cold: but I will go to my purpose, which is to show the end of those who, being in mere [utter] misery, continually do call on GOD with a steadfast hope that He will deliver them; and with a sure faith that He can do it.
Nigh to the city of Alexandria, being a haven town, and under the dominion of the Turks; there is a road, being made very fencible with strong walls: whereinto the Turks do customably bring their galleys on shore every year in the winter season, and there do trim them and lay them up against the spring time. In which road, there is a prison wherein the captives, and such prisoners as serve in the galleys are put for all that time, until the seas be calm and passable for the galleys: every prisoner being most grievously ladened with irons on their legs to their great pain, and sore disabling of them to taking any labour. Into which prison were these Christians put; and fast warded all the winter season. But ere it was long, the Master and the Owner, by means of friends, were redeemed. The rest abiding still by the misery; while that they were all, through reason of their ill-usage and worse fare, miserably starved: saving one JOHN Fox, who—as some men can abide harder and more misery than some others can; so can some likewise make more shift and work more devices to help their state and living than some others can do—being somewhat skilful in the craft of a barber, by reason thereof made great shift in helping his fare now and then with a good meal. Insomuch, till at the last, GOD sent him favour in the sight of the Keeper of the prison; so that he had leave to go in and out to the road at his pleasure, paying a certain stipend unto the Keeper, and wearing a lock about his leg. Which liberty likewise six more had upon like sufferance; who—by reason of their long imprisonment, not being feared or suspected to start aside, or that they would work the Turks any mischief-had liberty to go in and out of the said road in such manner as this JOHN Fox did; with irons on their legs, and to return again at night.
In the year of our Lord 1577, in the winter season, the galleys happily coming to their accustomed harbour, and being discharged of their masts, sails, and other such furniture as unto galleys do appertain; and all the masters and mariners of them being then nested in their own homes: there
