‘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’ [‎477] (498/508)

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hereon Earth (at which the Mahometans much ftumble) and
not a life that was full of pomp, and pleafure, and delicacy.
That the Gofpel of Chrift, and other hgly books ofScripture^
which the Chriftians retain and walk byj contain nothing in
them that is corrupt and depraved 3 But there is very much to
be found in their Alcaron which is fb.
That the great worth and worthinefs (hining inthePerfbn of
Chrift, was by far more excellent than any thing obfervable in
Mahomet (for they themfelves confefs that Chrift lived without
fin 3 when Mahomet himfelf acknowledgeth, that he had been a
filthy perfon.)
That the feigned 3 foolifli 9 and ridiculous miracles., which
they fay were done by Mahomet^ were nothing comparable to
the Miracles done by Chrift, who ( as the Mahometans con
fefs) did greater Miracles than ever were done before or
fincehim. . (( ^
That there was a great deal of difference in the manner of
promulgating the Gofpel of Chrift, into the world? and the in
troducing of the Laws of Mahomet,
That Chrift hath purchafed Heaven for all that believe in
him, and that Hell is prepared fqr all others that do not rely on
him, and on him alone,for Salvation.
There were many more particulars befidesthde, which that
JeroK/mo Xaveere laid down before the Mogol ? to ground his ar
guments on 2 which that Ring heard patiently, atfeveral times
during thefpace of one year and a half? but at laft hefent him
away back again to Goa honourably, with fome good gifts
beftowed on him, telling him, as Felix did, after he had rea-
foned before him, that he would call for him again when he had a
convenient time^ A(£ts24.25. Which time or feafon, neither of
them both ever found afterward.
Thefe Particulars, which I have here inferted (with many
more $ I might have added to them3 upon all which, that
Jeronjmo Xaveere enlarged himfelf before the Mogol in his ar-
euings before him) were given unto me in Latine by Fran~
cifco Corf, another Jefuit refident at that Court, while I was
there, and long before that time. And further I have been
there told by other people profeffing Chriftianity in that Em
pire., that there was fuch a Difpute there heldi and for my part
I do believe it. . r .. . ,
For that Francifco be was a Florentine by birth, aged
about fifty years, who (if he were indeed what he feemed
to be) was a man of afevere life, yet of a fair andanafiable / 'A-7- /
difpofmon : He lived at that Court, as an Agent forthePortu-
aalsv and had not only free accefs unto that King, but alio en
couragement and help by hitts, which he fbmetimes beftowe
^When this Jefuit came fitft to be acquainted with my Lord
Ambafladour, he told him that they were both by protelU-
/
A Voyage to EAST-INDIA, dSr.