A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



c. 1580. 



Raguseans, and the fourth to the Genoueses. And all 

 strangers which come to traffique there, except the 

 Venetians, are under the French Consull. It is also to 

 be understood, that all the Christians dwell within their 

 Fontechi, and every evening at the going downe of the 

 sunne, they which are appointed for that office goe about 

 and shut all the gates of the saide Fontechi outward, and 

 the Christians shut the same within : and so likewise 

 they doe on the Friday (which is the Moores and the 

 Turkes Sabboth) till their devotions be expired. And 

 by this meanes all parties are secure and voide of feare : 

 for in so doing the Christians may sleepe quietly and 

 not feare robbing, and the Moores neede not doubt 

 whiles they sleepe or pray, that the Christians should 

 make any tumult, as in times past hath happened. 



Of the Coast of Alexandria. 



|N the side towardes Barbaric along the sea-coast for 

 a great space there is founde neither hold, nor any 

 thing worthy of mention : but on the other side towards 

 Syria 13 miles from Alexandria standeth a litle castle 



Bichier. called Bichier kept by fiftie Turkes, which castle is very 



olde and weake, and hath a port which in times past was 

 good, but at this present is utterly decayed and full of 

 sand, so that the vessels which come thither dare not 

 come neere the shoare, but ride far oif into the sea. 



Rosetto. Fortie miles further is Rossetto, which is a litle towne 



without walles, and is situate upon the banke of Nilus 

 three miles from the sea, at which place many times they 

 build ships and other vessels, for governement whereof 



[II. i. 200.] is appointed a Sanjacbey, without any other guard : it 

 is a place of traffique, and the inhabitants are very rich, 

 but naughtie varlets and traytours. Further downe along 

 the sea-side and the river banke is another litle castle 

 like unto the abovesayde, and because the Moores 

 beleeve, that Mecca will in short time be conquered by 

 the Christians, they holde opinion, that the same being 

 lost shall be renued in this place of Rossetto, namely, 



332 



o 



