MILES PHILIPS A.D. 



1568. 



space of sixe moneths, untill we were all whole and sound 

 of body, and then we were appointed by the Vice Roy to 

 be caried unto the town of Tescuco, which is from 

 Mexico Southwest distant eight leagues : in which towne 

 there are certaine houses of correction and punishment 

 for ill people called Obraches, like to Bridewell here in 

 London : into which place divers Indians are sold for slaves, 

 some for ten' yeeres, and some for twelve. It was no 

 small griefe unto us when we understood that we should 

 be caried thither, and to bee used as slaves, we had rather 

 be put to death : howbeit there was no remedy, but we 

 were caried to the prison of Tescuco, where we were not 

 put to any labour, but were very straitly kept, & almost 

 famished, yet by the good providence of our mercifuU 

 God, we happened there to meet with one Robert Sweet- Robert 

 ing, who was the sonne of an Englishman borne of a ^J^^fH^^^ 

 Spanish woman : this man could speake very good Eng- 

 lish, and by his means wee were holpen very much with 

 victuals from the Indians, as mutton, hennes, & bread. 

 And if we had not bene so relieved, we had surely 

 perished : and yet all the provision that wee had gotten 

 that way was but slender. And continuing thus straightly 

 kept in prison there for the space of two moneths, at the 

 length wee agreed amongst our selves to breake forth of 

 prison, come of it what would, for we were minded rather 

 to suffer death then longer to live in that miserable state. 

 And so having escaped out of prison, we knew not what 

 way to flie for the safetie of our selves, the night was 

 darke, and it rained terribly, and not having any guide, 

 we went we knew not whither, and in the morning, at the 

 appearing of the day, we perceived our selves to be come 

 hard to the city of Mexico, which is 24 English miles 

 from Tescuco. The day being come we were espied by 

 the Spaniards, & pursued, and taken, and brought before 

 the Vice Roy and head justices, who threatned to hang English 

 us for breaking of the kings prison. Yet in the end they £J^^^^/^ 

 sent us into a garden belonging to the Vice Roy, & 

 comming thither, we found there our English gentlemen 



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