il now, he could not have opportunity to present them.

[The King bids him to read his Letters.] The King at the hearing
hereof, seemed not to be displeased in the least, but bid him read
them. Which he did in the English Language, as they were writ; and
the King sat very attentive as if he had understood every word. After
they were read, the King gave Vassal a Letter he had intercepted,
sent to us from Sir Edward Winter, then Agent at Fort St. George; and
asked the News and Contents thereof. Which Mr. Vassal informed him at
large of. It was concerning the Victory we had gained over the Dutch
when Obdam Admiral of Holland was slain, and concerning the number
of our Ships in that Fight, being there specified to be an Hundred
and Fifty Sail. The King inquired much after the number of Guns and
Men they carried. The number of Men he computed to be one Ship with
another about Three Hundred per Ship. At that rate, the King demanded
of him how many that was in all. Which Mr. Vassal went about to cast
up in the Sand with his finger. But before he had made his Figure
the King had done it by Head, and bid him desist, saying it was 45000.

[The King pleased to hear of England Victory over Holland.] This News
of the Hollanders overthrow, and the English Victory much delighted
the King: and he inquired into it very particularly. Then the King
pretended he would send a Letter to the English Nation, and bad
Mr. Vassal inform him of a Trusty Bearer. Which he was very forward
to do, and named one of the best which he had made trial of. One of
the Great men there present, objected against him, saying, he was
insufficient, and asked him, if he knew no other. At which Vassal
suspected their Design, which was to learn who had brought those
Letters to him; and so framed his answer accordingly, which was that
he knew no other.

[Private discourse between the King and Vassal.] There was much
other discourse passed between the King and him at this time in the
Portugueze Tongue. Which what it was I could never get out of him,
the King having commanded him to keep it secret. And he saith, he
hath sworn to himself not to divulge it, till he is out of the Kings
hands. At parting, the King told him, for Secrecy he would send him
home privatly, or otherwise he would have dismist him with Drums
and Honour. But after this the King never sent for him again. And
the man, that he named as fit and able to carry the Kings Letter,
was sent away Prisoner t