‘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’ [‎318] (339/508)

The Travels of Peter Delia Valle,
the nineteenth of the fame Moneth I prefented to the Pope, T/»e
Information of C^rgM written in our own language, to the end
to perfwade him to lend a Miffion of Priefts thither in order to
reduce thofe people to the union of the Roman Church. The
Pope was mightily well pleas'd with it, and upon this occafion
I fpoke to him, and inform'd him of many other bufinefles.
April the twentieth, Card, di fan? Onofrio, the Popes Brother,
fent for me to the Palace, and there told me that his Holinefs
had made me his Chamberlain of honour j which was a thing I
never fought, nor thought of. I thank'd him, and profefs'd my
felf ready toferve his Holinefs in this and every thing elie he
fliould command me.
May the fourth, The Pope having upon my informations
fpoken of the bufinefs of the Georgian \n the Congregation^
propaganda l ide^ a Decree wa? made in the faid Congregation
for fending thither a Miffion of Theatine Fathers under the care
of F. Don Pretro Avitabik of Mefsina, who had ofFer'd himfclf
for that purpofe, and was propos'd by me, which Fathers were
kijoyn'd to receive inftrudion from me concerning what was fit
to be done 5 in regard his Holinefs had made a great encomium
of me in the Congregation, and ordain'd that nothing (hould be
done, either as to this Miffion of the Georgians, or any affairs of
the EaftjWithout confultingof me firft. Of this Decree, a Co
py was fent me fubfcrib'd by Sig: Francefco Jngoli, Secretary of
the Congregation, which I keep by me: and accordingly I have
prepar'd Inltrudions for the faid Fathers.
June the fiftb 5 The Enfign-bearer Caterina d* Arcnfo, a Bif-
earner, being arriv'd at Rome the day before from Spain i came
to my houfe. She was a Lafs between thirty five and forty years
old, and had in her Childhood beeobred up in a Monaftery of
Biftay her own Country, and , I believe, wore a Nuns Habit
when (he was grown up. But repenting of this life before (he
made profeffion , (he went away 5 and fancying to live like a
Man, fled difguis'd from her Father's Houfe, and went to the
Court of Spain 1 where for fome time (he ferv'd in the Habit ofa
Page. Afterwards (he was minded to go to Sevil, and from
thence to the Weft-/Wiex, where at firft (he fcrv'd as a man-fer-
vant to certain Merchants^ but within a little time upon occa
fion of a quarrel which befell her, (he was fain to fly, and be
took her ielf to the life of a Soldier, being naturally much inclin'd
to arms and martial affairs. This courfe (he follow'd a great
while in thofe parts, being ingag'd in feveral Actions, wherein (be
always gave good account of her felf as a foldier, as alfo in fun-
dry civil quarrels 5 fo that (he got the repute ofa gallant man j
but becaule (he .wanted a beard, .they believ'd and call 'd her
Eunuch. Among other battels, (he was in a dangerous one,
wherein her Company being routed, and the Enfign left to the
enemies, (he effected by her valour, that (heftay'd her compa
nions flight, re-encourag'd them againft the enemies, and leading