[An English man preferred at Court.] Lately was Richard Varnham taken into the Kings service, and held as Honourable an employment as ever any Christian had in my time, being Commander of Nine Hundred and Seventy Soldiers, and set over all the great Guns, and besides this, several Towns were under him.  A place of no less Profit than Honour.  The King gave him an excellent Silver Sword and Halberd, the like to which the King never gave to any White man in my time.  But he had the good luck to die a natural Death.  For had not that prevented, in all probability he should have followed the two English men that served him, spoken of before.

[The English serve the King in his Wars.] Some years since some of our Nation took up Arms under the King.  Which happened upon this occasion.  The Hollanders had a small Fort in the Kings Countrey, called Bibligom Fort.  This the King minded to take and demolish, sent his Army to beseige it.  But being pretty strong; for there were about Ninety Dutch men in it, besides a good number of Black Soldiers, and four Guns on each point one, being in this condition it held out.  Some of the great men informed the King of several Dutch runnaways in his Land, that might be trusted, not daring to turn again for fear of the Gallows, who might help to reduce the Fort.  And that also there were white men of other Nations that had Wives and Children, from whom they would not run:  and these might do him good service.  Unto this advice the King inclined.

Whereupon the King made a Declaration to invite the forrain Nations into his Service against Bibligom Fort, that he would compel none, but such as were willing of their own free accord, the King would take it kindly, and they should be well rewarded.  Now there entred into the Kings Service upon this Expedition some of all Nations; both Portugueze, Dutch and English, about the number of Thirty.  To all that took Arms he gave to the value of Twenty shillings in money, and three pieces of Callico for Cloaths, and commanded them to wear Breeches, Hats and Doublets, a great honour there.  The King intended a Dutch-man, who had been an old Servant to him, to be Captain over them all.  But the Portuguese not caring to be under the Command of a Dutch-man, desired a Captain of their own Nation, which the King granted, studying to please them at this time.  But the English being but six, were too few to have a Captain over them, and so were forced some to serve under the Dutch and some under the Portugueze Captain.  There were no more of the English, because being left at their liberty they thought it safest to dwell at home, and cared not much to take Arms under a Heathen against Christians.