‘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’ [‎307] (328/508)

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Into the EAST-INDIES.
307
the thirtieth. Having heard Mafs in Santa Maria di .
Giefu a-little without theCity^we went to the Church of the Saints
Alfio, Philadelfo^nd CirwOy three French Brethren-JVlartyrs and
Proteftorsof Lentini *, which City isftyl'd Ftecundifsima Lenti-
norntfi Vrbs^ and gives for its Arms a Lion Rampant, the anci
ent badg of the Leontines y as appears by their ancient Medals^
and I obferv'd by the Bill of Health which they gave us 3 for by
reafon of theContagion at P^/er^^without taking a Bill of Health
at every place, After dinner we departed^nd not far from
Lentini^ pafs'd over a little River which they call il flume di Len~
tini) and probably is the Vantagia of Virgil. Before night, we
arriv'dat Catania^ which lies but eighteen miles from Lentini^nd
lodg'd in the houfe of Sig: DonAngelo Campochiano di Calatagiro-
ni^ who was then Vicar General to the Biihop of Catania, and
upon the recommendation of the Bilhop of Syracufe^ receiv'd
and treated us here with much refpcdt, being alfo fomething al-
li'd to the Sig: ddla Valle ot Catania. v
December the thirty firft, I was vifited by all the Sig; delta
Valle^ and many other Eminent Gentlemen of feverai Families,
their Alliances. They were fo many that I fhall not particularly
name them 5 only I (hall intimate that at this day there are in
Catania five Chiefs of the Family of la Valle, all deriv'd from the
fame ftock 5 namely, firft Sig; Don Franc, delta Valte Baron of
Miraglia^ who being newly come from abroad, was put upon his
Quarantine in a Church without the City 5 fecondly, Sig; Don
Gutteres delta Valte^ Brother of the above-faid Baron, who w^s
abfent at Palermo 5 thirdly, Sig: Don Diego delta Valle^ whom I
knew many years ago at 5 fourthly, Sig: Don l incenzo
delta Valle, Baron o( Schiji, which they hold to be the ancient
Naxus ^ and fifthly, Don Franc, della VaUe who was in an Eccle-
fiaftical Habit: with many of thefe Gentlemen.;, who did me the
honour to accompany me, I went this morning to fee the Mo
ther-Church, where in a clofe Chappel the body of S. Agatha \s
kept. After which I was conducted to fee the Benedictine s Mo-
naftery of S. Nicolas, (which is a handfom building,) and the
ReliqiTes kept there in the Sacriftie^ amongft which was ftieWn
me a Nail of our Saviours Crofs, an Arrow of S. Sebafljans, a
piece of S. George** Coat of Mail, fomeof S. Teter the Apoftles
beard, and fomeof the beard of S. Zaccharios Father of S.jf^«
Baytifi, I fa w atfo the ruins of the Amphitheater and the Cirque,
the Fountains without the Walls of the City by the Sea-fide,
which being fo many Spouts on a row, make a pretty fight, near 1
the place where S. Agatha was put into the fire.
January the firft, 1626. Accompani'd by the fame Gentlemen^
who did me that honour at all hours, I went to fee the prifon ot -
S. under ground, and her Sepulchre, where there is alio
another Church, and in that the place where S. Lucy appear d
to her 5 and a little further a little Chappel apart where her
breafts were cut oft. After which, I fpent the day in vifitino;
R r 2 feh
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