Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/211

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bought it dearly with the loss of his life. Yet was all in vain, and boarded they were: where they found so hot a skirmish, that it had been better they had not meddled with the feast. For the Englishmen showed themselves men indeed, in working manfully with their brown bills and halberds; where the Owner, Master, Boatswain, and their company stood to it so lustily, that the Turks were half dismayed. But chiefly the Boatswain showed himself valiant above the rest, for he fared [went] among the Turks like a wood [enraged] lion; for there were none of them that either could or durst stand in his face: till at the last there came a shot from the Turks, which brake his whistle asunder and smote him on the breast, so that he fell down; bidding them farewell and to be of good comfort, encouraging them likewise to win praise by death rather than to live captives in misery and shame. Which they hearing, indeed intended to have done, as it appeared by their skirmish; but the press and store [number] of the Turks was so great, that they were not long able to endure it: but were so overpressed, that they could not wield their weapons. By reason whereof, they must needs be taken; which none of them intended to have been, but rather to have died: except only the Master's Mate, who shrank from the skirmish like a notable coward; esteeming neither the valour of his name, nor accounting the present example of his fellows, nor having 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 rejoice or triumph.

Then would it have grieved any hard heart to see these infidels so violently intreating the Christians, not having any respect unto their manhood which they had tasted of; nor yet respecting their own state, how they might have met with such a booty [prey] as might have given them the overthrow: but no remorse hereof, or any thing else doth bridle their fierce and tyrannous dealing, but that the Christians must needs go to the galleys to serve in new offices. And they were no sooner in them, but their garments were pulled over their ears and torn from their backs: and they set to the oars.

I will make no mention of their miseries, being now under their enemies' raging stripes. I think there is no man will judge their fare good, or that bodies unladen with stripes, and not pestered with too much heat and also with too much