me
towards us a person (as it seemed) of place. He had on him a gown with
wide sleeves, of a kind of water chamolet, of an excellent azure
colour, fair more glossy than ours; his under apparel was green; and so
was his hat, being in the form of a turban, daintily made, and not so
huge as the Turkish turbans; and the locks of his hair came down below
the brims of it. A reverend man was he to behold. He came in a boat,
gilt in some part of it, with four persons more only in that boat; and
was followed by another boat, wherein were some twenty. When he was
come within a flightshot of our ship, signs were made to us, that we
should send forth some to meet him upon the water; which we presently
did in our ship-boat, sending the principal man amongst us save one,
and four of our number with him.

When we were come within six yards of their boat, they called to us to
stay, and not to approach farther; which we did. And thereupon the
man, whom I before described, stood up, and with a loud voice, in
Spanish, asked, "Are ye Christians?" We answered, "We were;" fearing
the less, because of the cross we had seen in the subscription. At
which answer the said person lifted up his right hand towards Heaven,
and drew it softly to his mouth (which is the gesture they use, when
they thank God;) and then said: "If ye will swear (all of you) by the
merits of the Saviour, that ye are no pirates, nor have shed blood,
lawfully, nor unlawfully within forty days past, you may have licence
to come on land." We said, "We were all ready to take that oath."
Whereupon one of those that were with him, being (as it seemed) a
notary, made an entry of this act. Which done, another of the
attendants of the great person which was with him in the same boat,
after his Lord had spoken a little to him, said aloud: "My Lord would
have you know, that it is not of pride, or greatness, that he cometh
not aboard your ship; but for that in your answer you declare that you
have many sick amongst you, he was warned by the Conservator of Health
of the city that he should keep a distance." We bowed ourselves
towards him, and answered, "We were his humble servants; and accounted
for great honour, and singular humanity towards us, that which was
already done; but hoped well, that the nature of the sickness of our
men was not infectious." So he returned; and a while after came the
Notary to us aboard our ship; holding in his hand a fruit of that
country, like a