Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/222

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Spanish Fleet? If you had, said they, you may shortly have the opportunity of seeing their Faces here.

Besides, they highly extoll'd their own Valour, aud blam'd the Cowardise of the Christians. Who, say they, shall now be able to stand before us, seeing we have conquered the Spaniards? My People were forced to hear this sad News to their great Grief; but God's Will must be done! Our only Hope was, that the Castle, in which was a strong Garrison, might hold out against the Turks till the Winter, or some other Accident had rais'd the Siege. And yet our Hopes were mix'd with Fears, that the Conqueror would take that too; and so it fell out, for the Besieged wanted all things, especially Water; so that Don Alvarez de Sande, the Governor thereof, a courageous Man, and an old Soldier, perceiving that it could be defended no longer, got a Boat, and made his Escape, with a few Companions, towards Sicily, that so he might not behold the Surrender of so important a Place, which he thought would be look'd upon as a Blot in his Escutcheon, though the extreamest Necessity had compelled it. When he was gone, the Soldiers opened the Gates, and let in the Turks, hoping to find them the more merciful, because of their easy Admittance. Don John of Castile, however, would by no means leave the Fort which he commanded, but he and his Brother valiantly repulsing the Enemy, were at last wounded and taken. The Castle was stoutly defended by the Spaniards for three Month's Space, though they wanted many Necessaries, and, which was worst of all, had no prospect of Relief. The Weather was hot, and they almost parched with Thirst. They had but one Cistern to hold Water in, which was not