‘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’ [‎480] (501/508)

4S0
A Voyage E A S T-IN DI A, &c
me to give him fome relief for Chrifts fake 5 there are many who
have begged it for the Virgin il/^r/sfake.
Well known it isjthat the Jefuits there 5 who like the Pharifees,
Mat. 23. 25. That would compaf Sea and Land to make one Pro-
felyte > have fent into Chriftendom many large reports of their
great Converfions of Infidels in Eafl-I'ndia. But all thefe boafi:-
ings are but reports 5 the truth is, that they have there fpilt the
precious water of Baptifmupon fome few Faces, working upon
theneceffityof fome poor men, who for want of means, which
fhey give them, are contented to wear Crucifixes 5 but for want
of knowledge in the Dodrine of Chriftianity are only in Nam^
Chriftians. ^ So that the Jefuits Congregations there are very
thin, confining of fome Italians, which the entertains (by
great pay given them ) to cut his Diamonds, and other rich
Stones 5 And of other European ftrangers which come thither 5
and fome few others of the Natives, before mentioned. So that
in one word I ftiall fpeak this more of the Jefuits in Eafi-India,
that they have there Tentplum, but not Ecclejiam,
When I lived in thofe parts it was my earneft defire and daily
prayer, to have put my weak hands unto that moft acceptable,
but hard labour of walhing Moors,that the Name of Jefiis Chrift
might have been there enlarged (if God had pleafed to honour
me fo far) by my endeavours. But there are three main and
apparent obftacles (befides thofe which do not appear) that hin
der the fettlement and growth of Chriftianity in thofe parts.
Fir ft. The liberty of the Mahometan Religion given the people
there in cafe of Marriage. Secondly, The moft debaiich'd^ives
of many coming thither, or living amongft them who profels
themfelves Ghriftians 5 per quorum latera patitur Fwigelium, by
whom theGofpel of JefusChrift is fcandalized, and exceeding
ly fuffers. And laftly. The hearts of that people are fo con
firmed and hardned in their own evil old ways, their ears fo
fealed up, their eyes fo blinded with unbeliefand darknefs, that
only he, who hath the Key of David that Jhutj when no man can
op en 2 and opens when no man can font, can open to them the door
of life, i
ba
V'
FINIS