The honour of the taylors, or, The famous and renowned history of Sir John Hawkwood, Knight containing his many rare and singular adventures, witty exploits, heroick atchievements, and noble performances relating to love & arms in many lands : in the series of which history are contained likewise the no less famous actions and enterprizes of others of the same art and mystery : with many remarkable passages relating to customs, manners &c., ancient and modern : illustrated with pictures and embelished with verses and songs wonderfully pleasant and delightful : to which, as an appendix, is added a brief account of the original of the Worshipful Company of Merchant-Taylors, as to their being incorporated &c., ...

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Title
The honour of the taylors, or, The famous and renowned history of Sir John Hawkwood, Knight containing his many rare and singular adventures, witty exploits, heroick atchievements, and noble performances relating to love & arms in many lands : in the series of which history are contained likewise the no less famous actions and enterprizes of others of the same art and mystery : with many remarkable passages relating to customs, manners &c., ancient and modern : illustrated with pictures and embelished with verses and songs wonderfully pleasant and delightful : to which, as an appendix, is added a brief account of the original of the Worshipful Company of Merchant-Taylors, as to their being incorporated &c., ...
Author
Winstanley, William, 1628?-1698.
Publication
London :: Printed by Alexander Milbourn for William Whitwood ...,
1687.
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"The honour of the taylors, or, The famous and renowned history of Sir John Hawkwood, Knight containing his many rare and singular adventures, witty exploits, heroick atchievements, and noble performances relating to love & arms in many lands : in the series of which history are contained likewise the no less famous actions and enterprizes of others of the same art and mystery : with many remarkable passages relating to customs, manners &c., ancient and modern : illustrated with pictures and embelished with verses and songs wonderfully pleasant and delightful : to which, as an appendix, is added a brief account of the original of the Worshipful Company of Merchant-Taylors, as to their being incorporated &c., ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A44299.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 2, 2024.

Pages

CHAP. XXII.

How they being at Sea, a fearful Storm happened, and drove them upon an Island of Pirates, with whom they fought, and overcame them, delivering a number of wret hed Captives, amongst which was Impolito, together with much Treasure; and afterwad landed in France; with other matters.

[illustration]

BEing now at Sea far from Land, the Wind began to rise, and black Clouds ••••lled with threatning Te••••••sts of Tunder, Rain, and Lightning, almost shut up the Day in Night; so that the Ocean growing more and more enraged, the

Page 49

Ship mounted on the Waves, and often sunk as low, so that sometimes the Main-Mast seemed to touch the Clouds, and at other times seemed hidden under Waves, so that the Keel was supposed to bed upon the Sands; whilst the Crys of the Saylors made things seem more terrible, for nothing but Death and Ruin stood before their Eyes; at which indeed the Ladies trembled, and wished they had not left the former Coast; but our two Champions scorning Danger, cheered the rest, as Caesar did the Boatsman, with his Fortune: When so it happened, that after twelve houres con∣tinuance, the Winds were out of breath, and all the Sea grew calm; but when they perceiving Land, and thought themselves to stand with the Shore of France, they found that by the force of the Tempest they were driven off, to a small Island, or rather Rock, in the Sea, uninhabited, but by Pirates and Sea-Rovers, which so terrified the Master (apprehensive of the danger they were in of being taken) that now not only he, but all the Mariners trembled, more than in the storm, and were (for that the Vessel seemed much disabled) about to leave her, and make their escape in their long-Boat, chusing (as he said) rather to trust to the mercy of the Waves, than those merciless Thieves; but Hawkwood and Lovewell having comforted their Companions, forbid it, and with their Swords cut away the Boat, and let her fall off, to prevent their flight; which was no sooner done, but the Pirate Spies having given notice from above, two Ships came out from the Harbours, between the Clifts of the Rock, and made up with full Sail, in hopes of a Prize; whilst Hawkwood and Lovewell prepared themselves to receive them, animating the Master and Sailors to do the like, who by their example took up Arms, resolving rather to dye, than to submit to the barbarous usage they were like to find, if taken; so that when the Pirates (as their way is) thought to clap them on board, and over-power them with the number of their Men, they found themselves much mistaken; for our Champions having placed themselves in the most advantageous places of the Vessel, so layd about them, that lopping off Hands, Arms, and Heads, whilst the Master and Sailors taking Heart by their Examples, and doing their utmost, the Sea was coloured with Blood; and after a dreadful Fight, the Pirates would have fled, but th ir Vessels being fast grapled, and finding the destruction encrease, (for now those that thought to have boarded, were boarded themselves) most of them leaped into the Sea, where some were drowned and others getting to shore, hid themselves among the Rocks and craggy plates: When as Hawkwood, upon the examination of such as were still breathing on board, understood, that in the Cave of the Rock, there were a great many poor wretches in misery, which they had taken at sundry times, with an intent to sell them for Slaves, as opportunity gave them leave; he resolved to Land, and at what hazard soever to deliver them: When coming (toge∣ther with Lovewell) to the place, by the guidance of one of the wounded Pirates, whom he took on shore, he found those that guarded them (upon notice of the defeat) were fled into the inaccessible places of the Rock, by not well-known ways: Wherefore contenting themselves to free and take aboard with them those miserable wretches, that lay in Chains, Cords, and Torture, half naked, and almost starded, bearing the severe marks of their cruel usage; together with much Treasure and Merchan∣dize, they returned; and having fired the Pirates Ships, that they might have no advantage of them, with a fair Gale they stood for the Coast of rance, and soon come safe to Land, where they not only provided Cloaths and Provision for those they had delivered, but upon the sale of the Merchandizes, divided a great part amongst them, to enable them to travel into their own Countries, being of divers Nations;

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for amongst them (to Hawkwood's no small wonder) he found Impolito, his quon∣dam Rival, who (in his passing the Seas) had been taken by these Pirates; him he supplyed out of pitty, and a relenting of the hard-dealing he had given him in Eng∣land, gratified him above the rest, and sent him home with a Letter to his Vncle Gaspero, with a Charge to deliver it to his own Hand, importing the Adventure of the Mad-house, and what had befell the Ruffians, subscribing it with his Name, and inserting many other matters he had learned from Impolito: And so, without making known to any other who he was, he dismissed him, in a Vessel ready to set sail, who (upon his arrival) did as he was directed, to the no small admiration of Gaspero, who for sorrow, shame, and vexation, soon after fell sick, and dyed.

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