brother and sister, if it pleased GOD, as he hoped it would, to bring us together in England, where I should find all things settled to my contentation:" relating unto me after what manner he had settled his estate by letters, which he sent from Kottiaar.
"In the first place, and above all; he charged me to serve GOD, and with a circumspect care to walk in His ways; and then," he said, "GOD would bless me and prosper me." And next, he bade me, "have a care of my brother and sister." And lastly, he gave me "a special charge to beware of strong drink and lewd company; which, as by experience many had found, would change me into another man, so that I should not be myself." "It deeply grieved him," he said, "to see me in captivity in the prime of my years, and so much the more because I had chosen rather to suffer captivity with him than to disobey his command; which now he was heartily sorry for, that he had so commanded me: but bade me not repent of obeying the command of my father, seeing for this very thing," he said, "GOD would bless me," and bade me "be assured of it, which he doubted not of, namely, that GOD Almighty would deliver me." Which, at that time, I could not tell how to conceive of, seeing but little sign of any such matter. But blessed be the Name of my most precious GOD, who hath so bountifully sustained me ever since in the land of my captivity, and preserved me alike to see my deceased father's word fulfilled! And truly I was so far from repenting that I had obeyed the command of my father, and performed the oath and promise I made unto him upon it; that it rather rejoiced me to see that GOD had given me so much grace.
But though it was a trouble to him, that by his means, I was thus made a captive; yet "it was a great comfort to him," he said, "to have his own son sit by him on his death-bed, and by his hands to be buried; whereas otherwise he could expect no other but to be eaten by dogs or wild beasts." Then he gave me order concerning his burial, "That having no winding sheet, I should pull his shirt over his head and slip his breeches over his feet, and so wrap him up in the mat he laid upon." And then he ceased speaking, and fell into a slumber. This was about eight or nine o'clock in the evening: and about two or three in the morning he gave up
