A.D. 



1577- 



These people 

 know the use 

 of writing. 



A letter sent 

 unto the Jive 

 English cap- 

 tives. 



[III. 7 o.] 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



the woman and child, which our men in the late conflict 

 had taken and brought away; whereupon the Generall 

 taking the savage captive with him, and setting the 

 woman where they might best perceive her in the 

 highest place of the Island, went over to talke with 

 them. This captive at his first encounter of his friends 

 fell so out into teares that he could not speake a word 

 in a great space, but after a while, overcomming his 

 kindnesse, he talked at full with his companions, and 

 bestowed friendly upon them such toyes and trifles as 

 we had given him, whereby we noted, that they are very 

 kind one to another, and greatly sorrowfull for the losse 

 of their friends. Our Generall by signes required his 

 five men which they tooke captive the last yere, and 

 promised them, not only to release those which he had 

 taken, but also to reward them with great gifts and 

 friendship. Our Savage made signes in answere from 

 them that our men should be delivered us, and were 

 yet living, and made signes likewise unto us that we 

 should write our letters unto them, for they knew very 

 well the use we have of writing, and received knowledge 

 thereof, either of our poore captive countreymen which 

 they betrayed, or else by this our new captive who hath 

 seene us dayly write, and repeate againe such words of 

 his language as we desired to learne : but they for this 

 night, because it was late, departed without any letter, 

 although they called earnestly in hast for the same. 

 And the next morning early being the seventh of August, 

 they called againe for the letter, which being delivered 

 unto them, they speedily departed, making signes with 

 three fingers, and pointing to the Sunne, that they meant 

 to returne within 3 dayes, untill which time we heard 

 no more of them, & about the time appointed they 

 returned, in such sort as you shal afterwards heare. 



This night because the people were very neere unto 

 us, the Lieutenant caused the Trumpet to sound a call, 

 and every man in the Island repayring to the Ensigne, 

 he put them in minde of the place so farre from their 



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