A true description of the mighty kingdoms of Japan and Siam written originally in Dutch by Francis Caron and Joost Schorten ; and novv rendred into English by Capt. Roger Manley.

VVhat Sects are prevalent a∣mong them.

THey have twelve Sects in all; the Priests of the first eleven eat nothing that hath lived, nor may marry: when they offend by transgressing their order, the Delinquent is buried to the middle in the High-way, every one that passeth, and is no Gentleman, being obliged to give him a stroak in the neck with a wooden saw, ready for the purpose; so that the miserable Priest is two or three daies, sometimes more, in this languishing con∣dition before he can die. The twelfth Sect is the most esteemed and most honourable of all; their Priests marry, and they may eat of what ever the sea or earth produces, accord∣ing to their several appetites. This Sect, called Icko, or Ickois, is the most superstitious of all,

and hath its Pope, or Head, respected and served with the same honour with their Kings. When this high Priest passeth through the streets, carried in his Pallaquin, they of his faith, worship and pray to him; and this in∣deed is the richest and easiest order amongst them, and most countenanced. Some of their Churches are priviledged and endowed by the Emperour, or Lords, in whose Territories they stand; but the rest are maintained by the common people: and as each particular man amongst the Papists hath his particular ghostly Father, so the Inhabitants here have theirs; as also their Churches, which they assist with their charity to the utmost of their powers. Each of these twelve Sects hath its particular Faith; some believe that the soul is immortal, that the flesh is earth; and that the spirit of man shall live in another world, happy or miserable, according to what he hath done in this. Others think that there is no such thing as a separable soul, and that they need fear nothing but the Executioner; they are ignorant of the beginning and ending of na∣ture, most of them fancying the world with∣out beginning, and that it shall be eternal. The best of these Sects make Taverns of their Temples, which are most commonly built in the pleasantest and best places, sumptuous,

and well planted with trees and orchards: When the Inhabitants have a minde to rejoyce, they assemble here, and in the presence of their Gods, and company of their Priests, (who are likewise good fellows) they de∣bauch and do those extravagances, which are the concomitants of excess and folly; com∣mon whores are permitted to enter and dance, the Priests themselves allowing of this jolity, and a further use, so it be in secret of these immodest females. I never heard that those people trouble themselves to dispute or argue in their religion; neither do they break their heads in converting others to their opinions; but leave every one to the freedom of his own, as indifferent and reasonable, as being infused into him by their Gods. Their Priests, as well as many of the Gentry, are much given to Sodomy, that unnatural passion, being esteemed no sin, nor shameful thing amongst them.