Page 101 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

ENGLISH CAPTIVES IN ARABIA 101

disembarkation was over. The time had now almost come
for “ the dissembling Turk ” to throw off the mask.
In a spirit of plausible amiability Rejib Aga approached
Middleton with a suggestion that he should allow himseff
to be invested in the name of the pasha with “ the Grand
Senior’s Vest,” to which such dignity attached that once
clothed in it the wearer might go about without fear of
harm. It was insinuated that if this offer was not accepted
Middleton would be regarded with suspicion. The Eng­
lish commander distrusted this intense desire to thrust
honour upon him, but on reflection it seemed to him that
there was less danger in acceptance than in refusal, more
especially as he would have to pass several months in the
port, owing to the unsuitability of the season for the resump­
tion of his voyage. He accordingly decided to go through
the ceremony.
On the appointed day he landed and was met by the
governor and principal men of the town, who accom­
panied him in great state to the official residence. Here
with much ceremony he was clad in a rich vest of cloth of
gold and was then conducted to a gorgeously-caparisoned
horse, which he was invited to mount, while the governor
held the stirrup. Afterwards solemn protestations of
friendship were offered by Rejib Aga, who seemed over­
powered with the desire to convince his guest of the warmth
of his feelings. The glittering farce was not without its
effect on the simple-minded Englishman. He could not
conceive such a depth of infamy as that descended to by
the wily Greek for the furtherance of his ends.
Without a shadow of distrust Middleton accepted the
invitation offered him to make the fullest use of the port.
His first thought was of a pinnace which had been brought