dominions in Affrica that such subjects of his as would passe thither with the families should have â—ands apportioned unto them at easie rents priviledged with liberties and exemptions upon knowledge whereof five thousand families of Moores and Jewes were planted in Spaine where by in a small time the Kingdome was so well replenish't as that little signe of war appeared The plague being ceased in Sivill Habdilbar the Governor with an armie of 12000 foote and 1000 horse sate downe before it But the defendants vallor made him weary of the enterprise and with the losse of much time two thousand foot and two hundred horse he returned to Cordova After some rest and new provisions made Habdilbar ashamed of the late soome hee had received and fearing Almanzor's displeasure matched the second time from Cordova to Sivill his armie coÌ„sisting of fifteen thousand foote and fifteen hundred horse But the Christians not failing in courage bravely resisted daily falling upon the enimies quarters After fortie five daies siege news was brought to Habdilbar that Elhardaly a Moore governor of the Province and Cittie of Valentia was revolted from his obedience with a purpose to usurpe to himselfe the title of the King of Spaine as hee was sorie for this news so was he glad of so good an excuse to rise from before Sivill having received more losse then formerly he had done Towards this Rebell Habdilbar with ten thousand foot and eight hundred horse marched from Cordova strengthening his armie with certaine troops raised by the Governor of Murcia The rebell in the first encounter was defeated taken and beheaded the Cittie of Valencia for the Cittizens offences sacked and Mahomet Abenbucar made Governor of that province Althongh Tarif by the spoiles he had gotten in Spaine was esteemed the richest subject in Almanzor's Dominions and there with in Common opinion hee might rest satisfied yet he like a gratefull Prince to a well deserving servant held himselfe bound in honor to lay upon him some visible marke of favor where upon hee made him Governor and Leivetenant Generall of all his Kingdoms The time now drew on for the Consummating of the intended marriage between the yong Prince Abilqualit and the King of Tunis daughter Tarif with a fleet of fortie saile was sent to fetch her The King of Tunis as he had reason to think himselfe much honored to matched his daughter with the great Almanzor's Heir so he forgot not to demonstrate his affection by the rich Presents hee sent to the Calipha and by the rewards hee gave Tarif The Princes being arived at the Court and the marriage Solemnized Almanzor broken with age and infirmities having lived Sixtie three yeeres and reigned fortie two hee resigned his Scepter to his sonne Abilqualit the third day of October in in the yeere after our Redemption 716 95 and when all the ceremonies incident to the Resignation and Assumption of a Crowne were past hee retyred to asumptuous Monasterie built by himselfe in the Mountaines for fortie eight Monasticall men Governed by a Morabits which signifies an Hermit where with an infirme bodie Languishing for the space of seaven yeeres in continuall devotions hee died Hee that should write at large the storie of this Prince discourse his glorious actions as they merrit set downe his virtues and anatomize al that was good in him should undertake a taske of great labor for had he been a Christian his equal could hardly been found but his better impossible wherefore not to bury so great worth in oblivion it is not impertinent briefely to say somwhat of him In his tender yeeres the hearts of all men began to admire and affect him aswel for his person which in beautie and form excelled the children of his age as for the goodnesse of his disposition and sharpnes of wit which was admirable as his yeeres increased so did his perfections all virtues striving which should be predominant in him which produced feare and love in his subjects hearts evenly ballanced towards him His stature was tall and seemly his gesture grave and pleasant the thoughts of his heart were not discovered in his brow his limbs stroÌ„g and active valiant liberall devot wise and learned being reproved by the king his father for giving a way to the poore in one day by handfulls of Gold the some of 20260. pounds 22 Arrobas and 13 pounds of Gold for an instruction told him that a poore King was as a dead man among the living hee replyed that Avarice in a prince was base and contemptible that Kings in imitation of the Creator by whose power they rule and reigne ought to give to the well deserving needie heaps of treasure could not adde one day to his life and being dead nothing but a poore winding sheet remained which was not snfficient to arme him against the wrath of God unto whom at the latter day hee must render an accompt of his Actions To the King his father a rich Semitary of great price being presented the handle whereof was a rich Emrald the Pommell a ballast or a stone called a Balis Rubie the guard and scabberd of beaten gold set with pretious stone and the blade a Damaskin the blade most excellent damsked of excellent temper for the rarenesse of so pretious a Jewell shewed it to divers of his great men who admired the perfections they saw but found fault that the weapon was somewhat too short whereat the yong Prince smiled saying they were deceived for the shortnes of a good sword in the hands of a valiant man that dares come up close to his enimie was so far from defect as it brought advantage with it the king pleased to see in so tender yeeres so bold a spirit in his son fastned the sword to his side saying that he only did merrit to weare it that found no fault with it Before he was 21 yeeres old he wrote divers bookes of the Mathematiques Astrologie art of War Philosophie pollicie of state and a large comment upon Aristotles works three books of Philosophy upon the tents of Arist in forme of a CoÌ„ment he could perfectly write and speake eleaven severall Languages expressing his minde and answering Ambassadors in them with out the help of a Truchman his father being old joying in his sons perfections upon the tenth of January 654 resigned his Scepter to him which addition of greatnes bred no other Alteration in him then a greater desire to increase in goodnes his Ambition striving no lesse to be reputed virtuous then to keepe and enlarge his Dominions his aparell ordinarily was plaine but on festivall daies no prince more sumptuous At his meat which for the most part was privat he seldome had above two dishes and that but once a day two servants to attend him and never dranke in gold or silver cup though of them his officers were royally stored Surfetters and Cormorants he compared to beasts voyd of reason Towards the Evening his Major Domo had accesse to his
hee conversed only with learned men hearing them dispute and argue upon such propositions as he offered when any doubts arised himselfe would turne the bookes and moderate their disputations that day they din'd with him and when the questions had been sufficiently disputed he gave them at their departure new propofitiōs for them to thinke upon against the next thursday To understand the humor and disposition of his people and his officers integritie he would many times goe guised into the Cittie in the habit of a priest souldier begger or Marchant It is to be noted that in those daies the Arabians used to weare vailes over their faces speaking freely of the King and his officers and soothe the company he was in whereby hee enformed himselfe both of his own faults and theirs which being discovered held his subjects in generall in such awe as when three or more were talking together it passed for a by-word Take heed least Almanzor heare you he was such an enemie to idlenesse as that he was ever busied in some virtuous exercise and made a law that all snch persons of what condition soever did not spend their time in some profitable or laudable Art should be reputed infamous he built and finished in his life time five hundred and six principall Mosquitas eightie and two Hospitalls and as many Colledges for schollers endowed them with great possessions every yeere at his own charge he bestowed in marraige one thousand mayden Orphants the almes he gave was admirable by land and sea he won 86 battails in 13 of them he was personally present and in them he took five Kings prisoners and slew one the spoile evermore was indifferently divided amongst the soldiers the widdowes and children of the slaine had their shares reserved for them in his librarie after his death there was found fiftie five thousand seven hundred twentie two volumes of books containing in wrighting one thousand two hundred nineteen Quintals of paper each Quintall being an hundred weight to get that masse together hee proclamed throughout his Dominions rewards to such as could present books which he had not wherin his bountie exceeded at last broken with yeeres and infirmities and residing in his Monasterie sometimes he would admit his antient servants to visit him His discourses for the most part were either heavenly contemplations or of his sonne desiring above all earthly joyes to heare that he were a good and a just king his sicknes increasing he sent him admonitorie Letters advising him not to presume upon his regall estate which was fraile subject to mutation within Limits vaine unasured to humble himselfe to the Creator God eternal by whom kings were ordained whose power was infinite everlasting and supreame That above all things he should be carefull to administer Justice without partialitie and avoyd severitie wherin he should imitate the King of glorie who was goodnes it selfe and from whom all our good works did spring if he swarved from his rules his Justice was Injustice his Clemencie tyrannie his Charitie avarice all his actions wicked That he ought not to be ignorant that his wisdome was but foolishnes his mercie extended but to externe things pardoning of sinnes was not in his power his Justice streched no farther then corporall afflictions over mens soules he had no power Therefore he wished him not to glorie in his earthly greatnes to contemplate upon the humane miseries wherunto all flesh is subject and that neither his vast Empire or Kingly power was able to draw one drop of raine from the Clouds nor to make a green leafe or free him from wordly vexations That hee should evermore thinke upon his end remember that he was a miserable and wretched sinner that after this life he was to render an exact accompt unto the Soveraigne King the Creator of all things that the accompt of Princes were greater and more fearefull then meaner mens which duly cōsidered he must conclude that neither himselfe his dominions or power were to be esteemed pretious Hee admonished him to beware of pride calling her the right hand of the devill the path of perdition the nurse of sin the gate of hell the principall hooke wherwith the infernall spirit draws miserable Soules into his burning lake he willed him to tread her under foot and not to overjoy in his death For if Kings had the true feeling of their duties they would rather mourne and fast at their Coronations then feast and triumph as is accustomed That he should no time make or beare with a Ly for Lyers are divels in flesh enemies to truth subverters of justice fyrebrands of sedition causers of rebellion destroyers of kingdoms to themselves thus much harmefull that when they speake truth they are not beleeved Lastly he admonished him to performe the service of God before all his other actions to adore him in singlenes of heart and humility to be just in judgements charitable and in his wayes direct and then he might be sure that God would blesse him both in this world and in the world to come from his house of Albasadin the twentith day of Rageb anno 96. Although he felt his disease incurable yet the Phisitions ceased not to put him in hope of recovery after some reproofes he thanked them for their endevors but said he the daies of men are limited and the will of God must be obeyed your learning practice connot adde unto me one daies life beyond the prefixed day wherin I must die From the begining of my sicknes I knew my disease was mortall it is a vanitie to speake of impossibilities I cannot live and I thanke my God that deilivers me from the calamities of this miserable world which said he comanded his sonnes Abilqualit and Abrahen the Infant Abrahen to be brought to his presence whom he admonished to live in brotherly love that their concord would be as a wall of brasse in their defence that their dissention would hazard the dissolution acquired by him and his Ancestors and turning his speech to his yongest sonne I Comand you said he upon paine of my malediction to reverence and obey King Abilqualit your brother honor and serve him in stead of me as your Father and Lord. Then casting his eys upon Abilqualit required upon the same to love and cherish his brother Then causing himselfe to be raised in his bed he sent for his kinsmen great officers and servants unto whom he made a large speech of the miseries of this life of the eternall joyes he was going unto and prayed them to let him know whether he were indebted unto any of them for rewards or otherwise that he might take present order for their satisfaction and also humbly besought them that they would forgive him all his offences towards them as he freely pardoned them in all wherin thy had offended him for God said he will never at the latter day extend his mercies to the mercilesse and further as an argument of eheir
Mosquita built by himselfe in a vault of Jasper able to containe fortie persons sustained with pillars of guilt Alablaster garnished with pretious stone The King his son his kinsmen his officers and Councellors the chiefe Priests fifteene thousand other priests his houshold servants Courtiers his guards and an infinite multitude of common people with tearie eyes and mournfull hearts attended his funeral upon his Tomb this Epitaph ensuing was enscribed Here lies the terror of Christians Moores and Gentiles who furrowed the Seas levelled the Earth subdued the nations of the world the Pattern of Courtesie the Tree of Mercy and to the wicked the edge of Iustice. Here he lies that had a bountifull hand the defendor of the poore the father of Orphanes the protector of widdowes the mirror of Charity honesty shame facednes and modesty the modell of government the Treasurie of Nobilitie the maintainer of truth the enemie of Lies the lover of wisdome whose fame shall eternally live for a worthy Monument to future age in despight of Conquering time that burnes in oblivion the great actions of Princes Kings and Emperors Let us pray to the Creator that his glory may be endles that in imitation of him Monarchs may govern their states in peace and that he would be pleased to direct our waies in his service and fill us with his divine grace Abilqualit being for two yeeres together free from rebellion and living in blissefull peace after the example of his father and Grandfather resolved in his life time to settle the Crown upon his sonne Iacob Almanzor a child of tender age and to that end the first day of March in anno 725 104 he assembled all his great men to his Court at Zarvall who approving his intent sware there obedience to the Prince as to the rightfull snccessor of that ample Monarchy The forme used in the Ceremony ensueth Abilqualit Cloathed in royall Roabes with Crown and Scepter his Kingly ensignes majestically sitting in chiar of estate his sonne upon his right hand and the high priest upon the left his Princes and guards being assembled the high Priest with a loud and audible voyce declared the cause of summoning that royall Court demanded whether they were contented to sweare their future obedience unto the Prince they answered yea Then said the high priest in testimony that you have assented all of you must doe as I and the king will shew you thereupon the King rose set his son in his Charriot the Prince in token of his filial obedience kissed his Fathers right hand the father blessed his child and after in humble reverence kissed his hand and sate in his sonnes seate the high priest and after him all the great men falling at his feet did the like then a priest apparelled in a Ceremoniall habit upon a board in the middest of that assembly laid the Alcaron the high priest rising from his seat demanded whether they were all content to sweare by the living God and the holy contents of that book to maintaine and defend Iacob Almanzor to be lawfull heire and successor to his father King Abilqualit in all his kingdoms and dominions wherunto they answered content the high Priest replyed whosoever doth not constantly fulfill and maintain his assent here given let him be held a person infamous a traytor to the royall Crowne and let the vengeance and malediction of the Soveraigne God fall upon him and his the assemblie answared Amen Then the King rose from his seat kissed the booke and laid it upon his head and returned to his place the same was done by the high Priest and the rest the high priest then turning to the Prince said Your Highnesse must sweare by the most high and Soveraigne God and by the contents of this holy booke as King and Lord of these kingdoms that you will administer and maintaine Justice indifferently between your subjects that you will fulfill and preserve unto them al the priviledges and franchises justly â—â—â—â—â—ted by the Kings your predecessors where by they may live in peace without grievances the Prince said he would be sworn unto it if you do not said the high Priest accomplish your promise and oath let that Vengeance and Malediction of the high and Soveraigne God fall upon you as upon him that is perjured the Prince replyed Amen Then the Prince rose from his Regall seat kissed the booke laid it upon his head and returned to his place where pausing a little while attended with all the guards in pompe trumpets and musicall instruments sounding he rode to the principall Mosquita prayed and returned to his Palace where King Abilqualit attended his comming The next day was spent in feasting triumphs and other Martiall exercises the day following they repaired againe to the Chamber of assemblie where the high priest demanded whether they were content to ratifie and affirme the oath they had taken they answered yea Then the King Abilqualit the high priest and the rest according to their degrees one after another with humble reverence kissed the Princes hand who giving them thanks the Ceremony ended Not long after the king sickned his disease grew strong and the Phisitians skill too weake to remedie it the tender yeeres of his son required a Governor to which office by his testament he made election of one of his neere men in whose faith he reposed trust called Mahomet Amzarij Then laying aside all wordly busines he conferred only with religious men prayed incessantly died The Queene Dowager pleased with the ayre and seat of the Monastery where Almanzor died removed the yong King thither and in her motherly love staid with him The Kingly power was established in Mahomet Amzarij who finding himselfe obeyed as king despised the estate of a subject and resolved to set the Crown upon his own head the way unto it he conceived to be liberality towards all but especially to the great officers governors of Provinces and Captains The men of war being his Creatures the rest were easily to be wrought Unto them he was bountifull and courteous denying nothing sued for and often giving before it was asked With this carriage he so inchanted their hearts as his partie seemed strong but yet actions of great weight cannot be effected without advice and ayde The first man to whom he discovered his pretence was Abenzulayman his creature advanced by him to be one of the foure Councellors at war but his heart detesting the horrible treason used perswasions to him to give over the enterprize laying before his judgment the generall love borne to the yong king their naturall soveraigne the little hope of prevailing the intestine war and the hazard which the Empire should runne into by it and that the murther of the King for murthred he must be would make him odious unto all men and not only divert the principall Governors hearts from him but raise the like ambition by his example in others to revolt and establish themselves kings in their