download PDF version: 38.1MB - Global Grey

ROSICRUCIAN APOLOGISTS: JOHN HEYDON. 351
in Spanish, asked, " Are ye Christians ] " We answered that
we were, at which he lift up his right hand towards Heaven,
and drew it softly to his mouth (which is the gesture they
use when they thank God), and then said, " If ye will
swear by the merit of the Saviour that ye are no pirates,
nor have shed blood, lawfully or unlawfully, within forty
dayes past, you may have license to land." We said that
we were all ready to take that oath, whereupon one of those
with him, being, as it seemed, a notarie, made an entrie of
this act, which done, another, after his lord had spoken a
little to him, said :
"
My lord would have you know that
it is not of pride that he commeth not aboard your ship,
but for that you declare that you have many sick amongst
you, he was warned by the conservation of health that he
should keep a distance." We were his humble servants,
and accounted for great honour and singular humanity to-
wards us that which had been already done, but hoped that
the nature of the sickness was not infectious. So he re-
turned, and a while after came the notary aboard, holding
a fruit like an orange, but of colour between orange-tawney
and scarlet, which cast a most excellent odour. He used it
for a preservative against infection. He gave us our oath,
" by the name of Jesus and His merits," and told us that
next day, by six in the morning, we should be sent to and
brought to the strangers' house, where we should be accommodated
both for our whole and our sick. When we offered
him some pistolets, he smiling said he must not be twice
paid for one labour.
The next morning there came the same officer that
came to us at first with his cane, to conduct us to the
strangers' house.
"
If you will follow my advice," said he,
"
some few will first go with me and see the place, and how