The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation, vol. 11 | Page 5

and other such furnitures, as vnto gallies doe
appertaine, and all the Masters and mariners of them being then nested
in their owne homes: there remained in the prison of the said road two
hundred threescore and eight Christian prisoners, who had bene taken
by the Turks force, and were of sixteen sundry nations. Among which
there were three Englishmen, whereof one was named Iohn Foxe of
Woodbridge in Suffolke, the other William Wickney of Portsmouth, in
the Countie of Southampton, and the third Robert Moore of Harwich in
the Countie of Essex. Which Iohn Fox hauing bene thirteene or
fourteene yeres vnder their gentle entreatance, and being too too weary
thereof, minding his escape, weighed with himselfe by what meanes it
might be brought to passe: and continually pondering with himself
thereof, tooke a good heart vnto him, in hope that God would not be
alwayes scourging his children, and neuer ceassed to pray him to
further his pretended enterprise, if that it should redound to his glory.
Not farre from the road, and somewhat from thence, at one side of the
Citie, there was a certaine victualling house, which one Peter Vnticaro
had hired, paying also a certaine fee vnto the keeper of the road. This
Peter Vnticaro was a Spaniard borne, and a Christian, and had bene

prisoner about thirtie yeeres, and neuer practised any meanes to escape,
but kept himselfe quiet without touch or suspect of any conspiracie:
vntill that nowe this John Foxe vsing much thither, they brake one to
another their mindes, concerning the restraint of their libertie and
imprisonment. So that this Iohn Fox at length opening vnto this
Vnticaro the deuise which he would faine put in practise, made priuie
one more to this their intent. Which three debated of this matter at such
times as they could compasse to meete together: insomuch, that at
seuen weekes ende they had sufficiently concluded how the matter
should be, if it pleased God to farther them thereto: who making fiue
more priuie to this their deuise, whom they thought they might safely
trust, determined in three nights after to accomplish their deliberate
purpose. Whereupon the same Iohn Fox, and Peter Vnticaro, and the
other sixe appointed to meete all together in the prison the next day,
being the last day of December: where this Iohn Fox certified the rest
of the prisoners, what their intent and deuise was, and how and when
they minded to bring their purpose to passe: who thereunto perswaded
them without much a doe to further their deuise. Which the same Iohn
Fox seeing, deliuered vnto them a sort of files, which he had gathered
together for this purpose, by the meanes of Peter Vnticaro, charging
them that euery man should be readie discharged of his yrons by eight
of the clocke on the the next day at night.
[Sidenote: Januarie.] On the next day at night, this said Iohn Fox, and
his sixe other companions, being all come to the house of Peter
Vnticaro, passing the time away in mirth for feare of suspect, till the
night came on, so that it was time for them to put in practise their
deuise, sent Peter Vnticaro to the master of the roade, in the name of
one of the Masters of the citie, with whom this keeper was acquainted,
and at whose request he also would come at the first: who desired him
to take the paines to meete him there, promising him, that he would
bring him backe againe. The keeper agreed to goe with him, willing the
warders not to barre the gate, saying, that he would not stay long, but
would come againe with all speede.
In the meane season, the other seuen had prouided them of such
weapons, as they could get in that house: and Iohn Fox tooke him to an
olde rustie sword blade, without either hilt or pomell, which he made to
serue his turne, in bending the hand ende of the sword, in steed of a

pomell, and the other had got such spits and glaiues as they found in
the house.
The keeper now being come vnto the house, and perceiuing no light,
nor hearing any noyse, straight way suspected the matter: and returning
backward, Iohn Fox standing behind the corner of the house, stepped
foorth vnto him: who perceiuing it to be Iohn Fox, saide, O Fox, what
haue I deserued of thee, that thou shouldest seeke my death? Thou
villaine (quoth Fox) hast bene a bloodsucker of many a Christians
blood, and now thou shalt know what thou hast deserued at my handes:
wherewith he lift vp his bright shining sword of tenne yeeres rust, and
stroke him so maine a blowe, as therewithall his head claue a sunder, so
that