‘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’ [‎420] (441/508)

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420
J Voyage to EAST-INDIA, &>€.
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God hath fcnt three great Prophets into the world, firft Mojes,
and after him Chrift^ and then Mahomet 5 and further add.that
when Chrift left the world he promifed to fend a Comforter in
to it-, and that Comforter was Mahomet> and therefore they
clofewith him.
I (hall not need amongft men profefiing Chriftianity to write
any thing in anlwer to thofe their frantick aflertions^either will
I make it my bufinefs to enlarge my felfin thedifcovery of the
Mahometan Religion, becauie that hath been done by fbmany
hands already 5 only this I will fay of it, and not much more,
that it hath Will-worftiip for its Foundation 5 Fables and Lies
for its fupport 3 and a groundlefs prefumption for its fuper-
ftrufture. "
For its Foundation 5 firfl: 3 abundance of Will-worfhip, mani-
fefted in many outwatd performances, which are not hard to be
performed, becaufe the depraved will of man, is ready preft and
bent to perform things of that kind with readinefs, cheerfulneft,
and delight. The works of your Father the Devil you wiUdofmh.
our Saviour, of the obftinate Jews 5 do them, be they never fo
hard, with content and willingnefs.
Secondly,the Mahometan Religion hath abundance of ftrange
Monftroos Fables and Lyes fonts fupport, thtix Alcoran ((ot
the fubftance of it) being a fardle of fooliih impoflibilities, fit
to be received by none but foob and mad-men 5 for they Can
gain no more credit with thofe that are judicious, then what is
related in the ryming ftory of that antient Knight Errant, Be-
vis of Southampton^ or in the Poems of Orlando^ the furious,
where may be found fome fuch like parallel fidHons,as oi^jialpho
who mounted a Griffin, which carried him up immediately into
the Moon, where (they Mahomet fometime wasjthereafbn f
conceive which made hrmfelf, and his followers, ever (ince fo
full of Lunacy or madnefs.
Thirdly, it hath a groundlefs prefumption for its fuper-
ftru&ure, which prelumption draws that milled people into a
carelefs lecurity, they efteeming themfelves the only true be
lievers of the world, and none true believers but themfelves.
Yet it cann9t be denied, but that there are fbme things in the
precepts which. Mahomet h&th. prefcribed to be received andob-
Icrved by his followers, that are good ^ laid down in eight com
mandments which are thele.
Firft, C I hat God is a great God^ and the only God^ and Maho
met is the Prophet of God.
Second, That Children mnji obey their Parents^ afid do nothing
to dijpleafe them either in word or deed.
Third, That every one muji do to another that> and only that^
which he would have another do to him.
F ourth , That every man five times every day mufi repair to the
Mofquit or Churchy to pray there 5 or^wherejoever he i/, he muji pray
, wwy day fo ff/'ten^ if not m the Church, then elfewhere.
Fifth,
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