'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.' [‎345] (368/448)

pore.
3+5
Belides this heathenilh euftome, here are many other lewd pradifes: fuch and fo ma
ny, that JPeccata funt in deliciis, for Satan feems here to ered: his Throne, and imperi-
ouily todifplay his Banner of Idolatry, and under various drefles to proclaim a tolerati
on for all manner of wickednefs. Such is the miferable vaflalage with which this wretch
ed Generation are enflaved, and fo far from any fenfe of their mifery, that they have de-
vifed fundry tragic fcenes to heighten the reputation of their Pagod, though with their
owndeftrudion. And amongft other ABusTnamf hales a malTie idol of auri-calk is pla
ced upon a Chariot with eight wheels richly gilded *, the afcent is by leveral eafie fteps,
upon which efpecially upon gawdy dayes the Jogues and many proftituting Girls were
placed. Oh ignis infernalis luxwria! Hellifli zeal 1 feeing Parents deftinate their pret
ty Children to inchaftity, meerlytoinrichthe Idol: Not unlike thofe Babylonian Vota
ries of Melytta (as Venm was there called,) who received their price with this excufe,
Tand tihi Beam Melytta imploro, and by the Courtezans was offered to adorn her Tem
ple. Thus mounted, they go on in proceflion: a procelTion not unlike the Thenfa ufed
by the fuperftitious Romans, or that Idolatry of the Danes recorded by Ditmarm and Do
do : for, happy is that man, be he rich or poor, great or bafe, that can lend a hand to
draw the Chariot yea, they account them happieft who out of a frantick zeal temera-
rioufly throw their naked bodies in the way, to the end that by the ponderoufnefs of the
Chariot they maybe cruihed, that thereby they may become the Devils Martyrs. Thus
remembred by a Poet,
Which bad objeds removed, we come to
MELIAPORE, a well known T own upon the coafl: of Chormandel, and in the King
dom of Bifnagar. The Artie f ole there has 13 degrees 20 minutes: It was firit called Sa-
lamina, then Melange, but Meliapore after that, and now S. Thomas, for that iri this place
fee fuffered martyrdom: Diftant it is from Cape Comrhyn two hundred leagues or there
abouts. At this day it is but fmall and poor, and under a MoOrilh command: it yields
little for Trade fave Cotton-ware and fuch common commodities', howbeit,is exalted
in her memory, in regard that (according to Tradition) this was the place where that ho
ly Apoftle finilhed his labours after he had publiflied the glad tidings of Salvation through
Perjia, tiytcania, Batlria, Sogdiana and many parts of India, and by Divine Grace ob
tained many Profelytes, and thofe converts not of the meaner fort ^ for Sygamm theEm-
perourhimfelf was baptized, and by his good example feveral other of the Nobles*, who
in teftimony of their change, converted the Heathen Temples (by fomefaidtobe three
hundred) into Houfes of Prayer and Preaching of the Gofpel. Howbeit, the Devil fo
wrought, that fome Apoftates enraged the multitude, fo as in a blind zeal the Apoitle
and the King both fuffered, the one being fhot to death, the other brained, but both
crowned with glorious Martyrdom: This hapned about thirty years after our Saviours
paffion *, and in memory thereof a commemorative Feaft is yearly celebrated the fir 11 of
July by the Native Chriftians through India, And, however Abdias Babylonicm (who
writ. That after death they appeared and preached again their former Dodrine) may
feem queftionable, this is more certainly reported and credited, That in memory of their
ingratitude. Divine Juftice hath marked their pofterity (as fome Jews, how truly I know
not, lay the Tribe of Benjamin are to this day, who of all others were moil fierce againit
our Saviour who was of the Tribe otjudah) thefehave one leg bigger in the calf than
the other: which 'tis probable gave Pliny lib. 7. cap, 2. the occafion to feign them to be
the Jf/fonofceli & Sciopedi, tjiti umbra pedis fe protegant 5 and as a falfe light mif guided our
Country-man Sir John Mandevile in his relation concerning them. The Cynocephali and
Momcdi being alike credited by Solinm, Mela Fomponimy Strabo and Others. Notwith-
ftanding the peoples rage the two Martyrs had each his Sepulchre there, honoured and
teforted to by the Chriftians inhabiting India', till about fifty yearsfince, their skulls and
bones were brought away, and (as holy reliques) are at this day enfhrined in the Vir
gin Maryh Church in Goa according to the command of John 3. King of Portugal,
Duke facrum: gaudent Natorum in fata parentes
Hortanturqj mori 3 ideflet janicjj omnis ephebum — Turba, 0V.
•Vigor inde animis 8c mortis honors
But concerning thofe, a Poet gives this caution.
What helps it thus to hafte yonr deftiny
In all pofl hafle ? ftnee all this wretched fry
Shall with full fail to Hell through Cocyt fly.
Quid juvat durum properare Fatum ?
Omnis hxc vaga turbaibit ad Manes^
jFacietqj incrti yela Cocyto,
Yy