‘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’ [‎211] (232/508)

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Into the EAST-INDIE S.
to are minded to fet up a Traffick thither too, aslunder-
ftood from a good hand laft year at Surht, In the mean time
other Ships and Galeons are preparing at Coa to be fent
Ayrilxhz tenth;, Three Galeons fraighted with Vidual de
parted from Goa to Rny Freira for the war of Ormii 'L^ as two
other Ships had done a few days before befides the above-men-
tion'd ten^and order was given for three other Galeons to go from
Mozambique with people fufficient to arm all the fix 5 becaufe the
former three of Goa carri'd no Soldiers but only Sea-men. They
carri'd alfo from Goa a Petard,, wherewith they faid they in
tended to attempt the little falfe Gate of Ormtiz, which ftands to^
wards the Sea ^ and feveral other preparations of War.
On the twenty ninth of the lame month., being the day of S.
Tietro Martire^ who, they fay^ was the Founder of the Inquijiti-
on againft Hereticks, the Inquifitors of Goa made a Solemnity
before their Houfe of the Inquifition which is in the Piazza of
the Cathedral, and was fometimes the Palace of Sahaio Prince
of Goa when the Vortugals took it, whence it is (till call'd la Pi-
a&za di Sahaio. After folemn Mafs had been fung in the Church
of San Dominico^ as Vefpers had been the day before, in pre-
(enceof the Inquifitors, who coming to fetch the Fryers in Pro-
ceflion, repair'd thereunto Vontijicalikus ^ in the evening ma
ny carreers were run on horf-back by the Vortugal-Gemvy^ invi
ted purpofely by the Inquifitors ^ and a day or two after Cfor
this Evening was not fufficient for fo many thingsj there was in
the fame Piazza a Hunting or Baiting of Bulls after the Spanifh
fafhion^ but the Beafls being tame and fpiritlefs afforded little
fport 5 fo that I had not the cui iofity to be prefent at it. This is
anew F^ftival lately inftituted by the prefent Inquilitors, who,
I believe, will continue it yearly hereafter.
May the tenth, a Packet-boaHrom Mafcat arriv'd at with
Letters dated Afril the twenty fourth , confirming what had
fome dayes before been rumor , d,that the King of Ferfia had taken
Baghdad^ and the Ferfians were about to go againft BaJJork by
Sea, but were diverted from their defign by the Portugal Fleet
which they hear^l was preparing to fuccour that City 5 befides
fome Ships of theirs which they continually keep there in favour
of the 7urks againft the to guard the Mouth of the Ri
ver, which is Euphrates and Tigris joyn'd together. The fame
Boat brought news alfo that twelve Ships were already departed
from Mafcat under the conduft of my friend Sig. Michele Perei-
rd to begin a new Siege of , and thatK^ waited
for the Galeons that he might go thither too with, the greater
Fleet. If it be true, that Sciah-Ahhashz's taken Baghdad^ I am
confident that at the long run BaJJora will fall into his hands too:
if the Portugals may hinder him by fea, they cannot by land ^
and'tis a clear cafe, that if he hath he intends alfo to
have the port of Bajjora, which is of great importance. That
Ee 2 he
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