'I say you are a merciful
man that puts him to no worse death than hanging.' Sir Edward knew
that he had not been mistaken in the word his sharp ears had caught.
'But,' said he, 'what is the other word that thou saidst?' 'That
heretic,' repeated the judge. 'I say,' said the Commander, 'he is more
like a Christian than thyself; for I do believe thou wouldst hang me
if it were in thy power.'

'Then said the Commander to me,' continues Richard, '"Come down again,
for I will not hurt an hair of thy head; for I cannot make one hair
grow." Then he cried, "Silence all men," and proclaimed it three times
over, that if any man or men on board of the ship would come and give
evidence that I had done anything that I deserved death for, I should
have it, provided they were credible persons. But no man came, neither
a mouth opened against me then. So he cried again, "Silence all men,
and hear me speak." Then he proclaimed that the Quaker was as free a
man as any on board of the ship was. So the men heaved up their hats,
and with a loud voice cried, "God bless Sir Edward, he is a merciful
man!" The shrouds and tops and decks being full of men, several of
their hats flew overboard and were lost.'

We will say good-bye to Richard there, with all the sailors huzzaing
round him, throwing up their caps, and Sir Edward standing by with a
pleased smile, more pleased than ever now, since it was impossible for
any one to deny that he was a merciful, a most merciful man. The
change for Richard himself, from being a condemned criminal loaded
with chains to being a universal favourite, must have been startling
indeed, though his troubles were not over yet. Difficulties surrounded
him again when the actual battles with the Dutch began. But, though he
could not fight, and was therefore in perpetual danger, he could and
did help and heal.

His story tells us how he was able to save the whole ship's company
from destruction more than once, and had more marvellous adventures
than there is time here to relate. He tells also how the persecuting
lieutenant became his fast friend, and eventually helped him to get
his freedom.

For he did regain his liberty in the end, and was given a written
permission to go home and earn his living as a fisherman. With this
writing in his hand no press-crew would dare to kidnap him again. So
back he came to Scarborough, to the red-roofed cottage by the water's
edge, to his unmended nets, and to the little daughter