MESSENGER

Redoubted Prince, It speaks in characters a story which Will make you sad to hear, and me to speak, Which thus I read unto you, our fair Prin esse, The beautiful Lucinda traveling through The Country of Arabia, for to meet Her happiness in Persia with a guard Of some few horse and foot, was set upon By soldiers, what they were I do not know, Their number was ten times as much as ours, Yet we so long resisted as we could, Until the most partly of our men were slain, Then some were forced to save their lives by flight Some three or four, no more of which small number I write my self, who took my journey hither Alone to give you notice what befell us; Let not my news great Prince, exclude my welcome. Taken prisoners By two that seemed to command the rest With all their plate and jewels. In-faith Sir I was never There in my life before, nor did I then Inquire the true denomination of it, And therefore cannot satisfy you in The thing you do demand I'm sure it was not spicy, for it had A bitter smack, we proved it to our cost, Some never could digest it: Frankincense There was not any, I should smell it then: Mountains I saw, and unfrequented paths, Resembling well a desert: this is all I can inform you of by circumstance.