‘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’ [‎279] (300/508)

Into the EASfT-INDIES.
fhip and correrpondence 3 from which he might draw fome bene
fit to the fervice of God, by reafon of his fkill in the Arabick,
and his refidence herein behalf of the Ghriftiansof the Country,
This Letter I had gotten prefented to the Patriarch, and tranf^
mitted hisanfwer to F. BajtltOy but had never vifited him as the
Father defir'd me in order to fecond his Letter and fettle a
friendship between them 5 becaufe he liv'd far from the Venetian
Conful's Houfe where I refidediand all the while I remain'd in A~
%^lwas lame of one foot by a hurt caus'd by walking in ill ftioos
that day when we were in danger of being aflaulted by thievs 5
fo that I could not walk^and was not wholly cur'd when I depart
ed. Neverthelefs hapning to be fo near his Church now^ I would
not omit to vifit him.t found him a very compleatjciviljand court
ly man according to the mode of the Country: he had not the
fame of being learned, but yet was accounted wife and gene
rous. He told me, he was glad o£¥,BaJilio's Letter jand refiding
at Bajfbray and building a Church there fb peaceably, and with
fo much favour of the Turks, as he advertis'd him 5 and that
he would continue correfpondence with him. He alfo (hew'dlme
two fair Books of the Gofpels written in large Parchment-fheets,
with excellent Syrian Charafters, otieof them, (as I remember)
written four hundred years ago 5 the Letters whereof were all
either of Gold or Silver : and this Book, they fay, was found by
the Turks in Cyprus when they took the Ifland, and carri'd to Con-
from whence it was afterwards redeem'd with mo
tley, and brought hither. Indeed no Manufcript could be more
goodly or rich with gold and miniature 5 it had alfb a velvet Co
ver adorn'd with Silver gilt, but made by themfelves 3 the anci
ent Cover, which they faid was fet with jewels of great value, be
ing taken away by the Turks. Tis the cuftom of the Orientals
to make great account of Books fb fairly written and richly ador
ned, as likewife S. Jerom reports they us'd to do in his time 5
tholigh himfelf, being a Scholar, was better contented, as he
faith, with his fchedules of a lefs fair Character, but corredh The
other Gofpel which the Patriarch (hew'd me, was more ancient,
namely, four hundred and fifty years old, but written with ordi
nary ink and few miniated Figures 3 this,he told me^they bought
lately at Cyprus for two hundred Piaftres. He added, that the
Church of Aleppo was not his Patriarchal See,although under his
jurifdidion 5 but it was near the City of Mouful^ which is in the
place of the ancient After much more difcourfe^e caus'd
very good Sherbets of Sugar with fnow, to be given us to drink
as the cuftom is 5 and offerM us a Collation of fruits, which we
receiv'd not becaufe it was already late and time to be gone. At
laft, atmy taking leave, hepray'dmeto do reverence to his Ho-
linefs in his name 5 and Co when he had given me many benedidi-
ons, as their manner is, I left him and departed.
Being come to the place where the Camels with the Women
waited for me, I took leave of all thofe friends that had accom-
pani'd