The Commentary of Father Monserrate 1.4

1.4

This is now the eighth year since I first set my hand to this task. For in the sixth year after it was begun [i.e. in 1588] I was sent by Peter Martin, Superior of the province of India, to Africa: and was compelled, by the fact that the season for navigation had already arrived, to stop the work, eager though I was to go on with it. I got no time or opportunity to return to my task till I was captured by my enemies the Musulmans near Dofar in Arabia (that is, Sabaea) close to the city of Atramitis, where frankincense is found. I was sent away to Eynanus; but the Musalman king Ommar allowed my slender baggage and my books to be preserved and returned to me. He also permitted me a considerable degree of freedom, though I was still held in custody. For I was granted four months of leisure, in which I was able to make the necessary corrections and additions to what I had written. For, by the singular goodness of God, I had to bear none of the bitternesses of captivity except the mere fact of being a prisoner. My chief solace was the companionship of Father Peter Paesius (to whom I used to make confession); and next to this I took comfort from holy books and from a breviary of the morning and evening prayers.