9 6 The Dlftrejfes and Adventures 

 be fent hither as Spies; but, however, we 

 Were given to underftand, that if \Ve would 

 become new Chriftians and be baptized, that, 

 and nothing elfe would fave us from going 

 to the Mines. To which, I replied, with 

 fome Warmth, that a« we were Subje&s of 

 England, we could not, without Violation of 

 the known Laws of Nations, be detained 

 here as Prifoners or Captives, at a Time of 

 fettled Peace and good Underftanding, as I 

 fuppofed it was, between the two Crowns, 

 that our King hindred no Spaniard from 

 coming and going, when and where he 

 thought fit in any Part of his Dominions, 

 and that as for our being fent to the Mines, 

 we were not brought hither as Criminals to 

 have Sentence palfed upon us, but came 

 only as Strangers and Travellers, tho' poor 

 ones, and might the rather claim his Pity, but 

 for being baptized afrefh, we could not, I 

 faid, tell what that meant ; for we had already 

 been baptized in the Holy Catholick and 

 Apoftolick Church, in the Faith and Com- 

 munion of which, by God's Grace, w f e 

 hoped to continue to the End of our 

 Lives, let what would befal us, and that' 

 we always underftood it to be againft the 



ancient 



