The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation, vol. 11 | Page 9

Iohn Fox.
Be it knowen vnto all men, to whom this writing shall come, that the
bringer hereof Iohn Fox Englishman, a Gunner, after he had serued
captiue in the Turkes gallies, by the space of foureteene yeeres, at
length, thorough God his helpe, taking good opportunitie, the third of
Ianuarie last past, slew the keeper of the prison, (whom he first stroke
on the face) together with four and twentie other Turkes, by the
assistance of his fellow prisoners: and with 266. Christians (of whose
libertie he was the author) launched from Alexandria, and from thence
arriued first at Gallipoly in Candie, and afterwardes at Tarento in
Apulia: the written testimony and credite of which things, as also of
others, the same Iohn Fox hath in publike tables from Naples.
Vpon Easter eue he came to Rome, and is now determined to take his

iourney to the Spanish Court, hoping there to obtaine some reliefe
toward his liuing: wherefore the poore distressed man humbly
beseecheth, and we in his behalfe do in the bowels of Christ, desire you,
that taking compassion of his former captiuitie, and present penurie,
you doe not onely suffer him freely to passe throughout all your cities
and townes, but also succour him with your charitable almes, the
reward whereof you shall hereafter most assuredly receiue, which we
hope you will afford to him, whom with tender affection of pitie wee
commende vnto you. At Rome, the 20 of Aprill 1577.
Thomas Grolos Englishman Bishop of Astraphen. Richard Silleum
Prior Angliæ. Andreas Ludouicus Register to our Soueraigne Lord the
Pope, which for the greater credit of the premises, haue set my seale to
these presents. At Rome, the day and yeere aboue written. Mauricius
Clement the gouernour and keeper of the English Hospitall in the citie.
* * * * *
The King of Spaine his letters to the Lieutenant, for the placing of Iohn
Fox in the office of a Gunner.
To the illustrious Prince, Vespasian Gonsaga Colonna, our Lieutenant
and Captaine Generall of our Realme of Valentia. Hauing consideration,
that Iohn Fox Englishman hath serued vs, and was one of the most
principall, which tooke away from the Turkes a certaine gallie, which
they haue brought to Tarento, wherein were two hundred, fiftie, and
eight Christian captiues: we licence him to practise, and giue him the
office of a Gunner, and haue ordained, that he goe to our said Realme,
there to serue in the said office in the Gallies, which by our
commandement are lately made. And we doe commaund, that you
cause to be payed to him eight ducats pay a moneth, for the time that he
shall serue in the saide Gallies as a Gunner, or till we can otherwise
prouide for him, the saide eight duckats monethly of the money which
is already of our prouision, present and to come, and to haue regarde of
those which come with him. From Escuriall the tenth of August, 1577.
I the King, Iuan del Gado.
And vnder that a confirmation of the Councell.
* * * * *
The voyage made to Tripolis in Barbarie, in the yeere 1583. with a ship
called the Iesus, wherein the aduentures and distresses of some
Englishmen are truely reported, and other necessary circumstances

obserued. Written by Thomas Sanders.
This voyage was set foorth by the right worshipfull sir Edward Osborne
knight, chiefe merchant of all the Turkish company, and one master
Richard Staper, the ship being of the burden of one hundred tunnes,
called the Iesus, she was builded at Farmne a riuer by Portsmouth. The
owners were master Thomas Thomson, Nicholas Carnaby, and Iohn
Gilman. The master was one Aches Hellier of Black-wall, and his Mate
was one Richard Morris of that place: their Pilot was one Anthonie
Ierado a Frenchman, of the prouince of Marseils: the purser was one
William Thomson our owners sonne: the merchants factors were
Romane Sonnings a Frenchman, and Richard Skegs seruant vnto the
said master Staper. The owners were bound vnto the marchants by
charter partie therevpon, in one thousand markes, that the said ship by
Gods permission should goe for Tripolis in Barbarie, that is to say, first
from Portsmouth to Newhauen in Normandie, from thence to S. Lucar,
otherwise called Saint Lucas, in Andeluzia, and from thence to Tripolie,
which is in the East part of Africa, and so to returne vnto London.
[Sidenote: Man doth purpose, and God doth dispose.] But here ought
euery man to note and consider the workes of our God, that many times
what man doth determine God doth disappoint. The said master hauing
some occasion to goe to Farmne, tooke with him the Pilot and the
Purser, and returning againe by meanes of a perrie of winde, the boat
wherein they