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.
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