t 5 6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



he had been robbed of every thing, except the clothes up- 

 on his back ; that Matthew, who was but a pretended am- 

 baftador, had been much otherwife treated by the king of 

 Portugal ; but for himfelf he defired nothing but a fpeedy 

 difmiffion, having delivered his letters and done his errand: 

 Till that time, he mould expect to be treated like a man of 

 honour, above lying or falfehood." To this the king anfwer- 

 ed, " That he believed him to be a man of honour, worth, 

 and veracity, but that Matthew was a liar : at the fame time 

 he wifhed Don Roderigo to know, that he was perfectly in- 

 formed what degree of refpect and good ufage Matthew had 

 met with from the king of Portugal's officers and captains,, 

 but that he did not impute this to Don Roderigo." 



There was a rumour at court which very much alarmed 

 the ambafiador ; it was, that the king intended to detain 

 him according to the invariable cuftom and practice of his 

 country. Two Venetians, Nicholas Branca Leon and Tho-. 

 mas Gradinego, had been forcibly detained fince the reign 

 of Bosda Mariarn. But what terrified Don Roderigo ilill 

 more, as a cafe molt fimilar to his, was the fight of Peter 

 Covillan then in court, who had been fent ambafiTador by 

 John king of Portugal to Ifcander, and ever fince was de- 

 tained without being able to get leave to return, but was 

 obliged to marry and fettle in the country. 



What was the emperor's real intention is impoflible now. 

 to know ; but, having refolvcd to fend an Abyfilnian am- 

 baflador to the king of Portugal, it was necefTary to difmifs 

 Don Roderigo likewife. However, he did not entirely aban- 

 don the whole of his defign, but forcibly detained Matter 

 John the fecretary, and Lazarus d'Andrad the painter, and 



obliged: 



