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French galley
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ohn Knox was a slave in a French galley like the one shown here. There
he suffered side by side with criminals and French Calvinists (Huguenots),
who were being punished for their faith.
Galleys were floating prisons. Prisoners could expect false promises,
hunger, cold, and hard work. There were moments of sheer terror when the
helpless slaves stared into the mouths of enemy cannon while chained to
their benches. Pressure was applied on Protestant prisoners to convert
to Catholicism. Penalties for small infractions were harsh and included
severe flogging.
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