"But," says he, "as you are men in distress, the king has ordered his general, who is here also, to give you all the assistance he can, and to invite you on shore, and receive you with all possible courtesy." Says William, very quick upon him, "Before I give thee an answer to that, I desire thee to tell me what thou art, for by thy speech thou art an European." He answered presently, he was a Dutchman. "That I know well," says William, "by thy speech; but art thou a native Dutchman of Holland, or a native of this country, that has learned Dutch by conversing among the Hollanders, who we know are settled upon this island?" "No," says the old man, "I am a native of Delft, in the province of Holland, in Europe." "Well," says William, immediately, "but art thou a Christian or a heathen, or what we call a renegado?" "I am," says he, "a Christian." And so they went on, in a short dialogue, as follows:-- _William_. Thou art a Dutchman, and a Christian, thou sayest; pray, art thou a freeman or a servant? _Dutchman_. I am a servant to the king here, and in his army. _W_. But art thou a volunteer, or a prisoner? _D_. Indeed I was a prisoner at first, but am at liberty now, and so am a volunteer. _W_. That is to say, being first a prisoner, thou hast liberty to serve them; but art thou so at liberty that thou mayest go away, if thou pleasest, to thine own countrymen? _D_. No, I do not say so; my countrymen live a great way off, on the north and east parts of the island, and there is no going to them without the king's express license. _W_. Well, and why dost thou not get a license to go away? _D_. I have never asked for it. _W_. And, I suppose, if thou didst, thou knowest thou couldst not obtain it. _D_. I cannot say much as to that; but why do you ask me all these questions? _W_. Why, my reason is good; if thou art a Christian and a prisoner, how canst thou consent to be made an instrument to these barbarians, to betray us into their hands, who are thy countrymen and fellow-Christians? Is it not a barbarous thing in thee to do so? _D_. How do I go about to betray you? Do I not give you an account how the king invites you to come on shore, and has ordered you to be treated courteously and assisted? _W_. As thou art a Christian, though I doubt it much, dost thou believe the king or the general, as thou callest it, means one word of what he says? _D_. He promises you by the mouth of his great general. _W_. I don't ask thee what he promises, or by whom; but I ask thee this: Canst thou say that thou believest he intends to perform it? _D_. How can I answer that? How can I tell what he intends? _W_. Thou canst tell what thou believest. _D_. I cannot say but he will perform it; I believe he may. _W_. Thou art but a double-tongued Christian, I doubt. Come, I'll ask thee another question: Wilt thou say that thou believest it, and that thou wouldst advise me to believe it, and put our lives into their hands upon these promises?