At The First Coming Up Of The Exchange, Her Captain
Mr Cave Was Wounded In Both Legs, One Of Which He Never Recovered, So
That He Was Disabled From Doing His Duty, And Had No One In His Absence
That Would Undertake To Lead His Company To Board The Enemy.
My friend,
captain Grant, led my men up the side of the carak; but his force being
small, and
Not being manfully seconded by the crew of the Exchange, the
enemy were bolder than they would have been, so that six of my men were
presently slain, and many more wounded; which made those that remained
return on board, and they would never more give the assault. Some of the
Exchanges men did very well, and I have no doubt that many more would
have done the like, if there had been any principal men to have led them
on, and not to have run into corners themselves. But I must allow that
the carak was as well provided for defence as any ship I have seen; and
perhaps the Portuguese were encouraged by our slackness, as they plied
our men from behind barricades, where they were out of danger from our
shot. They plied us also with wildfire, by which most of our men were
burnt in some parts of their body; and while our men were busied in
putting out the fire, the enemy galled them sore with small arms and
darts. This unusual casting of wildfire did much dismay many of our men,
and caused them greatly to hang back.
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