‘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’ [‎338] (359/508)

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A Voytgeto F, A S T-IN DI A, &€.
others, whofe Name I know notj called in general the Iflands
of Comora, lying about twelve Degrees South of the Equator,
The day following being the fixth of Augtiftjiw\y in the Morn
ing our Men looking out for Land efpied a Sail which ftood di
rectly in our Courfe but far before us 5 at firfl: fight fhe appeared
as if there had been fome great Hill interpofed betwixt us: For
frtftjWehad fight only of her Colours in her high Maintop 5 after
this, ofber and^/Z/, and then of her after which
mannerj Ships at Sea do every where appear at great diftance
one to another , which proves that that mighty Collection of
waters called Seas, have a Convex^ or Globous and round body,
placed by Almighty God 5 as it were in Hills^ox: Heaps 5 and being
being above the earth, and higher than it, they havefet Limits,
and commanded they are to their Bounds, contrary to their Na
ture, which they may not pafs, for fo faith the Pfalmift, rfalm
104. 9'. Thou haji fet abound which they may not p of over, that
they return not again to cover the earth. But this is known to all
fhat have been at Sea, therefore we proceed. Upon the firft
fight off hat Shrpj we were all glad of the objed, improving all
endeavours we could to overtake her, with-all preparing our
great Grdnante, that if (be were a FmW we might falute her,
if an Enemy be in readinef? for her. So eagerly purfuing this un-
looked for Ship with the wings of the wind 5 after that we had
given her Chafe about five hours, her Colours and bulk difcover-
ed her to be a very great Portugal bound for Goa^ lying
in the skirts of Eaji-Jnclia, and principally inhabited by Tortugals,
the City of Refidence for the Vice-Roy to the King of Spain, her
Commander called Don Emanuelcle Meneces, a brave Refolutc
Man, as thefequent will demonftrate. About noon, the GMc
our leaft Ship ( by reafon of her nimblenefs failing better then
her fellows^ came up with her on her broad fide to wind-ward 5
and according to the Cuftom of the Sea, hayl'd her, alking
whence (he was 5 fhe anfwer'd indirectly. Of the Sea, calling our
Men Rogues, Thieves, Hereticks, Devils 5 and the Conclufion of
her rude Complement was, in lond Cannon Language, difcharg-
ing (even great Pieces of Artillery at our Globe, (though (he had
very Hi tie reafon fo to do, we having four Ships in Company,
and (he alone) whereof fix pierced her through the maiming
fome of her Men, but killing none ^ our Globe replycd in the
fame v^oice, and after that fell off.
About three of the Clock in the Afternoon, the Charles ont
Admiral came up with her fonear, that we were within piftol
fliot: our Commander Captain 'jofeph proceeded religiouily, in
offering them a Treaty ; before he proceeded to Revenge vfo
wefaluted her with our Trumpets, fhe us with her wind-i>/i?r«-
ments, then we (hewed our {ylenon both fides aloft 5 thisdone 5
our Commander called y t0» >Hiem requiring Theirs to come
aboard, to give an account for the injury they had lately before
ottered us 5 they ^afwered> ■ They had never a Boat 5 our Com-
v ^ X manckr