AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1565. 



this request hee was forced to make, because he had 

 not otherwise wherewith to pay for victuals & for 

 necessaries which he should take: which request being 

 put in writing and presented, the officers and towne- 

 dwellers assembled together, and finding his request so 

 reasonable, granted him licence for thirtie Negros, which 

 afterwards they caused the officers to view, to the intent 

 they should graunt to nothing but that were very 

 reasonable, for feare of answering thereunto afterwards. 

 This being past, our Captaine according to their licence, 

 thought to have made sale, but the day past and none 

 came to buy, who before made shewe that they had 

 great neede of them, and therefore wist not what to 

 surmise of them, whether they went about to prolong 

 the time of the Governour his answere because they 

 would keepe themselves blamelesse, or for any other 

 pollicie hee knew not, and for that purpose sent them 

 worde, marveiling what the matter was that none came 

 to buy them. They answered, because they had granted 

 licence onely to the poore to buy those Negros of 

 small price, and their money was not so ready as other 

 mens of more wealth. More then that, as soone as 

 ever they sawe the shippes, they conveyed away their 

 money by their wives that went into the mountaines 

 for feare, & were not yet returned, & yet asked two 

 dayes to seeke their wives and fetch their money. 

 Notwithstanding, the next day divers of them came to 

 cheapen, but could not agree of price, because they 

 thought the price too high. Whereupon the Captaine 

 perceiving they went about to bring downe the price, 

 and meant to buy, and would not confesse if hee had 

 licence, that he might sell at any reasonable rate, as 

 they were worth in other places, did send for the 

 principals of the Towne, and made a shewe hee would 

 depart, declaring himselfe to be very sory that he had 

 so much troubled them, and also that he had sent for 

 the governour to come downe, seeing nowe his pretence 

 was to depart, whereat they marveiled much, and asked 



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