1888.] 
H. Beveridge —Father Jerome Xavier. 
39 
views, and Mr. Blochmann’s statement, A'in, p. 212, that we have no means 
of following up Akbar’s religions ideas after 1596, requires modification. 
Xavier remained at Court till some years after Jahangir’s accession. 
He eventually returned to Goa and died there in 1617. 
I conclude with the following extract from a letter of Sir Thomas 
Roe. It gives the English version of the Jesuits’ successes, and it is 
also interesting as confirming Jahangir’s statement that his father died 
a pious Muhammadan. 
Sir Thomas Roe’s letter from Ajmir of 30th October, 1616, page 586 
of Purchas, Part I. 
“ In this confusion they (the Muhammadans) continued until the 
time of Akbar Shah, father of this king, without any noise of Christian 
profession, who being a prince by nature, just and good, inquisitive after 
novelties, curious of new opinions and that excelled in many virtues, 
especially in piety and reverence towards his parents, called in three 
Jesuits from Goa whose chief was Jerome Xavier, a Xavarrois. After 
their arrival he heard them reason and dispute with much content on 
his, and hope on their part, and caused Xavier to write a book in de¬ 
fence of his own profession against both Moors and Gentiles, which 
finished he read over nightly, causing some parts to be discussed, and 
finally granted them his letters patent to build, to preach, teach, convert 
and to use all their rites and ceremonies as freely and amply as in Rome ; 
bestowing on them means to erect their churches and places of devotion, 
so that in some few cities they have gotten rather Templum than Eccle- 
siam. In this grant he gave grant to all sorts of people to become 
Christians that would, even to his Court or own blood, professing that 
it should be no cause of disfavour from him. 
“ Here was a fair beginning to a forward spring of a lean and barren 
harvest. Akbar Shah himself continued a Muhammadan, yet he began to 
make a breach into the law, considering that as Muhammad was but a man, 
a king as he was, and therefore reverenced, he thought he might prove as 
good a prophet himself. This defection of the king spread not far, 
a certain outward reverence detained him, and so he died in the formal 
profession of his sect. 
“ Jahangir his son, the present king, being, they say, of this new fancy 
and never circumcised, brought up without any religion at all, continues 
so to this hour and is an atheist.” 
