UPon the 27th. day of August 1684. I Thomas Phelps set fail from the Downs in a Vessel called the Success of London, about fourty Tuns, laden with Salt, bound for a place in Ireland called the Ventrey, where we arrived the 10th. day of September: I stayed there some while, and kill'd Beaf, designing for the Madera's and Mount Surrat; accordingly on the 20th. of September, I set sail for the Madera's, but my design was crost, and my Voyage stopt as followeth: Upon the 5th. of October (being then a Hundred Leagues, West off the Rock of Lisbon) we saw a sail to windward of us, which immediatly we found to give us chace; we made what sail we could from him, and night coming on, we had, for about Two hours, lost sight of him, but at the rising of the Moon, he got sight of us, and quickly came up with us, hail­ing us whence our Ship, we answered from London, deman­ding the like of him, who made answer from Algeir, and withal commanded us to hoist out our Boat, which we re­fused to do, but we brac'd our head-sailes for him, imme­diatly he sent his Boat towards us, when it was got almost by our side, we gave them Three shouts, which so surpriz'd them, that they thought it convenient to retire aboard their [Page 2] [...] [Page 3] [...] [Page 2] own Ship; We were not a little chear'd at their departure and made from them with all the sail we could make, for we had not one great Gun, and as for Powder, I believe one sin­gle pound was the outmost of our store: In the mean time he was hoisting in of his Boat, I had got above two miles from him, which made me think I was clear of him, and withal that the Ship must be an Algerine, she appearing so great, that, according to the stories in England, I thought no such Ship could belong to Sallé; But I found my self within a little while, mightily mistaken, for as soon as his Boat was hoi­sted in, he presently setch'd us up again: We had try'd his sailing all ways, but found we could not wrong him any way; so seeing him a stern, and a thing impossible to lose sight of us, I put out a light for him, notwithstanding I was possest at that time (God knows) with fear enough, but I thought, in the Dark, my seeming confidence and resolution might impose upon him, so as to fancy I was of some force; And truly afterwards he confessed to me, that he thought I had six Guns aboard and that I did intend to fight him.

He kept a stern of me all night, and in the morning he put out Turkish colours, which I answered with our English; then he came up, and saw I had no boat in sight, for my boat was stow'd down betwixt decks, he commanded me therefore to brace to my head-sailes, and then he sent his boat to demand my pass; Aboard he was an antient Moor, who formerly had been a slave in England and spoke good English, and who was set at liberty by our late Gracious King Charles the 2d. He seeing us in readiness with what arms we had, ask'd me, if I had a mind to break the Peace, he told me I needed not trouble my self to keep them out of our Vessel, for none of them could be perswaded to come aboard me.

I brought him my Custom-house-Cocketts, for I had no Pass: The Moor aforesaid carried them to the Captain, but [Page 3] soon after returned, and told me that would not satisfie the Captain, unless the Master himself would come; I made an­swer that I would not come, that I had done what I was o­blig'd to by the Articles 'twixt England and Algiers: The boat a second time put away for their Ship, and whilst they were hoisting in their boat, I made what sail I could, and was got a mile or more from them again, entertaining better hopes than I was in the night before; But as soon as the boat was in and stow'd, the Moors made sail and came up with me again, the Captain ordering to tell me, that if I re­fus'd to come a board him, he would come aboard me with his Ship; with that he rang'd up my Weather quarter, I im­mediatly put a stays, which put him into some confussion, so that he was forced to put a stays also: He had then no Gun, which I could perceive, I saw his Ports, and his Wast was Man-high: As I came about I run under his stern, then bore away right before the Wind, he soon came up with me, but not one shot pas'd all this while, he demanded of me why I clapt a stays for to run a thwart his halfe; I answered that I doubted he was not of Algier, he swore in English, to me that he was, else before this he would have discover'd him­self, and withal he told me, that if I did not come aboard, he would straight way sink me, and so he hoisted out his boat, in the mean time I boar away, but his boat coming up made me bring to again and brace a back; His boat then came a­board, I ask'd this Moor, who spoke English, what ship of Algiers this was, he very readily without stammering told me, she was call'd the Tagerene young Canary Com­mander, I immediatly then went into his boat; so soon as I came aboard, the Captain ask'd me why I was so hard of be­lief, My distrust was such then that I pray'd the Captain now that he had me aboard in his power, to resolve me whether he were a Sallé-man or not, he swore to me again that he was of Algiers, and that I should not be wrong'd; He made [Page 4] me sit down, and caus'd them to set Dates and Figgs before me: A little after the Captain told me that he was made acquainted by his men that they saw two Portugueses aboard my Ship, and that he would have them out, and then I should be gone about my business, I told him I had none such aboard, but he would see them two men, so two men were sent for, after that he told me there were three more and them he must have, well to be short, at last he was suspicious that I was a Portuguese also, and to convince me that I was one, I found my entertainment presently withdrawn? Thus did this faithless Barbarian serve me, until he had wheadled all my men aboard him except two, and then the valiant Moors entred my Ves­sel with abundance of courage, heaving the two remaining English over the head of the Vessel into the boat.

Thus were we all Strip'd, the Vessel Plunder'd in a mo­ment, which they did resolve to have sunk, because they were too farr at Sea distant from their own coast, but Imme­diatly we saw five sail bearing down upon us, which startled the Moors, putting them into a great fright, obliging them to quit my Vessel with abundance of Beaf and three Boxes of dry goods aboard, which their fear would not give them leasure to rummage for: In some small time the five Vessels discover'd us, when they came within two Leagues of us, had they bore down afterwards with that resolution, that they threatned before, the Pirate would never have stood to look them in the face, but alass like distracted fearful game, every of the five Ships took a several course, and being now night they all escaped.

After that we cruised about thirty Leagues to the West of the Northern Cape, and so to the Burlings, but no nearer than Twenty Leagues to the shoar, and therefore I imagin there is more safety for small vessels bound that way, to keep the shore as near as is possible, for I know certainly they never attempt to come near, but endeavour as much as they can, [Page 5] to avoid the shoar because our Men of War use to careen at Lisbon.

I am likewise pretty well satisfied for that small time that I was amongst them, (altho' it was too long for my profit) that no Sallé-man will fight a Ship of Ten Guns, which I found true by observation of a Country-man from Bristol, whilst I was aboard: We came up with him and hail'd him, and would have had him put out his Boat, but he refused, and withal shew'd himself ready in his own defence, upon which we were glad to leave him.

So that to satisfie all my Country-men who follow my trade I dare confidently affirm, that if I had a Ship of Ten Guns, and it should be my fortune to encounter any of these Sallé-rouges, (who all go under the notion of Algerines, who are now at peace with England) I would encourage him to send his boat, by acquainting him that our Master would come aboard and shew his pass, (which is the thing they aim at) And when the boat was come to my side, (any man of reason may judge then whether she were from Sallé or Al­giers, but however I would commit nothing should be judg­ed a breach of the Peace, 'twixt England and Algiers) I would heave in a Grapling and secure the men, all save two, whom I would permitt to return aboard and bring me a Chri­stian, or else aver my Pass, if they will not do that, I am then satisfied what he is, and think my self obliged to de­send my self from Slavery, but this I am very confident of, that he will never stay to dispute the case afterward.

About a fortnight after I was taken, we met one Samuel Crampton who came from Faro, and whom we soon took without any resistance. The week following we took a small Ketch come from Cales, laden with Sherry and Raisies and bound for Limrick, John Elliot Master.

The number of us Christians taken aboard the Three Prizes was Twenty five, besides Twelve which were aboard [Page 6] the Pirate, in all Thirty seven; We who were newly taken were kept in Irons in the Hold.

After the taking of these Three Vessels the Pirate made all the sail he could for Sallé to save the spring Tide, which flows at Sallé and Mamora S S W about Thirty Leagues: To the Northward of Sallé, we met a Fleming who came from Sallé, and told our Commander that the English-men of War were at Tangier then, attending Captain Nicholason, which caused us to bear directly for Sallé and fell in directly with the Castle, where were no English-men of War, ac­cording to the Advice.

On the Bar of Sallé there run a great Sea, which obliged us to come to an Anchor near the Bar, where we rid Six hours; then were we poor Christians all let loose from our Iron­shackles, wherein we had been confin'd for Twenty days preceeding: the Captain sent the Boat, as near the Shore to the South of the Bar, as possibly he could, to enquire what News, there they were acquainted that they might safely come in the next high Water: whilst the Boat was gone a Shore, the Moors, we observ'd, fell all fast a sleep, the Cap­tain also, with his Head over the Rail, upon the half-Deck seem'd deeply ingag'd: This opportunity me thought was very inviting, I made a proposal of it to my fellow Slaves, and undertook to do the Captains business my self: The Christians were forward enough to comply with the motion, and Eleven of the Twelve, (which were Slaves retain'd in the Ship before our being taken) they also were willing, if the Twelfth who was Steward in the Ship would have consented, but this sneaking varlet prov'd recreant, and for fear of him the other Eleven turn'd also Renegadoes to this Heroick and Christian resolution; I had a mind to have dispatcht this troubler of our peace out of the way first, but the fear that his fellow Slaves would have severely resented it, restrain'd my resolution; the Slaves Name was Will. Robinson, he pro­fessed [Page 7] himself a Christian in words, but in deed we found more civility from the Moors than him.

At Four in the Afternoon, we weighed Anchor, and stood in for the Bar, we struck Twice going over, but without any dam­mage; it was upon the First day of November, after we had helped to moor our Ship, at Night we were all carried ashore, and conveyed to our Lodging, which was an old Stable, but without Litter or Straw, having nothing save the bare dirty Ground for our Bed or Pillow; the next Day we were all carryed aboard the Ship to Unrigg her, and get out her Bal­last, which we did; about Four in the Afternoon, I was sent for ashore to come to the Governour, who passed his sentence on us Three Masters, that we should go to his House, and there remain, until we were sent for by the King; we remained at his House Ten days, where our daily employment was to Grind the Corn for the use of his Family; at length there came an Order for us, and all the rest of the Christians to be carryed to the King, whose Ordinary and then Residence was at Machaness, a place which this present Emperour has set his Fancy upon, and bestows most of his care, and employs all Christian Slaves in Building there; it is distant from Sallé about Seventy Miles, and from Fez Thirty.

In our Journy thither, I cannot forget our Captains extra­ordinary civility, in Accommodating us sometimes with Bor­ricoes to ride on, so that in Two days and a half we arrived thither: The First night we were not brought before our great Master, but the following our Captain presented us before him, and withal some Portuguese Plate, which was taken in Mr. Crampton's Vessel; as the Captain gave it into his Hand, the surly Tyrant with a seeming scorn and disdain heav'd it against the Wall, which was the first Action I observ'd, and did a little discover the temper of my new Patron Muley Ish­mael Emperour of Morocco and Fez, &c. He ordered us to be sent amongst the rest of our fellow Slaves; as we went we [Page 8] were entertain'd with the civilities of the place, and wel­comed by the joyfull acclamations and complements of the Moors kicking and slapping us all along, which appeared very uncouth to me, who was but a Stranger, but that Night my fellow Captives allayed my wonder, by acquainting me, that what had past was nothing, it was only a sutable Pro­logue to all the Tragical sufferings that Christians must en­dure there whilst they are Slaves, which were so dreadful, that I could willingly, that very Night have ventured my Life to endeavour an escape; they Painted out to me the Tyran­nical humour of the Emperour, both towards the Christians and Natives, in such Bloudy Colours, viz. how they had seen him Butcher many Thousands with his own hands, how that none can be secure in his presence for that the varying of a look, a small spot in the Garment, or any such inconsiderable circumstance, will raise such a caprice in the Emperours Nod­dle, without any other provocation, as to endanger all the Heads before him, and it is very rare if the company escape with One or Two only Beheaded, or Lanced through the Body.

The Second day after my arrival thither, I saw him Lance Seven and twenty Negroes one after another, and every Day after, until New-years-day, (when he parted to Santa Cruz with his Army) I either saw or heard of his inhumane, but yet, through custom, to him Natural Barbarities, Killing and Dragging, but this latter is a piece of respect observed only to Minions and Favourites, Vice-kings and Alcaids; yea his Women are not able by all their Charms to avoid his Fury, but are more the objects of his implacable rage than any other passion: I have been several times in the West-Indies, and have seen and heard of divers Inhumanities and cruelties pra­ctised there, I have also read in Books, and have heard Lear­ned men discourse of the Sicilian Tyrants and Roman Em­perours, but indeed I forget them all, they are not to be [Page 9] named in comparison with this Monster of Africk, a com­position of Gore and Dust, whom nothing can attone but humane Sacrifices, and to be in whose court it is much more eligible to be his Horse or his Mule, than to be his Privado or Wife of his bosome, from whose greatest kindness my good God ever defend me, for his mercies are cruel: Yea even Hamed Ben Haddu who was his Embassadour here in England Three years ago, altho' he was received and entertain'd here with extraordinary civilities, and carress'd every where by all the endearments of kindness and respect, and altho' by his fineness and Moorish subtilty, he stole into the Inclinations of the well-meaning and good natur'd English, so that he obtain'd the reputation of Ingenuity and candour, Yet the Dog has return'd to his Vomit, and by woful experiment, all my Country-men, who come under his power, find him a harsh and cruel Master, who manag'd his affairs here with deep dissimulation, and now improves his knowledge of Eng­lish affairs, to the detriment and ruin of all the Kings Sub­jects, with whom he has to do; if it be his fortune to meet or pass by any of them, his custom is (as all the English can attest) to salute them with a devilish Curse to the best of my remembrance exprest thus, Alli Haztebuck, i. e. God roast your Father: he is indeed reckoned a great Master in the art of Dissimulation and Flattery, a qualification, which seems very requisite in a Courtier of such a Barbarous Bloody Tyrant as his Master is.

But to proceed, my fellow Christians in the next place, shewed me the staff of their life there, i. e. their Bread, which was of Barley, but black, and withal it stunk, the Corn being kept Seven years under Ground before us'd, one Days allowance if sold, would yield only Nine Fluces, which a­mount to Three Farthings; Flesh is cheap, both Mutton and Beef, but Mony is scarce, Two pounds and a half of Beef, are ordinarily sold for a Blankil, i. e. Two pence half-peny, [Page 10] and Two pounds of Mutton at the same rate; good white-Bread is also plentiful, half as cheap as in England; but what is this to the Slaves who have-not a Farthing, and not a bit is allow'd us without Mony; I am confident there is many a Christian there, who hath not tasted a morsel of Flesh in Five Months time.

The Country is a pleasant Champion Country, very Fruit­ful, well Watered, productive of all sorts of Fruit in plenty; we Christians who arrived last, were excused for Two days from Labour, only we were instructed in our deportments to our Negro-Taskmasters, who afterwards gave us severe cha­stisment for our mistakes and lapses: our Work and Daily Labour was continually Building of Houses and Walls; the Materials and Method is very Forreign and will appear strange to my Country-men here; there are Boxes of Wood of dimensions according to pleasure, these we fill with Earth powdred and Lime, and Gravel well beat together and tempered with Water, and when full, we remove the Box according to order, and withdraw the Box Planks, and leave this matter to dry, which then will acquire an incredible hardness, and is very lasting, for we have seen Walls of some Hundred years standing as we were informed, and all that time has not been able to do them any prejudice.

The King himself (what the reason of his humour may be I never had the curiosity to ask him) will sometimes vouch­safe to work in the Lime and Durt for an hour together, and will bolt out an encouraging word to the Slaves them, viz. as I remember, Liferus, that is, God send you to your own Countries, but I judge, he either does not speak from his Heart, or else he hopes God will not answer the Prayers of such a wicked wretch; with this sort of Labour I made a shift to pass away all the Winter, and indeed without a quible, I had no other shift or shirt, only the Charity of my fellow Slaves, who were better provided, accommoda­ted [Page 11] me with a covering from the Cold, which else would have endangered my life.

The Reader, I suppose, will not think it strange, if I was dissatisfied and very weary of my condition, and therefore I did often rummage all my thoughts, for some expedient to ease me of this accursed way, not of Living, but Starving and Dying daily: My mind did often flatter me with the greatest possibility of Liberty by running away, and so con­fident I was, that I discovered my intentions to several Christians, especially to those of my near acquaintance, who by no means could be induc'd to hear the difficulties and dangers that attended such a resolution: In the mean time my Friends in England had taken some care for my Ran­some, and had given order to Mr Luddington, an English Merchant in Barbary, to endeavour my relief if One hun­dred and fifty Pounds would effect it, which Sum Mr. Lud­dington acquainted me, he was ready to disburse, if I could cut, (that is, agree with my Patron for my Ransome) for Six hundred or Seven hundred pieces of Eight: I profered the said Sum, but it would not be accepted; upon which I lookt upon my condition as desperate, my forlorn and languish­ing state of life without any hopes of Redemption, (which on­ly could support our Spirts in the midst of such great affli­ctions, and Bondage to those upon whom God and Nature seems to have imprest characters of Slavery to the rest of Mankind) appeared far worse than the terrours of a most cruel Death, I set up then my fixt and unalterable resolution to escape whatever fate attended it, leaving the event to providence; I had more than conjecture, that present Death was to be the reward of my endeavours if I were retaken, for Three Spaniards, who some Two Months before were taken, making their escape, the King caused them to be brought be­fore him, and with his own hands prov'd their Butcher, and Executioner, which cruel proceedings did wholly dishearten [Page 12] the poor Spirited Christians, and banished all such resoluti­ons quite out of their minds: At length I opened my mind to Mr. Baxter (who about a Year and a half before, had made an unlucky attempt to run away, but being brought back he had the Bastinado in such a sort that he could not work for a Twelve Month, having Irons continually upon his Leggs) but notwithstanding, such was his love of Chri­stian Liberty, that he freely told me, that he would adven­ture with any fair opportunity; after I had him thus engag'd by his promise, I gave him no rest, until we had pitch'd upon a Day; we also took into our Cabal and share of our For­tunes, Two Bristol-men, who were ready at an hours war­ning, when we appointed.

There are at Machaness at present about Eight hundred Christians of all Nations, Two hundred and sixty whereof are English, several of which have tendred Mony for their Ransom, some Seven hundred, some Five hundred pieces of Eight, some more, some less, but the King still put them off with this, that he would clear none particularly, but that they should go all together.

January the First, The King set forward towards Santa Cruz, with an Army of about Sixty thousand men, designing to quel his Nephew, who had made a formidable Insurrection against him, in that part of his Dominions: We Christians could not Inform our selves of the certain proceedings of these Armies, neither did we much care, fight Dog, fight Bear, but this we learnt, that it will be Two or Three years before his return, and it is not to be suppos'd that any particular Christian will be releas'd until he return; besides, there is no hopes to be laid upon the most solemn word and protesta­tion of this swarthy Infidel Muley Ismael, for, as I have been inform'd, about Four or Five years ago, by an agree­ment with Collonel Kirk, all the English slaves were to be set at liberty at the rate of Two hundred pieces of Eight a [Page 13] head, and the bargain was so far struck, that the Christians were got a Mile out of Town, But the accursed Jews, (the stench and pest of the Nations of the Earth, Malicious to all Man-kind and loathsome and abominable whereever they come, who not only have the blood of the Saviour of the World lying upon their heads, but are accountable for the blood of many Thousands of his Members which they daily shed) These wicked Enemies of Christianity, brought back these poor Christians into the house of bondage thus, they prossered the Emperour as much mony as the King of Eng­land tendred for the Christians Ransome, if so be he would only lend them for a while, to build a City for the Jews, and then they should be restor'd to the King; The covetous Ty­rant soon clos'd with these advantageous terms, and the Chri­ans were turn'd over to the Jews, who imploy'd them Three years in building a City, but when finish'd, see the just Judg­ment of God! The Jews were turn'd out, and forc'd to give place to the Moors: Another remarkable story concerning the Jews I cannot but insert upon this occasion: About Three years ago, Mr. Bowrey of Bristol was, with Twenty sail more, taken by the Sallé-men, Bowrey had a parcel of Soap in his Ship, which then did belong to the King; Ben Haddu Am­bassadour in England desir'd to buy this Soap of the King, but a Jew out bid him, and so had the Soap, for which dea­ling the Ambassador kept a grudge in his mind against the Jews, and was reveng'd on them, after this manner, whilst I was there. He inform'd the King that the Jews had im­pos'd upon him and couzen'd him of Fifty thousand pieces of Eight in the matter of the Soap, upon which the King clapt up Ten of the chief Jews in Prison, until they should either pay the said Sum, or else restore the Soap, which it is to be supposed, hath been fold in Christendom Two years ago.

AFter a serious consideration, finding that no proffers for my redemption would be accepted, I committed the conduct of my proceedings to Almighty providence resolving to make an Escape in company of Three more, Edmund Baxter, Anthony Bayle, and James Ingram.

On the 29th. of May, agreeing with our Guardian-Moors for a Blankil, (i. e.) 2d. ob. a piece, we had the liberty to be excus'd from work that day, we went there fore to the Town of Machaness, and having but a small stock of cash about us, viz. nine Blankils, we laid it out in Bread, and two small Bullocks bladders, with a little Burdock to carry Water in.

About Three of the clock in the Afternoon we began our journey designing to go as far as an Old house, call'd the Kings house, distant about Three miles from Machaness, resolving to conceal our selves about that house until night, and promising to our selves the greater security, because we knew some Christians used commonly to work there, but proceeding in our journey, we discover'd upon a loaded Horse the Moor who lived at that house, which oblig'd us to quicken our pace, and keep a head of him, for, if he should come up with us, he would easily discover that we [Page 15] did not belong to the said house, We made hast therefore before him, and coming near the house we discover'd about Twenty Moors sitting there; which accident of being hem­ed in behind and before by these our enemies, put us into a great fright, and had in all likely hood spoil'd our design, in the very entrance, if providence had not presented to our view, on one side of the house, a parcel of Lime-kills, to which, without the Moors observation we immediatly struck up, where we absconded our selves by lying flat upon our bellies; about half an hour after came two Moorish women thither, to gather up some loose wood, we considering it very inconvenient to shew our selves fearful, lest we should be taken for Renagadoes, spoke to them, but they return'd us no answer, following their business, and taking us, as vve judged, either for Moors or Christians employ'd about the said Lime-kills so vve continued there vvithout any further molestation, until night, vvhen vve proceeded on our jour­ney, traveling about Eighteen miles that night, vve passed by a great many Tents, vvhence the Dogs came out and barkt at us, and the Moors also favv us, but said nothing, mista­king us for their Country-men.

That night vve crost the great River, vvhich runs dovvn to Mamora, about Eighteen miles distance from Machaness, and about a mile from the bank of the River, vve found a convenient bush, vvhere vve took up our lodging all the day follovving, vvithout any disturbance: At night vve found our selves oblig'd to return to the said River, to furnish us vvith Water, the littleness of our vessel, vvhich contain'd not above a Gallon, being a great hindrance in our journey: We continued our progress Tvvelve miles that night, vvhich prov'd very tiresome by reason of the vveeds and bushes, and the nights vvere not so long as vve vvish'd; just about Day-break, vve found a convenient bush near to a great Valley, vvhere vve repos'd our selves; as soon as the day [Page 16] broke clear, we saw abundance of Cattle grasing in the bottom, with Moors, who lookt after them, but, by Gods pro­vidence, none came near us, so that we lay safe all that day, being the last day of May.

At night we set forwards, keeping the Woods, where were no Moorish Inhabitants, only wild beasts, the less sa­vage and formidable, which we often saw, but they never attempted to come near us, we travel'd about Ten miles that night, and then crossed a River, which supplied us with Water, whereof we were in want; on the other side of the River, we observ'd the footsteps of a great many Cattle, which rendred the place, as we thought, unsafe for us, we made therefore a little further progress in the morning, to the top of the Hill, where under a large Oak we found a bush convenient for our reception that day, but within a little while we were disturb in our repose, observing the Cattle to come grasing up the Hill, directly to that bush, with Moors at their heels, with all hast therefore we pact up our luggage and ran a mile further, without being discover'd, until we came to a Pear tree, furnish'd with long-grass a round him, there we took up our quarters all that day, being the First of June.

The night following, we intended to proceed, but it plea­sed God, to strike me lame with the Gout, so that I was not able to stand, I was forced therefore to remain there all that night, and the day ensuing, which was a great hindrance to my companions, and affliction to my self: The readiest expedient to remedy my distemper, which I could think upon was this, we made a fire in a hole in the ground, and I put my Foot into the hole to draw away the pain, having also a Lancet with us, I endeavour'd to breath a Vein in my Foot, but I could not effect it, for the Lancet would not enter, however, I found some ease by the force of the fire: My company being sensible of the delay, which my distemper [Page 17] occasion'd, began to be mov'd, insomuch that they told me, that if I could not march with them that night, they must hold themselves oblig'd to take leave of me, which added a great affliction to my sorrow, insomuch as I was the Au­thor and first mover of this escape; That I might not there­fore be forsaken by my companions, and in compliance to their importunity, I resolved to strain my outmost power.

The third of June at night I endeavoured to go, but in great pain, so that we could not proceed above Three miles, when I was forc'd to pray my Companions to stay but that night, and I did not question, but by Gods blessing, to be able to travel with them the next, they consented, and so we took up our lodging for the remainder of that night, under another Pear-tree.

The fourth of June I kept baking my foot all the day in the Ground, till about two in the Afternoon, in the mean while, I procur'd Mr. Baxter to make me a wooden Leg, which accordingly he did, I perswaded them, then, to tra­vel about Three or Four miles that afternoon, which would a little ease the labour of the night, they agreed, I travel'd about Four miles with that Leg, and then rested till night on the top of a high Hill, whence we saw a great plain valley before us.

At night we shap'd our course clear of the Tents, and tra­vel'd over the edge of the plain, about Six miles; We past by several fields of corn, the Moors in the mean time hallow­ing to frighten the wild beasts from them: Crossing of a Ri­ver that night, we saw and heard several Lyons, some ap­proach'd so near that we could almost have touch'd them, but as soon as we strook fire, which we had prepar'd for that very purpose, they presently vanish'd; when the light began to display it self, we took our quarters for the next day, which was June the Fifth; At night we continued our course, when I was still lame, which was a great hindrance to my [Page 18] company, but we were loath to part, our bread also was al­most at an end, the consideration whereof oblig'd me to strain hard to get Eight miles that night: By resting the next day I found my self to be something better, but then to qualifie my joy for this, Another companion Anthony Bayle began to sink and give over.

June the Sixth, We set onward, and measur'd Ten miles that night, when we came to a great Swamp, there my pain renewing, I fain would have perswaded them to stay but by no intreaties could perswade them, so resolving to part, we shar'd our Bread, which came to two half Rusks a peice; I endeavour'd to allure my weak wearied Brother to abide with me, comforting him with the expectation of Gar­dens, where we two more easily than the company of Four, might provide for our selves; He would not stay; Being prest thus with the consideration of being lest alone, I Re­solv'd to put forward, when it pleased God, that my foot became perfectly whole and clear of the Gout; That night we travel'd over a high barren Hill, where we fancied we heard the Suss and noise of the Sea, which encourag'd us to mend our pace until we met with a Garden, where we ga­ther'd about a dozen of small Pumpkins, a very comforta­ble assistance to us, now that our Bread was all spent, for some we eat raw, and some we roasted in the ground, where­by we found our selves considerably refresht: That night we made no more then Eight miles, for meeting with a great Oak which was blown down, we thought it inconvenient to overslip such an advantageous retirement for the next day, which we were the more desirous off, because we heard a great many Moors, tho' we could not see them.

All the next day we lay still and with exceeding content­ment we heard the noise of the Sea, at night we put on and came to the shoar, where we found whereabout we then were, viz. to the Southward of Mamora, we directed our [Page 19] Course then Northward for Two miles, when we could di­scern the Castle, but knowing that we could not go to the Northward of the Castle, because the great River goes di­rectly up into the Country, we turn'd back about a mile, and finding a convenient bush, we rested there all the next day, hearing and seeing a great many Cattle, but none came near us.

June the Eighth, We gathered about half a Peck of Snailes, and caught a Land-Tortois, which we roasted and eat har­tily, that day also, we saw a Ship in the Offing, when night was come, we made down towards the Castle, and before we were aware we fell upon a Moor making a fire, which forc'd us to draw back, the Moor not discerning us, we fetcht then a compass, and by another way came down to the Castle, there we found a strong watch, which did wholly discourage our expectations of relief from that place, so we set up our Resolutions for Sallé, about Eighteen or Twenty miles to the Southward, to see what good could be done there, But before we parted with Mamora, we made bold with a little Barley and Guinny corn, growing under the Castle, of each whereof we gathered about a quarter of a Peck, to serve our necessities, and then we betook our selves to our former nights refuge, the Bush, and after having consulted how to steer our course for Sallé, the result whereof was a long the Sea-side, we rested all the next day without distur­bance.

June the Ninth, We travel'd along the Sea-side, where we saw a great deal of Rast-timber, we concluded therefore, seeing the Ship in the Offing, to make a Raft, which accor­dingly we did, and put off with it, but it would not swim, boyart with us all, we came therefore a shore, and cut all our Lashings, leaving it to the mercy of the Sea: We tra­vel'd Five miles towards Sallé that night, fearing least by staying long thereabout we should be discovered, for our foot­ing [Page 20] and trayling of the Timber had made such an Impression in the sand as if an Hundred men had been there; That night we took up our quarters in a Fig-tree, about Seven miles short of Sallé where was no Inhabitant.

June the Tenth at night, we made forward to Sallé, in the Road, we sell upon a parcel of Tents, where though the Dogs were ready to seize us, and the Moors themselves call'd to us, We made no answer and travel'd on, without any far­ther trouble or danger, until we came to Sallé, as soon as we came thither, we made towards the Gardens, and gathered some Pumkins, and because night was far spent, we retrea­ted about a mile out of Town, to find some place which might secure us from discovery; we pitch'd upon a Bush in a great Valley, wherein we resolv'd to enclose our selves the day following: About Eleven of the clock of that day, we espied a Boy with a Dog keeping of Sheep, but yet not forgeting his game, which was hunting of Partridges; He beat the bush wherein we were lodg'd, and threvv in Stones, and the Dog also did his part, barking and coursing about the bush, buthy miracle as we thought, we were not espied, tho' we discover'd abundance of fear amongst our selves, for if we had been taken notice of, we could not otherwise con­sult our own safety, than by the death of that poor silly Lad.

The eleventh day being past, at night we made a descent to the River of Sallé, about a mile above the Town, where we found a Boat, but could not with all our strength launch her: Anthony Bayle and I who were the only swimmers in our company, made over to the South-side of the River, to see what purchase we could make there, we found indeed Three boats, but they were all aground, so that we could do no good with them; But in searching about the new Ships, (which Five in number are building there) we found two Oares, with which we swam over to our consorts, and [Page 21] all together we went down by the Rivers side, to the Har­bours mouth, but we could meet with no boat to put our Oares in; We saw two Dutch-men in the River, but they kept a diligent watch, which hindred us from carrying away their boat; We concluded therefore to bury our Oares in the sand at some remarkable place, and so we betook our selves to find out a sanctuary for the day following; We found a Fig-tree full of leaves, in an unfrequented place, as we thought, on the North-side of the River, yet within call of the Ships, vvhich then vvere a building? Under the Covert of this little Tree, tho' surrounded vvith Enemies and dan­gers, vve resolv'd to expect the protection of the next day; The Reader may possibly judge this an instance of a Roman­tick courage, and an effect rather of rash boldness than pru­dent consideration; Truly, he is in the right, for vve our selves vvere of the same mind, about the middle of the next day, upon this occasion, a Moor vvho had nevvly vvasht his cloaths, directs his course directly to our Tree, and there hangs up his Al hage to dry vvhilst he himself sat dovvn not far off, to lovvse himself, an't please you; if providence did hinder him from discerning us, I assure you it vvas not for vvant of provocation, as vve all confest, and indeed I never in my life vvas in such a trembling fit, as that lovvsie Rascal put me into.

The Tvvelfth day of June being past, at night vve came dovvn again to the River, to look after a boat, vvhich vve had observ'd vvas moor'd in the River, half a mile higher than vvhere vve found the Oares, this, vve vvho could svvim found and brought to our consorts, We padl'd her dovvn the River close by the Dutch men, vvho savv us, but said nothing, then vve put a shore, and fetcht our Oares, vve continued padling, until vve had past a French-man, lying at the Bars mouth, vvho plainly savv us, but said nothing; So soon as vve had left him behind us, vve shipp'd out our Oares, and [Page 22] Rovving right into the Sea, our course by the North-star vvas West-North-West: vvhen vve had Rovved Four Miles or thereabout, vve discern'd a Ship at Anchor, vvhich ob­lig'd us to alter our course, and Rovv Northward, until vve had past her, fearing least she might be a Sallè-Ship, and vve had learn'd at Machaness that Tvvo of them vvere a cruizing at that time, and not yet come in, therefore it vvas, that in distrust of this Ship, vve altered our course; vve Rovved about Tvvo Leagues vvithout the Ship, and lay upon our Oares; vvhen Day broke up clear, vve savv the Ship vvith her Sailes loose, I then acquainted my Consorts, that in my judgment, if the Ship vvere of Sallé she vvould make in for the Bar at that time, because the Tide and the Sea breeze vvere then both favourable, it being High-vvater at Seven of the Clock, but if she vvere an English Man of War, as vve incessantly vvish'd, then vve thought the Sea-breeze vvould make her stand off to Sea: Notwithstanding our opinions were various, and we were doubtful what to do; at length I perswaded my consorts, with much ado, to row in and make her hull, then the Ship stood off, and at length saw us, we pull'd aboard, and found her to be the Lark-Friggot Captain Leighton Commander; after some Examination and Discourse about the Methods and Means of our Escape, I propounded to the Captain a de­sign which had newly taken strong possession of my Fancy, it was this, that if he would accommodate me with his Boat, and those belonging to the other Two Men of War, which were in Company, I would undertake to Pilot them in, and to burn what Ships were then at Mamora; The Captain im­mediately stood to the Northward, and came up with the other Two Ships, which were the Bonaventure and the Gray­hound; The Admiral was then Sick at Cales, so Captain Macdonald being Eldest Captain, we went aboard him, and sending for Mr. Fairborne, who was then Captain under [Page 23] Captain Priestman, who was Sick as abovesaid, they held a Council about those propositions which I had made, at first they seemed unpracticable, by reason of many difficulties, but especially of the Bar, which is worse than that of Sallé; But then when upon Second thoughts they considered the forwardness of Men, who but that very Day had escapt a heavy Slavery, and yet were willing that very Night to en­gage in the action, they concluded it both possible and fea­sible, so they entertain'd with approbation what I had pro­pos'd; After which I immediately return'd with Captain Leighton aboard the Lark, and communicated the result of the Council with my Comrade Mr. Baxter, who was heartily pleas'd with what was undertaken, and willing to go along, so he was ordered to go in the Bonaventure's Boat, and was very serviceable, and who was better acquianted with that Bar, than I was. Immediately orders were given to shave some Deal-boards, and saw some Tarr-barrels, and make rea­dy with all expedition; by Seven at Night, all things were in readiness, the Friggots were riding Two Leagues from Shore, orders were given that the Boat in which I was, viz. the Gray-hound's, should go a head, Commanded by Captain Macdonald, who behaved himself indeed with great Courage and Resolution, and the rest had orders to follow us; there were Three Barges in all, and one Yawl, the number of Men concern'd in the action, was Forty two, who all had strict charge upon pain of Death, not to seek after Plunder, which was punctually observ'd. About Eight at Night we put off from the Ships, and betwixt Nine and Ten, we fell a little to the Northward of the Bar, but by Mr. Baxter's assistance, we quickly righted our selves, and found the Bar; there was a great noise upon the Shore, all thereabout had taken the Alarm, which did nothing discourage us, we proceeded lustily, without any concernment at their hideous outcries, which when the Moors perceiv'd, and that we advanc'd with [Page 24] undaunted Resolutions, they thought it best to flie betimes and secure themselves and their Castle; in the mean time we pursu'd our design towards the Ships, aboard which, there being a great many Lights, we observ'd the Moors looking over the sides of the first we came to, which was the bigger of the Two, they call'd to us, to keep off, we answered them with about Twenty Granado-shells, which soon drove them overboard; they had not far indeed to escape, for the Castle Wall was within a Boats length of the Ship, so with­out any difficulty we presently entred; one Moor we found aboard, who was presently cut in pieces, another was shot in the head, endeavouring to escape upon the Cable, we were not long in taking in our Shavings and Tarr-barrels, and so set her on fire in several places, she being very apt to re­ceive what we design'd, for there were several Barrels of Tar upon the Deck, and she was newly Tarr'd as if on pur­pose; whilst we were setting her on fire, we heard a noise of some people in the Hold, we opened the Skuttles, and thereby sav'd the lives of Four Christians, Three Dutch-men and One French, who told us that the Ship on fire was Admiral and belong'd to Aly-Hackum, and the other which we soon after serv'd with the same sauce, had the Name of Plummage Cortibe, which was the very Ship, which in October last took me Captive, I cannot deny that I was possessed with an extraordinary satisfaction to see this Ship on fire, and I could not but admire the wonderful providence of God, to whom alone Vengeance belongeth, in vindicating my cause, and making me an unwitting instrument of revenge, for the injuries I received from the owners of this Vessel.

Such was the fierceness of the Flames, that vve vvere forc'd to keep off from the Ships sides, vvhereby vve be­came obnoxious to the shot of the Moors, vvho from the Walls of the Castle made a great firing upon us, both of small and great Guns, but vvith little or no Execution, for [Page 25] our Men, by the light of the great fire having them in per­fect view upon the Walls, made smart returns upon them, firing incessantly upon them, and with that eagerness, that they quite neglected their Oares, so that if the Tide had not turn'd to Ebb, we should have run a great risque, our Men were so full of joy, hooping and hallowing at the sight of so desirable a Bon-fire, that they never minded the dangers they might be subject to; we were therefore forced to row the Bonaventure's Yawl, who had lost all her Oares. In all this Action we had but one Man mortally wounded, and two or three more slightly hurt: after we had compleated our business, and absolutely destroyed these Ships, we return'd out of the River, over the Bar, and pull'd aboard the Friggots, Captain Macdonald received us kindly, and gratified us with the entertainment of his Ship very frankly, aboard which we staid until we came to Cales, there we went ashore, designing a passage for Eng­land with the first opportunity; Captain Macdonald gave us Certificates of our service in the late Action, and then Mr. Baxter and I took leave of him; we did not stay long at Cales, before we met with an opportunity for England aboard Captain Atkins, who came from Leghorn and was bound for London, who very willingly granted us passage with him, and gave us civil and welcome entertainment, whom God reward and all other our Benefactors, parti­cularly (tho' to some Readers it may seems immaterial, yet when occasion offers, not to remember, to all good Men will appear unthankful, and I had rather be tax'd with im­pertmence than ungratitude) Mr. Hodges, who bestow­ed upon us Four pieces of Eight in our necessity, God return his Charity into his own Bosome with blessing and encrease, and honest Captain Gutteridge, who sent a Barrel of Beaf and a Hundred weight of Bread, least we should lie too chargeable upon Captain Atkins in our [Page 26] passage home, who the First day of July 1685. set Sail from Cadiz, and arrived in the Downs the 26th. of that Month.

Thus have I given a short and plain account of my Captivity and Escape, with the circum­stances that attended it, and tho' possibly my Stile may appear rough and unpolish'd, which the courteous Reader I hope will a little ex­cuse, expecting no other from a blunt Seaman, acquainted with nothing so much as Dangers and Storms, yet I do profess I have Penn'd this Narrative with all the sincerity and truth, that becomes a plain-dealing English-man: My de­sign and aim in all (kind Country-man and courteous Reader) is, to excite with me thy praises to our God the only deliverer, who hath de­livered me from a cruel and severe Captivity, and withal to stir up thy grateful resentments, for the happiness, peace and freedom, that thou enjoyest under so excellent and well tempered a Government, but most especially to move thy pitty for the afflictions of Joseph, to excite thy compassionate regard to those poor Country-men now Languishing in mi­sery and Irons, to endeavour their releasment according to thy power, at least by impor­tuning [Page 27] Heaven, that during their Captivity God would support them with his Grace, to bear patiently their afflictions, and to resist all Temptations until in his good appointed time, he vouchsafe them a happy deliverance, Amen.