The John Bargrave Collection
Robert Browne ( - 1663)
In his ms catalogue, in an entry regarding a "picture in little of Shaban Agaà il Grand d' Algeers, or the King of Argeers," John Bargrave speaks about the negotiations between him and his fellow commissioner Dr. Sellecks and Algerian pirates to free some English slaves. Here Bargrave is speaking ab out his own hard negotiations:But poor consul Browne paid for it; for we were no sooner gone from their coasts but they broke the peace, and took all the English as formerly. This Mr. Browne, the consul, went over in the same man-of-war with us, and we dieted and lay at his house. He had formerly lived long among them, and had their Lingua Franca perfectly. However, we were no sooner gone but they seized on all he had, shaved his head, and made him a slave, where he helped to draw timber and stones to a fortification, receiving so many blows a day with a bull’s nerve, until he was beaten to death, and his body cast out upon a dunghill; which doubtless had binn our fortune if God had not binn pleased to bless us for the good work that we had done.Robert Browne was consul of Algiers from 1655 until his death of plague in 1663 (Wilson, citing Alfred Cecil Wood, History of the Levant Company, London, 1935, p. 64). Other Links: www.levantineheritage.com/pdf/List_of_British_Consular_Officials_Turkey(1581-1860)-D_Wilson.pdf - David Wilson, "List of British Consular Officials in the Ottoman Empire and its former territories, from the sixteenth century to about 1860" (2011). Relevant locations: Workplace or place of business Algiers
People linked to person: Robert Browne was a associate or acquaintance (general) of John Bargrave (1610-1680)
Robert Browne was a associate or acquaintance (general) of John Selleck (1610-1690)