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.
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
stoode and what he purposed to do willing him spéedily to come with more power to ayde him and be partaker of that glorious noble enterprise The Antiochians knowing their chiefe Tower to be taken ranne couragiouslye to repell and dispossesse the Romanes out of the same Now the Maister of the Tentes had in charge from the Emperour that he should not in ani wise inuade Antioch because the common brute went that the captiuitie of that Citie did portende within awhile after the Emperours confusion whiche bred in him such doubtfull cares that he knew not what to doo in that case nor which way to take Neuerthelesse loath that so manye valiaunt men should through his default perysh thinkyng it no poynt of humanytie to sée them thus fall into the lapse for want of a small ayde marched with all his power and inuaded Antioche at whose comming the Saracenes were so dismayde that their hartes fainted and their stomackes immediatly quayled Burzes his company which before dispayred of any help or remedye looking for nothing but present death tooke new hart agrace and were reuiued and bursting open the Gates with his battayle Axe made frée passage and ingresse for the maâ—ster of the Tentes and his traine to enter Thus was Antioche one of the noblest Cities in the world brought into the power of the Romanes whiche shortly after in the time of the Emperoure Iohn Zimisca the Saracenes with all their ioynt powers and forces both of the Orient and occident attempted to recouer And so vnder the conduct of the Caliph of Cairoan in Affrica because the power of the Caliph of Syria was now sore weakened and brought to a lowe ebbe they planted their Siege about it Whose inuasions and malyce the Citezins and Inhabitauntes manfullye and constantlye withstoode tyll the Emperour might hereof be certyfied Who hauing intelligence of this generall conspiracie of the Gentiles commaunded his Prouost of Mesopotamia to ayde his besieged Fréendes and Subiectes Who according to his charge and coÌ„mission in a pitched battaile wherein the Saracenes were in number farre moe then the Romanes them disparcled chased and discomfited Now because I sée the empire of the Saracens to draw apace towarde an ende and finall ruyne we must before we procéede any further briefelye and compendiouslie wryte of the remnauntes and reliques of them that yet lurked in Africa and Spayne and firste wee wyll speak of Spayne then afterward of Africa In Spayne therefore Ramire Kinge of Lyon in the yéere of our Sauiour Christ 901. making war vpon the Saracenes destroyed a Towne of theirs named Madrite and put them to flight néere vnto Osma and made Benaiam King of Saragoza Tributary vnto hym Whom afterward rebelliouslye ioyninge in league with Abduramen King of Corduba and tourning to his olde vomyt agayne Ramire eftsoones vanquished and tooke Prisoner in battayle néere to a Towne called Synâ—ncas wherein there were slayne of the Saracenes thyrtye thousande and many other annoyances and harmes did hee vnto them Afterwarde lying at the Siege of Talauâ—ra he ouercame the Toletane Saracenes whiche came to reyse the Siege and to rescue the Citie of whom vii M. were taken and xii M. slayne After this Sancius kinge of Lyon beinge depriued and driuen out of his kingdome by his owne people came to Abduramen king of Corduba to be cured of a certayne disease by the help of his Phisicions whom for conning and knowledge he had heard to be the expertest and skilfullest that were then in al the world Whom the king of Corduba did not onely cause to be healed but also with his power and help maugre all his foes restored him to his Roome and dignitie But after that hee was dead the Saracenes wanne Symancas Duengas Sepulueda and Gormas Townes belonginge to the kingdome of Lyon and rased Zamorra And within awhile after destroyed and euerted Portugall the head of all Lusitanie and Compostella After the death of Abduramen Alliagib his Successoure in that kingdome naming him selfe Almansor which is as much to say as the Protectoure of king Mansor his Lorde and maister because bee hoped therby the rather to allure the peoples goodwils and vnder that coloure to insinuate himselfe into their fauoures for at that time Mansor raigned at Marrocco Which Citie as we haue afore shewed was the Seate royall of all the Saracenes Empire Occidentall vnder whose iurisdiction and rule all the inferiour kinges of the Saracenicall nacion in Spayne lyued gathered a mighty power and inuaded the Territories of the Castulonians Lyon and Bâ—â—kaye The Citie of Lyon he almost vtterly defaced the Towers and Bulwarkes thereof which were all of Marble he rased and heat downe to the grownde leauinge onelye one vntouched and vnblemished to the intent that the memorye of the beautye and gorgeousnes of that Citie might appeare and remayne to posterytie He tooke Asturia and Coiaca which is now called Valenâ—ja not that Valentia which standeth vpon the midland Sea but an other in the kingdome of Leon by the Pyrenes and Sansagnium with many other Townes And in the Precinct of the Castulonians he destroyed Osma Alcobetla Berlanga and Atienza and of the Gallycian Townes he tooke S. Iames and commaunded the Belles to bee caryed away thence to Corduba where he vsed them in stéede of Lampes in his prophane Temples in this sorte he continued outraging and kéeping sharpe warres for the space of twelue yeares Tyll at length Bermudes King of Lyon with the powers of the Castulonians the Byskayes and his owne bad vnto hym battayle in a place called Calataicor This battayle was fiercely foughten on both sides for the space of a whole daye where were slayne of the Saracenes many thousandes and in th' end Almansor with all his retinew and Adherents fled and shortly after died for sorow of his ouerthrow The Spaniardes ruffling and spoiling their camp found therin great booties prayes which they at their flight had left behind them Abdimelick greatly mooued with his fathers misfortune and purposing to recouer and haue amendes for the same was also vanquished But afterward in the reigne of Alphonsus the Son of Bermudes the Saracenes agayne inuading the borders frontiers of the Castulonians destroied Auila tooke Ormetum with any other townes And Alphonsus reedifled the citie of Lyon. After al this there sprang vp ciuile warres among the Spanish Saracenicall Kinges and Princes whereby the power of the Christians in that prouince dayly encreased insomuch that Mahomet Enasâ—r Bishop of Marrocco being vanquished in Gottalonia néere to Valentia and ix M. Saracenes slaine with him in the yéere of our redémption 1150. the Christians within xxx yéeres folowing recouered Valentia Deuia Alicante Muria new Carthage Corduba Syuile Iaen and Vbeda and the Saracenes had no more in their possession but onely the Kingdome of Granado from whence at length they were vtterlye expulsed and driuen out by Ferdinando the last king of the Tarracomans or Aragon Grandfather by the Mothers side
others insomuch that within a whyle hys Armye grewe to the number of 50000. men Muchumet stormyng marueilouslye at this ouerthrowe and discomfiture of hys Hoaste caused the eyes of those tenne whom he had appoynted Capitaines to bée pulled out and threatened the rest of the Souldiours which fledde out of the Battaile that so soone as he had vanquished his fees he woulde cloathe them all in womans apparell and leade them as gazing stockes in Triumph before him This done he himselfe in person marcheth against his Enemies His men who before had bene vanquished of the Turkes considering the threates and shamefull handling that was ment towarde them reuolted from Muchumet and fledde to Tangrolipix Who now hauing his Armie encreased with such a warlike Crewe of freshe Souldiours with all his whole power together came against Muchumet by dinte of mortall battaile to trie and finally determine the cause of controuersie betwene them Muchumet with hys power of Saracenes Persians Arabians and Cabirians well appoynted and armed to the number of fyue hundreth thousande and a hundreth Elephantes wyth Towers on theyr backes mette his Enemye at a place called Aspacha where betweene them was fought a cruell and bloudie Battayle and many slayne on bothe partes In this conflicte Muchumet as hee rode vnheedely from ranke to ranke chéeryng his Souldiours and exhorting them to doe valiauntly by meanes of the foltering and stumbling of hys horse fell downe and brake his necke He béeyng once deade his Armye fell to a Parley and composition wyth the Turkes and so wyth one consente and wyll of all sides Tangrolipix was proclaymed King of Persians Who immediately opened a waye and passage for his people into Persia Of whom a great multitude went thyther and oppressing the Persians and Saracenes perforce possessed all the Countrey of Persia They also honoured Tangrolipix by the stile or tytle of Sultane whiche is asmuch to saye as a most Soueraigne Emperour or Kyng of Kinges He displaced the Inhabitauntes of the Countrey out of theyr Offices Roomes and Dignities and placed his owne Nation and people in the same and amonge them empouerishing and vtterly oppressing the Countrey borne persons diuided and parted the whole Region of Persia Also Daber Prince of Aegypt béeyng in League and amitie wyth the Romanes falsefyed hys othe and promise whiche before hee had condiscended vnto and destroyed the Temple at Hierusalem wherein was the Sepulchre of our Sauiour Chryst and all the other holie places in the same For Hierusalem at that tyme was vnder hys obedience and dominion And wythin a whyle after hee sent a Nauie into the Isles called Cyclades to trie some maistries there which Nauie was encountred and mette wythall by the Duke of Samos who tooke .xii. of them as Pryzes with all the men and Capitaines therein and the rest to hys hyghe laude and glory dispersed and scattered After this Argyropylus béeyng Emperour of Constantinople the Arabians wanne all suche Cities as Nicephorus and Iohn Zimisca had taken in Syria and slewe the Garrysons that were lefte to keepe them And the Prynce of Chalep wyth continuall incursions infested Antioche and dyuerse other Cities and Countreyes confyning vppon Syria that were subiecte to the Romane Empyre By whom also the Capitayne of Antioche Constantine béeyng yet alyue was shamefullye vanquished and hardly escaped wyth the losse of manye of hys men In whose office and roome the Emperour appoyntyng another went himselfe wyth a competent number of well furnished Souldiours to snaffle the pretenced outrage and insolent demeanure of the same Prince of Chalep The Chalepians hauing vnderstanding of his approche sent Ambassadours with giftes and rewardes to meete him on the way and to desire pardon for their former temerytie and vndutifull behauiours towardes him offering agayne to submit themselues and from thencefoorth to become his true Vassalles and liege people Whiche submission and peace although manye of his Lordes and Capitaines exhorted him to accepte yet hee hoping easely to subdue the Saracenes and thereby to purchase vnto himselfe a great name and glory would néeds march on and continue his voyage into Syria And when he had strongly encamped himselfe néere to Chalep the Arabians beinge bolde and nimble fellowes and naked with good swift Horses vnder them lyke Dimylaunces planted themselues in euery corner in Ambushes So that if any of their enemies went out on forraging or to fetch water they sodenly brake out and either slew or tooke thē prisoners By reason whereof both the Souldiours and their Horses fainted for thirste and were not hable to doe any seruice Thus they being better acquainted and enured with these incursions and skirmishes tooke heart a grace accusing the Romanes of Slouth and cowardyse and sheweing themselues in great plumpes descēding sodenly from the Hylles with great shoutes and cryes so terryfied and dismayed the Romane Hoast that they tourned their backs fled The emperour himself being there in great danger of his lyfe and forsaken of his Pretorian Souldiours which for feare shifted for themselues and left hym alone had fallē in the Lapse and bene taken Prisoner yf one of his company had not set him vpon his Horse and aduised him to saue him selfe by flight The Saracenes supposinge this their fléeinge to be done but for a pollicie and for the nonce pursued not the chase but entred into the Emperours Tentes where taking a few noble personages and spoylinge his rych Pauilion wherein was great foyson of Treasure and princely furniture departed thence and retyred back lading their Horses with as much as they could cary away In their retourne back they ouercame the countrey of Mesopotamia And the Aegiptian Fléet wasted the coast of Illyricum but they could not goe cleare away For the Greekish Fleet encountered with them and burnt many of them the rest which escaped by flight by tempest were drowned in the Sicillian Sea. Also an other Nauy of a thousand Sayle or there about being sent out of Aphrica spoyled many Islandes and places bordering vpon the sea Coastes But the Romane gallayes chaunceing vpon them tooke certayne sonke many and sent 500. of them prisoners to the Emperour And George Maniaces prouost of all the Cities along the Riuer Euphrates lying at Samosata conquered and rased a citie called Edessa wher he finding an Epistle of our Sauiour Iesus Christ written with his owne hande he sent the same vnto the Emperoure This Citie afterwarde in the Empyre and raigne of Michael Paphlagon was besieged by the Arabians and had bene wonne if Constantine Capitaine of Antioch and Brother to the Emperour had not succoured and relieued the poore Defendauntes that were within it After that the Prince of Aegypt was dead the Quéene his wyfe being a Christian and her son concluded a truce with the Romanes to endure for xxx yéeres and caused the Temple and other holie places at Ierusalem to be restored and newe reedified About this time two Brothers both Saracenes iounctlie and with equall authorytie
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