A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1580-82. 



somewhat painefull for me, yet my handes were so 

 slender that 1 could pull them out, and put them in 

 againe, and ever as we went, when the wagon made 

 most noyse, and the men were busiest, I would be 

 working to file off my bolts, & travelling thus for the 

 space of 8 leagues from Vera Cruz, we came to an 

 high hill, at the entring up of which (as God would) 

 one of the wheeles of the wagon wherein I was, brake, 

 so that by that meanes the other wagons went afore, 

 and the wagon-man that had charge of me set an 

 Indian Carpenter a worke to mend the wheele : and 

 here at this place they baited at an hostrie that a 

 Negro-woman keepes : and at this place, for that the 

 going up of the hill is very steepe, for the space of 

 two leagues and better, they doe alwaies accustome to 

 take the moiles of 3 or 4 wagons, and to place them 

 altogether for the drawing up of one wagon, and so 

 to come downe againe, and fetch up others in that 

 order. All which came very well to passe : for as it 

 drew towards night when most of the Wagoners were 

 gone to draw up their wagons, in this sort I being 

 Miks Philips alone had quickly filed off my boltes, and so espying 

 hu last won- ^ tvcsxQ in the darke of the evening before they re- 

 ^ ' turned downe the hill againe, I conveyed my selfe into 

 the woods there adjoyning, carrying my bolts and man- 

 [III. 485.] acles with me, & a few biscuits, and two small cheeses. 

 And being come into the woods, I threw my yrons 

 into a thicke bush, and then covered them with mosse 

 and other things, and then shifted for my selfe as I 

 might all that night. And thus by the good provi- 

 dence of Almightie God, I was freed from mine yrons 

 all saving the collar that was about my necke, and so 

 got my libertie the second time. 



438 



