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myself at Navarino rowing in the leading galley with the three
lanterns。 There I saw and observed how the opportunity of capturing
the whole Turkish fleet in harbour was lost； for all the marines and
janizzaries that belonged to it made sure that they were about to be
attacked inside the very harbour； and had their kits and pasamaques；
or shoes； ready to flee at once on shore without waiting to be
assailed； in so great fear did they stand of our fleet。 But Heaven
ordered it otherwise； not for any fault or neglect of the general
who commanded on our side； but for the sins of Christendom； and
because it was God's will and pleasure that we should always have
instruments of punishment to chastise us。 As it was； El Uchali took
refuge at Modon； which is an island near Navarino； and landing
forces fortified the mouth of the harbour and waited quietly until Don
John retired。 On this expedition was taken the galley called the
Prize； whose captain was a son of the famous corsair Barbarossa。 It
was taken by the chief Neapolitan galley called the She…wolf；
commanded by that thunderbolt of war； that father of his men； that
successful and unconquered captain Don Alvaro de Bazan； Marquis of
Santa Cruz； and I cannot help telling you what took place at the
capture of the Prize。
The son of Barbarossa was so cruel； and treated his slaves so badly；
that； when those who were at the oars saw that the She…wolf galley was
bearing down upon them and gaining upon them； they all at once dropped
their oars and seized their captain who stood on the stage at the
end of the gangway shouting to them to row lustily； and passing him on
from bench to bench； from the poop to the prow； they so bit him that
before he had got much past the mast his soul had already got to hell；
so great； as I said； was the cruelty with which he treated them； and
the hatred with which they hated him。
We returned to Constantinople； and the following year；
seventy…three； it became known that Don John had seized Tunis and
taken the kingdom from the Turks； and placed Muley Hamet in
possession； putting an end to the hopes which Muley Hamida； the
cruelest and bravest Moor in the world； entertained of returning to
reign there。 The Grand Turk took the loss greatly to heart； and with
the cunning which all his race possess； he made peace with the
Venetians （who were much more eager for it than he was）； and the
following year； seventy…four； he attacked the Goletta and the fort
which Don John had left half built near Tunis。 While all these
events were occurring； I was labouring at the oar without any hope
of freedom； at least I had no hope of obtaining it by ransom； for I
was firmly resolved not to write to my father telling him of my
misfortunes。 At length the Goletta fell； and the fort fell； before
which places there were seventy…five thousand regular Turkish
soldiers； and more than four hundred thousand Moors and Arabs from all
parts of Africa； and in the train of all this great host such
munitions and engines of war； and so many pioneers that with their
hands they might have covered the Goletta and the fort with handfuls
of earth。 The first to fall was the Goletta； until then reckoned
impregnable； and it fell； not by any fault of its defenders； who did
all that they could and should have done； but because experiment
proved how easily entrenchments could be made in the desert sand
there； for water used to be found at two palms depth； while the
Turks found none at two yards； and so by means of a quantity of
sandbags they raised their works so high that they commanded the walls
of the fort； sweeping them as if from a cavalier； so that no one was
able to make a stand or maintain the defence。
It was a common opinion that our men should not have shut themselves
up in the Goletta； but should have waited in the open at the
landing…place； but those who say so talk at random and with little
knowledge of such matters； for if in the Goletta and in the fort there
were barely seven thousand soldiers； how could such a small number；
however resolute； sally out and hold their own against numbers like
those of the enemy？ And how is it possible to help losing a stronghold
that is not relieved； above all when surrounded by a host of
determined enemies in their own country？ But many thought； and I
thought so too； that it was special favour and mercy which Heaven
showed to Spain in permitting the destruction of that source and
hiding place of mischief； that devourer； sponge； and moth of countless
money； fruitlessly wasted there to no other purpose save preserving
the memory of its capture by the invincible Charles V； as if to make
that eternal； as it is and will be； these stones were needed to
support it。 The fort also fell； but the Turks had to win it inch by
inch； for the soldiers who defended it fought so gallantly and stoutly
that the number of the enemy killed in twenty…two general assaults
exceeded twenty…five thousand。 Of three hundred that remained alive
not one was taken unwounded； a clear and manifest proof of their
gallantry and resolution； and how sturdily they had defended
themselves and held their post。 A small fort or tower which was in the
middle of the lagoon under the command of Don Juan Zanoguera； a
Valencian gentleman and a famous soldier； capitulated upon terms。 They
took prisoner Don Pedro Puertocarrero； commandant of the Goletta；
who had done all in his power to defend his fortress； and took the
loss of it so much to heart that he died of grief on the way to
Constantinople； where they were carrying him a prisoner。 They also
took the commandant of the fort； Gabrio Cerbellon by name； a
Milanese gentleman； a great engineer and a very brave soldier。 In
these two fortresses perished many persons of note； among whom was
Pagano Doria； knight of the Order of St。 John； a man of generous
disposition； as was shown by his extreme liberality to his brother；
the famous John Andrea Doria； and what made his death the more sad was
that he was slain by some Arabs to whom； seeing that the fort was
now lost； he entrusted himself； and who offered to conduct him in
the disguise of a Moor to Tabarca； a small fort or station on the
coast held by the Genoese employed in the coral fishery。 These Arabs
cut off his head and carried it to the commander of the Turkish fleet；
who proved on them the truth of our Castilian proverb； that 〃though
the treason may please； the traitor is hated；〃 for they say he ordered
those who brought him the present to be hanged for not having
brought him alive。
Among the Christians who were taken in the fort was one named Don
Pedro de Aguilar； a native of some place； I know not what； in
Andalusia； who had been ensign in the fort； a soldier of great
repute and rare intelligence； who had in particular a special gift for
what they call poetry。 I say so because his fate brought him to my
galley and to my bench； and made him a slave to the same master； and
before we left the port this gentleman composed two sonnets by way
of epitaphs； one on the Goletta and the other on the fort； indeed； I
may as well repeat them； for I have them by heart； and I think they
will be liked rather than d