A.D. 

 1584. 



The Italians 

 our great ene- 

 mies for the 

 trade in the 

 East. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



stead, as our lives and goods were woorth : for if they 

 had not stucke to us, if we had escaped with our lives, 

 yet we had had long imprisonment. 



After 14 dayes imprisonment they offered us, if we 

 could put in suerties for 2000 duckats, we should goe 

 abroad in the towne : which when we could not doe, the 

 said Padres found suerties for us, that we should not 

 depart the countrey without the licence of the Viceroy. 

 It doth spite the Italians to see us abroad : and many 

 marvell at our delivery. The painter is in the cloister 

 of S. Paul, and is of their order, and liketh there 

 very well. While we were in prison, both at Ormuz 

 and here, there was a great deale of our goods pilfered 

 and lost, and we have beene at great charges in gifts and 

 otherwise, so that a great deale of our goods is consumed. 

 There is much of our things which wil sell very well, & 

 some we shall get nothing for. I hope in God that at 

 the returne of the Viceroy, which is gone to Chaul and 

 to Diu, they say, to winne a castle of the Moores, whose 

 returne is thought will be about Easter, then we shall 

 get our libertie, and our suerties discharged. Then I 

 thinke it wil be our best way, either one or both to 

 returne, because our troubles have bene so great, & so 

 much of our goods spoyled and lost. But if it please 

 God that I come into England, by Gods helpe, I will 

 returne hither againe. It is a brave and pleasant coun- 

 trey, and very fruitfull. The summer is almost all the 

 yeere long, but the chiefest at Christmas. 



The day and the night are all of one length, very litle 

 difference, and marveilous great store of fruits. For all 

 our great troubles, yet are we fat and well liking, for 

 victuals are here plentie and good cheape. And here I 

 will passe over to certifie you of strange things, untill our 

 meeting, for it would be too long to write thereof. And 

 thus I commit you to God, who ever preserve you and 

 us all. From Goa in the East Indies the 25 of Januarie 

 1584. 



Yours to command, Ralph Fitch. 

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