Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
830 RALEGH’S REPORT OF AN ENGAGEMENT.
atchieved in her lifetime. On the reft of the iflands there were caft away in this ftorm
fifteen or fixteen more of the fhips of war; and of an hundred and odd fail of the India
fleet, expected this year in Spain, what in this tempeft, and what before in the bay
of Mexico, and about the Bermudas, there were 70 and odd confumed and loft, with
thofe taken by our fhips of London, befides one very rich Indian fhip, which fet her-
felf on fire, being boarded by the Pilgrim, and five other taken by mafter Wats his
fhips of London, between the Havana and Cape St. Antonio. ‘The fourth’ of this
month of November we received letters from the Tercera, affirming that there are
three thoufand bodies of men remaining in that ifland, faved out of the perifhed hips;
and that by the Spaniards’ own confeflion, there are ten thoufand caft away in this
{torm, befides thofe that are periflied between the iflands and the main. Thus it hath
pleafed God to fight for us, and to defend the juftice of our caufe againft the ambitious
and bloody pretences of the Spaniard, who feeking to devour all nations, are them-
felves devoured. A manifold teftimony how unjuft and difpleafing their attempts are
in the fight of God, who hath pleafed to witnefs, by the fuccefs of their affairs, his mif-
like of their bloody and injurious defigns, purpofed and practifed againft all Chriftian
princes, over whom they feek unlawful and ungodly rule and empire.
One day or two before this wreck happened to the Spanifh fleet, when as fome of
our prifoners defired to be fet on fhore upon the iflands, hoping to be from thence
tranfported into England, which liberty was formerly by the general promifed: one
Morice Fitz John, fon of old John of Defmond, a notable traitor, coufin german to the
late earl of Defmond, was fent to the Englifh from fhip to fhip, to perfuade them to
ferve the King of Spain. The arguments he ufed to induce them were thefe. The
increafe of pay which he promifed to be trebled: advancement to the better fort: and.
the exercife of the true Catholic religion, and fafety of their fouls toall. For the firft,
even the beggarly and unnatural behaviour of thofe Englifh and Irifh rebels, that ferved
the king in that prefent action, was fufficient to anfwer that firft argument of rich pay.
For fo poor and beggarly they were, as for want of apparel they {tripped their poor
countrymen prifoners out of their ragged garments, worn to nothing by fix months
fervice, and {pared not to defpoil them even of their bloody fhirts, from their wounded
bodies, and the very fhoes from their feet ; a notable teftimony of their rich entertain-
ment and great wages. ‘The fecond reafon was hope of advancement if they ferved
well, and would continue faithful to the king. But what man can be fo blockifhly ig-
norant ever to expect place or honour from a foreign king, having no other argument
or perfuafion than his own difloyalty ; to be unnatural to his own country that bred
him ; to his parents that begat him, and rebellious to his true prince, to whofe obe-
dience he is bound by oath, by nature, and by religion ? No, they are only affured to be
employed in all defperate enterprizes, to be held in fcorn and difdain even among thofe
whom they ferve. And that ever traitor was either trufted or advanced | could never yet
read, neither can I at this time remember any example. And no man could have lefs
become the place of an orator for fuch a purpofe, than this Morice of Defmond. For
the earl his coufin being one of the greateft fubjeéts in that kingdom of Ireland, having
almoft whole counties in his pofleffion ; fo many goodly manors, caftles, and Jordfhips ;
the count palatine of Kerry, five hundred gentlemen of his own name and family to
follow him, befides others (all which he and his anceftors poffefled in peace for three
or four hundred years,) was in lefs than three years after his adhering to the Spaniards
and rebellion, beaten from all his holds, not fo many as ten gentlemen of his name left
living ; himfelf taken and beheaded by a foldier of his own nation, and his land given
by a parliament to her majefty, and poffefled by the Englith : his other coufin Sir John
of
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
