Have
these Englishmen yielded?" The frigate answered, "Not so; they neither
have nor purpose to yield.
Only they have sent a man of their company
to speak with our General." And being come to the galley wherein he
was, he showed himself to Master Rowit in his armour, his guard of
soldiers attending upon him, in armour also, and began to speak very
proudly in this sort: "Thou Englishman, from whence is your fleet?
Why stand ye aloof off? know ye not your duty to the Catholic king,
whose person I here represent? Where are your bills of lading, your
letters, passports, and the chief of your men? Think ye my attendance
in these seas to be in vain, or my person to no purpose? Let all these
things be done out of hand, as I command, upon pain of my further
displeasure, and the spoil of you all." These words of the Spanish
General were not so outrageously pronounced, as they were mildly
answered by Master Rowit, who told him that they were all merchantmen,
using traffic in honest sort, and seeking to pass quietly, if they were
not urged further than reason. As for the King of Spain, he thought
(for his part) that there was amity betwixt him and his Sovereign, the
Queen of England, so that neither he nor his officers should go about
to offer any such injury to English merchants, who, as they were far
from giving offence to any man, so they would be loth to take an abuse
at the hands of any, or sit down to their loss, where their ability was
able to make defence.
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