Home › Curiosities Respecting Man › Extraordinary Instances of Honour
Extraordinary Instances of Honour
questing good quarter. "No, Sir," replied the Spanish governor, "if we had taken you in fair war at sea, or approaching our coast with hostile intentions, your ship would then have been a prize, and your people prisoners; but when, distressed by a tempest, you come into our ports for the safety of your lives, we, though enemies, being men, are bound, as such, by the laws of humanity , to afford relief to distressed men who ask it of us. We cannot, even against our enemies, take advantage of an act of God. You have leave therefore to unload your ship, if that be necessary, and to stop the leak you so far as shall be necessary to pay the charges, you may then depart, and I will give you a pass to be in force till you are beyond Bermuda: if after that you are taken, you will then be a lawful prize; but now you are only a stranger, and have a stranger's right to safety and protection." The ship accordingly departed, and arrived safe in London.-A remarkable instance of honour is also recorded of an African negro, in captain Snelgrave's account of his an African negro, in captain Snelgrave's account of his voyage to Guinea.