Page:The Voyage Of Italy Or A Compleat Journey through Italy, The Second Part.pdf/154

 us a Convoy of eight or ten horsemen: but, those very men he gave us for our Convoy, were Bandits themselves, who being banished from the State and Town of Genoa for their misdemeanours, had two Moneths a year allowed them to come freely into Frontier Towns, and negotiate with the State. These men were thought by the Governour to be our safest Guards in danger, who were the onely men that caused danger. Having been thus convoyed safely by our honest Rogues past all danger, we payed them some three Pistoles; and feared no more danger, till we should meet with such servants as these another time. I confess, it seemed at first à fearful thing, to see our selves in the hands of those, who had their hands often in blood: yet there is such a charme in a Governours Parole, that we thought our selves as well armed with it, as if we had been shot-free, and had had all the Spells of Lapland about us.

We had no sooner parted from these our Guards, but passing over