Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/80

52 whereof if he pleased to take I would presently give him; which he desired, and having a confection of many comfortable conserves on the point of my knife, I gave him some, which I could scarce get through his teeth. When it was dissolved in his mouth he swallowed the juice of it, whereat those about him rejoiced, saying he had not swallowed anything in two days before. Then I desired to see his mouth which was exceedingly furred and his tongue swelled in such a manner as it was not possible for him to eat such meat as as they had. Then I washed his mouth and scraped his tongue. After which I gave him more of the confection, which he swallowed with more readiness. Then he desired to drink; I dissolved some of it in water and gave him thereof. Within half an hour this wrought a great alteration in him in the eyes of all that beheld him. Presently after, his sight began to come to him, which gave him and us good encouragement. I inquired how he slept, and they said he slept not in two days before. Then I gave him more and told him of a mishap we had by the way, in breaking a bottle of drink, saying if he would send any of his men to Patuxet, I would send for more of the same; also for chickens to make him broth, and for other things which I knew were good for him; and would stay the return of his messenger if he desired. This he took marvelous kindly, and appointed some, who were ready to go by two of the clock in the morning; against which time I made ready a letter.

"He requested me that the day following I would take my piece and kill him some fowl, and make him some English pottage, such as he had eaten at Plymouth, which I promised. After, his stomach coming to him, I must needs make him some without fowl, before I went abroad. I caused a woman to bruise some corn, and take the flour from it, and set over the broken corn, in a pipkin, for they have earthen pots of all sizes. When the day broke we went out, it being now March, to seek herbs, but could not find any but strawberry leaves, of which I gathered a handful and put into the same; and because I had nothing to relish