Page:The Captivity of Hans Stade of Hesse.pdf/167

country it was, and that it was not advisable to abandon it. In order to amend this, the Colonel, called Thome de Susse,^[1] came and examined that part of the country, and the points. which the community desired greatly to have fortified.

Then the community informed the officer of the services which I had rendered them, by repairing to the house when no Portuguese would venture therein, as it was so badly fortified. This pleased him greatly, and he said that he would bring my conduct before the king, if God helped him back again to Portugal, and that I should be rewarded.

The time which I had agreed to serve the community, namely four months, was past, and I asked leave. But the officer together with the community desired that I would remain some time longer in the service. Whereupon I gave my assent to serve two years more, and when the time was over they should, unless certain circumstances prevented it, allow me to sail in the first ship which I could find, to Portugal, when my services should be rewarded. To this effect the officer gave me on the part of the king my "privilegea" (commission), as it is also customary to give to such of the king's gunners who demanded it. They built the stone-fort and they placed several pieces of cannon inside. I was commanded to keep vigilant watch and look out in the fort with the guns.