After the failure of her attempt to board us, the corsair hauled aft her
sheets and shot ahead of the _Good Hope_. We believing that she
intended to rake us, quickly got headsail on the ship, and by squaring
away the afteryards, and brailing up the mizen, put her before the wind,
all the time blazing away as fast as we could with our guns. Instead,
however, of passing either astern or ahead of us, which having all her
canvas set, she might easily have done, the corsair kept on a wind, and
presently, when beyond the range of our guns, going about she stood away
to the south-west. We had beaten off our big assailant, and we might
possibly in a longer contest have compelled her to strike or sent her to
the bottom, but we were in no condition to follow her. All hands being
required to repair damages, some time passed before we could question
the stranger who had taken refuge on board us. As he looked sick and
careworn, Lancelot had directed that he should be conducted to the
cabin, where, the ship having at length been put somewhat to rights, I
was able to join him. Finding that having been properly looked after
and supplied with food he had much recovered, I inquired who he was and
from whence he came.
"My name is Joseph Aylett; I am an Englishman and a sea officer," he
answered. "I was captured many a long month ago, on board a vessel by a
ship from Tunis, not far from where we now are. The night was dark, the
sea smooth, a light breeze only filling our sails. Not a thought of
danger entered our heads. A bad look-out must have been kept, for,
without warning, suddenly a large ship ran us alongside before we could
fly to our arms or fire a gun, and a whole host of Moors came swarming
down on our decks. Resistance was useless, though had we been prepared
we might have fought the enemy as you did and beaten her off. We were
prisoners to the corsairs, and doomed, as we supposed, to a life-long
slavery. If the lot of us men was hard, that of our female passengers
was harder still. We had two poor young ladies with a waiting woman and
their father, who had been taken on board against their will and
compelled to accompany us out to these distant seas. Every respect had
been shown to them by the captain and officers, of whom I was one, and
we had promised to send them home by the first ship we should fall in
with returning to England.
"As no blood had been shed we were better treated by the Moors than we
had expected, the passengers even were allowed to remain in their cabins
without molestation, and I was thankful to find that the young ladies
did not make their appearance. Still I trembled to think to what
indignities they might be exposed when carried on shore, and perhaps
separated from each other and their father. Most of our crew were
quickly removed to the corsair, their places being supplied by the
Moors, but I and a few others were left on board to assist in working
the ship. A calm coming on prevented us from reaching Tunis for a
couple of days. During the time, I turned in my mind the possibility of
assisting the young ladies, and at length a plan occurred to me, by
adopting which their position might be rendered less perilous than would
otherwise be the case.
"We had had two young boys in the ship, son and nephew of the captain.
The one had died from sickness, the other had fallen overboard and been
drowned. Their clothes had been left in a chest, and when no one was
looking, I possessed myself of the articles and carried them to their
cabin. My object was quickly explained, and they at once expressed
their willingness to follow my advice.
"Their father saw its wisdom, and leaving them to don the garments I had
brought, I hastened away that I might not be perceived. Then telling
the other officer left with me what I had done, we at once agreed as to
the way we should behave to the seeming lads. We were, should we have
an opportunity, to inform our captain, who was on board the corsair, of
what we had done, and to treat them as if they were his son and nephew."
The feelings with which I listened to the officer's narrative can better
be supposed than expressed. "Tell me, Mr Aylett, who were those young
ladies of whom you speak?" I asked, in an agitated voice.
"Their father was, I understand, a Roundhead, Kerridge by name, but
otherwise a well-disposed, amiable gentleman whom I was glad to serve."
"Kerridge!" I exclaimed, not regarding his remark. "Tell me, sir, the
name of the vessel on board which you were."
"The _Hector_," he replied.
All doubt vanished from my mind as to whom those unfortunate persons
were.
"Go on, sir, I pray you," I said. "Tell me what happened next."
"The following morning, while we were some way off Tunis, the old
gentleman accompanied by the two young ladies appeared on deck, but it
would have required a keen eye to have discovered that they were not
what they seemed. I forthwith went up to one of them and sang out, `Lay
hold of this rope and do as I do; now haul away.' The other joined us,
and by the way the Moors looked at them, I felt satisfied that their
disguise was not discovered.
"I then spoke to the old woman who attended on them, advising her to
conceal their female attire.
"`I have taken good care of that, sir,' she answered. `I've thrown some
through a port and packed the rest in my chest; it won't be my fault if
they are found out.'
"Our captors treated us with more civility than I had expected. I and
the men left were doing our best to navigate the ship, and the Moors
knew that we could not escape. No sooner, however, had we dropped
anchor and furled sails in the harbour of Tunis, off the strong castle
of Porto Ferino, than several boats came alongside, and we, as well as
the poor passengers being mustered on deck, had our arms lashed behind
us, by which treatment we knew that we were looked upon as slaves. We
were then carried on shore to the slave market, where we found the rest
of the crew of the _Hector_. I thought little of my own sufferings
while reflecting on the sad fate to which Mr Kerridge and his young
companions were doomed. In a short time purchasers appeared, and the
sale of the captives commenced. From the prices offered it was evident
that the common men were looked upon as of greater value than the
officers, from its being supposed that they were capable of performing
more work.
"Most of the men had been disposed of, when an old Moor in magnificent
costume, and several attendants, entered the bazaar. The prices of the
men who remained, consisting of the boatswain and his mate, the gunner
and three of his crew, all standing six feet high, with broad shoulders,
had been considerably raised, but no bidders were forthcoming.
"I thought that the Moorish chief would have bought them, but on hearing
the price named he turned away and pointed to Mr Kerridge and the two
boys. Satisfied with the sum asked, he at once paid it down, and they
were transferred to the care of his black attendants. On seeing this
the old woman rushed up to him, and by signs entreated that he would
purchase her, amid much laughter, and finding that a very trifling
amount was placed on her, he paid it over. I was thankful to find that
the whole four were thus purchased by one master, and was wondering what
would become of me, when the old Moor, looking into his purse, seemed to
discover that he had sufficient for the purchase of another slave.
After examining each of the officers, to my great satisfaction he fixed
on me, for I had a fancy that he was likely to prove more kind-hearted
than most of his countrymen, and that I might be of use to the young
ladies and their father.
"Apparently well pleased with his purchases, the old Moor left the
bazaar followed by his attendants, who led us along. Outside we found
several camels, on which the whole party being mounted, we set off,
following a road towards the interior. Although our chance of escape
would be greatly lessened by being at a distance from the coast, I was
thankful to get out of the town. At last we arrived at what looked like
a large farm. It was the chief's residence, a number of smaller
buildings surrounding it, and at the back large gardens, shaded by fine
trees, with ponds and fountains and flower beds. The whole was under
the care of a big black fellow, to whose charge Mr Kerridge and I were
committed. We found that it was intended we should labour in the
garden, while the two seeming boys were destined to attend on the old
chief, and Margaret on his wives and children. Our lot was thus happier
than we could have expected, still there was the fear that the sex of
the young ladies might be discovered, though, with Margaret's help, we
hoped that this might be avoided. Of course, from the first Mr
Kerridge and I discussed the possibility of escaping, but, removed as we
were from the coast, that we should succeed appeared almost impossible.
"I was one day labouring as usual, when the old chief came into the
garden, accompanied by another person whom I recognised to be the
captain of the ship which had captured us.
"He looked at me and inquired who I was. `He is the man who brought the
prize into the harbour,' he observed. `I am in want of some good seamen
for my new ship, and I will buy him of you, so name your price.'
"I was in hopes that the old chief would refuse, for though I might
possibly, by getting on board ship effect my escape, yet I was unwilling
to leave Mr Kerridge and his daughters to their hard fate. I found,
however, that the transfer had been made without the option of remaining
being given me, so I was carried off by the captain, and in two days
going on board the vessel he spoke of, I was ordered, under pain of
having my brains blown out, to perform the duty of a lieutenant. As it
would have been madness to resist, I tried to appear reconciled to my
lot, though I resolved on the first opportunity to make my escape. It
came sooner than I had expected.
"I confess when I sprang from the side of the corsair that I scarcely
hoped to reach your deck alive."
I need not say into what a state of agitation Mr Aylett's account threw
me. He repeated it again when Lancelot and Dick came below, and it was
with difficulty that we could attend to the duties of the ship, thinking
of the means to be taken for rescuing those for whom we had searched so
long. Mr Aylett, however, gave us no hope of success. "It would be
impossible even to communicate with them," he observed; "the only chance
would be to send a message to their owner, and to offer a large sum for
their ransom." How this message was to be sent was the question.
Aylett pointed out that were he to go he should be immediately seized as
a deserter and lose his life, while any other Englishman who might set
foot in the country would be carried off to slavery.
Unfortunately, much time must elapse before even the best-formed plan
could be put into execution, for so battered was our ship that it would
be absolutely necessary to go into port and refit before we could
venture on the coast.
It would be difficult to describe our feelings at the delay, yet our
better judgment told us it must be endured. It was a satisfaction to
know that Audrey and Cicely and Mr Kerridge and poor Margaret were
alive, and from Aylett's account not ill-treated; yet bondage in any
form is hard to bear, and we could not tell what change for the worse in
their circumstances might occur. Happily the weather remained calm, and
enabled us to get up a fore-yard on which sail could be set, though we
had no spar for a topmast. The men worked with a will, for they feared
that the Barbary corsair might return, and they had no wish to become
slaves, which would be our lot should she succeed in capturing us.
A moderate breeze springing up from the southward, we were able to steer
a course for Cagliari in the island of Sardinia, one of the few friendly
ports in the Mediterranean, where we could refit and obtain provisions.
We reached it without encountering an enemy, and lost no time in
commencing the necessary repairs. Still we were in as much doubt as at
first as to what means we should take to rescue our friends.
One thing was certain, that force would not avail. Should we reach the
coast, our little ship would be blown out of the water by the Tunisian
corsairs; or, should our whole crew land, we should be out to pieces
before we had advanced a mile into the country.
We talked of going on shore in disguise, but our ignorance of Arabic
would betray us. Our only hope of success would be to negotiate, but
the old Moor would probably demand a far higher ransom than we were able
to pay, and very likely should we sail into the harbour, even with a
flag of truce, the Moors would seize our vessel and help themselves to
everything on board, while we should be carried off as slaves.
We had now been a long time without hearing from England, and were
ignorant of the events taking place nearer home. Of one thing we felt
certain, that Admiral Blake was not idle. If work was to be done, he
was doing it.
The _Good Hope_ was nearly ready for sea, but still our plan of
proceeding was as unsettled as before, when a squadron of five ships
with the flag of the Commonwealth flying was seen coming in from the
southward. As soon as they had anchored, Lancelot and I went on board
the flag-ship, to pay our respects to Commodore Bodley, the commander of
the squadron, and to ask his advice and obtain his assistance in
recovering our friends. We were invited into his cabin, where we found
several officers collected. They were unanimous in the opinion that the
attempt to rescue Mr Kerridge and his companions would be madness
without a strong force at our backs, and urged us to abandon the idea of
going alone. The commander declared that nothing would give him so much
satisfaction as to accompany us with his squadron, but without the
permission of Parliament he could not venture on the undertaking.
Numerous and startling events had taken place since we sailed from
Scilly. News of the latter had been brought by a large ship which had
joined the squadron from England. Jersey, though gallantly defended by
Sir George Carteret, had been captured by a fleet under Admiral Blake.
Commodore Young had fallen in with the Dutch fleet, the admiral of which
refusing to lower his flag, the commodore had attacked it, and after a
sharp action had compelled the Dutchmen to strike.
"Those were brave deeds, but the fighting was mere child's play compared
to what took place afterwards," exclaimed Captain Harman, commanding the
_Diamond_, the frigate which had just come out from England. "It was
thought after the lesson they had received that the Dutch would not
again flaunt their flag in British waters, but before long the Dutch
Admiral, Van Tromp, made his appearance in the Downs with a fleet of
forty-two men-of-war and frigates. At the time Admiral Blake was
cruising in the _James_ off Eye, when the news reached him that Van
Tromp was off Dover. He at once made sail. Upon reaching the Straits
he saw the Dutch fleet standing out to sea. Suddenly, however, they
tacked and stood towards him. He had but fifteen ships, but he had sent
to Admiral Bourne to join him with a squadron of eight ships. They
were, however, not yet in sight; still, our ships were larger, with more
men than were on board the Dutch, so that the disproportion of strength
was not so great as might appear. Tromp, who led the van in the
_Brederode_, fired into the _James_, when Admiral Blake instantly
ordered his gunners to return the salute. The fight then became
general. The _James_ bore the brunt of the action. Her masts were
knocked away, her hull riddled, and many officers and men were killed.
"Young Robert Blake, who--Vice-Admiral Penn being absent--took command
of the _Triumph_, greatly distinguished himself, succouring his uncle
and contributing much to the success of the day.
"From four o'clock to nightfall the battle raged, when Admiral Bourne
arriving with his squadron turned the scale, and the Dutchmen took to
flight, leaving two ships in our hands, while the rest were more or less
disabled, with two hundred and fifty prisoners and many more killed.
"Admiral Blake thus remained master of the narrow seas, and in less than
a month had captured forty rich prizes from the Dutch, which he sent
into the Thames. As the Government were well assured that the Dutch
would try to revenge themselves, great preparations were made for
renewing the contest, and in one month one hundred and five vessels
carrying three thousand nine hundred and sixty-one guns were placed
under Admiral Blake's command.
"As sufficient seamen were not to be found, two regiments of foot were
sent on board the fleet.
"The admiral then sailed north to capture a large fleet of Dutch herring
busses, in order to obtain fish for his crews. No less than six hundred
fell into his hands, but, unwilling to injure the families of the poor
men depending upon them, he contented himself with taking only a small
portion from each buss, and forbidding them again to fish in British
waters. They were convoyed by twelve Dutch men-of-war, which he
attacked, sinking three and capturing the other nine.
"A portion of the busses he pursued to the Danish coast. While still in
those northern seas, several of his ships having been sent to the
Orkneys to repair, he received news that Tromp was on his way to attack
him, with a fleet greatly outnumbering his.
"The evening of the 5th of August was drawing on, when as the admiral
was cruising near Fair Isle, about midway between the Orkneys and
Shetlands, he caught sight of the Dutch Fleet. Instant preparations for
battle were made, but before a gun was fired, the admiral observing that
a heavy gale was coming on, threw out a signal to his ships to prepare
for it.
"Down came the tempest with fearful force. The seamen instead of having
to fight with mortal foes had now to contend with the raging tempest.
The wind shifted to the north north-west, gaining every instant
additional force. The sea ran mountains high, filling the air with
sheets of foam, through which one ship could scarcely distinguish the
other as they were tossed and tumbled by the raging waves. The coming
darkness increased the horrors of the scene. Admiral Blake collecting
his ships in time, steered for the southward of Shetland, under the
shelter of which he remained secure during the height of the tempest.
No sooner had it abated than he pursued the sorely battered Dutchmen,
capturing many before they escaped into port. The Dutch, after this,
knowing that Admiral Blake was waiting for them, did not for some time
put again to sea. While he was cruising in the Channel, expecting their
appearance, news was brought him that the Spaniards were besieging
Dunkirk, but that the French king had sent a fleet for its relief.
Believing it was to the interests of England that it should fall, lest
the Dutch admiral should make it the basis of operations against the
towns on the opposite coast of England, he resolved to go and attack the
French fleet.
"The admiral led the way in the _Resolution_, followed by the
_Sovereign_, the largest of our ships, carrying eleven hundred men and
eighty-eight guns. He first attacked the _Donadieu_, commanded by a
Knight of Malta, and boarding her, pike in hand, took her in a few
minutes, while the _Sovereign_ with her terrible broadside sank one of
the royal frigates and dismantled five others.
"So desperate was the onslaught, that in a few hours every French ship
had been sunk or captured, the prizes being carried into the Downs.
Scarcely was this victory gained when the Dutch fleet, under Admirals De
Witt and De Ruiter, were sighted off the North Foreland. Admiral Blake,
without waiting for the rest of his fleet, which were astern,
immediately ordered each ship to engage as she came up, and leading the
way attacked De Witt's line. Tremendous were the broadsides exchanged.
As night came on the Dutch retreated, having suffered severely, the
masts of many of the ships being shot away and vast numbers of men being
slain. The next morning the Dutch seemed disposed to renew the bloody
work of the previous day, but their courage failed as the English
admiral bore down, and putting up their helms, they ran for their native
coast, followed by Blake until the shallowness of the water compelled
him to desist from pursuit. The Dutch, though thus signally defeated,
would, it was thought, again attempt to regain their lost power on the
return of spring, and information was received that their most
celebrated admiral, Van Tromp, would take command of their fleet. It
was not supposed, however, that it would be ready until the spring.
"No sooner had our ships been dispersed to their winter stations, than
Tromp appeared with a fleet of more than a hundred sail off the Goodwin
Sands.
"Admiral Blake, who was still on board the _Triumph_, on hearing of
this, collected all the ships he could get, and stood out of Dover to
attack the Dutch. For the whole of that winter's day the two admirals
watched each other, each endeavouring to obtain the weather-gauge.
"A dark and tempestuous night then coming on separated the fleets of
both ships. The following day the weather moderated. Still for some
hours the _Triumph_ and Tromp's flag-ship the _Brederode_ kept
manoeuvring, until late in the afternoon the Dutchman made a sudden
attempt to take the English admiral at a disadvantage. Blake, however,
by suddenly luffing-up crossed the bow of the _Brederode_, followed by
the _Garland_, against which ship the _Brederode_ ran with a tremendous
crash, when both became hotly engaged. The _Bonaventura_, a trader of
only thirty guns, gallantly came up to the rescue of the _Garland_.
While thus fighting, Admiral Evertz attacked the latter ship, the whole
four being alongside each other, when after a desperate struggle, more
than half the crews of the two English ships being killed and wounded,
they were boarded and carried by the Dutchmen. Meanwhile the _Triumph,
Vanguard_, and _Victory_ were fighting desperately with twenty of the
enemy's ships, frequently almost surrounded before many of the rest of
the fleet had gone into action. The men stood bravely to their guns,
although numbers were falling on their decks, and fought their way on,
until the night coming down put an end to the battle.
"The following morning a thick fog prevented the enemy being seen, and
with his shattered fleet Admiral Blake thought it wise to retire up the
Thames to repair damages and collect his ships in readiness again to
encounter the enemy. Such was the last action which was fought before
we left England," continued the officer; "but I am ashamed to say that
Tromp was seen vauntingly sailing up and down the Channel with a broom
at his mast-head, as if he had swept the English from the sea."