The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation Volume Vii Part 16

Not fifteene thousand men araungd in fight, And fifteene howers lent them to atchiue, With fifty three great ships of boundlesse might, Haue had or meanes or prowesse to contriue The fall of one, which mayden vertue dight, Kept in despight of _Spanish_ force aliue.

Then list to mee you imps of memorie, Borne to a.s.sume to immortalitie.

Sith loosing, we vnlost keepe strong our praise, And make our glories, gaynours by our ends, Let not the hope of howers (for tedious dayes Vnto our lines no longer circuite lends) Confound our wondred actions and a.s.sayes, Whereon the sweete of mortal eares depends, But as we liue by wills victorious, So let vs die victours of them and vs.

Wee that haue mercilesse cut Mercies wings, And m.u.f.feld pittie in deaths mistie vale, Let vs implore no mercie; pittyings, But from our G.o.d, deere fauour to exhale Our soules to heauen, where all the Angells rings Renowne of vs, and our deepe tragick tale; Let us that cannot liue, yet liue to dye, Vnthrald by men, fit tropheys for the skye.

And thus resolu'd since other meane is reft, Sweet Maister-gunner, split our keele in twaine, We cannot liue, whom hope of life hath left, Dying, our deaths more glorious liues retain, Let not our ship, of shame and foile bereft, Vnto our foe-men for a prize remaine; Sinke her, and sinking with the _Greeke_ wee'le cry, Best not to be, or beeing soone to dye.

Scarce had his words tane wings from his deere tong, But the stout Maister-gunner, euer rich In heauenlie valure and repulsing wrong, Proud that his hands by action might inritch His name and nation with a worthie song, Tow'rd his hart higher then Eagles pitch, And instantlie indeuours to effect _Grinuils_ desier, by ending Deaths defect.

But th' other Maister, and the other Mat's, Disented from the honour of their minds, And humbly praid the Knight to rue their stat's, Whom miserie to no such mischiefe binds; To him th' aleadge great reasons, and dilat's Their foes amazements, whom their valures blinds, And maks more eager t'entertaine a truce, Then they to offer words for warres excuse.

They show him diuers gallant men of might, Whose wounds not mortall, hope gaue of recuer, For their saks sue they to diuorce this night Of desperate chaunce, calld vnto Deaths black lure, Their lengthened liues, their countries care might right, And to their Prince they might good hopes a.s.sure.

Then quod the Captaine, (deare Knight) do not spill, The liues whom G.o.ds and Fat's seeke not to kill.

And where thou sayst the _Spanyards_ shall not braue T' haue tane one ship due to our virgin Queene, O knowe, that they, nor all the world can saue, This wounded Barke, whose like no age hath seene, Sixe foote shee leaks in hold, three shot beneath the waue, All whose repaire so insufficient beene, That when the Sea shall angrie worke begin, She cannot chuse but sinke and dye therein.

Besides, the wounds and brusings which she beares, Are such, so manie, so incurable, As to remoue her from this place of feares.

No force, no wit, no meane, nor man is able; Then since that peace prostrate to vs repaires, Vnlesse our selues, our selues make miserable, _Herculeen_ Knight, for pittie, pittie lend, No fame consists in wilfull desperat end.

These words with emphasis and action spent, Mou'd not Sir _Richard_, but inrag'd him more, To bow or yeeld, his heart would neare relent, He still impugns all thought of lifes restore; The Maister-gunner euer doth consent To act his wish, swearing, in beds of gore Death is most louelie, sweete and amiable, But captiu'd life for foulenes admirable.

The Captayne, seeing words could take no place, Turnes backe from them vnto the liuing few, Expounds what pittie is, what victors grace; Bids them them selues, them selues in kindnes rew, Peace if they please, will kindlie them imbrace, And they may liue, from whom warres glory grew; But if they will to desperate end consent, Their guilty soules too late shall mourne repent.

The sillie men, who sought but liuing ioyes, Cryes to the Captaine for an honord truce, Life they desire, yet no life that destroyes Their wonne renownes, but such as might excuse Their woes, their wounds, and al what els anoyes Beautie of laude, for other they refuse; All which the Captaine swears they shal obtaine, Because their foes, in doubtfull states remaine.

O when Sir _Richard_ saw them start aside, More chaynd to life then to a glorius graue, And those whom hee so oft in dangers tryde, Now trembling seeke their hatefull liues to saue.

Sorrow and rage, shame, and his honors pride, Choking his soule, madly compeld him raue, Vntil his rage with vigor did confound His heauie hart; and left him in a swound.

The Maister-gunner, likewise seeing Fate Bridle his fortune, and his will to die, With his sharpe sword sought to set ope the gate, By which his soule might from his bodie flie, Had not his freends perforce preseru'd his state, And lockt him in his Cabbin safe to lie, Whilst others swarm'd where haplesse _Grinuile_ lay, By cryes recalling life, late runne away.

In this too restlesse turmoile of vnrest, The poore _Reuenges_ Maister stole awaye, And to the _Spanish_ Admirall adrest The dolefull tidings of this mournfull day, (The _Spanish_ Admirall who then oprest, Houering with doubt, not daring t'end the fray,) And pleads for truce, with souldier-like submission Anexing to his words a straight condition.

_Alfonso_, willing to giue end to armes, For well he knew _Grinuile_ would neuer yeild, Able his power stoode like vnnumbred swarmes, Yet daring not on stricter tearmes to build, He offers all what may alay their harmes Safetie of liues, nor any thrall to weild, Free from the Gallie, prisonment, or paine, And safe returne vnto their soyle againe

To this he yeelds, as well for his own sake, Whom desperate hazard might indamage sore, As for desier the famous Knight to take, Whom in his hart he seemed to deplore, And for his valure halfe a G.o.d did make, Extolling him all other men before, Admiring with an honourable hart, His valure, wisdome, and his Souldiours Art.

With peacefull newes the Maister backe returns, And rings it in the liuing remnants eares, They all reioyce, but _Grinuile_ deadly mourns, He frets, he sighs, he sorrowes and despaires, Hee cryes, this truce, their fame and blisse adiourns, He rents his locks, and all his garments teares, He vowes his hands shall rent the ship in twaine Rather then he will _Spanish_ yoke sustaine.

The few reseru'd, that life esteem'd too well, Knowing his words were warrants for his deede, Vnkindly left him in that monstrous h.e.l.l, And fled vnto _Alfonso_ with greate speede, To him their Chieftaines mightines they tell, And how much valure on his soule doth feede, That if preuention, not his actions dim, Twill be too late to saue the shyp or him.

_Ba.s.san_ made proude, vnconquering t'ouer-come, Swore the brave Knight nor ship he would not lose, Should all the world in a pet.i.tion come: And therefore of his gallants, fortie chose To board Sir _Richard_, charging them be dombe From threatning words, from anger, and from bloes, But with all kindnes, honor, and admire To bring him thence, to further _Fames_ desire.

Sooner they boarded not the crazed Barke, But they beheld where speechlesse _Grinuile_ lay, All smeard in blood, and clouded in the darke, Contagious curtaine of Deaths tragick day; They wept for pittie, and yet silent marke Whether his lungs sent liuing breath away, Which when they sawe in ayrie blasts to flie, They striu'd who first should stanch his misery.

Anon came life, and lift his eye-lids vp, Whilst they with teares denounce their Generals wil, Whose honord mind sought to retort the cup Of deaths sad poyson, well instruckt to kill; Tells him what fame and grace his eyes might sup From _Ba.s.sans_ kindnes, and his Surgions skill, Both how he lou'd him, and admir'd his fame, To which he sought to lend a liuing flame.

Aye mee (quoth _Grinuile_) simple men, I know My bodie to your Generall is a pray, Take it, and as you please my lyms bestow, For I respect it not, tis earth and clay: But for my minde that mightier much doth grow, To heauen it shall, despight of _Spanish_ sway.

He swounded, and did neuer speake againe.

This said, orecome with anguish and with paine,

They took him vp, and to theyr Generall brought His mangled carka.s.se, but vnmaimed minde, Three dayes hee breath'd, yet neuer spake he ought, Albe his foes were humble, sad, and kinde; The fourth came downe the Lambe that all souls bot, And his pure part, from worser parts refind, Bearing his spirite vp to the loftie skyes, Leauing his body, wonder to wonders eyes.

When _Ba.s.san_ saw the Angell-spirite fled, Which lent a mortall frame immortall thought, With pittie, griefe, and admiration led, He mournfully complaind what Fat's had wrought.

Woe me (he cryes) but now aliue, now dead, But now inuincible, now captiue brought: In this, vniust are Fat's, and Death declared, That mighty ones, no more than meane are spared.

You powers of heauen, rayne honour on his hea.r.s.e, And tune the Cherubins to sing his fame, Let Infants in the last age him rehea.r.s.e, And let no more, honour be Honor's name: Let him that will obtaine immortall vea.r.s.e, Conquer the stile of _Grinuile_ to the same, For till that fire shall all the world consume, Shall neuer name, with _Grinuile_ name presume.

Rest then deere soule, in thine all-resting peace, And take my teares for tropheys to thy tombe, Let thy lost blood, thy vnlost fame increase, Make kingly eares thy praises second wombe: That when all tongues to all reports surcease, Yet shall thy deeds, out-liue the day of doome, For even Angels, in the heasens shall sing, _Grinuile_ vnconquered died, still conquering.

_O aelinam_.

Footnotes:

1: Choristers.

2: Hangings, so called from having first been made at Arras.

3: Constellations.

4: Entangled.

5: Blown by being hunted.

"But being then _imbost_, the stately deer When he hath gotten ground," &c.

--_Drayton's Polyolbian_, xiii, p. 917.

A true report of a worthy fight, performed in the voyage from Turkie, by fiue ships of London, against 11. Gallies, and two frigats of the King of Spaines, at Pantalarea within the Streights. Anno, 1586. Written by Philip Iones.

The Marchants of London, being of the incorporation of the Turkey trade, hauing receiued intelligencies, and aduertis.e.m.e.nts, from time to time, that the King of Spaine grudging at the prosperitie of this kingdome, had not onely of late arrested al English ships, bodies, and goods in Spaine, but also maligning the quiet trafique which they vsed to and in the dominions, and prouinces, vnder the obedience of the Great Turke, had giuen order to the Captaines of his gallies in the Leuant, to hinder the pa.s.sage of all English ships, and to endeuour by their best meanes, to intercept, take, and spoile them, their persons, and goods: they hereupon thought it their best course to set out their flete for Turkie, in such strength and abilitie for their defence, that the purpose of their Spanish enemie might the better be preuented, and the voyage accomplished with greater securitie to the men and shippes. For which cause, fiue tall, and stoute shippes, appertaining to London, and intending onely a Marchants voyage, were prouided and furnished with all things belonging to the Seas; the names whereof were these:

1. The Marchant Royal, a very braue and good shippe, and of great report.

2. The Tobie.

3. The Edward Bonauenture.

4. The William and Iohn.

5. The Susan.

These fiue departing from the coast of England, in the moneth of Nouember 1585. kept together as one fleete, til they came as high as the Isle of Sicilie, within the Leuant. And there, according to the order and direction of the voyage, each shippe began to take leaue of the rest, and to separate himselfe, setting his course for the particular port, whereunto hee was bounde: one for Tripolie in Syria, another for Constantinople, the chiefe Citie of the Turkes Empire, situated vpon the coast of Romania, called of olde, Thracia, and the rest to those places, whereunto they were priuatly appointed. But before they diuided themselues, they altogether consulted, of and about a certaine and speciall place for their meeting againe after the lading of their goods at their seuerall portes. And in conclusion, the generall agreement was to meet at Zante, an Island neere to the maine continent of the West part of Morea, well knowen of all the Pilots, and thought to be the fittest place of their Rendeuous. Concerning which meeting, it was also couenanted on eche side, and promised, that whatsoeuer ship of these 5. should first arriue at Zante, should there stay and expect the comming of the rest of the fleete, for the s.p.a.ce of twentie dayes. This being done, ech man made his best hast according as winde and wether woulde serue him to fiulfill his course, and to dispatch his businesse: and no neede was there to admonish or incourage any man, seeing no time was ill spent, nor opportunitie omitted on any side, in the performance of ech mans duetie, according to his place.

It fell out that the Tobie which was bound for Constantinople had made such good speede, and gotten such good weather, that she first of al the rest came back to the appointed place of Zante, and not forgetting the former conclusion, did there cast ancre, attending the arriuall of the rest of the fleete, which accordingly (their busines first performed) failed not to keepe their promise. The first next after the Tobie was the Royal Marchant, which together with the William and Iohn came from Tripolie in Syria, and arriued at Zante within the compa.s.se of the foresaide time limitted. These ships in token of the ioy on all parts concerned for their happy meeting, spared not the discharging af their Ordinance, the sounding of drums and trumpets, the spreading of Ensignes with other warlike and ioyfull behaviours, expressing by these outward signes, the inward gladnesse of their mindes, being all as ready to ioyne together in mutuall consent to resist the cruel enemie, as now in sporting maner they made myrth and pastyme among themselues. These three had not bene long in the hauen, but the Edward Bonauenture also, together with the Susan her consort, were come from Venice with their lading, the sight of whom increased the ioy of the rest, and they no lesse glad of the presence of the others, saluted them in most friendly and kinde sort, according to the maner of the Seas: and whereas some of these ships stoode at that instant in some want of victuals, they were all content to stay in the port, till the necessities of ech shippe were supplied, and nothing wanted to set out for their returne.

In this port of Zante, the newes was fresh and currant, of two seuerall armies and fleetes prouided by the king of Spaine, and lying in waite to intercept them: the one consisting of 30. strong Gallies, so well appointed in all respects for the warre, that no necessary thing wanted: and this fleete houered about the Streights of Gibraltar. The other armie had in it 20. Gailies, whereof some were of Sicilie, and some of the island of Malta, vnder the charge and gouernment of Iohn Andrea Dorea, a Captaine of name seruing the king of Spaine. These two diuers and strong fleetes waited and attended in the Seas for none, but the English shippes, and no doubt made their accompt and sure reckoning that not a shippe should escape their furie. And the opinion, also of the inhabitants of the Isle of Zante was, that in respect of the number of Gallies in both these armies, hauing receiued such straight commandement from the king, our ships and men being but few, and little in comparison of them, it was a thing in humane reason impossible, that wee should pa.s.se either without spoiling, if we resisted, or without composition at the least, and acknowledgement of duetie to the Spanish king.

But it was neither the report of the attendance of these armies, nor the opinions of the people, nor any thing else, that could daunt or dismay the courages of our men, who grounding themselues upon the goodnesse of their cause, and the promise of G.o.d, to bee deliuered from such as without reason sought their destruction, carried resolute mindes, notwithstanding all impediments to aduenture through the Seas, and to finish their Nauigations, maugre the beards of the Spanish souldiers. But least they should seeme too carelesse, and too secure of their estate, and by laying the whole and entire burden of their safetie vpon G.o.ds prouidence, should foolishly presume altogether of his helpe, and neglect the meanes which was put into their handes, they failed not to enter into counsell among themselues, and to deliberate aduisedly for their best defence. And in the end with generall consent, the Marchant Royall was appointed Admirall of the fleete, and the Tobie Viceadmiral, by whose orders the rest promised to be directed, and ech shippe vowed not to breake from another, whatsoeuer extremitie should fall out, but to stand to it to the death, for the honour of their Countrey, and the frustrating of the hope of the ambitious and proud enemie.

Thus in good order they left Zante and the Castle of Graecia, and committed themselues againe to the Seas, and proceeded in their course and voyage in quietnes, without sight of any enemie, till they came neere to Pantalarea, an Island so called, betwixt Sicilie, and the coast of Africke: into sight wherof they came the 13. day of Iuly 1586. And the same day in the morning about 7. of the clocke they descried 13. sailes in number, which were of the Gallies, lying in waite of purpose for them, in and about that place.

As soone as the English ships had spied them, they by and by according to a common order, made themselues ready for a fight, layd out their Ordinance, scoured, charged, and primed them, displayed their ensignes, and left nothing vndone to arme themselues throughly. In the meane time, the Gallies more and more approched the ships, and in their banners there appeared the armes of the Isles of Sicilia, and Malta, being all as then in the seruice and pay of the Spaniard. Immediatly, both the Admirals of the Gallies sent from ech of them a frigate, to the Admiral of our English ships, which being come neere them, the Sicilian frigat first hailed them, and demanded of them whence they were? They answered that they were of England, the armes whereof appeared in their colours. Whereupon the saide frigat expostulated with them, and asked why they delayed to sende or come with their Captaines and pursers to Don Pedro de Leiua their Geuerall, to acknowledge their duty and obedience to him in the name of the Spanish king, Lord of those seas? Our men replied and said, that they owed no such duetie nor obedience to him, and therefore would acknowledge none, but commanded the frigat to depart with that answere, and not to stay longer a brabling, vpon her perill. With that away she went, and vp comes towards them the other frigat of Malta, and shee in like sort hailed the Admiral, and would needs know whence they were, and where they had bene. Our Englishmen in the Admirall, not disdaining an answere, tolde them that they were of England, Marchants of London, had bene at Turkie, and were now returning home: and to be requited in this case, they also demaunded of the frigat whence she and the rest of the gallies were: the messenger answered, we are of Malta, and for mine owne part my name is Cauallero. These gallies are in seruice and pay to the king of Spaine, vnder the conduct of Don Pedro de Leiua a n.o.ble man of Spaine, who hath bene commanded hither by the King with this present force and armie, of purpose to intercept you. You shall therefore (quoth he) do well to repaire to him to know his pleasure, he is a n.o.ble man of good behauiour and courtesie, and meanes you no ill.