â—â—â—â—â—SOR THE LEARNED AND VICTORIOVS King that conquered Spaine His Life and Death published By ROBERT ASHLEY Out of the Librarie of the Vniuersitie of OXFORD Seneca Otium tuum non emineat sed appareat LONDON Printed for Iohn Parker 1627. TO OVR GRACIOVS SOVEREIGNE King CHARLES THis briefe Historie of the life and death of Iacob Almansor the Victorious was intended to the now deceassed yet euer renowmed for Learning and worthily stiled Iacobus Pacificus your Royall Father The death of some who had vndertaken the Printing and the generall Visitation of this your Realme with sicknesse hath delayed the publishing and altered the designe of the Dedication The Wandering Ghost of this Learned Vertuous and Victorious Almansor who neuer suffered repulse being now come into England and clad with an English garment presseth into your Kingly presence and expecteth condigne entertainment Though the Storie bee ancient and your Time and Religion also from his much different yet he hopeth that Vertue and Valour are neuer out of season Nor the Wisdome and Industrie of any bee hee Heathen Mahometan or Christian to be disesteemed As Alexander was enflamed with the example of Achilles who liued long before him Caesar by that of Alexander of a different time and Nation the one being a Grecian King of Macedon the other but a priuate Gentleman of Rome and Scipio a young Roman that triumphed ouer Africke was animated by the Historie of Cyrus the great King of Persia described by Xenophon So if at this day among Christians they that haue any heart are enkindled in their courage when they reade of the Clemencie of Caesar the Magnanimitie of Alexander the Integritie of Aristides the Constancie of Cato or the Iustiâ—e and Goodnesse of Traian being but Heathens of former Ages that knew not Christ nor Christian Pietie with more reason Almansor of much later Age though a misbeleeuing Mahometan may well expect euen in these times among the professors of perfect Pietie his Vertues should not be vnregarded nor his well ordered life and death be buried in obliuion I leaue them that list to dispute the truth of his Historie or whether it bee not a patterne of Perfection deuised as many haue supposed the like of Cyrus described by Xenophon Howsoeuer the Truth bee I hold the one and the other of better vse being thus published then to be buried in silence I doubt not but your Royall Fathers Instruction and your owne worthy disposition hath figured in your noble brest many worthier Christian patternes for Imitation Yet by comparing our selues with Heathens with Infidels with Mahometans and other Misbeleeuers we attaine the better and cleerer knowledge of our aduantages and defects Hereof your aduenturous Trauailes in your younger yeares haue giuen you good experience Hee that knoweth no Countrey but his own knoweth not the worth or wants of his owne Commendandus ante omnes qui sapientiam toto orbe requirit saith Marsilius which oportunitie of personall Trauaile being not alwayes permitted it must bee supplyed by Bookes and Histories The aduertisement following will informe the particulars how this briefe Historie came to the Presenters hands who remaineth In all humilitie your Maiesties deuoted Subiect Robert Ashley An Aduertisement HAuing during my younger yeares had some trayning in the Arts and Learned Languages in the famous Vniuersitie of Oxford and by aduice of experienced friends hauing after seriously sought to attaine the knowledge of the Lawes vnder which wee liue in the place where they are professed and hauing beene long since ingaged and denominated among the Professors thereof yet finding the practise to haue ebbes and tydes as haue for the most part all other humane employments I haue stolne and snatched at vacant times some oportunities what by Trauaile Bookes and Conference to get some knowledge of forreigne Countries and vulgar Languages especially those of our Neighbours I meane the French and Dutch the Spanish and Italian that by the perusing of their Writings I might also bee made partaker of the Wisdome of those Nations hauing beene long of this opinion That as no one soyle or territorie yeeldeth all fruits alike so no one Climate or Region affordeth all kind of knowledge in full measure With this resolution being not letted by other occasions J spent the best houres of some few Weekes not many yeeres sithence in a superficiall suruey of the famous Librarie of that flourishing Vniuersitie where I had beene trayned which I found richly replenished with Bookes of all Sciences and Faculties not only in the Learned Languages Latine Greeke and Hebrew besides the vulgar Tongues of our Neighbour Nations but euen with some furniture as well of Manuscripts as of printed Copies in the Arabian Aethiopian and Armenian Languages with the Egyptian Wisdome and Characters not speaking of the Chaldaick and Syriak because they are accounted by many but as Hebrew-dialects There are also some Turkish Persian Manuscripts Indian Malayan and Mexican Characters and Writings Yea China it selfe being thought by many to bee inaccessible to Strangers though by sundry Seas and Lands it bee farre separated from vs hath vouchsafed to inrich this great Magazin or Storehouse of Learning with diuers and sundry parcels of her Wisdome imprinted in her strange Characters Amongst the rest I happened on an Arabian Historie concerning the losse of Spaine by Roderigo King of the Gothes which by commandment of King Philip the Second was translated into Spanish out of the Arabian Copie remayning in the Escurial where I my selfe haue seene a glorious golden Librarie of Arabian Bookes In the midst of that Historie I found a Summarie Collection or obsernation of the life and death of a Learned Arabian King Iacob Almansor the Conquerour of Spaine Of the excellencie of this great King some hauing heard and read that among other his vertues hee was an infinite louer of Learning hauing assembled together in his Librarie fiftie fiue thousand Bookes in an ignorant Age when long before the Inuention of Printing all Monuments of Learning were only preserued by the laborious industrie of the Writers hand and Pen. Weighing also his wise distribution of his time with his exact Iustice Wisdome of Gouernment his Temperance of Dyet Fortitude and Prudence in his Militarie affaires with the Prosperitie of his Conquests and successe of all his enterprizes they became desirous to bee acquainted with the particulars of his life and longed to haue it communicated vnto them in a Tongue which they better vnderstood To their honest desire hauing oportunitie in my hand I thought it conuenient to giue satisfaction by translating it out of the Spanish Copie which was printed at Saragoza 1603. remayning in that vnparalleld rare Librarie of the Vniuersitie of Oxford and therehence out of the larger Historie of the Conquest of Spaine by the Moores being then the Subiects of this Almansor by me excerpted and published I present it to publicke view that Christians finding their vertuous Industrie to be equalled or ouermatched by
Mahometans may the rather be excited to a disdainfull emulation of their worthiest endeuours The Letter written by King Abencirix to the Alcayde Ali Abenzufian Viceroy and Gouernour of the Prouinces of Deuque in Arabia by which he commandeth him to write the life of King Iacob Almansor PRayse bee giuen to God alone Amen The high and highly honoured King Gouernour of the Moores of noble discent defender of Mahometisme who shieldeth himselfe vnder the protection of the most high God Ali Abencirix To the Vertuous Noble Wise Discreet Learned and Generous Gentleman the Alcayde Ali Abenzufian our Vice-roy and Gouernour of the Prouinces of Deuque wee send greeting And after our salutation wee say that considering the great wisedome with which the King Abilgualit Miramamolin Iacob Almansor our great Grandfather and Lord gouerned his Kingdomes in peace and the fortitude with which hee preserued his Subiects and rooted out their Enemies and the Iustice with which he conserued his Estates and the Temperance vsed by him in all his actions and deeds which of all the World are admired and all the Bookes replenished with his Sayings and Sentences in all Sciences and his notable Deeds of Armes with his great vertues and good customes to bee such as all the Princes of the World may take an example and patterne thereby to rule and gouerne their Common-weales and to liue in tranquilitie We haue thought meete and conuenient that the Discourse of his Life should be gathered together and orderly compiled and written in one Booke and not be left as it is now scattered in many parts as well for our owne consolation as for the Imitation of this great King in his customes and manner of liuing to make our profit and vse of them in matters that concerne our Gouernment and our Common-weales and to this effect hauing that regard which wee haue of your person abilitie and learning together with your trayning and continuall attendance and seruice in his Royall Palace from your childhood being alwayes inward with him in such sort that no other how learned soeuer can better set forth and write his life and manners then you Wee charge and command you that with conuenient breuitie auoyding prolixitie and writing the Truth with that obligation which is due to the fidelitie of an Historie whereof by reason of your good zeale and punctuall manner of writing obserued by you we rest assured you write a Booke of his life and customes together with the manner and order how this good King ruled and gouerned his Kingdomes till his life ended by death which you shall entitle the bright Mirrour of Princes whereby you shall doe vs acceptable seruice In this Booke you shall also doe well to set downe what especiall things a good King is to obserue to make himselfe beloued of his Subiects and feared of his enemies All which may serue vs in steed of a Guide or a Light with the fauour and helpe of our Souereigne God for the ruling and gouerning of our Kingdomes and Common-weales that they may enioy Peace and tranquillitie and our selues quietnesse of minde and clearnesse of Conscience Whereof through that confidence we haue in your worthinesse we make no doubt God haue you in his keeping From our Royall Palace of Zarbal the fourth day of the Moone of Mobarram The date is answerable to the yeare An. Christi 731. the hundred and tenth yeare of the Hixera The Letter of the Alcayde Ali Abenzusian in answer of the former by which hee dedicateth the Worke to King Ali Abencirix PRayse be giuen to our Souereigne God Amen To the much renowmed and that with reason for hu great skill in Gouerning Wisdome in conseruing and Fortitude in mayntayning his Subiects in Peace the valiant Warrior strong and couragious defender of Morisme of high and famous Progeny and Race the great Calipha the rooter out of his Enemies the King highly honoured and of complete power Ali Abeneirix the highest God continue his good desires And in answer to his Letter dated in the Palace of Zarbal the fourth day of the Moone of Moharram this present yeare by which I was commanded to write a Booke of the customes conditions and manner of life of his Predecessor King Abilgualit Iacob Almansor and therewith also to set downe and declare what other Rules a good Prince ought to obserue for the fulfilling whereof I haue stolne from other my great businesse some parts of the night bereauing my selfe of that sleepe which for my weake and wearied bodie had beane requisite and in these twelue briefe and compendious Chapters which accompany this my Letter I haue rehearsed and registred the life and customes and the manner of Ruling and Gouerning with this great King and Gouernour vsed in the time of his prosperous Raigne and I am also of this opinion that without any farther addition of those Learnings which are written by the Phylosophers and other graue and learned Authors one may gather out of this as much fruit as he desireth I am an eye witnesse of all that I write hauing serued him in his Chamber and other Offices in his Royall Palace of no small importance more then twentie yeares as is well knowne to those that frequented the Court in his time and haue seene and knowne his customes and conditions vprightnesse and simplicitie Gouernment and manner of administring justice both in Peace and Warre Now in this manner of writing I worke two effects the accomplishing of a Royall commandement and the registring of the vertuous and laudable morall customes of so good a King Vouchsafe to accept my good will and pardon my faults and ouersights if there bee any in this Treatise whereof I doubt not there may bee many attributing them rather to my forgetfulnesse then to any wilfull imperfection carelesnesse or negligence eyther against the fidelitie of an Historie or the loyaltie which is due to his Royall Seruice whom our Souereigne God continue in his Protection From the Citie of Deuque the fifteenth day of the Moone of Rabeh the first This date agreeth with the month of Angust of the yeare of Christ 731. the one hundred and tenth yeere of the Hixera THE LIFE AND Death of IACOB ALMANSOR an Arabian Mahometan King written in the Arabicke TONGVE CHAP. I. Of the Descendence and Genealogie of the King Abilgualit Miramamolin Iacob Almansor and of some of his memorable deeds ABilgualit Miramamolin Iacob Almansor was the sonne of the great Caliph the sustayner of Morisme Abihabdi Allahi Abilgualit Abinque Abni Malique and nephew of the great Caliph Abni Abel Hasen Motaleb of famous and high Linage Solar the renowmed race and house of the Gentile Kings of Arabia Hee was borne in the eleuenth yeare of the Higera on the second day of the Moone of Iâ—buel hauing attained with sound and perfect health to fifteene yeares of Age he began to show so great courage and Inclination to Armes and Learning that hee caused admiration in
his Masters who had the charge and gouernment of him For he was at this age so skilfull in the seuen Liberall Sciences that they who were the most learned in them spake of them in his presence With much feare and bashfulnesse for at euery other word he corrected the Imperfections which proceeded out of their Ignorance And at the eighteenth yeare of his age he wrote the three bookes of Mathematickes and Astrologie which are so renowmed at this day amongst the Arabians Hee wrote also the abridgement of Histories the great Art of Algebra and the booke of the exercise of the militarie Art and that which hee entitled The Mirrour of Princes At the one and twentieth yeare of his age he wrote the three Bookes of Philosophie vpon the Texts of Aristotle in forme of a Comment Notwithstanding that which was most to be admired was that at the fiue and twentieth yeare of his age he spake eleuen Languages reading and writing them as perfectly as the very Naturals themselues The King Abilgualit his father being himselfe a wise man yet vndertooke no enterprise without his counsell and aduice because hee found that in so doing his affaires euer succeeded according to his hearts desire This valorous Prince hauing liued after this manner a certaine season and hauing ordayned a Iurgo di canas and other disports called vnto them the great Alcaydes who were Gouernors of his Kingdomes one of which at his comming presented to the King Abilgualit his father an Alfange which is a Sword or Cimiter of inestimable value for the handle was of the finest Emerald the pommell of a stone called a Balais Tabeli the scabberd and chape hilt of fine gold wrought with the hammer with sundry sorts of precious stones enchaced Hâ—ia and the blade most excellently damasked Some of the Alcaydes hauing seene and handled it from hand to hand they all concluded in saying that were it but halfe a hands bredth longer it would then be the best weapon in the world whereat the King Abilgualit was much distasted because hee had taken a great liking thereof and therfore caused the Prince Jacob Almansor to be called that hee might see it and giue his iudgement thereon admonishing the Alcaydes that none should aduertise him of the fault they found who being come to his presence he commanded that the Alfange should be showne him who was so wel pleased with the sight of it that he presently spake these words This Weapon is worth a Citie The King his father replyed that hee should looke well theron and consider what fault there was to be found therein but hee said hee found none the thing being as well framed and wrought as he could desire Then his father the King Abilgualit acquainted him how the Alcaydes did say that the Blade was too short Whereat the Prince taking the Alfange in his hand said with a smiling countenance these words To the hardie and couragious caualiers no weapon no weapon is too short and then stepping with his right foot one step forwards with the Alfange in his hand prosecuting his reason hee said because with one pace forward it will bee made as long as one would desire This his speech was so pleasing to his father Abilgualit that he presently cast his armes about his neck and embraced him saying Certainly my Sonne thou mayest well seeke out other Kingdoms to conquer for those which I shall leaue thee are too few for that wisdome and valour which the Soueraigne God hath giuen thee and girding the Alfange about him hee said that it could not belong to any but to him since hee found no fault with it This being thus ended the Prince went downe with all the Alcaydes that were present to play at the Canes and at other deuices in such sort that all admired his dexterity in deuising guiding such delightfull disports The next day with many gracious fauours he dispatched those Alcaydes Which done hee said it were not reasonable to shew himselfe gracious only to the Alcaydes of his Kingdomes and to leaue his poore Subiects comfortlesse and vnrewarded With which resolution he commanded all the poore about his Court to bee called that they might also bee partakers of his bounty and when they were come hee placed himselfe at the Gate of his Treasurie and as they passed by him hee gaue to euery one of them a handfull of gold coyne vntold which hauing done he vnderstood after by his tellers that hee had that day distributed two and twentie Arrobas Arrobas and thirteene pounds of gold This being reported to his father Abilgualit hee was reprehended by him as being too free and aduised him to stay his hand lest otherwise he might becom poore saying that a King without his Treasure is like a dead man among the liuing But the Prince answered that he might rather be said to be dead that is close fisted towards his followers because hee could not expect any comfort of them in his necessitie and in the day of his distresse and that hee was not borne but to doe good in imitation of his Creator who vsed so much clemencie towards his creatures whose second cause or Instrument hee esteemed himselfe here on earth and that none might iustly reprehend him in that behalfe seeing hee considered that nothing was more certaine then death and that he could carrie nothing out of this life but 〈◊〉 poore shrowd or Winding sheet Mortaia and those good or euill deeds which he had done in this life to giue accompt of them to that high most omnipotent God as to a iust Iudge at the day of that fearefull finall Iudgement These reasons were so agrecable to his father Abilgualit that considering well the great worth of the Prince he or dayned eft-soones in his life and Kingdomes such order and course as the next Chapter declares CHAP. II. How the King Abilgualit resigned his Kingdom to his Sonne Iacob Almansor and retired to a solitarie life THe King Abilgualit perceiuing the great valour of his Sonne the Prince Iacob Almansor and that he himselfe was old being aboue seuentie yeares of Age he resolued to resigne his Kingdome into his hands and to retire to his rest and resigned the same accordingly with the agreement and consent of the great Alcaydes of his Kingdome in such sort that the Prince Iacob Almansor was crowned and sworne for King the tenth day of the Moone of Moharram three and thirtie yeeres of the Higera being then fully complete Aune Chr. 654. Ian. which Coronation was confirmed the third day of the Moone of Rabeh being the second of that yeare Hauing began his Raigne and Gouernment he tooke also a new habit in his conditions kind and manner of Liuing which because they are worth the remembring I will not forbeare to rehearse at large in this briefe Treatise For contrary to that gallantry and brauerie which he vsed whiles he was Prince hee clothed himselfe in the plainest sort
of any Iniustice done by any of his Gouernours receiuing their Complaints and Petitions that hee might confider and redresse their grieuances which he did very speedily vprightly and with great seueritie Albeit such accidents seldome hapned by reason that his Iustice was so feared that no Alcayde or Gouernour durst doe any Iniustice that none might haue cause to complaine Concerning Elections and choice of his officers and Ministers he carried himselfe after this manner Of all his Alcaydes and Captaines that had serued in his warres hee had particular notice and remembrance of the valour of their persons and the notable seruices they had done by the true Relations which his Generals had made him as before is rehearsed which hee kept registred summarily in a little booke together with the place of their Birth their Age and how long they had serued And when hee saw they were growne old and wearied in his seruice hee licensed them to take rest and honoured them with places and offices of Viceroyes of Kingdomes Alcaydes or Commanderies and Captainships of Castles and fortresses Some also with Gouernments of Prouinces and Cities giuing them good and honourable solaries receiuing still their pay which they had in the warres He obserued also this order that hee gaue them alwaies these places of Preferment amongst their friends kinred in the same Country where they were borne neuer taking their offices from them nor changing them to other places vnlesse they had done some Iniustice or committed some other fault and then hee vsed first to take from them their offices and then to chastise them according to the qualitie of their offence saying that hee that once did any Iniustice for his particular Interest no longer deserued to bee a Iudge not so much as a moment The principall reason on which this King grounded for this election and distribution of his offices was this Hee said that none could euer know the valour of men and that naturall talent with which the Soueraigne God and Nature had endowed them except it were in the militarie Art for therein the valiant are tryed and their courage and wisdome for Gouenment of Common-weales in Peace and warre is discerned There men discouer their good fortune in their deeds of Armes in ouercomming great armies in winning of rich spoiles in preseruing that place and Command which they haue gotten with so much trauaile and labour enduring so many euil dayes and worse nights putting their life and honour in hazard and in danger to lose all in a moment There men come acquainted with hunger and thirst nakednesse and want sleeping on the ground sicknesse cold and heat yea with intolerable trauaile with all which manifold experience they becom in their Age full of knowledge and skil how to rule gouerne Commonweales for with that valor and courage with which they won their Honour and their wealth with the same they preserue the common wealth in Peace gouerning it with vprightnesse obseruing Iustice and with those necessities and miseries which they haue passed through in the course of their life they condole those that are poore and miserable apt to relieue their miserie and necessitie and aboue all they which are couragious valiant zealous of their Law and Religion louers of their King and country and who with such care and vigilancie wonne that Reward in the warre that they deserued to bee Gouernors of Kingdomes with the same minde also would they gouerne the Common-wealth not being able to endure any Iniustice or euill to be done Hee neuer gaue any of their offices to any other priuate men how wise and valiant soeuer if they had not wonne Honour and Reputation by long seruice in the warres and were also of ripe yeares and counsell and had done some notable acts to restifie their wisdome courage valour and abilitie deseruing offices Administrations and Gouernments of Common-weales Kingdomes and Prouinces for hee said that men brought vp in obscuritie and liuing in corners had not the courage to aduenture and trye their fortune but being cowardly and pusillanimous were euer vnfortunate and that Fortune her selse neuer fauoured them in any thing but alwaies despised and disesteemed them and that therefore he made no reckoning of such for any employment as hauing in them no valor no naturall abilitie This King Iacob Almansor was so vigilant in the Gouernment of his Kingdomes that many times he went out by night disguised in the habit of a countryman or common-downe and toperson visited the publicke places romes and offices in his court and sometimes in the habit of a merchant hee would trauaile two or three dayes iourney otherwhiles hee put on the habit of a Souldier with two or three disguises when he would informe himselfe of any notable thing and how his Gouernours administred Iustice and how his Captaines and Generals carried themselues in Peace and Warre and so came to the verifying of what he sought with much dissimulation and many times chastised the delinquents when they were most secure And this he did so oft and so warily that his Subiects tooke a Prouerbe or common speech amongst them which they often vsed in their assemblies and meetings when any one spake of ought that was vnlawfull the rest would presently reprehend him It is to be noted that in those dayes the Arabians vsed to weare a vaile ouer their face saying take heede lest the King Iacob Almansor heare you For they thought he was in euery place because hee vsed in such manner to goe vp and downe and to doe such notable deeds as caused admiration with which hee held all his Subiects in great seare and awe and all the Alcaydes of Gouernment thought he was euer looking on them so that they durst not do any Iniustice or neglect ought that was vnder their charge knowing him to bee of so sharpe and seuere disposition that if once they fell into â—â—sgrace they should neuer hold vp their heads againe whiles they liued This was the mayne cause that he gouerned all his Kingdomes in peace and that none of his Alcaydes or Viceroyes durst any wayes attempt the least thing in the World CHAP. VI. Of the vertuous exercises in which the King Iacob Almansor spent the Tuesdayes and Wensdayes THis King as wee haue rehearsed in the Distribution which hee made of the dayes of the weeke chose the Tuesdayes and Wensdayes for his perticular Exercises which hee diuided in this manner The Tuesday morning his Huntsmen Mountaynmen Bowmen and other Seruants and Officers of that kind being assembled he went out to the Mountaines and there delighted and exercised himselfe in chasing and hunting all kind of game both of Bird and Beasts of which he had great store and varietie in the Woods Groues and Gardens of Hillan and Albasatim kept and ordered in the best manner that might be where he recreated himselfe with his followers and to those of them that had performed any notable exploit that day wherein he
much delighted hee rewarded with ten pieces of Gold This Exercise hee followed vntill noone and then dined in the midst of a great house of pleasure which hee had there where all that followed him did eate and many poore folkes were refreshed for hee vsed that day and place especially for matters of Almes and reliefe of the poore and would not by expresse order bee encombred therewith eslewhere When hee had dined a Mayordomo put into a purse a thousand pieces of Gold called Miâ—eâ—ales and then he sitting downe in a square Court there came the poore before him as well those of his Court as of other Townes and Cities which brought euery one his Certificate from his Alcayde or Gouernour of the estate of his necessities And if it were for Mariage of poore Orphanes or other such occasions he gaue direction for their reliefe And it they were some smaller wants hee supplyed them presently out of that purse which his Mayordomo had filled But if the matters were of more importance he subscribed his answere to those Relations or Certificates of his Gouernours giuing direction how euery one should be relieued and out of what receipt or reuenue in such good sort that all went away contented and satisfied Hee said to his followers that hee esteemed that the best day of his life in which hee relieued all those poore folkes for the loue of the souereigne God It was remarkable in him that it could neuer be noted that euer any sought for almes or succour at his hands whether he were Moore Christian or Iew that went away vnrelieued He held opinion that there was neuer any King poore and that if hee were so hee should bee very miserable and vnfortunate and that Kings should be as large in giuing as they are in demanding and receiuing of their Subiects without which they haue neyther power Empire nor command in the World more then a priuate person He was so readie to relieue the needy and to succour the succourlesse that going one day on hunting hee lost himselfe being seuered from his Seruants and holding on his course through the Wood hee found a poore trauayling man who being taken with some sodaine sicknesse was fallen on the ground vnable to goe any farther he therefore alighting laid him on his owne horse and hauing tyed him fast in his Saddle hee took the reines of the bridle in his hands and so walked on foote himselfe more then two leagues before hee met with his traine who albeit they offered to ease him of the care of the sicke and to mount him on another horse yet he would by no meanes yeeld vnto it but conducted him with his owne hands vntill hee had brought him to his house in the Wood and there caused him to be cured till hee was throughly recouered and when being become sound hee kissed his hand at parting with many thankes as was fitting for so great a auour he answered that there belonged no thankes vnto him but that all was due to the Soueraigne God who had sent him that day to succoun him for he assured him by his Royall Crowne that hee had lost his company wandering hee knew not where nor which way he went vntill he lighted happily on him in that place where hee found him sicke and that it could not possibly be but that he was guided by God seeing he wandered in that country in which hee was borne and bred and yet neuer had the like befallen him And when he that was healed would haue taken his leaue to depart he commanded a good summe of money to be giuen him out of his Treasurie that hee might liue in good sort and so did dismisse him These and other like things did the King Almansor that those about him might learne and take good and laudable examples out of his manners and customes The day following being Wensday hee gaue no Audience neyther treated with any but shut himselfe into his Chamber reposing himselfe after his Hunting and violent exerercising which hee had vsed the Tuesday before And there being alone hee wrought Astrolabes of Asrologie and other Instruments of great worth and high estimation amongst the wise of his time Otherwhiles hee made of inlayd warke such delicate things and of such great account that the skilfullest Masters and professors of that Art tooke example and patterne of those pieces which hee had wrought for in all these things hee had a singular dexteritie subtiltie and excell encie of hand Hee made Crosse-bowes also and other kind of Weapons and Armes especially Coates of Maile of such excellencie that I can witnesse that I saw one of them which hee had giuen to an Ale ayde being his Fauourite sold for the weight thereof in Siluer In these Exercises hee vsed to spend these dayes and not in any other sort CHAP. VII Of the Exercises which hee vsed on the Thursday and how hee exercised the Sciences among the Learned THis King Iacob Almansor was so learned in all Sciences and such a louer of learned men of what facultie soeuer they were that there neuer came any to his knowledge and acquaintance but hee honoured and loued him exceedingly and on the contrary hee no lesse hated and eschewed the foolish and ignorant For hee said that there was no greater miserie in the World then Ignorance neyther any Monster how fierce foule or abhominable soeuer that was comparable thereto Hee proclaymed ouer all his Kingdomes that whosoeuer should bring him any Booke that were not in his Librarie alreadie of what facultie soeuer it was should receiue double the value according to the iust estimation thereof and performed it accordingly And if they were exquisite Bookes and good hee paid much more to them that brought them giuing great rewards By this meanes hee gathered such a multitude of Books that when he numbred them in his Library hee found there fiftie fiue thousand seuen hundred twentie and two bodies of all kind of Sciences in their seuerall Languages and weighing them in a weight they weighed twelue hundred and nineteene Quintalls of Paper And for verifying of this Truth A Quintall is taken for a hundred weight the greatest part of them is yet at this present remayning in the Librarie of the Royall Palace which your Highnesse at this day possesseth and if any of the Bookes be wanting whereof I make no doubt the number and names of the Authors will bee found in the Catalogue which this learned King caused to bee made When Thursday was come hee went into a Royall Hall or large roome adioyning to his Librarie which was adorned with rich hangings and the floore couered with Carpets of great price and the roome replenished with costly Seates where by he honored those learned men with whom he had treated conferred about matters of Learning for hee would neuer permit any of them to stand nor heare him a word at those times appointed for conference vntill they were all set downe on their