Although punished, Algiers soon renewed its brigandages, and Louis XIV.
repeated his chastisement on the 30th of the following June. Algiers,
after being twice bombarded, sent deputies to ask pardon and sue for
peace. They restored all their Christian slaves to liberty, and--which
is the severest punishment for corsairs--paid a large sum of money.
When D’Amfreville, a naval captain, came to Algiers to deliver all
the Christian slaves, in the name of the king of France, there were
among them many Englishmen, who, after they were on board, persisted
in telling D’Amfreville that it was out of consideration for the king
of England they were set at liberty. The French captain called back
the Algerines, and replacing the English on shore, said, “These people
insist upon it that they are set free in the name of their king; that
being the case, my king cannot take the liberty of offering them his
protection: I restore them to you, and it is for you to show what
respect you owe to the king of England.” The weakness of the government
of Charles II., and the respect in which most nations then held Louis
XIV., are both made evident by this anecdote.