name and stile of king of Marocco and Sus. A few dayes after he assembling a mightie armie besieged the citie of Fes the which no man resisting he tooks with the onelie terrour of his mightie armie the king therof whose name was Claude prouiding for himselfe by flight and withdrawing into the citie of Tremissen which was then subiect vnto him for the Turke had as then nothing to doe there where he also spent all the short time of his life that remained But as soone as Xeque was proclaimed king of Fes all the cities townes and villages of that kingdome sware him homage and fealtie and subiected themselues vnto him and the like did other Nations neere and came vnder his obeisance of their owne accord and yéelding him the victorie without sweate or bloud So that the limites and bonds of his kingdome were on the East Tremissen which at this daie is subiect vnto the Turke beyond mount Clario in olde time Atlas towards the South the line that goeth by the prouince of Figiga a slope euen to Zahara actie taken by the king of Portugal and from hence towards the West the space of fortie leagues from the coast of the Atlantike Ocean now Golsode Ynegas looking towards the Canaries On the West the coasts and forelands of Aguesio Cafi Azamor Sala Larissa Letuams all fronter cities of that kingdome euen to the straites of Gibaltar towards Ceuta Penon Melilla which cities the Catholike king of Spaine possesseth at this daie from hence euen to Tremessen Ouer all these Countries long brode did Muley Mahamet Xeque raigne his father being shortly after dead held thempire alone was the fiâ—st king of Mâ—â—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 that house When Muley Mahamet had reigned many yéeres after in passing great quietnesse and peace and was also desirous that his sonnes might enioy peacebly the kingdomes that he had gotten being now growen in age and loaden with yéeres he assembled the princes noble men and gouernours of the prouinces subiect vnto him that thorough their counsaile he might the more maturely and wisely set an order for the succession of his sonnes But although he had a great number of them as well lawfull as bastards yet we will speake in this place onely of them which were cause of troubles and stirres in this kingdome who were in number foure Of whome theldest borne in lawfull wedlocke was called Muley Abdallas the second and youngest of the lawfully begotten were called Muley Abdelmunen and Muley Abdelmelec the youngest of all was a bastard called Muley Hamet who doth at this day possesse the kingdome But when the péeres of the kingdome were come together at the citie of Marocco the Kings seate and the King had proposed the matter vnto the Parliament it was inacted by common consent that the Kings sonnes should one succéebe an other according to their age so that the right of the kingdome might come vnto them all and thereby all cause of strife and contention among them might be taken away This decrée made by the princes did the King like and alow and commaunded that it being confirmed by his aucforitie should be kept inuiolable by all their posteritie and wrought so much that the Princes and principall men of the kingdome did sweare to doe their best that it might remaine stable and firme for euer But not onely the Péeres but also the kings sonnes did take that othe for there was no man that gainesaied this law or was of any other minde and opinion Wherevpon Muley Abdallas because he was the kings eldest senne was immediatly after nominated in the campe Prince and heire of all his Fathers kingedomes and all men were sworne vnto him These things being thus ordered and ordained the old Ling because the he himselfe as he had of long time vsed laie still in the Citie of Marocco he sent the new Prince for to gouerne the kingdome of Fesse as the people of the Countrie had requested When he came to Fes and was receiued verie dutifullie of the Citizens he began his gouernment ouer them verie kindlie and curteouslie shewing him selfe verie affable gentle vnto the people of the prouince and promising much more lenitie and gentlenesse in time to come Within few daies after when Muley Mahomet Xeque flourished in great peace there happened a tumult in the prouince of Sus which forced him for to leauie an armie for to represse the insolent Hauing gotteÌ„ together all things necessarie therefore he departed out of Marocco with many horsemen footmen and harquebuziers and marched towardes Sus. Now a few daies before 500. Turkes had come to him frome Tremissen with their Captaine whom they do call in their language Alcaida who counterfaited that they had runne awaie out of the garison of Tremissen but in vâ—â—ie truth they did it that they might dispatch out of the waie the which they did indéede the king of Marocco For when they came to Marocco the king that thought they had come to serue him caused them presentlie to be put in wages to follow him to the wars in Sus. So they went forth with the king marching with him a long iourney towards Sus but when they were come to the confines of those two kingdomes they hasten their purpose of murthering the king Wherefore about a 15. or 20. of the most audacious desperaâ—â—st fellowes faining as though they had I know not what to moue the king of entered his pauillion finding him fit for their purpose slue him cut off his head after he was dead This so sodaine so vnthought of a trecherous villanc as part stirred vp a great tumult in the campe betweene the Turkes the Moores of whom the one fauoured the greate Turke the other Muley Abdallas the matter at last came to that passe the within one houres space aboue 1000. Moores wer slaine not passing fiftie Turks Who séeing theÌ„selues oppressed with the multitude of the Moores withdrew them yet still kéeping their face towards themmies defending themselues into thicke woodes and tops of mountaines of harde accesse But when the Moores did also assaile them there and the Turkes perceiued that they laboured in vain to saue themselues and namelie séeing now their victualls began to faile them they set fire to seuen barrells of Gunpouder that they had set round about them chosing rather to destroie themselues by furious fire than to come into the hands of the Moores their enimies But the kings armie was also constrained to returne to Marocco where the Prince Muley Abdallas although that he was then in the Citie of Fes was agayne proclaimed king But he as soone as he heard of his Fathers death went forth of Fes and when he bare him as king there was none of the prouinces the did not willinglie and gladly receiue him Wherevpon within few dayes after he gathered a mightie armie of many Nations who offered him their seruice with the which hée marching to Marocco was
king of Portugall ought diligentâ—ie to weigh and thinke with himselfe how iust and lawfull a cause he hath to come into Africa For séeing that he â—â—eth about to take the kingedome from him to whome it dotâ— of right appertaine to giue it to the Negro and that with no profit nor commoditie to the Christians that will almightie God who is a iust Iudge neuer suffer Furthermore Abdelmelec as he was a man of a sharpe witte and in such matters of surpassing diligence and prouidence began also to make prouision for the warres and to bethinke him of things necessarie therefore Wherefore he commaunded Tents to be set vp in a fielde a league from Marocco and warres to be openlie proclaimed through his kingdome against the Christians the which thing highlie pleased the Moores He also commanded a great number of great Guns and speciallie field peeces and also infinite store of victualls and of horses and Camells for to carrie necessaries for their armie to be prouided Which being done when he heard that the king of Portugal was now vpon the point to goe a ship boord and to ariue at Arzil he also went out of Marocco the sixtéenth day of April with great applause of the people and with almost an infinite companie of men into the campe and kept the armie in the Tents where he staied twentie daies looking for the rest of his forces From hence he marched with Ensignes displaied by small iourneyes towards Arzill and that he might the more commodiouslie ioyne with those forces that he looked for he staied a little while at Temocen which is in the confines of his kingdome But the king of Portugall who was hot set on his voiage commanded before he went on shipboord processions and praiers to be publikelie made throughout all the kingdome that God might vouchsafe to graunt happie successe to this enterprise and victorie against his enimie At length on Midsommer daie the whole armie was embarked and the next daie after verie earlie in the morning king Sebastian hauing nominated before seauen of the chiefe of the Realme gouernours of the kingdome because the Cardinall his vnkle had refused the gouernment for that he could not intreate the king to relinquish the voiage launched out of the Hauen and hoised vp sailes the 26. of Iune with ten or twelue Galeons in whom were embarked almost all the whole Nobilitie of his kingdome The sea was passing calme the fléete of the whole armie launching from Lisbon was of great and small vesselles about a thousand and thrée hundreth saile so pleasant a spectacle that many sayd they neuer sawe such a fléete before and hauing a good winde they ariued at Caliz on Saint Peters eue The king being receiued with singular gratulation and ioy of the people staied there fiftéene dayes for to prouide necessaries that he lacked and that he might transport with him certaine bands of Spaniards that were leuied for him in Andaluzia Which things being dispatched he departed from Caliz the eight of Iulie and sailed with the Galeons towards Tangar but commanded the rest of the Fléete to kéepe their course towards Arzil So the tenth of Iulie the king ariued at Tangar but before he was come into the hauen Mahamet sent his sonne a child almost ten yéeres old named Muley Xeque against the king in a small vessell whom the king did verie gentlie and curteouslie salute But béeing come on land he shewed greater signes of good will and friendship to Mahamet and verie liberallie offered his trauaile aide for to restore him into his kingdome When Mahamet was come to the kings presence although he had before sufficientlie certefied him both by Letters Ambassadours of his will and mind yet that he might more safelie prouide for his state he did then more-plentifullie and more at large open vnto him by spéech what he was minded to doe and did tell him how that his vnkle supported by the power and strength of the Turke did vsurpe the kingdome the which hée had taken from him by force Hee added moreouer that the vassalles and subiects of Abdelmelec did practise nothing else and were wholie busied how they might secretlie kill Abdelmelec or at the least forsake him and reuoult to Mahamet and that thereof hée receiued dailie without intercession Letters from the Péeres of the Realme in the which Letters they promised to renoult vnto him as soone as euer hée would come agaynst the enimie yea and if it were but with a small power Hée woulde also perswade the king of Portugall that he shoulde not fight with the Abdelmelec but onelie go into the field which thing if hée did then his vnkles souldiours would immediatlie bée at his deuotion and command Hée promised also to giue the king of Portugall two or thrée Hauens in Barbarie with their territories adioyning and for suretie thereof hée gaue his sonne in hostage The king of Portugal as hée was a Prince of noble passing good nature credited all that Mahamet spake and assented to his petition without conditions couenants and sureties From hence hée went with Mahamet to Arzil where his armie was and there Muley Xeque was Generall of his Fathers small forces and had with him the horsemen and footmen of the garison of Tangar The king came to Arzil on Sundaie béeing the fouretéenth of Iulie and as soone as hée was come on shoare hée commaunded the Ordenaunce victuall and the rest of the warlyke furniture to bée disbarked but sent foure shippes well appointed to Massaga to carrie thether Muley Xeque his pledge but commaunded his campe to bée pitched néere the walles of Arzill and it to bée entrenched rounde with rampires and ditches that hée might lye there the safer But that wée may returne to Abdelmelec as soone as hée came to Temocen a greate multitude of horsemen that serued with shéelde and Speare and many other forces ioyned with him But thrée dayes after hée came thether hée fell verie sicke the cause wherof as then no man vnderstood But anone after when he felt a mightie torment in his stomacke it was easilie vnderstoode whereof it came that is hée had eaten gréedelie of sowre milke which had curded in his stomacke That he might cast it vp hée assayed in vaine two and almost thrée daies to make himselfe vomite as he had vsed to doe and so at the length be cast vp a great gobbet of Chéese which made his stomacke so weake and faint that afterward it could concoct no meate Also his sicknesse was increased by harde and ill lodging But as soone as hée heard that the king of Portugall was departed from Caliz to sayle to Arzil although hée were at that time nothing well yet hée commaunded his armie to march forward towardes Arzil he himselfe béeing carried in an horse litter And now he was from Alcazara where his brother expected him with an armie not aboue a dayes iourney but when hée drew néere him his comming was receiued with a
thirtéene Gunners Thirtie two shipwrights appointed to repaire the Gallies A hundred and foure and twentie Marriners Nine hundred and fiue and twentie voluntarie souldiours Two thousand two hundred thrée score and fouretéene rouers A thousand thrée hundred thirtie thrée common souldiours Two thousand of the Spanish fléete dead Eight hundred in the Popes fleete But on the other side there were of the enimies slaine or taken nine and twentie thousand nine hundred foure score and ten that is to wit Thirtie foure Captaines of the dignitie of Sanzaches An hundred and twentie Captaines of Gallies Fiue and twentie thousand Ianizars voluntarie foote men and rowers Thrée thousand eight hundred fortie sixe taken Our men did take 117. common Gallies and thirtéene small and all of them verie well furnished with bread tallow butter rise beanes and other such kinde of victualls and the same night they carried them awaie with them into the Hauen Besides these there were drowned or otherwise destroyed about foure score of the enimies gallies and those that escaped were thought to bée almost fortie Which thinges béeing thus dispatched our men lying safe in the Hauen praised God for giuing of them so great a victorie and kept it holie daie for the space of thrée daies shewing sundrie signes of reioycing and making good chéere Neither did they in the meane time omit anie of those things that might make for the reparation of theyr Gallies or for the pursuite of the fruite of the victorie For the which cause when they had tarried in those Hauens vntill the fiftéenth of October yet by reason of the aduerse season of Winter at hand and because many of their wounded men did dailie drop awaie by death they thought good to depart from thence For Don Iohn because hée thought that no memorable thing more coulde bée done that yéere would saile towardes Messina but did put them in great hope that he would ioyne his forces with the rest the next yéere But in truth he did not so neither the next yéere nor next after that so that the VenetiaÌ„s after that they had spent in these wars 14000. li. of gold euerie pound conteining 100. Duckets were forced to by peace of the Turke who also hauing repaired his Nauie did in Anno. 1574. conquere the kingdome of Tunes from the Spaniard his vassall king slaying aboue 10000. Hyspaniards in the Guletta Biserta So that the fruit that the Christians gained by giuing this great ouerthrow was nothing but the recouering of an obscure towne or two that Winter by the Venetian Fléete besides the staie of the Turkish prosperous course and the prise and spoile gotten in this battaile the which when they came to Corsu they diuided by common consent as followeth Gallies The Pope had ninetéene common Gallies two small The king of Spaine 58. common Gallies with an halfe and sixe small Gallies and a halfe The Signorie of Venice 39. common Gallies a halfe and foure small gallies and an halfe Great Ordenance The Pope had nintene great péeces and of péeces that shot stones thrée lesser péeces 42. The King of Spaine fiftie eight great péeces an halfe eight péeces to shoote stones in and 128. lesser péeces The Seignorie of Venice had 39. great péeces and an halfe fiue stone péeces and an halfe 86. lesser péeces Prisoners The Pope had 881. The King of Spaine had 1713. The Signorie of Venice 162. The chiefe men of name takn prisoners were the Sanzaches of Alexandria and Nigreponto and two of All the Admiralls sonnes The Battaile of Alcazar fought in Barbarie betwene Sebastian King of Portugall and Abdelmelec the King of Marocco the fourth of August 1578. Taken out of a namelesse Portugall auctor translated into Latine by Thomas Freigins THat ye may the better vnderstand what the principall Persons that were present fought at this Battaile were also to know the quarel and cause thereof I haue thought good to insert myne auctors whole Historie not omitting his as it wer pleasant and profitable preamble of the foundation and familie of these mightie Kings that reigne now at Marocco The founder of that familie and house which are now Kings of Marocco and the first king of that stocke was a certaine Moore of the Mahometicall superstitioÌ„ called Muley Mahamet Xeque His father Muley Xarif being accompted in his countrie of Mecha in Arabia the chiefe man of the Moores as he that was descended of the bloud line of the damned and cursed false Prophet Mahomet had heaped together an immeasurable masse of money and greatâ— innumerable treasure He being moued by I know not what dreame did take occasion to depart out of his Countrie and to get him into Africa with all that he had Wherfore that he might bring to effect that which he had determined with himselfe he going from Mecha with his onelie sonne whom we spake off before and trauailing all Aegypt and Africa and other regions subiect to the Turkish Empire came at last into that parte of Barbarie that is at this daie called Sus. In this Countrie when Muley Xerife had gotten a great opinion of wisedome as touching their sect and religion among the Moores of Barbarie and had obtained a singuler surpassing fame throughout the prouinces there defiled with the superstition of Mahomet he wanne also the grace and fauour of the Alarbes that doe dwell in this Barbarie and namelie of those that did inhabite in the kingdome of Sus. Héereby it came to passe that within short time he had gotten about a thousand horsemen to bée as it were his clients vassalls or reteiners at command that I may passe ouer in silence a great number of seruantes and ordinarie waiters that still attended on him with horse and armour Through the helpe of these men and many other that did afterward ioyne with him he tooke certain Cities of that kingdome and made them subiect vnto him But in all tourneies he carried about with him his sonne Muley Mahamet Xeque that the people subdued might be sworne vnto him and promise to doe all those things that faithfull subiects docâ—â—â—e â—o performe vnto their Princes And in déed both the Father and the sonne did so stirre them about their businesse that within short time they had gotten them that power and strength that they tooke by force Turodant the head Citie of the kingdome of Sus and there the sonne Xeque was constituted king of that Countrie This victorie did mightelie augment the power and courage of this nâ—w king Wherefore he ordeined a strong legion of eight thousand pike men with purpose to attempt the Citie of Marocco where the Marines reigned Wherefore leauing his Father in Sus who being now broken with age had become vnable to do anie seruice besieged Marocco with fiue hundred harquebussiers and 7000. pikemen that he brought with him The twelfth day of the siege the citie yeelded and taking also other cities townes and fortresses adioyning to Marocco tooke vpon him the
rested himselfe as he could finding meanes the next daie to get againe to the armie both finelie and fortunatelie Vpon this the Prince and the Admiral séeing the auantgard also to come vppon them who hadde not yet rallyed moe than about two hundred Frenchmen of whome one onelie hadde a Launce praied the Reisters to staie readie for the recharge But they being alrâ—â—ie packing away sayd that they must goe to recharge their Pistolles Moreouer when they saw their footemen both French and Allemans ranne away themselues pursuen they flung away a galloppe and the French men with them so that the Prince was constrained to doe so likewise was hurt in the hand his horse that had receaued an Harquebusse shot in his legge had not gone aboue 300. pace but that he halted downe right and before he could be remounted O. Anuille was on the backe of him to whome he yéelded The Reisters and the French men hauing crossed a woode cut downe found a little valley the which they passed stayed vpon an high péece of ground in the sight of the Admiral who had taken his flight more on the right hande with a number of other a long the side of the same wood to make head to their enimies that closed it vpon thother side and both th one thother were aboue a good quarter of an houre without other aduauncing or making in one to thother wherein a number of Catholickes curious quite to ouerthrow thenimie noted a grosse fault committed by S. Andre and the Duke of Guyse assuring that if they had liuely folowed their victorie the Protestants trembling at such fearefull accidents would neuer haue rallyed together in grosse But the Admirall as a wise resolute and diligent Capitaine had done all that he could possible to rallye his horsemen dispersed thorough the whole field and in great disorder and finding that he had assembled about 250. horses French that had nothing but their swords pistolles and about 1000. Reisters of whome he set th one halfe on his right side and thother on his left and being accompanied with the Prince of Portian Rochfoucaut and other gentlemen well deliberated he resolued to goe yet once more to fight with thenimie what price so euer if shold cost him after that he had vsed a few words to the Chiefe men of the Horsemen that accompanied him and the Marshall of Hessen the Truchmen and certaine Captaines Allemains that vnderstoode French for to encourage them the better to the charge Although it séemeth to mée a matter néedelesse to vse anie speach to them that haue sufficient assurance in their owne vertue and valour and to make tryall whereof ye are come yet whilest we doe stay vntill all our people be rallied I may well saye vnto you that vnlesse great enterprises were accompanied with great perills and difficulties the praise could be but small to them that should attaine to the honour of them But as the high desseines for to maintaine the honour of God and the good of theyr Countrie can not be executed without infinite bazardes and paines incredible so must they also assure themselues that the price and rewarde of so manie extreame labours is not onelie prest and certaine but also great when the vertue is great whereof we constantlie poursue the end This is the reason why that hearts that would be knowen to be gentlemanly doe alwayes pourpose and attempt enterprises of great hazard because that they doe know that héereby they shall gette them eternall honour and their long trauailes be recognised with immortall renowne On the contrarie part those that are of small stomacke baselie minded and of a vile cowardise doe neuer addresse themselues but to things base and easie as also their name doeth dye as soone as the effect of that they enterprised Moreouer as assurance of the will of God is necessarie for to testifie all actions can we fight more lawfully or for a thing of so great importaunce then for the libertie of our conscience and doe they not take away the bright light of the worlde that will take from vs the libertie of our faith or can wée kéepe warres more iust then this which is of necessitie Be not our weapons forced and therefore consequently holy and religious in the handes of them that haue no other hope to liue but by the helpe and endeuour of them In in valiant hearts In in It is not the multitude but the valour of courage that giueth the victorie God fighteth for vs as he hath done heretofore for so manie small troupes which you haue séene and heard of being well conducted to haue broken those that were ten times greater then themselues And otherwise also ye shall mightely enrich your selues as well by the incredible bootie and spoile as for the great raunsomes that ye shall get As touching the rest ye haue alreadie vanquished the greatest part which are rallied with them that durst not aduaunce themselues vppon vs after the taking of their Generall Is it likely to be true that they which haue bene alreadie tamed and subdued haue taken force by their fall and that the victorious haue ben made more vile worse by their felicitie March then resolutely to the defaite of the rest folowing the good houre that hath louingly welcomed you It is a common saying he that hath begon well hath halfe done which is not spoken to make slouthfull or to bring a sléepe him whose first attempts haue bene happie no but contrarie for to prick him forward still so much the more to the poursuit and perfecting of his desseine But as it is more dishonor for him that through negligence or lack of courage doth let the satisfaction contentment to be lost the which he had almost thoroughly gotten theÌ„ for him that had alwaies bene infortunate at the beginning in the poursuite and at the ende of his enterprise so you must assure your selues that God dyd not send into your hands the beginning of so renowmed victorie through the strange hardinesse and not credible valoure of my Lord the Prince but for to heate and enchafe you to attempt the aduauncement and entier gaine of accomplished happinesse O thrise fortunate ye that shall retourne vnto your houses triumphing of the victorie loaden with the spoiles of your enimies which ye shall bring out of the field and sée your selues embrased and swéetely welcomed home by your kinsfolkes wiues children neighbours and allies who shall for euer from Father to sonne sing the eternall praises of you that haue so willniglie exposed your liues for the honour and glorie of God suretie of the king and publick good of your countrie For although to die be a thing common both to the good and the wicked whatsoeuer they be yet death is not honorable nor worthie of praise in any man but in those the shot at no other marke then the vertuous actions of their life Goe then my maisters and shew thenimie by effect
seruice in fight And séeing that al our men haue assembled to this end they will with one minde obey your valiant aduises and chieflie because they doe know that ye are the lieuetenants of our Emperor himselfe therfore fighting as it beseemeth valiant and well appointed men will carrie awaie assured victorie And this we may the more lightly hope because we haue 280. vessells well furnished of whom 200. are common Gallies and fiftie small Gallies all of them passing well armed to the augmentation of whose power strength yet more and to the farther encouragement of our most valiant men if that ye do distribute put into the gallies the 14000. men the came verie latelie also those of the Leuant that are in the 20. foists we shal rest assured of the victorie although we doe grant that our enimies are valiant men But now we doe certainlie know as we haue learned of our fellow Caracoza a verie wise man that they haue but 150. gallies furnished with such men as I told you before Wherefore most valiant and wise Gentlemen séeing that we do suffientlie know their state goe forward ye shall finde them in the vale of Alexandria and dispearsed along that shoare more giuen to idlenesse ease delights and delicatenes than is méete for warriours so that thereby ye shall take them al without difficultie for when they shall sée our Fléete they either flying awaie will runne on the shore and suffer shipwracke or else they will light and fall on our Nauie and be taken But that I maye comprehend all the matter in fewe wordes we haue the greater number of vessels and them also better furnished than our enimies verie valiant and skilfull souldiours wherefore wée must not let slip this occasion offered vs to fight with them that are so much inferiour vnto vs in number prowesse and experience and speciallie séeing that thereby wée shall execute the commandement of our high and mightie Emperour whose glorie shall indure for euer and winne our selues immortall praise but ye namelie shall performe that which yée promised vnto this our supreame Emperour when he appointed you in his owne place for to conduct this most mightie Nauie The same arguments vsed also at that time Oluzali the Chieftaine of the forces of Barbarie vsing a long spéech of the power of the Turkes and of the commandement and anger of the great Emperour of the Turkes who as also Cayabeg the Sanzach of Smyrne shewed with an effectuall spéech that neither they ought nor coulde without shame let passe this occasion to destroie the same Christians hauing now a lesser power séeing that they had alwayes ben defaitad and spoiled héeretofore by the souldiours of Ottoman the great Emperour of the Turkes although they had a fléete farre better furnished than theirs But of a flat contrarie minde were Syrocke the Sanzach or gouernour of Alexandria and Carabiue the Captain of Suurasar both verie ancient Captaines and singularlie well experimented in sea affaires and many other besides But Mehemet Bey the Sanzach of Nigreponto who somtime had gouerned Barbarie going about to extinguish this hot fire of Hassan Bassa spake to this sense I doe thinke and iudge most prudent péeres that the wordes the Hassan Bassa hath spoken are signes and tokens of a verie valiant man and namelie of him that desireth in all things to obey our most inuincible Lorde and king of kings who draweth his sword with the arme of God and liueth for euer and euer yet notwithstanding séeing it so pleaseth you the Bassaes your excellencies who next after our supreame Emperour doth deserue this Empire of Ottaman I will also speake what I doe thinke doubtlesse it is likelie the our enimies would not haue come in this far vnlesse they had before diligentlie learned out our strength forces wherefore it must néedes be that they haue a power at the least equall to ours or else greater because that otherwise they would neuer haue come thus farre Of the which thing this may bée an argument that they themselues may easilie knowe that the hope of kéeping and conseruing of the rest of their dominions and Empire that is left them or of recouering that which they haue lost doth lie in this onelie Nauie Therefore let vs not beléeue that this Fléete of our enimies hath come hether for to expose them selues to manifest perill and to cast awaie themselues wilfullie the which they must néedes doe if their Nauie be so simple as it hath béene painted out vnto vs also so small as our fellow Caracoza yet a man of great prowesse hath affirmed I for mine owne parte doe surelie thinke that a Nauie that commeth from Sicile thus farre to séeke their enimie speciallie at this time of the yéere is verie well appointed and doth come with certaine aduise and purpose to fight with hope to obtaine the victorie And if we doe diligentlie wey the thing we vnderstand that the reports of the Christian prisoners doe in all pointes agrée héerewithall for if they would onelie vantinglie and vainlie shew themselues and then flie awaie what néede they to haue come so farre vp into these our seas What That they flying awaie might léese all Wherefore grounding your selues vppon these arguments thinke that the Nauie of our enimies is verie strong and hath determined to fight with vs séeing that they are come vp thus farre not prouoked nor forced by vs but of their owne accord Neither haue wée reason to compare this fléete with that which our men in former yéeres did put to flight at Preuesa For this league of the Christian Princes against vs is another manner of thing than that which was made thirtie yéeres agoe the preparation other the skil in warfare other so that ther is no proportion betwéene them In that fléete were many and diuerse Generalls but little wisedome and that was the cause that they fled In this Nauie is Iohn of Austria the sonne of the Emperour Charles the fift and the brother of Philip the king of Spaine a verie valiant man and one excited by his Fathers glorie and inuited by the supreame degrée of honour that he hath obtained in this league through his brother finallie one beloued and reuerenced of all the whole Nauie the Captaines and Souldiours with one common consent And therefore without all doubt he will giue vs battaile neither without hope of victorie Moreouer the Venetians because they haue béen so déeplie endamaged by vs can being almost mad for anger séeke nothing else but reuenge that is to wit because we haue flaine so many of their people whom to be all verie valiant men we haue learned by the great losse of many of our men that certes we wil the more easilie beléeue if we do cal to mind how the same Venetians went about the last yéere to giue vs battaile although they had not then entered into league with these other Princes Therefore without doubt they wil fight
you before he lead forth his armie with purpose to march toward Maroccco for he had heard that Mahamet was in the field with a mightie armie And because he began to be now a little better he being carried in an horse litter marched towards Marocco with sixe thousand harquebuziers twentie thousand horsemen with speare and shéeld two thousand argolets with twentie field péeces On the other side Mahamet being aduertised of his vnkles intent went verie spéedelie out of Marocco with great hast and heate to fight and to trie the right of a kingdome with the perill of his life And because the narration of the order and araie of the battailes which they both vsed maketh almost nothing for the thing that we do purpose we will comprehend all the whole Hystorie in few words So in a certaine valley thrée leagues from the riuer of Sala towardes the West a long the sea coast in a place called Motha Arracahana they encamped where the 29. of Iune at thrée of the clocke in the after noone a cruell and a bloudie battaile was fought in the which the victorie enclined now to Mahamet and then to Abdelmelec his partie But Abdelmelec being a wise a skilfull Captaine when he sawe that night was at hand and that his men although they had a long time laide on with might and maine could not obtaine the victorie and that his enimies resisted stoutlie he going out from the middest of his band and vambrashing his semitarre in his hand compelled his souldiours with thicke blowes to renue the charge and hée himselfe béeing seene among the formost ranne in vpon his enimies with such force and violence that hée forced them to turne their backes shamefullie of whome Mahamet was the first that ranne awaie The victours in this last battaile slue aboue sixe thousand But Abdelmelec sent his brother Hamet for to pursue Mahamet with certaine light horsemen but hée himselfe after he hadde stayed a while for the burying of the dead marched towarde Marocco with his whole armie Mahamet séeking safetie by flight came to Marocco not without the greate infamie of his men followed by a sixe or eight speares and then going into the plaine hée tooke out as much treasure as could bée commodiouslie carried awaie and laide it on fiue Mules staying in the Citie not aboue two houres betooke him againe to flight hasting to escape his vnkles troupes that were not farre off Béeing thus departed out of the Citie with a few horse men he hasted a fling on the spurre towards Mount Atlas now Clario which béeing sixe leagues from Marocco is the sanctuarie and refuge of proscribed and banished men and théeues But leauing Mahamet in the mountaines of Clario let vs returne vnto Abdelmelec He as soone as he had gathered together the spoiles of the vanquished enimies marched with all his armie to Marocco and being ariued there the eight daie after the victorie was receiued with so great pompe ioy as neuer was séene before in those Countries for he had gotten a great fame to bée a good curteous affable and pittifull man towards those in calamitie and was also verie well furnished with many other vertues Then againe the insolencie and tyrannie of Muley Hamet made Abdelmelec the more gratious better beloued of all men As soone as he was entered into the Citie which was the xv of Iulie in the same yéere he began to set in order the politike state of the kingdome that he might shew himselfe to be not onelie valiant in armes and the field but also singular in wisedome for framing of a publike weale For he abrogated many lawes statutes made by his ancestors he vsed passing great curtesie and gentlenesse towards his subiects he also gaue great gifts and largesse diuided victuals among the people applying all his actions to this end that he might by these meanes extend his same and get himselfe immortall glorie aboue all the kings of Africa that went before him Although at the first he was nothing gratious speciallie because that the people were offended with the vnreasonablenesse and vnrulinesse of the Turkes that he had with him because that they as they are proud vnrulie intollerable and lawlesse did verie licentiouslie oppresse the poore Moores which many grieuous iniuries violences but the king did soone rid the Countrie of them sending them awaie by little and little and by two and by thrée at a time so that at the length there remained not aboue 200. whome yet he kept from his companie sight and being brought into order constrained them to liue quietlie without doing harme The which thing made his subiects to turne their loue towards him and they bing moued with the onlie fame of his vertue did offer themselues vnto him most humbly promised him due obedience finallie they with liberall and bountifull mindes brought him a vie great rich and honourable gifts and presents out of all partes and prouinces There were also not a few Christian Princes that did take singular ioy of his friendship and he also on the other side receiued them into his friendship with a most louing heart did thinke himself flourishing in their familiaritie fauour to be a happie and blessed man insomuch that many Christians did continually out of all quarters repaire vnto his kingdome whom he did more loue made more of than he did of any other kind of men that vsed to come into his countries For he gaue thē many great beneuolences vsed thē with wonderful curtesie gentlenesse he also dismissed many frée without ransome gratis of an vnwonted benificence But I will not dwell long vpon this his liberalitie magnificence namely seeing that his noble workes are verie well knowen to the whole worlde through the publike reporte of fame But after he hadde obtained the roiall throne the first thing he did was to appoint who shoulde succéede him in the kingdome and to confirme the lawe made by Muley Mahamet Xeque his Father and therefore hée swore all the péeres of the kingdome vnto his brother Muley Hamet although that he himselfe had a sonne but yet of tender age whom he might haue nominated to be his successour The which thing although it held the nobilitie in suspence with admiration yet incontinentlie incredible feasts triumphs were kept in honour of the new Prince and memorie of the olde law and also the memorie of his granfather Xarif was honourablie mentioned renued by the péeres In the meane time Muley Mahamet who had gotten him to the streights of mount Clario beganne straight waie to gather together some souldiours and among them some outlawes théeues insomuch that he had gathered together fiue hundred harquebuziers and two hundreth horse men with shéelde and Speare Being furnished with which bands he beganne to commit robberies he spoiled those that he met and sacked the villages and places that laie vnder mount Clario and forced their
inhabitants for to acknowledge him for their Lorde and to paie him tribute as to their king These robberyes and roades he vsed the space of seauen or eight moneths so that Abdelmelec was forced to leuie forces for to coole his lustinesse to driue the théeues out of the dens of the mountains For the doing of the which exploit he vsed the seruice of the new prince Muley Hamet who was with a power in the kingdome of Sus for to make excursions He discomfited Muley Mahamet in certaine places and almost wholie destroied all his band as wel footemen and horsemen and forced him to hide himselfe in the verie thicke woodes and inaccessible cragges of the mountaine where hée lurked aboue a yéere almost killed with colde snowe and other miseries and the inclemencie of the aire and most miserablie molested and beaten with despaire of his lyfe and feare of awaites which his Vnkle layde for him proposing greate rewards to him that could bring him eyther dead or aliue At length he was driuen by necessitie the sharpest weapon to that which hée hadde before refused and tooke scorne off that is to desire the aide of the Kinge of Portugall for to deliuer him from the awaites and hands of his vnkle and to restore him vnto his graund fathers and fathers kingedome For the which cause he sent a messeÌ„ger from Mount Clario with letters vnto the king of Portugall and willed him to goe by Mazaga But that he might receaue some aunswere more safely speadely he resolued to leaue the mountaines and to get him to Tangar So through the woodes and wildernesses of the mountaines where the way was very safe and not beaten with tract of mens féete he came without any great daunger vnto Penon where after he had stayed a few dayes to gather his men together he went towards Tangar where he was courteously receaued into the Citie by the Gouernour but leauing his forces without the walles From that Citie he sent two of his Captaines in Ambassade with letters accompanied with two gentlemen of Tangar vnto king Sebastian and desired of him aide for to restore him vnto his Fathers kingdome And because the gouernour of Tangar was not ignorant that if he vsed the king of Marocco courteously that he should thereby well please the king of Portugall he dispatched a Carauell to Lisbon with the Ambassadours for their spéedier passage of whose iourney and successe we wil speake after that we haue first admonished the reader of certaine things necessarie to be knowen King Sebastian being by nature verie much giuen to loue of armes sought for no other pleasure then by martiall matters which had caused him in former yéeres to passe ouer to Tangar to th entent to conquere Barbarie but with vaine endeuour For Mahamet as we haue tould you before had of a vaine and foolish confidence twise refused aides offered him by the Portugall But when the king of Portugall saw that now his ayde was desired by the letters of the king of Marocco he was very glad that a most wishshed occasion whereby he might fill his long lust and longing was offered vnto him who was desirous of praise and studious to enlarge his Empire and Religion Wherefore he receued magnificently the Ambassadour of Muly Mahamet being ariued in Portugall and graunted them their request in all demaunds and also wrote letters to Mahamet wherein he promised his trauaile helpe and fauour in restoring him into his fathers kingdome no man of his couÌ„seile or of the nobilitie holding much against it And this might be the cause of that interview where the Catholick king and the king of Portugall met and talked together in An. 1578. at Guadalupea a citie of Castilia Where the Catholicke king laboured all that he could to feare the king of Portugall from that enterprise or if he would néedes goe through with it nor could not be disuaded froÌ„ his purpose that then he would doe it very substantially and effectually prouiding and furnishing himselfe passing well with all things néedefull for so great an attempt But when the King of Portugall continued constant in that he had once purposed he returned home whither anone after the Catholike king sent his Ambassadours for to deale with him about the same matter that he himselfe had talked with him off in presence For the Catholick king was not ignorant how the king of Marocco did surpasse in strength power how skilful expert valiant a warriour he was and how great power and prouision so great an enterprise required wherof he knew that the Portugall was yet fully vnfurnished But the king of Portugal remained constant in his purpose began to prouide all things necessarie for the voiage First he made leuies of souldious throughout his own kingdome he sent some into Germany to take him vppe 5000. footemen He also wrote letters to certain knights of Andalouzia to bring vnto him olde souldiours Moreouer he commaunded great store of ordenance wepons armour other munition victualls to be prouided brought together that all these things might be the more coÌ„modiously transported he commaunded shippes to be staied in all hauens of his kingdome The number of the souldiours that he leuied in his owne kingdome was great but they were ill furnished freshwater souldiours taken vp of clownes hushandmen and a rable nothing fit for the field As for the Germaines they were also fresh water souldiour and vnskilfull of martiall matters and when they came to Lisbon they fell sick and aboue 2000. of them died There came also vnto the king 600. Italians with whom the Pope had furnished the Counte of Ireland who being ariued at Lisbon offered his seruice to the king promised to follow him in the iourney Moreouer the king caused proclamation to be made with sound of Trumpet thoroughout his whole kingdome that all Noblemen and Gentlemen his vassailes should attend vpon him to the warres vppon 〈◊〉 of losse of landes and rentes and all priuiledges gâ—â—â—â—ted by the king So then all things néedefull for an armie being prouided and sufficient store of shippes and boates gathered together he commaunded the ordenaunce victualls munition horses and other necessaries to be shipped that when the feast of Saint Iohn Baptist on which day he had determined to leaue his house drew néere ther might be nothing to let hinder but that the armie might be embarked and transported into Africa When Abdelmeleâ— the king of Marocco was admonished and aduertised of these things and what the king of Portugall entended against him he was verye sorrowfull therefore not so much because he feared the King of Portugall his forces as for that he being well affected towards men of the Christian Religion did foresée in minde that Africa would be the graue of the King of Portugall yea though he brought with him thrise so great an Armie as he had Wherefore it is well knowne that he spake one day to this effecte The