'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎54] (75/448)

%eUgion of theTerf in
Such time as Gnftafy (the 14 King of Perfm from Knyomarra^ by fome thought Noah)
fwayed the Imperial Scepter, it chanced that Efpntaman and Dodoo two poor people,
man and wife, by extradion, lived long together in good repute,. but without
Fortunes bleffings, either as to Eftate or Children: Howbeit, upon fiodooes prayer a
Son was given her ^ who in his conception promifed (by lome rare and tearful dreams
the mother hatched) great matters, not only to the aftonifnment of his parents, but
amazement of the C/wMKing, who (out of jealoulie and difpofition to credit any report)
fought to prevent all danger by killing or poyfoning him ; but (to fliew a luperior pow
er fways, and never miifes to accomplilh its deiigns though by man never lo mucn op
pugned) nothing could do him harmyet fearing his parents ruine, and to eafe tne
King of his fear, they content to give China a farewel, and feek a lecurer abode in a re
gion more remote, where they might more freely live and meditate.
Far they travelled, many rare things they faw, paft over many great Rivers on foot;
for Zertoofi (fo was this young Prophet named) turned them into folid Ice, and after
thawed them at his pleafure, and many rare adventures found, fall which are here
omitted, in that Religion is the mark we fhoot at) not flaying long in any place till they
arrived in Perfia, where they refted and intended to fettle. Zertoofl (as good men ufe)
Ipent molt of his time in meditation : but obferving the diforder of mens living, forrow
overcame him ^ and finding the place he was in not fit for Revelations, away he goes,
without reftingtill he came into a dark Valley which was obfcured by two lofty Moun
tains, afolitary and fit place for meditation. There he ingeminates his murmurs, with
dejected eyes, erected hands, and knees bended ^ when lo, an Angel whofe face was
more corufcant than the Sun, in this manner falutes hin. Hail Zertoofl ! man of God,
what wouldeft thou ? Who ftraight replies, The prefence of God, and that I may receive
his will and diredions how to inftrud my Nation. His prayer was readily granted, his
body purged, his eyes fealed and wrapt up. Being paft the Element of Fire and the high
er Orbs (as faith their Zmdavaftow) he was prefented before a Supreme who was arrayed
with fuch refulgent glory that (till he had Angels eyes put into his. head) he could not
gaze upon fiich a daz'ling Majefty. There he received his Laws (no place but Heaven
will ferve to fetch Philofophy from, toconverfe with men writes to Socrates)
uttered by the Almighty, (whofe words were encompafled with flames of Fire',) fuch
Laws, fuch Secrets, as fome of them are not to be promulgated. Zertoofl hdotz his
return makes this requeft, that he might live fo long as the World endured, in that
protrad of time the eafier to make all the people of the earth imbrace his dodrine: but
his fimplicity being pitied, and in a Mirrour the reflex of time, Lucifer's craft, mans
mifery, and other myfteries reveal'd, foon altered his vain defire •, fo that having wor-
fhipped, and taken the Zmdavaflaw in his left hand, with fome celeftial Fire in his right,
by Bahaman Vrnfoaufpan his good Angel, (who cleft the air with his golden wings) he
was (as in a trice) fet down in that fame valley where the fpirit formerly found him.
Zertoofl having thus armed himfelf againft temptations, bidding his Hermitage
farewel travels homeward to publilh his Law. Satan (who all the while looked afquint
upon. Zertoofl) labours to feduce him, and after a fhort excufe for his rude intrulion. pro-
felles himfelf his unfeigned friend, afluring him the other Angel had deluded him*, that
God in no wife delighted mthZertoofls dzhgn fufRciently expreifed as much by fuffering
him to withdraw fo quickly, the denying his requeft argued Gods negled of him *, his
travel to reclaim the world was vain, mens minds fo doted upon pleafure*, his Book
wasftuft with lies, and that in publilhing it ihame would be his reward *, his Fire was a
mercilefs Element ufelefs in thofe hot Regions: Concluding, that if Zertoofl would de
pend upon him he would furniih him with all delights, honours and pleafures imagina
ble, give him power to do miracles, fo as he might be worfhipped as a God; which
if he refufed he was but fimple and in no wife worthy his charity.
Zertoofl perceiving the tempter was no better than Lucifer, bad him avoid; and to
his addition of terrour call to mind how by his impiety he loll Heaven, and how malice
made him defirous to draw others into like damnation ^ the Book he fo fcoft at fliould
condemn him, that Fire torture him and all fuch black-mouth'd detradors as himfelf.
Whereupon the Fiend vaniflied *, and Zertoofl at length arrived where he found his Pa
rents who receivedhim with unexpreffible gladnefsto whom he imparted his paffed for
tunes and intentions. Dodoo his Mother imagining it a crime unexpiable that fo excel
lent a Prophet ihould longer be concealed, grew fo tranfported that without longer
circumH ance fhe blazons abroad the fcory of her dreams and his conception, enthufl-
afms, vifions, the excellency of his Book, and the authority he had to publifh it. The
people admire what they, heard j fo as Gnflafp the Perfian King having notice thereof
i and