how have I pondered over this, when a boy! how have I longed for some authentic memoir of the witch to clear up the obscurity!--Was the story extant in the Chronicles of Algiers? Could I get at it by some fortunate introduction to the Algerine ambassador? Was a voyage thither practicable? The Spectator (I knew) went to Grand Cairo, only to measure a pyramid. Was not the object of my quest of at least as much importance?--The blue-eyed hag--could _she_ have done any thing good or meritorious? might that Succubus relent? then might there be hope for the devil. I have often admired since, that none of the commentators have boggled at this passage--how they could swallow this camel--such a tantalising piece of obscurity, such an abortion of an anecdote.
At length I think I have lighted upon a clue, which may lead to show what was passing in the mind of Shakspeare when he dropped this imperfect rumour. In the "accurate description of Africa, by John Ogilby (Folio), 1670," page 230, I find written, as follows. The marginal title to the narrative is--
In the last place, we will briefly give an Account of the Emperour _Charles_ the Fifth, when he besieg'd this City; and of the great Loss he suffer'd therein.
This Prince in the Year One thousand five hundred forty one, having Embarqued upon the Sea an Army of Twenty two thousand Men aboard Eighteen Gallies, and an hundred tall Ships, not counting the Barques and Shallops, and other small Boats, in which he had engaged the principal of the _Spanish_ and _Italian_ Nobility, with a good number of the Knights of _Maltha_; he was to Land on the Coast of _Barbary_, at a Cape call'd _Matifou_. From this place unto the City of _Algier_ a flat Shore or Strand extends it self for about four Leagues, the which is exceeding favourable to Gallies. There he put ashore with his Army, and in a few days caused a Fortress to be built, which unto this day is call'd _The Castle of the Emperor_.
In the meantime the City of _Algier_ took the Alarm, having in it at that time but Eight hundred _Turks_, and Six thousand _Moors_, poorspirited men, and unexercised in Martial affairs; besides it was at that time Fortifi'd onely with Walls, and had no Out-works: Insomuch that by reason of its weakness, and the great Forces of the Emperour, it could not in appearance escape taking. In fine, it was Attaqued with such Order, that the Army came up to the very Gates, where _the Chevalier de Sauignac_, a _Frenchman_ by Nation, made himself remarkable above all the rest, by the miracles of his Valour. For having repulsed the _Turks_, who having made a Sally at the Gate call'd _Babason_, and there desiring to enter along with them, when he saw that they shut the Gate upon him, he ran his Ponyard into the same, and left it sticking deep therein. They next fell to Battering the City by the Force of Cannon; which the Assailants so weakened, that in that great extremity the Defendants lost their Courage, and resolved to surrender.