r
in all the time of my Captivity I could never send one word,
whereby my Friends here might come to hear of my Condition,
until with one more I made an Escape, leaving Sixteen English
men yet there; The Kindness I have received from those French
Gentlemen, as also my Compassion for them, being detained in
the same place with me, hath obliged and constrained me, to
presume to trouble your Lordship with this Paper; not knowing
any other means where I might convey Notice to their Friends
and Relations, which is all the Service I am able to perform
for them. The Ambassador's Name I know not; there is a Kinsman
of his called Monsieur le Serle, and a young Gentleman called
Monsieur du Plessey, and another named Monsieur la Roche. The
rest by Name I know not. And then an account of them is given
according to what I have mentioned above. I shall not presume
to be farther tedious to your Honour; craving Pardon for my
boldness which my Affection to those Gentlemen being detained
in the same Land with me hath occasioned. Concerning whom if
your Lordship be pleased farther to be informed, I shall be
both willing and ready to be,

Yours, &c.

The Ambassador upon the receipt of this, desired to speak with me. Upon
whom I waited, and he after some Speech with me told me he would send
word into France of it, and gave me Thanks for this my Kindness to
his Countreymen.

[An inquiry into the reason of this King's detaining Europaeans] It
may be worth some inquiry, what the reason might be, that the King
detains the Europaean People as he does. It cannot be out of hope
of Profit or Advantage; for they are so far from bringing him any,
that they are a very great Charge, being all maintained either by
him or his People. Neither is it in the power of Money to redeem any
one, for that he neither needs nor values. Which makes me conclude,
it is not out of Profit, nor Envy or ill will, but out of Love and
Favour, that he keeps them, delighting in their Company, and to have
them ready at his Command. For he is very ambitious of the Service of
these Men, and winks at many of their failings, more than he uses to
do towards his Natural Subjects. [The King's gentleness towards his
white Soldiers.] As may appear from a Company of White Soldiers he
hath, who upon their Watch used to be very negligent, one lying Drunk
here and another there. Which remisness in his own