[Footnote 32: "Purchas's Pilgrims, pp. 885, 886; Southey's Naval History of England, vol. v. pp. 60-63. There was a publication especially relating to this expedition, entitled Algiers Voyage, in a Journall or briefe Repertory of all Occurrents hapning in the Fleet of Ships sent out by the Kinge his most excellent Majestie, as well against the Pirates of Algiers as others. London. 1621. 4to.]
[Footnote 33: Bancroft's History of the United States, vol. i. p. 187.]
The expedition against Algiers was followed, in 1637, by another, under the command of Captain Rainsborough, against Sallee, in Morocco. At his approach, the Moors desperately transferred a thousand captives, British subjects, to Tunis and Algiers. "Some Christians, that were slaves ashore, stole away out of the towne, and came swimming aboard."[34] Intestine feud also aided the fleet, and the cause of emancipation speedily triumphed. Two hundred and ninety British captives were surrendered; and a promise was extorted from the government of Sallee to redeem the wretched captives, sold away to Tunis and Algiers. An ambassador from the King of Morocco shortly afterwards visited England, and, on his way through the streets of London, to his audience at court, was attended "by four Barbary horses led along in rich caparisons, and richer saddles, with bridles set with stones; also some hawks; _many of the captives whom he brought over going along afoot clad in white_."[35]
[Footnote 34: Osborne's Voyages--Journal of the Sallee Fleet, vol. ii. p. 493. See also Mrs. Macaulay's History of England, vol. ii. chap. 4, p. 219.]
[Footnote 35: Strafford's Letter and Despatches, vol. ii. pp. 86, 116, 129.]
The importance attached to this achievement may be inferred from the singular joy with which it was hailed in England. Though on a limited scale, it had been a _war of liberation_. The poet, the ecclesiastic, and the statesman now joined in congratulations on its results. It inspired the muse of Waller to a poem called _The Taking of Sallee_, in which the submission of the slaveholding enemy is thus described:--
Hither he sends the chief among his peers, Who in his bark proportioned presents bears, To the renowned for piety and force _Poor captives manumised_, and matchless horse.