[Footnote 110:  In the Pilgrims this letter is given at full length; but, being merely complimentary, is here only abridged.—­E.]

At his next audience, the general had a long conference with the king respecting the queen’s letter, with which he seemed well satisfied; saying, if the contents came from the heart he had reason to think of it highly, and was well pleased to conclude the proposed treaty of amity and commerce.  As for the particular demands made in the queen’s name by the general, respecting trade, the king referred him to two noblemen, who were authorised to confer with him, promising that all which was requested by the queen should be granted.  With this satisfactory answer, and after another banquet, the general departed.  He sent next day to the two noblemen appointed to treat with him, to know when they proposed to meet, and confer with him.  One of these was chief bishop or high-priest of the realm,[111] a person in high estimation with the king and people, as he well deserved, being a very wise and prudent person.  The other was one of the ancient nobility of the country, a man of much gravity, but not so fit for conferring on the business in hand as the former.

[Footnote 111:  As the grand Turk has his Mufti, so other Mahomedan princes have their chief priests in all countries of that profession.—­Purch.]

After a long conference,[112] the general demanded that proclamation might be instantly made, that none of the natives should abuse the English, but that they might be permitted to follow their business in peace and quietness.  This was so well performed, that though there was a strict order for none of their people to walk by night, yet ours were allowed to go about by day or night without molestation; only, when any of our people were found abroad at unlawful hours, the justice brought them home to the general’s house, and delivered them there.

[Footnote 112:  A long train of formal particulars are here omitted, as tedious and uninteresting.—­E.]

At the close of the conference, the chief-priest required from the general notes of his demands of privileges for the merchants in writing, with the reasons of the same, that they might be laid before the king; promising that he should have answers within a few days.  With these conferences, and much courtesy, and after some conversation on the affairs of Christendom, they broke up for that time.  The general was not negligent in sending his demands in writing to the noblemen, as they were mostly drawn up before coming ashore, being not unready for such a business.