Lords, Ladies, and you the rest of my worthy Auditors: You are to understand, that I (being then very young) was sent by my Superiour, into those parts, where the Sun appeareth at his first rising. And I had received charge by expresse command, that I should seeke for (so much as consisted in my power to do) the especiall vertues and priviledges belonging to Porcellane, which although the boyling thereof bee worth but little, yet it is very profitable to any but us. In regard whereof, being upon my journey, and departing from _Venice_, passing along the _Borgo de Grecia_, I proceeded thence (on horseback) through the Realme of _Garbo_, so to _Baldacca_, till I came to _Parione_; from whence, not without great extremity of thirst, I arrived in _Sardignia_. But why do I trouble you with the repetition of so many countries? I coasted on still, after I had past Saint _Georges Arme_, into _Trussia_, and then into _Bussia_, which are Countries much inhabited, and with great people. From thence I went into the _Land of Lying_, where I found store of the Brethren of our Religion, and many other beside, who shunned all paine and labour, onely for the love of God, and cared as little, for the paines and travailes which others tooke, except some benefit arised thereby to them; nor spend they any money in this Country, but such as is without stampe. Thence I went into the Land of _Abruzzi_, where the men and women goe in Galoches over the Mountaines, and make them garments of their Swines guts. Not farre from thence, I found people, that carried bread in their staves, and wine in Satchels, when parting from them, I arrived among the Mountaines of _Bacchus_, where all the waters run downe with a deepe fall, and in short time, I went on so far, that I found my selfe to be in _India Pastinaca_; where I swear to you by the holy habit which I weare on my body, that I saw Serpents flye, things incredible, and such as were never seene before. But because I would be loth to lye, so soone as I departed thence, I met with _Maso de Saggio_, who was a great Merchant there, and whom I found cracking Nuts, and selling Cockles by retale. Neverthelesse, al this while I could not finde what I sought for, and therefore I was to passe from hence by water, if I intended to travaile thither, and so in returning back, I came into the _Holy Land_, where coole fresh bread is sold for fourepence, and the hot is given away for nothing. There I found the venerable Father (blame me not I beseech you) the most woorthie Patriarch of _Jerusalem_, who for the reverence due to the habite I weare, and love to our Lord Baron Saint _Anthony_, would have me to see al the holy Reliques, which he had there under his charge: whereof there were so many, as if I should recount them all to you, I never could come to a conclusion. But yet, not to leave you discomforted, I will relate some few of them to you.