animated with so many victories gloriously and happely atchieued they were not afrayde to offer battayle vnto Maruane who had in his army iij. hundreth thousand fighting Souldiours ready appointed in the fielde néere to the Ryuer Zaban whom also with all his army they discomfited Maruane with foure thousand only of his company fled into Aegypt cutting downe the bridge where he passed ouer that his enemies should not pursue and chase after him But Saline the Sonne of Asmuline persecuted and folowed after him at his héeles and in Aegypt in a blouddy battaile ouercame him and thus was all the Maraunian Lynage and Pedagrew expulsed The remnauntes of whose lyne and Progenie which had flourished and reigned so many yéeres were dispersed and scattered abroade some fledde into Mauritania where being wearied they planted themselues and some went into Spaine From this Asmuline afterward that house and family which now at this day raigneth in Persia called Sophi is lineally descended After the death of Asmuline and Cataban one Abubalan surnamed Muamat was Prince of Syria and Persia and Saline of Aegypt and héere began the first Empyre of the Sultanes or Souldanes of Aegypt which haue their imperiall Seate at Cayre For by that name the Aegiptian Caliphes would be called which name Sultan by interpretatioÌ„ signifieth the highest Soueraigne Prince and King of Kings About the same time dyed Pipine King of Fraunce and Charles his sonne beganne his raigne in his fathers steede And among the Asturians Alphonsus the sonne in Law of Pelagius and surnamed Catholicus succéeded Fafila This King recouered from the Saracenes in Gallicia Lucus Tui and Asturica in the Countrey called Campi all that lyeth within the Ryuers Stola Carrion Pisquerra and Duerro in Castulonia Simancas Duengas Amaia Caniciares Alesanium Transinera Supuerta and Carracia in Lusitanie Bracha Viseum and Portum of whom Gallicians compounded together whiche are a people of the same Prouince all Lusitanie is at this day called Portugall Hée fortefied many places as Alaba Ordugina in Cantabria whych Countrey is nowe called Biskaie in Nauarra Rueonia Sarracecasium and diuerse other places as farre as the Pyrence Mountaines And when he had raigned eyghtéene â—eeres he dyed after whom his Sonne Froila was saluted and crowned king This man gaue an ouerthrow to the Saracens which had inuaded Gallicia wherein he slew their Captaine Omar with fiftie thousand others of his company and compelled Ioseph king of Corduba to flée and brought al the region of Gallicia into his owne rule and iurisdiction He beyng afterward by his owne Subiectes murthered Aurelius his brothers sonne obtained the kingdome of whom we reade no notable exploite done against the Saracens and he also dying within short space after his Coronation his brother Silo was made king Against him the Gallicians rebelled wherfore because he might the better subdue and bring theÌ„ to reasonable conformitie he concluded a peace with the Saracens He raigned eight yéeres and theÌ„ dyed After whoÌ„ succéeded Alphonsus the second sonne of Froila surnamed Castus which was in the yéere of our Lord God .780 Against him by the counsaile and persuasioÌ„ of his vncle Mauregate the Saracens made warre Thys Mauregate had promised vnto them that if he myght by their meanes and helpe obtayne the Kingdome of Lyon which hys Predecessours and Auncestours before hym had enioyed he would paye vnto them yeerely in the name of a tribute fyftie persons of noble race and as many Virgins of baser birthe with many other execrable and impious things Wherevpon by the ayde of the Saracenes whiche furthered his pretence and quarell with all their myght and power he forciblie got Lyon with the whole Kingdome thereof and it intrusiuely vsurped by the space of fyue yéeres After whose deathe Vermudeces Sonne to hys brother Vimaran succéeded who after two yéeres voluntarily and of his owne fréewyll restored the Kingdome to Alphonsus Whych when the Saracenes vnderstoode they sent a great armye agaynst hym vnder the leadyng of Mucas betwéene whom néere to a Towne named Lutum or Ledum was fought a terrible and sharpe battayle but in the ende the Saracenes were ouercome and of them were slaine .lxx. thousande beside a great number which were taken Prisoners While these garboyles were in doyng in Spaine the Saracenes in the Orient were deuided among themselues by intestine sedicion and ciuill tumulte For Abubalan ruling in Syria many commotions and vprores were reysed against hym in Arabia by the faction of deade Maruane affirmyng and proclayming abroade that Maruane was not yet deade and that therefore they put on Armour to restore him againe into hys rightfull estate and regall dignitie By reason of which rebellious stirre many were slayne on both sydes and great depopulation committed After the deathe of Abubalan his brother Abedela succéeded who was traiterously and insidiouslye murthered by an other Abedela which aspyred to the Byshopprike hopyng to enioye it after hys decease as hee dyd in déede During whose Raigne and Empyre the Turkishe broode and Nation breaking cat of the Streictes of Caucasus about the yéere of oure Lorde .800 made roades and incursions into Armenia and when they had piteously spoyled and sacked it they retourned into their owne Countrey And the yeere folowing they yssued oute in great Plumpes and fought with the Saracenes so long till manie béeing slaine on bothe parties the nyght made them to surceasse and make an ende of their battaile Abedela the seconde of that name in the eightenth yéere of his raygne dyed in whose place succéeded hys Sonne Madi Who without any notable thing in al his tyme atchiued dyed when he had raigned ix yéeres leauyng behind him for his Heyre and successour his sonne Moyses Who in the second yéere of his raigne dyed and in his roome was created Caliph one Aaron But now to retourne to the affaires of the Occident Ibnabala King of Saragoza being expulsed and dryuen out of his Countrey by the other Princes of the Saracenes in Spayne came into Fraunce to King Charles to implore and desire ayd of hym to reuenge the iniurie vnto hym done and at the same time also Ambassadors came to the same Charles from Alphonsus surnamed Castus King of Asturians to incense and mooue hym to warre vpon the Saracenes in Spaine and to set the Country in good order and by his prowesse to deliuer it out of the clutches of Tyrannicall vsurpers Charles therefore gathering together not only the power of his owne kingdome but also hauinge a supplye of forraine aide among whome were certaine younge Gentlemen of the Danes which profered their seruice to accompaignie him partlie for a desire that they had to bellicall affaires and partlie to shewe their prowesse and couragious stomackes with an Host not very huyge and populous in number but yet competent inough and such as were skilful Souldiours and expert Capitaines passed ouer the Pyrenees by Ronceuall without resistaunce or stoppe of any man And entring within the frontiers and borders of
the coulour of warfare into far Countries There raigned at that time in Persia a King named Cosdroes who had maried the daughter of Maurice the Emperour called Marie at whose instāce persuasiō he was contented to be Baptized and so long as his father in law liued vsed himself most friendly toward all the Christians was vnto them very curteous liberall But after that he was traiterously slaine by Phocas who succéeded hym in the Empire Cosdroes detesting the disloyal treacherie falsehod of them which had elected such a wicked man as Phocas polluted with the bloudie murther of his liege Lorde and Soueraigne to be their Prince reputing them as Accessaries to the same horrible acte and conspiracie prepared a great armie at the instigation and procurement of his wife to reuenge the death of his said father in law And the more was he emboldened so to do because he wel ynough perceiued Heraclius for Phocas was slain within a while after to bée altogether lulled in securitie and to lye quietly at home without attempting any thing against the Barbarous Nations which with fire sword on euery side despoiled Italie and the Romane Empyre Wherevpon with a huige and populous armie he enuaded the frontiers of the Empyre and subduyng by fyne force all the South partes of Asia entred into Aegipt and tooke Alexandria and yet not contented went further and conquered Carthage withall Affrica And when he had taken good order for the fortefying of that Countrey with strong garrisons he retyred backe to Alexandria wasting Syria and Iurie Heraclius being not a litle netteled with these iniurious dealings of Cosdroes sent vnto him for peace which when he coulde not obtaine at his handes rather enforced and driuen by necessitie then drawne to it by any goodwyl in himselfe leuied an army in which he also had retayned the Arabian Scenites with whom some say that Mahomet was and that in a battell wherein Cosdroes side was discomfited he was sore wounded by a common Souldier named Turcus And when Heraclius had many times ioyned battell with Cosdroes and in diuers conflictes put him to the foyle at length he so much crushed his power that he was glad to fly beyonde the riuer Tigranes where he proclaymed his yonger sonne called Medarses Successour and heyer apparaunt to his Crowne dishereting and not regardinge his elder sonne Sirochis a younge Gentleman of great hope and towardnesse Whose heart not paciently brookyng this contumelious and vnnaturall dealyng secretlye conspyred with Heraclius to betray both his Father and his Brother Medarses whom his father had so vnkindly preferred before him with al their richesse and princelye furniture And promised further to discampe and remooue out of all the Romane Prouinces such Garrisons as his Father had placed there conditionallye that hee might enioye the Kingdome of Persia and a firme peace infringiblie to be kept betwéene both Empires In this poyncte Heraclius beynge a Christian Prince was nomore ashamed to delyuer the Kingdome of Persia to a wicked and rank rebellious person Traytor to his owne Father and Brother being now throughlye weakned with the losses of so many vnluckye battailes and now most certainly in his own hands specially the King himself trusting to his leggs and fléeing if he could haue vsed his good fortune victory when it was offred vnto him and to buy a dishonorable cowardly peace by consenting to such a wicked déede then that wicked Barbarian disloyal yonker was by such vndue detestable meanes to pul the kingdom frō thē to himself Such desire of principalitie reigned in the one so great loue slouthful idlenes in the other Cosdroes therfore and Medarses with their wiues being aprehended and brought backe from whence they were fledde were cast into prison and within awhile after by the commaundement of Syrochis both put to death In whom appeared a cruell example of Fortunes variablenesse A goodly president and warning for Princes to marke and consider vpon in nominating their Successoure that they at no hand reiectinge the stout and valyaunt elect and choose tender weaklynges and effiminate Meycokes For nothing so soone moueth a noble and firce heart to furious impacience and indignation as beyng stout and couragious to be reiected and not accompted of among his owne friends All things in Persia by means of this League appeased and set in order and Syria and Ierusalem with the other Prouinces restored to the Romane Empire Mahomet accompanied with a pompous traine met with Heraclius in his returne whomwarde from these warres and of hym desired some Countrye for hym and his Souldiers to inhabite in which sute and request at the Emperours hands he obtayned Not long after it happened that when the Souldiours were paide their wages the Arabians repyned and founde themselues agréeued that they were defrauded and cut shorte of their due stipende and ordinarie allowance Whiche comming to the eares of the chiefe Paymaster he more rashly and arrogantly then wisely and consideratly answered that there was skantlie innough to pay the Roman and Gréeque souldiours much lesse for such a rascal company of Dogs as they were Which words within awhile after were almost the subuersion and ruine of all Christendome insomuch that euen tyll this day they beare a grudge of reuengment for this iniurie in their mindes against vs Such a heape of mischieues many times doth the ouerthwartinge wilfulnesse of one rashe person bréede speciallie when stout and warlyke fellows shynk themselues apparantly iniuried For the Arabians swellyng with anger and incensed with fell disdaine for this reprochfull and open contumelye departed into Syria and ioyned themselues to Machomettes traine and faction Wherat Mahomet glad to see his power thus increased went the fourth time against Mecca determining with might and maine to besiege it The Magistrats of Mecca perceiued well ynough his purpose and what he pretended wherefore with greater preparation and stronger power then before the whole body almost of the Citie bent themselues to repulse his inuasion Betwéene whome there was at the riuer of Bredine a sore and terrible conflict wherein Mahomet got the victory and slue of the nobilytie and chief Citizens of Mecca beside a very great number of the Communalty thrée hundred persons in somuch that at this battell the whole nobillytie of Mecca were in maner all slayne And so Mahomet like a triumphant Conquerour entred and tooke possession of the faire Citie of Mecca fortefiyng the same with a garrison of his owne appoyntment after departyng with his army thence he layd séege to Hunaimum and wanne it deuidinge the spoyle thereof which was very great among his Souldiers After that he besieged Tarsus which Citie after he had all in vaine battred the space of a whole month he raysed his séege and retourned into the maigne Countrye of Arabia and tooke firste Itraripe otherwise called Ietripe and after that Medina a Mart towne well peopled with wealthy Iewes And grauntyng the spoyle
thereof to his Souldiours he ranscaked and made hauocke of the towne but as for all the Iewes which partly in the citie and partly in other places of Arabi because they being skilfull in the diuine law greatly withstood his attempts procedings he hated deadly in the ende in.xi. battailes them vtterlye vanquished and destroyed Thence retourninge to Itraripe he appointed Azeib his Lieutenant of Mecca who entred into the Citie with a great route of Arabians or Saracens For Mecca then was and yet is as well because of an opinion of great auncientie for it is thought to be builded by Ismael or else by Abraham himselfe as also for the bignesse of the Citie and resorte of people most noble and famous Then againe within the same yéere discharging the said Azeib of his office he appointed Moad the Sonne of Gadel Lieutenant of the same Citie in his roume with this commauÌ„dement that after Mahomet his death he should desend and maintayne his lawe and diligently looke that the same should of the people be reuerently obserued and so in the meane season to minister iudgement and execution of his lawes to the Mecchyans Al things in this sort beyng set in good frame and order he remooued to Tambicum and there buylded a Temple which is to be séene at this day Thence he sent an armye vnder the conducte of Zalid and Malid two of his chiefe Captaines agaynst Alozaid the Sonne of Almathaliph King of Aliendel whom by force of armes they ouercame and made tributarie And thus all Arabia being brought in subiection he commaunded Eubocar with parte of his Hoste to go to Mecca he himself lying still at Itraripe and charged him that he should leaue neuer a mothers Sonne a liue in it nor suffer any forrayner to enter sauing only such as willingly would obey his Law and beléeue his doctrine For his meaning and entent was as afterwarde he brought it to passe that Mecca should be the Metropolitane Citie of his religioÌ„ and Empire And thus within a short space Mecca was replenished wyth none but Mahometanes And not onely Mecca but all Arabia besides as they are people by nature lyght of beléefe and newfangled embraced his pestilent errours And from that tyme all they whych yelded themselues to that Secte were called by the name of Saracens both because that errour sprong vp and was first begonne by the Saracens and also for that Mahomet persuaded them that all the promyses in the Scriptures promysed to the Séede of Abraham belonged appertayned to them Beyng puffed vp with arrogance by reason of thys good successe in hys affayres he sent Ambassades to Kinges and Princes néere adioyning aduisyng them to embrace his Religion and vnto them addressed hys letters sealed wyth a Signet of Syluer wherein were engrauen these woordes Mahomet the messanger of God namely to the Emperour of Constatinople to the King of Persia the King of Egypte and to other Princes Afterwarde he created soure Tribunes or chiefe Capitaynes in warres commonly called Admyralles whyche had euerie one vnder them many Peticapitaines and Centurions and these foure hee woulde commonly vse to call the sharpe Swordes of God and them he commaunded to goe into the foure partes of the worlde euerie one by him selfe a seuerall waye and to kyll all suche as repugned hys law There names were Ebubezer Omar Ozmen and Ali the Sonne of his vncle Salutelib vnto whom he also ioyned in mariage Fatema hys daughter in Lawe by hys first wife Of these foure Ebubezer called of some Vbequar and of some other Buback or Eubocar father in Law to Mahomet tooke hys voyage to Palestina and there layde Siege to a certayne towne called Muchea the Capitayne whereof was one Theodorus Begarius who had the rule of the towne in the behalfe and name of Caesar Who gathering together his power sodainly set vppon the Saracens with such valiaunt courage and force that many of them beyng slayne the residue lyke tall fellowes ranne away At which time 〈◊〉 thirde Ides of March Mahomet dyed in the yeere of our saluation .637 when he had raigned tenne yéeres in the house of Aissa his wife in the Citie Medina and in the very same bedde wherein he was wont to sléepe and take his rest His bodie without any Princely furniture or ceremonial solemnitie was shrined and lapped in a white Shéete thrée tymes double and so beyng chested in an yron coffin was after a homely sort buried where afterwarde his kinsfolkes and Allyes edified a sumptuous and magnificall Temple of bricke worke and arched the same wyth a vault so pargetted with Lodestones whose nature is to draw yron vnto it that the yron Coffyn wherein Mahomet his body was inclosed was drawen vp euen vnto the toppe of the Churche and there hangeth For which cause that place is yet with great deuocion and Pylgrymage worshipped of all the East They say that while he was banished his Countrey going once on Pylgrimage into Mauritania Tingintana he crossed the Seas ouer into Spaine But when he vndestoode that Bishop Isidore laide waite to haue caught him he immediatly shifted thence and conueyed himselfe away Vpon his death bed he appointed Ali his sonne in lawe to bée his Successour and the Caliph that is to saye the chiefe Prelate of hys Secte and vnto him togither with his daughter he committed the whole charge of his body But Eubocar his father in law stopped them a tyde in that matter alledging that for as much as Mahomet deceassed in his house and by his only meanes had stepped vp to such credite welth estimation and gouernment as being bolstered mainteyned and preferred by his countenance and fréendship none other by good reason was fitter to succéede then he that had béene his chiefe supporter Against whom Ali durst not once open his mouth to reply because Eubocar himselfe was a â—an of great power and also his kinsmen Omar and Ozmen tooke part with him whiche were men valiaunt and factious whose wordes would be heard and whose commaundements before his would be obeyed Who forasmuch as by good right they iudged the kingdome to appertayne vnto them being Coadiutours to Mahomet in the exployte of all his affaires had leifer haue Eubocar succéede beinge olde their nere Kinsman then Ali being young and in his lusty yéeres who might perchaunce raigne so long that no hope euer to enioy the Kingdome by the order and course of nature shoulde be left to them and also for that he was nothinge of kin vnto any of them Wherefore Eubocar was made high Bisshoppe of Mahomet his Sect who immediatly after his creation departinge out of his owne Territories with a great Armye discomfited the Roman Garrisons and retourning into Arabie with victorye dyed not without some suspition of poyson when he had raigned not fullye three yéeres and without any princely funeralles buried néere to Mahomet After him succéeded Homar who as we before shewed was his Kinsman Hesubdued Bosra the chief citie of
most deare friendes can witnesse For I neuer spared any labour neuer refused any daunger neuer any miseries or perillous extremitie where I thought my painfull trauaile might be auaileable or redound to the benefite and soules health of all people and where without disturbaunce and molestation I might conueniently execute the charge and office to mée committed and enioyned from the mouthe of god All which I haue done to this ende that I myght reclayme and call home the people runnyng a stray from their wicked wayes to a holy syncere integritie of life and out of the dongeon of Hell whither they runne headlonge bring them backe into the ioyes of the celestiall Kingdome following herein the steppes and bountifulnes of God him selfe whose message and ministerie we in earth do execute Who when as all mankinde through Adams transgression and faulte was forfeyted and fallen into the handes of the Deuill yet of his méere mercy vouchesafed to deliuer and saue his people as before he had promised to our father Abraham that is to wit by appoynting vnto them a law whereby they might obtaine euerlasting lyfe and saluation And therfore first he sent Moses to lay the first foundations and beginnynges of this doctrine and to call them for feare of euerlastyng payne and damnation to a newnesse and amendment of lyfe But when the Lawe of Moses little profyted that way he sent Iesus Christ by gentler wayes and meanes to allure and wynne them and to persuade them to lyue in the seruice and obedience of god Now mankind béeyng againe so much depraued and gone a straie that there is no certaine nor constant Religion among them no discipline no order nor honest maners but all out of square and forlorne he hath enioyned me whom euen from the beginning of the world he had made choyse of and predestinated for that purpose to this office and function that I should recure extréeme euilles with extreme remedies and with fire and sword cut of all iniquitie and make hauocke of all them that once should dare to againe say or opē their mouth against this law that I should enlarge the kingdome of God constitute a more sacred a more imperiall cōmon wealth on earth then euer any hath heretofore béen for who is so blind which séeth not that vnlesse we whō God hath appointed to that office do set to our helping handes to redresse these so great mischiefes all mankind shall shortly perishe for mans nature withoute a Lawe which in so great varietie and licenciousnes of life can be none nor stand in any force must néedes most greuously sinne and offende But howe shall wée make and constitute any holesome Lawe to them that are vnwilling to lyue vnder any and despise all godly order What spightfull reproches and slaunderous reportes wée that are carefull and diligent to accomplishe thys Commission and commaundemente of Almightie God do sustayne at theyr hands you most louing friendes and companions haue séene and howe they pursue after vs as after wylde Beastes to haue our innocent bloud But happie are you and blessed whom God hath chosen to bée as ministers and helpers vnto me in the exploite and atchieuing of these so great mysteries and affayres whose diuine will it is that you should not only be partakers Coheires with mée of eternal felicitie in the lyfe to come but also héere in this world shoulde bee enriched with great wealth possessions the which vndoubtedly if you shew your selues men and constantly persist in faith you shall shortly enioy by subduing innumerable Nations and conquering most wealthie Countries For vndoubtedly it is the good will and pleasure of God that all those Countries and heapes of wealth shall be yours which now wicked men enemies and aduersaries to this law doe wrongfully possesse That all these things shall thus happely succéede both the wickednesse of our aduersaries which God will not suffer any longer to escape vnpunished and your trustie ayde and valiauntnes most worthy friendes and felowes yea and the most infallible oracles of Almightie God do put vs in hope most assured Therefore if you desire to bée partakers of the kingdome of Heauen and of so great rychesse and glory vpon Earth it is méete and expedient that you all sweare and do homage vnto me that must be your Captaine and Ringleader When he had thus made an ende the chiefe Princes and Rulers of the people and namely Zaid the Sonne of Zuzara Aomar and all the rest one after an other with their swordes drawen promised by a solemne Oth to allow of none other law but that which Mahomet should make in the defence and setting out wherof they then and there protested at all assayes when néede should require to spend their life and bloud This ended Mahomet againe commaunding them to kéepe silence knéeled down on his knées a pretie while as though he had pattered ouer som mumbling meditatiōs afterwards with a loude voyce vttered these wordes folowing Now most couragious champions make your selues readie to battaile looke that you want neither weapons nor stomacke to wynne our purpose withall wée haue the victorie most sure alreadie in our handes Behold the things which you haue often desired and wyshed for Richesse Glorie Renowne and perpetual felicitie are before our eyes God hath set thē before you as rewardes for your valiant and victorious seruice your owne valiaunce the excellencie of the cause and all the things aboue named ought more to stirre vp your hartes and pricke you forward then any Oration that I can make After he had thus spoken he appointed tenne Capitaines ouer the people chosen out of the noblest in byrth and chiefest in dignitie among the rest and such as were allyed vnto him by mariage and them did he appoint into Ensignes and Bands The names of which capitaines were these Vbequar Omar Ozmen Alifre Talaus Azubeir Zadin Zaedine Abuobeid so he marched in battail aray toward the Citie of Mecca The Magistrates of the Citie vnderstanding thereof made out a power against him which encoūtring with Mahomet his Host discomfited and put them all to flight Wherefore for the space of foure yéeres after Mahomet neuer durst make any profer to besiege that Citie any more Notwithstanding he ceassed not continually with Orations in the open fieldes and Countrey villages to mooue and stirre vp the people to sedition by meanes whereof he also caused certain vprores and tumultes among the Scenites which acknowledged for their Lordes and Soueraignes the Romane Emperours Then once againe he marched with a freshe supply of moe Souldiours against Mecca where he was againe repulsed and myssed his purpose and two yéeres after he againe the thirde time attempted the same and sped as he had done twise before In this meane while Heraclius the Emperour perceiuing the youthfull sort of the Scenites to begin mutyne seditiō for the better quieting therof dispatched sent a great nūber of thē vnder
desire of eas◠openly protested himselfe to be a Prophete practised tyrannie therin and of the line of this Mutar the Kinges of Persia which at this day are called Sophi are descēded Iezid his Poesie was DEVS EST MEVS DOMINVS He raigned thrée yéeres and dyed at Arrane being of the age of fortie yéeres when the Citizens of Cufa had called home Hocem the Sonne of Ali entending to create hym Byshoppe but Abdalam the Sonne of Iezid in the fieldes of Carball néere Cufa treacherously lying in waite slue him and there was he buried In remembrāce of which thing there was at his graue and Sepulchre afterwarde builded a Citie called Carbala called so of the name of the field wherin the fact was done Hocem lefte twelue Sonnes behind him when he dyed that is to say Zeinal Abadine Zeinal Muamedes Baguer Muamedes Giafar Cadeneg Giafar Musa Cazine Musa Hali Muceratius Alle Muamedes Taguin Muamedes Halinaguin Alle Haceme Asquerine Haceme Muamedes Mahadine which were in diuers places buryed that is to wit some néere to their great Graundfathers father Mahomet some at Bagadat some at Herine but as for Muamedes Mahadine the Persians do affirme not to bée yet dead do hold opinion that he shall come mounted on horsebacke to declare and shewe the law to all Nations and shall conuert all people and that all this shall first begin in the citie of Massadale where the body of his graūdfather Ali lyeth buried And therfore they haue alwayes in that citie a horse ready to receiue him whom after the ende of their praiers and orisons they lead with Torche light to the Church and vpō one certaine day which is among them kept most festiuall and solemne they bryng thys horse to the Temple where Ali is buryed wyth as muche pompe as maye bee beseechyng and making petition vnto the same Ali that he would as spéedily as may bée send vnto them this his Nephew whom they looke for Vnto the which feast there is resort of people from di together with the opinion that was conceiued of hym and his Sect so incensed and swelled his ambitious mind that he first of all others tooke vpon hym the name of a Miralmumine which worde in the Arabian language signifieth the Prince of all beléeuers which name afterwards our Historiographers depraued corruptly called Miramuline He also builded the large and most e noble citie of Marocco néere to the foote of Mounte Atlas and appointed it to be the chiefe Keye and Metropolytane Citie of all his Kingdome Notwithstandinge many doo affirme that it was built by Iosippus the Sonne of Tesfine and some say by an other Against them Abdimelick partlye for that he sawe him to procure no hurt nor attempt any hinderaunce to his procéedinges and partly because he was wrapped in heapes of troubles elsewhere and had moe yrons in the fire then he coulde wel temper attempted nothing For although he had supplanted Dadack with all his faction and adherentes and with victory retourned to Damascus yet could he not long enioy that victory nor brooke it quietlye because there began such a plague and pestilenciall mortalytie that had almost quite destroyed all the Saracenicall Nation Beside this plague the people were greatly pinched with famine in all his Countries And the Mardaites gettyng agayne the possession of Mount Libanus enlarged their limites as farre as Hierusalem and morouer the principalytie of Persia vsurped by Mutar much disquieted his troubled minde Abdimelick weltringe in the surges of this froward Fortune and fearing to bee ouerwhelmed with some greater mischaunce sent a solemne Ambassade to Iustinian then Emperour beyng of the age of sixtéene yéeres for a confirmation of the peace and League that Muauias strake with Constantine and farther to request hym that the Mardaites might bee dispossessed and driuen out of Libanus which thinge if the rour would graunt he promysed that he would euery day geue vnto the Romanes in the name of a Tribute ten poundes of Golde a Slaue and a goodly faire Horse And moreouer in consideration of the confirmation of this peace which he so earnestly desired to th end that Caesar might the better expulse and rid the Mardaites which nowe were not aboue .xij. thousand in number out of Libanus he gaue and graunted vnto him the one halfe of his yéerely Tributes of Cyprus Armenia and Iberia This peace beyng confirmed and he deliuered out of the feare of the Mardaites a fierce and outragious people he sent Ciafa with a great Armye againste Mutar who vnder the pretext and coloure of Religion practized tyranny and extort regiment in Persia Which expedition and voyage had very vnluckie end for Mutar with an Host marching to méete him vanquished him and discomfited al his power whereby he wanne a greater estimation and credite then euer he had before Abdimelick to th' intent he might from a néerer place surueigh and beholde how matters prospered in Persia goeth into Mesopotamia where he was againe with many calamities aduerse bruntes sore crushed For the Emperour Iustinian the Sclauoys partli yéelding themselues vnto his mercy and partly tamed by dent of Sword picking out of the stoutest Gallantes in all that Nation a crewe of 30000 or there aboute mustred and tooke vp Souldiours apace for his warres and so trustinge to their valyaunt seruice brake the League lately made makyng for the coulour of his quarel the the money payable for his yéerely Tribute had not the Roman stamp but was of a new Arabian coigne Sending therfore his Lieutenaunt Leontius with this new leuied army into Asia subdued and brought vnder his subiection Iberia Abania Hircania and Media which Regions were vnder the Saracenes Empyre At the same time also one Said reised sedition and rebelled against Abdimelick against whom Abdimelick spéedyng hymselfe with an Army so dismayd and terrified hym that he fel downe on his Marybones and craued forgeuenesse Whom Abdimelick with dissimuling countenaunce pardoned and séemed to forgeue but within awhile after he commaunded hym priuelie to be slain At this same time also there arose an other tyrantie among the Saracenes named Abdala Zubir who sent his Brother Musub into Persia against Mutar and of hym Mutar was both vanquished and slayne albeit he enioyed not the fruite of his victory long For Abdimelick withall his power igoynge againste hym ouercame and discomfited him and all his Hoast and from thence holding on his way into Persia brought all that Prouince vnder his subiection Abdalas Zubir discouraged with the good successe of his aduersarie fled vnto Mecca after whome Abdimelick sent Cagian with a great Armye to pursue and take hym who by force winning the Citie Mecca slue Zubir and set the auntientest Idole of that citie with the Temple also on fire And thus Abdimelick hauinge recouered Persia and dispatched out of the way his aduersaries and being alone in possession of the Saracenicall Soueraigntie after hee had oftentimes in vaine besought the Romane
Venetians tooke Constantinople and Angelus being thence disthronyzed the Greekes in Asia created Theodorus Lascaris his Sonne in Law Emperoure who had vnder his Empire and obedience not onely Bythinia and the Regions along the Sea but also extended the Lymittes of his Dominions very farre into the maine Lande and had vnder him all from Caria and the riuer Meander Southwarde to the Sea Galaticum and Cappadocia Northward and cōstituted his Imperial Seate at Nice Which so tickeled and fretted Alexius that he passing the Sea Aegaeum entred into Asia and priuily went to Iathine the Sonne of Rucratine being now Sultane in pitifull plight poore rayment before whō he in suppliant words opened his state fortune humbly besought him of aide succor to restore him to his lawful Empyre and Crowne vniustly by an vsurper detained withholden not forgetting to put him in remembrance of the former frendship which afore time he had shewed horne to him while he was in prosperitie and further promised hym great Summes of money Insomuch that Iathine taking compassion vpon him and mooued greatly with his large promises forth with dispatched Ambassadours to Theodorus threatning warre and destruction vnto him vnlesse he gaue place to his father in law suffred him quietly to enioy his rightfull Diademe and Imperiall authoritie them out of that poore plot and beggerly region which affronteth Persia and the Caspiā Sea almost Islandwise and is enuironed on ech side with the Scythian Ocean and ioyneth vnto Asia by one onely Isthmus or narrow porcion of land lying betwene the two Seas the which is compassed and enclosed with the highe and inaccessible Mountaines called Riphaei as it were with a Wall or Rampier the waues of the Sea sayeth Hayton the Armenian going backe and making way for them to passe betwene the Mountaines and the Sea. And therfore all those Scythians afterward of that Tribe wherof their first Emperor was descended were called Tartarians whose auncient descēt and beginning many as before we haue sayde of the Turkes doe referre vnto the tenne Tribes of Israell whose opinion I doe not see howe it standeth with reason nor wherevpon it is grounded This am I persuaded and this séemeth vnto me most like and probable that the Scythians be descended of Magog the sonne of Iapetus of whom the Scripture in many places maketh mention and that those tenne Tribes were by the King of Persia translated not into Scythia but into Media But howsoeuer the matter goeth the Tartarians in such sort as we haue declared yssuyng and in great companyes departyng from the Hyperboreans vnder the conduct of Cangio whom for honours sake they called Cham which is as muche to say as a most high and Soueraigne Emperour tooke their way downe along to the Sea Caspium In the meane season Cangio the Cham departing this lyfe his Sonne Hoccota succéeded in his place a man ryght wyse and valiaunt and the eldest of twelue brothers Hée sendyng out Gebesabada with a huyge power to subdue and conquere the regions of the Occident and himselfe in person passing the Caspian Streictes Sogdiana Bactrian Oxo and the ryuer Sogdus whiche is encreased wyth many and the same great Springes flowing and running into it wyntered at the foote of Mount Taurus solacing himselfe and enioying the fruictfulnesse of that region and suche bootie as he had before taken This Mount Taurus is the greatest Mountaine in all the world whose ridge top hanging still together without any particion hath his beginning Westward néere the Sea Aegaeum and stretching a long to the Ocean Orientall diuideth all Asia into two parts This Hill is also called Caucasus The next Spring when the groūd was new clothed decked with the fresh attyre of greene grasse pleasant floures they discamped from the foote of Caucasus like an innumerable sort of Sheepe mounted to the toppe of the Mountaines inuading the Countreyes vnderneth them and after they had there made great pillage and taken their pleasure they pearced into India all about the Bankes of the noble ryuer Indus on either side constituting the Ocean for the limitte of their Empyre And there building a Princely Citie called Cambalu most beautifull sumptuous and large and for all pleasure of man the most delectable and pleasauntest Citie in all Asia appointed it to be their chiefe Pallace and Seate Royal. Afterward exployting his warres by Deputies and Lieutenauntes whom he made Chieftaines and Generalles ouer hys Armyes choosing therto such as were eyther hys brothers or else of the bloude Royall some of them went Northwarde some Westwarde and some Southwarde and after they had subdued the Arachosians Caramanians sundry other Nations wonne Persia and thence expulsed the Turkes they then came to the Chaldees and Arabians From thence they marched agaynst the Babylonians and Assyrians and conquering Mesopotamia brought vnder their subiection the Persians Parthians and Medians After this going vp by the greater Armenia with incredible celeritie they ouercame Colchis northward and Iberia that confineth hard vpon it insomuch that their state surmounted and flourished in same and honor excéedinglye Now this mightie Tartarian Prince was purposed to make the Sea on euery side the limits and bounds of his Empire but the pleasaunt delicacies and amyable soyle of the Countrey of India so mollified and effeminated his mind that beinge loath to departe thence he setled staied there and distributed the Prouinces Cities Houses fat Farmes and Tenements amonge his souldiours and people and receiued the Rites Ceremonies and Customes of the Assyrians Persians and Chaldees Therefore as soone as these Tartarians hauinge passed the Caspian Mountaines had sodainly and forciblie surprised Alexandria a citie standing néere the Streicts now called the Yron Gates the Imperiall Sultane of the Turkes greatly terrified and dismayd with this sodayne irruption of a new and most fierce people and fearing lest if he should be driuen and enforced to enter into Warres with the Tartarians his olde Enemies the Romanes would be readie to set on him behind at his backe sent his Ambassadours with full authoritie and commission to the Emperour to confirme and strike an vnitie and peace betwéene them which thing the Emperoure as being encoumbred with Europian Warres was very glad of and willinglye therevnto condescended because the Turks should be as a strong Rampier and Wall in Asia for him against the inuasion of the Tartarians This League therfore with the Turkes was of al handes gladlie embraced and to the Greekish Empire most conducible For whereas men being so long time afflicted with the lamentable calamyties of long Warres bad neither occupied tillage nor bred vp Cattayle it fell out in th' end as néedes must that great dearth and scarsitie was in all the countrey and their Treasuries also with the charges and costes of so long continuance were in maner emtied and cleane exhausted Wheresore beinge now by this newe attonement and League ridde out of the same and brought to
to th' intent he might alone haue both the Authorities and roomes Thus was that most wealthye Kingdome brought vnder the obedience of the Turkes in the yeere of our Lorde 1150. Afterward Saladine as he was a man verye prudent and wise perceiuing how tenderlie and effeminately the Egiptians liued insomuch that when any invasion of foreyne hostelitie approched or were like to grow the kings were euer glad and faine to craue foreygne ayde to support and helpe them determined with himselfe to institute some kinde or order of warfare and to trayne vp a troupe of such Souldiours as should be hable at al brunts and assayes to be as a rampire or stronge Bulwarke to the whole kingdome Perceiuing therfore that the people bred and borne in the Northren quarters were both a pter and also stouter for the Warres then the Southerne borne were entred into League with certayne people inhabiting about Maeotis and Pontus called Circassians of Plinie and olde writers Zigians and bartered with them for an entercourse of Merchaindize betwéene them him namely that they should serue him of Boyes and young Striplinges at a certaine price Who beynge brought into Egipt and from their youth trayned vp in feates of chieualrie and warlyke discipline should do nothing but handsomely practise the handeling of their wepons and artilery when time required serue in warres and should haue the ordering of all honours and dignities bellicall For the Zigians are a people of nature verye fierce accustomed euen from the Cradle to abide all maner of labour hardnes and trauell inhabitinge that parts of Pontus and Meotis which is about the riuer Phasis which riuer is the bounder and méere of Colchis and the mouth of Tanais which Countrey or region containeth welnéere 500. myles These people dwell not in Cities and Townes but wander and are dispearced héere and there without any certayne habitation from Village to Village Christians they are by their profession and religion albeit they vse many rites vnlyke vnto ours their Infants as soone as they are borne yea though it he in the middest of winter they cary vnto a riuer and there washe them They are for the moste part faire of complexion and of comely stature the countrey is fenny and full of réedes whereof they doo make Houelles and Cotages to dwell in they be at continuall Warres with the Tartarians and other Nacions aboute them The Nobles and Gentlemen amonge them neuer goe but in Armour and Coates of Fence and alwayes ryde Lieuetenaunt and chiefe Captaine vnder the Emperour of Tartarians hym ouercame and tooke Prisoner in the yeere of our Lorde God. 1258. and caused Mustacene Munibila who at that tyme had that office and dignitie among the huyge and inestimable heapes of treasure and ryches which he had hoorded vp and miserably scraped together to bée famyshed After this almost for 200. yeeres space the Saracenes had no high Byshoppe till at length in Persia the lynage and ofspringe of Mahomet beganne againe to raygne in the yeere 1480. whyche how and by what sort it came to passe resteth heere to be shewed and described There was a certayne Prynce among the Persians Lorde of a Towne called Ardenel and his name was Sophi who greatly gloried and bore himselfe very loftie and high for that he was as he saide descended of the racâ— and Pedagrewe of Ali the Sonne in lawe of Mahomet by Musa Cazine hys Nephewe of whom we spake in the first Booke This felowe nowe séeyng the Babylonian Caliphe to bée slayne and the contrarie faction which the Turkes maynteyned and kept to bée depressed and tryumphed ouer by the Tartarians beganne frankely and boldly to vtter hys mynde and opynion concernyng Religion And because Hoceme the Sonne of Ali from whom he made his auaunt to bée lineally descended had .xij. Sonnes therefore he willing to geue some difference and token wherby his Sectaries might be discerned and knowen from all others commaunded and ordeyned that so many as woulde embrace and folowe hys Lore and Doctrine shoulde weare a purple Rybon or Labell hanging downe from theyr wreathed Veyle which all Turkes weare aswel as they vpon their heades called Tulibante and the same in the middle to bée reysed vp into .xij. toppes or heightes wythoute the Tulibante After he was deade his sonne Guines succéeded in hys roume who for learnyng and sanctitie gotte suche estimation and fame throughout the whole Orient that the most mightie Emperoure of the Parthians named Tamburlane euen he which tooke Baâ—azete the King of Turkes Prysoner leading his Army passing through Persia daygned to tourne out of his way and to visite as a man of most holy life and vnspotted sanctitie At the request of which Guines the same Tamburlane fréely deliuered out of hys captiuitie .xxx. M. Prisoners which he had taken in hys Warres and as then had with him in his Campe whom afterward Guines instructed and trained vp in hys Sect and discipline whoseseruice and helpe Secaidar his Sonne in his warres afterward vsed For he after the death of his father Guines reposing his speciall trust chiefe strength in them warred vppon the Georgians a people of Scythia beyng Christians bordering vpon his Countreyes and by their help afflicted and put them to many foyles ouerthrowes and distresses There raygned in Persia a certayne Turke named Mirza Geunda who warred wyth Hacembecke whom some doe call Assambey Kyng of the greater Armenia which is of them called Diarbeck béeyng also a Turke aswell as hée in whiche Warres Acembeck gotte the vpperhande and stewe hys enemye Mirza in Battayle and hauyng wonne Persia because hée was but of a base stocke and obscure familie and wythout Kinsmen and Allies hee meant to make and establishe the state of hys Kyngdome the surer by linking in affinylie with some puyssaunt house and thereuppon gaue hys daughter whych he begat vppon hys wife the Emperour of Trapezunte hys daughter who was a Christian in mariage vnto Secaidar After the deathe of Hacembeck succeeded Iacob Beg whyche worde signifyeth a Lorde This Iacob fearinge the great power of his Brother in lawe Secaidar partlye gotten by his new Sect and partlye by his Warres with the Georgians priuely sent ayd to his Enemies and caused him to be slaine But his two sonnes Ismahel and Solyman he committed in charge to one of his famylyer and assured Fréendes to carye and conueyghe a farre of vnto Mansor Deporna Constable of the Citie of Siracia willing and streightlie charging him to kéepe them in sure warde and custodie within the strong Castell of Zalgah which standeth vppon a high and inaccessible Rock till such time as by expresse certificate he should otherwise countremaunde him But Mansor taking remorse and pitie on them for the honor of Ali of whose auncient bloud they were deriued kepte them like Princes and vsed them most honourablie causing them to be trained vp and instructed in learninge with his owne Children And after certaine yéeres falling