Army Tariff who hitherto had not found any obstacle in his Conquests no not even in the City of Grenada where he expected to have met with some resistance confided in his wonted success and the Resolution of his Souldiers and imagin'd that this little corner of Earth being only defended by Bumpkins would not hold out longer than the other Places where he had pass'd But when he was at a great Ravine making a Torrent that falls into a River which the Christians call Auzeva being oblig'd to stop there about midnight the Peasants came and attack'd his Camp with so much fury that he was forced to abandon it after having there lost four thousand Foot and some Horse On the morrow being enrag'd to have been thus beaten by Bumpkins he resolved to be Reveng'd on 'em and to attack 'em as he did in the same place But the Christians defended themselves with as much vigour as the day before and without losing hardly one of their side they kill'd fifteen hundred more of his Men. What enrag'd him most was the difficulty of the Country where the Cavalry wherein consisted his greatest strength could not penetrate whereas these Peasants from the advantageous Posts they possess'd made a great slaughter of his Men without his being able to come at them Whereupon he was upon the point of desisting from his Enterprize where he only lost time and Souldiers and to carry his Arms elsewhere when that one of those Mountainers call'd Fandino to secure a little Estate he had in that Canton came and shew'd him a place by which he might come and enter with the Horse into the heart of the Country and easily subdue it The General was overjoy'd and having ask'd this Peasant a thousand Questions to which he made pertinent answers by his advice he drew off his Troops four miles from the place where they lay and having given order to his Fleet to draw near that Coast he detach'd one of his most Valiant Captains call'd Abraham Abuxarra with ten thousand Foot and four hundred Horse to a place call'd Xat by the Arabs where he Shipp'd him with all his Men and Fandino whom he sent along to serve him for his Guide Abraham was not long before he arriv'd at a Town upon the Eastern Coast of Spain by the Christians call'd Adrada and in good order entred the heart of the Country pillaging and laying all waste The Christians had no Cavalry and expected no succours seeing themselves shut up on all sides Abuxarra attacking them behind while Tariff beat them before yet made not any movement by which we could perceive the Extremity they were reduc'd to But after being assembled to see what course was best for them to take they resolv'd to send to demand a Truce for fifteen days of Tariff that so they mighr have time to concert with him the Conditions on which they were willing to surrender Tariff having immediately accepted the offers they made him and having given a safe Conduct for such as they were minded to send as Deputies to him they chose the Bishop of that Country call'd Otoger with some other Persons of Credence whom they sent into the Camp with the necessary Powers He was a man of Wit and Learning and very Expert and knowing in affairs He was very kindly receiv'd by Tariff who immediately struck up with him in the following Conditions That the Christians should remain in that Country if so minded and should not be molested either in their Persons or Estates or their Consciences That they should not pay any other Imposts than the Tribute they were wont to pay to Christian Kings That if any among them were not willing to stay there they should be suffer'd to sell their whole Estate and and go into whatever Country inhabited by Christians they should best like This Capitulation being sign'd by Tariff in the name of the Great Almanzor his Master in whose name he promis'd to observe it very exactly Abraham Abuxarra was left there as Governour And as he was the first that entred the Country and had been its first Governour this little Province was from this time call'd by his name This General having now totally reduc'd those parts that fell to his lot re-assembled all his Forces to return to Cordoua by the same way he came with a Design to rejoin Muca after that to enter both together and without any longer delay into the Province of Castile CHAP. XIII The Conquests of Muca and his return to Cordoua AT the same time that General Tariff began his march to lead his Army towards the East and South into the Province of Grenada as we have said the Vice-roy Muca went to lead his towards the West into the Province which the Natives of the Country call Andalousia from the name of certain People that formerly inhabited it call'd Vandals He march'd at first against Carmona a small Town indeed but well fortify'd where several Christians had taken refuge from all the Burroughs and all the Villages of that Country which they had forsaken at Muca's Approach and where they had stor'd themselves with all sorts of Ammunition and Provisions that so they might defend themselves as long as possible they could The Vice-roy having block'd it up on all sides the Besieged resolv'd to make a Sally out of the strongest of their Gates and with the best men they had to see if there was any possibility of defeating their Enemies before they had better fortified themselves Wherefore on the morrow at break of day having taken Arms and encouraged one another to do well they attack'd the Moors Camp with so much Bravery and in such good order that they kill'd three hundred of them before they could know and put themselves in a posture of Defence and return'd into the Town having lost but five and twenty on their side This success having puft up their Hearts they would needs see the day following if Fortune would be as favourable to them But having found the Moors upon their Guard they were received a little more smartly than the day before and constrained to return into the Town faster than they came thence The Moors pursu'd them so closely that the Governour of Carmona fearing that by opening the Gates to receive them the Enemies would enter pell-mell with them and so make themselves masters of the Place he found it more expedient to let the few Christians that were without to be lost than to lose the Town in endeavouring to save them and forbid the opening to them the Gate he fear'd it would be no longer in his power to shut The Christians seeing the Resolution their Governour had taken all on the sudden took a very generous one for having all engag'd rather to dye like Men of Courage than be made slaves they fac'd about upon those that pursued them and fighting like Desperate People kill'd eight hundred of them and push'd on into
the midst of Muca's Camp where they were all kill'd upon the spot or taken Prisoners without so much as one of them escaping Muca being very much enrag'd at these two bad successes assembled the Principal Officers to hold a Council of War wherein it was resolv'd on the morrow morning to make a General attacque The Ladders were set up against the Walls and the Moors mounted them with great Resolution On the other side the Beleaguer'd defended themselves with great firmness Killing and Topsy-turvying those that mounted Among others the Governour of the Place call'd Galo did then perform Heroick Actions for he alone with two men he had with him defended a whole Courtine from one Tower to another which he had undertaken to maintain and with a Cross-bow kill'd or wounded for his own part that day himself alone fourscore Moors This Conflict lasted from Noon till Night and in it the Vice-roy lost fifteen hundred men whereas the Besieged as we were afterwards inform'd lost but three hundred The time and men Muca lost before this Place made him resolve for the rendring himself master of it to try another way than that of force which he had sped so ill in thitherto Whereupon he sent to summons the Besieged to surrender offering not only to spare their Lives but to grant them great Priviledges if they made their Composition sooner than later This Proposal caus'd the Besieged to open their Eyes and the Principal of them assembling to confer with their Governour they concluded that tho they should still hold out for a while their Provisions would at length fail them and their Souldiers would diminish that all that Province was almost subdu'd that they could not expect succours from any body that thus sooner or later they would be a Prey to the Victorious For which reason they made answer That they were content to open him the Gates of their City provided he would suffer them to depart thence with their Wives and Children and all they had of Money Arms and Baggage and generally all things whatever that they could carry along with them whither they pleas'd with full freedom All that they required was granted them bating the Baggage upon which they were told That they might only carry away with them what they could load upon a hundred Waggons with which they were contented Thus all the Christians departed and went to another City near the Sea call'd His pala in their Tongue while that Muca after having plac'd a Governour there with some Souldiers for its Guard decamp'd forthwith to march towards a very great and populous City which the Spaniards in their Tongue call Merida In this Town there was a very brave Christian Governour and as he Signaliz'd himself in this Siege and therein perform'd Actions worthy of Praise he well deserves that I should dwell a little longer upon the Relation of his Performances This Governour call'd Salara seeing the havock made by the Moors Army in the Countries where it pass'd caus'd all the Christians in the Neighbourhood of Merida to retire into that Town with their Wives and Children and caus'd them to bring along with them all the Victuals there was in the Country where having left only what could not be remov'd he himself sent some to burn all the Villages thereabouts and to make a havock throughout all the Country that so when the Moors should come thither they might find nothing left He did not content himself with this he caus'd all the Waters to be poyson'd and having employ'd all the Peasants he caus'd 'em to work upon the Fortifications of the Town He repair'd its Walls its Battlements and Parapets And having caus'd a Review to be made of what men he had in a condition to fight he found 'em five thousand strong whom he distributed into the Towers and other Places he judg'd convenient Things were in this posture when the Vice-roy drew near the Place and having block'd it up on all sides began by sending to Summons Salaru to Surrender otherwise that he would put all that were in it to the Sword But the Governour having made him Answer That he might do as he pleas'd That the Mercy of God was greater than his Forces and that it afforded him more Confidence than all his Threatnings gave him Fear Muca being provok'd at this Refusal caus'd all things to be prepar'd for the making the Assault The next day the Moors being mounted to the Scalade were there receiv'd and vigorously repuls'd by the Beleaguer'd by means of the great order with which they ran to the relief of one another upon occasion The Attack lasted the whole day wherein the Besiegers lost six hundred Men and the Besieged only fifty seven But the Moors having renew'd the fight the next morning at break of day that they might afford the Besieged no respite it was so obstinate and furious that the Town had like to have been taken at unawares The Moors having already got to the top of the Wall and being ready to leap into the Town when that Salara who went to all the places that had need of his Succours running thither just in the nick tumbled them down from the top of the Walls and by this means deliver'd Merida that but for him had been now taken obliging the Besiegers to retire with the loss of eight hundred men whereas he had lost but about three hundred The Vigour the Christians had exerted in these two Conflicts did a little cool that of the Vice-roy who resolv'd to quarter all his Army round the place and see if he could not take it by Famine Salaru having perceiv'd his Design made a very exact review of all that was in the Town that he might more duly see how long his Victuals could last He found there to be several useless Mouths in Women Children and Old Men that were past bearing of Arms and yet consum'd the Provisions that began already to diminish tho there had been as yet but thirty days Siege and that they had laid up great stores before-hand He also saw it to be impossible for him to hold out much longer and not being strong enough to stir out of the enclosure of the Town to fight the Enemies he bethought himself of employing Stratagem to endeavour to make them raise the Siege Wherefore he sent to Muca That he was mistaken if he thought by Famine to force him to Surrender that he had still Bread enough for above ten years and to make good his words he caus'd a world of Baskets full of Loaves to be thrown from off the Walls This Complement had like to have made Muca run mad and he made no answer to it but by a General Assault which lasted a whole day with great vigour on both sides for there fell above five hundred Moors without reckoning Captain Aliculeyman who was very much wounded which extremely afflicted Muca It cost the Besieged little less who also lost in this occasion
all Africa in the name of the Emperour their Master That all those that were minded to pass into Spain there to inhabit needed only to repair thither and that they should have Lands given them to cultivate Houses to dwell in with all the conveniences necessary to Life and great Priviledges and Exemptions These Promises and the rumour of the Beauty of the Country caus'd a world of People to pass the Sea not only Natural Moors but Jews of the Hebrew Nation who pass'd it with their Wives and Children and all the Goods they had to the number of fifty thousand Families according to the Register taken of 'em by Adilbar This Vice-roy by an express order he had receiv'd from Almanzor of re-populating that great Kingdom which he had confided to his Conduct distributed with an admirable oeconomy throughout the Kingdom of Spain these new Spaniards according as they landed The Governours and Subordinate Commanders gave afterwards in the Provinces and Cities to each of those Families Conquer'd Lands proportionably as they were convenient for 'em to live in whereof he made particular Estates And they had all so great an application to this matter and kept such good order that this great extent of Land became in a short space more populous and more cultivated than it had ever been before and the new comers were so well accustomed with the Natives of the Country that there seem'd not to be any difference among 'em nor as if any change had there happen'd Adilbar seeing so numerous a People under his sway and all the particular Governours so obedient to his will thought himself in a posture to make some attempt for the service of his Master He remembred that they had not dared to attack Hispalis by reason of the Pestilence that raged there when the Generals went away and had informations that the Christians flocked thither from all patts since its ceasing For which reason having assembled the greatest number he could of Infantry and Cavalry and made a Body of twelve thousand Foot and two thousand Horse he departed from Cordoua after having given all the Directions requisite and march'd directly to Hispalis in the head of this Army small indeed but very brave and provided with all things necessary He straightways sent a Trumpeter to Summons the Inhabitants to Surrender promising them all sort of good usage as Generals of Armies are wont to do in such occasions The Inhabitants without listening to his Promises or being concern'd at his Threats made no other answer but that they were resolv'd to defend the goodness of their Cause to the last and to be cut all in pieces rather than fall under Slavery After such an Answer Adilbar thought there was no farther parlying On the morrow morning he caus'd a most furious Assault to be made But as the Besieged were well inform'd of the manner with which the Moors had perform'd the Sieges of all the other Towns of Spain they had made Provision of a world of Posts of several fashions which they fill'd with boyling Oyl Juniper and Turpentine and threw them upon the Besiegers which burnt them alive and incapacitated them from fighting by reason of the violence of the pain they suffer'd Adilbar confus'd and vex'd at the damage his men had receiv'd from the Beleaguer'd without its being in his Power to do them any caus'd the Rerreat to be sounded and his Troops put into Quarters to see what he had to do He had lost four hundred men in this first Assault and plainly perceiv'd that as often as he employ'd force there would be nothing to be got Wherefore he imagin'd that being Master of the Field and having Victuals abundance in his Army whose subsistance he could furnish to as long as he pleas'd in the Neighbourhood of that Town he could so well block up the Avenues that it should be constrain'd to Surrender without his so much as losing one man he resolv'd not to decamp thence till he had famish'd it The Beleaguer'd guessing that the Moors had taken this course since they had remained five and twenty days together without continuing their attacks they resolv'd to Sally out upon them when as they least expected it For this purpose without making any Bustle as could make the Besiegers suspect their Design they assembled all their resolute men And one Night Sallying out of one of their Gates they fell with much vigour upon Adilbar's Camp The Moors defended themselves with great Resolution but believing the number of their Enemies still greater than it was in the darkness that hinder'd them from viewing one another they betook themselves to flight and the Christians made a great slaughter of them To avoid the inconveniences that commonly happen in Engagements that are perform'd by Night the Governour had order'd all those that were commanded out upon that Sally to cease fighting and retire into the Town as soon as he should cause a Horn to be sounded whose sound he had caus'd them to observe Thus fearing they might engage too far on the pursuit of the Moors who might cut them off he caus'd it to be sounded when he judg'd it convenient The Christians had much ado to resolve upon quitting the Engagement being very much flesh'd by the Moors who gave way before them on all sides and were pursu'd by them with the Sword in their Reins But at the long run retiring by little and little in the order that had been prescrib'd them they re-entred the Town where they were receiv'd with great Applauses by the Beleaguer'd who caus'd a world of Musical Instruments to be sounded in token of Joy for so great a Victory The Day being come the slaughter the Christians had made appear'd to Adilbar much greater than he had believ'd it And perceiving the strength of this Town and the Valour of those that defended it he found it more convenient to raise the Siege than to persist any longer obstinately in an Enterprize which was more difficult than he had imagin'd Whereupon he took his march back to Cordoua and having found his Army diminish'd in two thousand Foot and two hundred Horse he had lost in this Siege he separated it and put it into good Quarters in the Country that it might recover it self CHAP. XXI Adilbar makes a second Attempt upon Hispalis and is as Successless as before ADilbar was disconsolate at the bad event of the first Enterprize he had made for the Valid's Service He was asham'd that the only Town the Christians held in Spain had resisted him after Tariff with so little pains had taken all the rest He imagin'd all the Moors murmur'd at it and himself found that Almanzor could not effectually call himself absolute Master of that Country as long as that Town was not under his Obedience Wherefore having sent for all the Governours of those Provinces and conferred with them about the necessity and the means for the reducing it he began
a second Attempt upon Hispalis and is as Successless as before 156 Chap. 22. Adilbar goes to Valence defeats the Governour of that Province and has him Beheaded 165 Chap. 23. Almanzor gives Tariff a place in his Council and chooses him for his Ambassadour Extraordinary for the Conclusion of the Prince his Sons Match with the King of Thunis's Daughter 168 Letters Patents of Almanzor's Demission in favour of his Son 171 Chap. 24. Abraham Amcary goes to fight Abenbukar defeats him and has him beheaded 180 Chap. 25. King Aboulvalid assembles a great Army in Africa and marches against his Brother Abraham gives him Battel wherein his Brother is kill'd 185 King Aboulvaiid's Letter to Muca Vice-roy of Morocco and Africa 188 Chap. 26. Adilbar Vice-roy of Spain leads his Army into Biscaya against Pelagius and thence returns without doing ought 195 Chap. 27. Of the Death of the King of Thunis and of the great Wars Aboulvalid was oblig'd to make to render himself Master of that Kingdom 200 Chap. 28. Aboulvalid makes Muca Generalissimo of his Armies and after having reduc'd the Kingdom of Thunis under his Obedience returns into Arabia 206 Aboulvalid's Letter to Muca Abenzairi Generalissimo in his Armies 207 Chap. 29. The Oath of Allegiance which Aboulvalid causes the States to take to Jacob Almanzor his Son 214 Chap. 30. Aboulvalid's Death who leaves to one of his Kinsmen call'd Mahomet Amcari the Regency of his State during his Sons Minority 221 Chap. 31. The Regent Amcari meaning to bereave Prince Almanzor of his Life is discover'd and punish'd for his Perfidy 230 Chap. 32. Prince Almanzor's Death the Queen his Mother dyes of Grief in a short time after and Ali Abilhachek causes himself to be Proclaimed Caliph 235 PART I. Containing the Life of Don Rodrigo King of Spain The Conquest of that Kingdom under the Caliph Valid Almanzor And the Wars which his Death occasion'd in Africa in Europe and Asia between his Children and his Generals Luna and all the Spanish Authors put Mira mamolin instead of Emir el mumenin Prince of Believers Almanzor signifies August Victorious Caliphe Vicar Successor CHAP. I. Anagilda King Acosta's Widdow withdraws with the Prince her Son to Cordoua Rodrigo invites her to bring him back to Court to assist at a Festival She goes thither and departs thence forthwith IN the Year 91 of the Hegira Spain was govern'd by a King call'd Rodrigo of the Race of the Goths a People that came into that Country from the farthest parts of the North and who made profession of the Christian Religion This Kingdom did then enjoy a profound Peace and was as much under his subjection as Arabia could be formerly to the Great Almanzor our Soveraign Lord. Insomuch that this unhappy Prince for we may well term him so had the freedom to abandon himself to all the Vices whereof Idleness is commonly the source What curb'd him was the young Prince Don Sancho Son to the late King Acosta his Eldest Brother to whom by consequence the Crown was devolved after his Death and which had been only conferr'd upon him until the Majority of his Nephew But he was loath to resign so precious a Pledge and his thoughts were wholly taken up in contriving the means to appropriate the whole Authority to himself which to him did not seem sufficiently Charming as long as it was only borrow'd The more his Nephew became fortify'd in Body and Mind the more this unnatural Unkle became peevish and uneasie The Affection which all the Grandees bore him much before the time giving him a Jealousie which he had much ado to dissemble Queen Anagilda having sooner than any other perceiv'd the ill will he bore her Son seldom suffer'd him out of her sight and only plac'd such persons about him as of whose fidelity she was well assur'd But in short the Affection she had for Don Sancho making her shrift into all Rodrigo's pernicious Designs and to foresee the storm that was suddenly like to come pouring upon her Head she ask'd Rodrigo's Permission to leave Toledo the usual Abode of the Kings of Castille to retire to a City in Andalousia called Cordoua whither she took along her Son and all her Houshold This Resolution which Rodrigo durst not thwart made him harbour new and stronger Distrusts He every moment fancy'd that his Nephew had attain'd to his years of Majority that the Scepter was to be put into his Hands and of an absolute King as he was become his Subjects Pupil And looking on this fall as a thing worse than Death he found no better means to screen himself from it than to dispatch as soon as possible Don Sancho out of the World To bring this Design the more easily and secretly about he caus'd a Turnament to be proclaim'd at Toledo where several days were wholly spent in the Preparations for so great an Entertainment And as all People were invited to be there on the day it was to begin he sent a Courier on purpose to Cordoua earnestly to entreat Queen Anagilda to Honour it with her Presence and with that of the Prince her Son This Princess ever labouring under the apprehensions of some Treachery at first wav'd with Excuses the undertaking of this Journey but at last being press'd by the Messengers that were sent upon the heels of one another she consulted those in whom she thought she might confide They all agreed That the Diffidence she harbour'd of her Brother-in-Law was well grounded but that it became her not to suffer it to be perceiv'd That Rodrigo wou'd easily guess the Reason why the Prince went not to Court and so might be urg'd to Extremities for which they ought not to give him any occasion Immediately after Orders being given for the Departure and the rumours thereof being spread about Andalousia several Persons of Quality came to ask the Queen leave to attend her and she being willing to be accompany'd by the most People she could with joy accepted their offers Thus did she repair with a very numerous brisk and stately Train into the Province of Castille at her arrival at Toledo she was there received with all the Honours due to her and found the Court extraordinary full She was lodg'd with all her Train in a Stately Palace wherein she had hardly remain'd the time necessary to recreate herself after the fatigue of so great a March but that the day appointed for the solemnity of that Festival being come she was conducted in Ceremony upon a Scaffold erected and spread with Tapistries magnificently in a place where the Prince D. Sancho sat in the middle having the King his Unkle on his Right Hand and the Queen his Mother on his Left As soon as this Entertainment was over it having been perform'd with much Joy and Magnificence notwithstanding the earnest entreaties and instances made by the King D. Rodrigo to oblige Anagilda to stay some days to divert herself in his Court
she remain'd fix'd in the Resolution she had taken and alledging the best Reasons she could bethink herself of she took her leave of him and return'd in all haste to Cordoua with her Son and all the Company she had brought along Rodrigo being extremely vext that so sudden a departure had robb'd him of the means of executing his perverse Intentions and touch'd to the quick that in the Journey Don Sancho had taken to Toledo the Grandees of the Court the Governours of Places the Prelats and the People had treated him in his own Presence as their real King he knew not what course to take to render himself the sole Master of Spain He roll'd a thousand things in his mind but paus'd not upon one without finding a thousand Difficulties in 't and out of which he could with any likelihood promise himself a good issue At last he resolv'd upon what we shall see in the following Chapter CHAP. II. Rodrigo causes the Prince Don Sancho to be taken into Custody His Mother frees him out of Prison and goes with him into Africa ROdrigo after having miss'd of so fair an occasion to rid himself of his Nephew was too much dejected for to be able to resolve on any thing in himself But it was not sufficient to find out expedients there needed such People as were capable of making use of them Astolpho was the man of all the Court in whom he had the most Confidence wherefore upon him did he unburden himself of a Secret that lay so much the heavier upon him as that he meant to have kept it to himself and offer'd him at the same time all the Gold and Money that was in his Power and the Governments of the most considerable Places of his Kingdom if he could help him to bring about his design Astolpho wanting neither Industry nor Malice advis'd him to practice false Witnesses that might charge Don Sancho with some great Crime Representing to him That when he should cause him to be confin'd under the colour of Justice no body could find fault therewith and that during the Prince's Imprisonment it would be easie for him either to put him to death or to render himself in such manner Master of the Kingdom that it would be impossible to divest him of its Administration The King very much relishing this Contrivance was not long without causing D. Sancho's Process to be made who by the Informations was found charg'd with Crimes as black and notorious as needed to authorize the clapping him up into Prison Astolpho having receiv'd the Commission for this purpose departed from Toledo without the least suspicion being had of the occasion of his Journey and reaching Cordoua before it could in the least get Wind he entred the Prince's Chamber whom he found sleeping in perfect security from any such like Treason and passing with all expedition across the City that dreamt not in the least how matters went he carry'd him through the Mountains making the Desart that separate Castille from Andalousia into a little Town that may be seen from Cordoua from which it is not far distant and is call'd The Tower of Stone The Queen amaz'd at so unexpected a Blow was for some while without knowing what to resolve on but as she had more Courage than her Sex does usually afford and quickly suspected how the case stood she resolv'd at any rate to free her Son out of so great a Danger Insomuch that having caus'd five and twenty of the bravest men of her houshold to take Horse and Arms as well as five and thirty others whom she order'd to follow her on foot She herself went with this small Troop after those that carry'd away her Son whom she overtook in that Tower I have newly mention'd At first Astolpho meant to have stood upon his Defence but having vigorously attack'd him and kill'd all his Men she herself took him Prisoner and brought her Son back to Cordoua She at first design'd to have fortify'd herself in that Town and to have provided it with all things necessary but fearing Rodrigo might come to besiege her there she packed up all she had most precious and having assembled her most trusty Servants she withdrew to the most Western part of Spain into a place called the Algesires belonging to Count Julian the same that a little while after occasion'd the loss of Spain Not finding herself even there in sufficient security she thought the best course wou'd be to put the Sea between her and D. Rodrigo and go seek in a foreign Country for succours to conquer her own This Resolution being taken she caus'd Astolpho's Nose and Ears to be cut off as a Traytor to his King and pass'd the Streight after having sent him back to the King her Brother-in-Law with a Letter which Translated out of Spanish into Arabick is as follows The Letter of Queen Anagilda the Prince Don Sancho's Mother to the King D. Rodrigo The Vnhappy Anagilda to the Traytor D. Rodrigo Health to him that does not deserve it THy Natural Malignity and the desire thou hast at any rate to Reign must needs have plung'd thee into a strange Blindness for to render thee so unjust as to go about to practize false Witnesses against an Innocent so perfidious as to fail in thy Loyalty to thy Lord so unnatural as to rob thy Nephew of his Life All the Laws of Knighthood as well as those of humanity do not suffer the revenging one's self on those that have meant us the most mischiefs as soon as they can no longer do us any Nay and Generosity requires that we pardon them tho they have done us hurt but the least of these Vertues is too great for thee Thou wilt not so much as know what these same Duties are and dost not mind the praises that are gain'd by fine Actions since that instead of being for the Truth which is the friend of God thou makest it thy whole business to stifle it and to declare thy self against it vowing the ruine of him that never had the least thought to offend thee and who on the contrary has had so much confidence in thee that he put himself under thy Protection Thou wouldst do much better to make War upon thy Enemies and conquer some one of their Provinces than to attack a Woman and a Child wherein thou hast not any Honour to acquire and wherein thou canst not miss of ruining it in this World to lose after that thy Soul in the other Learn to harbour no longer such empty and such Criminal Designs and think of leading no longer such a disorderly Life as that thou leadest while that God who only requires the Conversion of the Sinner may still grant thee Mercy Dost thou think that thy Reign will last always Dost thou not know that only that of God hath no end That all the Kings of the Earth are but Dust that they must one day become
had not lain idle but had made the best Preparations he could for War Insomuch that as soon as he knew Tariff had made a fresh Descent for the hindring his Fortifying himself there he sent his General Astolpho with an Army of thirty thousand Foot and about five hundred Horse that were indeed not over-well Arm'd nor over-well Martializ'd for the Reasons I have already hinted Astolpho going directly to Tariff and Encamping in sight of him there was at first several Skirmishes between the Horse of both sides wherein that of Tariff had the disadvantage which so intimidated the Moors that it had already quite discourag'd them when that on the morrow morning at break of day one of the Sentinels perceiv'd a Christian Woman with a Staff in her hand on which was a little white Streamer for a sign of Peace This Woman being taken ask'd to speak with the General of the Army saying she was come to bring him such News as would undoubtedly be agreeable to him As soon as she was in Tariff's presence she prostrated herself at his Feet and having embrac'd them with great signs of Joy and great demonstrations of affection she spoke to him in this manner A Prediction made by a Religious Related to General Tariff by a Christian VVoman SIgnior I am born in Spain and am call'd La Testue I remember that about sixty years agone when I was very young I heard my Father relate as I was in the Corner of his Chimney a Prophecy importing that the people of our Religion should lose the Government of our Country which was to be conquer'd by the Moors And among other things it was precisely mention'd that the Captain who was to make this Conquest should be very brave and have on his Right Shoulder a Mole very hairy of the bigness of a Pea nay and that his Right Hand should be much longer than his other insomuch that without stooping he might cover all his knee with that hand He who made this Prediction is an honest Religious for whom we Christians have a singular veneration I earnestly conjure you in case you have these marks I have newly specified in recompence for the good News I bring you to save our Lives I and my Children and to hinder any injury from being done to their Persons or Goods Tariff having caus'd what this Woman had newly said to be explain'd by a Christian Interpreter he had with him was overjoy'd to hear these things He strips himself immediately in the presence of Count Julian and of all his People and having caus'd the place the Woman instanc'd to be view'd they found there the Mole she had mention'd and the Right Hand longer than the Left tho not quite so long as she had said This News being spread about the Army occasion'd an universal joy and all the Officers would needs share in that their General had to hear by infallible proofs that he it was that was to have the Honour of so noble a Conquest And indeed he was resolv'd to give Battel and therein to vanquish or dye And that all the Souldiers might have the same Resolution he would needs deprive 'em of all hopes of Retreat For that purpose as he wanted no industry he secretly caus'd Fire to be set to all the Ships that had brought his Troops and reserv'd nothing but a small Vessel nay and would needs have that too put out to Sea for the sending by it to Muca the good or ill News of the Battel Tariff having given this Order and by a Speech short indeed but pithy animated his Souldiers to the Conflict It was very bloody and obstinate on both sides but at length the Christians were put to flight Astolpho wanting neither Heart nor Conduct perform'd in this occasion not only the Duty of a General but also that of a Souldier he Rally'd the Runaways the best he could return'd several times to the Charge and would never yield himself up whatever entreaties he had made him chusing rather to dye with his Sword in Hand as all those are wont to do that are jealous of their Honour and are resolved to leave no room ever to be reproach'd that they have done any thing contrary to the Fidelity they owe their King In this action Count Julian was dangerously wounded in the Arm with a Partizan and Tariff slightly in the Left Leg which very much afflicted the Moors and Julianists The News of this great Defeat being come to Rodrigo he was extremely griev'd particularly when he knew his General Astolpho to be dead and that he had been defeated by such a small handful of men Tariff and Count Julian retired forthwith with their Troops to their former Camp on Tariff from whence they sent in all haste to Muca by the Bark he had reserv'd on purpose for this intent the News of this first Victory earnestly desiring him to Ship with all expedition the two Bodies of Army that had been left in Africa for their refreshment which Muca fail'd not to do fearing they might need them CHAP. VIII Great Preparations for War made by Rodrigo in all the parts of his Dominions ROdrigo being dejected as I have newly said at this first loss knew not what course to take to hinder the progress of the Enemies and with whatever hopes those of his Council and Court would needs flatter him he was not capable of receiving any Consolation so full had his Heart been of anxiety for some time and pre-possess'd with the ill Opinion he had of the success of this War He was not wanting however to use all possible Diligence and omitted nothing of what he thought could help to free him out of so great a danger for he was but too sensible that he it was particularly that so horrible a Tempest threatned Wherefore he caus'd the Troops he had levy'd in all the Provinces of his Kingdom to advance from all parts and gave them a general Rendezvouze at Cordona where of late he kept his Court that so he might send them from thence to such places as should need them and be the readier to take such courses as his occasions should require His Orders were so well Executed that in a little time his Army was found to be fourscore thousand Foot and twenty thousand Horse all of 'em People huddled indeed together and most of 'em without Arms and Experience He gave them for their General the Arch-bishop D. Oppas his very near Relation whom he sent before with thirty thousand Foot and six thousand Horse to try Fortune once again against Tariff and endeavour to take the Count D. Julian imagining that as he had the Secret and Conduct of this Enterprize it was doubtless the most compendious way to put an end to the War In the mean while fresh reinsorcements came every minute to Tariff Muca caus'd the two Armies that were left behind in Africa to file daily into Spain as well that which Hiza had brought from Arabia
as that which Prince Mahomet Gilhair had brought from Tunis But as they came by little and little and separately it could not otherwise be but that there must be some Disorder Tariff to prevent the being surpriz'd in the hurry of Landing and to draw his Troops up in Battel array accordingly as they descended from their Ships resolv'd to take more ground and a little farther in the Country to choose a place sufficiently spacious for the Encampment of his whole Army and in security wait the coming of D. Rodrigo Wherefore he advanc'd as far as the River which the Arabs call Guidalete at the same time that the Archbishop D. Oppas came thither and sent to propose to him a Truce for eight days to give the two Armies time to recover themselves after the fatigues of the March The Archbishop who doubtless was not inform'd of the state of the Enemies Army imagin'd this Truce would turn to his advantage by giving his own time to encrease But in the mean while all those Troops that Tariff had caus'd to file off according as they landed being come they made up Sixty Thousand Foot and Ten Thousand Horse at the review he made of them after the Truce was expir'd Oppas perceiving the fault he had committed and fearing that the King would reproach him with having given the Enemies time to join all their Forces and fortify their Camp he resolv'd to give them Battel without any farther delay The reinforcement he had receiv'd join'd with what he had before made not up above Forty Thousand Men Yet was he not wanting with these to push the Moors so vigorously that Tariff was constrain'd to retire after having lost Three Thousand Foot and about Five Hundred Horse Whereas the Christians lost no more in this action than Two Thousand Foot and Two Hundred Horse The Night having parted them Oppas also retreated into his own Camp to let his Souldiers take Breath before he renew'd the Conflict The number of the Wounded being very great on both sides Oppas sent to propose a Truce to Tariff for three days which was forthwith concluded on between the two Generals Things being in this estate the following Night a Traytor for so he may well be call'd since he sold his own Countrey stole out of the Christians Camp into that of the Arabs This Man being the Companion of Oppas and call'd Sisebert went to tell Tariff that the King D. Rodrigo's General had only demanded this Truce that he might surprize him that Night and put him by that means the more easily to rout Tariff affording Credence to this notice upon the account of the eminent Quality of the person that brought it tho it was an imposture as was afterwards verify'd thought it became him to prevent his Enemy and without waiting till he had put himself in a posture to execute his evil intentions he made his Souldiers stand immediately to their Arms and caus'd them to march directly to the Christians Camp where they fell on with so much impetuosity that they forc'd it put the whole Army to rout took General Oppas with the Principal Officers Prisoners and got an inestimable Booty and an infinity of Slaves After this Victory Tariff made great presents to Sisebert and retreated near to the Guadalette into the Quarters he had before and which he had found very convenient for the Subsistance of his Army CHAP. IX Muca passes into Spain and joins with Tariff Rodrigo puts himself at the head of his Army gives them Battel and loses it MVca hearing daily of Tariffs great Victories began no longer to doubt of the Conquest of Spain whether he incessantly sent reinforcements of Souldiers and Amunitions and Provisions But not being with this contented he resolv'd to pass the Sea in person in the head of a fourth Army so to share in the honour of so fine a Conquest Wherefore he left to a Brother of his call'd Ishmael the Government of Africa in his absence and having with all possible diligence got together twenty thousand Foot and six thousand Horse brave Men and well appointed he went to join Tariff who was very joyful at the thing When it came to be known that the Vice-roy had himself pass'd the Streights there pass'd so great a number of Moors being invited by the hopes of pillage that in the review they made of all their Troops they were found to be a hundred and fourscore thousand Foot and forty thousand Horse besides an infinite number of useless people that are wont to accompany Armies Rodrigo who then exerted all the Duties of a great King seeing the number of the Moors daily to augment thought it in no wise convenient to give them time to fortifie themselves more And having assembled his Council to see what Resolution it became him to take in so great an exigency they unanimously agreed That he could do nothing better than go himself in the head of his Army give them Battel rather sooner than later and that all the Nobility Gentry and People of Service in Spain would not fail to attend him This Resolution being taken the King having nominated for Generalissimo of all his Troops his Favourite Almerique a man very brave and resolute a General review was held near Cordoua in a Plain the Arabs shortly after nam'd Fahe Alguidah where was found twenty three thousand Horse and a hundred and thirty thousand Foot This Prince having caus'd the General Officers to come thither and the most considerable of the Captains gave them to understand the danger their Country was in that not only their Honour and their Estates but their Life and Liberty depended on the good or ill success of the Battel he was going to fight that after this Action there was no more succours to be expected from their Country that was exhausted by the late Defeats that they had no longer any hopes but in their own Valour that they had only to consider whether they should not rather chuse to dye generously in fighting for their Country than to fall themselves their Families and Children into a perpetual Slavery and be a Prey to foreign Nations and so different from them in Manners and Religion that he said not this to them to expose them alone to the peril with a design to shelter himself from it that he should be the first to shew them the way and example and that he did not believe there to be any man that made a difficulty of going with his King when they should see him resolv'd to dye with them and for them The Souldiers being encourag'd by this discourse and resolv'd to dye for their King and Country having had order to march against the Enemies there happen'd a remarkable thing and and of an ill augure which was that D. Ramiro Alfier Major of King Rodrigo being mounted on Horseback his Horse gave him so terrible a fall that he dy'd of it and the Launce broke in two to which the
Tariff had left with that Prince in all things to assist him with his Council Aldilbar was extreamly afflicted at the tydings and would by no means believe the least on 't for a long time imagining this Woman might perchance have a grudge to the Prince for some particular reason But making reflexion upon the greatness of the passion he had long observ'd this Prince have for the Queen he began to believe him capable of all He had then the curiosity to fathom the thing without making semblance of ought and knew at length so well to observe his actions that without the Queens suspecting it he discover'd all that had pass'd between them When he was throughly assur'd he went to the Army where he acquainted Tariff with the particulars of this Intrigue Tariff was surpriz'd and perplex'd at the same time for he consider'd that Mahomet Gilhair being no Vassal of Almanzor but the Son of a Prince as Potent as himself and his Ally who came to assist him voluntarily with his Forces in this War however just the resentment that ought to be had against him for so great a rashness it might be attributed to some jealousie or to some particular ill will which might make him incurr the Disfavour of his Master Wherefore he contented himself with sending Adilbar back to Cordoua with a reinforcement of Troops to confine the Queen Prince Mahomet and all those he should believe to have had a hand in his evil designs and gave him order to take an exact Information of all and to send it him with all diligence As soon as Adilbar was return'd he carefully executed the orders he had brought after having seiz'd on the Person of the Queen of Spain of the Prince of Thunis and of the Religious that had Baptiz'd him he sent what he had discover'd to Tariff who immediately gave notice of it to the King of Thunis by a Courier who carry'd him the Process that Adilbar had caus'd to be made against his Son leaving it to him to decree thereupon according to his good pleasure The Proceedings of this General were found very Wise and very Prudent by this means he screen'd himself from all suspicion envy and jealousie and discharg'd himself from the odium he might have incurr'd by the Death of this Young Prince For assoon as his Father was inform'd of his Impiety he wrote to his men to put him to Death without waiting for further orders The Courier having brought his dispatches to Tariff while that he was in the Province of Grenada the General being not permitted to quit the War he had in those Parts sent an absolute Power to Adilbar with all his Forces to see this Execution done and to make an Exemplary punishment of all those that were found accomplices of so black a business Adilbar having receiv'd Tariff's Commission and that of the King of Thunis caus'd the Process to be review'd against Zahra and Mahomet and had them fetcht out of Prison one Friday morning to conduct them before the Principal Church of Cordoua where there is a good handsome Place There he exhorted them to renounce the Law of the Christians if they were willing to save their Lives But they would in no wise consent thereto and declar'd that they rather chose to suffer the Death with which they were threatned and which they were ready to receive than renounce the Faith they had Embrac'd Adilbar both surpriz'd and provok'd at this obstinacy caus'd them all three to be beheaded and their Bodies were a long time abandon'd in the place in the midst of the dirt from whence they were taken by the Christians who bury'd them the best to their ability tho not accordaccording to the grandeur of their Birth CHAP. XII Tariff makes himself master of the Province of Grenada and of the Snowy Mountains call'd by the Spaniards of the Sun and of the Air. ALL things being peaceable at Cordoua and nothing more being to be fear'd on that side Tariff pursues his Conquests towards the South and march'd with all his Army towards the Province of Grenada he met with no Resistance in all the Places where he pass'd on the contrary all the Inhabitants went to meet him and brought Victuals and all sorts of Refreshments to his Forces conjuring his Souldiers not to injure People that put themselves under his Obedience and Protection Tariff gave the necessary orders for the containing them in subjection but tho he was fear'd and by consequence obey'd for that he was very severe and did not willingly suffer Omissions in the Executing his Commands his Souldiers seeing themselves in a Land of Conquest did not however refrain from committing some Insolencies At last at a distance he perceiv'd a City built upon a Hill from whence one had the Prospect of the most pleasant and most fertile Plain imaginable and that had the air of the Terrestrial Paradice For it was all about surrounded with little Mounts full of Trees and Springs and cut by a large and deep River that pass'd in the midst of a great extent of Meadows all sow'd with Flowers Those he sent to view it having brought him word that it had good Walls and good Towers he Encamp'd in the midst of that Plain that his Forces might take Breath and that he might at his leisure see where it was to be attack'd with most success But no sooner had he begun the Approaches in the forms than that the Inhabitants seeing the few men they had to oppose against so great a strength and having no hopes of succours being inform'd of the Defeat of their King after having long conferr'd together about the means of securing their freedom they resolv'd upon sending to offer Tariff to surrender up the Town provided he suffer'd them and their Families to enjoy in Peace all their Goods and Estates and remain in their Country without Oppression in their Persons or Violence done them in their Religion Tariff having held a Council accepted their Offers and promis'd to cause the Conditions carefully to be observ'd upon which they were willing to put their Town into his hands The Articles of the Capitulation were drawn up by them and signed by this General who swore in the Name of Almanzor punctually to observe them And thus without its costing him so much as one man he entred Grenada with part of his Army and plac'd as Governour one of his Captains call'd Betis Abenabur born in Arabia Foelix He only cross'd this Town that so he might at the same time reduce the Mountains which cover it on the South these the Christians call the Mountains of the Sun and of the Air by reason they are in the Middle Region For he had been told that the Peasants being brave resolute fellows were resolv'd to defend them relying upon the little knowledge the Moors had of their Country wherein it was impossible to penetrate very far with an
four hundred men But Muca having been oblig'd to cause the Retreat to be sounded by reason of the night the next morning he sent a Trumpeter to the Governour to signifie to him That he had made an Oath and sworn by the most high God that if the Beleaguer'd delay'd Surrendring any longer they should after this all to no purpose implore his Mercy Salaru having straitways assembled the principal men of the Town gave them in a little time a very exact account of the state of the place and after having made them apprehend the necessity they were in of all things and the little likelihood he saw of being Reliev'd they all agreed to Surrender but upon the most advantageous Conditions they could get Insomuch that they made him answer That they would willingly put the Place into his hands provided he would suffer them they their Wives and Children with their Arms and Baggage to go to whatever City of the Christians they should please that all those that were minded to stay should not receive any ill treatment nor be constrain'd to quit their Religion Muca agreeing to all these Articles and having been induc'd to Sign 'em and swear in the Name of the Caliph his Master never to act to the contrary conceiv'd such an esteem of the Bravery and Fidelity of this Governour and of his ability to take his Precautions that he took a Scimitar of great value he had at his Girdle and himself put it on his side saying That the Valour with which he had sav'd his People from so great a Danger merited a thousand times more Honour than he did him Salaru having given him the Keys of the Town where the Riff-raff only staid he took all those along with him that were minded to follow him with whom he went on Shipboard to waft o're to the nearest Islands of that Coast that he might not see the Ruine of his Country and so shelter himself from the servitude of the Arabians under which he foresaw that all Spain was going to be reduc'd The Vice-roy of Africa was overjoy'd at the taking of this great City but could not stay there long for that there was no subsistance to be got out of the Country that had been forsaken by the People who had all taken refuge in the Province call'd in the Spanish Tongue Castile and had left this Country desert For which reason after having put a Garrison into the Place he caus'd all his Troops to march towards Hispalis They were not gone far when that his Scouts came to give him notice that the world of People that had taken refuge there had occasion'd such a Contagion that the mortality was general This News put a full stop to his Career that way and the fear he was in of causing his Army to perish made him return to Cordoua to rejoin Tariff who had signify'd to him he was already on his way from Grenada thither CHAP. XIV The Conjunction of the two Generals and their entrance into Castile THese two Generals being return'd from their Expedition after having each on his side acquir'd much Honour did for a long while hold Council what course to take for the finishing the absolute Conquest of Spain for which they had receiv'd precise orders from Almanzor During that time the Souldiers being put into good Quarters recover'd themselves of the Hardships of that War The Officers repair'd their Equipages which so long a march had ruin'd and the Commissioners not only receiv'd all the new Provisions that were come to them from Africa but had also gather'd up on all sides all that was necessary for the Invasion of Castile according to the resolution they had taken At last the two Armies that now made but one Body being decamp'd in the best order imaginable march'd small days journeys along a great River which having its course towards the Setting Sun crosses that Province and after having wash'd the Walls of Cordoua at a great distance lower falls into the Ocean Thus still on their Right leaving this River which the Christians call Betis and the Arabs Alguidalquibir the first Town they found in their Left was Vbeda whose Inhabitants brought them their Keys as not being in a posture of making a Defence Tariff having on pain of Death forbidden any entrance into the Town without Express order or in any wise the injuring of People that had thrown themselves into his Arms did there only leave one Captain Abencorbas with some Souldiers and leisurely march'd to another Town not three miles thence call'd Balle The Citizens seeing that if they paus'd at following the Example of Vbeda they should but Exasperate the Moors and incur their inevitable ruine without any profit they sent immediately to beseech this General to hinder any mischief from being done them by his Souldiers and in consideration of that they would not only surrender to him but likewise present him with all sorts of Victuals and Refreshments for his Troops Tariff very joyfully accepted their offers and to manifest his Clemency to them and the Discipline he caus'd his Army to observe having forbidden any one soever to enter therein without his order he himself one after the other nominated all those he was willing should accompany him thither to the number of five hundred with whom alighting he took a turn round the Town visited all the Fortifications and left there a Natural African call'd Mahomet Abencorba with a pretty strong Garrison for its Preservation He staid no longer there than he had done at Vbeda and pursu'd his way Northwards across a vast pile of Mountains that separate Andalousia from Castile and stretch from the Mediterranean Sea to the Ocean Thus having travers'd twenty miles or thereabouts they are in breadth he descended into the Plains de la Manche which the Arabs call the Dry Fields where having gone near sixty miles without meeting with any body all the People having quitted and being retired into the heart of the Country he at last discover'd a Town which seem'd very beautiful to him and much stronger than all those he had yet seen and was told that it was Toledo the Metropolis of Castile where the Christian Kings had in all times made their abode Along this City passes the famous River of Tage which also disembogues into the Western Sea And here it was King Rodrigo had caus'd the Enchanted Tower to be open'd whereof I have made mention in the beginning of this History Tariff having Encamp'd all his Troops in the Neighbourhood with intention to Besiege it the Christians sent to tell him That they had no thoughts of holding out and that provided he would suffer them to enjoy peaceably what they had and permit all those that were so minded to go where they pleas'd with their Families and all their Baggage they would pay him all sort of Obedience and would be as faithful to him as they had thitherto been to their King This General
having expected to have met with some opposition in this Place was overjoy'd it did not oblige him to any stop and swore solemnly in the Name of the Caliph Almanzor his Master for ever to observe the Conditions on which they would put the Keys of so great a Town into his hands He would needs also for the maintaining it in the ancient Prerogative it had of being the Capital City of so great a Kingdom leave there as Governour one of his principal Officers call'd Mahomet Abenbamin of the City of Damas with the Quality of Vice-roy and a Garrison he judg'd convenient It is a thing somewhat astonishing to be remark'd that in near a hundred and forty miles march made by these two Generals still skirting the Sea of the Levant and drawing Northwards they found not one living Soul till they came to a Province call'd Arragon in the midst of which there is a City call'd Saragoza where several Christians had taken refuge as well as in the Mountains next adjoyning to shelter themselves from the fury of the Moors This City would needs stand out an Assault that was bloody after which it Surrendred upon very advantageous terms Thus they staid there only the time requisite for the settling as Governour of all that Province a Captain of great Reputation born in Arabia call'd Ismael Abenhut and resolved to push their Arms further and even beyond the Mountains the Christians call the Pyrenees which separate the Kingdom of Spain from that of France They are very rugged and high and the Christians were said to be retired thither with a resolution of making a stout Defence Nevertheless they advanced there about twenty miles without meeting with any Resistance insomuch that the Generals having made reflexion that their Master having only given them order to Conquer Spain and France being a great Kingdom wholly different and wholly separate it would be exceeding their Power to push on their Invasion upon it And seeing their Troops wearied with so long a March and much diminish'd by all the Garrisons they had been oblig'd to leave in the Towns they had taken they resolv'd to go no further and remitting the Conquest of France till another time they thought it more convenient to return into Castile to give the necessary orders for the conservation of what they had taken and the reduction of what they had still left to take CHAP. XV. The March of the two Generals towards Valentia and Murtia and their Return to Cordoua THE two Generals taking the Field again with their Forces upon their departure from Arragon bent their march towards the East and continued it without any stay to a great Plain in the midst of which is a great City enclos'd with good Walls whence you have a Prospect of the Mediterranean Sea that is but but four small Leagues distant All the Country adjacent is full of very delightful Gardens Groves and a world of Springs which form the finest Landskip imaginable Tariff before he would begin the Siege thought fitting to send to summon the Inhabitants to Surrender as all the other Cities of Spain had done in consideration of which he promis'd to suffer 'em to live in Peace according to their Law and to hinder any injury from benig done them But the Trumpeter coming near the City-gate the Centinel that was upon the Wall without hearkning to what he said aloud or imparting it to the Governour let fly a Bullet from a Stone-Bow at him by which the Trumpeter perceiving himself wounded without staying any longer came flying to the Camp Tariff being provok'd at the little regard they had for a man that came from him took this affair not only for a want of respect to him but for an infraction of all the Laws of War and the Right of Nations and gave order for the Attacking the Town on all sides The next day the Governour call'd Agros having been inform'd of what the Centinel had done was very much surpriz'd at this misunderstanding and thought convenient to send to make his excuse to Tariff and propose to him at the same time a Truce for three days during which they wou'd see to contrive the means of making their Capitulation The Envoy of Valence was kindly receiv'd by the General The Truce was granted and the Hostages having been agreed on he went out of the Town with full power to treat on the behalf of the Besieged and came to Tariff's Camp with whom he agreed to deliver him the Town on Condition that all the Christians that were minded to go thence might have the freedom so to do with their Wives and Children and all their Goods to whatever place they should please to choose As also that all those that would stay there might do it without being injur'd in the least Tariff made no difficulty of granting them all they demanded and of promising to observe what he granted in the name of Almanzor his Master In consideration of which he made his entrance into that Town and there left as Governour one of his Captains a Native of Arabia Foelix nam'd Abubaxar Xandalg whom he plac'd there with a numerous Garrison to curb not only that Town but the whole Province depending on it After having thus settled matters at Valence Tariff and Muca having bent their march a little more towards the South entred the Province by the Spaniards call'd Murtia where having met with no resistance they render'd themselves Masters of the Capital City that goes by the same name Finding it forsaken by the Inhabitants and the Country very good they resolv'd upon settling there a part of the Souldiers of their Army for the re-peopling it and therein to put as Governour Abraham Alexandri by Nation an African These two Armies being by these means reduc'd to a very scanty number and by leaving so many upon the way both for Guarding and Populating all the Towns where they had pass'd they return'd to Cordoua to recreate themselves after the fatigues of this War CHAP. XVI The Order that Tariff left in Spain before his Departure thence THE Governour of Cordoua Abulxacim by name knowing the coming of the two Generals went out to meet them four Leagues from that Town with all the Foot and Horse in Arms he had and accompany'd them in the Triumphant Entrance they made into that Place During the abode they had occasion to make there to recover themselves after the Hardships of so long and painful a War they apply'd themselves carefully to regulate the form of Government of the Countries they had Conquer'd But above all things they judg'd it in no wise safe for them to suffer the Christians to remain Masters of so considerable a Town as Hispalis I have noted in the beginning of this History that the Siege of this Town had not been undertaken for fear of bringing the Pestilence into the Army Wherefore a trusty man was sent on purpose into those parts to see how matters
confines upon France on the North and is separated thence by very high and very rugged Mountains by them call'd the Pyrenees We pass'd them Tariff and I in the Head of your Armies but we thought that it became us not to undertake the Conquest of another Kingdom than that of Spain without your Permission After having entred pretty far into the Country we Retired again without having lost any of our Men. I end in telling you That this Country is full of all sorts of Riches and that there is wherewithal to live very pleasantly and with all sorts of Conveniences Congratulating you for so many and such happy succrsses which I only inform you of in the Bulk leaving the particulars to Tariff who will give you an Account of all that is not in this Letter relieve me in the faults I have therein committed and with your Celcitude's leave will here find assurances of my Friendship praying God that he would assist you in all things with his Grace From the Palace of Morocco in Africa the 3d of the Moon Dulquesita the Year 94. Ismael with this his Brothers dispatch being Shipp'd in a very light Barque for the making the more haste in a little time arriv'd in Arabia and presented his Letter to Almanzor This great Prince tho sufficiently inform'd of all those Affairs of Spain did nevertheless express much joy at his receiving Testimonies of the care Muca took of all things that related to his Service and to shew the value he had for him he commanded his Brother to stay with him until farther order Ismael sent immediately a Courier to his Brother to signify to him the manner of his Reception This was a great Consolation to Muca he taking the order the Emperour had given his Brother to attend upon his Person as a good Augure This Mighty Prince having assembled the Principal Lords of his Empire and conferr'd with them and particularly with Tariff upon all matters the Result of this Council was to send Ismael as Ambassadour to the King of Thunis to condole with him the Death of the Prince his Son thank him for the Succours he had given him in that War that had more than a little contributed to the Conquest of Spain and to demand in Marriage his Daughter call'd Omahair for Abilgualit Abinacer his Eldest Son and Heir to all his Kingdoms Ismael very well satisfied with being chosen for so Noble an Employ departed with an Magnificent Equipage a very Noble Train and a great number of Martial Men as well for his Guard as for the Dignity of his Embassy He was very welcome at Thunis and had immediate Audience of Mahomet to whom he gave the Caliph's his Masters Letter and the Presents he had brought He was highly entertain'd by that Prince who having agreed to the Proposal and having Examin'd it with the Principal of his Council this Match was found advantageous for the State and suitable for the Princess Omahair and for this reason he with all Expedition dispatch'd away Ismael with an Answer as favourable as the Valid could desire it as it is easy to see by the Letter and Answer A Letter from Valid to the King of Thunis Praise be to God Amen THE most High and most Puissant Caliph Valid Almanzor Emperour of the Arabians to the most Wise and most Potent King of the Moors Grand Justiciar Warriour Martial and Defender of the Law of God Mahomet Gilhair Greeting with all sort of Tenderness and Amity I am under great Obligations of imparting to you the happy Event of the Enterprize I made upon the Kingdom of Spain since you had so great a share therein by the Succours you gave me for the Conquering of it But the Death of Prince Gilhair your Son has much diminish'd the joy I should have had and I have only to represent to you on this Occasion that since it has pleas'd Destiny or rather the Providence of our Great God so to ordain by one of his Decrees conceiv'd from the knowledge of men and reserv'd to his Eternal Science There is only Suffering with Patience the Evils he sends us and praise him in the mean while for the Benefits we daily receive from him For which reason I shall say no more to you upon this resting satisfied with shewing you how much I interest my self in all that concerns you through the peculiar Esteem I have of your Virtue through the acknowledgment I ought to have of all the Benefits I have receiv'd from you and the Amity you have ever had for me as your Good Relation And through a thousand other Reasons which Ismael the Bearer of this Letter will tell you whom I desire you to afford entire Credence as to the Proposals he shall make you in my Name that I shall reckon my self happy can they but Succeed as well as all your Designs for which I pray God with all my Heart From our Palace of Carbal the 4th of the Moon of Babeth the 2d day of the Year 94. The King of Thunis's Answer Praise be to God the Creator of all things to whom alone is due Sacrifice and Prayer THE Generous King of the Moors the Exalter of the Law of God and Extirper of his Enemies Mahomet Gilhair to the most Honour'd most Noble most Wise most Prudent and most Potent Emperour of the Arabians Valid Almanzor to whom the Great God give a Long and Happy Life as well as to all his Servants Health I am oblig'd to you for imparting to me the happy success of the Conquest of Spain which has afforded great joy and still more at the Proposal that has been made me in your name according to the Credentials you sent me To which I have no other answer to make but that I shall esteem my self very Happy that all you express your self desirous of be treated and accomplish'd in such manner as you shall please to order as a thing that absolutely depends on you I pray God to take you into his keeping From our Palace Royal of Thunis the 11th of the Moon of Rageb in the year 95. Ismael was very much pleas'd to carry back so favourable an Answer as this into Arabia where he had a kind Reception made him by Almanzor and all his Court The happy issue of this Embassy occasion'd the Caliph to give him the Office of Algouazil being one of the Chief of his State that fell vacant after his Return and made him at the same time incur a great deal of Envy CHAP. XX. Adilbar went to invest the City of Hispalis with his Army but is constrain'd to raise the Siege and return to Cordoua WHen that General Tariff and the Vice-roy Muca had repass'd the Sea before they began their Voyage the one into the East according to Almanzor's orders and the other into the West to his Palace of Morocco where his Brother Ismael expected him they caus'd Proclamation to be made throughout
confer on him the Conduct of his Army and being then in his Government he sent him an express Courier to give him notice of this new War and that he had nominated him Generalissimo in all his Armies the terms of his Letter to him were as follow Aboulvalid's Letter to Muca Abenzairi Generalissimo in his Armies Praise be to our Soveraign God Amen THE most High and most Dread King of the Arabians Vicar of God and Defender of his Law Aboulvalid Abenacer Son of the Martial Caliph and Protector of the Faith Valid Almanzor to the Governour of our Kingdom of Africa the Prudent Virtuous and accomplish'd Gentleman Loyal and Faithful Servant of our Crown and Captain-General of our Armies by Sea and Land Muca Abenzair Greeting We write to you at present to let you know that the Great Caliph Mahomet Gilhair King of Thunis our honour'd Lord and Father-in-law being dead and the virtuous Abulcacim Aben Marchan our Servant who had been in our name to take possession of that Kingdom of Right and Justice to us belonging hardly beginning to make our people tast the sweetness of our Reign when Captain Hacan as you doubtless have been already inform'd entred by main force into the Palace Royal of Thunis and after having kill'd our Governour and all our faithful Servants had withdrawn himself from his Allegiance to us and by force caus'd himself to be own'd the absolute King of all the Country which he governs Tyrannically Wherefore for the recovery of that Kingdom it is necessary that you assemble the greatest number of Troops as shall be possible for you in the Kingdoms that are under your Government and that you set forth with them and our Army to repair to the Port of Capha in the midst of the month of Ragab in the approaching hundredth Year of the Hegira at which time we will go to joyn you with the Army which we cause to be rais'd in the Kingdom of Syria and Arabia till when we refer the resolving with you upon all matters enjoyning you to order all as you shall judge most expedient by your Prudence and Valour wherein we have an entire confidence From our Presence in the Palace of Corbal in Arabia Faelix the 2d of the Moon Mahairan in the Year 99. Muca having received the King his Masters Orders was overjoy'd at the employment with which he honour'd him and having made Leavies throughout all his Kingdom and heap'd up all sorts of Ammunition as well for the Fleet he had fitted out as for his Land Army he embark'd with twenty thousand very brisk men and made Sail towards the Levant while the King was embark'd with twenty five thousand Foot and eight hundred Horse he had assembled in Arabia and made Sail towards the West insomuch that the two Armies join'd happily in the Port of Capha This fill'd this Prince full of joy for he wou'd needs come in Person to this War well perceiving that when he should have reduc'd the Kingdom of Thunis he was absolute Master of all Africa from the Sea of the Levant to that of the Ponant Wherefore having Landed at Thunis he found not any opposition at his descent and had the means to marshal both his Armies in Battel-array Hacan being fully inform'd of these Warlike preparations was extremely intimidated Nevertheless as he had been long prepar'd to maintain his Usurpation he had assembled forty thousand Foot and eight thousand Horse with whom he went with great Resolution to meet Aboulvalid and couragiously stood his coming in a large Plain not far distant from the Sea and call'd Falh Almaligue where having drawn up his Army in Battalia it began by two bodies of Horse that Skirmish'd for some time before they ingag'd the rest in the Battel that lasted all that day from Three a Clock in the Afternoon till Night that separated the two Armies with the loss of eight hundred Foot and about three hundred Horse on the Kings side and five hundred Foot and four hundred Horse on that of Hacan without reckoning a number of Wounded among others one of Muca's Children call'd Ismael had two thrusts with a Pike in his Thigh for which Aboulvalid was much concern'd But the Father seeing the Grief his Master thence receiv'd told him with a very gay and resolute countenance that there was not matter for so much trouble as his Majesty express'd neither he nor his Son being come thither to gain Riches but to dye for his Service and that thus though his Son should not recover of his Wounds the matter would be small since he was only Born to dye On the contrary he should hold his Death as well employ'd because he had first so well aveng'd it and this was true for he had kill'd with his own hand a very great number of the Enemies and that day perform'd actions worthy of an Eternal memory On the morrow which was the 9th of the Moon of Taquel in the hundredth Year the Battel renew'd at break of day and lasted till Noon when Hacan's Men began to Buckle and were at length by dint of Sword defeated Hacan seeing the flight of his Forces sought his safety in galloping after them The King being entred into Thunis did not think he had gain'd an absolute Victory unless he had Hacan in his hands So as that he forthwith sent Foot and Horse out on all sides to seek him promising them great rewards if they brought him to him They sought him so well that the Dogs of a Flock of Sheep barking after him in a Cave where he was hid created a desire in them to go thither and occasion'd his being taken He was immediately brought before Aboulvalid to whom having given a great deal of ill language as a desperate man that saw there was no Remission for him the King that was otherwise very mild was so provok'd that he caus'd him to be impal'd alive and left him in that condition upon the Gate of the Town where he languish'd five whole days at the end of which he dy'd a very cruel Death All the Principal Leaders of this Rebellion were then Beheaded and one of the General Officers of the Army call'd Abraham Hacen was chosen to be Vice-roy of Thunis in the room of Hacan the Rebel Aboulvalid having settled his Authority in that Country and brought all things again into their Primitive order set forth again with his Army towards the Levant and being arriv'd at Carbal where he was receiv'd with great Acclamations the first thing he did was to reward all the Principal men that had serv'd him in that War and particularly Muca whom he made of his high Council and one of the Principal Ministers of his State After this without staying longer in his Palace than was necessary to repose himself he thought of taking a Pilgrimage to Mecque whither he went with a part of his Court. Being on his return through the Desarts there arose so furious a Wind
since he express'd so much desire to serve his Country to return to the Moors Camp to tell Abenramin that it was not yet time for him to advance Pelage not being yet arriv'd in the Town with all his Forces The Renegado having accepted this Commission made that forged answer to Abenramin who was very glad at it and sent him forthwith back to Gixa to stay till the Prince was there arriv'd and to bring him immediate word But instead of going thither he went to the Christians Camp Pelage not losing time march'd all the night and being acquainted with the Country he arriv'd at the Camp of the Moors without they having the least inckling of him and attack'd them with so much vigour that he kill'd a very great number of them and put all the rest to flight obliging General Abenramin to Retreat in great disorder In this Attack the Moors lost two thousand men and the Christians about eight hundred But Pelage fearing to ingage too far in the Battel with Abenramin who had double the number of his men and who after having rally'd his Souldiers that had been taken unprovided might surround him he made a hasty retreat to the Town of Gixa where as soon as he was entred he caus'd the Traytor Manuzes to be hang'd and his Body burnt Then for fear the Moors might take that Town again after having turn'd out all its Inhabitants he set fire to 't and Retreated into the Mountains to defend their entrance against the Moors by whom he was under fear of being pursu'd And indeed Abenramin follow'd Pelage at the heels so as that he arriv'd at Gixa before the fire was quite extinguished Whereupon having cross'd it without making any stay that he might endeavour to overtake Pelage he found him posted at the same Place where General Abraham was defeated He found this Post too difficult to force that he durst not undertake it for fear of not succeeding and contenting himself with garnishing well that frontier he bent his march back to Toledo with all his Army being asham'd at his having perform'd so little in this Expedition He signify'd to Tariff all that had pass'd while he expected his orders which he desired he would send him and this General signify'd to him to separate his Troops and remain in his Government till farther order This caus'd Abenramin to dismiss his Army and seek to recreate himself after the fatigues of this War CHAP. XVIII The Vnhappy end of Count Julian of the Countess his Wife and of Florinda his Daughter COunt Julian having taken leave of the Moorish Generals as has been said in the former Chapter assembled all his Adherents as well Relations as those that had follow'd his Fortune and seeing the bad condition the Algesires and his other Lands were in he went to settle himself in a very pleasant place that is upon the back of the Mediterranean Sea call'd by the Spaniards Villa Vitiosa from whence he could give the orders necessary for the reparation of all his Houses and the administration of the vast Estate he had As soon as he was there arriv'd he sent to his Wife and Daughter to come to him They had ever made their abode at Tangier waiting the event of this War but seeing it terminated they fail'd not to repair immediately to him The Count and Countess were overjoy'd to see one another again after so long a separation only Florinda continu'd still melancholly whatever Caresses were made her by her Father and Mother and whatever care they both took for her Diversion She had ever before her Eyes the ruine of her Country the destruction of the Christians the Death Servitude or at least the Misery of so many Millions of men and when she call'd to mind that she was the occasion of so many evils she was not capable of any joy Above all what gave her most anxiety was to see her self dishonour'd and without hopes of ever seeing her self in the Rank and Establishment she might have expected according to her condition All this so Topsy-turvy'd her mind that at the long-run either through the instigation of the Devil or through a black vapour that offuscated her Brain she mounted to the top of a Tower where shutting the Door after her for fear of being hinder'd from Executing what she had resolv'd on she entreated a Governant to go seek her Father and Mother with whom she had a mind to speak And as soon as they were come she began to speak to them from the top of the Tower as a Person that had absolutely lost her senses telling them that so unfortunate a Maid as she did not deserve to live principally being the cause of so great a Desolation as that of all Spain and continuing such like Discourses My Father and Mother cry'd she to them Henceforward in memory of my misfortune let not this City any longer be call'd Villa Vitiosa but Malaca for now the worst Person that ever was is going to dye No sooner had she utter'd these last words but that without hearing or Father or Mother or any of those that were there and without yielding to the Remonstrances they made her she threw herself from off the top of that Tower and having batter'd her self in falling she only liv'd three days Her Mother swoon'd away at this Spectacle and Count Julian laid so to heart the misfortune of a Maiden for whom he had had so much kindness that his imagination remaining wounded thereby he thought it to be a Punishment of God And perhaps it was so and that this befell him for his sins For the Leaf of the Tree makes not any motion in the Air and the Ant takes not a step upon the Earth but by his order Thus this Imagination made him lose his senses and become mad to that degree that he himself Stabb'd a Ponyard into his own Breast In a little time also after his Death the Countess his Wife fell sick of a Cancer and after having undergone inconceivable pains she dy'd at last of a Natural but a very grievous Death As they left no Legitimate Children Almanzor took Possession of his Lordships and Re-united them to the Crown of Spain This Death prov'd a great scandal both among the Christians and Moors and that Town is call'd Malaca on occasion of the last words Florinda utter'd at her dying when she threw her self off from the top of the Tower The Spaniands say Malaga in lieu of Malaca and this word is made of the two she was heard to utter at her Death for she said Let this Town be no longer call'd by its ancient name but let it be call'd Malaca said she that is to say Wicked because in it this Day dyes the most Wicked Creature in the World The Arabs call this Florinda as also la Cava which signifies Wicked and certain it is that tho this Count had serv'd Almanzor with great Fidelity yet was he a
Traytor to his King and Country For which reason Wise and Vertuous Men ought to have a care of those sort of People that are ever cover'd with Infamy and that were never seen to come to a good end but like to that of this Count and of all his Adherents CHAP. XIX Muca being vex'd that Almanzor did not send for him as well as Tariff dispatches his Brother to him with the Description of all Spain MVca was very much vex'd that he had not been sent for to Court as well as Tariff and would willingly have been present at the Relation that Captain was to make to Almanzor of the particulars of all that War and of the state he had left all things in in Spain fearing that in giving the Account all alone he would attribute the whole Glory to himself He fancy'd he had done him some ill Office in the Letter he had written to their Monarch since he did him not the Honour to desire to see him no more than if he had not had the least share in the Conquest they had made together wherein Muca was very much deceiv'd for Tariff spoke of him as his Friend as well in his absence as his presence and he since found it plainly by the Letter whose Tenour I am going to insert He fancy'd he had render'd as great Services as Tariff and that he had not only had all the Principal Direction but that he had served in his own Person and expos'd his Life to a thousand Dangers Nevertheless he plainly saw that it might befall him what commonly befalls those that are distanc'd from the Court and that instead of receiving a Recompence proportionable to his Services he might perchance be put out of his Masters favour Labouring under this anxiety he knew not what course to take for to leave his Government and repair to Court without Permission that could not be to stay and not go thither was a hazarding his Fortune and an exposing himself to all the lashes of Envy and Jealousie At length hauing unbosom'd his Heart to some of his Friends they found a medium betwixt these two Parties which was to send his Brother Ismael to Court under colour of carrying the Caliph a Description of the Land they had subdu'd and a state of all things that concern'd the War But indeed there to value and improve his Services and fathom if the Emperor did him Justice Now these are the terms of his Letter in form of Relation A Letter from Muca Vice-roy of Africa to Caliph Almanzor Emperour of the Arabians PRaise be first given to God the Soveraign Creator of all things Amen and then to the most high and most Illustrious Caliph the Buckler of God the Defender of his Law and Emperour of the Arabians the Emir Mumenin Almanzor to whom God give a long and happy Life and a flourishing and quiet Reign as is wish'd him by the least but the most Faithful of his Subjects Muca Vice-roy of his Realms of Africa Who makes known to You as he is thereunto oblig'd that most of those that inhabit them are happyer than ever they were being return'd Rich with the Spoils they have brought from Spain as must doubtless have been told you by one of your most Valiant Captains and Loyal Subjects Tariff Abenziet who Expos'd his Life a Thousand times for the augmentation of your Crown in this Conquest This I can better testify than any Body having been in most Actions with him as I thought it my Duty I did not content my self with providing the two Armies by Land and Sea with what was necessary for them to take all the trouble of them and be at all the Charges the zeal I have ever for your Service made me pass over thither with a third Army And since I entred into that Country which is a Peninsula in respect of us I have carefully observ'd all I have seen and took a very exact Information as well of the Christians as the Renegadoes of that Country of its Scituation and of the manner of living of its Inhabitants I thought you would pardon me the freedom of sending a Relation of it a little long but true The Relation THis Island is Scituated under the Elevation of the Artique Pole from the Thirtieth to the Fiftieth Degree on the North of those Kingdoms of Africa that are under my Government and which are severed from it partly by the Mediterranean Sea and partly by the great Ocean All this Country that we have Conquer'd contains about Eighteen Hundred Miles in Circumference and stretches out into a Length representing the Figure of an Animal The Climate is exempt from bad Vapours the Air is there ever Serene and refresh'd by the Winds which occasions the People to be long Liv'd and very Healthful the Plains are water'd with an Infinity of Springs that fall from the Rocks whose Water is very subtile and well tasted All these Waters collected from space to space from Noble Rivers the most of which have their Course towards the West and so go and disembogue themselves into the Ocean tho there are some that fall into the Mediterranean Sea and all of them furnish the People with a World of Fish of a very good Taste and not Unhealthful We see no Serpents there nor any Wild Beasts there are no Leopards nor Lyons Ounces or Griffins And when any of those Creatures have been sometimes brought thither from other Countries they could not live This occasions the Country to be very Populous and that there are neither Lands nor Mountains altogether uninhabited Besides this there are all sorts of Fruits as well in Winter as Summer there being so many Trees in the Gardens that they seem to be Forrests and such Delicious Places as seem to be a Terrestial Paradice In Summer there is a vast abundance of all sort of Meat by means of the great abundance of Pasturages where an infinity of Cattel is ever found and a great quantity of all sorts of Wild and Tame Birds that even come to Winter there from several Countries as one more Temperate The People as well Men as Women are of a middle stature and the Cities observe an Excellent Policy The Inhabitants are all Cloath'd in very Fine Woollen are naturally Wise and being addicted to War they are curious of Horses and have such as are very Vigorous The Soyl produces good Bread and excellent Wine and so great a quantity of Oyl that there is rather too much than too little There grows all sorts of Herbs and Pulse and particularly all Simples as are needful in Physick They gather there Silk and Linnen in abundance of which they make very fine Stuffs There are Mines of Silver of Copper of Lead of Iron and Quick-silver For as for Gold I have not heard there was any As there are many different Nations there are also several sorts of Tongues that have not any Relation with ours This Peninsula