‘The perillous and most unhappy voyages of John Struys, through Italy, Greece, Lifeland, Moscovia, Tartary, Media, Persia, East-India, Japan, and other places in Europe, Africa and Asia. Containing, I. Most accurate remarks and observations of the distinct qualities, religion, politie, customs, laws and properties of the inhabitants: II. A due description of the several cities, towns, forts and places of trust, as to their site and strength, fortifications by nature, or art, &c. with other things worthy of note: and III. An exact memorial of the most disastrous calamities which befell the author in those parts (viz) by ship-wrack, robberies, slavery, hunger, tortures, with other incommodities and hardships’ [‎356] (431/470)

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35^ The Voyages of V Ill*
ujY. promifed me with many Proteftations that he would. In the mean
16 73- while the English continued plundering and breaking up the Cheils,
throwing the rich Silks and Cottons fo on Heaps, that we could
hardly yet a paffage through. My Trefurer was a while very faith-
full and ftill, but coming accidentally to get drunk, revealed our Se
crets to another of his Mefs-Mates, hoping that it would go no fur
ther; but it was not long before it came to the Captains Ear who
without the left: warning came and commanded the Cheft to be
broken up, where he found the Stones: and gave the Afs half a Hun
dred Blows on the Ribbs for his pains: and lb was I bereaved of
the laft and beftTrefurel had. The only thing they left me was my
Papers and Journal, which was not without muchlntreaty: a poor
Abilract for fo many years Mifery, having inclufivly no more to
thank fnay muchlefs) the Chnftians than the and Pa
gans, fave for my Slavery j for which I may not blame any in par
ticular , it being a general Rule among them to convert fuch as they
hold for Heteredox to Slaves.
Thus being newly deliveredout of one mifery I was immediatly
involved in another; and fo far might this defpair have wrought with
me, that -had it not bin the Goodnefs of G O D t6 indue me with a
more laudable and a more pious Principle, I could have willingly
thrown my felf prccipifantly out of the World; being weary of
Life, and as unwilling to embrace the gi-eateft Solace that can be ex
pected , yea, or enjoyed in this wearifom Pilgrimage to the Grave,
which puts an end to all corporal Afrliitions , and the Haven whi
ther we are all,a failing, howfoever we be provided for that Spiritu
al Mart. Nor do I doubt but that thofe who ihall have the Patience to
read thefe Memorials, will imagine my Mifery to have bin great. But
I farther prcfume that they in the moil earneft contemplation of this
Scheme of anxiferous and calamitous Events that from time to time
have belalten me, will never be fuch real Compatients as to furvey
the amaritudeof my Sufferings by the Scale of their Thoughts and
Ccnfures. Tet Relcom, moJllvdcom y be the D
of Life 5 and HE out of his tmrneufe frffer ivhat
he is pie a fed to inflict upon we-, hoTv fev be.
Eight days before our Arrival there had the taken in the
Ifland, being forced to put in there for want of Watery not knowing
any
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