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
great peale of great and small shot in token of ioye And there hée was forced to pitch vp his Tents and to lie there in a Campe certaine daies staying for other forces and to recouer his strength weakened by sicknesse Wherefore as soone as those forces that hée looked for were come he sooke muster of his whole armie and found fiftéene thousand footmen harguebuziers of whome fiue thousand were verie choice olde souldiours and the rest fresh water souldioure and of none experience Then he had two thousand Argolets two and fortie thousand Alarbes with shéeld and spere sixe and twentie field péeces verie well furnished and Gunners verie good and readie Moreouer all his whole armie was verie well prouided of victualles and his souldiours well paide the which is one of the chiefest thinges in warres and whereof the Generall ought to haue most speciall care So his souldiours were paide euerie moneth a Duckate or péece of golde wherefore they were also all readie to abide all extremitie for Abdelmelec and to spendr their liues for him except the horse men of the Alarbes whome hée little trusted as he that was not ignoraunt that they were full of falsehoode nor gaue their mindes to anie thing else than to gette booties and to rob they cared not whom And that I may tell you all in few words he had more trust in none than in those fiue thousand old souldiours harquebuziers But the thing that gréeued Abdelmelec most was that at so great and perillous a battaile whereat hee must néeds be present himselfe and order it vnlesse he wold endaunger the whole state of his Kingdome hee dyd finde himselfe to bée so weake and quite broken with sicknesse the which the burning Dogge dayes dyd increase Wherefore he laie still there eight or nine daies vntill that the king of Portugall constrained him yea vnwilling for to march forward and to encampe at Alcazar In the meane time the king of Portugal béeing issued out of Arzill and readie to march mustered his armie wherein besides the thousand stipendaries that he had left to kéepe the fléete and the two thousand that hée had sent to Massaga he had fouretéene thonsand footemen and two thousand horsmen a great part armed Moreouer there were thrée thousand pioners and aboue a thousand cochmen and almost an infinite number of drudges flaues Negroes mullotters horse boies land resses and those swéete wenches that the Frenchmen doe merrilie call the daughters of delight for now the world is come to that we thinke we cannot kéepe wars without these snailes So that all the insauorie companie of baggage did excéede sixe and twentie thousand persons He had also sixe and thirtie field péeces and 1500. wagons full of mattes vessell and householde stuffe onelie for noble men He might in deede haue brought a greater power in this voiage as wel out of Spain as out of other Countries but that he giuing credite to the words of Muley Hamet who said that the armie of Abdelmelec would reuoult vnto him he dismissed many Spaniards that would haue gone aboord at Caliz and did more easilie discharge them that vnder pretence of sicknesse desired that they might goe home In the armie that followed him were thrée thousand Germanes sixe hundreth Italians two thousand Spaniardes sire hundreth Souldiours of Tangar two thousand fiue hundreth light horsemen in whome hée reposed his greatest trust The rest were Portugalls And the greater parte of these forces had their wages sparingly and verie ill paide them and were distressed with want and many other ills for now victuals beganne to faile the which were so sparinglie distributed that many died for hunger The fault was in the purueiours who do full often in the time of wars through their knauerie cast princes generals into extreme calamities But that which was worst of all the greater part of the armie consisted of fresh water souldiours who were without skill of martiall discipline neither had euer séene battaile or campe That I may omit those eight thousand that bare long pikes then the which kinde of souldiours there is none of lesse vse and seruice more vnfit for wars in Barbarie By that time the king of Portugal had mustered his armie Abdelmelec was come to Alcazar with an armie full of fury and wrath Which caused the King of Portugall his Counsell to desire their Prince in no case to ioyne in battaile with his enimies who did farre surpasse him in men and might but rather that he would march with his armie to Larissa take that fortified place and prouide for himselfe But when Abdelmelec knew by espies almost euerie houre what was done in the campe of the Christians and how weake the Portugall forces were and how coldly all things were ordered and therefore did sée that the wretchen king being in the prime of his yeares was néere to death and desiruction he wrought by all meanes he could that he should not be forced to fight a battaile because he was not otherwise verie ill affected towards Christians Wherefore he laboured priuile and secretly by certaine men and they mostly merchants to certifie the king of Portugall of the guiles and deceits of Mahamet that had brought him into these daungers and so present ruine and ieoperdie of life But although these aduises of Abdelmelec were not vnknowne to the king of Portugall and his counsaillours aduised him the verie same that Abdelmelec dyd and went about to withdraw him from his purpose yet he wilfullie contemned all that could be sayde not onely that he might fulfill his burning desire to fight and to trye his strength and valiant heart but also chiefelie because he trusted the promises of Mahamet which he beléeued to be verse true To he short his Counsaile laboured to their vttermost to disuade the king from ioyning in battaile but rather adeised him to march to Larissa and they wrought so much by blaming and brging him that the king at length yéelded to goe to Larissa Wherevpon the Nauie was commaunded to make saile towards Larissa he himselfe marched by land the therwards going out of Arzil the 29. of Iulie which was tues daie and thrée daies he marched but making small iourneies by reasen of the multitude of haggage that followed the armie and then he fraied the fridaie because he looked for some aide from Arzil The Saterdaie verie earlie he began to march againe and at length came to the riuer of Mazaga which runneth to Larissa and there he lodged watches and wardes being diligentlie appointed and set after his vsed manner for feare of the Moores that were dispearsed round about him At that time Abdelmelec remained at Alcazar verie weake and sicklie and although he heard that the Portugall was gone out of Arzil and was encamped at Mazaga yet he would not stirre out of his place vntill that he vnderstood by espies that his enimies made towards Alcazar For hée would haue suffered his enimie to haue taken Larissa
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
receiued of the Citizens with surpassing ioy honour and gratulation For whilest his Father was yet liuing he had perceiued the singular fauour and good will of his subiects and found it also after his death because as long as he liued he sought for nothing else but golden peace and the quietnesse of his subiects and to kéepe them happie and blessed without anie harme Whereby he gathered together so great riches and treasure as scarce anie king that euer liued before him had gotten So Abdallas raigned alone certaine yéeres and kept his Court by turnes one yere at Fesse and two at Marocco vntill such time as hée made an heire apparant and instituted a successor After Abdallas had raigned long time in singular quietnesse and had alone vsed exercised the supreame rule gouernment he determined with himself to abrogate disanul the law the his Father with the péeres of the kingdome had made for the succession in the crowne which should in order still descend alwaies to the elder brother liuing And although that Abdallas did priuelie secretlie practise it with those in whom he reposed greatest trust yet notwithstanding the matter came at length to the notice of his brothers of whom some béeing carefull of their liues and fearing to bée made awaie by some trecherie fled out of the kingdome as Abdelmunen and Abdelmelec who not without passing great perill because there were many priuie awaites laide for them in their iourney by the seruants of their brother Abdallas fledde to Tremissen And béeing there they were curteouslie entertained by the Turkes as young Gentlemen of the bloud rotall And anone after they withdrew themselues to Argier that they might liue more safelte there vnder the defence of the Turkish Emperour When Muley Abdallas who as we told you before priuelie compassed the murther of his brothers that hée might safelie leaue the kingdome to his sonnes heard that they sought to saue them selues by flying out of the Countrie hée dissembling his anger for it greeued him at the heart that some of them had escaped least the rest of his brothers should bée also afraide gathered together all his forces out of hand vnder pretence of going to the Citie of Fes Wherefore being first encamped before the Citie of Marocco and anone after his Campe remooued as though he woulde goe to Fes When he heard that his Brothers were come to salute him hee leauing his youngest brother whose childish yéeres hée contemned staied for them feare daies iourney from the Citie of Fes So then when they were come together and hadde saluted one another it happened that a littie while after they suspecting no ill nor fearing anie falschoode were with monstrous crueltie all thrée beheaded in their Tentes The which thing dyd not pricke the kinges subiectes a little at the heart but déepelie pearced it yet they were forced to dissemble their sorrow After that hée had done this so Tragicall an act hée finished his iourney to Fes to the intent for to thrust his sonne Muley Mahomet vpon the Fessans for their Prince and sole heir of all his kingdomes so force them to sweare faith obedience vnto him For although he had other childreÌ„ and in déede more worthie of the Empire yet because this was his eldest and also for other causes he rathest made choice of him to be his successour Wherfore as soone as hée came to Fes he assembling the States brought the matter to that passe that they gaue their allegeance to his sonne sware to be true liegemen vnto him rather constrained by feare than brought to it by loue and good will towards the Prince or for anie right that he could pretend to the kingdome After he had dispatched these matters and séeing the al things had succéeded as he did wish then that he who was now almost broken with age might passe the rest of his life in quiet idlenesse he returned with his armie to Marocco leaning his sonne in the Citie of Fes for to gouerne that Prouince Things standing in this state in Barbarie the two brothers got then to Argier for to escape and auoide the furie of their brother Muley Abdallas and the younger of them Muley Abdelmelec went to Constantinople Where he did serue so well both by sea and by land that for his noble courage of heart and passing strength of bodie he allured many men to his loue through his valiant acts and victories gotten of his enimies he wan the fame of a great name not onelie among the people but also with the Prince of the Turkes himselfe The which thing got him not onlie singular fauor honor full of good will but also gained him immeasurable riches That I may omit with what how great promises the Emperor of the Turkes loded him in how great hope he did put him that he wold reduce him into his fathers kingdome out of the which he had ben driuen by his brothers iniurie But Muley Abdelmunen that abode at Argier was so simple witted that by the perswasioÌ„ of his brother Abdallas he returned again to Tremissen whether Muley Mahamet â—eÌ„t thrée cut throte villains for to dispatch him out of the way And it fel out to as he wold haue it for when these villains were come to Tremissen they so well eied Abdelmunen the one fridaie as he was praying in the temple they wounded him with an arow of that which wound he died within 2. daies after no auctor of the trecherie and villanous fact being knowen When newes was brought to Abdelmelec at Constantinople of the death of his brother he was verie heartely sory therefore Which caused Solyman themperor of the Turkes to promise him aide to recouer his kingdome But that this promise was not performed the death of Sultan Solyman that followed shortly after was the let But when Sultan Amurathes was come to the Empire now reigneth ouer the Turkes Abdelmelec obteined more fauour and credit then euer he had before About the same time Muley Abdallas fell sick and dyed within thrée daies after in the Citie of Marocco His death was concealed kept close thrée dayes not onely that in the meane time Muley Mahamet who was then in the citie of Fes might be certified of the decease of his father but also least that if his vncles had knowen of the death of their brother Abdallas before him they would make themselues Princes of the citie of Marocco in the possession whereof the state of the kingdome consisted But the subiects bare more good will to the two brothers of Mahamet although they were younger then he But when Mahamet had receaued newes of his Fathers death he caused himselfe to be proclaimed king of Fes and immediatly after went out of the Citie with an armie and came to Marocco the head and Metropolitan citie of the whole kingedome and there although the people were vnwilling dyd assume the dignitie royall no man resisting nor impeaching him
except onely his brother Muley Banacar whome as soone as he had ascended the seige royall he bereft of lyfe But an other brother Muleâ— Hazar he cast in prison and sent certaine men to murder his youngest vncle of all that then liued at Tasblet But when he vnderstooee of the trecherie he sought himselfe â—â—fâ—tie by flight went to Tremissen with the household furniture royall And being thus escaped out of the hands of the cutthroates he opened a way for himselfe to the kingdome For this is he thâ—â— reigneth at this present in Marocco called Muly Hamet The death of Abdallas and the 〈◊〉 of things that had happened in Barbaria were soone brought into Turkie and when Muley Mahamet had with singular diligence ordered and appointed those things that séemed vnto him necessarie for the establishment of the state of the kingdome at the same time Abdelmelec vsed that diligence that within few daies he came to Argier with mandates of the Turkish Emperour in whome it was conteined that the Captaines in those parts should supply vnto him all things néedefull for the warres And straightway he had ready to take the field fiue thousand harquebuziers as well Turkes as Azuagas warlike men and well practised in feates of armes With these he marched to Tremissen taking vp by the waye so many horsemen of the Alarbes as he could get and gather together When he came to Tremissen he was very honorably receaued and there stayed sixe dayes for to make prouision of all things necessarie for the warres and he with his younger brother Hamet whom he sound there leuied twelue thousand speares and foure hundreth Harquebussiers on horsebacke and toke with him out of Tremissen twelue field pieces with victualls and all other munition Being furnished with these forces he marched to take the Citie of Fes But although Muley Mahamet who was that time at Marocco was certified of the enterprise of his vnkle yet he did so contemne him and did so despise his forces in comparison of his owne that he tooke no regard thereof vntill he saw that the matter was come to good earnest in déede and that he vnderstoode that Abdelmelec hadde now assembled his forces at Tremissen And then he leuying men in hast and in a hurlie without choise encamped a league or two miles from Marocco and commaunded all the subiects of his kingdoms to repaire vnto him spredding a rumor that he would assaile the Christians of Tangar that by this allurement they might take armes more chéerefully because the Moores doe desire no warres more than those that are kept against the Christians These forces being made readie and furnished with great Artillerie he commaunded them to march towards Fesse and because the greatest part of his power had ioyned with him in his iourney as soone as he came to Fesse he mustered his armie which then consisted of foure score thousande horsemen with speare and shield thirtene thousand footemen harquebuziers and foure thousand harquebuziers on horseback with sixe and thirtie field péeces At the same moment that Mahamet did set foorth with his armie against Abdelmelec there came vnto him a noble man Ambassadour from Sebastian the King of Portugall who promised him in his masters Maiesties name aide against the Turkes and his Vnkle But Mahamet being made more proude for that he saw so great an armie and so strong vnder his commaund contemned the benefit of the king of Portugall Wherefore as soone as he vnderstoode that his vnkle was departed from Tremissen he marched against him with that heate that theyr Armies mette betweene Fesse and Tremissen the seuententh of March in Au. 1576. The Battaile was begonne about euening and the furious tempest continued so long vntill that Mahamets armie being wearied both in heart and bodie turned their backes The fault of that flight was ascribed to one Dugall who being Captaine of the Andalousians reuolted from Mahamet to Abdelmelec with two thousande verie choice harquebuziers The which when Mahamet hadde perceaued who as soone as the Battailes hadde ioyned withdrew himselfe a nule off prouiding for one and standing vppon a Wagon did beholde the fight a farre off and was afrayde least the rest of the Captaines following that example would also take part with his enimie he immediatlie stole out of his Tent and with fiue hundreth horsemen posted a pace to Marocco leauing his Souldiours to the furie of the enimie and all his Treasures and riches to the spoile So Abdelmelec got the victorie without much sweete or bloud on either side and doubtlesse Mahamet might haue easilie defaited and destroied Abdelmelec his power with the tenth part of his armie But Abdelmelec hauing obtained so famous a victorie sent a good great troupe for to pursue and take Mahamet but he himselfe béeing receiued with great ioy of the Fessans was proclaimed king by them and the rest of the Cities and Townes of that kingdome And because he hauing caught an ague was not well in health he determined to rest a litle while in the Citie of Fes there dismissed the Turkish forces which came with him vnder the leading of Rabadan Bassa to the king of Argier For that Bassa had no more in his commission but to accompanie Abdelmelec to Fesse and to put him in possession of that kingdome So Abdelmelec dismissed all his Turkes except a few that hid themselues when their fellowes went awaie that they might gratifie the new king and become his subiects who were in number 1500. verie valiant and stout men But that we may returne to Muley Mahamet as soone as he came to Marocco he repaired his power he leuied soldiours in all parts of the kingdome he opening his Cofers monyed the Captaines rewarded the souldiours and went about more diligentlie to winne all mennes good will with giftes than euer he had done in his life before hauing regard and respect of this onelle that he might wash out with some notable victorie the shamefull blot that his vnkle had giuen him and to make amends therefore So by this carefulnesse and diligence he got together ten thousand harquebuziers scotemen and a thousand on horsebacke but fresh water souldiours and besides them thirtie thousand horsemen with speare and shéelde The which forces with foure and twentie field péeces he brought into the field and prouided so much victuals as was néedfull for that iourney But if happened that also at this second muster the king of Portugal sent againe an Ambassador vnto him with Letters againe offred him aide against Abdelmelec his vnkle But he made the verie same answere to the second Ambassador that he did to the first but that he mustering all his whole armie brought it in the sight of the Ambassadour that his maister might vnderstand that he had no néede of the Portugalls When Abdelmelec had a little recouered himselfe of his ficknesse at Fesse and had augmented his armie with sixe thousand harquebuziers after the departure of the Turkes whereof we tolde
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
that those aduentures came onelie in the fauour of Don Antonio Prior of Crato with minde to rob his maiesties fléetes of both his Indies and to make themselues Lords of his Islands and dominions as they had begun in the Isle of S. Michael that their meaning was to doe other spoiles and piracies in punishing of the fault and common offence committed by them against the publike peace sworne maintained kept betwéene these two crownes their subiects did declare all the prisoners to bée enimies of the common quietnesse and good troublers of the entercourses fauourers of his maiesties rebelles and that as such kinde of men publicke theeues rouers and pyrates the chiefe Iustice of the fléete did ordeine that for the punishment of those for an example to other in like cases that the noblemen should be headded and the rest should be hanged from xvii yéeres vpwards And this sentence being giuen it was put in execution the first day of August of this present yéere 1582. Of this battaile thus we reade in the booke intituled the Explanation of the true and lawfull right of Antony the king of Portugall When they were come vnto the Isle of Saint Michaells wherein was a garrison of 800. Castilians the people of the Island vnderstanding that king Antonio was come dyd with little or no a doe yéelde vnto him for all the resistance the Castilians could make to the contrarie who then dispeiring fled all into the castell Within the which when they had held them about thrée dayes the king of Castills nauie was descried the Admirall whereof was the Marques of Sancta Cruz who brought an armie of nine or tenne thousand men Thorough the occasion of comming of this nauie the king and the rest that were with him must needes forsake the Island and goe aboard their shippes and prepare themselues to fight Albeit in the meane time Strossi and the Conestable that was the Earle of Vimioso other of great auctoritie did verie earnestlie admonish and beséech the king that he would withdraw himselfe into the Isle of Tercera which is the strongest of all the Aslores least he should endanger his person in a doubtfull battell séeing that vppon his safetie did depend the libertie not onely of the kingedome of Portugall but also of whole Christendome But the king after he had a long time refused yet at length yelded vnto them and went to Tercera in a Pinasse attended by his Procurator Ed-ward de Câ—stro and certaine other leauing with the nauie the Conestable with about two hundreth Portugalls among whom â—â—â—ry many were Gentlemen that had folowed the King 〈◊〉 France But the next day Strossi setting his nauie in aray assailed the aduerse fleete of the Castillanes they fought very fiercely on both sides and when that Strossi had now almost boarded the vizeadmirall of the Marques whereof Lopes de Figueroa was Captaine hauing slaine in that shippe about 600. Castilians at last the marques assailed Strossi on the other side with a very mightie great and verie well appointed shippe called the Galeon San Martino did casely board take him because ther was no man that would succour him besides the Comte de Brisacq with two other ships with whom he had fought verie valiantly hauing slaine many Castilians Which Brisacq when he saw that he was wounded that he laboured in vaine neither was succoured by his felowes as he thought to haue bene at length withdrew himselfe out of the fight whereas in the meane time the lord of Sansolenne the Vizeadmiral of Strossi the Lord of Fumey who was Captaine ouer 5. ships refused to fight at all alleaging that the winde was against them Whervpon Brisacq as one now in despaire returned into France with certaine ships but Sansolenne and Fumei came with 20. ships into the Isle of Tercera vnto the kng who when he vnderstood the successe of the battaile was very sorowful as he had good cause and namely for the death of the Constable Strossi but anone after he dismissed theÌ„ yet reteining still with him 2500. Frenchmen that he might be able to defend the Island against the inuasion of the Castilians not taking it wel that Sansolenne and Fumey had so wretchedly forsaken Strossi and the Constable But the enimie who had lost in that battaile about 2000. men and those for the most part of the chiefe men that he brought with him durst attempt nothing against the Island of Tercera but staying for and taking with him the fléetes that about that time of the yéere doe vsually come out of the East and west Indies returned into Portugal with his nauie The Marques recouered immediatly after this ouerthrow the Isle of S. Michael and reenforcing his power wanne the next yéere the Tercera and whatsoeuer else the king of Portugall had in those parts The Battaile of Langside in Scotland fought betwen Iames Stuard Erle of Murray General of the forces of Iames the sixt and Gilespick Cambell Erle of Argile Generall of the armie of Marie the late deposed Queene the 13. of May. An. 1563. MArie who being imprisoned in the castell of Lochleuin had resigned the kingdome of Scotland vnto her sonne Iames the sixt being not a yéere old vnder the gouerment of Iames Erle of Murraye her base brother made an escape out of the castel of Lochleuin the fourth of May and came the next day accompanied with a great traine vnto Hamilton the which is a village eight miles from Glasquo where then the Regent kept his Court. The brute of the Quéenes ariuall at Hamilton being spread abroade many either that distrusted the kings partie as not strong enough or had conceaued hope of getting grace with the Quéene or else reposed confidence in the memorie of their olde seruices did part openly shew themselues of her â—â—ction and part secretly procuring pardon for that they had done against her remained with the Regent expecting the euent of this new accident But whereas the reuolt of other bred no great admiration yet the departure of Robert Lord Boid who vntil that day had gotten singular good opinion of constancie gaue great occasion of diuers speeches insomuch that it was sharply debated at the Counsell table before the Regent whether they should continue still at Glasquo or remoue to Sterling where the King was kept Manie dyd vehemently counsaile them to depart thence declaring that Hamilton a great towne was néere and the tenaunts of that whole mightie house of the Hamiltons spreâ—â—â— round about them that there came aboute fiue hundreth Horsemen with the Quéene and many were said to be comming out of farther places and parts but with the Regent were almost none but his owne householde the rest being part fledde to the Quéene and part by little little slipped away all things being verie quiet euerie man to his priuate businesse and although the Citizens of Glasquo séemed faithfull enough as they that had suffered many great wrongs at the
the more fiercelie because they being lead with emulation wil indeuour one to excell another in prowes euerie man preferre his owne Nation before others the which thing I haue alwaies thought to be a matter of verie great moment in warres And this also am I the rather induced to thinke because we doe heare that Don Iohn is an hardie and venterous young man a contemner of danger and golde and one that couetetl and careth for nothing so much as that the fame of his valour may runne euen to the farthest coasts of Spaine To bring the which thing to passe can he séeke for a more commodious occasion than this is Séeing that he hath them his helpers who being endomaged by vs doe burne in desire of fight and there with all hope that as soone as they haue discomfited our Nauie they shal soone recouer all that they haue lost The which things certes if they should happen not onelie the glorie but also a a great part of those things that they shuld get yea and the Lordship of this whole sea euen to the East wil redound to him But if contrariwise he should runne awaie would hée euer dare to come into his brothers sight againe Also the Venetians that haue diligentlie sought and searched these seas where could they séeke to saue themselues if they shuld betake them to flight Therefore let vs thinke that they haue carefullie considered all these things in whom the conseruation of their liues goods and Empire doth lie and that they will all fight-together most valiantlie the which they did not at Preuesa But we are now in this gulfe a place well defenced both by nature and two verie strong Castles and we haue as good meanes to get victuals and souldiours as we our selues would wish But before we ariued here we wonderfullie afflicted our enimies we wasted a parte of the Isle of Candie we destroyed Cerigo with fire and harrying The like we did in Zante Cefalenia we greatlie anoied Corfu we recouered Suppoto we entered into the gulfe of Venice and there we tooke Antiuari and Dulcino Townes nothing small with many other places and Castles We burnt Budua and with so greate triumph we came at the last into this gulfe Can we not hold our selues contented with these glorious giftes for this time speciallie séeing that we doe vnderstand our men haue taken Famogosta and conserued the whole kingdome of Ciprus at this verie same time Surelie it is no lesse vertue to kéepe things gotten than to get them for when we doe attempt to win things by force that enterprise hath a doubtfull beginning and is most commonlie much subiect to fortune but the kéeping of things gotten hath a certaine and finall end which may bée attributed to the counsaile of a wise Generall But of our great Emperour this doe I certes promise you that he will accept as well the safetie of this Nauie and will as much commend you for that ye haue not exposed it to apparant perill for the wasting of so many prouinces for the conquering of kingdoms cities for the presentation vnto him of so great a spoile of all kinde of riches For it will aske vs many yéeres to furnish so great a fléet but our enimies wil prepare a greater within a short time Wherefore my opinion is most excellent who are the soule of our greate Emperour the safetie of the Ottomanicall Empire that fortune is not to be attempted but our Nauie is to bée verie carefullie and curioustie spread out and set forth in good order and arraie within this gulfe and that we doe expect in this safe place what our enimies minde to doe this daie or to morrow they will be come as we doe heare vnto Zante and Cefalenia and ye thereby taking occasion shall knowe what may be done with most safetie for wheras in all martiall matters then speciallie in nauall it is of great consequence to catch the occasion of doing things fortunatlie and safelie All which things I doe vnderstand that yée know better than I and therefore I doe hope that ye will take aduise of those things that shal be still reported vnto you and that I doe trust ye wil doe so much the more because the enimie cannot staie there long by reason of hard comming by victuals and also because the place is nothing safe For the which causes doubtlesse one of these two thinges will happen vnto them that either they will be constrained to returne backe from whence they came or else they will come forward to méete with vs But if that they shall resolue to goe forth to méete vs certes I doe not know whether they can come into this gulfe and if they doe come in it cannot bée done without greate daunger for we being defenced with two Castles shall anoie them safelie and shall know without coniectures and of a certaintie how great their forces bée And if wée shall séeme to be superior we may safelie assaile them if not then remaine heere safelie without anie danger of our Nauie or Empire and yet neuerthelesse retaine and maintaine the dignitie and honour of our selues and our great Emperour Neither is there cause why we shoulde in anie wise feare that they wandering on this coast will farrie héere longer than we would for that they can in no case doe for lacke of victualls and for ill weather vsuall at this time of the yere And if they wold go about it they shuld do it with greater daunger of themselues than of vs because the difficultie of the time of the yéere wil trouble and make rough these seas now euerie daie and will scatter their Fléete whereby we may take occasion for to inuade them being dispearsed here and there But yet I woulde not that we should bée idle in the meane time but séeke to learne by all industrie sending sundrie espies the power and purpose of our enimies for so if that wée haue diligentlie learned their state wée maye take and follow that aduise which shall bée most for the profite and dignitie of our Emperour But to goe forth out of this well fortified and strong place while wée are yet vncertaine of all thinges and to commit our selues vnto the daliance of fortune doe I déeme to bée an action nothing praise worthie I doe not doubt but that our enimies will busilie goe about to prouoke vs out of this strong place and that they will doe béeing forced either by the time of the yeare or the season of the weather but then it stands with your wisedome to moderate and staie your selues so much the more By the which wise parte yée shall get no lesse praise and opinion of wisedome than yée haue alreadie gained in conquering so greate a kingdome and winning so many Cities and Castles because through your wisedome in this point yée may séeme to haue conserued the Empire of Ottoman Yet I would haue all that I haue sayd to bée so taken that
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
people thinking it dishonorable to séeke safetie by flight and with those few that followed him behaued himselfe valiantly He slue so manie he sent so many to hell that many called him the lightning and few durst to looke him in the face or to defend themselues against him At length about a three score of Abdelmelec his souldiours seeking glorie by slaying of a King enclosed him Then he séeing no way left him to escape commaunded one of them that followed him to hold vp a white scarfe hanged on a launce in signe that he would yeeld But they that had enclosed him that is to wit Alarbes a kinde of people of all other most barbarous cruell supposing that by this signe he dyd call the Portugalls to â—ide him charged him a fresh on all parts and wounded him in many places and at length tooke him and cutting a sunder the lace of his helmet gaue him two blowes on the â—edde and as many in the face so that he tumbling off from his horse gaue vp the Ghost The Moores followed the flying Christians vntill it was late nights So when all were vanquished and scattered or brought into wretched captiuitie Muley Hamet commanded the retraite to bée sounded and returned to the Campe with the bodie of his brother Abdelmelec and it was euen night when he came thether and straight waie was the death of king Abdelmelec published and thereby also Muley Hamet acknowledged and receiued for king and all the whole armie was verie sorrowfull for the losse of Abdelmelec Although the this ouerthrowe was no doubt sent vs by God for our sinnes yet two hundreth or few lesse with happie successe escaped out of the handes of the Barbarians aliue and well of whome thrée score were horsemen and the rest footemen and among them Don Antonio a Portugall who was deliuered by a certaine Moore out of the handes of his enimies and brought to Tanger But there were slaine of Christians in this battaile aboue twelue thousand For all the whole field was filled with dead bodies of men yea and of horses mules asses oxen and other beasts of burthen and draught Among the nobler sort that died in this battaile were besides king Sebastian the Duke of Auero the Bishoppes of Coimbra and Portua the Commissarie General sent by the Pope the Marques of Treland Christopher de Tauora and many other knightes and Gentlemen whome I doe omit for breuities sake The Tuesdaie which was the fift of August the new king sent in the morning a band of footmen to seeke out the men slaine on their side of whome a thousand fiue hundreth being knowen were buried in the same place among whome were many valiaunt and renowmed Captaines friendes and familiars of king of Abdelmelec They being buried after their manner the bodie of Muley Mahamet who was the author of so many euils and slaughters was found on the banke and sands of the riuer wherein he had ben drowned The bodie of the king of Portugall was also found among the bodies of the slaine Christians by two of his seruants that were prisoners whom the new king had sent for that purpose in the hard morning promising them libertie if they did finde the kings bodie Wherefore when they had found it naked they brought it to the new king couered with their owne clothes and with it was also brought the bodie of Muley Mahamet These dead bodies of thrée kings being brought into one Pauilion made an horrible spectacle and wrong teares from the beholders For what more sorrowfull and horrible a sight could there bée than to beholde thrée most mightie kings that died in one battaile lying together The armie of one of whom was vanquished when he liued after he was dead did straight waie ouercome the armie of the other two kinges and whereas all thrée did aspire to the kingdome of Marocco none of them helde it But this thing being shut from mans senses and reserued to the hidden iudgement of Gods maiestie I doe omit The bodie of Abdelmelec was carried in an horse litter to Fesse distant about twentie leagues from Alcazar that it might be buried there All the horsemen with one legion or regiment of footemen attended on the coarse Which being brought to Fes and receiued with the great sorrowe of the Citizens was laide in the tombe of his auncestours in the verie same sumptuous apparell and precious garnishment of gems that the king died in Many of the noble men that were taken prisoners were verie desirous to redéeme the bodie of the king of Bortugall and they offered Muley Mahamet ten thousand Duckates if hée would vouchsafe to send it to Tangar But the Barbarian aunswered that it was not séemelie to sell a dead mannes bodie yet notwithstanding if they woulde giue him Tangar or Arzil they shoulde haue the bodie but when that was not in their handes and power they coulde goe no farther yet this they obtained of the new king that hée suffered the bodie of the king of Portugall to bée carried to Alcazar where also it was buried in the Hospital which is in the pallace of the gouernour of the Towne and some appointed to kéepe it continuallie least the Christians shoulde steale it awaie But as for the bodie of Muley Mahamet the newe king his vnkle commaunded the skinne to bée pulled off because he had béene the author of so many slaughters and to bée salted and then stuffed with strawe and to bée carried about thorough out all prouinces of his kingdome for to deferre all other for attempting the like at anie time after The men women boyes slaues and blacke Moores taken in this battaile by the Moores were in number aboue fouretéene thousand and they béeing the next daie diuided among the Souldiours were carried into all Prouinces of Barbarie For as the Moores came out of all places to the battaile so euerie man carried home with him his prisoners and spoyle But although the counsailours of the new king were verie earnest with him to besiege either Tanger or Arzill namelie séeing that there was no man that woulde resist or defend it yet hée refused so to doe but rather prepared himselfe to goe to Fes that hauing taken the possession of that Citie hée might bée seised of the inheritance of all the kingdomes thinking that there woulde not otherwise want them that would assaie to set him besides the saddle if they did perceiue him to be slacke therein And hée was acknowledged for king but with vnwilling heartes and in a manner repining thereat neither in déede was hée receiued with the same chéerefulnesse and ioye that they vsed to receiue other kings and the cause thereof was for that there was no mettall in this newe king Hamet an artlesse man not caring for martiall matters nor such an one as was fit for to vpholde the dignitie of a king but contrariwise effeminate nice giuen to delicacies delyghtes and pleasures and lurking at home in the Pallace Hée was then
about nine and twentie or thirtie yéeres of age of coulour blacke not bigge but yet faule and weake and of no strength and much lesse skilfull of things and endued with that wisdome which is required in the gouerning of a kingdome and that I may comprehend all in few wordes he was altogether vnlike his brother Abdelmelec for he was of a meane stature of a fine proportion of bodie with brode shoulders white face but intermixed with red which did gallantlie garnish his chéekes a blacke beard thicke and curled great eies and graie In summe he was a verie proper man and verie comelie in all his actions and iestures and verie strong the which strength he conserued by continuallie exercising of himselfe in skirmishes and in bending of bowes He spake Spanish verie well and with a great grace he could also write in Spanish But hée had the Italian tongue best of all other yet he tooke most delight in the Turkish tongue so that for loue of it he cared not for the Arabian the which was his mother tongue and wherein he was accounted for the most excellent Poet of his time He was ingenious sharpe witted and passing prudent and wise wheras in other things than speciallie in the gouernment of a kingdome He plaied wel on diuerse instruments and also daunced excellentlie but delighted aboue measure in armes and the art of warre in which things he also exercised himselfe much insomuch that he made with his owne hands many great péeces of ordenance that are yet at this daie in Barbarie For he was of a singular and wonderfull wit in all things that he went about or tooke in hand And although he professed the religion of Mahamet yet he so loued Christians and of them Spaniardes that I cannot expresse with wordes the loue and good will which he shewed towards many captiues prisoners For he suffered theÌ„ to returne into Spain being dismissed without ransome and w e this munificense liberalitie he had set at libertie aboue 200. within the 3. yeres tthat he raigned I do now omit to tel you with what fauor curtesie he vsed the prisoners least I be ouerlong or may be carried too far with his loue But the he néeds not my publication of his praise the thing it selfe doth witnesse the hospital built for sick Christians adioining to the teÌ„ple of Marocco endowed w e gret reuenues doth proue it manifestly He died in the 35. yéere of his age When he had reigned not full 3. yeeres leauing a son of 3. yéeres and an halfe olde whose name is Ismaell as yet is it at this day brought vp with the Quéene his mother the wife of Abdelmelec at Argier But as touching his nephew Muly Hamet he was younger then Abdelmelec being about xxix or xxx yéeres of age of stature meane of bodie weake of coulour so blacke that he was accompted of many for a Negro or black Moore He was of a peruerse nature he would neuer speak the trueth he did all things subtelly and deceitfully He was not delighted in armes but as he shewed in all battailes of nature cowardly and effeminate But he so cruelly hated Christians that he would kil either with famine or nakednesse those that he caught If that in these warres he being constreined by necessitie gaue any signification of good will towards them he did it against the heart in a maner vnwillingly that he might make them the more readie and chierfull to endaunger themselues for him The Battaile of Lisbon fought in Portugall betwene Antonio king of Portugal and Ferdinando Duke of Alua Generall of the Spanish forces the 24. of August An. 1581. PHillippe the king of Spaine 〈…〉 prosecuting his pretence vnto the Crown of Portugall wherin Don Antonio sonne of Don Lewes brother vnto Henry the last king was inuested sent Ferdinando the Duke of Alua into Portugall with an armie of 25000. footemen part Spaniards part Italians and 2000. light horse and 600. men of armes Against which forces king Antonio had leuied in hast of vnskilfull warriours Portugalls about 20000. Encamping himselfe before the Citie of Lisbon within a péece of ground fortified with diches and rampires there minding to expect the doings of Alua. Who being arriued néere vnto the kings campe 6000. footemeÌ„ and 80. horsmen assembled the chiefe of the armie in councell what was to be done And there it was concluded that the kings campe was to be assaulted séeing that neither the skill nor the number of their enimies were such as might make the victorie much doubtful and againe the armie being ouerthrowen the conquest of the whole kingdome would incontinently folow because there were no places of strength in the whole Realme to staye the course of the victor the late kings of Portugall being wholly busied in enlarging their Empire abroade by inuading others and vtterlye neglecting for tifications at home to withstand the iniuries of their neighbours with whome they had long liued in peace And so accordingly the next day Alua dismarched to assault the campe and sent before a great band of Italians for to take a foridge nere vnto the citie leading to Alâ—â—tara the which bridge was kept by certaine Portugals The victory for a while was doubtfull now the Italians now the Portugals hauing the better but at the length through the valor of the Italians the Portugalls were beaten from the bridge it won And ouer it Sanchio Dauila passed with many bands of footemen for to assaile the camp he had not fought long but the he wenne the first trench coÌ„mitting great slaughter sent vnto the Duke to send thether the horsemen whiles he went forward assailed the second trench In the meane time Ferdinando de Toledo comming with a part of the horsemen fought by the way with 400 Portugal footmen a few horsemen whom he met put them to flight pursuing them euen to Lisbon at the which time Sanchio wan the second trench When Ferdinando hearing a great noise of harquebusse shot at the camp rallied together his horsemen hasted towards the camp But by the way he met with 15 ensignes of footemeÌ„ almost 100. horsemeÌ„ whom he couragiously charging easely put to flight chasing theÌ„ euen to the gates of the citie And anon after the whole armie of the Portugals was defaited put to flight The Explanatâ—â—â— saies their artillarie taken many of the ensignes of the footemeÌ„ at last the king being wouÌ„ded in two places fled w e a few horsemen after he had long fought Dauila folowed the chase w e his whole power euen to the gates of Lisbon whether also shortly after came Ferdinando but they gaue no atteÌ„pt vpon the citie because the king of Spaine had seuerely coÌ„manded the they should not enter the citie although they could for feare of tacke the which he in no case could like When the citizens vnderstoode the ouerthrow of their armie they yelded their
citie themselues to the mercie of the victor who refused to receue their submission vnder any other coÌ„ditions Wher vpoÌ„ a messeger was sent vnto the king of Spaine for his resolution but before it could come the vnruly souldiors had sacked the suburbs And the citizens fearing the the like wold be done to the citie promised a certain suÌ„me of money to be diuided among the souldiors the which when they could not performe at their day they could not auoid the furie of the souldiors who endamaged theÌ„ aboue 3. Millions But when the Spanish fléete the lay before the hauen of Lisbon vnderstood of the victorie of their armie by land they assailed the Portugal nauie the lay in the hauen coÌ„sisting of 42. great ships of whom 7. were goodly galeons among theÌ„ diuers the bare aboue 90. péeces of great ordenance had 400. men in a ship But when they heard of the discomfiture of their land forces of the flight of the king neither had they any Admiral they yelded to the Spaniard not making any shew at all of defence Afterward when Alua vnderstood that king Antonio was at Monte Maior not far froÌ„ the sea with an armie of 6000. footemen he not thinking the he had the kingdom frée wherin his enimie had an armie sent Sanchio Dauila with 3000. Spaniards certain Italians 500. horsemen for to encounter him When Sanchio came to the riuer of Rubera his horsemen swam ouer he transported his footemen in flat botom boates When the king vnderstood of the smal nuÌ„ber of his approching enimie he determined to giue theÌ„ battaill séeing that he himselfe had also 600. horsemen SaÌ„chio sent certain harquebuziers before for to take a view of the kings camp in the meane time marched toward the king with the rest of his forces But the Portugals as soone as they saw the Spainiards a farre of neuer once staied for the signall of fight but shewed them a faire paire of héeles incontinently Which being knowne Dauila poursued them and slue many and came before the Port of Portugall wher many had saued themselues When the citizens vnderstood of the first second ouerthrow of their countrimen thinkeing it no wisedome to expect the fortune of woorse warre yéelded themselues voluniarilie But when the king saw that his armie so shamefullye fledde from him neither could he by any meanes reuoke them to fight neither if they dyd rallie could repose any trust in such fearefull felowes he also fledde with his horsemen and left the Spaniard the full and entire possession of the kingdome The Battaile of Saint Michaell fought at the Iles of the Aslores betwene Phillip Lord Strozzi Admirall of the nauie of Antonio king of Portugal and Aluares de Basan Marques de Santa Cruz Admirall of the fleete of Philip king of Spaine the 25. day of Iuly In An. 1582. Taken out of a letter sent by the Marquesse vnto the Kinge of Spaine his maister Wherevnto is adioyned the enarration of the same Battaile out of the booke intituled The explanation of the true and lawfull right of Antony king of Portugall c. AFter that ouerthrow at the Port of Portugall the Spaniardes sought for the king of Portugall as it were with a candle and a lanterne and yet could not finde him he was so carefully kept and concealed by the poore paisants of the couÌ„trie among whom he seiourned in wretched state vntill the ninth of Iune in An. 1581. When he happening on a shippe of Enckhusen in Holand did take shippe not farre from Setuball in Portugall and was brought to Cales in France from whence he wafted ouer into England and from thence he sent newes vnto the gouernour of Tercera that he was aliue the which newes confirmed him in his fidelitie and purpose not to yeld the I le vnto the Spaniards Wherevpon the king of Spain for to assure the trade into both Indies prepared a nauie for to conquere the Isles Whereof when the king of Portugal who was then passed ouer into France had intelligence hée obtained of the quéene mother of France a nauie of 57. saile great small wherin were embarked 4000. souldiours besides 600. gentlemen the officers of the ships mariners vnder the conduct of her cosin the Lord Philip Strozzi Captaine Generall of the French footmen his sieuetenant the Countie Brisac With this fléete the king of Portugal himselfe sailed to succour the Assores recouered the Isle of S. Michael except the castle When the king of Spaine heard that the king of Portugall was gone with a nauie towards the Assores he hasted the departure of his Admirall the Marques de Sante Cruz commanding him not to tarrie for that 19. ships 2. galeons 2. galleies 2. pinisses which wer â—â—â—ging in Andolouzia but presentlie to depart with the fleete that hee had at Lisbon The which the Marques did in such hast the 10. of Iulie with 28. ships fiue smal pinasses that he 〈◊〉 behind him thrée ships the should haue gone with him because they could not be readie before the next daie also by reason of the foule wether an Argosie wherin wer three companies of olde souldiours the Phisitions Surgeons other officers for the diseased hurt with their prouision of all things necessarie for that purpose returned backe againe to Lishon a leadging that their ship was in leake But the rest of the Nauie the 22. daie of Iulie being Sundaie approched néere vnto Villa Franca a towne of 500. houses in the Isle of S. Michael one of the Assores The daie before their ariual at the Island the Marques had dispatched two pinasses vnder the charge of Aguirrei the Capiaine of the aforesaid fiue pinasses with letters vnto Ambrose Aguer the gouernour of the Isle of S. Michael certefieng him how his maiesties nauy which he had brought was verie strong conteining 5500. souldiours in which number was Don Lopes de Figueroa with 1800. of the old souldiors of Flanders ouer and aboue 200. Gentlemen and perticular persons entertained with their aduantages who came voluntarie to serue his maiestie And that the nauie which was made readie at Caliz for the which they looked euerie houre was of the number and quantitie aforesayd with other fiue thousand souldiours of whom fiue ensignes were of the Tierce of Flanders And the Marques did desire the gouernour to send him such newes as he hadde of the French nauie whether they had passed that waies or not and the number of their ships because he was determined to goe seeke them and to fight with them And that he shuld said vnto Pisoto if he chaunced to be there that he shoulde make himselfe readie to followe him with the ships of his charge Whilest the Marques laie at anker in the roade of Villa Franca there did ariue to the Admirals ship one Carauel of the thrée that were left at Lisbon for to bring the horses who gaue him to vnderstand that