hich I was the victim, for, as I followed
my Lord, thus apparelled, across the ice, I was suddenly set upon and
seized, a choke-pear clapt into my mouth so that I could not cry aloud,
mine eyes bandaged, mine elbows pinioned at my side in that fatall
cloak like to a trussed fowl, and so I was carried to where the ice was
broken, and thrust into a boat. Thence I was conveyed in the same rude
sort to a ship, dragged up her smooth, wet side, and clapt under
hatches. Here I lay helpless as in a swoon. When I came to, it was
with a great trampling on the decks above and the washing of waves
below, and I made that the ship was moving--but where I knew not.
After a little space the hatch was lifted from where I lay, the
choke-pear taken from my mouth; but not the bandage from mine eyes, so
I could see nought around me. But I heard a strange voice say: "What
coil is this? This is my Lord's cloak in sooth, but not my Lord that
lieth in it! Who is this fellow?" At which I did naturally discover
the great misprise of those varlets who had taken me for my dear Lord,
whom I now damned in my heart for changing of the cloaks! Howbeit,
when I had fetched my breath with difficulty, being well nigh spent by
reason of the gag, I replyed that I was John Longbowe, my Lord's true
yeoman, as good a man as any, as they should presently discover when
they set me ashore. That I knew-- "Softly, friend," said the Voice,
"thou knowest too much for the good of England and too little for thine
own needs. Thou shalt be sent where thou mayest forget the one and
improve thy knowledge of the other." Then as if turning to those about
him, for I could not see by reason of the blindfold, he next said:
"Take him on your voyage, and see that he escape not till ye are quit
of England." And with that they clapt to the hatch again, and I heard
him cast off from the ship's side. There was I, John Longbowe, an
English yeoman,--I, who but that day had held converse with Will
Shakespeare and been cognizant of the revels of Her Most Christian
Majesty even to the spying of her garter!--I was kidnapped at the age
of forty-five or thereabout--for I will not be certain of the year--and
forced to sea for that my Lord of Southampton had provoked the
jealousie and envy of divers other great nobles.

CHAPTERS I TO XX

I AM FORCED TO SEA AND TO BECOME A PIRATE! I SUFFER LAMENTABLY FROM
SICKNESS BY REASON OF THE BIGNESSE OF THE WAVES. I COMMIT MANY
CRUELTI