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
would stirre and themselves doubtfull of one anothers Loyalties resolved to make Otote Obote something or nothing They bring Scales to the walls and enter The defendants seeing themselves desperated and unable to make any longer resistance fired 20000. Quentalls of powder blew a piece of Ordinance out of the Castle to the Fishgate a mile in length spoyled many houses and had destroyed the whole citie but that this Cassaba is seated upon a stupendious mountaine and the Citie lying all downe right under it and the nature of pouder to evaporate into a regular elevation the Skie was darkened with smoak dust and nothing heard but clamours in the streets as if the day of generall account had beene then Had those ignoble spirits that lived in worse Ignominy then the Iewes but stirred they might without an aking finger have extirpated the glory of the Turke there and honoured themselves with the Lordly command of the most flourishing City of Africa 6000. soules perished by that blow but of the Collolyes hee onely that fired the powder 22. of them being taken alive were most cruelly tortured some were crucified others having their bones broken were drawled along the streets at horse tailes others had their shoulders stab'd with knives and burning Torches set in them dropping downe into their wounds The Turkes biting of their flesh alive so dyed and some of them being walled in were starved to death A guiltie conscience projects terrible things What perplexitie the other Collolyes of the Citie were in I neede not recount All censured them dead persons but the councell disagreeing in themselves their fortunes were better then their deserts The Turkes now will not permit the Souldiers marriages and by that meanes extinct so monstrous a Liniage some of the counsell in detestation of that Race offered to kill their owne children upon condition all others to doe the like but others in the surplassage of their loves countermanded that bloody Decree and unnaturall Acts onely inqiusition was made for certaine women which had given entertainement to those Collolyes and were condemned to be all throwne into the Sea but being packed from one place to another and not to bee found at last was published a revocation of the sentence of their deaths and they escaped and enjoyed their ancient priviledges These combustions soone came Solicitours to the King of Cokoose who takes present occasion to lay siege to a Castle which the Algiers kept to his great annoyance in that countrey as speedily came newes to the Algiers of the Castles besieging who were then studious to fetch off 200. of their Souldiers in Garison there and also ceremonious to conserve their honour sent for both a Hamper or generall Army consisting of 5000. foot Turks and 3000. Swayvâ—s horsemen The King of Cokoose Semper idem continued the siege contayning his Forces within the mountaines whereon is situated the Castle the Turkes then according to their old custome trusted more to policie than valour They knew well the danger to assault the enemy at such an advantage and therefore propounded termes of peace and fortune helped them the Turkes were licenced to depart the Castle with honour and the Army returned to Argiere in peace and were received joyfully In August next they enlarged the Prince of that countrey giving him amongst other presents a Spanish Christian woman whom according to the custome of that religion he tooke to wife and the Queene mother of that King and Grandam to the Prince which also was a runagate of the Spanish nation and had beene long prisoner in Argiere They set at libertie In Iuly 1635. there arrived Mounsieur de Sampson French Embassadour in a Polacta of Mercellis with his Kings Flagge aloft bravely This gallant comes ashore with his retinue consisting of other Messers visited the Councell and King his action was stately The Agga or Generall called a Counsell sends a Chewse or Sergeant for the Embassadour who came before them they demanded his Embassage he answered he was sent by his King to demand his Majesties Subjects by vertue of that interchangeable league mutually conserved betwixt his Majesty and their Emperour they answered they knew none to command them in their governement And if his King had sent him to treate for the enlargement of those French which upon just occasion they detayned or for such slaves as were of that nation he should have the sole reference unto them 347. Free French men were then in Argiere being all taken without fighting and therefore unsold But in farre worse condition than those that were 400. Turkes and Moores were in the Mercillian Galleyes which Mounsieur offered to exchange for his freemen and the slaves which were 600. more which they refused but offered Mounsieur the slaves for the price they were sold for in the Market referring the freemen to the dispose of the Bashawes Mounsieur now treats with the Bashawe Hee demands ten peeces of eight per head for them Mounsieur stormes as I thinke he had good cause to doe having promised his King miracles in the accommodation of the French affaires He demands a second conference and it is granted him the slaves are offerd him for the monies they cost in the Market but the freemen raised to 20. peeces of eight per head Mounsieur according to the French fury boyles and illustrates the puissance of his King Fire and Towe meets together the Turkes furie is as much as the French chollor and he is now more affronted the Slaves are now become importunate vexing Mounsieur as the poore widdow did the unrighteous Judge but his answer to them was Imperiall hee had brought no moneys for them The freemen doe now sollicite his propence affection and implored his Christian care of their estats they offer to pay the said 20. peeces of eight per head with interest and the principallest of them to come in band for satisfaction and securitie and in summe every person to give perticular band to those which had so oblieged themselves Sure it was most piteous to see how many sufficient men of that Nation were put to most vile services where at if they had beene sold many had meanes to have given for their infranchisment which upon these differences were detained and most of them unable to comport with such barbarous indurances miserably perished Mounsieur demands a third conference and is admitted he demands an absolute answer for that he meant in all hast to bee gone the Slaves are offered him upon the former termes but the freemen now exhausted to 30. peeces of eight per head Mounsieur departs without any further treatie the Counsell sends to him to take in his Flag hee bids them doe it they take his Sailes from the Yard and Ruther all which they carry into their Magazine and with a Branos anissetim leaves him his Flag Mounsieur demanded licence to depart they denie him and having detained him foure moneths after and cost him some peeces of eight he
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
brethren and sonnes this accused person is indebted to the common treasurie 200. thousand dubles wherefore looke well what you doe and take notice of the first man that offers him violence that he may pay his debts upon which they desisted and the Alcaide escaped that danger With them is no pleading or capitulating of causes for a meere oration doth but bring a mans life into question the word with them is shall it be so or shall it not be so geller gellimesse shall hee come or not come they stand in rankes passing the word by a Chouse or Pursevant their action their hands upon their bellies jetting each other with their armes or elbowes raysing their voyces as they are in Choller or as a pot boileth with the addition of fire untill they are many times all in a cumbustion they have a wise prevention of a greater mischiefe so that these two particulars are commanded by them upon deepest paineâ— not to drinke wine or any strong liquors before their comming to 〈◊〉 house or place of Duana or to weare or carry a Knife thither 〈◊〉 ancient proverbe causes I beleeve these cautions for they say that blood shall begin at that Duana place and runne downe into the Cava which is a thousand paces I have knowne them so much divided as their Agga 24. Aiabasshes and Cadie all turned out of places at one time in briefe it is such a government as the like is no where else in the world yet are they that governes in their actions otherwise grave wearing their turbants in greatnesse and their beards in length as they are in office but what is most to be admired at is that when they are but Common Souldiers they are most publikely flagitious taking shame as no enormity but when they come to the place of Duana men they are present Metamorphosis which were it not so popular were more to be admired they are generally illiterate yet are their doings famously esteemed in the grand signiours Court as appeares by this that when his greatnes is any wayes discontented and that none of his Visseares dare speake unto him they repleate a good humour in him by presenting to his sight the government of Argire They have two great Duana dayes weekely Saturday in the Allcassaba and Sunday morning in the Basshawes house how ever they sit every day in Councell if a Christian hath any matter of importance it must be treated in the Allcassaba yet is no Christian permitted to enter that place but must stand at the doore send in his demands by the Trugman or Interpreter who is a Renegado by whom they returne their answere not is a Christian permitted to speake publickely in Duana nor will they have any matters delivered them but in the Turkish tongue and by a Trugman Of Governers in particular THe Agga who is Generall of the Souldiers and Chiefe in Councell The Kaiea his second The 24. Ayehasshes or 24. in place of Councell Bullabasshes are 800. these sway in Councell Addabasshes are 424. and weare a red cloath in their Cappes in manner of a tongue with a wrested Turbant a long Coate and are not permitted to weare any other garment The Hassia their onely Councellor whose advice they receive as an Oracle Sixe Châ—wsses all wearing vestes like the Oddabashes and are apparelled in greene coates made of a fashion peculiar to themselves for their better knowledge they have the sole power to apprehend Duanna men provided they have a warrant from the Agga nor may they take a souldier by any part of his body but by the girdell nor doth the Souldier upon paine of death dare resist him infinite priviledges doe these souldiers enjoy for iâ— a Tagerine or Moore strickes one of them he has his hand immediately cut off I knew a Sheriffe a Sect that Lineally derives themselves from Mahomet being most egrediously abused by a souldier in his choller strooke him he was presently apprehended for this custome is amongst them that any of them crying sherellah which signifies Gods Justice and the contrary party shall refuse to goe to the place where Justice is administred all persons present are obleiged to assist the plaintiffe so that ordinarily they dragge such as makes any wilfull resistance this Shireffe being for his offence brought before the Councell interceaded by way of priviledge and respects of blood but he onely obtained this curtesie that they cut off his left hand whereas usually they cut off the right hand of all others that offend in like nature Whiles these souldiers live unmarried they all live in Courts of Guard called by them Cassheries peeces of excellent workeman-ship and commoditie nor may any of them lye out at night without leave of their Lievetenant whom they call their Oddabashe who has power to castigate them for any offence they doe commit so it be not criminall yet has the Souldier this priviledge that if he conceives his Lievetenant to envie him to appeale to the Duana which however if any of them doe are sure to suffer a double Jerking for that in the Courts of Guard they may not give more blowes than did the Iewes to Paul forty save one and those must be given by the Leivetenant himselfe and that upon his knees and he obliged upon like castigation not to carry his Arme above his head yet so obedient are these Souldiers to their Commanders that after beating they rise and pray for the perpetuation of the faith of Mahomet and prosperities of the shaddow of God their Emperour Of their Basha their Fathers the governours and Common-wealth of Argerâ— and kisse their Officers hand and head thanke him for his favour in Correcting them and promise for future time to live more regular and being premonished by the Leivetenant he is discharged for criminall causes they are carried to the Alcassaba where they are mulâ—ted according to their offence I have known many there beaten to peeces in matter of Duana men upon the least suspition or accusation they are instantly strangled and throwne into the sea where having laine 24. houres they are weighed by their friends and buried other Officers there are but have no voyce in Councell as the Arches or Cookes and are 124. their dutie is to purvoy the Citie with flesh the Admirall of their shippes and Sea Captaines are in great estimation yet have no voyce or command in Counsell and are all once a yeare obleiged to goe to sea otherwayes are sent into the campes where they are no more priviledged than the common Souldiers Of its Revinewes THey send out 4. Campes yearely into the Country exacting from the Allubies excessive Tributes who were it not for their owne civill dissentions and they politiquely stir'd up by the Turke for their owne advantage were not otherwise able to put their faces out of the gates of Argiere but making this oppertunitie the Moores plague they Martch many hundred miles triumphing over Millions of the Natives the Allarbies and that not with thousands