Then Came The Guardian Basha, Who Is The Keeper Of The King's Captives,
To Fetch Us All Ashore; And Then
I, remembering the miserable estate of
poor distressed captives in the time of their bondage to those
infidels, went to
Mine own chest, and took out thereof a jar of oil,
and filled a basket full of white ruske, to carry ashore with me. But
before I came to the Banio the Turkish boys had taken away almost all
my bread, and the keeper said, "Deliver me the jar of oil, and when
thou comest to the Banio thou shalt have it again;" but I never had it
of him any more.
But when I came to the Banio and saw our merchants and all the rest of
our company in chains, and we all ready to receive the same reward,
what heart is there so hard but would have pitied our cause, hearing or
seeing the lamentable greeting there was betwixt us. All this happened
the first of May, 1584.
And the second day of the same month the king with all his council sat
in judgment upon us. The first that were had forth to be arraigned
were the factors and the masters, and the king asked them wherefore
they came not ashore when he sent for them. And Romaine Sonnings
answered that, though he were a king on shore, and might command there,
so was he as touching those that were under him; and therefore said, if
any offence be, the fault is wholly in myself and in no other. Then
forthwith the king gave judgment that the said Romaine Sonnings should
be hanged over the north-east bulwark, from whence he conveyed the
forenamed Patrone Norado. And then he called for our master, Andrew
Dier, and used few words to him, and so condemned him to be hanged over
the walls of the westernmost bulwarks.
Then fell our other factor, named Richard Skegs, upon his knees before
the king, and said, "I beseech your highness either to pardon our
master or else suffer me to die for him, for he is ignorant of this
cause." And then the people of that country, favouring the said
Richard Skegs, besought the king to pardon them both. So then the king
spake these words: "Behold, for thy sake I pardon the master." Then
presently the Turks shouted and cried, saying, "Away with the master
from the presence of the king." And then he came into the Banio where
we were, and told us what had happened, and we all rejoiced at the good
hap of Master Skegs, that he was saved, and our master for his sake.
But afterwards our joy was turned to double sorrow, for in the meantime
the king's mind was altered: for that one of his council had advised
him that, unless the master died also, by the law they could not
confiscate the ship nor goods, neither make captive any of the men.
Whereupon the king sent for our master again, and gave him another
judgment after his pardon for one cause, which was that he should be
hanged.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 17 of 79
Words from 8494 to 9018
of 42569