The Commentary of Father Monserrate 1: Father Monserrate's Introduction.
The Commentary of Father Monserrate (Hoyland) 1
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- English
Father Monserrate's Introduction.
1.1
To P. Claudius Aquaviva, head of the whole Society of Jesus, Antonius Monserratus, priest of the same Society, sends greetings. The men of antiquity were so exact and diligent that, when they were making a journey, they entered the happenings of every single day in their journals, with the most minute carefulness. Alexander, when he made his expedition into Asia, gave the charge of this important matter to Eratosthenes the Macedonian, whilst Antiochus Nicator, the son of Seleucus Nicator, gave it to Artemidorus. But Julius Caesar himself undertook this task and wrote Commentaries on the wars he waged. The Persian kings, as is mentioned in the book of Esdras, used to do the same. For the recorders of events, as they were called, were ordered by royal command to note down every event that occurred. Many have since followed the example of this diligence, both by land and sea ; and thus, in their devotion to Geography, marine Exploration, and History—those most weighty subjects of study—have enriched the republic of letters with generous provision. For this and other reasons it has become a rule in the Society of Jesus that a record should be kept of all events. This rule dates from the blessed memory of our Father Ignatius (Loyola who first pronounced it.
1.2
At the time when we were setting out for the court of Zelaldinus Equebar, King of the Mongols, the saintly Roderic Vincentius, Superior of the Society in the province of India, being unwilling to break this excellent rule, laid upon me the charge of recording everything that happened both on the journey and during our residence with the King. It was my duty, in accordance with the discipline under which I live, and with the rules of the Society, to obey this behest with the greatest exactitude. I therefore set myself, for full two and a half years, to write down every evening all the events of the past day. In this daily task of conscientious record-keeping, I embraced every new experience or fact which the day's journey or events had brought before my notice — for example the rivers, cities and countries which we saw : the customs, temples and religious usages of their inhabitants : and, after we arrived at the King's court, the devotion which he showed (though indeed it was but a pretence) towards the religion of Christ. I recorded also his kindness towards Rudolf, to whom had been given charge of that most weighty business, and towards his companions, (though indeed that kindness was but counterfeit, and assumed for selfish reasons).
1.3
The zeal, prudence and skill of Rudolf himself was another of my topics, as also were the debates with the Musalmans concerning the Christian religion, and the Afghan war, in which Zelaldinus defeated and put to flight Hachimus, by the exercise of the greatest determination and the most remarkable military skill. Finally, I recorded the triumphant reception of Akbar himself by his subjects. After my return I read these rough and casual notes of mine, just as I had hurriedly jotted them down, to certain members of our Society, who were distinguished for their experience, wisdom and skill in letters. They heartily advised me to write out again what I judged to be the more important parts, setting them in sequence and due order. Having been accustomed to follow the excellent counsel and opinion of these men in other matters of greater moment, I was by no means willing to abandon it in a matter which must be afterwards referred to your testing, and either approved or rejected in accordance with your most weighty judgment.
1.4
This is now the eighth year since I first set my hand to this task. For in the sixth year after it was begun [i.e. in 1588] I was sent by Peter Martin, Superior of the province of India, to Africa: and was compelled, by the fact that the season for navigation had already arrived, to stop the work, eager though I was to go on with it. I got no time or opportunity to return to my task till I was captured by my enemies the Musulmans near Dofar in Arabia (that is, Sabaea) close to the city of Atramitis, where frankincense is found. I was sent away to Eynanus; but the Musalman king Ommar allowed my slender baggage and my books to be preserved and returned to me. He also permitted me a considerable degree of freedom, though I was still held in custody. For I was granted four months of leisure, in which I was able to make the necessary corrections and additions to what I had written. For, by the singular goodness of God, I had to bear none of the bitternesses of captivity except the mere fact of being a prisoner. My chief solace was the companionship of Father Peter Paesius (to whom I used to make confession); and next to this I took comfort from holy books and from a breviary of the morning and evening prayers.
1.5
However, after that four months' leisure, I had once more to lay aside my literary weapons, for I was ordered to proceed to Sanaa, where a Turkish Viceroy resides. He was an Albanian by race (an Albanian is commonly called an Arnautes by the Turks, and an Allanesian by the Portuguese, both names being derived from the name of the principal town of that tribe). He pretended to treat me with the same kindness and ordered (my) books to be given to me; whereupon I returned to my task, and yet further revised, corrected and added to my records, and freed them from blemishes. It will be for you to decide whether I have written in the approved style and fashion of the Society, and whether readers will gain anything from my records. For my part — unless I am deceived by self-love — I believe that some attention given to Indian History will not prove to be without its use to students of Geography and the Classics, and especially to those of us who are devoted to the study of learned and polite writers.
1.6
Everything relating to the journey of the Fathers, to their stay at the King's court, and to the Afghan campaign, I have written down exactly as it happened, and as I saw it with my own eyes. But whatever pertains to digressions from the direct course of my narrative (for instance the references at the end of the first book to Cinguiscanus, Temurbegus, the Scythians, the Mongols, etc.), I have gathered primarily from King Zelaldinus himself, or else from a diary of travel written by a certain ambassador sent by King Henry the Fourth of Castile to Timur, or lastly from many other writers whose authority is to be relied upon. Finally, I have divided my work into two books, of which this first forms an account of the first journey to the court of the King of the Mongols, whilst the second is, as it were, an appendix and commentary upon the first; in this I have collected facts bearing on the condition and natural history of India (within the Ganges), of its ancient aborigines and present-day inhabitants.
1.7
In the two remaining books which I have added to those already mentioned, I have written in the same fashion a record of my journey to Ethiopia and a brief account of the condition and natural history of Arabia. In these books I have endeavoured (if I may say so without arrogance) to correct, explain and reconcile — in as seemly and moderate a manner as possible — many passages in those Geographers and Historians who have written about India and Arabia : and this I have done as a service to the teachers and lecturers in our own schools. I trust that my work may have been done to the glory of the divine Name and to the benefit of men's minds — a benefit which should not only be earnestly desired but sought after with all one's might. If my double work appears, in your most weighty judgment, to achieve these two aims, I believe that it will be amply satisfying to you. — Farewell. January 7th, 1591.