‘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’ [‎201] (222/508)

Into the E AS T-I N D I E S. ^io
Ships from Afafiat ^ amongfl: the reft there was a confiderablc
Soldier belonging to RuyFreird, who brought certain news of
bis own knowledge, how the faidita^ Freira having held Orwilz
clofely befieg'd for a long time, and brought the Defendants to ^
great diftrefs for want of all things ^ at length, no relief com
ing to him, no provifions wherewith to continue the Siege, (his
VidaaliJ failing him) was conftrain'd to raife the Siege and re
turn to Mafcat with all his Army $ yet with intention to make
new provifions, and get new fuccours and ammunitions, and
then to return again to^befiege the place 5 which in the mean time
the Moors omitted not to fupply with all fort of necefiaries for a
long time, to repair the fortifications and re-inforce it with frefti
Soldiers. AH which confider'd, I hold the retaking of Ormuz
very difficult, both in regard of the courage the enemy hath re-
fum'd by this adtion, and becaufe the fame fcarcity ofVidtuals
will happen frequently, andiha (hort time to the befiegers no
lefs then to the befieged, being the Ifland affords nothing of it
fdf, and our provifions muft be fetcht from greater diftance then
thofe of the enemies; wherein not much diligence being us'd
on our part, I doubt not but it will be very difficult for them to
hold the Siege long ^ and when they intermit the fame never fo
little, as they have done now , that fhort time is fufficient to
fecure the place from famine^ becaufe having the Continent fo
neer hand, and provifions there in much plenty,^ it may be in one
day alone fupply'd for many months. As for taking it by battery
ot otherwife ^ the Portngals being fo few and little skill'd in fuch
Arts, and on the other fide the enemies fo numerous and indefa
tigable in undergoing toil and pains, I hold it very difficult. The
Viceroy of Coa, who had been fo cold in fending fuccours to
Ruy Freira 1 becaufe he would not that he fhould take
but only hold it ftreightned till himfelf went in perfon to reap the
fruit of others labours 5 that fo he might with the glory ot this
victory cover the pafs'd negledt he had committed in the fhame^
fullofsof the Ships in the Voyage when he came into India:
now hearing this news, and how Ortnuz^ which he thought he $
had in his clutches, was by the retreat of Ruy Freira (who
would infallibly write into of the wrong done him in not
fending him any forces or fuccour during a year's time that he had
been upon the attempt-, and heinoufly charge the Viceroy for it)
efeap'd out of his hands, and become Very difficult to be taken,
was infinitely troubled thereat 5 and indeed I know not how he
can excufe himfelf to his Matter for fo great negligences ^ and
feme have heard him lament himfelfmuclvnd fay that it was his
own fault. However it were 3 the talk of his going to Ormnzhz*
came very cold upon thefe news? and if it was not believ'd at firft,
after this it was held wholly defperate^ although to encourage
others to theexpeditic^he ftill kept up the report. The lame
Ship brought news, how Kuy Freira, whilft he was at the^ />
Sic^e of Ormuz* with his few Ships, fent two to the (height ot • /
Q D d Mecha,