ffic with Spain,
for which purpose, in 1563, there set out from Portsmouth a ship called
the 'Three Half Moons,' with thirty-eight men on board, and well armed,
the better to encounter any foes they might meet. Now, drawing near the
Straits, they found themselves beset by eight Turkish galleys, so that
it was impossible for them to fly, but they must either yield or be
sunk. This the owner perceiving, manfully encouraged his company,
telling them not to faint in seeing such a heap of their foes ready to
devour them; putting them in mind also that if it were God's pleasure to
give them into their enemies' hands, there ought not to be one
unpleasant look among them, but they must take it patiently; putting
them in mind also of the ancient worthiness of their countrymen, who in
the hardest extremities have always most prevailed. With other such
encouragement they all fell on their knees, making their prayers briefly
to God.

Then stood up Grove, the master, being a comely man, with his sword and
target, holding them up in defiance against his enemies. Likewise stood
up the owner, boatswain, purser, and every man well armed. Now also
sounded up the trumpets, drums, and flutes, which would have encouraged
any man, however little heart he had in him.

Then John Foxe, the gunner, took him to his charge, sending his bullets
among the Turks, who likewise fired among the Christians, and thrice as
fast. But shortly they drew near, so that the English bowmen fell to
shooting so terribly among their galleys that there were twice as many
of the Turks slain as the whole number of the Christians. But the Turks
discharged twice as fast against the Christians, and so long that the
ship was very sorely battered and bruised, which the foe perceiving,
made the more haste to come aboard. For this coming aboard many a Turk
paid dearly with his life, but it was all in vain, and board they did,
where they found a hot skirmish. For the Englishmen showed themselves
men indeed, and the boatswain was valiant above the rest, for he fought
among the Turks like a mad lion, and there was none of them that could
stand in his face; till at last there came a shot that struck him in the
breast, so that he fell down, bidding them farewell, and to be of good
comfort, and exhorting them rather to win praise by death than to live
in captivity and shame. This, they hearing, indeed intended to have
done, but the number and press of the Turks was so great that t