1678, he was attacked by a pretender to the throne also named Muhamed. The following literal extract, from one of the old registers of the British Consulate General, conveys a correct idea of the dangers and difficulties of Europeans in Tunis during the palmier days of Tunisian Piracy. The DECLARATION of FRANCIS BAKER, CONSUL, FRANCIS BARRINGTON and BENJAMIN STEELE Merchants In this Citty and Kingdome of Tunis About an Advance Imposed by Sidi Muhamet Bey upon the English Nation amounting to Fifteen Thousand and eleven Dollars viz.:— That on the 12th. Jany in the yeare of our Lord 1677 His Excellency Sidi Mahamet Bey appeared with his Forces before this Citty of Tunis, to the great terrour of the Inhabitants, and after three days assault (burning downe the Citty gates) he rendered himself absolute Patrone thereof; whereupon Taback Dey with such Turks and Moores as could promise themselves no security from him retired into the Castle which they maintained twenty five dayes, notwithstanding all Mines and other Stratagems of Warre diligently prosecuted by Muhamet Bey to reduce them, the whole Citty being now become his Prey, ourselves, the French Nation, Jewes, Merchants etc suddainly experienced the bad effects of his then unlimitted Power, which he improved for the supplying of his urgent wants;— On the 26th. Jany. he sent for our Nation and the French to attend him at the Gibbelluchada where having taxed the latter with many frivolous Pretences, and us that our Men of Warre had transported his Uncle, the Hosse Bey (now Bashaw) from Tripoli to Avarin, by which meanes He and his brother Sidi Alli Bey became Capable to contend with him for the Government of this Kingdome, did without any reply forceable and violently seize on Charles Gratiano Consul for the French together with our selves, sending us Prisoners to his Camp about eight miles distance from Tunis, swearing by the Soule of his deceased he would cutt us to pieces that night, and seize on the whole English Estate in this Country, whereupon not knowing what his Tyrannicall spiritt and desperatenesse of Conditions might lead him to, obleiged us to have to recourse to Soclasly . . . . with such other Friends as wee judged might have an influence upon him to asswage his fury, Pleading the respect he ought to have to the Articles of peace firm’d by his owne hand, and that the Resentment of his majty in having his Consul and Merchants so barbarously treated wd certainly provoke his Majty to vindicate his subjects in such manner as perhaps his Excellcy might repent of this Action, when it was too late, to all which they agreed, telling us we spoke their opinions, and that they would imediately goe to the Bey to make him understand so much, In all which their endeavours proved fruitlesse at their returne plainly telling us, that neither our lives nor the whole English Estate in the Country were in security unless we complyed in the payment of a Sume of money, of which his occasions for