Then he persuaded me very instantly to yield to their religion,
offering to prefer me.
Wherefore I desired him to give me liberty to depart: "for my desire is
to be in England, with my wife and children."
"Yea," said he, "but how wilt thou come there?"
For they minded to keep me still: and evermore the King assayed to
seduce me with promises of great preferment, saying, If I would serve
him and turn Moor: I should want nothing.
But on the contrary, I besought him to give me liberty to go to Argire;
where I was in hope to be delivered, and sent home to mine own country.
Now he, seeing he could win me by no gentle means, commanded me to
prison; saying, That he would either make me yield and turn Moor: or
else I should die in captivity.
In this while that I remained in prison; divers of the King's House
came to me, persuading me to yield to the King's demand: alleging how
hardly the King might use me, being now in his power, unable to escape;
and again how bountifully the King would deal with me, if I would
submit myself.
* * * * *
Within a little time after, it happened there was great preparation to
receive the King of Abbesse [? _the present tribe of the Beni-Abbas, or
Beni-Abbès_], whose country adjoineth to the King of Cookooe's land:
and [they] are in league together, and join their armies in one against
the King of Argire.
[Sidenote: These men are nothing expert in Artillery.]
Now, at his coming, I was fetched forth of prison, and commanded to
charge certain pieces of ordinance, which were three Sacres and two
Minions of Brass [_See Vol. IV., pp. 250-251_]; which I refused not to
do, trusting thereby to get some liberty. Wherefore, at the coming of
the King of Abbesse into the town, I discharged the ordnance as liked
them very well: for they are not very expert in that exercise. For
which I had some more liberty than before.
This King of Abbesse tarrying some certain time there, in consulting
with the King of Cookooe for matters touching the Wars with Argire; and
understanding of me, sent for me, being very desirous to talk with me:
where, after certain questions he desired of the other King, that he
might buy me; which he would not grant.
[Sidenote: Very many offers of preferment to draw me from the Word of
GOD.]
Then the King of the Cabyles [_Kabyles_] or Cookooe persuaded me very
seriously to serve him wil[ling]ly, and to turn Moor: and offered to
give me 700 Doubles [? _the Double Pistoles, or Doubloons_] by the
year, which amounteth to the sum of £50 [_= £200 now_] of English
money; and moreover to give me by the day, 30 Aspers, which are worth
twelve pence English, to find me meat; and likewise to give me a
house, and land sufficient to sow a hundred bushels of grain yearly,
and two Plow of oxen furnished, to till the same; also to furnish me
with horse, musket, sword, and other necessaries, such as they of
that country use. And lastly he offered to give me a wife, which they
esteemed the greatest matter; for all buy their wives at a great price.
Yea, if there were any in his Court could content me, I should make my
choice: but if there were not; he would provide one to my contentment,
whatsoever it should cost him.
But when he perceived all he said was in vain, he sent the Queen and
her gentlewomen to talk with me. When she came, she very courteously
entreated me to turn and serve the King, and to consider well what a
large offer the king had made; saying, That I was much unlike to come
to any like preferment in my country. And many times she would shew me
her gentlewomen, and ask me, If none of them could please me?
But I told her, I had a wife in mine own country, to whom I had vowed
my faith before GOD and the World: "which vow," I said, "I would never
break while we both lived."
Then she said, She could but marvel what she should be whom I esteemed
so much as to refuse such offers of preferment, for her sake; being now
where I must remain in captivity and slavery all the days of my life.
But when she could prevail no way with me; when she had uttered these
foresaid speeches, and many others which were frivolous to rehearse,
she left me. Yet, by her means, I had more liberty than before.
* * * * *
After this, I was set to saw boards and planks; and was commanded to
make a carriage for a piece of ordnance. Thus they compelled me to
labour daily: which I did the more willingly, because I hoped still to
get my liberty thereby in the end.
Then they willed me to shew the fashion of our edge tools, after the
English [manner]: which when they saw the fashion; their smiths wrought
them very artificially, and gave them very good temper. For these
things I was had in more estimation; insomuch that they took off my
irons, and let me walk abroad with a Keeper.
[Sidenote: I was made Master of work, wherein I had small skill.]
Then was I commanded by the King to teach the Carpenters to frame
a house after the manner of English building: and for that purpose
there were sent forth Carpenters and workmen with me to the woods, to
fall timber; all which were to do what I appointed, upon the King's
commandment. Now I, being Chief Master of the work, appointed out
the trees which were very special good timber. In small time, we had
finished our frame; which liked the King very well. By this means I had
more liberty than before; and was very well intreated.
* * * * *
Yet I was greatly grieved in mind that I could not procure any means
for my liberty; although at that time, I wanted few necessaries.
Yet was I daily devising how I might escape away, for three special
causes:
One was for the special care I had of my salvation: because, as you
have heard, there were many temptations laid before me to draw me
from a Christian to be an abominable idolater.
The second cause was for the love and dutiful allegiance which I owe
to my Prince [_Sovereign_] and natural country.
The third was the regard of the vow which I vowed in matrimony; and
the care of my poore wife and children.
Which causes moved me so much that whereas, by reason of my diligence
in these foresaid matters, I [was] walking abroad with my Keeper who,
not suspecting me, was not so attentive as before he had been: so soon
as our frame was finished, I took opportunity; and, shewing them a
clean pair of heels, took my way over the mountains intending to go for
Argire [_which was in a north-westerly direction_].
* * * * *
But presently there was a great store of men, both on horseback and on
foot: who, being more perfect in the way than I was, quickly overtook
me; and carried me back again to Cookooe.
* * * * *