found such store in the immutable mind of this most worthy gentleman, that, notwithstanding this forlorn and miserable change of his estate, he, nevertheless, held on the settled course of that confidence and constancy that he before had in the time of his prosperity.

But, to return to our history, Sir Thomas and two of his men being thus taken, and in the hands of ten of the inhabitants, nine of them were resolved to kill him howbeit, the tenth, by entreaty and persuasion, saved his life: but they stript him of all he had, even to his boots and stockings, and binding his hands with one of his garters, led him back barefooted through the rock, so into the town. In all which time there was not a Grecian man or woman that they met by the way, but either did, or assailed to strike him.

His ship staid three days after in the harbour, but never made any attempt, either by force or entreaty, for his delivery. All the while the ship staid there they kept him in irons, but when the ship was gone they took them off, and used him in better manner than he expected from the hands of so barbarous a people. There was he kept for the space of a whole month, and, from thence, was sent, in a small open boat, to Negropont, and there delivered to the Caia (Cadi), for so is the principal officer of that island called : at the first, he was used kindly and intreated well,

but safely kept and watched every night with a guard of eight men, four Turks and four Greeks.

After the end of five days he lent him a Janissary to carry his letters to the English Consul of Petrass, which was five days' journey from thence; howbeit, he received no answer of his letters from the Consul ; but, upon the Janissary's return, he was presently committed into a dark dungeon, and with a great galley chain bound fast with a slave that was before taken, which grieved him worst of all.

He continued in this loathsome prison from the 20th of March, 1602, until the 25th of July, 1603; during which time his best diet was but bread and water, and his warmest lodging the cold ground: having oftentimes, besides the misery of his imprisonment, many threats and menaces sent him, sometimes of death, sometimes of the gallies. Being thus out of all hope of liberty and in daily expectation of death, without any comfort but such as his patience ministered unto him, where nothing was presented to the eye or ear, but matter of horror and despair, yet did he still retain in his mind that guidance and command of his affections, as they were never much moved or inwardly disturbed in the outward distraction of his senses.

In this time he wrote divers letters to the English Ambassador at Constantinople, intreating him that, in regard of his country, he would deal with the ad

miral Bashaw (whose prisoner he in right was) for his enlargement; protesting that, as he was a gentleman (whose name and family he knew well), he would, in as short time as he could possibly, requite his kindness at full to his contentment.

pect

But prisons are like graves, where a man, though alive, is nevertheless buried from the regard or resof any; for the ambassador did not answer any of his letters, but told the Bashaw he might use him according to his discretion. During this time of his miserable imprisonment, some or other had informed the Bashaw he was able to pay fifty thousand chichenos for his ransom, whereupon the Bashaw sent. him guarded by four Cappages, (whom we here call Pursuivants,) from Negropont to Constantinople. There were his miseries ended in one place, to be begun and continued in another.

His misery in his imprisonment in Constantinople.

The sick man that shifteth his place yet alters not his disease, finds little comfort in the change of air or climate, for that the nature of his sickness doth kill or control that pleasure or delight which commonly keeps company with a healthful body. Such was the condition of Sir Thomas in his remove from Negropont to Constantinople, for both his usage by the way, and his entertainment there, gave him small cause of comfort; in that only he found the place

was changed, but not the nature of his imprison

ment.

Between Negropont and Constantinople is five hundred miles, and all that way he was carried upon a mule, riding upon a pack-saddle with a galley chain about his legs, and another about his waist, and many times his legs bound under the horse's belly. Sometimes he lay in houses, sometimes under trees; and whensoever he lay in any town where there were any stocks, there they lodged him; and when they failed of such a place they bound his legs together with a little chain, besides the great chain about his waist, and his hands fast locked with manacles of iron. His guard were the four Cappages which were sent by the Bashaw: it would have moved the patience of the best tempered mind to hear, and be forced to endure the despiteful taunts and opprobrious speeches, which, though not by their language, yet, by their stern countenances and behaviours, he might well understand, in all his journey between Negropont and Constantinople.

The twelfth day after their setting forth, about three of the clock in the afternoon, they entered the city. Immediately upon his coming he wrote again to the ambassador, giving him to understand the cause of his imprisonment, together with the manner of his usage and the nature of his present misery; he much importuned him that he would not leave him in his

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calamity, nor suffer him, being his countryman and a gentleman, to spend his hope, his youth, his fortune, nay, his life, in so vile and dishonourable a prison, under the cruel tyranny of an unbelieving people. But he flatly sent him word that he would neither meddle nor make with him. Sir Thomas being thus left all desolate and disconsolate, still armed himself with his wonted patience and settled confidence against the horror of despair, not suffering his mind to be chained and fettered (as his body) with servile thoughts and fearful apprehensions, but, in the freedom of his spirit, maintained her liberty; and in the midst of all his fears, made hope the predominant.

The next day after his coming to the city he was brought before the Bashaw, who demanded what he made in the Arches,* and why, in that hostile manner, against the law of arms and conditions of the league between both kingdoms, without leave or admittance, he had landed a forcible power with purpose to spoil and prey in that part of the Turk's dominion. Sir Thomas answered, that being violently driven into wants by the fortunes of the sea and his long travels, he was compelled to land only to refresh his men, and the rather in that country which he knew to be friend unto his King. The Bashaw replied again that his entrance was against law and

*Islands in the Grecian Archipelago.