s 
Travels I1. 405. Bartoli mentions also the Pope and the General of the Society as the 
intended recipients of the embassy. 
4 The translation is that given by Mr. Rehatsek in the Indian Antiquary, April 
1887, p. 137. 
