ABSTRACT
The name of Cervantes is honourably mentioned in the Spanish annals, as far back as thirteenth century. Cervantes was at this time suffering from an intermittent fever, and his captain and comrades would have persuaded him to abstain from mingling in fight; but he spurned the idea, and requested, on the contrary, to be placed in the post of honour, where there was most danger. Cervantes’s late plots were not limited merely to attainment of freedom; he aimed at raising the whole captive population in revolt, and so gaining possession of Algiers for the crown of Spain. The courage and heroism of Cervantes excited the respect of friars of order of Mercy, who resided at Algiers for purpose of treating for the ransom of the Christian captives. Cervantes brought back from his captivity an intense horror of Christian suffering in Africa; and he had it much at heart to awaken in the minds of his countrymen, not only sympathy.
