But, said I, you in England greatly wrong Captain Avery, our General, (so I call'd myself, to advance our Credit) for I can assure you, that except plundering the Ship, and taking that immense Booty which he got in the great Ship where the Great Mogul's Daughter was, there was not the least Injury done to the Lady, no Ravishing or Violence to her, or any of her Attendance; and this, said I, you may take of my certain Knowledge; for, said I, I was on Board the Ship with our General all the while: And if any of the Princess's Women were lain with, said I, on Board the other Ship, as I believe most of them were, yet it was done with their own Consent and good Will, and no otherwise; and they were all dismiss'd afterwards, without so much as being put in Fear or Apprehensions of Life or Honour.

This I assur'd him, (as indeed it was just) and told him, I hop'd, if ever he came safe to England, he would do Captain Avery, and all of us, Justice in that particular Case.

As to our being well fortify'd on the Island, and our Numbers, I assur'd them all they were far from thinking too much of us; that we had a very good Fleet, and a very good Harbour for them; that we were not afraid of any Force from Europe, either by Land or Water; that it was, indeed, in vain to pretend to attack us by Force; that the only Way for the Government of England to bring us back to our Duty, would be to send a Proclamation from England with the Queen's Pardon for our General and all his People, if they came in by a certain Time: And, added I, we know you want Money in England, I dare say, said I, our General, Captain Avery, and his particular Gang, who have the main Riches, would not grudge to advance five or six Millions of Ducats to the Government, to give them Leave to return in Peace to England, and sit down quietly with the rest.

This Discourse, I suppose, was the Ground of the Rumour you have had in England, That Avery had offer'd to come in and submit, and would give six Millions for his Pardon: For as these Men were soon after this dismiss'd, and went back to England, there is no Doubt but they gave a particular Account of the Conference they had with me, who they call'd one of Captain Avery's Captains.