I am the larger upon this Subject, to purge my self from too much Weakness, which I know some will accuse me of, in being ready to trust every body; and, in some Measure, to take the blame upon my self for the slackness of some, for whom I have undertaken in their Repayments. I foresee I shall be a great loser by the Business; for I must necessarily make Payment on the Day, when my Word was once passed: And besides, I heard that some whom I had released, had laughed at my easy Nature, in believing what they said to be true; so that my Case is bad, if I should judge of the rest by them. But, be it as it will, I thank my God, that I have been able to do so many good Offices to so many distressed Persons. I do not repent it; for Virtue is a sufficient Reward to it self. I covet not, that any Honours should be conferred on me, nor any Statue erected for my Beneficence; I only wish, that they would be so grateful, as to pay me what I am out of Pocket, to save their Lives; of which I despair not from so cordial a Nation as the _Spaniards_ are. For my part, I rejoice not only that I did them a good turn, but that thereby I gave an Example and Invitation to others to do the same. There live many Merchants in _Pera_, _Italians_ by Birth, who are very assistant in relieving Christian-Prisoners; but one of them deserves to be particularly mentioned, for the absurdity of his Opinion, differing from all the rest. He was an _Italian Greek_, that is, one who resembles both those Nations in his Birth and Manners. When his Country-men were mercifully busied in relieving Prisoners, he could never be persuaded to give one Farthing towards so pious a Work; and, being blamed for it, his Answer was, (which he uttered in a barbarous and blunt _Italian_ Style, the _Greek_ being more familiar to him,) I know not, what these Men are; but this I know, that the just Judgment of God hath brought them into this miserable Condition. For my part, I will not oppose the Will of God; let them abide in that Place God hath allotted them. You, who so boldly withstand what God hath decreed, may pity them if you please; but I will not spare a Doit to release them, though you use never so many Arguments to persuade me: But enough of this vain and foolish Fellow. This Loss at Sea, together with the Misfortune of _Bajazet_, struck a great Terror into me, that the _Turks_, made more insolent thereby, would hearken to no Conditions of Peace. This publick Calamity was seconded by a private one; the Plague was got into my House; one of my faithful Servant died of it, and the rest were terribly afraid of the Infection. But, before I speak of that, there was another Case surprised me, arising on this account.