G530 P54 1685a MAIN

UC-NRLF

B E &21 511

^ A ^^'^

Trae AGCOUNT

O, F T H E

CAPTIVITY

O F

Thomas Phelps,

AT

MAC HAN ESS

B AR B A R Y.

AND

Of his ftr^ge Efcape in Company of Edmund Baxter and others , as alfo of the Burning Two of the greatcft Pirat-Shhs bclon jing to that Kingdom, in the KvfcioiMamora-^ lipon the Thirteenth day of 7««e 1^55.

"^^ By THOMAS P~HELJs. ~

> ■ I ■! I ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ^

Hac olim meminiffc juvabit.

iUttttceO, Auguft the ii/. R, Vs.

L O M D O N^

Printed by H. Hills^ Jun. for Jofeph Hindmarfh^ at the Golden^ BaU(}W^t againft the RoyaUExQhange ia CornhtU. 168 j.

SIR,* : ^ 'T^

HAVixig by your fienerous Favour lud the Hon|jur ^ot being introouc'd into His Ma jellies jprefence^ where I delivered the fubftance of this following Narrative, and being prefs'd by the importunity of Friends to (^ybjifti it to the V^rld, to whicl^ rainSiown incli- nations were not averfe, as Whith might tend to the infor- mation of my fellow Sea-meri, aiwell asfatisfyingthecurio- fity oS^iTW Coimry-mep, whotieliglit in Novel anilftrange Stores -in thougt| I {houlfi be^^y tar wanting lo niyfelf, if I fliould not implore the P-^tr^nage of your ever Honoured Name, for none ever will dare to dilputf the truth gfaayjnat. tbrfi*^^ Hfte .xifc»fef ^^ %vhen tpey Aall ifrklerftand th^ if^ap ft<J6d 'rfi? teft, of)yQur fegacity. Sir, Ypur Emirtent ind Steady JU>yalty, M?h^reby,y0uaflert^ His Mgjeftiesjuft Alights^ andtlieirfi4iPriviJed^e^>6£ ypur pouo^try inthc^wgrft (f^tiiies, gives'mtc6nndehccxc>^xpe£t;, t!hat you Mfiil vouch- fafe this condefcerifion to a pdor, yet honeftSea-OMifl, \^ho have devoted my Life to the Service of Hif ^acr^d Majefty and my Coantry ; who have been a Slave, but now have at^ faincd my freedom, which 1 prize ib much the more, In tfiat" I: jcaa wiith Heart and Hand £ub£:44be ^ny &lf^ • ^ ,

ToHr mefi Obliged and iS'^O Hamtlc Servants. I

;. . . H T H £

PREFACE

V O T H E

READER.

Since my Efcape from Captivity ^ and war fs tha»/B%y^^^ Bondage.^ I have methinks^ enjoy d a happinefs wiHj whkh tny former life was never acquainted-^ now that after a Storm and terrible Tempefl^ I have by Miracle put into a fafe nnd quiet Harbour ^ after a mvfl m'tferable Siavery^ to tife mofi: unreafonnble and Barbarous of Men ; nowthat lenj^oy ihe immunities and freedom of my tfative Country^ andthe Ptivi' Jedgef .of a Suijed of England, altho my circumjiances otker^ mfe are but indifferent^ yet I find, I am affeiled with extraor^ dinary emetivns and fingular tranfports of joy; now I hfcw »hat Liberty is^ and can put a value and make, a jufl eflimate of jhathappinefsy which before I never well underfhood^ which ob^ 'firvation agrees very well with a leffon in Morals I remember I -Mvt bun taughty via. that all Happinjefs here below is only\Ri^ ^ffaiiixe^ and has a ikilue only putupon it by Compjrifon^ RicJjifs )and Alandance have their Meafures of fftad and convenilenciy from the.confiMrationvf the Miferies and Inconveniencits tJaat attend Poverty and Want ; Health can be but [lightly efleemed by him^ who never was acquainted with Pain or Sicknefsj and 'ii^iberty and Freedom are the happinefs only valuable by a Re* flcHion on,C apt ivity and Slavery y they who are unacqnainted

with^

The Preface to the Reader.

w/VA, and have n§n$tiee ef the Miferies of the latter^ wiffn^

iferput a due Valme and confideration upon the farmer ; ef which

general Rule^the mofl part$f my Citnttry^meft^ lam Jorry tofay^

are too particular an in fiance^ who of all the Nations cf the

' E^th are pofeffors of the greateft Liberty, hut leafl fenfihte of

the happinefs ; Here the Government fecures every Man in the

poffeJftoH and enjoyment of what -Gods hleffing and his own indufhy

has allow d\ Here even the Poor and Needy ^ the Impotent^ and

thoje whom the Hand of God has touched ^ have a comfortable

fubfiflence^ and plentiful provifion again fl all extremities ; Here

the induflrious Mechanick or Country^ Farmer^ can /it down at

lis Xai^tictter provided thanmany Biirons of GertnSLttyy Mar^

quefes in France, and Knights in Spain ; in a word Slavery is

rjb grange a condition to England, that to touch its foil^ n ipfb

vftfto Manumiffion, and the generality of the People have tut

rJrttleJfeard^ and lefs under flood the miferable State which the

^lno(tptrt^f the WorUis now fuijffl to^ fh that the Plenty and

great Liberty of the Englifh Subjeih is no great happinefs to

• ihem^ becaufe they never weigh their Condition with what is the

Lot ^f other Nations .• Z/pon this confideration I have adven*

turedtoPublifh this account of the Miferies I underwent^ with

wany ethers, during our Captivity in Barbary, and of my Bf"

eape thence. My defign is, Chrijiian Reader ^ to work in thee

iythis true, tho plain Narrative, fomepitty towards thefharph

Offerings of thy poorBrethren at the hands of Infidels-, toinfiruH

thee to prize the bleffmgsof that pleafantvlace, where thy Lot

is fallen, and where having only the benefit of Air, thou haft a

fficdly Heritage -, and la^ly with me, to Magnifie the Namerf

.Hod, who in his word,' commands us to tell what things he hath

done for uSy and to fhew forth his works with gladnefs.

CO

A True Account of my being taken , and Sufferings during my Captivity.

Pon the z-]th, day of Augufl 1684. I Thomas Phelps fee fail from the Downs in a Veflel called the Succejs of London^ about fourty Tuns, laden with Salt, bound for a place in IrelattJ cdlkd the Fentreyy where we arrived the' 10//;. day of September ': I flayed there fome while, and killM Beaf^ defigning for the Madera s and Mount Surrat ; accordingly on the zotb. of September^ I fet fail for the Madera s, but my defign was croft, and my Voyage ftopt asfolloweth : Upon the ^th.oi OSloier (being then a Hundred Leagues, pr^/?ofrthe Rockof iL/j^^«) we faw a fail to windward of us,which immcdiatly we found to give us chace^wcmade what fail we could from him, and night coming on, we had, for about Two hours, loft fight of him, but at the rifing of the Moon; he got fight of us, j^nd quicldy came up with us, hail- ing us whence oui' Ship, we anfvvercd from London^ deman- ding the like of him , who made anfwer from Algeir^ and withal commanded us to hdift out our Boat, which we re- fufed to do, but we brac'd our head.failes for him, immc- diatly iicfent his Boat towards us, when it was got alnnoft by our fide, we gave them Three jhours, w hich fo furpriz'd them, that they thought it convenient to retire aboard their

B owa

- ( o

own Ship; We were not a little chear'd at their departure and madclromthem with all the fail we could make, for we had not one great Gun, and as for Powder, I believe one fin^ gle pound was the outnaoftof our {lore: Inth#mcan time he was holding in of his Boar, I had got above two miles from him, which made ine think I u ah clear oMiim, and withal ^hat the Ship muft bt^^lgniMe, ihe appearing logreat, that, according to the (lories in ^Em^Ijm^, I thought no fuel) Ship could bcJof^ to Salic ; But I found my fcU within a httle while, mightily miilaken, tor as foon as his Boat was hoi- ftedin, he pielcntly fetch'd us up again; We had try'd his failing aU ways, but found we could not wrong him any way ; Jo feeinghim a ftcrn, andathing impoffible to lofe fight of tis; I put out a light for him, notwithftanding I was pofleft itt that time (<3od knows) with fear enough, but I thought, m thp Dark, nny fecming confidence and refjlutioq might jimtopf^^upon him, jfo as to fancy J was of fon)e force ; And tru^ afterwards Keconfcfled to me, that he tliought I had fix Cubs aboard and tliat I did intend to fight him.

He k^pt a Hern of me all night, and m the morning he put out turhp colours, which 1 tmfwered with our Engl}[h j th^n he came li^^ and faw 1 had no boat in fight, tor my boat was (low'H down betwixt decks, he commanded mc therefore to brace to my head-failes, and then he fent his boat to demand my pafs^ Aboard lier was an antient y%(7r, \vho formerly had been aflave in England and Ypoke good 'Engljjh^ and who was fet at liberty by our late Gracious Kittg 'jbharles the zd. He feeing us in* readincfs with what arms we had, ask*d me, if I had a niind to break the Peace, he told me I needed not trouble my felfto keep them out of our yeflel, for none of them could be perfwaded to come aboard

I brought him my Cuftom-ttoufe-Cocketts, for I had no Pafs ; The Moor aforefaid carried them to the Captain, but

foon

fooa after returned, and told me th^ would not fatisfe the Captain,; unlefs. the Matter himielf would come ; I made W- fwer that I would not come, that I liaddone what I was o- blig'd to by the Articles 'twixt Eniland and Airier s : The boat a fccond time put away for their Ship , and whillt they were hoifting in their boat, I made what fail I could,, and was got a mile or more from them again, entertaining better hopes than 1 was in the night before'; But as foon as the boat was in and ftow'd, the Moors made fail and came up with me again, the Captain ordering to tell me, that it 1 re- fused to come a board him, he would come aboard me with his Ship ; with that he rang'd up my Weather quarter. I im- mediatly put a (lays, which put him into fome confuiTioo, fo that he was forced to put a (lays alfo : He had then no Gun, whicli I could perceive , I faw his Ports, and his Waft was Man-high .- As I came about I run under his ftern, then bore away right before the Wind, he foon came up with me, but not one ihot pas'd.all this while, he demanded of mc why I clapt a ftays for to run a thwart his halfe ; I anfwered that I doubted he was not of Algier^ he fwore in Englijhy to me that he was^ clfe before this he would have difcover'd bim- felf,' and withal he.told me, that if I did not come aboard^ he would ftraightway fmk me, and'fo he hoifted out his bqar, in the mean time I boar away, but his boat coming up made me bring to again and brace a back ; His boat then came a- board, I ask'd this Moor, who fpoke Enill[b, what fliip of Algiers i\^\^ was, he very readily without ftammering told me, file was call'd the Tagerene young Canary Cov^- mander, I immediatly then went into his boat; fo foon as I came aboard, the Captain ask'd me why I was fo hard of be- lief, My diftruftw^sfuch then that I pray'd the Captain now that he had me aboard in his power, to refolve me whether he were a Salle-tnan or not, he fwore to me again that lie was oi Algiers, and that I fhould'not bs wrong'd ; He made

B 2 mc

(4)

me fit down, and caus'd them to fet Dates and Figgs before me : A little after the Captain told me that he was made acquainted by his men that they faw two Portuguefes aboard my Ship, and that he would have them out, and then I fhouldbegone about my bufincfs, I told him I had none fuch aboard, but he would fee them tv\o men, fo two men were km for, after that he told rriC there were three more and them he muft have, well ro l;e fhort, at laft he wasfulpicious that I was a Portugueje alfo^find to convince me that I was one,I tound my entertainment [Tcfentlywithdra v/n ? Thus did this faithlels Barbarian lerve me, until he had wheadlcd all my men aboard him except two, and then the valiant A/(?^rj entred my Vef- fcl with abundance of courage, heaving the two remaininjj Englijh over the head of the Veflel into the boat.

' Thus were we all Strip d, the Veflel Plundered in a mo- ment, which they did refolve to have funk, becaufe they were too far r at Sea diftantfrom their own coafl, but Imme- diatly we faw five fail bearing down upon us, which ftartled the Moors y putting them into a great fright, obliging them to quit my Veflel with abundance of Beaf and three Boxes of dry goods aboard, which their fear would not give, them leafure to rummage for .• Infomefmalltimethe five Veflek difcovcr*d us, when they came within two Leagues of us, had they bore down afterwards with that refolation, that they threatned before, the Pirate would never have ftood to look them in the face ; but alafs like diftrafl-ed fearful ^^ame, every of the five Ships took a feveral courfc, and being now night they all cfcaped.

After that wecruifed about thirty Leagues to the Wejl of the Northern Cape^ and fo to the Bnrlings^ but no nearer than Twenty Leagues to the Ihoar, and therefore I imagin there is more fafety for fraali veflTels bound that way, to keep the ihore as near as is poflTible, for I know certainly they never attempt to Qomc near, but endeavour as much as they can,

to

■ (s)

to avoid the (hoar becaufe our Men of War ufe to careen at

Lisbon. , ,. , /• ,, • u t

lamlikcwlfe pretty well fatisfied for that fmalltime that I was amon.'ft them, altho' it was too long for my profit) that n-j SalU^^an will fi^ht a Ship of Ten Guns, which I found true ly olfervaricnof a Ccunny-man from Briflol^ whillt I was aboard : Wc came up with him and hail'd him, and would have had him put out his Boat, but he refufed, and withal Ihcw'dhimlelf ready in his own defence, upon whicli we were glad to kave him.

So that to fatisfie all my Country-men who folIo\y my trade I dare confide/itly affirm, thatifl hadaSliip of Tea G'Jns, and' it ihould be my fortune to encounter any of thcfe Salle-ioy.e^ y (^ who all go under the notion of Aiger'ines^ who are now at peace with England) I would encourage him to fend his boat, by acquainting him that our Marter would come aboard and fhew his pafs, (which is the thing they ainr ar^ And when the boat was come to my fide, (any man of reafon may judge then whether (he were from Salle or AU grers^ but however I would commit nothing fliould be judg- ed a breach of the Peace , 'twixt England and Algiers ) I would heave in aGrapling andfecurethe men, all fave two, whom I would permitt to return aboard and bring me a Chri- ftian, or clfe aver my Pafs, if they will not do that, I ant then fatisfied what he is, and think my felf obliged to de- fend my felf from Slavery, but this I am very confident of^ that he will never flay to difpute the cale afterward.

About a fortnight after I was taken, we met one Samuel CramptoH who came from Faro^ and whom we foon took without any refiftance. The week following we rook a fmalf Ketch come from CaleSy laden with Sherry and ilaifias and bound for Limrick, John Elliot Maftcr.

The number of us Chriftians taken aboard the Three Prizes was Twenty five, befides Twelve which were aboard

the

( 6 ) the Pirate, in all Thirty fcven ; We who were newly t^en were kept in Irons in the Hold.

After the taking of thefe Three Veflels the Pirate made all the fail he could for Salle to fave the Ipring Tide, which flows zt S alle 2ind Mjmora S S IF about Thirty Leagues : To the Northward of Salle^ we met a Fleming who camq from Salle y and told our Commander that the Engl/Jh-meff of War were at Tanyer then, attending Captain Nicholafon , which caufcd us to bear direftly for 6"^//^' and fell in dircftly with the Cadle, where were no En^lijh'nien of War, ac- cording to the Advice.

On the Bar of 6"^//^' there run a great Sea, which obligeci us to come to an Anchor near the 5j/',wlicre we rid Six hour^ ; then were we poor Chriftians all let loofe from our Iron- fliackles, v\herein we had been confin'd for Twenty days preceeding: the Captain fent the Boat, as near the Shore to the South oi the B.v\ aspodibly he could, to enquire whai; News, there they were acquainted thai they might fafcly come in the next high Water : whilft the Boat was gone a Shore, the Moors, we obferv'd, fell all fad aflccp, the Cap- tain alfo, with his Head over the Raii^ upon tlie half-Deck fecm'd deeply ingag d : This opportunity me thought wa^ very inviting, I made a propofal of it to my fellow Slaves, and undertook to do the Captains bufinufs my fclf : The Chrillians were forward enough to comply with the motion, and Eleven of the Tu elve, (which were Slaves retain'd ia the Ship before our being takcn^ they alfo werQ willing,if the- Twelfth who was Steward in the 3aip would have qonlented, but this fnealdng varlet prov'd recreant, and for fear of him the other Eleven turn'd alfo Renegadocs to this Heroick and Chriftian relolution ; I had a mind to have difpatcht this. troubler of our peace out of the way fird, but the fear that liLs te!!ow Slaves would have feverely r'cfentcd it, reftrain'd my refoiutioni the Slaves Name wa§ IF^^. Rohinfon^ he pro-

fefTcd

( 7 )

fefled himfelf a Chriftiatt in words, but ifideed We found more civility from the Moors than him. j n , .

At Four in the Afternoon, we weighed Anchor^and Itood m forthe54/-,we (truck Twice going over, but without any dam- mage; it was upon the Firft day oi November, after we had I>elped to moor our Ship, at Night we were all carried afliore, andconv-evcd to our Lodging, which was an old Stable, but without Litter or Straw, having nothing fave the bare dirty Ground for our Bed or Pillow; the next Day we were alt carryed aboard the Ship to Unrigg her, and get out herBai- ]aft,wliich we did ; aboftt Four in the Afternoon, I was fent tor alhore to come to the Governour, who paiTed his fentence on us Three Mailers, that wefhould go to his Houfe, and there remain,until wewere fent tor by the King; we remained at his HoufeTen days, where our daily employment was to Grind the Corn for the u(e of his Family; at length there came an Order for us, andalithe reft of the Chriftians to be carryed to the King, whofe Ordinary and then Refid'ence was at Machanefs^'a, place which this prefent Emperour has fet his Fancy upon, and beftows moft of his care, and employs all Chriftian Slaves in Building there; it is diftaht iiomSafJedhowt Seventy Miles, and from Fez Thirty.

In our Journy thither, I cannot forget our Captains extra- ordinary civility, in Accommodating us fometim.es with Bor- ricoesto ride on, fo that in Two days and a half we arrived thither : The Firft night we were not brought before our great Matter, but the following our Captain prefented us before him, and withal forae Portuguefe Phtt , which was taken in Mr.Cramptons VefTel ; as the Captain gave it into his Hand, the furly Tyrant with a feeming fcorn and difdain heav'd it againft the Wall, which was the firft Adionl obferv'd, and did a little difcover the temper of my new Patron Muley Ifh- mael Emperour of Morocco and Fez^ &c. He ordered us to he fent amongft the reft of our fellow Slaves ; as we went we

were.

(8)

were cnlertain'd with the civilities of the place , and wel-^ corned by the joy full acclamations and complements of the Moors kicking and flapping us all along, which appeared very uncouth to me, who was but a Stranger, but that Night my fellow Captives allayed my wonder, by acquainting me, that what had pad was nothing, it was only a futablc Pro- logue to all the Tragical fufferings that Chrillians muft en- dure there whilft they are Slaves, which were fo dreadful, that I could willin^^ly , that very Night have ventured my Life to endeavour an cfcape; they Painted out tome the Tyran- nical humour of the Emperour, both towards the Chriftians and Natives, in fuch Bloudy Colours, viz, how they had k^n him Butcher many Thoufands with his own hands, how that none can be fecure in his prefence for that the varying of a look, a fmall fpot in the Garment, or any fuch inconfidcrable circumftance, will raife fuch a caprice in the Emperours Nod- dle, without any other provocation, as to endanger all the Heads betore him, and it is very rare if the company efcape with One or Two only Beheaded, or Lanced through the Body.

The Second day after my arrival thither, I faw him Lance Seven and twenty Negroes one after another, and every Day after, until New-years-day^ (when he parted to Santa Cruz with his Army;! either faw or heard of his inhumane,but yet, through cuftom, to him Natural Barbarities, Killing and Dragging, but this latter is a piece of refpcd' obferved only to MiUiOns and Favourites, Vice-kings and Alcaids ; yea his Women are not able by all their Charms to avoid his Fury, but are more the objects of his implacable rage than any other pallion : I have been fcvcral times in the Wcft-lptriies^ and have feen and heard of divers Inhumanities and cruelties pra- difed there, I havealfo read in Books, and have heard Lear- ned men difcourfe of the SJcrlian Tyrants and Roman Em- perours, but indeed I forget them all, they are cot to be

named

' • (9)

4iamcd in comparifon with this Monfter of j^fnck, a com- ipofition of Gore and Duft, whom nothing can attone But humane Sacrifices, and to be in whofe court it is much mofe eligible to be hisHorfe or his Mule, than to be his Privarfo or Wife of his bofome , from whofe greatcft kindnefs my good God ever defend me,for his mercies are cruel : Yea even JiamedBen //^^/^w who was his EmbafTadour here in England Three years ago, altho' he was received and entcrtain'd here with extraordinary civilities, and carrefs'd every where by all the endearments of kindnefs and refped:, and altho' by his finenefs and Moorifh fubtilty, he ftole mto the Inclinations of the well-meaning and good natur'd Englifl^^ fo that he obtained the reputation of Ingenuity and candour, Yet the Dog has returned to his Vomit, and by woful experiment, all my Country-men, who come under his power, find him a harfli and cruel Matter, who manag'd his affairs here with deepdiflTimulation, and now improves his knowledge of £«g- I'tfl) afl^airs, to the detriment and ruin of all the Kings Sub- jeds, with whom he has to do • if it beJiis fortune to meet or pafs by any of them, his cuftom is (as all the Englijh can atteft) to falute them with a devilifh Curie to the bed of my remembrance, expreft thus , Alii Haztehuck^ t. e. God roafi your Father: he is indeed reckoned a great Mafter in the art of Diffimulation and Flattery, a qualification, which fcems very requifite in a Courtier of fuch a Barbarous Bloody Tyrant as his Mafter is.

But to proceed, my fellow Chriftians in the next place, Ihewed me the ftafF of their life there, /. e. their Bread, which was of Barley ,but black, and withal it ftunk, theCorn being kept Seven years under Ground before us'd, one Days allowance if fold, would yield only Nine Fluces, which a- mount to Three Farthings; Flclh is cheap, both Mutton and beet, but Mony is fcarce, Two pounds and a half of Beef, are ordinarily iold for aBlankil, i.e. Two pence hnlf-peny,

C and .

iittJ Two poiindis of Muifbn ac the fapmNtmtej gdbBbPhlMt Bread is alfo plentifbl, half as cheap as in JEngia$fdfhoi: what is this to the Slaves who have not a Farthrng, aindnot a bit is allow'd us without Mony ; I am confident tbetc fc many a Chriflian there, who hath not tailed a morlfel <>f Fle/h in Five Months time. ' -^ " • n.; i.roy

Th? Country is a pleaf^i^W! Champron CoiWry, \ttry Fr^i- ful, well Watered, produ<3:'ivc of all forts of Fruit in plent)tV we Chriftians who arrived l&fl, were excufed for Two dav^ from Labour, only we were inftru(9:ed in our depoiftmenis«d bur N(*^-Ttiskhi^fter^, whoaftei^wairds gavcus t4^'er<f'.chi- ftifmcnt for bur rrtiftakes and lapfes: our Work and Daily Labour was continually Building of Houfes and Walls; the Materials and Method is very Forreign and will appca-r ftrange to my Country-men liere ; there are Boxesof Wood of dimenftofft accorlli|]g''edi pk^fure, «Kefe we^ fill^ivkh Earth pdwdre'dabd Lime/afjdGK6vel welLbeat together ^^fkl tempered with Water,' and'4V^fc(IA -full,* w-e remove #lie Box according to order, irid wii^hdrawtheBbx Plartk^ andleave this matfcr to drv, \Chi<!h'ttert wvB^acquiroi'.ali 'iPiz4t^Mt ;hardtrcfr,*aiKriS Vc^y'-kift^ \V^^\:iVh ie^^Vf^^^

Vomc^Hmklred^ j^ars '^ftftridir^'g :4s Vrji^ere'iffformiedv ^nd fefU tliat time fins n(l>t -b^ef^ able^t^do.themiany pr€>udie«. ■ ■

The King himfelf - whnt tWe-Yeafdn of his humour tnay be I never had theeuriofit'y tdask hii?i) willfometiitie^ voueh- fafe to work in the Lime and Durt for aWliolir togetb^t^, 'irid will bolt out' an-iri<^ourag{ng M^cii'd tbtli,^ Slaves then, -b/'c. as I rememl)er, £>/t-f«y, that is, G^d'feml you to your own Ccufitriesy but I judge, he either does not fpeak from his Heart, orelfe he hogcsGod v/ill not anfuer the Prayers of iuch a widied wrefch ^ with this' fort of Labour I made a ftitc to pafs away^^ir the Winter; 'arid indeed witholit a quible, I haid' no other fbift or Ihirt , only tlie Charitj^of my fellow Slaves, who were better provided, accomfnoda-

ted

\

( II )

ted ioi with a ccyvering from the Coid, which elfe would

HaveendfeBgered my life. ^ -r t

liThe Reader, I fuppofe, will not think it ftrange, it I was diflatisfied and very weary of my condition, and therefore I did bften rummage all my thoughts, for fome expedient to enfe mt of this accurfed way, not of Living, but Starving ami i)ying daily : My mind did often flatter me with the greateft poflibility of Liberty by running away, tind fo conr fident I was, that 1 difcovered my intentions to feveral Chriftians, efpecially to tholeof my near acquaintance, who by no means could be induc'd to hear the difliculties ani daggers tli^t attendkl-fuch.a.refolat:ion: in the mam time my Friends in E-ngLmd had takcfi. fome care tor my Ran- fome, and had given order to Mr Ludd'iHgtvn^ an. Englifh Merchant in Bdriary^ to endeavour my relief if One hun- dred and fifty Pmjnds would effeft ir, whkh Sum Mr. Lud-^ dhgnrtuccpu^^d mt] he (Wa^ ready :ta disloiirfe, it J could cin:,7:that'i'fe; agree wMth -my Pati^n^^^^^^ my Ranfome^ for She hundred, or Seven hundred pieces of Eight; I profered the faid Sum, but it would not be accepted ; upon which I loijktnporf rtiyc(iFviitionasdcfperate,m.y forlorn and languifli- if%lfett^flii4v/yiti4flUt^rty hctpts ;ak;Rjede:iiption, (which on- ly ri^M'ilfftj^ii^UrS^^Ptsiuaitlte^^^ of fuch great affli- 6fck}ftfe, arfdBortc^*er4uDthbre .bi>on wh^ God and Nature ieems'^o hfi»^ impfeft di3ra£fcet$ of Slavery to the relt of Mankinds -^^ app^^rcid. far xvorfe thaa th:: tL';rours of a mod icmfel4>ew^v t ftt'irpttoi my fixt and unalterable refolurion to-^df?^ 'U^h.-vtftp/i'p fete \aif tended it, kaving the event to pr^Vid^nce-; 1 ted 'm<^re th&n conjedure, that prcfcnt Death w^ to bette re«.vard of n^y endeavours if I were retaken, for Three Spiw/Jrds^ who fome Two Months before were taken, «iaki*^g^heij'efca:j^,nhe j\4ng.ca«fc;d' diena to be brought lie* i^r^ him, md ^v^i'thhisowii-liifici^^prov'Hnbiir Butcher, and £xec»^ioner, u:hidi drt^^l pirotcidiDi5s:Lbdiwhaliy diflicarterl,

ii 2 the

( 12 )

tfie poor Spirited Chriftians, and banifted all filch refolixtK ons quite out of their minds; At length I opened my mind to Mr. Baxter (who about a Year and a half belbre, had made an unlucky attempt to run away, but being brought back he had the Baftinado m fuch a fort that he could not work for a Twelve Month, having Irons continually upon his Le^s} but notwithftanding, fuel] was his love of Chri- flfian Liberty, tliat he freely told me, tliathe would adven- ture with any fair opportunity ; after I had him thusengag'd by his promife, I gave him no rell, until we had pitch'd upoa a Day ; we alfo took into our Cabal and (hare of our For- tunes, Two Briftol'wett y who were ready at an hours war- ning, when we appointed.

There are at Machanefs at prcfent about Eight hundred Chriftians of all Nations, Two hundred and fixty whereof ^x^ Englipj^ feveral of which have tendred Mony for their Ranfom, fome Seven hundred, fome Five hundred pieces of Eight, fome more, fome lefs, but the King ftill put them oft' With this, that he would clear none particularly , but that they fhould go all together.

January the Firft, Th^ King fet forward towards Santa Cruz,wi\\\ an Army of about Sixty thoufand men,defigniog to. quel his Nephew,' who had made a formidable Infurreftion againfl him, in that part of his Dominions.- We Chriftians could not Inform our fclves of the certain proceedings of thefe Armies, neither did we much care, fight Dog, ftght Bear, but this we learnt, that it will be Two or Three years before his return, and it is not to be fuppos'd that any particular Chriftian will be rcicas'd until he return ; befides, there is no hopes to be laid upon the moft folemn word and protefta- tion of this f.varthv Infidel Muley Ifmael ^ for, as I have beta inform'd, about Four or Five years ago, by an agree- ment with Collonel Kirk^ all the Englifl? (laves were to be let at liberty at the rate of Two hundred piece of jtighta

Lead,

( 13 )

head, and the bargain was fo far ftruck, that the Chriftians were got a Mile out of Town, But the accurfed Jews, (the ftench and peft of the Nations of the Earth, Malicious to all Min-kind and ioathfoiTie and abominable whereever they come, who not only have the blood of the Saviour of the World lying upon their heads, but arc accountable for the blood of many Thoulands of his Members which they daily fhed) Thcfe wicJad Enemies o( Chriftiapity, brought back thefe poor Chriftians into the houfe of bondage thus,, they proffered the Emperour as much mony as the King of E ffg- /jWcendredfor the Chriftians Ranfome» if lo be he would only lend them for a while, to build a City for the Jews, and then they ihould be reftor'd to the K»ing7 The covetous Ty- rant foonclos'd with thefe advantageous terms, and the Chri- ans were turn'd over to the Jews, who imploy'd them Three years in building a City, but when finifh'd, fee the juft Judg- ment of God ! The Jews were turn'd out,and forc'd to give place to the Moors : Another remarkable ftory concerning the Jews I cannot but infert upon this occafion : About Three years ago, Mr. Bowrey of Brijlol was, with Twenty fail more ,^ taken by the Salle-men^ Bowrey had a parcel of Soap in his Ship, which then did belong to thelving; Ben Hacldu ^m- barfadour in England defir'd so buy this Soap of the King, but a Jew out bid him, and fo had the Soap, tor which dea- hng the Ambaflador kept a grudge in his mind againft the Jews, and was rcveng'd on them, after this manner, whilft I was there. He infbrm'd the King that the Jews had im- posed upon him and couzen'd him of Fifty thoufand pieces of Eight in the matter of the Soap, upon which the King clapt up Ten of the chief Jews^ in Prifon^ until they (hould either pay the faidSum, or clfe reftore the Soap, which it is to be fuppofed, hath been fold in Chriftendom Two years ago.

An

( H )

An. Account of my Efcape, Mr. Edmund ^l^ayxtv, and others from Barbary.

AFtcr a ferimils TanfidcritioiT, finding that no proffers tor rrty redemption would be accepted, I comaiitted rhe conduft of my proceedings ro Almighty providence refolving to make an Efcapc in company of Three more, FJ)nti)^{{ B^xtfr, Mkrh^ny Bayk^ afxi James btgram^.y.' n-:.': Oh t\ic*L()UKoi Mayy agreeing with our diardiari'Moors {^V^ BUahil^ (^jp;^;)^ zd. ob. a piece, we iTad the liberty to be GiCcusM from ^vt^k rfiat daY,we went there fore to. the Town of Machanefs, and having but a fmall ftock of calh about us, 'Pfiz.' tiint^linkils, (V«Jaid it out in Bread^'Ond two (inall Bultecfe' blftiWei'S^',^ vv<th a Imlc Burcfock lo'cftrry: W,aeer

About Thr^e of tlvs^clock in the Aire rnoon .>ire began pur journey tfefig^ins; fo^go as far as an Old Jk?;u1c^ caii'u the Kim^ hoofed difepltidbaat Three mijles fnolnii MAchintfs \ MaR'ir>g M -Cv^ntt^loof folve^iabout rlialhoufcuntjini^it^ Ifjd'^l-omiftrtg to our. fetVJcs the greater fccunty \ rbctjau::^ ^ekrtdw inwfc Ghrifftianft uliU cd^mmonly to wotk xlicne^ but' pfot^ecding in <JAtr joartisy, we difcovcrd upon a lorided Horft^^ht M^i6t w4i6"tived at that houfc, which oblig'J us; to cjuirkcn our pace, and keep a head of him , for, i{ ho, J^uLl come up with us, he would eafily dilcover that ue

did

C 15 )

did notbefo^g^.to the ftid houfc, We made haft riicrcforc before him, feincj cornlDg near the houfe we difcoyer V about Twenty Moors fitting there; which accident of being hem- ed in behind and bctbre by thefe our enemies, put us into a great fright, and had in all likely hoQci {4)oird our defjgn, in the very catrancc, if providence had 'not preftntcd; w our view, on one fidcof the houfe, a parcel of Lime^killa^ ;ta which, Vv'ithout the Moors obfcrvation we imniediaily ftrudc up, V, here \vc abfconded our fclves by lying flat upon our . bellies 5 about haifan hour after came two Moorifli. women' tbithe^ to gather up: fooie ioofe wood, we confideriiig it very inconvenient to iliew our feJvcs fearful, left we fhould be taken for Renagadoes, fpoke to them, but they return'd usnoanfwer, fo lio wing their bufinefs, an J taking us, asvvc judged^ either for Moors or Chriftians einploy'd about tiie faid- Lime-kiHs To we continued. there .vviihout any farther moieftatioii, until rfight, vvhenvvelprboeeded on our jour- ney,, traveling about Eighteen miles that aiglit, we paffcd by a great many Tents, vvlicnce tlie D.ogscame out and barkt at us, .and the Moors alfo favv us, but. faid nothii)g^ raifla- king usfo^-tlueir Country.-men..;i:.i/^ t; j c^ . j , . j..;. That night we croft the great River, which ruiisddvvii. to Mam or a y, about Eighteen miles diilancefroiTi./i^i:/^'^«c/J'> and about a mile firom the bank of tlie River, we. found a convenient bufii, where we took up out lodging all tisc.day foliovving, without any diflurbance : At njgbi.ViVc iound our MvGs oblig^'d to return to the laid River, to.darniih axs with Water, the Iittlends of our velTcl, which conraia'd not above a Gallon, being a great hindrance in our journey : We continued our progrefs Twelve mile:, that night, which prov'd very tirefome by reafon of the weeds and buihes, and the nights were notfo long as we vviih'd ; juft ibouc Day-break, we found a convenient bufli ncai? to a p/eat Valley, where we repos'd our fclves j as foon as the day

broke

( u^ )

broke clear , we faw abundance of Catthe grafing in the bottom, with Moors,who lookt after them,but, by Gods pro- vidence, none came near us, fo that we lay fafe all that day, being the laft day of May.

At night we fet forwards, keeping the Woods, where were no Moorifh Inhabitants, only wild beafts, the lefs fa- vage and formidable, which we often faw, but they never attempted to come near us, we travefd about Ten miles that night, and then croffed a River, which fupplied us with Water, whereof we were in want ; on the other fide of the River, we obfcrv'd the footfteps of a great many Cattle, which rendred the place, as we thought, unfafeforus, we made therefore a little further progrcfs in the morning, to the top of the Hill, where under a large Oak we found a bufh convenient for our reception that day , but within a little while we were difturb in our repofe, obferving the Cattle to come grafing up the Hill, direftly to that bulh, with Moors at their heels, with all haft therefore we padl: up our luggage and ran a mile further, without being difcover*d, until we came to a Pear tree, furniih'd with long-grafs around him. there we took up our quarters all that day, being the Firft of June,

The night following, we intended to proceed,, but itplea^ fed God, toftrikemclame with the Gout, fcthatl was not able to ftand, I was forced therefore to remain Oiere all that night, and the day enfuing, which was a great hindrance to my companions, and affliAion to my felf ; The i^adieft expedient to remedy my diftemper, which I could think upon .was this, we made a fire in a hole in the ground, and I put my Foot into the hole to draw away the pain, having alfb a Lancet with us, I endeavoured to breath a Vein in my Foot, but I could net effeca it, for the Lancet would not 'enter, however, I found fome eafe by the- force of the fire: My company being fenfible of the delay, which my diftemper

occafion'd,

(»7)

dccafion*d, began to be mov'd, infomuch that they told me, that if I could not march with them that night, they muft hold themfelves oblig'dto take leave of me , \vhich added a great affliftion to my forrow, infomuch as I was the Au- thor and firft mover of this efcape ; That I might not there- fore be forfaken by my companions, and in compliance to their importunity, Irefolved to (train my outmoft power.

The third of June ^t night I endeavoured to go, but ia great pain, fo that we could not proceed above Three miles, when I was forc'd to pray my Companions to (lay but that night, and I did not queftion, but by Gods bleffing, to be able to travel with them the next, they confented, and fo we took up our lodging for the remainder of chat night, under another Pear-tree.

The fourth of Ju»e I kept baking my foot all the day in the Ground, till about two in the Afternoon, in the meaa while, I procurM Mr. Baxter to make me a wooden Leg, Avhich accordingly he did, I perfwaded them, then, to tra- Vel about Three or Four miles that afternoon, which would a little eafe the labour of the night, they agreed, I traveled about F6ur miles with that Leg, and then relied till night on the top of a high Hill, whence we faw a great plain valley before us.

At night we fhap'd our courfe clear of the Tents, and tra- vel'd over the edge of the plain, about Six miles; We part: by feveral fields ot corn, the Moors in the mean time hallow- ingto frighten the wild beads from them : Crofling of a Ri- v^r that night, we faw and heard feveral Lyons, fome ap- proach'd fo near that we could alm.oft have touched them,but as foon as we ftrook fire, which we had prepar'd for that very purpofe, they prefently vanifli'd ; when the light began to difplay itfelf, we took our quarters for the next day, which 'Was June the Fifth ; At night we continued our courfe, when 1 was ftill lame, which was a great hindrance to my

D company,

r^87

company, but we were loath to part, our bread alfo was al- moft at an end, the confideration whereof obliged me to flraia hard to get Eight miles that night .• By refting the next day I found my ielf to be fomething better, but then to qualifie my joy for this, Another companion Anthony Bayle began to fink and give over.

June the Sixth, We fet onward , and meafur'd Ten miles chat night, when we came to a great Swamp, there my j)ain renewing, I fain would have perfwaded them to ftay but by no intreaties could perf^vade them, fo refolving to part, we fhar'd our Bread, which came to two half Rusksa peice ; I endeavoured to allure my weak wearied Brother to abide with me, comforting him with the expeftation of Gar- dens, where we two more eafily than the company of Four, might provide for our felves; He would not (lay,- Being

Jpreft thus with the confideration of being left alone, I Re^ olv'd to put forward, when it pleafed God, that my foot became per fcdHy whole and clear of the Qout; That night Ave traveled over a high barren Hill, where we fancied we heard the Sufs and noife of the Sea, which encouraged us to mend our pace until we met with a Garden, where we ga- thered about a dozen of fmall Pumpkins, a very comforta^ ble afliftance to us, now that our Bread was all fpent, for fome we eat raw, and fome we roafted in the ground, where- by we found our felves confiderably refreJht .• That night we made no more then Eight miles, for meeting' with a great Oak which was blown down, we thought it inconvenient to overflip fuch an advantageous retirement for the next day, which we were the more defirous off, becaufe we heard a great many Moors^ tho' we could not fee them.

All the next day we lay ftill and with exceeding content- ment we heard the noife of the Sea, at night we put on and came to the Ihoar, where we found Whereabout we then were, viz. to the Southward of Mamora , we direfted our

Courfe.

( IP )

Courfe then tf orthwarc/ ior Two miles, when we could di- fcern the Cattle, but knowing that we could not go to the Northward of the Cattle, becaufe the great River goes di- rectly up into the Country, we turn'd back about a mile, and finding a convenient bufh, we retted there all the next day, hearing and feeing a great many Cattle, but none came near us.

June the Eighth, We gathered about half a Peck ofSnaiJes, and caught a Land-Tortois, which we roatted and eat har- rily. that day alfo, we faw a Ship in the Offing, when night was come, we made down towards the Cattle, and before we were aware we fell upon a Moor making a fire, which forc'd us to draw back, the Moor not difcerning us, we fetcht then a compafs, and by another way came down to the Cattle, there we found a ttrong watch, which did wholly difcourage our expeftations of relief from that place, fo we fet up our Refolutions for Sa/le\ about Eighteen or Twenty miles to the Southward j to fee what good could be done there. But before we parted with fliamora^ we made bold with a little Barley and Guinny corn, growing under the Cattle, of each whereof we gathered about a quarter of a Peck, to ferve our neceffities, and then we betook our felves to our former nights refuge, the Bufh, and after having confulted how to tteer our courfe for Salle ^ the refult whereof was a long the Sea-fide, we retted all the next day without dittur- bance.

y«;rtf the Ninth, We travel'd along the Sea- fide, where we faw a great deal of Raft-timber, we concluded therefore , feeing the Ship in the Offing, to make a Raft, which accor- dingly we did, and put ofi with it, but it would not fwim, boyart with us all, we came therefore a (hore, and cut all our Lafhings, leaving it to the mercy of the Sea : We tra- veled Five miles towards Salle xh^x night, fearing leaft by ftaying long thereabout we fliould be difcovered, for our foot-

D 2. ing

( 29 )

logand traylingof tlie Timbei: had made fuch an Impreffiqa in the fand as if an Hundj^cd men had been there; That^ night we took up our quarters in a Fig-tr«e, about Seven miles fliort of Salle where was no Inhabitant. ,. : , . ,.

June the Tenth at night, we made forward. to 5^/4 in.tlicv Road, we fell upon a parcel of Tents , where thoughtlie Dogs were ready to feize us, and th« Moors themfckc^ call'd to us, We made no anfwerand travel'd on, without any far- ther trouble or danger, until we came to Sj/le\ as foon as wc: came thither, wc made towards the Gardens, and gathered: fome Pumkins, and becaufe night was far fpenr, we retrea- ted about a mile out of Town, to find fome place which might fccure us from difcovery ; wepitch'd upon a Bufh in a great Valley , wherein we refolv'd to enclofe our felves the day following : About Eleven of the clock of that day, weefpiedaBoy witha Dog keeping of Sheep, but yet not forgeting his game, which was hunting of Partridges ; He beat the bufli wherein we ^ere lo Jg'd,and threw in 5tones, and V he Dog alfo did his part, barking and courfwig; about: thebu(h, but by miracle a^ w^tliciight, we were not efpied^. tho' wedifcovcr'd abundance of icar amongft our felves, for if we had been taken notice of, we could not otherwife con- fult our own fafety, than by the death of that poor filJy Lad.

The eleventh day being pa(t, s^fnjght we made a defcent to the River of ^j//r, about a mile above the Town, where we found a Boat, but could not with all our ftrength launch her .• Antimony Bayle ana I who were the only fwimmers in our company, made ovei to the -&?«M-yf^> of the River, to fee what purchafe we could make there, we found indeed Three boats, but they were all aground, fo that we could ' do no good with them ; But in fearching about the new Ships, ^which Five in number arc building there) we found two Ogres, with which we fwam over to our conforts, and -^ ail

( 21 ) til- together we went down by the Rivers fide, to theHari- bours mouth, but we could meet with no boat to put our Oares in ; We faw two I>»/cA-men in the River, but they kept adihgent watch, which hindred us from carrying aw>y their boat ; We concluded therefore to bury our; Oares in the fand at fome remarkable place, and fo we betook our fclves.to find out a fanftuary ior the day following ; Wc found a Fig-tree full of leaves, in an unlrequented place, as we tliought, on iht Nor t h^fide oi the River, yet within call of the Ships, which then were a building ? Under the Covert of this little Tree, tho* 'usrounded with Enemies and dan- gers, we refolv'd to expett the proteftion of the next day ; The Reader may poflibiy judge this an inftance of a Roman- tick courage, and an eHeft rather of rafli boklnefs than pru* dent confidcration; Truly, he is in the right, for vve our felvesvvere of the fame mind, about the middle of the next day, upon this occafion, a Moor who had newly wafht his cloaths, directs his courfe direcftly to our Tree, and there hangs up his Alhageio dry vvhilft he himfelf fat down^ nucTaroff, to lowfe himfelf an't pleafe you; if providence did hinder him from difcerning us, I allure you it was not for want of provocation, as vve all confeit, and indeed 1 never in my hie was in fuch atrembUng fit, as that lovvfie Rafcal poi liieinto.

The Twelfth day of June being paft, at night vve came down again to the River, to look after a boar, which vve had o:;Riv'd was moor'd in the River, half a mile higher than > vnere vve found the Oares, this, we who could Ivvini found and brought to our conforts, We padl'd her down the' River elofc b- the ZJ^/cA-men, whofaw us, but faid nothing, then vve put a ftiore, and fetcht our Oarcs, vve continued pa "u;i^, until vve had pad a French-m^in^ lying at the Bars mouui, who ,>l?»iniy faw us, but faid iioching; So foon as vve had left hifu behind us, vve fiiipp'd out our Oares, and

Row-

( 22 ) .

Rowing right into the Sea, our courfc by the Nonh'M> was WeJl'North'Wefl : when we had Rowed Four Miles or thereabout, we difcern'd a Ship at Anchor, which ob- lig'd us to alter our courfe, and Row Northward , until we had pad her, fearing lead flie might be a Saah-S^tx^^ and we had learn'd at Machanefs that Two of them were a cruizing at that time, and not yet come in , therefore it was, that in diftruftof this Ship, wc altered our courfe ; we Rowed about Two Leagues without the Ship, and lay upon our Oares; when Day broke up cltar, we faw tJic Ship with her Sailes loofe, I then acquainted my Conforts, that in my judgment, if the Ship were of SaU^ /he would make in for the Bar at that time, becaufe the Tide and the Sea breeze were then both favourable, it being High-water at Seven of the Clock , but if fhe were an Engitfh Man of War, as we inceflantly vvifh'd , then we thought the Sca-brceze would make her ftand offto Sea : Notwithftanding our opinions were various, and we were doubtful what to do^ at length I perfwadcd my coiiforts, with much ado, to fow in and make her hull, then the Ship (lood ofT, and at length faw us, wepulTd aboard, and found her to be the Lar k- Friggot Cz^tim Leighton Commander; after fome Examination and Difcourfe about the Methods and Means of our Efcape, I propounded to the Captain a de- fign which had newly taken ftrong pofleflion of my Fancy, it was this, that if he would accommodate me with his Boat, and thofe belonging to the other Two Men of War, which were in ^Company , I would undertake to Pilot them in, and toburc what Ships were then at Mamora; The Captain im- mediately ftood to the NortkvarJ, and came up with the other Two Ships, which were the BonaventureAnA the (jr^jy- hoMfd; The Admiral was then Sick at Caies , fo Captain Macdenald being Eldeft Captain, we went aboard him, and fending for Mr. Fair home ^ who was then Captain under

Cap-

C 23 )

Captain Prieflman, who was Sick as abovefaid, they held a Council about thofe propofitions which I had made, at firfl they feemed unprafticable, by reafon of many difficulties, but efpcciaily of the Bar^ which is worfe than that of *?i7/7/; But then when upon Second thoughts they confidered the forwardnefs of Men, who but that very Day had efcapt a heavy Slavery, and yet were willing that very Night to en- gage in the acftion, they concluded it both poiFible and fea- fible, fo they entertain'd with approbation what I had pro- pos'd ; After which I immediately returned with Captain Leighton aboard the Lark^ and communicated the refult of the Council with my Comrade Mr. Baxter^ who was heartily pleas'd with what was undertaken, and willing to go along^ fo he was ordered to go in the Bonaventure^s Boat, and was very ferviceable, and who was better acquainted with that Bar, than I was. Immediately orders were given to fliave fome Deal-boards, and faw fomeTarr-barrels, and make rea- dy with all expedition; by Seven at Night, all things were in readinefs, the Friggots were riding Two Leagues from Shore, orders were given that the Boat in which I was, viz. the Gray-hound's^ fhould go a head, Commanded by Captain Macdonald^ who behaved himfelf indeed with great Courage and Rcfolution, and the reft had orders to follow us ,• there were Three Barges in all, and one Yawl, the number of Mea concerned in the adion, was Forty two, who all had ftrift charge upon pain of Death, not to feek after Plunder, which was punftually obferv'd. About Eight at Night we put ofT from the Ships, and betwixt Nine and Ten, we fell a little to the Northward of the Bar^ but by Mr. Baxter s a/Tiftance, we quickly righted our felves, and found the Bar-^ there was a great noife upon the Shore, ill thereabout had taken the Alarm, which did nothing dilcourage us, we proceeded luftily, without any concernment aL their hideous outcries, which when the Moors perceiv'd, and that we advanced with

un-.

undaunted Refolutions, they thought it bed to flie betimes and fecure themfelves and their Cattle j in the mean time wc purfu'd our defign towards the Ships, aboard which, there being a great many Lights, wc obferv'd the Moors looking over the fides of the firltwecame to, which was the bigger of the Two, they call'd to us, to keep off, we anfwered them with about Twenty Granado-fhells, which foon drove them overboard ; they had not far indeed to efcape, for the Caftle Wall was within a Boats length of the Ship, fo with- out any difficulty wc prefcntly entred ; one Moor we found aboard, who was preientiy cut in pieces, another was fhot in the herJ, endeavouring to efcape upon the Cable , we Were not long in taking in our Shavings and Tarr-barrels, and fo fct her on fire in leveral places, fhe being very apt to re- ceive what we dcfign'd, for there were fcveral Barrels of Tar upon the Deck, andflie was newly Tarr'd as if on pur- pdfe; whilft we were fetting her on fire, we heard a noifeof tome people in the Hold, we opened rheSkuttles, and thereby fav*d the lives of Four Chriftians, Three Dutch-men and One 'French^ who told us that the Ship on fire was Admiral and fcelong'd to Aly-Hackum^ and the other which we foon after fcrv'd with the fame fauce , had the Name of Plummage Ctrtihc, which was the very Ship, which in O^obcr laft 'ilook me Captive, I cannot deny that I was pofTcfTed with an extraordinary fatisfadion to fee this Ship on fire, and I could not bur admire the wonderful providence of God, to whom alone Vengeance belor^eth, in vindicating my caufe, and making mc an unwitting inflrament of revenge, for the injuries I received from the owners o^f this Vcflel.

Sudh was the fiercenefs of the Flames , that we were

forc'd to keep off from the Ships fides, whereby we be-

'tame cbnoxious to the fhot of the Moors , who from the

^ ^alls of the Cafllc made a great firing upon us, both of

fmall and great Guns, but with little 6x no Execution, for

our

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our Men, by the light of the great fire having them in per- fea view upon the Walls, made (mart returns upon them, firing inceflantly upon them, and with that eagernefs, that they quite neglefted their Oarcs, fo that if the Tide had not turr.M to Ebb, we fhould have run a great rifque, our Men were fo full of joy, hooping and hallowing at the fight of fo defirable a Bon-firc , tliat they never minded the dangers they might be fubjedt to ; we were therefore forced to tow the Bonaventures Yawl, who had loft all her Oares. In all this Aftion we had but one Man mortally wounded, and two or three more (lightly, hurt: after we had complcated our bufinefs, andabfolutely deftroyed thefe ShipSj we returned out of the River, over the Bar^ and puird aboard the Friggots, Captain Macron a U received us kindly, and gratified us with the entertainment of his Ship ytrv frankly, aboard which we ftaid ilntil we came to Ctfifjj. there we weqt afhore, defigning a paflage for Eng* land with the firft opportunity; Captain MacdonaU gave us Certificates of our fervice in the late Aftion, and then Mr. Baxter and I took leave of him ; we did not ftay long at Cales^ before we met with an opportunity for England aboard Captain ^riw, whoeame from Leghorn and was bound for London^ who very willingly granted us paflage with him, and gave us civit and welcome enter tuinm en t„ whoui <jcd reward and all other our Benefaftors, parti- cularly ^ tho' to fome Readers it may feems immaterial, yet when occafion offers, not to remember, to ail good Men will appear untliankfui , and I had rather be tax'd with im^ pertinence than ungratitude ) Mr. Hodges , who beflow- cd upon us Four pieces of Eight in our nercflity , God return his Charity into his own Bofome with bleifing and encreafe , and honell Captain Gutteridge , who fenc a Barrel of Beaf and a Hundr|^ weight of Bread , leaft we fliould lie too chargeable upon Captain Atkins in our

E paflage

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pt&ge home, who the Firfb flay of 7«/y i6%. fa Std from Cadiz , and arrived ip the Dmvgs the zbtk of thstt Month. -i

Thus have I given a ftiort and pbin account of my Captivity and Efcape, with the circum- ftances that attended it, and tho* poffibly my Stile may appear rough and unpohfti'd, which the courteous Reader I hope will a litdc ex- cu'fc, expeding no other from a blunt Seaman^ acquainted with nothiiig fo much as Dangers and Storms, yet I do profcfs I have Penn 'd this Narrative with all the iincerity and truth, that becomes a plairi-dealfng £%/fjf^-wtf«; My de- fign and aim in all ( iind = Cduntry-niaij and courteous Reader) is, to excite with mediy praifes to our God tlic only deliverer, who hath de- livered mc from a crudl and fevere Captivity, and wiriial to (lir up thy grateful fcfentments, for the happinefs, peace and freedom , that thou CQjoycft uiider.fo excellent and well tempered ^a GoVGmment> ,^but moft efpecially to move thy pirty f6r the irfffidiions of Jofeph, to excite thy coiripaffionate regard to thofe poor Count<y-nKn now Languilhing in mi- fery and Ircnrs, to a?deavour their releafmcnt a-cordinK to thy jliwcr,^ at kaft by impor- ° tun;ng

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tuning Heaven, that during their Captivity God would fupport them with his Grace , to bear paciendy their aiflli(5tions , and to refift all Temptations until in his good appointed time, he vouchfafe them a happy deliverance, Amen,

FINIS.

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