‘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’ [‎126] (147/508)

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XVI.
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[be Travels of Peter Delia Vall e,
he never put on his Hat, and Civility obligd us to the lame for
bearance^ but indeed, it was too much obfequioulnefs tor fuch
a Prince 5 as alfo for the Ambaflador to tell him ot the other
times that he had been privately at that Court, and kifs'd his
Hishnefle's Feet 5 with other like words little becommmg an
Ambaflador. Neverthelefs he fpoke them, profeffing hhnfelf
much the fervant of Veu-tapa Naieka, out of hope that he, as
Vitula Sinay had promis'd him at Goa , would write to the
King of Spain in his favor, by which means he (hould have fome
remuneration. Indeed, the Portugah have nothing elfe in their
Heads but Interefi:, and therefore their Government goes as
1 As we fate down, ( being four of us that did fo, befides the
Ambaflador, to wit, the Chaplain, Caravaglio, Montegro, and
nw felf) I handfomely took the laft place , becaufe knowing the
nature of the Portugals, I would not have them think that
Aran^er went about to take place and prcheminence of thensp^
tbeirlblftnnitieg; and they conformably to their ownhumo^noi
onely us'd no Courtefie to me, as well-bred Italians would have
done, by faying to me, Amce, afiende Jifperws 5 butlfaw they
were greatly pleas'd with my putting my felf in the laftpjjpe,
Caravaglio taking the firft, the Chaplain the fecond,and Momfro
the third. I, little caring for this, or for (hewing and making
my felf known in the Court of Venkctafa Naieka, laug^ within
my felf at their manners, and with the obfervation ^created
my Curiofity , which alone had brought me into thefe parts.
The King's difcourfe to the Ambaflador was diftended to divers
things, and, as he was fpeaking, he frequently chaw'd leavs of
Betle, which a Courtier reach'd to him now and then, and, when
he was minded out a lump of the mafticated leaves, another held
a kind of great Cup to his Mouth, for him tofpit into. The
King afk'd concerning the flownefs of the Ships this year, as that
which difgufted him, in regard of the Money they were to bring
him for Pepper. He inquir'd of feveral things of India, and
defir'd to know fome kind'of News. The Ambaflador told him
all the News we had at Onor^, which were uncertain, being one-
ly the Relations of fome vulgar perfons, and therefore,*^ my
judgement, too immaturely utter'd 5 affirming, for certain,
the coming of the Fleet with a great Army, the Alliance be
tween Spain and England, the paflage of the Prince of England
into Spain 5 and moreover, (Good God ! ) the reduction of all
England to the Catholick Faith by the publick command of that
King, with other fuch levities ufual to the Portugals, who are
very ignorant ofthie affairs of the world and of State. The King
further fpoke long concerning things tranfafted with him in the
War of Banghel, particularly, of the Peace that concluded it 5
for which, probably, being difadvantageous to the Portugahy he
faid, he heard that many blam'd him the Ambaflador, who ne
gotiated it with his Minifters ^ and that they not oncly blam'd
him