Galley Slave

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The memoir recounts the harrowing experiences of Jean Marteilhe, a Protestant who faced persecution after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Captured while trying to escape to Protestant countries, he was condemned to serve as a galley slave in the French Mediterranean. His vivid narrative sheds light on the brutal realities of life in the galleys, detailing the physical punishments he and fellow inmates endured, including whippings and the threat of death. Marteilhe's account stands as a rare and authentic glimpse into the suffering of galley slaves during this tumultuous period.