_The miserable Captivity of RICHARD
HASLETON, born at Braintree in Essex._
In the year 1582, departing the English coast toward[s] the end of May,
in a ship of London called the _Mary Marten_ (one of the owners [of
which] was a citizen of London named Master EASTWOODE; the
other of them, named Master ESTRIDGE, 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 page
392 to £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 January_ _1583_], 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 rather_ four 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?