so that yeerely almost in that towne, they haue about twentie that lose
their sight, either of one eye or both, and it commeth for the most part in
this moneth of October, and the last moneth: for I haue met diuers times
three and foure at once in companies, both men and women. [Sidenote: No
vitailes must be sold out of the city of Famagusta.] Their liuing is better
cheape in Famagusta then in any other place of the Island, because there
may no kinde of prouision within their libertie bee solde out of the Citie.

The second of October we returned to Arnacho, where wee rested vntill the
sixt day. [Sidenote: Greate ruines in Cyprus.] This towne is a pretie
Village, there are thereby toward the Sea side diuers monuments, that there
hath bene great ouerthrow of buildings, for to this day there is no yere
when they finde not, digging vnder ground, either coines, caues, and
sepulcres of antiquities, as we walking, did see many, so that in effect,
all alongst the Sea coast, throughout the whole Island, there is much ruine
and ouerthrow of buildings, [Sidenote: Cyprus 36. yeres disinhabited for
lacke of water.] for as they say, it was disinhabited sixe and thirtie
yeres, before Saint Helens time for lacke of water. [Sidenote: Cypr.
ruinated by Rich. the I.] And since that time it hath bene ruinated and
ouerthrowen by Richard the first of that name king of England, which he did
in reuenge of his sisters rauishment comming to Ierusalem, the which
inforcement was done to her by the king of Famagusta.

The sixt day we rid to Nicosia, which is from Arnacho seuen Cyprus miles,
which are one and twentie Italian miles. This is the ancientest citie of
the Iland, and is walled about, but it is not strong neither of walles nor
situation: It is by report three Cyprus miles about, it is not throughly
inhabited, but hath many great gardens in it, and also very many Date
trees, and plentie of Pomegranates and other fruites. There dwell all the
Gentilitie of the Island, and there hath euery Cauallier or Conte of the
Island an habitation. [Sidenote: A fountaine that watereth al the gardens
in the citie.] There is in this citie one fountaine rented by saint Marke,
which is bound euery eight dayes once, to water all the gardens in the
towne, and the keeper of this fountaine hath for euery tree a Bizantin,
which is twelue soldes Venice, and sixpence sterling. [Sidenote: A Bizantin
is 6. d. sterling.] He that hath that to farme, with a faire and pro