During the early years of the reign of Charles I.,
the ravages committed by the Salle rovers formed a
constant subject of complaint in the House of
Commons. In July, 1625, Sir Walter Erie mentioned
to the House that, during the last few weeks, English
vessels had been captured by them off the Scilly
Islands, and on Aug. 1 1 of the same year a letter from
one William Legg, a prisoner to the Moorish pirates
at Salle, was read in the House, and witnesses, who
had escaped, were in attendance to speak of the
barbarous cruelty of their captors. Spoil, it was said,
had been committed upon the English coasts to such
an extent that vessels scarce dare venture from port.
Subsequently squadrons had been sent out, one under
the command of Sir Francis Steward, and another
under Sir Samuel Argall, to clear the English seas of
pirates, but they both returned without having effected
anything. At last on Feb. 26, 1637, a 6eet of six
ships, subsequently joined by two others, carrying in
all 990 men sailed from England, and on March 24
anchored in Salle roads. Salle apparently consisted
of two parts, Old and New Salle, and at this time the
governor of New Salle was in a state of revolt against
the authority of the King of Morocco. It was only by
occupying Old Salle with the consent of the governor
and joining in a civil war that the English were able
to eCFect their object. On Sept. 19, the Moorish
ambassador came on board the fleet, which set sail
and landed 339 rescued captives at Torbay on Oct. 6.
(A True Journall of the Sally Fleet, b'c. Published
lyjohn Dunton, London 1637.^



288 EDMUND WALLER.
P. 13, //. 13-15. — I Samuel, xv. 33.
