CUpid'sPosiesnow at last are done.For if you read them all, you will like some.For these newPosiesare both sweet and brief,And will disclose the sighing Lover's grief.ForCupid, having too much idle leisure,Composed thesePosiesfor his pleasure.Fair Maids, myPosiesnow are done;Which for your sakes I first begun.And young Men here may always chooseSuchPosiesas they mean to use.ICupidwrit them on a day,WhenVenusgave me leave to play;And if you like them, for my pain:ThenCupidmeans to write again.
CUpid'sPosiesnow at last are done.For if you read them all, you will like some.For these newPosiesare both sweet and brief,And will disclose the sighing Lover's grief.ForCupid, having too much idle leisure,Composed thesePosiesfor his pleasure.Fair Maids, myPosiesnow are done;Which for your sakes I first begun.And young Men here may always chooseSuchPosiesas they mean to use.ICupidwrit them on a day,WhenVenusgave me leave to play;And if you like them, for my pain:ThenCupidmeans to write again.
CUpid'sPosiesnow at last are done.For if you read them all, you will like some.For these newPosiesare both sweet and brief,And will disclose the sighing Lover's grief.ForCupid, having too much idle leisure,Composed thesePosiesfor his pleasure.Fair Maids, myPosiesnow are done;Which for your sakes I first begun.And young Men here may always chooseSuchPosiesas they mean to use.ICupidwrit them on a day,WhenVenusgave me leave to play;And if you like them, for my pain:ThenCupidmeans to write again.
CUpid'sPosiesnow at last are done.For if you read them all, you will like some.For these newPosiesare both sweet and brief,And will disclose the sighing Lover's grief.ForCupid, having too much idle leisure,Composed thesePosiesfor his pleasure.Fair Maids, myPosiesnow are done;Which for your sakes I first begun.And young Men here may always chooseSuchPosiesas they mean to use.ICupidwrit them on a day,WhenVenusgave me leave to play;And if you like them, for my pain:ThenCupidmeans to write again.
CUpid'sPosiesnow at last are done.For if you read them all, you will like some.For these newPosiesare both sweet and brief,And will disclose the sighing Lover's grief.ForCupid, having too much idle leisure,Composed thesePosiesfor his pleasure.Fair Maids, myPosiesnow are done;Which for your sakes I first begun.And young Men here may always chooseSuchPosiesas they mean to use.ICupidwrit them on a day,WhenVenusgave me leave to play;And if you like them, for my pain:ThenCupidmeans to write again.
FINIS.
happened toRichard Hasleton,born at Braintree in Essex,in his Ten years Travels in manyforeign countries.
PENNED AS HE DELIVEREDit from his own mouth.
LONDON,Printed by A. I. [Abel Jeffes] forWilliam Barley,and are to be sold at his shop in Gratious[Gracechurch] street, near Leaden Hall.1595.
[The following Text has been printed from the only extant copy of the original edition, by the kind permission ofWakefield Christie-Miller, Esq. of Britwell Court, Bucks.]
[The following Text has been printed from the only extant copy of the original edition, by the kind permission ofWakefield Christie-Miller, Esq. of Britwell Court, Bucks.]
[The following Text has been printed from the only extant copy of the original edition, by the kind permission ofWakefield Christie-Miller, Esq. of Britwell Court, Bucks.]
To the Worshipful MasterRichard Stapar, one ofthe Worshipful Company of Merchants Adventurersof this honourable city of London, trading to Turkeyand the Eastern Kingdoms.
Your Worship's faithful well-willerW[illlam] Barleywisheth all fortunate and happy success in all yourenterprises, with increase of worldly worship;and, after death, the joys unspeakable.
WOrshipful sir. The many reports of your rare virtues generally spoken of all honest travellers who hath tasted the benefit of your bounty: not only in our home born country where you have your residence; but in those far countries where your honest Factors trade. By whose worshipful and express command given [to] them, and the good they daily do for all men which seek them; your Worship is accounted and called the Pattern of Bounty: especially of such as are, in their travail [here meaninglaboursas well asjourneys] distressed with want; which with money are relieved, as well as [with] other great cost [that] their [the Factors'] favour or friendship can procure. So that not only the poor and needy are pleasured thereby; but those that swim in most abundance. All proceeding of your most kind and courteous disposition.
The remembrance of which [having] moved a longing desire in me, in some sort, to explain your worthiness and fame, by your bounty gained: it had never such opportunity until this time when, perusing my store of Papers and Writings of sundry men's labours, I chanced on this pamphlet; which importeth the troublesome travails of our near neighbour, born at Braintree in Essex, namedRichard Hasleton. Whose miseries as they were many (being in the hands both of Christian and heathen enemies, for GOD and our country's cause; and his escapes from death so often, and so wonderful); with the constant enduring of the same: his preservation; and safe return to England, where his longing desire so often wished him.
All which considered, with your Worship's love to all travellers, emboldened me the rather under your Worship's patronage to publish the same; especial zeal procuring me thereunto. And partly in regard of your many favours to the saidHasletonin his miseries extended; [and partly] that your Worship's good ensample may lighten others to such good actions.
Hoping your Worship will accept of it no less friendly than I offer it willingly: which if you do, then is my desire satisfied, and myself rest bounden to your Worship's worthiness. Ever beseeching the Giver of all good to increase the number of such worthy-minded subjects; by whom our Prince and country are, in foreign parts, so much honoured.
Your Worship'sTo command in what I may,William Barley.
IN the year 1582, departing the Englishcoast toward[s] the end of May, in a ship of London called theMary Marten(one of the owners [of which] was a citizen of London named MasterEastwoode; the other of them, named MasterEstridge, dwelling at Limehouse), being laden and bound for Petrach [Patras], a town of mart, being within the dominion of the Turk: where we safely arrived and made our mart.
And within eight and twenty days were laden homeward; and presently we weighed anchor, and set sail. And coming out of the Gulf of Lepanto, [we] grounded upon a rock, lying on the larboard side; being in very great danger, [and] in doubt to lose both ship and goods: yet it pleased GOD that we recovered.
Then, about the midst of the month of July [1582], we came right before Cape de Gatte [Cabo de Gata, near Almeria, in Spain] when, having a very small wind, we descried two galleys: whereupon the Master commanded the Gunner to put forth the ordnance, and to heave the skiff overboard.
Then did the Gunner demand of the Master to make a shot: which he granted. Then did he bestow eight and twenty shot, but to no purpose: for the enemy lay very far out.
Now when we saw our shot and powder spent so much in waste, some of our company cried to our Master to shew the Turks' Letters: but he would not; but commanded the Gunner still to shoot.
For now the galleys were within shot, and did shoot at us,both with great shot and muskets. And presently both our Gunners were slain, both with one shot; and some others maimed, whereby we were in great doubt: for the gallies lying on both sides of us, one of them had shot us under water, whereby our ship was foundered before we perceived.
Then we perceiving the ship to sink from us; such as were wariest leapt into the skiff, as many as it was able to bear: the rest leaping overboard, such as could swim saved themselves, going aboard the gallies; the others were drowned.
Now I being the last man upon the hatches, because I was at the stern, and being sore hurt with a musket shot; the Turks [having] made haste to board our ship, hoping to save some of our goods: two of them came aboard. The first came to me, and took me by the bosom. I drew out my knife very speedily, and thrust him into the body; and so slew him. The other was gone down into the ship, where I left him; for even then was the ship sinking from me.
Wherefore I betook myself to swimming; and turning me about to see the ship, I could see nothing thereof but only the flag. Then did I swim to the gallies; and laying hold upon an oar, got into the galley.
When I was aboard, I was stripped of my clothes. Then presently was I commanded to the poop, to talk with the Captain: who inquired of me, Whether I was a Merchant [i.e.,the Supercargo of the ship]? Which because I would not confess, he gave me 15 strokes with a cudgel, and then put me in the galley's hold: where I was six days, taking very little sustenance; lying in extreme pains, by reason of my hurts which I had received in the fight; and with anguish, for my hard hap.
About three months after [?October 1582], the gallies returned to Argire [Algiers]; where immediately after my landing I was sold for 66 doubles [the Double Pistoles or Doubloons; equal according to page392to £4, 14s. then; or say £20 now].
Then did I fall into extreme sickness for ten days' space; notwithstanding [which] I was sent to sea by my Master to whom I was sold, to labour in the gallies at an oar's end: where I remained three months [?November 1582 to January1583], being very feeble and weak, by reason my sickness continued the most part of that time; yet was I constrained either to labour, or else to lose my head. I had no other choice.
Then the gallies returning home to Argire[Algiers], after my coming on shore I was in a marvellous weakness; what with continual labour, with beating, and with sickness: which endured three months [?February to April 1583], being in a most miserable estate without all succour seeing no man to pity my misery; having no nourishment but only bread and water and [of] that but small quantity, no apparel on me but a thin shirt and a pair of linen breeches, and lodged in a stable on the cold ground. Thus I, being almost in despair ever to recover, yielded myself to the will of Almighty GOD; whom it pleased, in the end, to give me a little strength.
And after, for the space of two [or ratherfour years] or more [?April 1583 to April 1587], I was divers times at my labour at the oar's end, after my accustomed manner; till (such time our fleet of gallies meeting with the gallies of Genoa near the Christian shore; and they following us in chase) it chanced, [about April 1587] by reason of tempest, that our galley was cast away near the west side of the island [of] Formentera.
There were in it, of Christians and Turks, to the number of 250; which were all drowned except 15: of which myself, with two others, with great difficulty brake our chains; and taking hold of an oar, we escaped to the shore, not without great danger of drowning.
We being now gotten to land, and accompanied both with Turks and Christians; we took our rest under bushes and thickets. The Turks were very unwilling to depart with [separate from] us; thinking to find some other galley of the company to take us aboard, and carry us back to Argire [Algiers].
But we, hoping now to get our liberties, conveyed ourselves as secretly as we could into the woods; and went unto a rock, and with sharp stones we did beat off our irons: and fled immediately to the Christians, and yielded ourselves.
But one of them which escaped with me, who was born in Sclavony [?Slavonia, or?Cephalonia], told them, That I was an English Lutheran.
Then was I presently carried aboard a galley of Genoa, and put in chains.
And, upon the morrow, was I sent over into the Isle of Iviza, being within the jurisdiction of Majorca: which are all in the dominion of Spain.
There was I imprisoned in the High Tower of the Town Castle [of the town of Iviza], with a pair of bolts upon my heels, and a clasp of iron about my neck, there hanging a chain at the clasp: where I remained nine days, fed with a little bread and water.
Now because I had in no respect offended them; I demanded, Wherefore they molested me? saying, It was contrary to [the] law and the profession of Christians.
Then did they ask me, If I had spoken anything against the King, and against the Church of Rome?
I answered, "Nothing!"
Then they told me, I should be sent to Majorca, to answer before the Inquisition.
Then the Justice, or Chief Officer, of Iviza brought me back to Genoa; requesting to have me chained in a galley: which the Captain did, asking the Justice, Who should be my surety for running away?
He demanded, If there were not a spare chain?
He said, "Yes." Then he commanded a chain to be brought forth; and chained me at the sixth oar before: where I rowed until we came to the Port of Spine [later calledPortpin;now theBay of Palma] in Majorca, guarding me with 14 gallies.
Then were the Officers of the Inquisition sent for by the Captain, which came the second day after our coming there [i.e.,to Palma]: and at their coming, they offered me thePax, which I refused to touch.
Whereupon they reviled me, and called me "Lutheran!"
[And] taking me presently out of the galley, carried meon shore in Majorca: and finding the Inquisitor walking in the market place, [they] presented me to him, saying, "Here is the prisoner!"
He immediately commanded me to prison; whither they carried me, and put a pair of shackles on my heels. Where I remained two days.
Then was I brought forth into a church, where the Inquisitor sat usually in judgement. Who being ready set, commanded me to kneel down and to do homage to certain images which were before me.
I told him, "I would not do that which I knew to be contrary to the commandments of Almighty God; neither had I been brought up in the Roman law, neither would I submit myself to it."
He asked me, Why I would not?
I answered, "That whereas in England, where I was born and brought up, the Gospel was truly preached; and maintained by a most gracious Princess: therefore I would not now commit idolatry, which is utterly condemned by the Word of God."
Then he charged me to utter the truth, otherwise I should abide the smart.
Then was a stool set, and he commanded me to sit down before him; and offered me the cross, bidding me reverently to lay my hand upon it, and urged me instantly to do it: which moved me so much, that I did spit in the Inquisitor's face; for which the Scribe gave me a good buffet on the face.
So, for that time, we had no more reasoning. For the Inquisitor did ring a little bell to call the Keeper; and [he] carried me to ward again.
And the third day, I was brought forth again to the place aforesaid.
Then the Inquisitor asked me, What I had seen in the churches of England?
I answered, That I had seen nothing in the Church of England but the Word of God truly preached.
Then he demanded, How I had received the Sacraments?
I replied, That I had received them according to the institution ofChrist: that is, I received the bread inremembrance thatChristin the flesh died upon the cross for the redemption of man.
"How," said he, "hast thou received the wine?"
Whereto I replied and said, That I received the wine in remembrance thatChristshed his blood to wash away our sins.
He said, It was in their manner?
I said, "No."
Then he charged me to speak the truth, or I should die for it.
I told him, "I did speak the truth; and would speak the truth: for," said I, "it is better for me to die guiltless than guilty."
Then did he, with great vehemency, charge me again to speak the truth; and sware by the Catholic Church of Rome, that if I did not, I should die in fire.
Then I said, "If I died in the faith which I had confessed, I should die guiltless:" and told him he had made a vain oath. And so I willed him to use no circumstance to dissuade me from the truth: "for you cannot prevail. Though I be now in your hands, where you have power over my body; yet have you no power over my soul." I told him, he made a long matter far from the truth.
For which, he said I should die.
Then he bade me say what I could to save myself.
Where I replied, as followeth: Touching the manner of the receiving of Sacraments, where he said "it was like to theirs": "you," said I, "when you receive the bread, say it is the very body ofChrist; and likewise you affirm the wine to be his very blood." Which I denied; saying it was impossible for a mortal man to eat the material body ofChrist, or to drink his blood.
Then he said, I had blasphemed the Catholic Church.
I answered, That I had said nothing against the true Catholic Church; but altogether against the false Church.
He asked, How I could prove it? saying if I could not prove it, I should die a most cruel death.
Note, by the way, that when any man is in durance for religion; he is called to answer before no open assembly: but only in the presence of the Inquisitor, the Secretary, andthe Solicitor whom they term the Broker. The cause is, as I take it, because they doubt [fear] that very many of their own people would confess the Gospel, if they did but see and understand their absurd dealing.
Again, to the matter. Because it was so secret, they urged me to speak the more.
Then he inquired, Whether I had ever been confessed?
I said, "Yes."
He demanded, "To whom?"
I said, "To GOD."
He asked me, If I had ever confessed to any Friar?
I said, "No, for I do utterly defy them. For how can he forgive me my sins, which is himself a sinner; as all other men are."
"Yes," said he, "he which confesseth himself to a Friar, who is a Father, may have remission of his sins by his mediation."
"Which," I said, "I would never believe."
Wherefore seeing they could seduce me, by no means, to yield to their abominable idolatry; the Secretary cried, "Away with him!" The Inquisitor and he frowned very angerly on me for the answers which I had given: and said, They would make me tell another tale.
So, at the ringing of a little bell, the Keeper came and carried me to ward again.
At my first Examination, when the Keeper should lead me away; the Inquisitor did bless me with the cross: but never after.
Two days after was I brought again, and set upon a stool before the Inquisitor.
He bade me askmisericordium.
I told him, "I would crave mercy ofJesus Christwho died for my sins. Othermisericordiumwould I crave none!"
Then he commanded me to kneel before the altar.
I said, "I would: but not to pray to any image. For your altar is adorned with many painted images which were fashioned by the hands of sinful men: which have mouths, and speak not; ears, and hear not; noses, and smell not;hands, and handle not; feet have they, and walk not—which GOD doth not allow at his altar, for he hath utterly condemned them by his Word."
Then he said, I had been wrong[ly] taught. "For," said he, "whosoever shall see these figures in earth may the better remember him in heaven whose likeness it doth represent, who would be a Mediator to GOD for us."
But I replied, That all images were an abomination to the Lord: for he hath condemned them in express words by his own mouth, saying, "Thou shalt not make thyself any graven image, &c."
"Yes," said he, "but we have need of a Mediator to make intercession for us: for we are unworthy to pray to GOD ourselves, because we are vile sinners."
I said, "There was no Mediator butJesus Christ."
Where, after many absurd reasons and vain persuasions, he took a pause.
Then I asked him, Why he kept me so long in prison, which never committed offence to them: knowing very well that I had been captive in Argire [Algiers] near[ly] five years space [July 1582 to April 1587]: saying, "That when GOD, by his merciful providence, had, through many great dangers, set me in a Christian country, and delivered me from the cruelty of the Turks: when I thought to find such favour as one Christian oweth to another, I found them now more cruel than the Turks, not knowing any cause Why."
"The cause," said he, "is because the King hath wars with the Queen of England."
For at that instant [April 1587], there was their Army [Armado] prepared ready to go for England. Whereupon they would, divers times, give me reproachful words; saying, That I should hear shortly of their arrival in England. With innumerable vain brags, which I omit for brevity.
Then did I demand, "If there were not peace between the King and the Queen's Majesty; whether they would keep me still?"
"Yea," said he, "unless thou wilt submit thyself to the faith of the Romish Church." So he commanded me away.
I asked, Wherefore he sent for me; and to send me away, not alleging any matter against me?
He said, I should have no other matter alleged but that which I had spoken with mine own mouth.
Then I demanded, "Why they would have the Romish Church to have the supremacy?"
Whereto he would make no answer.
Then I asked, "If they took me to be a Christian?"
"Yes," said he, "in some respect[s]; but you are out of the faith of the true Church."
Then the Keeper took me to prison again.
And after, for the space of three weeks, I was brought forth to answer three several times every week. At which times they did sometimes threaten me with death, some while with punishment; and many times they attempted to seduce me with fair words and promises of great preferment: but when they saw nothing would draw me from the Truth, they called me "shameless Lutheran!" saying many times, "See, he is of the very blood ofLuther! He hath his very countenance!" with many other frivolous speeches.
After all this, he commanded to put me in the dungeon within the Castle [i.e. of Palma], five fathoms [30 feet] under ground; giving me, once a day, a little bread and water.
There remained I one whole year [April 1587 to April 1588], lying on the bare ground, seeing neither sun nor moon; no, not hearing man woman nor child speak, but only the Keeper which brought my small victual.
It happened about the year's end, upon the Feast ofPhillipandJacob[JAMES], being the first day of May [1588], that a pretty boy, being the Keeper's son, came to give me my ordinary food; which he used sometimes to do.
Now, when he opened the [trap] door, and had let down the basket; I asked, "Who was there?"
He answered by his name, saying, "Here isMatthew!"
I asked him, "Where his father was?"
"He is gone to Mass," said he. So he let down the trap door, and went his way; leaving the rope with the basket hanging still.
And forasmuch as I lay without all comfort, reposing myself only unto GOD's Providence; yet unwilling to lose any opportunity that lay in me, if GOD were pleased, whereby I might be delivered. So soon as I heard the boy was gone: I jumped up and took hold of the rope, and wound myself up to the [trap] door. Setting my foot against the wall, with my shoulders did I lift the trap door.
Now when I was aloft, and saw no man; for they were gone to see some ceremonies of their idolatrous exercises in the city, I knew [of] no way to escape away; being now in the midst of the way: wherefore it was impossible to convey myself [away] so secretly, but I should be espied.
Wherefore, for a present shift, I went secretly into a void [an empty] room of the Castle [i.e. of Palma] where lay great store of lime and earth: where I tied an old cloth, which I had, about my head and face to keep the dust out of my eyes and ears; and so did I creep into the lime, and covered myself so well as I could, lying there till towards midnight.
And then hearing no man stirring, I got up, and sought some way to get forth: but could find none. Then, being greatly perplexed, I bent myself to the good pleasure of Almighty GOD; making my humble prayers that he would, of his mercy, vouchsafe to deliver me out of this miserable thraldom.
And, searching to and fro, in the end I came where three great horses stood, tied by the head and feet. Then did I unloose the halters from their heads, and the ropes from their legs; and went to the Castle wall. When I had tied them end to end, I made it [the rope] fast to the body of a vine which grew upon the wall: and by it did I strike myself over the wall into the town ditch: where I was constrained to swim about forty paces, before I could get forth of the ditch.
Then walked I to and fro in the city [Palma] two hours, seeing no man: neither could I devise any way forth.
Wherefore I returned back again to the town ditch, to see if I could find any way to bring me without the town walls: and following the ditch, at the last I perceived, by the noise of the water, that there was a Water Gate through the wall; where I searched and found that the issue of the water was under the wall.
Then did I very venturously enter the water, and diving under water got into the Water Gate: and suddenly the force of the water did drive me through with such violence, that it cast me headlong against another wall on the outside; which with the blow did much amaze me.
Yet, by the help of GOD, I recovered, swimming down the ditch till I came where was a trough or pipe; which I took to be laid over the ditch, to convey some fresh water spring into the city.
There did I climb up a post which bare the same, and got upon the top of the pipe: where some of the Watch, being near the wall, perceived me; but could not any way come near to me.
Then cried they, in their tongue, "Who is there?" three or four times; but I made no answer, but crept as fast as I could to get off the pipe to land: where, before I could get down, they shot some of their muskets after me; but, thanked be GOD, none of the shot did hit me.
Thus, with great difficulty, I escaped out of the city; and went about six miles from thence before the day brake.
Then I went into a thick wood. For I perceived there were very many sent forth, with hue and cry, both footmen and horsemen, to apprehend me. Therefore I lay still the day and night following.
And after, for seven days' space [3rd-9th May 1588], I wandered through desert ways, among woods and bushes. Many times, as I came near the Port ways [i.e. the roads to the seaport Palma], I heard the pursuers inquiring after me; demanding of divers, Whether they had seen me pass? Some were very earnest to take me; others wishing that I might escape: for very many times I was so near them that I heard every word they spake.
Thus I imagined, by all possible means, to avoid [escape from] the hands of these unmerciful tyrants; being in great extremity with hunger and cold. For since the time I came out of the prison, which was at the least eight days, I had none other sustenance but berries, which I gathered from the bushes; and the roots of palm [trees] and other like roots, which I digged out of the earth: and no other apparel but an old linen cloth about my body, and a red cap on myhead; without either hose, shoes, or other furniture. So that, by reason the way was very hard, I was forced to cut my cap in two; and [to] lap it about my feet, to defend them from the sharp stones and gravel.
Thus travelling for the most part by night, I chanced to come where there was a house standing alone; and near the house there stood a cart wherein lay certain horse collars. Where searching among them, I found the collars lined with sheepskins: which skins I rent from the collars, and apparelled myself with them in this manner:
I put one piece before me like a breastplate, and another on my shoulders and back; with the woolly side towards my body: tying them together over my shoulders and under my arms with Palmite, which is a weed like to that whereof our hand baskets are made; which is well known to such as have travelled [in] those parts. And with another piece I made me a cap.
And in these seemly ornaments I passed forth, till about three days after [?12th May 1588], very early in a morning, most unhappily I crossed an highway, where a countryman, travelling with a mule laden with rundlets of wine, espied me, and demanded of me, Whither I was bound?
I said, I was going to Coothea [Alcudia, 31 miles from Palma], which is a town lying on the shore side.
But he, suspecting me to be the man which was pursued, bade me stay.
But I went onward.
He ran after me, and threw stones at me: but I (not being able to overrun him, being very feeble) turned back; and, with a pole which I carried, began to defend myself, striking at him three or four times. At the last I thrust at him, and hit him on the breast, and overthrew him: whereupon he made a horrible cry.
And immediately there came to the number of fifteen more: some having swords; some, harquebuses; and others, crossbows. When I was thus beset, knowing no way to escape, I yielded myself.
Then they bound me hands and feet, laid me on a mule, and carried me back again to [Palma] the city of Majorca; delivering me to the Inquisitor: who, when he hadsent me to prison, commanded a pair of bolts to be put on my legs, and an iron clasp about my neck, with a chain of five fathoms [30 feet] long hanging thereat; which was done accordingly.
And on the morrow [?13th May 1588], I was brought forth to the accustomed place, and in the same manner: where the Inquisitor sitting, asked first, Why I had broken prison, and run away?
I said, "To save my life."
"Yea," said he, "but now thou hast offended the law more than before; and therefore shall the law be now executed upon thee."
Then I was carried away again. And immediately there was called an assembly of citizens, and such as were seen in the Law, to counsel, and to take advice, What punishment they might inflict upon me?
Which being deliberated, I was brought forth again; and carried to the Place of Torment: which was in a cell or vault underground.
There were present but four persons, that is to say,
The Inquisitor,
The Solicitor, or Broker, who is to see the law executed.
A Dutch woman that dwelt in the city; who was commanded thither to tell them what I spake;because I spake many times in the Dutch tongue.
And lastly, the Tormentor.
The rack now standing ready before them; with seven flaxen ropes lying thereon, new[ly] bought from the market.
Then the Inquisitor charged me, as at all other times he used to do, That I should speak what I had to say, and to speak the truth; otherwise I should be even now tormented to death.
I, seeing myself in the hands of such cruel tyrants as always thirst after the blood of the innocent; even asCain(who being wroth with his brotherAbel, and carrying a heavy countenance) could be no way eased but with his brother's blood: so I, past hope of life, turned my back towards them, and seeing my torments present before me, I fell down on my knees, and besought the Lord to forgive my sins, and to strengthen my faith, and to grant me patience to endure to the end.
Then they took me into a void room, and stripped me out of my ornaments of sheepskins which I repeated [spoke of] before; and put a pair of strong canvas breeches upon me.
Then bringing me to the rack again, he commanded me to lie down. The bars of the rack under me were as sharp as the back of a knife.
Now I, willingly yielding myself, lay down. Then the Tormentor bound my hands over my breast crosswise; and my legs clasped up together, were fast tied the one foot to the other knee. Then he fastened to either arm a cord, about the brawn of the arm; and likewise to either thigh another; which were all made fast again under the rack to the bars: and with another cord he bound down my head; and [he] put a hollow cane into my mouth. Then he put four cudgels into the ropes which were fastened to my arms and thighs.
Now the woman which was present, being interpreter, began to persuade me to yield, and confess the faith of the Church of Rome.
I answered, "If it were the will of GOD that I should end my life under their cruel hands, I must be content: but, if it please him, he is able to deliver me, if there were ten thousands against me."
Then the Tormentor, as he was commanded, began to wrest the ropes; which he did by little and little, to augment my pains, and to have them endure the longer: but, in the end, he drew them with such violence as though he would have plucked my four quarters in sunder; and there stayed a good space.
Yet to declare their tyrannical malice, thinking my torment not sufficient, he added more: pouring water through a cane which was in my mouth, by little and little, which I was constrained either to let down, or to have my breath stopped until they had tunned in such [a] quantity as was not tolerable to endure; which pained me extremely.
Yet not satisfied, they took and wet a linen cloth, and laid it over my mouth till I was almost strangled; when my body, being thus overcharged with such abundance of water, after they had thus stopped my breath with the wet cloth, suddenly with the force of my breath and thatmy stomach was so much overcharged, the water gushed out, and bare away the cloth as if had been the force of a conduit spout.
When the Inquisitor saw that all this would not make me yield, he commanded the Tormentor for to wind the cord on my left arm more strait[ly]; which put me to horrible pains. And immediately the rope burst in sunder.
Then said the Inquisitor, "Yea, is he so strong? I will make him yield!": and commanded the Tormentor to put a new rope.
Then the woman again bade me yield; saying, It were better to yield than to die so miserable a death.
But I, beseeching Almighty GOD to ease me of my pains, and to forgive my sins, answered her, That though they had power over my body: yet there was no torment should compel me to yield to their idolatry, whereby I might bring my soul in danger of hell fire.
Then the Inquisitor asked her, What I said?
She answered, That I had said I would never submit myself to the Church of Rome.
Then did he most vehemently charge me to yield and submit myself to the Romish Church: otherwise he would pluck off one of my arms.
Whereupon I denying still, the Tormentor, in most cruel manner, wrested the ropes as if he would have rent my body in sunder. I (being now in intollerable pains; and looking for nothing but present [instant] death) cried out, in the extremity of my anguish, "Now, farewell wife and children! and farewell England!": and so, not able to utter one word more, lay even senseless.
The Inquisitor asked the woman again, What I said?
She laid her hand upon my head, and perceiving that I was speechless, told him, I was dead.
Wherefore the Tormentor loosed the ropes, unbound my hands and feet, and carried me into a chamber which they termed St. Walter's Chamber. Where I came to myself, and received some sense and reason; but could have no feeling of any limb or joint. Thus I lay in a most lamentable and pitiful manner for five days [?14th-18th May 1588], having a continual issue of blood and water forth ofmy mouth all that space, and being so feeble and weak, by reason of my torments, that I could take no sustenance.
Till the sixth day [?19th May 1588] a little recovering my strength, they gave me a little quantity of bread and wine sod[den] together: and presently, the very same day, they carried me forth into the city, and set me upon an ass's back, and whipped me throughout every street of [Palma] the city of Majorca; giving me to the number of five hundred lashes, which made the blood to run down my miserable carcase in such abundance that it dropped at the belly of the ass to the ground. Now there were carried with me about the city very many harlots and whores and other malefactors which had offended the law; but none punished like me.
After this, they carried me to the chamber [St. Walter's Chamber] from whence I came: where I lay without all worldly comfort.
Can any man, which understandeth the absurd blindness and wilful ignorance of these Spanish tyrants or Romish monsters, think them to be of the true Church? which defend their faith with fire, sword, and hellish torments, without remorse or pity; as you may perceive by a manifest trial here set down to the open view of the World. For when these hell-hounds had tormented this miserable creature, as you have heard, with a monstrous and most unchristian kind of torment: which he endured for the space of three hours, till [he] was at the very point of death and ready to yield up the ghost: they (not yet satisfied with these torments, which he had suffered already) reserved his life, minding to increase his pains; which they were nothing slack to perform so long as he remained in their power.
Now the second night after they had whipped me about the city as aforesaid [?the night of the 20th May 1588], about midnight, I recounting to myself in what misery I both did and had remained; I thought to put in practice once again to get my liberty, craving of the Lord, with hearty prayer, to assist me with his mighty hand.
And immediately searching about, I found an old iron stub; with the which I brake a hole through the chamber wall: and crept through into another chamber; where I felt in the dark many pieces of plate, which I little regarded. After, I found many towels and table napkins.
Then, seeking further, I found a long cane whereon there hung many puddings and sausages. I plucked down the cane, but had little mind on the victual. Then I found certain knives.
Then I espied some light at a great window in a garret or loft over me. Wherefore I tied a crooked knife to the cane, and thrust up a long towel: and with the knife at the end of the cane, I drew the towel about a bar of the window, and drew it to me: and with that towel I did climb up into the window. But then I could not get forth between the bars, wherefore I digged forth one of the bars; and tied my towels and napkins together end to end, and fastened one end to a bar of the window: and then did slide down by them till I came within three or four fathoms [18 or 24 feet] of the ground: when the towels brake in sunder, and I fell down into a well which was direct[ly] under me, where I was almost drowned. Yet it pleased GOD to deliver me.
And being then in the city, without the Castle walls; I, knowing no other way to get out, went again to the town ditch: where I got through the Water Gate with less peril than before, by reason there was less water than [there] was the other time.
Then went I, with all speed into the woods; lying all days in [the] woods as close as I could, and travelled by nights through woods and mountains.
And upon the third night [i.e. after his escape, say the night of the 23rd May 1588], about midnight, I happened into an olive garden, not above half a bow shot from the sea-side; in which garden I found a little skiff or boat lying under a pomgranate tree: and there lay in the boat a hatchet. All which served happily for my delivery.
Now I, being unable to carry the boat to the water-side, did cut small truncheons of wood; and upon them did slide it down to the water-side. Then I cut an arm [abranch] of an olive tree, to make my boat a mast; and, having no other shift, made a sail-cloth with my breeches and a piece of [a] mantle which I had about me. And for [because] my oars were very mean, yet durst I stay to look for no better, but presently set sail; and, yielding myself to the good pleasure of Almighty GOD, betook myself to the sea: willing rather to abide what the Lord would lay on me, than to die among these most cruel tyrants.
And by the providence of GOD, upon the second day [?25th May 1588], in the forenoon, I descried the Coast of Barbary: for the wind stood north-east [or rathernorth-west], which served me most happily.
Understand that this cut is, from shore to shore [that is, from some point in Majorca to the east side of the Bay of Bougiah] 150 [or rather70] leagues, which is 450 [or, at most, say210] English miles; and at that time [there was] a very rough sea; insomuch if it had not been by the great and wonderful power of GOD, my vessel and I had both been overwhelmed.
But I fell in with the country of Cabyles [i.e.,the Little Kabylia, in the present Province of Constantine], commonly called the King of Cookooe's land, near a town called Gigeley [the present Djidjelli]: where I went on shore, leaving my boat to swim which way the wind and weather would conduct it; thinking it had done me sufficient service.
But see now, when I had escaped through the surges of the sea from the cruelty of the Spaniard, I was no sooner landed and entered the mountains but I was espied by the Moors which inhabit the country; who pursued very earnestly to take me; supposing me to be come from the Christian shore to rob in their coast.
For, many times, the Spaniards will pass over in some small vessel, and go on shore; and if they can catch any men of the country, they will carry them away to make galley slaves: wherefore the Moors are very diligent to pursue them at their landing; and if it chance they take any Christian, they use him in like sort.
Wherefore I, being very unwilling to fall into their hands, was constrained to go into a river, which ran between twomountains; and there to stand in water up to the chin, where the bushes and trees did grow most thick over me: where I stood certain hours, until they had left searching for me.
Now when I perceived they were departed, I went out of the water, being very feeble; for I ate nothing all that time but the bark of the trees, which I cut with my hatchet. I went forth as secretly as I could, minding to pass to Argire [Algiers].
I had not gone above three miles, when I espied a Moor, a very well favoured old man, who was weeding a field of wheat.
I spake to him in the tongue of Franke [TheLingua Francaof the Mediterranean shore], and called him to me. I, having my hatchet in my hand, cast it from me.
He came unto me; and, taking me by the hand, demanded very gently, What I would have?
I, perceiving that he did, even at the first sight, pity my poor and miserable estate, told him all things that had happened unto me: how I was an Englishman; how I had been captive in Argire; how I chanced to come to Genoa; their sending me to Majorca; and all the torment which I had suffered there; and finally my escape from thence, with all the rest that followed.