THE TRAGICAL LIFE AND DEATH OF MULEY ABDALA MELEK the late King of Barbary. With A PROPOSITION, OR PETITION TO ALL Christian Princes, annexed thereunto: Written by a Gentleman employed into those parts.  
Printed at Delft, ANNO 1633.   

TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS, AND HOPEFUL young Prince CHARLES Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine, etc.  
MOST ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE, The great respect I received from your Highness at Leyden two several times after my coming out of Barbary, and the great desire your Highness expressed (as becometh Princes) to understand, and be informed in foreign afaires, and the State of other countries, hath encouraged me (having now again been employed into that country) to present to your Highness, for a New-years-gift, this short relation, of the life, & death of the late King Muley Abdala Melek, as was related to me by way of discourse only, at several times, by those who for the most part were eye-witnesses: Oculati testes. Which also may serve your Highness for matter of discourse, and further information likewise, to discern betwixt a blessed Christian government, whereunto God hath ordained you, and a cruel tyrannous Mahometan government (as is the Turkish,) under which those miserable misbelievers: yea and many Christians likewise there in most miserable slavery, groan: the Lord deliver them from it. And give us grace to make use of it: both Prince. people, and acknowledge our own happiness. Prince, who command over Christian, obedient, and dutiful subjects: and subjects who live under so peaceable, and Christian a government, bona si sua norit agricola, free from tyranny, rebuel: as, and tumults, whereunto that country of Barbaric hath this long time been subject. Such is the miserable state, and condition of tyranny, and of tyrants, even of Kings: as your Highness may perceive, by the sudden, fearful, and miserable end of this King: qualis vita sinis ita: his life was bloody, and so it ended in blood, in his own blood. And thereafter may your Highness, and all other young Princes, who have so good tuitors, and overseërs to inform them learn: (as that famous Buchanan tutor to your grand Father King james of blessed memory, in his epistle dedicatory before his Tragedy called Baptistes, admonisheth, worthy to be read over, and over, and remembered of all young Princes, his words, as I remember, are these) maturé odisse quod tibi semper est fugiendum. Which I pray God both your Highness, and all other Princes may remember, and make use of. Hoping your Highness will accept of this small present out of a Barbarous country, for want of a better. whither I should have returned, for the release of the remainder of my poor countrymen, in captivity under the new King Muley Elwalid, upon a new treaty. Having already been a means to release above two hundreth and threescore from sally: and threescore me as yet remaining under this king at Morocco, and sally, by them taken again upon a late breach: besides what are dispersed up and down the country: all promised by that King to be released upon his treaty. Wither (I say) I should have returned long before this time, longed, and long looked for by those poor captives. 
Isa. 51. 14  For the captive hasteneth to be loosed &c. as it is in the Prophet. But whether I shall return at all: or those poor captives be loosed, or released at all, is in God's hands: who can make their very enemies, 
P● 46  and all those that have carried them away captives, to pity them: otherwise no hope at all. And so I leave them to God's mercy: and both them, & all others in like distress, both there, and elsewhere, to your Highness, and all other Christian princes to commiscrate, according to a proposition, or petition, I have hereunto annexed, highly concerning them in honour to consider of: which is also in God's hands: For the hearts of Kings (as Solomon saith) are in God's hands, he turneth them which waiesoever he pleaseth. In the mean time (as my duty is, having been employed in these affairs) I can but solicit, and petition, though without effect, in hope contrary to hope: having hitherto received so small encouragement: but discouragements: and so go on mourning still, and like to do: finis unius mali gradus futuri. One cross after an other still ready to receive me, Which I must bear patiently, so commanded, so resolved: To take up the cross of Christ, and follow him whither soever he commandeth, from one country to an other, from one part of the world to an other, and to the world's end. Quem statues finem Rex magne laborum? And so go on mourning still, as I have done these many years. Hoc continuis agimus annis: a countinuall mourner ever since the death of prince Henry my master, now renewed by the death of your Royal Father, & that renowned King of Sweden, who died that very day of the month prince Henry died, 
The 6. Stilo 〈◊〉 in The 1● Stilo novo. Zec. 12 12.  the 6. of November: the date after the powder plot, ominous. For both which the whole church of Christ hath cause to mourn, and that continually, not only outwardly, but inwardly every family a part: as was that great mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. For that good King josiah, 
●2. 18.  continually, continuis annis even to posterity: to be continued (I say) as was that, for these two so good Kings, so suddenly, & so untimely taken awate. To mourn (I say) continually, and inwardly for our sins, which are the cause of these disasters: Verus luctus est occultus: that is the true mourning: so to condole, and mourn. And so let us continue our mourning, and go on mourning still: every family a part, every true Christian a part, to bear a part, in this so great a mourning, with our dear mother the church: that comfortless Rachel, who weepeth for her children, and will not be comforted because they are not. Yea, let the whole church of Christ renew her weeping, and mourning again, till it Echo again, not only the last words, ultima verba (as it is in Seneca) Sed totos reddat Troiae gemitus) for her children first, and last taken from her, one after an other, because they are not. Queen Elizabeth of famous memory, is not. King james, is not. Prince Henry; is not And the other hopeful young prince Henry your brother, is not. Your Royal Father, the King of Bohemia, is not. The King of Sweden, is not. How is the valiant man fallen that delivered Israel? Besides other worthies: the old prince of Orange, and others, they are not. Yea many other poor Christian souls, of late slain, massacred, perished, and lost, both under the Antichristian & Mahometan tyranny, they are not. For whom the whole church of Christ hath cause to mourn: never more cause, never more seasonable. Whereunto now I betake myself, even to prayers and tears the weapons of God's church: Which shall be the second part. And my Account hereafter mentioned, the third, and last: 
Isa. 51.  If God permit, and other obstacles hinder not. And so rest Your Highness' humble servant,  
JOHN HARRISON.   

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF MULEY ABDALA MELEK, the late King of Barbary.  
IF Plutarch (who did write, and parallel the lives, and acts of the most famous men of those times) were now living, to write and parallel on the contrary the lives and acts of the most infamous men of the world, I think he would have much ado to find out a fit match, either ancient or modern, whereunto to parallel the late King of Barbary Muley Abdala Melek: yea rather I think he would leave him unparalleled. And so must I, only setting down so much as in that short time I stayed at Morocco (which was but two months) hath been related to me by way of discourse, by such both of our own nation and others as were for the most part eye-witnesses, which is scarce the hundreth part of his cruel acts, and mad-pranks he played in that short time of his reign: which was scarce four years, mad-pranks I may call them, for so is he commonly called the mad King.  
He was Son to Mulay Sidan by a negra, so by complexion a molato: The Moors in that respect whether of wives or concubines making no difference of succession, but commonly the eldest, though by a concubine, carrieth the crown: and sometimes the younger getteth the blessing from the elder: quo iure etc. capiat qui capere potest.  
He was extraordinarily given to drink wine and strong drink, which added to his natural disposition: (which needed not) inclined to cruelty even from his infancy. Of a manly stature: and of a most courageous disposition. A good horseman, with his lance & target; would ever be the first man in the face of his enemies: who indeed durst never look him in the face, but presently faces about: his sword making way for him which way soever he went. Such was his resolution, viam inveniam aut faciam. So that it may be doubted whether his courage, or cruelty were greater: and in these two respects, I will be bold to say (as before) not to be paralleled by any. As by these few passages, guessing at Hercules by his foot, may easily appear. And even before he was King began to play his prize like, Hercules furens, his arm and sword still in action, cutting and killing at his pleasure upon every slight occasion.  
At one time he killed one of his own blood (the blood royal) only for tasting a little of his sweet meats by stealth. Sweet meats must have sour sauce. An other (the chieffest of the cast of the Shebanites allied unto him by marriage of his Praedecessours into that cast) having wronged one of his servants, 
A cast is a tribe or kindred.  he taketh some few of his servants, not above ten at the most with him, goeth desperately among all the Shebanites to the ●ent of this man, being the valiantest amongst them all, challenged him of the wrong: who slighted him (being then not King) mounted on horseback, discharged his pistol at him but miss, whom presently this young Prince drawing his sword slew hand to hand maugre all the Shebanits, & came of clear  
An other time a Levantado or rebel (one of their saints) coming against his Father Muley Sidan with 3000. horse, like to surprise him on a sudden, he with his drums, music and ensigns, and not above forty horse, went out against him, charged so furiously, as put them, all to flight: pursued the victory, & (as they say) with his own hand wounded the Levantado that he died, his head after brought in, to Muley Sidan, hanged up in the Alcasava, and quarters likewise on the walls of Morocco, on the gates of the city. Having be over challenged his Father of neglect, and too much security: of whom not only his enemies, but even his Father (as they say) stood in fear, yet his Father calling him Father. Such is the preposterous manner of the Moors, to call their eldest Son Father, out of a reverence (as they say) they give to him being the first born, & to be (as it seemeth) Pater familias, Father of the family for the time to come, other reason I can not give of their preposterous inversion of that relation, (or rather confusion) for the Father, to call his Son Father. Our Heavenly Father I am sure did not so, the King of Kings: Thou art my Son, etc. as it is in the Psalms. Nor David the King in that his pathetical expression of his Fatherly affection, far beyond theirs, yea beyond all expression: Absalon my Son, my Son. After his coming to be King some of the friends of the Levantado having by stealth taken down his quarters to bury them, he commanded a great number of the neighbour's heads who dwelled near there about to be cut of, executing many with his own hands as he met them in the streets.  
And not long after immediately upon the death of his Father, being newly proclaimed King, his brother Muley Flwallid (this King) coming against him with a great force, better affected of the commonalty than the other, in respect of his cruelty: (which they greatly feared, and not without cause, as afterwards they found) Muley Abdala Melek giving order first for his ordnance, to be discharged, immediately after himself, being the first, man (having but a few horse) charged so furiously, and so throughly, as he routed them all▪ whereupon his brother fled towards sally, but not long after was betrayed & brought back again by Alkaid Hamuda dwelling near Azamore, whose horma or sanctuary he took, invited and encouraged by him to some further attempt: but indeed betrayed, who after used him in a very base & unseemly manner, stripping him, beating him, and carrying him, chained upon a horse to the King. Whereupon the King (they say) when he saw him relented, yea wept, not using any extremity, but rather out of his lion-like magnanimity, contemning what either he, or any other had done, or could do against him. Yet did his brother live in continual fear, diverse times threatened by the King in his mad humour, sending to him to prepare himself, and to know what kind of death he would dye: but by mediation of his sisters and others still put of. At one time (the King being at Saffia) in his drunken humour, the sentence pronounced, and an Alkaid presently sent towards Morocco, where his brother was then prisoner to execute it: but the next morning the King comme to himself, and by mediation (as before) reversed, and a messenger dispatched to countermand the other, whom he overtook but at Tansift a river within four miles of Morocco, commanded upon his life to overtake him: the other making no great haste, otherwise it had been executed.  
One time at Saffia his Almahalla or camp (wherein his brother Muley Semyn was then) coming to pitch near thereabouts, he in steed of a warning piece to remove further of, shot a bullet amongst them. An other time (as I heard) in jest among the market folk: yet did no hurt but killed an ass.  
An other time in his Almahalla (having been all the day abroad drinking as he used) and coming riding in late at night upon the spur, as he passed by the ordnance, whereof the English had the charge, he commanded on the sudden swearing a great English oath, give fire: which they presently did, they durst do no otherwise: so shot away his own uncle being in company with him all to pieces,  
His youngest brother, yea and his own young son, sometimes would he hang up by the legs, and beat them with his own hands. No merveile then if he were cruel to others, being so unnatural to his own flesh and blood.  
Every day must see blood (blood shed) were it but of a hen, else not satisfied. Possessed (as some of the Moors have told me many are, & that he was) with a she devil, frequent amongst them as (it seemeth) amongst the heathen in times past, whereof a heathen philosopher writeth a set treatise of Incubus and succubus. And the party who told me this said, that one day going a hawking having other Moors with him, one following a good distance in the high way, on a sudden stood still, and not long after they saw a smoke arise in the same place, whereat they wondered, & went back, finding the man much amazed. Ask the reason, he said a woman met him there very fair & in good attire, who offered herself to be his wife, he answered, he had one already, she replied he might take an other (for so the Moors may by their law) being very importunate with him: at length looking downwards perceived her clubbed feet, & what she was, whereupon he went back, and absolutely refused, and thereupon she vanished in that manner in a great snuff. The man presently thereupon falling sick, and so continued a good while. How true this is I can not say, but was reported to me very seriously, and for a certainty. But of this I am sure that the devil can transform himself into an Angel of light: much more take upon him the shape of a man, or a woman, as God permitteth to delude those that obey not the truth. And this likewise I know to be true and certain, that he is both a liar (the Father of lies) and a murderer from the beginning: ever a thirst, and never satisfied with blood. And therefore no merveile if this tyrant were so possessed as before, that every day he must see blood else not satisfied. And if every day, how much blood may be thought he shed in that time of his life & reign.  
Sometimes he would cut of men's heads with his own hands, and with his own sharp sword, saying, those whom he commanded did not cut them of well, and at once: which done would ask one of the Englishmen if it were not well done, he must say yea Muley. Yea six or seven men's heads in one day.  
Once by evermuch drinking distempered in his body, having his arms and hands benumbed, his Doctor persuaded him to enter into a bath. After his bathing meeting with one of his concubines, drawn out his sword and cut of her head, to try the strength of his arm if it were sound again. Also an other for going out of her bite or chamber to the next door to one of her fellows, for the Moors are jealous even of their women, and will not suffer them to company together.  
Made one man stand still while he threw stones at his face, threatening if he offered to stir or move he would cut of his head. So likewise abroad in the fields, ofttimes would cause some one of his servants to lie down grovelling, & sit upon him in steed of a stool a whole night together drinking: and the man durst not for his life stir. And some to stand by him whole days and nights without moving hand or foot, otherwise would have cut of their heads.  
Would cause men to be drubbed, or beaten almost to death in his presence, which was but a common & gentle correction, five or six hundreth blows at once, and after they must kiss the ground, & give him thanks. To whom in this particular, & others likewise, I may parallel a great Lord in this part of the world: who (having slain an other in a private duel, and, upon just occasion offered, taxed by one to whom he had done wrong, disgracing, & disabling him, and that in an open assembly, & displacing him too: and therefore had the party reason there also to right himself, and reply, par pari refer, and disable him likewise for shedding of blood, which by the Law of God is murder) caused the party to be committed to prison (close prisoner at the first) and there kept, and fed with the bread of affliction, till in the end he was forced: (his imprisonment, and punishment both of body and purse, besides the disgrace, no sufficient satisfaction) to kiss the ground, that is, make an humble submission, and subscribe that he had offended, and abused his Lordship with opprobrious, and uncivil language etc. that is to say, that the Law of God is an opprobrious & uncivil language, which saith: He that smiteth an other with an instrument of iron, that he dy is a murderer etc. which submission he now utterly disclaimeth, as most blasphaemous against God & his Law, & done of infirmity, and by dares of imprisonment, having no means at all to maintain himself any longer in prison, but there to starve: praying God to forgive him, and them likewise who imposed it. To whom (even to that great God) that great Lord ought rather to make submission, for violating his holy Law, as David did, (a King and was not ashamed.) I have sinned etc. yea and after fell to the ground, and kissed the ground with many tears. Therefore is he a saint in heaven: and Muley Abdala Melek, and all such bloody tyrants, & murderers (without repentance) devils in hell. For Topheth is praepared of old even for Kings, and Lords too if they repent not: For with God there is no respect of persons. Nor was with this King Muley Abdala Melek, in the cruel course of his tyranny: whereunto all, both great and small, were subject.  
Yea he would, cause some to be beaten on the soles of their feet, and after make them run up, and down among the stones, and thorns. And so also used some that were lame, & hurt, pulling of there shoes, & making them run barefooted in such places: or else would cut of their heads.  
Did cause one of his Alkaids (his chief falconer) to be drubbed and beaten, many hundreth blows on the buttocks (as himself told me) and after forced him to ride in that painful manner after him a hawking. Also the same Alkaid told me, that the girth of his saddle being broken, and he alighted: an other Alkaid coming to help him, and holding his stirrup, the King called that Alkaid to him, and caused him to be drubbed for holding his stirrup, and not long after the like occasion falling out again, caused the same Alkaid to be drubbed again, for not holding his stirrup.  
He run a man's thigh thorough with his lance to the saddle, and after because he was not able to ride after him a pace, give him two or three hundreth blows.  
Would with his sword cut and flash men for his pleasure, and after himself give them plasters to cure them.  
Would cast men to the lions to be devoured, an other of his torments.  
To one among the rest he promised that if he would fight with them, and could escape he should be pardoned: which he did manfully (as I was told) beating them from him either with stones or some such means clearing himself, yet af●er was put to death  
Some he caused to be rastrared, or dragged by the feet at the horse heels, their back and head against the stones: as he did the Hacam of Morocco (the chief officer of that city) round about his Almahalla or camp till he died. Others jointed, their fingers, and toes first cut of by every jointe, arms and legs, & so head and all. An other hanged up by the privy members, one caused to sit upon him to weigh him down: and vet the man living.  
Another (a hole digged in the ground) set in the earth up to the head, as Scholars in some places use to shoot at the cock at Shrovetyde: so did he cause the captives with their pieces to shoot at this poor man's head. They all missing, he himself came near with his own piece and shot him, calling him a devil because they all miss him.  
He cut of a Moors head (a church man, or Sexton) for crying on the church tower or steeple, and cursing all that did drink wine, forbidden by their law. An other also for crying and singing more than usual. For the Moors have no bells, but in steed thereof, these criers to call them to their devotions: in the name of God, one God, the great God, and his Prophet Mahomet, the Messenger of God. Some say this mad King did once threaten that he would have one of the Friars, French or Spanish, to sing mass before him: which I think would have pleased him little better.  
He caused a French captive to turn Moor, and be cut, that is made an eunuch, only for extolling the King of France to be one of the greatest monarchs of the world. An other, who kept his horse, never without slashes and wounds. An other Frenchman's doublet with a pair of scissors did he cut all over in slashes with his own hands, saying, he was now a right French Cavallero, like to the rest.  
If in his drunken humour abroad in the fields (as he was seldom sober) he did fall from his horse, all his Alkaid● and servants must do the like, and lie down, and do as he did. Much like the catching of the dotterill: and not offer to rise or get on horseback till he did, nor to hold his stirrup, or come near him all the while, if they did he would give them blows. One of his Alkaids, for some such like offence, caused he to sit 24. hours on he top of his tent in the Almahalla (as it were on the pillory) for all men to gaze upon. And now and then would he give them a pill called Shishai (the effect whereof is to make men merry drunk) to make himself sport. But indeed his only sport was in cutting of men's heads, and (as before) in shedding, and seeing of blood. No one day escaped but one or other sacrificed in most bloody manner to this unsatiable devil: and she devil together, if that opinion of the Moors be true, as before.  
On a time the Christian captives, at Saffia the port town, had laid a plot to break the prison, and escape by sea in a boat, but in the acting thereof were discovered, all taken and beaten in most pitiful manner to make them confess the Authors, most of them Spaniards, and French: the chief plotter a Spaniard (as it seemeth) of some account, called Don Pedro, who was sent for to the King (then in his Almahalla) who thereupon called all the English, and others to kneel before him, setting the Spaniard also right before him. Then said to the English, you see this misbeliever that would have run away, if any of you be like minded, run sure, and clear away: otherwise, if you be taken see here your doom. Then caused he first the Spaniards ears to be cut of one after an other: then his nose: then his lips one after an other: then his mouth, on both sides slit up to the ears: then his fingers disjointed one from an other: which done the King fell a laughing, ha, ha, ha. Then said the Spaniard to him (having all this while looked him in the face & endured it very manfully) now Tyrant do thy worst. whereupon presently he cut of his head. So died this valiant champion, even in death triumphing over his tyrannical tormentors.  
An other time a Moor being brought before him for some misdemeanour fearing death, said unto him: Muley, I have lived all the days of my life hitherto a Christian, if thou wilt now pardon me, I will turn true Moor again. His meaning was that he had lived a wicked, and lewd life, as many Christians have done, and do, both in that and other countries, I speak it to their shame, whereby the name of Christ, & his religion is scandalised, and blasphaemed: but yet, notwithstanding that his confession, that he had lived a Christian, and profession to turn Moor again, (that is to say,) to lead a godly life, was executed. For with this King there was no respect of persons, or religions, or occasions great or small. Sins venial, or mortal all one, that is to say mortal, Occasions? nay oft times without any occasion at all but only as he met with any by accident, in his drunken and devilish humour, would try (as before upon his own women) the strength of his arm, and goodness of his sword and chiefflie upon his own nation without respect of persons: he had no minions, or favourites at all: one good property in him. What shall I say. But (as an Alkaid telling me of these and other his mad and tragical acts exclaimed) a devil, a devil. His Alcasava, or court the very picture of hell: which made the greater and better fort to flee away into the mountains, or stand upon their guard a far of: like those wily foxes in AEsop seeing all foot steps going forward into the lion's den, but few or none retrorsum, back again. And those that did, howling, and crying, weeping, and wailing sighing, and wring their hands, either for themselves, or their friends. This was the daily, and doleful music both within and without: the very gates of hell. Friends? nay rather fiends, daily tormenting one an other. For so would he command his Alkaids, and servants to drub one an other at his pleasure, & cut of one an others heads too.  
He would commonly say in a jesting manner, that it seemed to him whensoever he executed any of the Moors, that they had two or three heads: meaning to cut of but one, he left none: wishing (as it seemeth) like that Roman tyrant, that all the Romans had but one neck, he would cut them all of at once: So Muley Abdala Melek, the Moors, of whom he was Flagellum, the only whip that ever was. And (as some think) the best King for the Moors that ever was: requiring not a block, but Aesop's stork to keep them in subjection, they otherwise prone to rebellion, affecting alteration, and innovation: as their refran or proverb is: 
Cus-cus a dish of meat in great request with them.  Every day a new cus-cus, every day a new wife, and every day a new King.  
And though he was thus cruel and tyrannous to the Moors, and others, yet did he favour much and respect the English, to wit the captives, both before and after he was King. Making one of them once to ride behind him, but withal bidding him not sit too close to him for filling him full of lice. Threatening sometimes, but yet never giving any of them so much as a blow. Who in his father's time were kept in chains both by the neck and legs, but he coming to be king released them, and made them, his gunner's, giving them free leave to go up and down where they would at their pleasure, and do almost what they would: and not a Moor that durst control them, but rather stood in awe of them. Though their allowance but short, yet, having that liberty, they made the better shift. And sometimes the king himself in a good humour would give them money: yea, and sometimes in his mad humour. Yet did he cause some English boys perforce to turn Moors, cutting them, and making them capadoes, or eunuchs: but afterwards (as they say) repented, saying: he would never more force Englishmen to turn Moors, for he found them better servants to him being christians, than Moor's: for that being christians they would stand by him, and stay with him: but being Moors run away from him, having more liberty and opportunity.  
And as he was (as I may say contrary to his nature) thus favourable to the captives, so was he likewise to the Merchants, or others that came as hoar. He being at Saffia one time standing upon the walls, an English boat coming as whore, he called to one of the men to come to him: who, not knowing him to be the king, all the while stood talking unto him with his hat on his head in Spanish, after the King going into the castle, called one of the English captives to him, ask him if his countrymen had no better manners? bidding him gofetch the party to him, who being come, the King would say nothing to him, but only made him to attend there a good time, and caused the English captive whom he loved well, to be committed to prison in the others steed, and chains to be put on him. But the next day sent for him, causing his sword to be restored to him, and so, in a mad humour, made him, both with his sword about his side, and chains about his legs, to walk after him round about the walls, talking, and jesting with him familiarly as he was want: and then after this chains also were taken from him. This only he did in jest, to teach Englishmen good manners against an other time. But to the Moors his jests were in good earnest, a word and a blow.  
At the same place at Saffia, he would take the women, a washing at the sea side upon the sands, set them upon their heads, & cause water to be poured (with reverence be it spoken) into their unseemly parts, to see if it would come out at the mouth again.  
He mustered all the fair women in Morocco: (whereof it seemeth he had a Catalogue) causing them all at once, & on a sudden to come forth into his great garden, called Monsarat: (being a mile in length, planted with Orange, and lemon trees, and all kind of fruits) and there pitch their tents for 14. days together: praetending a pilgrimage with his women to Gometta, towards the hills of Atlas, no man to come near them (no not their husbands) but only their negras, & serving maids: himself only walking the round, all these women daily and nightly sitting, and attending in their tent doors as he passed by to view them: modesty m●y not repeat the rest. At Gometta there is the monument of Siddie Blabbas one of their great saints, and there a great stone, upon which the Moors use to rub their bellies, saying it cureth the colic and diverse other diseases. Some Christians say this Siddie Blabbas was saint Augustine, and that upon this stone he preached: both which savour of superstition. But Muley Abdala Melck had no such devotion, for he went not there at all, nor those women neither, almost famished and starved with hunger, and cold: for no man durst come near them all that time to bring them any provision. This was one of his tragicomical parts.  
One of the Englishmen whom he loved above the rest, who had the charge of one of his chief horses, which was very unruly, & would bite any man that came near him, therefore always fast tied up: the king coming into his rowa, or stable, & spying some thing amiss about the horse, would not strike the Englishman, but commanded the horse to be let loose, & the Englishman to stand fast by him, suffering the horse to bite him at his pleasure, even the flesh from his arms: durst not stir till the king called to him. An other time, the same Englishman complaining to him, that he had nothing to eat save barley, the King caused the horse his Sabadera or bag in which they use to give them provander, to be hanged about the English man's neck full of barley: (as they do upon their horses heads) and so made him eat the barley like a horse. An other time the King, having taken offence at some thing, threatened to kill the Englishman, and that without delay: an Alkaid, willing to save his life, offered the King I know not how many hundreth Ducats for him, to buy him of the King. Why thou fool (said the King) dost thou think I mean to kill him? No, I would not for so many thousand Ducats: but to the Moors (as I said before) his jests, and threats were in good earnest.  
One of his Negroes whom he loved, and called brother, having offended him, being in his Obadia, that stately palace, walking in his garden, a little paradise, in the midst whereof are diverse pleasant thanks or ponds, he caused him to be cast into one of them, forbidding any to come near him to help him out again: at length, having walked a turn or two, bade one go pull him out: who brought him word he was drowned. What my brother drowned, said he? Go pull him out, and bury him: there was all the mourning.  
An other he caused to eat his own excrement: ask how it relished. Yea he himself cut a piece of the brawn of a man's arm whom he had killed, broiled it on the coals, 
Gago from whence all their gold cometh conquered by his praedecessors.  and did eat it.  
The King of Gagoes' son, not over a day or two before the King's death (some say the same day) drinking together, because he was not able to pledge him so much as he drunk, being all aqua vitae (for so must every one do as he did, and drink as he did) caused the whole bowl full of aqua vitae to be given him backward like a glister, till it reversed in their faces again that gave it. Having not long before made him to stand two days, and two nights in the water. And before thrown down an other of the sons from the walls of Saffia, and broke his thigh.  
Under a colour of going a hawking, would lie whole days, and nights abroad in the fields a drinking: And before his death many days, & nights together. God having bereaved him of his understanding as he did Nebuchadnezer, and driven him from men to dwell with the beasts of the field. Yea he himself not long before, having driven away from him all his most trusty servants, (save one or two) committed to prison: And withal a watchful dog which he loved, & fed with his own hand, for some small offence he took, likewise committed to prison with them: commanding he should but have so much bread, and water a day. All these his watchmen at once sequestered from him, and the other so over toiled, & wearied with watching day & night: (perhaps also weary of him as were others:) all seemed to conspire his death. Plotted (as it seemeth) before by some of the Elchies, or renegadoes, whom the King had threatened the next time he came to his house in Morocco to cut, and make eunuchs, to the number of two hundreth: whereof they were sore afraid. And therefore one among the rest (a Frenchman as is reported) watched his opportunity when the King came back to his tent at night (having been all the day abroad a drinking) and with a piece charged with two chained bullets, shot him in by the fundament, and privy members into the body, as he was lying along in his tent. A just judgement of God, in respect of that glister of aqua vitae he gave to the King of Gagoes' Son: & threatening likewise the elchies as before.  
As also in respect of that abominable impudent and filthy act he did at Saffia to those poor women. But chiefly (which God in the end will punish upon those Mahometans, both Turks and Moors) in causing poor Christians (boys and others) to be circumcised perforce, yea cut, and made eunuchs. A just judgement of God (I say) of all those Tyrants, both Turks, Moors, and others, to be trembled at: and so I leave him.  
Immediately after his death his younger brother Muley Elwallid was saluted King: being at that time a prisoner in the Alcasava, the King's house in Morocco, expecting daily nothing else but death. Whereupon some of his friends (as at such a time, and in such a case all are friends, & happy he that can be the first; and swiftest Messenger) running in all haste to the prison door, and crying out aloud to him to come forth: he thinking it had been to execution, to be put to death: linger, & excusing himself, that he would but take leave of his wife, and make himself ready (which he did only to die) they calling, and crying more and more, at length he came forth, and so was pregoned, and proclaimed King of a prisoner (I say) on a sudden become a King. Of a far more soft nature, & disposition than his brother: yet cruel and Tyrannous to poor Christians, and to the English, whom of late he hath most Barbarously entreated some of them. Eight at once taken, and circumcised perforce: beaten, wounded, and one man's head almost cut of, to make them turn Moors, and forsake their faith. The rest fearful, daily expecting the like measure: as by letters lately written from the Merchants there may appear: which I reserve, with other passages, to a further account, leaving them to his mercy, which indeed is cruelty: For the mercies of the wicked are cruelties: and him and them to God to judge betwixt them, which in time might have been prevented, by a seasonable dispatch long since expected: the loss of so many poor Christian souls, as necessary I dare say as some other dispatches: if the bodies, and souls of Christians be esteemed of any value now a days: as they are in God's sight right precious: precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.  
And now will I address myself (with this Proposition: and petition hereunto annexed) to Christian Princes, to condole, and commiserate the distressed, or rather desperate estate of these most miserable, or rather more than miserable, creatures, if more may be: not only the English, but all other nations, who this long time have endured a most miserable, and intolerable slavery under these infidels, both Turks, and Moors, and are like to do more and more if not prevented: Which I pray God at length they may take into their Christian consideration. AMEN.   

A PROPOSITION, AND PETITION TO ALL CHRISTIAN Princes, and States, Professors, and Defenders of the true Christian faith, against all Antichristian powers and principalities: As well the Pope, and his adherents, as the Turk, & his Vassals, the Mahometans: both the one, & the other, now in these last days, to be utterly destroyed: and the Kingdom of jesus Christ to be erected never to be destroyed: but to endure, and triumph even to the end of the World, according to daniel's Prophecy 2. 44. And our Saviour's likewise: Mat. 24. 14. This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.  
MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCES, Having been heretofore diverse times employed into Barbary, for the redeeming of poor Christians out of Slavery, and other affairs: and having been an eye-witness of those great miseries, or rather indignities, done to those poor Christians in those Countries by that Barbarous people: indignities (I say) not to be uttered, not to be expressed, but rather vailed over: as did that painter the sorrowful, and mournful, or rather more than mournful countenance of that heathen Prince for his daughter, adjudged to be sacrificed to that heathen Goddess, or rather Idol: by no painters pencil to be expressed. More than mournful (I say) maiora lachrymis: so many poor Christians daily taken by those infidels, Turks and Moors, and carried captives into those cruel lions dens, as sheep appointed for the slaughter: bought and sold in the merket, as beasts, and not men: and devoured by those bloody monsters: whose souls lie under the Altar, daily sacrificed to those heathen devils, crying: How long, o Lord holy and true, dost thou not judge, and avenge our blood on them that devil on the earth? Yea beaten, and tormented even to death, to make them forsake their faith: as not only men, but children also have been forced, (and are daily) taken perforce (I say) and circumcised, yea made eunuchs, and so disabled at once, both from being men, and Christian men, & otherwise most shamefully abused by those filthy sodomites, not to be uttered. Quis Italia fando etc. temperet a lachrymis? Indignities (I say) maiora lachrymis, don, not only to those poor Christians, but even to Christ jesus himself, and his whole Church, and so to be apprehended, without any national difference: whose members we all are, and aught to have a fellow-feeling of one an others miseries, or else we are no Christians at all, nor worthy that name. I say, having been an eye-witness of those great miseries, and indignities done to the poor members of jesus Christ, (and consequently to himself:) as a poor member of his body, I could not but be sensible thereof. And present the bodies, and souls of those poor members of Christ (like that Levite in the book of judges) dismembered, cut in pieces, and quartered, to the eyes likewise of all the tribes of Israel: that is to say, the whole church of Christ, both Prince and people, of what nation soever, all members of that his mystical body, & all alike interest therein: obliged, like the Israelites, to join together as one man, to right, and revenge, even with the hazard of their lives, & estates, these so great injuries, and indignities: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all those that are appointed to destruction. Those poor sheep appointed for the slaughter: the slaughter both of body, & soul bought with so dear a price, whose blood else will be required: required (I say) at the hands of all those, to whom God hath given power, & means, (For to whom much is given of him much shall be required) but want hearts, and minds to right, and redress it: speak your minds. Consider of it (noble Princes and States) by your Ambassadors one with an other, both for the present how to relieve all those poor souls that are in misery, both under the Turks and Moors: and how to prevent the miseries of others for the time to come, like to be taken by their ships at sea more and more, and made slaves, that is to say more than miserable: if not prevented. Which a few good ships, (had Christian Princes considered of it all this time, and been so minded (that is to say of one mind hinc illae lachrymae) might have prevented: and may yet for the time to come. To you I speak (most noble Princes and States) that are of one mind: consider of it take advice, & speak your minds. And in you to the whole church of Christ: let it be a freewill offering, both of Prince and people to Christ jesus, towards this so Christian, honourable, and charitable a work. A seacond redemption of his poor distressed members, out of the hands of those infidels, very easy to be tamed, and subdued: & with no great charges to any, out of a voluntary contribution of many. And (if I were worthy to advise, and this my proposition, and petition to take effect) this free will offering, or contribution, to be deposited in the hands of the Lords the State's General of the united Provinces, and the Prince of Orange: who have so great store of ships, and can most conveniently manage such affairs by sea: and are so noble, and so honourable, as no doubt they would advance it to the utmost. That so this sacred service, being managed by one undertaking State, consisting of so many wise Statesmen, and prudent Senators, may by God's blessing receive better success, than those expeditions in former times, frustrated by the dissension of diverse Prince's undertakers: as in the Turkish history may appear. The greatness of which Monarchy now draweth to a period: (as that of Rome,) magnitudine laboranssua: both the one, and the other, (as I said before) now in these last days to be finally destroyed: and the Kingdom of jesus Christ to be erected, never to be destroyed, etc. I speak not these things of myself, neither do I now come from myself, but have the holy Prophets, Apostles, and Disciples of my Lord and Saviour Christ jesus for my warrant. And in his name only, and no other, even from the King of Kings do I now come: (I magnify my employment) more than an Ambassador, and yet withal a petitioner, to treat, and entreat in the behalf of his poor afflicted members, who are not able, buth with prayers, and tears, to treat, or entreat for themselves. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all those that are appointed to destruction. There is my commission: there is my warrant. And I must in duty, and will, stand upon it, it standing so highly upon the King my master's honour, the King of Kings: expecting now how I shall be received: the success whereof I refer to him. And so conclude with prayers, & tears the weapons of God's church: Quid enim nisi vota supersunt. Praying God to put into the hearts of Christian princes, with one mind to fulfil his will: for the final destruction, both of that Antichristian, & this Mahometan tyranny: and the final establishment of his eternal Monarchy never to be destroyed. AMEN, AMEN.  
FINIS.