ought at Venice
to serue me in my journey, and trying to make them fit for me, when the
Basha saw me vp before the rest of the companie, he sent one to dismount
me, and to strike me, whereupon I turned me to the Basha, and made a long
legge, saying, Grand mercie Signior: and after a while we were horsed vpon
litle asses, and sent away, with about fiftie light horsemen to be our
conduct through the wildernesse, called Deserta foelix, who made vs good
sport by the way with their pikes, gunnes, and fauchins.

That day being S. Laurence day we came to Rama, which is tenne Italian
miles from Ioppa, and there we stayed that night, and payed to the captaine
of the castell euery man a chekin, which is seuen shillings and two pence
sterling. So then we had a new gard of souldiers, and left the other.

The house we lodged in at Rama had a doore so low to enter into, that I was
faine to creepe in, as it were vpon my knees, and within it are three
roomes to lodge trauellers that come that way: there are no beds, except a
man buy a mat, and lay it on the ground, that is all the prouision, without
stooles or benches to sit vpon. Our victuals were brought vs out of the
towne, as hennes, egges, bread, great store of fruite, as pomgranates,
figges, grapes, oringes, and such like, and drinke we drue out of the well.
The towne it selfe is so ruinated that I take it rather to be a heape of
stones then a towne.

Then the next morning we thought to haue gone away, but we could not be
permitted that day, so we stayed there till two of the clocke the next
morning, and then with a fresh gard of souldiers we departed toward
Ierusalem. We had not ridde fiue English miles, but we were incountred with
a great number of the Arabians, who stayed vs, and would not suffer vs to
passe till they had somewhat, so it cost vs for all our gard aboue twentie
shillings a man betwixt Ioppa and Ierusalem. These Arabians troubled vs
oftentimes. Our Truchman that payed the money for vs was striken down, and
had his head broken because be would not giue them as much as they asked:
and they that should haue rescued both him and vs, stood sill and durst do
nothing, which was to our cost.

Being come within sight of Ierusalem, the maner is to kneele downe, and
giue God thankes, that it hath pleased him to bring vs to that holy place,
where he himselfe had beene: and there we leaue our horses and go on foote
to the towne, and being come to the gates, there they tooke