MY last inform'd you what ill Circumstances our Ship and Ships-company were in; this comes to tell you how matters now stand with us. And to speak the truth, they are but little mended. The Mahometans aboard, and abroad, are still plot­ting our destruction. Though at present they are pretty si­lent, yet they are not asleep; we may expect a storm after the calm. You wonder why this Ship is so much the object of their spight! for this you must understand, she was once in their possession, and 'twas the best Ship they had; they made great Merchandize of her; till anon a noble Captain that commanded her, was so affronted with their insolence, and offended with their superstition, that he turn'd the most of them ashore, and put Christian Officers and Sailers in their room. And ever since the Mahometans have been restless in their attempts to ruin or recover her into their hands again. 'Tis within the memory of some yet alive, that they had a most devillish design upon her, and it had like to have taken effect. Some of them on board had very cunningly put Gunpowder under the place where the Captain and his Council of Officers were to meet, intending to have put fire to it, and to have blown them all up into the air: this treacherous Con­spiracy was discovered by the sagacity of the Captain himself; and the ring-leaders being deservedly executed, their heads were fixed for the terror of others upon the top of the Main-mast. Not long before that, they rig'd out a Fleet, that they thought and call'd Invincible, and coming up to this Ship, they attackt her as she lay at an anchor; but the heavens helping, she worst­ed that great Armado, and some of the Ships being fired, others stranded, and the rest scatter'd, scarce any return'd home to give an account of their ill success. It was but the other day that they employ'd some to fire the great [Page 2] Cabin of the Ship, which was effectually accomplisht. One Algerine con­fessed he had an hand in't, and was accordingly condemn'd and executed. Others were accused; but the Lieutenant got them out of the way. And af­ter the then Council of Officers had a little lookt into the business, it was husht up I know not how, and never enquired after since. However the Mahometans mist of their aim, for in a little time the Cabbin was repaired again, and is now much more splendid than it was before. Since these dis­appointments they have play'd at several small games, being resolved never to stand out; and now they think they have such good Cards in their hands, if they can but get rid of the Captain, they make no question of sweeping the stakes. Therefore they have indented with several of late to take him off; but yet he hath escaped their malicious hands, and some of these (which is very strange) have escaped the hands of Justice. My last told you of one, a little Doctor, or Chirurgeons-mate, and this will tell you of another, an old Cinkator, born in 88, or thereabout, he was try'd also for this bold attempt, and though the Sailors would have laid an hundred to one, when they heard the Evidence against him, he would be condemn'd, yet he was clear'd. Some others also have been unexpectedly acquitted upon their Trial; particularly two female Passengers, one a Tempestuous Lady, the other an Impudent Strumpet: This latter was so hardy, that the afterward put forth a lying Libel in Vindication of the Mahometans, alledging that the Confession upon record against them, was extorted by racks and tortures; a thing never practic'd aboard this Ship; for this she was sentenc'd to stand two or three times at the Capstorm; and the boys fingers did itch to anoint her with Pitch and Tar; but the Clemency of the Officers would not suffer it. These proceedings you may imagine don't a little animate the Conspi­rators. And there is one little accident fallen out greatly to their content, after they had barbarously murder'd (as you heard before) an honest Boat-swain, the Captain put another in his room; a little sprunt fellow, that did ferret them about; there could not be two or three of them together, but he was presently at their heels; this sawciness of his they deem'd insuffer­able, therefore an hole was quickly pickt in his coat, and he sent ashore; so that now they can club and cabal together without controul; and if any shall molest them, they must look to themselves. An honest Quarter-master a little while ago, did but a little disgust them, and presently they appoin­ted some desperate Ruffians to dispatch him; these taking their opportunity when he was all alone, fell upon him and cut his Throat; but being scar'd, they did their work to halves; for the Quarter-master by good looking af­ter recovered, and is like to do well.

The Captain, though he doth not say much, yet doubtless he cannot but resent these doings; and I believe also that he is something concern'd about the growing Greatness and power of Algier; for he hath sent to some other Ships to league with him for mutual security and defence: and upon this hangs a pretty story, in the Arsenal of the Commonwealth of Genoa, (which is not far from us) there rides a Ship call'd the Van-Trump, a lusty stout Ship she is, and sail'd altogether by Christians and Anti Mahometans; this Ship alone hath born up against all the power of Algier. To this Ship the Captain sent that there might be a nearer Alliance betwixt them; and when the Messen­ger came aboard, who should he find there but an Envoy from Algier, who was negotiating the very same thing for his Master? And we are inform'd that he [Page 3] had cunningly insinuated himself into some great Officers aboard the Ship, and had suggested to them the great glory and prowess of his Master, as also the nakedness and great unfaithfulness of the Van-herring; and had them re­member how unhandsomely she had lately serv'd them in a Voyage from Smyrna, However the Captain and the Generality of the Officers Were too wise to be wheedled into an Alliance with Algier; they were sensible 'twas against their interest that the Van-herring should fall into the hands of the Algerines; for if so, all the favour they could expect, would be that which Ʋlysses obtain'd of Poliphemus to be last devour'd. And yet there is not so good an understanding and so firm an Union and Alliance betwixt these two Ships as most desire; for certainly would they keep together, and re­solutely stand one by another, the Algerines would quickly pull in their horns; yea, these two Ships in conjunction are easily able to destroy the nest of Pirates; they may keep them in, that they shall not peep out at Sea, yea, they may fall upon them ashore. There is a multitude of Christian slaves there, whose bondage is so grievous to them, that they would be glad of any opportunity to revolt. For my part I am not out of hope to see such a design carried on for the good of all Christendom. I know some of the principal Officers, and the generality of Sailors of both Ships desire it should be so. However it gives some satisfaction, that the Captain hath now at last declared, That his Council of Officers shall sit; and consult about common-safety. If you ask the reason why their coming together hath been so long defer'd, I know none but the Captain himself that can give you a po­sitive answer; though others may stumble on this or the other probable conjecture. Some think the Lieutenant and others of the Mahometan faction are the cause. 'Tis manifestly their interest to hinder the Councils sitting. 'Tis likely they'l begin where the former Council left, they'l fall a raveling into this Hellish and Damnable Plot; and then the five great Cri­minals of which my last told you (who are still kept in the Hold of the Ship) with many others will probably go to pot; yea, 'tis an even lay but they'l fall foul upon the Lieutenant himself, so did the Council that last met, who Vo­ted that the Plotters took too great encouragement from the Lieutenants being a Mahometan, thereupon the Succession might be thought disputable.

I observe that a great many of the Sailors have a wonderful kindness for the Captain's Eldest Son: He is now aboard, and when ever he appears upon the Deck, they flock about him, and shew him all imaginable respect. A day or two ago he went upon the foreship, and I warrant you there were Scores following him with such loud Acclamations, as made the Ship to ring again; the Lieutenant heard it, and bit his lip; and though he saith nothing, I believe he thinks the more. It appears he is a little jealous of him; how­ever the Captain hath been pleased to declare publickly, that he was never married to his Mother; but yet he did not say he was not his Father; he owns him still for his Son; and the Sailors for his own and his Fathers honour are loth to think him Illegitimate.

Well, let the Father say what he will of his Son, upon my word he is a brisk young Gentleman, and by profession a Christian, and one that is re­nown'd for a person of admirable valour amongst the Mahometans them­selves. Whether the Council will interpose and concern themselves about this matter is uncertain; but some of the less wary Sailors have thought one reason why the Council have not sit, to be a suspition lest they should intermeddle with the Business of Succession.

[Page 4]Again, others think that some who are no Mahometans (at least they are not such professedly) may be faulted; 'tis too well known, and it can't be conceal'd, how the Christians themselves that are in the Ship (the more is the pity) are not all of a mind. There are many that don't very well like the mode of Worship we have aboard; they say that several of our Religious usages are borrowed from the Mahometans, this is the sentiment of some of our Officers, and of a great, if not the greater num­ber of the Sailors; this dissent of theirs doth greatly enrage the other par­ty, for this they stigmatize them, and sometimes severely handle them, which they may do by the Orders of the Ship. One would think our common danger should induce us to use more moderation. And standers-by that are not so deeply concern'd and engag'd in a party, do think the petty differ­ences amongst us are capable of an accommodation, and the rather because both sides agree in the main. Only there are a few half-witted and hare-brain'd bigots that blow up the coals. Nay, there are some that are not asham'd to declare, they would rather be Mahometans than Christian dissenters; which it may be is truly enough spoken, for that they are Semi-Mahometans already; they are these mungril-Christians that do us the greatest mischief; if we ever be destroy'd, 'twill be by the wild-fire of these men. These be they that disswade the Captain from calling his Council together; fearing possibly lest they should make some alteration in the present Orders of the Ship in favour of the dissenting party; which they may be the more in­clin'd to do, for as much as they find them to be very faithful to the inte­rest of Christianity, and most forward (upon all occasions) for the Ships welfare and safety. They see also that the severities they have for sometime been under, have not had their intended effect, in as much as they are in­creas'd and not diminisht thereby. Some of these Phreneticks (for so they may be call'd) are often buzzing the Captain in the ear with the rude carri­age of a Council of Officers in his Fathers days. It happen'd, as you have probably heard, that his Father had a contest with his Council, and from words they fell to blows, and in the scuffle the good old Captain was kill'd and thrown overboard; this unhappy and unheard of Tragedy, is ever now and then ript up to alienate the present Captain from his Council; though we all know the now Council hath not the same power, nor doth it consist of the same persons. I believe they are a company of as honest men as ever used the Sea; and on my conscience they have that respect and honour for the Captain, that they would hazzard their All for his safety and preserva­tion. And if he would but be advised by them, he might be as happy a man as ever commanded a Ship. If in his Conduct he should have been any ways tardy or deficient, they would take no notice of it. For 'tis a Maxim amongst them, That though his Officers may, yet the Captain himself can't do amiss.