e troubles that
haue chanced since mine arrinal in Ormus, this bringer is able to certifie
you. I mind to stay here: wherefore if you will write vnto me, you may send
your letters to some friend at Lisbone, and from thence by the ships they
may be conueyed hither. Let the direction of your letters be either in
Portuguise or Spanish, whereby they may come the better to my hands. From
Goa this 20 day of Januarie. 1584.

* * * * *

A Letter written from Goa by Master Ralph Fitch to Master Leonard Poore
abouesaid.

Louing friend Master Poore, &c. Since my departure from Aleppo, I haue not
written vnto you any letters, by reason that at Babylon I was sicke of the
fluxe, and being sicke, I went from thence for Balsara, which was twelue
dayes joumey downe the riuer Tygris, where we had extreame hot weather,
which was good for my disease, ill fare, and worse, lodging, by reason our
boat was pestered with people. In eight daies, that which I did eate was
very small, so that if we had stayed two dayes longer vpon the water, I
thinke I had died: but comming to Balsara, presently I mended, I thanke
God. There we stayed 14 dayes, and then we imbarked our selues for Ormuz,
where we arriued the fifth of September, and were put in prison the ninth
of the same moneth, where we continued vntill the 11 of October, and then
were shipt for this citie of Goa in the captaines ship, with an 114 horses,
and about 200 men: [Sidenote: Diu. Chaul.] and passing by Diu and Chaul,
where we went on land to water the 20 of Nouember, we arriued at Goa the 29
of the said moneth, where for our better intertainment we were presently
put into a faire strong prison, where we continued vntill the 22 of
December. It was the will of God that we found there 2 Padres, the one an
Englishman, the other a Flemming. The Englishmans name is Padre Thomas
Steuens, the others Padre Marco, of the order of S. Paul. These did sue for
vs vnto the Viceroy and other officers, and stood vs in as much stead, as
our liues and goods were woorth: for if they had not stucke to vs, if we
had escaped with our liues, yet we had had long imprisonment.

After 14 dayes imprisonment they offered vs, if we could put in sureties
for 2000 duckats, we should goe abroad in the towne: which when we could
not doe, the said Padres found sureties for vs, that we should not depart
the countrey without the licence of the Viceroy. [Sidenote: The Italians
our great e