aving done all this I left them the next day, and went on board the
ship. We prepared immediately to sail, but did not weigh that night.
The next morning early, two of the five men came swimming to the ship's
side, and making the most lamentable complaint of the other three, begged
to be taken into the ship for God's sake, for they should be murdered,
and begged the captain to take them on board, though he hanged them
immediately. Upon this the captain pretended to have no power without
me; but after some difficulty, and after their solemn promises of
amendment, they were taken on board, and were, some time after, soundly
whipped and pickled; after which they proved very honest and quiet
fellows.

Some time after this, the boat was ordered on shore, the tide being up,
with the things promised to the men; to which the captain, at my
intercession, caused their chests and clothes to be added, which they
took, and were very thankful for. I also encouraged them, by telling
them that if it lay in my power to send any vessel to take them in, I
would not forget them.

When I took leave of this island, I carried on board, for relics, the
great goat-skin cap I had made, my umbrella, and one of my parrots; also,
I forgot not to take the money I formerly mentioned, which had lain by me
so long useless that it was grown rusty or tarnished, and could hardly
pass for silver till it had been a little rubbed and handled, as also the
money I found in the wreck of the Spanish ship. And thus I left the
island, the 19th of December, as I found by the ship's account, in the
year 1686, after I had been upon it eight-and-twenty years, two months,
and nineteen days; being delivered from this second captivity the same
day of the month that I first made my escape in the long-boat from among
the Moors of Sallee. In this vessel, after a long voyage, I arrived in
England the 11th of June, in the year 1687, having been thirty-five years
absent.

When I came to England I was as perfect a stranger to all the world as if
I had never been known there. My benefactor and faithful steward, whom I
had left my money in trust with, was alive, but had had great misfortunes
in the world; was become a widow the second time, and very low in the
world. I made her very easy as to what she owed me, assuring her I would
give her no trouble; but, on the contrary, in gratitude for her former
care and faithfulness to me, I relieved her as my little stock would