And Being Come Into The Woods I Threw My Irons Into A
Thick Bush, And Then Covered Them With Moss And Other Things, And Then
Shifted For Myself As I Might All That Night.
And thus, by the good
providence of Almighty God, I was freed from mine irons, all saving the
collar that was about my neck, and so got my liberty the second time.
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER.
WHEREIN IS SHOWED HOW I ESCAPED TO GUATEMALA UPON THE SOUTH SEA, AND
FROM THENCE TO THE PORT OF CAVALLOS, WHERE I GOT PASSAGE TO GO INTO
SPAIN, AND OF OUR ARRIVAL AT THE HAVANA AND OUR COMING TO SPAIN, WHERE
I WAS AGAIN LIKE TO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED PRISONER, AND HOW THROUGH THE
GREAT MERCY OF GOD I ESCAPED AND CAME HOME IN SAFETY INTO ENGLAND IN
FEBRUARY, 1582.
The next morning (daylight being come) I perceived by the sun rising
what way to take to escape their hands, for when I fled I took the way
into the woods upon the left hand, and having left that way that went
to Mexico upon my right hand, I thought to keep my course as the woods
and mountains lay still direct south as near as I could; by means
whereof I was sure to convey myself far enough from that way which went
to Mexico. And as I was thus going in the woods I saw many great fires
made to the north not past a league from the mountain where I was, and
travelling thus in my boots, with mine iron collar about my neck, and
my bread and cheese, the very same forenoon I met with a company of
Indians which were hunting of deer for their sustenance, to whom I
spake in the Mexican tongue, and told them how that I had of a long
time been kept in prison by the cruel Spaniards, and did desire them to
help me file off mine iron collar, which they willingly did, rejoicing
greatly with me that I was thus escaped out of the Spaniards' hands.
Then I desired that I might have one of them to guide out of those
desert mountains towards the south, which they also most willingly did,
and so they brought me to an Indian town eight leagues distance from
thence named Shalapa, where I stayed three days; for that I was
somewhat sickly.
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