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
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
their ransom should be set at liberty at the several sums specifi'd in his Will Secondly that all his Renegado Slaves should be free and thirdly that the Christian Slave his Surgeon should be set at liberty after his death Some time after the Caja died his funeral was according to the Turkish Ceremonies the dead body being carried with a covering of Silk over it on one side of the Church and it was left there during the mid-day Sala a prayer of theirs and afterwards it was carried to be buried Before it march'd the Renegado-Slaves who had obtain'd their liberty After it follow'd the Christian Surgeon who had in his hand a cleft Cane with a Letter in the cleft which contain'd an attestation of his liberty obtain'd with the good-will of his deceas'd Patron He wept most bitterly â— which if he had not the Turks would have accounted him unworthy his liberty But it is to be imagin'd that for his part he wept for joy and the generous Dutch Captain had reason to laugh heartily that he had obtain'd so noble a Victory with forty then against five Gallies and two Brigantines RELATION III. The Constancy and perseverance of a Christian Slave in her Religion IN the year 1641. a Pyrate of Algiers having a Spanish Bark in chase those who were in it seeing no way to avoid the danger leapt into the Sea hoping they might get to 〈◊〉 by swimming There remain'd in the Bark 〈…〉 old man a Spaniard about seventy years of 〈◊〉 and a Concubine of the Master's These two were brought before the Bassa according to the custom The Bassa's Lady having seen the woman at some window sent one of her Eunuchs to tell him that she would gladly have that woman The Bassa sent her along with the Eunuch as a present to his Lâ—dy who was very well pleas'd with her and presently gave her some work to do About five days after the Bassa's wife took notice that that Christian Slave was an excellent Needle-woman good at embroidery and other things of that kind so that she was much in her Mistresse's favour who promis'd her mountains of Gold if she would renounce her Faith and embrace the Turkish Religion But all her temptations prov'd ineffectual for she said to her Though I have forgot my self as a frail womâ—n yet is my confidence so great in the goodness of God that I believe he will out of his infinite mercy pardon my sinâ— assuring you that all my hope is in my Faith which I will never forsake or renounce The Mistress hearing this answer was at a loss between astonishment and indignation so that she gave order that the poor Slave should receive three hundred blows with a Cudgel And perceiving that she still continu'd firm and constant as a Rock they stripp'd her of all her cloaths and gave her others after the Turkish mode which she put on but protested publickly in the presence of God that she took them onely to cover her nakedness and not upon any change of Religion This I thought worthy my observation to shew the constancy and faith of that second Magdalen RELATION IV. Ignorant persons imagine strange things DUring the time of my aboad at my Patron 's Mahomet Celibi Oiga one night after my Patrone was gone to bed and the doors lock'd my Chamber being above the Stable which was at a little distance from the house I was wont to go and talk away the time with four Christian Slaves of the Neighbour-hood three whereof were Spaniards and the fourth was a Hamburgher who knew not a word of the Spanish Language It happen'd as we were smoaking a Pipe of Tobacco the Spaniards began as it is ordinary with them to talk of the Goverment of the Crown of Spain and their discourse held about three hours The Hamburgher who said not a word but observ'd their gestures and the motions of their hands imagin'd we had talk'd of some attempt to make an escape about mid-night I took leave of the Spaniards wishing them liberty as it is the custom among the slaves but as I was going away the Hamburgher without any further enquiry cast himself at my feet and began to sware in Dutch and to say You shall not go without me and whereever you hazard your lives I will hazard mine I have often put my life in danger for a smaller matter The three Spaniards who saw his exclamations but understood not a word of what he said imagin'd the Hamburgher was grown distracted I told him we had not talk'd of any such thing he answered I have sufficiently discover'd your design continuing firme in his opinion Whereupon I told the Spaniards what he said and how desirous he was of his liberty We were all extreamly troubled to see what a pittiful posture the poor Hamburgher was in as being sick of the same disease At last I told him the Spaniards were very glad to see his resolution and that in case they attempted any thing they would take him for their Companion Having comforted him with such promises I went to my lodging considering the strange impressions of those who comprehend not what they hear During the time of my being in the Masâ—ora at Tituan some Malefactors being in the Cityâ—prison had broke open a door thinking by that means to make their escape The Governor or King as some call him by his Officers took one of those who had got away and without admitting any plea oâ—der'd him two hundred bangs with a cudgel and so treated he was sent to the Masmora with the Christian slaves He lay all along on the ground seeming rather a spunge full of blood than a man This happen'd on the first Friday in Lent in the evening at which time according to the custom every one kneel'd down to the number of a hundred and seventy persons with a Religious Dominicanâ— who said the Litanies and all the Slaves answer'd That done the lights were put out and the Religious Man said the Miserere and all the Slaves being either Spaniards or Portuguez began to discipline themselves very cruelly Which exercise having continu'd a certain time the Religious Man gave the signal that it was enough whereupon the Lamps were lighted again and every one dispos'd himself to sleep The next day the Magistrates of the City sent for the prisoner who had made his escape to be examin'd He began to tell the Judges that it concern'd them to be watchful for that the Christians who were in the Masmora had made some attempt the night before to get away They put out all the Lamps said he and after a long silence they all fell a breaking the Wall with certain instruments The story was presently carried to the Governor who sent four Gentlemen Moors of his retinue to the Masmora They visited all the Walls and found not the least rupture which done they search'd what things the Christians had but they met with no instrument nor the least appearance of what had