An astonishing book, written by Giles Milton in 2004 already and published by Hodder&Stoughton in London.

"Rule, Britannia, rule the waves. Britons never will be slaves."
James Thomson, Rule, Britannia!” (early eighteennth century)

"We have been forced to draw carts of lead with ropes about our shoulders ... (and) have carried great barrs of iron upon our shoulders. I believe all Christian people have forgottn us in England, because they have not sent us any releife ... since we have been in slavery."
John Willdon, British slave (early eighteen century)

How strange to learn that Moroccans from the eighteen century went to England and Scotland to bring slaves home into their country. Most of them where brought to Salé in Morocco. There was a weekly slave market. And Morocco was not the only place in North Africa where white slaves were held. Others where brought to Alger, Tripoli and Tunis. Women, children and men. They where taken right across Europe. They came from England, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, Sweden and Spain. The most interesting testimonies were written by the slaves themselves. One testimony was believed to be a fiction, until it became clear, it is a real story. Thomas Pellow from the Francis (ship) describes the ruthlessness of Sultan Moulay Ismail after he became his personal slave. "Appointed guardian of the imperial harem, he would also lead slave-soldiers into battle and take part in a perilous slave-gathering expedition to equatorial Africa. He would be tortured and forced to convert to Islam. Three times he would attempt to escape; twice he would be sentenced to death."