inhabitants for to acknowledge him for their Lorde and to paie him tribute as to their king These robberyes and roades he vsed the space of seauen or eight moneths so that Abdelmelec was forced to leuie forces for to coole his lustinesse to driue the théeues out of the dens of the mountains For the doing of the which exploit he vsed the seruice of the new prince Muley Hamet who was with a power in the kingdome of Sus for to make excursions He discomfited Muley Mahamet in certaine places and almost wholie destroied all his band as wel footemen and horsemen and forced him to hide himselfe in the verie thicke woodes and inaccessible cragges of the mountaine where hée lurked aboue a yéere almost killed with colde snowe and other miseries and the inclemencie of the aire and most miserablie molested and beaten with despaire of his lyfe and feare of awaites which his Vnkle layde for him proposing greate rewards to him that could bring him eyther dead or aliue At length he was driuen by necessitie the sharpest weapon to that which hée hadde before refused and tooke scorne off that is to desire the aide of the Kinge of Portugall for to deliuer him from the awaites and hands of his vnkle and to restore him vnto his graund fathers and fathers kingedome For the which cause he sent a messeÌ„ger from Mount Clario with letters vnto the king of Portugall and willed him to goe by Mazaga But that he might receaue some aunswere more safely speadely he resolued to leaue the mountaines and to get him to Tangar So through the woodes and wildernesses of the mountaines where the way was very safe and not beaten with tract of mens féete he came without any great daunger vnto Penon where after he had stayed a few dayes to gather his men together he went towards Tangar where he was courteously receaued into the Citie by the Gouernour but leauing his forces without the walles From that Citie he sent two of his Captaines in Ambassade with letters accompanied with two gentlemen of Tangar vnto king Sebastian and desired of him aide for to restore him vnto his Fathers kingdome And because the gouernour of Tangar was not ignorant that if he vsed the king of Marocco courteously that he should thereby well please the king of Portugall he dispatched a Carauell to Lisbon with the Ambassadours for their spéedier passage of whose iourney and successe we wil speake after that we haue first admonished the reader of certaine things necessarie to be knowen King Sebastian being by nature verie much giuen to loue of armes sought for no other pleasure then by martiall matters which had caused him in former yéeres to passe ouer to Tangar to th entent to conquere Barbarie but with vaine endeuour For Mahamet as we haue tould you before had of a vaine and foolish confidence twise refused aides offered him by the Portugall But when the king of Portugall saw that now his ayde was desired by the letters of the king of Marocco he was very glad that a most wishshed occasion whereby he might fill his long lust and longing was offered vnto him who was desirous of praise and studious to enlarge his Empire and Religion Wherefore he receued magnificently the Ambassadour of Muly Mahamet being ariued in Portugall and graunted them their request in all demaunds and also wrote letters to Mahamet wherein he promised his trauaile helpe and fauour in restoring him into his fathers kingdome no man of his couÌ„seile or of the nobilitie holding much against it And this might be the cause of that interview where the Catholick king and the king of Portugall met and talked together in An. 1578. at Guadalupea a citie of Castilia Where the Catholicke king laboured all that he could to feare the king of Portugall from that enterprise or if he would néedes goe through with it nor could not be disuaded froÌ„ his purpose that then he would doe it very substantially and effectually prouiding and furnishing himselfe passing well with all things néedefull for so great an attempt But when the King of Portugall continued constant in that he had once purposed he returned home whither anone after the Catholike king sent his Ambassadours for to deale with him about the same matter that he himselfe had talked with him off in presence For the Catholick king was not ignorant how the king of Marocco did surpasse in strength power how skilful expert valiant a warriour he was and how great power and prouision so great an enterprise required wherof he knew that the Portugall was yet fully vnfurnished But the king of Portugal remained constant in his purpose began to prouide all things necessarie for the voiage First he made leuies of souldious throughout his own kingdome he sent some into Germany to take him vppe 5000. footemen He also wrote letters to certain knights of Andalouzia to bring vnto him olde souldiours Moreouer he commaunded great store of ordenance wepons armour other munition victualls to be prouided brought together that all these things might be the more coÌ„modiously transported he commaunded shippes to be staied in all hauens of his kingdome The number of the souldiours that he leuied in his owne kingdome was great but they were ill furnished freshwater souldiours taken vp of clownes hushandmen and a rable nothing fit for the field As for the Germaines they were also fresh water souldiour and vnskilfull of martiall matters and when they came to Lisbon they fell sick and aboue 2000. of them died There came also vnto the king 600. Italians with whom the Pope had furnished the Counte of Ireland who being ariued at Lisbon offered his seruice to the king promised to follow him in the iourney Moreouer the king caused proclamation to be made with sound of Trumpet thoroughout his whole kingdome that all Noblemen and Gentlemen his vassailes should attend vpon him to the warres vppon 〈◊〉 of losse of landes and rentes and all priuiledges gâ—â—â—â—ted by the king So then all things néedefull for an armie being prouided and sufficient store of shippes and boates gathered together he commaunded the ordenaunce victualls munition horses and other necessaries to be shipped that when the feast of Saint Iohn Baptist on which day he had determined to leaue his house drew néere ther might be nothing to let hinder but that the armie might be embarked and transported into Africa When Abdelmeleâ— the king of Marocco was admonished and aduertised of these things and what the king of Portugall entended against him he was verye sorrowfull therefore not so much because he feared the King of Portugall his forces as for that he being well affected towards men of the Christian Religion did foresée in minde that Africa would be the graue of the King of Portugall yea though he brought with him thrise so great an Armie as he had Wherefore it is well knowne that he spake one day to this effecte The
standard set forward For at that instant they dislodged for to aduertise la Noue that abode at Luson of all that we haue folde you before and to exhibite into consultation of the counsail what was to be resolued vpon in this matter The which la Noue dyd also soone doe as well for to sound the hearts of his as also not to misse but with the opinion of them all if that fortune should make their first desse in fall out ill The opinions were diuers and the assembly was diuided into two aduises as it doth ordinarely happē in a matter of such importance namely among the Chiefeteines that would manage their affaires considerately and rather by the common aduice then their own particular motion The chiefe Captaines being assembled la Noue did declare vnto them the enterprise that they had made against the Fort and the occasion thereof that now it was come to this point that they could not longer abide before the place but that they must either fight or else retire them selues As touching the first the armie of the enimie is great well furnished both for men and equipage and a third mo in number then the Protestants But that which is more to be considered in this occurrence is that although we doe obtaine the victorie yet we shall thereby not aduaunce at all the affaires of the publicke and the totall cause if that fortune fall out ill to our great armie vnder the conduct of the Admirall which euery day is in doings with the Marshall of Cosse and vppon the point to darreyne battaile with the kings forces for then shall this victorie of ours be rather lamentable then profitable For as it can not be obtained but with great effusion of bloud and the death of manie braue Captaines and valiant souldiours so that if the armie of the Princes be broken those that shall dye in this fight now at hand will so lessen our forces that we shall not be able to maintaine Rochell against the Catholickes who may soone repaire and leuie an other armie because they doe swarme in people vnder the auctoritie that they haue stolen from the king But séeing that he remitted the resolution of the one and the other vnto the pluralitie of voices those that maintained the fight carried it away in number Besides the dishonor sayde they that the armie shall gette by such a retraite it can not be done but with an other greater losse of men then shall be spent in the battaile namely séeing that the Catholickes march vpon them with so great spéede Adde therevnto that the Italians as they thought had sette foorth for to cut of the way for none other consideration but to impeach them of all wayes of retires Wherevpon Puuiant tooke the word out of their mouthes and of a particular motion sayd aloud So that wée doe goe resolutely to the charge the victorie is certainly ours for they are all so werie so couered ouer with dust by reason of the long iourney that they haue made and besides they are so charged with sléepe that they will not be able to sustaine the first charge of our people As touching the rest God who is as great as strong and as well willed towards his as euer he was hath prouided for farre greater inconueniences than those that can befall to vs if our great armie hap to be broken If in all occasions that are presented to men man shew himselfe noble and couragious God will supply the rest and furnish vp the imperfection of man of whome he demaunds no more but his deuoire Let vs then doe that lieth in vs he that hath guided vs herevnto for to maintaine his cause will of his almightie power accomplish that which our feeble power lacketh The auctoritie and no lesse the good fortune that accustometh to fauour such a Chiefeteine was of so great force with the rest of that troupe that la Noue had no sooner asked them all whether they were resolued to fight but that their long acclamatiōs laughing countenances assured him of the good will that they had to doe it In so much that hauing admonished them not discharge before they were néere their enimie to pursue their poinct furiously to recharge without cease as long as they should sée any number of their enimies in troupe for feare least they should rallie after they were broken gaue commaundement to euery Captaine for to goe order and encourage his troupes and that the Ministers should presently preach vnto euerie companie praying God to send them an happie successe in this battaile so daungerous as euerie man is more religious when he sées him selfe pressed néere to any ill but if all things laught vpon him at pleasure then our nature is to forget him quickly to whom we were so deuout whē we feared the bastonnades of a mischief néere at hand But I will leaue them at their prayers and preparing of themselues to the reencounter the which they held assured and bring Puigaillard forward who staying for nothing lesse then for feare of raising of Puuiant and his companions out of their beddes hasted amaine But he was scarse at Cheurettes but that the companies of the Kings gard who being the spéediest had made a stand for a certeine tyme staying for the rest gaue soone enough into the barries of Sainct Gemme for the Protestants had shutte vppe the wayes of Sainct Gemme and Luson which they gotte and passed without resistaunce and ran thorough the borough in the houses whereof they founde the beddes yet hot wherewithall they finding themselues grieued did whilest they stayed for the armie some of them lay them downe to sléepe other fell to filling of their bellies and some ranne to hasten Puigaillard and to carrie him the newes of taking of Sainct Gemme whereinto he entred before the pricke of the daye crying in all quarters to his Souldiours to come out of the houses to putte them in order and range of Battaile for to folow the Protestants who some sayde were fledde to Marans and from thence to passe to Beraud In the ende séeing that the most part of the companies were out of the Borough he made them turne headde directly to Luson wher he hoped to be reuenged of the occasion that had hadde slipped out of his hande There fiftie souldiours Auantcourers of the best moūted of the Kings garde whome he had sent before the armie sent him woord that they had discouered the enimie who was prettie néere and in battaile These were a nūber of Gentlemen of the countrie who going out of Luson for to deuaunce the Armie hadde giuen in as farre as the tuffes of wood which were before marked vnto you being determined to trie the assurance and resolution of the Catholickes by some notable skirmish the which yet passed lightly enough as well on the one side as the other Vpon this certaine of the Catholicke armie being returning re-encountred x. or twelue valets of the Protestants
the cause of God who wil haue but one Religion in the world that is to wit the aūcient Catholick Romane frō the which these mescreans infidels haue lewdely cut of themselues we doe also vphold the partie of our king soueraigne prince who cannot permit other exercise in his Realme then the of his predecessours finally we fight for the weale of our natural coūtrie for the suertie whereof we hauing euer to this day done infinit exploites fought in so many places with such honour and profit as your vertuous and holie desires haue deserued we should now be of lesse beléefe then they are and more timorous then women if we should not assure vs all that this acte as the last of so manie trauailes passed shall be crowned with the good honor and felicitie that all good and couragious people cannot but desire Moreouer thinke ye that we are not héere to quarrel for other mens lands nor for the defence of the borders of anie Lordes nor to enlarge the Empire of the Crowne of France but for the saluation of our soules for the maintenance of the Religion of our ancestors for the holie alters for the sacred reliks for the reuerent Priests and the wonderfull and awefull mysteries of our Religion In sum it is for the honour of Jesus Christ and then secondarilie for the conseruation of our owne liues and of the life of our Prince and of his Officers and by a consequent for the honour good and suretie of the state the which these mischiouous heretikes would no lesse reuerse than they haue done alreadie our true and Catholike faith so defiled by the mortall venim of their pestiferous heresies We might well haue hastned the battaile but that the counsaile haue alwaies bene of aduise for to staie for the cōming of all our forces as wel naturals as alies and strangers for to make them all pertakers of the present honour attended of all yet neuerthelesse rather remitted than denied anie one of you Wherefore assure your selues of the victorie if ye do not beelie and denie your valour héeretofore march resolutelie to the fight kéepe wel your rankes succour one another as shal be néedfull holde your selues certaine and assured that this one daie will bée the beginning of your honourable libertie and of a treble miserable bondage of the enimies of God of the king and of all good people But now he had caused the Artilerie to plaie vppon the formost of the Protestants who were therewithall so galled and affrighted that many going out of the rankes made them beléeue that their Generall refused the battaile for to gaine still ground which caused them to begin to make towards the troupes of the Prince who shewed vnto them his side with a dismarch and an araie and appearaunce so proude that the armie shewed how great Captaines dyd leade it The Catholike armie was compassed of fiue fiue great battailons of footemen intermedled and interlaced still with their horsemen because they were weaker than the Princes horses as their footmen were stronger by a treble The Catholike armie séemed to bée diuided into partes rather in the respect of the Chieftaines that gouerned it than for anie difference of troupes as the ancient fashion was to diuide an armie into an auantgard a battaile and a rereward for the Catholikes represented the forme of an hedge the which béeing bias high low straight and crooked according to the nature of the places where they stood made the confederates to sée more or lesse the bands Catholyke according as the nature of the passage did permit wherein the thrée chiefe Captaines seemed to bée well accomoded and placed either to receiue or to giue the charge in this battaile If you will call the troupes lead by the Marshall of Saint Andre the auantgard it was composed of ninetéene companies of men of armes Frenchmen thirteene ensignes of Spaniards so many of French and eleauen of Almanes with foure péeces of Artillerie all placed on the left of the Constable who béeing chiefe of the armie lead the battaile which was néerer the enimie than all the rest of the troupes and it consisted of xvii Estanders of men of armes three of horsemen xxii ensignes of Suisses and xvii of Frenchmen and Britons with eight péeces of Artillerie The Duke of Guise lead the rereward for to helpe the occurrents which might be presented but had but a few men they almost all standing on the right side of the Constable who stoode formost of them all and euerie one of the thrée Chieftaines hauing before them their Enfans Perdus on foot to begin the game The summe of their armie amounted to 19000. footemen and 2000. horsemen and the Prince was about 4000. horsemen all apparelled in white Casaques the which the Prince had caused them to weare for a marke of the purenesse of their conscience in the dessigne by them made for to maintaine the honour of God and the publike with 6000. footemen diuided into two battaillens of Almaines and Frenchmen Then the armie Catholike marching in this order against the Princes that shewed them his side ariued betwéene two villages L'Espine and Blainuille distant asunder 1200. pace The which space not béeing capable to comprehend the armie Catholike in length it happened that the battel Catholike was farre beyond the auantgard Protestant so that it stoode much behinde it Wherefore the Prince imagining that they marched directlie to him for to fight hée without farther leasure to make publike prayers to God for the victorie as the Parisians did that made the shrine of Saint Geneuiefue to come downe for to emploie her as an intercesseresse to God for their behoofe made his troupes tourne head with as much spéede as hée could but as a whole armie is not easilie remoued so specially by Chieftaines that haue alwayes made more of the estate of actions of the bodie than of the spirit and wit prising higher a furious valliance shan an order and araie militarie whereby the troupes accustomed to tourne and change in all sortes and in a moment doe carrie awaie moe victories without great losse than all those hardie and outragious feeses the which cannot bring but a miserie irreparable the disorder shewed it selfe to bée such that the Admirall and the auantgard found themselues ouerright against the Constable and the Battaile and the Prince and his battaile that was opposed and set agaynst the auantgard of the Catholikes was so farre behinde it as wée sayde that the Prince coulde scarce sée it at all Moreouer the onelie battaile of the Constable stretched almost as farre in length as all the whole armie of the Prince And for lacke of order if that the constant resolution of some had not serued for an example vnto the rest of the armie the Protestants had béene that daie the more vnhappie In summe that backwardnesse was the cause that the Prince and the Constable bare all the brunt the Constables horsemen that strengthned his
33 The Christ of Venice Marke Antonie Lando 34 The hope of Candie Hierome Conarini 35 The Reatila of Padoa Pataro Buzacarino 36 The S. Iosephica of Venice Frances Osedo 38 The resolute of Naples Iohn de Carasse 39 The Sicilia of Sicilia Frances Amadeo 40 The maister of Nicolas Doria Iulio Centaurio 41 The Eagle of Corfu Peter Buono 42 The S. Trifonica of Cataro Hierome Bizanteo Peter Pisano vvith a galcaâ—â— 43 The towre of ViceÌ„za Lewes de Portu 44 The S. Marie of the Popes Pandulfo Strozzi Knight 45 The S. Ioannica of the popes Augulo Bifalio Knight 46 The maister of Nigroni Lewes Gamba 47 The Admirall of Nigroni Iohn Ambrose Nigroni 48 The Monarcha of Iohn Andrew Nicolas Garibaldo 49 The hande maide of Iohn Andrew Nicolas Imperiali 50 The Admirall of Iohn Andrew Iohn Andrew Doria The battaile of succour that followed behinde for a gard had these Gallies and Captaines The names of Gallies The names of Captaines 1 The S. Ioannica of Sicile  2 The Baccana Iohn Peter Morilo 3 The Leina of Naples  4 The Constancie of Naples Peter Delagia 5 The Marchesia of Naples Iohn Machado 6 The Saint Barbara of Naples Iohn Aschaleo 7 The Saint Andrew of Naples  8 The Saint Catherine of Naples Iohn Rufio de Valasques 9 The Saint Barthelmew of Naples  10 The Saint Angelo of Naples  11 The Terana of Naples Iohn de Ripa Meillino 12 The Christ of Venice Marke Molino 13 The double hande of Venice Iohn Loredano 14 The Admirall of Naples Aluares de Bazan Marques de Sante Cruz. 15 The faith of Venice Iohn Baptista Contarini 16 The piller of Venice Caterino Malipetro 17 The Magdalen of Venice Lewes Balbi 18 The Ladie of Venice Iohn Bembo 19 The Minidus of Venice Philippe Leo. 20 The hope of Venice Iohn Baptista Benedicto 21 Saint Peter of Venice Peter Baduato 22 Saint George of Sabenica Christopher Lucicho 23 The Saint Michael George Cochio 24 The Sybilla of Venice Daniel Trono 25 The Crane of Spaine Lewes de Hereda 26 The Admirall of Vaschedo Veschedo Coranado 27 The Suprana of the Popes Antonie de Ascoli Peter Roises 28 The Occasion of Spain  29 The maister of the popes  30 The faire weather of the popes  The Nauie being thus distributed they sailed forth and euerie man was carefull for his charge the which that it might bée the more exactlie done the Generall had also appointed a Captaine ouer euerie 20. gallies who shuld dilygentlie looke that this order were obserued by them all So they sailed to Cefalonia where they receiued Letters from Paule Contarini the gouernour of the Isle of Zante that signified how the enimies fléete was in the gulfe of Patras in ill case and that fortie vessels were gone awaie vnder the gouernment of Oluzali towards Modone nor long after they receiued Letters from Famagosta Which things béeing knowen our men were full perswaded that they ought to goe forward and to assaile the enimie But whether in the meane time were our enimies idle for when Ali their high Admirall was come to Lepanto within the gulfe of Patras the 28. of September he sent Mehemet Bey with thrée score galleyes to Aspropitio a Citie within that gulfe for to bring thence victualls and speciallie souldiours that he might be redie for all euents And he had now dispatched the matter and being returned hadde brought besides victualls and other necessaries 10000. Ianizares 2000. common souldiours and as many voluntarie In the meane time he had vnderstoode that our fléete was come from Corfu to Cefalenia but of the greatnesse thereof or what they meant to doe he had yet learned no certaintie for although that Caracoza being sent to take view of our Nauie had brought word backe that hée had dilygentlie surueied it and that there were not in it aboue 150. Galleyes yet that was false But yet notwithstanding as though they did fore-sée their misfortune all in the fléete were afraide Wherefore Ali albeit he was fullie resolued to fight yet for that cause and reason he thought good to consult with the principall men that he had with him what was to be done héerein before that he did put these newe aides and supplie into his gallies Wherevpon hauing called together all the chiefe men of marke and authoritie and the most skilfull in martiall matters he gaue euerie man large leaue fréelie to vtter what they thought They sate long in counsaile for many to gratifie Ali whom they knew was resolued to fight affirmed that fortune was to bée tried neither on the contrarie part were there few that subscribed vnto Portau Bassa the Generall of the souldiours who held it stiflie that they ought in no case to sight Thus when diuerse opinions were spoken by diuerse men Hassan Bassan the sonne of Barbarossa sometime king of Argier hauing craued license to speake and laying his hande vpon his breast according to the vsage of that Nation spake to this effect Most excellent and mightie aboue all other beloued and aduanced by the maiestie of our most inuincible Emperor vnto the highest degrée of glorie men most desirous to doe seruice vnto the immesurable glorie of our Emperor which is the shadowe and spirite of the liuing God for euer and euer These Idolaters are in diuine matters worse than beastes and enimies of the true sonne of God Therefore I woulde not haue you doubt whether their Nauie ought to bée assailed and taken For besides those signes that many before mée haue wiselie rehearsed wée may certainlie knowe by the prisoners that these men are of the same Nation and gathered together after the same order that they were that thirtie yéeres agoe béeing ioyned together with a great number of Galleyes in these verie same seas were broken by Hariadin Barbaressa my Father with so greate facilitie that hée neuer néeded to doe so much as once to brawe his sword For although they had a greater Nauie than my Father had yet as soone as they sawe the beakes of our Gallies and heard the crie and valiant féese of our men they betooke them to flight for they are so faint hearted that they runne awaie as soone as they doe heare of our name Besides this they being blended together of diuerse Nations doe mutuallie hate one another neither wil anie one of them obey another the which is a matter of verie great moment in an armie there be a great number of Gallies of diuerse Princes come together not for to expose themselues to anie perill for their common defence but that they may séeme to haue a great Nauie They be blasphemers despisers of God apparelled and furnished with rich and precious clothes and armour and laden with monie But we on the other side are ignorant what blasphemie is and doe mutuallie loue and reuerence one another and are met together héere in armes to this onelie end that we may doe our onelie Emperor alwaies inuincible Prince
seruice in fight And séeing that al our men haue assembled to this end they will with one minde obey your valiant aduises and chieflie because they doe know that ye are the lieuetenants of our Emperor himselfe therfore fighting as it beseemeth valiant and well appointed men will carrie awaie assured victorie And this we may the more lightly hope because we haue 280. vessells well furnished of whom 200. are common Gallies and fiftie small Gallies all of them passing well armed to the augmentation of whose power strength yet more and to the farther encouragement of our most valiant men if that ye do distribute put into the gallies the 14000. men the came verie latelie also those of the Leuant that are in the 20. foists we shal rest assured of the victorie although we doe grant that our enimies are valiant men But now we doe certainlie know as we haue learned of our fellow Caracoza a verie wise man that they haue but 150. gallies furnished with such men as I told you before Wherefore most valiant and wise Gentlemen séeing that we do suffientlie know their state goe forward ye shall finde them in the vale of Alexandria and dispearsed along that shoare more giuen to idlenesse ease delights and delicatenes than is méete for warriours so that thereby ye shall take them al without difficultie for when they shall sée our Fléete they either flying awaie will runne on the shore and suffer shipwracke or else they will light and fall on our Nauie and be taken But that I maye comprehend all the matter in fewe wordes we haue the greater number of vessels and them also better furnished than our enimies verie valiant and skilfull souldiours wherefore wée must not let slip this occasion offered vs to fight with them that are so much inferiour vnto vs in number prowesse and experience and speciallie séeing that thereby wée shall execute the commandement of our high and mightie Emperour whose glorie shall indure for euer and winne our selues immortall praise but ye namelie shall performe that which yée promised vnto this our supreame Emperour when he appointed you in his owne place for to conduct this most mightie Nauie The same arguments vsed also at that time Oluzali the Chieftaine of the forces of Barbarie vsing a long spéech of the power of the Turkes and of the commandement and anger of the great Emperour of the Turkes who as also Cayabeg the Sanzach of Smyrne shewed with an effectuall spéech that neither they ought nor coulde without shame let passe this occasion to destroie the same Christians hauing now a lesser power séeing that they had alwayes ben defaitad and spoiled héeretofore by the souldiours of Ottoman the great Emperour of the Turkes although they had a fléete farre better furnished than theirs But of a flat contrarie minde were Syrocke the Sanzach or gouernour of Alexandria and Carabiue the Captain of Suurasar both verie ancient Captaines and singularlie well experimented in sea affaires and many other besides But Mehemet Bey the Sanzach of Nigreponto who somtime had gouerned Barbarie going about to extinguish this hot fire of Hassan Bassa spake to this sense I doe thinke and iudge most prudent péeres that the wordes the Hassan Bassa hath spoken are signes and tokens of a verie valiant man and namelie of him that desireth in all things to obey our most inuincible Lorde and king of kings who draweth his sword with the arme of God and liueth for euer and euer yet notwithstanding séeing it so pleaseth you the Bassaes your excellencies who next after our supreame Emperour doth deserue this Empire of Ottaman I will also speake what I doe thinke doubtlesse it is likelie the our enimies would not haue come in this far vnlesse they had before diligentlie learned out our strength forces wherefore it must néedes be that they haue a power at the least equall to ours or else greater because that otherwise they would neuer haue come thus farre Of the which thing this may bée an argument that they themselues may easilie knowe that the hope of kéeping and conseruing of the rest of their dominions and Empire that is left them or of recouering that which they haue lost doth lie in this onelie Nauie Therefore let vs not beléeue that this Fléete of our enimies hath come hether for to expose them selues to manifest perill and to cast awaie themselues wilfullie the which they must néedes doe if their Nauie be so simple as it hath béene painted out vnto vs also so small as our fellow Caracoza yet a man of great prowesse hath affirmed I for mine owne parte doe surelie thinke that a Nauie that commeth from Sicile thus farre to séeke their enimie speciallie at this time of the yéere is verie well appointed and doth come with certaine aduise and purpose to fight with hope to obtaine the victorie And if we doe diligentlie wey the thing we vnderstand that the reports of the Christian prisoners doe in all pointes agrée héerewithall for if they would onelie vantinglie and vainlie shew themselues and then flie awaie what néede they to haue come so farre vp into these our seas What That they flying awaie might léese all Wherefore grounding your selues vppon these arguments thinke that the Nauie of our enimies is verie strong and hath determined to fight with vs séeing that they are come vp thus farre not prouoked nor forced by vs but of their owne accord Neither haue wée reason to compare this fléete with that which our men in former yéeres did put to flight at Preuesa For this league of the Christian Princes against vs is another manner of thing than that which was made thirtie yéeres agoe the preparation other the skil in warfare other so that ther is no proportion betwéene them In that fléete were many and diuerse Generalls but little wisedome and that was the cause that they fled In this Nauie is Iohn of Austria the sonne of the Emperour Charles the fift and the brother of Philip the king of Spaine a verie valiant man and one excited by his Fathers glorie and inuited by the supreame degrée of honour that he hath obtained in this league through his brother finallie one beloued and reuerenced of all the whole Nauie the Captaines and Souldiours with one common consent And therefore without all doubt he will giue vs battaile neither without hope of victorie Moreouer the Venetians because they haue béen so déeplie endamaged by vs can being almost mad for anger séeke nothing else but reuenge that is to wit because we haue flaine so many of their people whom to be all verie valiant men we haue learned by the great losse of many of our men that certes we wil the more easilie beléeue if we do cal to mind how the same Venetians went about the last yéere to giue vs battaile although they had not then entered into league with these other Princes Therefore without doubt they wil fight
thirtéene Gunners Thirtie two shipwrights appointed to repaire the Gallies A hundred and foure and twentie Marriners Nine hundred and fiue and twentie voluntarie souldiours Two thousand two hundred thrée score and fouretéene rouers A thousand thrée hundred thirtie thrée common souldiours Two thousand of the Spanish fléete dead Eight hundred in the Popes fleete But on the other side there were of the enimies slaine or taken nine and twentie thousand nine hundred foure score and ten that is to wit Thirtie foure Captaines of the dignitie of Sanzaches An hundred and twentie Captaines of Gallies Fiue and twentie thousand Ianizars voluntarie foote men and rowers Thrée thousand eight hundred fortie sixe taken Our men did take 117. common Gallies and thirtéene small and all of them verie well furnished with bread tallow butter rise beanes and other such kinde of victualls and the same night they carried them awaie with them into the Hauen Besides these there were drowned or otherwise destroyed about foure score of the enimies gallies and those that escaped were thought to bée almost fortie Which thinges béeing thus dispatched our men lying safe in the Hauen praised God for giuing of them so great a victorie and kept it holie daie for the space of thrée daies shewing sundrie signes of reioycing and making good chéere Neither did they in the meane time omit anie of those things that might make for the reparation of theyr Gallies or for the pursuite of the fruite of the victorie For the which cause when they had tarried in those Hauens vntill the fiftéenth of October yet by reason of the aduerse season of Winter at hand and because many of their wounded men did dailie drop awaie by death they thought good to depart from thence For Don Iohn because hée thought that no memorable thing more coulde bée done that yéere would saile towardes Messina but did put them in great hope that he would ioyne his forces with the rest the next yéere But in truth he did not so neither the next yéere nor next after that so that the VenetiaÌ„s after that they had spent in these wars 14000. li. of gold euerie pound conteining 100. Duckets were forced to by peace of the Turke who also hauing repaired his Nauie did in Anno. 1574. conquere the kingdome of Tunes from the Spaniard his vassall king slaying aboue 10000. Hyspaniards in the Guletta Biserta So that the fruit that the Christians gained by giuing this great ouerthrow was nothing but the recouering of an obscure towne or two that Winter by the Venetian Fléete besides the staie of the Turkish prosperous course and the prise and spoile gotten in this battaile the which when they came to Corsu they diuided by common consent as followeth Gallies The Pope had ninetéene common Gallies two small The king of Spaine 58. common Gallies with an halfe and sixe small Gallies and a halfe The Signorie of Venice 39. common Gallies a halfe and foure small gallies and an halfe Great Ordenance The Pope had nintene great péeces and of péeces that shot stones thrée lesser péeces 42. The King of Spaine fiftie eight great péeces an halfe eight péeces to shoote stones in and 128. lesser péeces The Seignorie of Venice had 39. great péeces and an halfe fiue stone péeces and an halfe 86. lesser péeces Prisoners The Pope had 881. The King of Spaine had 1713. The Signorie of Venice 162. The chiefe men of name takn prisoners were the Sanzaches of Alexandria and Nigreponto and two of All the Admiralls sonnes The Battaile of Alcazar fought in Barbarie betwene Sebastian King of Portugall and Abdelmelec the King of Marocco the fourth of August 1578. Taken out of a namelesse Portugall auctor translated into Latine by Thomas Freigins THat ye may the better vnderstand what the principall Persons that were present fought at this Battaile were also to know the quarel and cause thereof I haue thought good to insert myne auctors whole Historie not omitting his as it wer pleasant and profitable preamble of the foundation and familie of these mightie Kings that reigne now at Marocco The founder of that familie and house which are now Kings of Marocco and the first king of that stocke was a certaine Moore of the Mahometicall superstitioÌ„ called Muley Mahamet Xeque His father Muley Xarif being accompted in his countrie of Mecha in Arabia the chiefe man of the Moores as he that was descended of the bloud line of the damned and cursed false Prophet Mahomet had heaped together an immeasurable masse of money and greatâ— innumerable treasure He being moued by I know not what dreame did take occasion to depart out of his Countrie and to get him into Africa with all that he had Wherfore that he might bring to effect that which he had determined with himselfe he going from Mecha with his onelie sonne whom we spake off before and trauailing all Aegypt and Africa and other regions subiect to the Turkish Empire came at last into that parte of Barbarie that is at this daie called Sus. In this Countrie when Muley Xerife had gotten a great opinion of wisedome as touching their sect and religion among the Moores of Barbarie and had obtained a singuler surpassing fame throughout the prouinces there defiled with the superstition of Mahomet he wanne also the grace and fauour of the Alarbes that doe dwell in this Barbarie and namelie of those that did inhabite in the kingdome of Sus. Héereby it came to passe that within short time he had gotten about a thousand horsemen to bée as it were his clients vassalls or reteiners at command that I may passe ouer in silence a great number of seruantes and ordinarie waiters that still attended on him with horse and armour Through the helpe of these men and many other that did afterward ioyne with him he tooke certain Cities of that kingdome and made them subiect vnto him But in all tourneies he carried about with him his sonne Muley Mahamet Xeque that the people subdued might be sworne vnto him and promise to doe all those things that faithfull subiects docâ—â—â—e â—o performe vnto their Princes And in déed both the Father and the sonne did so stirre them about their businesse that within short time they had gotten them that power and strength that they tooke by force Turodant the head Citie of the kingdome of Sus and there the sonne Xeque was constituted king of that Countrie This victorie did mightelie augment the power and courage of this nâ—w king Wherefore he ordeined a strong legion of eight thousand pike men with purpose to attempt the Citie of Marocco where the Marines reigned Wherefore leauing his Father in Sus who being now broken with age had become vnable to do anie seruice besieged Marocco with fiue hundred harquebussiers and 7000. pikemen that he brought with him The twelfth day of the siege the citie yeelded and taking also other cities townes and fortresses adioyning to Marocco tooke vpon him the
name and stile of king of Marocco and Sus. A few dayes after he assembling a mightie armie besieged the citie of Fes the which no man resisting he tooks with the onelie terrour of his mightie armie the king therof whose name was Claude prouiding for himselfe by flight and withdrawing into the citie of Tremissen which was then subiect vnto him for the Turke had as then nothing to doe there where he also spent all the short time of his life that remained But as soone as Xeque was proclaimed king of Fes all the cities townes and villages of that kingdome sware him homage and fealtie and subiected themselues vnto him and the like did other Nations neere and came vnder his obeisance of their owne accord and yéelding him the victorie without sweate or bloud So that the limites and bonds of his kingdome were on the East Tremissen which at this daie is subiect vnto the Turke beyond mount Clario in olde time Atlas towards the South the line that goeth by the prouince of Figiga a slope euen to Zahara actie taken by the king of Portugal and from hence towards the West the space of fortie leagues from the coast of the Atlantike Ocean now Golsode Ynegas looking towards the Canaries On the West the coasts and forelands of Aguesio Cafi Azamor Sala Larissa Letuams all fronter cities of that kingdome euen to the straites of Gibaltar towards Ceuta Penon Melilla which cities the Catholike king of Spaine possesseth at this daie from hence euen to Tremessen Ouer all these Countries long brode did Muley Mahamet Xeque raigne his father being shortly after dead held thempire alone was the fiâ—st king of Mâ—â—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 that house When Muley Mahamet had reigned many yéeres after in passing great quietnesse and peace and was also desirous that his sonnes might enioy peacebly the kingdomes that he had gotten being now growen in age and loaden with yéeres he assembled the princes noble men and gouernours of the prouinces subiect vnto him that thorough their counsaile he might the more maturely and wisely set an order for the succession of his sonnes But although he had a great number of them as well lawfull as bastards yet we will speake in this place onely of them which were cause of troubles and stirres in this kingdome who were in number foure Of whome theldest borne in lawfull wedlocke was called Muley Abdallas the second and youngest of the lawfully begotten were called Muley Abdelmunen and Muley Abdelmelec the youngest of all was a bastard called Muley Hamet who doth at this day possesse the kingdome But when the péeres of the kingdome were come together at the citie of Marocco the Kings seate and the King had proposed the matter vnto the Parliament it was inacted by common consent that the Kings sonnes should one succéebe an other according to their age so that the right of the kingdome might come vnto them all and thereby all cause of strife and contention among them might be taken away This decrée made by the princes did the King like and alow and commaunded that it being confirmed by his aucforitie should be kept inuiolable by all their posteritie and wrought so much that the Princes and principall men of the kingdome did sweare to doe their best that it might remaine stable and firme for euer But not onely the Péeres but also the kings sonnes did take that othe for there was no man that gainesaied this law or was of any other minde and opinion Wherevpon Muley Abdallas because he was the kings eldest senne was immediatly after nominated in the campe Prince and heire of all his Fathers kingedomes and all men were sworne vnto him These things being thus ordered and ordained the old Ling because the he himselfe as he had of long time vsed laie still in the Citie of Marocco he sent the new Prince for to gouerne the kingdome of Fesse as the people of the Countrie had requested When he came to Fes and was receiued verie dutifullie of the Citizens he began his gouernment ouer them verie kindlie and curteouslie shewing him selfe verie affable gentle vnto the people of the prouince and promising much more lenitie and gentlenesse in time to come Within few daies after when Muley Mahomet Xeque flourished in great peace there happened a tumult in the prouince of Sus which forced him for to leauie an armie for to represse the insolent Hauing gotteÌ„ together all things necessarie therefore he departed out of Marocco with many horsemen footmen and harquebuziers and marched towardes Sus. Now a few daies before 500. Turkes had come to him frome Tremissen with their Captaine whom they do call in their language Alcaida who counterfaited that they had runne awaie out of the garison of Tremissen but in vâ—â—ie truth they did it that they might dispatch out of the waie the which they did indéede the king of Marocco For when they came to Marocco the king that thought they had come to serue him caused them presentlie to be put in wages to follow him to the wars in Sus. So they went forth with the king marching with him a long iourney towards Sus but when they were come to the confines of those two kingdomes they hasten their purpose of murthering the king Wherefore about a 15. or 20. of the most audacious desperaâ—â—st fellowes faining as though they had I know not what to moue the king of entered his pauillion finding him fit for their purpose slue him cut off his head after he was dead This so sodaine so vnthought of a trecherous villanc as part stirred vp a great tumult in the campe betweene the Turkes the Moores of whom the one fauoured the greate Turke the other Muley Abdallas the matter at last came to that passe the within one houres space aboue 1000. Moores wer slaine not passing fiftie Turks Who séeing theÌ„selues oppressed with the multitude of the Moores withdrew them yet still kéeping their face towards themmies defending themselues into thicke woodes and tops of mountaines of harde accesse But when the Moores did also assaile them there and the Turkes perceiued that they laboured in vain to saue themselues and namelie séeing now their victualls began to faile them they set fire to seuen barrells of Gunpouder that they had set round about them chosing rather to destroie themselues by furious fire than to come into the hands of the Moores their enimies But the kings armie was also constrained to returne to Marocco where the Prince Muley Abdallas although that he was then in the Citie of Fes was agayne proclaimed king But he as soone as he heard of his Fathers death went forth of Fes and when he bare him as king there was none of the prouinces the did not willinglie and gladly receiue him Wherevpon within few dayes after he gathered a mightie armie of many Nations who offered him their seruice with the which hée marching to Marocco was
king of Portugall ought diligentâ—ie to weigh and thinke with himselfe how iust and lawfull a cause he hath to come into Africa For séeing that he â—â—eth about to take the kingedome from him to whome it dotâ— of right appertaine to giue it to the Negro and that with no profit nor commoditie to the Christians that will almightie God who is a iust Iudge neuer suffer Furthermore Abdelmelec as he was a man of a sharpe witte and in such matters of surpassing diligence and prouidence began also to make prouision for the warres and to bethinke him of things necessarie therefore Wherefore he commaunded Tents to be set vp in a fielde a league from Marocco and warres to be openlie proclaimed through his kingdome against the Christians the which thing highlie pleased the Moores He also commanded a great number of great Guns and speciallie field peeces and also infinite store of victualls and of horses and Camells for to carrie necessaries for their armie to be prouided Which being done when he heard that the king of Portugal was now vpon the point to goe a ship boord and to ariue at Arzil he also went out of Marocco the sixtéenth day of April with great applause of the people and with almost an infinite companie of men into the campe and kept the armie in the Tents where he staied twentie daies looking for the rest of his forces From hence he marched with Ensignes displaied by small iourneyes towards Arzill and that he might the more commodiouslie ioyne with those forces that he looked for he staied a little while at Temocen which is in the confines of his kingdome But the king of Portugall who was hot set on his voiage commanded before he went on shipboord processions and praiers to be publikelie made throughout all the kingdome that God might vouchsafe to graunt happie successe to this enterprise and victorie against his enimie At length on Midsommer daie the whole armie was embarked and the next daie after verie earlie in the morning king Sebastian hauing nominated before seauen of the chiefe of the Realme gouernours of the kingdome because the Cardinall his vnkle had refused the gouernment for that he could not intreate the king to relinquish the voiage launched out of the Hauen and hoised vp sailes the 26. of Iune with ten or twelue Galeons in whom were embarked almost all the whole Nobilitie of his kingdome The sea was passing calme the fléete of the whole armie launching from Lisbon was of great and small vesselles about a thousand and thrée hundreth saile so pleasant a spectacle that many sayd they neuer sawe such a fléete before and hauing a good winde they ariued at Caliz on Saint Peters eue The king being receiued with singular gratulation and ioy of the people staied there fiftéene dayes for to prouide necessaries that he lacked and that he might transport with him certaine bands of Spaniards that were leuied for him in Andaluzia Which things being dispatched he departed from Caliz the eight of Iulie and sailed with the Galeons towards Tangar but commanded the rest of the Fléete to kéepe their course towards Arzil So the tenth of Iulie the king ariued at Tangar but before he was come into the hauen Mahamet sent his sonne a child almost ten yéeres old named Muley Xeque against the king in a small vessell whom the king did verie gentlie and curteouslie salute But béeing come on land he shewed greater signes of good will and friendship to Mahamet and verie liberallie offered his trauaile aide for to restore him into his kingdome When Mahamet was come to the kings presence although he had before sufficientlie certefied him both by Letters Ambassadours of his will and mind yet that he might more safelie prouide for his state he did then more-plentifullie and more at large open vnto him by spéech what he was minded to doe and did tell him how that his vnkle supported by the power and strength of the Turke did vsurpe the kingdome the which hée had taken from him by force Hee added moreouer that the vassalles and subiects of Abdelmelec did practise nothing else and were wholie busied how they might secretlie kill Abdelmelec or at the least forsake him and reuoult to Mahamet and that thereof hée receiued dailie without intercession Letters from the Péeres of the Realme in the which Letters they promised to renoult vnto him as soone as euer hée would come agaynst the enimie yea and if it were but with a small power Hée woulde also perswade the king of Portugall that he shoulde not fight with the Abdelmelec but onelie go into the field which thing if hée did then his vnkles souldiours would immediatlie bée at his deuotion and command Hée promised also to giue the king of Portugall two or thrée Hauens in Barbarie with their territories adioyning and for suretie thereof hée gaue his sonne in hostage The king of Portugal as hée was a Prince of noble passing good nature credited all that Mahamet spake and assented to his petition without conditions couenants and sureties From hence hée went with Mahamet to Arzil where his armie was and there Muley Xeque was Generall of his Fathers small forces and had with him the horsemen and footmen of the garison of Tangar The king came to Arzil on Sundaie béeing the fouretéenth of Iulie and as soone as hée was come on shoare hée commaunded the Ordenaunce victuall and the rest of the warlyke furniture to bée disbarked but sent foure shippes well appointed to Massaga to carrie thether Muley Xeque his pledge but commaunded his campe to bée pitched néere the walles of Arzill and it to bée entrenched rounde with rampires and ditches that hée might lye there the safer But that wée may returne to Abdelmelec as soone as hée came to Temocen a greate multitude of horsemen that serued with shéelde and Speare and many other forces ioyned with him But thrée dayes after hée came thether hée fell verie sicke the cause wherof as then no man vnderstood But anone after when he felt a mightie torment in his stomacke it was easilie vnderstoode whereof it came that is hée had eaten gréedelie of sowre milke which had curded in his stomacke That he might cast it vp hée assayed in vaine two and almost thrée daies to make himselfe vomite as he had vsed to doe and so at the length be cast vp a great gobbet of Chéese which made his stomacke so weake and faint that afterward it could concoct no meate Also his sicknesse was increased by harde and ill lodging But as soone as hée heard that the king of Portugall was departed from Caliz to sayle to Arzil although hée were at that time nothing well yet hée commaunded his armie to march forward towardes Arzil he himselfe béeing carried in an horse litter And now he was from Alcazara where his brother expected him with an armie not aboue a dayes iourney but when hée drew néere him his comming was receiued with a
thinking that the Portugall being contented with the taking of it would from thence returne home But when he was aduertised that the Saterdaie morning his enimie marched forward he also at the same time made towards Arzil by Alcazar And when he had marched with his armie a little more than halfe a league that is aboue a mile he encamped on a certaine high downe in the sight of the Portugails who were a league from that hill and were encamped on a great and pleasant plaine And being néere to the riuer of Alcazar he commanded his Tents to be pitched on the banke of the riuer not farre from confluence of another riuer that goeth to Larissa After that noone was past he and his armie refreshed themselues from the heate of the Sunne in their tents hée taking his rest in an horse litter In the meane time hee sent forth certaine horsemen for to bring him more certaine newes of the enâ—â—ie and placed souldiours before the waroes for to let that none of his people should flie out of his campe to the Portugall and Muley Hamet When the king of Portugall was come the Saterdaie morning to the riuer of Larissa was encamped néere to the place where he thought ther might be a foord fouÌ„d to passe ouer his ordenaÌ„ce was minded to go to Larissa then Mahamet a subtile fellow ambitions and deceitfull thinking with himselfe that if the Portugall should enter Larissa and did consider the power and most puisant armie of Abdelmelec that then hee would returne home and doe nothing and leaue him forsaken and alone to be deuoured of his enimies he resolued to talke with the Portugall that daie and to dehort him from the iourney the he purposed towards Larissa and the he might the better bring it to passe â—he began with a craftie tale to tel him that many Moores horse men had fled vnto him from Abdelmelec that the rest of the armie went about to do the same That if he should goe to Larissa then all men would blame him as one fearefull and such an one as reposed sasetie in running awaie That Abdelmelec was naked of friendes for hée handled his Souldiours hardlie and that they didde therefore minde to doe him a mischtefe either by slaying of him or else by forsaking him in the battaile That it was better and more wisedome to march toward Alcazar namelie séeing that enimie that came against him had not so much heart as to goe about to impeach him He added also other arguments making for his purpose by the which hee diss waded the Portagall from going to Larissa and to saie the truth it had otherwise bene an harde matter for him to haue gon forward séeing the his enimy was so néere The Sundaie morning verie earlie the Portugall remoued his campe and went vp a long the banke of the riuer that he might come into the high waie that leadeth from Arzil to Alcazar and when he had found a foord he staied and commaunded the pioners to make it readie against the next daie But Abdelmelec vnderstanding the intent of the Portugal caused a signe to be giueÌ„ by sound of Trumpet the euerie man should make himselfe readie to fight Wherefore in the afternoone he marching forward almost a quarter of a mile stayed and commaunded his armie to breath vntill he vnderstoode what his enimie that was about halfe a league off ment to doe For as we haue tolde you before Abdelmelec had determined not to ioyne in battaile except the Portugall did first desire it When the Portugall being encamped along the Riuer of Larissa heard that the enimie made towards him he was forced also to remoue his Campe and to put his people in array of battaile not for to fight because the fourde of the Riuer could not be passed ouer without very great difficultie and also there was a great troupe of Moores that dyd continually prouoke his men with skirmishes but that he might defense himselfe and he vsed the mightie Riuer in stéede of a wall against the enimie In this sort those two Armies when either did looke that the other should beginne the battaile kept themselues in the rest of the day So when it drew towards night and Abdelmelec saw that the Portugals stirred not out of their place although the chiefe Captaines were verie instant on him to fight and to giue the signall of battaile yet because night was at hand he commaunded the retreate to be sounded and ledde his Armie backe to their Campe. But yet he commaunded proclamation to be made in the Campe by sounde of Trumpet that no man should put of his armour nor lay downe his weapon that night and also commaunded the watch to be doubled as he also did the night before that no man could flye out of his Campe vnto Muley Hamet And doubtlesse this watch was the cause of Mahamets ouerthrow because that no man durst to goe out of his ward tente In the meane time Abdelmelec was fully resolued to fight for séeing he had heard that many horsemen and men that had abiured the faith were fled out of his Campe and did feare that if he deferred to fight the next day that then the greater part of his armie would reuolt he thought that he must staye no longer but determined to goe on forward and to aduenture the battaile Wherefore he commanded that it shoulde bée signified by a Trumpet that all men shoulde be in a readinesse and prepared either to liue or die After that the king of Portugall sawe that his enimies were retired into their camp he also did the like and lodged in the verie same place from whence he came He assembling in counsaile the chiefe men of the armie that night determined the next day being mundaie to offer the enimie battaile And it is the constant same of all men that Muley Hamet gaue him counsaile to beginne the battaile the next daie in the euening not so much because by this meanes the souldiours of Abdelmelec might the more commodiouslie rououlf vnto him as for that he coulde not by reason of the darknesse of the night remedie it if anie confusion did arise in his armie This counsaile as good and wholesome was approued of all men and therefore the king commanded that the same night it shoulde bee proclaimed in the campe that the next daie béeing mundaie as soone as it was light the ordenance and the carriages shoulde bée speedelie passed ouer the water through the foorde For if they had tarried longer no doubt the enimies wold haue impeached their passage which also was the cause that the battaile was not begâ—n in the euening but sooner The foord béeing made readie the armie straight waie passed ouer and they encamped beyond the riuer and also the king began to arange his battailes to set forth his bands and to dispose his ordenance in commodious places He also made a long Oration to his souldiours and exhorted theÌ„ with curteous louing
people thinking it dishonorable to séeke safetie by flight and with those few that followed him behaued himselfe valiantly He slue so manie he sent so many to hell that many called him the lightning and few durst to looke him in the face or to defend themselues against him At length about a three score of Abdelmelec his souldiours seeking glorie by slaying of a King enclosed him Then he séeing no way left him to escape commaunded one of them that followed him to hold vp a white scarfe hanged on a launce in signe that he would yeeld But they that had enclosed him that is to wit Alarbes a kinde of people of all other most barbarous cruell supposing that by this signe he dyd call the Portugalls to â—ide him charged him a fresh on all parts and wounded him in many places and at length tooke him and cutting a sunder the lace of his helmet gaue him two blowes on the â—edde and as many in the face so that he tumbling off from his horse gaue vp the Ghost The Moores followed the flying Christians vntill it was late nights So when all were vanquished and scattered or brought into wretched captiuitie Muley Hamet commanded the retraite to bée sounded and returned to the Campe with the bodie of his brother Abdelmelec and it was euen night when he came thether and straight waie was the death of king Abdelmelec published and thereby also Muley Hamet acknowledged and receiued for king and all the whole armie was verie sorrowfull for the losse of Abdelmelec Although the this ouerthrowe was no doubt sent vs by God for our sinnes yet two hundreth or few lesse with happie successe escaped out of the handes of the Barbarians aliue and well of whome thrée score were horsemen and the rest footemen and among them Don Antonio a Portugall who was deliuered by a certaine Moore out of the handes of his enimies and brought to Tanger But there were slaine of Christians in this battaile aboue twelue thousand For all the whole field was filled with dead bodies of men yea and of horses mules asses oxen and other beasts of burthen and draught Among the nobler sort that died in this battaile were besides king Sebastian the Duke of Auero the Bishoppes of Coimbra and Portua the Commissarie General sent by the Pope the Marques of Treland Christopher de Tauora and many other knightes and Gentlemen whome I doe omit for breuities sake The Tuesdaie which was the fift of August the new king sent in the morning a band of footmen to seeke out the men slaine on their side of whome a thousand fiue hundreth being knowen were buried in the same place among whome were many valiaunt and renowmed Captaines friendes and familiars of king of Abdelmelec They being buried after their manner the bodie of Muley Mahamet who was the author of so many euils and slaughters was found on the banke and sands of the riuer wherein he had ben drowned The bodie of the king of Portugall was also found among the bodies of the slaine Christians by two of his seruants that were prisoners whom the new king had sent for that purpose in the hard morning promising them libertie if they did finde the kings bodie Wherefore when they had found it naked they brought it to the new king couered with their owne clothes and with it was also brought the bodie of Muley Mahamet These dead bodies of thrée kings being brought into one Pauilion made an horrible spectacle and wrong teares from the beholders For what more sorrowfull and horrible a sight could there bée than to beholde thrée most mightie kings that died in one battaile lying together The armie of one of whom was vanquished when he liued after he was dead did straight waie ouercome the armie of the other two kinges and whereas all thrée did aspire to the kingdome of Marocco none of them helde it But this thing being shut from mans senses and reserued to the hidden iudgement of Gods maiestie I doe omit The bodie of Abdelmelec was carried in an horse litter to Fesse distant about twentie leagues from Alcazar that it might be buried there All the horsemen with one legion or regiment of footemen attended on the coarse Which being brought to Fes and receiued with the great sorrowe of the Citizens was laide in the tombe of his auncestours in the verie same sumptuous apparell and precious garnishment of gems that the king died in Many of the noble men that were taken prisoners were verie desirous to redéeme the bodie of the king of Bortugall and they offered Muley Mahamet ten thousand Duckates if hée would vouchsafe to send it to Tangar But the Barbarian aunswered that it was not séemelie to sell a dead mannes bodie yet notwithstanding if they woulde giue him Tangar or Arzil they shoulde haue the bodie but when that was not in their handes and power they coulde goe no farther yet this they obtained of the new king that hée suffered the bodie of the king of Portugall to bée carried to Alcazar where also it was buried in the Hospital which is in the pallace of the gouernour of the Towne and some appointed to kéepe it continuallie least the Christians shoulde steale it awaie But as for the bodie of Muley Mahamet the newe king his vnkle commaunded the skinne to bée pulled off because he had béene the author of so many slaughters and to bée salted and then stuffed with strawe and to bée carried about thorough out all prouinces of his kingdome for to deferre all other for attempting the like at anie time after The men women boyes slaues and blacke Moores taken in this battaile by the Moores were in number aboue fouretéene thousand and they béeing the next daie diuided among the Souldiours were carried into all Prouinces of Barbarie For as the Moores came out of all places to the battaile so euerie man carried home with him his prisoners and spoyle But although the counsailours of the new king were verie earnest with him to besiege either Tanger or Arzill namelie séeing that there was no man that woulde resist or defend it yet hée refused so to doe but rather prepared himselfe to goe to Fes that hauing taken the possession of that Citie hée might bée seised of the inheritance of all the kingdomes thinking that there woulde not otherwise want them that would assaie to set him besides the saddle if they did perceiue him to be slacke therein And hée was acknowledged for king but with vnwilling heartes and in a manner repining thereat neither in déede was hée receiued with the same chéerefulnesse and ioye that they vsed to receiue other kings and the cause thereof was for that there was no mettall in this newe king Hamet an artlesse man not caring for martiall matters nor such an one as was fit for to vpholde the dignitie of a king but contrariwise effeminate nice giuen to delicacies delyghtes and pleasures and lurking at home in the Pallace Hée was then