Then he called certain of his servants to him; and commanded them to
lay me down at his feet, which four of them did: and laying me flat
upon the belly, one of them gave me 75 stripes with a great cudgel,
till I was not able to remove out of the place.
Then the King commanded to carry me to prison again: whither two
of them carried me and put me in irons, and there left me. Where I
remained for the space of two months.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: I was now made a Water-bearer.]
Then was I brought forth of prison, and sent daily to a fountain or
well, about half a league from the town, to fetch water with a couple
of asses, for the use of the King's House.
Now, in this time, many artificers (as Smiths, Joiners, and Carpenters,
and many others) came to me to understand the fashion of many English
tools (as plane irons, gouges, chisels and such like); for which they
shewed me some favour, and gave me some money.
And when I had gotten a little money, I bestowed it upon apparel, and
caused it to be made like to theirs: which I carried secretly, when
I went to fetch water, and did hide it in a dry cave under the side
of a rock. I bought me likewise a sword and a lance, such as they use
to travel with. I also provided a file. All which I laid up with my
apparel.
It happened that the King of Abbesse came again to visit the King, and
to take counsel about warlike affairs; as usually they did.
Wherefore when they heard of his coming, making great preparation for
him; it fell out so that there wanted water in the Offices [_Kitchens
&c._], where, in an evening, there was exceeding thunder and rain and
lightning; so that there was no man would go for water, but everyone
[was] calling for the Englishman.
Then I, which durst say no "Nay!", took the vessels and hung them upon
the asses; and so went, through rain and wind and thunder and all, till
I came to the well: where I left my asses to wander whither they would,
and went to my apparel and with my file cut off my irons, and made me
ready in my suit of Moors' clothing, and, with my sword by my side and
my lance on my shoulder, took my way once again towards Argire.
And that night I went about 20 miles over rocks and mountains, keeping
myself out of beaten ways, casting [_directing_] my way by the moon
and stars. When the day began to be light, I lay me down in a brake of
thick bushes; and there I slept the most part of the day: and in the
evening I began to travel forth on my way.
* * * * *
Now, on the third night, I was to pass a bridge where was continual
watch and ward, both day and night; where I must of necessity pass,
by reason the river [? _the river Isser_] ran betwixt two mountains:
which were so steep that no man can neither go down to enter [the]
water, nor yet being in can by any possible means get up on the other
side; which river is a great defence to the country.
Where I used no delay, but entered the bridge in the beginning of the
night, about nine of the clock, being in great doubt [_fear_] of the
Watch. But at the first end of the bridge, I saw no man, until I was
happily passed over. Then there came one after me, and asked, Who goes
there?
It being somewhat dark, and I in apparel and with my weapons like a
Moor; [I] answered boldly, That I was a friend, and told him, I was
coming to the Governor to deliver letters from the King. For near the
river's side there is a village where dwelleth he who hath charge of
the keeping of this passage. Whereby I went onward through the village.
But before I was far passed, I heard horsemen upon the bridge; which
asked, Whether any man had passed that night?
The watermen told them, There was one gone, even now, which said, He
went to deliver the King's letters to the Officer.
But I thought [it] no time now to hear any more of their talk; but
betook me to my heels: and so soon as I was without the town, I went
out of the Port way [_the road to Algiers_] into [the] woods; and kept
desert ways that night and day following.
And the next night, I came within the liberties of the King of Argire;
where I knew the Cabyles [_Kabyles_] could not fetch me back again.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: Many dangerous wild beasts in that country.]
In this order I escaped their hands, by the mighty power of GOD. For
understand, in these desert mountains there are all manner of wild
beasts, in great number; as lions, bears, wolves of marvellous bigness,
apes, wild swine; and also wild horses and asses, with many other
hurtful beasts: yet was I never in danger of any of them.
In this country of Cabyles, there are divers kinds of very pure metals,
as gold, silver, and lead; and good iron and steel: but they, for want
of knowledge and skill, make no use of any metal except iron and steel.
Although at such times I have been present, while the Smiths have tried
their iron, I have seen, among the dross of the iron, very perfect
gold. Which they, perceiving me to behold, were very inquisitive to
understand, Whether it were gold, or any other metal of substance?
But I told them, It was but a kind of dross whereof we made colours for
painting in England.
They carried me out to the mountains, and shewed me the rocks where
they gathered their iron; which rocks had veins of very pure gold.
Which I would not reveal to them, but answered as before: because I
doubted [_feared_] if the King once knew me to have experience in such
mysteries, he would keep me the more straight[ly]; whereby I might have
remained in bondage during my life.
* * * * *
Now when I was within the country of Argire, I was out of dangers from
the pursuers; and then did I walk by day and kept the common ways.
Where, coming within the view of Argire, upon the way I met a Turk who
knew me at the first sight; and demanded, If I had not been captive
with such a man?