by whom they may be relieved they are then forced to put might and maine to runne from them the Turkes standing with drawne sables over their heads and if by feabelnes any faints has his Armes or head Cut off they are beaten to put on their clothes and beaten to take them off they are beaten to eate drinke sleepe and wash and are beaten for doing any of these what shall I say more of these exorbitant men who had they the vertue of patience reposing sure confidence in the Divine Majestie I presume God would deliver them so wishing them grace whilst lamenting their estates left in those torments many of whom I love most deare doe end this discourse desiring God to send them libertie The End of the First Booke THE SECOND BOOKE Wherein is contained the discription of Argere its first rising to this Greatnesse its Government the particular denomination of its Governors its Revinewes its Forces by Sea and land its Victories its Inhabitants its Lands Territories and Riches HOw many thousand of the Europian people have not only lost their estates and beene utterly ruinated but also what an innumerable Company of Christian soules hath beene perverted by the Citie of Argere is by miserable experience knowne unto most people so her fame on the contrary hath spred it selfe unto all the Mahometan Nations insomuch as Chineses and those other Esterne people have beene allured unto her in all parts of the Great Turkes Dominions and amongst the fierce and warlike Tartars she is termed Sultan Iossier the Golden and King of Cities here Souldiers are of the bravest and most desperatest of all Turkes so esteemed for valour and that with the grand Segniour himselfe who ascribes them the preëxcellence of vertue above his owne Ianissaries this City was in the yeere of Grace 1414. taken from the Christians by Barba Rosha and other 32. Turkes Pirats in a Frigate accedentally putting into that Port yet hath for its situation bordering to the West the Kingdome of Muritaniea East the Kingdome of Cokosse South the Zara and North the Meditaranian sea situated 5 leagues in the Bay called Monta Fusa and is built on the side of a hill presenting it selfe to the spectators at Sea East West and North 8. or 10. leagues in forme of a top saile hoysed her houses built staire-like one over the other enjoying a most wholesome ayre and pleasant situation scarce any house of the City but hath the prospect of the Sea there are in her many stupendious and sumptious edifices though outwardly for the Major part present themselves but simple and rude her cercuite doth not exceede 3. Miles in which circumference are a multitude of people and excessive Riches in gold plate and houshold furniture her women for beautie give place to none So for their immunities are not to be paralleld by â—y they have an Indies in diamonds pearles gold chaines and other rich vestures insomuch that it occasioneth a Proverbe amongst the Turkes who sayes there is three things that distroyes the world the Christians in Law the Jewes in Feasts and they upon their wives But having spoken in generall of the wealth of this Citie I will also informe you who are the possessors of it the Turke is he that fights for all both by Sea and Land and by his power as Conquerer keepes all the other sort of the inhabitants as Vassals in great subjection yet in substance is but a slave unto them as possessing goods by imagination and the others possessing the essentialls for the Moores and Tageriens are the owners of Lands and ships and the onely Armorers of them whom I may compare to the maine Sea and the Turkes but as Rivelets or small streames to emptie themselves in the great Ocean for besides their pay and shares they get at Sea they enjoy for the Major part but little others of which the Tavernes Whores and worse Vices serve to spung them in summe they are slaves to the toyles and hazards of Fortune and their aussiduous travells and have no free exemption from them untill they come to be Bullabashes and when Musullagaes having passed all offices and made all benefits which their youthly toyles may infeâ—â—e them in they shoote their Arrowes and unbend their bowes and are exempted from all having 40. shillings a moneth pay with houses and enjoy a life voyde of all cares yet some Turkes there are of them that are excessively rich yet but few Of its Discription in Generall THis Citie on all parts to the Land is walled and of sufficient strength it is also moted and trenched besides being situated upon a hill that hath on the West side of it so great a dale and asscent as by ordinary conjecture there is no meanes possible to assault her on that side She hath a most sumptuous mould and on it built a Castle of excellent workemanship in the midst of it North upon a tide from the Sea gate in which is planted 16. peeces of brasse Ordnance the chiefest and strongest Fort to the Sea is that called the Tapona in which are 12. peeces of great weight and goodnesse many other block-houses are on that side but the Citie generally unwalled to the sea where shipe of greatest burthen may come within Musket shot and batter her nor can any shot be in vaine her edifices being as I have before rehearsed and are all built with bricke and that very slender her streetes narrow and she infinitely populour so that if ever shee be forced it must be with a good fleete by sea and also sufficient Land Forces must be necessarily required her walls are abundantly stored with brasse Ordnance and upon two Mountaines she hath as I may terme them the bridle and the saddle two Castles the one commenced in a night by Charles the fifth Roman Emperour the other built by the Tagerenâ— each commanding the other and both the Citie there is also the stirrups which they call the Alcassaba in which they hold their great Councell it is also their Magazin or great store house of Amunition and Provision and Treasure in which is yearely layd up for their future occasions 500000. dubles accounting each duble to the just English shilling and this great place of strength is onely kept by 200. Bullabashers chiefe men in Councell to the West neere halfe a mile without the Citie is also Babâ—lwaite Castle built at the charge of a certaine Bashaw or vice King of the Rowse Nation When it was taken by Barba Rosha it was no other than a vast wildernesse but he following his pirassis and getting wealth by that trade had in short time great companies of Turkes and Allarbies resorting to him whereby it greatly increased it not to fame commodiousnesse nor beauty untill Phillip the third King of Spaine banished the Moriscâ—â—s from his Country of which sort many came unto this Citty whereby it increased in ingenuitie of Arts in Fortifications in buildings in planting fruites not knowne there
withall haste tallowes and prepares their Gallies which are soone accommodated but before a supply of Souldiers is come to the Venetians from Corffue but without the Turkes knowledge they now call a councell and concludes to send Mustapha Captaine of the Castle to treate with the Venetian Generall and under that pretence to spy out and discover their Forces Mustapha goes to them parlies with Marine Cappella and according to their wonted custome falls to dissimulation exhibits Allies letter to that Generall demands by his permission and favour free passage for that he came not thether prepensedly but being bound for Constantinople to serve his Emperour was put into their Seas by extremetie of weather and to authenticate it exhibited to the Venetian Generall the great Turkes letter but Marine Capella Semper Idem refuseth all treatie with them and had good cause of incredulitie by good intelligencers Mustapha returnes with this answer that if they would come forth they should bee most welcome and couragiously received but to their owne perills and that if it fortuned they to carry him he must have patience but if it fortune he to carry them as he hoped in the mercy of Jesus and the vertue of their patron S. Marke he should they must have the like he also saw the Venetians well armed and having delivered this answer to Ally hee is not a little perplexed the Venetian on their parts as vigellent as the Turke had there especially some Turkes others Albinesses and Iewes of the countrey by whom hee got daily information of the Turkes proceedings excellently well playd on their parts they imployed Turkes averse in religion and condition to the Christians who without suspition every day eate and dranke with the enemy Consequently the better able to informe the Albinesses and Iewes they imployed to accuse the validitie or invaliditie of the Turkes reports the Venetian conformable to good intelligence ordereth his Armatha the Gallyasses were placed where the Turkes must passe if they attempted it and every night having their Frigats and Boats which came under the Castle walls and to the very Prowes of the Gallies which so daunted the Turkes that they now utterly dissisted from their resolution of combate and all amort are devising a new way to secure the Slaves if the Venetian should land his Forces and ayme to fetch them off by force 500. of us were put into a Tower in the Castle all lying 10. and 10. in chaines a place as darke as Pitch and a foot thicke in dust but it s now seven weekes since the arrivall of the Venetian Armatha in this Port and their Gally sent to Venice for further order is returned the Prince and Sinod authenticats Marine Capellas doings that what his excellence should doe should bee well done nor does hee omit any time to illustrate his zeale to the divine majestie and valour to ruenate so many miscrante enemies to the faith of Christ who as breake of day commences a second battaile with thundering off great Ordnance and vallies of small Shot for although the Venetians carries not so many Souldiers in their Gallies as the Turke does yet have they this advantage of them that upon any occasion they arme their Bonavollies and condemned men who upon promise of libertie or other reward will fight bravely the Turke leaves their Gallies and runnes into the Castle Christians they force to be Gunners the two Galliasses with 4. other smaller Gallies batters that Castle whilest the others board the Turkish Gallies lay their fasts to them and roaes them away thus Nobly did the Venetian end this fight in lesse than an houre to their glory and the infamie of the Barberiscos great murmerings were now amongst the Turkes against Ally their Generall who has no other way to escape their furie and revenge but by open handed liberalitie wherein he promised to relieve the Souldiers present necessitie In summe his generositie is universall to the reliefe of that ruenated company as well Christians as Turkes and he promised the remuneration of all the Captaines by refurnishing them with as many Gallies as they had lost The hurleburly with these glorious proffers being over Ally now seekes all the coast and recollects the greatest shot the Venetians had made against them which he since presented to the great Turke whom he intercedes for remuneration and revenge urging a breach of peace in that the Venetian surprised their Gallies in one of his Masters Ports But three dayes after that fight he marched from Volloniea to Sellenico in Arcadia leaving behind him onely fiftie eight Christians in great indisposition whereof my selfe was one so feeble as accounted a dead man but such is the goodnesse of God as indureth daily It pleased the divine Majestie to keepe mee in a languishing sicknesse I was three times recovered and three times downe in relapse of a most violent Fever but thankes bee unto God that hath not given me over as a prey to their teeth in 35. dayes after returned a Bullabash of Argiere with order from our Patron or Master Ally to carry us all for Arcadia but the Bullabash returned thither onely with seventeene men which were indifferently recovered some being dead and the rest very sicke but God so provided for me that I was consciously commisserated by the Bullabashâ— who left mee to receive better fortune Certaine Turkes were left with us a Guardians or Keepers others to over-see those materialls belonging to the Gallies landed before their surprisall whereof the chiefe was Murate by a Renegatha of the Corceca nation a person of great honour in Argiere Lievetenant Generall of the Armatha a father in Law to Ally the Generall a man of an hundred and foure yeares of age whose desire was to die in the face of Christians fighting the battell of Mahomet three dayes after the Bullabashes departure dyed in Volloniea God that had preserved us in so many inevitable dangers did also restore some of us to more then an ordinary strength of body from so great feeblenesse and such poore meanes for recovery no sooner were wee able to stand upon our legges but we are studious how to bring to passe our libertie foureteene of us being in reasonable strength resolves to give the attempt yet some pusellanimous base spirit proves a Traytor informes the Guardion of our intentions and not onely so as being resolved to runne away but also to kill him for his report we are all Castigated and our case pittious Command was given to the Souldiers of the Castle to looke vigilently unto us that death is better then so base a life nor could this deter or disanimate us from our resolution to attaine libertie or death no time so fit as the present come what will come All were in chaines foure and foure except a Spaniard the supposed deare friend of our Guardion and my selfe dispencer of the house it fortuned our Guardion to goe to the next towne called by them Deshera some mile off in
extraordinarily helped him had other wayes inherited the miseries hereditary to those Bashawes yet wants there not those who sollicite and make friends and give moneyes to obtaine the place such biters are that nation at the golden hooke that I presume if it were at hell for gold they would not refuse that baite He now interests himselfe in wretchednesse his place calls him to give the pay and the Souldiers will have it 600. Musallagas 800. Bullabashes 424 Oddabashes and the number of Souldiers uncertaine Imperially demands it hee has not a certaine number of Souldiers to pay for they receive all the Turkes that came all free Christians that turne Turkes and Renegadoes whose masters makes them to turne Turkes provided he has his masters consent thereto for it is in their pleasures to keepe them slaves perpetually and their posteritie the number of them in dead pay is also uncertaine being according as children are borne for that every souldiers sonne at his birth day is entered into two shillings a moneth pay his charge is augmented by 1200. Swayes or horsemen which chiefely followes them for hope of spoile for a Turke may not pillage any thing of the conquered for if he saw a Crowne of Gold lying at his feete and should goe to take it the next Souldier to him upon paine of death is oblieged to cut off his head referring the spoile to the base and undeserving but that a Turke should accompt the honour of victory the greatest recompence of reward and those ignoble sort of Souldiers have but foure shillings a moneth pay this Bashaw is also oblieged to maintaine the Bullabashes in the Cassaba with victualls with Horses when they goe in Campe and also to the Souldiers to carry their Baggage the Cookes Kettles and to furnish them with Powder Shot Tents and other necessaries and once in 15. dayes to make the whole councell a feast to maintaine the houshold expences of the Agga or Generall of the Souldiers Besides giving him if he sit but three dayes in that Chaire 1000. shillings and if two moneths no more for so their manner is to abide in that dignitie yet few of them have beene knowne to have continued that time of two moneths Of their elder Bullabashes they elect their 24. Ayabashes and of their elder Ayabashes they make their Kaia and this Kaia is made Agga yet he upon sufficient reason given may excuse himselfe of the place yet with consent of the Duana or Councell I have knowne many to sit downe and immediatly rise againe and in a day foure or five of them to doe the like at such time as any great difference or stirre hath beene amongst them I knew one of them a man of good esteeme through timour and conscience a great matter of importance being to be iudicated made an appollogicall excuse and refused the place but the Duana tooke him downe gave him 200. blowes and after with lesse ease made him resit in the chaire to doe justice from which when they are dismissed turne Mussullagas and are then exempted from all toyles troubles or Duana matters and are onely called thither at such times as some infrequent matter is presented and the like hath not passed in their Bullabashes times When they send for the ancients of the Mussallagas to know if any such had occured in his government who gives his answer and opinion and departs the third in place are the Oddabashes who are the last in councell nor doe these enjoy an equall pay but according to their service for if there be a nation that retaines the discipline of the Romans they are these no man is preferred to place by discent or valour as well the Sheepe as the Lyon First they are Souldiers and have but foure shillings a moneth pay and foure breades which they raise by service for every time they goe in the Army to a shilling upon the Nativitie of every sonne of the great Turkeâ— to another upon any victory that the great Turke hath to another for every enemies head they cut off to another upon the comming of a new Bashaw to another from a Souldier they rise to Avichellhage or steward to Anodabasshe and so to Abullabasshe to an Ayabasshe to a Kaya and in fine to Agga and then Mussould or turned out so that it is fortune that brings them in place but not in pay a new souldier by the death of his Officers come to place but it is Service that advances their pay the Souldier has but 4. breads a day the Oddabashe the like the Bullabashe 8. the Ayabasshe 24. provided they be not married for when they marrie they lose their bread and houses most of the Bullabashes have houses Rent-free yet gets them by favour for when a Bullabasshe is very sicke sends word to his best friend that is destitute of a house for his Cimitary which he gives order to have drawne whereby if he dyes his friend is put in possession according to their custome and proverbe for they say they rose by the sword they live by the sword and they shall end and perish by the sword the most profitablest places are those of the Châ—wsses or pursevants who must be naturall Turkes and are in Number 6. Continuing in Office sixe yeares during which terme they injoy many priviledges and at the expiration of their times turnes Bullabashes having passed a life free of care and gotten many thousand peeces of eight The next to them in matter of profit are the Archesse or cookes and are in Number 120 who succeede one another in place till they be Archabasshes or Arch-Cookes when they turne Oddabasshes and their last yeere of Service in that Office worth them 1500. peeces of eight during which time they are interdicted the company of women I knew one of them taken in company of a women by one of his fraternitie had presently his turbant torne off his head and was led as a malefactor before the Duana whose first demand to him was whether there wanted boyes In sum they degraded him and mulcted him with 500. blowes for transgressing these Ancient customes In fine the Basshaw is but a figure and received by them mearely to take that charge and trouble upon him which all of themselves of the great ones refuses there are foure Allcaids or Generalls of Campes which by Nation must be Renegadoes and these are excessive rich for all they can extort from the Moores above the Kings tribute they put into their owne purses for which the Allarbies exhibites continuall compâ—â—â—ts against them one of the chiefest of them in my time was in councell like to bee toâ—e in peeces nor have they any other way to prevent the like accident but by keeping themselves indebted to the treasurie and chiefest men in Councell great obligation had Caide Muxate to Haâ—sa Hosiea who in that hurly burly wherein the whole Duana were in a confusion after a signe and beckoning with the hand 〈◊〉 in this manner unto them Fathers
is licenced and departs the poore French having made songs of freedome and extolled the glory of their grand Chevellier to the skies are now lest to condole and to new make their forward reckonings whiles they are derided of all nations and the Turkes adding Mulct unto them No man can promise to himselfe an immutable condition it is two yeares and a halfe since I fell from my Runagatha to Mahomet Agga a man of the Armenian nation and heheae now dead without wife or child whereby I am slave to Vsuph Basshaw being February the 16. 1637. and the 13. of Iune with other slaves of his was imbarked on the Galley of Norilla Bay at midnight as the custome is after the booke was made we lanched from Argiere the 16. dicto neare Colla The Turke having eight Gallies met with six of the great Duke of Tuscans Gallies who at first made an Italian bravada but in fine with Saylers and Oars ran away The Turke now proud that the Argiere Gallies had chased away the best Gallies of all the Christians in the height of their spirits they rounded both Ilands of Sardena and Corceoa taking many Towers upon each of them burning and taking Pollaceas Saitease and other Navigation and now the second time met with the Dukes Galleyes who would not indure the sight of them the Turke pursuing his resolution 19. dayes after our departure from Argiere tooke a Towne in the Bay of Geneva where besides rich spoyles they brought from thence 365. persons and in their returne burned a Flushener being a brave new shippe having 18. peeces of Ordnance loaden with Challery Cheese and being now in their returne met the third time with those Legorne Gallies and chased them but could not fetch them In fine this voyage ended in 28. dayes when they returned in safetie to Argiere with no little riches glory and applause of the people and now is come a new Bashaw to that City and as custome is the old must packe and be gone Hee put off all his English French and Dutch to Ally Pichellin generall of Argiere a great man in substance having besides his Lands and other riches 800. Christians slaves and a great Tirant He respected no man above another and in truth we were all exquisitely miserable that were his slaves The 23. of August Anno 1637. we were re-inbarked on the Galley of Norilla bay And the first of September they tooke Colpe in Spaine a little towne eight leagues to the orient of Allicants they landed when first Aurora gave her light and continued the fight till one or two of the clocke in the afternoone besides the spoiles they brought from thence 315. Christians the women and children the next day they sent upon a Galley for Argiere but put all the men to the Oare the third dicto they tooke the towne of Cape Paul which resisted from morning till foure a clocke in the afternoone in all which time neither there nor at Cape appeared one man either for resistance or intelligence they harrowed the Castle tooke all the Towers to the Castle of Guardell mare and so westward till they came to Titewone in Barbary where the generall tooke in sixty thousand peeces of eight for his accompt proper And after they returned for the cost of Spaine as a terrour and had done much more damage to the Spaniard but they were twice prevented by English Shippes they returned for Calpe and gave Scala Franca to the Spaniards who visits their forlorne friends and the unhappy men made spectators of that place where they received their disaster In summe good quarter was performed to them when at the fine of 30. dayes returned to Argiere with acclamations of joy of the inhabatants all the house tops being covered with women crying Allaluah Allaluah with salutation of Canons and generall rejoycing of the people it was now October and we hoped that yeares toyle was past for so hath beene their custome to repose the winter I meane from Galley navigations to the slaves advantage for although they worke hard all day on land yet they rest at night and injoy their fills of water which is precious in the Gallies but what is not too little for the unsatiable gulfe fo unhumaine desires Ally the Generall would ingrosse the whole world to himselfe plus habeo plus careo Another voyage must be made this yeare and was with six Gallies but ended in the expence of what they had formerly gotten their best fortune was they safely returned to their homes two Gallies were detained in the port to cary Souldiers to the orient garisons and my lot fell to goe upon one of them and now preferd began the worst condition of Gally Slaves our furthest port was but 100. Leagues to Boma a goodly Moores Citie and famous countrey I meane for its fertilitie as aboundant in all necessaries for the life of man and I say famous in that being a City where Saint Augustine was borne from whence 129. Souldiers were to goe for Constantina founded by Constantine the Great our Countrey man and first Christian Emperour in which City are yet so many apparent footsteps of Christianitie over whose walls and gates are so many verses written both in Greeke and Latine of excellent esteeme for rare antiquities many whereof were sent me by Runagathars which went thither of my acquaintance but my escape hath left them and that happily in Argiere as never meaning to returne for their acclamation being glad I have so escaped suddaine and unexpected events are those that cause most admiration Mounsieur de Maâ—â—ie French generall is now at Sea with 15. of his Kings shippes and commission to infranchise the French Slaves yet it seemes the god Neptune was wrath with them for with a storme at Sea their Fleete was seperated and most of them forced to returne for Mercelles Having spent their Masts and received other misfortunes yet all Commissioned if accident should seperate them Argiere Road should be their randevoos 400. Turkes and Moores they brought with them to exchange for their French very confusedly arrived some of them to the Port. First two sayle one of 36. peeces of Ordnance whereof Broâ—â—noy of Rochell was Captaine and another of 28. peeces of Ordnance good quarter was offered them by the Algiers Gromnoys Purcer comes ashore without a hostage professing a visit to the French Councell at the instant was in the Road and ready to depart two ships of Argiere the one of 40. and the other of 28. peeces of Ordnance both bound for Alexandrea in AEgypt and well knowne to Forans Purcer two such shippes never went out before from Argiere for besides the excessive Riches of their loading and passingers of greatest wealth of that Citie bound in pilgrimage to the solemnities of the Meco one shippe of them had knowne in her above three hundred thousand Soltanies in Gold each Soltanie worth their seven shilling English the Purcer returnes to his shippes who were both
Tunnessians The Tunnies Gallies were arived who were no sooner discryed but the Algiers waighes to use the complement of meeting and then he was the bravest Gallant that could show most Silke And certainly their standards were for their worth and curiositie of rare verses written in them in Letters of Gold in the Turkish language to bee admired They gave each other their valleyes of small shot and their Ordnance and so ended their salutation Their thoughts travelled within them as a woman-in labour who findes no rest till she be delivered And they to hasten their designes went to Porta ferinea to tallow and with all celeritie set forward for the Christian shore The first ship we met withall was the Love of London neare the I le of Pautallereia shee was a goodly shippe and the weather faire but the Turke had nothing to say to her wee were next in chase of five Christian Gallies who nimbly got from us In the morning we arrived at Strombello where we put ashore a Frigat of Naples the men all ranashore three of them whether wilfully or otherwise I know not but were devoured by those afrighting fiers perpetually burning able to invoke remorse in the most Flagitious and obdurate hearts the noyse being like the roarings of Hell The others advised the Turkes that those Gallies which they had chased were of the Citie of Naples and not onely so but which is most to be lamented to see how voluntary Christians are to discover the greatest secrets though to the ruine of their owne countries for what places hath the Turke taken but by the information of spies natives of those places who casting off grace after their information receive rewards and turne Turke and are instruments to ruinate their whole posteritie I have knowne three that have Pilated the Turke to the place where they were borne and beene instruments in the captivating of their owne fathers and mothers and all their Lineage taking their parts of the price for which their Parents were sold for in the Market which served them for spending money on whores in Tavernes and for worse vices These Neapolitanes advised the Turkes of two Gallies of that Citie loaden with Silkes whose Cargassoones were of excessive value and bound for Ienemay and must passe that way and that within three dayes but God turned that counsell to foolishnesse for had they attended the time they could not have missed them Ocootrâ— a Citie in Galabria and in the kingdome Naples was next aimed at as a place of riches and in it esteemed 3000. people at mid day having stroke downe their Masts they Boaged for that place yet made such delayes as that they came not thither till faire day but landed boldly the people that could did runne away the Turkes tooke the Citie and rifled it and brought away 115. persons one whereof was the Bishop of that place and 15. Nunnes the chiefe of which was Cosen German to the Prince of Rochella the other were impotent and aged people then was the whole Coast in an uproare and as we were passing by they let flye their Ordnance at randome but the Turke to amplifie his glory to the ignominie and reproaches of the Italian passed through the vally of Messena that City thundered but to little purpose onely to shew the Turke what they could doe if they were neerer the bold Turke landed upon the maine and set on fire their houses burnt fisher boates passage boates horses and travellers provision without feare haryed all the Coasts killing beeves and other Cattle and setting whole fields of corne on fire and committing many other outrages to the great dammage of the Country insomuch as it was disliked by some Turkes themselves and being now come to Rochella they met with a Neapolitane ship of 20 gunnes and having discharged 3. of them they took his and afterward set fire on her and then being insolent were ready to attempt any thing their prosperity made them mad Mallapane a Renegado of the Greeke Nation who runne away with a Gally of the great Turkes which he sould in Tunnis for 26000. peeces of eight informed them of a Citie lately sunke wherein of many thousand Soules which perished by that disaster there onely remained about 400 persons possessing great riches living in cottages errected for their present necessities his information was most joyfully received and the projector not a little proud to be the Instrument of so great a benefit The attempt was prosecuted and at midnight 1500 Turkes Landed to captivate and spoyle those imagined more than distracted and forlorne people Malapane was generall conductour and he brought them to the Citie which the day shewed them to be standing and sumptuous who sent them such Orators as made them use more haste backe than good speede This City was well knowne to Allie Captaine Bashaw who with 80. Gallies and a power on Land battered it 3. dayes and returned with shame it is called Cotroone and lyes within 6. leagues of Cape St. Maries the entring in of the Gulfe of Venice Thus was Italy the eye of Christendome infestred by these Rovers The Levant wind being high caused them to continue â—kale there for 7. dayes space within a league of that City in which time the Turke foreaged the Country tooke many of the inhabitants that lived in villages and remote houses their Galleyes heads all day on Land and they cutting wood making water and dressing pillow a chiefe dish pleasing their pallats no Native appeared in all this time for resistance therefore by imagination they Reigned Kings the wind calming withall celeritie they advance for their great explot but he that with his incomprehensible eye seeth the actions and discerneth the intentions of all men disposing things according to his Divine Will as celeriously sends an obsticle to perturbe their way Such a Levant wind as for securitie they were forced to returne to their former place of Randevous The next intermission of such huge and unwonted gusts they againe set forward when not having rowed foure leagues were repulsed by the like occasion no sooner re-ankared but that furious Element converts it selfe to calme mildnesse and now the third time attempts the accomplishment of their high Ambition and are repulsed had they not beene more insensate than errationalls they could not but have repaired to the consideration from whence their so often countermand proceeded in summe God reserving them for a greater castigation calmes the wind and they joyously advances and now got Cape S. Maries the most orientalist part of Italy and not to be discovered strikes the Gallies Maste into the Cushea or downeupon the Decke and each rowes who shall be the formaste to arrive to that middle Island in the Gulf of Venice or as the Italian calls it Ill Isella de Methia the 3000. Christians promised them by the spie a man of more than sixtie yeares of Age and one that had lived a Christian in a Captives estate 37. yeares this great
bootie is now in an attained aggetation stately Catria a Citie in Sclavonia occulerly presents her selfe unto them the bagge or stroke of the Oare is reinforced to no little ditrament of the poore Christians the All-sufficient God conscious to their indurances commands the wind to Countermand the inexorable cruelties of their oppressors by whose furie the Turke is desperated of better fortunes nor had any of them the least hope but to have perished in that tempest the Turke ignorant of the coast in this extasie implors the knowledge of some Christian to whom the danger of death was alike equall and obtained all consenting for the preservation of so many Christians lives they harboured them in the port of Vollonia in the Duchie of Albaine but man that is not so sencible of the perfects health as of the least sickenesse so no sooner was this dangerover having recollected good tackling with other necessaries they reconsulted whether to goe all of them deepely protesting never to returne to Argere without sufficient purchase answerable to so many difficulties endurances so great an adventure their first project ever approved the best for that in that Island there were at least 300. Christians beside rich pillage and no difficultie in taking it as being unfortified yet others contrary opinioned opposed alleaged the danger of the sea which for a time caused a demurre in some of them yet concluded that when that should faile they would fall upon some Greeke Towne which lived under the Great Turkes obedience and let his greatnesse take it how he would they cared not Sollymon Agga governor of the Country advertised Allie the Generall the neernesse of Corfue and of 2 Gallie asses and 20. Gallies alwayes kept there by the state of Venice to deffend their seas who without all question would soone come to have intelligence of their being there but Allie bravely replies not to care for all the Gallies of Venice much lesse for those in Corffue Mahomet Bey a man better considerate and Captaine of the Tunise Gallies with other Captaines of both Cities intreates him to get some other Port for better securitie but all Councell the purchaser of goodnesse is contemned by him newes is at Corffue of these Gallants being in Vollonia Marino Capella Proveditore or generall of the Armatha withall religious care uses more than ordinary expedition for the Arming his Navie in a day and a night they are provided and ready and Saturday morning Iune 8. arrives in that Port with his whole Armatha the Turkish Gallies then at skale their powers upon the Land this Vollonia is a great Bay of 5 Leagues deepe or long Land lockt on both sides it hath in the plaine a great Castle and well fortified and in it a great number of excellent brasse Ordnance upon the hill or mountaine of exceeding great height is another Castle over-seeing a great part of the Country and farre discovering at Sea which Castle discovering the Venetian Navie shot a warning peece the word now forratendo for we had then our tents up to keepe us from the weather which then rained thundred and lightned in most terrible manner it is now time the Turke looke about himselfe they let slip their Cables and roade under the great Castle there being in sight those that before they cared not for now feares them it is too much to be a speaker and a dooer the deepest waters are the least heard whereas the shallowest makes the greatest noyse the Turke is now consulting for best order of defence and by generall consent brings their poopes to the shoare and their prowes to the Sea their Gallies lashed one to another only leaving distance for the slaves to use their Oares for the Gallies order the fowle weather and abundance of raine made the Venetian all improper to give an assault that day Sunday morning after the performances and rites of Christianity they put abroad their flagges and standard and with drummes and trumpets advances in the front where the two Gallyasses thundering with their Artillerie before the smaller Gallies Ordnance could doe execution Allie the Generall now solicits the verteous Mustapha Captaine of the Castell to defend his Navie and people from the violence of the Naizerian misbeleevers which with store of peeces of eight hee effected as the French Proverbe sayes silver answers to all it is so powerfull a prevailer with that Nation of the Turke that giving them money with one hand they may put out their eyes with the other powder and Gunners are sent into the Castle which is not a trivial one but containes an English mile in curcumference in sum it is a place strong both by Art Nature having in it more than 150 peeces of brasse Ordnance the best that ever I saw Mustapha the Captaine now displayes the Horse Taile or royall insigne of the great Turke and stoutly defends the Barbariscos partie the fight is hot on both sides and in spight of the Castle had the Venetian continued it but halfe an houre longer the Barbariscoes had all lept into the Sea and left their Gallies and 4500. Christians captives to their vertue but as to the unfortunate there never wants succeeding troubles in the interim this disaster befell us one of the Captaines of the Gallyasses lost his arme upon which she retired dissention falling betwixt the Venetians the major part of the Captaines commanded a retreate contrary to the will of that noble Generall Marine Capella who for his worth and valour may be ranked amongst the greatest Captaines of those times Thus ended that fight which had continued neare three houres to the glory of the Turke for that present who for joy gave their feesses or out cries Alla Alla Mahomet and Rosallah which is God God alone and Mahamet his prophet thundering with their great Ordnance and vallies of small shot in derision of the Christian vertue whiles the Venetian retired to their place of first ankoring Immediatly sent a Gally for Venice to advise the Serinissimo Prince and illusterous Sinate what accurred Demanding their future pleasures concerning those Turkish Pirates there 's many Snake lies hid under Stawbury leaves for all this great flash of the Turkish glory they are yet timerous what the event will be and to prevent the worst the same night they difinbarqued all their Christians carries them a mile into the countrey and erected Tents in the field for their randavowes being all well coupled tenne and tenne together in chaines they also makes a Trench opposite to their Gallies to play the brave fellowes in and having beene blocked up by the Venetians neare a moneth growes weary and distastefull of such command â— in summe the one and the other having their especialls of each others condition the Turke is informed the Venetian to be very slenderly manned as not having one Gally with another above fortie some but thirtie Souldiers which indeed was true the Turkes are now ashamed and blames somes cowardlinesse and
before in Arming ships with great allacritie to doe spoile upon Christians in exhausting the price of Captives adding new torments to them and by exacting great ransomes from them to spunge them to the dregs since whose arivall to her that Citty hath flourished to the Admiration of the Turke and is now become famous for her high hand carried over all the Christian Navigations and her great booties gotten dayly from them for her buildings and they so compact as there is not a foote of waste ground or garden in all the Citie commodious for her abundance of Fountaines in all parts of her and concavitie for the passage of ordure and excrement from all houses and corners honoured with Artificers beautified with rich shops and adorned with the abundance of all necessaries worthy the regallaring so Noble a Citie all which she enjoyes by the industrie of the Tagerins and its perminencie by favour of the great Turke whereby she hath so long reigned by the ruines of all Christians uncontrouled the great Turke lodging this theefe in his house to no other purpose nor will permit any Christian-Prince to take revenge against this Citie putting them off with imperative answere that it is his where although he Commands least onely receiving from her 20000. peeces of eight a yeare which is not payed him as a Tribute but meerely as a reward to this dissimulation in tollerating and protecting them in their most contested inexecrable and infamous doings participating in their Robberies receiving besides other presents of boyes which if Gentlemen are customarily presented to him for all which hee rewards them with the honour of wearing his fooles coates and their Captaines by sending them flagges and other favours as his greatnesse pleaseth to bestow upon them Of its Government THey have for their gimause Ecclesiastical or Church government chiefe of all other sorts of Priests a Muftie which custome they have taken from the Christians and has the title amongst them of an Arch-Bishop and is of the Arabian Nation many other sorts of Priests are amongst them different to one an other as their severall habits doe demonstrate which commonly goes under the name of Tollops excepting their Marabotes esteemed men of greatest sanctitie by the Arabians and the Dervises of greatest estimation with the Turke The chiefe in temporall matters is the Cadie or chiefe Justice but to speake of those that sway in government the greatest personage in that Citie is the generall of the Gallies who has his place for terme of life and yearely 40000. shillings revenew there are also foure other personages as their Byes Alcaides or Generals of their Campeâ—â— the greatest person in Councell or other wayes their sole director in matters of state is their Hossia or Secratary yet all of these oblieged to the wills of the Duanna or Councell at whose pleasure are their preferments honours estates and lives they of the Councell being so absolute in themselves as that they have infallabilitie and deffectabilitie power to make lawes and obtrude them whereby all those afore nominated officers are but as Ciphers serving onely as interpreters to them whose will is their reason they have no written Lawes but observe tradition and customary statutes for their government they seldome Judicate upon mature deliberation but doe all in a fury their custome is first to execute the delinquent and after judge him to conclude they have no certaine rules of Justice but what their fancies leades them Of their Governours THey have a Bassha or Vice-King who comes from Constantinoble and by Nation must be a Renegado and one bred and educated in the great Turkes Surray or Court he represents the Grand Signiours person yet not elected by him but buyes the place of the Captaine Basshaw who for 10000. peeces of eight gives him a flagge which he presents to the great Turke who has not at any time beene known to contradict the Captaine Basshaws grant herein but Authenticates his election gives unto the new Basshaw letters of credit unto that common wealth so goes for Argere his time limitted but for a yeare yet fortunes to remaine there in dignitie of Basshaw 3. or 4. yeares as it frequently accidents some to die by the way or some other disaster to befall them his intent is profit and not honour at his dubling the point of Mountafous he is obleiged to discharge a peece of Ordnance as notice to the present Basshaw to depart the Pallace with all his materialls for such is their custome that all that the new Basshaw findes in the Pallace to seize upon it as his owne The Argeres ever receiving the new with joy for that every Souldiers pay is then raised to a duble in the moneth The Duanna with all reverence meetes him upon the Mould from whence they conveigh him to his Pallace on horsebacke his Secretary riding before him carrying the horse Tayle or Royall Ensigne of the Great Turke his Musique also on horsebacke but the Councell of the Citie rides not on horsebacke onely the Aga Generall of the Souldiers his Kaiea or second with the 24. Aiabasshes with many other Bullabashes on foote their coates loose and long their hands layd one upon the other and both upon their girdles their eyes dejected to the ground 120. Oddabasshes followes them having sterts of gold halfe a yard long and Palme broad set on their heads wearing feathers in a round hoope which covers all their bodies 60 of these carrying naked Cimitaries up right against their breasts the other 60 carrying Carbines of excellent workmanship and great value 6 Chouses or Pursevants goes before to make way for their passage which is the manner of welcomming this Kingly fellow to that Citie and a naked Pallace and himselfe as naked the great men of the Citie presents him for three dayes many dishes of meat which many of them have received as hony in their mouthes but it ever proves gravell in their throats yet hope is of that noble facultie as it is able to replenish his masters indigency and necessitie with all things its rare that any of them goeth away with almost a coate to his backe two of them in my time went away miserable poore having after the expiration of their times and the arrivall of a new Bashaw laine many moneths prisoners in chaines and their Equipage as fatall for three treasurers to Mustapha Bashaw a man of 104. yeares of age succeeding one another in place did likewise succeede each other in the manner of their deaths who in 17. dayes time poysoned themselves one after another wanting mony to give the souldiers pay and sâ—aring what the fury of the Duanna would doe unto them Durgâ—otâ— Bashaw for the like cause they pounded in a Morter never went any away fairely But Vsuph Bashaw sometimes my Patron who was thought to carry substance with him yet in his Vice-gerenele was three times forced to take the Marabont house for sanctuary to save his life had not fortune
of Souldiers but with a handfull of men and they without discipline I meane of postures or common probabilitie they receive from their Campe called Tittere being North East from Argere bordering upon the Kingdome of Cookâ—â—e from which King they receive no Tribute but from the Allarbies inhabiting the plaines Vicenteres to that Prince they dubles have yearely 200000. From their second Campe called Piscarie in the sandie desarts bordering upon the Zara and Nigars Country 24 dayes in their March thither South upon a line in which Country growes do Corne graine their sole feeding being Rice and Dates payes them yearely 200000. They also by this Campe receive tribute from the Nigars who send them yearely 200. of their Children Thirdly Sharke extending West as far as Botâ—yea and the Kingdome of Muritanea or Tremassine payes 400000. Gorbe extending its teritorie as fâ—er in the Orient as Tobarco A Castle in possession of the Genousa payes 400000. From their Garissins as Constantina 050000. From Bonna a Port towne 050000. From the Bastyone when it was in possession of the French 090000. From Tobarco they receive yearely 010000. From Colla a Port Towne 040000. From Gigerie a Port Towne 015000. From Buggea a Port Towne 040000. From Shershell a Port towne they receive yearely 40000. From Massagan a Port Towne 50000. From Massagonem a Port Towne 50000. From Trimassin Metropolitan Citie of the Kingdome of Muritaâ—iea they yearely receive 100000. From the Allarbies of Montegerâ— and the vale of Medea and the farmes of the Citizens 800000. From the Gardens a joyning neere the Citie being 16000. 800000. By the Gates of the Citie 040000. They have rent from all shoppes in the Citie proportionally as they are let to those that occupies them which must bee very great yet I could never come to the true knowledge of it For their Sea revinues they are uncertaine they being as purchase comes in of all goods and people that are taken the Bashaw has the eight part and all shippes or other vessells solely to his owne particular with all other provision and Ammunition appertayning to them They have no constant trade but with the Legornesses and they when most comes but two small vessells in a yeare other trade they have the chiefest being for Alexandria in Egypt yet most performed by a people called Iarbines all paying 12. and a halfe purcenta in summe for their Campes Garisons Gardens and the like to my knowledge by good information they have certaine Rent 3475000. dubles accounting each duble to the just shilling English and is 34750000 Of their Sea Forces THeir Sea Forces chiefely consisted of their Gallies yet never exceeded the number of nine at one time Ally Pichelline with the foole in the Gospell resolved in the yeare 1639. to have brought them to twelve and to have built a Gally Groce but one was in the same yeare lost at Bonna by a tempest and the other eight all taken by the Venetians so that at that present there was never a Gally remayning in that Citie nor can I conceive that ever Ally will returne thither from the Levant where hee now is to build more So that their Sea Forces at the present consistes altogether in shippes which are sometimes more sometimes lesse When I was first brought thither in the yeare 1631. They had 90. vessells of all sorts which they Armed in robberies but in three yeares after they had not 30. and were utterly disanimated to arme their shippes in reprisall voyages nor would upon any tearmes of advantage deale with an English shippe of force untill a certaine Allerbie borne in the Mountaines of Cokoose Captaine of a Pinke of 26. peeces of Artillerie belonging to the Bashaw unfortunatly met with the Adventure of London a shippe of 21. peeces of Ordnance and 45. men which this Moore boarded and immediatly mastered shee being richly loaden for the accompt of Gennonesses which hath since imboldned that captaine to take divers English Ships of good force and refuses to fight with none that he meetes withall Thus much of their Sea Forces and shippes which may be at present 80. Saile most Flemish shippes some carrying 40. peeces of Ordnance Of their Land Forces NO Tagarine or Moore of the Citie may be a Souldier or goe in Land service they are onely allowed Armes in their houses to defend the Citie if it should be invaded in their foure Campes they send out 2400. men they have in their Garisons 1000. more in my time in their Hamper or Generall Armie which in 1633. they sent against the King of Cokoose when all their ships were in port and all their souldiers at home beside those in Garison they could make but 4500. Souldiers beside Bullabashes and Oddabashes their Commanders I will allow for sicke men and others in Merchant voyages 1000. more so that in my judgement they cannot have above 5000. Souldiers in pay and although there be Christians that daily turne Turkes and Turkes which daily comes out of the Lavante which are presently put in pay so by their fights on Land and at Sea there are daily killed more or lesse of them and that to the benefit of the Bashaw for if a Souldier dies without children hee inherits his goods they have also a people which followes them for spoiles called Swayves or Horsemen besides all these there are perminently in the Citie of Gentlemen Tagerines and Moores above 50000. able men to draw Sword and thus much of their Land Forces Of their Victories THe vertue of this people doth appeare by the large and ample patrimony which in that Country they command in despight of millions of their enemies and they a people framed to warre able of body fierce of nature and cruell of disposition the most excellent horsemen of the world I meane the Moores In 1542. with Ally their Bashaw they marched to the very gates of Fesse one of the most famous Cities of Africa and returned having made composition and received of the Citizens for each day to each Souldier as long as they had beene from Argiere a Ducate a day their officers advanced their reward as they were in dignitie and the Bashaw by their relation returned with excessive riches to his owne particular They did in the yeare 1620. fight many battailes with the King of Cokoose beate him out of his countrey onely leaving him a mountaine which by its unpassable wayes and difficult assent was the sole refuge hee had to keepe himselfe from their Swords they having burned his Cities of England of France Spaine Portugall Sicelia Naples Rome Venice Allimania and others which were and are yet called according to these principall places of Christendome In the yeare 1626. they conquered the Kingdome of Muritania from the Marrabote named Sedeabdelcadder and called by them Antichriste and that sumptuous Citie of Tremessine Metroppolis of that kingdome which Marrabote by his conjurations for so I esteeme them and that with good reason to bee Cunjurors Charmers and
lesse than 30000. soules her inhabitants consists of foure sorts of people Of Bellages Natives and first inhabitants of the Citie of Tagerines a people banished Spaine by Philip the third and Iewes all which are but tenants at will to the last and that is the Turke from whom is also extracted two other sorts of people one the Collollies their children Naturall and the Renegatha their adoptive Children of which three sorts of men are the Souldiers of Argiere as for the condition and manners of this people excepting that which tend to the upholding of their state and Common-wealth I meane their government Millitary they are so depraved as they have no good Custome amongst them for although in all their doings they begin with the first mover if it be but in cutting a peece of bread and that in their way they wash and pray five times a day and are very ceremonious in their law yet are they incorigibly flagitious they are sayd to commit Sodomie with all creatures and tollerate all vices so their women for their parts are most impudent and addicted to all kindes of unnaturallnesse yet greedy lovers of money they make no scruple of murder neither of infants is it enquired after so on the contrary doth the Souldier upon discontent jelousie or displeasure cut their throates throw them out at windowes into the Sea and in the open streets without remorse of conscience or inquisition of Justice to say so much as what hast thou done There is no Naturall love from the man to the Wife nor from the woman to her husband they marrie without sight one of another and their ayme and intent onely intrest they buy their wives paying halfe their dowrie in hand and the other upon divorce for upon least difference they turne away each other the man obleiges himselfe to maintaine his wife with a precise forme of allowance which if he any wayes failes to performe its frequent and legall the woman to abandon her husband and that without scruple although in their aboad together they have had many children like to like as the Devill said to the Collier for they are as well rewarded in their children whose disobedience is such that to defame and buffet them is usance and their parents count it a favour to doe them service so is the Iew a most execrable people and a like hatefull to all Nations bloody hearted living by defraudes and notwithstanding their knowledge of the Law are as disobedient to their parents as the other There is yet another sort of people and they are Christians whose case is to be pitied that lyes groaning under the yoake of Turkish tyrannie who Martyr them dayly by their most contested most inexorable and unhumane creuelties whose number and vertues were they armed were not onely enough to master Argere but to make a finall conquest of all Africa they are esteemed to be 60000. truely I thinke them little lesse for by common probabilitie there being 16000. Gardens and one with another having a Christian some two three and foure besides so great a Number as are in the Citie put to all vile and base services others that goe to Sea they doing nothing that tends to labour themselves so that it carries too great a probabilitie to be that Number but those that I must lament and nature obliges to be most indulgent to is for more than 1500. of my miserable Countrie men who are there plunged in the most vile and greatest detriments certainely a faire course would effect their enlargement and without all doubt be most acceptable to Almightie God and bring a benediction upon his Majestie his Royall posteritie people and dominions they have a most confident opinion of his Majesties gracious favour toward them and are credulous that his Royall bountie will be no lesse propence to them than it hath beene to those that were in Moroco and Sally they blame the wils of some ill affected persons who they say have long countermaunded that beniffecence which would have beene their remuneration here are those indeede that pretend if those men should be redeemed upon like hopes others would not fight and so give away Merchants estates which alas it is a weake assertion we all know it is not the common sort that swayes but the Captaine which if a Lyon a sheepe will follow him in Corporall diseases if the head be ill how is all the body distempered but what rationall man is there that would yeeld himselfe into a 14. or 15. yeares slavery although he knew certainely at the end of that terminie to be redeemed Who does us all this mischiefe but Christians consider the unwonted damages we dayly receive by them premeditate what may more ensue if some speedy course be not taken to releeve them those poore soules who in anguish of their hearts bereft of all Christian consolations and meanes ordinary to reviste their Patria many having wives and Children whom they love most deere so that like a Beare robbed of her whelpes they are forced to take revenge despairing of better Fortunes and suppose by doing great spoyles to Anticepate their infranchisment such men they are that had or may his Majestie have occasion to use Sea-men a 1000. of them were better than the best 3000. in England pardon me for the comparison for they have had custome to beget boldnesse and experience to doe execution many of them have beene there 11. some 12. yeares fighting to them is as ordinary as to us carousing in summe they are excellent men either for offence or defence in Sea Services and so accustomarily expert that by judgement of their eye they will eschew and avoyd a great shot It is further pretended if they should be inlarged and a peace established those Pirats of Allgere would never conserve and keepe it I am certaine that the last peace was broken by the English by whom those of Argere received many injuries and long suffered them before they sought the least revenge and the first English shippe brought thither caused many differences betwixt themselves in Duana nor would they consent to have the companie sould till they saw the poore men so neglected as no man interceaded for them I am confident that if his Majestie should send for those his poore but most Loyall subjects that the Turkes would give them upon honourable termes and have a just propention to a good firme and constant peace which the better to obleige them to observe in my opinion the way were to establish a conncell in that Citie which should be allowed sufficient maintenance by those that shall settle a Factorie there it is also necessarily required in the person so subsituted to be moderate methodicall and sufficient and that the Allgerers on their part send hither one of their Bullahasshawes a Turke by Nation which will be a powerfull meanes to obleige them to keepe and concerve the peace the trade will be as beneficiall as any Skall in Barberie although
lately it hath not so proved the cause was not in the Citie or inhabitants but in the instruments imployed in the negotion which wanted experience in the Country besides the Bastion is now vacant which long hath beene in hand of the French worth 200000. duccats per annum declaro gotten by fishing of Curell wherein if any desire further satisfaction I will resolve them in summe as these Nations and Kingdomes of ours are this day the most happiest and flourishing in the whole world envied by most Christians and admired by all Turkes who ascribes a preëxcellencie of wisedome prudence and vertue to our Kings Majestie now reigning long may he live to Reigne over us and to the Right Honorable Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privie Councell absolutely to be the most wisest and most vertuous Prince and Councellors in the Universe I doe implore the Majestie Divine to be their Councellour by whose assistance as long to the admiration of the world they have beene guided so they may be ever to the maugering of all those that beare them envie whiles let it be our consolations against all enemies and maligners that there is no greater signe of the mercy and favour of God to any Nation or people than when the hearts of publike governers are raised up to the punishment of Vice reward of vertue and for the Commanding of pious and Restoritive actions in fine I make no question but at time convenient these poore afflicted people shall be thought on commiserated and releeved I was lately solicited by certaine personages to give my advice concerning them and the state of Argere and by discourse doe collect that a certaine Gentleman intends to prove meanes and friends to get a Lotterie by which he doubts not to get more than 200000. pound sterling and with the one part pretend to redeeme the Captives and with the other to make himselfe a compleate man these and such like rediculous projects are to be derided as preposterous and the event expected to speede there after a better more laudible and speedie way may be taken to prevent many insuing dangers threatned upon our Navigations and people 30000. pound turned or imployed in such materials as would advance profit in the Country imposed in mens hands experienced will by Gods mercy and his Majesties favour infranchise them Of their Lands and Territories THe greater the Enemie the more worthy the Conquest the lesser the number of the Conquerours the more Renowned and Honourable the Victorie since Barba Rassha his time of 120. yeares who tooke this Citie with 32 men from so meane a beginning and from so base obscuritie has this Citie raised her glory in most parts of the knowne world and extends her magnitude and territory to the Orient as farre as Tobarco 130. leagues to the South as farre as the Zara and burning zoan of the Nigars Country to the Occident as farre as Botoyca and to Tituon 130. leagues and at Sea is a terrour to most Navigators and a scourge to all the Meditarenian Cost of Christendome Of their Riches NO man may be incredulous or marvell at her excessive essentialls and materialls of gold and silver having lived upon the Spoyle of all Christendome more than 120. yeares what abundance of riches hath beene since that time brought into her is knowne by miserable experience to most Christians the substance of whole Cities and Islands hath beene involved into her Gulfe nor is she alone enriched by these but also by all sorts of goods which they take and sell to Christians and Jewes Merchants for ready money excessive riches they get by Captives exacting from them great ransomes the poorest which of themselves have nothing of the Spanish Nation are usually redeemed in a thousand shillings and for Genowayes if under 22. yeares of age the Signiors of Tobarco are obleiged to free them to a hundred pound sterling nor doth there want diligence in them to performe and effect their inlargements it is anniversary for the Spanyard by collections called amongst them Lemossena to infranchise 3. or 4. hundred men and for ready moneys payed in peeces of eight besides her yearely tributes which they get from the Allarbies not being lesse than 200000. pound sterling insomuch that she is an Indies or minerall for that of all that is brought into her none is carried out againe as for corne and other necessaries which obleiges the life of man the Citizens have all the land of many dayes Journey of their owne so that they having ingrossed so great a part of the Country they doe not onely furnish themselves with provisions but also with money which they get of the neighbouring Allarbies for provision and surely for oyle figges and the like which the Cabills of the Kingdome of Cookose brings them they leave the principall and product for trivall commodities which their indocible capacities cannot furnish themselves with and for what commodities are brought thither from Mercellies and Legorne in way of trade they leave all behinde them and brings much money also whose comming thither is onely for redeeming Captives and buying reprisall goods Thus have I accomplished the Capitals and given a true relation of that flourishing Citie whose onely rich stones Dyamonds and Pearles is sufficient to answere the charge of that Navie and Armie that shall be sent to Conquer her besides what fetters of gold gold chaines and the like are dayly to be seene in her streetes it being so popularly knowne I neede not speake of as for her riches in present coyne of plate and gold I have sufficiently demonstrated to satisfie any reasonable Judgement Oh that I might live to be an actour in a Marshall way to see her Conquest they feare none so much as our English Nation neither is it difficult or doubtfull with a good fleete of shippes and an Armie of 30000. Souldiers on Land to plucke downe her pride she having many enemies within her and enough to effect her ruine and most of all her oppressions and sinnes which cry to the heavens for Judgement against her so having ended with that Citie I thinke it also requisite to nominate the Equipage of the Basshaw or their Vice-King which I omitted to intermixe with the other Officers of the Duana because they have no voyce in their Councell nor Command in the Citie and to speake truth the onely priviledge the Bassha has is that he hath power over the Moores of the Citie in matter of Justice yet tollerated by the Duana to exact great summes of money from them the better to inable him to give them their pay Of the Bassha his Officers and Retinue THe Bassha must be a Renegado bred in the great Turkes Suray or Court His Kaia or Treasurer his second a Renegado to some Visscere in Turkie His Allimene or Receiver and is for Maritane affaires an inferiour Renegado His Hoossiea or Secretary and may be of either sort Turke or Renegatha His Chamberlaine and by the Grand Signiors command must be a naturall Turke His Agga or Captaine of his Horse a Renegado His Tollope or Priest must be a Naturall Turke His Chillabies or Gentlemen attendants and are all Renegathes boyes of finest beauty and comelinesse 6. Player on Cornets and 2. Sackbuts Renegathes 4. Players on kettle-Drums Nigars 40. Sollackes appointed by the Duana for his Guard gives dayly attendance at his Pallace gate and are of the oldest Odabasshes or Corporals of the Councell His Guardian over his Christians slaves a Rogue of the Moorish Nation and 2. other Nigars 26. Chousses or Serjants to Arrest men indebted provided they be Moores for that a Souldier may not be imprisoned for debt and these Serjants are all Moores Natives of the Country the rest of his houshould as Cookes Scollions and the like are Christian slaves FINIS Bable-â—eight Castle Emperours Castle Taâ—câ—ine Castle