Man-of-war as we were, desirous to be relieved by us. For at our first
meeting, the French Captain cast abroad his hands, and prayed our
Captain to help him to some water, for that he had nothing but wine and
cider aboard him, which had brought his men into great sickness. He had
sought us ever since he first heard of our being upon the coast, about
this five weeks. Our Captain sent one aboard him with some relief for
the present, willing him to follow us to the next port, where he should
have both water and victuals.

At our coming to anchor, he sent our Captain a case of pistols, and
a fair gift scimitar (which had been the late King's of France [HENRY
II.], whom Monsieur MONTGOMERY hurt in the eye, and was given him by
Monsieur STROZZE). Our Captain requited him with a chain of gold, and a
tablet which he wore.

This Captain reported unto us the first news of the Massacre of Paris,
at the King of NAVARRE'S marriage on Saint Bartholomew's Day last, [24th
August, 1572]; of the Admiral of France slain in his chamber, and divers
other murders: so that he "thought those Frenchmen the happiest which
were farthest from France, now no longer France but Frensy, even as if
all Gaul were turned into wormwood and gall: Italian practices having
over-mastered the French simplicity." He showed what famous and often
reports he had heard of our great riches. He desired to know of our
Captain which way he might "compass" his voyage also.

Though we had seen him in some jealousy and distrust, for all his
pretence; because we considered more the strength he had than the
good-will he might bear us: yet upon consultation among ourselves,
"Whether it were fit to receive him or not?" we resolved to take him and
twenty of his men, to serve with our Captain for halves. In such sort