of Savages that liv'd more indolent, and for that Reason were lefs fupplied with the Neceffaries of Life, than they had Reafon to believe others were in the fame Part of the World; and yet they found, that these Savages were lefs ravenous and voracious, than those who had better Supplies of Food.

Alfo they added, That they could not but fee with what Demonftrations of Wisdom and Goodnefs the governing Providence of God directs the Events of Things in the World: Which, they faid, appear'd in their Circumftances; for if prefs'd by the Hardships they were under, and the Barrennefs of the Country where they were, they had fearch'd after a better Place to live in; they had then been out of the Way of the Relief that hap pen'd to them by my Means.

Then they gave me an Account, how the Savages, who they liv'd among, expected them to go out with them into their Wars: And it was true, that, as they had Fire-Arms with them, had they not had the Difafter to lofe their Ammunition, they fhould not have been ferviceable only to their Friends, but have made themselves terrible, both to Friends and Enemies; but being without Powder and Shot, and yet in a Condition, that they could not in Reafon deny to go out with their Landlords to their Wars; fo when they came into the Field of Battle, they were in a worfe Condition than the Savages themselves; for they neither had Bows or Arrows, nor could they use thofe the Savages gave them, fo that they could do nothing, but stand still, and be wounded with Arrows, 'till they come up to the Teeth of their Enemy; and then indeed the three HalK berds

berds they had, were of Ufe to them; and they would often drive a whole little Army before them with thofe Halberds and fharpen'd Sticks put into the Muzzles of their Muskets: But that for all this they were fome Times furrounded with Multitudes, and in great Danger from their Arrows, 'till at laft they found the Way to make themselves large Targets of Wood, which they cover'd with Skins of wild Beafts, whofe Names they knew not; and thefe cover'd them from the Arrows of the Savages; that notwithstanding thefe, they were fome Times in great Danger, and were once five of them knock'd down together with the Clubs of the Savages, which was the time when one of them was taken Prifoner, that is to fay, the Spaniard who I had reliev'd: That at first they thought had been kill'd; but when afterwards they heard he was taken Prifoner, they were under the greateft Grief imaginable, and would willingly have all ventur'd their Lives to have refcu'd him.

They told me, That when they were fo knock'd down, the rest of their Company refcu'd them, and stood over them, fighting 'till they were come to themselves, all but him who they thought had been dead; and then they made their Way with their Halberds and Pieces, ftanding clofe together in a Line, thro' a Body of above a thousand Savages, beating down all that came in their Way, got the Victory over their Enemies, but to their great Sorrow, becaufe it was with the Lofs of their Friend; who the other Party, finding him alive, carry'd off with fome others, as I gave an Account in my former.

They defcrib'd moft affectionately, how they were furpriz'd with Joy at the Return of their

Friend and Companion in Mifery, who they thought had been devour'd by wild Beafts of the worst Kind, (viz.) by wild Men; and yet how more and more they were furprized with the Aecount he gave them of this Errand, and that there was a Chriftian in any Place near, much more one that was able, and had Humanity enough to contribute to their Deliverance,

They defcrib'd how they were astonish'd at the Sight of the Relief I fent them, and at the Appearance of Loaves of Bread, Things they had not feen fince their coming to that miferable Place; how often they crofs'd it, and blefs'd it, as Bread fent from Heaven; and what a reviving Cordial it was to their Spirits to tafte it, as alfo of the other Things I had fent for their Supply: And after all, they would have told me fomething of the Joy they were in, at the Sight of a Boat and Pilots to carry them away to the Perfon and Place from whence all these new Comforts came; but they told me, it was impoffible to express it by Words, for their exceffive Joy, naturally driving them to unbecoming Extravagancies, they had no way to def-cribe them, but by telling me that they border'd upon Lunacy, having noWay to to give Ventto their Paffion, fuitable to the Senfe that was upon them; that in fome it work'd one Way, and in fome another; and that fome of them thro' a Surprize of Joy would burft out into Tears, others be ftark mad, and others immediately faint. This Difcourfe extreamly affected me, and call'd to my Mind Friday's Extafy, when he met his Father, and the poor Peoples Extafy when I took them up at Sea, after their Ship was on Fire; the Mate of the Ship's Joy, when he found himself deliver'd in the Place where he expected to perish: and my own Joy, when after 28

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Tears Captivity, I found a good Ship ready to carry me to my own Country: All these ings made me more fenfible of the Relation of thole poor Men, and more affected with it.

Having thus given a View of the State of Things, as I found them, I must relate the Heads of what I did for thefe People, and the Condition in which I left them: It was their Opinion and mine too, that they would be troubl'd no more with the Savages; or that if they were, they would be able to cut them off, if they were twice as many as before; fo they had no Concern about that: Then I entred into a ferious Difcourfe with the Spaniard, who I call Governour, about their Stay in the Inland; for as I was not come to carry any of them off, fo it would not be just to carry off fome, and leave others, who perhaps would be unwilling to ftay, if their Strength was diminished.

On the other hand, I told them, I came to establish them there, not to remove them; and then I let them know, that I had brought with me Relief of fundry Kinds for them; That I had been at a great Charge to fupply them with all Things neceffary, as well for their Convenience, as their Defence; and that I had fuch and fuch particular Perfons with me, as well to encrease and recruit their Number, as by the particular neceffary Employments which they were bred to, being Artificers, to affift them in those Things, in which, at prefent, they were to feek.

They were all together when I talk'd thus to them; and before I deliver'd to them the Stores I had brought, I ask'd them, one by one, If they had entirely forgot and bury'd the firft Animofi

ties that had been among them, and would fhake Hands with one another, and engage in a ftri& Friendship and Union of Intereft, that so there might be no more Misunderstandings or Jealou

fies.

Will. Atkins, with abundance of Franknefs and good Humour, faid they had met with Afflictions enough to make them all fober, and Enemies enough to make them all Friends; that for his Part he would live and die with them; and was so far from defigning any Thing against the Spaniards, that he own'd they had done nothing to him, but what his own mad Humour made neceffary, and what he would have done, and perhaps much worse in their Cafe; and that he would ask them Pardon if I defir'd it, for the foolish and brutish Things he had done to them; and was was very willing and defirous of living in Terms of entire Friendship and Union with them; and would do any Thing that lay in his Power to convince them of it; and as for going to England, he car'd not if he did not go thither this twenty Years.

The Spaniards faid, they had indeeed at first difarm'd and excluded Will. Atkins and his two Country-men for their ill Conduct, as they had let me know; and they appeal'd to me, for the Neceffity they were under, to do fo: But that Will. Atkins had behaved himself fo bravely in the great Fight they had with the Savages, and on feveral Occafions fince; and had fhew'd himself so faithful to, and concern'd for, the general Intereft of them all; that they had forgotten all that was paft, and thought he merited as much to be trusted with Arms, and fupply'd with Necef

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faries,