A.D. 

 1578. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



A letter written to M. Richard Staper by John 

 Whithal from Santos in Brasil, the 26. of 

 June 1578. 



Orshipfull sir, and welbeloved friend M. 

 Staper, I have me most heartily com- 

 mended unto you, wishing your heakh 

 even as mine owne. 



These few words may bee to let 

 you understand, that whereas I wrote 

 unto you not many dayes past by 

 the way of Lisbon, howe that I determined to bee 

 with you very shortly, it is in this countrey offered mee 

 to marry, and to take my choice of three or foure : so 

 that I am about three dayes agoe consorted with an 

 Italian gentleman to marry with his daughter within 

 these foure dayes. This my friend and father in law 

 Signor loffo Dore is borne in the citie of Genua in 

 Italy : his kindred is well knowen amongst the Italians 

 in London : also hee hath but onely this childe which 

 is his daughter, which hee hath thought better bestowed 

 upon mee then on any Portugal in all the countrey, 

 and doeth give with her in marriage to me part of an 

 Ingenio which he hath, that doeth make every yeere 

 a thousand roves of sugar. This my manage will be 

 worth to me two thousand duckets, little more or lesse. 

 Also Signor loffo Dore my father in law doeth intende 

 to put into my handes the whole Ingenio with sixtie 

 or seventie slaves, and thereof to make me factor for 

 us both. I give my living Lord thankes for placing 

 me in such honour and plentifulnesse of all things. 



Also certaine dayes past I talked with the Provedor 

 and the Captaine, and they have certified me, that they 

 Mines of gold have discovered certaine Mines of silver and gold, and 

 and stiver looke every day for Masters to come to open the said 

 "oZred^af S Mines: which when they be opened will inrich this 

 f^incenf. countrey very much. This place is called S. Vincent, 



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