Purchas his pilgrimes. part 2 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

CHAP. XIIII.

A Letter contayning the admirable escape and glorious Victorie of NICHO∣LAS * 1.1 ROBERTS Master, TRISTRAM STEVENS his Mate, and ROBERT SVCKSBICH Boatson of a Ship of Douer, taken by Algier Pyrates: which three men being carryed as Slaues by eleuen Turkes in the same Ship, partly killed, and partly sold them all, and retur∣ned [ 10] free and safe home into England.

LOuing Friend, I haue receiued your Letter, &c. You desire to haue the whole procee∣dings of our vnfortunate Voyage, yet fortunate to vs, who are heere to relate what the Lord hath done for vs: the which, as neere as God shall enable mee, I will make knowne vnto you. First, ten leagues to the Southward of the North Cape, wee were chased by a Turkish man of Warre: of foure and thirtie Pieces of Ordnance, and being not farre from the shoare, it pleased God wee recouered it before hee could fetch vs vp: yet hee was so neere to vs before hee left vs, that he was within shot of vs, and seeing that wee were bent to runne ashore: rather then to come into his hands, hee espied ten or twelue Boates vnder the Ile of Dones, Fi∣sher-men, [ 20] where wee were chased in, and left vs, and put out his Boate full of small Shot; and some of them hee tooke, and some got away, and some hee chased ashoare vpon the Iland; and there hee landed his men and tooke them all away, to the number of fiue and fiftie persons, and one killed. So there hee kept vs the space of foure dayes: at length away hee goes, and the next day wee finding the winde faire, came out and went along the shoare within Musket shot all the way, betwixt that and the Iles of Bayone.

At length wee espied this Sayle comming out of the Sea, and came directly in with the Iles of Bayone, and wee being so neere the shoare did not greatly feare, because wee thought what euer he was, wee should get the shoare before him. At last hee comming something neere to vs, wee saw it was no great Sayle, not passing one hundred Tunnes or thereabouts; and that there was no hope of running away, but that wee [ 30] must either Fight it out, or runne ashoare. I called vp all my Company, and asked them what they would doe, whether they would stand by mee and shew themselues like men, and that it might neuer bee said, that wee should runne away from him, being not much bigger then wee, although hee had as many more Ordnance as wee. They answered all with one consent, that they would liue and dye with mee: whereupon our Boate standing vpon the vpper Decke, wee put her ouer-boord and fitted our selues; and by that time hee was come within shot of vs: presently wee fired a Piece, and shot crosse his Fore-foote * 1.2 to see what bee was, and seeing hee would not strike, wee knew then that hee was a Turkish man of Warre. And presently wee shot two more, and as soone as they were off, hee held vp his Sprit-sayle in the * 1.3 Clewline, and shot two at vs. [ 40]

Then wee hauing no Portes right aft, were forced to bring our Ship vpon a winde, to bring our Pieces to beare vpon him. At length he came so neere that hee hald vs: I being vpon the Poope, they let flye their small shot so fast, that there was no staying. For at last, as I was going aft, I heard the Captayne bid them stay their hands. With that I stayed and talked with him, and the Captayne in English bad wee strike my Top-sayle, and hee would doe me no hurt: and I seeing what they were, told him that they were Dogges, and that I would not strike nor trust him, but hee should come aboord and strike it himselfe. They hearing mee say so, let flye all their small Shot at me, and shot the Ropes a sunder besides, and yet it pleased God, not hurt me; so being vpon our weather quarter, wee freed our quarter Piece, and had our Piece haled in ready to put at that Port whiles that was a lading againe: but as soone as that Piece was shot off, he hald vp his Sprit-sayle, and bore vp his Helme, & fired his two chac'd Pieces, and came with all sayles to top aboord of vs, and carryed ouer our ship: and shee being something tender sided, and our Ports [ 50] being all open, our Lee * 1.4 Ports were all vnder water, and our Chists and things that were betwixt our Deckes did swimme, and the Piece of Ordnance that was hald in, got loose and fell to Leeward, like to carrie out the side and all. At which mischance our men being much discomfited, they tooke our Ship; And Richard White, which all this while was in company with vs, and so neere when wee began: that the Shot flew ouer him; in the time that wee stroue with him hee got into Bayone.

And they put all aboord the man of Warre, and so wee put to Sea, and our Ship after vs as fast as shee could, being hardly able to beare any sayle. Yet that night being Munday night, and the foure and twen∣tieth of March, it prooued faire weather, and they began to rifle vs, and the next day by two of the clocke in the after-noone, they had taken out as much things as possible could bee spared, leauing such things as of necessitie must bee left for the carriage of her for Sally: and then the Captayne sent for mee to come a∣boord [ 60] our owne Ship. Where I was no sooner comne, but hee caused three men to take mee, and lay me

vpon my belly the Deckes, and two of them to lye vpon my legges, and one to sit on my necke, and he himselfe with a Rope did giue me so many blowes, that I did intreat him: if euer hee came of a Woman, not to vse mee like a Dogge, but rather that hee should heaue me ouer-boord: then to put me to that penurie. His answer was to mee againe, after that hee had vsed his pleasure to me; Thou Dog, if I doe finde any thing more then thou hast confest to mee, I will giue thee a hundred times as much, and when I haue done, I will heaue thee ouer-boord. So leauing mee aboord of our Ship: and foure of our Companie and seuen Turkes, he had vs stay till wee heard further from him. At last, it was accorded among them who should goe our Captayne to carry vs for Sally; and that was a Hamburger a Renegado, one that could speake very good English. As soone as my Mate vnder stood that hee was to goe our Captayne, hee did intreat him vpon his kneees that he might goe with him, because hee did alwayes desire that hee might goe with mee wheresoeuer I went: and one of the Moores seeing of him intreating so hard to goe with him, gaue [ 10] him two or three blowes, and bad him get him downe into the hold againe. But the Captayne hauing some∣thing more commiseration on him then the other, gaue him his Plate, and bad him goe into the Boate; for hee should goe with him. And they hauing a Witch aboord, told him: that hee should take but three * 1.5 that could doe their labour well, and send the rest aboord the man of Warre, and that hee should haue an especiall care to keepe the Weapons from vs; and so comming aboord, brought my Mate with him, and sent three of them away of our company, and brought three Turkes more besides him∣selfe: * 1.6 so there were no more of vs but my selfe, and my Mate, and the Boatson; and there were ele∣uen of them.

They presently made sayle and went away, and the man of Warre stayed there behind. Being parted from the man of Warre, wee agreed together to see if it pleased God to worke some meanes for our deliue∣rie: [ 20] for our vsage was such aboord the man of Warre, that wee feared it would bee worse if they got vs where they would haue vs; and therefore did resolue by Gods helpe, either to quite our selues of it, or to end our misery: and passing the time from Tuesday to Thursday in this sorrowfull manner, in that time wee did deuise the best meanes that God did enable vs; which was, that when it did please God to send vs a gale of winde to vndergoe our businesse withall, that they should alwayes haue each of them a Wedge in their pockets, to barre fast the Cabbin doore where the Weapons were, because then two did alwayes steere halfe the Night. But they would neuer suffer mee so much as to come into the Steeredge, (for they were suspicious of vs) and would not suffer vs to haue a Knife; or if wee had at any time beene betwixt the * 1.7 Deckes, they would presently haue searcht the Ship from one end to the other, to see if they could finde a∣ny [ 30] thing that wee had layed vp. But I alwayes bad them haue a care that they should lay vp nothing, but onely take notice where it lay; For there was nothing to trust to, but onely two Pompe-brakes, and they stood alwayes an end in the Pompes without suspicion of any of them. Other thing there was not any, saue one peece of Ore that lay vpon the Poupe: for they would not leaue so much as a Hatchet, but as soone as they had done with it, would straight carrie it into the Cabbin againe.

Thursday night being come, it pleased God to send vs durtie weather; but wee not suspecting that wee should haue an opportunitie so soone, they were vnprouided of their Wedges in their pockets. And at last there arose a great gust of winde out of the North-west, and yet was neither of our mens turnes to bee at the Helme, which made vs doubtfull whether wee might giue the enterprise or no. At last, the winde did increase so much, that I did intreat the Captayne that one of our men might goe to the Helme, [ 40] because I told him: I thought they could better * 1.8 Conne the Ship afore the Sea then his men could, and hee was very willing that hee should. So the Boates man being neerest to it, stept vnto the steeredge and tooke the Helme, and hee that was at the Helme before: sate downe in the steeredge beside him, and haled the Steeredge doore too, and made it fast in the in-side. Now there were foure of them vpon the Decke with vs, the Captayne and three more, and foure in the Cabbin abaft by the Weapons, and two betwixt the Deckes, and one in the Steeredge. So walking vpon the Decke with them, at last wee saw our opportunitie that all the Turkes were abaft * 1.9 vs, and wee by the Maine-mast.

I tooke my Coate and heaued it from mee for a signe to him, and so wee tooke the two Pompe-brakes and runne on vpon them, and hee with one blow, and I with another killed the Captayne out-right, and the rest were not long a dispatching: onely one that got the Poupe, but hee was not long there, for wee got [ 50] him downe; yet hee got away from vs little better then dead. Now for the Boatson that was in the Steeredge, when the word was giuen (which was God and Saint George) putting his foot against the Steeredge doore, thinking it would flye open, the Turke had made it so fast that it would not: and the Turke was so busie with him with his Knife, that hee was forced to striue with him to get it from him. And in the meane time came one of the Turkes that was betwixt the Deckes, and opened the Cabbin doore where the weapons were, and one of them with a Cutlaxe ranne him into the side, and bore him vp against the Steeredge doore, and meeting with two ribbes did not goe cleane through his body. Hee see∣ing they were come all vpon him, did striue to get the Steeredge doore open, and at last did, but with great hurt, hauing sixe or seuen bleeding wounds vpon him: and the doore being open, the Turkes durst not for all their Weapons aduenture to come vpon the Decke. But wee being in the heate of bloud, assayed [ 60] twice to get the Steeredge from them, but could not; for they ranne vs through the cloathes but did not hurt vs. Seeing that would not preuayle, wee got a Bucket of water to put the Candle out that was in the Bitakell, which they perceiuing: tooke it away and carried it into the Cabbin, and ligh∣ted two more.

Then they began to light their Matches to shoot at vs, which as soone as wee perceiued, wee got our Capstone Barres, and made fast the doore, and one of the rough trees crosse all the Bulke head. This be∣ing * 1.10 done, we tooke the men that were dead: and layed them crosse the sight of the steeredge to keepe them from sight of vs, and then tooke one of our Hatches and opened it, and went downe betwixt the Deckes to see if we could find any there. At last, it being very darke, I felt where there was one lay vnder a Cabbin, and hauing one of the Turkes Knines in my hand, I stucke it into his side as farre as it would goe, and be crying out, my Mate came, thinking to strike him, and strooke mee vpon the hand, which did mee great hurt; for after that, I had but little vse of it when it was cold. But to proceed, that man wee killed, and seeking for more, I happened with another; which as soone as euer I did but touch his clothes, thrust his Knife at me, and cut me crosse the thumbe, and ranne it into my hand a little way, and so got [ 10] away that we could find him no more. Then fearing lest they would come all downe vpon vs, we went vp and layed our Hatches, and tooke the other rough tree, * 1.11 and made them all fast. Then wee cut our maine Hall-yards, and let our Main-sayle runne downe to keepe them from sight of vs when it was day: and iust as we had made all things fast, it was light day, and it was betwixt twelue and one when we began.

When it was day, we durst not come vpon the Decke for feare of their Muskets, but went continually without boord: yet they shot twice at me vpon the Poupe, out of the Forecastle through the Main-sayle; and yet, I thanke God, hurt me not. And thus we continued from Thursday night till it was Saturday morning: and I askt them if they would steere in for the shoare, and saue their liues; or else they should presently die. They replied, they would not. Then we hauing an old Axe, I was minded to cut a hole in our Bowe aboue the lower Decke; and then to open a scuttle, and let them come vp (and so wee would [ 20] haue dispatcht them as fast as they had come) and then to haue layd her by the Lee, to haue stopt it a∣gaine. When they saw that was my resolution, and that wee had made a beginning, hee told mee that was the chiefe of them, that if I would saue their liues they would doe what I would haue them. I had them beare vp the Helme, which they did, and gaue mee a Compasse out, and I set them their course to steere in by.

At last, I had them giue mee their Muskets out, and hee sware by the Sunne, that they had heaued them ouer-boord (and so they had) and then I had them giue mee their weapons. They did beginne to feare, lest when we had get them, that wee would haue killed them; and fell downe on their knees, and did entreate that I would saue their liues, and that they were sorry for what they had done; thinking that they had killed him that was in the steeredge with them, because they neuer heard him speake, all the time [ 30] (and Indeed, he could not helpe himselfe but as he was lifted by vs) I promised them, that I would not hurt them, and then they gaue me their weapons, and fetcht vs what we would haue. So by twelue of the clocke that day we made the Rocke: and fearing to beare in with it, for feare of Men of warre, we held in two or three leagues to the Northward of it. Seeing a great Towne by the waters side, we were in hope * 1.12 to get a Boat aboord before night; and comming with it, wee went as neere to it as wee could, and lay by the lee, and put out a weafe, and stayed there three houres, and no Boat would come to vs.

Then night comming on, we got our tackes aboord, and steered away for the Rocke againe, and the wind being at North-west, we were fearefull to hale off farre from the shoare for feare of Men of warre; but steered directly for the Rocke, and went not aboue halfe a mile without it, because the wind was large enough: and as soone as we were shot to the South-ward of the Rocke, in a dye of raine the wind [ 40] came to the West South-west, and we running that way in hope to carrie it away, the wind Southwar∣ded still, till we had brought our selues so neere, that we had no roome to beare vp, and hauing no After∣sayle to make our ship stay, were forst (being but we two) to put our Anchor from the Bowe, and to breake open a Scuttle, and goe downe and vered to a whole Cable, and brought vp the ship, and went vp and tooke in our Sayles, and got another Anchor from the Bowe, and made three or foure of the Turkes cleere the Cable to vs. This was about twelue of the clocke in the night, and when the day came on, the weather did beginne to encrease much, and the Sea was much growne, being so neere the shoare as wee were, that we were faine to cut our Masts by the boord, and being not able to doe it of our selues (being but two of vs, and ouer-watcht for want of sleepe; (for from Thursday night till Sunday night, we neuer tooke winke of sleepe) I went to the Cabbin doore, and had them come to helpe vs. They told mee they [ 50] would come, but made no great haste; for they did feare that we would haue killed them. At last per∣ceiuing that I was very angrie with them, as I was cutting at our Maine-mast, and my Mate at the Fore-mast, one of them came vp, and fell downe on his knees and kist me by the foot, and begged of mee, that I would not kill him, and I told him that I would doe none of them any hurt, but they should come and helpe vs worke, and hee went and told his consorts what I had said. So vp they came all vpon the Decke, and euery one of them one after another came and kist vs by the feet, as well hee that lay hurt, as vs: and then we gaue them the Axes to cut the Masts, but wee kept the weapons, and when our Mayne-mast and Fore-mast were cut away, the ship did ride pretie easie, and then wee went to prayer, the Turkes sitting with vs: and I hauing no more Bookes left but a little Prayer-booke in my Pocket, one of the Turkes went to his Bagge and fetcht mine owne Bible, and brought it to me; saying, Master [ 60] here is a bigger Booke for you.

After Prayer, we did eate and drinke together, and were as though we had beene altogether consorts: there we ridde from twelue of the clocke at night, till two of the clocke in the after-noone the next day, and all this time there came not a Boat to vs, yet wee were but three miles from Cast Cales, wee were not

halfe a mile from the Point, which if we could haue weathered, we might haue gone into Lisboa without any sayle, but it was not Gods will that it should be so. Sunday being the seuenyh day after we were taken, we cut our Cables, and with our sprit-sayle and sprit sayle-topsayle wee ranne into a flat place, being no more flat places there, that there was no hope of euer sauing our liues (for the Rockes are as steepe as a house) and so, some by one meanes, and some by another, we got ashoare: but we did not suffer one of the Turkes to goe till we were all ashoare, and then wee went to a little Village halfe a mile from the place where we came ashoare, and there we caused all the Turkes to be pinyoned (for not a man came to the waters side all this time) and so two or three of the men of the Village went with vs to Cast Cales, and there the Turkes were put in prison, and we were very well vsed, and they that were hurt were drest, and had a Chirurgeon to looke to vs for the space of two dayes, till we had a little refresht our selues, and then [ 10] a Boat prouided for vs, and the Turkes to carrie vs to Lisboa, where after examination both of vs and them, the Gouernours gaue them freely to vs, and told vs we did deserue a great deale more.

Thus haue I related vnto you the whole truth of our proceedings, and no more but what is truth, not for that I desire to bee applanded of men, but that whosoeuer shall heare this discourse, may not thinke that of our owne power we could doe this, but that it is the hand of the Lord hath done it: and the Lord grant that I and euery of vs may neuer be vnmindfull of that the Lord hath done for vs. Amen.

This Letter was written to Master Iohn Moulton, to whom also he wrote another, which I haue, demanding his aduice about that which seemed to mee a strange immanitie (that I say not inhumanitie and vnchristianitie alone) of men; as the other was the vnspeakable grace and * 1.13 bountie of God: namely, that the owners of the ship so taken (being also the Masters kins∣men) [ 20] demanded, and by Law threatned to wring from him part of the Moneyes which they made by sale of the Turkes at Lisbon; where yet they were not in their podsession, but as the Kings slaues; and the Kings Officers (for encouragement of others in like case) gaue them that money as Almes, howsoeuer it was reckoned also as their iust price. Neither would they giue them wages, which yet demanded this money; as if their eye had beene euill because Gods was good and gracious, like Ionas in his mad anger for the Niniuites spared. But I hope they bet∣ter bethought them afterwards, or else I would here name them to their euerlasting reproach: which I now forbeare, as Dauid did Shimeis punishment, in regard of so great and present an escape, victorie, triumph, which euen then had happened.

ANd because these Algier Pirats haue brought vs into the thoughts of Turkish power, the rather [ 30] * 1.14 obseruing that last Turkish businesse, rather then Christian charitie: and of Turkie we haue deli∣uered already diuers things remarkable; yet hauing since met with a piece of worth, I thought good also to communicate it vnto thee. It is a Royall present worth the receiuing: namely, to set thee in possession, and make thee Master of the Grand Signiors Serraglio: a sight hitherto prohibited, in manner, to Chri∣stian * 1.15 eyes. I doe not promise thee the stones and edifices, but a securer and quieter Title (for how lately hath the Master beene dispossessed of them and his life together, that I mention not the instabilitie of the present, who once before held, and after was holden of the same?) Here thou hast the Rarities of that Great Palace for the Matter and Arte, with the representation of the Turkish Court; the Rites pro∣phane and deuout, solemne and priuate of the Grand Signior and all his Grandes: the Sultanas, the [ 40] Women and Uirgins, the Sonnes and Daughters Royall, the Great Officers of State, and of the Hous∣hold, their Courts, their admirable Discipline, with other Obseruations such as I thinke (for a great part of them) haue not yet seene the publike light in any Language. These hath Master Robert Withers collected: after his ten yeeres obseruation at Constantinople, where he was educated by the care and cost of that late Honourable Embassadour from his Maiestie, Sir Paul Pindar, and well instructed by Tur∣kish Schoolemasters in the Language, and admitted also to further sight of their vnholy Holies then is vsuall. But why doe I hold thee longer from the Author himselfe; yea, from this promised Serraglio?

Notes

• * 1.1

  These three men serued their Appren∣tiships at Do∣uer, but were Westerne men borne: the Master in Corn∣wall, the other two in Deuon∣shire. I haue added this to the former, as pertaining also to Africa; and this with the former, and all the relations of Santos, and the Iesuits & some others, and so to the end of this Booke, as Appendix to the first Tome; being such Re∣lations as I had not to insert in their due place but later come into my hands.
• * 1.2

  Fore-foot is not a part of a Ship, but when two ships sayle, one so much a weather the o∣ther, that shee will goe a head of the other, it is then called the Fore-foot: so that it im∣plies one Ships sayling a crosse another Ships way.
• * 1.3

  Clewline, is to the top top∣gallant and sprit-sayle, that which the Clew garnet is to the mayn∣sayle: the Clew is the lower corner of the sayle where the tackes & sheats are made fast: the Clew-gar∣net, a rope fast to the Clew rūning thence in a blocke to the middle of the yard, to which it hales vp the Clew, &c.
• * 1.4

  Lee, is that which is oppo∣site to the winde: chac't Pieces, are those which lie right forward, or right aft-ward on: the Decke is the floore of Pl••••ks on which is the Ordnance placed.
• * 1.5

  Consultation with a Wizard.
• * 1.6

  Eleuen Turkes and three Chri∣stians.
• * 1.7

  Steeredge is the place where they steere.
• * 1.8

  To Cunne the Ship, is the same with Conducere, to direct.
• * 1.9

  Aft and abaft hath relation from any part of the Ship to things done or placed thence to the Sternward.
• * 1.10

  Capstaine barres are smal pieces of tim∣ber put tho∣row the barrell of the Cap∣staine, by which they turne it about. The vse of the Capstaine is to weigh anchor, to heaue any thing of weight.
• * 1.11

  Roofe trees are Timbers of light wood, that goe from the Half-decke to the Fore∣castle, and are to beare vp the gratings, &c. But to ex∣pound all the Mariners termes in this Letter, would make a Glosse longer then the Text.
• * 1.12

  The Rocke a point of Land at the turning in from the Sea towards Lisbon.
• * 1.13

  Homo domini lupus: homo domini daemon.
• * 1.14

  A Preface to the ensuing Treatise.
• * 1.15

  Sup••. l. 8. &c.