I then asked the captain how far he reckoned we might be from land.  He said, by the best computation he could make, we were at least an hundred leagues.  I assured him that he must be mistaken by almost half, for I had not left the country from whence I came above two hours before I dropped into the sea.  Whereupon he began again to think that my brain was disturbed, of which he gave me a hint, and advised me to go to bed in a cabin he had provided.  I assured him I was well refreshed with his good entertainment and company, and as much in my senses as ever I was in my life.  He then grew serious, and desired to ask me freely, whether I were not troubled in my mind by the consciousness of some enormous crime, for which I was punished, at the command of some prince, by exposing me in that chest; as great criminals, in other countries, have been forced to sea in a leaky vessel, without provisions; for although he should be sorry to have taken so ill a man into his ship, yet he would engage his word to set me safe ashore, in the first port where we arrived.  He added that his suspicions were much increased by some very absurd speeches I had delivered at first to the sailors, and afterwards to himself, in relation to my closet or chest, as well as by my odd looks and behavior while I was at supper.

I begged his patience to hear me tell my story, which I faithfully did, from the last time I left England to the moment he first discovered me.  And as truth always forceth its way into rational minds, so this honest, worthy gentleman, who had some tincture of learning, and very good sense, was immediately convinced of my candor and veracity.  But, further to confirm all I had said, I entreated him to give order that my cabinet should be brought, of which I had the key in my pocket (for he had already informed me how the seamen disposed of my closet).  I opened it in his own presence, and showed him the small collection of rarities I made in the country from whence I had been so strangely delivered.  There was the comb I had contrived out of the stumps of the king’s beard, and another of the same materials, but fixed into a paring of her majesty’s thumb-nail, which served for the back.  There was a collection of needles and pins, from a foot to half a yard long; four wasp stings, like joiners’ tacks; some combings of the queen’s hair; a gold ring which one day she made me a present of, in a most obliging manner, taking it from her little finger and throwing it over my head like a collar.  I desired the captain would please to accept this ring in return of his civilities; which he absolutely refused.  I showed him a corn that I had cut off, with my own hand, from a maid of honor’s toe; it was about the bigness of a Kentish pippin, and grown so hard that when I returned to England I got it hollowed into a cup, and set in silver.  Lastly, I desired him to see the breeches I had then on, which were made of a mouse’s skin.