A true Relation of a great and horrid Conspiracy discovered in Turkie.
THere are Letters lately come from Constantinople of Sir Sackvile Crow our English Ambassadour there, intimating his barbarous dealing with our English Factors at Aleppo, Scandaroon, and other places, the particulars whereof follow, viz.
That the said Sir Sackvile Crow being at the great City of Constantinople, summoned together (as he had power to do) all the English Marchants and Factors, under pretence of holding a Consultation, &c. who according to his Summons met together, all but three or four, and at their meeting, the said Sir Sackvil Crow acquainted them, That by reason of the Wars in England, what by his Estate in Lands, and his place, he had sustained dammage to the value of a hundred thousand pound, or upwards, and that he expected reparation, &c. from them; And perceiving themselves innared by him, they yeil-and to alow him the Summe afore-mentioned; but the said Sir Sackvil Crow refused to accept thereof, saying, that that would not serve his turn; and on a suddain clapt them all into a Dungeon, and sent out Warrants on Aleppo, and other places to seize their Goods.
This Plot was discovered by a Jew, who made it knowne to the Turks Bashaw.
I Shall desire christian patience to peruse these few lines from a forreign Part, and from a Kinsman, who last year upon urgent occasions, best knowne to himself, undertook a voyage to the Barbadoes, with one Francis Headley of Wapping which when he gave me notice of, I perswad [...]d him to desist, and to take his pillage upon some other ship; For first, I told him, that he would find his name, by nature, both alike; and likewise that he had shipt a very sufficient Surgeon (which he was advertized of) and by that meanes the Passengers were like to suffer, if it should please God to send sicknesse among them, which seldome failes; my Kinsman replyed, that if he had his things ou [...] of the ship he would otherwise provide; but it was then to late. So I seeing an ultra posse desired him (that God sending him well thither) hee would give me notice whether my words prov [...]d true, or no: now having received a Letter from my Cozen, and very well knowing, that in these Halc [...]onall Parliament dayes, things so enorm [...]ous are tollerated to be discovered, I thought it first my duty to God, and secondly to my Country, to discover the same, [Page 3] for my Conscience tells me, should I have kept this secret, and not divulge it, I had been accessary to his cruelty; As also that such men as have employed him, may be more circumspect hereafter: So I rest,
A perfect Relation of the unchristian like dealing of Francis Hardedge, Master of a Ship, with his Passengers at Barbadoes.
To the Printer
AS unknown, I salute you, having at present an imperfection of lamenesse, which is the occasion of me not coming unto you my self, but have sent this bearer: The businesse is, that last year having a Kinsman, a Marchant, that was desirous to go to the Barbadoes upon such affaires as seem'd best to himself, he telling me, that he was to go upon a ship, whereof one Francis Hardedge was to go Commander, and according to my knowledg he had shipt a ve [...] insufficient Chyrurgion, not worthy to undergo that place in a Spr [...]t He [...]ch, which without doubt he very we I knew, I did dis [...]wade my Kinsman from proceeding with him, telling him, that he would find his nature nor differ from his name; his reply was, would he had known of it sooner, for then he could otherwise disposed of himself, but now it was to late. [Page 4] Then at parting, I desired him, that (God sending him well thither) he would write to me by some friend, whether my words were true or no: And now I have lately received a Letter from my Cozen, and have drawn our a true Copy of it, and have sent it unto you, and very, well knowing that in these times, things of such enormity are tollerated to be discovered, I thought it first my duty to God, and secondly to my Country, to discover the same, that both his Owners and Merchants who are his Imployers at present, may (by Gods grace) be more cautious hereafter of employing of him; the reasons whereof you shall presently understand; [...]or if any scruple bee made, I have the originall to shew, to quit both you, and my self: So rest,
Indian Bridge in the Barbadoes, the 25. of Ian. 1645.
Loving and kind Cozen Headley,
MY love remembred unto you, we arrived here the 13. of this moneth I came very sick ashore, and am not well yet, I think if I had been two dayes longer at Sea I had fed fishes; for Mr. Hardedge victualled his Ship with stinking Beefe and Fish, and that infected our blouds; insomuch, that there was sixty, seventy, and eighty sick at a time, our Surgeon a Dunce, and kept his Cabbin all the cold weather; hee laid a man so fast asleep, he never waked again, and being asked why he gave him so much opium, he answered, he did not know, hee was bound in his body, And our Master allowed us but meal a day, and stinking Bevaradge, and not enough of [Page 5] that neither. There was not one person but was sick two or three times, except one Gentleman and my self, who held out till within four days of our arrivall: In our sicknesse our Master would not allow us water to drink, notwithstanding he brought ten Tun into the Harbour, and hath sold thirty Tun of Beer for himself and others. Neither would he allow us Oatmeal to make water-grewel; And if he had, there was not one corn of Salt in the ship to season although we lay a moneth in the Downes, and often desired him to buy some: The sick people had nothing but the thin broath of the Peas, and because they could eate no bisket he took that from them, and when they were well, they would have eate five or sixe Cakes a day, it they could have got them, insomuch they looked like death it selfe.
He denyed a woman with child beer, that was brought to bed two dayes after, and perisht, and three more, and the Child: wee cast over-board my Lord of Carlile his Secretary, I pray remember me to Mr. Crews: So I rest,
Your loving Cozen, WIL: EDLIN.
One of the Seamen having bled twenty foure houres, desired the Master to take his wages, cloaths, and all that he had in the sh [...]p, upon condition he might have sweet bee [...]e and not suffer him to perish.
To the impartiall Reader.Take notice that the Letter came from a Gentleman of good worth, and what he hath written, question not of the truth of it, I hope it may be a meanes to make the Schoole phrase good, Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula [...]autem, which God grant it may.
Fare thee well.
FINIS.