WILLIAM HAREBORNE'S AMBASSAGE a.d 



1583. 

 be trecherous to us, if they thinke they have any 

 advantage. For upon the sudden they layed handes The English 

 on them, and put them in holde, as sure as might be ^^'^ ^!'^ 

 in such a simple Towne. Then were they well guarded ^^^'t''^^^^ * 

 with men both day and night, and still deluded with 

 faire words, & they sayd to our men it was for no 

 hurt, but that the Viceroy of the Hand would come 

 aboord to see the shippe. But they presently sent the 

 Purser to the Towne of Majorca, where he was 

 examined by the Viceroy very straightly, what their 

 shippe and captaine were, and what voyage they in- 

 tended, but he confessed nothing at all. In the meane 

 time they in the Towne were likewise straightly 

 examined by a Priest and other officers upon their 

 othes : who for their othes sake declared the whole 

 estate of their voyage. The Ambassadours man was a 

 French man, and therefore was suffered to goe to the 

 shippe on a message, but he could tell the Ambassa- 

 dour none other newes, but that the Viceroy would 

 come aboord the shippe, and that our men should 

 come with him, but they had another meaning. For 

 the Marseilian Marchants were stayed in like maner 

 in the Towne, onely to make a better shew unto us. 

 But in the meane time, being there three or foure 

 dayes, there came men unto us every day, more or 

 lesse, but one day especially there came two men on 

 horsebacke, whom we tooke to be officers, being lusty 

 men, and very well horsed. These men desired to 

 speake with our Captaine (for all things that passed 

 there were done in the name of our Captaine John 

 Gray) for it was sayd by us there, that he was Cap- 

 taine of one of her Majesties shippes : wherefore all 

 things passed in his name : and the Ambassadour not 

 scene in any thing but rather concealed, and yet did 

 all, because of his tongue and good inditing in that 

 language. For he himselfe went on land clothed in 

 Velvet, and talked with these men, and with him ten 

 or twelve lusty fellowes well weaponed, ech one having 



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