The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation, vol. 11 | Page 8

God: but they knew how that their God,
who had deliuered them out of Ægypt, was such a louing and mercifull
God, as that hee would not suffer them to be confounded, in whom he
had wrought so great a wonder: but what calamitie soeuer they
sustained, they knew it was but for their further triall, and also (in
putting them in mind of their farther miserie) to cause them not to
triumph and glory in themselues therefore. [Sidenote: Extremity of

famine.] Hauing (I say) no victuals in the galley, it might seeme that
one miserie continually fel vpon an others neck: but to be briefe, the
famine grew to be so great, that in 28 dayes, wherein they were on the
sea, there died eight persons, to the astonishment of all the rest.
So it fell out, that vpon the 29 day, after they set from Alexandria, they
fell on the Isle of Candie, and landed at Gallipoli, where they were
made much of by the Abbot and Monks there, who caused them to stay
there, while they were well refreshed and eased. [Sidenote: John Fox
his sword kept as a monument in Gallipoli.] They kept there the sworde,
wherewith Iohn Fox had killed the keeper, esteeming it as a most
precious iewell, and hung it vp for a monument.
When they thought good, hauing leaue to depart from thence, they
sayled along the coast, till they arriued at Tarento, where they solde
their gallie, and deuided it, euery man hauing a part thereof. The Turkes
receiuing so shamefull a foile at their hand, pursued the Christians, and
scoured the seas, where they could imagine that they had bent their
course. And the Christians had departed from thence on the one day in
the morning, and seuen gallies of the Turkes came thither that night, as
it was certified by those who followed Fox, and his companie, fearing
least they should haue bene met with. And then they came a foote to
Naples, where they departed a sunder, euery man taking him to his next
way home. From whence Iohn Fox tooke his iourney vnto Rome,
where he was well entertayned of an Englishman, who presented his
worthy deede vnto the Pope, who rewarded him liberally, and gaue him
his letters vnto the king of Spaine, where he was very well entertained
of him there, who for this his most worthy enterprise gaue him in fee
twenty pence a day. From whence, being desirous to come into his
owne countrie, he came thither at such time as he conueniently could,
which was in the yeere of our Lorde God, 1579. Who being come into
England, went vnto the Court, and shewed all his trauell vnto the
Councell: who considering of the state of this man, in that hee had
spent and lost a great part of his youth in thraldome and bondage,
extended to him their liberalitie, to helpe to maintaine him now in age,
to their right honour, and to the incouragement of all true hearted
Christians.
* * * * *
The copie of the certificate for Iohn Fox, and his companie, made by

the Prior, and the brethren of Gallipoli, where they first landed.
We the Prior, and Fathers of the Couent of the Amerciates, of the city
of Gallipoli, of the order of Preachers doe testifie, that vpon the 29 of
Ianuary last past, 1577, there came into the said citie a certaine gally
from Alexandria, taken from the Turkes, with two hundreth fiftie and
eight Christians, whereof was principal Master Iohn Fox, an
Englishman, a gunner, and one of the chiefest that did accomplish that
great worke, whereby so many Christians haue recouered their liberties.
In token and remembrance whereof, vpon our earnest request to the
same Iohn Fox, he hath left here an olde sworde, wherewith he slewe
the keeper of the prison: which sword we doe as a monument and
memoriall of so worthy a deede, hang vp in the chiefe place of our
Couent house. And for because all things aforesaid, are such as we will
testifie to be true, as they are orderly passed, and haue therefore good
credite, that so much as is aboue expressed is true, and for the more
faith thereof, we the Prior, and Fathers aforesaide, haue ratified and
subscribed these presents. Geuen in Gallipoly, the third of Februarie
1577.
I Frier Vincent Barba, Prior of the same place, confirme the premisses,
as they are aboue written. I Frier Albert Damaro, of Gallipoly, Subprior,
confirme as much. I Frier Anthony Celleler of Gallipoly, confirme as
aforesaid. I Frier Bartlemew of Gallipoly, confirme as aboue said. I
Frier Francis of Gallipoly, confirme as much.
* * * * *
The Bishop of Rome his letters in the behalfe of