[Footnote 438:  In the narrative of Fitch, called 124, which might easily be mistaken either way in transcription.—­E.]

When we had been fourteen days in prison, they offered us leave to go at large in the town, if we would give sureties, for 2000 ducats, not to depart the country without the licence of the viceroy.  Being unable to procure any such, the before mentioned friendly fathers of St Paul procured sureties for us.  The Italians are much offended and displeased at our enlargement, and many wonder at our delivery.  James Storie the painter has gone into the cloister of St Paul, as one of their order, and seems to like the situation.  While we were in prison, both at Ormus and here, a great deal of our goods were pilfered and lost, and we have been at great charges in gifts and otherwise, so that much of our property is consumed.  Of what remains, much will sell very well, and for some we will get next to nothing.  The viceroy is gone to Chaul and Diu as it is said to win a castle of the Moors, and it is thought he will return about Easter; when I trust in God we shall procure our liberty, and have our sureties discharged.  It will then, I think, be our best way for one or both of us to return, as our troubles have been very great, and because so much of our goods have been spoiled and lost:  But if it should please God that I come to England, I will certainly return here again.  It is a charming country, and extremely fruitful, having summer almost the whole year, but the most delightful season is about Christmas.  The days and nights are of equal length throughout the whole year, or with very little difference; and the country produces a most wonderful abundance of fruit.  After all our troubles we are fat and in good health, for victuals are plentiful and cheap.  I omit to inform you of many strange things till we meet, as it would be too long to write of them.  And thus I commit you to God, &c.  From Goa in the East Indies, 25th January 1584.

No. 8.—­The Report of John Huighen van Linschoten, concerning the imprisonment of Newbery and Fitch; which happened while he was at Goa.

In the month of December 1583, four Englishmen arrived at Ormus, who came by way of Aleppo in Syria, having sailed from England by the Mediterranean to Tripoli, a town and haven in Syria, where all ships discharge their wares and merchandise for Aleppo, to which they are carried by land, which is a journey of nine days.  In Aleppo there reside many merchants and factors of all nations, as Italians, French, English, Armenians, Turks, and Moors, every one following his own religion, and paying tribute to the grand Turk.  It. is a place of great trade, whence twice every year there go two cafilas or caravans, containing great companies of people and camels, which travel to India, Persia, Arabia, and all the adjoining countries, dealing in all kinds of merchandise both to and from these countries, as I have already declared in another part of this book.