Le Marin Combattant devenu paisible

written by Thomas Lurting and Bill F. Ndi

Récemment les activités des pirates sur la corne de l’Afrique ont suscité d’énormes intérêts d’un phénomène historique qui jadis fit loi en haute mer. Il s’agit de prise d’hottages. Comment combattre de tels phénomènes est l’objectif premier de ce traité.

Par son récit autobiographique, Le Marin combattant devenu paisible, Thomas Lurting (1632-1713) se distingue comme l’une des figures emblématiques du Quakerisme originel. Avec ce récit, il porte le combat des Quakers sur la scène maritime. Il situe une grande partie de l’action à bord du Bristol-Frigot, navire à bord duquel eut lieu sa conversion. Malgré l’opposition farouche des marins face à la montée du Quakerisme dans ce milieu qui à l’époque était caractérisé par l’esprit belliqueux, la résistance pacifique et la détermination des Quakers à mourir pour leur conviction, finissent par attirer nombre d’adeptes parmi les marins. Plusieurs épisodes de guerre et de combat en mer fournissent à Lurting de quoi nourrir son intrigue, et plus particulièrement celui de « la capture de George Pattison par les Turcs et sa libération (…) sans effusion de sang, déposant les Turcs sur la côte de leur propre pays… ». Lurting en a fait l’élément clé autour duquel il recentre son périple pour appuyer l’idéal Quaker du fraternalisme et du pacifisme universels et atemporels. Une leçon exemplaire de tolérance !

The recent pirate activities on the horn of Africa have sparked interest in a phenomenon which in the years of yore characterised the high seas i.e. hostage taking. Combating this ill is the primary objective of the present treatise.

Through his autobiographical narrative, The Fighting Sailor Turn’d Peaceable Christian, Thomas Lurting (1632-1713) distinguishes himself as one of the emblematic defendants of the early Quaker ideals for International Peace. In this treatise Lurting takes the fight for these ideals to the maritime scene. Most of the narrative takes place on board the Bristol Frigot, ship on board of which he was convinced. Despite staunch opposition facing the rise of Quakerism in the maritime milieu, which at the time was characterised by the spirit of belligerence, the determination of Quakers to die for their convictions, their pacific resistance ended up appealing to many a seaman who became convinced also. Numerous warring and fighting scenes constitute the ingredients for Lurting’s plot development. And most especially the “…True Account of George Pattison’s Being Taken by the Turks; and How Redeemed by […], Without Bloodshed, Putting the Turks on Shoar in their Own Country….” Lurting makes of this episode the turning point around which he articulates his spiritual journey to illustrate the very Quaker ideal for an everlasting universal brotherhood and pacifism. An arresting lesson of tolerance!

Translated and edited with introductory notes by William F. NDI this edition is in both English and French.

Thomas Lurting

Thomas Lurting was born in 1632, probably in Ireland. But he spent his childhood in London where at the age of fourteen he was impressed and forcefully taken to war in Ireland where he spent roughly two years. Upon his return to London, he was turned over into the Bristol Frigot, one of the war vessels belonging to Admiral Blake’s fleet. On board this same ship he became convinced of the evils of war and decided to quit warring for the merchant service. He was however impressed many a times into the navy. He published his spiritual autobiography, The Fighting Sailor Turn’d Peaceable Christian.  in 1710. Three years later, he passed away on the 30th March 1713, at the age of 81 in London and was laid to rest at Burmondsey.

Bill F. Ndi

Dr. Bill F. Ndi, poet, playwright, storyteller, critic, translator & Fellow of The Booker T. Washington Leadership Institute is an American-Southern Cameroonian who was educated at GBHS Bamenda & Essos, the University of Yaoundé, Nigeria: ABSU, Paris: ISIT, the Sorbonne, Paris VIII & Cergy-Pontoise where he obtained his doctorate degrees in Languages: Translation and Languages, Literatures and Contemporary Civilizations. He has held teaching positions at the Paris School of Languages, the University of the Sunshine Coast at Sippy Downs, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia and Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. He is presently Professor of Modern Languages, Communication and Philosophy at Tuskegee University, Alabama, USA.