ings carried were several
pinnaces, ready framed in pieces, to be set up in smooth water as might
be required. He had a band of musicians, his cabins were richly
furnished, and the services for the table, and many utensils even
belonging to the cook room, were of silver. All things being ready, the
Admiral and his officers went on board, and set sail from Plymouth Sound
at five o'clock in the afternoon of the 15th of November, 1577.

When off the Lizard, meeting with a heavy south-westerly gale, they were
driven back, the _Pelican_ and _Marigold_ having to cut away their
mainmasts, to Falmouth, where they remained until the 13th of the next
month, when, all their damages being repaired, they once more put to
sea.

All on board were eager to know their destination. When out of sight of
land, the Admiral, should the ships be separated, appointed Mogador as a
rendezvous, and it was thus guessed that they were not bound up the
Straits of Gibraltar.

Sighting the Barbary coast on the 25th of December, the squadron entered
the harbour of Mogador, in the dominions of the King of Fez, on the
27th. While some of the people were employed in setting up a pinnace,
several natives appeared, among whom were two Moorish chiefs, requesting
to be taken on board to the Admiral. A boat was accordingly dispatched,
and the two Moors were brought off, an Englishman being left as a
hostage. The Moors were courteously entertained. When wine was
presented to them, they declined drinking it in public, but had no
objection to swallow a good quantity when they could do so unobserved.

On their return the hostage was restored. The next day some men and
camels came down to the beach, apparently wishing to trade, as they
exhibited various commodities. On this a boat from one of the ships,
unknown to the Admiral, was sent to meet them, when one of the men in
her, John Fry by name, wishing to become a hostage, that he might hear
them speak and observe their manners, leapt hurriedly on shore, and ran
on some way from the boat. Before he was aware of his danger, he was
seized by the Moors, who, lifting him up on one of the camels, set off
with him at a rapid rate. As the rest of the crew were about to land, a
large number of the natives sprang out from behind the rocks, and
compelled the English seamen to retreat. It was afterwards found that
the man had been carried off by the orders of the King of Fez, who
wished to gain information reg