the goodnes of God slew of their Enemies with the sworde 7000 and 5000 drowned so that the victorye fell to the Christians In Syria the Christians discomfited the Saracens in two notable ouerthrowes in the first conflict 2500 of them were slaine In the other although both Armies were afflicted yet the Christians obteined the victory The king of Ascalon was by Baldwine repressed and the king of Damascus in thrée battailes ouercome After the death of Baldwine the third king of Hierusalem Fulco was made the fourth king The Erle of Tripolis by treason was slaine king Fulco was put to flight by his Enemies and condiscended to very hard conditions to be clearely deliuered from siege The Christians coaped in fight with the Egyptians and were superiours Ascalon was recouered by the Christians Fulco the fourth king of Hierusalē in hunting the Hare and ryding fast after the game through a fall from hys horse dyed after whom succéeded his Sonne Baldwine who was the fift king The Citie Edessa and almost all Mesopotamia was wonne by the Saracens Alaph Captaine of the Turks which now were of great name and power in the East where they kylled without all mercy a wonderfull number of Christiās rauishing mens wiues in the Church of Saint Iohn Baptiste in despight of Christianitie euen vpon the Alter Baldwine the thirde of that name and the fifte king of Hierusalem conquered Gaza and Ascalon and cast out al the Saracens And at Hierico he ouercame and put to flight Norandine Maister of the Chiualry of Damascus and slue 5000. of his enemyes Manuel Emperour of Constantinople with muche ouersight and negligence led through daungerous wayes and desert places his Christian Hostes against the Saracens insomuch that for scarcitie of vittayles and other necessaries they could atchiue no notable enterprise against the myscreaunt people Roger King of Sicilie and Normannes made the Africane Saracens tributarie to him for .xxx. yéeres and tooke their king Prisoner This yéere Conrade the second Emperour leuyed a great power against the Saracens against whom he had in battaile but ill successe Lewys King of Fraunce assembled a mightie Armie to go against the Infideles Out of England Flaunders and Loraine were furnished out 200 saile against the Saracens This yéere Conrade the Emperour passing ouer Bosphorus without anye resistaunce came néere to his enemies but for want of victuals and as some say his corne being corrupted and mingled with lyme and plaister he was glad to stay himselfe and go no further and to bring backe his Armye The Saracens vnderstanding hereof set vpon them behind and slue of them certain thousands The same yéere the French king came to the Emperour to aide him but by reason that his Army was greatly distressed and pynched with famine he could bring no notable atchieuaunce to passe The same time the Venetians with a well furnished Nauie went into Asia to aide the Emperour against the Saracens The Spanyardes expulsing the Saracens recouered Almaria and Tortosa two goodly embattailed Cities The same yeere Damascus was besieged by the Syrians Frenchmen and Hierosolymitanes and the Vamures thereof defaced And when they were euen at the poynt to haue wonne the Citie and subdued the Saracenes the chiefe Princes and Capitaines disagreyng and fallyng out amonge themselues called theyr owne Souldiours euery man together and departed thence leauing the siege Raymund King of Antioch with hys whole Hoast was discomfyted by the Saracens who spoyled all hys Countrey Antioch it selfe by the Kinge of Hierusalem was hardly rescued and saued Baldwine King of Hierusalem discomfited the Aegiptians and Babilonians The Saracenes draue the Spanyardes by force of Armes out of Almaria Baldwine set at libertie and restored many Cities expulsing thence the Saracens Baldwine dyed and in his stéede reigned hys brother Almericke the fixt king of Hierusalem Almericke in Aegypt obteined a noble victorie The same king befieged Damiata but in th' ende he agreed to a peace vppon conditions neither honorable nor profitable The Saracenes of Africa made manye Roades into Spaine Almericke King of Hierusalem dyed of an Ague And his sonne Baldwine was annoynted the seuenth king Baldwine in two battailes vanquished Saladine Kyng of Aegypt and brought much treasure into Hierusalem The Daughter of the king of Saracens being maryed to Prince Pagane was taken prisoner on the Sea by the King of Sicilie in hir voyage and iourney homewarde to hir husband Thys yeere the Christians in Hierusalem were ouercome Mausamunth king of the Saracens with great costes and charges repayred Carthage Baldwine the .vij. king of Hierusalem beyng infected with Leprosie dyed His Nephew Baldwine his Sisters sonne was elected king after him but by frouning destenies he was kepte backe from his dignitie After whom succéeded the .viij. king Guye of Lesingham Betweene this Guye kyng of Hierusalem and Raymund Earle of Tripolis there arose dissension and hartburning whiche was the cause that the Christians were brought into extreme daunger The Christians ioyning battayle with the Armye of Saladine had a lamentable ouerthrow In this battayle were slaine 20500. Christians King Guye was taken Prisoner and the Erle of Tripolis dyed sodainly Hierusalem hauing now bene enioyed and possessed by the Christians lxxxbiij was this yéere by surrendrie deliuered vp to the king of Saracens and the Christians there expelled the second day of October This yéere all Iurie was wonne from the Christians by the Saracens the Cities of Tyre Tripolis and Antioche being with much a doe and hardly kept Fridericke Emperour of Romans with his sonne Fridericke Philip king of Fraunce Richarde king of England with manye other Princes and Nobles assembling their Parliamentes decreed throughly determyned to ayde the Christians in Iurie Great preparation was made for this voyage Fridericke leadyng hys Armie into Syria and wynning the lesse Armenia went in the hoate time of Sommer into the Riuer Selephus to bathe washe himselfe where by misfortune he was drowned Lewes Kinge of Fraunce went with an Armye toward the holy Land with entent to supplant the Saracenes and relieue the Christians The sayd King Lewes ioyning battayle with the Saracenes brought vnder his subiection Damiata a populous citie and curiouslye embatteyled The same King Lewes in a terible conflict at Faramia was taken prisoner by the Saracens with his two brethren Charles and Alphonse Wherevpon Damiata was redeliuered into the hands of the Saracens whereby he saued his owne lyfe and his fréendes and was delyuered out of Prison This kinge was taken the fifte day of Aprill The Saracens lost the I le called Baleares which the Duke of Aragon subdued The kinges of Spaine fallynge at variaunce and discord the one brother fled into Fraunce to craue ayde the other into Africa to desire assistaunce of the Saracens against his owne brother whereby they wrought much scath both to themselues and to their countrey Deadly hatred and grudge fell betwéene the Venetians and the Genoways whereby the Christians inhabyting Ptolomais and Tyre were gréeuously
be put to execution aboue CCC persons the residue he gaue to his Sauldiours The excéeding crueltie that they vsed at the winninge of this Citie towards al sort◠of Men Women Children and their spightfull demeanour towarde Christian religion it would me any mans hart to heare or read of Mahomet besieged Belgrad of some called Alba Greca with a hundred and fiftye thousand men The Christians assembling their powers together at the exhortation of Iohn Capistrane Huniades their chiefe Capitaine and Ringleader slue aboue xl thousande of his Enemies and put to shamfull flight all the reste of them in whiche encountre Mahomet himselfe was wounded with an Arrowe This battaile was fought vpon the 22. day of Iuly This Turke ioyninge battaile with Assimbey kinge of Persia whō they call by the name of Vsuncassane signifiing a worthy drad prince in the first cōflict at Euphrates lost x. M. men but in the second he obtained the victorie Corynth was taken by Mahomet The Turke wan from the Christians the Empyre of Trapezunce beheading Dauid the Emperour therof and beside the sayd Empire and Constantinople also he tooke from the christians xii kingdomes conquered 200. cities The I le of Malta conquered by Turkes The Venetians furnished out a great nauy well apointed into Grecia to recouer Corynth but they retourned without bringing their purpose to passe The same yéere the king of Hungarie recouered Geisa a citie of Bosnia the which the Turk had now the second time besieged and hearing of the approche of the Christians he cast 4. great Gunnes or Cannons into the riuer Drina fled trusting better to his legs then to his hands Mahomet requiringe the Prince of Mysia to come to speake with him vnder coulorable speaches and pretence of peace when he had him within his daunger he fleyed and pulled his skinne ouer his eares and caryed his brother and Sister about with him in triumph The Turke wan a very strong holde in Epyre. George Castriot otherwise surnamed Scanderbeg king of Epyre discomfited put to notable foyles the Turks in sundry skirmishes It is testified of this Scanderbeg the being prouoked he neuer denied to fight and in fighting neuer tourned his back neither yet was he euer wounded but once with an Arrow in the foote neither did he euer set vpon the Turks with moe then 6000 horsmen 3000 footemen He is cōstantly said to haue slayne with his owne handes of Turkes 2000 whome with such violence he strake that many of them he clefte a sunder from the head to the middle Mahomet discomfited the Syrians and Aegyptians tooke the Cities of Narrantana Scandolora and fiered them killing all the Inhabitantes most rufully and throwing downe the Nobles and Gentlemen from the toppes of Turrettes and high places to breake their neckes The same yeere he entred into League with Cisime King of India to whō he gaue in mariage a noble Damsell out of his owne brothelhouse or Nurserie with royal giftes and noble magnificence Mahomet was put to many afterdeales by the power of King Vsuncassane The same yéere Nicolas Canalis Admyrall of the Vetian fléete gaue a mightie ouerthrow to Mahomet on the Sea and slue two thousand Turkes At the same time many Christians were taken and led into captiuitie by the Turkes out of diuerse quarters The Turke sent 400 Sayle and 120000 men into the the I le of Euboea vnder the leading of Omar one of hys Bassaes in which enterprise and inuasion he lost almost 40000 of his men notwithstanding after xxx dayes he tooke it pytching the Italian Souldiours vpon Poales stakes and shewing all kind of horrible crueltie and violent rape vpon the Inhabitauntes The same yéere the Turkes army entred into Hungarie spoyling and robbing as farre as Zagabria and caried away with them 10000. Prisoners In the same yéere also they inuaded Dalmatia Foriulij and Styria and haried great booties of men and Cattell The King of Portugall passing the Gaditane Sea recouered many Cities in the borders of Mauritania from the Turke and laid them to his owne dominions King Vsuncassane hauing the vpperhand of the Turks wonne from them sundry Cities whereby he purchased to himselfe a perpetuall fame ouer all the East Nicholas Throne the same yéere ioyned the Venetian fléete with the Armie of the Kyng of Parthia against the Turke Vsuncassane in a skirmish vanquished and put to flight 3000 of the Turkes Army The same yéere the Turke entring into Hungarie with a maine power spoyled al the Cities néere the water side The Persian kyng and the Turke ioyning battayle néere to the Ryuer Euphrates the Turke had the victorie and tooke of his Enemyes 6800 of whom in his retourne homewarde at euery staying place and Tent pitching he commaunded euery day fiue hundreth to be cut in peeces with a sword and then cast them out like dogs vnburied filling all the Countrey of Armenia with thys loathsome spectacle of dead Carkasses In a part of the Countrey that lyeth by the ryuer Ister called Muldauia and Walachia the Turks had an ouerthrow and were slayne by Stephan the Palatine of Muldauia Foure Turkishe Bassaes were heere taken and xxxvj Ensignes Matthias king of Hungarie at the Ryuer of Saue wan a strong Forte from the Turkes to his high praise and commendation The same yéere Capha a Colonie of the Genowayes in the coast of the Sea Euxine was by treason delyuered vp to the Turke This yeere dyed Kyng Vsuncassane who had vnder his gouernment the Persians Parthians Medians and almost all the East beside After whom succéeded his eldest sonne who puttyng his other brothers to death reigned alone The same yéere the Turkes practyzed much Pyracie in Nicosia to the great blemishing and detriment of that Citie A great multitude of Turks were ouercome in Mysia The Venetians made league with the Turke Chalcis was by force of Armes subdued and Scodra by subtile practyze gotten and persuaded to yeelde They promysed to paye hym yeerely 8000 Crownes condicionally that their Nauigation and traffique ouer Pontus myght bee open for their Marchauntes as before it had bene Mahomet sent a great Nauie into Puell and he himselfe went with an Armye into Hungarie and brought out of both places a great multitude of Christian Prisoners And afterward by force subdued the Iles Leucadia Neritus Cephalenia and Zacynth Mahomet went with an Armie into Aegypt to cōquere Alexandria and at home made preparation for all things néedefull for his expedition to Rhodes which he nowe mindedout of hande to besiege and had framed his plat which way to attempt it This Mahomet by Mesich his Generall a Bassa besieged Rhodes and beate the same with iiij Nauyes most terribly But the same was so manfully defended that hee was fayne to his great reproche and shame to departe and leaue his Siege which he had there continued lxxxix dayes in which while he loste of his men which were slaine out of hande ix thousande beside .xv. thousande whiche were
of Mahomettes Sect are contained and at large specifyed The nexte Spring after Muauias with a greater Nauie then before arryued in Cypres and assaulted the Citie of Aradum which at length after many battryes he wanne and permitting the Inhabitantes to go whither they woulde wythout hurte or bodely harme he rased the Citie to the grounde and layde all the Islande waste and left it dispeopled At the same tyme also an other army of Saracens vnder the conducte of Busurre inuaded Isauria and spoyled the whole Countrey wyth fyre and sworde and retourned home from thence with fiue thousand Prisoners After these so many ouerthrowes and miserable discomfitures receaued Constance Caesar desired a truce for .ij. yéeres of Muauias which beinge not obtayned while Muauias prepared a great Nauye at Tripolis a Citie of Syria to inuade the Prouinces and Territories belonging to the Romane Empire his purpose by the worthynesse and valyaunt demeanure of two Brothers was for a litle while frustrate Who breaking open the prisons wherein a great number of Christians were set them al at lybertye insomuch that they sodenly geuing an onset on the Saracens killed a maruelous number of them and putting the rest to flight with victorye ran to their ships and takeing so many of them as woulde serue to transport them they set the reste on fire and came saue into Thracia But Muauias nothing dismayed with this mischance and ouerthrow prepared a greater naâ—y and furnished the same with all habilimentes and Municions necessarye with whom he landed at Phoenice a Hauen of Lycia where Constance with his Nauy laye and geuing the charge vpon him made such a slaughter of the Romanes that the Sea was red with the bloud of them that were slayne Constance disguising himselfe in the habite and apparrell of a poore man fled in a Small ship with a fewe others in his company to Constantinople Which victory set Muauias in such a hoygh and conceipt that he thought nothing inuincible or able to withstande hym Where vpon he tooke Rhodes and pulled downe the huge Image of the Sun called Colossus Solis which Chares was in making as Plinie sayth .xij. yéeres and the charges thereof drewe to thrée hundreth Talentes The brasse of this Image beyng bought by a certen Iew of Emessa was somuch as nine hundred Camels coulde carie The Saracenes caryed away thence not onely this Image which was in height .70 Cubites but innumerable others For Plinie writeth that in that I le there were beside this Colosse of the Sunne .73 thousand Statues or Images and a hundreth lesse Colosses Hauinge spoyled Rhodes they cut their course alonge by the Sea Agaeum and plagued the Cyclades with lyke calamitie At this time also laid Generall of an other army of Saracenes entred into the borders of Armenia and wasted al farre and neere tyll he came to Mount Caucasus And Muauias retourning from Rhodes furnished a Nauye with all thinges necessary to inuade Sicile which wasted and ruynated the Countrie with Sword and fire without mercy tyll Olimpius the Exarche of Italy for so was he that had the gouernaunce ouer Italy at that time for the Emperour of Constantinople called encountringe with them in a bloudye Conflicte with much effusion of Christian bloud discomfited and expelled them In which battell he so eagrely fought was so fore wearied that he tell sicke and shortly after dyed Muauias himselfe leuying an Armye by land conducted them into Cappadocia to besiege Coesarea the head Citie of that Prouince But before he could atchieue any notable exploite worthy to be remembred hearinge that Ozmen the Caliph was dead in hope to be his Successour retyered with his Host back agayne This Ozmene in the twelfth yéere of his Pontificall dignytie being in his owne house beset and besieged with a company of Saracenes which would haue had Ali to be Caliph slue hymselfe because he would not fall into their handes He by chaunce lost the Ring of Mahomet which all the Caliphes before hym wore and caused an other to be made of Siluer wherein by his commaundement were ingrauen these wordes O PERTINACES O POENITENTES He was white of coulour graue and curteous of visage a long Beard and of a meane stature highlye and dearelye beloued was he of the common people both before and after he embraced this Secte and gotte very great wealth by Marchaundize Notwithstandyng he was alwayes verye lyberall yea rather magnificent and honourable and as we haue shewed disbursed and gaue bribes largelye to the Souldiours that hee might obtayne the Pontificate He lyued .lxxxvij. yeeres and was buryed in the night without any Funerall pompe because he slue himselfe Therefore after hys death there arose great contention amonge the Saracenes aboute the election of a newe Bysshoppe Some woulde haue Ali to succéede hym some Muamad sonne to Ozmen and some Muauias But Ali raysed warres againste Muamad and preuayled agaynste hym so that he was installed and made Bysshoppe by all mens consent sauynge onelye Muauias Who reposinge greate truste and confidence in the Aegiptian and Assyrian Souldiours whose prowesse and magnanymytie he had sufficientlye tryed aforetime in so manye Battayles made sharpe warres agaynst hym colourablye pretendynge that hée tooke the same in hande onely to reuenge the death of Ozmen When both the Armyes were come to the Riuer Euphrates Muauias hauynge more skyll in warlyke pollices and also hauinge olde beaten Souldiours vnder hym so fortyfied and entrenched hys Campe néere to the Riuer side and the Citie Babylon that neyther coulde he be inforced by hys aduersarye to fight vnlesse he would hymselfe and also hys Armye shoulde not be destitute of water whereof in that Region there is great scarsitye nor yet be vnprouided of victayles and moreouer néeded not to feare anye Alarmes behynde at their backes Whereas in the meane whyle Ali his Armye was extremely pinched for lacke of water And so for the space of eleuen Monthes keeping his Souldiours within the Trenches of hys Campe he weryed hys Enemye and lyngered the tyme onely now and then with Skirmishes tyll at length by the intercession of certayne Priestes and others skilfull in the Lawe of Mahomet order was taken betwéene them that the whole cause shoulde be decided by the iudgement and awarde of two olde men On Ali his side was chosen Alascates and for Muauias parte Alascius These two comminge to a Towne called Algendel to sit vpon this waightie matter of both their tytles the one thought it necessarye that Ali should be disgraded and deposed from his pontificall dignitie and the other stiflye helde opinion that he was a man moste worthy for the office Thus pleading to and froe neyther absolutely determyninge nor fully concludinge any attonement Ali and Muauias retourned agayne either of them to his owne Campe. And neuer ceased with often Skirmishing to molest and kill one an other spoylynge and wastynge one an others Countries till at length Ali in a certayne Temple néere Cufa a
trussed vp al his furniture of houshold with his wife went to Cepta When he was come thither fayning an excuse that his wife was sore sicke he desired the king to geue Caba his doughter leaue to come home and sée her languishing mother who was neuer like to sée her any more For Caba with other Princes and Lordes daughters as the manner was at that time waited in the court Hauing by this meanes receiued home his Daughter he went to Mucas who was as before we shewed the head ruler of all Lybya vnder Vlite and vnto hym he opened from poynt to poynt the whole cause of his comming away from the Court and promysing to make hym Lord of all Spayne if he woulde geue the aduenture take the enterprise in hand Mucas shewed the whole matter vnto Vlite because he durste not deale in such a waightye case withoute his will and pleasure first knowne Of whom he receaued this answer that the matter propounded was of great importaunce and difficultie and that it were not best in such a doubtfull matter to geue rashe credite to a subtyle persone and one altogether estraunged from their Religion Notwithstandinge to trye the trust and faithfulnesse of the Earle he was resolued that the matter might be best assayed by deliuering vnto hym a small crewe of Souldiours at the first and if he sped well and had good successe at the beginning afterward more ayde and greater power might be sent Mucas although he were throughlye perswaded by the Earles talke and motion that althings would sort to good effect yet durst he not passe nor goe beyond the contents of his Commissiō prescribed by vlite Wherefore he delyuered vnto Iulyan one of his Capitaynes named Tarife Auenzarca with a hundred Horsmen 400. footemē Who were all transported in foure Ships into a litle Ile lyinge in that Elbow of Sea that the Promontorie Calpe maketh which I le was afterward of this Capitayne Tarife called Gelriza Tarif Vnto this place Iulyan called and by gentle meanes allured all his friendes and kinsfolkes recomptinge vnto them from poynct to poynt the commodities and plesures which by his labour industrie and perilles the King had receaued for recompence whereof he forgat not to tell them the Kinges vngratitude and the spightfull dishonor doone vnto hys house by the rauishing and deflowryng of his Daughter telling them further that the King did vniustly vsurp that kingdome whiche by rightfull succession of inheritaunce belonged to the Sonnes of Vitiza For which causes he desired their helpynge handes in this so good and iust quarell to assiste hym tellyng them that the next yéere he would come with a conuenient army to performe asmuch as he then spake He so much perswaded them with these and such lyke wordes that they promysed hym when time shoulde serue their best seruice and furtheraunce and there vpon retourned home euery man to his owne house Iulian because he would make a beginning of his purposed warre inuaded the Ile Gades liing in the vtter part of the ocean néere to the narrow sea whiche Ile was afterwarde named Alzira Dalfrada which with Sword and fire he spoyled caryinge the Inhabitantes awaye with hym Prisoners and after that shewed the lyke curtesie to Lusitania and Betica and beyng laden with aboundaunce of spoyles and booties returned into Aphrica Mucas séeing this good successe and thinkyng it a beginninge good ynough delyuered vnto hym twelue thowsande Saracenes beside them before vnder the conducte of the same Tarife With whome hee arriued at the foote of the Promontorie Calpe which Mountayne was thereof afterward called Gabel Traife which is as much to say as the Mount of Traif and now it is called Gibel and setting his Souldiers on land tooke by force the citie Carceia which afterwarde euen till our time was called Tarifa The rumour of this great cōmotion being spred throughout all Spaine the kinsfolkes of Earle Iulian gathering together all the power that they were able and feigning that they went to repulse this Saracenicall inuasiō went straight wayes thither and ioyned themselues with him And so all their powers being linked in one they wasted and haryed al the coast about the Riuer Betis now named Guadolouir and commonly called Andalusia or of the Vandales Vandalusia Roderike in the meane season with as much spéede as he coulde gathered a very great Armie and appointing his Cosen Germaine Ignicus to be Chieuetaine thereof sent him against his enemyes Who making many conflictes and skirmishes with them was at length with all his Armie discomfited and ouerthrowne The Saracens hauing made great pyllage desolation in the Countrey and laden with foyson of many booties and carying a great multitude of Prisoners with them returned into Affrica At which time Vlite beyng in Asia and making preparation to warre with Constantinople dyed after whom Zulciminie the Sonne of Abdimelik was made high Bishop during whose raigne the Saracens the seconde time besieged Constantinople For immediatly after his creation he sent Malsana with an armie by lande and Aumar with an other by Sea against Constantinople and he himselfe with a great power folowed after But this his strong and terrible purpose was for a while defeated by Leo the Praetor of Armenia whō they séeking meanes to entrap and deceiue were themselues by him entrapped and deceaued for he stopping the passages conuenient places through which they must néedes goe hindered their reckening Whilest these thinges were in doyng Mucas comming out of Affrica to congratulate and doe his duetie to Zulciminie the new Byshop declareth vnto him the state of their affaires in Spaine wherevpon he being meruelous desirous to enlarge the limittes of his Empire gaue him in commaundement to send Tarife againe into that Prouince with a mightier armie then any he had before Mucas therfore retourning into Affrica the next yeere folowing transfreted with a buige armie into Spayne kéeping with him as a pledge or hostage Richila Counte of Tingis and cosen to Iulian whom he halfe mistrusted Which armie being once landed on the next coast Roderike speedely gathered the powers of the Prouinces néere about And so with the ayde of the people of Gottalonia now called Catalonia and in tholde time Lacetani the inhabitauntes of Iberia now called Tarracon or Aragon the Cantabrians béeyng at this day in the Kingdome of Nauarre and the people of Gallia Gottica wherein are the Cities Tolosa Nimes vnto the Ryuer Rhone he sodainly and vnlooked for encountred with them at the Ryuer Bedalaces whiche of tholde wryters was called Betis néere to a towne called xerez The Saracenes at that tyme had encamped them selues on that side of the Ryuer where Andalusia standeth and the King wyth hys battaile on the other side wherein the Kingdome of Castile is For the Ryuer Betis springing out of mount Ortospeda in the borders of Aragon and runnyng into the Ocean nexte to the Streightes diuideth Andalusia and the Kyngdome of Granado from Castile and runneth
chase and pursued the poore vanquished fléers set vpon them with a fierce recharge fighting lyke eigre Lyons robbed and bereft of their whelps manfully discomfited the vauntgard of their Enemies Armye But beynge not hable to sustayne the force of Iulians battayle which were strong men and wel armed they were faine to retyre into the Citie Tarife encampinge hymselfe there where now at this daye the Well of Tarif is and thence géeuing assault to the Citie with litle a do wanne it Which done by the counsell of Iulian he deuided his host into many braunches assignynge vnto euery parte such Capitaines as he thought fittest ymagining yea not doubtyng but the Christians before they coulde take any counsell what way were best to follow or be able to gather anye more power might be oppressed and all at once dispercled whersoeuer they could be founde They Sonnes of Vitiza and Byshoppe Opasius were appointed Capitaynes ouer them One Hoast addressed themselues toward the conquest of Malacca now called Malega a Port or hauen of Betica by the midland sea which to be spéedely taken was much for their behoofe aduantage An other marched to sack Corduba ouer whom was Chieuetaine a certayne christian hauing a litle before renounced his Christianitie and Saracenyzed whose name was Mageitar And the third was conducted by Tarife himselfe which tooke the way to the Citie Mentesia adioyning to that part of Aquitania which lyeth hard by the Pyrenees and is called Guienne or Gascoigne And subuertyng that Citie which chose rather to be vtterly ruynated then to be come vassall vnder Saracenicall slauerie he discamped to Toledo wanne it and after that Gaudalagiar Medina Almeide which Citie was so named of a pretie big Table made all of one gréene precious stone like an Emeraulde found in it Then he tooke the strong citie of Amaia wherin was kept at the tresure for the wars After this he inuaded the Region called Gottici Campi tooke by surrendrie the Cities Asturica Gigion wherof Mugnuza a Gothian was Captaine and subiugated Gatalonia being ayded by Mugnoces Prince of Cerdania who also was a Gothian borne Wherefore the Saracenes made him Ruler of all the places confininge to Cerdania An other Army hauinge wonne Granado marched to subdue Nurtia and Horihuela where there was a bloudy battaile foughten betwéene the Christians and the Saracenes in the plaine Fields which are to this day thereof called sangonarij in which conflict the Saracenes gettinge the vpperhand the citie yéelded After this the same hoast remoued to Valentia and discomfiting the Valentians yssuing out of the towne to fight when they saw the citie strongly fortefied rampiered with wals and diches they tooke it by surrendrie with this condicion that the Christians should be permitted to haue in it one Temple to inhabit which was Saint Basil his Colledge now at this day called Sainct Barptolomewes All the rest they dedicated to that Idolatrous verlet their Prophet Mahomet sauing onely that Temple whiche stoode in the Figge market where holie Vincent was martyred which was afterward an Hospital of christians The citie was pestered peopled with Moores albeit the Iews were suffred to remayne still in it and a few christians which dwelt in S. Basilles colledge Which the inhabitants of Puigum a towne of Enesa hearing wher ther was an other colledge of S. Basill left their homes fled burying their great Bell a certaine Marble Image in that churche in hope one day of a returne Whither the saracenes sent people of their owne to inhabit vnder the conduct of Cebola wherof the same towne Puigum was afterwarde called Cebole who also builded an other litle towne of the same name And thus Valentia Sogorbes Tortosa Lerida Barcinon Sarragoza with al Spayne was brought vnder the power and iurisdiction of the Saracenes But Tarracon because it long resisted stoutlye stoode at defiance with them they vtterly subuerted rased which was afterward new builded by Bernhard Metropolytane of Toledo at the cōmandement of Vrban the second of the name pope of Rome in the yéere 1090. By this meanes al spaine in the space of .xiiij Monthes was subdued which was a thing easie to be doone considering that the people wer cleane without armour weapon munition or Capitaine Opasius Metropolitane of Syuile euer exhortinge them to yéeld promysing vnto them the they should quietly enioye their religion lawes as they had before doone whiche promise was not obserued nor kept sauing in a few places as at Valencia Siuile and Toledo in which they left certaine temples for the Christians to inhabite Wherevpon yet to this daye in the chiefest Cathedrall Church of the Citie the Rites and diuine seruice among them celebrated is Mozarabicall that is to say mingled with Arabian which was allowed and confirmed by the Bishops of that time according to the order and institution of Saint Leandre After these victories the number of the Saracens dayly encreased in Spaine in so much that the Spanyardes then chaunged not onely their religion and maners but corrupted their language and the names of their Cyties Townes Hilles Ryuers and all other places were likewise altered Albeit many of them fled into Fraunce England Italie and Grecia to craue ayde of other Christian Princes Some others planted themselues in that part of the Pyrenees that lyeth out into Asturia and reacheth within the Aquitanicall Ocean And they whiche remained still with the Saracens had in euerie place their Prelates and Pastours mē deuout and holy But the first recouerie and helpe of Spaine sprang vp among the Asturians Which Countrey not only remayned safe and vndemnified of that Barbarous Nation but also was the first that stopped their lewde inuasions and there was the auncient and natiue language of Spayne conserued Which thing that it maye the better bée vnderstoode by what meanes it happened we must briefely describe the whole tracte and situation of the Pyrenees Wée said before that Spayne was in forme of a Cherronese or almost as a Islande enuironed with Sea on euery side sauyng onely in one place The Northe parte whereof ioyneth to Fraunce by a narowe porcion of lande that lyeth betwéene two Seas and the Pyrenee Mountaines lying a long from the Sunne rising in Winter to the setting of the same in Sōmer enuiron it about lyke a wall The bredth of the Isthmos or narow trench of land lying betwene the two Seas being one distant but a litle from the other is about CClxx Myles But the Pyrenee moūtaines stretch in length a great way further For when they come to the angle and as it were into a Baye of the Cantabrique Ocean which lyeth on the Northe syde of Spayne they stretch out in length a great waye into the Equinoctiall West and kéeping of the Sea Cantabricum from the Northe part of Spayne stretcheth euen into the plaine Ocean that hemmeth in all the West parte of Spaine That part of these Mountaines that lyeth toward Fraunce is
Duke of Bauaria first attained this honour and dignitie by subduing and getting the vpperhand of the LieutenauÌ„ts and Captaines of the kings Prouinces who séeing the King to bée a weake and vnwarlike man tyrannically ruled the Countrey according to their own sensual lustes for their priuate commodities Then in the raigne of Theodoricus the second the excellent dexteritie and worthy vertue of Charles Martellus second Sonne to this Pipine was in that office very conspicuous and renoumed throughout all the lande of Fraunce in so much that he was accompted and taken as the Prince of all the people At the same time was King of Aquitanie theÌ„ called Gallia Gottica one Eudo a Gothian borne whom king Roderik made ruler of the Prouince but hearing of the discomfiture of the King his Liege Lord he made himselfe king thereof This Eudo whyle Charles Martellus was busied with other warres in Germanie began to surmise certaine quarelles which brake out into open warre with the French Capitaines of the places néere adioyning to the limittes of his Territories whom going about to defend their titles rightes he afflicted with many ouerthrowes Wherfore Martellus tooke the matter in hande and warred against him And at the same time the Saracens passing the Pyrenees had taken Narbon and in it shewed all kind of outragious crueltie because they woulde by that example make the countrey afraide any more to withstande theÌ„ Wherfore Eudo considering with himselfe that he was vnable to warre at one time both with the Frankes the Saracens and for the Mugnoces a man in great fauour and estimation with the Saracens was his Sonne in law he thought it better for him to make a league amitie with the Saracens theÌ„ with the Christians Which after he had by Mugnoces meanes and friendship brought to passe looking big vpon the matter and bearing himselfe stoute by reason of the aide and succour which they sent to him he inferred much harme to the Franke Nation But when he perceaued that the Saracens fortified with their owne garrisons and kept to their owne vses al such Cities townes as they entred into he begaÌ„ when it was to late to beshrew himselfe and wishe that he had neuer attempted any such enterprise For they kept Nimes Mountpelier Auinion with all the places thereabout in their owne possession Wherevpon Eudo gathering all his power together to profligate and driue them out gaue vnto them battayle wherin he was discomfited Mugnoces by whose meanes and procurement the league and amitie was concluded greatly complayned of the iniurious dealing of Eudo in falsefying his faith infringing his promise accordingly as he had vndertakeÌ„ for him WhervpoÌ„ Abderama king of Gottalonia marching with an hoast against him besieged him in the Castle of Cerdania out wherof Mugnoces for scarcitie of water escaping fléeing into thickets and hillish places fell into the hands of another coÌ„pany of Saracens who tooke him prisoner beastly slew him and sent his head his wiues the daughter of Eudo to Abderama and thus all the traitours of their Countrey within shorte space came to a miserable end and confusion Then Abderama hauing dispatched and ridde out of the way all enemies that were to be feared on his back returned into FrauÌ„ce passed the riuer of Rhone and destroyed many places that belonged to the Christians and made such a slaughter at Arle that a heape then made of the bones of the deade carkasses remaineth there yet to this day in a place called Alies Campi TheÌ„ went he with his army against Eudo who began again to gather more strength make a new commocioÌ„ He besieged Tolose the chiefe Citie of Gallia Gottica in which siege for that the citie was very well rampyered and fortified with Ditches walles and also well stored with Engins and munitions of war and with all sorts of weapons beside a conuenient Garrison of souldiours with all other thinges necessarye theâ—e planted for defence the Saracenes receiued great losse and were well payde home especially by meanes of certayne Engyns deuised by skylfull arte of ingenious Architectes and by diuers other Stratagemes of warlyke pollicie Notwithstanding Burdeaux was then taken and sacked of the Saracenes and all the Inhabitauntes therein both man woman and childe vnmercifully slayne and manquelled and the Temples razed and laide euen with the ground Thence by the confines of Perigot beyonde the ryuer Geronde they made inroades into the Country of Xantongue and destroyed Angolisme and Blaye From thence through Limosin and Poytiers they russhed into the Countrey of Tours Where they spoyled the Churche of Sainct Martine wherein was great foyson and plenty of gyftes and offeringes that had bene geuen and bequeathed vnto it and afterward set it on fire Eudo being sore afflicted with these vnmanerly dealyngs and driuen to great extremytie by the Saracenes entred into league with Marcellus and they two with both their powers ioyned in one gaue battayle vnto Abderama before the Citie of Tours wherein they discomfited hym and all his host In this battayle there were slayne CCC lxxv thousand Saracenes and of the French no moe but .xv C. And if the night had not come vppon them ere the battayle was fully ended the whole route of the Saracenes had bene at that time vtterly destroyed For Abderama in the night season perceiuinge how the game went and what a mortall ouerthrow he had receiued had no lust to tarye and expect the hazard of the next daye but trudged as fast as he could by long iourneyes with those fewe of his companye that were left and hable to folow him to the Pyrenees entendinge from thence to retourne into Spaine leauing behinde hym in his Tents all his carriage and stuffe for a praye to his Enemies But the Nauarrians hauyng stopped the streight passages where their iourney laye killed them euery one The next day assoone as the Sonne was vp Martellus in good order marshalled his army and tooke the Féeld awaiting the commyng of his enemies But when he perfectlye vnderstoode that they were fled his Souldiours fell to the spoyle which they found in the Saracenes Campe most aboundant and plentifull After the death of Eudo Martellus added that parte of Eudo his Kingdome to his Empyre For which cause Hunold and Vaifar the sonnes of Eudo incensinge that part of Gaule called Narbonensis Prouincia containing the Countrys of Sauoye Dolphinie Prouance and Languedock to take parte with them renewed the warre afresh with Martellus And passinge ouer the riuer of Rhone with most barbarus cruelty destroyed burnt and killed man and beast makynge hauock of all Townes Villages Féelds that was in their way without sparing either age or Sexe The chief burnt of which lamentable storme and furious immanitie that part of the Allobroges now called Dolphinie specially felt before Martellus could prouide or prepare sufficient power to go against them But when he was come Visigot departed
animated with so many victories gloriously and happely atchieued they were not afrayde to offer battayle vnto Maruane who had in his army iij. hundreth thousand fighting Souldiours ready appointed in the fielde néere to the Ryuer Zaban whom also with all his army they discomfited Maruane with foure thousand only of his company fled into Aegypt cutting downe the bridge where he passed ouer that his enemies should not pursue and chase after him But Saline the Sonne of Asmuline persecuted and folowed after him at his héeles and in Aegypt in a blouddy battaile ouercame him and thus was all the Maraunian Lynage and Pedagrew expulsed The remnauntes of whose lyne and Progenie which had flourished and reigned so many yéeres were dispersed and scattered abroade some fledde into Mauritania where being wearied they planted themselues and some went into Spaine From this Asmuline afterward that house and family which now at this day raigneth in Persia called Sophi is lineally descended After the death of Asmuline and Cataban one Abubalan surnamed Muamat was Prince of Syria and Persia and Saline of Aegypt and héere began the first Empyre of the Sultanes or Souldanes of Aegypt which haue their imperiall Seate at Cayre For by that name the Aegiptian Caliphes would be called which name Sultan by interpretatioÌ„ signifieth the highest Soueraigne Prince and King of Kings About the same time dyed Pipine King of Fraunce and Charles his sonne beganne his raigne in his fathers steede And among the Asturians Alphonsus the sonne in Law of Pelagius and surnamed Catholicus succéeded Fafila This King recouered from the Saracenes in Gallicia Lucus Tui and Asturica in the Countrey called Campi all that lyeth within the Ryuers Stola Carrion Pisquerra and Duerro in Castulonia Simancas Duengas Amaia Caniciares Alesanium Transinera Supuerta and Carracia in Lusitanie Bracha Viseum and Portum of whom Gallicians compounded together whiche are a people of the same Prouince all Lusitanie is at this day called Portugall Hée fortefied many places as Alaba Ordugina in Cantabria whych Countrey is nowe called Biskaie in Nauarra Rueonia Sarracecasium and diuerse other places as farre as the Pyrence Mountaines And when he had raigned eyghtéene â—eeres he dyed after whom his Sonne Froila was saluted and crowned king This man gaue an ouerthrow to the Saracens which had inuaded Gallicia wherein he slew their Captaine Omar with fiftie thousand others of his company and compelled Ioseph king of Corduba to flée and brought al the region of Gallicia into his owne rule and iurisdiction He beyng afterward by his owne Subiectes murthered Aurelius his brothers sonne obtained the kingdome of whom we reade no notable exploite done against the Saracens and he also dying within short space after his Coronation his brother Silo was made king Against him the Gallicians rebelled wherfore because he might the better subdue and bring theÌ„ to reasonable conformitie he concluded a peace with the Saracens He raigned eight yéeres and theÌ„ dyed After whoÌ„ succéeded Alphonsus the second sonne of Froila surnamed Castus which was in the yéere of our Lord God .780 Against him by the counsaile and persuasioÌ„ of his vncle Mauregate the Saracens made warre Thys Mauregate had promised vnto them that if he myght by their meanes and helpe obtayne the Kingdome of Lyon which hys Predecessours and Auncestours before hym had enioyed he would paye vnto them yeerely in the name of a tribute fyftie persons of noble race and as many Virgins of baser birthe with many other execrable and impious things Wherevpon by the ayde of the Saracenes whiche furthered his pretence and quarell with all their myght and power he forciblie got Lyon with the whole Kingdome thereof and it intrusiuely vsurped by the space of fyue yéeres After whose deathe Vermudeces Sonne to hys brother Vimaran succéeded who after two yéeres voluntarily and of his owne fréewyll restored the Kingdome to Alphonsus Whych when the Saracenes vnderstoode they sent a great armye agaynst hym vnder the leadyng of Mucas betwéene whom néere to a Towne named Lutum or Ledum was fought a terrible and sharpe battayle but in the ende the Saracenes were ouercome and of them were slaine .lxx. thousande beside a great number which were taken Prisoners While these garboyles were in doyng in Spaine the Saracenes in the Orient were deuided among themselues by intestine sedicion and ciuill tumulte For Abubalan ruling in Syria many commotions and vprores were reysed against hym in Arabia by the faction of deade Maruane affirmyng and proclayming abroade that Maruane was not yet deade and that therefore they put on Armour to restore him againe into hys rightfull estate and regall dignitie By reason of which rebellious stirre many were slayne on both sydes and great depopulation committed After the deathe of Abubalan his brother Abedela succéeded who was traiterously and insidiouslye murthered by an other Abedela which aspyred to the Byshopprike hopyng to enioye it after hys decease as hee dyd in déede During whose Raigne and Empyre the Turkishe broode and Nation breaking cat of the Streictes of Caucasus about the yéere of oure Lorde .800 made roades and incursions into Armenia and when they had piteously spoyled and sacked it they retourned into their owne Countrey And the yeere folowing they yssued oute in great Plumpes and fought with the Saracenes so long till manie béeing slaine on bothe parties the nyght made them to surceasse and make an ende of their battaile Abedela the seconde of that name in the eightenth yéere of his raygne dyed in whose place succéeded hys Sonne Madi Who without any notable thing in al his tyme atchiued dyed when he had raigned ix yéeres leauyng behind him for his Heyre and successour his sonne Moyses Who in the second yéere of his raigne dyed and in his roome was created Caliph one Aaron But now to retourne to the affaires of the Occident Ibnabala King of Saragoza being expulsed and dryuen out of his Countrey by the other Princes of the Saracenes in Spayne came into Fraunce to King Charles to implore and desire ayd of hym to reuenge the iniurie vnto hym done and at the same time also Ambassadors came to the same Charles from Alphonsus surnamed Castus King of Asturians to incense and mooue hym to warre vpon the Saracenes in Spaine and to set the Country in good order and by his prowesse to deliuer it out of the clutches of Tyrannicall vsurpers Charles therefore gathering together not only the power of his owne kingdome but also hauinge a supplye of forraine aide among whome were certaine younge Gentlemen of the Danes which profered their seruice to accompaignie him partlie for a desire that they had to bellicall affaires and partlie to shewe their prowesse and couragious stomackes with an Host not very huyge and populous in number but yet competent inough and such as were skilful Souldiours and expert Capitaines passed ouer the Pyrenees by Ronceuall without resistaunce or stoppe of any man And entring within the frontiers and borders of
the Sonne of Irene the Empresse The Emperour knowing of this new stirre and commotion made preparation for warre and sent one of his Lordes with an Army nothing equall God wot nor of power to match and encounter with his enemies which was by Thomas discomfited and cleane ouerthrowē After this méeting with the Romane Fléete tooke the same and with .lxxx. M. men tooke his way to Abydus which is a Citie of Asia the lesse standing vpon the Sea syde spoyling and destroying all where he went burning to ashes not only poore vplādish villages but goodly towns and stronge Cities And from thence in a very darke nyghte transfreted into Thracia where many of the Emperours Souldiours reuoulted and fled dayly vnto hym He put to flight and draue downe all the Emperors power sent against hym Wherof were chief Capitaines Olbian and Catacella and lyke a ragyng Streame violently runnyng downe from a Hyll profligated both by Sea and Land and bore downe before him an other wel apoynted Nauy manned out lykewise by the emperour against him He burst asunder the yron chayne that went ouerthwart the Hauen so layd siege to the citie both by Sea and land But preuailyng nothing that way he determyned to winne his purpose by long siege and fortifiyng his Campe in very good order sent parte of his army to subdue the Townes lying by the Coast of Euxine This doone with the rest of his power which was very great he on euery side beclipped the citie with a mighty oppugnation and gaue thereto a terrible battery But by the valyaunt courage of the Defendauntes all his attemptes were frustrate And his Nauy on the Sea by force of tempest was dispersed and disseuered so that he was fayne to brynge his hoast back agayne into Asia tyll the wynter were passed The Spring folowyng he agayne retourned to the same siege but Michael being now better furnished and prouided then hee was before both with a Nauy of tall Shippes to scowre the Coastes and kéepe the Seas and also with an army of lusty souldiours by land first assaied by diuers slights to vndermine Thomas his souldiours to sollicite them to renownce and forsake their Capitaine but al was in vayne Wherfore setting all the Gates of the citie open he sodenly with all his company issued out and set vpon Thomas suspectyng no such pretence and matter and him there discomfited and his whole Fléete on the Sea also There was one Gregory Cosen to Leo late Emperor who with a crew of good fighting Souldiours ayded Thomas but now séeinge the worlde thus tourned separated foorthwith his Souldiours aparte from the residue in hope thereby to wynne the Emperours fauour and set vpon Thomas behinde Whiche when Thomas espyed beyng nothing therewith discouraged nor yet therefore remoouing his stronglye lodged Campe from the Citie set vpon Gregorie with parte of hys Army and him discomfited who for his sauegard flying away he caught in the chase and put to death Then spéeding himselfe into his Camp agayne he addressed his letters abroad into all quarters vntruly makyng report that he had gotten the vpperhand against Michael in battayle and sent for the Nauy that lay at Berytum wherein were of Gallayes and Hulkes to the number of CCC.L. Sayle with all expedition to come vnto him as though the matter should foorthwith be tryed likewise by Sea. Which drifte and commaundement when the Admyralles and Capitaines of the Romane Nauy vnderstoode and knew they set vppon them at vnwares by night in the roade when they lay at Anker and with their sodayne comming so scarred and affrayed the Mariners that they were at their wittes ende and knewe not how vpon such a sodayne to defend themselues so that there many of them were by the Imperials taken and many burnt and very few escaped which beyng quicke of sayle gott away and ioyned themselues to the other Army that was on the land While this terrestriall army lay before Constantinople without any notable battayle sauing only manylight skirmishes and small bickeringes wherein somtimes Fortune smyled and somtime frowned vpon either part the same and reporte thereof was spread and bruted throughout the Worlde In somuche that Mortago King of Bulgarie notwithstandinge the Emperoure for gréedinesse and miserable sparing of his money as he was by nature most couetous and a néere Prince thankyng hym for his good wyll had before refused his ayde offeryng to assist him saying that he had no néede therof partlye because hee was desirous of Warre and spoyle of his enemies and partly to confirme the former thrée yeeres League made with Leo Armenus marched with an Armye agaynste Thomas and him in a place called Cedocto not farre from Constantinople where the two armyes met in Battayle ouercame vanquished wherin many a man was slayne and after the ende thereof retourned home with many Prisoners and rich Booties When the Nauye that Thomas had left at the Siege heard of this notable discomfiture and ouerthrowe they all reuoulted from Thomas and submitted themselues to the Emperour Thomas gatheringe together the remnaunt of his Armye that escaped vnkylled at the last conflict with Mortago conducted them into a playne Féelde called Diabasis distaunt certayne Furlonges from the Citie a place verye commodious and fit for excursions and for plentie of water very profitable Where hee anew encamped From thence makinge vagaries and roades he wasted and despoyled al the Emperours sumptuous buyldings and banqueting houses of pleasure standing in the Suburbes of the Citie The Emperoure hauinge his Armye euery daye more and more encreased strake vp Alarme and gaue the charge vpon him in thrée seuerall parts whereby he throughly put al Thomas his Armye to flight For Thomas before had geuen commaundemente to his men that at the firste onsette they should retyre and make a shewe as though they fled and afterward vpon the sodayne tourne agayne and recharge vpon their enemies After this discomfiture many of his men fledde to the Emperour Thomas with a few of his adherents came in safetie to Adrianople and his adoptiue Son Anastasius escaping also by flight tooke for his sauegarde the Castel of Byzia After whom the Emperour without delay making pursuite went firste to Adrianople where Thomas was And least the Scythians dwellyng thereabout should learne the knowledge of such engyns and Arrtyllerie as serue for Battery and oppugnation of Cities he determyned by famine to driue them to surrender and yéelde and so beclipped it rounde aboute with a strong Siege The Citie was well walled and beside that surely entrenched and fortefied with Bulwarkes But they were so pinched with Famine that all their victualles beinge spent they secretly had conference with Michael and being at a poyncte and composition with him for pardon of this their rebellyous conspiracie deliuered Thomas into his handes The Emperour now hauinge in his possession his deadly enemie obseruing the auntient custome of other Emperors in lyke cases first made him to prostrate himselfe vpon
his Souldiours with a vehement Oration and made a way perforce to the place where the Emperour was distressed and hym béeyng nowe wearied and vtterly dispayring of any escape or remedie yet mynding to abyde the vttermost hazarde rather then he woulde dismaye and leaue his Souldiours comfortlesse through hys departure saying that he woulde not by flight betray the lyues of his poore vassalles into the mercylesse talauntes of that wicked generation deliuered and brought out of that daunger not without threates and menaces that he woulde kill him vnlesse he woulde consent to folow him openyng the way and passage for him to escape And the fourthe tyme both the Armyes wyth all theyr powers comming into the fielde without any notable thing done worthie of remembraunce retourned home The fifte yeere Theophilus leadyng his Armye farre within Syria wasting and spoyling all the Countrey in hys waie wanne and Conquered Zozopetra the Countrey and Seate of Impraell which so nettled and chaufed Imprael that he assembled all the power hee was hable to make wyth intent to inuade Amorium the Countrey of Theophilus His Armye mette all together at Tharsus whither when Imprael himselfe was come he sent hys Sonne with parte of his Armye before to skirmishe and dallye as it were in the waye of an assaye with the Romane Hoaste whiche was lodged and emcaped at Dorylaeum thrée dayes iourney from Amorium And vnto hym he appoynted tenne thousande Turkes and all the power of Armenia Who beyng thus furnished and appoynted wyth men and armour and encamped at Drazymenum Theophilus went against him and lodged his Hoaste in a place called Auzin purposing before he woulde ioyne anye Battayle to espie and discouer the multitude and number of his enemyes Armye for that the Saracenes as though they had bene afrayde kept their heades within the walles of their citie was lulled in securitie geuynge no regarde to orderly behauiour nor to the good keeping of their watch the Saracenes all in armure vppon the thirde day after the Siege was planted wheÌ„ al the Romane Souldiours were assembled congregated together to héere diuine seruice for it was vppon a Sundaye setting open their Gates and issuing out sodaynlye kylled and manquelled the Romans on euery side insomuch that the Emperoure himselfe had much a doo to escape loosing and leauyng behinde him all his carriage and prouision And agayne within two yéeres next after the Saracenes entred within the diâ—ion and lymites of the Romane Empire with xxx M. men wherefore Michael meaning to wynne his Spurres againe to be euen with the saracens for the foyle lately taken at their handes leuied an Army of xlv M. Thracians and Macedonians and marched against them Which when they knew by daungerous iourneyes and compendious pathes they preuented his purpose settinge vpon him sodaynly and at vnawares being in his iournay and out of order Wherby he was discomfited and compelled to flée And at that time they saye that Michael had fallen into the handes of his Enemies if Manuel had not venturously entred and violentlye broken into the breast of the Enemies Armye and disturbinge their araie delyuered him from daunger Two yéeres after this Mamume the Son of Imprael beinge Caliph of Syria the Saracenes with an Armye of xl thousand men spoyled and ouerrunne Armenia and all the Sea coastes cruelly At whiche time the Caliph is reported to haue done as Xerxes longe afore did commaunding the Sea to be whipped and beaten with Scourges because it stopped his intent that he could not haue his will to go any further Michael who could not with pacient minde brooke and digest these iniuries sent his Vncle Petrona Lieutenaunt of Thracia with a great power against Mamume Who encamped hymselfe in a certayne place called Lalacaeon and settinge Stales and Ambushes on euery side to surprise and entrappe his foes when aduantage should be offered prouoked Mamume to the encountrie and battayle Mamume being thus beset and on euery side circumuented by his Enemies lyke vnto a Byrd in a Cage or a Déere in a Buckstall was at his wittes ende not knowynge how to escape or shift hymselfe out of that imminent perill And demaunding of one of the Romane captiues whom he had taken Prisoner the name of that Countrey and place wherein he had pight his Pauilyons and Campe and by what name the riuer there harde by was called answere was made by the Prysoner that the Countrey was called Lalacaeon the place Ptoson and the riuer Gyris Whereby he presaged and by the appellacions of the same places for hee was a man well séene in the Greeque and Latyne Tongues and earnestlye geuen to the study of Philosophy immediatly coniectured the those names portended his confusion and some notable ouerthrowe of his people and signified that hee and his retynew should be on euery side beset and caught lyke Fishes in a Net by the Romanes Notwithstandinge he encouraged his men not to quayle and despayre but to stande lustelie to their tackelynge and to determyne with themselues to withstand their Enemies Therfore the next morning as soone as the day appeared well perceiuing himselfe to be hemmed in on euery side he determined to séeke a way and egresse by that part and place which Petrona guarded and therevpon geuing vnto his men a watchword and token to geue aloude shoutâ— all at once there set vpon his enemies But séeing his attempt and purpose to be all in vayne he a litle retyred after a small breathing gaue a sharpe and freshe onset agayne and vsing this order sundry tymes by startes geuyng a blow and away agayne at length desperatly with a vehement violence and force rushed into the middes of his enemyes and was there slayne both he and all his Hoast vtterly His Sonne whom he had sent on rouing and spoyling with parte of his Armye hearinge of his Fathers death and confusion retyred in hast to Melitena But he was pursued and taken by the Capitaine of the Charsian streicts and presented to Petrona This Mamume was surerly a man garnished and endued with many excelent qualities and notable vertues For beyng himselfe singulerlie well learned he cherised and entyerlye loued all them that were learned estéemyng and entertayning them very honorable as by that example following shal appeare which for the worthynesse and commendacion thereof I haue thought good héere to disciphere There was in Constantinople somtime called Byzance a certayne Philosopher named Leo somtime byshoppe of Thesalonica and now depriued from the Prâ—lacie and Bysshoprich therof by reason of a deuision and controuersâ—e touching the hauyng and worshipping of Images which at that time merueilouslye frushed and disturbed the Latine and the Greeke Church Beinge for this cause thence exiled hee came to Constantinople where he hyered a poore Cotage and set vp a Schole professing to traine and instructe such Scholers as resorted to him in what Arte soeuer euery one was best disposed to learne Insomuch that out of his pryuate Schoole
ther came many notable Clarkes very skilfull in the studies of Artes and Philosophy and among the rest it so chaunced about this time that a certayne young man one of his Scholers hauinge by his Maisters industrious labour and diligence attayned to an exact knowledge and skyll of Geometrie was taken Prisoner in the warres by the Saracens chaunced into the seruice or rather seruitude of a noble man of great estemacion and name amonge them Whom Mamume by report and common bruite hearing to be well séene in the Mathematicall Disciplines commaunded to be brought before him And causinge hym in a disputation to be throughly apposed found that he so farre passed surmounted the Arabian Geometricians that of those thinges whereof they alone thought themselues to haue the vse and experience he was well hable to alledge and bringe the proper reasons and causes Mamume greatly wondring at his precise and profound knowledge for he had thought that no nacion had had the skill of that Arte but the Arabians onely asked him of whom he had learned his Arte and whether his maister were yet liuing The younge man aunswered that his Maisters name was Leo a poore man and as yet vnluckie to the worldly goodes of Fortunes giftes and disposicion but geuen altogether to his Booke and Studie Wherevpon Mamume straightwaies addressed his Letters to Leo in effect as foloweth Euen as the Trée is knowne by his fruict so we by the Scholer doo well know the exelencie of the Maister These therefore shal be to requeste thée that forasmuche as God hath blessed thée with a gyft so incomperable and sithence thou lyuest there in poore estate vnknowne or at least vnregarded of thy Citezens and Countreymen reapyng no fruicte of thy rare wisedome and supernaturall speculation thou wouldest daigne to come vnto vs and make vs pertakers of thy admirable learninge This doing make thy sure accoumpt that all the Saracenicall nacion shall submit themselues vnto thée and be readie at thy hest and commaundement and thou shalt bée enryched with such rewardes rychesse and reuenues as neuer yet any man hath béene These letters he delyuered vnto the young man to carie to Constantinople setting him frée at libertie and rewarding hym most honorably When Leo had receiued these letters he opened and tolde the whole matter to certayne of the Emperours familiers And by this meanes bee became knowne to the Emperour who appointing vnto him a competent stipend and pencion commaunded him to teache publikly Mamume dispairing of Leo his comming sent vnto him certayne Geometricall and Astronomicall questions and some of the other Sciences desiring him therein to haue his resolution The which beyng cunningly by Leo assoyled he sent backe againe to Mamume wherevnto he had also annexed certaine tokens and Signes touching the prediction of future thinges Which Letters when Mamume had read it is sayde that he was rauished with suche an ardent desire and zeale toward Leo that he exclaymed in thys sort O happie and thrise happie are they I saye O Diuine Leo which haue the compaignie and fruition of thy presence Then foorthwith he sent a solemne Ambassade with great rewardes and ryche presentes vnto the Emperour and wrate hys Letters also vnto him as foloweth I was fully determyned as it becommeth an vnfeigned friende to haue come my selfe vnto thée but sithens the waightie affaires of our Empyre and the gouernaunce of a most fierce and wylde people by God committed vnto my charge from whom all power and superioritie floweth wil not so permitte I am faine in my stéede to sende vnto thée my Ambassadours with request that it may please thée to sende vnto mée Leo a man endued wyth great singularitie in the knowledge of Philosophie and other Sciences soiourning and makyng his abode wythin thy Citie of Constantinople That he dwelling a while wyth mée may geue mee instructions and make me partaker of his doctrine 〈…〉 feruently enamoured and as it were 〈…〉 Doe not I pray thée deferre the 〈…〉 my request because of any diuersitie 〈…〉 or for any vnkinde dealings between 〈…〉 deale with me herein like a friende For 〈…〉 and curtesie wée will giue vnto thée a. M. It in 〈…〉 and wil enter into an infringible league and perpetuall amitie with thée and al thy Dominions Which request the Emperour would not graunt least the Sciences for which the Romanes were renowmed and had in admiration among al Nations should be communicated discouered to the Barbarous people Wherin he being a Greeque and a Christian might full well haue learned at the handes of a barbarous person and Idolatrous Infidel to reuerence and condignely estéeme verrue which thing would God Princes and noble men in this age admonished by this goodly example would doe For euer afterward he had Leo in great honour and promoted him to great wealth and dignitie and restored him againe to his See and Byshopprike of Thessalonica where he was highly honoured and of al men reuerenced for that through his forecasting wyt surpassing knowledge he conuerted and brought the land and grounde of Thessalonica from barainnesse sterilitie to fruitfulnes and fertilitie But nowe it is time for vs to retourne to discourse of Occidentall matters The Saracenes of Mauritania transfreting out of Sicile wherein they had taken and of longe tyme vsurped manye Townes into Italie vnder the guyding and conducte of Saba besieged Tarenâ—o The Greeke and Venetian Nauies ioyning in one arriued in Calabria to reise the Siege and to rescew the Citie Wherefore hearing Saba seyning as though he had beene afraide to th' intent he might the rather allure and prouoke the enemie to coape with him reysed his Siege and discamped and like as though he had bene loath to meddle retyred into the region of Crotona where béeing afterward assayled and set vpon at the first brunt he discomfited and put to flight the Greekes and theÌ„ the whole puyssaunce of the Saracens was all bent turned against the Venetians fighting and defending themselues manfully and a few of them in number being by a Nauie so strong and mightie circumueÌ„ted were partly slain partly drowned but the Venetians in that conflict perished and were brought to confusion euerichone which victory set Saba so a flote ingenerated in him such haultinesse and pride that spedely coasting ouer the Ionian Sea he arriued in the coast of Illyria practising therin along the prouinciall borders great pillage and robberie and hearing that the Venetian fléete was retourning homeward laden with Wares out of Syria be brought about his Nauie with all expedicion into the Bay of Trieste and from thence insidiously and sodainly setting vpon them spoyled and killed the Marchauntes and Mariners and all the Rowers their rooted hatred and spightfull rancour toward the VenetiaÌ„ name was so vnappeaseable Lewsing thence he cut his course toward Aucon a noble Citie of Picene where there is a goodly haueÌ„ and it forcibly tooke and being taken sacked and last of all consumed it
wyth fire and a few of the Oppidanes or Townesmen which taried still were taken For the rest being brought into sodaine feare and amazednes through this violent irruption were fledde almost all into the mayne land and mediterranean region Within a litle while after an other Nauie of Saracens landed in the coast of Hetruria with purpose and full intent to besiege and take the Citie of Rome Whose sodayne arriuall and terrible approche filled all the Citie with terrour and dread Wherfore Pope Leo the fourth of that name assembled the people together and vnto theÌ„ made this Oration folowing What is the matter my Children whereof you are somuch affraide or why are your mindes thus troubled and appaulled Certes there happeneth nothing vnto vs without the prouidence and wyll of the almightye God neither is it sent vnto vs vndeseruedlye on our partes Then ought we to feare dread their tyrannie wheÌ„ we fall at ciuill strife and goe together by the eares amonge our selues when one Brother conspireth his Brothers death and destruction For all they whiche do beléeue and confesse Christe to be their Sauiour and Redéemer are Brothers Then I say when the Brands of these mischiefes are kindled amonge vs we ought to feare leaste God being highly displeased with vs therfore should send these or rather worse plagues vppon vs For if you think that these impious and barbarous people are sent vnto vs without the will and pleasure of almighty God you are far deceiued For holy Scriptures do in many places testifâ—e dayly examples euery where teache confirme the same God saying by his owne mouth that he wyll vse the wicked blasphemers and the enemies of his sacred name as whippes to scourge and meanes to pursue hys vnfaithfull wylfull and disobedient Children And we do know that the ciuile discord and flagitious dissolutenes of the Greekes gaue first occasion to this pestiferous and diabolicall nacion to extend their rage and practise their first cruell inuasion vpon the Christians Did not the lewde lying of the Gothes and Kinge Rodirick allure them to set foote into Hispaine Whome although these bellish Impes discomfited and condinglye punished yet when they once conuerted their force and moued warre againste good and godlye men they were repulsed put to flight and slaigne euen of a few What do we feare this most dastardly rable and lowsâ—e nacion more then we do Almightye God for we doubt not awhit euery howre and euerye mynute of an howre to offend his Diuine Maiestie to prouoke his wrath and anger againste vs to reuile and blaspheme his holy name to shewe our selues wilfull disobedient and stubbourne to the lore of his swéet word and commaundment and by our owne phantasticall deuises to heape vnto ouer selues the greeuous sentence of his heauy displeasure but at the onely hearinge of this reprobate generation wee tremble and quake for feare as though humane force and mortall Armes were more to be feared then euerlasting paynes and eternal damnation Wher is the auncient puyssance and knightly prowes that was wont to be in the vndaunted Romanes What is become of their valiauntnes paynfulnesse trauaile and courage that in all extremytie and aduersitie was euer inuincible Our Auncestors and forefathers before Christianitie was embraced or Christ to the world notyfied and beleeued on beyng yet blinded and noseled in Idolatrye and supersticious Religion feared no force no violence no multytude of Enemies but oftentimes with a small handfull and power vanquished the mightie populous armies of their Enemies The Gaules French being a people and nacion most fierce and at that time by reason of the huygenes of their bodies formidable and dreadfull the limytes of the Romane Empire being yet but streict and narrow the Citie nothing so great as now it is mens courages also through the sodayne irruption and coming of such a firce and big nacion marueilouslie abbashed tooke in déede I cannot deny this Citie hauing in it at that time no forte of defence nor coÌ„modius place made by art for resistance but yet the Capitoll they were neuer hable to take And not suffered long there to roust were by the valiaunce of one banished Romane thence repulsed and driuen away with notable slaughter of a great maigny of their people And beholde the Romane empire was not of such power and strength at that time as it is now For the limytes of the empyre extended no further but to the Romane Terrytory Now whereas the greatest part of Italy is subiect to the Romane State and the Citie with people well replenished hauing now not the Capitoll onely for your fortresse but a whole Towne also by our industrie and procurement annexed and vnited to your Citie fortyfied and strengthened with all maner of Artificiall deuise and pollicie hauyng I say so many noble Personages and approued Capitaines both for skill courage renowmed and the Sea of the most Catholique Relygion héere resiaunt you now stand in dread and feare not of the Gaules which be a worthy and noble nacion not of the huyge and populous armyes of the Gothes nor yet of the Hunnes the Subuerters and destroyers of many moste flourishyng and noble cities but of the most cowardly and rogish nacion of all Asia a pilfring rable of Mauritanian thieues and Vagarantes The Mannes head that was founde in the ground where the Capitoll standeth gaue such a destinie and fate thervnto that no nacion shoulde be hable by conquest and force to take it Doo you think that the Capitoll was earst more safe and holie â–ª beinge the Seate of Saturn then it is now being employed to a Castle of sincere and true religion Beléeue me beléeue mee neyther the Saracenes nor anye other wicked Nacion whiche are the professed Enemies of Christes name and Relygion shall euer buylde their Bowre plant themselues in this Citie Rome was buylded vnder such a lucky Constellacion that the Empyre thereof shall neuer quayle but continue perpetuallye and vnder this same destenie is this Towne therevnto annexed and adioyned that it should be the See of Religion which thing the most emperiall and Cathedrall Church of him that is chiefe of the Apostles assuredly promiseth But peraduenture you thinke that God béeing prouoked and mooued to wrathe by reason of our manyfold sinnes offences hath gyuen them leaue thus to extend and shew their villanous rage against vs I graunt we haue demerited these and farre greater Plagues and that this ruffling stirre is sent vpon vs not without the speciall foresight and prouidence of God that taking warning and occasion by these aduersities and oppressions to amende our naughtie liues wee may the better renounce our former haunt of licentious lustes and with penitent hearts turne vnto him And so long shall they haue power ouer vs as we persist wilfully wallow in the stinking puddle of our vngratious wayes But if we truely repent and implore his mercy this wicked Nation shall straightwayes geue place
which wars Mahomet being put to the wors and by the Babilonian through helpe and ayde of Sclerus and the Roman captiues vanquished sent to the Turks for aide whose helpe and furtheraunce at a pinche as afore hath beene specified the Saracenes for certayne yeeres passed were accustomed in theyr Warres too vse and ioygne vnto them and the rather because they professed and embraced euen at the firste eruptions swaded that they were begotten and dyd come of the wylde Faunes But the Turkes and Tussagetes discendynge of their race and inhabityng the Northside of Mount Caucasus as before wee haue shewed differed muche from them as well in lyfe as manners and Lawes beinge notwithstandynge so lyke amonge themselues and so lynked together in League one with an other that they were taken and accompted for one People and peraduenture they were all one and were so called and named as prophane Persones by the Armenians their Neighbours from whome they receiued their Rites and whiche were called Sagae as muche to saye as holie For this worde Teutazites as in the Seconde Booke was shewed signifyeth in their language Gentiles or a prophane People For these names are of many Writers so mingled and taken together that the one seemeth to be theyr name the other their Surname Procopius saieth these People were nothing néere to the other Hunnes neyther had any thinge to doo with them but that they brodered vppon the Northe partes of Persia that is to witte Armenia For Armenia was euer lyghtlye subiect to the Crowne of Persia Neyther were they Wanderers from place to place as hauynge no habitation sauynge there where their Cattayle stayed and grazed as the other Hunnes or Scythians were but had in their Possession and inhabyted the beste Plottes and moste fertilâ— Regyon that was amonge the Dounes and Mountaynes rounde aboute and amonge the Hunnes they onely were white of complexion and coloure and not so ouglye nor so sterne visaged neyther lyuing so sauagelye and beastlye as the others dyd but lyke true Subiectes liued orderly in due obedience and humble subiection vnder one Prince whome they accepted as their head and King hauing also a well ordered Common wealth with due execution and imbracynge of Iustice and other politicall Lawes both at home amonge themselues and abroade with other forraine Nacions borderynge vppon them as the Greeques Romanes and dyuers other ciuile and well gouerned Nacions dyd also The chiefe Citie of all their Kingdome was called Gorga The noblest sorte and wealthyest persones amonge them had contynuallye seiourninge at their Houses as Gestes twenty or moe of their famylier Fréendes accordinglye as their Substaunce and Rychesse extended with whom both wealth authoritie and power was in common as the same Procopius sheweth and as their institution and manner of lyuinge to this day witnesseth Some there be whiche referre the firste originall of the Turkes to those tenne Tribes of Israell whiche as wee reade in Iosephus were translated into Media For proofe and Testimonye whereof they alledge the likenesse and similitude of their maners and conuersation Some referre their pedagrew to Gog and Magog of whome there is mencion made in the holie Scriptures from whom we rather be of opynion that the Tartarians yea and peraduenture also the Gothes be lineallye descended And some there bee whiche doo deriue the ofspringe and Progenie of them from the auncient Troians Whose seuerall opinions by waye of Argument either to confirme and allowe or confute and disprooue is no parte of our purpose and intent in this place sythince our onely meanyng is not to reason vppon probabilities but to bringe such certainelye knowen truthes as are in the histories and Chronologies of auncient writers aswell of Greekes and Thracians as of the Turkes themselues and other Nations confining vnto them published and mencioned which is euen so as before we haue declared Muchumet therfore desired ayde of their Prince in his warres against the Caliph of Babilon throughe whose helpe and valiaunce sent vnto him vnder the conducte of Tangrolipix Mucalet he encountred with Pisasire the Babylonian Caliph and him with litle labour and lesse daunger discomfited by reason that the Arabians were not hable to abyde the thicke shotte of the Turkishe Arrowes Beyng from this warre retourned home wyth victorie he mynded also to vse the ayde of the same Turkes in his Warres against the Indians At which season the Turkes weary of that seruice desired leaue of Muchumet not onely to retourne home but also that a garrâ—son might be appointed to wafte them in safetie ouer â—â—e bridge that stoode vppon the Riuer Araxes Which request he tooke in suche disdaine and impacience that with frowning looke he charged them from thenceforth not to vrge him any more with that sute The Turkes had no other way in their retourne homeward but must néedes passe the said Riuer Araxes which is the limite and Border of the kingdome of Persia ouer the which there was no other Bridge but onely this which was on bothe sides merueylous strongly garded and fortified with Blocke-houses Turrettes and Garrisons The Turkes dreading further dauÌ„ger priuily shranke away as closely as they could departed into the desert of Carbonitis For considering their number was not aboue three thousande men they durst not aduenture to fight and buckle wyth such a great multitude Béeyng in those desertes they made many vagaries into the Saracenes Territories and wasted theyr Countrey terriblye Whereat Muchumet merueilously stomacking and storming sent an Armye of 30000. men against them committing the charge and conducting of the whole Armie vnto tenne Tribunes of the noblest stoutest and wisest in his traine They beyng come néere to their enemies would not aduenture to enter into the desert for feare they should be distressed for lacke of water and victuall but encamped themselues euen in the verye entraunce into the same desert The Captaine of the Turkes hauing intelligeÌ„ce by his Espialles of the Persians approch called his Souldiours together and making them priuie to his deuise purposed sodainly to set vpon them and vnawares to surprise both the Saracenes and Persians while they were yet secure and mistrusted nothing And spéeding apace toward them by great iournayes within two dayes was come néere vnto them The thirde night he set vppon them beyng in their Tentes carelesse and quiet suspecting nothing lesse then any such matter whom he put to flight euen at the first onset After this discomfiture of his enemies hee fell to spoyle and ransacke their Tentes where finding great store of Wagons Horses and Money lyued no longer by Robbery and Thefte lyke a Vagabonde or fugitiue as afore but from thence forthe pitched hys Tentes and encamped himselfe abroade in the open playne When the report of his victorie and good fortune was blowen abroade there resorted vnto him from all quarters thereaboute all suche Cutthroates and Villaines as for their vngracious demerites feared punishment wyth a great route of Slaues and pylfering Roges lyuing of the spoyle of
But the Sultan sending backe all the money and Giftes frankely delyuered Liparites without any panie aduising him after that tyme neuer to beare armour against the Turkes And beside this hee sent an Ambassadour vnto the Emperour one of the worthyest in degree in all his Courte called Seriphes which Dignitie is so high among them that after the deathe of the Caliph the Seriphes succéedeth in his roome For the Turkes euen at the firste embracing the doctrine of Mahomet reuerenced and had in great honour and estimation their Caliphas as Priestes and Byshoppes of their Lawe notwithstanding they debarred them from wearing the Imperiall Crowne or entermedling with any iuridicall power in prophane matters within their Empyre This stately Ambassadour comming to Constantinople was brought before the Emperour before whom he proudely shewed his Commission which was to demaunde a Tribute to bée payde by the Emperour to the Sultane But he was fayne to retourne without spéeding hys errand Wherefore the Sultane takyng Pepper in the Nose made Warre and went himselfe agaynst the Romanes And when hee was come as farre as Comium a Citie of Iberia because the Inhabitauntes of the Countrey had included themselues and theyr goodes wyth all thinges necessarie in Holdes and Castles whereof the number at that tyme in Iberia was great and hearing that the Romanes mustered and assembled a great power about Caesarea to come agaynst him hee retyred without doyng any notable exployte worthy of remembraunce backe agayne into Media where lykewyse fynding all places walled and Bulwarked hys full determination was to wynne his purpose by Siege And first of all hee attempted the wynning of Mantzichierte a Citie standyng in the playne champion Countrey vaumured and strengthened wyth three stronge Walles hauing wythin it many Fountaynes and lyuely Springes of Water whiche Citie by the foresight and prouision of the Townesmen was verye well victualled And encampyng hymselfe néere to the Walles gaue an assaulte vnto the same .xxx. continuall dayes without any ceassing with all kynde of Engynes and Warlike Instrumentes But in the end perceyuing hys attempte to bée in vayne and hauyng no hope of better successe raysed hys Siege and departed wyth the losse of many of his people Then he pursued his Nephewe Abramie who was nowe confederate and tooke parte wyth his Cosen Cutlume and him in Battayle néere to the Citie of Pasaris ouercame and slew But Cutlume wyth sire thousande in his companye among whom was Melech the Sonne of Abramie saued himselfe by flighte and by hys Ambassadours sued to the Emperour Constantine Ducas to bee receiued into his fauour and protection and that a League myght bee confyrmed betweene them staying for an aunswere in Persarmenia at the Citie Charse But because the Sultane folowyng at hys heeles was commyng wyth a power into Iberia Cutlume fledde into Arabia Foelix The Sultane spoyled and wasted all as hee went in Iberia but hearyng that Michael was commyng wyth an Armye agaynst hym and thinking it muche dishonorable for him to deale wyth the Emperours Seruaunt retyred agayne into his owne Territories leauyng behinde hym one of his Captayne 's named Samuch a man of base parentage and lowe hyrthe but in Martiall affaires a ryght excellent Capitayne This Samuch remayning styll hehynde with 3000. men coasted and strayed about the playne Countrey of the greater Armenia and wyth many sodayne incursions infested the frontiers of the Romane Empyrâ— After this Diogenes being Romane Emperour the Sultan againe with a great power entred within the precinct and limytes of the Romane dominions But the Emperour comming with an Army against hym hes retyred backe and deuiding his Hoast into two partes sent the one into South Asia the other into north Asia which spoyled all as they went and sodaynly surprising the citie of new Cesaria sacked it and being full laden with bootie and pray departed thence But the Emperoure when he heard of it takinge with him a Bande of lustier and nimbeler Souldiours coasting the néerest way ouer hill and dale through thick and thinne to get betwéene his enemies and home so vigoriouslye and sodaynly set vpon them and therewitall so teryfied and dismayed them that they trustinge to their Legges leaâ—t all their pray and cariage behinde them Notwithstanding their was no great number of them flaine because the Romanes being with their long iournaie weared were not hable to folowe the chase farre but they rescued and delyuered manye Prisoners whiche before had bene taken From thence making his voyage into Syria where hee sent out part of his Army to Melitena he brought home from Chalep great Booties both of men and beastes and tooke Hierapolis in Syria by surrendrie After this the Emperour lying at Hierapolis hearing newes that the Turkes had vanquished part of the Romane Armies sped himselfe thitherward in all hast to succoure his distressed Souldiours and afflicted Subiectes The Capitayne of Chalep hearing of this ouerthrowe geuen to the Romanes renounced his allegiaunce and fled with all his trayne to the Turkes And when the Enemies had enuironed the Romane Campe round about the emperoure without geuing any knowledge to them that hee woulde fight brought ought his Armie and without the sounde either of Trumpet or other manyfest token gaue the charge and onset vpon them and put them to flight ere they had warning or time to resist Then he buylte and erected a Castle at Hierapolis and after he had taken many other Townes he came to Alexandria a citie of Cilicia And takinge order for the winteringe of his Hoast where they shoulde not be pynched with famyne nor scarcitie of victuall retourned home to Constantinople In the beginning of the next spring the Emperour making an other voyage to Caesarea was certaynly enformed that a great company of Turkes forraged and spoyled that prouince whom after he had either slayne or taken hee tooke his iournay to Euphrates and there leauing parte of his Army vnder the conduct of Philaretus he himselfe went northward The Turkes putting Philaretus his Souldyours in great feare ieoperdie got all their trinketes and cariage and marching forwarde into Cappadocia wasting and making hauocke as they went came to Iconium a Citie at that time moste flourishinge and renowmed The Emperoure hauinge intelligence hereof at Sebastia spedde him thitherward But hearing by the way that his Enemies had destroyed and rased the Citie and vpon the brute and report of his coming and approche to be departed he delyuered parte of the Romane Legions to Cathagurio Capitaine of Antioch commaunding him foorthwith to repayre to Mopsihestia where the Turkes shoulde passe and there to set vpon them But ere they could come so farre the Turkes were bidde to a colde breakefast by the Armenians in the plaine of Tharsus and distrussed in a manner of all they had hearing further that the Romanes were planted at Mopsihestia to receiue them if they passed that way fledde by night After this in the beginning of the Spring the Turks â—ftsoones inuadinge
to theyr King and so perchaunce in th' ende worke vnto the Romanes some myckle woe and disturbaunce And therfore â—ooding him out with faire wordes and noseling hym in good hope he kept him at a doubtfull staie without geuing any resolute aunswere to his requestes Azatine for that his Parentes were Christians and he himselfe also Christened washed in the SacrameÌ„t of holy Baptisme in his infancie resorted dayly with the Emperour to Sermons and hard the holy Scriptures dayly preached and remained so long with the Emperour till at length by the meanes helpe of the EuropiaÌ„ Scythians he made an escape and fled with his Sun Melecke out of the towne Aenum and passed the ryuer Ister and within a while after dyed and Melecke by Sea passed into Asia to the Tartarians and of them obtained the Kingdome of the Turkish Nation as his fathers enheritance But a certayne Duke named Amurie with a Warlike power him encountred and ouerthrew so that he was faine to flie vnto Heraclea a Citie of Pontus and within a while after again returning to his natiue Cuntry recouering his fathers kingdome within short space was trayterously murthered Thus was the Turkishe Empire subuerted and brought to finall ruyne and from a State of well ordered discipline and magnificence fell to vtter decay and extreeme confusion the cause whereof was for that not onely the Nobilitie and higher Powers dyuided the Kingdome into many sections and partes but many also of baser degrée and obscurer Parentage associatyng vnto them the rascall Peazauntes and vulgar sort practised pylfering and robberie carying nothing with theÌ„ but their Bowe and Quiuer of Arrowes and taking vp their Rowst in the Streictes of the Mountaines made many roades into the Countreys about and the Cities belonging to the Romane Empire For it happened a little before that the garrisons defending the Castles fortresses of the Empyre for want of payment of their féees yéerely stipendes at the Emperours handes woulde serue no longer but departed thence whych being at the first as a thing of small waight and moment neglected was in the ende the cause that the Romane Empyre sustained and incurred most gréeuous daungers and calamities For when the Turkes were displaced and expulsed by the Tartarians they displaced and expulsed the Greekes and looke howe weake they were in comparison of the Tartarians so stronge were they against the Greekes insomuch that at length the matter was decided with open warre and dent of Sworde For the Emperour vnderstanding that a great power of Turkes were vp in Paphlagonia leuyed a very competent Armye to represse and as much as might he to inhibite their violent insolencie least if they shoulde bee still suffered impunely to raunge spoyle without resistaunce it might breede further daunger and inconuenience And therfore when bee had assembled his power together he sent the same being wel appointed against them who encountring the Turks had of them the victory But whilest they disorderly and ouerfarre in chase beyond the ryuer pursued them they fell into the bandes of an Ambushe which the Turkes the night before had there layd for them By meanes wherof they being on th' one side beset with an Haost of freshe Souldiours well appointed in battle aray and on th' other side pent in and enclosed with the ryuer they were slaine almost euery man The Turkes triumphing for thys successe and victorie enroaded afterward within the Roman Territories and came as farre as the ryuer Sangarius and subiugated vnder their obesaunce all from the Pontique Sea and Galatia to the Sea Lycium and Carium and the ryuer of Eurymedon At this time also the Mamalukes which worde by interpretation signifieth Seruauntes or Slaues obtained the Kingdome in Aegypt and aduaunced the limittes of theyr Empyre into Aphrica Lybia as farre as Gades and subdued Phaenicia and Syria and all the Countrey ioyning vpon the Sea coastes Nowe how this came to passe we wyll declare The Caliphes and all the Saracenes lulled in case and noseled in effeminate nycenesse engendred by the delicious and tender allurementes of that pleasaunt Clime and region became so slouthfull that althoughe they possessed a most wealthy and fertile kingdome yet were they easie to bée vanquished and subdued by any and the Caliphes béeyng all geuen to lust Sensualitie and pleasures tooke no care to any thing neyther attempted any enterpryses themselues but executed and administred all their Affaires by a Vicegerente which was called an Admyrall Therefore when as Baldwine King of Hierusalem had made the Kingdome of Aegypt tributarie vnto him which tribute Almericke his brother and Successour claymed as due and payable vnto him and the Aegyptians flatly denying the same Almericke with an Army entred into Aegype and in the deserie vanquished in battayle Dargan the Admirall of the Kingdome wyth all his power and compelled him to flye for his sauegarde into the Citie Bilbis This was about that time of the yéere wheÌ„ the ryuer Nile by course had his yéerely incremente and ouerflowed his Bankes whose Dammes and Scluses the Aegyptians of purpose brake downe because they would stoppe Almericke from further pursuite and victoryewherefore laden wyth spoyle and ryche boofyes of hys enemyes hée retyred backe agayne into hys owne Countrey and Kingdome for feare least hee wyth hys whole Hoast if they had longer raryed should haue bene drowned and swallowed by with the mercylesse water Thys ouerthrow and aduerse fortune of Dargan gaue occasion to Sanar whom the same Dargan a lyttle before perforce had displaced and put out of the office and dignitie of Admyrallship and caused to flye for succour to the Arabians hys Tribe fellowes to go to Norandine the Sonne of Sanguin the most mighty King of Damasco by him to be shrowded from the malice of hys aduersary that Realme and Countrey eftsoones inuaded Aegipt and tooke by force the Citie Bilbis shewinge much crueltie with fire and Sword to all sortes of people sparing neyther age nor Sex. Wherfore Sanar desired ayd of Norandme vpon promise of great Summes of money so long staied and repressed the impetuous course of Almerick his victory till such time that his ayde came of whose comming when Almerick had vnderstandinge he raised his Campe and departed out of Egipt Therfore Syracon who had the leading and conduct of Norandines men finding Egipt without any foraine ayde or succour marched straight to Cayr the chéefe royal Citie of the whole realme â—nd slew Sanar comming out to parle and confer with him And when he had got the possession of the Citie he went to do his dutie and exhibit honour to the Caliph of whom hee was created Admirall of the Lande which dignitie he enioyed a yéere and then died leauingâ— behinde him for his Successoure Saladine his Brothers Sonne a man of a surpassing and polytique wit stoute valyaunt and of nature most franck and lyberall Who immediatlie murthered the Caliph with all his bloudâ— and Progenie
partly cōsumed by fire and partly drowned in the waters insomuch that of their whole fléete which was 3000. Shippes more and lesse there escaped but only fiue This Siege lasted fully two yeeres The same yeere the Saracens thinking to recouer some of theyr former losses wyth a huyge Army entred into Spayne and spoyled all the Countrey sauing onely Gallicia Abidimar Capitaine of the Saracens in Africa sacked and spoyled Burdeaux a Citie of Fraunce and remoouing thence to Poytiers was mette withall and repressed by Charles Martellus Their Captaine and Prince Abidimar being slaine the Saracens for a while were quiet and medled not with any moe warres The Saracenes bringyng wyth them theyr wyues Children and whole Householde entred a freshe into Fraunce as thoughe they had meant there continuallye to haue dwelled and planted themselues for euer Wyth them Charles the Great ioyned Battayle hauyng the ayde of the Frenche Nation and slewe of them 380000. and loste of his owne men onely 1500 Souldiours Charles King of Fraunce by hys valiaunt Knyghthood delyuered out of the handes of the Saracens the noble Citie of Auinion whyche they had before guilefully surprized Charles restored many other Cityes to peace and libertie expulsing out the Saracens slaying Amorrheus one of their Captaines putting Athine another of their Guydes to flight The same Charles by helpe of Luitprand Kinge of Lumbardie draue and expulsed all the Saracens out of Fraunce Constantinus Copronymus Emperour of Constantinople furnished out a Nauie against the Saracenes in Aegypt The Saracens in the East were euer wynning somewhat that belonged to the Romans and layed it to theyr owne Empyre by meanes that the Romanes disagreed among themselues and bent themselues only against the French Kings Charles the Great had a noble victorie agaynst the Saracenes in Spaine Rowlande in combate ouercame a Saracen that often chalenged the Christians Through which Victorie and vpperhande he made the waye the easyer for the rest of his fréendes and Countreymen to wynne the victorie Leo the fourthe Emperour made a voyage against the Saracens in Syria Aaron Prince of Saracens wyth 300000 lyght Horsemen inuaded Nicephorus Emperour of Constantinople and made hym glad to become Tributarie and to accepte such offers as greatly mislyked and diseased hym but there was no remedy Sardinia and Corsica two Islandes were spoited by the Saracens The Saracens wanne the I le of Crete and ouercame the Gréekes in two Battayles The Saracens of Asia rushed into Palestina and they of Africa into Sicilie Boniface Countee of Corsica hauing no helpe of the Chrystians sauyng onely the Hetrurians sayled into Africa and in foure Battayles betweene Carthage and Vtica had of them the Victorie and vpperhand and so feared the Saracenes wyth the terrour of his onely name that they were faine to depart out of Sicilie and get them home to defend theyr owne Many Countreyes receyued greate damage at the handes of the Saracenes and manye Cyties for feare in euery quarter fledde and submitted themselues vnto them Saba Kynge of Moores and Capitayne of the Saracenes wasted Sicilie and all the Countrey about Crotona and tooke Tarento agaynst whom Theophilus the Emperour and the Venetian fleete stoode at resiststaunce but all in vaine The Saracenes inuadyng Hetruria and Latium spoyled and sacked Rome but before theyr retourne home the greatest parte of them perished by Shypwrecke Hauyng wasted Illyrium and Dalmatia they coasted alonge the Adrian Sea and burned Ancona a Citie of Picene after they had taken the spoyle thereof Leo the fourth Pope of Rome compelled the residue of the Saracens to packe oute of the Hauen of Ostia and strengthened all the Countrey beyonde Tyber againste them The Saracens agayne onely for bootie and spoyle brake into Italie and wasted with fire and sword all the Countrey aboute Beneuent by the Samnytes But by King Ludouick and Kinge Lotharius they were put to flight The Saracens renewed Warres with the Persians The Persians through the help of the Turkish Souldyours at that time the Turkes inhabited Mount Caucasus and were called Tartarians ouercame them Euer after from that time the Turkes neuer left Asia and not onely encroched vpon the Domynions of the Saracens but also were called by the same name as they were After the Saracenes had enioyed Sicilie xlvii yéeres they were thence cleane expulsed Charles surnamed the Thicke repulsed the Saracens breaking into Italy Nicetes one of the Capitaines of the Constantinopolitane Emperoure had a notable victorie ouer the Saracens The Saracens inuaded Puell and Calabria At Lyris a riuer of Campania the Saracens as they were spoylynge the Cities belonginge to the Romans were ouercome The Saracens breaking out of Fraxinete came as far as Aquisgrane where encountringe with the Inhabytantes they were vtterly destroyed and Sagitus theyr Capitaine slayne The Saracens spoyled Geane a Citie of Liguria and with great booties retourned into Afryca Hugh King of Italie wanne Fraxinete and burned the Nauie of the Saracens Ramyre King of Gallyce discomfited a great Armye of Saracenes in Spayne The Saracenes committing many murthers and firyngs in Calabria Puell and Lucania by the Knightlye prowesse of Alberick Marquesse of Hetruria were repressed and néere to Minturne in Campania by the Ryuer Lyris vanquished There intentes were to haue come to Rome The Saracenes by force kéeping the Mount Garganus made out of it many Roades into the Countrey néere adioyninge and burned Beneuent Otho the first Emperour of Germanes draue the Saracenes out of Italie and dispossessed them cleane out of their holde in Mount Garganus The Saracenes recouered Consentia out of the which a litle before they were throwen out by the Hungarians The I le of Crete taken from the Saracenes Otho the seconde receiued a great ouerthrowe at the handes of the Saracenes in a battayle fought with them in Calabria the Ides of Iulie with whom the Greekes had stricken a League and ioyned powers His stoutest souldiours and Capitaines being in this conflict slaine he himselfe had much a doo by flight to saue himselfe Alphonsus King of Spaine besiedging a stronge holde of the Saracens called Viseum was wounded with an Arrowe and therof dyed The Saracens deuidinge their hoast into two partes landed in Italie tooke Capua and besieged Barum The Saracenes of Asia tooke Hierusalem Henry the second Emperour of Germanes draue the Saracens out of Capua and persecuted with gréeuous Warre certayne Capitaines which fauored their side The Egiptian Caliph through the ayd of an army of Saracens and Turks which then ruled all the roast in Persia spoyled the Temple of our Lord at Hierusalem Baldwyne after .xviij. monthes Imprisonment deceyued his kéepers and escaping out of Prison retourned to his owne people Dominicus Michael Duke of Venice with a well furnished Nauie greatly annoyed the Saracenes in Syria To the Venetians for their worthy seruice and valiauntnes were graunted sundry great Priuiledges An Army of 400000 men set vpon the Christians and were encountred withall by 3000. Christians who thorow