some call'd Ho ho for Tituan and it was the same which had been sent to receive them Hans Maurus notwithstanding all his experience and skill in Sea-matters was seiz'd by a Panick fear and said to his Companions Ly down on the ground they are Fisher-men of Tituan we shall be secur'd and beaten In the mean time the boat had cross'd two or three times by the place appointed and reiterated the aforesaid cry striking on a Steel the signal agreed upon between them whereto those ashore were to answer with the like noise But those in the boat seeing no body appear and considering that it was within an hour of day as also that the watch on the Coast of Tituan had perceiv'd them and given the signal to the City by a fire resolv'd to be gone The going away of the boat satisfy'd the Knight and Hans Maurus that those of Ceuta had made the appointed signal whereupon they began to strike with the Steel and to call upon them but all to no purpose and too late so that perceiving their design was discover'd they made their retreat without any noise towards Tituan getting into the City at several Gates where they understood that that night there had been an alarm in the City and that a party of horse had been commanded out into the Country by reason of a fire which had been made by the watch on the Sea-side This body of Horse consists of Citizens who to enjoy some priviledges and the title of imaginary soldiers oblige themselves upon any alarm to ride out into the Country and engage any enemy they meet with All this had pass'd yet so as that those of Tituan knew nothing of the occasion of it nor did they much enquire after it in regard the alarms are very frequent there by reason they are so near neighbours to the City of Ceuta Yet were the Undertakers still in some fear of being discover'd and could not forbear quarrelling at Hans Maurus who had occasion'd the miscarriadge of their design whereat he was so troubled and became so melancholy to think that by his mistake himself and his Companions had miss'd so fair an opportunity of recovering their liberty that he fell sick Yet did his Companions assist him all they could and concern'd themselves as much as might be in the recovery of his health but perceiving he grew every day worse and worse and that whatsoever was administred to him did little good they bethought themselves of endeavouring the welfare of his soul To that end the Knight who knew that Hans Maurus had led a morally good life and that he feared God made it his business to exhort him to renounce Lutheranism and to embrace the Roman-Catholick Religion discoursing with him concerning the difference of those perswasions as he had done several times before Hans Maurus being a person not much acquainted with Letters and the Knight no great Divine he took occasion to remonstrate to him that being born in Norway he had follow'd the Lutheran Religion without any enquiry into the Romane-Catholick that the former was a new and the other the ancient way surpassing the inventions of Luther by fifteen ages and that the latter had been follow'd by his Ancestors whom it would be impious for him to believe damn'd for that and that they were rather wiser then he that he had often said while he was in health that he would do better if he knew what were better that it now concern'd him to think seriously of his conscience and that to that end he would bring him a Priest who would tell him more and that more effectually This discourse made to him in the extremity of his sickness wrought this effect on Hans Maurus that he acknowledg'd to the Knight that it was true he had been exhorted to follow the steps of his Ancestors but that he thought there was so little difference between both Religions that he conceiv'd he might safely enough persevere in his own but since he was now in treated by his friends whom he knew to be real sincere to consider seriously of it he desir'd that a Priest might come to him to give him satisfaction in some doubts The Knight immediately sent for a Religious Dominican a Spaniard and a slave who satisfy'd the doubts of Hans Maurus and undeceiv'd him so that he became a Roman-Catholick made his Confession and communicated with great fervency to the great satisfaction of the Christian slaves who were present and the second day after his conversion he dy'd In this conversion may be seen the goodness of God who gave Maurus the grace to profess the Catholick Faith in recompence of his moral Vertues and good life by a strange accident whereby he was depriz'd of his experience and skill on Saint James's day which made him loose his corporal liberty to give him the incomparable liberty of enjoying the sight of God Eight days after Maurus's death the Knight paid his ransom and went to Ceuta and thence by the way of Gibraltar to Madrid where having receiv'd rewards from his Catholick Majesty he went thence to the Low-Countries having suffer'd greater miseries then any of us though we had been made slaves at the same time And he who shall attentively consider all our Knight did will find that humane Prudence is subject to strange oversights and miscarriages and that God onely is the disposer and director of all human actions RELATION XXXIX What happen'd between my Companion in slavery M. Caloen and his old Patroness THe condition of slaves implies in it self a necessity of their suffering of somewhat from the hands of their Patrons but on the contrary M. Caloën made his Patroness endure many inconveniences I have said elsewhere that an old Moorish Dame had bought him at fourteen hundred Patacoons to be exchang'd for her Grand-son Mustapha who was in the power of Caloën's friends The payment of that sum troubled the old woman as if it had been so many drops of blood got out of her dry'd carkass never considering that it was for the redemption of one so neerly related to her The coverous woman thought to ease her self of some part of the grief by finding out some invention to make M. Caloën to pay seven hundred Patacoons besides the exchange of her Grand-son and this busied her brains day and night One while she resolv'd to use violence but fearing her Mustapha might receive the same treatment she forbore it another she imagin'd that to represent to him how much he had cost her would be a more likely way to compass her design since that it was indeed done as much for M. Caloën's liberty as for her Mustapha's so that it was but just he should pay his proportion but the fear of being laugh'd at and making him more obstinate after she should acquaint him with her intention made her resolve rather to be silent While she was troubled with this diversity of resolutions an Edict was publish'd that all
Mahomet which is the last refuge of the Turks when they are in danger at Sea And is done thus They take alive Sheep for which reason they always have some aboard to be us'd upon such occasions and if there chance to be any one among them who hath been at Meca to visit the place where the Body of their Prophet is he with many Prayers and ridiculous Ceremonies cuts the Sheep alive into four quarters and casts them over-board on the four sides of the Ship We Christians recommended our selves to the Divine goodness Hans Maurus told us that the Tempest would still incâ—â—â—se till mid-night and that then the Cables would break Night came on and the Turk who was to see us safely Lodg'd shut us up as he was wont We desir'd him that in case the Ship should run a-ground he would let us out that every one might shift for himself and save his Life if he could which he promis'd to do Accordingly at mid-night the Moon being just in the full the Cable of our great Anchor broke and the two others had lost their hold in regard they had not above fifteen fathom of Cable and were dragg'd after the Ship We all that were in the Prow prepar'd our selves for Death but the Turk kept his promise and opening the Hatch said to us Christians come all up that we may all Dye together We could not come out otherwise than one after another which caus'd a great confusion for every one endeavour'd to get out first As soon as I was got up on the Deck me-thought I saw a representation of the last judgement For the Turks were all at the Stern crying out as loud as ever they could and imploring the assistance of their Prophet Mahomet About the main-mast there were 〈◊〉 Jews who address'd their prayers to Abraham 〈◊〉 and Moses and we Christians at least such as were Catholicks directed ours to our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ and his glorious Mother Others who were of the reform'd Religion and Schismaticks very heartily recommended themselves to God after their way Nay I may say the most wicked person among us seem'd then to be very devout We continu'd in this perplexity and confusion a good space And perceiving the two Anchors staid 〈◊〉 the Ship at all but were dragg'd after it order 〈◊〉 given that the Cables should be cut Immediateâ—â— the Bow-sprit Sail was nois'd up and the Ship turn'd with the Prow towards the Land with an incredible force and swiftness Hans Maurus cried out in Dutch Take heed of the Mast I fear me it will fall But nothing fell save only ten or twelve Turks who tumbled off the Deck into the Sea But the wind forcing the Sea with so much violence to the Shore those who fell into the water were by its means immediately forc'd to the Land All this happen'd in less time than a Man could have said a Miserere and the Ship running a-ground burst and most of those who were in it leap'd into the Sea fearing the Ship might cleave asunder For my part perceiving that the Ship leaned on one side towards the Shore that is the side on which all leap'd into the Sea I was afraid it might fall by reason of its continual agitation and so thought it not safe to stay any longer on the Deck And whereas the Ship was built after the Italian way like the Vessels called Pollaces which have little Rooms jetting out as the Galleys have I went into one of those and thence leap'd into the Sea where it happen'd to be so shallow that I had ground but could not continue long in the same place by reason of the agitation of the Sea 〈◊〉 â—hat I was forc'd to swim three or four fathom anâ—â—ith that I got quite to Land Having given God hearty thanks for this deliverance I went to look for M. Caloën for though I saw him leap into the water yet was I not certain that he got to land He on the other-side was in the same perplexity for me Having at last met I went to look for the Turk who was our conductor â—rom Algiers I found him among a company of Christian-Slaves Turks and Jews who stood as close as they could one to another to get themselves a heat For being wet we were almost starv'd to death Those who had escap'd were numbred and there were above twenty wanting but by degrees they came together to the main body all but two to wit a young Lad a Jew who was drunk and a Turk who was half-distracted We were now out of all Sea-danger but not out of that of the Barbarians who were very numerous all along that Coast Nay if they had had any tidings of our misfortune and that the Ship would have run-a-ground they would have been there in great numbers to make a prey of all they could meet with and to kill us without any mercy but our Master immediately dispatch'd away two Turks who knew the way to Tituan about a league and a half thence and they gave notice to the Governor of our misfortune and desir'd his assistance against the Barbarians We continu'd all this time in the cold but one of the Turks who took Tobacco having a little Tinder-box about him we made a shift with sticks Barrel-staves and such things as the Sea had cast ashâ—â—â— to make a fire We pass'd away the night the best we could and at the break of day the Barbarians stood at a distance to see whether there were any thing to be stollen but we being about 70. persons they durst not come neer us Besides it was not long ere they came from Tituan a party of horse to convey the goods we had sav'd to the City The Governor came also in person attended by twenty horsemen arm'd after the African mode with long Lances The Turk who was to conduct us hir'd a horse for himself and his baggage that is what he could make a shift to save For the Tempest beginning to abate about the break of day what belong'd to the Passengers was taken out of the Ship and most of the goods were sav'd but wet and spoil'd When they went in the morning into the Ship to get out the goods they found the Turk Alli whom we gave over for drown'd He was got into the Cabin at the Stern where he had met with the Master's bottle of Brandy and had made himself drunk and so knew nothing of the past danger M. Caloën and I hir'd a horse for us both and we got about noon to Tituan The Jew who was with us got us a lodging for our money in the Quarter where the Jews inhabited After we had been two days at Tituan there went thence a Cafila that is a great number of persons travelling together to Centa along with whom there went also two Moors persons of quality who were going to Ceuta to remain there as Hostages that the Fathers employ'd about the redemption of Captives who were then come
1516. Upon his Death they resolv'd to rid their hands of their Neighbours the Christians as also of the Fort that they might pay no more Tribute to the Spaniards In order to the execution of their design they sent to Aruch Barberossa who was then at Higir a place seated on the side of the Mediterranean Sea distant from Algiers East-ward an hundred and eighty Italian miles intreating him as a valiant Souldier for he was famous at that time for his Victories to make all the haste he could to Algiers with his Turks and Galleys to deliver them out of the hands of the Christians who much incommodated them by that Fort promising to recompence him nobly for his pâ—ins Barberossa having receiv'd this Embassy was very glad of iâ— looking on it as a fit opportunity to make himself Lord of Algiers and by degrees reduce under his power great Territories in Barbary He pretended to be much troubled that the Christians lay so heavy on those of Algiers and made answer that he wish'd nothing so much as that he were able to deliver them out of that misery and that within a short time he would come and relieve them The Ambassadors glad of that promise return'd to Algiers In the interim Barberossa looses no time He sends away eighteen Gallies full of Turks Ammunition and Artillery and himself with his Turkish and Moorish forces comes by Land Selim Eutâ—mi Lord of Algiers and the chiefest Citizens were glad to see the ready assistance which Barberossa gave them they went and met him a days journey short of the City imagining he was coming streight to Algiers But Barberossa excus'd himself saying that some affairs of great importance oblig'd him to go first to Sargil sixty Italian miles from Algiers on the Sea-side Westward promising to return in a short time and to do what they desiâ—'d if not more Accordingly he went with his forces by Land towards Sargil giving order to his Gallies which were already at Algiers to go immediately towards Sargil where was Car-azan one of his Captains who had commanded some Picaroons of his own Squadron But this Car-azan thinking it more advantageous and more honorable to command then to be commanded had debauch'd some of Barberossa's Ships and was got to Sargil inriching himself by his courses on the Coast of Spain by the assistance of the Moors who liv'd there most Natives of Granada and Valentia who retir'd thither when Dom Ferdinand conquer'd Granada in the year 1492. Car-azan astonish'd to find Barberossa so neer 〈…〉 to go and wait on him and to restore him 〈◊〉 Ships and Turkish souldiers he had debauch'd from him presuming Barberossa would think it sufficient satisfaction But Barberossa not admitting any excuses caus'd Car-azan's head to be struck off in his presence took all his Ships Slaves and Goods as a booty and the Turkish Soldiers were listed among his own forces This done he forc'd the people to proclaim him their King and Master and leaving a Garrison of his most trusty Soldiers in the place he return'd with his forces towards Algiers and his Fleet did the like Being come thither all welcomed him especially Selim Eutemi who lodg'd him in his own Palace doing him all the honor and entertaining him after the best manner he could This crafty Pyrat desirous to perswade them that he had no other design in coming thither then to deliver them out of their subjection to the Christians the next day after his arrival drew a Trench and rais'd a Battery against the Fort of the Christians in the Island The Battery being rais'd ere ever a Gun was discharg'd he sent a Turk to the Captain who commanded the Fort to tell him that if he would deliver it up he should have Shipping to carry him and his Soldiers over into Spain and in case they refus'd they should be all cut to pieces The Captain 's answer to this summons was that the proffer of Ships and menaces of death signify'd nothing to him those overtures being to be made onely to Cowards Barberossa upon this answer order'd that they should shoot continually though the Island was not above three hundred paces distant from the City yet was 〈…〉 great hurt done in regard he had onely 〈…〉 Field-pieces Having play'd on the Fort twenty days and nights without intermission to little purpose the Citizens of Algiers began to mutiny and to complain openly thâ—t they had brought into the City so many Turks who committed insupportable violences and insolently threatned the Citizens The Prince Selim Eutemi was troubled to see himself so slighted by Barberossa as well in his own Palace as publickly and Barberossa's thoughts were wholly taken up how he should become absolute Master of that City and the Territoâ—ies belonging to it At last he reresolv'd notwithstanding the kind treatment he receiv'd to kill his Entertainer Selim Eutemi with his own hands and by force of arms to get himself proclaim'd King by his Soldiers and in fine to make the Citizens of Algiers to acknowledge him for such To compass this design without any popular tumult one day about noon as Selim Eutemi was going into the Bath of his Palace to wash before the saying of the Sala or mid-day prayer as the Turks and Moors according to the Alcoran are wont to do Barberossa who was lodg'd in the same Palace entred secretly into the Bath attended by some of his people and finding the Prince alone naked and without any Arms he strangled him and retiring secretly out of the Bath left the body on the place A quarter of an hour after returning publickly to the Bath and seeming astonish'd to see the Corps of his Entertainer he call'd his Servants and told them their Master had dy'd in a Swound This was immediately divulg'd but the Citizens having already had some experience of the cruel disposition of Barberossa imagining him to be the Author of their Lord's death went every one to his own house fearing some tumult or massacre On the other side the Turks having already had notice of what had pass'd appear'd armed in the Streets and with the assistance of some Moors conducted Barberossa on Horse-back through the principal Streets of the City and proclaim'd him King of Algiers without any opposition Selim Eutemi's Son fearing Barberossa's tyranny assisted by his Menial Servants retir'd to Oran where he was receiv'd by the Christians The Tyrant being thus proclaim'd King by his Soldiers summon'd the wealthiest Citizens to appear before him and promis'd them great priviledges if they would acknowledge him absolute King Which they did rather forc'd thereto then otherwise He immediately began to Coin mony to fortifie the Alcazar one of the Fortresse's of the City where he put good store of Artillery and Garrizon'd it with a considerable number of Turks Some days after the Turks finding themselves absolute Masters of Algiers began to ill-intreat the Citizens at first by injurious speeches and afterwards by publick plundering so that now
they clearly perceiv'd it had been much better to be tributaries to the Christians then subjects to the Turks The Government of the new King was so heavy that the Citizens began secretly to entertain a correspondence with the Governor of the Island-Fort declaring that their intention was to massacre all the Turks and to renew the payment of their tribute to the King of Spain The Captain promis'd them assistance On the other side the Moors of the Country of the deceas'd Prince Selim Eâ—â—â—mi promis'd also assistance to the Algerians as well out of a desire to be reveng'd for the death of their Lord as to exempt themselves from the great tribute which that new Tyrant Barberossa forc'd them to pay The disorders of this Pyrate caus'd a confederacy between the Algerians the Moors of Mutiia the Country of Selim and the Christians of the Fort. The design was laid to wit that a great number of those Moors should on a day appointed come into the City with armes hid under their garments under pretence of buying some Commodities and that they should fire twenty two Galliots which lay a-ground on both sides of the City And when the Turks went out to quench the fire the Citizens should shut to the Gates of the City and then the Christians of the Fort should come in little Boats to the City to assist the Citizens But the design was discover'd by the great vigilance of Barberossa who craftily dissembled what he knew of it And thereupon he doubled his Guards as well in the Galliots as at the City-gates so that the Moors were so far from firing the Galliots that they had not the confidence to come neer them On a certain day of their Juma that is the Fryday which is as it were the Sunday of the Turks this new King came as he was wont to the great Moskey to say the Sala and some of the wealthiest Algerians being also come in the doors were shut of a sudden upon them and a great number of Turks stood about the Mosquey so that the Algerians were besieg'd and made prisoners Then Barberossa began to discover what he knew of their design and commanded them to be bound hand and foot That done he caus'd the heads of twenty Citizens to be immediately chopp'd off as those whom he conceiv'd most guilty and order'd the bodies and heads to be cast into the Streets where after they had remain'd a certain time for a spectacle they were buried in a dung-hill All this happen'd in the year 1517. And from that time to this present the Algerians have suffer'd the Government of the Turks either by force or fair means without any contradiction and consequently they are subject to the Turks In the same year 1517. Selim Eutemi's Son who as was said retir'd to Oran upon the intreaty of the Marquess of Comares General of Oran with the assistance of the Cardinal Francisco Ximenes and all the Councels of Spain obtain'd a Naval Army of ten thousand men to drive Barberossa and the Turks out of Algiers For the Councels of Spain thought it not rational that that Arch-Pyrat Barberossa should make Algiers a refuge for the Picaroons and Pyrats who infested the neighbouring Kingdoms This Army under the conduct of a Knight named Dom Francisco de la Vexa and Selim's Son got neer the City of Algiers but it met with a misfortune as there did afterwards to the Emperor Charles V. in the year 1541. for a great Tempest surpriz'd them so that some of the Ships fell foul one upon another and the rest run a-ground So that the greatest part of that Army was swallow'd in the Sea and the Souldiers drown'd Those who had escap'd the dangers at Sea were either kill'd by the Turks or made Slaves and very few return'd into Spain This misfortune of the Christians much heighten'd the courage of Barberossa and made him more dreadful then before for by that disaster the forces of Salim Eutemi's Son the right heir of the Kingdom of Algiers were lost he out of all hope of restauration and the Christian forces very much weakened All these successes on the other side made Barberossa so proud so insolent and so insupportable that the Alarbes who liv'd in the flat Country under the jurisdiction of that Kingdom finding themselves so cruelly treated by the Government of the Turk resolv'd to take for their Protector the King of Tunis a Country distant from Algiers about thirty miles Westward and sent Ambassadors to treat with him about it This King of Tunis whose name was Hamidalabde considering that Barberossa grew daily more and more powerful and fearing that troublesome neighbour promis'd the Alarbes assistance conditionally they would engage in a joynt war against that Pyrate and in case they might get him out of Algiers that the Moors should bestow that Kingdom on him and his successors This condition was accepted by the Moors King Hamidalabde got together ten thousand Horse as well his own Subjects as from his friends and Allyes and march'd with that Army towards Algiers in June in the year 1517. The Alarbes who liv'd under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Algiers seeing that Army openly declar'd themselves enemies to the Tyrant Whereupon the Army increas'd daily in both Horse and Foot Barberossa having intelligence of what pass'd between Hamidalabde and the Alarbes prepar'd for War not onely for the defensive but also for the offensive All his confidence was in the Valour of his Turkish Arquebusiers which his enemies wanted He left the Government of Algiers to his Brother Cheredin with a small Garrison And to secure the City he took along with him twenty of the richest Citizens He began his march towards his enemies with a thousand Arquebusiers Turks and five hundred Moors of Granada and Valentia Barberossa having march'd twelve leagues Westward met with the enemy's Army and the first charge was very desperate The Turks and Moors being well skill'd with the excellent conduct of their chief Commander gave their enemies a defeat The King of Tunis seeing the confusion retreated faster then he came thither and Barberossa pursu'd his victory following him as far as Tunis where the King durst not stay for fear of being besieg'd He went thence towards Mount Atlas and Barberossa without any resistance took the City of Tunis plundering all that unfortunate King had left in his Palace and the Souldiers doing the like with the Citizens houses Barberossa staid some days to refresh himself at Tunis and within a short time after was proclaim'd King of Tunis by the Citizens that were left behind The fame of this victory spread over all Africk and it happening at that time that the Moors of the Kingdom of Tremesen which is fifty leagues from Tunis Westward had some difference with their King they sent word to Barberossa that if he would come thither with his Turks they would make him Master of the City and the whole Kingdom Barberossa having heard
this proposal thought he should not let slip so fair an opportunity He writ a letter to his Brother at Algiers to send him immediately by Sea ten little Guns with all things requisite for them which his Brother did sending him five Galliots loaden with Artillery Powder and other Ammunition Barberossa having receiv'd them took a good quantity of provisions which he put upon Horses and began his march towards Tremesen Several Nations of Moors through whose Countries he pass'd submitted to him and some follow'd him in hopes of good booty But Aruch Barberossa finding himself got so far into the Country was afraid the King of Tunis who was driven out of his Kingdom might return with some Moors to recover it and prevent his retreat or that the General of Oran might come out with his forces and hinder his return All this hindred not his marching into the Country commanding his third Brother Isaac Beniioub to keep the City of Tunis with two hundred Musketters Turks and some Moors He march'd four leagues beyond Oran where he met with Abuziien King of Tremesen who knew nothing of the infidelity of his Subjects but hearing of Barberossa's advance he thought it fitter to meet him in the field with his forces then to expect him and suffer himself to be shut up in a City as not being over-confident of the Citizens of Tremesen His Army consisted of six thousand Horse and three thousand Foot As soon as both Armies were in sight they were set in order for an engagement The place was very fit for it was in the spacious Campagne about Aganel The fight began very furiously on both sides but Barberossa soon had the advantage by reason of the great number he had of small Shot and his small Guns so that the King 's best Troops were defeated and himself forc'd to retreat to Tremesen where the Citizens his Subjects took him Prisoner and cut off his Head before Barberossa got thither to whom they sent the Head by their Deputies with the Keys of the City promising him as they had done before submission Two days after he made his solemn entrance into Tremesen confiscating the Goods of the deceas'd King as well to pay his Souldiers as to make some Fortifications about the City for he conceiv'd his Neighbour-hood would not be well lik'd by those of Oran and to secure himself he immediately entred into a confederacy with Muley-hamet King of Fez promising him assistance against the King of Morocco against whom Muley-hamet was in open War conditionally that Muley-hamet would defend the Kingdom of Tremesen against their common enemies the Christians Barberossa to enjoy himself after his Victories resided the remainder of the year 1517. at Tremesen leaving for his Lieutenant at Algiers his second Brother Cheredin But it was the pleasure of Divine Justice at length to give a check to these great Successes for Barberossa's third Brother Isaac Benijoub who commanded the new Conquests at Tunis and other places through his extraordinary Exactions and Tyrannies become so odious to the Moors of the Country that they revolted and kill'd him with all his Turks except forty who thinking to make an escape were all cut to pieces Barberossa was extremely troubled at the Death of his Brother but desert'd his revenge to a fitter opportunity In September in the year 1517. came into Spain King Charls who afterwards was Emperour with a powerful Naval Army The Marquess of Comares advertis'd of his Arrival went in Person to wait on him and give him an account of what had pass'd in Africk And the Pyrat Barberossa growing daily more and more dreadful he advis'd his Majesty to quench that spreading fire And to animate his Majesty the more he carried along with him Abuchen-men King of Tremesen who had taken refuge at Oran and got of his Majesty ten thousand Souldiers to engage against Barberossa and the Turks Which the Pyrat hearing of sent for assistance to the King of Fez according to their mutual confederacy But seeing that the relief came not with the expedition he expected and that the Marquess of Comares was already got to Oran and marching with his Forces towards him he thought it his best course not depending on the relief from Fez to come out of Tremesen with fifteen hundred Turks and Andalusians Arquebusiers and five thousand Moorish Horse But considering that the said number of fifteen hundred Arquebusiers were not able to oppose ten thousand Christians for he had no great confidence of his Moorish Horse he resolv'd to continue at Tremesen expecting from day to day the relief from the King of Fez. But when the Marquess was come in sight of Tremesen Barberossa observ'd that the Citizens began to flinch from him whereupon he took a third resolution which was to get away with his Turks in the night time without giving any notice thereof to the Citizens and to make all the haste he could towards Algiers This resolution was prosecuted but at the first halt he made the Marquess having intelligence of it so speedily pursu'd him with some Fire-locks that he overtook him about eight Leagues from Tremesen at the passage of a River named Huexda Barberossa finding himself pursu'd so closely and his Turks kill'd made use of this Stratagem to gain time to cross the River He caus'd to be strew'd along the High-way great quantities of Money Plate and other things of great Value thinking by that means to amuse the Christians while he got over the River But that valiant Marquess encourag'd his Souldiers with so many urgent reasons that they slighted all those rich Baits to take Barberossa alive who as I said was at the River-side ready to cross it when the Christians furiously charg'd the retreating Turks Which Barberossa perceiving fac'd his Enemies resolving to Dye generously in Fight The fifteen hundred Turks and Barberossa among them defended themselves like Lions but in a short time they were all Kill'd and Barberossa also Thus ended all the great designs of Barberossa who first brought the Turks into Barbary and taught them the way to get Wealth out of the Western parts of the World laying the Foundations of what the Turks are to this Day possess'd of in Barbary The Marquess of Comares satisfi'd with this Victory return'd to Tremesen with the Head of the Tyrant on a Pike for a Trophey and without any opposition of the people put the King Abuchen-men in possession of his Kingdome Fourteen days after this defeat the King of Fez Abdeda came neer Milta with twenty thousand Moorish Horse to assist Barberossa But hearing of the defeat of his Army and his Death fearing the like misfortune he return'd the same way he came and the Marquess leaving the King of Tremesen re-establish'd in his Kingdome return'd to Oran Thus dy'd Aruch Barberossa after he had continu'd fourteen years in Barbary committing incredible out-rages on the Christians by Sea and doing the Moors of Barbary much greater mischiefs by Land For he
was the first who reduc'd them into that condition wherein they now are of being Subjects and as it were half Slaves to the Turks The news of Barberossa's death was soon carried to his younger Brother Cheredin Barberossa who Govern'd at Algiers It troubled him very much upon a double account both out of a consideration of the loss of his Brother and a fear that the victorious Marquess might come and besiege him in the City of Algiers Whereupon he was neer resolving to leave the place and to retire with twenty two Galliots towards the Levant But some Pyrats advis'd him to expect a while to see which way the victorious Christians would take their march And finding that the Marquess being return'd to Oran sent his Men aboard in order to their Transportion into Spain the Turkish Souldiers with the Pyrats chose Cheredin for their King and Captain-General of the Kingdome of Algiers And indeed he was a Person deserv'd to succeed his Brother Being possess'd of that Kingdom the first thing he did was to send a Galley with some Letters to the Grand-Seignor acquainting him with his Brother's death and desiring his protection and assistance against the Christians promising either to pay Tribute or put the Kingdom into his hands together withall he was possess'd of in Barbary The Grand Seignor hearing this news not onely return'd a favourable answer but also sent him an assistance of two thousand Turks accepting of the proffer he made him that the City of Algiers with its Territories should be put into his hands All these transactions happen'd about the beginning of the year 1519. The Reader may here see how and when the City of Algiers came into the hands of the Turks I thought it not besides my purpose to bring in this short History to undeceive those who imagin'd that Aruch Barberossa had made these acquests in Barbary as a General of the Grand Seignor's For what he did was upon his own account without any other title then that of a Pyrat by Sea and a Tyrant by Land In the year 1530. Cheredin finding himself incommodated by reason of the Fort which the Christians kept in the Island before the Port resolv'd to beat it down with Cannon-shot and afterwards to make a Port from the City to the Island which very design Aruch Barberossa had in the year 1516. For by reason of that Fort the Ships were oblig'd to secure themselves on one side of the City neer the Gate called Babazon where they lay in great danger to be cast away upon the least tempest Cheredin Barberossa began his enterprise upon the Fort with this stratagem Two young Lads Moors by his secret order went and delivered themselves to those of the Fort saying they would embrace the Christian Religion They were kindly entertain'd and the Captain who commanded the Fort named Martin de Vargas took them into the house and caus'd them to be Catechiz'd that they might receive the holy Sacrament of Baptism On Easter-day when the Governor and all his Souldiers were at Church these two Youths went up to the top of a little Tower whence they gave the signal to those of the City by a Flagg which being observ'd by a Servant-maid of the Governors she immediately went and acquainted her Master with the treachery who came presently out of the Church with all his Souldiers and fearing the enemies he put these two youths in prison and a while after caus'd them to be both hang'd up in an eminent place whence those of the City might see the spectacle Cheredin had soon notice of it and was extreamly incens'd thereat as if it had been done in derision of the Mahumetane Religion He sent a Boat to the Fort with a Renagado named Alcade Huali to tell the Governor that if he would deliver up the place he and his people should have good conditions otherwise they were to expect no mercy The Governor made answer that he was astonish'd that Cheredin Barberossa a person so highly esteem'd for his experience in military affairs did not consider that he had to do with Spaniards who value their honour above all things and laugh at the menaces of their enemies That he was further to know that he was of the House of Vargas that he glory'd not so much in the Nobility as his endeavors to imitate the Heroick vertues of his Ancestors and that therefore he would expect the utmost attempts of Cheredin Barberossa and do all he could to shew himself faithful to his God and his Prince Cheredin having receiv'd this answer took some great Guns out of a French Galion which chanc'd to lye before Algiers and some other pieces which had been cast there some months before for that purpose May 6. 1530. he rais'd a Battery which plaid fifteen days and nights without any intermission and the distance being but two hundred paces or thereabouts the Muskettiers also shot continually so that the sixteenth of May the Walls were almost broken down and a great number of the besieg'd kill'd or wounded Cheredin took one thousand three hundred Musketteers and Archers Turks in fourteen Galliots and being come to the Fort they landed without any obstacle For the Governor was wounded with fifty three of the Soldiers and the rest extreamly tyr'd out as may be easily conjectur'd having been sixteen days in continual alarmes The Captain Martin de Vargas yeelded up the place on certain conditions and after three months imprisonment he was without any reason bastinado'd to death in the presence of Cheredin Thus dy'd that valiant Captain carrying along with him to heaven the crown of Martyrdom and leaving to his Successors an example of valour and fidelity which vertues are so deeply rooted in that illustrious family that there are to this day in the Low-Countries Knights who are not onely heirs of that Noble House but also imitators of the Vertues of their Ancestors and such as are look'd upon all over the world as examples of Valour and Fidelity After the massacre of this brave Captain he employ'd the Christian Slaves to make a Moal from the City to the Fortress which was finish'd in two years Of the Scituation Strength and Government of the City of Algiers THe scituation of this famous Den of Pyrates is on the ascent of a mountain which rises by degrees from the Sea-side up into the Country representing to those who â—ail by it the several stories of a Theatre the variety of the Structures whereof a man hath as it were a full sight makes the prospect the more delightful Insomuch that there is no house but all the rest may be seen from it which way soever a man turns his eye when he is upon the Terraces wherewith they are covered They have also all of them this convenience that they have a prospect into the Sea as far as eye can see It is in a manner square and about three thousand paces in compass The Walls are of Brick built after the
antient way of fortification with little square Towers The Ditch about it is not above sixteen foot wide and about the depth of a Pike dry full of filth and ill kept having no fortifications without The whole City is commanded by the hills which encompass it and the Inhabitants can make no advantage of the Walls as to defence in regard there is no Champion behind them but the want of room in the City hath forc'd them to build houses on the Râ—mâ—arts which serves for one side of Walls The streets are very narrow and are chain'd up in the night time save onely the principal streets which runs cross the City from the Poâ—t of Babaloet between the Grand Mosquey and the Bassa's Palace to the Gate of Babazon which is not shut up There are many Mosqueys The Bassa's Palace is a publike structure for those who are advanc'd to that charge well built after the modern way of Architecture Since the year 1650. part of the Garrison is lodg'd in five great publick houses built square with a spacious Court in the midst which may serve for an Armoury They will contain each of them about six hundred Soldiers each whereof hath a room to himself not paying any thing for it But some of the best accommodated take lodgings in other great houses well built which they call Fondâ—cas and belong to private persons The Castle called Alcazabar is onely that part of the City which lies Southward divided by a Wall which begins at the Rampart on the East-side and reaches to that on the West About three hundred paces from the City there is in the Sea a little Island which in the year 1530. was joyn'd to the City by a Moale made for the safety of Ships and Gallies which about the beginning of the year 1662. was carryed away by a Tempest with the loss of many Vessels and Gallies There are also some inconsiderable Fortresses without the City whereof the chiefest is that built by Asan Bassa in the year 1545. about one thousand and seven hundred paces from the City on a Hill at the same place where the Emperor Charles V. had set up his Tent in the year 1541. Neer that place is the source of the Spring which supplies the City with fresh water which it does so plentifully that they need no other besides that and the rain water which is preserv'd in Cesterns It is convey'd by Arches and Pipes under ground which fill the Reservatories in divers places as well in the upper as lower part of the City even to the Gate at the water-side where all the branches fall into one great Channel which conveyes the rest of the water into the Sea and there the Gallies and other Vessels take in their provisions of water At every Reservatory or Conduit there is a Cock with a dish standing by for the convenience of those who would drink Those who come to these Conduits for water take it in their Turns save onely the Jews who are to give way to every Slave who comes after them and to be serv'd last of all The water which falls to the ground is receiv'd into holes neer those Conduits and is convey'd into Common-Shores under ground which carry away the filth of the Privyes about the City all whith fall into these Shores and meet together in one neer the three Gates of the Store-houses where all falls into the Sea The hundred thousand Souls which inhabit this City are divided into twelve thousand Souldiers Turks belonging to the ordinary Garrizon thirty or fourty thousand Slaves of all Nations and the rest Citizens of Algiers Moors Moriscoes and Jews and some Christian-Merchants The chief Governour of all these is the Bassa who takes it not unkindly to be flatter'd with the title of Sultan He acknowledges a kind of subjection to the Grand-Seignor in words but makes little account of his orders Pass-ports or the Treaties he hath concluded with other Soveraign Princes if he hath not agreed to them himself The Soldiery is more dreadful to him then the Grand-Seignor Accordingly his greatest work is to see them punctually pay'd at every new Moon for if he delay it three hours after it is due he is in danger of being Massacred or at least imprison'd This is done out of the Tributes which the Alarbes and some petty Princes Moors about Algiers pay him as also out of the contributions of the people and his proportion of the Prizes The Bassa is also to be careful that he take no more then his due for fear of incensing the Soldiery which prognosticates certain death to him as it did in the year 1661. in the month of September to Ramadan Bassa whose throat with twenty eight persons of his Councel were cut by the Soldiers and their bodyes cast to the Dogs in the Streets for having caus'd to be adjudg'd to himself a greater proportion of a prize of Wheat then was due to him The rest of the Councel being forc'd to the water-side got into a Fisher-boat and put off from land to avoid the fury of the mutinous Soldiery but they were taken by the Malteses After this exploit the soldiers took out of prison another Bassa whom they had imprison'd some years before because they were not punctually paid and re-advanc'd him to the Government exhorting him to do righteous things which yet he forgot within three days after thinking of nothing so much as to be reveng'd of an Aga who had prosecuted his former imprisonment and to execute his design he promis'd ten thousand Patacoons to two soldiers to kill his enemy which they undertook and went with that resolution to the Aga's and desir'd to speak with him The Christian Slave who spoke to them judging by their countenances and the Scimitars they had contrary to the custome of Soldiers who wear onely long Skeenes when they walk about the City that they were engag'd upon some lewd attempt made answer that his Patron was gone abroad though he were not and went presently and gave his Master an account of all who having discover'd the Bassa's design made his complaints to the Souldiers who mutiny'd seiz'd his person and shut him up between four walls without any covering where he had onely room enough to sit down with a hole to put him in some meat The Aga thank'd the soldiers for the speedy justice they had done offering himself to be their Bassa with a promise to augment their pay by a Double a month which they accepted The necessity of this punctual payment obliges the Bassa to endeavour the getting of mony above all things by hook or by crook by breach of Treaties or a wrong interpretation thereof This last reason was the cause that his Majesty of Great Brittain in August 1661. sent his Admiral the Earl of Sandwich with eighteen Men of War to lye before Algiers to demand reparation for that the Pyrates had taken out of the Vessels of his Subjects some persons who were not English
and whatever it commands the Mahometanes to do you never go into the Mosquey nor ever read your Assala Nay he not onely neglected the reading of the Assala but what is more when he was at the Bassa's Palace in the Hall of Audience I was told that when the Moor made an out-cry which was the signal for praying as among Christians the ringing of a Bell he cover'd his face with his Handkercher and I believe he did it that he might the better forbear laughing at their Ceremonies In fine the Father anatomiz'd his whole life shewing clearly that Pegelin had no other Religion then an insatiable Avarice and never so much as thought of the salvation of his soul The Father having ended his discourse Pegelin said to him smiling Papas when do you think the Devil will have me Father Angeli reply'd When you dye that is when your soul shall leave that miserable body Pegelin made answer As to my death it may yet be at a great distance and therefore as long as I shall live I will endeavour my enjoyments as much as I can and when I am once dead let the Devil do what he will with me With that he commanded the Religious man to return to the Bath By this story it is apparent that truth may be told to great Persons though transcendently impious without any danger when Prudence hath made choice of a convenient time to do it RELATION XVIII The use of Poison is very common in Africk THe Poisoning of people is a crime very common in Africk While I was at Algiers the Pyrates took a Frigot which had been made at Dunkirk The building of it pleas'd all the Captains of the Galleys insomuch that there was a certain emulation who should have her But the Bassa's proportion of the slaves being one of every eight and of every Ship the one half the Bassa's Brother who was Captain of a Pirateer had the Frigot The Grand Moro a famous Captain was so much troubled at it that he said publickly he had been injur'd the Frigot had been deny'd at the rate he had proffer'd for it and that the Bassa's Brother was good onely to divide the booty after himself had taken the pains to get it That discourse was related to the Bassa's Brother who was much incens'd thereat and bethought himself how he should be reveng'd He could not send him a Challenge because it was not the custom and besides he was no match for such an enemy as the Grand Moro. He therefore dissembled his indignation and some daies after invited the Grand Moro with some other Captains to dine with him entertaining them after the best manner he could the better to cloak his malicious design Dinner being endeâ— and the Grand Moro come to his own house he found himself very much indispos'd Whereupon calling a slave of his who was a Surgeon he said to him You must immediately give me some remedy for me-thinks I am poison'd The Surgeon a man very expert in his profession gave him presently a good draught of milk and finding that the milk stay'd with him he caus'd his head to be hung downwards and at last the Milk came ouâ— bringing the poison along with it and by that means the Grand Moro was cur'd and the Bassa's Brother laugh'd at by the Turks for his ignorance in preparing the poison after the African way which is to make the composition so as that it shall not do its effect till some time after it is administred This slow operation of the poison causes many Spaniards and Italians to renounce the Christian Faith The reason is that many Turks are addicted to the abhominable sin and the women are easily debauch'd by their slaves Whence it comes that having continu'd in their lewdness sometime the women say to them If you will renounce your Religion I will marry you and of a poor slave make you Master of this house and all I have These promises are tempting and most of the slaves being ordinary Sea-men and poor in their own Country and consequently oblig'd to get their livelihood by hard labor they are inveigled by these taking appearances of liberty and wealth strengthned by the sollicitations of a handsome woman and so prefer the temporal before eternal happiness Being thus agreed the women give their husbands a slow poison so that the husband dying some months after the widdow marries the Renegado slave There is no great inquisition made into these crimes by the Magistrate insomuch that there are many who boast of their excellence in that Art It comes into my mind that I once over-heard two French Renegadoes discoursing to this purpose One of them said to the other Do you still visit your Wench The other answer'd I have seen her lately but am weary of her I have a dose in my Chest to send her going into the other world I also observ'd while I was a slave at Pegelin's that our Patron made a great feast at a Country house of his and for greater pomp the meat was carried thither by two hundred and fifty slaves among whom I carried a dish of Nuts who march'd all in a file there being a certain distance between every twenty and there was one who carried a Basket cover'd with a piece of Silk wherein I suppose there was some kind of Pastry The Guests were the most famous Captaines and the richest Setters out of Gallies The Bassa also was invited with some of his principal Favourites but twenty of his own slaves brought his meat and drink thither for he would not trust Pegelin yet was it not taken amiss 'T were better sometimes to eat with a poor Alarbe in Africk then to be invited to the entertainments of such great Persons RELATION XIX The Turks keep their words IN one of my precedent Relations I made it appear that Pegelin had no other God nor Religion then his Interest Which I here hint again to heighten the Reader 's astonishment when he finds a person so destitute of Religion to be so Religious an observer of his word Having been five months his slave I went to speak with him concerning my ransome and to move him to compassion I kiss'd the sleeve of his Garment which hung down to the ground an African complement and said to him May it please your Excellency I have been five months your slave I question not but your excellency is by this time sufficiently inform'd what I am to wit a poor soldier and not a person of wealth and quality as your Excellency said you knew well enough when you bought me For the Turks are very liberal in giving titles to the new slaves calling one a Cavalier another a Count's Son and saying the others are very rich by that means to get a greater ransom out of them Pegelin made answer I know not yet who you are but if I agree with you about your ransom though I should afterwards come to know that you are much richer then