attain'd to and then he is call'd a spiritual Man and accounted of a nature above humane with promise of a thousand strange things which for brevities sake I pass over Thus doth the Devil abuse this miserable people As for any thing more concerning these Gioghi I refer you to what I have formerly written of them and the Samì who are another sort of Religious Indians who wear Clothes as I saw them in Bender of Combrù And of the Sciences of the Gioghi and their spiritual exercises especially of a curious way rather superstitious then natural of Divining by the breathing of a Man wherein they have indeed many curious and subtle observations which I upon tryal have found true If any would know more I refer him to the Book above mention'd which I intend to carry with me for a Rarity into Italy and if I shall find convenience I shall one day gratifie the Curious with a sight of it in a Translation On the fourth of March I went out of Cambaia to a Town two miles off call'd Hagrà to see a famous Temple built of old by the Race of the Banions and belongs to them but yet the Brachmans possess it and have care of it as if it were descended to them This Temple is dedicated to Brahmà who as I said before they hold to be the same with Pythagoras although of the origine of Bramà and how he was produc'd of the first Cause or else of the first Matter and how they take this for one of the Elements and a thousand other extravagances they tell long Fables which do not agree to Pythagoras a meer man but for all this they confound the two Names and 't is no great matter to reconcile them herein after the same manner that our ancient Gentiles agreed in their Jupiter taken sometimes for one of the Elements and sometimes historically for an ancient King one of Saturn's Sons and in divers other like names in reference to History and Philsophy they had double allegorical and mysterious significations Concerning the Genealogy of Bramà and the other fabulous Indian Gods and what belongs to their vain Theology I refer the Reader to the Books of Father Francesco Negrone or Negraore as the Portugals call him who writes fully thereof in his Chronicles of the things done by those of his Order in India written in the Portugal Language and I think he is the first and perhaps the onely Modern Writer who hath given account of this matter in Europe The said Father having been assisted therein for information by most fit and sufficient Interpreters namely the Fathers of his own Religion good Divines skill'd in the Indian Tongue and perfectly intelligent of these matters who also read and interpreted the very Books of the Indians to him and were likewise his interpreters in the discourses which he had often with the learned Indians concerning their Religion as himself frequently told me Besides which he wanted not other helps because being appointed Historiographer to his Order he was abundantly supply'd with what was needful to that Office he convers'd long in the Kingdom of Bisnaga where the Religion and Sciences of the Indians have their Principal Seat as also in the Island of Zeilan which many take to be the ancient Tabrobana and in other Countries for this very purpose He made many peregrinations expresly to see places and things conducing thereunto and was assisted by the Vice-Roys themselves and Governours of Provinces subject to the Portugals who sent him into all places accompany'd oftentimes with whole bands of Souldiers where the wayes were not secure in brief without sparing cost pains or diligence he professedly intended this business for many years together with all kind of convenience and authority Lastly he was some years since sent by his Order into Europe in Order to print his Works and in the year 1619 as I came through Persia I saw him at Sphahà n and during his short abode there by means of a Friend got a sight of his Papers but had not time to read them as I desir'd He went thence directly to Rome whither I gave him some Letters to certain Friends and Relations of mine to be civil to him there as I know they were and after some years sojourning at Rome whilst I was at Bender of Combrù I heard that he was coming from Rome towards Turkie in order to return to India where I hope to see him again and if he bring his Books printed with him I shall read them and what I find remarkable therein which may be serviceable to these writings of mine I shall make mention of the same in its proper place Father Joam de Lucena a Jesuit in his History of the Life of San Francesco Xavier written in the Portugal Tongue makes mention likewise of the Religion and Customs of the Indian-Gentiles and seems to speak thereof with good grounds although in some few particulars if I mistake not he is capable of a little correction Yet that which troubles me most is that it clearly appears by his Book that he knew much more of the Customs of the Indians then he hath written which perhaps he would not write either because they were obscene and impious or pertain'd not to his purpose I saw Father Negrone since at Goa but he brought not his Book printed either because his Fathers as some say would not have it printed or Yet he saith he hath sent it to be printed in Portugal in that Language and expects it by the next Ship if it comes I shall see it But having in Goa discours'd with him more largely then I did in Persia I find him very little vers'd in matters of ancient History and Geography as generally the Fryars of Spain and especially Portugal are not addicting themselves little to other Studies besides what serves to Preaching wherefore without good skill in ancient History Geography and other Humane Learning I know not how 't is possible to write Histories well particularly concerning the Customs of the Indians of which also he hath had no other information but by interpreters in which way I have by experience found that many errors are frequently committed Nevertheless we shall see what light may be had from Lucena's Book although it be short concerning the Religion of the Indians In the mean time returning to my purpose I shall tell you that in the Temple dedicated to Brahmà in the Town of Naghrà which is little considerable for building but in great Veneration for ancient Religion there are many Idols of white Marble The biggest is the Chief and hath the worthiest place In the middle is the Statue of Brahma or Pythagoras with many Arms and Faces as they ordinarily pourtray him namely three Faces for I could not see whether there were a fourth or more behind 't is naked with a long picked Beard but ill cut as well as the rest of the figure which for its bigness hath a very great Belly I
Colledge in Daman and to the Father Rector of their Colledge of Bassaim desiring them that since I could not imbarque at Cambaia in the Cafila of the Portugals because I was to return to Surà t where I had left my goods in the Ships they would favour me and assist me to get convenient passage for Goa in the said Cafila either at Daman or Bassaim where I intended to meet it as it return'd I on the other side gave this Father a Letter to their Fathers Resident at Agrà to whom I had written formerly from Persia desiring them to send me some correct Copy of the Persian Books written by their Fathers in that Court in order to get the same printed at Rome and by Sig Alberto Scilling I had understood that my first Letter was receiv'd there and that the said Fathers of Agrà knew me by report and the relation of divers who had seen me in Persia particularly of this Sig Alberto In this other Letter from Cambaia I acquainted them with my Voyage to Goa and desiring them to write to me there and remember to favour me with those Books Having dispatch'd the Father Jesuit we return'd to the Dutch House to have a Collation and here we were entertain'd a good while with good Musick by an Indian who sung tolerably well and play'd upon a certain odd instrument us'd in India which pleas'd me well enough because it was not so obstreperous Musick as the ordinary of the vulgar Indians but rather low and very sweet and the Musician was skilful according to the mode of the Country having liv'd at the Court of Tisapor in the service of Adilsiah His Instrument was made of two round Gourds dy'd black and vernish'd with a hole bor'd in one of them to reverberate the sound Between the one Gourd and the other about the distance of three spans was fastned a piece of wood upon which they both hung and the strings which were many partly of brass and partly of steel were extended passing over many little pieces of wood like so many bridges and these were the frets which he touch'd with the left Hand to diversify the sounds and the strings with the right not with his Fingers or Nails but with certain iron wires fastned to his Fingers by certain rings like thimbles wherewith he did not strike the strings strongly but lightly touch'd them from the top downwards so that they render'd a sound sufficiently pleasant When he play'd he held the Instrument at his breast by a string that went round his neck and one of the Gourds hung over his left shoulder and the other under his right arm so that it was a prety sight Collation and Musick ended we were conducted about two Cos out of the City by the Dutch Merchants and took the same way by which we came We pass'd over the five Cos of wet ground with the four Currents of Water of which the second was the deepest having waited a while for a fit hour in company of a numerous Cafila of Coaches Carts Horse-men and Foot-men in the same manner and circumstances as I writ before onely the Water was now much higher then we had found it at our coming so that it came into all the Coaches and we were fain to stand upright and hold fast by the roof of the Coaches bare leg'd too because the Water came above the bottom of the Coaches to the middle of the leg The Oxen and Horses could scarce keep their Heads above Water and the Coaches being light if Men hir'd purposely had not gone along in the Water to hold them steady and break the course thereof by holding great stumps of wood on that side the Tide came furiously in without doubt the Water would have swept them away In this place on the left hand towards the land in the moist ground we beheld at a distance many Fowls as big or bigger then Turkies go up and down rather running then flying They told us they were the same which the Portugals call Paxaros Flamencos from their bright colour and I think they are those of whose beaks Mir Mahhammed in Spahà n makes bow-rings for the King although he erroneously takes it for the beak of the Cocnos or Phoenix which good Authors describe not a water Fowl but rather an inhabitant of high Mountains Having at length pass'd this dangerous foard and following our way we came at night to lodge at Giambuser the same Town where we had lodg'd formerly March the eighth We put our selves upon the way again and foarded the little salt-water Dilavel and at night arriv'd at Barocci and were as formerly entertain'd in the House of the Dutch But upon the way before we enter'd the City we saw a handsome structure standing upon a famous Sepulchre of I know not well who but seems to be some great person's and is worship'd by the Moors as a sacred thing This Fabrick is pleasantly seated amongst Trees something elevated upon the side of a little Lake or Great Cistern In the chief part of it besides the principal Sepulchre which stands apart in the most worthy place are many other Sepulchres of white Marble of an oblong form with many carvings and works tolerable enough 't is likely they are the Tombs either of the Wives and Children or of the other kindred of the Principal because they seem all of the same work and time Round this greater structure stand other less with Sepulchres of Moors in them who cause themselves to be buried there out of devotion to the place whence I gather that the principal Sepulchre is not onely of some great person or Prince as it intimates but also of one that dy'd with some opinion among the Moors of Sanctity I know not who told me that it was the Sepulchre of a famous Tartarian King who came to have dominion in those parts but I credit not the Relation because I had it not from a good hand March the ninth We departed from Barocci ferrying over the River and at night lodg'd at Periab where we had quarter'd before as we went March the tenth Having gone the short way which remain'd and pass'd the River of Surat by boat we came to that City about Noon where I repair'd to the House before assign'd me by the Dutch Commendator and there found the Daughter of one of the Armenian or Syrian Merchants seen by us at Ahmedabà d who was come thither with a Brother of hers in order to be marry'd shortly to one Sig Guilielmo a Hollander to whom she had been promis'd in Marriage at Ahmedabà d and who also was in the same House which was capable of him and more I understood at Surà t that Sultan Chorròm had taken and sackt the City of Agrà except the Castle and that his Army and himself had committed very great Cruelties there in spoiling and discovering the Goods and Mony of the Citizens particularly that he had tortur'd and undecently mangled many Women of quality and
without the Nieche hung a Bell as 't is the custom in all their Temples which as I said before all those who come to make their prayers ring at their first entrance Within this and the other Nieches on the sides were one or two lighted Candles In the other sides of the Temple something higher then the pavement were in the wall certain little Nieches in each of which stood an Idolet or little Idol some in the shape of Men others of Women One there was which had many Arms on a side and many Faces and this they said was call'd Brachma one of their chief false Deities Another had the head of an Elephant and was call'd Ganescio They say he is the Son of Mahadeu who finding him one day with Parveti his Wife but his own Mother and not knowing who he was kill'd him out of jealousie cutting off his Head but afterwards understanding that he was his own Son he repented him of his error and resolv'd to bring him to life again Wherefore meeting with an Elephant as he had purpos'd to do with what he first happen'd upon he cut off his Head and plac'd it on his dead Son's Shoulders Whereupon Ganescio reviv'd and thenceforward liv'd immortal with an Elephants Head But behold another delusion One there is with the Head I know not whether of a Tyger or Lyon probably 't is that Narosinha which I formerly writ that I saw in Combru in the maritine parts of Persia. Some of these Idolets sate upon sundry Animals as Tygers and the like and even upon Rats of which things the foolish and ignorant Indians relate ridiculous stories But I doubt not that under the veil of these Fables their ancient Sages most parsimonious of the Sciences as all Barbarians ever were have hid from the vulgar many secrets either of Natural or Moral Philosophy and perhaps also of History And I hold for certain that all these so monstrous figures have secretly some more rational significations though express'd in this uncouth manner As we know in ancient time among the Gentiles of our Countries there was in the figures of quadrifronted Janus of Jupiter Ammon with the Head of a Ram of Anubis with the Head of a Dog and many other extravagances not onely of the Grecians and Aegyptians but also of the Romans The Sieling Pillars and Walls of this Temple were adorn'd with Painting especially red which how dear 't is to the Indians I formerly intimated The doors of their Houses namely the Posts Architraves and Barrs that fasten it are all colour'd so adding some mixture of white limes to the red for of white too they are so enamour'd that all Men are generally cloth'd with it A custom peradventure deriv'd to them from Aegypt where it was in use as Herodotus writes and whence perhaps Pythagoras himself learnt it who went cloth'd in white as we find noted by Aelian and others And I observe that in many particulars the manners of the present Indians much resemble those of the ancient Aegptians but since the Aegyptians who descended from Cham the Son of Noah were a very ancient people I rather believe that the Indians learnt from the Aegyptians then the Aegyptians from the Indians and 't is known that from Aegypt there was always Navigation and Commerce into India by the Southern Ocean The red colour amongst these Indians is besides by the Women worn also by the Sami who are a kind of religious persons with red the Gioghi who live like Hermits and go about begging sometimes paint their bodies in many parts and also with red blended with yellow that is with some parcel of Sanders or Saffron almost all the Indian Gentiles dye their fore-heads and sometimes their garments accordingly as Strabo reports from the testimony of Onesicritus they did likewise in the time of Alexander the Great Lastly they wear red Turbants upon their Heads and their Girdles are oftner wrought with red then any other colour After having seen the Temple of Mahavir we went to visit an old Brachman accounted very learned amongst them with whom we discours'd as well as we could by an interpreter because he understood no other Language but the Indian We found him amongst many Scholars to whom he was giving a Lecture He shew'd us his Books written in an antique Character which is the learned amongst them not common to the vulgar but known onely to the learned and us'd by the Brachmans who in distinction from other vulgar Characters us'd variously in sundry Provinces of India call it Nagheri I have and shall carry with me two small Books of it which I sometimes bought in Lar. This Brachman is call'd Beca Azà rg of which words Beca is his proper Name and Azà rg his Title of Honour Amongst other Books he shew'd us that of their sect in which though it was bound long ways as 't is the fashion of their Books yet the lines were written cross the paper after the manner of some of our Musick-Books He affirm'd to us for certain that it was a work of Pythagoras which well agreeth with what Philostratus saith Jarchas told Apollonius namely that they Indians believ'd the same concerning the Soul which Pythagoras had taught them and they the Aegyptians which is quite contrary to what I said before was my opinion which of these two Nations first taught the other But Diogenes Laertius who writes Pythagoras's Life copiously enough making mention of his going into Aegypt and how he convers'd likewise with the Chaldaeans and Magi yet speaks not a word that ever he went into India or had communication with the Brachmans Wherefore if Pythagoras taught any thing to the Indians as Jarchas said he did it not in person but by his books which possibly were carry'd into India Moreover Beca Azà rg added that their Brachmà esteemed one of the chief amongst their false Gods from whom they are denominated Brachmans is all one with Pythagoras A curious notion indeed and which perhaps would be news to hear in Europe that Pythagoras is foolishly ador'd in India for a God But this with Azà rg's good leave I do not believe Either he did not expresly speak thus and by the fault of the Interpreters we did not understand him aright or if he did affirm it perhaps he came to be mistaken by having heard Pythagoras nam'd by some Europaeans for the Author of that foolish opinion of the Transmigration of Souls Be it as it will I cannot believe that Pythagoras and Brachma are all one because though Pythagoras be very ancient for he flourish'd in the Consulship of Brutus who expell'd the Kings out of Rome yet I hold the Rites and opinions of the Brachmans much more ancient For when Diodorus relates the contest of the two Wives of Ceteus an Indian Captain in the Army of Eumenes each of whom would be burnt with her Husband slain in battel speaking of the Laws Customs and Rites of the Indians he calls them even
and stay'd both to dine sup and lodg with them April the tenth Early in the Morning I went to the Ship landed my Goods dispatch'd them at the Custom-house and having carry'd them to the House of Sig ra Lena da Cugna where Mariam Tinatin was I went to quarter till the House taken for me were emptied clean'd and prepar'd in the Covent of the Profess'd House of the Jesuits where I was receiv'd by the Visitor the Provincial the Provost and the rest with much courtesie and with their accustomed Charity and Civility I found there many Italian Fathers of which Nation the Society makes frequent use especially in the Missions of China Japan India and many other places of the East besides the two above-nam'd I found of Italians F. Christoforo Boro a Milanese call'd Brono in India not to offend the Portugal's ears with the word Boro which in their Language do's not sound well a great Mathematician and another young Father who was afterwards my Confessor F. Giuliano Baldinotti of Pistoia design'd for Japan whither he went afterwards Moreover in the Colledge which is another Church and a distinct Covent F. Alessandro Leni an ancient Roman and Friend of my Uncles with whom especially with Sig Alessandro he had studied in our Casa Instituta or Academy F. Giacinto Franceschi a Florentine all who with infinite others of several Nations Portugals Castilians and others were all my Friends and particularly F. Pantaleon Vincislao a German well skill'd in Mathematicks and a great wit Procurator of China F. Per Moryad the Vice-Roy's Confessor and F. Francesco Vergara both Castilians F. Christoforo di Giavanni a Portugal learned in Greek and Arabick F. Flaminio Carlo of Otranto Master in Divinity Of Fryers I also found many Italians namely in the Colledge of Fryer Joseph Masagna a famous Spicerer and a Man of much business in the Profess'd House a Neapolitan a Venetian and a Thuscan call'd Fryer Bartolomeo Pontebuoni a good Painter and also a Man of much employment who were all my great Friends April the eleventh my Birth-day The Jesuits shew'd me all their Covent which is indeed a large and goodly Building and though not much adorn'd according to our custom yet perhaps is the best thing that is in Goa as also the front of their Church April the fourteenth which was Holy Fryday Being present at Holy Service in the Quire of the Jesuits because I was still in my Persian Habit the Portugal Clothes which I had bespoken being not yet made and therefore I appear'd not in publick Sig Constantino da SÃ a Portugal Cavalier or Hidalgo design'd General for the Island of Zeilan whither he was preparing to go speedily with his Fleet coming also to hear the Office in the Quire saw me there and understanding who I was was pleas'd to take notice of me and after the Office was ended came together with the Fathers very courteously to complement me offering himself to serve me as he said in the Island of Zeiland if I pleas'd to go thither Whereunto I also answer'd with the best and most courteous words I could This Sig Constantino had been sent with an Armado of many Ships to relieve Ormuz when it was besiedg'd but not arriving there till after the place was taken he return'd back with his Fleet to Goa April the sixteenth being Easter-Day I first resum'd an Europaean to wit a Portugal Habit as 't is the fashion at Goa amongst the graver sort after I had worn strange garbs for many years together and ever since the death of my Sig ra Sitti Maani cloath'd my self and my servant in mourning April the seventeenth F. Vincislao Pantaleon my Friend above-nam'd who was skill'd in the China Language having been many years in these parts and intended to return thither shew'd me the Geographical Description of all China written very small or rather printed in a China Character after their way very handsomely On which occasion I must not omit to note that the Chineses as the said Father shew'd me in their Books are wont in writing to draw the line or verse of their writing not as we and the Hebrews do cross the paper but contrary to both from the top to the bottom beginning to write at the right side of the paper and ending at the left which to all other Nations seems a very strange way Moreover their Letters are not properly Letters but great Characters each of which denotes an intire word whence the Characters are as many as there are words in the Language and they reckon to the number of eighty thousand a thing indeed not onely strange and superfluous but also in my opinion unprofitable yea disadvantageous and onely for vain pomp for in learning these Characters they spend many years unprofitably which might be imploy'd in the acquisition of other better Sciences without being always Children as Hermes Trismegistus said of the Greeks yea in their whole life they cannot learn them all so that there are none among themselves or if any they are very rare and miraculous who can write and read all the words and know all the Characters of their own Tongue which is certainly a great imperfection although they say that he who knows four thousand Characters may speak and write well enough and he that knows six or eight thousand may pass for eloquent The Japoneses seem to me more judicious in this point having for ordinary and more facile use invented aâ— Alphabet of few Letters written likewise from the top downwards wherewith they write all words and all their own Language and also that of China But in the Sciences and more weighty matters the learned amongst them most commonly make use of the China-Characters which as mysterious and sacred are venerable to all these Nations and although they have all several Languages yet they do and can make use of the same writing because being the said Characters are not Letters but significative of words and the words although different in sound yet in all these Languages are of the same signification and number it comes to pass that divers Nations adjacent to China as these of Japan Cauchin-China and other although different in Language yet in writing making use of the China-Characters at least in matters of greatest moment understand one another when they read these Characters each in their own Tongue with the different words of their proper Language which indeed in reference to the commerce and communication of Nations is a great convenience April the seven and twentieth This Morning being the first Thursday after the Dominica in Albis there was a solemn Procession at Goa of the most Holy Sacrament for the Annual Feast of Corpus Christi as the custom is But in Goa it is kept out of the right time upon such a day because the right day of the Feast falls in the Moneths of great Rain so that at that time the Procession cannot be perform'd and therefore they anticipate it in this manner
order'd both Curriers to depart and also a Brachman call'd Mangasa together with the Currier to the King of Banghel sending likewise with them a Christian of Barselòr nam'd Lorenzo Pessoa who was at Ikkerì with Montegro that he might either in Mangalòr Banghel or other places thereabouts procure Mariners for a Ship remaining at Barselòr unprovided of Men giving the said Pessoa a Licence to hire some which he had obtain'd of the Ministers of Venk-tapà Naieka to levy them in his Territories if need were Being by this time sufficiently inform'd of remarkable things in Ikkerì I am desirous of divers others especially to see the person of the Queen of Olaza whose History and many valiant exploits I read when I was in Persia for which I have a fair opportunity by accompanying these Men sent from the Ambassador of whom when I have taken leave I shall God willing depart to morrow LETTER VI. From Mangalòr Decemb. 9. 1623. HAving already seen in Ikkerì as much as was there remarkable and being very desirous of seeing Barselòr Mangalòr and also principally the Q. of Olaza whose Dominion and Residence is contiguous to Mangalòr as well for that she is Sovereign of those parts a matter in other Countries not ordinary and a Princess famous in our dayes even in the Indian Histories of the Portugals as because she is a Gentile in Religion as likewise all her Subjects are whence I conceiv'd I might possibly see some considerable curiosity there I lay'd hold of the occasion of going thither in company of these Men who are sent by the Ambassador by whose favour being provided of a good Horse in regard there were no Palanchino's to be hir'd in Ikkerì and a Man to carry my baggage upon his Head I prepar'd to set forth the next Morning November the three and twentieth Before my departure from Ikkerì I was presented from Vitulà Sinay of whom I had before taken leave with a little Book written in the Canara-Language which is the vulgar in Ikkerì and all that State It is made after the custom of the Country not of paper which they seldom use but of Palm-leavs to wit of that Palm which the Portugals call Palmum brama i. e. Wild-palm and is of that sort which produces the Indian Nut for so do those commonly in India where Palms that produce Dates are very rare In the leavs of these Palms they write or rather ingrave the Letters with an Iron style made for the purpose of an uncouth form and that the writing may be more apparent they streak it over with a coal and tye the leavs together to make a Book of them after a manner sufficiently strange I being desirous to have one of these Books to carry as a curiosity to my own Country for ornament of my Library and not finding any to be sold in the City had entreated Vitulà Sinay to help me to one but he not finding any vendible therein caus'd a small one to be purposely transcrib'd for me there being not time enough for a greater and sent it to me as a gift just as I was ready to take Horse What the Book contains I know not but I imagine 't is Verses in their Language and I carry it with me as I do also to shew to the curious divers leavs not written and a style or Iron Pen such as they use together with one leaf containing a Letter Missive after their manner which was written by I know not who to our Ambassador of whom taking leave with many complements as also of Sig Carvaglio the Chaplain Montegro and all the company I departed from Ikkerì a little before noon going out at the same Gate whereat I had enter'd and having no other company but a Veturino or Hackney-man and a Pulià who carry'd my luggage without any other servant for as for Galà l the Persian aliàs Cacciatùr I was constrain'd to dismiss him for some uncommendable actions and send him back from Ikkerì to Goa I will not omit to tell you that this my brave God-son whom I had brought so carefully out of Persia and trusted so much and who alone of all my ancient servants remain'd with me one day cunningly open'd a light box or basket Canestri the Portugals call them wherein I kept my Clothes and which after the fashion of the Country was not of wood but of hoops lin'd with leather and clos'd with little Pad-locks like those which are us'd at Rome for Plate and they are thus contriv'd that they may be of little weight because in these parts carriages and baggages for travel are more frequently transported upon Mens shoulders then upon beasts backs and one of these baskets or Canestri is just a Man's load Now the good Cacciatùr having open'd mine without hurting the lock or medling with the linnen which he found therein took out onely all the little mony which I then had and had put into it to avoid carrying its weight about me it was in one of those long leathern purses which are made to wear round the waste like a girdle and was full of Spanish Rialls a Coyn in these parts and almost in all the world current enough His intention I conceive was to leave me as they say naked in the Mountains in the center of India and peradventure to go into some Territory of the Gentiles or Mahometans there to pass a jovial life upon my expence But it pleas'd God the theft being done in my Chamber where none but he resorted we had vehement suspition of him and therefore the Ambassador making use of his Authority caus'd him to be laid hold on and we found the theft in his breeches ty'd to his naked flesh and thus I recover'd my money I was unwilling any hurt should be done to him and withall to keep him longer nevertheless that he might not go into the Infidel-Countries lest thereby he should lose his Religion and turn to his native errors I sent him away with some trusty persons to Goa giving him Letters also to Signora Maria but such as whereby they might know that I had dismis'd him and that he was not to be entertain'd there though otherwise indempnifi'd By this Story you may see how much a Man may be deceiv'd in his trusting how little benefits prevail upon an unworthy nature and withall you may consider to what misfortunes a Stranger is subject in strange Countries so that if I had had nothing else being thus depriv'd of all I should have been left to perish miserably amongst Barbarians But leaving him to his Voyage I departed from Ikkerì and having pass'd the Town Badrapor I left the road of Ahinelì and by another way more towards the left hand went to dine under certain Trees near a small Village of four Houses which they call Bamanen coppa After dinner we continu'd our way and foarded a River call'd Irihalè not without being wet by reason of the smallness of my Horse and having travell'd near two Gau's
the Persian shore that it was out of sight yet we found no more water than about ten fathom and indeed we were fain to sail when the wind arose with plummet constantly in hand by reason of the shallow which are hereabouts March the eighth We sailed still out of sight of land yet had but four fathom of water and because the shallow is equal in this place for a great way together the Persian Pilots call it Meidan that is the Plain The next day we sailed a little but most of the day lay at Anchor because the Pilots could not find the mouth of the River of Bassora although it seem'd to us to be very near and indeed 't is no easie matter to find it the shore being so low that it is not discerned unless very near hand and to approach so near the shore as to discern the River is not safe by reason of the shallows March the eleventh In seeking the mouth of the River opinions were so various and consequently the Ship governed with such confusion that the rudder strook on ground not without some danger but at length with much diligence we freed the Ship and got into more water the Ship of Ciaul which as lighter drew less water going before us as guide and entring into the River's mouth before we knew it The River of Bassora which is Euphrates and Tygris joyned together is call'd by the Arabians Sciat d' Arab that is the Arabian River and falls into the Sea with two great Mouths about twelve Leagues distant one from the other The most Easterly which is the biggest and securest lyes on the side of Ormuz and Persia whose name it borrows The more Westerly and less frequented by great Ships lyes on the side of Buhhreim or Cutifu of Arabia from whence it assumes a name And because the division of the River into two Branches happens within the land a little below Bassora I know not how many leagues from the Sea hence it forms a no small Trianguler Iland called at this day Cheder which I hold to be the gift of the River like the Delta of Egypt and that it will increase every day by the sand brought down by the River considering the many flats and shallows which as I said above are found in these places Now we being entred by the Eastern mouth and having sailed a good way against the stream at length came to the place of the division and leaving the more Westerly branch on the left hand continued our course amongst the verdures of Date-trees and cultivated Fields which on both sides the River down to the Sea are very fertile At length we came to the place from whence up to the City of Bassora which lies on the west bank a good way from the River is drawn an artificial Dike capable even of Portugal Galliots which pass up to the Dogana or Custom-house where a bridg of planks laid upon boats and fortified with Iron chains crosseth the Dike on the South-part of which bridg stands a Castle and strong Bulwark for guard of the City and passage The water of this trench ebbs and flows with the Sea and at high Tide runs up I known not how far beyond the bridg yet Ships go no further then the bridg where they ride as in a secure Haven From this trench are derived some other little channels on either side to several places of the City and in some of them they make use of small Boats which they call Doneâ— with great convenience to the houses besides that they want not little bridges upon the said channels to walk over on foot The City of Bassora is large and populous but ill built and till of late without walls for by reason of these wars with the Persians they have almost inclosed it with an earthen Rampart within which is the Bazar of Goldsmiths and for linnen Cloth and all the best things that are sold. Before the Castle is an indifferent large Piazza where there are some great Pieces of Ordnance amongst which we saw certain Portugal Pieces which had been taken many years ago by the Turks of Bassora from Mascat when they infested the seas with their Galleys which afterwards were destroy'd by the Portugals Another Piazza there is before the Basha's House which is always full of heaps of Corn Rice and other Fruits which are to be sold here being kept night and day without other shops or inclosure then ordinary mats without fear of stealing in regard of the strict justice exercis'd by the Turks in matter of Theft The people are Arabians with some Turks intermix'd so that the Arabian Language is most spoken although the Turkish and Persian are not unfrequent As for Religion the Moors are partly Sonai's and partly Scinai's with Liberty of Conscience to both yet in the Meschita's the Service is after the manner of the Sonai's and also all publick Ceremonies are perform'd after the Rite of the Sonai's which is that which the Great Turk who is King of this Country observes at Constantinople There are also some Houses of Chaldean Christians call'd Christians of S. John or Sabeans though I believe they have little more besides the name of Christians for they have no Church except the House of one single Priest who was there in my time and he a very Idiot nor could I learn that they ever assembled there to be present at any Divine Service They have no Fast or abstinence from Flesh but eat every day alike Nor have they any Sacraments except some shadow of them and 't is a question whether their Baptism be such as it ought to be and not rather the Baptism of S. John then of Christ. And because in this and many other things they observe S. John Baptist more then any other and have him in greatest Veneration therefore they are call'd Christians of S. John with no small suspition of being the remainder of those Jews whom S. John baptiz'd with the Baptism of Repentance and who without caring for any thing else have continu'd in that Rite ever since The Gospels and other sacred Books 't is not known at least in Bassora that they have or use but they have a Book which they call Sidra according whereunto they govern themselves in matters of Religion but who is the Author of it I know not They speak a harsh Chaldee besides Arabick which is generally in use which Language of theirs they call Mendai as also for the most part amongst themselves they are styl'd Mendai besides the two other names of Christians of S. John and Sabeans by the first of which they are known to us Europaeans and by the latter to the Moors What Mendai signifies and whence it is deriv'd I could not learn They have also particular Characters different from the ordinary Chaldaick and Syrian both ancient and modern wherewith they transcribe their sacred Books but commonly none can either read or write this character besides the Priest who
The same day after dinner I took leave of the Consul with all my other Friends and was by his Servants and many others of the Italian Nation accompany'd out of the City Before we mounted our Camels I was desirous to see in the Suburbs of Aleppo the Churches of the Oriental Christians which stand in a Street call'd Giudeida not from the Jews as some who skill not of Languages erroneously imagine but from the Arabick word Gedida which signifies New perhaps because this place of the Suburbs was built more lately then others Here a little out of the Street on the right hand I found four Churches all together led unto by one Gate onely from the Street but the place being spacious enough within conveniently divided and separated about the Court or Yard Two of them belong'd to the Armenians the greater a fair one indeed call'd Santi Quaranta or the forty Saints and the less Della Madonna or our Lady One of the other two call'd San Nicolo belong'd to the Greeks and the other which is the least of all to the Maronite Catholicks call'd Sant ' Elia. In another place a good distant from this I saw alone by it self another Church hansome and large for the Country built after our manner with three Naves or Isles upon Pillars it belong'd to the Syrian Jacobites and was call'd Sitaa Assedi or Santa Maria. This Church hath adjoyning to it a good House with a little Garden and other conveniences according to the use of the Country wherein lives the Patriarch of the Jacobits calld Heda for whom I had brought from Bassora a Letter of F. Basilio di San Francesco a discalciated Carmelite wherein he invited him to a mutual friendship and correspondence from which he might draw some benefit to the service of God by reason of his skill in the Arabick and his residence here in behalf of the Christians of the Country This Letter I had gotten presented to the Patriarch and transmitted his answer to F. Basilio but had never visited him as the Father desir'd me in order to second his Letter and settle a friendship between them because he liv'd far from the Venetian Consul's House where I resided and all the while I remain'd in Aleppo I was lame of one foot by a hurt caus'd by walking in ill shoos that day when we were in danger of being assaulted by thievs so that I could not walk and was not wholly cur'd when I departed Nevertheless hapning to be so near his Church now I would not omit to visit him I found him a very compleat civil and courtly man according to the mode of the Country he had not the fame of being learned but yet was accounted wise and generous He told me he was glad of F. Basilio's Letter and residing at Bassora and building a Church there so peaceably and with so much favour of the Turks as he advertis'd him and that he would continue correspondence with him He also shew'd me two fair Books of the Gospels written in large Parchment-sheets with excellent Syrian Characters one of them as I remember written four hundred years ago the Letters whereof were all either of Gold or Silver and this Book they say was found by the Turks in Cyprus when they took the Island and carri'd to Constantinople from whence it was afterwards redeem'd with money and brought hither Indeed no Manuscript could be more goodly or rich with gold and miniature it had also a velvet Cover adorn'd with Silver gilt but made by themselves the ancient Cover which they said was set with jewels of great value being taken away by the Turks 'T is the custom of the Orientals to make great account of Books so fairly written and richly adorned as likewise S. Jerom reports they us'd to do in his time though himself being a Scholar was better contented as he saith with his schedules of a less fair Character but correct The other Gospel which the Patriarch shew'd me was more ancient namely four hundred and fifty years old but written with ordinary ink and few miniated Figures this he told me they bought lately at Cyprus for two hundred Piastres He added that the Church of Aleppo was not his Patriarchal See although under his jurisdiction but it was near the City of Mousul which is in the place of the ancient Niniveh After much more discourse he caus'd very good Sherbets of Sugar with snow to be given us to drink as the custom is and offer'd us a Collation of fruits which we receiv'd not because it was already late and time to be gone At last at my taking leave he pray'd me to do reverence to his Holiness in his name and so when he had given me many benedictions as their manner is I left him and departed Being come to the place where the Camels with the Women waited for me I took leave of all those friends that had accompani'd me thither and chose not the direct way to Alexandretta which the Caravans commonly use but one somewhat longer hard by Antioch out of a desire to see the remains of that ancient City which I had not yet seen After a short travel we rested till the Moon arose and then proceeded all the remainder of the night in bad and uneven ways August the twenty fourth We pass'd by some Villages and places cultivated with Olive-trees which I was joyful to see not having beheld any for many years About Noon we rested amongst certain ruins of Stone-buildings which had once been very magnificent and seem'd to be the remains of some noble City in ancient times Here the Archbishop Isciva-jahab's men the one nam'd Abdisciva and the other Hendi overtook me with his Letter I receiv'd them and carri'd them with me as I had promis'd The said place is call'd Hhalqa which signifies a Circle because 't is a great Plain almost surrounded with Hills Three hours after Noon we set forth again we pass'd by another Village belonging to the Territory of Hhalqa and at night took up our Quarters near a running Water under another Village call'd Harta At midnight the Moon rising we set forth again and travell'd all the remainder of the night August the twenty fifth Continuing our journey we came into a great Plain and travelling along the River Orontes according to the stream which we had found at day-break we cross'd over the same upon a good Stone-bridge Here the Plain is contracted being streightned on the right hand with high and on the left with lower mountains travelling in which Valley about Noon we arriv'd at Antioch which is fronted with high mountains almost on the North beyond the River Orontes and back'd with lower toward the South the walls of the City being extended over the same We enter'd at the East-gate and took up our Quarters near a great Cistern which is on the left hand of the Gate divided only by a wall from the Street and pav'd round with white Marble it is fill'd by a
of weaving especially on both ends which hang down directly before them And thus have I presented a Mahometan there in his proper dress whose habit will more visibly appear together in the Mogols Picture portrayed and after put into this discourse Now for the Mahometan women because I had never sight of those of the greatest quality I cannot give such an account of them in respect of the Habits For these unless they be dishonest or poor come not abroad but for the fashion of their Garments they do not differ much from those the men wear for they wear Coats and Breeches one very like the other only women bind their long hair with Phillets which hang down behind them They wear likewise upon their heads Mantles or Vails usually made of white Callico or of their Pintado's which hang down over their other Garments Further the women have their Ears boared not only in their flaps but round about them wherein they wear very little Pendants those of the richer sort are made of flat narrow and thin pieces of Gold or Silver those worn by the poorer sort made of Brass or Iron kept bright so that all are in the same fashion they bestow some work upon the edges and ends of those Pendants And those women have the lower part of their left Nostrils pierced wherein they wear a Ring when they please of Gold or Silver or of some other baser Metals Those Rings of Gold have little Pearls fastned to one end of them and that Pearl is dril'd through that both ends of the ring may meet in it And doubtless the women of the greatest quality though I saw it not are bedeck'd with many rich Jewels This I have observed in some of those of the better sort I there saw that they did wear great broad hollow Rings of Gold enamel'd and some made of Silver or Brass upon their wrists and upon the small of their legs to take off and on two or three of them upon each Arm and Leg which make a tinkling noise very probably such Ornaments as the Jewish women were threatned for Isaiah 3. where Almighty God tells them that he would take away their tinkling Ornaments about their feet the Bracelets and the Ornaments of their legs their Rings and Nose-jewels For my Lord Embassadour and his Company we all kept to our English Habits made as light and cool as possibly we could have them His waiters in red Taffata Cloaks guarded with green Taffata which they always wore when they went abroad with him my self in a long black Cassock and the colours and fashion of our garments were so different from theirs that we needed not wheresoever we were to invite spectators to take notice of us And now the Constancy there observed by the Natives of both sexes in keeping to their old fashions in their Habits exampled to them by their Predecessors in many foregoing Generations and by them still continued is the great praise of this people as the commendation of every Nation in the World almost besides ours still constant to their ancient fashions in their Apparel SECTION XII Of their Language their Books their Learning c. THE Language of this Empire I mean the Vulgar bears the name of it and is called Indostan it hath much affinity with the Persian and Arabian Tongues but the Indostan is a smoother Language and more easie to be pronounced than the other a Language which is very significant and speaks much few words They write it as we to the right hand It is expressed by letters which are very much different from those Alphabets by which the Persian and Arabian Tongues are formed The Persian there is spoken as their more quaint and Court-tongue The Arabian is their learned Language both written backward to the left hand like the Hebrew from whence they borrrow many words which come so near it as that he who is a good Critick in the Hebrew may very well guess at the meaning of much in both those Languages The Persian is a Language as if it consisted all of Guttural letters as some in the Hebrew Alphabet are called filling the mouth in the pronunciation of them for as the words in that Language are full of sense so in their speaking they are full of sound For the Latin and Greek by which there hath been so much knowledg conveyed into the World they are as ignorant of them both as if they had never been and this may be one great reason why there is so little learning amongst them But for the people themselves they are men of very strong reason and will speak ex re nata upon any offered occasion very exceeding well and doubtless they are a people of such strong Capacities that were there literature amongst them they might be the Authors of many excellent works but as the case stands with them all that is there attainable towards Learning is but to read and write And here by the way let me insert this that I never saw any Idiot or natural Fool nor any deformed person amongst them in any of those parts For Logick and Rhetorick which are so instrumental the first to enlarge and the second to polish discourses they have none but what is Natural They say that they write some witty Poems and compose many handsom Annals and Stories of their own and other adjacent Countries They delight much in Musick and have some stringed but many more Wind-instruments They have the use of Timbrels likewise but for want of pleasing Airs their Musick in my ears never seemed to be any thing but discord Their Books are not many and those are Manuscripts That rare and happy invention of Printing which hath been the advancement of so much learning within Christendom is not known without it They have heard of Aristotle whom they call Aplis and have some of his Books as they say in the Arabian Tongue in which Language they further say they have many Books written by Avicenna that ancient Physitian who was born in Samarchandia one of the most fam'd places within the Tartarian Empire the Country as they believe where Tamberlain the Mogols great Ancestor drew his first breath Some parts or fragments they have of the old Testament of which more when I shall come to speak of their Religion Many amongst them profess themselvs to have great skill in judicial Astrology that great Cheat which hath been very anciently and often put upon as the Sacred Story witnesseth the people inhabiting the East and South parts of the World I call it a Cheat because there is and must needs be so much uncertainty in it all things here below being ordered and over-ruled by the secret and unerring providence of Almighty God which frustrateth the tokens of the Lyars and maketh Diviners mad that turneth wise men backward and maketh their knowledg foolish Esay 44.25 First these Diviners are mad when things fall not out according to their bold predictions And secondly they
bedeckt and adorned with Jewels he continually wears for the fashion of the Habit in which he is here presented it is for the fashion the Habit of that whole vast Empire so that he who strictly views this may see the dress of the Men throughout that whole great Monarchy After this I have set up the Royal Standard of the Great Mogol which is a couchant Lyon shadowing part of the Body of the Sun And after that I have caused his Imperial Signet or Great Seal to be laid down before my Reader 's Eyes where in nine rounds or Circles are the Names and Titles of Tamberlane and his lineal successors in Persian words which I shall make presently to speak English and as I conceive no more in English than what is fully expressed in those original words This Seal as it is here made in Persian words the Great Mogol either in a large or lesser figure causeth to be put unto all Firmaunes or Letters Patents the present Kings Title put in the middle and larger Circle that is surrounded with the rest the impression whereof is not made in any kind of Wax but Ink the Seal put in the middle of the Paper and the writing about it which Paper there is made very large and smooth and good and in divers colours besides white and all to write on And the words on the Mogol's Seal being imboss'd are put upon both sides of his Silver and Gold Coin for there is no Image upon any of it And the like little Signets or Seals are used by the great Men of that Country and so by others of inferiour rank having their Names at length engraven on them with which they make impressions or subscriptions by by Ink put on them to all their acts and deeds which round Circle is their Hand and Seal too For Timur lang or Tamberlane he was famous about the year of Christ 1398. in the last year of the Reign of Richard the Second King of England And he the first of the Race of those great Monarchs hath a Title which speaks thus 1. Amir Timur Saheb Ceraâ— that is the great Conqueror or Emperor Timur or Tamberlain Lord possessor of the Corners or of the four Corners of the World 2. The second his Son was called Mirath-Sha the King and Inheritor of Conquests or the Inheritor of his Fathers Conquests 3. The third his Son was called Mirza Sultan Mahomeds The Prince and Commander for Mahomet or The Defender of the Mahometan Religion For this King as it should seem was the first Indostan Emperor that professed Mahometism which Tamberlane his Grand-father was a great Enemy to and therefore ever strongly opposed it But this third Monarch of that Line and all his Successors since have been Mahometans 4. The fourth his Son was called Sultan Abusaid The Prince and Father or Fountain of Beneficence 5. The fifth his Son was called Mirzee Amir Scheick The Imperial Princely Lord. 6. The sixth his Son was called Baba Padsha The King the Father or The King the Father of his Country 7. The seventh his Son was called Hamasaon Padsha The King Invincible 8. The eighth his Son was called Achabar Padsha The great King or Emperour that is most mighty or The King most mighty 9. The ninth his Son was called Almozaphar Noor Dein Gehangeir Padsha Gaze The most warlike and most victorious King the Light of Religion and the Conquerour of the World Here are very high Titles taken by Tamberlane and his Successors and the lower we go the greater still they are but the last of them swells biggest of all calling himself amongst other Phantsies The Conquerour of the World and so he conceits himself to be As they write of Thrasyllus the Athenian who believed that all the Ships on the Sea were his own and therefore he would call them My Ships when ever he saw them floating on the waters and thus the great Mogol imagines all the Kings Nations and People of the World to be his Slaves and Vassals And therefore when the Grand Signiour or Great Turk sent an Ambassador to the Great Mogol who came unto him attended with a great train and retinue and after when he was ready to take his leave desired of the Mogol to know what he should say to his Master when he was returned Tell thy Master said the Mogol that he is my Slave for my Ancestor conquered him The Mogol feeds and feasts himself with this conceit that he is Conquerour of the World and therefore I conceive that he was troubled upon a time when my Lord Ambassador having business with him and upon those terms there is no coming unto that King empty-handed without some Present or other of which more afterward and having at that time nothing left which he thought fit to give him presented him with Mercators great Book of Cosmography which the Ambassador had brought thither for his own use telling the Mogol that that Book described the four parts of the World and all several Countries in them contained The Mogol at the first seem'd to be much taken with it desiring presently to see his own Territories which were immediately shewen unto him he asked which were those Countries about them he was told Tartaria and Persia as the names of the rest which confine with him and then causing the Book to be turn'd all over and finding no more to fall to his share but what at first he saw and he calling himself the Conquerour of the World and having no greater share in it seemed to be a little troubled yet civilly told the Ambassador that neither himself nor any of his People did understand the Language in which that Book was written and because so he further told him that he would not rob him of such a Jewel and therefore returned it unto him again And the Truth is that the Great Mogol might very well bring his Action against Mercator and others who describe the World but streighten him very much in their Maps not allowing him to be Lord and Commander of those Provinces which properly belong unto him But it is true likewise that he who hath the greatest share on the face of the Earth if it be compared with the whole World appears not great As it was said of the Lands of Alcibiades that compared with the Globe of the whole Earth they did not appear bigger then a small tittle The Mogol's Territories are more apparent large and visible as one may take notice who strictly views this affixed Map which is a true representation of that great Empire in its large dimensions So that although the Mogol be not Master of the whole World yet hath he a great share in it if we consider his very large Territories and his abundant riches as will after more appear whose wealth and strength makes him so potent as that he is able whensoever he pleaseth to make inroades upon and to do much mischief unto any of his Neighbours but I
from that Fall and therefore it was necessary that there should be one more than a Man to do it for him and that that One could not be Mahomet That this One was Christ God as well as Man God to satisfie the Mahometans themselves confessing that Christ was the breath of God and Man to suffer death as he did That Christ the Son of God coming into the World about that great Work of satisfying Gods anger against Man for sin it was necessary that he should live a poor and laborious life here on Earth at which the Mahometans much stumble and not a life that was full of pomp and pleasure and delicacy That the Gospel of Christ and other holy books of Scripture which the Christians retain and walk by contain nothing in them that is corrupt and depraved But there is very much to be found in their Alcaron which is so That the great worth and worthiness shining in the Person of Christ was by far more excellent than any thing observable in Mahomet for they themselves confess that Christ lived without sin when Mahomet himself acknowledgeth that he had been a filthy person That the feigned foolish and ridiculous miracles which they say were done by Mahomet were nothing comparable to the Miracles done by Christ who as the Mahometans confess did greater Miracles than ever were done before or since him That there was a great deal of difference in the manner of promulgating the Gospel of Christ into the world and the introducing of the Laws of Mahomet That Christ hath purchased Heaven for all that believe in him and that Hell is prepared for all others that do not rely on him and on him alone for Salvation There were many more particulars besides these which that Jeronymo Xaveere laid down before the Mogol to ground his arguments on which that King heard patiently at several times during the space of one year and a half but at last he sent him away back again to Goa honourably with some good gifts bestowed on him telling him as Felix did after he had reasoned before him that he would call for him again when he had a convenient time Acts 24.25 Which time or season neither of them both ever found afterward These Particulars which I have here inserted with many more I might have added to them upon all which that Jeronymo Xaveere enlarged himself before the Mogol in his arguings before him were given unto me in Latine by Francisco Corsi another Jesuit resident at that Court while I was there and long before that time And further I have been there told by other people professing Christianity in that Empire that there was such a Dispute there held and for my part I do believe it For that Francisco Corsi he was 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 Portugals and had not only free access unto that King but also encouragement and help by hifts which he sometimes bestowed on him 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 of it And as he should not go about to reconcile the Embassadour to them So he told him that it would be labour in vain if he should attempt to reconcile him to us Only 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 have been a very main Obstacle and hinderance unto his great Design and endeavour for which he was sent thither to convert people unto Christianity there Telling my Lord Embassadour further that he should be ready to do for 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 And he would tell us many stories besides one of which if true is very remarkable And it was thus There are a race of people in East India the men of which race have if he told us true their right legs extraordinary great and mishapen their left legs are like other mens Now he told us that they were the posterity of those who stamped St Thomas the Apostle to death come thither to preach the Gospel and that ever since the men of that race have and only they of that Nation that great deformity upon them Some few people I have there seen of whom this story is told but whether that deformity be like Geheza's leprosie hereditary and if so whether it fell upon that people upon the occasion before-named I am yet to learn The Jesuits in East India for he was not alone there have liberty to convert any they can work upon unto Christianity c. The Mogol hath thus far declared that it shall be lawful for any one perswaded so in conscience to become a Christian and that he should not by so doing lose his favour Upon which I have one thing here to insert which I had there by report yet I was bid to believe it and report it for a truth concerning a Gentleman of quality and a servant of the great Mogol who upon some conviction wrought upon him as they say would needs be Baptized and become a Christian. The King hearing of this Convert sent for him and at first with many cruel threats commanded him to renounce that his new profession the man replied that he was most willing to suffer any thing in that cause which the King could inflict The Mogol then began to deal with him another way askking why he thought himself wiser then his Fore-fathers who lived and died Mahometans and further added many promises of riches and honour if he would return to his Mahometism he replied again as they say for I have all this by Tradition that he would not accept of any thing in the world so to do The Mogol wondring at his constancy told him that if he could have frighted or bought him out of his new profession he would have made him an example for all waverers but now he perceived that his resolution indeed was to be a Christian and he bid him so continue and with a reward discharged him The late Mogol about the beginning of his reign caused a Temple to be built in Agra his chief City for the Jesuits wherein two of his younger Brothers Sons were solemnly Baptized and delivered into their