Right Noble and Reuerende in, etc. – I receiued your letters, and haue procured and sent to knowe of your seruant who your Lordeship wrote shoulde bee sicke in Merchena. I can not there or els where heare of him, w'out he be returned to you or gone to S. Lucar and shipt. I can not iudge but that of some contagious sicknes he died, so that the owner of the house for defaming his house woulde bury him secretly and not be known of it. For such things haue oftē times happened in this countrey.

Also, to write to your Lordshippe of the newe trade of spicerie of the Emperour, there is no doubt but that the Ilandes are fertile of cloues, nutmegs, mace, and cinnamon: And that the saide Ilandes, with other there about, abounde in gold, Rubies, Diamonds, Balasses, Granates, iacincts, and other stones and pearles, as al other lāds that are vnder and nere ye equinoctial. For we see where nature giueth any thing she is no nigarde. For as with vs and other, that are aparted from the sayde equinoctial our mettalles be lead, tynne, and yron, so theirs be golde, siluer, and copper. And as our fruites and graines be aples, nuttes, and corne, so theirs bee dates, nutmegges, pepper, cloues, and other spices. And as wee haue iette, amber, cristall, iasper, and other like stones, so haue they rubies, diamonds, balasses, saphires, Iacincts, and other like.