'
"We said, 'We were all ready to take that oath.'
"Whereupon one of those that were with him, being (as it seemed)
a notary, made an entry of this act. Which done, another of the
attendants of the great person, which was with him in the same
boat, after his lord had spoken a little to him, said aloud: 'My
lord would have you know, that it is not of pride or greatness
that he cometh out aboard your ship; but for that in your answer
you declare that you have many sick amongst you, he was warned by
the Conservator of Health of the city that he should keep a
distance.'
"We bowed ourselves towards him, and answered, 'We were his
humble servants; and accounted for great honour and singular
humanity towards us that which was already done; but hoped well
that the nature of the sickness of our men was not infectious.'
"So he returned; and a while after came the notary to us aboard
our ship, holding in his hand a fruit of that country, like an
orange, but of colour between orange-tawny and scarlet, which
cast a most excellent odour.
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