AD THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1522. 



doned and left of his people, he sent to aske them againe 



wherefore they did not their endevour, and why they 



came not to day, as they sayd before. Which made 



answere that they sawe and knew well that the towne was 



lost for certaine reasons that were told them : by occasion 



whereof they had gainesaid the ordinance of the sayd 



lord, and sayd that they had bene wrong enformed of 



divers things : and on the other side, that they feared 



that the Turke would not hold his word. But sithens 



they sawe that there was none other remedie but to 



abide the adventure and fortune, they sayd that they put 



all to the sayd lord to doe what he thought good, and 



that hee would see what were best for them. And 



required the lord to doe them so much favour as to 



let them choose one or two among them for to goe 



to the great Turke with his ambassadours for to have 



suretie of him. The which was granted, and two 



ordinarie ambassadours were chosen for them ; one 



Nicholas Vergotie, and the other Piero of saint Cretice, 



and the foresayd Passin should returne with them for 



to make the sayd answere. Then the great master or 



they departed (prolonging the time as much as he might) 



advised to send a letter to the great Turke, the which 



his grandfather had written or caused to be written. In 



the which letter he gave his malediction or curse to his 



children and successours, if they enterprised to besiege 



Rhodes. The sayd Robert Perruse bare the sayd letter, 



and as he was accustomed, he went to Acmek Basha for 



to cause him to have audience, and to present the sayd 



letter. And the Basha sayd hee would see the letter : 



for it is the guise in the great Turkes court, that none 



may speake to him nor give him a letter, but he be 



advertised first what shall be said, or what shall be written. 



When the Basha had scene the wordes written in the 



said letter, he brake it and cast it on the ground, and 



did tread upon it, saying many injurious and villanous 



words to the sayd judge. And bade him returne apace 



to phis great master, and bid him to thinke on his 



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