“Sir, (said the old man, amazed) you have taken the right course to steer to the north, and, if I might advise you, I would have you sell your ship in China, and buy or build another in that country; and I’ll procure people to buy the one and sell the other.”  “Well, but, Seignior, (said I) if I sell the ship in this manner, I may bring some innocent persons into the same dangers I have gone through, perhaps worse, even death itself; whereby I should be as guilty of their murder as their villainous executioners.”  “That need not trouble you, (says the old man) I’ll find a way to prevent that; for these commanders you talk of I know very well, and will inform them rightly of the matter as you have related, and I am persuaded they will not only believe me, but act more cautiously for the future.”  “And will you deliver one message from me to them?” “Yes, (said he) if you will give it under your hand, that I may prove it is not of my own production,” Hereupon I wrote a large account of their attacking me in their long-boat, the pretended reason and unjust design of it; that they had done what they might be ashamed of, and could not answer for at any tribunal in England.  But this letter was writ in vain.  Providence ordered things another way.  We sailed directly for Nanquin, and in about thirteen day’s sail, came to an anchor at the south-west point of the great gulf of that place, where we learned, that two Dutch ships were gone the length before us, and that we should certainly fall into their hands.  We were all at a great loss in this exigency, and would very gladly have been on shore almost any where; but our old pilot told me, that if I would sail to the southward about two and forty leagues, there was a little port called Quinchange, where no European ships ever came, and where we might consider what was further to be done.  Accordingly we weighed anchor the next day, calling only twice on shore by the way to get fresh water.  The country people very courteously sold us roots, tea, rice, fowls, and other provisions.  After five days sail we came to the port, and landed with unspeakable joy.  We resolved to dispose of ourselves and effects in any other way possible, than enter on board that ill-fated vessel more; for no state can be more miserable than a continued fear, which is a life of death, a confounder of our understandings, that sets the imagination at work to form a thousand frightful things that may never happen.  And we scarce slept one night without dreaming of halters, yard-arms, or gibbets, of fighting, being taken, and being killed; nay, so violent were our apprehensions, that we would bruise our hands and heads against the sides of the cabin, as though actually engaged.  The story of the Dutch cruelty at Amboyns, often came into our thoughts when awake; and, for my part, I thought my condition very hard; that after so many difficulties and such signal deliverances, I should be hanged in my old age, though innocent of any crime