Soon after the Spanish governor sent for them to be brought to Chaco, where they were very well treated by the people. Whilst here John Byron was asked to marry the niece of a very rich old priest.
The lady made the suggestion through her uncle, saying that first she wished him to be converted, and then he might marry her.
When the old priest made the offer, he took John Byron into a room where there were several large chests full of clothes. Taking from one of them a large piece of linen, he told him it should be made up into shirts for him at once if he would marry the lady.
The thought of new shirts was a great temptation to John Byron, as he had only the one in which he had lived ever since he had been wrecked.
However, he denied himself this luxury, and excused himself for not being able to accept the honour of the lady's hand.
On this occasion he managed to speak Spanish sufficiently well to make himself understood.
In January 1742 they were sent on to Valparaiso as English prisoners. Only Captain Cheap and Mr. Campbell were recognised as officers, as they had saved their commissions, and they were sent to St. Jago, while John Byron and Mr. Hamilton were kept in prison. However, when they were released they were permitted to rejoin the others at St. Jago, and found them living with a Scotch physician named Don Patricio Gedd.
When Dr. Gedd heard of the four English prisoners, he had begged the President to allow them to live at his house.
This was granted, and during the two years they lived there with him, he treated them most hospitably, and would hear of no return being made for his kindness.
Mr. Campbell changed his religion while they were at St. Jago, and left his companions.