And, indeed, this he performed very faithfully in a few days, making himself indebted to me 470 moidores of gold, over and above what had been lost at sea, after I had left the place.  And then he recounted to me what misfortune he had gone through, which forced my money out of his hands, to buy part in a new ship-but says he, you shall not want, take this; and, when my son returns, every farthing shall be paid you. Upon which he put into my hand a purse of 150 moidores in gold, as likewise the instrument, containing the title to the ship which his son was in, and which he offered as security for the remainder.  But really when I saw so much goodness, generosity, tenderness, and real honesty, I had not the heart to accept it, for fear he should straiten himself upon my account. It is true, said he, it may be so; but then the money is yours, not mine, and you may have the greatest occasion for it. However, I returned fifty of them back again, promising that I would freely forgive him the other hundred when I got my effects into my hands, and that I designed to go myself for that purpose.  But he told me he could save me that trouble, and so caused me to enter my name with a public notary, as likewise my affidavit, with a procuration affixed to it; and this he ordered me to send in a letter to one of his acquaintance, a merchant in Brazil; and, indeed, nothing could be more faithfully and honourably observed; for, in seven months time, I had a very faithful account of all my effects, what sums of money were raised, what expended, and what remained for myself!  In a word I found myself to be worth 5000L. sterling, and 1000 per annum.  Nor was this all, for my partner congratulated me upon my being alive, telling me how much my plantation was improved; what Negroes were at work, and how many Ave Marias he had said to the Virgin Mary for my preservation, desiring me to accept kindly some presents he had sent me, which I found showed the greatest generosity.

No sooner did the ship arrive, but I rewarded my faithful Captain, by returning him the hundred moidores, and not only forgiving him all he owed me, I allowed him yearly a hundred more, and fifty to his son, during their lives.  And now being resolved to go to England, I returned letters of thanks to the Prior of St. Augustine, and in particular to my old partner, with very suitable presents.  By the Captain’s advice, I was persuaded to go by land to Calais, and there take passage for England:  when, as it happened, I got a young English gentleman, a merchant’s son at Lisbon, to accompany me, together with two English, and two Portuguese gentleman:  so that with a Portuguese servant, an English sailor, and my man Friday, there were nine of us in number.