The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 23.2
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 23.2
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23.2.1
In this Confusion they Continued vntil the tyme of Ecbarsha, father of this king, without any Noice of Christian profession; who, beeing a Prince by Nature just and good, inquisitiue after Nouelties, Curious of New sights, and enamored with Noueltyes, Curious of New opinions, and that excelled in many virtues, especially in Pietye and reuerence toward his Parentes, called in three Iesuites from Goa, whose cheefe was Ieronimo Xauier a Nauarroies. After their arriuall hee heard them reason and dispute with much Content on his and hope on their partes, and caused Xauier to write a booke in defence of his owne profession against both moores and Gentilles; which finished, hee read ouer Nightly, causing some part to be discussed, and finally granted them his lettre Pattentes to build, to preach, teach, conuert, and to vse all their rites and Ceremonyes, as freely and amply as in Roome, bestoweing on them meanes to erect their Churches and places of deuotion. So that in some fewe cittyes they haue gotten rather Templum then Ecclesiam. In this Grant he gaue grant to all sortes of men to become Christians that would, eauen to his Court or owne blood, professing it should bee noe cause of disfauaour from him. Here was a faire beginninge, a forward spring of a leane and barren haruest.
23.2.2
Ecbar-shae himselfe continued a Mahometan, yet hee began to make a breach into the law; Considering that Mahomett was but a man, a King as he was, and therfore reuerenced, he thought hee might proue as good a Prophett himselfe. This defection of the King spread not farre; a Certayn outward reuerence deteyned him, and so hee dyed in the formall profession of his Sect. Ghehangier-sha, his sonne, the present King, beeing the issue of this New fancy, and neuer circumcised, bread vp without any religion at all, continewes so to this hower, and is an Athiest. Sometyme he will make profession of a Moore : but alway obserue the hollidayes, and doe all Ceremonyes with the Gentilles too. Hee is Content with all religions, only hee loues none that Changeth. But, falling vpon his father's conceipt, hath dared to enter farther in, and to professe himselfe for the Mayne of his religion to be a greater Prophett then Mahomett; and hath formed to himselfe a New law, mingled of all, which many haue accepted with such superstition that they will not eate till they haue saluted him in the morning, for which Purpose hee Comes at the Sunnes rising to a wyndow open to a great Playne before his house, where Multitudes attend him ; and when the Moores about him speak of Mahomett, hee will sooth them, but is glad when anyone will breake out against him.
23.2.3
Of Christ he neuer vtters any woord vnreuerently, nor any of all these sectes, which is a woonderfull secrett woorking of Godes truth, and woorthy obseruation. Concerning the New Planted Christian Church he Confirmed and enlardged all their Priuiledges, euery night for one yeare spending two howers in hearing disputation, often Casting out doubtfull woordes of his conversion, but to wicked Purpose. And, the rather to giue some hope, he deliuered many Youthes into the hands of Francisco Corsy, Now resident heere, to teach them to reade and write Portuguse, and to instruct them in humane learning and in the law of Christ. And to that end he kept a Schoole some yeares, to which the King sent two Princes, his brothers sonnes; who, beeing brought vp in the knowledg of God and his Sonne our Blessed Sauiour, were solemly Babtised in the Church of Agra with great Pomp, being Carried first vp and downe all the Citty on Eliphants in triumph; and this by the Kings expresse order, who often would examen them in their progression, and seemed much contented in them. This made many bend toward the same way, doubting his Maiesties entention; others, that knew him better, supposed he suffered this in pollicye, to reduce these Children into hate among the Moores for their
23.2.4
archives of the Society, in which it is stated that Corsi was a Florentine, born in 1575; that he entered the Order in the year 1593, and six years later was sent from Portugal to India, where he lived ordinarily in the household of the Great Mogul; that he bore a high character, and had a talent for mission work; and that he died at his post on August 1st, 1635. References to him occur also in Father Cordara's history of the Order (Pt. VI, tom. i, p. 59), and in the similar work by Father Jouvancy (Pt. v, tom. ii, lib. xviii, p. 468). His tomb is still to be seen in the chapel of the Roman Catholic cemetery at Agra. The relations between Roe and Corsi were very amicable; and Terry's account of him, though tinged with professional jealousy, is favourable on the whole. It runs as follows (p. 444):— "Francisco Corsi .... a Florentine by birth, aged about fifty years, who (if he were indeed what he seemed to be) was a man of a severe life, yet of a fair and an affable disposition; he lived at that Court as an Agent for the Portuguese, and had not only free access unto that King, but also encouragement and help, by gifts, which he sometimes bestowed on him."
23.2.5
"When this Jesuit came first to be acquainted with my Lord Ambassadour, he told him that they were both by profession Christians, though there was a vast difference betwixt them in their professing it: and as he should not go about to reconcile the Ambassadour to them. So he told him it would be labour in vain if he should attempt to reconcile him to us. Onely he desired that there might be a fair correspondency betwixt them, but no disputes. And further his desire was, that those wide differences 'twixt the church of Rome and us might not be made there to appear, that Christ might not seem by those differences to be divided amongst men professing Christianity, which might be a very main obstacle and hinderance unto his great design and endeavour, for which he was sent thither, to convert people to Christianity there: Telling my Lord Ambassadour further, that he should be ready to do him all good offices of love and service there; and so he was." "After his first acquaintance, he visited us often, usually once a week. And as those of that society, in other parts of the world, are very great intelligencers, so was he there, knowing all news which was stirring, and might be had, which he communicated unto us." Conversion, of whom Consisted the strength of his estate ; but all men fayling of his Purpose, which was thus discouered.
23.2.6
When these and some other Children were settled, as was thought, in Christian religion, and had learnd some Principles therof, as, to marry but one wife, not to be coupled with infidles, the King settes the boyes to demand some Portugalles wifes of the Jesuittes; who, thincking it only an idle motion of their owne braynes, Chyd them, and suspected no more. But that being the end of their Conuersion, to gett a woeman for the King, and no care taken, the two Princes came to the Jesuites, and surrendred vp their Crosses and all other rites, professing they would be noe longer Christians, because the King of Portugall sent them no Presentes nor wiues, according as they expected. The Padre, seeing this, began to doubt ther was more in that then the boyes reuealed, especially seeing their Confidence, that had cast off the awe of Pupilles ; and, examining the matter, had it confessed the King commanded them. They refused to accept the Crosses, answering they had been giuen by his Maiesties order, and they would not take Notice from boyes of any such surrender ; but bad them desier the King to send some of those who by a kynd of order are to deliuer all his Maiesties Commands, whose mouthes are by Priuiledges sufficient authoritye, and then they would accept them ; hoping, and knoweing the King's Nature, that hee would not discouer himselfe to any of his officers in this poore Plott. The boyes returned with this Message, which enraged the King.
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But, being desierous to disolue the Schoole, and to withdrawe the youthes without Noyse, hee bad them call the Jesuittes to the woemens doore, wher by a lady he receiued the order ; and without euer taking any notice since of any thing, his kinsmen recalld, who are now absolute Moores, without any last of their first fayth ; and so the fruict of all these hopes are vanished. And I cannot fynd by good search that ther is one Christian really and orderly conuerted. Nor makes the profession, except some few that haue been Babtised for mony, and are maynteyned by the Jesuittes ; of which sort ther would bee more, but that they find the deceipt, and cannot endure the burthen. This is the truth of all their bragg and labor, and the full groweth of their Church here.