Page 104 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

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CHAPTER VII
A Gallant but Unfortunate Commander
Downton schemes to release Middleton—Friction between Down-
ton and Middleton—A reconciliation—Middleton effects his
escape—Turns tho tables on tlio enemy—Exacts redress—
Femell, the factor, poisoned by Rejib Aga—Middleton proceeds
with his fleet to Surat—Unable to trade owing to combined
native and Portuguese opposition—Returns to the Red Sea—
Institutes a blockade—Dissensions amongst the commanders—
Middleton raises tho blockade and proceeds to Bantam— f •.
Destruction of the Trade's Increase—Death of Middleton—
His character.
TVTOTHING could be done by those on the ships in Mocha
harbour to help their unfortunate comrades whom
Rejib Aga had seized in the circumstances described. In­
deed, it was not until the middle of December, nearly three
weeks after the attack, that it was possible to get into com­
munication with them. It was then found by means of a
messenger sent ashore with a flag of truce that Middleton
and the principal men were in close captivity, chained to­
gether, while the members of the crew and those of lesser
rank were kept at work on the pinnace, which Rejib Aga had
set his mind on possessing. The story that the envoy
brought back was that the bulk of the prisoners were
j ;
shortly to be released, but that the commander and his
leading colleagues were to be sent to the pasha at Sana.
It was at about this juncture that Downton appeared on
the scene with the Peppercorn. He got at once into touch
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