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
( is )
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
(2lf)
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
( 27 )
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.
.' -'rmtq
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