SECT. I.
A Brief Acconnt of those Providences Which led towards our Captivity in Algiers.

THIS Narrative would be too happy, if it should not meet with some hasty and im­patient Spirits, that grudge the time that's spent in Preface and Introduction; and such as these, are wild to come at the Story of the Boat; all the rest is but one great tedious Impertinency, [Page] they'l not give a Figg for all the other. I shall make never the more haste for unreasonable Importunity; but the Remedy is in their own hands, they may turn over a few leaves, and meet with it in its proper place, if they sit upon Thorns. But to the more judicious and con­siderate, it will be acceptable to know how our Foot was taken in the Snare, as well as how the Snare was broken, and we delivered.

In the Month of June, in the Year of Our Lord, One Thousand, Six Hundred, Thirty, and Nine, in pursuance of a Commission from the Right Honourable, the Earl of Warwick, the Lord Say, and the Lord Brook, we took Ship at Gravesend, in the Mary of London, carrying Six Guns, Mr. Boarder being Master, and James Walker the Masters Mate; the Ship was chiefly Laden with Linnen and Woollen Cloath, ha­ving in her, Seamen and Passengers, above Sixty, bound for the Isle of Providence in the West-Indies. Five Weeks we lay in the Downs, wishing, and waiting for a Wind, and then we set Sail, and came to Anchor near the Isle of Wight; but by this time all our Beer in the Ship stunk, and we were forced to throw it over­board, and to take in Vinegar to mix with Water for our Voyage. The next Lord's Day we set Sail again, and coming between the Island, and the Main Land, we stuck fast in the Sands, but the Tide coming in, hove us off. These Circumstances seem very inconsi­derable [Page 3] to those that were not concerned in the Products of them; but God has given us the advantage and leisure to see what great things were in the Womb of these little things. Had the Wind stood longer against us, it had been more for us, and the danger had been past; had it stood less while against us, it had been for us too, and we had been gone past the dan­ger: But God appoints it the Moment when it should come about to blow us into the Mouths of our Enemies: We see the Truth of that, Ye know what to pray for: We prayed for a Wind, and we had a Whirl-wind: If we alwaies knew what mischief the Answer of our Prayers would do us, we should be glad to eat our words, and Pray against our Prayers. Denyal is often the best Answer, and we had need leave all Petitions to the wisdom of God to be Inter­preted, according to his good pleasure, and re­turned as they may be good for us, and make most for his own Glory: we were also taught, that the Sea may sometimes be our best Friend, and the Earth our worst Enemy; and that nothing can do us good or hurt, but by the Direction and Commission of the Almighty.

We were now three Ships in Company, and one of the other I remember, carried Nine Guns, Mr. Church, Master. The Sixth Day after our setting Sail from the Isle of Wight, by break of Day in the Morning, we discovered three Ships about three or four Leagues to Lee­ward: [Page 4] The Masters of our Ships presently con­sulted, what was most adviseable; whether to stay and speak with them, or to make the best of our way; at last (upon what Reasons I know not) it was determined that we should stay; It was not long before we discovered those other three Ships to be Turks Men of War, who espying their Prey, endeavoured to come up with us, which about Night they affected: Whilst they were coming up, the Masters of our Ships seemed re­solved to Fight them, and accordingly made pre­paration to receive them, but in the Night, the Master and Company of the Ship wherein I was, altered their Counsels, let their Resolutions Dye, and agreed to run for it; uncertain Coun­sels never produce better success; when we might have gone, then we would stay; and when there was no way to escape, then we musts needs attempt it: Had we either at first Resolved not to Fight them, or resolved to Fight, had prosecuted our Resolutions lie Men of Courage, we might, perhaps, either have avoided the danger, or brave­ly Master'd it. The Turks perceiving us begin to run, sent one of their number to Chase us, whilst their other two attended the remaining two of our Company till the Morning. At break of Day they began to Fight us, and after a short Dispute Boarded us, and took us all three: In the Mary, six were slain, and many wound­ed; so small was the difference between Flight and Fight; but that the Death and Wounds of [Page 5] those that flye, are dishonourable; but of them that Fight, beautiful, and Glorious.

Many Weeks they kept us close Prisoners at Sea! we found many Englishmen in their Ships, Slaves, like our selves, from whom we had no other Comfort, but the Condoling of each others Miseries, and that from them we learnt a smat­tering of the Common Language, which would be of some use to us when we should come to Al­giers, whither, after five or six Weeks we were brought.

SECT. II.
The Description of Algiers, with their Man­ner of Buying, and Selling Slaves.

ALgier is a City very pleasantly scituated on the side of the Hills, over-looking the Mediterranean, which lyes North of it; and it lifts up its proud Head so Imperiously, as if it Challenged a Soveraignty over those Seas, and expected Tribute from all that shall look within the Streights. It lyes in the 30th. Degree of Longitude, and hath somewhat less than 35 Degrees of North-Latitude: The City is con­siderably large, the Walls being above three Miles in Compass, beautified and strengthned with five Gates: Port-Marine towards the North, and Port Piscadore not far from thence, and Porta-Nova towards the South; built, as they report, by the Spaniard, whilst it was in their Possession: The West-Gate, which they call Bubawite, and the Eastern-Gate, which in their Tongue is called Bubazoon: They have also several strong Castles besides that upon the Point of the Mole, so that the Town is judged impregnable. The City is built very stately, and yet more strong than stately; and more [Page 7] Famous than strong, but not more Famous for any thing than for Infamy, being the Retreat, the Nest of those Turkish Corsairs, which have long Tyranniz'd in, and been a Terror to the Neigh­bouring Seas. It is supposed by some to contain Four Thousand Families, by others, Four­score Thousand Persons; but they must needs be very short in their Reckoning, it having been Judged, that of all Nations there could be no less than Twenty Five Thousand Slaves. The Private Buildings are very beautiful, flat Roof'd. Adorn­ed with Galleries towards their Courts, support­ed by Pillars: And they may afford to Build sumptuously, because they Build at other Mens cost, and with other Mens hands: Their Tem­ples are also very Magnificent, and much too good for their Religion, whose Practice and Conversation speaks them to say, There is no God. And yet we Read of a Religious Thief, who never went about the works of his Calling (for so he called stealing) but he would solemnly implore the assistance of his Idol; A strange God, sure; that would be accessary to his Devoto's Robberies: And a strange Worshipper, that ei­ther hoped to flatter to his God become his Ac­complice in Villany, with the Vow of a good round share of the Booty, or would be such a Fool, to think that God worth the Worship­ping that should be thus flatter'd. They have also many stately Baths, to which the Men re­sort in the Morning, and the Women in the Af­ternoon; [Page 8] But they want one, worth them all, wherein they might by Faith and Repentance was away their filthiness.

To this fair City we were brought, yet in our Eyes it was most ugly and deformed; for the French Proverb is universally true, Il n'y a point de bel Prizon. There is no such thing as a fair Prison. I confess, for a Goal, it's one of the best Built that I have seen; there's nothing that the Soul of Man bears with more regret than Restraint: The Body it self is judged by some to be but the Soul's Little-ease, or Cage; where though it seems to Dwell, yet 'tis but in Honourable Durance; and though it dares not break the Prison, yet it listens; and longs for a Goal-Delivery: There can be nothing large enough for a Soul but God, from whom since it once at first came, it must needs be restless till it return to him again; and surely it has much forgot it self, and extract, if it can take up with satisfaction in any thing on this side its Creator.

As soon as we were ashore, for the first Night we were lock'd down in a deep nasty Cellar; some inconveniences we felt, but they were no­thing to what we feared: The next day we were carried, or led, or rather driven to the Vice-Roys, or Bashaw's Palace, who according to the Custom, and his own Right, is to have the Tenth Man for his Dividend of the Slaves.

When the next Market-day came; we were [Page 9] driven like Beasts thither, and exposed to Sale; and there is a great deal of God's goodness in that one word, that it was not to the Slaughter-house to be Butcher'd, as well as to the Market to be Sold. Their Cruelty is great, but their Covetousness exceeds their Cruelty; could they make as much of us Dead, as they make alive, that so both the Interests of Cruelty, and of Co­vetousness, might be secured, and reconciled, we were well assured which way it should have gone with us. But it must be a great deal of Tallow and Fat, that will answer two or three Dollers a Month.

Their manner of selling Slaves, is this. They lead them up and down the Fair, or Market; and when a Chapman bids any Money, they presently cry, a-Rache! a-Rache! that is, Here's so much Money bidden, who bids more? They that cheapen the exposed Slaves are ve­ry circumspect persons, they carry their Eyes in their Heads, as well as their Money in their Purses, and use the one in laying out the other; for they are loath to buy a Pig in a Poke; their first Policy is to look in their Mouths; and a good, strong, entire set of Grinders will advance the Price considerably, and they have good Rea­son for this Practice: for first, they are Rational Creatures, and know, that they who have not Teeth, cannot eat, cannot work; and they that cannot work, are not for their turn; and they that are not for their turn, are not for their [Page 10] Money. And Secondly, they intend to keep them at hard meat all the Year, and it must not be Gums, but solid Teeth (nay, if it were possible, case-hardn'd Teeth) that must chew it; and when all is done, they had need of the Ostriches Stomach to digest it. Their next pro­cess is to feel their Limbs; as whether there be any Fracture, or Dislocation in the Bones; any thing Analogical to Spavin, or Ring-bone, for these will bring down the Makret wonderfully; And to be clean Limb'd, close coupled, well joynted, will advance it as much. The Age is ve­ry considerable; but they that sell them, did not breed them, and therefore they know nothing, more or less of that: Two waies they have to find out the Age; the one is, to stand to the courtesie of the Slaves, but they are not bound to make any such Discovery, and therefore they go by general conjectures from the Beard, Face, or Hair; but a good set of Teeth will make any one Ten Years Younger, and a broken one Ten Years Older than the Truth; for if they were Five Hundred Years Old all is a Case, if they could but eat and work; or if they could not eat, yet if they could but work, or if they nei­ther eat nor work, if their Skins would but fetch in the Mony again. You shall have the Seller commend his Goods to the Sky, and the Buyer on the other hand, as much undervalue them, and the true Market-price commonly lies just between them; but so it is all the World over. Or [Page 11] saies the Seller, mark what a Back he has, what a breadth he bears between the Shoulders! What a Chest! How strong set! How fitted on the nonce for Burdens! He'l do but e'ne to much work. Pish, saies the Buyer, He looks like a Pillard, like a very Meacock at his Provinder, and one that seems to be surfeited. But they are very curious in examining the Hands; for if they be callous and brawny, they will shrewdly guess they have been inured to Labour; if de­licate and tender, they will suspect some Gen­tleman, or Merchant, and then the hopes of a good Price of Redemption makes him Saleable.

When any are sold, they must be trotted once more to the Vice-Roys, that he may have the review of them, and if he likes any of them at the prizes they went off at, there's no more Dispute, they are his own.

As for my self, I was sold the first Marget-day to a Tagareen; and that the Reader may not stumble at that hard word, he may un­derstand; That when the Moors were driven out of Spain by Ferdinand the Great, they, up­on their return into Africa, assumed Names that might argue Gentility, and be an Evidence of their Ancient Extract, from such places where they had been great Dons, and accord­ingly there are many Families thus denomina­ted; as Tagareens, Jarbeens, &c.

SECT. III.
An Account of some Difficulties that I met witb during my Captivity in Algiers.

THose Miseries which it is dreadful to en­dure, are yet delightful to be remem­bred; and there's a secret pleasure to chew the Cud, and ruminate upon escaped dangers: How­ever, the Reader may afford to run over with his Eye in an hour, that which I ran through in five Years; and supposing himself safe upon the Amphitheatre, may behold poor Slaves Combating with Beasts below.

The first Adventure I met with after I was brought to my Patron's House (for so I must now stile him) had well nigh cost me my Life. My Patron's Father being desirous to see his Sons Penny-worth, commanded me up into a Gallery, which looked into the Court; he be­gan to insult over me with insupportable scorn, reflecting upon me because I was a Christian, and cast out some Expressions which did really reflect upon the Person of my Rdeemer, though I have heard worse since.) My Neck was not yet bowed, nor my Heart broken to the Yoke of Bondage; I could not well brook, because I had not ben used then to such Language; and [Page 13] because I could not express my self in the Mo­resco, or Lingua Franc, I supplyed it with Signs; and imitating the Coblers Yarke, I signified both waies as well as I could, That their Prophet was but a Cobler. I confess, my meaning was no more, but that Mahomet, by the help of Sergius, a Nestorian Monk, and Abdalla the Jew, had patch'd up a Cento of Jewish, and Monkish Fop­peries, which was now their Religion. But he, without the preamble of many Railing words, fell upon me with severe blows; whatever Rage and Fury his Hands or Feet could Execute, that I felt; and my intreaties did but enrage his Choler, so that I saw I might sooner blow out the Fire with a pair of Bellows, than lenifie his passion with Prayers; I had no other way but this, to make an offer of leaping down out of the Gallery into the Court, and therefore clap­ping my hands upon the Rails, as if I would throw my self head-long down over them, and rather chuse to receive my Death from the Pavement, than his Hands, he presently asswa­ges, if not his Rage, yet the Execution of it. The Old Gentleman knew very well, that if I lost my Life, his Son must lose his present Mo­ney, and future profit; for there's little made out of a Dead Man's Skin: and therefore he re­spites my further punishment till my Patron's Return, and then indeed this reputed Blasphe­my of mine with full cry was carried to his Ears, and it lost nothing in the telling, but was [Page 14] aggravated to purpose: My Patron being Na­turally a very passionate Man, said nothing, but without Examination, drew out his long Knife, (which they constantly wear by their sides) and made at me; and had there doubt­less put an end to my Life and Captivity at once, had not his Wife, who was there seaso­nably present, taken him in her Arms, and sweeten'd him into more moderate Counsels. Some will be ready enough to say, that I was but a Martyr to my own Folly: This was not a place for Dispute, but Obedience. Well, I learnt from hence two Lessons: One, That when the Body is a Slave, the Reason must not ex­pect to be free; and where the whole outward Man is in Bondage, the Tongue must not plead Exem­ption. A Second, That it's fair for Slaves to enjoy the freedom of their own Consciences, with­out Reviling anothers Religion, though errone­ous; and this Wit I bought, as it fell out, a pret­ty good Penny-worth.

When the Storm was over, my employ­ment was assigned me (for they had rather see a Slave Dead than Idle) and for about half a Year it lay in trudging on Errands, bearing Burdens, and discharging other Domestick Services at Command, wherein the only con­sideration was, That it was Commanded, and not What was Commanded.

At this time my Patron had a part in a Man of War, which carried Twelve Guns: She be­ing [Page 15] at Sea, (with some others of the same place) met with an English Merchant, Laden with Plate, and other Rich Commodities from Spain, and Bound for London, (one Isaac being Ma­ster) and after a very sharp, though short Dis­pute, the Algerines carried her, and brought her safe home. The Adventurers divide their Booty, and being high flown with this success, they Resolve to fit her out again to carry more Guns; and from hence grew my new employ­ment. Upon the Capenters I attended, wait­ed on the Smiths, to get the Iron-work fitted, and finished; and truly he allowed me more for Portage than to the ordinary Hammels, or common Porters.

When this Ship was now fitted for another Adventure, my Patron tells me, I must go in her; it was a nipping word: I pleaded, that I was no Sea-man, understood nothing of the Mariners Art, and therefore as he could ex­pect little Service from me in that kind, so I must expect most rigorous treatment, because I could not acquit my self in the Service as well as others; he removed my Pleas, and promi­sed I should not be wronged; but there was more at the bottom than all this: For here a Case of Conscience offered it self, Whether I might without Sin in any Case fight against Chri­stians, on the Port of the common Enemy of all Christianity? The best Resolution I could give my self, was this; That first, my employ­my [Page 16] employment would only lie in managing the Tackle, which will kill no Body; but it was replied, That without the due management of the Tackle, all the Guns in the Ship would kill no Body: Secondly, therefore I answered, That it was not evident that they would en­gage against Christians more than all the rest of Mankind, for all the World are their Ene­mies, who are Rich enough to invite them, and too weak to resist them; but my Patron had a Solution worth all these: He told me peremptorily, I must, and should go; I found my self under force, I was a Prest Man: who could not examine the Justice of the Cause. In a word, his Commands were back'd with Com­pulsion, and whatever his Authority was, he had more Power, than I had Courage to de­ny, or Strength to resist; and go I did. Yet this I will say for him, he spoke to the Captain and Officers of the Ship, to treat me civilly, that is, less cruelly than other Slaves were treat­ed: He gave me some Money also in my Pocket, bought me Clothes, and laid me in Provision above the Ships allowance.

Nine Weeks we were at Sea, within, and without the Streights, Cruising, and Picka­rooning up and down, at last we met with one poor Hungarian French Man of War, whom we took, and so returned.

My Patron having been at great charges in fitting, and manning out this Ship, and the [Page 17] Reprisals so slenderly answering his great cost, and greater hopes, told me, I must allow him two Dollers per Month, and Live ashore where I would, and get it were I could. This was a hard Chapter, That he that could not main­tain himself, should be compelled to contribute to the maintenance of another; it was difficult to raise encrease out of no stock, and to pay Interest out of no Principal; but there was no contending; It cost me much debate with my self, and I turn'd my thoughts into all forms and shapes, but all Projects that presented them­selves were incumbred with so many difficul­ties, that they amounted very near to impossi­bilities. The more I consulted, the further I found my self from a conclusion, and I could see no way but one, (but that was worth a Thousand, could I have made the best of it,) and that was to commit my self to God, who had brought me into this strait, beseeching him that he would bring me out of it.

But that my trusting to God might not be a Cloak for Laziness, or a Pillow for Sloath to rest upon, I addrest my self to an English-man, whose condition was that of a Slave, whose Calling was that of a Taylor. He at first word counselled me to come and stay with him, and he would teach me to work of his Trade. I ac­counted nothing base that was honest, and ne­cessity would ennoble a far meaner Emploi­ment, and very readily closed in my thoughts [Page 18] with his motion, and was suddenly elevated into huge hopes that I should now be in a ca­pacity to answer my Patron's demands, and es­cape his lash. But my straits were not (it seems) great enough to glorifie God; nor my condi­tion mean enough to magnifie his Power in raising me; I was not reduced to that Extre­mety which would make an oportunity to ex­alt his appearing Mercy; for when I came to him the next Day, I perceived by his silence that his mind was changed, and I was loth, either out of Modesty or Pride, to give him further trouble; and therefore interpreting his silence to be a more civil way of denial, I left him, and once more Launched out into the wide World.

In this forlorn posture I wandred, but nei­ther knew, nor much cared whither, though the wise God both knew, and cared; and his Providence directed me to another English-man, who was sitting in a little Shop: He ask­ed me what News? And (as that which is up­permost alwaies comes out first) I presently be­gan the Story of my desperate Condition; how the Rigid Law of my Patron had imposed two Dollers per Month upon me, and I knew not where to levy the least Mite of it: He heard, considered, pityed my Condition, and invited me to come and sit in the Shop with him; but seeing nothing but the bare Walls, I asked him, to what end? What Trade should [Page 19] we drive there? There's not much difference between starving in the Streets, and in the Shop. Country-man (said he) I drive here an unknown Trade; here I sell Lead, Iron, Shot, Strong-wa­ters, Tobacco, and many other things. This motion was a great deal to good to be refuesd, and I think at that time no tolerable condition would have stck with me.

I acquainted my Patron with my Design, pleaded I wanted stock to set up with; he lent me a small modicum, and with another pittance that I had privately reserved of my own, I be­gan to Trade. That very Night I went and bought a parcel of Tobacco, the next Morning we dress'd it, cut it, and fitted it for Sale; and the World seemed to smile on us wonderfully. In this way of Partner-ship we continued for some while, and what we got clear, we divided every week according to the proportion of our respective stocks. In a while, finding the World to come in upon us, we ventured up­on no less then a whole Butt of Wine, some Money we had, and some Credit: This Wine we drew out, and got considerably by it. But it's very difficult to maintain moderation in an exalted State, for even our State was capable of better and worse; for my Partner being ele­vated with our good success, grew a good Fel­low, and a bad Husband; neglecting his busi­ness, went tipling, and fndling up and down, and the Concerns of the Shop and Trade lay wholly upon my Shoulders.

[Page 20] It fell out, that one John Randal, who with his Wife and Child were taken in the same Ship with my self, being put to the same shifts with my self, and, as 'tis very common, ha­ving a Monthly Tax imposed upon him by his Patron, which he must scrape out where he could, and besides maintain himself, his Wife, and Child, went up and down seeking for Relief, at last the poor Man straggled to our Shop: His Case made great impression up­on me, I could not but consider the goodness of God to me, that should now be in a condi­tion to advise, and help another, who so lately wanted both my self; and it had this operati­on upon me, that I would not suffer a poor di­stressed Country-man, a Fellow-Captive, a Fel­low-Christian to stand begging at that door, where I had so lately stood my self: Shall I shut the Door, or my Heart upon him, when God hath opened a Door of hope to me in the day of my Trouble? Shall I so ill requite the Lord's kindness to me? Surely that God who comforts us in our Tribulations, expects that we should comfort others in theirs, 2 Cor. 1. 4. I bad him therefore come in, and knowing him to be a Glover by Trade, advised him to learn to make Canvas Cloaths for Sea-men that are Slaves; and for my own part, he should sit Rent-free; but if my Partner would insist up­on his Moiety, he must be willing to satisfie him, for I had no power to determine of ano­ther's Right.

[Page 21] It were tedious to trouble the Reader how I wore out three or four irksome Years in this way of Trading. All this while there was no dawning of deliverance from our Bondage: As one Year left us, another found us, and de­livered us over Captives to the next: Our condition was bad, and in danger every day of being worse, as the mutable Humours of our Patrons determin'd upon us, for our Shop and Trade was no free-hold: The Truth is, in time we were so habituated to Bondage, that we almost forgot Liberty, and grew stupid, and sensless of our Slavery; like Issachar, we couch­ed down between our burdens, we bowed our Shoul­ders to bear, and became Servants to Tribute, Gen. 49. 14, 15. And were in danger to be like those Israelites in Babylon, who being once settled, forgot Canaan, and dwelt with the King for his work, 1 Chron. 4. 23. We seem'd as if our Ears had been bored, and we had vowed to serve our Patrons for ever. Long Bondage breaks the Spirits, it scatters hope off, and dis­courages all attempts for freedom: And there were more evils attended our condition than the bodily torture, which we were alwaies li­able to, and sometimes endured.

1. We were under a perpetual temptation to deny the Lord that bought us, to make our Souls Slaves, that our Bodies might recover Liberty. As Satan once tempted Job to Curse God, and Dye; so he knew how to change his [Page 22] Note to us, and accommodate his Snare to our condition, to Curse God, that we might Live. How many have made Ship-wrack of Faith, that they might not be Chained to the Gal­liees? I can never enough admire the grace of that Promise, Psal. 1253. The Rod of the wicked shal not always rost upon the lot of the Righteous, lest the Righteous put forth their hands to Iniquity; nor ever enough adore the faithfulness of him, who will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, 1 Cor. 10. 13.

And 2. Evil is the unmaning, and dispirit­ing of the Soul to worthy Actions; for we are apt to put on the Temper and Spirit of Slaves with the Habit, and the Christians of the Greek Communion, are a very sad instance of this Truth.

And 3. We were very much at a loss for the Preaching of the World: And yet herein the Gracious God stept in for our Relief.

SECT. IV.
How God Provided for our Souls, by sen­ding us an Able Minister to Preach the Gospel to us in our Bondage.

THE gracious God looking upon the affli­ction of his poor Servants, and Remembring us in our low Estate, was pleased many waies to mitigate the load of our Captivity: We have Reason to say, with the Church, Ezra 9. 9. We were Bondsmen, yet our God hath not forsaken us in our Bondage, but hath extended Mercy to us, to give us a reviving, and a Nail in his Holy place: And thus he brought about his Design of Grace and Mercy. There was an English Ship taken by some of our Algerine Pirates, and in her one Mr. Devereux Sprat, a Minister of the Gospel. It deserves our consideration, and greatest Admiration, that the wise God should [...]upply our Necessities at the cost and charges of others of his dear Servants: But thus Provi­dence sent Joseph into Egypt, where he endured thirteen Years Slavery, that he might preserve the Lives of his Fathers Family, within those narrow walls the most visible Church of God in those daies was enclosed, Gen. 45. 5. Now, some of us observing this Mr. Sprat to be a Per­son [Page 24] of very Sober, Grave, and Religious De­portment, we addressed our selves to him, and humbly entreated him that we might enjoy the benefit of his Ministry; in Order whereto, we desired him that he would compound with his Patron at so much a month as he could, and be­cause we were abundantly convinc'd of our Du­ty to administer to him of our Carnal things, who should administer to us of his Spirituals, we engaged to allow him a Competency to maintain himself, and satisfie the expectations of his Pa­tron: The good man hearkned to us with much readiness; and now indeed we found our burd­ens much lighter, and our conditions not prest so hard upon our Spirrits: Thrice a week this Godly, painul Servant of Jesus Christ prayed with us, and Preach'd to us the Word of God; our meeting-place was a Cellar, which I had hired at some distance from our Shop, where I stowed some Goods that were peculiarly my own when we fell into a greater stroke of trade. To our Meetings resorted many, sometimes three or fourscore, and though we met next the Street, yet we never had the least disturbance from the Turks, or Moors; for whilst we in­termeddled not with their Superstitions, but paid our Patrons their demands, we might, without any disturbance from them, Worship our God, according to our Consciences: It's true, that such were the circumstances of the Slavery of many poor Christians, that they could not attend; and [Page 25] such the wretched carelessness of others, that they would not attend, and such the Provisions that God had made for others, by other means, that they needed not, perhaps, attend upon God's Worship with us; but thus was our God pleased to give us the means of strengthning our Faith, and Comforting our drooping Spirits.

At length came one Captain Wildy of Rat­cliff to Trade there, who, with the Assistance of the Legorn Mercahnts, free'd our Minister from his Patron. After his freedom from his Patron, yet there remained a Duty of sixty Dol­lers, which was a particular charge payable to the Publick Treasury, before he could be fully enlarged from the City: We Petitioned there­fore the Captain, that he might, and Mr. Sprat himself, that he would still continue to be Ser­viceable to our poor Souls, in the work of the Gospel, and we easily prevailed, and had the benefit of his Ministry whilst I staid there.

SECT. V.
Some Remarkable Observations that I gleaned up, whilst I remained in Al­gires.

THey that are pressed with their own Perso­nal Grievances, have little leisure to look abroad, and observe the Motions of others; and indeed our own Afflictions however sweetned, lay still gnawing, and grating upon our Spirits that we must needs be very ill qualified to trea­sure up materials to make a History. Such a Design required Leisure, Liberty, Privacy, Retiredness, Intelligence, and strict Correspon­dence, to all which we were perfect Strangers. Yet sometimes I could make a truce with my Troubles, and obtain so long a cessation from my vexatious Pressures, as to make Obser­vation.

And. 1. The Hypocrisie of their Profession was so notorious, that he must put out his Eyes that did not see it. One Month in the year they Observe their Ramedam, which is their Lent; and indeed rhey Observe it by day with more Monkish Austerity, imposing upon themselves a total Abstinence: An Observation which they may be presumed to owe to that Nestorian [Page 27] Monk, who clubb'd with Mahomet in the cur­sed invention of the Alchoran: But for all their demure Quadragesimal looks by day, they give or sell themselves to commit with greediness all manner of the most execrable Villanies by night. And they cheat themselves with this evasion; that forsooth Mahomet Commanded them to Fast so many Days, but not so many Nights; For now they beat up their Drums, and call their Friends first out of bed, then out of Doors, they provoke, challenge, dare one another to eat, drink, and run into all excess of Riot. They will neither spare Men in their Rage, nor Wo­men in their Lust: The two hungry meals of the Day, makes the third of the Night an errand Glutton. By Day they create themselves a Purgatory, and by night the poor Slaves find a Hell. Now when they have cramm'd their Guts all Night, and are Maw-sick in the mor­ning, they put on their Lenten face again; and call that a Fast, which is but Physick; and pre­tend Religion for that which they are compell'd to by Nature; that is, they Fast when they can eat and drink no longer: But indeed their Fast by Day is nothing but a dry Drunkenness; for when they have drunk, and whored themselves into sin, they fancy they merit a pardon by Ab­stinence. A piece of Hypocrisie so gross, that whether it be to be sampled any where in the World, unless, perhaps, by the Popish Carne­vals, I cannot tell.

[Page 28] 2. I could not but observe, that though they allow, that every man may be saved in that Re­ligion he professes, provided he walks by i'ts Rules,; and therefore that at last, the Jews, un­der the Banner of Moses; the Christians, un­der the Banner of Christ; and the Turks, under the Banner of Mahomet, shall all march over a fair bridg, into I know not what Paradise, a place far beyond the Elisian Fields; yet they afford no mercy to one, who having once profes­sed, afterwards Revolts from Mahumetanism; an Instance whereof I shall now present the Rea­der with.

The Spaniards every year return a considera­ble sum of mony to Algires, to be employed in the Redemption of such of their own Coun­trey as are there in Slavery: Some say, there is a [...]articular Treasury set apart for that Ser­vice; but this I know, that they use the Cha­ritable benevolence of well disposed Persons, to advance it. Now, there was a Spanish Friar, that was a Slave, who being passed by in the Redemption that Year, took it very hainously to be neglected, thought himself much wronged; hereupon he grows Discontented, and the De­vil (who never works with greater success than upon that Humor) takes the Advantage to push him on; and he in a pett, Renounces the Chri­stian Religion, declares himself a Mussulman, and accordingly appears in his Turkish Habit. I knew him very well by sight he was a fat, [Page 29] corpulent person; but after he had turned Rene­gado, I observed him to become strangely lean, and dejected in his Countenance. but I little sus­pected, that the Root of his Distemper lay in his Conscience: but it seems he had severely reflected upon his Apostacy, for he had not Renounced onely his Popery, but his Christianity: His own Conscience, which was a Thousand Witnesses against him, was a Thousand Tormentors to him: Long he bore i'ts secret and stinging lashes, but when he could no longer stand under them, he goes to the Vice-Roy's Palace, and there openly declares himself a Christian, and pro­tests against the Superstition and Idolatry of Ma­homet, as a most Execrable, and damnable Im­posture: Immediatly he is conveyed before the Councel, and there strictly Examined, he per­sists resolutely in his Profession, whereupon he is clapt in Irons, and for some time there secu­red: Now, they pretended this reason for their proceedure. That there had been some pra­ctising and tampering with him, either Morally by Argument, or Naturally by some Dose of in­toxicating Drugs, that had thus distempered him; for loth they were it should be thought, that any Man of sound mind, or master of his Reason, would ever revolt from their Religi­on: But when they saw him fixt in his Reso­lution, and that neither what he felt, or might fear, what they had inflicted, or could threaten, did unhinge him from his Profession, they pro­ceeded [Page 30] to the last remedy, and inexorably Con­demned him to the Fire: A way of Punishment which they learnt from the Spaniards themselves who first set up the Inquisition against the Moors, and have now turned the edg of it against the Protestants. And now they proceed to the Ex­ecution of the Sentence, which was performed with some Pomp, and State. And first, they formed a Crown with a Cross upon the top of it, within the Plates, and Bars whereof they put Flax; thus Crowned, they guard him through the City, out of the West-Gate, about half a mile, which was the appointed place of Execu­tion: and first, one puts Fire to the Flax in his mock-Crown, to take possession of his Head, in the Name of the rest of his Body: at first he shook it off, but another put Fire again to it with a Cane, and then the poor man stood patiently, and presently they put Fire to the whole Pile, and there burnt him: I saw some of his Bones, and scorched Flesh after he was dead; and the same Evening came a Zealous Spaniard, and carried away some of his scorched Flesh, and Bones, as the Holy Reliques of a Martyr, saying I have now done enough to make satisfaction for all the sins that I have committed.

3. It's worth Admiration, to see in what great awe they stand of the meanest Officer, who is known to be such by his Turbant, and Ha­bit. If any Affray be made, or a murder com­mitted in the Streets, the Chiaux, or Officer [Page 31] presently comes without any Weapon or Per­son to assist him; and if he seizes the Offenders, none is so hardy as to resist even unarmed Au­thority.

4. The great Reverence which the Moors pay to the Turks, though both Mahumetans, is remarkable: If a Moor shall dare to strike a Turk, he is punisht with great severity: I saw two Moors whilst I was there, whose right Hands were chopt off for this one Crime, and hung about their necks in strings; the one was set upon an Asse, the other walkt by on foot, the Common Cryer proclaiming before them their Offence, through the chief Streets of the City. I saw another also with his heels tyed to a Horses Tayl; he was wholly naked, onely he had on a pair of linnen Drawers, and thus was he dragg'd through the Streets? It was a most lamentable Spectacle, to see his Body all torn with the rugged way, and stones; the skin torn off his Back and Elbows, his Head broken, and all covered with blood, and dirt, and thus was he dragg'd through the City out at Bubazoon, or the East-gate, where he ended his miserable Life.

Two others of their own Country-men I saw Executed in a most terrible, and dreadful man­ner, (but either I did not know, or do not re­member their Crimes:) The one was thrown off from a high Wall, and in his fall he was caught by the way, by one of the great sharp Hooks, [Page 32] which were fastned in the Wall; It caught him just under the Ribs, and there he hung roaring in unspeakable pain till he dyed. The other was fastned to a Ladder, his wrists, and ankles be­ing nailed through with Iron spikes, in such a posture as somewhat resembles the Celebrated Cross of St. Andrew; and least his Flesh and Sinews should fail, and the Nails not hold; his Wrists and Ankles were bound fast with small Cords to the Ladder: Two days I saw him alive under this Torture, how much longer he lived under it I cannot tell.

5. They are generally great Enemies to De­bauchery in publick: It's a great scandal to them when they see any Christians, who brought that Beastiality out of their own Countries with them, to be guilty of it. I have heard them say, of a Drunken Slave; A Christian? No, He's a Swine. And though they will indulge them­selves by Night (especially in their Ramedam Month) yet woe be to him, that shall Offend by Day in that Kind. There was an English­man, who had brought over with him his drunk­en Humour, and his Captivity had not made him Sober: and when Religion has not firm hold of the Heart, a little matter will make such a one let go his hold of Religion: This English-man turn'd a Renegado, and of a Drunken Christian became a Drunken Turk, and was not able to keep the Pot from his Head, during their Holy time of Ramedam; being one day found thus like a [Page 33] Sot, he was brought into the Cassabal, or Chief Court of Judicature, where he was adjudged to receive many hundreds of violent blows; some upon his naked Back and Reins, others upon his naked Belly; he could not creep from the place of punishment, but was carried away by the Hammels; his Belly, and Back were so excori­ated, that Sampson Baker, an English-man, who was his Chirurgeon, assured me he was forced to cut off abundance of his Flesh before he could be Cured.

6. What Cruelties they Exercise upon poor Slaves, needs not be mentioned, and there will be an Occasion to speak of the most Ordinary way of punishment e're long. Let it suffice, that all is Arbitrary, and unlimitted. If a Patron shall kill his Slave, for ought I could perceive, he suffers no more for it, than if he should kill his Horse: There was a Dutch Youth, a Slave to a Turk, who, upon some provocation, drew his Knife at his Patron; for this Offer, he was Sentenced to be dragg'd out at one of the Gates, and there to have his Arms and Legs broken in pieces with the great Sledg Hammer, which Sen­tence was accordingly Executed, for though I could not see his face for the Crowd, yet I heard the blows, and the miserable Cries of the poor dying Young Man.

SECT. VI.
The grievous Punishment Inflicted upon John Randal; the Authors Danger, and Deliverance from the same, upon pre­tence that they had attempted to make an Escape.

IT is time to re-assume my own concerns, and look a little into my own Condition, which, through the good providence of God, was much better than that of many of my poor Brethren and Fellow-Captives; and yet I met with great ebbings and flowings in my Tranquility: whilst I was managing my Trade very stoutly and suc­cessfully, (John Randal working with me in my Shop) my Partner now having knockt off, and left all to me: One day I changed a twenty shil­ling-piece of Gold for Silver with a Friend, and having the mony chinking in my hand, John Randal asked me, what I did with so much mo­ny? I desired him to keep it for me, till our re­turn, and he should know: For he being not very well, we agreed to walk out of the Town to take the fresh Air; a liberty, which for some­what above a mile, is indulged to the Slaves: When we had walked almost to the end of our [Page 35] Tedder, I was desirous to walk a little further to view the Coasts, if, perhaps, any advantage might offer it self afterwards for an Escape, though we Actually designed no such thing. As we were prying about the Sea-side, one of the Spies appointed constantly to watch, lest any of the Slaves should run away, came to us, and charged us with an attempt to make an Escape? we flatly denied it, but he laid hold on us; there was no resisting; Obey we must, and accor­dingly attended his Mastership towards the Ci­ty: As we drew near, I espyed some English-men at Quoits (for with such Recreations and Diver­sions, they are willing now and then to beguile the tedious minutes of lingring thraldom) I beck­oned to one of them whom I knew, and preten­ding only to whisper to him, I secretly convey­ed to him my purse, wherein were seven pieces of eight? we were presently met by another Spy, and those two led us to a little blind House, where they search'd us, they took away the twenty shillings, which I had put into my Friends hand, and finding nothing upon me, took away my Doublet, and then brought us before the Vice-roy, and his Council: We were straight­ly Examined, and strongly charged with an at­tempt to Escape: We peremptorily denyed all, and stood upon our Innocency, affirming, that our onely design of walking abroad, was to take the fresh Air, occasioned by my Fellows Sick­ness. This Purgation would not be Accepted, [Page 34] [...] [Page 35] [...] [Page 36] and the Battoon was commanded to be brought forth, we answered, we durst not falsely accuse our selves, nor make our selves Criminal, when we were not so, and therefore if such was their will and pleasure, we must abide by it, and so we sat down by the sticks.

The way of Punishment by the Battoon, or Cudgel, as this, They have a strong staff, about six Foot long, in the middle whereof are bored two holes; Into these Holes a Cord is put, and the ends of the [...]rd fastned on the one side the staff, with knots, so that it makes a Loop on the other side. Into this Loop of the Cord both the Feet of the Person Condemned to this Punish­ment are put; then two lusty Fellows, one at each end of the staff, lifts it up in their Arms, and twisting the Staff about, till his Feet are fast pinc'd with the Cord by the Ankles, they raise up his Feet with the Soles upwards, well nigh as high as their shoulders, and in this posture they hold them, the poor man the mean while resting only with his Neck and Shoulders on the Ground: Then comes another lusty, sturdy Knave behind him, and with a tough, short Truncheon gives him as many violent blows on the Soles of his Feet as the Council shall order.

But the Vice-Roy, with his Council, gathe­ring from circumstances, and induced to believe us by our constant and resolute denial of the Fact, omitted at present any further punish­ment▪ and only commanded us to be laid in chains [Page 37] in the Vice-Roy's Prison till our Patrons should demand our Liberty, and fetch us out. And the next day we were both delivered, though with differing Fates; as Pharaoh's Chief But­ler, and Chief Baker were both taken from Pri­son, the One to be Advanced, the Other to be Hanged: For John Randal's Patron being a very Termergant, used that absolute and unlimit­ted Sovereignty which they pretend to, over their Slaves, and commanded him to receive three hundred blows upon the Soles of his Feet with the Battoon, in manner before descri­bed: As for my self, when I was brought home, the Spie that seized us, came and demanded Money of my Patron for his good service (not reckoning that he had any thing of me) which put him into a most desperate fit of Passion, and calling me Dog and Jew, and all to naught, com­manded me to go work in the Looms with two other English-men that were Slaves, and Lin­nen-Cloth-Weavers: But alas, I was a very Bungler, and understood nothing of the Craft and Mystery of Weaving more or less; but there I wrought till I had spoiled all that I laid my Hands on: Now, when he saw that my la­bour this way would not turn to Account, he rated me for a Loggerhead, and bad me fill Quills for the other two; being now degraded from a bungling Weaver to an excellent [...]iller of Quills, I continued about a month; my Shop all this while lay at sixes and seavens, what was [Page 38] become of it I knew not, and durst not for my Life discover any desire to return to that em­ployment. At last, my Patron asked me for the money that he had lent me when I first be­gan to Trade: I answered submissively, that I had not a farthing, all my small Estate lay in a few Goods, and till they were sold, I could not possibly repay him: He calls one of his Slaves, a Dutch man, and commands him to go with me, and turn all into ready money, and bring it him: When I came to my Old Shop, there was the Nest indeed, but all the Birds were slown; for in my absence, (poor John Randal being Lame, and not able to work, my Partner some­time before having left me, and I confined to another Employment) some of these Rascals had broken open my Shop, and thence carried the best of my Goods, though my Cellar was still safe, and some of my Goods I heard of, and re­covered; what money I had was hid in the Ground, as it was my constant way: That night the Dutch man and my self returned to our Pa­tron, and told him we could sell nothing; where­upon he remanded me to my Shop, there to Trade, paying him the two Dollars a moneth, as I had done before.

SECT VII.
The Authors Patron growing poor, he is Sold, or Mortgaged to another; the wonderful kindness that he found from his second Patron.

HEre was nothing yet working towards a Deliverance, nor could I yet see the least glimmering of possibility which might so much as flatter my willing mind with a hope of esca­ping: But it's Observed, that the Night is al­ways darkest towards Day-break; and God is often drawing nearer to us in Mercy, when we conceive he is departing further off in Displea­sure.

My Patron had been sincking in his Estate a pretty while, the last Ship he had put to Sea broke his back: At last he was grown (insensibly) so low, that it could no longer be daubed up with his Repute, but he must be forced to sell all his Slaves to pay his Debts: It was not much to me whither I was chopt and changed; I might change my Goaler, and my Goal, but still I was like to be a Prisoner: I might be bought and sold, and sold again, but still my Condition was Slavery; yet one thing methought was comfor­table, [Page 40] that the last Instrument of my Bondage was come into Misery as well as my self.

In the partage of his Slaves, it fell to my Lot and anothers to be Mortgaged for a certain sum of Money, joyntly to two Persons, the one a Cap-maker, the other a Grave Old Gentleman, who amongst his own People had the Repute or a good Natur'd and moderate Person, (as good Nature, and Moderation go at Algier.) The Day of Payment came, the Mony was not paid; the Cap-maker and the Old Gentleman seize on us, and hold us in Common, but in a While they resolved to divide us, that each of them might know his proper Goods and Chattels, and each of us might know whom to call Master, and whose whistle we were bound to Obey: We are both summoned to appear in a certain place at mid day, and much ado there was about our Dividing: At last they agreed to Cast Lots for us, onely be­cause I was in a handsome way of Trade, it was accorded, that he to whose share I should fall, should pay the other fifty Doubles, which, if I compute aright, is something more then fifty shillings Sterling. I was exceeding fearful I should fall to this Cap-maker, for he had the Character of a brutish, ill-humour'd Creature and therefore I was concern'd to lift my Petiti­on to God, that seeing, when the Lot should be cast into the lap, yet the whole Disposition there­of is of God, he would give me forth a gracious Lot: Whatever there is of Contingency as to us [Page 41] there's nothing accidental to God. Well, God Delivered me from that Tyrant, and I was ad­judged by the decision of the Lot to the Old Gen­tleman: And if I should be silent here, I should be the most ungrateful wretch Living: I found not onely pity and compassion, but Love and Friendship from my New Patron? had I been his Son, I could not have met with more respect, nor been treated with more tenderness: I could not wish a Friend a better Condition then I was then in, except my Bonds. If any thing could be mingled with Bondage to make it sweet? if any thing could Reconcile Slavery to Nature? if any thing could beget an Acquiescence in such a state, I did not, I could not want it.

And indeed the Freedom that I found in Ser­vitude, the Liberty I enjoyed in my Bonds was so great that it took off much of the Edg of my desire to obtain, and almost blunted it from any vigorous attempt after Liberty, that carried haz­ard in it's Face; till at last I was awakened upon this Occasion.

My Patron had a fair Farm in the Countrey, about twelve miles from the City, whither he took me along with him? he had me to their Mar­kets, shewed me the manner of them, & at my re­turn, he loaded me home with all manner of good Provisions, that I might make merry with my Fel­low-Christians? I had some Reason to conclude from his great kindness to me, that he intended to [...]end me thither to manage the Farm for him. I [Page 42] saw now evidently, that if I once quitted my shop▪ I should lose with it all means, all helps, and there­fore all hopes to rid my self out of this Slavery: And though I might have been there a petty Lord, and Bashaw'd it over the rest of my Fellow-Ser­vants, yet Slavery had in it something of I know not what harshness that I could not brook. Fetters of Gold do not lose their Nature, they are Fet­ters still: Had Bajazet's Cage been of Gold, as 'twas of Iron, yet it was a Cage; and that was provocation enough to a haughty Spirit to beat out his own Brains against it's Bars. This there­fore quickned my dull temper, and I began to Resolve to make an Attempt once for all. Now therefore mustering those few Wits Captivity had left me, I set them on work, and ran through all things possible, and impossible; he that will find what he has lost, must look where 'tis not, as well as where 'tis; and forming stratagems in my Head, some Idle, and Vain; some Desperate, others impossible; at last pitcht upon one, that seemed to me feizable and practicable.

SECT. VIII.
The Contrivance for our Escape, the Per­sons Acquainted with it, and also those that were Engaged in it; some Debates about leaving my Patron.

HAving Formed the Design, or at least, the rude draught, and general Model of it, my first care was to open it to some skilful and faithful Counsellers, who might more imparti­ally discover to me it's inconveniences, where it was like to prove leaky, or take wind; And first I acquainted Mr. Sprat, our Minister, with it, and laid before him the whole of the Contrivance; and he so far approved it, that he judged it possible: Next, I acquainted one Robert Lak [...], a very wise and Religious Per­son, who bestowed his Blessings on it, and wish'd it all good Success: And lastly, I acquainted my Friend John Randal, who approved it: Yet none of these could, or would run the risque of it's miscarriage. Mr. Sprat was already deli­vered from his Patron, and in a fair way to be absolutely enlarged, in a more safe and Regular way, for not long after our Escape came Cap­tain Pack, of London, and paid the sixty Dollars [Page 44] and took him along with him for England: John Randal had a Wife, and Child and these were too dear pledges to be left behind, and yet too tender things to undergo our Difficulties: Ro­bert Lake was an Ancient Person, and neither able passively to be carried in, nor actively to car­ry on a Design that required much hardness of Body and Mind to endure, and much strength to go through with it? we had nothing more from them then Prayers and Counsels, which yet was the mane? and then my next care was, to take in Partners, and Accomplices in the Design▪

And herein I had a three fold Respect: First to such as were necessarily required to Form the Instrument of our Escape and Deliverance▪ Se­condly, to such, whose tryed, and approved Fi­delity I might presume would be obstinately, and Religiously secret in concealing it: Thirdly, to such, whose Courage of Mind, and strength of Body would render them capable to pursue the ends of it, to put it in Execution, and go through with it.

But before I would reveal the Project to any of them in particular, I Required an Oath of Secresie: That whereas I should now reveal to him, or them, a matter of great concernment to their Happiness and Well-fare, they should so­lemnly promise, and swear, that in case they did not approve it, or would not joyn in it, yet they should, neither directly, nor indirectly,; for fear, or flattery, discover it, or the Persons engaged [Page 45] in it, to any Person whatsoever. When a Pro­ject was once mentioned, which promised in general their Happiness and Well-fare, I needed not tell them in particular what it drove at, they could smell out that with ease; for what could be Good, or Happy to Slaves without Liberty? This Oath therefore they willingly took: I judg­ed seven Persons would be enough to manage, carry on, and Execute it; and therefore except the three fore-mentioned, I communicated it to no one Person but these following, who engaged in it, though all of them did not go through with it. John Anthony, a Carpenter, who had been a Slave fifteen years: his Trade suf­ficiently shews, how useful he would prove in the Design. William Adams, who since his Captivity, had learnt and used the Trade of a Bricklayer; his Serviceableness in it will be evi­dent in the sequel; he had been a Slave eleven Years. John Jephs, who was a Sea-man, and must therefore be presumed one of the Quorum is a Project of this Nature; he had endured Slavery about five Years. John—a Carpen­ter, who was a skilful Man in his Trade, Lusty of Body, and therefore must be a good Wheel in this Engine, and he had been a Slave five Years: And two others, whose Employ­ment it was to-wash small Cloaths at the Sea-side, and those had also their parts in carrying on the work, though they went not along with us; and William Okeley, who presents the Reader [Page 46] with this Narrative, who was taken August 11▪ 1639▪ and Escaped June 30. 1644▪ these made up the Number of 7. There arose a Scruple, nay, it amounted to a Question, whether to at­tempt an Escape from my Patron, one that so dearly Loved me, so courteously treated me, had so fairly bought me, were justifiable before God and Men?

And 1. It might be a Question in point of Prudence; for, where could I hope to mend my self? Or better my Condition? I might possibly find worse Quarter in England, where the Civil Wars were now broke out, and to that height of exasperation, that those of the same Nation, and, perhaps Blood, would hardly give Quarter of Life one to another: If the Name of Native Countrey bewitcht me, if That dazled my Eyes; surely where-ever we are well is our Countrey, and all the World is Home to him that thrives all over the World: And why should the Name of Bondage, why should a word grate so harshly upon my delicate Spirit, when the sting of it was taken away? Liberty is a good word; but a Man cannot buy a Meals meat with a word: And Slavery is a hard word, but it breaks no mans back. Thousands are more Slaves then I, who are yet their own Masters, and less at Liberty then my self, who have the free rake and range of the whole World. But yet my Patron's Favour was no free hold; I held not my Happy time in fee simple, all was advo­luntatem [Page 47] Domini; besides, he might dye, and leave me to another; or Live to Sell me to ano­ther, who might be of another Character, and then my Condition would be therefore wose because I had known a better.

2. I might be Questioned in point of Inge­nuity, how I could be so unworthy to leave him, who had Loved me? Would not all that should hear of it, Condemn me of ill Nature, to leave without taking leave, one that had been a Fa­ther to me, who might have used the Right of a Lord; and used me as a Child, who might have treated me as a Slave? But really I thought there was more of Manners and Courtship in the Objection, than of weight, and Cogency; Still I dwelt with Meshech, and had my Habitation amongst the Tents of Kedar; and one thought of England, and of its Liberty and Gospel con­futed a thousand such Objections, and routed whole Legions of these little Scruples. It was no time to stand upon the Punctilio's of Honour and Ingenuity; no time to Complement, and strain courtesie; here was no Farewel Patron, in the Case, and therefore I soon overcame that.

But, 3. It might be Questioned in the Court of Conscience, whether it were not down-right Theft to with-draw my self from his Service, who had bought me, paid for me, enter'd upon me, possess'd and enjoy'd me, as his own pro­per Goods, and now I was not my own, had no right to my self: Whether might not a Man be [Page 48] felo de se, in stealing himself, as well as killing himself? And whether he is not the greater self-robber, that steals away himself, then he that steals away from himself? But I much question­ed their propriety to me; my Patron's Title was rotten at the Foundation: Man is too noble a Creature to be made subject to a deed of bar­gain and Sale; and my consent was never ask'd to all their bargains, which is Essential, to create a right of Dominion over a Rational Creature, where he was not born a Subject. If I had for­feited my Life or Liberty, the Law might take it; but I was not Conscious to my self of any such forfeiture, but that I was at my own Dispo­sal.

Thus all was clear and quiet, and we went on with our Design, which I now first opened to them: That I had contrived the Model of a Boat, which being formed in parcels, and after­wards put together, might, by the super-inten­dency of Divine Providence, prove an Ark to deliver us out of the hands of our Enemies. This was soon said, and greedily entertained; to E­scape was a pleasant word, the Name of Liberty made Musick in our Ears, and our wishing hearts danced to the Tune of it; and a Boat was as pro­mising a means as any thing could be imagined: But when once their thoughts cooled, and came more sedately to look into the difficulties of it; they appeared innumerable, and some of them seemed insuperable; and some things that had [Page 49] past currant in my own thoughts, and I went clever away with them, without any rub; yet when they came to be pierced into with more Eyes, and scann'd upon more Fingers, they were attended with considerable impediments: where this Boat should be built, was one staggering Question: Where it should be Lanched, and where put to Sea, was a Choaking Objection: How we should escape those Argus-eyes, which are always observing us by Day, was a gravel­ling Qhaery; or how to get out of the City by Night, whose Walls are so high, whose Gates are so close shut, and strongly Guarded was another vexatious Quaery: How we should be Rigged and Victualled for such a Voyage, was a considerable enquiry: and whether we should design, was not to be slighted. But how such a little Skiff, rather than Boat, should be able to Weather all the Accidents of the Sea, was a Neck Question, enough to strangle Faith, and stifle with us with Despair.

To these Objections, I Answered. That I had designed my own Cellar, as the meetest place wherein to build the Boat; that when it was there Built, it might be taken in pieces again, and car­ried out of the City in parcels, and bestowed in private places till things were ripe for Executi­on. That for a place where to put to Sea, it [...]ould be time enough to determine upon that when we had finish'd our Vessel: That Mayork was the most commodious place to design to [Page 50] Land in: But in general I told them to this pur­pose; That if we never attempted any thing till we had Answered all Objections, we must sit with our Fingers in our Mouths all our days, and pine, and languish out our tedious Lives in Bondage, Let us be up and doing, and God would be with us. To begin is one half of our work; Let us make an Essay, and Answer particular Objecti­ons as they Offer'd themselves, and as we met with them in our work. That the Project had its difficulties, was confessed; but what has not, that is Commendable, and Glorious? Yet whatever difficulties & dangers we could meet with, Liberty, kept in our Eye, would sweeten the dangers we might encounter in Attempting▪ They were all well sati [...]fied with what was said and all engaged to venture the utmost they were, and had, to accomplish it.

SECT. IX.
The Model of the Boat, Carrying it out of the City, and bestowing it in convenient Places.

IN the Cellar where we had Worship'd God, we began our Work; and it was not the Ho­liness, but the Privacy of the place that invited us, and advised us to it. And first, we provi­ded a piece of Timber about twelve Foot long, to make the Keel: But because it was impossible to convey a piece of Timber of that length out of the City, but it must be seen; and of that shape, but it must be suspected, and that Suspi­tion would bring us into Examination, and the Rack, or Battoon might extort a Confession out of the mo [...]t resolved, and obstinate breast; we therefore cut it in two pieces, and fitted it for Joynting thus in the middle. Our next care was the Timbers or Ribs of the Poat, which we contrived thus; every one of the Timbers was made of three pieces, and joynted in two places, because a whole Rib at its full length, would be lyable to the same inconveniences with the Keel. Now understand, that the joynts of the Ribs were not made with Mortice and Te­non, [Page 52] but the flat side of one of the three Pieces was laid over the other, and two holes were bo­red at every joynt, into which two Nails were to be put, when we should joyn the parcels of our Boat together: You must understand further, that these two holes at every joynt were not made in a strait line, parallel with the sides of the pieces, for then the three pieces, which make one Rib, being joyned together would have made one strait piece; a Form which would by no means comport with the Use and Design of the Tim­bers; But so, that when both the Nails were in the holes, each Joynt would make an obtuse an­gle, and so incline so near towards a Semi-Circular Figure, as our Occasion required. All this while here is no visible Provision made for boards, to cloath the naked Ribs of our Boat, without which, the Keel and Timbers looked but like an useless Anatomy; but neither had we, nor was it possible we should have any boards in our Vessel: Necessity is the best Arti­ficer when all is done, if we accept her Sister Contingency; to which two the World has been beholden for the most useful inventions, which at this day do ease the Labour and Toyl of wea­ried Mankind. For the Joynting of these Boards; and the Nailing of them, to make the Boat Wa­ter-tite, would require such Hammering, and that Hammering would make such a clamarou [...] Echo in the Cellar, as must have drawn upon us the Jealous Eyes of the Algerines, who [Page 53] about their Wives and Slaves are insupportably suspicious: And therefore from the first Con­ception of the Design, I always resolved upon a Canvas: In pursuance of which thought, be­ing all satisfied that it was practicable; we bought as much strong Canvas as would cover our Boat twice over, upon the Convex of the Carine; We provided also as much Pitch, Tar, and Tallow as would serve to make it a kind of a Tawparlin Sear-cloth, to swaddle the naked body of our Infant-Boat: With Earthen pots to melt done our Materials in; and prefixt a night wherein we might Execute that part of our Labour. The two Carpenters, and my self were appointed to this Service, and the Cellar was the place where we met. Matters had hither­to run very evenly, and smoothly, but here we met with some discouraging rubs. For when we had stopt all the Chinks and Crannies of the Cellar, that the streame of the melted Materials might not creep out and betray us, (there be­ing no Chimney,) we had not been long at our work before I felt my self exceeding sick, with the strong, and unusual scent of the melted Li­quor; I was forced to go out into the streets to gasp for breath, where meeting with the cool Air, it over-came me, I swooned, fell down brake my face, and there lay: My Compa­nions missing me, made out to seek me, found me in this sad plight, and carried me in again, though exceeding sick, and unserviceable. They [Page 54] had not proceeded much further before I heard one of them complain he was sick, and cou'd proceed no further, and now our work stood still: I plainly saw that our hopeful Project, that had hitherto so smoothly proceeded, must needs miscarry, and Prove Abortive; for it would be impossible to finish it this night: and if we once parted, and suffered our Spirits to cool over the Design, they would never cease cooling till they were stone-cold, and hard frozen; and there­fore I advised to set open the Door, and com­mit our selves, and our work to Gods Protecti­on: For I told them they could not but know, that if any Discovery were made, the burden would fall heaviest upon my shoulders; and my Back or Feet must pay for all. At length, we resolved to set the Cellar-door wide open, and as soon as that was done, and the stream pretty well gone out, we came to our selves again, cou­ragiously went on with our business, and pitched one half that Night. The next night we met again, set open the Door, and whilst they plyed the work, I stood Sentinel at the Door to give Notice of approaching danger; but we happily finish'd the whole, and while it was yet dark, carried it to my Shop, which was about a Fur­long from the Cellar, and there at present secu­red it.

I shall not question the Readers Ingenuity so much, but that he will suppose there goes a great deal more to a Boat than I have described; [Page 55] but what should I trouble him with those things that are common to all other Boats, I mention only what was Peculiar to our own; and I do not intend to trouble him with the Boat-wright's Lecture.

In our Cellar we fitted all things, we made the Timbers fit to the Keel, and the Canvas fit for the Timbers, and the Seats fit to the whole, and then took all in pieces again, and laying our Heads together, plotting how to convey all out of the Town, and lodg them in secure and tru­sty places.

And first▪ for our Keel, we all with unani­mous consent judged Will. Adams the fittest Person to execute that part of the Design, for he had long Exercised the Trade of a Brick-lay­er, and his Employment lay much without the Town; and besides, he used such pieces in level­ling his work. He therefore; accourted with his Apron before him, his Trowel in his hand, and one of the pieces upon his shoulder, undertook it, and without the least Observation went cle­verly away with it, and as he saw his Opportu­nity, hid it in the bottom of a Hedg; and not long after conveyed out its Fellow, and Lodged it in the same place. This succeeding so hap­pily, we saw no great difficulty in the Timbers, for we put one nail into a hole of every joynt, and then you will easily conceive, that the two ex­tream pieces of one Rib being folded inwards upon the middlemost, will lye in the room of one [Page 56] of the pieces for length, excepting that litile that the ends of each piece were beyond the holes: Now, by general consent, the conveying these out of the City was committed to one, whose Employment was to wash small Clothes by the Sea-side: He puts them into his bag amongst his Clothes, and so very orderly carried them out, and hid them where he could find most commodi­ous stowage, but yet with Respect to nearness to that Place where the Keel was laid.

But how to convey our Tarpawlin safe out of Town seemed most difficult; by night it was impossible, and by day the difficulties very con­siderable, and the danger proportionable; for the Gates are strictly watch'd, the Streets crowded, the Spies pickering in every corner, and the bulk of the Canvas thus dressed was very great. To divide it had been to ruin our selves, for no stitching together again, could so cheat the sear­ching water, but it would find out the needle-holes. At last we ventured upon this way; we put it into a large Sack, and committed it to him that used to wash Clothes, and lest any should clap a jealous hand upon it, we put a Pillow over our Canvas within the bag, that so its softness might delude the Inquisitor, and make it pass for Clothes. Let none dispise, or condemn these as low, mean pieces of contrivance, for we had not Polititians tools to work withal; but the less was our Policy, the more glorious does the wis­dom of God shine in succeeding it, and yet even [Page 57] that little Policy we were guilty of, was of his bestowing also; what of sin was in all of it, was entirely our own; what of Power, Wisdom, and Success, was all his: But our Agent escaped happily with it, and Lodging it in a secret place, returned.

We had yet many things to provide, and Oars are absolutely necessary, they were of the Quorum to an Escape by sea: As Finns are the Fishes Oars, so Oars are the Boats Finns, by help whereof she makes her way: Now, to supply this defect, we took two Pipe-staves, and slitting them a cross from corner to corner with a Hand-saw, we made of each Pipe-staff two Rude things, which Necessity was pleased to entitle The blades for a pair of Oars, and these were easily conveyed out, without suspition.

Next, we considered, that Provision must be laid in for our Voyage; and therefore we provi­ded a small, and but a small quantity of Bread, presuming our stay at Sea must be but short; for either we should speedily recover Land, or speedily be drown'd, or speedily be brought back again: Two Goats skins also, stript off whole, and so Tann'd (a kind of Bottle much used by the Algerines to carry Milk and Water in) we had, which we lived with fresh water, and we know that must needs be a great Rarity in the Mediterranean.

We remembred also that a Sail might be of right good use to us for expedition, and there­fore [Page 58] we bought as much Canvas as would An­swer that End; and when some Dispute was made abou [...] carrying it out, I Offered to under­take that last part of our work: I had not gone a quarter of a Mile, but as I cast my wary eye back, I espyed the same spie, who once before had seized me, and given me trouble, follow­ing me very roundly. My Heart began to ake; I was loth a Design of so near, and dear con­cernment to all of us, should be brought to the Birth, and there should be no strength to bring forth. It's sad, after a Voyage, to ship-wrack in the Haven, but me-thought it was more sad to sink a Vessel before it could be Launched: And here I first found the difference between Inno­cence and Guilt; for how boldly could I hold up my head to this Spie, and his betters, (at least, his Masters) when I was not Conscious of any such Design in hand? Where as now the Re­flection of my Conscience. was enough to write guilt in my Countenance, (for some things are sin there which are not so in other places:) and this had betray'd me, had I not suddenly pluckt up my spirits, and spying an English-man wash­ing Clothes by the Sea, I went the ready way to him, and desired him to help me wash that Can­vas; as we were washing it, the learing Spye came and stood upon the Rock just over our Heads to watch our motions: As soon as we had a little formally wash'd it, to cast a Mist before his Observing Eyes, I took the Canvas and spred [Page 59] it before his Face upon the top of the Rock to dry; he staid his own Time, and then march'd off. But I was as Jealous of him, as he could be of me for his Heart; and therefore fearing he might lye in Ambush for me, took it when 'twas dry, and very fairly carried it back into the City, and faithfully acquainted my Accom­plices how the Matter squared. This Discora­ged them not a little, for that they seemed timo­rous to proceed in the Enterprize.

At last we comforted, and encouraged one another, and entred into close Counsel, where we should meet that Night? At what time? Where we should put our Boat together, and where put to Sea? The Time was an hour with­in Night; the Rendevouz on a Hill, about half a Mile from the Sea; and so we dispersed, some one way, some another; and privily lurk­ing in Hedges and Ditches, lay close till the time appointed.

There is one thing that the Reader will be ready to ask; and I shall be more ready to An­swer him for a special Reason: viz. What I did with my Shop and Goods? When I had once Resolved upon this Adventure, and saw it go on hopefully, I gave my Patron my wonted Visits; kept fair Correspondence, paid him his demands duly, but secretly I made off my Goods as fast as I could, and turn'd all into ready Money: I had a Trunk, for which John Anthony made me a false bottom; into which I put what Silver or [Page 60] Gold I had? and into the Body of the Trunk, what ever it would hold, and was worthy holding: This Trunk I committed privately to the Fide­lity of our dear Minister, Mr. Sprat; he took the charge of it, and he was now ready to receive his full Discharge. This Trunk he Faithfully Secured, and carefully brought over, and as ho­nestly delivered to me when he heard I was come safe to London; and I was willing to move that Question, merely for the Answers sake, which witnesses his Fidelity,

SECT. X.
The putting off our Boat together, the Dif­ficulties we met with therein; and our putting out to Sea, June 30. 1644.

AS soon as we were met all together at the appointed place; we began to think of Ex­ecuting our long intended Design; but we were divided in our Counsels, where to begin our work: It had been a Question propounded be­fore, and we thought we had fully resolved upon the place; but at our Meeting we were strangely discomposed: There were two places which stood in Competition, each pretending good Conve­niences for that end. The one was a Hill, about half a Mile from the Sea; the other was a Val­ley, encompassed with two Hedges, about a Furlong from the Hill, but of the same distance with it from the Sea: It was urged for the Val­ley, that it was a place of more Secrecy and Pri­vacy, less obvious to view; but then it was ob­jected, that we might there be surprized, and seized by the Churches of our Enemies, e're we could have notice to shift for our selves: For the Hill, it had been argued, that we might there make better Discovery of Danger, and make Provision to avoyd it; and in short, we all agreed [Page 62] over night, to put our Boat together upon the Hill; promising our selves much Advantage from its Scituation: But when we were met, we all altered our Resolution without any visible Reason, and carried it for the Valley▪ God is much in the dark to us, but all our wayes are in the open Light to him. It's very difficult to give an Account what God is doing at present, but we shall know, if we can but patiently wait till fu­ture Providences Comment upon the former: And in a while we saw the Reason why God over-ruled our purposes.

We had hid several of our Materials near the top of the Hill, where also grew a small Fig-tree, which we had marked with our Eye, as Judging it would be useful to strengthen the Keel of our Boat: Two of our Company were immediately dispatcht to saw down this Fig-Tree, and bring it, and the parcels of our Boat there disposited away with them: They were hardly come to the place, but we heard Dogs bark about the top of the Hill, and indeed two Men with Dogs came very near them; but our Men being aware lay close and still, and so they passed by with­out making any Discovery, and then our Men bestirr'd themselves, and brought away the Fig-Tree, and the other Materials, and retur­ned to us.

And now we had once more brought the scat­ter'd Limbs of our Boat into one place, which, like those of Absyrtus, had been dispersed up [Page 63] and down the Fields: It was no time to trifle, & therefore we all buckled to our work in good earnest: But we were so nigh some that were at work in the Neighbouring Gardens, that we could hear them speak, and therefore must needs suppose they might hear us too; and therefore we Acted by Signs, and pointed, and pulled, and nodded, but were all Mutes: It might have been an Expedient for the Builders of Babel, when their Languages were Divided, to have carried on their great Project by Signs: but cer­tainly there was Confusion poured out upon their Hearts and Counsels, as well as Division in their Tongues and Languages.

The two parts of our Keel we soon joyned; then opening the Timbers, which had already one Nail in every Joynt, we groped out for the other hole; and put its Nail into it: Then we open'd them at their full length, and applyed them to the top of the Keel, fastning them with Rope-Yarn, and small Cords; and so we served all the Joynts to keep them firm and stable; then we bound small Canes all along the Ribs length-ways, both to keep the Ribs from vering, and also to bear out the Canvas very stiff against the pressing water: Then we made Notches upon the ends of the Ribs, or Timbers, wherein the Oars might plye; and having tyed down the Seats, and strengthned our Keel with the Fig-Tree, we lastly drew on our double Canvas Case, already fitted; and really the Canvas seemed a Winding-sheet [Page 64] sheet for our Boat; and our Boat a Coffin for us all.

This done, four of our Company took it upon their shoulders, and carried it down towards the Sea, which was about half a Mile off: It was a little Representation of a Funeral, to see the four Barers Marching in deep silence with some­thing very like a Herse, and Coffin, upon their shoulders, and the rest of us decently attending the Ceremony; but we wanted Torches, and be­sides, it's not usual for any to wait upon their own Coffins: But we durst not grudg our Boat that small, and last Office, to carry it half a Mile, for we expected, it should repay us that Ser­vice and Civilty with Interest, in carrying us many a League: We carried it at Land, where it could not swim; that it might carry us at Sea, where we could not walk. As we went along, they that were in the Gardens heard us passing by, and called to us, who comes there? But it was dark, and we had no mind to prate, and therefore without any Answer, we silently held on our way.

When we came to the Sea-side, we immedi­ately stript ourselves naked, and putting our Clothes into the Boat, carried it, and them, as far into the Sea as we could wade; and this we did, lest our tender Boat should pe toren against the Stones or Rocks; and then all seven of us got into her: But here we soon found how our Skill in Calculating the Lading of our Vessel failed [Page 65] us: For we were no sooner Embarqued, but she was ready to sink under us, the water coming in over the sides? so that once again we must entertain new Counsels▪ at last, one whose Heart most failed him, was willing to be shut out; and rather hazard the uncertain Torments of the Land, than certainly be drown'd at Sea; then we made a second Experiment, but still she was so deep Laden, that we all concluded there was no venturing out to Sea: At length, another went a shore, and then she held up her Head ve­ry stoutly, and seem'd hearty enough for our Voyage.

It was time now to commit, and Commend our selves, and Vessel to the Protection, and Conduct of that God who Rules the Winds and the waves, and whose Kingdom is in the deep Waters, imploring Mercy for the Pardon of our Sins, and resigning up our souls to God, as if we had been presently to suffer Death by the Hand of the Executioner. and taking our Solemn Farewel of our two Companions, whom we left behind, and wishing them as much Happiness as could be hoped for in Slavery, and they to us as long a Life as could be expected by Men going to their Graves; we Launched out, upon the thir­tieth day of June, in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand, Six Hundred, Forty, and Four: A Night for ever to be re­membred [Page 64] [...] [Page 65] [...] [Page 66] by his poor Creatures, who are our selves Great Monuments of Divine Pro­vidence, and do set up this Littile Monu­ment of his Goodness and Mercy, that may survive us and bear up the Name of God to after-times, that by us Men may Learn to Put their Trust in God: And the Bill of Lading is as followeth; John Anthony, Wil­liam Adams, John Jephs, John—Carpenter, and William Okley.

SECT. XI.
The great Extremities we Endured at Sea for Six Dayes, and Nights, with the Co­incident Providences of God that ap­peared for us in our Extremities, and our Miraculous Landing at Mayork, July 6. 1644.

WE are now out at Sea without Helm, or Pilot; without Anchor, Tackle, or Compass; but God was these. all these, and more then all these. Our Number was Small, our Work was Great, we could not afford one Idle Hand, not one idle Finger: Four of the Company continually wrought at the Oars; and indeed we wrought for our Lives, and then I shall not need to say how we wrought: But this I shall say, I can truly say it, I never saw strength so strained, nor the utmost of what Nature could do for Life and Liberty, exerted so much in all my Life. The Employment of the fifth Man was more easie, but no less necessary, which was to free the Boat of that water, which by Degrees leak't through our Canvas.

We Labour'd the harder that Night, because we would gladly be out of the Ken of our Old [Page 68] Masters by Day; but when Day appear'd, we were yet within sight of the Ships that lay in the Haven, and Road, and off the Land: But our Boat being small, and lying close, and snug up­on the Sea, either was not at all discovered, or else seemed something that was not worth the taking up: A little hope in the midst of great Fears, made us double, and re-double our Di­ligence; we tugg'd at the Oars like those who are Chain'd to the Gallies, because we had no mind to be Slaves to our Old Patrones in their Gallies.

But upon all Occasions we found our want of fore-cast, for now our Bread, which was to be the staff of our decayed strength, had lie soak­ing in the Salt water, like a drunken Toast sopt in Brine, and was quite spoiled: And our fresh water in the Bottles stank of the Tann'd Skins, and Owze, having lye sobbing in the Salt water which made it nauceous: But yet that hope that hover'd over us, and flatter'd us that we should one day mend our Commons, sweeten'd all a­gain; so long as Bread was Bread, we com­plained not: Three days with good Husbandry it lasted, but then pale Famine (which is the worst sheap Death can be painted in) stared us in the Face; And there was no substitute for Bread at Sea: At Land, the Roots of Grass the tops of Trees, and the vilest Excrements have served to stop the clamour of a Ravenous Sto­mach, but that which Slaves despised, we should [Page 69] have admired, and prized: Water indeed we might have, either cold, or hot; we had choice, but it was a hard choice: Either the cold salt weter out of the Sea, or that warmer which had been strained through our Bodies, and that we chose of the two, but we must not have that, after a while, unless we would first accept the other: And the Misery was, these did not as­swage our thirst, but increase it; nor increase our strength, but diminish it; yet these were the means of Life: Strange means, that would destroy the End.

Several things added to our Misery; for trou­ble seldom comes solitary: For first, we had the Wind for some time full against us: And this was both an evil in its self, an evil in its effect, and an evil in its cause. It was a great evil in it self; it increased our Labour, and then defeated it: We Rowed harder to less purpose: we mo­ved, but did not advance! we s [...]ent our strength for nought, and in vain. It was an evil in its effect; for it engaged the Waters against us, and drew them into its prey, The Sea is a perfect Neuter of it self, and willing to maintain its Neutrality; but the powerful Winds drew her into the Faction: And that Sea which serves the North to day, shall comply with the more pre­vailing South to Morrow; for the Waves are the greatest time-servers in the World: But it was far the greatest evil in its Cause; for the Winds being against us, argued that God was [Page 70] against us; for the Wind we know was his: He brings the Winds out of his Magazines. We were now so dispirited, that we debated, whe­ther we should bare up with the Wind, or make the best of our way, and Row against it? That is, whether it were not better to go back to Al­gires with ease, then painfully make towards Freedom? At last like Persons that though we knew not what to do, yet resolved not to return; we resolved whilst we had Life, and strength, and Breath, we would struggle with it: And now the great God interposed; he rebuked his Wind; it was not against us; nay he reconciled his Wind, and it became our Friend. He that can turn the Rivers in the South, could turn the Winds out of the North: Here we might have had a notable demonstration of Gods Soverign­ty. He determined the Quarter of the Wind, the Quantity of the Wind, and the Continuance of the Wind. The Quarter, whence it should blow The; Quantity, how much it should blow, and the Continuance, how long it should blow. The Quarter was our Enemy, the Continuance had quite brought us to Despair; but had he opened his Hand, and let out one blast more, the proud Waters had gone over our Souls, we had perished in the deep: But we see that our times are in Gods Hand; the Ocean in the hollow of the same Hand, and the Winds in the same hand; and Happy it was for us, that we, and they, were all there.

[Page 71] A Second great Inconveniency was, that our Labour was without Intermission, though we ad­vanced not forwards at many stroaks, yet cessa­tion had driven us backwards. The poor Sen­tinel that stands upon the Watch, yet comforts himself that another will Relive him; but we had none to take the toyl off our Hands, and give us Respite: We might shift our places, but not our pains.

A Third great Evil that lay sore upon us, was the extremity of the heat by day; the Season was Raging hot, being the beginning of July; the Climent was hot, being under, or about the Fourth Climate; we wanted fresh Water to cool the Heat, and were engagad in continual Labour to enrage the heat, and all these made it insupportable to our Bodies, and our little, or no hope, (which now like a Candle burnt down to the Socket, did rather blink, than burn) made it grievous to our Souls. One small help we had (if it was a help) that the fifth Man, who emp­tyed the Boat of the Salt Water, threw it upon the Bodies of the rest to cool them; But this was a Miserable Remedy, for our Bodies were so bleached between the scorching Sun, and the cooling Water, that they rose up in Blisters all over. Great pain we felt, great danger we were in, great Miseries were endured, great wants we were under, and had nothing little, but hope, food, and strength. By Day we were all stark Naked, by Night we had our Shirts, or loose [Page 72] Coats, and that was all our Cloathing, the rest we left a shore to ease our Boat.

If any shall be so Inquisitive, as to ask, by what Directions we steared our Course, that we did not tack about insensibly in the dark Night or Day? He may know, that for the Day, one of the Company had a Pocket-Dyal, which sup­plyed the place of the Compass, ee'n well e­nough for such a Vessel, and such Mariners. By Night when the Stars appeared, we had our advice from them, and when they dis-appeared, we ghessed at our way by the Motions of the Clouds.

In this sad & woeful plight we continued four Dayes and Nights; on the fifth Day, we were on the brink of the brink of despair, and all hope that we should be saved, utterly perished. And now, as persons despairing of the End, we ceased to pursue the means; laid by our Oars, left off our Labour; either we had no strength left, or were loth to throw away that little we had to no purpose, only we kept still emptying the Boat; loth to drown, loth to dye, yet knew no wayes to avoyd Death: When the End is re­moved, all means perish with it.

They that act least, commonly wish the most: thus when we had left fruitless Labour, we fell upon fruitless wishes, that we might meet with some Vessel, some Ship to take us up▪ If it was but a Ship, we considered no further; Eng­lish, or African, Tross, Tyriusve; all was a [Page 73] Case: Or if not, yet the worst was better than our bad case; and therefore resolved, could we have Discovered any Ship, to have made to­wards her, though it had been one of Algiers: How many wisht themselves again in Egypt, when they Combated with the un-expected Difficulties of the Wilderness! How oft have the People of God been more afraid of the means of thier Deliverance, than of their Danger! When Christ came to save his Disciples from the Storm, yet because he came in a way uncouth, and unexpected, they cryed out for fear, Mat. 14. 26. Whether the Reader will pity, or con­demn us, I know not; but to that pass were we now brought, that we would have accepted Life upon any terms, not base and sinful; and whether we should have stuck at such or no, I have no such security from my own Heart as to resolve him.

Whilst we were at this dead Ebbe of Hope, the Great God, whose most Glorious Opportu­nity to help, is his Creatures greatest Extremi­ty: He that appeared for Abraham in the Mount, and to the three Young Men in the Fie­ry Furnace; he that Delivered Israel at the Sea, at the Red Sea; he who times all his Mercies for their Advantage: even He sent us some Re­lief, and a little Relief is great, in great exigen­cies. As we lay hulling up and down, we Dis­covered a Tortoise not far from us asleep in the Sea. Had the great Drake Discovered the Spa­nish [Page 74] Plate-Fleet, he could not have more Re­joyced; once again we bethought our selves of our Oars; and now our little Boat shewed it self to be of the right breed of Algiers, made of Piratick Timber, and to its poor Abbility would become a Corsair; we silently Rowed to our Prey, took it into the Boat with great Triumph, we cut off her Head, and let her bleed into a Pot; we drank the Blood, eat the Liver, and suck'd the Flesh; warm Flesh, and hot Li­quor (except our own) had been a great Ra­rity with us a long time, it was a Novelty of Providence; and really it wonderfully refresh'd our Spirits, repaired our decayed strength and recruited Nature; at least, poor exhausted Na­ture was willing to be cheated, and fancy her self recruited: But there was no cheat in't we were really refresh'd, and with fresh vigour and courage fell to our Work; we left our fears be­hind us, we pickt up some scatter'd crumbs of hope, and about Noon, we Discovered, or thought we Discovered Land. It's impossible to express the Joy, and Triumph of our raised Souls at this apprehension. The Poets tell us, that as often as Hercules threw the great Giant against the Earth, his Mother Earth gave him new strength against the next Encounter: It was new strength, new Life to us, though not to touch yet to see; or if not to see, to think we saw it. It brought fresh Blood into our Veins, fresh co­our into our pale Cheeks; we look'd not like [Page 75] Men awaked from sleep, not like Captives broke from the Chains of Algiers, but like Persons raised from the Dead. But Hope and Fear made a strange Medly Passion in our Souls; like the Reparties of two contrary jostling Tides, or the struggling of the Eddy with the main Stream; Hope would perswade us that we saw the Land; but chill Fear bad us pause upon it, for as we easily believe, what we desire to be true, so we are as ready to fear lest it should not prove true; for fear had got long possession of our Souls, and would hardly admit Hope to stir, but was ready to suppress it as a disturber of its Empire: We had seen nothing but Air, and Sea; Sea, and Air in five Dayes and Nights; that though our Reason tould us there was such a thing as Land, yet the Impressions that fear had made upon us, made it Questionable, whether ever we should see it. And we durst not give too much Credence to our Eyes, that had been used to bring sadder stories to our Hearts.

Yet still we wrought hard: Hope did us that kindness it put us upon an earnest desire to see, whether we were deceived or no. After some further Labour, we grew more confident, and at last, fully satisfied that it was Land: I hope I shall never foeget what a sense we had of Gods goodness upon that Assurance. Extreams do equally annoy, and sometimes infatuate the mind: They tell us, that in Greenland, the ex­tremity of Cold will make the Iron stick to the [Page 76] Fingers, as our Experience assures extremity of Heat will do; for now like Distracted Persons, we all leapt into the Sea, quitting our Boat, and being all good Swimmers, we there Bathed, and cooled our heated Bodies. An Adventure, which, if well considered, had as much of the Desperado in it as our putting to Sea: For now we were at the Mercy of the Sharks; which might have sheared off a Leg, or Arm; and now our over-heated Bodies were open to receive the Impressions of that Cold Element: But as we never considered our Danger, the great and good God delivered us from the Ordinary ef­fects of such Folly; we presently returned to our Boat, and being both wearied with Labour, and cooled a little with the Sea, we lay us all down to Sleep in as much security, as if we had been in our own Beds: Nature being almost spent, must have a Truce; she will not under­take to keep our Bodies upon their Legs, if we will not submit to her great standing Ordi­nance of Rest; and here we saw still more of Divine Goodness, that our Leaky Vessel did not bury us in the Sea, and we awaking find our selves in the other World: But he that gave us Sleep, measured it; and he measured it exactly, not suffering us to out-sleep the Season of plying our Pump, or that which supplyed the place of it.

Being thus refresh'd with sleep, we found new strength for our Work, and God found us new [Page 77] Work for our strength: We tugged the harder at the Oar, because we hoped e'er Night to sleep upon a more stable, and faithful Element. But we made our way very slowly, and when we cast up the Account of our Progress, found that we had gone but little way in a long time; to­wards Evening we discovered another Island: The first we saw was Mayork, the second, Fromentere; and some of our Company that had Sailed in these Seas, would undertake to as­sure us of it: We debated not long to which of these we should direct our Course, for the latter being much infested with venemous Ser­pents, and little, if at all Inhabited, we resol­ved all for Mayork: All that Night we Rowed very hard, and the next, being the sixth of July, and from our putting to Sea; we kept within sight of it all Day, and about Ten a Clock at Night we came under the Island, but the Rocks were there so craggy, and steep, that we could not climb up.

Whilst we were under these Rocks there came a Vessel, very near us. Let the Reader put himself in our stead, let him but Copy out our Thoughts, let him imagine how loth we were to lose all our toil and Travel, to forego our De­liverance, to have this Rich Mercy, which God had put into our Hands, wrested out of them again by some Turkish Pickaroon, or Corsair, that are alwayes skimming those Seas: It con­cerned us therefore to lye close, and when they [Page 78] were passed by, we gently crept along the Coast as near the shoar as we durst, till we found a convenient place, where we might thrust in our Weather-beaten Boat.

If these Papers should fall into the hands of some that are great Clerks in the Art of Naviga­tion, and have conn'd the Mariners Terms of Art, they will smile at my improper wording of these Maters, and say, I am one of Paul's Ma­riners. But I can be content to be Accounted one of his Mariners, whilst I have shared in his Mercies: How many of those that spake the Language of the Sea, yet have found her Bil­lows deaf to their Cries and Prayers, and their stately Ships made the Scorn of Winds, and the Reproach of Waves, when we, who had none of their Ships, and little of their skill, have had Experience of those Providences, to which rhey have been Strangers.

SECT. XII.
The great kindness we received at Mayork from the Vice-Roy, and the Inhabitants of that Island and City.

WHen we were come to Land, we were not unsensible of our Deliverance, though like Men newly awakened out of a Dream, we had not the true Dimensions of it; We confessed God had done great things for us, but how great things he had done was beyond our Comprehension: We had escaped the Sea, but yet Death might be found at Land; and we were ready to say, with Sampson, Judg. 15. 18. Lord, thou hast given this great Deliverance into the hands of thy Servants, and now shall we dye for Thirst? We had had no Food since we eat the Liver, and drank the Blood of the Tor­toise, and therefore leaving three of our Com­pany with the Boat, the other too, viz. John Anthony, and my self were sent out to scout abroad for fresh Water: And the rather were we sent, because this John Anthony could speak both the Spanish, and Italian Tongues very perfectly; and I had as much of the Spanish as might serve to express our wants, and desires, if perhaps we might meet with any persons there [Page 80] abouts. We were not far gone, before we fell into a Wood, and we were in a Wilderness in our thoughts, which way to take: He will needs go his way, and I mine. Good Lord! what a frail impotent thing is Man! That they whom common dangers by Sea, common Deliverances from Sea had United, should now about our own wills fall out at Land. And yet thus we did: He gave me reproachful words, and it's well we came not to blows: But I went my own way, and he seeing me resolute, followed me, and the Providence of God, not dealing with us according to our frowardness, followed us both: This way led us to a Watch-Tower of the Spani­ards many of which they keep upon the Sea-Coasts, to give the Countrey timely notice of any Pickaroons that come ashoar to Rob, and Spoyl.

When we came within call, fearing he might Discharge at us, we spoke to him upon the Watch, told him our Condition, what we were, whence we came, how we escaped; and earnestly begged of him to direct us to some fresh Water, and in the mean time to bestow upon us some Bread. He very kindly threw us down an old mouldy Cake, but so long as it was a Cake, and not a stone, nor a Bullet, Hunger did not consider it's Mouldiness: Then he directed us to fresh Water, which was hard by? We stood not telling Stories; we remembred our selves, [Page 81] we remembred our Brethren left with our Boat, and observing the Sentinels Directions, came to a Well, where there was a Pot with strings to draw with: We drank a little Water, and eat a bit of our Cake, but the passage was so dis-used, that we had much ado to force our Throats to relieve our clamourous stomachs: But here we staid not, but, with the four Le­pers in the Tents of the Syrians, 2 Kings 7. 9. Rebuked our selves, We do not well, we have glad Tidings to carry, and do we hold our peace? We return to our Boat, are welcomed by our Companions, acquaint them with the good suc­cess of our Embassy, and all prepare to make to the Well.

And now we must leave our Boat; that faith­ful Instrument of God's Providence, which had so trustily served his purpose to deliver us: It was not without some recoylings upon our Spirits, that we should so much as in appearance imitate the ingratitude of those, who having served their private ends on their Friends, and have now no further use of them, most ungratefully shake them off: That we should be like the water-dog, which uses the water to pursue his Game; and when he comes to Land, shakes it off as trouble­some, and burdensome. But it was no time to stand upon Complements; Hunger, Thirst, Weariness, desire of Refreshment and Rest▪ those importunate Duns, Commanded us away; [Page 82] and tying our Boat as fast as we could to the Shoar, we left her to Mercy, which had been so good to us.

As we were going, or rather creeping, or crawling towards the Well, another Quarrel started amongst us, the Memory whereof is so ungrateful, that I shall give it a Burial in si­lence, the best Tomb for Controversies.

And now we are at the Well, and the Well is provided of Water, and we have something to draw; all these helps God has given us, but he must give us one more, even a throat to swallow it, without which, all the rest signifie nothing. This was the evil Disease Solomon had observed in his Daies, Eccles. 6. 2. A Man to whom God had given Riches, Wealth, and Honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his Soul, of all that he desireth; yet God giveth him not Power to eat thereof: He that gives us water to drink, and meat to eat, must give us Power to eat and drink also. How totally do we depend upon him for Life, and Breath, and all things! One of our Company, William Adams, attempting to drink, after many Essays was not able to swal­low it, but still the water returned, so that he sunk down to the Ground, faintly saying, I am a dead Man? we forgot our selves, to remember him, and after much striving, and forcing, he took a little; and when he and we were refresh'd [Page 83] with our Cake and water, we lay down by the Well-side till the Morning. None of us could watch for the rest, but One God watched over us all: There we lay lockt up, and buried in Sleep: The Heavens covered us, when we wan­ted a Canopy: Each might say in the Morning, with David, Psal. 3. 5. I laid me down and slept; I awaked, for the Lord sustained me.

When it was clear day, we addrest our selves once more to the man upon the watch-Tower, entreating him to direct us the ready way to the next House, or Town, where we might find relief. He civily points us towards a House a­bout two Miles off, whither, with wearied steps, and joyful Hearts, we now began to Travel: Our Feet had been so parboyled, and quodled with the Suns heat, in the Salt-water pickle, that they were very raw, and more blister'd; and long it was before we could overcome the te­diousness of those two Miles. When we ap­proach'd the House, the Owner espying us, and concluding by our shabby garb, that we were some Pilfering Rascals, presented a Fowling Piece at us, and chatged us to stand. The fore­most of our Company, who could speak that Language well, meekly told him, he might spare that Language, we were not able if we had so wicked a will; nor willing if we had been able, to offer him the least injury; That we were a Company of poor Creatures, whom the wonderful Providence of God had rescued from [Page 84] he Slavery of Algiers, and hoped he would shew Mercy to the Afflicted. The honest Far­mer, moved with our Relation, sent us out Bread, Water, and Olives, with which when we had refresh'd our selves, we lay down, and rested three or four hours in the Field; and re­turning thanks for his Charity, prepared to crawl away at our lame rate. He seeing us thankful Beggers, enlarged his Civility to us, called us into his House, and gave us good warm Bean Pottage, which seemed to me the most Pleasant Food that ever I eat in my Life: Our Leave once more taken, we advanced towards the Ci­ty of Mayork, which from this place is about ten Miles: No water could we meet with upon our way, but towards Evening, we discoverd one drawing water at a Well, we hasted to him, and he drew for us; that was our Supper, and there was our Lodging that Night.

The next Morning we came iuto the Suburbs of the City, the strangeness of our Attire, being bare-foot, bare-legg'd, having nothing on but loose Coats over our Shirts; drew a croud of en­quirers about us, who we were? whence we came? whither we went? We gave them a particular account of our Deliverance, with its Circumstances; and they as willing to pity, as to know our Estate, and as ready to Relieve, as pity, accommodated us for the present with food; they gave us Wine, and Strong-waters, and whatever else might recover our exhausted Spi­rits; [Page 85] but told us, we must be obliged to tarry in the Suburbs, till the Vice-Roy had notice that such strangers were Arrived: He had soon In­formation of us, and we as soon a Command to appear before him: He Examined us about ma­ny Affairs; what Men of War the Algerines had at Sea? what strength they were of at Land? But above all, he was most curious, and exact in satisfying himself about our Escape, our Boat, our hazzards at Sea, wherein when we had fully obeyed him, he ordered we should be maintained at his own Cost till we could have passage to our own Country.

In this while the People gathered us Money to buy us Clothes and Shooes, and we wanted nothing that Nature called for, but thankful Hearts to God. And they endeavoured to help to that Mercy too: As I was walking in the Streets viewing the City, a young Man-steps to me, Friend (said he) are you one of those that came lately over in the Canvas Boat? I An­swered Yes, I was one of them: well (reply­ed the young Man) It was not the little Boat, but the great God that brought you Over. I must needs say, I often think on this young man's words, and as often as I think on them they chide me, that I have not hitherto more pub­lickly owned God in his Gracious and wonder­ful Deliverance. However others may be con­cern'd to read, I know not, yet I am concern'd to Write of the great things God has done for me.

SECT. XIII.
The Providences of God which attended us, and Conducted us all safe to Eng­land.

IT may not prove ungrateful to the Reader, to see how the great God, who begun to work for us, perfected his work concerning us: How he that had, and did deliver, would still deliver us; as single Stars have their Glories, yet Con­stellations are more Glorious: So each Provi­dence of God is admirable, but taken together, as one serving another, and this helping forwards that, so indeed they are most admirable; when the Creator viewed his each daies work, it so punctually answered its Idaea according to which, and Obeyed the Power by which it was Created that he pronounced it Good; but when he reviewed the Product of the six daies, he pronounced all to be very good: Each Letter in a Book speaks skill, but when those Letters form words, those words, sentences, there is a grea­ter Excellency, and more skill Discovered: Se­parate Providences speak out eminently some of God's Attributes; but when we put them toge­ther, all the Attributes of God shine forth in [Page] them, and one Illustrate another, which refl [...] a light upon the former.

Mayork is a City where our English S [...] did seldom Trade, and we being full of desir [...] see our Native Countrey, preferr'd our hum [...] Petition to the Vice-Roy, That we might [...] Passage in the King of Spains Gallies, wh [...] were then in the Road, bound for Alican [...] Spain, which he graciously granted us: W [...] cold Entertainment we met with there [...] some of our own Countrey, I shall draw a [...] over; yet even there we found the Mercie [...] God. One Merchant took Compassion on [...] and Conducted us to an English-mans Hou [...] where we Lodged, and gave us half a Do [...] to defray our Charges. The next day, understa [...] ing that there was an English-man in the Ro [...] bound for England, we went aboard to see [...] Passage; we made our Condition our best [...] gument to prevail: The Master told us, he [...] but little Provision, but if we would be con [...] with Bread, and Beverage, we might go [...] accounted that, Royal Fare, and accordin [...] waited till he set Sail: Whilst we were aboa [...] two English Merchants came thither also, [...] were very earnest that we would give them [...] short of our Adventure: We gratified them [...] one of them said; Countrey-men, we have he [...] your story. After a few days, we set Sail, [...] when we were at Sea, were hotly Chased [...] two Turkish Men of War, but being near [...] [Page 84] [...] [Page 85] [...]