‘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’ [‎301] (322/508)

Into the EAST-INDIES.
301:
Mttti,
lighted to behold the ftrange habits of my Women, and to d}£
courfe with them by Interpreters. In the mean time inahy peo
ple flock'd into the Church to fee them 3 and feveral Cavaliers
came to complement me, and make themfelves known to me.
It being late, we were accompani'd by many Gentry and people
to the Palace, where my Women were received by the Blftiop
with much Courtefie. And being the Galleys were to depart for
Mefsinathis very night, I defir'd leave of the Bifhop to return
aboard again, but he would by no means grant it 5 faying that
fince I was come to fee him, it was not fit that I (hould embitter
his joy with fo fudden a departure, much lefs when S. Lucys day
was fo near at hand, for which thofe that are remote ufe to go to
Sjracufe , and that I was the moreoblig'd to ftay, becaufe I had
once promis'd him by a Letter, (as indeed I had) to come to
Syracufe^ and fpend zS, Lucfs day with him 3 fo that fince chance
had brought it thus to pafs, I muft needs make my word good.
I anfwer d many things, and did all I could to get away, but to
no purpofe 5 for the Bifhop fen the Receiver to get all my goods
out of the Galley, for which end was neceflary for the gate of
the City to be kept open a good part of the night contrary to
cuftom : and belides, having caus'd a very noble Apart
ment to be got ready for me in the new building of his Pa
lace, he would by all means have us all lodge there. Where
fore, feeing his pleafure was fuch, I thought fit to obey him,
and accept the favour. The Gentlemen and Gentlewomen after
fbmedifcourfe departed, and we were conducted to our apart
ment, whcre ,becaufe the Bifliop eats not at night, he left us to
flip and reft. The two Galleys which brought us, depart this
night for Mefsina^ and with them F. Onjno my late Feilow -tra-
veller, who will deliver you this Letter which I conclude this
Evening, not omitting to acquaint you with my tarrying here
for feme days, to the end you may underftand my. deliverance,
and the good ifTue of my health i and fo praying God for the
like to you, I very heartily kifs your hands.
lit
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fetdi^
$
LETTER XV.
From Mefsina^ January 24.. 1616.
IN continuation of my laft to you concerning the favours I re-
ceiv'd from my Lord the Bifhop of Syrucuje^ I muft tell you in
thefirft place, that on the fifth of December we were conduced
by a great company of Gentry of both Sexes out of the City to
feveral reliques of ancient Syracufe* We faw the Artificial Echo
reported to have been made hyDionyjhts in aPrifbn where he kept
many flaves, to hear what they talkt within 5 and, if I miftake
not, Archimedes feems to have been the contriver of the Fabnck.
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