But the Turks discharged twise as fast against the
Christians, and so long, that the ship was very sore
stricken and bruised vnder water. Which the Turkes
perceiuing, made the more haste to come aboord the
Shippe: which ere they could doe, many a Turke
bought it deerely with the losse of their liues.
Yet was all in vaine, and boorded they were, where
they found so hote a skirmish, that it had bene better
they had not medled with the feast. For the Englishmen
shewed themselues men in deed, in working manfully
with their browne bils and halbardes: where the
owner, master, boateswaine, and their company stoode
to it so lustily, that the Turkes were halfe dismaied.
[Sidenote: The valour and death of their Boatswaine.]
But chiefly the boateswaine shewed himself valiant
aboue the rest: for he fared amongst the Turkes
like a wood Lion: for there was none of them that
either could or durst stand in his face, till at the
last there came a shot from the Turkes, which brake
his whistle asunder, and smote him on the brest, so
that he fell downe, bidding them farewell, and to be
of good comfort, encouraging them likewise to winne
praise by death, rather then to liue captiues in misery
and shame. Which they hearing, in deed intended
to haue done, as it appeared by their skirmish:
but the prease and store of the Turkes was so great,
that they were not able long to endure, but were so
ouerpressed, that they could not wield their weapons:
by reason whereof, they must needs be taken, which
none of them intended to haue bene, but rather to
haue died: except onely the masters mate, who
shrunke from the skirmish, like a notable coward,
esteeming neither the valure of his name, nor accounting
of the present example of his fellowes, nor hauing
respect to the miseries, whereunto he should be put.
But in fine, so it was, that the Turks were victors,
whereof they had no great cause to reioyce, or triumph.
Then would it haue grieued any hard heart to see these
Infidels so violently intreating the Christians, not
hauing any respect of their manhood which they had
tasted of, nor yet respecting their owne state, how
they might haue met with such a bootie, as might haue
giuen them the ouerthrow; but no remorse hereof, or
any thing els doth bridle their fierce and tirannous
dealing, but that the Christians must needs to the
gallies, to serue in new offices: and they were
no sooner in them, but their garments were pulled
ouer their eares, and torne from their backes, and
they set to the oares.
I will make no mention of their miseries, being now vnder their enemies raging stripes. I thinke there is no man wil iudge their fare good, or their bodies vnloden of stripes, and not pestered with too much heate, and also with too much cold: but I will goe to my purpose, which is, to shew the ende of those, being in meere miserie, which continually doe call on God with a steadfast hope that he will deliuer them, and with a sure faith that he can doe it.