Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/218

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He was the only living GOD; for the seas were swift under His faithful ones, which made the enemies aghast to behold them; a skilful pilot leads them, and their mariners bestir them lustily: but the Turks had neither mariners, pilots, nor any skilful Master that was in readiness at this pinch.

When the Christians were safe out of the enemy's coast, JOHN FOX called to them all, willing them to be thankful unto Almighty GOD for their delivery; and most humbly to fall down upon their knees, beseeching Him to aid them unto their friends' land and not to bring them into another danger; since He had most mightily delivered them from so great a thraldom and bondage.

Then when every man had made his petition, they fell straightway to their labour with the oars, in helping one another when they were wearied; and with great labour striving to come to some Christian land, as near as they could guess by the stars. But the winds were so diverse, one while driving them this way, another while that way; that they were now in a new maze, thinking that GOD had forsaken them, and left them to a greater danger. And forasmuch as there were no victuals now left in the galley, it might have been cause to them (if they had been the Israelites) to have murmured against their GOD; but they knew how that their GOD who had delivered them out of Egypt, was such a loving and merciful GOD, as that He would not suffer them to be confounded, in whom He had wrought so great a wonder. But what calamity soever they sustained, they knew that it was but for their further trial; and also (in putting them in mind of their farther misery) to cause them not to triumph and glory in themselves therefore. Having, I say, no victuals in the galley; it might seem one misery continually to fall upon another's neck. But to be brief, the famine grew to be so great, that in twenty-eight days wherein they were on the sea, there died eight persons; to the astonishment of all the rest.

So it fell out, that upon the twenty-ninth day after they had set out from Alexandria, they fell on the island of Candia, and landed at Gallipoli: where they were much made of by the Abbot and monks there; who caused them to stay there, while they were well refreshed and eased. They kept there the sword wherewith JOHN FOX had killed the Keeper;