Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/216

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the top of the prison; unto whom JOHN FOX and his company were fain to come by ladders, where they found a hot skirmish. For some of them were slain, some wounded, and some but scared and not hurt. As JOHN FOX was thrice shot through his apparel and not hurt; PETER UNTICARO and the other two that had armed themselves with ducats were slain, as not able to wield themselves, being so pestered with the weight and uneasy carrying of the wicked and profane treasure; and also divers Christians were as well hurt about that skirmish as Turks slain.

Amongst the Turks, was one thrust through, who (let us not say it was ill fortune) fell off from the top of the prison wall, and made such a lowing; that the inhabitants thereabout, as here and there scattering stood a house or two, came and dawed [aroused] him: so that they understood the case, how that the prisoners were paying their ransoms: wherewith they raised both Alexandria, which lay on the west side of the road, and a castle at the city's end next to the road, and also another fortress which lay on the north side of the road: so that now they had no way to escape but one, which by man's reason (the two holds lying so upon the mouth of the road) might seem impossible to be a way for them. So was the Red Sea impossible for the Israelites to pass through, the hills and rocks lay so on the one side, and their enemies compassed them on the other. So was it impossible that the walls of Jericho should fall down; being neither undermined nor yet rammed at with engines, nor yet any man's wisdom, policy, or help set or put thereunto. Such impossibilities can our GOD make possible. He that held the lions' jaws from rending DANIEL asunder, yea, or yet from once touching him to his hurt: cannot He hold the roaring cannons of this hellish force? He that kept the fierce rage in the hot burning oven from the three children that praised His name: cannot He keep the fierce flaming blasts from among his elect?

Now is the road fraught [filled] with lusty soldiers, labourers, and mariners, who are fain to stand to their tackling; in setting to every man his hand: some to the carrying in of victuals, some of munition, some of oars, and some one thing and some another: but most are keeping their enemy from the wall of the road. But to be short,