The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c16.83

v4.c16.83

On 18 February, 1580, the first Jesuit mission, under Father Monserrate, reached Fathpur Sīkrī and was most cordially received. The priests in their cassocks and hats, unarmed and clean shaven, were objects of great curiosity to the people as they passed through the town. They were graciously received and Akbar was favourably impressed by their refusal of a gift of 800 gold pieces, which he offered them. His reverence for the gospels and the images and pictures which they had brought with them, his eager inquiries, and his genuflexions in the chapel which he permitted them to furnish and open encouraged them to hope that they might succeed in inducing him to become the Constantine of the East, but they were grievously mistaken, and soon discovered their error.