To this he replied, Cannot you read and write English?  Servile Labour the King requireth not of you.  I answered, When I came ashore I was but young, and that which then I knew, now I had forgot for want of practice, having had neither ink nor paper ever since I came ashore.  I urged moreover, That it was contrary to the Custome and Practice of all Kings and Princes upon the Earth to keep and detain men that came into their Countreys upon such peaceable accounts as we did; much less to compel them to serve them beyond their power and ability.

[He is sent to another great Officer.] At my first coming before him he looked very pleasingly, and spake with a smiling countenance to me:  but now his smiles were turned into frowns, and his pleasing looks into bended brows, and in rough Language, he bad me be gone and tell my tale to the Adigar.  Which immediatly I did; but he being busie did not much regard me, and I was glad of it, that I might absent the Court.  But I durst not go out of the City.  Sore afraid I was that evil would befall me and the best I could expect was to be put in Chains.  All my refuge was Prayer to God, whose hand was not shortned that it could not save, and would make all things work together for good to them that trust in him.  From him only did I expect help and deliverance in this time of need.

[He stays in the City expecting his doom.] In this manner I lodged in an English mans house that dwelt in the City about ten days, maintaining my self at my own charge, waiting with a sorrowful heart, and daily expecting to hear my Doom.  In the mean time my Countrey men and Acquaintance, some of them blamed me for refusing so fair a Profer; whereby I might not only have lived well my self, but also have been helpful unto my Poor Country-men and friends:  others of them pittying me, expecting, as I did, nothing but a wrathful sentence from so cruel a Tyrant, if God did not prevent.  And Richard Varnham, who was at this time a great man about the King, was not a little scared to see me run the hazard of what might ensue, rather than be Partaker with him in the felicities of the Court.

[He goes home but is sent for again.] It being chargable thus to lye at the City, and hearing nothing more of my business, I took leave without asking, and went home to my House; which was but a Days distance, to get some Victuals to carry with me and to return again.  But soon after I came home I was sent for again.  So I took my load of Victuals with me, and arrived at the City, but went not to the Court, but to my former Lodging, where I staid as formerly, until I had spent all my Provisions:  and by the good hand of my God upon me, I never heard any more of that matter.  Neither came I any more into the Presence of the Great-men at Court, but dwelt in my own Plantation, upon what God provided for me by my Labour and Industry.