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One of the best accounts of the Corsair Republic was
written by an English "Agent 007" type named John
Harrison. a precursor of later romantic Islamophile spies like
Sir Richard Burton, T. E. Lawrence, or Gertrude Bell.
Thanks to Harrison. England was the first European nation
to enter diplomatic relations with the Bou Regreg Republic.
In 1627 Harrison's contacts in "Sallie" fed him an enticing bit
of information-or disinformation;
The Moriscoes also now governing at Sallie sent
unto me that if I would come there to treate with
them. they would shake offMully Sidans tyrannous
government, which hath bin the cause ofcaptivating
so manie of Your Majesties subjectes with the losse
of their ships, goods and lives, and put themselves
wholly under Your Majesties protection, as your
owne subjectes. So, to doe your Majesties service, I
undertook a most desperate journey by land from
Tetuan to Sallie in a disguized Morish habite (the
countrie being so daungerous to travayle in for
straungers, all in rebueltas, acknowledging no king),
for that I understood the Spaniards had laid waite to
betraie me by the Alerbies. who win sell their fathers
for money; so travayling over the high mountaines
and hills within a little of Fez, to avoide these
daungers, and the greatest parte on foote. barelegged
and pilgrime-like, yet notwithstanding, comming
to the playnes and our way lying by Alcazer,
there was knowne and in great daunger to have been
betraied, valued at a thousand ducats, to be carried
to Mamora or Allerach. But it pleased God I met
with two honest Morabites or Saintes, who are of
great respect in that countrie (whereof one came to
see me now at Sallie, the Saint of Mismooda), and
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two honest Sheaqukes. who also command over
their castes or tribes. and these conveyghed me from
one to another, parte by day, parte by night, cleare of
all daunger, till I came to Old Sallie to the great Saint
Siddie Hamet Lniashi, who ruleth over all; who all
offered their services to Your Majestie for the taking
of Mamora, Allerach, or any other place the
Spaniards hold on the coast of Barbarie, wishing
them rather in Your Ma.jesties hands, in respect of
that former friendship, trade and commerce, which
hath been ever of old betuixt the English and the
Moores. [SourceJ [niiJdeJ, pp. 51-2J
After this adventure, Harrison meets Jan Janz (Murat
Reis), who gives him a handful ofEnglish captives as a goodwill
offering.
Harrison then returns to England to rescue a number of
Moorish captives from slavery in Europe (reminding the
King in his secret report that slavery is condemned by the
law of God, referring His Majesty to Exodus 211), and
returns to Sale with eight ofthem. When he arrived,
The Captaines of the Castle sent one of their great
boates with order for my landing, which I did, tho the
barre somewhat fowle. Well entertayned by them and
of all the Andaluzes, accomodated both with house,
provisions, and all other necessaries, both for mysellff
and companie, at their chardges. And an Alkaid with
fyve other Andaluzes appointed to guard me for feare
of any treacherie or plot of Mully Sidan, who before
had sent one of his cheiffest Alkaids thither, a
Spanish renegado named Agib, upon an other pretext
to recover the debts due to the former Alkaid, but
indeed, as after they discovered. to negociat underhand
with the Moores and Lerbies adjoyning to sur­
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