‘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’ [‎303] (324/508)

Into the E AS T-IN D I E S. 303
fited the faid Prior de/Ia Roccella in his own Galley 5 having feen
hkn feveral times, and contrafted Friendfhip with him whilftl
was at Malta, in which time he was created General of the
Gailies upon the vacancy of the charge by the death of the for^
mer General.
December the twelfth. Being S. Lucie s EvCj Solemn Vefpers
were fung in her Church, whither the Biftiop with the Senate
. and all the Nobility repair'd. At night bone-fires were made,
and a Cavalcade of many Cavaliers rode about with Torches,
but cloth'd in their ordinary habits > after whom follow'd the
Senate likewife on Horfe-back.
December the thirteenth^ Being the day of S. Lucie the Patro-
neft of Syracuje, a folemn Proceffion was made, wherein the
Images ot the Saint in Silver, as big or bigger then the life, were
carry'd through the chief ftreets upon a goodly Pedeftal of (il ver,
all the Clergy and Nobility accompanying the fame.The Procef-
lion fet forth from the Cathedral, and as the H. Image came out
of the Church-Gate, a certain man plac'd purpofely on the top
of the Steeple, came flying down ("as theyfpeakj upon a rope
and fell in the mid ft of thePiazza,which was throngd with people
aflembled to fee the Shew. The Proceflion ended at the Church
of S. Lucie without the City , where a fblemn Mais wa-s fung ^
after which in a little Chappel hard by, calTd Sant* Agata, I faw
under ground the Sepulchre of S.I«m,where She was buried firftj
for now her Body is not here, but was tranflated to fome other
place long agoe.
December the fourteenth. Many Races were run both by Foot
men, Mules, ordinary Horles, and Barb or Ginets as they
call them in Syracufe, with the ufual circumftances of throngs of
people. Ladies at the^indows. Gentlemen on Horie-back, and
in Coaches about the ftreets.
December the fifteenth, A Mafcherade of twelve Cavaliers on
Horfe-back, cloth'd by couples after feveral fafhions, went
about the City. In the Piazza before the Bilhops Palace they
ran al Saraceno^ ( i. e. at a wooden ftock made like a Man \ we
call it a Turk ) and at the Ring, making many Caracols(or
quick TurnsJ at the end. Which divertifement continu'd till
night 5 when the Malkers were entertain'd with a fumptuous
Supper by the Biftiop, together with the Senate and other
Cavaliers.
December the lixteenth , In the Morning I went to view the jj j
Fountain Arethuja, which I had feen imperfedly many years
before at my firlt being in Sicily. Tis in a Grove within the
walls of the City, where iiiuing out of a cavernof a Hill, it de-
fcend§ to the Sea -fide,forming an indifferent Pool before its going
out of the walls, where the Syracufian Women ufe to go to waib
their Clothes. In the afternoon going out of the City, to fee
many courfes at the Ring in the field of S. Lucie, we went to
hear an excellent natural Echo between the Sea and the Walls,
which