‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎47] (68/508)

Into the EAST-INDIES.
S tthe ^
fW.
' n i'. lta ppa»
^^Portant,
, r , onel ) , 1 pet-
^ Averlityof
VarticuJarly
he
5 ^ke moft
to the degree
■^orious pro-
^caufe they
inetooj from
and fo
hofe of other
a better life,
ats, efpecialiy
irningandthe
In teftimony
certain Enlign
linguilht from
t next the fldli
er under the
ery, andisgi-
one other tor
is, of which I
1 information
tweenthe Je-
1 thefw#^
ifignofpief j
0 Indian Con-
ath beenfaid,
igththeaufe
)r three years
m CndiyHi
My pa/s'd by
fentbythc
3 the Jefuipj
; this affair,
' I know not
from Rom j
Gox we W
efuits pro^
( on one Gde ) that the honour of wearing this Ribbanis fre-
nuently granted not onely to the Indians 3 but alio to ftrangers
of different Nation and Sett 5 as to Mahometans, who (by con-
defcenGon of that King, who among thejlndians hath authority
to do it, as Head of their Se£t in fpirituals) have in recompence
of great and honourable fervices en joy'd this priviledge, without
becoming Gentiles 5 or changing their Religion, but Itill per-
lifting to live Mahometans $ which indeed is a ftrong Argument,
On the other fide, they prove that many Braehmans and others
of the Race priviledg'd to wear it, intending to lead a uncter
life, and abandon the world by living almoft like Hermits ;
amoneft other things, in humility lay afide this Ribban, being a
token Nobility 5 which 'tis not likely they would do, it it were
a Cognizance of Religion 5 yea, they would wear it the more.
But this fecond Argument feems not tome fo cogent, becaule,
amoneftus Chriftians, if a Knight ofthe order of Calatrava, or
the like, which are Enfignes of Nobility, in order to a more
holy life enter into (bme Religion, .dthei of Fryers, Monks, or
other Regulars; 'tis clear that takitlg the Religious Habit, he
layes afide the body of his Knight-hood, 'although it be that
Crofs, than which there cannot be a greater Cognizance ot.
Chriftian Religion; albeit'tis worn by thofe Knights as atoken
of Nobility too. l is enough, that the Jefuits think their opi
nion abundantly confirm'd by the two abovefaid Realons, name
ly, that it is rather a fign of Nobility then a Cognizance of Re
ligion. And although the fame is conferr d with many fuper-
ftitious Ceremonies, yet they will not have it taken away, al-
ledging for example, that the Croffesof our Knights, however
Enfienes of Nobility, are given with many Ceremonies and Rites
of our facred Religion, the more to authorize them. Whence
it appears that the ufe of this Ribban may be without Icruple
permitted to the Indians,provided thefe fnperftinous Ceremonies
be lay'd afide, and efpecialiy the End, in which alone conhits
the fin > changing it in that manner as the ancient Chnltians
chang'd many Feftivals and fuperftitions of the Gentiles into
Feftivals of Martyrs, and other pious Commemorations. And
this may be done by applying Ce.g .)thefignification ofthe three
Braids to the moft Holy Trinity, or m fome fuch manner, turn
ing it to a pious and lawful ufe. Neverthelefs thofe of the con-
trary party impugn this opinion with 0o ^ a< J_^: e
fav 'tis a thine in itfelf, of its own nature, wholly unlawful to
Chriftians, as being perfeftly a Gentile-fuperftition ; which is
prov'd by the Ceremonies and words us d in conferring it, and
that forthe three Braids, 'tis well known they hold and wear
themin honour of three of their chief falfeGods > and that al
though they be Enfigns of Nobility in the wearer > 7".
ate withall, and principally a mamfeft Cognizance of their Re
ligion % as Croiies are amongft our Knights, where with who ever
hath the fame on his breaft, not onely oftentates his Nobility,