ither doth he perhaps ever
think of it after. For when the King is made acquainted with the
matter, the men that have brought up the Prisoner are in a manner
as bad Prisoners themselves, not daring to go home to their Houses
without his leave, but there they must remain. After some years stay,
the common manner is, for them to give a Fee unto the Governor of
the Countrey, and he will licence them to go home, which they must
be contented with instead of the promised reward.

CHAP. IV.

Concerning some other English men detained in that Countrey.

[The Persia Merchant's men Captives before us.] In the same Captivity
with our selves on this Island, was another Company of English Men,
who were taken about a year and an half before us, viz. in the year
MDCLVIII. They were Thirteen in number, whose names were as follow,
Viz. Mr. William Vassal, John Merginson, Thomas March, Thomas Kirby,
Richard Jelf, Gamaliel Gardiner, William Day, Thomas Stapleton,
Henry Man, Hugh Smart, Daniel Holstein, an Hamburger, James Gony,
and Henry Bingham. The occasion of their Seizure was thus. The
Ship these Men belonged unto was the Persia Merchant, Capt. Francis
Johnson Commander, which was lost upon the Maldives Islands. But they
escaped in their Boats, and passing along by this Land went on shore
to recruit and buy Provisions, and so were taken. The Chingulays that
took them [Plundered by the Natives.] Plundered them of what they
had, except their Cloths. Yet one of them, John Merginson by name,
having cunningly hid his Money about him, saved it from the Heathen,
but from his own Countrymen he could not, some of whom knowing of
it set upon him and robbed him of it. But it did them little good,
for the King hearing of it sent and robbed the Robbers.

[Brought up to the King.] These men thus seized were carried up before
the King. Of whom he demanded, whether the English had Wars with the
Hollanders. They answered, No. Or, if the English could beat them. They
answered, They could and had done it lately. Then he gave order to
give them all some Cloths, and to Mr. William Vassal, being the chief
of them, a double Portion. And out of them made choice of two Lads;
whom afterwards he sent and took into his Court. Their honours and
their ends we shall see by and by. They were all placed in the City of
Cande, and each of them had a new Mat given them to sleep on, and their
Diet was Victuals dressed and brought them twice a day from the