A Brave MEMORABLE AND DANGEROUS SEA-FIGHT, fought near the Road of Tittawan in Barbary, where the George and Elizabeth (a Ship of London) under the Command of M r. Edmond E●●ison, having but 19 pieces of Ordnance, was encompassed and encountered by nine great Turkish Pirate ships, or men of War, they being in number of men at the least 60. to one; and their Ordnance more than ten to one against the English, yet (by God's assistance) they were encouraged to a resolute fight, and obtained a glorious victory over their miscreant enemies, and a happy return with men, ship, and goods to London.  
LONDON:  
Printed for Henry Gosson; and are to be sold at his shop on London Bridge. 1636.   

TO THE LOYAL AND Generous minded for his Prince and Country's service, the hopeful M r. EDMOND ELLISON, the Master and Commander in the ship and fight hereafter related.  
SIR, as Childhood brings us to manhood, manhood to old age, and old age to death, so (by consequence) a good life begets fame, which though Time do seem to devour, yet when time is ended, an honest fame shall be invested with Eternity. For as all the valiant men cannot boast of high birth and great houses, so all dejected and cowardly spirited mongrels are not borne in mean Tenements and poor Cottages: for my part (being a mere stranger unto you) I dare not to delineate your pedigree, having no skill in honourable Heraldry; yet hearing of the worthy forwardness, and fortunate endeavours of yours, I could not refrain to set my pen to paper to the publishing of your late imminent dangers and most happy deliverance; which by the Almighty's blessings, and your valorous fight, and directions, and the worthy and remarkable courage of your few men, for the glory of God and the honour of our Country, you have accomplished. Sir, I did not write this only for your sake, but for the example of others, that they in the reading of it may in the first place magnify his great name, who is the giver of all victory; and secondly to be truly constant in all extremities, by your worthy imitation: for as charity commands us to forget men's faults, so it is shame and pity that virtue and extraordinary good Actions should be buried in the gulf of oblivion.  
I have made bold to make relation of what you know to be true in action; you do know best if I have erred, which I hope I have not: I know that you are the son of a most worthy, approved, and serviceable Seaman, whose old and good improvements you do most filially follow. To close up my dedication, I do recommend myself and my labours to your love, you to your fathers, and both of you to the Almighty, craving pardon for my boldness, and remaining yours.  
In any service befitting your worth to be commanded, JOHN TAYLOR.   

A brave memorable and dangerous Sea-fight, fought near the Road of Tittawan in Barbary, where the George and Elizabeth (a Ship of London) under the Command of M r. Edmond Ellison, having but 19 pieces of Ordnance, was encompassed and encountered by nine great Turkish Pirate ships or men of War, they being in number of men at the least 60. to one; and their Ordnance more than ten to one against the English, yet (by God's assistance) they were encouraged to a resolute fight, and obtained a glorious victory over their miscreant enemies, and a happy return with men, ship, and goods to London.  

Invocation.  
FIrst to begin, I'll invocate and pray  
To Him that hath both heaven and earthly sway,  
That he'll direct my spirit and my quill,  
That Truth, and only Truth from them distil:  
As falsehood is man's credit's greatest blot,  
Let not my lines with lies the paper spot.  
Thus (being armed with Truth and Fortitude,  
I send my verse amongst the multitude  
Of critic censurers, whose best and worst  
Is to vent out their follies, or to burst.   

Th'year sixteen hundred thirty five, that's past,  
Friday the 20. of November last,  
The ship named George and Elsabeth, abode  
At Tittawan, at Anchor in the Road;  
Our business and occasions at that place  
Caused us to anchor there some certain space.  
Betimes w'arose, and as all Christians should,  
We fell to prayer, for mercy's manifold  
Before extended, and to be extended,  
Imploring heavenly power, that had defended  
Us in all dangers (though we oft transgress)  
Would quit our crimes and help us in distress.  
Our praise to God and prayers being done,  
Even with the mounting of the morning Sun,  
Whose golden beams did gild the Ocean's face,  
And Zephyrus balmy breath the Air did grace,  
Both skves and seas seemed calm in beauteous form,  
When straight we spied an unexpected storm.  
Nine Warlike ships, with swelling sails appeared;  
And towards us their course directly steered;  
And by the reason that we did not know  
If they were Christians, Turks, or friend or foe,  
We to prevent the worst that might befall,  
Betook ourselves unto our tackling all:  
Some to the Capstane, some hold of the Cable,  
Some heave, some quoil, (it was no time to fable)  
Some with Fish, Cat, and Boighroaps (we know how)  
Did bring and bend our Anchor at the bough.  
Both Topsailes out, the Main and Foresail fell,  
Our Spritsail and our Mizzen were handed well;  
Our Sheats, Tacks, Boleins', Braces, Ties and Lifts,  
Martlines, and Halliers, (all manned, all make shifts)  
With Helm and Steeresman to do each his best,  
T'avoid destruction, and to purchase rest.  
Their Admiral, (at least 500 tons)  
Fenced with two tire of Ordnance (forty Guns)  
Gave warning (to the rest o'th' cursed crew)  
By shooting off a Piece, us to pursue.  
Nor was the Admiral himself inclined  
To come too near us, he was richly lined  
With gold and treasure, therefore he thought meet  
To charge the other eight ships of his Fleet  
To charge and chase us; straight in little space  
They gave another Gun for charge and chase.  
Thus near and nearer they upon us come,  
Whilst we with Trumpets sound, and beaten Drum,  
Towards Suttye, where we thought secure to be,  
But God did otherways for us foresee.  
By reason of the foulness of our ship,  
She was unapt those Rovers to outstrip;  
And therefore force perforce, we all must stay,  
Fight, or give men, ship, goods and all away:  
Which upon short consideration than  
We did bethink ourselves that we were men,  
Not heathen Infidels, that Christ denied;  
But those for whom our blessed Redeemer died,  
For whom h'arose again, and did ascend  
To bring us to those joys that ne'er shall end.  
And shall we give ourselves away to those,  
That are the son of God's malicious foes?  
And shall we, for base fear be so un just  
To part with Ship and goods within our trust?  
No surely, Bulk and Fraught much more did cost,  
Then cow'rdly to be given away or lost:  
Besides the slavery of our persons, and  
Our Ransoms begged from many a miser's hand,  
Who (some of them) as willing with't do part,  
As they would do from blood dropped from their heart,  
These things considered, we did hold it best,  
True Christians fortitude to manifest.  
Because they twice did shoot, and twice begun,  
Upon their second Gun we gave a Gun;  
And so unto't pellmell strait ways we went,  
Our shot and powder liberally we spent;  
But they were much more bountiful than we,  
For every shot we sent, they gave us three.  
Then board and board on either side they laid us,  
Where we paid them, and (as they could) they paid us;  
When ten men (of the Turks) at first were slain,  
Which made them with all speed fall off again  
And leave us, yet I something do mistake,  
That Conflict more than ten did kill or shake.  
We being from the first two parted thus,  
Straight two more came, and fiercely boarded us;  
Where all those villains (on the Ocean deep)  
Strived (all we had) to get, and we to keep;  
Where shot and shot flew free; we gave and took,  
Till (finding us too hot) they us forsook.  
The Air was filled with Drum and crying sounds  
Of thundering Ordnance; And the noise rebounds  
Down from the verge of the rotundious skies,  
That what with Guns, Drums, Clamours wounded crics,  
Confusion, horror, and the cowards fear,  
Grim Death himself began to domineer.  
The accursed blood (from the base sons of Cain)  
Gushed, and began the greene-faced sea to stain,  
Thus six times boarded by those cruel men,  
We still sent some of them to Pluto's den,  
And in their fury they did mount our tops,  
Shot through our Sails, and Masts, and cut our Roaps,  
Shattered our ship, and would in shivers tear her,  
They had been better they had ne'er come near her,  
For we were all resolved to fight and dye  
For God, Prince, Country, and our liberty.  
Their ships much rend with round and crosbar shot,  
And steel in bundles (which we spared not)  
Their men hurt, and unknown what number slain,  
They all in general the fight refrain.  
Their Admiral came hot within our reach,  
Whose shot and ours made now and then a breach,  
Until at last, good fortune did afford,  
We shot, and beat her Mainmast buy the Board,  
Which made her leave the fight; that lucky blow  
Did ease us gladly from our greatest foe.  
Encompassed round with smouldering smoke and sire,  
Our enemies did finally retire.  
Thus (by the power of God) their force was foiled,  
Three of their ships went home torn, split and spoilt,  
The other six their course to Seaward bore,  
Having no mind to trouble us no more;  
But as they made away (our loves to show)  
We gave them now and then a parting blow:  
For any man of judgement may conceive,  
We spent some powder at their taking leave.  
In this sharp conslict with those faithless Turks,  
God showed his ' Mercy over all his works.  
For though for one of us th'had threescore men,  
And for one Gun of ours th'had more than ten,  
Yet from the first to last of all the fight,  
We lost but three men which were slain outright.  
And five or six men had some wounds or scars  
To wear, as noble jewels of the wars;  
Yet none of those that with us wounded were,  
We hope the use of one limb shall forbear;  
For which we give all Honour, Laud, and Praise  
Unto th'Almighty Ancient of all days.  
He is the God of Battles, and 'twas He  
With his strong Arm, that got the victory:  
The Lord of Hosts was only our defence,  
And we were his unworthy Instruments.  
His power hath brought to pass most wondrous things,  
And with small means confounded mighty Kings:  
When Egypt's Pharaoh did his name despise,  
He foiled him with an Host of Lice and Flies,  
And (against that King) God's soldiers in those wars,  
Were Hailstones, Scabs, and Frogs, and Grasshoppers,  
For such contemptuous vermin he can make  
His Armies, to enforce great Kings to quake.  
Gedeon, with poor three hundred (Truth recites)  
Destroyed the mighty Host of Midianites. 
judg. 7.   
With Foxes, and the Jawbone of an Ass,  
God's strength in Samson brought great things to pass.  
With Shamgars slender goad, and Jaels' Nail, 
judg. 15.  
judg. 3 & 4.   
(Against the proud) th' Almighty can prevail.  
All earthly force (t'oppose his force) is feeble,  
Goliahs' brains were pierced with a pebble;  
And surely, had the Lord not fought for us,  
We had not lived to tell our story thus.  
These Rabshakaes, that each occasion waits  
To rob and spoil all Christians in the Straits,  
Whose barbarous and inhuman cruelty  
Is worse than Death (for Death ends misery)  
For such as dye under our Saviour's Banner,  
(Die Conqueror's) 'tis no matter in what manner.  
Would every man resolve thus, surely than  
Men would not give away ships, goods, and men  
To these Mahometan base Infidels,  
Whose spite 'gainst Christ and Christians so excels,  
Then would our resolution strike a fear  
And terror in these Hellhounds of Argiere,  
Their hopes are numbers, threats and composition,  
A Trembling, cowardly and base submission;  
And thus with Bugbear looks, and scarecrow words,  
They oft win more than with Guns, Pikes, or swords.  
Had Weddell yielded in the Persian Gulf,  
Rufrero had devoured him like a Wolf:  
Had Nichols yielded like a fearful mome,  
His ship with victory had ne'er come home:  
Had Malam basely given himself away,  
He had been captived, and lost a glorious day.  
And e'er this fight had Ellison given over,  
His credit he should ne'er again recover;  
Then let men strive to do as hath been done  
By Weddell, Nichols, Malam, Ellison,  
Take faith, and hope, and courage in distress,  
Trust in the Lord, and he'll give good success.  
We brag not (I would have it understood)  
'Tis not the arm of man, nor flesh and blood  
That can effect such mighty things as these,  
But only he that rules heaven, earth, and seas,  
He gives the courage, and the fortitude  
To few men, to withstand a multitude;  
And yet to brag and boast there's none more apt  
Than such as in a coward's skin are wrapped:  
Such as dare not look danger in the face,  
But seek some skulking hole, or hiding place,  
Between the Decks, or in some Cable-Teire,  
To keep their carcase shot-free in their fear;  
Who fear a Guns report, more than they do  
The Hangman, Gallowse, and the Halter too.  
These, and none else but such as these will prate,  
And lies and letters often shall relate  
The unknown worthy Actions which they did,  
Remembering not to tell how they were hid  
I'th' Cookroom, or some cabin, or the Hold,  
As is before a little plainly told.  
We are not such, we therefore say again,  
Gods be the glory; all our force was vain;  
But yet we knew our cause was just and right,  
And so the Lord encouraged us to fight.  
But some perhaps may say we are too free,  
And that good ships and men may taken be  
With multitudes of enemies combined,  
And disadvantage of Sea, Sun, and wind;  
And that in such a case, good composition  
On reasonable terms, a forced condition  
Is better part with part, than to lose all,  
And into an assured destruction fall.  
All this is right; but yet all this is wrong,  
If men do not what doth to men belong:  
We know that ships, and men, as good as any,  
Have been sunk, slain, and taken, too too many;  
But sure we think their detrimental Fate  
Should not make men despairing, desperate;  
But stand upon defence whilst hope doth last,  
And ne'er compound or yield, till hope is past.  
For certain 'tis, these Algiers dogs are such,  
With faith and troth they seldom do keep touch;  
But contrary to humane kind profession,  
Their composition turns to base oppression:  
Besides, we know not what will Merchants say,  
When (without leave) we give their goods away.  
Therefore, as Merchants make account of men,  
Let men so serve them honestly again;  
If they pay us, we hold it right and just  
To serve, and to be worthy of their trust:  
But if there were such as would not depart  
With freight and wages, fitting men's desert,  
Shall men turn ill 'cause they are ill inclined?  
Or shall their being dark make others blind?  
If any such therebe, we hope they'll mend;  
Or if they mend not, they will one day end.  
So gracious God thy mercy we implore,  
To bless all such as do thy Name adore:  
And for thy glorious sons most boundless merit,  
Give Christians all, thy All-preserving spirit;  
Encourage them to fight, and to withstand  
Thine enemies and theirs, let thy strong hand  
And their weak faith be strengthened still by thee,  
That in thy name they may victorious be.  
Snaffle, and curb those rude unmanaged jades  
That live by Theft, and spoil of Merchant's Trades.  
Thine are the Seas, O let the Seas be free  
For Traffic, and the honour be to thee;  
And as these Turks with Satan's guiles are wounded,  
Be they by thee conformed, or confounded.  
And if thou please in Mercies manifold,  
As there's one shepherd, make us one sheepfold.    

To make some things more plain and obvious to the Reader, we desire him to take into consideration, that we went to a place called Buttow, upon the Coast of Barbary, where finding no goods to freight our ship as we expected, but only Wheat, which was sold for six shillings the bushel there, which, though it were dear, we desired to be freighted with it, and to carry it to the Canaries; but theMerchantsFactors there, would not give so great a price for so much of it as would freight us; but they adventured for so much as did a quarter lad us; with the which Corn, and some gold and silver of the Merchants, we weighed Anchor from Buttow, and came to the Road at Tittawan, where the nine Algiers pyratical ships (or men of war) did assault us, as is before related; but when (by God's assistance) we had gotten from our enemies, we made for the Canaries, there to sell our Corn, and to freight our ship from thence for England: we being arrived at the Canaries, did find the people oppressed with an extreme famine, so that they looked rather like the ghosts or Anatomics of dead carcases than of living men or women. In brief, they were so pined and pinched with hunger, that many of them did drop down dead daily in the streets, starved to death; so that our small quantity of corn which we brought from Buttow (which cost but six shillings the Bushel) we sold it at the Canaries for 33 s. the Bushel. So that if our Merchant's Factors had fully freighted us with Wheat at Buttow, we had made a profitable voyage with it at the Canaries, for they would have given almost any price for it.  
Our Wheat being sold, we could have no freight at the Canaries, the season was so far passed, and therefore with such gold and silver as we had (which was the Merchants) we weighed from the Canaries, and (by the favour of God) we after all these dangers arrived safely at London in April last, 1636.  
To close up all, M r. Ellison had one of his men, named William Ling, who was a quarter Master. This Ling (with two men more) had the charge to ply two pieces of Ordnance in the Steerage. Ling having a cabin on the Deck over his head, had in his cabin some Barbary gold and other good stuff, which he had crammed into an old Boot. In the Steerage where Ling was, he did open a small Loop-hole, through which he espied a Turk that had broke open his cabin, and had made a booty of his Boot; which Ling perceiving, not well pleased with, put to a charged Musket, presenting it through the aforesaid Loophole he shot the Turk through, who straight fell down; and after the fight Ling found him dead with the golden lined Boot in his hand, a good Scimitar by him, a great silver sealed Ring on his finger, which finger was so swelled that he was fain to cut it off to have the Ring; which having done, and pillaged the pillager naked, Ling gave him a cast of his office overboard, to feed Cod, Haddocks and Sharks.  
I have named Captain john Weddell, and Master Edward Nichols, and Master Malam, in this former relation, which although two of them are dead, and the third only remaining alive (I mean Captain John Weddell) and though their persons and worth were known to many, yet there are more that knew them not; for whose satisfaction I will give a memorable touch of their three several noble and valiant Sea-fights, although some of them have been more at large related by me many years ago.  
Mr. Edward Nichols was Master of the good ship called the Dolphin of London, of the Burden of 240 tuns (or thereabouts) manned with 36 men and 2 boys, 19 pieces of Ordnance, and 9 murderers, being laden at Zant, and bound homeward for England, was set upon by six great Turkish men of war, with 1500 men in them at least, and 140 odd Guns, and after a cruel and bloody fight (which continued the space of five hours) with three most terrible assaults, with the loss of eleven men and boys who were killed, and five maimed and hurt, the ship was set on fire in the fight, which made the Pirates forsake her (having their ships sorely torn and rend with the Dolphin's Ordnance) three of their Captains being fugitive or Renegade Englishmen; namely, Captain Kelley, Captain Walsingham, and Captain Samson; but lastly, it pleased God that by the men's industry the fire was quenched: This fight was fought the 12. of January, 1616. And when the ship was repaired, at a place called Callarie, she set sail homewards, and after all these dangers, arrived safe at London. The fame of which danger and deliverance came to the hearing of our Royal Prince Charles, who is now our gracious Sovereign; he to honour and give applause to so worthy a design, did come aboard of her, and viewed her hurts and dangerous breaches, where to the encouragement of others to imitate Master Nichols in resolution and noble valour, his Highness graced him to make him his servant, with the title of a Captain.  
Captain john Weddell on the first of February being Sunday, 1624. was homewards bound for England from the East-Indies: and in the Gulf of Persia, he being general Commander of the Fleet, which consisted of four good ships; namely, the Royal james, Admiral; the jonas, Vide-admiral; the Star, Rear-admiral, and the Eagle; There was also (to associate the English) four good Dutch ships, whose names were, The South Holland, Admiral; the Bantam, Vide-admiral; the Maud of Dort, Rear-admiral, and the Weasop, under the Command of an experienced brave Seaman named Albert Becker. These two Commanders were set upon by eight great ships or Galliows of the Portugals, and 32 Friggots, which were under the Command of Rufrero (an inexorable and implacable enemy to Captain Weddell.) These two Fleets met and fought on the day aforesaid with furious opposition, fight three days without intermission, at which time the Dutch Admiral Albert Becker was slain, with 28 more that were killed in his ships, and the English lost much about the same number; but (as it was related by a Frenchman that was with the Portugals in the fight) the enemy had of his men slain 481, besides many maimed and hurt; they having 232 pieces of Ordnance, and 2100 men, besides 32 Friggots, against the English and Dutch; yet were some of them sunk, many of them spoilt, and by the mercy and assistance of God, they were all foiled. So that after many dangers past, Captain Weddell with ships and goods came richly welcome to London.  
Concerning Captain Richard Malam, his fight was inferior to none of the former, and his deliverance was as remarkable as any: the story of it was never published, therefore I may err in the time when, but I shall hit right upon the matter how it was; and (as I think it was in Anno 1621. or thereabouts,) which if I fail, there are many yet living in Rederiffe and elsewhere to confute me.  
This Richard Malam being Commander in a small ship of London named the William and Francis, or William and john, having but eleven pceces of Ordnance, was (near the South Cape) set upon and fiercely fought withal by eleven Tukish men of War; the fight continued from the morning till the darkness of the night made them come to a parley and truce till the next daylight, upon condition that Captain Malam, and one Master Hughkinson of Dover (who was Cape Merchant, and then in the fight) should come aboard of the Turkish Admiral for pledges that Malams' ship should not be stolen or slipped away in the night: In this hard exigent and condition they both went into a Boat which the Turk sent for them, for the ships were so torn in the fight, and many men slain and hurt, that they were all willing to have a little ease till the morning. But as Malam and the Merchant went down out of his ship into the Turkish Boat, he spoke softly to his mate and some other of his men, that if they could they should convey the ship away in the night, whilst he was aboard of the enemy, and let him and the Merchant shift for themselves as they could.  
The Boat carried Malam and Hughkinson aboard the Turk where they were well entertained, and their wounds dressed (for Malam had received a hurt, but I know not whether the other was hurt or not) but the Turk contrary to a Turkish nature did deal very affable with them, applauding their valours, though they had done him much spoil; but in the morning, when they thought to have set them aboard their ship again to renew the fight, the Turks perceived the ship was gone, in a rage commanded that Malam and the Merchant should be both hanged at the yard Arms of his ship.  
In this extremity Captain Malam told the Turk that his ship was so torn and rend with their Ordnance, that he thought she was sunk to the Seas bottom, and not conveyed away as he suspected, all which the Turk would not believe, but commanded his men to make speed with the execution: Then Malam said to him, Sir, I have done you no wrong, but I have sustained a great loss by you; I have lost in the Sea my men, my ship, my goods, with a great deal that did belong to other men, and shall I now lose my life? If it must be so, I do entreat you that we may not dye thus ignominiously by the Halter; but let us be fastened to the mast, and be shot to death with muskets.  
The Turk presently condescended to his request; but as they were making ready for death, there was a small Scottish ship came sailing about a point of land in ken of them: The Turks being greedy for prey, deferred the execution, and made towards the Scottishman, which being a small Vessel of little resistance or defence, was presently at the Pirates mercy, who did but half pillage her, and in a generous way did release both Captain Malam and Hughkinson, putting them both into the Scottish Ship, which Ship (being the Turks prize) he gave to Malam; but when she brought him to London, he gave her freely to the Scottishman again: And thus was this fight and escape; and for a further happiness, after Captain Malam had been at home at Rederiffe some certain days, his men brought the ship home, where she arrived safe at London.  
FINIS.