‘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’ [‎478] (499/508)

A Voyageto EAS T-INDI A, &c.
on ChriftianS;, though there was a vaft difference betwixt them
in their profeffingof it. And as he (hould not go about to re
concile the Embrifladour to them : So he told him that it would
be labour in vain if he (hould attempt to reconcile him .to us#
Only he defired, that there might be a fair correfpondency be-
twixtthem 3 but nodifputes. And further, his defire was that
thofe wide differences 'twixt the Church of Rome and us, might
not be made there to appear, that Chrift might not feem by thofc
differences to be divided amongft men profelling Chriftianity,
which might have been a very main Obftacle, and hinderance
unto his great Defign and endeavour 5 for which he was fent
thither, to convert people unto Chriftianity there. Telling my
Lord Embafladour further, that he (hould be ready to do for
him all good offices of iove and fetvice there, and fo he was.
After his firfl: acquaintance, he vifited us often, ufually once
a week. And as thofe of that fociety, in other parts of the
world are very great intelligencers: fo was he there, knowing
all news which was ftirring and might be had, which he com
municated unto us.
And he would tell us many ftories befides s, one of \^hich, if
true, is very remarkable. And it was thus 5 There are a race
of people in Eaft'/W;^, the men of which race have (if he
told us triie)^ their right legs extraordinary great andmiftiapen,
their left legs are like other mens. Now he told us, that they
were the pofterity of thofe who ftamped S* the
Apoftle to death, come thither to preach the Gofpel ^ and that
ever fince the men of that race have, and only they of that
Nation, that great deformity upon them. Some few people I
have there feen of whom this ftory b told, but whether that
deformity be like Cehezas leprofie, hereditary 5 and if fo, whe
ther it fell upon that people upon the occafion before-named 9 1
am yet to learn.
The Jeluits mEzft'India (for he was not alone there) have
liberty to convert any they can work upon, unto Chriftianity,
&c. The Mogol hath thus far declared, that it fhall be lawful
for any one, perfwaded fo in confcience, to become a Chriftian,
and that he (hould not by fo doing lofe his favour.
Upon which ,1 have one thing,here to infert,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 fervant of the great
Mogol, who upon fome conviftion wrought upon him (as, they
fay) Would needs be Baptized and become a Chriftian. The
King hearing of this Convert fent for him, and at firft with ma
ny cruel threats commanded him to renounce that his new pro-
feflion; the man replied,that he was moft willing to luffer any
thing in that caufe, which the King^could inflid:.
The Mogol then began to deal with him another way, ask-
king why bethought himfelf wifer thebshis Fore-fathers, who
lived and died Mahometans; and further added many pro-
mifes