‘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’ [‎79] (100/508)

Into the EAST-INDIES. . 79
in oft part, or dfe very ill clad/eeming to me rather a difparage- y
ment then an ornament to the City, fomgah there are not ^
many they us'd to befufficiently rich » but of late, by reafon y
of many loffes, by the incurfions of the D and in '■>%
thefe Seas, they have not much wealth , but are rather poor.
Meverthelefs they live in outward appearance with fplendor
enough, which they may eafily do, both in regard of the plenti-
fulnefs of the Country, and becaufe they make a Ihew of aU that
they have : however, in fecret they indure many hardihips 5
and fome there are, who, to avoid fubmitting to fuch Employ
ments as they judge unbecomming their gravity, being all defi-
rous to be accounted Gentlemen here, lead very wretched lives,
undergoing much diftrefs, and being put to beg every Day m the
Evening 5 a thing which in other Countries would be accounted
unhappy and more indecent, not to fay (hameful, then to under
take any laudable profeflion of a Mechanick Art. They all pro-
fefs Arms, and are Souldiers although marry d; and tew, except
Priefts and Doftors of Law and Phyfick, are feen without a
Sword ; even fo the Artificers and meaneft Plebeians : as alfo
filk clothes, are the general wear almoft of every body. Which
I take notice ofy becsiufe to fee a. Merchant and a Mecnanickin
a drefs fit for an Amorato, is a very extravagant thing , yet
amongft them, very ordinary ^ thefole dignity of being Tortu-
gals fufficing them (as they fay) to value themfelves as much as
Kings and more. . . .
But returning to my purpole ? whilftwe were coming to the
City by the River betimes in the Morning, we met the Vice-Roy
whowasgoing to the mouth ot theitarn?, to difpatchaway Kuy
Treira de, Andrada^ whom with five or fix Ships (a fmall prepa-* j
ration indeed) he fent to the relief and to make war y J
again ft the Perftansl having like wife appointed divers other Ships '
to be fent after him bomCiaU, Dio, and other Ports of the Por-/^ X
iugab 5 which if they go 3 may be fufficient for fome confiderable
exploit: but the Orders of the Vice -Roy in other places God
knows how they will be executed in his abfence. The fudden
departure of Ruy Freira, made me forry that I had not th e op
portunity to (ee him and fpeak with him, as I extreamly defir d,
and perhaps, it would not have been unacceptable to him. Ar
riving at the City, we caft Anchor under the Dogana , or
Cuftom-houfe, where all Ships commonly ride, to wit, iuch as
are not very great 3 for thefe ftay either at the barr in the mouth
of the River, or in fome other place thereof where they have
the deepeft water. Being come thither, I prefently gave notice
of my arrival toF.Fr^: Leandroot the Anuntiation , whom 1
had known in Terfia, and who was here Provincial Vicar of the
difcalceated Carmelites of India and Perjia, 1 alfo advertis d the^
Fathers Jcfuits thereof ,for whom I brought fundry oftheirGene-
rals Letters from Ktf/^e,written afFedionately to recommend me
to them. F. Fra: Uandro came forth-with to vifit me in the
Shipp
1