This week we continue the series of posts on life in Algiers drawn from the book titled Relation de la captivité et liberté du sieur Emanuel d’Aranda, (The Relation of the Captivity of Emanuel d’Aranda), written by Emanual d’Aranda.
Last week, we concluded the story of Domingo, the desperate Spaniard. Like many of the other captives whose stories have been related in this series of posts about Algiers, Domingo was poor. This week we look at two stories about captives who were wealthy.
Theirs was a very different experience.
THE STORY OF DOM FRANCISCO DE MASCARENHAS, PORTUGUESE GENTLEMAN
Dom Francisco de Mascarenhas, a wealthy Portuguese Gentleman, had in the year 1638, fought a duel in the city of Lisbon, and having been victorious, he was afraid of falling into the hands of the magistrate [for dueling was illegal]. Hoping therefore that the passage of time would allow matters to settle, he took the advice of his friends and took passage on one of the first ships bound for Brazil, listing himself a soldier in the forces of the Viceroy.
He continued there till the year 1641, when news came that his affairs at Lisbon were settled.
He then took the first opportunity to return to Portugal, in the company of diverse captains and other officers. But Fortune played them all an ill turn, for their ship was taken by the pirates of Algiers.
The new slaves were brought before the Bassa [the Ottoman Governor and titular head of Algiers], that he might take his portion, which was the eighth. The Bassa took Dom Francisco, and three others, who he thought by their countenances to be captains or important men.
These new slaves were brought to that room in Bassa’s Palace where M. Caloën and I were then under restraint. I saluted Dom Francisco, asking him whence he came, and what news he brought out of Christendom. Ere he could return me any answer, however, the Bassa sent for him.
When Dom Francisco came into the Hall of Audience, the Bassa said to him, “Who are you?” Dom Francisco replied, “I am Dom Francisco de Mascarenhas, nephew to Dom Bernardo de Mascarenas, who was heretofore General in Brazil.”
Upon this, the Bassa, who was a crafty Fox, the son of a renegado of Genua, said to him, “Nobility and slavery will not do well together. What will you give for your liberty? If it be paid within eight or ten months, you can, in the meantime, take your pleasure, walk up and down the City, and not be put to any work.”
Dom Francisco was very well pleased with that proposal, and said to the Bassa, “What does your Highness require for my ransom?”
“Four thousand Ducats,” the Bassa replied.
Dom Francisco, kissing the Bassa’s garment (a Turkish complement) said to him, “I will pay them, and I call to witness of our agreement these Gentlemen Turks here present.”
That done, Dom Francisco returned to the place where we were and said to us, “Thanks be God. I am no longer a slave, for I have made my agreement with the Bassa at four thousand Ducats.”
Hearing this, I made him answer: “Sir, I am not so happy as to be acquainted with you; but if you had had the patience to stay four or five days, you could have purchased your liberty for fifteen hundred, or at the worst at two thousand Ducats.”
He replied, “To what end should a man have money? To work like a dog, or to procure his liberty?”
“You are in the right, Sir,” said I. “’Tis likely you may be rich. But the Bassa will now try to get as much of each of your companions; for you have said that you were all soldiers of worth.”
Dom Francisco stayed only two days among us, and then a Portuguez merchant resident in Algiers took him to his own house, upon security, and Dom Francisco resided there in comfort until his ransom arrived.
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THE STORY OF A FRENCH GENTLEWOMAN
In the year 1641, at Nantz in Britany, in France, there was a Master of a ship, who stayed there waiting only for a fair wind so he could to set sail for Canada. While he waited for the wind, he fell in love with a very rich merchant’s daughter. Her father perceived that she was as much enamored of him as he was of her, but he would by no means consent to their marriage, for the first fair wind would carry him away, and with him the love he had for his daughter. The Master, however, felt that it would be a great advantage to him to marry his mistress.
The two were secretly married, and before her friends had any notice of it, he was gone with his new wife, bound for Canada, hoping that before his return all things would be settled by the mediation of his friends.
Fortune, however, intended to dispose otherwise for them, for ere they had been four and twenty hours at sea, they were attacked by a pirate from Algiers. The amorous master, minding more the caresses of his wife than the warlike exercise of Mars, delivered up his ship without any resistance.
Some days after that, the French gentlewoman, with her husband, and the other slaves, were brought to the market in Algiers where Christians are wont to be sold. The Turks, Moors, Greeks, and Spaniards, who were not used to seeing the fashions of French women, looked upon this new French captive with much admiration, she with her hair all powdered, and so neatly and elegantly dressed.
She said to some Christians who talked with her and comforted her, ”My only fear is that they will try to make me renounce my religion.”
It seems God was pleased with the pious fear of this woman, for the French Consul prevailed so far with the Bassa, that the selling of her was suspended, under pretense of some league with the French. But the true cause proceeded from the avarice of the Bassa, who, though in other situations had ignored the peace between Algiers and France, made no opposition in this case.
Instead, he connived with the Consul and declared that the French ship was no lawful prize. The pirates who captured the ship thereupon received nothing. The ship’s crew and passengers were granted their freedom. The shup’s cargo, however, was to be unloaded and disposed of as the Bassa saw fit—to his great advantage.
So the ship’s Master and his new wife had their liberty. While arrangements were made for the return to France of those involved, the French gentleman was sent to the house of a Turkish Lady, where she was well entertained, except that she and her husband were not permitted to be alone together.
Next week, we’ll continue with more stories from Emanuel d’Aranda’s Relation.
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For those who may be interested…
The story of Dom Francisco de Mascarenhas can be found in “Relation Eight: Of a Portuguese Gentleman taken and brought to Algiers” in The history of Algiers and it’s slavery with many remarkable particularities of Africk / written by the Sieur Emanuel D’Aranda, sometime a slave there ; English’d by John Davies, pp. 130-133.
The story of the French gentlewoman can be found in “Relation 10: Of a New-Married Couple Taken by the Turks and Brought to Algiers” in in The history of Algiers and it’s slavery, pp. 138-140.
I have edited the original seventeenth century English text to make it more easily readable.
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