After all, they are little worse off than our serfs at home; they build our castles and till our land." "It may be so, sir; but with us in England men are free, and it was, when I first came, strange to me to see them working under the fear of the whip.

It is necessary, I know, that such work should be done, but I own that I shall be glad to be away from the sight of the poor wretches, pirates and enemies of the faith though they be." "I can understand your feelings, and I too felt somewhat the same when I first came here.

Nevertheless, there is work that must be done if the Order is not to be crushed by the infidels.

Here are captives, for the most part malefactors, who have to be fed; and there is no injustice in their having, like all men, to give work for food.

I have learnt to see this and recognise the necessity, though I would that the work could be obtained without the use of harshness and severity.