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828 RALIGH’S REPORT OF AN ENGAGEMENT.
himfelf muft needs be poffefled by the enemy, who were now all caft in a ring round
about him (the Revenge not able to move one way or other, but as fhe was moved with
the waves and billows of the fea) commanded the mafter gunner, whom he knew to
bea moft refolute man, to fplit and fink the fhip; that thereby nothing might remain
of glory or victory to the Spaniards; feeing in fo many hours fight, and with fo great
a navy they were not able to take her, having had fifteen hours time, above ten thou-
fand men, and fifty and three fail of men of war to perform it withal; and perfuaded
the company, or as many as he could induce, to yicld themfelves unto God, and to
the mercy of none elfe; but as they had, like valiant refolute men, repu’fed fo many
enemies, they fhould not now fhorten the honour of their nation, by prolonging their
lives for a few hours, or a few days. ‘The matter gunner readily-condefcended, and
divers others ; but the captain and the maf{ter were of another opinion, and befought fir
Richard to have care of them; alledging that the Spaniard would be as ready to enter-
tain a compofition, as they were willing to offer the fame; and that there being divers
fufficient and valiant men yet living, and whofe wounds were not mortal, they might do
their country and prince acceptable fervice hereafter, And whereas fir Richard
had alledged that the Spaniards fhould never glory to have taken one thip of her majefty,
feeing they had fo long and {fo notably detended themfelves ; they anfwered, that the fhip
had fix feet water in hold, three fhot under water, which were fo weakly ftopped,
as with the firft working of the fea, fhe muft needs fink; and was befides fo crufhed and
bruifed, as fhe could never be removed out of the place.
And as the matter was thus in difpute, and fir Richard refufing to hearken to any
of thofe reafons; the mafter of the Revenge (while the captain won unto him the
greater party) was conveyed aboard the General Don Alfonfo Bacgan; who (finding
none over hafty to enter the Revenge again, doubting left fir Richard would have
blown them up and himfelf, and perceiving by the report of the matter of the Revenge
his dangerous difpofition,) yielded that all their lives fhould be faved, the company fent
for England, and the better fort to pay fuch reafonable ranfom as their eftate would
bear, and in the mean feafon to be free from galley or imprifonment. To this he
fo much the rather condefcended as well, as I have faid, for fear of further lofs
and mifchief to themfelves, as alfo for the defire he had to recover fir Richard
Greenvil; whom for his notable valour he feemed greatly to honour and admire.
When this anfwer was returned, and that fafety of life was promifed, the common
fort being no.y at the end of their peril, the moft drew back from fir Richard and the
mafter gunner, being no hard matter to diffluade men from death to life. ‘The mal-
ter gunner finding himfelf and fir Richard thus prevented and maftered by the greater
number, would have flain himfelf with a fword had he not been by force withheld,
and locked into his cabin. ‘Then the general fent many boats aboard the Revenge;
and divers of our men, fearing fir Richard’s difpofition, ftole-away aboard the General
and other fhips. Sir Richard thus overmatched, was fent unto by Alfonfo Bagan to:
remove out of the Revenge, the fhip being marvellous unfavoury, filled with blood
and bodies of dead, and wounded men like a flaughter-houfe. Sir Richard anfwered
that he might do with his body what he lift, for he efteemed it not, and as he was
carried out of the fhip he fwooned, and reviving again, defired the company to pray
for him. ‘The general ufed fir Richard with all humanity, and left nothing unattempted
that tended to his recovery, highly commending his valour and worthinels, and
greatly bewailing the danger wherein he was, being unto them a rare fpeétacle, and a
refolution feldom approved, to fee one fhip turn towards fo many enemies, to endure
the charge and boarding of fo many huge armadas, and to refift and repel the ices
7
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