But Digby was a good lover. All the absurd
rhodomontade of his strange Memoirs notwith-
standing, there are gleams of rare beauty in the
story of his passion, which raise him to the level of
the great lovers. His Memoirs were designed to
tell "the beginning, progress, and consummation
of that excellent love, which only makes me believe
that ourpilgrimage in this world isnotindifferently
laid upon all persons for a curse." And here is a
very memorable thing. " Understanding and love
are the natural operation of a reasonable creature ;
and this last, which is a gift that of his own nature
must always be bestowed, being the only thing that is
really in his power to bestow^ it is the worthiest and
noblest that can be given."
But, as he naively says, "the relations thatfollow
marriage are ... a clog to an active mind" ; and his
kinsman Bristol was ever urging him to show his
worth " by some generous action." The result of
this urging was Scanderoon. His object, plainly
stated, was to ruin Venetian trade in the Levant, to
the advantage of English commerce. The aid and
rescue of Algerian slaves were afterthoughts. King
James promised him a commission ; but Bucking-
ham's secretary, on behalf of his master absent in
XX INTRODUCTIOV^
the He de Re, thought his privileges were being
infringed, and the King drew back. Digby acted
throughout as if he had a " publike charge," but he
was really little other than a pirate. He sailed from
Deal in December, 1627, his ships the "Eagle" and
the " George and Elizabeth." It was six months
before the decisive fight took place ; but on the way
he had captured some French and Spanish ships
near Gibraltar ; and what with skirmishes and sick-
ness, his voyage did not want for risk and episode at
any time. Digby the landsman maintained discip-
line, reconciled quarrels, doctored his men, ducked
them for disorderliness, and directed the naval and
military operations like any old veteran. At Scan-
deroon [now Alexandretta in the Levant] the French
and Venetians, annoyed by his presence, fired on his
ships. He answered with such pluck and decision
that, after a three hours' fight, the enemy was com-
pletely at his mercy, and the Venetians " quitted to
him the signiority of the roade." In his Journal
of the Voyage you may read a sober account, con-
sidering who was the teller of the tale, of a brilliant
exploit. He does not disguise the fact that he was
acting in defiance of his own countrymen in the
Levant. The Vice-Consul at Scanderoon kept tell-
ing him that " our nation " at Aleppo "fared much
the worse for his abode there." He was setting the
merchants in the Levant by the ears, and when he
turned his face homewards, the English were the
most relieved of all. His exploit " in that drowsy
and inactive time . . . was looked upon with general
estimation," says Clarendon. The King gave him
introductio:n^ ^
a good welcome,but could not follow itup with any
special favour ; for there were many complaints
over the business, and Scanderoon had to be repu-
diated.
Page 5
Presented as published in 1910. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
But Digby was a good lover. All the absurd rhodomontade of his strange Memoirs notwithstanding, there are gleams of rare beauty in the story of his passion, which raise him to the level of the great lovers. His Memoirs were designed to tell "the beginning, progress, and consummation of that excellent love, which only makes me believe that our pilgrimage in this world is not indifferently laid upon all persons for a curse." And here is a very memorable thing. " Understanding and love are the natural operation of a reasonable creature ; and this last, which is a gift that of his own nature must always be bestowed, being the only thing that is really in his power to bestow; it is the worthiest and noblest that can be given."
But, as he naively says, "the relations that follow marriage are ... a clog to an active mind" ; and his kinsman Bristol was ever urging him to show his worth " by some generous action." The result of this urging was Scanderoon. His object, plainly stated, was to ruin Venetian trade in the Levant, to the advantage of English commerce. The aid and rescue of Algerian slaves were afterthoughts. King James promised him a commission ; but Buckingham's secretary, on behalf of his master absent in
XX INTRODUCTION
the He de Re, thought his privileges were being infringed, and the King drew back. Digby acted throughout as if he had a " publike charge," but he was really little other than a pirate. He sailed from Deal in December, 1627, his ships the "Eagle" and the " George and Elizabeth." It was six months before the decisive fight took place ; but on the way he had captured some French and Spanish ships near Gibraltar ; and what with skirmishes and sickness, his voyage did not want for risk and episode at any time. Digby the landsman maintained discipline, reconciled quarrels, doctored his men, ducked them for disorderliness, and directed the naval and military operations like any old veteran. At Scanderoon [now Alexandretta in the Levant] the French and Venetians, annoyed by his presence, fired on his ships. He answered with such pluck and decision that, after a three hours' fight, the enemy was completely at his mercy, and the Venetians " quitted to him the signiority of the roade." In his Journal of the Voyage you may read a sober account, considering who was the teller of the tale, of a brilliant exploit. He does not disguise the fact that he was acting in defiance of his own countrymen in the Levant. The Vice-Consul at Scanderoon kept telling him that " our nation " at Aleppo "fared much the worse for his abode there." He was setting the merchants in the Levant by the ears, and when he turned his face homewards, the English were the most relieved of all. His exploit " in that drowsy and inactive time . . . was looked upon with general estimation," says Clarendon. The King gave him
INTRODUCTION ^
a good welcome,but could not follow itup with any special favour ; for there were many complaints over the business, and Scanderoon had to be repudiated.