B 



AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1577- 



[II. i. 156.] The Bishop of Rome his letters in the behalfe 



of John Fox. 

 iE it knowen unto all men, to whom this writing 

 shall come, that the bringer hereof John Fox Eng- 

 lishman, a Gunner, after he had served captive in the 

 Turkes gallies, by the space of fourteene yeeres, at length, 

 thorough God his helpe, taking good oportunitie, 

 the third of Januarie last past, slew the keeper of the 

 prison, (whom he first stroke on the face) together with 

 foure 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 arrived first at Gallipoly in Candie, 

 and afterwardes at Tarento in Apulia : the written testi- 

 mony and credite of which things, as also of others, 

 the same John Fox hath in pubhke tables from Naples. 

 Upon Easter eve he came to Rome, and is now deter- 

 mined to take his journey to the Spanish Court, hoping 

 there to obtaine some reliefe toward his living : where- 

 fore 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 captivitie, and pre- 

 sent 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 receive, which 

 we hope you will afford to him, whom with tender affec- 

 tion of pitie wee commende unto you. At Rome, the 

 20 of Aprill 1577. 



Thomas Grolos Englishman Bishop of Astraphen. 

 Richard Silleum Prior Angliae. 



Andreas Ludovicus Register to our Soveraigne Lord 

 the Pope, which for the greater credit of the 

 premises, have set my scale to these presents. 

 At Rome, the day and yeere above written. 

 Mauricius Clement the governour and keeper of the 

 English Hospitall in the citie. 

 166 



