[A description of his House.] We had now brought our House and Ground to such a perfection that few Noble mens Seats in the Land did excel us.  On each side was a great Thorn Gate for entrance, which is the manner in that Countrey:  the Gates of the City are of the same.  We built also another House in the Yard all open for Air, for our selves to sit in, or any Neighbours that came to talk with us.  For seldome should we be alone, our Neighbours oftner frequenting our House than we desired; out of whom to be sure we could pick no Profit.  For their coming is always either to beg or borrow.  For altho we were Strangers and Prisoners in their Land, yet they would confess that Almighty God had dealt far more bountifully with us than with them, in that we had a far greater plenty of all things than they.

[He takes up a new Trade and Thrives on it.] I now began to set up a new Trade.  For the Trade of Knitting was grown dead, and Husbandry I could not follow, not having a Wife to help and assist me therein, a great part of Husbandry properly belonging to the woman to manage.  Whereupon I perceived a Trade in use among them, which was to lend out Corn.  The benefit of which is fifty per cent, per annum.  This I saw to be the easiest and most profitable way of Living, whereupon I took in hand to follow it:  and what stock I had, I converted into Corn or Rice in the Husk.  And now as customers came for Corn, I let them have it, to receive their next Harvest, when their own Corn was ripe, the same quantity I lent them, and half as much more.  But as the Profit is great, so is the trouble of getting it in also.  For he that useth this Trade must watch when the Debtors Field is ripe, and claim his due in time, otherwise other Creditors coming before will seize all upon the account of their Debts, and leave no Corn at all for those that carrie later.  For these that come thus a borrowing, generally carry none of their Corn home when it is ripe, for their Creditors ease them of that Labour by coming into their Fields and taking it, and commonly they have not half enough to pay what they ow.  So that they that miss getting ther Debts this year must stay till the next when it will be double, two measures for one:  but the Interest never runs up higher, tho the Debt lye seven years unpaid.  By means hereof I was put to a great deal of trouble, and was forced to watch early and late to get my Debts, and many times miss of them after all my Pains.  Howbeit when my Stock did encrease that I had dealings with many, I mattered not if I lost in some places, the profit of the rest was sufficient to bear that out.

And thus by the Blessing of God my little was encreased to a great deal.  For he had blessed me so; that I was able to lend to my Enemies, and had no need to borrow of them.  So that I might use the words of Jacob, not out of Pride of my self, but thankfulness to God, That he brought me hither with my Staff and blessed me so here, that I became two Bands.