THE JESUS AT TRIPOLI. 
215 
by the ship Jesus.* The master's name was Hel- 
lier ; but Romane Sonnings, a Frenchman, was to 
have the chief management of the trade. They 
arrived there, discharged their cargo, and took 
in a lading of oil. Their first ground of dissa- 
tisfaction arose from the king, as the basha is 
here called, demanding custom for the oil, after 
having promised to deliver it custom free. Such, 
however, was the treachery of infidels, that, " al- 
" beit he was a king, he caused the said Sonnings 
** to pay the custom to the uttermost penie." 
But this was only the dawn of their affliction. 
There was an Italian, named Patrone Norado, 
who remained in pledge to a Turk for a certain 
sum of money. This person made an arrange- 
ment with the French factor, that, as soon as the 
vessel had left the harbour, he should come on 
board and make his escape 5 which was accord- 
ingly effected. The Turk, to whom Norado was 
pledged, having preferred his complaint, the king 
sent out a boat, desiring Sonnings to come on 
shore, without specifying the cause. Sonnings 
refused, upon which the Turks immediately be- 
gan to fire. As they were unable to make any 
impression on the English vessel, the king went to 
the Banio, or slave prison, and proclaimed, that 
any slave who could point a successful fire against 
* Ibid. Vol. II. Part I. p. 184'. 
