it in the consideration of what course I should take to know what was become of him whom I could not but hope to be still alive since he had escaped so miraculously from the River I resolved to visit Tunis although I exposed my self to a certain slavery which in a few days I performed having met with an English Ship was bound thither to Trade I embarqued my self and in less than a month after my Masters being carried away I was landed in that considerable City of Affrick It had been my Fathers mischance when young to be taken and kept six years a slave in Tripoli during which time he had perfectly learnt the Arabick Language and for a diversion had taught me so much of it that I could discourse indifferently well in it and it stood me so much in stead that cloathing my self in the Moorish Garb I was credited to be what I pretended my self a Moor of Tetuan taken a slave by the Christians so young that I had almost forgot my own Language and that having by my hard labour got enough to procure my ransom I was landed there in order to return to my own Country So that being lookt on as an absolute Moor I had as much opportunity as I could wish to inquire after my dear Master though a great while without any effect till one day hearing some Slaves talk of their Captivity and inquiring from what part they had been taken one of them told me he was a Mantuan brought over much about the time I knew my Master was lost and examining him more particularly of what other Slaves were taken with him I learnt not without a transport of joy that he came thither in the same Vessel with my Master that by the Moors care of his wounds both during their Voyage and a-shore he had been perfectly recovered and since was bought by the King of Tunis for a vast price Upon this intelligence I was so continually about the Seraglio that at last I discovered my dear Master in a Dress much different to what I was wont to behold him he was pleased to tell me my presence was not a little welcome to him though he lookt shyly on me fearing by my wearing a Turkish Habit I had been turned Renegado till giving him an account of all I had done his goodness but too much acknowledged my love to him For the first time we durst not be too long together lest my Disguise should grow suspected and afterwards when we met our Consultation was how possibly to procure his enlargement from a Master never admitted a ransom for his Slaves so that all our hopes must depend on the Kings being procured to give him to some Courtier who would be willing to see him exchanged for a considerable sum of money During the time we were taken up with these Considerations there happen'd an occasion which I was willing to lay hold of as what might much conduce to my Lords enlargement A Noble man of Tunis called Mahomad Alli having a young Son whom he desired to have instructed in Musick and hearing I had learnt a proficiency in that used in Italy during my Captivity sent for me making great offers of requital if I would take upon me the teaching of his Son which I willingly offered and in a few weeks gained the Fathers heart by the improvement his Son had made in the Science I was thought a Master of And being of himself a man more desirous of knowledge than the generality of his Country men are he took a great delight in hearing me relate the Manners and Customs of Christendom so that at last I was grown so much in his favour as to be intrusted with the management of his Affairs and ordering his House in the City when he went to divertise himself at a Seat he had some miles out of Town where he used often to be as I learnt drawn thither by the love of a fair Christian Slave had been presented him and finding his good opinion of me so great that he exprest a willingness to do me any considerable kindness I could beg of him One day when he was much delighted to hear me play on the Harp I told him among the Kings Slaves I had met with a young man whom I knew in Italy and whose Friends had been so particularly kind in conducing to my deliverance from a long Captivity that the only thing I would beseech of him was if possible to get that Slave out of the Kings hands which he might beg for not without hopes of success and give me leave as a grateful requital to him and his Friends to set him at liberty as soon as he heard what I desired of him he blamed my modesty in asking so small a Boon and promised that very day to procure what I sought not doubting to speed in it At the time he went to the Seraglio to procure my Lords liberty I went to acquaint him the good news of a freedom he might soon expect but all our joy was dissipated at Mahomads return who told me that although my request was small yet at that time impossible to be granted for the King having news of a Rebellion in the farthest part of his Dominions which being slighted at first had given the Rebels time to carry all before them so that the King resolving to go in person with an Army against them all his Slaves were appointed for the journey and that he himself being commanded to attend the King in the expedition resolved to intrust the Government and Ordering of his Family to my care until his return If I was grieved at the certain prolongation of my Masters captivity that concern was doubly aggravated at the consideration of being separated from him so long a time as that was like to be if he should ever return I used all the arguments I could to perswade Mahomad I might accompany him but in conclusion it was almost by a forced licence that I went having declared that if he thought me unworthy to be near him where he might be exposed to continual dangers as soon as ever he was departed to the Army I would return to my Native Country and Friends in Tetuan A few days after the King began his journey finding at the Randezvous he had appointed a compleat Army of thirty five thousand men all well appointed besides the usual attendants on a Camp he proceeded with short journeys not to harrase his men before they came up with the enemy having heard by those he had sent out that they seemed to expect him and it was believed would stand a Battel I should pass over what concerns the Wars of Tunis without troubling your Highness to hear any thing of them but that my dear Master made a considerable character in that War during our march I had all the opportunity I could desire of seeing and discoursing with him his resolutions were to attempt the doing some remarkable action which might
knew the Italian Slave he talked of to be Astolfo Mahomad left me with him and hasted himself to visit his fair Mistriss for so he always termed her Astolfo had seen me before in Italy but the Turkish habit I was in kept me from being known to him till taking him aside from the other Slaves I told him who I was and how I came to be in that dress he was much rejoyced to see me but more afflicted at the knowledg of my Masters misfortunes He told me how he came to fall into the Moors hands that having embarqued on a Vessel bound for Tuscany when he thought himself safe being got out of the Duke of Mantua's reach they were set upon by Pirates when after the death of half their Men and himself much wounded they were Boarded and taken that the Moors at the Prayers of Roselinda whose Beauty they admired dressed his wounds and arriving at Tunis delivered them to Mahomad who falling in love with his Wife for he had married Roselinda in the Ship before they were taken had kept them there in the Country since their first arrival not knowing that he was her Husband pretending he conducted her to Marry his Brother in Florence when they met his Ship and he confirmed to me what Mahomad had said that he was both very kind to him and used Roselinda with much Respect My Patron was as good as his word in shewing me the disposer of his Liberty whose Beauty was not at all diminished since I saw her in Mantua during my stay there Astolfo and I had often consultations how to procure their Liberty which was impossible to be attained any way but by a private escape and no hopes of doing that while Mahomad kept them in the Country so that one day discoursing with him about his Love I said the only way to overcome her was an assiduous perseverance which he could effect with more convenience if she was always near him in the City than by seeing her but seldome which he did at that distance My advice had the success I desired and within two days he removed her privateâ—â— to Tunis taking Astolfo thither also but not long after he quitted his Love with his Life being seized by a violent Feavour which meeting with a corpulent Body as hâ— was of soon took him away I must confess his kindness to me had been so particular that I was sensibly concerned for the loss of him and my trouble aggravated by wanting the only Friend I knew how to make any application to His Estate and Tuition of his Son was immediateâ—â— taken into the Kings dispose Hamet his Brother being denied that Trust by the King but as a part of recompence he granted him all his Brothers Slaves and to remove him further from him where the Justice of his complaint for the wrong was done him would maâ—â— the King ill thought off He told him he must prepare to go his Embassador to the King of Granada in Spain Hamet seemed pretty well satisfied with so honourable an imployment and hastned his Voyage all he could He was not less taken with the Love of Roselinda than his Brother had been knowing she had never yielded to him and resolved to take her with the rest of his Slaves into Spain Astolfo was overjoyed with the hopes of going into Europe where he believed his escape more easie than from Tunis but my Sorrow increas'd with the Apprehension of my Masters danger of whom I could hear nothing more than that he was still alive under a strickt Confinement But walking one Evening toward the Seraglio I was surprised with Joy at the sight of my dear Master who met me a little distance from the Gate of it we went both to Mahomad's House where I was permitted to stay having his Goods in Charge till the King should remove them My Master told me there all that had happened to him since his being Confined and that the King not being able to resolve the Death of one he loved so well nor perceiving a possibility of reducing him to what he wished being in earnest solicited by the Mufti to take away his Life had him self privately visited him and bringing him out of the Prison took his leave of him bidding him go where he would and telling him he must accuse his own Obstinacy that hindered him from being as great as himself He told me he had newly left the King when I met him and was resolved with the first opportunity to visit Mantua and throw himself at your Feet withal very desirous of learning if possible from whose hands he received those wounds had occasioned all his future Misery I told him of Hamets Voyage into Spain and of Astolfo and Roselinda being in his power withall that he had earnestly desired me to accompany him in that Journey which my Master was so much pleased with that he commanded me to look him out and accept of it and that he would pass as my Slave till our Arrival in Spain which he might the better do having never been seen by Hamet who was newly come from a Government he had been some years in and my Master had been little acquainted among the Mariners At first all things succeeded as well as we could wish having so prosperous a Voyage that in twelve days we landed at Malaga but as soon as ever we came a-shore Hamet seized on my Master as having run away from the King threatning me with Imprisonment for assisting him but the true incitement he had to it was only his Covetousness having been told by me that my Slave was of a Noble Birth in his own Country Hamet as soon as he had setled those Affairs were necessary upon his first Landing being to abide in Malaga till the King should send for his coming up to Granada began to be as sollicitous in his Love to Roselinda as severe against Frederick and Astolfo for my part I had in a Disgust left him and owning my self a Native of Tetuan which was opposite to us he durst not offer that Violence which otherwise I had doubtless felt at his hands But we were all drove to the highest Consternation of ill when Roselinda acquainted her Husband by a Note she got conveighed to him that Hamet no longer brooking her Denials had determined if within two days she did not resolve to comply with his Desires he would at the end of them satisfie his Love by Force Astolfo when Hamet was gone to return the Governor a Visit slipt out and finding me acquainted me with it telling me withal that if in the Night there were any possibility of getting out of the City he could from a Window lookt into the Garden of the House let down himself his Wife and Frederick and so from the Garden could easily get out into the Street having won an Eunuch of Hamets who had the Charge of his House to fly with them upon a desire he had of becoming a Christian Although
fighting with Christians as soon as the Moor heard what he said turning back he went to the rest of the Company and presently returned with two more they asked him seral questions but finding he had not strength to speak they took him up in their Arms and putting him upon a quiet Horse with a Man behind to hold him up carried him away to a little Town about a League off where one of the Company whose Profession it was searched and dressed his wounds telling him withal he should not be discouraged for that none of them were Mortal he continued the next day and night in that little Village but so weak that he could not utter a word loud enough to be heard and the Moors who had taken care of him being to depart they procured a Cart to lay him on and ordered it to follow softly after them to Cordova he that was the Chirurgion staying with him there had past a week from the time of his being hurt to that of their Arrival at the City and the next day after it his wounds being in a fair way of Cure and his Spirits so much recovered that he could and was by his Chirurgion allowed to speak the Chief of those who had delivered him from the Rock came to see him and telling him he was Son to the General of Cordova and sent out to make some Discovery which way Antiquera might be assaulted when he found him in that weak Condition at the Foot of the white Rock believing it was an extraordinary incounter had reduced him almost to his end That both out of Charity and a desire to know how he came by his wounds he was induced to give Order that if possible his Life should be preserved and now that there was some appearance of it he desired in requital of his kindness that he would satisfy his Curiosity in what he demanded to know of him My Master was very willing to comply with his desire having had time to consider what Account was properest to give of his Misfortunes so that after returning him thanks with much acknowledgment of his kindness to him I must confess noble Deliverer said my Master that I am descended of Christian Parents but having spent much time in Africa about Tunis I may reckon my self indebted to the Moors for part of my Education I served that King some time in his Wars with so much Success that his goodness thought the greatest things he could do for me such as he had no reason to wish unbestowed and being young and desirous to see a Country so much celebrated as this is for the Wars between you and the Christians I took my leave of him and accompanied Hamet one of his principal Subjects who came over hither on an Embassy from him We arrived some time since at Malaga and that Morning you met me having travelled so far in to the Country there was upon the Rock a sharp Dispute between some Christians and Hamets Party and there after several wounds I fell remaining as dead for a long time but coming to my self I lay upon a Heap of dead Bodies all of Hamets Party but how he happened to be overcome I am able to give you no Account off The Moor was much pleased with the short Narrative my Master gave and conjectured what was really true that a Party from Antiquera might have fallen on them and either slain or made them all Captives After this if my Master was used with a Charitable Civility before they now gave him Respect as the Favourite of a King and great Souldier being visited by most of the considerable Men in that Court. And after six weeks his wounds being so well that he was able to walk abroad his Friend carried him to wait on the King having provided him Rich Garments of the Moorish Fashion He was very urgent to oblidge his continuance with him and to have him accept a Command in his Army against the Christians which my Master not without difficulty was excused from urging the necessity of his Removal to inquire what was become of those he had accompanied from Tunis As soon as he was perfectly cured though with regret of those he left he took his leave of Cordova and being accommodated with Horses to Valencia there upon pretence of security to Travel he got a Pass from the Christian Garrisons and being brought to the nearest by Moors he had hired making use of his Pass for their Return as soon as they were without the Walls he made the Governor a Visit and discovered himself to be a Sicilian and giving him a Relation of some of his Adventures he so much obliged him that he not only made him his own Guess for some days he stayed there both to rest himself not yet able to endure a long Journey and to change his Moorish Habit he then wore but supplied him with all things necessary both for his Journey and Voyage which was succesful enough not only while he Travelled by Land but for some days after he had put to Sea in a Vessel bound hither one day as he was sitting on the Deck pleased with the hopes of being soon at Mantua which the Master promised him a sight of in two days if the Wind continued fair holding your Picture in his hand He with the point of a Knife engraved those words gave you the first Intelligence of his being alive That Night the Wind was fair and fresh but in the Morning a general Fright seized all the Mariners when they beheld not a mile to windward of them a large Ship by whose Antiant they knew her to be a Turkish Pirate of Algier in less than an hour she came close up with them and commanding the Master to strike his sails and yield No perswasions of my Lords could prevail with them to stand on their defence not being above twenty in number half Passengers and in the Turks Ship near three hundred Men only the Master advised all his Passengers to throw away their best Cloaths that their Ransomes might be the more moderate which they al did except my Lord who though he stood with his Sword in his hand resolved to sell his Life at as dear a rate as he could yet as soon as they were Boarded overpowred with numbers he was made a Captive among the rest and stripped both of all his Cloaths and what was dearest to him in the World next your self the Picture was taken from him the Turks as soon as they had searched their Prize taking all the Prisoners on Board their own Ship sent the other with some of their own Men home to Algier laden with all the Booty they had taken themselves keeping out at Sea for more purchase ten days after their Captivity about noon the Turks espied a Sail and giving her Chase found in a short time that she endeavoured as much to get up with them so that preparing for a Fight they shut up their Prisoners under Hatches