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Sk. I fhould say the same behind your backe, for I have 1653. often heard it fayd by others.

Wh. It feems then that your people are not pleased with the war against England.

Sk. They are much displeased att it, and their loffes by it are very great, and our trade decayes; fo that it will be the wifest way for our lords to make a peace with you: if they doe not, few will fight for them, in their fhips, in this quarrell.

Wh. Haft thou ferved them in this warre?

Sk. I never fought against the English in this warre, nor never will; and more are of my mind.

Wh. Thou fayeft honestly, and shalt fare the better.

Sk. We are neighbours, and both are now commonwealths, and we fhould fticke close to one another.

Wh. And we both profeffe one religion, doe we not?

Sk. There is much talke of your different religions in England.

Wh. You have as many different religions in Amfterdam.

Sk. As long as they will be quiet, I know no reason butt every one may worship God as he thinkes beft for his own foule.

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Wh.

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Nov. 8.

Wh. I thinke thou art very right; and your countrey hath profperd the better for giving this liberty.

Sk. I thinke God bleffes them for it; and I think a peace with England would please God better, then this shedding of christian bloud.

Wh. Doft not thou fay this to please me, or be thy neighbours of this opinion as thou art ?

Sk. I fpeake it not to please you; and ten for one are of my opinion.

Wh. My mafters have not bin backward for a peace with you.

Sk. Our lords understand not the buifnes fo well as you.
Wh. Your lords are wife enough.

Sk. I am fure they are not wife in having this war with
England.

Wh. What men of warre have you abroade this way, tell me freely?

Sk. Our men of warre have fuffered a huge loffe, by the other dayes ftorme, which, I believe, you felt; five of our ships were then caft away uppon our own shore.

Wh. That was a great loffe; butt prithee tell me what convoyes you have abroade this way?

Sk.

Sk. Three or fower of our men of warre lye not farre of, 1653. which were fent out to guard us, and you fee how well they doe it.

Wh. Why doe they not keep neerer to you?.

Sk. They have no great mind to come neer you, where they know they can gett nothing butt blowes.

Wh. Butt their duety and honor bind them to guard you.

Sk. Honor will buy no butter; and they hold it no duety of theirs to hazard themselves and their fhips against

you.

Wh. They cannot tell whither we will fight or not till they trye us.

Sk. They know your frigotts can fight; and you doe not looke as if you would runne away.

Wh. Doft thou know by our lookes that we will fight?

Sk. One may gueffe; I am fure you know how to handle your gunnes, I have felt that.

Wh. Why then did you not come in fooner to me, butt ftood out fo many shotts?

Sk. Bicaufe I hoped to have gott away from you; my fhip was never before out-fayled.

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Wh. Then you judge my fhip to be fleet.

Sk. She is the fleetest that I ever faw under-fayle. O fhe is a gallant veffell, fo is your other frigott, and the rest are good fhips.

Wh. I fee you like well the make of our english frigotts.

Sk. For the buifnes of the war they are, without doubt, of the rareft mould that ever was built before.

Wh. I know they are not fo good for your use of marchandize.

Sk. We must have them fomewhat bigger bellyes than they carry.

Wh. Elfe they will carry butt a fmalle quantity of goods.

Sk. I have few goods left me to carry, God help me.

Wh. Well, skipper, thou feemeft to be an honest man, and to love the English, and thou fayeft thou haft a wife and feven children; therfore, I fhall doe more for thee than thou expecteft: thou fshalt have thy ship agayne.

Sk. What did you fay, fir? fhall I have my ship agayne ?

Wh. Yes, fkipper, thou fhalt have thy fhip agayne. Captain Fofter, give order that the fhip be restored to the poor man.

Sk. Sir, your men took a world of goods when they boarded me; if I might have them too.

Wh.

Wh. Skipper, thou shalt have them too. Captain, I pray 1653. fee that your men restore both fhip and goods, whatfoever they have taken from this poor man.

Capt. Your exellencies commaund shall be obeyed.

Sk. Shall I have my ship and all my goods agayne too?

Wh. I have past my word; and thou shalt have them all agayne, thou maieft be fure of it.

Sk. Now the Lord bleffe thy excellence; I and my wife and children will pray for thee as long wee live. What! have all againe, when I expected not a penny-worth of them; there was never fuch an ambaffador uppon these feas, Now, I pray God bleffe thee, and blesse thy wife and children, and bleffe the buifnes thou goeft about!

Then the poor skipper, who was before in a great sweat and fright, and tears trickling downe his cheekes, reaching over the table, took Whitelocke by the hand, and fhaked it heartily, often praying to God to bleffe him and his. Whitelocke calling for wine, drank to the poore man to comfort him, and spake to him thus.

"Wh. Skipper, when thou comest home, remember my "fervice to your lords, and tell them what I fay, that I bid you tell them that the english ambassador came not "to pillage their fubjects, butt fhowed kindness to you, and caufed your fhip and all your goods to be restored agayne to you, though he tooke them lawfull prize, and ས་ you refifted him; and tell your lords from me, that I hope they and their people will use my countrymen, when any of them shall fall into their hands, as kindly as I VOL. I. "have.

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