he service in my power at his return. I accordingly sent
Miguel to inform the king that these two strangers were come to seek a
passage in our ship, not being Spaniards nor subjects of Spain. The king
sent me back for answer, that they were welcome, if they were such as
they reported themselves; but, if Spaniards or Portuguese, he could not
allow them to remain in Firando, as the Spanish ambassador had procured
an order from the emperor that all Spaniards should retire to Manilla.

[Footnote 34: Called in the sequel Macow, or Macao, the Portuguese
settlement on the coast of China, at the mouth of the _Bocca-tigris_, or
river of Canton.--E]

The two strangers came to me early on the 17th, requesting me to
accompany them to wait upon the king, to give them the better
countenance, which I agreed to. On the way, they told me that our
fugitives had given out at Nangasaki that more of our people would
follow them, as none of any account would stay to navigate the ship
home, because their officers used them more like dogs than men. They
alleged also, that twenty resolute Spaniards might easily get possession
of our ship in one or two small boats. The old king received us very
kindly, and asked the strangers many questions about the wars in the
Molucca islands between the Spaniards and Dutch. They said the Spaniards
were resolved to prosecute this war with much vigour, having prepared a
strong force for that purpose. They also told the king that all our
fugitives had, as they believed, been secretly conveyed away from
Nangasaki seven days before, in a _soma_ that went from thence for
_Macow_.[35] The king would not believe them, saying it was impossible
such a man as Bon-diu, having given his word to restore them, should be
found false to his promise. In the end, he agreed to allow these men to
remain, and to go along with our ship, if our general pleased to take
them. So the poor men returned much contented to their lodgings,
assuring me they would prove faithful to us, and that we need not wish
any worse punishment to our fugitives than the bad treatment they would
receive from the Spaniards.

[Footnote 35: Macow, or Macao, a town of the Portuguese near the
continent of China. Miguel, the jurebasso, servant to Mr Adams, was
suspected of double-dealing in this affair of the fugitives: the
circumstances I omit.--_Purch._]

The 18th we had a total eclipse of the moon, which began about eleven
p.m. The 19th, about the same ho