SUMMARY: The Author, by a lucky Accident, finds means to leave Blefuscu; and, after some Difficulties, returns safe to his Native Country.

  THREE DAYS after my Arrival, walking out of Curiosity to the North-East Coast of the Island, I observed, about half a
League off, in the Sea, something that looked like a Boat overturned. I pulled off my Shoes and Stockings, and wading two
or three Hundred Yards, I found the Object to approach nearer by force of the Tide; and then plainly saw it to be a real
Boat, which I supposed might, by some Tempest, have been driven from a Ship; whereupon I returned immediately
towards the City, and desired his Imperial Majesty to lend me twenty of the tallest Vessels he had left after the Loss of his
Fleet, and three thousand Seamen under the Command of the Vice-Admiral. This Fleet sailed round, while I went back the
shortest way to the Coast where I first discovered the Boat; I found the Tide had driven it still nearer. The Seamen were all
provided with Cordage, which I had beforehand twisted to a sufficient strength. When the Ships came up, I stript my self,
and waded till I came within an hundred Yards of the Boat, after which I was forced to swim till I got up to it. The Seamen
threw me the end of the Cord, which I fastened to a Hole in the fore-part of the Boat, and the other end to a Man of War:
But I found all my Labour to little purpose; for being out of my depth, I was not able to work. In this Necessity, I was
forced to swim behind, and push the Boat forwards as often as I could, with one of my Hands; and the Tide favouring me, I
advanced so far, that I could just hold up my Chin and feel the Ground. I rested two or three Minutes, and then gave the
Boat another Shove, and so on till the Sea was no higher than my Arm-pits; and now the most laborious part being over, I
took out my other Cables, which were stowed in one of the Ships, and fastening them first to the Boat, and then to nine of
the Vessels which attended me; the Wind being favourable, the Sea-men towed, and I shoved till we arrived within forty
Yards of the Shore; and waiting till the Tide was out, I got dry to the Boat, and by the assistance of two thousand Men,
with Ropes and Engines, I made a shift to turn it on its Bottom, and found it was but little damaged.

I shall not trouble the Reader with the Difficulties I was under by the help of certain Paddles, which cost me ten Days
making, to get my Boat to the Royal Port of Blefuscu, where a mighty concourse of People appeared upon my arrival, full
of Wonder at the sight of so prodigious a Vessel. I told the Emperor that my good Fortune had thrown this Boat in my way,
to carry me to some place from whence I might return into my Native Country, and begged his Majesty's Orders for getting
Materials to fit it up, together with his Licence to depart; which, after some kind Expostulations, he was pleased to grant.

I did very much wonder, in all this time, not to have heard of any Express relating to me from our Emperor to the Court of
Blefuscu. But I was afterwards given privately to understand, that his Imperial Majesty, never imagining I had the least
notice of his Designs, believed I was only gone to Blefuscu in performance of my promise, according to the Licence he had
given me, which was well known at our Court, and would return in a few Days when that Ceremony was ended. But he
was at last in pain at my long absence; and after consulting with the Treasurer, and the rest of that Cabal, a Person of
Quality was dispatched with the Copy of the Articles against me. This Envoy had Instructions to represent to the Monarch
of Blefuscu the great Lenity of his Master, who was content to punish me no farther than with the loss of mine Eyes; that I
had fled from Justice, and if I did not return in two Hours, I should be deprived of my Title of Nardac, and declared a
Traitor. The Envoy further added, that in order to maintain the Peace and Amity between both Empires, his Master
expected, that his Brother of Blefuscu would give Orders to have me sent back to Lilliput, bound Hand and Foot, to be
punished as a Traitor.

The Emperor of Blefuscu having taken three Days to consult, returned an Answer consisting of many Civilities and
Excuses. He said, that as for sending me bound, his Brother knew it was impossible; that although I had deprived him of his
Fleet, yet he owed great Obligations to me for many good Offices I had done him in making the Peace. That however both
their Majesties would soon be made easy; for I had found a prodigious Vessel on the Shore, able to carry me on the Sea,
which he had given order to fit up with my own Assistance and Direction; and he hoped in a few Weeks both Empires
would be freed from so insupportable an Incumbrance.

With this Answer the Envoy returned to Lilliput, and the Monarch of Blefuscu related to me all that had past, offering me
at the same time (but under the strictest Confidence) his gracious Protection, if I would continue in his Service; wherein
although I believed him sincere, yet I resolved never more to put any Confidence in Princes or Ministers, where I could
possibly avoid it; and therefore, with all due Acknowledgments for his favourable Intentions, I humbly begged to be
excused. I told him, that since Fortune, whether good or evil, had thrown a Vessel in my way, I was resolved to venture
myself in the Ocean, rather than be an occasion of Difference between two such mighty Monarchs. Neither did I find the
Emperor at all displeased; and I discover'd by a certain Accident, that he was very glad of my Resolution, and so were
most of his Ministers.

These Considerations moved me to hasten my Departure somewhat sooner than I intended; to which the Court, impatient
to have me gone, very readily contributed. Five Hundred Workmen were employed to make two Sails to my Boat,
according to my Directions, by quilting thirteen fold of their strongest Linnen together. I was at the pains of making Ropes
and Cables, by twisting ten, twenty or thirty of the thickest and strongest of theirs. A great Stone that I happen'd to find,
after a long Search, by the Sea-shore, served me for an Anchor. I had the Tallow of three hundred Cows for greasing my
Boat, and other Uses. I was at incredible pains in cutting down some of the largest Timber-Trees for Oars and Masts,
wherein I was, however, much assisted by his Majesty's Ship-Carpenters, who helped me in smoothing them, after I had
done the rough Work.

In about a Month, when all was prepared, I sent to receive his Majesty's Commands, and to take my leave. The Emperor
and Royal Family came out of the Palace: I lay down on my Face to kiss his Hand, which he very graciously gave me; so
did the Empress and young Princes of the Blood. His Majesty presented me with fifty Purses of two hundred Sprugs
a-piece, together with his Picture at full length, which I put immediately into one of my Gloves, to keep it from being hurt.
The Ceremonies at my departure were too many to trouble the Reader with at this time.

I stored the Boat with the Carcases of an hundred Oxen, and three hundred Sheep, with Bread and Drink proportionable,
and as much Meat ready dressed as four Hundred cooks could provide. I took with me six cows and two bulls alive, with
as many ewes and rams, intending to carry them into my own Country, and propagate the breed. And to feed them on
board, I had a good bundle of hay, and a bag of corn. I would gladly have taken a dozen of the Natives, but this was a
Thing the Emperor would by no means permit; and besides a diligent search into my Pockets, his Majesty engaged my
Honour not to carry away any of his Subjects, although with their own consent and desire.

Having thus prepared all Things as well as I was able, I set sail on the twenty-fourth Day of September 1701, at six in the
Morning; and when I had gone about four Leagues to the Northward, the Wind being at South-East, at six in the Evening, I
descried a small Island about half a League to the North-West. I advanced forward, and cast Anchor on the Lee-side of
the Island, which seemed to be uninhabited. I then took some Refreshment, and went to my rest. I slept well, and I
conjecture at least six Hours, for I found the Day broke in two Hours after I awaked. It was a clear Night. I eat my
Breakfast before the Sun was up; and heaving Anchor, the Wind being favourable, I steered the same Course that I had
done the Day before, wherein I was directed by my Pocket-Compass. My Intention was to reach, if possible, one of those
Islands, which I had reason to believe lay to the North-East of Van Diemen's Land. I discovered nothing all that Day; but
upon the next, about three in the Afternoon, when I had by my Computation made twenty-four Leagues from Blefuscu, I
descryed a Sail steering to the South-East; my Course was due East. I hailed her, but could get no Answer; yet I found I
gained upon her, for the Wind slackned. I made all the sail I could, and in half an hour she spyed me, then hung out her
Antient, and discharged a Gun. It is not easy to express the Joy I was in upon the unexpected hope of once more seeing my
beloved Country, and the dear Pledges I had left in it. The Ship slackned her Sails, and I came up with her between five
and six in the Evening, September 26; but my Heart leapt within me to see her English Colours. I put my Cows and Sheep
into my Coat-Pockets, and got on board with all my little Cargo of Provisions. The Vessel was an English Merchantman,
returning from Japan by the North and South-Seas; the Captain, Mr. John Biddle of Deptford, a very civil Man, and an
excellent Sailor. We were now in the Latitude of 30 Degrees south; there were about fifty Men in the Ship; and here I met
an old Comrade of mine, one Peter Williams, who gave me a good Character to the Captain. This Gentleman treated me
with Kindness, and desired I would let know what place I came from last, and whither I was bound; which I did in few
Words, but he thought I was raving, and that the Dangers I underwent had disturbed my Head; whereupon I took my black
Cattle and Sheep out of my Pocket, which, after great Astonishment, clearly convinced him of my Veracity. I then shewed
him the Gold given me by the Emperor of Lilliput*, together with his Majesty's Picture at full length, and some other Rarities
of that Country. I gave him two Purses of two hundred Sprugs each, and promised, when we arrived in England, to make
him a Present of a Cow and a Sheep big with Young.

I shall not trouble the Reader with a particular Account of this Voyage, which was very prosperous for the most part. We
arrived in the Downs on the 13th of April 1702. I had only one Misfortune, that the Rats on board carried away one of my
Sheep; I found her Bones in a Hole, picked clean from the Flesh. The rest of my Cattle I got safe on Shore, and set them
grazing in a Bowling-Green at Greenwich, where the Fineness of the Grass made them feed very heartily, though I had
always feared the contrary: neither could I possibly have preserved them in so long a Voyage, if the Captain had not
allowed me some of his best Bisket, which, rubbed to Powder, and mingled with Water, was their constant Food. The
short time I continued in England, I made considerable Profit by shewing my Cattle to many Persons of Quality, and
others: and before I began my second Voyage, I sold them for six hundred Pounds. Since my last return, I find the breed is
considerably increased, especially the Sheep; which I hope will prove much to the Advantage of the Woollen Manufacture,
by the Fineness of the Fleeces.

I stayed but two Months with my Wife and Family; for my insatiable Desire of seeing foreign Countries would suffer me to
continue no longer. I left fifteen hundred Pounds with my Wife, and fixed her in a good House at Redriff. My remaining
Stock I carried with me, part in Money, and part in Goods, in hopes to improve my Fortunes. My eldest Uncle John had
left me an Estate in Land, near Epping, of about Thirty Pounds a Year; and I had a long Lease of the Black-Bull in
Fetter-Lane, which yielded me as much more; so that I was not in any Danger of leaving my Family upon the Parish. My
Son Johnny, named so after his Uncle, was at the Grammar School, and a towardly Child. My Daughter Betty (who is
now well married, and has Children) was then at her Needle-work. I took leave of my Wife, and Boy and Girl, with Tears
on both sides, and went on board the Adventure, a Merchant-Ship of three hundred tons, bound for Surat, Captain John
Nicholas of Liverpool Commander. But my Account of this Voyage must be referred to the Second Part of my Travels.

                                    The End of the First Part.