[Page] [Page] A MODEST VINDICATION OF TITUS OATES THE Salamanca-Doctor FROM PERJURY: OR AN ESSAY TO Demonstrate Him only Forsworn in several Instances.

BY ADAM ELLIOT, Master of Arts, and aPriest of the Church ofEngland.

Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. What reward shall be given, or done unto thee, thou false tongue, even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning Coals. Psal. 120.
Hic putat esse Deos & pejerat: aspice quanta
Voce neget, quae sit ficti constantia vultus;
Tam facile & pronum est superos contemnere testes:
Aut nullo credit mundum rectore moveri,
At que ideo intrepidus quaecunque Altaria tangit.
Juv. Sat. 13.

LONDON, Printed for the Author, and are to be sold byJoseph Hindmarsh at theBlack-Bull inCornhill. 1682.

THE INTRODUCTION.

THE most Notorious Salamanca-Doctor, Titus Oates, after having signaliz'd his prodigious Parts, by the Destruction of several eminent Persons, and hazarding the lives of God knows how many more; after having miraculously sav'd his Majesties Person from Poyson, screw'd Gu [...] and Consecrated Dagger, and freed three Nations from imminent ruine; after having defeated the designs of Rome, and the plots of the greatest Politicians in the world, though they had been hatching these 100 years past; and all this by meer Buke­blawing, and to the astonishment of the whole Christian world, by the breath of his mouth; was at last put upon it, to try an experi­riment or two to fix Property, which by Wise heads (that is by Needy or Covetous persons, who wanted Bishops or Crown-Lands) was thought to be in equal danger with our Religion. For if, for ex­ample, he could swear a friend to the cause into the right of forty or fifty thousand Pounds, (which the Law it seems was so scrupu­lous in, as not to understand;) then true Protestants might have a compendious and infallible way to secure their Property against the encroachments of whatsoever Arbitrary, that is, Legal power. In or­der to effect this wonderful project, he was pleased unhappily both for himself and me, (at the instigation of what Lord or Devil the Lord knows,) to bestow a cast of his office, on a friend who shall be nameless, and to stoop an oath or two at his service, against so mean a person as my self: not only engaging his Verbum Sacerdotis in se­veral Companies, yea▪ even where men ought to be very furious, before the King; but also Swearing, invocating the sacred Majesty of God, who will one day call him to account for it, to witness to the truth, when he asserted, that I was a Mahumetin, and had been thereupon Circumoised; and that also I was a Popish Priest, having received Orders from the See of Rome: by the former charge making me unworthy of credit or reputation, uncapable of the advantages of converse amongst Christians; and by the later, the milder indeed of the two, aiming only at my life, which as being a Popish Priest▪ is forfeited to the Law. I must indeed confess of all kinds of Deaths I have the least fondness to be hanged, and I hate mortally that the butcherly Executioner should be rummaging amongst my Entrailes▪ neither can I apprehend any pleasure in being drawn up Halborn hill upon a Hurdle: therefore it was, that I had no mind to appear either [Page] a Renegado, or a Popish Priest; and I thought my self oblig'd both by the Laws of God and Man to preserve my life as long as I could, and to vindicate my reputation from infamy, and assert my just and honest title to the comforts of humane society: and that I have no ways deserved to be proscrib'd the Communication of Chri­stians.

To this purpose I made my application to the Law for satisfaction, and had the Doctor arrested in an Action of the Case for Defamation. The Cause was tryed before the Right Honourable Sir Francis North, L. C. J. of his Majesties Court of Common Pleas, June the 30th last past; where the issue went upon my side, and the Jury brought the Doctor in guilty, allowing me 20 l. Damages: which small summ, though by many it was lookt upon as very inconsiderable and dis­proportionate to the dammages wherewith the Doctor had affected both my Reputation and my Purse; yet by another party, it was lookt upon with a sore eye, to see their Goliah (who had for some time past, hector'd and swore for the cause) foil'd, if not knock'd down by so mean a person as my self. They admired my insolence in of­fering to defend my life, when the Doctor was pleased to swear it from me; they inveighed against me, as a narrow selfish soul, far from a publick spirit, who would not rather be hang'd, than the Doctor's ve­racity should be liable to any suspicion; a man who had laid himself out, and ventur'd all for the good of the Nation; yea, who is the Sa­viour of the Nation, said prudent Sh. Pilk. Notwithstanding all which, I cannot but be of this faith, that it is more convenient for me, that the Doctor should swing than I; as for his all that he has ven­tur'd, I never heard of any thing he had to venture, unless his all, i. e. his Soul; which to my knowledge is deeply engag'd. And as for his being stil'd the Saviour of the Nation, it is Scandalum Magna­tum in the highest degree; the Title is most arrogant, and intimates a Blasphemous relation to the Saviour of the world; a most odious Comparison 'twixt the Merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and those of Titus Oates; for which there cannot be the least reason or foun­dation of Analogy; unless that as it was judg'd necessary (notwith­standing Oates preach'd to the contrary) that our Saviour should be crucified, that the world might be sav'd; so it should be thought con­venient, that Oates might be hang'd, that so our Nation perish not. Then indeed he might sustain some Relation, even the same that the Blasphemous Thief had to our Saviour when he was on the Cross, and in some sense he might be call'd the Saviour of our Nation; but otherwise the Title is intolerable, and he must first be hang'd before by any propriety of speech, it can agree to him.

There are a Party of men I say, who finding what an intractable, morose, uncomplaisant humour I am of, and that by refusing to be accounted a Popish Priest or a Circumcis'd Mahumetan; the Doctor has fallen under a shrewd suspition of Perjury, and may in time put in his claim to the Pillory, though with the forfeit of his Ears. Therefore it is, that they have us'd all base unworthy arts to blacken my reputation; and seeing it was manifestly prov'd in Court, that the Doctor had frequently uttered those scandalous words, which tended [Page] to my Defamation, they give out now, that I was the first Author of them my self; and what the Doctor said or swore concerning me, was only what he heard me say of my self; thus endeavouring to af­fix as notorious a mark of Folly to my name, as before he would of Villany. Therefore to answer the importunity of my friends, and to disabuse any, who may be deluded by the malicious calumnies of my nettled Adversaries, I have adventured to put Pen to Paper, to give a full and clear account of the proceedings 'twixt the Dr. and my self; which will consist in these following particulars.

I shall first give a short Narrative of my Travails, Captivity and Escape from Slavery in Barbary; which though it may seem forreign and impertinent to my design, yet, because it is the subject of the Doctor's Oaths, I cannot clearly without it, represent the quality of them; and besides, being a recital of some rare accidents, and almost miraculous instances of the providence of God in my deliverance from a Moorish Captivity, I presume it will make some compensation for the impertinence which it seemingly carries to the design of these Sheets.

In the next place, I shall faithfully set down, what the Doctor hath depos'd against me upon Oath, under his own hand, at Doctors Commons, and what was prov'd in Court at our Tryal by unexcep­tionable Witnesses, that he had said several times against me, to the same purpose with what he swore before.

And in the third place, I shall give an account of what was sworn in his behalf to mitigate Dammages: Upon all which, I shall only make such Anirnad versions as are pertinent and proper, and draw such Inferences as the matter will rationally allow. And then I re­fer my self to the whole Nation as Judges, whether or no the Doctor has not only falsly and maliciously defam'd me, but likewise sworn that to be true, which in it self is false, and to his own know­ledge also.

Yet notwithstanding all this, I cannot see how it will follow that the Doctor is guilty of Perjury; for though in the Court of Heaven, and before God, Perjury and false swearing be synonymous, yet none are esteemed guilty of Perjury, by the Laws of this Land, but who have been convicted of swearing falsly in a Court of Record. But the Court of Delegates, where Oates's Depositions against me were exhibited, being no such Court; therefore according to the Law-Phrase, what ever I think in my conscience (and I am sure he is Por­sworn) yet I cannot say that the Doctor is Perjur'd, and consequently that the Pillory has never been adequate to the Doctor's high merits. A Wooden Ruff does not well become the Saviour of the Nation, with modesty be it spoke as I said before, I think a Halter would much better befit him; and really before I should see the Salamanca Doctor treated as they say poor N. T. was, I had much rather see him hang'd.

This modest Vindication of the Doctor, my grateful sense of his mer­ciful kind temper to me has commanded from me; for if the Doctor had pleased to have thought of me when he and Dr. Tongue were think­ing together, he might easily have bestowed a small Commission upon [Page] his old Acquaintance; some little Cross-bearers place amongst the Spa­nish Pilgrims, or else if he had only made me a Courier 'twixt tall fair Don John and the four Ruffians; any such like employment, (and the Doctor has bestow'd abundance, and has much more in store) would have consigned me to Jack Ketches disposal long ago; for it is very hard to prove a Negative. But now that he has only made me a Musselman, cujus character est indelebilis, he has given me a fair oppor­tunity of proving him a forsworn Liar; for which singular kindness I cannot sufficiently profess my obligations: And this is one reason why I have undertook this modest Vindication. Which labour of mine, though it may seem to carry an oblique design only of gra­tifying my fond humour to the Doctor, yet to considering persons also I presume I shall be thought to have hereby contributed my Mite to the publick, in exposing the wickedness of a Wretch whose talent lies only in Swearing: for though I have undertook his Vindi­cation, yet I intend it shall be with all Modesty, and such as shall not interfere with the Truth.

The Doctor has employ'd his Swearing faculty only to my particular detriment, the meanest of the Church of England; he has forsworn himself to prejudice me; but yet every member thereof is concern'd, since this publick Enemy has given broad signs of his inclinations to them all, as namely, when he said there were not above three Prote­stant Bishops in the Church of England, and that all the Clergy were tantivying to Rome: as also in his Sermon at Woodstock, he delivered for true doctrine that the Presbyterians were the only supporters of the Protestant interest; and there is no question, but that when there shall come a House of Commons to pay him the 40000 l. promised (as he says) by the last House who sat at Westminster, he has 40000 Oaths at their service. But now, by exposing him as Forsworn, the edge of his Swearing will for the future be rebated; for if it be the dictate of prudence, never to trust those who have but once been found to impose upon us, then certainly it is unaccountable folly and madness, to accept the testimony of one who has manifestly Forsworn himself, and in a manner proclaimed to all the world, that he has no dread of that God, who will revenge himself upon those who take his name in vain. For my own part, though forty Plots were laid against me, I had rather venture them all, than rely upon a Salamanca Doctor's Oath: and if any thing staggers my faith in the belief of the 40000 Black bills, and other remarkable passages in the Popish Plot, next to the contradictions which occur; it is because a Villain of so plainly debaucht and profligate a conscience has con­cern'd himself in the discovery. Which I have endeavoured to make appear manifestly to others, as well as my self, from the following Sheets.

A NARRATIVE OF My TRAVAILS, CAPTIVITY and ESCAPE FROM SALLE, In the Kingdom of FEZ.

IN the year 1664, I was admitted into Cajus Colledge in the University of Cambridge, where I continued until 1668; when Com­mencing Batchelour of Arts, I obtain'd Letters testimonial from our Colledge, and then left the University. During my stay there, I remember Titus Oates was entered into our Colledge; by the same token that the Plague and he both visited the Univer­sity in the same year. He was very re­markable for a Canting Fanatical way conveyed to him with his Anabaptistical Education, and in our Academical exercises, when o­thers declaim'd Oates always preach'd; some of which Lectures, [Page 2] they were so very strange, that I do yet remember them. I more­over remember, that he staid not above a year in our Colledge, but removed to S. Johns; what the occasion was, I cannot call to mind: and then he was so inconsiderable both as to his person and parts, that I appeal to all who knew me, whether Elliot and Oates could be such intimate acquaintance as Oates would make the world be­lieve.

After I had commenced Batchelour▪ in 1668, I left the University; in the beginning of 1669 I had the opportunity of travelling with some Gentlemen of my acquaintance, with whom, after a transient view of Flanders and other of the Spanish Provinces, which had been the seat of war for some years preceding, I had the opportunity to see St. Omers also, where Oates was once a School-boy, and no Jesuit. I remember during my stay there, which was three days, S. Igna­tius or Xaverius or some other Jesuit▪ Saints day happened, and I with the Gentlemen with me, were civilly invited to Dinner to the English Colledge; where, to give the Devil his due, we met with nothing but Learning and Civility to their Country-men and Strangers. From St. Omers we directed our Course into France, directly for Paris; whence, after I had gratified my juvenile curiosity with the rarities and remarkable places there, and several others in France, about the lat­ter end of 1669, I was carried into Italy, and about November we came to Rome; where I saw that Great Beast of a Whore, as Oates call'd him, a Reverend old Gentleman Rospigliosi who then was Pope. He happened to die a little after my coming thither, which was the oc­casion of my fortune to stay there, sede vacante, during the Election of another Pope. I never saw the Scotch Colledge during my stay there, nor any Scotch Father, nor any that belonged to the Colledge that I know of: I was frequently indeed in the Roman Colledge, and I had the happiness of hearing Padre Gotinio, the then Mathematick Professor, discourse very satisfactorily upon several curious subjects.

I staid in Rome no longer than the Election of Altieri Rospigliosi Suc­cessor to the former, which was in March 1670: after which an occasion happening of parting with my Company, I parted also from Rome; and intending home again for England, I came to Leghorn, where finding an opportunity of the Bristol one of his Majesties Friggots, I had a convenient passage to Alicant in Spain, and from thence to Malaga, where I embark'd aboard Sir John Herman, then Rere-Admiral un­der Sir Thomas Allen in the Streights, who gave me passage to Cales. About the beginning of May, I had a curiosity to see Sevil; from whence having the convenience of some Company, I took my course directly for Lisbon in Portugal; there was then residing Dr. Cradock Minister to the English Merchants there, whom I had seen at Cam­bridge; to whose civility, and some English Gentlemens, particularly Mr. Bulteel's, I was exceedingly oblig'd.

There was at that time no Vessel design'd for England in the Ri­ver of Lisbon, excepting a little Ketch call'd the John of London, la­den with Oranges and Lemons, and I was very desirous to return home, so that I was obliged to take my passage in that small Ves­sel; some who seconded my desires, alledging that I should be more [Page 3] secure in her than in a bigger, because she by reason of her small­ness would keep near the Coast and so out of danger of the Turks; and besides Sir Edward Sprag was said then to lye upon the Portugal Coast with a Squadron of English Frigots, so that these Seas would be scour'd clear of the Barbary-Rovers. Upon which Arguments, I was induc'd to embark aboard that little Vessel, where I lost my Freedome.

It was about the middle of June 1670, we parted from Lisbon▪ River, design'd for London; about three days after, we met Sir Ed­ward Sprag with his Squadron, who encourag'd us with the News that no Pirats were in those Seas, he having lain there about a month. Upon which we struck out to Sea, the wind being Northerly and cross to us all the while; so that by the 22d of June we had got no farther than Cape Finisterre: on which day, whilst the Master and I were at breakfast, a Boy who sat at the Helm, cry'd out, a Sail, which was the only one we had descry'd (excepting Sir Edward Spragg) since we left Lisbon: by our Glasses we perceived she had a mind to speak with us, for she had got out all her Sails, and bore down upon us directly before the wind, which methought was no sign of a Merchant man; therefore I desired the Master to bear to­wards the Shoar, who refused to be perswaded, alledging, that this was the usual passage for Hollanders, French and English, and that it was most probable, that this Ship which was in view, must be a friend, for that year we were at peace with all Europeans. About ten a-clock up comes the Ship with French colours, assoon as she came near us, so that we could not escape, she pull'd down her French and put up her Salle-Colours, and withall gave us a Gun, which oblig'd us to strike. Immediately appear'd upon the Pirats Deck about 200 Moors, who commanded us to put out our Boat and come aboard them, which we all (excepting one) presently obey'd. For our welcome, and to shew us what entertainment we were after to expect, the Ma­ster of the Vessel and my self were strip'd and ty'd to the Mast in or­der to be whip'd, that so they might extort a confession where the Money lay hid if we had any; we satisfied them as well we could, that they were Masters of all that we knew of in our Vessel: and so we were released from the Mast, and put in Irons below deck with our Fellow-Prisoners. There it was that I began to reflect upon my condition, for before (the change was so sudden and the strange un­couth accidents so surprizing) I had scarce leasure to consider: it is hard to express my resentments then; all my fellow-prisoners were lamenting with pitiful crys and tears their miserable estate, which only afforded matter of triumph and insolence to our cruel and mer­ciless Masters; who when they heard us complain of our condition, would visit us with some blows, insulting most intolerably over us, lift­ing up our dejected heads and spitting upon our Faces, not vouch­safing us any other Name than Dogs. I must confess this inhumane usage was very hard to digest at first, but a little time, and the dis­cipline of our skilful Tutors easily reconcil'd us to it; for we found that murmuring did but enhance our affliction, and enrage our crosses. Our Vessel was within two or three hours after she was taken, sent [Page 4] to Salle, with twenty Moors aboard her, who carried with them all our Provision of Beef and Bisket, leaving a little Pork only which we soon devoured: after which, we had nothing left to maintain us in life, save a small quantity of dry'd Olives and Bisket, which eve­day was allow'd us: this sort of Dieting did indeed bring down our high Stomachs, and made us very tractable.

We lay in this miserable condition about forty days, oppressed as with many inconveniences, so especially I remember with the stench and nastiness of our lodging: sometimes in the day we were permit­ted to come above deck, to suck in a little fresh air, and to wash our selves, but this small comfort was soon forgot by returning to our irons. There was scarce a day almost, according to my remembrance, in which we did not either give chase or else were chased; for the Salle-man was a good Sailor, and whenever she saw a Sail, she im­mediately made after her, if she found her too strong to grapple with, then she tackt and stood away. At length about a month after I was taken, one morning when there was little wind stirring, we were call'd up upon the Deck, I thought it had been to refresh our selves, but we found it was with labour and toil, for there be­ing a great calm all that day, we were oblig'd to tug hard at the Oar till ten at night; at which time we came up with a French Merchant laden with Oyl, whom we had been in pursuit of all that day; as soon as we came near her, we poor Christians were re­manded to our kennel, and moreover had a Sentinel set over us to ob­serve us. A little after three and twenty French-men had the unhap­piness to make us a visit, and take up their Lodgings in the same quarters. It was but a miserable comfort methought to have such companions in misery, and truly the sight of so many dejected souls, particularly a Merchant (who lost 2500 Crowns of Cash besides his concerns in the Cargo) affected me then with a more sensible grief than my own sufferings; he was a man of too tender a consti­tution to endure the same miseries with the rest; we were all lodg'd equally, and had the same sort of accommodation, that French Gen­tleman and the meanest of the Seamen were treated alike: which subjected him to such a grief that was too powerful for him, so that at length it broke his heart, for he died the next day after we landed.

Our Barbarous Masters were well pleased with this rich Prize, and resolved to go home with her for Salle, so they directed their course thither. We fortuned one day to meet with hard weather which in­creased to a storm that night. The Moors we perceived were in great trouble and amazement, so that a conceit entred my head, that if we should all of us with resolution fall upon the Moors who had the management of the Ship above Deck, we might easily make her change Masters, a project which if it had been prosecuted, did not seem impracticable, for there were not above thirty Moors who understood any thing of Navigation or a Sea-man; these were above deck, and employ'd; the rest of the Moors were surpriz'd with so great a consternation that the Captain commanded them all to go below deck; so that if we had resolutely attacqu'd the Captain with his few Companions, and clapt down the Hatches upon the [Page 5] rest, we might have succeeded; but this poor-spirited-French man and two more, apprehending the Difficulties of the enterprize as insupe­rable, declared their resolution to discover all, if we proceeded; notwith­standing the rest of us seemed unanimous, as thinking that we should never find a better occasion to venture our Lives to regain our Liberty.

A few days after by break of day, we found our selves near two great Ships who put out Dutch Colours; this put the Moors into a great fright lest they should fall into their hands, wherefore they made all the sail they could, and labour'd hard to get clear of them, but to little purpose, for the other two Ships gain'd mani­festly upon the Salle-man though it prov'd not to our comfort; for when they came up to her, and every minute she expected to be boarded, all of a sudden we Christians (who were then ly­ing below in irons heartily praying for our Deliverance) heard a shout of joy above deck; for the Ships who were in chase of us discovered themselves to be Algerines, the Admiral call'd the Springing Tyger, as I think, and another. Then there was great re­joycing amongst them, coming aboard each other freely, and mutual treats past, and we Christians also were permitted to go and visit our fellow Slaves and Countrey-men; who acquainted us with the News that some English Frigots were lying then before Salle, which gave us some hopes if true, and made the Moors very wary. That evening we parted from the Algerines, and bore directly for Salle. At length we came in sight of the Castle, but could discern no Ships be­fore it, we therefore made directly for the River, when presently there starts up a Vessel that made all the Sail she could at us, and ob­lig'd us to tack about and strike down along the Barbary-Coast; she put us so hard to it, that we were forc't to forsake the French Prize, and leave her to be pick'd up by our Pursuer, which was an English Ship call'd the Holmes-Frigot of two and twenty Guns, whom after­wards I saw at my return at Cales. Whilst she was employed in ta­king the Prize, the Salle-man in the Interim made away, and night ap­proaching, in the dark made her escape.

The next morning, all we Christians were commanded a-shoar, because the Moors had run themselves into a Creek some twenty Leagues South off Salle, where they lay conceal'd from the sight of the Frigot, though we had her plainly in view all the next day, with the French prize at her Stern, with languishing eyes and sad hearts, seeing our Deliverance, but not being able to approach it. There they landed us poor▪ Christians in number two and thirty, English and French, who were to travel to Salle under the guard of a couple of Moors only, whom we might easily have rid our selves from, if we had judg'd it safe or convenient: but Salle was the only place whi­ther we could retreat unto, and these were our Guides thither through as desolate and forlorn a countrey, as barren and dry a land, as ever my eyes beheld. We were above two days in travelling these twen­ty Leagues, where we had not the prospect of any Town, Village or House all the way, nor could we see any footsteps of Husbandry or Civility; the best water we met with, was very brackish; our pro­vision, which our Masters allow'd us, when we parted from the Ship, [Page 6] was all devour'd the first day. Our condition indeed, during that journey was the most deplorable that ever I was in; for our short Commons and hard Lodging aboard the Ship, had much weaken'd our bodies, we were very hungry and had no meat, exceeding thirsty and for a whole day no water, the Sun was very hot and no shelter, the Heavens lookt like Brass and the Earth like iron, all which cir­cumstances will easily convince any that we must of necessity long to get clear of that cursed Countrey, which threatned us with inevita­ble destruction, and there was no other place of refuge but Salle; so that our condition of life must appear very pitiful, seeing we long'd for the place of our Captivity, and panted after our Afflictions. When night approacht, our Guides made us take up our Lodging where there were a few Shrubs, which we set on fire to secure us from the Lions, and other Beasts of Prey, as Wild-Boars, &c. of which we saw several in our way.

At length upon the third day we came within sight of Salle, about half a league from which, we met with a garden full of delicate fruits, which if the Moors had not freely bestowed upon us, we had made bold to have took without leave, such was our necessity: there we were permitted to refresh our selves for two hours, before we made our publick entry into the City, which was indeed extraordinary; for we were accompanied by several hundreds of idle rascally people and roguish Boys, who came out of the Town to meet us and well­comed us with horrid barbarous Shouts somewhat like the Irish hub­bub. We in the mean time were forct like a drove of Sheep, through the several streets, the people crouding to gaze upon us and curse us, for that Civility is a piece of Religion with them. With this so­lemnity were we conducted through the Town unto the River, which we were to cross to another Salle standing in the North-side; there were we all shut up in the Deputy-Governours Court-Yard, where like a pack of tired Hounds, we fell all fast asleep upon the Ground.

At evening we were conveyed to our Lodgings, where we were to repose our selves that night, a place proportionable to the rest of the entertainment; it was a large Cellar under the Street archt and supported with two rows of Pillars; the light it was furnished with, came through three holes in the Street strongly grated; through one of which, by a Ladder of Ropes we descended into this Room, called the Kings Masmora, capacious enough to hold 300 persons, (for very near that number of Christians of several Nations were shut up there at nights) besides a whole Leystall of filth, in which, (whosoever's lot it is to be there) he must wade up to the ancles. There I watcht all night, for sleep I could not; and though the next day I was to be sold publickly in a Market, yet the peeping in of the light was joy­ful, because I was to leave that intolerably noisom Prison.

By Sun-rising next morning we were all of us, who came last to Salle driven to a Market-place, where the Moors sitting Taylor-wise upon Stalls round about, we were severally run up and down by per­sons, who proclaimed our Qualities or Trades; and what best might recommend us to the Buyer. I had a great Black who was appointed [Page 7] to sell me; this Fellow holding me by the hand, coursed me up and down, from one person to another, who call'd upon me at pleasure to examine me what trade I was of, and to see what labour my hands were accustomed to. All the Seamen were soon bought up, it was mid-day ere I could meet with a purchaser; the reason was, a boy of the Vessel wherein I was taken, in hopes of favourable treatment from the Captain who took us, pretended to discover my quality to him, assuring him that I was a Relation of the now Duke of Nor­folk, who was then Ambassadour from his Majesty at Taffiletta, and was come [...] Tangier. Upon this information, the Captain put a great value upon me, and that was the reason why none would med­dle with me; until about noon Hamed Lucas (who is Secretary of this present Embassy from the Emperor of Fez to his Majesty) a­greed with the Captain, and paid down 600 pieces of Eight for me.

I was pretty well pleas'd with my fortune to fall into the hands of such a person, who besides that he was of a great repute there, seem'd to carry in his deportment an air and meen that was extra­ordinary; and therefore I hop'd for some more favourable treatment from him than from another: but other Christians who had heard of this Patron of mine, pityed my ignorance, as knowing that he was a cunning Jewish Merchant, and that he bought me with a design to extort from me a great Ransome, though by the harshest and cruellest usage imaginable; which I found to be too true a character of him him before night: for after he was come to his own house, whither he commanded me to follow him, he presently makes me ac̄quainted with a piece of his mind and temper; telling me, that he had paid a considerable sum of Money for me, which he did upon the pros­pect of a Ransome for my Liberty, proportionable to his expectation and my quality, which he was well assured was such, that it would answer whatsoever hopes he entertain'd; and he would have me know that I had to do with a man with a Beard, and who was too cunning to be impos'd upon, and therefore advis'd me to forego that piece of policy which the Christians frequently make use of in concealing their qualities, and disguising their conditions; since it would be in vain to prevaricate before him, who was very well in­formed of my state, and as well acquainted with my fortunes in Eng­land as I my self; and wish'd me rather to propose such a Ransome as was suitable to his expectations, from so considerable a Captive, for payment of which he would allow me sufficient time: and if I gave any demonstrations of sincerity in dealing with him, I should be ex­empted from all slavish employments; but if I refus'd a complyance with these his Proposals, I should experience the greatest severity that any Slave in Barbary could from his Patron.

Seeing he profess'd himself a man with a Beard, and one that ha­ted to be impos'd upon, I endeavour'd all I could to disabuse him, and possess him with a clear notion of the naked truth, professing with all sincerity, that I was so sensible of the miseries of Captivity, that if a Kingdom were at my disposal, I would frankly quit all pre­tensions to it, in exchange for the happiness of the Freedom and Li­berty [Page 8] I enjoy'd in my own Countrey: but that such has been the pleasure of God to me in the dispensing the goods of this world, that he has allow'd me no more than what he saw me then possessour of; so that I found my self under so much worse circumstances than o­ther Christian Captives by how much I sustain'd greater expecta­tions, and was least able to answer them; but that which was the greatest aggravation of my misfortune was, that I should very much contribute to the calling in question his prudence and judgment, be­cause all the Town will admire when they shall see the event, that the wise Hamet-Lucas was impos'd upon in giving 600 pieces of Eight for a poor Slave, who was not worth a Maravidi.

At which last words, he was so transported with passion, that he showr'd down a whole torrent of Blows upon me, and lighting un­luckily upon a stick, he broke my head in several places, and never ceast till he had made me all in a gore-blood; I was not able to stir, and the cruel Villain permitted me to lye a little while: afterwards he comes again afresh, and drags me out of his House into the Streets, and then falls upon me a-new, beating me all along the Streets, to the great grief of my Fellow-Captives, who were of the same mind with my self, that I should hardly out-live that night. He brought me at length to a Black-Moor who was working in Lime, command­ing me with all cruel imperious insolence imaginable, to serve that Black, by giving him up Lime with my hands, which I did, till such time as my Patron departed; and then I signified to the Black that I was very sick, and by signs prayed him to let me leave off that work which had almost chok'd me; which by his pitiful gesture I perceive he allow'd. So I lay down upon the ground and fell asleep; my Patron presently return'd, and took such a course to awake me, that he had very near laid me asleep for ever; for he gave me a blow in the small of my back, which created such a pungent pain, as quite cashier'd all patience and all respects of self-preservation; so that I vented my passion in the most rash inconsiderate expressions, the most provoking, opprobrious and menacing terms, that my anger and my little Spanish could accommodate me with, daring him to dispatch me, for my life then seem'd a grievous burthen to me.

The Covetous Moor fearing lest I should make my words good, and by putting hand to my self, rob him not only of his hopes, but also of his 600 Dollars, departs from me with a threatning gesture, which I shew'd very little sence of; for I immediately compos'd my self to sleep again, being so weary that I could have rested contentedly upon Briars and Thorns. Some-while after the Cruel Dog return'd, and awakening me gently, smil'd upon me, asking me if I would drink Water; I answered I was like to die for want of it, having drunk none that day: so he directed me to a house near by, where a wo­man was, who gave me some in an Earthen Pot, which after I had drank off, she broke the Pitcher. I return'd to my Patron, who made me follow him home, and after a plentiful supper which he al­low'd me, he gave me a Hammock, and ordered one to shew me the way to the Masmora, where I remain'd all night.

[Page 9] The next day he had provided a Jew (who had been in Europe and spoke good Latin) to treat with me, as if my defect in the Castilian language wherein he was exquisite, had occasioned the unsuccessfulness of his Negotiating with me. This Jew I found to be a good understand­ing man, who was quickly made sensible of the truth of my con­dition, and withall a man endu'd with more humanity than generally the people of that Religion are, which he evidenc'd by his good ad­vice to me to this purpose; telling me, That my Patron was a man of violent passions, and that, though he himself was pretty well satis­fied of my utter inability to answer what my Patron demanded, yet if my Patron should be so perswaded, and find himself bilkt in all his great expectations, he would certainly convert his hopes into an extravagant rage, and then put me to some cruel death; there­fore he advis'd me, as not to sooth his vain hopes, so neither quite to banish all: As thus, says he, you shall give me leave in your name to acquaint your Patron, that you have Relations and Friends who are powerful and rich, though you are miserable; and you have rea­son to believe, that rather than you should spend all your days un­der the pressures of a heavy and cruel Captivity, they would make a purse of 1000 Crowns to ransome you. This Proposal, says he, though it may not satisfy his expectation, yet it will banish all despair, and so you may live till God who has been pleased to afflict you by bringing you hither, may be pleased in due time to redeem you hence.

This advice of this charitable Jew, I so far comply'd with, that I not only gave him liberty to free my Patron from the despair of any Ransom at all, but I resolv'd to improve it, by promoting his hopes to the highest degree imaginable. To this purpose, finding after that the Jew had acquainted him with the issue of his discourse with me, and of my coming up to 1000 Crowns, yet notwith­standing his rigor did not abate, but every day he put me to harsher and severer tasks; I one day let fall some discourse which encourag'd the conceit he had entertain'd of my relation to his Excellency the then Lord Henry Howard. This indeed by all my Fellow-Slaves was lookt upon as a strange piece of policy in that place to blab out my great Relations, where all other Christians by all art and care imagi­nable study to represent their condition mean, and to conceal their Relations and Fortunes so much the more as they are considerable; and therefore one of them told me, that he never expected to see me one of the Privy Council; I answered him, that neither did I, so long as I was a Captive there: he said, he wisht me in my own Country in a place there call'd Bedlam which was fittest for me, and he believ'd my Cousin (for so his Slave-ship was pleas'd to stile him) the Lord Howard would be of the same opinion; I answered him, that I did not question to be delivered from this insupportable Bondage by my Cousin's means; which afterwards came to pass after this manner.

The Christians usually about Sun-setting were sent to a fountain of excellent water without the Town, to bring home in great earthen Jarrs some of that water; I also was sent by my Patron: Amongst [Page 10] other discourse which the Christians use to have there, I listen'd to a Seaman discoursing of Mamora a Spanish Garison, some twenty miles distant from Salle, at the mouth of a River, and that he sail­ing along the coast, had observ'd it very rocky for about eight miles, but the rest was a fine Sand that reacht as far as Mamora; he said moreover that he believ'd a good footman might run a race for his Freedom in three hours, if he had the convenience of a favourable night, and could scape a number of Tents which were pitcht all a­long the Countrey 'twixt Salle and Mamora, who are very indu­strious to pick up Slaves attempting an escape, because the Law of that Land incourages them with half the Slaves ransome.

Upon this Discourse it entred strongly into my head, that I should be the person who should win this prize; but at present it was im­possible by reason of my lodging in the Masmora, as also by reason of my lassitude at night, being quite spent with the toil and labour of the day; but if I could induce my Patron by any arts to be a little kind to me and abate his severity, I thought I might fall into some capacity of performing what I design'd. Seeing then that the hard usage beyond other Slaves which I endur'd proceeded, from my ob­stinacy (as my Patron said) of not confessing my self to be a Conde, and particularly a near Relation of my Lord Howards, (as my Patron was inform'd) and whose alliance he more coveted than any others in behalf of his Slave; I resolv'd to try my fortune a little under the mask of a person of great Quality; and this was the reason, why I was pleas'd at that time to own an alliance to the great Family of Norfolk, which sham though, occasion'd my Deliverance; so that I found it by experience true, what is vulgarly said, that it is good to be re­lated to a great estate or family, though at never so great a distance; for I am sure all the relation that I knew I had to the Duke of Norfolk then, was, that he was at Tangier when I was at Salle, and so near were we then related indeed, and no more. However I wrote a Letter to his Excellency, which my Patron had translated into Spa­nish, and such satisfaction did he receive from it, that he allow'd me a month in expectation of an answer; during which time I should be treated with all mildness and civility, only I was to look after his Barb and his House when he was abroad; which employments I e­steem'd a happiness hardly to be expected in that Countrey. My Letter was delivered by my Patron to an Irish-man by name Long, newly ransom'd, who intended for Cales with the first opportunity; him did my Patron oblige by promise, to deliver my Letter to his Excellency with all expedition.

The news of my Quality presently spread abroad, so that I had several visits, and particularly from a French Fryer, a very ingenious Learned man, who acquainted me that the next Sunday was S. Bar­tholomew's day, and that he intended then (having procured permis­sion from his Patron) to preach at the French Consul's house, and so invited me to be his Auditor. I told him I should be proud of the happiness, if my Patron would give leave; he engaged to use his endeavours with his Patron to procure a Licence from mine, which was obtain'd: So to the French Consul's I went, where after having [Page 11] heard a seasonable Discourse to Slaves about patience under our affli­ctions made by the Fryar, the French Consul gave me a Glass of Wine or two, after which I returned home. My Patron seem'd concern'd at my long absence, to whom I reply'd that the French Consul had treated me with Wine which was extraordinary good, and which if he understood the vertue of, he would renounce Mahumetism to drink of it: He counterfeited a displeasure at my Railery, but I per­ceived he was really well satisfied, as who had no antipathy in his tem­per to the juyce of the Grape; which I had seen him before some­times drink with a great greediness.

About the dusk of the Evening, he and the Jew I formerly mentioned, being together at our house, ordered me to go to the French Consuls, and desire him to send to my Patron a quantity of Wine, which I did; but first I begg'd of my Patron that I might have share of it, he told me he intended I should; then says I to the Jew, I must request another favour of you, that you would inter­cede with my Patron that I may not go to the Masmora this night, for the miseries of that place will damp all the pleasures and satisfaction of the day preceding. My Patron was so complaisant, that he con­descended to both our desires. Away then went I to the French Con­sul immediately, to whom having imparted my Message, he ordered some servants to carry a considerable parcel of Flasks of Red wine, (Syracusa I think they term'd it,) to my Patron's house. The Gentleman in the mean while arresting me civilly to drink a glass with him before I went to the Masmora as was expected, which I did; withall ac­quainting him, that I design'd also to have a share of the wine sent to my Patron, but my principal aim was, that the should have his dose, and thereby I should escape that night; I told him how my Patron had accommodated me with a sufficient opportunity, by ex­cusing my going to the Masmora that night, which if I neglected, I deserv'd to be hang'd next morning. The courteous Gentleman seem'd amaz'd at my resolutions upon such a desperate attempt, and en­deavour'd to dissuade me from an enterprise which carried with it insuperable difficulties, and which to his knowledge some had attempt­ed in vain; and had only purchas'd to themselves thereby heavy stripes and multiplied their miseries, whereas never any one in my circumstances had accomplisht it; however seeing me obstinately fixt either to escape or dye that night, he gave me his friendly advice how to manage both my self and my Patron in drinking; and so tel­ling me that he would pray heartily for my success, and that he would not commit himself to sleep, till he heard of the issue, with all hu­mility and thankfulness I kiss'd his hands, and departed to my Pa­trons house.

At my return, I found him and the Jew and four other Moors set at Supper, which was brought them by some Slaves according to their appointment, so that this seem'd a design'd club; which con­sideration created in me sundry anxious surmises, left there be­ing so many in company, my designs might happen to the [...]r [...]se'd by some one or other of them; and thence it was, that all the while they were at Supper, I was very thoughtful and engag'd in [Page 12] deep intense meditation, how to obviate all emergent difficulties, which this unexpected Company might lay in my way; yea so pensive was I, that I could not advert their commands, which occasion'd my Pa­tron to enquire the reason of my extraordinary Melancholy, seeing my fair hopes of a sudden Redemption, and his kind and civil usage to me, together with the chearful and jovial temper of his Friends, who came to be merry with him, seem'd to administer matter of quite different resentments: At this I rows'd my self out of my think­ing posture with some kind of confusion, and humbly beg'd his par­don for my unsuitable humour, which I told him, proceeded from the consideration of my Cousin the English Ambassadours resentment of my weakness, in discovering my self so soon; and though I question'd not the speedy payment of my Ransome and my Discharge, yet I could not, but with exceeding trouble, reflect upon the reason of his displeasure, and the ill consequences which must ensue if he should be angry with me, for whose favour and kindness I had the highest veneration and respect.

At this my Patron bid me chear up, and be merry with them, for says he, I my self will write to his Excellency the English Ambassador, and will excuse you; I will acquaint him with the true way and means how I came to be inform'd of your Quality, and alliance to his Excellency. I pretended to be extraordinary much affected with this kindness of my Patron, which I signified by passing a Moorish Complement upon him to this effect; That this favour would out ballance all the miseries of my Captivi­ty, and that if his Excellency my Cousin knew how happy I were in a Patron, he would come himself to redeem me with his own Person, and would throw himself at your Feet, ambitious of the honour of being your Slave. This Rhodomontado was so surprizing and taking, that he told me, that if he had not been sufficiently inform'd of my Quality before, this instance of my excellent education had manifestly discovered me; upon which, I was forc'd to give over complementing, lest he should enhance my Quality, and perchance beat me into the Royal Family for a lye of my own making, as I had been before, into the Family of Howard for a lye of our Ship-boys. However I earnestly begg'd him to write to the English Ambassador with all expedition, for if he remov'd my fears of his displeasure, I would be the merryest man alive; and then I resolv'd to cashier all thoughtfulness, both because I would give no occasion of jealousy, as also lest too much thinking upon the difficulties (which indeed were very great) might damp my re­solution or slacken my indeavours, which I intended to imploy to the utmost, that I might that night make my escape; leaving the method and means to the management of Providence.

After these complements were over, I sat down with the Company, and compos'd my self to be as merry and agreeable as possibly I could; I sung several English Songs to them, particularly I remember Calm was the Evening, &c. in the Mock-Astrologer, which was new when I left England; they were wonderfully affected with it, and were very desirous to have me translate ha ha ha, &c. into Spanish, which made me laugh more heartily than I sung; they also sung a la Morisco to requite me. I must confess I never knew any who seem'd much di­verted with the sweetness of my voice, neither was I ever so vain [Page] [Page 13] to expect it; but really when I heard their barbarous Tones and Damnable dissonant Jangling, I cannot deny a piece of weakness which then possest me, which was a pleasure to hear mine own sweet Self chant it. The glass in the mean while did not stand still, which I principally adverted, for upon the management of that, depended the fortune of that night: therefore though I used all art to shift it from my self, yet I used the same that my Patron might never balk it; which at last evidenced it self plainly, for he was got very drunk, and truly I thought that then it was not safe nor convenient to my purposes for his Slave to appear sober: therefore I counterfeit­ed the humours of a man overtaken with drink with all the artifice imaginable, so that I afforded exceeding divertisement to the soberer part of the Company; yet withall the Glass was never neglected to be sent about, which was ply'd with such industry, that before midnight all the Company had got as much as they could well carry away, and my Patron abundance more; for my own part I pretended to be so much concern'd, that I fell down, and there I lay till such time as the Company pleas'd to depart, when they rows'd me up to lock the doors, which seemingly with much adoe I effected; and then I return'd to my Patron with the keys.

Him I found in a condition, such as a highly provoked revengful Adversary could hardly wish for a more opportune; there was no company in the house excepting my Patron, his Barb and my self; the Doors and Avenues were all secur'd; the Streets wer clear, and the Neighbourhood husht up in the silence of Midnighte; the Moor could hardly either speak or stand; all which inviting circum­stances seem'd to court a more resolved patience than my own to a compliance with this lucky opportunity of Revenge upon an inhu­mane Monster, who profess'd it his interest to deprive me of all the blessings of this world, and to make death to me more eligible than life. While I was upon these thoughts, the Brute raises himself up a little, and mutters somewhat to me of a not-to-be-mentioned Car­nality, not only unworthy of Christian ears, but the bare mention whereof offers violence to the dictates of Nature, and which my charity would never suffer me to believe that it could enter into any mans mind, unless I had heard of the Citizens of Sodom, and a Do­ctor of Salamanca: which abominable proposal did so invigorate my resolution, that immediatly I had made him a Sacrifice to my most cruel resentments of the barbarous usage I received from him, if by a happy chance the Wine had not got the ascendent over all his senses, and laid him in a profound sleep. I laid however hold of his Scimitar, and drew it, and put on the Belt, so that if he had a­wak'd, I might have found my self under a necessity not to flinch back, but to proceed with all vigor, for my own life's sake to take away his. But when I reflected upon the many difficulties I was to encounter and overcome before I could escape, and the great pro­babilities of my being retaken, and withall the cruelties of a Death that I should suffer, if Hamet Lucas should be found kill'd by his own Slave; upon these considerations, I banish'd all thoughts of vengeance, and in complement to my own self-preservation, I gave [Page] [Page 14] the Moor my Patron his life, as thinking it much more rational as well as generous and Roman-like to save a Citizens life, though my own, than to destroy an Enemy's.

Seeing then that my Patron was engaged in a deep sleep, from which in all probability he could not awake in four or five hours, I immediately sheath'd the Sword, and taking out of his Bags a small parcel of Spanish Pistols, (which methought, might not be unser­viceable to me in another part of the world) together with two Shirts of his, (for indeed I had none of my own) and a pair of Shooes, I put out the Candles, and with all expedition I slipt out of a window into the Street, where again I unsheath'd, being resolv'd to attacque whomsoever I should rencounter in the Streets, and not to part with that Liberty, which, though in a small measure, I was then newly made possessour of, unless with my life. I went through several Streets, and by a favourable providence, I escapt all rencounter or discovery: I came at last to the River-side near the Castle, where presently I threw my self in, but after having been a little there, finding my self incommoded in swimming, by reason of the Sword and other things, I swum back to shoar, where I stripp'd my self, and laid all upon my back kept together by my Breeches button'd about my neck: so I committed my self again to the water; but the Tide carrying me upon one of the Ships, I was oblig'd to struggle with all my strength to get clear of it, which maugre all my endea­vours, I could not do so effectually, but that I came within hearing of their talk aboard. I conjectur'd then that the reason of my slow proceedings might be the weight of the burthen I carried, and besides my arms were a little weary, and I had a great mind to throw my self on my back and ease my self; whereupon I unbutton'd and let all my Clothes, Riches and Armour go together, and swimming on my back, I at length came to the other side of the River, a little weary, and altogether naked and defenceless.

Now the dangers began to crowd upon me, and I had so near a pro­spect of them, that I wish'd I had never undertook the work, and was entring into consideration of returning to my former estate; but when I reflected on the loss of my Patrons Scimitar and the Gold, my de­sperate estate gave me both hopes and courage; I had more than past Rubicon I thought then, for there was no returning: so up I got, and having almost rounded North-Salle and left it behind me, with a good speed I made away, having no other direction, saving the noise of the breaking of the Sea upon the Shoar within half a League on my left hand; it was moreover dark, and there was no path or road that I could hit upon, so that many times I stumbled, and fell over Stones, which cut and bruis'd my naked body. With these sort of divertisements I entertain'd my self until day-break; when see­ing at some distance before me a Mist arise, and being ignorant of the occasion, and fearing lest it might be the effect of some Travellers, I turn'd to the left, over a great Bank, on the other side of which, I happily fell in upon a Sand upon which the Sea broke, which conti­nued about eleven or twelve miles in length; there I had good run­ning for a while, till such time as I saw three Moors upon the Sand [Page 15] before me; but having nothing to say to them, nor any mind to their company, I turn'd therefore to my right hand over the foremention'd bank, where I fell in upon a path, which I measured with all the haste I could, until I had in view a couple of Tents roar'd up in the path way: these I thought it a very unseasonable complement to vi­sit so soon in the morning, and therefore endeavoured to decline them, by turning up the bank upon the left hand; upon the ridge of which I was obliged to travail above a mile in great trouble, wading through thick Fuzze and Goss, which prick'd me with exceeding vexation and smart; the Moors on either hand of me, constraining me to keep this middle course, unless I would expose my self to a mani­fest hazard of being retaken. It pleased God that I had left the tent a pretty way behind me, I turn'd therefore down into the path afore­said, where I exercised my feet to the best purpose that ever I think I did in my life, for about three miles, and then I came within sight of Mamora the Spanish Garison.

I was then about two miles distance, and being oblig'd to part with the path which I had hitherto followed, and then turn'd away from Mamora, I found great difficulty to run with that haste which my oc­casions required, for the ground was full of stumps, and other aspe­rities very afflictive to my naked and wounded feet, which rendred that little last stage much more tedious than all the rest of my jour­ney; besides lassitude grew upon me so fast, that I almost fainted, so that I most impatiently long'd to reach the only place of my safety, fearing lest I should founder in the entrance into the Port, after having escap'd the great difficulties of a dangerous voyage. There was a hill upon my right hand, which I had a fancy to ascend, thence to make my descent to the Garison at pleasure; the Moors kept a kind of a Garison there to hinder the Spaniards from sallying out to forrage the Country; this I was ignorant of, otherwise I had not directed my course thither, however this errour was very instrumental to my preservation, for the Moors who saw me though I did not them, ob­serving me direct my course towards them, imagined I must be a friend, whereas if I had made directly for Mamora, they had cer­tainly intercepted me. When I came to the foot of the hill, being then out of sight of those who were on the top, I found the ground so full of small Snail-shels, which cut my feet extreamly, that I thought it more convenient to go along by the foot of the hill, which was much easyer: I was got at last so near the Garison, that I could call to the Souldiers, who were very numerous upon the works; I call'd out to them that I was a Christian, and begg'd them to relieve me by admitting me to come in; they wav'd their hats to me, and withall I saw a company sent from the Garison, enter a square-Fort which was some little distance from it. The Spaniards continued waving their hats, which I mistook for a sign to stay there where I was, and make no further advance till such-time as they had sent out to enquire what I was; I therefore sat me down there, at length off comes a great Gun from Mamora, whose Bullet graz'd upon the side of the hill above me, which I looking after, saw the Moors who had mistrusted my long stay, coming down upon me, and then I made [Page 16] all the haste that fear could inspire me with, the Spaniards in the mean time firing at the Moors to stop their eager pursuit; at last with my utmost endeavours reacht the little Fort, at the bottom of whose wall I fell down quite spent, so that my spirit fail'd me.

The Souldiers carryed me in a Cloak up to the Garison, where the Governour, after having caus'd a glass of Wine to be pour'd into my mouth to revive me, questioned me what I was and whence I came (for indeed I was so cover'd all over my body with blood, sweat and dust, that it was hard to distinguish me from a Moor by my colour) I satisfied him that I was an English-man, whom God had been so merciful to, as last night to bestow an oppor­tunity of escaping from a heavy Slavery in Salle, and direct me to this blessed place of refuge, for whose preservation and prosperity, all poor Christians at Salle offer up their prayers, and I particularly held my self obliged to do, so long as I liv'd. The Courteous cha­ritable Gentleman (whose name I am sorry I have forgot) congra­tulated my Deliverance, and told me I was heartily welcome to that place, and because he saw my condition required not much discourse at that instant, he recommended me to the care of the Physitian, who very charitably procur'd me a few Cloaths, and apply'd to me such things as I had need of: and then committed me to rest until about noon, at which time the Governour sent for me to come to him upon one of the Rampiers, to shew me some Horsemen hunting among some Bushes, and he conceited that I was the game they were in quest of; I accorded with his opinion, and to confirm him in it, I assured him that such a horse which I pointed out to him, did belong to Ha­met Lucas who was my Patron. The Moors were then within reach of the Guns, the Governour therefore commanded to let fly amongst them, and I upon my request, to honour the departure of my Patron whom I thought never to have seen more, had the favour to fire two at him, which though they did no execution that we could perceive, yet we observ'd the place was too hot for them, so that they made haste to be gone.

It is hard to be express'd, what a great satisfaction it was to me, to see my cruel Enemy (whom but 24 hours before I dreaded as Indians do the Devil) flee from me, and endeavour an escape out of my reach, with as much eagerness, as the night before I did out of his. Though I then smarted a little under the sense of my weary and wounded body, yet the thoughts of my Liberty entertain'd me with such pleasant divertisements, as are not to be conceived by any but those who are in the circumstances that I was in, and who can value their present Liberty, (which together with health makes life it self comfortable, and without which it is but an uneasy burthen) by a competition with a hard and grievous Bondage under the pro­fess'd, yea, superstitiously bigotish Enemies of my God, my Religion, and my own person. Yet when I reflected upon the weakness of the Garison, (which that afternoon I had an opportunity to survey) which was no bigger in circumference than the Tower of London; the feeble resistance that 400 disheartened half-starv'd sickly Spaniards could make against an innumerable swarm of Moors, (who lay about and [Page 17] in a manner besieged them) should they attaque them, I must con­fess my fears did a little qualify my joy, and I could not foreforbear wishing that my Patron and I were at a greater distance. All the night I could hardly rest, for the Moors twice allarm'd us, and the Bells about the walls were sounding every moment, to keep the Soul­diers a wake and to their duty; for should they be remiss for half an hour only, it had been easy methought to surprise the place, being defended only with a dry Ditch, and pitiful low Walls.

The next morning early, the wind presented fair, five Barca-longa's, which had brought provision from Cadis, were returning home, in one of which I gladly embarkt, bidding adieu to Mamora my refuge and place of Deliverance, which since about two years agoe (as I heard with sorrow from Hamet Lucas himself) was taken by the Moors after above a 100 years possession of the Spaniards; he de­claring, that he was the first man who entred it. We sail'd along the Barbary-Coast all the day, nothing occurring remarkable, save that in the afternoon, the Spanish Sea-men acquainted me that we were pursued. It was very strange and surprising when I beheld a­stern of us, an innumerable quantity of Fish, making after us at full gallop as it were, leaping above the water; they quickly over­took us, and so pursu'd their journey, without any concern at our hallooing, as they past very near us, on both sides our boat: they were not so long as ordinary Cod, but they appear'd much broader; what the meaning of the frolick should be, I cannot tell, but the Spaniards seem'd more affected with my amazement, than with that strange appearance, so that I suppose this was an ordinary divertment, that that kind of Fish affords upon that Coast.

Upon Wednesday morning, we were got as far as A-la-rach another Garison belonging to the Spaniards at the Mouth of a River, at which time we heard much shooting out at Sea, so that we thought it con­venient to put into Larache. This is a strong place, the Walls in­closing a considerable piece of ground, where grow abundance of ex­cellent Grapes and rare Fruits. The Town is fortified by two strong Castles, well-stor'd with great Ordnance; into one of which we were permitted to ascend, to view a rare sight at Sea, a very unequal Combat as to number, yet briskly maintain'd by one Dutch man of War against six Algerines, whereof the Admiral and Vice-Admi­ral were two, and the least was of two and thirty Guns. The fight continued till noon, when two great Dutch-men, and Van Ghent in the Looking-glass, and another coming up, the Turks thought best to make sail and stand away; and then luckily a-head of them, as they were weathering Cape Spartil, appeared six English men of War, Captain Beech was Commander of one. The Algerines being hemm'd in, resolv'd rather to venture through the English, and so make their way into the Streights, than to turn back upon Van-Ghent, whose great Guns struck a great terrour into them: so up they went to the English. But Captain Beech with the first broad-side disabling their Admiral, they all together tack'd and run ashore in the Bay of Arzilla, where they were all set on fire, abundance of Christians being reliev'd, and abundance of Turks being kill'd. The Governour of Larache [Page 18] commanded our Barca to go out and bring an account of the action, which we did, and return'd again at night with the news, that the Algerines who were destroy'd were, the Springing Tyger, the Standing Tyger, the Date Tree, the Shepherdess, I have forgot the names of the rest.

Next day being Thursday, we set forward for Cadis, and upon Fry­day night we arrived in the Bay. The next morning I apply'd my self to Mr. Westcomb (since Knighted) then Consul, who treated me not so much according to the exigency of my condition, as his own Generosity, inviting me to his own Table daily, during my stay at Cadis which was about a sortnight. There I saw some of these very Moors Slaves themselves, who made me so; there being fifteen taken, aboard the French prize I formerly mentioned, by the Holmes-Friggot, and carried to Cadis and there sold: this accident furnish'd me with a pleasant opportunity of thinking how the case was alter'd. About the middle of September, at Sir Martin Westcomb's desire, I obtain'd passage aboard a Dutch man of War design'd for S. Uves, from whence I travell'd by Land to Lisbon, the place where I embarkt some four­teen or fifteen weeks before, in that Vessel wherein I was taken. I went to pay my respects to Dr. Cradock and Mr. Bulteel, who saw me when I was at Lisbon before, and could hardly be induc'd to be­lieve that I had been a Slave since, unless they had been assur'd by Mr. Parry, then Agent at Lisbon, to whom I brought a Letter from the Consul at Cadis, recommending me to his favour in procuring me a safe passage for England, and who certify'd him sufficiently of my escape from Salle to Mamora, seeing I had brought Letters from the Governour of Mamora to the Duke of Veraguas, then Gover­nour of Cadis, which Mr. Westcomb himself delivered up to the Duke.

After my stay in Lisbon about a fortnight, Mr. Parry the Agent aforesaid, prevail'd with the Dutch Consul, to grant me passage for England in a Dutch Man of War (there being no English Ships of any force then in the River, and I was very unwilling, any more to ha­zard my self in small Vessels.) It was the very same Ship which I saw at Alarache, engag'd with the six Algerines. In the beginning of November I was brought to the Texel, (having had no convenience to be remov'd into any Ship in the Channel, by reason of a great Storm that hurried us over to the Holland Coast:) from Amsterdam I came to the Hague, where hearing, that Sir John Chicheley then Envoy from his Majesty to the Governour of the Spanish Netherlands was returning instantly for England, I made haste to Brussels, and ob­tain'd passage for England amongst his retinue, so that I return'd to England in November 1670, and never have been out of his Majesties Dominions since.

After my return I immediately went for Oxford, where I fell into the favour of George Wheeler Esquire then Gentleman-Commoner of Lincoln-Colledge, who was pleas'd to think my indigent condition a fit object of his charity; with whom and his Father Colonel Charles Wheeler I lived in quality of Tutor to his Children from Christmas 1670, until May 1672. During which time I received Deacon's Or­ders, from the Bishop of Ely's hands, and at Christmas following I [Page 19] was ordained Priest by the Bishop of London. In 1673, William then Lord Grey of Wark admitted me to be his Chaplain, with whom I lived until his Death 1674, after which being invited by some pro­mises to Dublin in Ireland, I removed thither, and lived constantly in the City of Dublin, in the execution of my Ministerial Function, until 1679, when I was call'd into England, upon what occasion will be the subject of my following Discourse.

This is a true account of my Captivity and Escape, which I appeal to many thousands whether or not it agrees exactly, with what I have related these twelve years past; Haec meminisse juvat. I cannot indeed disown a piece of vanity I have had, in frequently reflecting upon this remarkable accident of my life, and such complacency I have had therein, that I have always freely comply'd with any hand­some invitation to relate it; for there is a great pleasure in re­membring the great Dangers I have past (Dangers to evade which, the Salamanca-Doctor would I believe have pawn'd all his True-Pro­testant expectations, yea and his Swearing Faculty too, which now considering the temptations he is under, I am afraid hee'l be damn'd before hee'l part with it.) I have indeed heard many discredit the whole Relation, as Romantick, but I never heard any tax me of an Otism, i. e. inconsistency with my self, as if I told one Story by Candle­light, and a quite different one again in the day. But now that, Haggi Hamet Lucas, (who was my Patron in the place of my Capti­vity) has by a strange providence come over to this Countrey, and before several persons of Quality and Reputation, attested the truth of all these things by me related, which were within the sphere of his knowledge; I suppose there will be but little scruple remaining, to unprejudic'd persons in the belief of the above-written Narrative. Supposing it then true, what is there in it, to render me Criminal? Because I am lame must I be beaten with my own Crutches? Because I have been unfortunate, is it for that I must be miserable? Because I have made an escape from a sad Captivity in Barbary, do I therefore deserve to be hang'd here in England? He must be a Devil at making of Plots, as well as discovering them, who can make such inferences as these pass, who because by Gods assistance to my own endeavours I have sav'd my Countrey the trouble and price of my Redemption, will therefore bring me in guilty of Treason against her; and this calls to my mind the Salamanca-Doctor.

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ERRATA.

Pag. 2. l. 19. dele where. Ib. l. 32. for Rospigliosi Successor to the former, read Ros­pigliosi's Successor. p. 7. l. 9. for at read to. p. 21. l. 13. for and read of. p. 22. l. 14. for Thomas read Charles. p. 25. l. 23. for allways read all ways. Ib. l. ult. read to charge my Person. p. 38. l. 36. for Vergauas read Veraguas. p. 43. l. 18. read conceding.

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