meane stature bigge headded somwhat broune complexioned chéerefully countenaunced and liuely coloured a long bearde and yet not hoare because alwayes as it beganne to waxe graye with oyntmentes he altered it his visage and looke was graue and portly pretending a kynde of Maiestie ioyned wyth gentlenesse and curtesie hys legges very well proportioned his bodie in goyng or mouyng pleasaunt and gentle and lyke as they terme it to the course of a styll runnyng Ryuer in talke verie curteous in mynde and body both stoute stronge and venturous quicke and prompte of witte but the same as Salust writeth of Catiline wicked and disposed to all mischiefe bolde hardie and suche a one that cared for no perilles 〈◊〉 Whereof hée gaue once a manyfest example for beyng mounted vppon a marueilous fierce and vntamed Horse in the presence and sight of sundrie his friendes he so spourred and galloped him that all the beholders seeyng him in suche great perill earnestly desyred him to alyght Vnto whom wyth very amiable countenance and pleasaunt language he aunswered that the Horse was lyke vnto the Sea dooyng them thereby to vnderstande that he tooke no lesse pleasure and delectation in that prauncing then if hée were in a Shippe vppon the Sea. Also hée was fickle mynded and double in all hys doynges as the infinite rable of Lawes one cleane contrarying an other by him made doe manyfestly witnesse whiche thyng caused great varietie and diuerse sortes of sectes in hys Religion hée was also a déepe counterfeytor and dissembler in euerye matter but by nature verie eloquent withall Hys ambicious and haultie mynde gaped wythout measure after promocion and authoritie In so muche that consydering in hys mynde this great varietie of Sectes hée was merueilously enflamed with a desyre to establishe and make one manner of religion and to take vnto him as well the Soueraigntie of Empyre as also of diuine honour Whereof he was put in greate hope by reason of the great sedicion and discorde of the Christians the corruption of manners and the want of warlicke discipline Moreouer hée was grealy anymated by the peruerse and Deuilyshe Counsell of one Sergius a Monke who béeyng exiled and expulsed oute of Constantinople for mayntainyng the Heresie of the Arrians fled into Arabie and vsed oftentimes to come to the house of Abdimoneples Mahomets maister and entirely loued Mahomet for the singular dexteritie that he conceyued to bée in his wit and towardnes Therefore assoone as his maister Abdimoneples was dead leauing behind him no Children his wife Hadigia beyng then wedow a woman of fyftie yéeres of age and lefte sole heyre of all her husbandes Landes Goods and Cattells tooke her seruaunt Mahomet to husband Now beyng in possession of the wedow and all her substance by meanes therof growen to great wealth he often fell grouelong on the ground foming and froathing at the mouth for he had the fallyng sicknes and laye in a horrible extasie or distraction of minde which his wife tooke very heauily and cursed her fortune in that shée had so lothsomely matched her selfe Hée therfore to appease her griefe and to make her from great agonie to leape to sodaine ioye tolde her that the same happened vnto him by the operation of the Spirite of God himselfe who appeared vnto him and reuealed certaine things which he should pronounce and shewe to the people touching the law of Moses and of Christ For quod he our mortall bodyes beyng subiect to corruption are not hable to sustaine and abyde the glorious and glittering sight of God whereby his bodie was in a manner at such times bereft and seperated from his mind Which wordes the olde trotte beléeuing as she that tenderly loued him for his lustie corage and beautifull age begann◠now not to loue him as a husband but to worship and reuerence him as a holy man and a diuine Prophete highly in Gods fauour and to blaze his holines abroad among her Companions and Gossippes In so much that when she dyed she not onely left him wealthie in goods and possessions for she made him heyre of all but also in great veneration and credite among the common people for an opinion of sanctitie which was thought to be in him For which cause Buback the chiefest and in greatest authoritie among all of that parte of Arabie and of the same Tribe that Mahomet was gaue his daughter Aissa to him in mariage when he was but yet thirtie yéeres of age Puffed vp with pryde because of this new affinitie and for the great abundance of wealth left vnto him by his other wife he openly professed himselfe to be the messanger of God and a Prophete and to teach the people a new kind of religion patched and gathered together out of the erronious Schismes and hereticall dreames of all Sectes For he taught and commaunded Circumcision Baptisme and abstinence from Swines fleshe wyne He instituted a generall fast to bée kept one whole month in the yéere and that no meate for that space shoulde bée eaten in the day tyme but onely in the night He affirmed that there were but thrée Prophetes that is to wit himself Moses and Christ and that Christ was not God with an innumerable rable of most blasphemous opinions contained in his filthie Alcorane Which assertions and opinions were of many at the first deryded flouted at in so much that they accoūpted him no better thē lunatique and distraught of his right wittes But when that he had persuaded and allured all his Allyantes and the familie of Buback which bore great sway and authoritie yea and many of the common people also to credite and leane to his Secte the Magistrates of Mecca perceiuing that this new dotage and commotion would bréede a scab in the common wealth if the inconuenience like to ensue therby were not spéedily preuented and the impudencie of the man by rigour repressed for he slaunderously would inueigh and openly raile vpon Princes determined with them selues to lay handes vpon him and to put him to death Mahomet hauing vnderstanding of their intentes and mindes fled out of Mecca whom many of his Kinsfolkes Alies Friends and Clientes who were throughly persuaded that he was such a one in déede as he had professed and woulde séeme to bée folowed And from this yéere which was after the Natiuitie of our Lorde and Sauiour Christ 593. yéeres the Arabians do recken their yéeres calling this the yéere of Legira which is to say the yéere of flight or transmigration Mahomet therefore seeyng such a great multitude to fauour and sticke to him putting more trust in his power then he did before made vnto them an Oration in effect as foloweth How earnest I haue béene and what desire I haue alwayes had to proclaime aduance and publishe that law which hath béen vnto me reuealed by the Archangell and Messanger of Almightie God Gabriel with commaundement to teach the same to all mortall wyghtes both God himselfe knoweth and you
the goodnes of God slew of their Enemies with the sworde 7000 and 5000 drowned so that the victorye fell to the Christians In Syria the Christians discomfited the Saracens in two notable ouerthrowes in the first conflict 2500 of them were slaine In the other although both Armies were afflicted yet the Christians obteined the victory The king of Ascalon was by Baldwine repressed and the king of Damascus in thrée battailes ouercome After the death of Baldwine the third king of Hierusalem Fulco was made the fourth king The Erle of Tripolis by treason was slaine king Fulco was put to flight by his Enemies and condiscended to very hard conditions to be clearely deliuered from siege The Christians coaped in fight with the Egyptians and were superiours Ascalon was recouered by the Christians Fulco the fourth king of Hierusalē in hunting the Hare and ryding fast after the game through a fall from hys horse dyed after whom succéeded his Sonne Baldwine who was the fift king The Citie Edessa and almost all Mesopotamia was wonne by the Saracens Alaph Captaine of the Turks which now were of great name and power in the East where they kylled without all mercy a wonderfull number of Christiās rauishing mens wiues in the Church of Saint Iohn Baptiste in despight of Christianitie euen vpon the Alter Baldwine the thirde of that name and the fifte king of Hierusalem conquered Gaza and Ascalon and cast out al the Saracens And at Hierico he ouercame and put to flight Norandine Maister of the Chiualry of Damascus and slue 5000. of his enemyes Manuel Emperour of Constantinople with muche ouersight and negligence led through daungerous wayes and desert places his Christian Hostes against the Saracens insomuch that for scarcitie of vittayles and other necessaries they could atchiue no notable enterprise against the myscreaunt people Roger King of Sicilie and Normannes made the Africane Saracens tributarie to him for .xxx. yéeres and tooke their king Prisoner This yéere Conrade the second Emperour leuyed a great power against the Saracens against whom he had in battaile but ill successe Lewys King of Fraunce assembled a mightie Armie to go against the Infideles Out of England Flaunders and Loraine were furnished out 200 saile against the Saracens This yéere Conrade the Emperour passing ouer Bosphorus without anye resistaunce came néere to his enemies but for want of victuals and as some say his corne being corrupted and mingled with lyme and plaister he was glad to stay himselfe and go no further and to bring backe his Armye The Saracens vnderstanding hereof set vpon them behind and slue of them certain thousands The same yéere the French king came to the Emperour to aide him but by reason that his Army was greatly distressed and pynched with famine he could bring no notable atchieuaunce to passe The same time the Venetians with a well furnished Nauie went into Asia to aide the Emperour against the Saracens The Spanyardes expulsing the Saracens recouered Almaria and Tortosa two goodly embattailed Cities The same yeere Damascus was besieged by the Syrians Frenchmen and Hierosolymitanes and the Vamures thereof defaced And when they were euen at the poynt to haue wonne the Citie and subdued the Saracenes the chiefe Princes and Capitaines disagreyng and fallyng out amonge themselues called theyr owne Souldiours euery man together and departed thence leauing the siege Raymund King of Antioch with hys whole Hoast was discomfyted by the Saracens who spoyled all hys Countrey Antioch it selfe by the Kinge of Hierusalem was hardly rescued and saued Baldwine King of Hierusalem discomfited the Aegiptians and Babilonians The Saracenes draue the Spanyardes by force of Armes out of Almaria Baldwine set at libertie and restored many Cities expulsing thence the Saracens Baldwine dyed and in his stéede reigned hys brother Almericke the fixt king of Hierusalem Almericke in Aegypt obteined a noble victorie The same king befieged Damiata but in th' ende he agreed to a peace vppon conditions neither honorable nor profitable The Saracenes of Africa made manye Roades into Spaine Almericke King of Hierusalem dyed of an Ague And his sonne Baldwine was annoynted the seuenth king Baldwine in two battailes vanquished Saladine Kyng of Aegypt and brought much treasure into Hierusalem The Daughter of the king of Saracens being maryed to Prince Pagane was taken prisoner on the Sea by the King of Sicilie in hir voyage and iourney homewarde to hir husband Thys yeere the Christians in Hierusalem were ouercome Mausamunth king of the Saracens with great costes and charges repayred Carthage Baldwine the .vij. king of Hierusalem beyng infected with Leprosie dyed His Nephew Baldwine his Sisters sonne was elected king after him but by frouning destenies he was kepte backe from his dignitie After whom succéeded the .viij. king Guye of Lesingham Betweene this Guye kyng of Hierusalem and Raymund Earle of Tripolis there arose dissension and hartburning whiche was the cause that the Christians were brought into extreme daunger The Christians ioyning battayle with the Armye of Saladine had a lamentable ouerthrow In this battayle were slaine 20500. Christians King Guye was taken Prisoner and the Erle of Tripolis dyed sodainly Hierusalem hauing now bene enioyed and possessed by the Christians lxxxbiij was this yéere by surrendrie deliuered vp to the king of Saracens and the Christians there expelled the second day of October This yéere all Iurie was wonne from the Christians by the Saracens the Cities of Tyre Tripolis and Antioche being with much a doe and hardly kept Fridericke Emperour of Romans with his sonne Fridericke Philip king of Fraunce Richarde king of England with manye other Princes and Nobles assembling their Parliamentes decreed throughly determyned to ayde the Christians in Iurie Great preparation was made for this voyage Fridericke leadyng hys Armie into Syria and wynning the lesse Armenia went in the hoate time of Sommer into the Riuer Selephus to bathe washe himselfe where by misfortune he was drowned Lewes Kinge of Fraunce went with an Armye toward the holy Land with entent to supplant the Saracenes and relieue the Christians The sayd King Lewes ioyning battayle with the Saracenes brought vnder his subiection Damiata a populous citie and curiouslye embatteyled The same King Lewes in a terible conflict at Faramia was taken prisoner by the Saracens with his two brethren Charles and Alphonse Wherevpon Damiata was redeliuered into the hands of the Saracens whereby he saued his owne lyfe and his fréendes and was delyuered out of Prison This kinge was taken the fifte day of Aprill The Saracens lost the I le called Baleares which the Duke of Aragon subdued The kinges of Spaine fallynge at variaunce and discord the one brother fled into Fraunce to craue ayde the other into Africa to desire assistaunce of the Saracens against his owne brother whereby they wrought much scath both to themselues and to their countrey Deadly hatred and grudge fell betwéene the Venetians and the Genoways whereby the Christians inhabyting Ptolomais and Tyre were gréeuously
This yéere the Venetians entred into league with Selyme the Great Turke for confirmation whereof they sent Sig. Francesco Barbero to Constantinople the conditions wherof were that eyther partie should stil kéepe enioy so much as they had alredy in their seueral possessioÌ„s sauing that the Venetians promised the deliuery of Sapotum and resignation of all their tytle in the Forte of xemenicum into the Turkes handes and againe the Turke resigned and graunted vnto them two miles euery way about the Territory of Zara and other their Iurisdictions therabout and that the Venetians for Dalmatia and certeyne other péeces about Zara should yéerely answer on certaine tribute to the said Turke In March this yéere the Moores whom Don Iohn de Austria permitted vpon their humble sute still to inhabite in Tunyce by the egging and procurement of Radamane Viceroy of Algiera entred into conspyracie and deuise how to surprise and winne the new Fort that the Spaniardes had there lately made against whom Salazara was commaunded by Sig. Serbellane to go with a thousand footemen which put the Moorish Drudges to flight and slue of them 1200. Thrée Shippes were sent to Charles the ix Kinge of Fraunce laden with great Horses Lyons Lyberds and other Presentes Whiche colourable curtesie vnder the cloake of glosing flatterie it is thought the Turke vsed the rather to obteyne the Kinges goodwyll and consent that he might winter his Gallyes in the Port Tolonensis But hearing that the King was departed this lyfe before their comming one of them retourned to Constantinople with spéede to intimate to the Turke their Maister the French Kinges death and further to know his pleasure what they should doe In Iune the Emperour and the Turke concluded a peace for fiue yéeres to come In Iulâ—e 300 Turkes landing in Calabria to fetche fresh water and filch some other booties were snatched vp euery one and either slaine or taken Vppon the Seas about Tunyce were seene 350 Saile of the Turkes whose intent and meaning was as very shortly after they brought it to passe to recouer and wynne the new Fort which Sarraglion builded together with Goletta and other Péeces there With whom also a mighty rablement of traiterous Moores about Algiera Tripolis Zerbite ioyned side which dispossessed thence the Spanish garrisons to the great furtherance of their deuelish purposes aâ—d to the lamentable griefe of all Christendome considering what a small way they haue from thence into Spaine so into the rest of other Christian Realmes vnlesse the good and gracious prouidence of our God qualesâ—e and as with a Snaffle reine this raging Beaste and bloudy Tyraunt the common robber of all the world from further inuasion which he graciously graunt for his mercye sake through the mediation of his Sonne Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen FINIS Arabie Arabians are the ofspring of Ismael Affrica Esau inhabited part of Arabie Mahomet Alcorane is a Booke conteyning Mahomettes Law. Oration of Mahomet Horrible and vnnaturable murther First cause of grudge between the Christians and Saracens Mahomet beginneth to ruffle Damasens wonne by Saracenes A valaunt enterprise A lamentable slaughter Of our english money that Sum a mounteth to 40000 li. Peace dearly bought Lustie allowaÌ„ce only to allure men to his Sect. Ambitious Traytor He that hath most money shall haue most friendshippe Rome spoiled Emperour murthered Constantinople besseged seuen yeeres By whome Alcoran was clouted together Doting beliefe of Persians Marocco builded Tribute of Saracenes Christians instly plaged The Emperoure shamefully abused by his owne subiectes Slaughter of Saracens Beautye of a Woman causeth much mischief A most blodie battaile continuing a whole weeke How kings in those daies came into the field with what apparell for what cause All Spayne conquered by Saracenes The great daungers and aduentures of Pelagius His pithye Oration to his Countreymen A miracle of God in deliuering that Christians Traitours caÌ„not prosper long Constantinople again beseiged Constantinople is in compasse xiii miles Burning Glasses Lothsome famyne amonge Saracenes Great plague in Constantinople Shipwreck The Armes of the kingdome of Lyon. How FrauÌ„ce was first named Fraunce inuaded by Saracens Burdeaux taken and diuers other Cities and Townes Great slaughter Two balyaunt sailfull Capytaynes compared together Atine the saracen and Martellus the French. A pleasante and comfortable Oration of Martellus to his Souldiors Charles Charles the Great Kinge Charles cooled the saracens courage xii Peeres of Fraunce Thomas a ranke sedicious traitor and filthy villain Ende of Traytours By whom whervpon the Knightes of the order of S. Iames were first instituted Dronkenes the cause of a generall mishap and slaughter Inferiours take example of their Superiors A Churche buylt with the money the a Saracen payde for his raunsome Rome spoyled by the Saracens A pitifull state A Saracen Prince and all his host slayne An example of great loue and liberalitie toward learninge in a saracene Victory of saracens ouer the Greekes and Venetians Oration of Pope Leo the fourthe to encorage his Romans against the saracens A prayer A reuilinge Blasphemer Italians discomfired the Saracenes Geane takeâ— Antioche taken Granado wonne from the Saracenes Infideles by King Ferdinando Granfather to Charles the fift Anno D. 1492. A miserable king deposed froÌ„ his kingdome by desperation brake his owne necke and his wyues Saracenes were as the right childreÌ„ of Mahomet and Turkes in comparison but Bastardes Antioche taken TyraÌ„nye of Muchumet toward his owne men What a Souldane signifieth Emperoure in great danger A pollicie of the Saracens to haue taken the citie Edessa â–ª A Begger saued the Citie Turkes goe to wrake Emperour taken Prisoner Great curâ—esse of the Sultane An other voyage to Ierusalem Polycie The firste beginninge of the Assassines A thirde voyage toward the holy land One that toke vpon him to flie in the aire What trust is in the promise of a Turke A good Childe A lamentable slaughter of Christians by negligence Valiauntnes of the Emperour A freend at neede Friderick drowned Emperonte deposed by his Sonne in law Cambalu a noble citie of India Peace bringeth plentie The good example of the Prince doth muche good in a Realme A blessed plentie of al things caused through peace and good gouerment I Crowne Imperiall for the Empresse boght with the money that was had of the Turks for Egges in the time of dearth Pollice in Princes Mamalukea Egipt when it first came into the possession of the Turkes These people were after called Mamalukes Beg in the Turkishe language signifieth a Lorde An example of pitie toward them that were fatherlesse The kinges of Persia be right saracenes ⧠IMPRINTED AT London by William How for Abraham Veale dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Lambe 1575.
of Mahomettes Sect are contained and at large specifyed The nexte Spring after Muauias with a greater Nauie then before arryued in Cypres and assaulted the Citie of Aradum which at length after many battryes he wanne and permitting the Inhabitantes to go whither they woulde wythout hurte or bodely harme he rased the Citie to the grounde and layde all the Islande waste and left it dispeopled At the same tyme also an other army of Saracens vnder the conducte of Busurre inuaded Isauria and spoyled the whole Countrey wyth fyre and sworde and retourned home from thence with fiue thousand Prisoners After these so many ouerthrowes and miserable discomfitures receaued Constance Caesar desired a truce for .ij. yéeres of Muauias which beinge not obtayned while Muauias prepared a great Nauye at Tripolis a Citie of Syria to inuade the Prouinces and Territories belonging to the Romane Empire his purpose by the worthynesse and valyaunt demeanure of two Brothers was for a litle while frustrate Who breaking open the prisons wherein a great number of Christians were set them al at lybertye insomuch that they sodenly geuing an onset on the Saracens killed a maruelous number of them and putting the rest to flight with victorye ran to their ships and takeing so many of them as woulde serue to transport them they set the reste on fire and came saue into Thracia But Muauias nothing dismayed with this mischance and ouerthrow prepared a greater naâ—y and furnished the same with all habilimentes and Municions necessarye with whom he landed at Phoenice a Hauen of Lycia where Constance with his Nauy laye and geuing the charge vpon him made such a slaughter of the Romanes that the Sea was red with the bloud of them that were slayne Constance disguising himselfe in the habite and apparrell of a poore man fled in a Small ship with a fewe others in his company to Constantinople Which victory set Muauias in such a hoygh and conceipt that he thought nothing inuincible or able to withstande hym Where vpon he tooke Rhodes and pulled downe the huge Image of the Sun called Colossus Solis which Chares was in making as Plinie sayth .xij. yéeres and the charges thereof drewe to thrée hundreth Talentes The brasse of this Image beyng bought by a certen Iew of Emessa was somuch as nine hundred Camels coulde carie The Saracenes caryed away thence not onely this Image which was in height .70 Cubites but innumerable others For Plinie writeth that in that I le there were beside this Colosse of the Sunne .73 thousand Statues or Images and a hundreth lesse Colosses Hauinge spoyled Rhodes they cut their course alonge by the Sea Agaeum and plagued the Cyclades with lyke calamitie At this time also laid Generall of an other army of Saracenes entred into the borders of Armenia and wasted al farre and neere tyll he came to Mount Caucasus And Muauias retourning from Rhodes furnished a Nauye with all thinges necessary to inuade Sicile which wasted and ruynated the Countrie with Sword and fire without mercy tyll Olimpius the Exarche of Italy for so was he that had the gouernaunce ouer Italy at that time for the Emperour of Constantinople called encountringe with them in a bloudye Conflicte with much effusion of Christian bloud discomfited and expelled them In which battell he so eagrely fought was so fore wearied that he tell sicke and shortly after dyed Muauias himselfe leuying an Armye by land conducted them into Cappadocia to besiege Coesarea the head Citie of that Prouince But before he could atchieue any notable exploite worthy to be remembred hearinge that Ozmen the Caliph was dead in hope to be his Successour retyered with his Host back agayne This Ozmene in the twelfth yéere of his Pontificall dignytie being in his owne house beset and besieged with a company of Saracenes which would haue had Ali to be Caliph slue hymselfe because he would not fall into their handes He by chaunce lost the Ring of Mahomet which all the Caliphes before hym wore and caused an other to be made of Siluer wherein by his commaundement were ingrauen these wordes O PERTINACES O POENITENTES He was white of coulour graue and curteous of visage a long Beard and of a meane stature highlye and dearelye beloued was he of the common people both before and after he embraced this Secte and gotte very great wealth by Marchaundize Notwithstandyng he was alwayes verye lyberall yea rather magnificent and honourable and as we haue shewed disbursed and gaue bribes largelye to the Souldiours that hee might obtayne the Pontificate He lyued .lxxxvij. yeeres and was buryed in the night without any Funerall pompe because he slue himselfe Therefore after hys death there arose great contention amonge the Saracenes aboute the election of a newe Bysshoppe Some woulde haue Ali to succéede hym some Muamad sonne to Ozmen and some Muauias But Ali raysed warres againste Muamad and preuayled agaynste hym so that he was installed and made Bysshoppe by all mens consent sauynge onelye Muauias Who reposinge greate truste and confidence in the Aegiptian and Assyrian Souldiours whose prowesse and magnanymytie he had sufficientlye tryed aforetime in so manye Battayles made sharpe warres agaynst hym colourablye pretendynge that hée tooke the same in hande onely to reuenge the death of Ozmen When both the Armyes were come to the Riuer Euphrates Muauias hauynge more skyll in warlyke pollices and also hauinge olde beaten Souldiours vnder hym so fortyfied and entrenched hys Campe néere to the Riuer side and the Citie Babylon that neyther coulde he be inforced by hys aduersarye to fight vnlesse he would hymselfe and also hys Armye shoulde not be destitute of water whereof in that Region there is great scarsitye nor yet be vnprouided of victayles and moreouer néeded not to feare anye Alarmes behynde at their backes Whereas in the meane whyle Ali his Armye was extremely pinched for lacke of water And so for the space of eleuen Monthes keeping his Souldiours within the Trenches of hys Campe he weryed hys Enemye and lyngered the tyme onely now and then with Skirmishes tyll at length by the intercession of certayne Priestes and others skilfull in the Lawe of Mahomet order was taken betwéene them that the whole cause shoulde be decided by the iudgement and awarde of two olde men On Ali his side was chosen Alascates and for Muauias parte Alascius These two comminge to a Towne called Algendel to sit vpon this waightie matter of both their tytles the one thought it necessarye that Ali should be disgraded and deposed from his pontificall dignitie and the other stiflye helde opinion that he was a man moste worthy for the office Thus pleading to and froe neyther absolutely determyninge nor fully concludinge any attonement Ali and Muauias retourned agayne either of them to his owne Campe. And neuer ceased with often Skirmishing to molest and kill one an other spoylynge and wastynge one an others Countries till at length Ali in a certayne Temple néere Cufa a
Duke of Bauaria first attained this honour and dignitie by subduing and getting the vpperhand of the LieutenauÌ„ts and Captaines of the kings Prouinces who séeing the King to bée a weake and vnwarlike man tyrannically ruled the Countrey according to their own sensual lustes for their priuate commodities Then in the raigne of Theodoricus the second the excellent dexteritie and worthy vertue of Charles Martellus second Sonne to this Pipine was in that office very conspicuous and renoumed throughout all the lande of Fraunce in so much that he was accompted and taken as the Prince of all the people At the same time was King of Aquitanie theÌ„ called Gallia Gottica one Eudo a Gothian borne whom king Roderik made ruler of the Prouince but hearing of the discomfiture of the King his Liege Lord he made himselfe king thereof This Eudo whyle Charles Martellus was busied with other warres in Germanie began to surmise certaine quarelles which brake out into open warre with the French Capitaines of the places néere adioyning to the limittes of his Territories whom going about to defend their titles rightes he afflicted with many ouerthrowes Wherfore Martellus tooke the matter in hande and warred against him And at the same time the Saracens passing the Pyrenees had taken Narbon and in it shewed all kind of outragious crueltie because they woulde by that example make the countrey afraide any more to withstande theÌ„ Wherfore Eudo considering with himselfe that he was vnable to warre at one time both with the Frankes the Saracens and for the Mugnoces a man in great fauour and estimation with the Saracens was his Sonne in law he thought it better for him to make a league amitie with the Saracens theÌ„ with the Christians Which after he had by Mugnoces meanes and friendship brought to passe looking big vpon the matter and bearing himselfe stoute by reason of the aide and succour which they sent to him he inferred much harme to the Franke Nation But when he perceaued that the Saracens fortified with their owne garrisons and kept to their owne vses al such Cities townes as they entred into he begaÌ„ when it was to late to beshrew himselfe and wishe that he had neuer attempted any such enterprise For they kept Nimes Mountpelier Auinion with all the places thereabout in their owne possession Wherevpon Eudo gathering all his power together to profligate and driue them out gaue vnto them battayle wherin he was discomfited Mugnoces by whose meanes and procurement the league and amitie was concluded greatly complayned of the iniurious dealing of Eudo in falsefying his faith infringing his promise accordingly as he had vndertakeÌ„ for him WhervpoÌ„ Abderama king of Gottalonia marching with an hoast against him besieged him in the Castle of Cerdania out wherof Mugnoces for scarcitie of water escaping fléeing into thickets and hillish places fell into the hands of another coÌ„pany of Saracens who tooke him prisoner beastly slew him and sent his head his wiues the daughter of Eudo to Abderama and thus all the traitours of their Countrey within shorte space came to a miserable end and confusion Then Abderama hauing dispatched and ridde out of the way all enemies that were to be feared on his back returned into FrauÌ„ce passed the riuer of Rhone and destroyed many places that belonged to the Christians and made such a slaughter at Arle that a heape then made of the bones of the deade carkasses remaineth there yet to this day in a place called Alies Campi TheÌ„ went he with his army against Eudo who began again to gather more strength make a new commocioÌ„ He besieged Tolose the chiefe Citie of Gallia Gottica in which siege for that the citie was very well rampyered and fortified with Ditches walles and also well stored with Engins and munitions of war and with all sorts of weapons beside a conuenient Garrison of souldiours with all other thinges necessarye theâ—e planted for defence the Saracenes receiued great losse and were well payde home especially by meanes of certayne Engyns deuised by skylfull arte of ingenious Architectes and by diuers other Stratagemes of warlyke pollicie Notwithstanding Burdeaux was then taken and sacked of the Saracenes and all the Inhabitauntes therein both man woman and childe vnmercifully slayne and manquelled and the Temples razed and laide euen with the ground Thence by the confines of Perigot beyonde the ryuer Geronde they made inroades into the Country of Xantongue and destroyed Angolisme and Blaye From thence through Limosin and Poytiers they russhed into the Countrey of Tours Where they spoyled the Churche of Sainct Martine wherein was great foyson and plenty of gyftes and offeringes that had bene geuen and bequeathed vnto it and afterward set it on fire Eudo being sore afflicted with these vnmanerly dealyngs and driuen to great extremytie by the Saracenes entred into league with Marcellus and they two with both their powers ioyned in one gaue battayle vnto Abderama before the Citie of Tours wherein they discomfited hym and all his host In this battayle there were slayne CCC lxxv thousand Saracenes and of the French no moe but .xv C. And if the night had not come vppon them ere the battayle was fully ended the whole route of the Saracenes had bene at that time vtterly destroyed For Abderama in the night season perceiuinge how the game went and what a mortall ouerthrow he had receiued had no lust to tarye and expect the hazard of the next daye but trudged as fast as he could by long iourneyes with those fewe of his companye that were left and hable to folow him to the Pyrenees entendinge from thence to retourne into Spaine leauing behinde hym in his Tents all his carriage and stuffe for a praye to his Enemies But the Nauarrians hauyng stopped the streight passages where their iourney laye killed them euery one The next day assoone as the Sonne was vp Martellus in good order marshalled his army and tooke the Féeld awaiting the commyng of his enemies But when he perfectlye vnderstoode that they were fled his Souldiours fell to the spoyle which they found in the Saracenes Campe most aboundant and plentifull After the death of Eudo Martellus added that parte of Eudo his Kingdome to his Empyre For which cause Hunold and Vaifar the sonnes of Eudo incensinge that part of Gaule called Narbonensis Prouincia containing the Countrys of Sauoye Dolphinie Prouance and Languedock to take parte with them renewed the warre afresh with Martellus And passinge ouer the riuer of Rhone with most barbarus cruelty destroyed burnt and killed man and beast makynge hauock of all Townes Villages Féelds that was in their way without sparing either age or Sexe The chief burnt of which lamentable storme and furious immanitie that part of the Allobroges now called Dolphinie specially felt before Martellus could prouide or prepare sufficient power to go against them But when he was come Visigot departed
quietnesse he bent his whole minde an other while to the feats of peace the swéet Nource and Storehouse of plentifulnesse and aboundaunce And because he would by his example prouoke and stirre vp the rest of his subiectes to doe semblablit he like a good Householder one fit to be a Prince among the people vndertooke to procure cause so much of the vnhusbanded ground as was neither fit to beare corne nor good to plant Vines to be tourned vp and tylled and manured so much thereof as he thought woulde be sufficient for the expences of his owne Table for the maintainance of all them whom of his méere liberalitie and bountifull goodnesse he had retayned and taken into hys charge to kéepe and sée cherished that is to witt the poore diseased impotent people vnto whom he assigned houses and Hospitalles and appointed also certaine Granaters and ouerseeers such as were trained vp had the skil of Tillage and Vine planting Which officers layed vp yéerely in his Storehouses and Graners great prouision and store of the ouerplus of the corne He also had aboundantly store himselfe with Oxen Kyne Horses Shéep Swine and with diuers kindes of same Byrdes by whom he yéerely receiued great encrease and profyte This not onely did he himselfe but also by his example occasioned others of the Péeres and Nobilyty his Cosins and Allyes to doe the lyke so that euery one hauinge of his owne competentlie whereon to liue the Communaltie should not be oppressed nor the inferiour sort by sorce and extortion of the richer impouerished with any intollerable Tributes Assessements and Paymentes By this means the Romane weale publique was scowred and cleane purged from all notable exactions and bribing pyllages insomuch that within fewe yéeres space euerye man had his Barnes and Cellers full stored and stuffed with Corne and Wine and such encrease of cattel Hens and other homish Foules that the high waies and strets Stables and Shéepe cotes Houses and Gardens were vneth hable to holde them This golden state and blessed felicitie was héereby also the more augmented for that the Turkes were within themselues merueilouslie pinched and afflicted with great hunger dearth and penurie of Corne whereby it came to passe that all their Golde Syluer Iuelles and precious Wares through this godlye forcaste and diuine wisedome of the Emperour came into the hands and possession of the Romanes for then might a man haue séene them faine to choppe and chaunge their rich Wares for a litle bread Corne to sustaine themselues withall and euery Byrde Oxe Cow or Kidde was solde at an excessiue price All the wayes were pestered full of Turkysh Women and Children of the Turkish Nacion cōminge to and going from the Romane Prouinces The Empresse also of the ouerplus of Hennes egges for they were not possible to be all spent in her house and Famylie at that time solde at a very high price daylye to the Turks had got together in short space such an incredible Masse of Money as was sufficyent to pay for a most rych Crowne of Goulde set full of orient Pearles and precious Stones whiche for that cause the Emperours called and tearmed Ouata because it was bought with Egge Money so in short time the Emperour enriched himself and all his Subiectes with Wealth excéedinglie During this while the Tartarians vnder the leadinge of their Capitaine Baydo marching and making impressions into the frountiers of the Turkishe countries the Sultan of Iconium leuying as great a power as hee was able of all Nacions for he had then with him of Greekes and Latines that is to wit of Italians Germaines and Frenchmen two Cohortes or Bands Ouer the Gréekish band was Capitaine one Iohn Liuitnada a Cyprian borne or as some say one Paleologus who earst had reuolted from the Emperoure and ouer the Latines was Boniface Moline one of the nobilitie of Venice euerie man being braue in apparell well apointed with Penons and flages of their owne Armes With these couragious personages marching against the Tartarians he met with them in a place neere to the Citie Arscor in the great Armenia called Cosdrach The Tartarians so sone as the espied this straung Army apparailed contrarie to the guise and fashion of that countrey supposing some greater ayd and succour had bene sent vnto them were merueilously dismayd astonied and if one of the Sultane his Kinsmen for an olde gruge had not in the beginning of the battaile fled vnto their side with a great crew of pertakers thei wold haue tourned their backes and fled But the occasion therof was the cause at that time of the Turkes ruyne and ouerthrow afterward almost brought al their kingdom principalytie in subiection to the Tartarians For the Tartarians obtaining the vpperhand victorie in this conflict neglected not the oportunitie good chaunce that Fortune now offered them but passed the riuer Euphrates and subdued Syria as far as Palestina Arabia Wher after thei had assessed yéerely tributes vpon the remnaunts of the Syrians Arabians Phaenicians they laded themselues with many rich booties spoyles returned againe into the orient But the next yéere folowing thei passing Euphrates againe tooke their way Northwarde into Cappadocia went as far as the riuer Thermodoon and taking Iconium the chiefe Citie that belenged to the Turkes Azatine the Sultane beynge banished with his Brother Melecke fled for succour to the Emperour Michael Paleologus whom not long before in like case and respect fléeing vnto him for comforte and aide he had pleasured honorably and entertained with all poinctes of princely curtesie And putting him in remembraunce of his former fréendship shewed vnto him in his néede distresse and vnfolding before him the pitifull plight of thys hys present state and calamitie instantly requested him eyther to ayde him against his Capitall foes the Tartarians or else to assigne him some péece of ground or odde corner as it were a colonie where he his people might repose themselues in some more ease and securitie for he had brought with him his Wyues and Children and many Seruauntes with much wealth and Richesse The Emperour for that he was on euery side encombred and wrapped in Warres would in no wise diminishe anye part of his own power and as for the assignement of any part of his Countrey to such a great Potentate as had beene a mightie Monarch and Prince ouer many Prouinces and also from his tender age euer brought vp in Princely pompe and stately preheminence he iudged a thing very daungerous For he considered and wysely imagined that the Lordes and nobilitie which were vnder his rule and authoritie would séeke their Lorde and Maister where euer he should be and that his people being scattered and dispersed in diuers places like the wandring Planetes in the night would flocke together and concurre to him that goeth before them with a Linke and leadeth the way So would they come running
to theyr King and so perchaunce in th' ende worke vnto the Romanes some myckle woe and disturbaunce And therfore â—ooding him out with faire wordes and noseling hym in good hope he kept him at a doubtfull staie without geuing any resolute aunswere to his requestes Azatine for that his Parentes were Christians and he himselfe also Christened washed in the SacrameÌ„t of holy Baptisme in his infancie resorted dayly with the Emperour to Sermons and hard the holy Scriptures dayly preached and remained so long with the Emperour till at length by the meanes helpe of the EuropiaÌ„ Scythians he made an escape and fled with his Sun Melecke out of the towne Aenum and passed the ryuer Ister and within a while after dyed and Melecke by Sea passed into Asia to the Tartarians and of them obtained the Kingdome of the Turkish Nation as his fathers enheritance But a certayne Duke named Amurie with a Warlike power him encountred and ouerthrew so that he was faine to flie vnto Heraclea a Citie of Pontus and within a while after again returning to his natiue Cuntry recouering his fathers kingdome within short space was trayterously murthered Thus was the Turkishe Empire subuerted and brought to finall ruyne and from a State of well ordered discipline and magnificence fell to vtter decay and extreeme confusion the cause whereof was for that not onely the Nobilitie and higher Powers dyuided the Kingdome into many sections and partes but many also of baser degrée and obscurer Parentage associatyng vnto them the rascall Peazauntes and vulgar sort practised pylfering and robberie carying nothing with theÌ„ but their Bowe and Quiuer of Arrowes and taking vp their Rowst in the Streictes of the Mountaines made many roades into the Countreys about and the Cities belonging to the Romane Empire For it happened a little before that the garrisons defending the Castles fortresses of the Empyre for want of payment of their féees yéerely stipendes at the Emperours handes woulde serue no longer but departed thence whych being at the first as a thing of small waight and moment neglected was in the ende the cause that the Romane Empyre sustained and incurred most gréeuous daungers and calamities For when the Turkes were displaced and expulsed by the Tartarians they displaced and expulsed the Greekes and looke howe weake they were in comparison of the Tartarians so stronge were they against the Greekes insomuch that at length the matter was decided with open warre and dent of Sworde For the Emperour vnderstanding that a great power of Turkes were vp in Paphlagonia leuyed a very competent Armye to represse and as much as might he to inhibite their violent insolencie least if they shoulde bee still suffered impunely to raunge spoyle without resistaunce it might breede further daunger and inconuenience And therfore when bee had assembled his power together he sent the same being wel appointed against them who encountring the Turks had of them the victory But whilest they disorderly and ouerfarre in chase beyond the ryuer pursued them they fell into the bandes of an Ambushe which the Turkes the night before had there layd for them By meanes wherof they being on th' one side beset with an Haost of freshe Souldiours well appointed in battle aray and on th' other side pent in and enclosed with the ryuer they were slaine almost euery man The Turkes triumphing for thys successe and victorie enroaded afterward within the Roman Territories and came as farre as the ryuer Sangarius and subiugated vnder their obesaunce all from the Pontique Sea and Galatia to the Sea Lycium and Carium and the ryuer of Eurymedon At this time also the Mamalukes which worde by interpretation signifieth Seruauntes or Slaues obtained the Kingdome in Aegypt and aduaunced the limittes of theyr Empyre into Aphrica Lybia as farre as Gades and subdued Phaenicia and Syria and all the Countrey ioyning vpon the Sea coastes Nowe how this came to passe we wyll declare The Caliphes and all the Saracenes lulled in case and noseled in effeminate nycenesse engendred by the delicious and tender allurementes of that pleasaunt Clime and region became so slouthfull that althoughe they possessed a most wealthy and fertile kingdome yet were they easie to bée vanquished and subdued by any and the Caliphes béeyng all geuen to lust Sensualitie and pleasures tooke no care to any thing neyther attempted any enterpryses themselues but executed and administred all their Affaires by a Vicegerente which was called an Admyrall Therefore when as Baldwine King of Hierusalem had made the Kingdome of Aegypt tributarie vnto him which tribute Almericke his brother and Successour claymed as due and payable vnto him and the Aegyptians flatly denying the same Almericke with an Army entred into Aegype and in the deserie vanquished in battayle Dargan the Admirall of the Kingdome wyth all his power and compelled him to flye for his sauegarde into the Citie Bilbis This was about that time of the yéere wheÌ„ the ryuer Nile by course had his yéerely incremente and ouerflowed his Bankes whose Dammes and Scluses the Aegyptians of purpose brake downe because they would stoppe Almericke from further pursuite and victoryewherefore laden wyth spoyle and ryche boofyes of hys enemyes hée retyred backe agayne into hys owne Countrey and Kingdome for feare least hee wyth hys whole Hoast if they had longer raryed should haue bene drowned and swallowed by with the mercylesse water Thys ouerthrow and aduerse fortune of Dargan gaue occasion to Sanar whom the same Dargan a lyttle before perforce had displaced and put out of the office and dignitie of Admyrallship and caused to flye for succour to the Arabians hys Tribe fellowes to go to Norandine the Sonne of Sanguin the most mighty King of Damasco by him to be shrowded from the malice of hys aduersary that Realme and Countrey eftsoones inuaded Aegipt and tooke by force the Citie Bilbis shewinge much crueltie with fire and Sword to all sortes of people sparing neyther age nor Sex. Wherfore Sanar desired ayd of Norandme vpon promise of great Summes of money so long staied and repressed the impetuous course of Almerick his victory till such time that his ayde came of whose comming when Almerick had vnderstandinge he raised his Campe and departed out of Egipt Therfore Syracon who had the leading and conduct of Norandines men finding Egipt without any foraine ayde or succour marched straight to Cayr the chéefe royal Citie of the whole realme â—nd slew Sanar comming out to parle and confer with him And when he had got the possession of the Citie he went to do his dutie and exhibit honour to the Caliph of whom hee was created Admirall of the Lande which dignitie he enioyed a yéere and then died leauingâ— behinde him for his Successoure Saladine his Brothers Sonne a man of a surpassing and polytique wit stoute valyaunt and of nature most franck and lyberall Who immediatlie murthered the Caliph with all his bloudâ— and Progenie