, where we refreshed our
selves again, with some more Countrey viands which were no other then
such we tasted of before; Prince and peasant here faring alike, nor is
there any difference betwixt their drink, being only fresh sweet water,
which the rivers yield them in great abundance.

After some little pause, our Companion (who could speak English) by our
request desired to know of him something concerning their Original and
how that people speaking the Language of such a remote Countrey, should
come to inhabit there, having not, as we could see, any ships or Boats
amongst them the means to bring them thither, and which was more,
altogether ignorant and meer strangers to ships, or shipping, the main
thing conducible to that means, to which request of ours, the courteous
Prince thus replyed.

Friends (for so your actions declare you to be, and shall by ours
find no less) know that we are inhabitants of this Island of no great
standing, my Grandfather being the first that ever set foot on this
shore, whose native Countrey was {{6 }} a place called England, far
distant from this our Land, as he let us to understand; He came from
that place upon the Waters, in a thing called a Ship, of which no
question but you may have heard; several other persons were in his
company, not intending to have come [60]hither (as he said) but to a
place called India, when tempestuous weather brought him and his company
upon this Coast, where falling among the Rocks his ship split all in
pieces; the whole company perishing in the Waters, saving only him and
four women, which by means of a broken piece of that Ship, by Divine
assistance got on Land.

What after passed (said he) during my Grandfathers life, I shall show
you in a Relation thereof written by his own hand, which he delivered
to my Father being his eldest Son, charging him to have a special care
thereof, and ashuring him that time would bring some people or other
thither to whom he would have him to impart it, that the truth of our
first planting here might not be quite lost, which his commands my
Father dutifully obeyed; but no one coming, he at his death delivered
the same with the like charge to me, and you being the first people,
which (besides our selves) ever set footing in this Island, I shall
therefore in obedience to my Grandfathers and Fathers commands,
willingly impart the same unto you.

Then stepping into a kind of inner room, which as we conceived was his
lodging