THE LIFE OF THE Most Illustrious Monarch Almanzor: And of the several Revolutions of the Mighty Empire of the CALIPHS', And of the African KINGDOMS. Together with the History of the Conquest of Spain by the Moors.  
Composed in Arabic by Abulcacim Tariff Abentariq, one of the Generals in that Spanish Expedition; and Translated into Spanish by Michael de Luna, Interpreter to Philip the Second.  
Made English by an Eminent Hand.  
LONDON, Printed for Dan. Browne, without Temple-Bar, and Isaac Cleave, next to Serjeants-Inn in Chancery-lane, 1693.   

THE PREFACE OF Abulcacim Tariff Abentariq.  
PRaised and Glorified be, for evermore one sole God 
* In Arabic, Alhaliq, Alhadin. , and Creator of all things, whose Reign is without beginning, and without middle, as well as without end. The Being from whence proceeds all Being's: The first and only cause that subsists of itself, and gives motion to all others, which it causes to act through incomprehensible Resorts, moving as it pleases, the Hearts of all Men, and particularly that of Kings; to accomplish by them, as second causes upon Earth, what Providence has resolved on from all Eternity in Heaven; who punishes him that merits it by his Justice, and predestines whomever he pleases by his Mercy, seeing written together, and of one and the same date, the past, present and future, in the great Book of his infinite knowledge.  
To this great God do I make my humble Addresses, to obtain the force I shall need to write exactly and truly, 
* In Arabic Miusch, that is without doubt, Majah, Invention, by reason he has done it without any forging.  The History of the Conquest of Spain, and the Wars occasioned by the Death of Caliph Aboulvalid Almanzor, not only in that great Kingdom, but in Africa, and throughout the whole extent of the Arabians: first of all among the Princes his Children, and afterwards among the Governors of all his Kingdoms; who after having revoltev against their King, waged War upon one another, about the division of that great Empire. As I will add nothing of myself to such great events, save such considerable matters as occurred in those times; I neither expect nor merit Honour or Profit: I only require of him that shall read what I am going to write, that he would pray God to teach me what I ought to do for his service; and that he would supply what is not in me by his Grace: And indeed I am well assured of being blamed for having undertaken so vast a design, and that several will find (as it is true) that it required both more lofty and more polished Genuisses than mine, 
In Arabic Each meallalhimar, Highland.  to give the necessary Weight and Authority to so great a Work. But after having agreed with them in this, they will allow me to tell them the Reasons that made me take Pen in Hand; and perhaps, they will be satisfied when I shall tell them that I was present in that War, from the first day that General Tariff entered Spain with Count Julian, until that he had finished that Conquest; and that there was no Battle nor Occasion, but whereat I was in Person, excepting the Sieges of Carmona, and of Merida; by reason that at that time, I was in the Province of Grenada, with that great Captain.  
Thus I may say, that I have been an Eye-witness of most of the things whereof I speak; and that as for those I have not seen in all times, I have had the Curiosity to be informed of them from Persons who could know them better; as from the Principal Officers and Generals of Armies, who have themselves given me the Letters and Memoires whereof I make mention in this History, that I might be accordingly provided for the writing it one time or other.  
Wherefore I may hope that those as shall take the pains to read it, instead of Wondering at my Boldness, will con me thanks for my 
* Ni acha mila, Inclination.  Good Will, and will have some indulgence for the faults as shall doubtless, in great numbers occur therein, when they shall consider that there is no Body in the World exempt from them, and that we ought to mind our own, before we judge of those of others; nay, some there will be that will find there would have been much more reason to have blamed me, had I not made any Memoires of all I had seen, than to have made them such as they are; and the greatest Critics will be obliged to own, That if all Authors that undertake to write History, had like me, had some part in the Events they describe, their Works would be much better received by the Public, and not be, as they are, for the most part, full of Falsities and Uncertainties.  
I make no Difficulty to speak in this manner, for as at the very moment that I write these great things, there are still People of that time, that, as well as me, have seen the greatest part of them, and who can give me the lie, if I do not relate them according as they passed? I shall content myself with taking them to witness of the truth; and I willingly submit myself to their Censure.   

THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER.  
SInce the Novelty of the matter, and the Form of this ensuing History, do possibly require something to be said for its better Illustration, I shall a little stress upon thy Patience, Gracious Reader, by so modish a Transgression as that of a Preface. A man seldom arrives at a Delicate Entertainment without running the Gauntlet of a abundance of Formality; seldom gets to Court without standing the Brunt of continual Ceremony; nor to the Enjoyment of a Mistress without brushing through a Confounded deal of Wooing and Riffling: And yet without being an Epicure, Ambitious, or a Lover; if the Scene be new, whatever trouble it may have cost him, he finds his satisfaction. Now this is matter to urge for my Excuse in the present instance: For undoubtedly, hardly has there ever been such very considerable Occurrences and Revolutions in the World as those here described, and yet with which we are less acquainted: Thus the Learned, as well as others, will have wherewithal to gratify their Curiosity, and augment their Knowledge. This is abundantly made out by the Translator, in the Dissertation he had annnexed: But he going into France this Summer, and leaving his Copy with a Friend, that Friend handed it to the Press; and it was agreed it would make the Completer Book, were the Dissertation adjoined to the second and last Volume; though it proves the Truth of this History, by conferring it with the History of Spain, and several Arabian, Turkish, and Persian Manuscripts. His absence must at the same time Apologise for some, perchance, unpolished passages, which he would have refined had they passed his Review; which possibly, so far from being Blemishes, like Moles, rather heighten the Beauty.  
But bating such small slips, what can be of more importance, than an account both of one of the greatest and least known Heroes that was ever in the World, as was that Famous Arabian Monarch Almanzor; who after having taken Damascus, and Conquered the greatest part of Persia, and the Indies, rendered himself Master of all Africa that was known at that time; and whose Generals, having reduced Spain in subjection to him, could hardly curb themselves from passing the Pyrenees, and undertaking the Conquest of France, before they had received orders from their Master for that purpose. Yet do not our Historians so much as agree upon this mighty Prince's Name, of the time when he Reigned, nor of the Year when the Moors passed the Straight.  
But the Principal cause of our little acquaintance with this, and other the Histories of the Eastern Princes, is the Ignorance of the Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Mauritanick Languages, which hinders us from being so Critical as to know the good, from bad Books, written in those Tongues; and the difficulty there is, not only in understanding them aright, but in reading them also aright; insomuch, that after many Years Study, few People but do at length desist.  
Wherhfore we must needs own ourselves the more indebted to Michael de Luna, for having taken the pains to Translate Abulcacim's Works into Spanish; since this single History may stand in Competition with all those of the Greeks and Romans. And indeed, the Circumstances of the Conquest of Spain by the Moors, in the Year 712 of our Lord, are so curious, and the Life of the Caliph Almanzor, under whom this great Event happened, so fine, that Abulcacim Abentari, who accompanied Tariff and Muca throughout that whole Expedition, may be said to Challenge more Credit than Arrian, who only writ after the Memoires of Ptolemy and Aristobulus, who attended Alexander in his; and that he has all the Qualifications necessary to merit the Character of the most perfect of Historians.  
Now to show the Authenticness of the Arabic Original, and the Spanish Version, many of the most Eminent Spanish Authors, as Pedrasa, Rodrigo Caro, Bleda, and others, Quote and Commend Abulcacim Tariff, as an Author the most worthy of Credit they knew: And as for Michael de Luna, his Translator, as he was a Citizen of Grenada, whence the Moors had not been long driven, he could know by Tradition many things that had relation to this History: And in all probability having been chosen by Philip the Second, to be Interpreter of the Arabic Tongue; and having doubtless had a great part in the Scrutiny made after Arabic Books, that composed the greatest part of the Escurial Library, he must have seen and examined all those that speak of the same subject; and that he would not have chosen it to have given it to the Public, if he had not judged it more worthy of it than all the rest.  
We shall not descend to justify this History particularly, referring that to the Dissertation in the second Volume; wherein it is compared, and put to the Test with the most Authentic Oriental Manuscripts. Besides, we have been but too rude already, in detaining thee so long, when the Entrance is so alluring. History is the Mistress of all Mankind; a Mistress that Refines and Diverts the Ingenious, new Polishes the gross and uncouth, and has Reform me; and so, out of Gratitude, my Darling. But through an overgreat Public Spirit, I could no longer deny the English World the Possession of so Ravishing a Mistress; and so have ground to hope that this piece of Generosity will meet with such a due Acceptance, as may quicken me to hasten out the next, and indeed more entertaining Volume. And so Farewell.   

A TABLE Of the Chapters contained in the First Part.  

PART I. Containing the Life of Don Rodrigo, King of Spain. The Conquest of that Kingdom under the Caliph Valid Almanzor: And the Wars which his Death occasioned in Africa, in Europe, and Asia, between his Children and his Generals.  
Chap. 1. A Nagilda, King Acosta's Widow, withdraws, with the Prince her Son, to Cordova. Rodrigo invites her to bring him back to Court to assist at a Festival. She goes thither, and departs thence forthwith. pag. 1  
Chap. 2. Rodrigo causes the Prince Don Sancho to be taken into Custody. His Mother frees him out of Prison, and goes with him into Africa. 7  
The Letter of Queen Anagilda, the Prince Don Sancho's Mother, to the King D. Rodrigo. 11  
Chap. 3. Rodrigo causes most of the Fortresses of his Kingdom to be dismantled; and commits several Violences, that make him incur the anger of God. 19  
Chap. 4. Rodrigo falls in love with Florinda, called La Caux by the Arabs. She signifies to Count Julian, her Father, then in Africa, the violence done her by this Prince. 25  
Florinda's Letter to Count Julian, her Father. 27  
Chap. 5. Count Julian being throughly informed of the outrage done to his Danghter, resolved to be Revenged, and to deliver Spain to the Moors. 30  
Muca's Letter to Valid Almanzor. 32  
Almanzor's Letter to Muca. 35  
Chap. 6. Rodrigo enters a Cave that was at the Gates of Toledo, and thinking to find Treasures therein, finds only Presages of the loss of Spain. 38  
Chap. 7. Muca sends Tariff and Count Julian into Arabia, to give an account to Almanzor, of the success of the Voyage they had made into Spain. 46  
Almanzor's Letters Patents. 49  
A Prediction made by a Religious. 55  
Chap. 8. Great Preparations for War made by Rodrigo, in all the parts of his Dominions. 59  
Chap. 9 Muca passes into Spain, and joins with Tariff. Rodrigo puts himself at the head of his Army, gives them Battle, and loses it. 64  
Chap. 10. General Tariff, causes search to be made through all the Country for D. Rodrigo, and promises great rewards to whom ever shall deliver him dead or alive into his hands. 72  
Chap. 11. The Amours of Mahomet Gilhair with the Queen, who induces him to turn Christian, and then Marries him. 76  
Chap. 12. Tariff makes himself master of the Province of Grenada, and of the Snowy Mountains, called by the Spaniards of the Sun, and of the Air. 84  
Chap. 13. The Conquests of Muca, and his return to Cordova. 91  
Chap. 14. The Conjunction of the two Generals, and their entrance into Castille. 103  
Chap. 15. The March of the two Generals towards Valentia and Murtia, and their Return to Cordova. 109  
Chap. 16. The Order that Tariff left in Spain, before his Departure thence. 113  
A Letter from King Pelage, to General Tariff Abenziet. 120  
A Letter from Tariff Abenziet, to Caliph Valid Almanzor, Emperor of the Moors. 122  
Chap. 17. Pelage takes the City of Gixa from the Moors, and burns it. 125  
Chap. 18. The Unhappy end of Count Julian, of the Countess his Wife, and of Florinda his Daughter. 131  
Chap. 19 Muca being vexed that Almanzor did not send for him as well as Tariff, dispatches his Brother to him with the description of all Spain. 136  
A Letter from Muca, Viceroy of Africa, to Caliph Almanzor, Emperor of the Arabians. 138  
A Letter from Valid Almanzor, to the King of Thunis. 145  
The King of Thunis' Answer. 147  
Chap. 20. Adilbar goes to invest the City of Hispalis with his Army, but is constrained to raise the Siege, and return to Cordova. 149  
Chap. 21. Adilbar makes a second Attempt upon Hispalis, and is as Successless as before. 156  
Chap. 22. Adilbar goes to Valence, defeats the Governor of that Province, and has him Beheaded. 165  
Chap. 23. Almanzor gives Tariff a place in his Council, and chooses him for his Ambassador Extraordinary, for the Conclusion of the Prince his Son's Match, with the King of Thunis' Daughter. 168  
Letters Patents, of Almanzor's Demission in favour of his Son. 171  
Chap. 24. Abraham Amcary goes to fight Abenbukar; defeats him, and has him beheaded. 180  
Chap. 25. King Aboulvalid assembles a great Army in Africa, and marches against his Brother Abraham, gives him Battle, wherein his Brother is killed. 185  
King Aboulvaiid's Letter to Muca, Viceroy of Morocco and Africa. 188  
Chap. 26. Adilbar, Viceroy of Spain, leads his Army into Biscaya, against Pelagius, and thence returns without doing aught. 195  
Chap. 27. Of the Death of the King of Thunis, and of the great Wars Aboulvalid was obliged to make to render himself Master of that Kingdom. 200  
Chap. 28. Aboulvalid makes Muca Generalissimo of his Armies, and after having reduced the Kingdom of Thunis under his Obedience, returns into Arabia. 206  
Aboulvalid's Letter to Muca Abenzairi, Generalissimo in his Armies. 207  
Chap. 29. The Oath of Allegiance which Aboulvalid causes the States to take to Jacob Almanzor his Son. 214  
Chap. 30. Aboulvalid's Death; who leaves to one of his Kinsmen, called Mahomet Amcari, the Regency of his State, during his Son's Minority. 221  
Chap. 31. The Regent Amcari, meaning to bereave Prince Almanzor of his Life, is discovered and punished for his Perfidy. 230  
Chap. 32. Prince Almanzor's Death; the Queen his Mother dies of Grief, in a short time after, and Ali Abilhachek causes himself to be Proclaimed Caliph. 235    

PART I.  
Containing the Life of Don Rodrigo, King of Spain. The Conquest of that Kingdom under the Caliph Valid Almanzor: And the Wars which his Death occasioned in Africa, in Europe and Asia, between his Children and his Generals.  
Luna and all the Spanish Authors put Mira mamolin, instead of Emir el mumenin, Prince of Believers. Almanzor signifies August, Victorious. Caliphe, Vicar, Successor.  

CHAP. I.  
Anagilda, King Acosta's Widow, withdraws, with the Prince her Son, to Cordova. Rodrigo invites her to bring him back to Court to assist at a Festival. She goes thither, and departs thence forthwith.  
IN the Year 91 of the Hegira, 
Hegira signifies Series, from whence the Arabs begin to reckon their years.  Spain was governed by a King called Rodrigo, of the Race of the Goths; a People that came into that Country from the farthest parts of the North, and who made profession of the Christian Religion. 
The year 91 of the Hegira falls in with the year 712 of our Lord.  This Kingdom did then enjoy a profound Peace, and was as much under his subjection, as Arabia could be formerly to the Great Almanzor, our Sovereign Lord. Insomuch that this unhappy Prince (for we may well term him so) had the freedom to abandon himself to all the Vices, whereof Idleness is commonly the source.  
What curbed him, was the young Prince Don Sancho, Son to the late King Acosta, his Eldest Brother; to whom by consequence 
* Har Malmucq, Royal Sceptre.  the Crown was devolved after his Death, and which had been only conferred upon him until the Majority of his Nephew. But he was loath to resign so precious a Pledge, and his thoughts were wholly taken up in contriving the means to appropriate the whole Authority to himself; which to him did not seem sufficiently Charming, as long as it was only borrowed.  
The more his Nephew became fortified in Body and Mind, the more this unnatural Uncle became peevish and uneasy. The Affection which all the Grandees bore him, much before the time giving him a 
* Aldahir, to show another thing outwardly.  Jealousy, which he had much ado to dissemble.  
Queen Anagilda having sooner than any other, perceived the ill will he bore her Son, seldom suffered him out of her sight, and only placed such persons about him, as of whose fidelity she was well assured. But, in short, the Affection she had for Don Sancho making her shrift into all Rodrigo's pernicious Designs, and to foresee the storm that was suddenly like to come pouring upon her Head; she asked Rodrigo's Permission to leave Toledo, the usual Abode of the Kings of Castille, to retire to a City in Andalousia, called Cordova, whither she took along her Son, and all her Household. This Resolution, which Rodrigo durst not thwart, made him harbour new and stronger Distrusts: He every moment fancied that his Nephew had attained to his years of Majority; that the Sceptre was to be put into his Hands, and of an absolute King as he was, become his Subject's 
* Alcabir, submitted, subjected.  Pupil: And looking on this fall as a thing worse than Death, he found no better means to screen himself from it, than to dispatch as soon as possible Don Sancho out of the World.  
To bring this Design the more easily and secretly about, he caused a Tournament to be proclaimed at Toledo; where several days were wholly spent in the Preparations for so great an Entertainment: And as all People were invited to be there on the day it was to begin, he sent a Courier on purpose to Cordova, earnestly to entreat Queen Anagilda to Honour it with her Presence, and with that of the Prince her Son. This Princess ever labouring under the apprehensions of some Treachery, at first waved with Excuses the undertaking of this Journey; but at last, being pressed by the Messengers that were sent upon the heels of one another, she consulted those in whom she thought she might confide: They all agreed, That the Diffidence she harboured of her Brother-in-Law was well grounded, but that it became her not to suffer it to be perceived: That Rodrigo would easily guests the Reason why the Prince went not to Court, and so might be urged to Extremities, for which they ought not to give him any occasion.  
Immediately after, Orders being given for the Departure, and the rumours thereof being spread about Andalousia, several Persons of Quality came to ask the Queen leave to attend her; and she being willing to be accompanied by the most People she could, with joy accepted their offers. Thus did she repair with a very numerous, brisk and stately Train into the Province of Castille; at her arrival at Toledo, she was there received with all the Honours due to her, and found the Court extraordinary full.  
She was lodged, with all her Train, in a Stately Palace, wherein she had hardly remained the time necessary to recreate herself after the fatigue of so great a March, but that the day appointed for the solemnity of that Festival being come, she was conducted in Ceremony, upon 
* Maus●●s, a Scaffold.  a Scaffold erected and spread with Tapestries magnificently, in a place where the Prince D. Sancho sat in the middle, having the King his Uncle on his Right Hand, and the Queen his Mother on his Left.  
As soon as this Entertainment was over, (it having been performed with much Joy and Magnificence) notwithstanding the earnest entreaties and instances made by the King D. Rodrigo, to oblige Anagilda to stay some days to divert herself in his Court, she remained fixed in the Resolution she had taken; and alleging the best Reasons she could bethink herself of, she took her leave of him, and returned in all haste to Cordova, with her Son, and all the Company she had brought along.  
Rodrigo being extremely vexed, that so sudden a departure had robbed him of the means of executing his perverse Intentions, and touched to the quick, that in the Journey Don Sancho had taken to Toledo the Grandees of the Court, the Governors of Places, the Prelates, and the People 
* Alhamemma, the Common People, the Commons.  had treated him in his own Presence, as their real King; he knew not what course to take to render himself the sole Master of Spain: He rolled a thousand things in his mind, but paused not upon one without finding a thousand Difficulties in't, and out of which he could, with any likelihood, promise himself a good issue. At last he resolved upon what we shall see in the following Chapter.   

CHAP. II.  
Rodrigo causes the Prince Don Sancho to be taken into Custody. His Mother frees him out of Prison, and goes with him into Africa.  
ROdrigo, after having missed of so fair an occasion to rid himself of his Nephew, was too much dejected for to be able to resolve on any thing in himself. But it was not sufficient to find out expedients, there needed such People as were capable of making use of them. Astolpho was the man of all the Court in whom he had the most Confidence; wherefore upon him did he unburden himself of a 
* Am●, the Care, the thing.  Secret, that lay so much the heavier upon him, as that he meant to have kept it to himself; and offered him at the same time all the Gold and Money that was in his Power, and the Governments of the most considerable Places of his Kingdom, if he could help him to bring about his design.  
Astolpho wanting neither Industry nor Malice, advised him to practise false Witnesses, that might charge Don Sancho with some great Crime: Representing to him. That when he should cause him to be confined under the colour of Justice, no body could find fault therewith; and that during the Prince's Imprisonment, it would be easy for him, either to put him to death, or to render himself in such manner Master of the Kingdom, that it would be impossible to divest him of its Administration.  
The King very much relishing this Contrivance, was not long without causing D. Sancho's Process to be made; who by the Informations, was found charged with Crimes as black and notorious, as needed to authorise the clapping him up into Prison.  
Astolpho having received the Commission for this purpose, departed from Toledo, without the least suspicion being had of the occasion of his Journey, and reaching Cordova before it could in the least get Wind, he entered the Prince's Chamber, whom he found sleeping, in perfect security from any such like Treason; and passing with all expedition across the City, that dreamt not in the least how matters went, he carried him through the Mountains making the Desert, that separate Castille from Andalousia, into a little Town that may be seen from Cordova, 
The Tower of Stone in Sierra Merena, Land or Mountain, brown, black.  from which it is not far distant; and is called The Tower of Stone.  
The Queen, amazed at so unexpected a Blow, was for some while without knowing what to resolve on; but as she had more Courage than her Sex does usually afford, and quickly suspected how the case stood, she resolved at any rate to free her Son out of so great a Danger. Insomuch, that having caused five and twenty of the bravest men of her household to take Horse and Arms, as well as five and thirty others, whom she ordered to follow her on foot. She herself went with this small Troop after those that carried away her Son, whom she overtook in that Tower, I have newly mentioned.  
At first Astolpho meant to have stood upon his Defence, but having vigorously attacked him, and killed all his Men, she herself took him Prisoner, and brought her Son back to Cordova.  
She at first designed to have fortified herself in that Town, and to have provided it with all things necessary, but fearing Rodrigo might come to besiege her there, she packed up all she had most precious, and having assembled her most trusty Servants, she withdrew to the most Western part of Spain, into a place called the Algesires, belonging to Count Julian; the same that a little while after occasioned the loss of Spain. Not finding herself even there in sufficient security, she thought the best course would be to put the Sea between her and D. Rodrigo, and go seek in a foreign Country for succours to conquer her own. This Resolution 
* Ascald, Design, Resolution.  being taken, she caused Astolpho's Nose and Ears to be cut off, as a Traitor to his King; and passed the Straight, after having sent him back to the King her Brother-in-Law, with a Letter, which, Translated out of Spanish into Arabic, is as follows.  

This Letter was found in King D. Rodrigo's Cabinet at Cordova, and as it was translated out of Spanish into Arabic, by Abentariq, was again put into the tongue out of which it was originally turned.  The Letter of Queen Anagilda, the Prince Don Sancho's Mother, to the King D. Rodrigo.  
The Unhappy Anagilda, to the Traitor, D. Rodrigo. Health to him that does not deserve it.  
THy Natural Malignity, and the desire thou hast, at any rate, to Reign, must needs have plunged thee into a strange Blindness, for to render thee so unjust as to go about to practice false Witnesses against an Innocent; so perfidious as to fail in thy Loyalty to thy Lord; so unnatural as to rob thy Nephew of his Life.  
All the Laws of Knighthood, as well as those of humanity, do not suffer the revenging one's self on those that have meant us the most mischiefs, as soon as they can no longer do us any: Nay, and Generosity requires that we pardon them, though they have done us hurt; but the least of these Virtues is too great for thee: Thou wilt not so much as know what these same Duties are, and dost not mind the praises that are gained by fine Actions; since that instead of being for the Truth, which is the friend of God, thou makest it thy whole business to stifle it, and to declare thyself against it; vowing the ruin of him that never had the least thought to offend thee; and who, on the contrary, has had so much confidence in thee, that he put himself under thy Protection.  
Thou wouldst do much better to make War upon thy Enemies, and conquer some one of their Provinces, than to attack a Woman and a Child; wherein thou hast not any Honour to acquire; and wherein thou canst not miss of ruining it in this World, to lose after that thy Soul in the other. Learn to harbour no longer such 
* Hiaan, bad Design.  empty and such Criminal Designs; and think of leading no longer such a disorderly Life as that thou leadest; while that God, who only requires the 
* Taube, Penitence, Change.  Conversion of the Sinner, may still grant thee Mercy.  
Dost thou think that thy Reign will last always? Dost thou not know that only that of God hath no end? That all the Kings of the Earth are but Dust; that they must one day become Dust again; and that when after thy Death, thou shalt appear before his Tribunal, thou wilt only carry along with thee thither, the Good and Evil thou hast done in this Life.  
I Challenge thee in his Name, and summons thee to restore the Crown to whom it belongs, and to rest satisfied with thy Condition. If thou dost not do it, assure thyself, that though I am a Woman, and weak by Consequence, Truth shall strengthen me, and make me triumph, with the help of God, over all thy Artifices 
* Algadr, Treason. ; that will all vanish into smoke: The Innocence of my Son, as well as my own, will be Chains of Iron, which all thy efforts can never break; and the Calumny and Treason wherein thou wouldst involve us, will last no longer than threads of rotten Flax: whereas the justice of my Cause being firm and stable as Marble, will appear in the Eyes of all the World, as clear and as pure as Crystal. It is easy for thee to judge of the little reason thou hast, by the little help Heaven gives thee. Thou sendest to take an Innocent with a Troop of Guards, as if he had been a Malefactor: God has broke those bonds; and if thou doubtst it, thou needest only to see the Nose and Ears of him, to whom thou gavest thy Commission for that purpose, who will inform thee whether thou or we have the best Right. I will put an end to my Letter; but take this along, That I am not at all resolved to put an end to either my Cares, or my Endeavours against thee; from which, on the contrary, I will never desist, till such time as that I am fully Revenged.  
From the Algesires, on the 23 day of January, in the year 750 of the 
* The aera of Caesar; from whence the Spaniards began to reckon their years is thirty eight years before our Lord.  aera of Caesar.  
The Superscription of the Packet was to D. Rodrigo, the Tyrant and Usurper of D. Sancho his Nephew's Kingdom.  
Rodrigo in the mean while, thinking he had taken his measures aright, flattered himself with the hopes of suddenly seeing that Prisoner arrive, whom he had so great a longing to rid himself of; but strangely was he surprised, when he saw his dear Astolpho come all disfigured as he was, disclaiming against, and cursing his ill fortune▪ He was much more so, when having asked him, Who had put him into that condition? He acquainted him how that having taken Don Sancho, and bringing him along towards Toledo, the Queen his Mother issued out of Cordova, with abundance of Horse and Foot, and had used such expedition, that she had overtaken him on the way, had cut all his Party to pieces, whatever resistance he had been able to make, to endeavour to hinder her from rescuing his Prisoner from him; and that she would, doubtless, have put him to Death as well as the rest, had she not thought fit to reserve him to carry him this Letter; which he did not expect would be over welcome: The King, after having taken it, asked what was become of Anagilda and her Son? And he having replied, That they had taken Shipping for Africa; he was so sorely grieved, that his Affliction had like to have made him run mad. He went and shut himself up in his Closet, that he might so with the more freedom give a loose to the vexation he had for the unhappy event of his Enterprise. He could not then forbear opening the Queen's Letter; and as Truth has great force, he felt in that moment some Repentance for what he had done. But Ambition being the ruling Passion of his Soul 
* Faqr, Mind, thought. , the remorse of his Conscience did not trouble him so much, as the fear he had lest Anagilda should go demand succours of the Moors against him. This made him send in all haste for Count Julian, to whom belonged the Castle of the Algesires, where she had resided for some time before she went into Africa, that he might by him discover the intention of her Journey into those parts. This Count being come to Court, and having assured the King, that she went away with a Resolution to prevail with the Moors to wage War upon him, he resolved to send this Count into Africa, to endeavour to divert this Storm; and to procure the better welcome for his Letters to Muca, who was then Viceroy for the Caliph Valid-Almanzor, he accompanied them with a world of Presents 
* Haddavia, or rather Haddya, Presents. , and made him the offer of entering into a Treaty of Alliance with his Master. Anagilda in the mean while falling sick, through Grief rather than fatigue, was obliged to stay for for some time at a City of Africa called Tangier; by which means Count Julian had seen the Viceroy, and presented him with the Jewels sent him by Rodrigo, before he had heard talk of her. Muca received him with much Honour; and after having treated him several times in a House he had caused to be prepared for that purpose, he made him answer, That he could not of his own head resolve upon any thing of what Rodrigo required; but that if he would stay some time, he would write to the Caliph Almanzor, who would, undoubtedly, receive in due manner the advances of so great a King; and would do all that should be most fitting, and most suitable for both.  
During these Transactions, Rodrigo received Tidings, that Anagilda and D. Sancho were both dead at Tangier; which inspired him with mighty Joy, seeing himself at the point he had so long wished to be at; and believing he had now nothing more at all to fear. He nevertheless imagined that the Amity of the Moors might be of some use to him: For which reason, he wrote to Count Julian, that notwithstanding the Prince's Death, he should nevertheless remain in Africa, to wait the event of his Embassy.  
After having taken these Precautions for abroad, his thoughts were now only bend how to secure all things at home, where were still some Princes that might dispute the Crown with him. He caused the States to be held at Toledo, where, D. Sancho's Death being made known, he caused an Oath of Allegiance to be taken to him by all the Grandees there assembled, as Don Sancho's Lawful Successor to the Crown. He had likewise his Coronation performed in great Ceremony, and with all the rejoicing that is wont to be used in such like solemnities. But in the midst of all this Joy, could not he refrain from labouring under some Disquiet; and to free himself wholly from it, and to put himself into a posture that he should not need to dread any thing from any of the Grandees, or any of his Subjects, the only People he imagined he needed to fear, having learned the good success of the African Negotiation; he bethought himself of expedients, whereof mention shall be made in the following Chapter.   

CHAP. III.  
Rodrigo causes most of the Fortresses of his Kingdom to be dismantled; and commits several Violences, that make him incur the anger of God.  
IT is very true, and Men have daily but too much Experience of it) that having once believed Fortune 
* Albatb, Fortune, felicity, perhaps Debetz, whiteness.  propitious, we ought not to expect that it will so long continue: On the contrary, as it has not any stability; and that it is inconstancy itself; the more it smiles upon us, the more ought we to distrust it; and often expect that she delights to invite us, by small baits and allurements, to run after her, to abandon us afterwards, when we shall stand most in need of her succours.  
Of this there can be no greater, nor a more illustrious Example found than Rodrigo: For after having rendered him absolute Master of all Spain, and procured him to be Crowned King thereof; she took a pleasure in 
* Albufram, loss, destruction, from the Root. Saram renders it miserable.  despoiling him in a short time, of all she had conferred on him, and tumbled him from his Throne, by the same means he pretended to make use of to defend himself on it.  
Such of his Subjects as he most distrusted (for he had no longer any Apprehension from Strangers) were some Grandees, and Governors of the Places of Andalousia, and of Castille, who had been of D. Sancho's Party. Wherefore he began to make sure of their Persons; and after having put them to Death, he caused not only their Castles to be razed, but most of the strong Places of Spain; reserving to himself only such as seemed to him most necessary for his own security; wherein he put such men as were wholly at his Devotion. He did not think this sufficient; He caused Proclamation to be made through all his Territories, That not any of his Subjects henceforwards should have the boldness to bear any sort of Arms, nor to keep any in his House; and that all People should bring them into his Palace, upon pain of Death; imagining that after the People had thus laid aside the Exercise 
* Alchiad.  of War, and should only addict themselves to Agriculture, his Government would be much more absolute, and much more quiet.  
But the poor Prince was much mistaken, for not being then curbed by any fear, he abandoned himself to all manner of Irregularities and Dissolutions, according as I have been told by Spanish Bishops, and other persons worthy of Credit, of whom I made enquiry, during my abode in that Country: So far as that he made no difficulty to put the worthiest persons of all his Kingdom to Death, that he might have his Pleasure with their Wives and Daughters. So loose a Life occasioned an Universal Disorder: For as Kings are looked upon by their Subjects as the Models by which they ought to square all their Actions; and that, indeed, they seldom sail to imitate their Virtues, and still more their Vices: The bad Example of this Prince passed on to the People, who would needs equal him in Wickedness and Libertinism; insomuch that we need not wonder at the punishment God inflicted upon them.  
Rodrigo being still young, either out of the desire of perpetuating himself, which Nature inspires into all Animals 
* Haigua, what has Life: from thence comes the name of Eve. ; or from that of having lawful Children that might succeed him, which is a sentiment peculiar to Men; he had a great desire to Marry, but he could not find out a fitting Match.  
At that time was there in the Eastern part of Africa a King called Mahomet Abhehedin, who had but one Daughter, of an extraordinary Beauty, called 
* The Spaniards call her Eliatta.  Zahra Abnaliaca: This young Princess walking one Evening upon the Seashore, with her Maids, and some of her Father's Servants, it seemed to her so Calm and Charming, that the fancy took her to go on board a Ship, so to divert herself upon the Water. Her Attendants, without making over much Reflection upon what they did, did not divert her from the Design. The Mariners made ready the Ship, all her Company were eager to go with her on board, and in the merry pin they all were; they did not mind that they distanced themselves a little too far from the Land, whither they did not trouble their Heads about returning, while it was in their Power. In the mean while the Wind changing all on the sudden, the Storm became so great, that being unable to put into any Port of Africa; they were constrained to abandon themselves to the open Sea; and were at length drove upon the Coasts of Spain, in a place called 
* Alcapta, Place of ill luck.  Alcapta by the Arabians, which in that Tongue signifies a Place of ill luck; and by the Spaniards, Cabodegata; where they were all taken, and made Slaves by the Christians of that Place. It was easy to see by their clothes and Equipage, that they were Persons of great Quality; insomuch that whatever Care the Moors took to conceal that of the Infanta, 
* Husian, disguise, dissemble.  she was known at length, and brought, with all her Train, to Rodrigo; who being informed of it, gave order that she should be handsomely received, and treated in all Places.  
He was well made and Gallant, the Princess was Young and Beautiful; insomuch that Love easily engaged them, and quickly augmented by the Entertainments he made her, and by the soft Conversations they ever had together. The thing came at length so far, that the King having offered to Marry, and place the Crown of Spain upon her Head, provided she would turn Christian; she, without much trouble, resolved to do so. The Nuptials were performed with great rejoicing and solemnity. The Men and Women of her Retinue that were minded to be converted, and stay with their Mistress, had considerable Settlements in Spain; and those that could not be persuaded to that, returned into Africa, whither they brought this News. Mahomet being very uneasy for his Daughter, was so surprised to hear that she had abjured his Faith, that he died of Grief; and by his Death left the Crown to Avilgualid; who, as his nearest Relation, succeeded him in his Kingdom. We shall see in the series of this History the unhappy issue of this Marriage, as well as the Amours of this Prince with Florinda.   

CHAP. IU.  
Rodrigo falls in love with Florinda, called La Caux by the Arabs. She signifies to Count Julian, her Father, then in Africa, the violence done her by this Prince.  
Tho' Rodrigo was married, he led the same life he did before he was so: 
Resque, Gallantry.  He nevertheless fell in Love with one of the most beautiful Ladies of his Court, called Florinda, Count Julian's Daughter; who was at that time in his African Embassy. She had Wit enough to perceive that the King's Courtship did not at all tend to her own Honour, nor to that of her Family, since that it, doubtless, only aimed at Ravishing her of it; and she had Virtue enough to receive his fondnesses with much indifference and Modesty; but the more firmness she exerted, with the more obstinacy did he persevere to overcome it.  
Now for the more easy effecting of this his purpose, he made several new Regulations in his Court: Among other things, he ordered that when he should eat with his Queen, none but the Ladies of the Palace should serve at Table, and required them to be dressed finer than ordinary on such days. This being thus established, one day after Supper, whereat Florinda had served with others, he so ordered matters, that he caused her to enter a Room void of all other Company, and following her thither, whatever resistance and screams she was able to make, he gained of her, at length, by force, what she never would have granted him.  
Being under the utmost Despondency at such an Outrage, and not knowing how either to be Revenged or Comforted, she resolved to make her Case known to her Father. In short, after having contrived the most mysterious terms she could bethink herself of, that they might only be understood by him, she made use of those of this Letter; which, Translated out of Spanish into Arabic, is as follows.  
Florinda's Letter to Count Julian, her Father.  
THe regret I have for the absence of a Father so dear to me as you must needs be, makes me in Writing to you, seek the Consolation I cannot find, of seeing you. Not that I mean to send you all the News of the Palace 
* Mabzan, House. , that ever affords sufficient that deserves your knowledge; this is only to acquaint you with one, which, though it be already old in this Court, will ever be new for such a Maid as I; and will ever appear in the Eyes of the whole World very strange, for such a great Prince as Rodrigo. You must know then, my dear Father, that I had, heedlessly, left upon a Table the Ring I send you in this Letter; and was not so careful to lock up close this precious Jewel, which I esteemed more than my Life, and which you and my Mother had so earnestly recommended to me: But the King having a desire to it, impetuously threw himself to take it; and seeing I would not give it him, he drew his Sword 
* Hucan Almuque, Cutlass Royal. , and gave it so many hacks, that whatever screams and struggle I used to hinder him, he has, as you see, cloven it in two, both the Ring and Emerald enchased in it. So vexatious and so unexpected an accident plunges me into so much confusion, that I cannot explain it further; and makes me conjure you to remedy it, if possible; for to you only can I have recourse in this matter. My Mother is very ill, and I still worse. I pray God to preserve you.  
From Toledo, the 3 of December, in the Year 
* This Epocha is thirty eight years, or thereabouts, before the Birth of our Lord.  750 of the aera of Caesar.  
Count Julian being wise 
* Fahim, Wise.  and prudent, having received this Letter, presently understood his Daughter's meaning; and was so concerned, that, without staying one moment in Africa, he took leave of Muca, and returned with all expedition to the Algesires. He stayed in his House only the time necessary to give his Wife order to feign her being sick of grief, for his and her Daughter's absence, and went directly to Court; where he made no semblance of knowing the least of what had been signify'd to him in the Letter; but giving the King an account of his Negotiation, and of the state he had left all things in in Africa, he represented them to him in such manner, as made him comprehend that it was necessary for him to return forthwith thither. The King, after having given him his Expeditions as soon as he desired them, was very much surprised, when at his taking his leave of him, the Count asked his permission to carry his Daughter to the Algesires, to stay some time there with her Mother, who was very ill, and mighty desirous to see her. But though this went very much against the grain, he could not handsomely refuse him his Request. And thus the Count went with her to the Algesires, where he made some days abode. In the following Chapter we shall see the Resolution he took in this place.   

CHAP. V.  
Count Julian being throughly informed of the outrage done to his Daughter, resolved to be Revenged, and to deliver Spain to the Moors.  
AS soon as the Count was got to his own home, he made Florinda relate more precisely, and more particularly what she had written to him in obscure terms; and when he was fully certain of the shame of his Family, and in such sort as was past all doubt, than was his Grief so much the more sensible, in that he saw that the person that had done him so great an outrage, was his Lord and King, from whom he seemed to be under an obligation of enduring all, and that it was impossible for him to wreak his Revenge.  
Wherefore not knowing what to do in this Distress, and not minded, without mature deliberation, to abandon himself to all that his Passion might suggest, he, with all possible secrecy, assembled his Relations and Friends, who interesting themselves in the affront Rodrigo had put upon the Count, and animating one another to Revenge, after having found that they were not strong enough to assert their Resentments, unless backed by a foreign Power, they unanimously resolved that the Count should return into Africa to treat with Muca; and that they on their parts should abide in their Houses, waiting the success of his Voyage. After having all embraced one another, and engaged to keep this Enterprise very secret, the Count took Shipping, with his Wife and Daughter, and whatever he had of value, which he carried along with him into Africa. He was very kindly received by the Viceroy, with whom he had struck up a particular friendship in his Embassy; and told him immediately, That he was come to him, not on the behalf of the King of Spain as the time before, but on his own account, to offer him to deliver up all that great Kingdom to the Caliph Almanzor; and that if he could prevail with him to favour the Party he had in Spain, 
Vid. the Note in the Margin of the Title, and the Preface.  he would furnish him with the means of quickly rendering himself Master of that Realm.  
This Proposal was not displeasing to Muca; on the contrary, after mature examination, and long Conferences with the Count, he found what he said feasible; and proposed to him to him to go himself to the Caliph, to unfold to him more particularly the means he had to effect so great an Enterprise; and for that purpose gave him the following Letter of Credence.  
A LETTER.  
Praised be God, our Sovereign Lord, the Creator of all things.  
TO the most High, most Noble, most Illustrious Emperor of all the Arabian Nation, and Defender of the Law of God, Valid Almanzor; t●● whom God Almighty grant Peace, and all manner of good fortune, as well as to all his Subjects, and augmentation of Glory and Dominions; as is wished him by his faithful Servant Muca, under his Authority, and under the Protection of the Almighty God (to whom alone is due Prayer and Sacrifice) Governor of the Dominions of Africa: Who writes to you, Sir, to assure you, as his Charge obliges him, of the 
* Alhana, Peace.  Tranquillity which your Subjects of these Provinces do enjoy; 
Hana, Repose, Conveniency.  and then about an affair, which will be told you by the Bearer of my Letter, who is a Christian, and a Spaniard by Nation; but who, nevertheless, shows much zeal for your Prosperity, and the augmentation of your Empire: He is called the Count D. Julian, and thinks himself very much offended by an outrage done him by the King of Spain, D. Rodrigo, who is the nearest Neighbour you have in the North; and I have found him true and upright in all he told me, insomuch that you may have credence in him; and, I believe, that if you would grant him the succours he requires, there will be no great danger, nor great trouble to try if all he says be true; on the contrary, with the help of God, this may produce a great good, and contribute to the increase of your Kingdoms; as we all desire that are your faithful Servants.  
From the Palace of Morocco, 
This Date jumps with the month of December, in the year 712 of our Lord.  the 3 of the month Dulhises, in the year 91 of the Hegira.  
Count Julian going on board a Felucca he had caused to be fitted out on purpose; and in a short time being arrived in Arabia, where Valid had then his Residence; he presented himself to him, and gave him Muca's Letter of Credence. This Prince caused his Council to assemble, to examine a Proposal of such great consequence. The Count was there heard with great attention: He had a thousand Difficulties put to him, which, as he was a shrewd man, and understood 
* The Arabic, Harb, the Spanish, Ardider, Military Art, Stratagems of War.  War as well as any Captain of his time, he found it no hard matter to answer: He had a thousand Questions asked him; all which he neatly solved. Insomuch that Almanzor being very much satisfied, it was resolved on in his Council, That Orders should be sent to Muca, to favour the Count in all he should desire; and for that purpose he was dispatched away back with all Expedition, with this Letter for the Viceroy of Africa.  
A LETTER. Praised be God, our Sovereign Lord.  
The Supreme Ruler of the Arabs, Vicar of God, and Defender of his Law, Valid Almanzor, To the Noble, Accomplished, Virtuous and Trusty Knight, Muca; Governor of our Kingdoms of Africa; Greeting.  
THe Answer that is made to the Letter of Credence, brought by the Count D. Julian, is, That his Proposal has been kindly received; and that he has given very pertinent Reasons for it. Wherefore it is convenient to attempt this Enterprise, and to commit the Conduct of it to some good Captain; who, with a sufficient number of Horse and Foot, should go to view the Country: Then you shall give us a succinct account of the event of his Voyage, and what you shall think convenient to be done, that we may give orders accordingly. In the mean while God take you into his keeping.  

In the month of September, in the year 713 of our Lord.  From our Palace of Carval, in Arabia foelix, on the 2 of the Moon of Sabben, in the 92 year of the Hegira.  
The Count D. Julian having brought this Letter from Almanzor to Muca, it gave him great satisfaction: And in pursuance of the Emperor's Orders, he made a small Body of six thousand Foot, and some few Horse, which he put under the command of a very brave man, called Tariff Abenriet, of the City of Damus; whom he enjoined with Count Julian to pass the Straight, which the Spaniards call of Hercules 
* Now called Gibraltar. , and which after this was called by this great Captain Jubulfath.  
They had no sooner landed, and chosen a place fit for the Encampment of their Troops according as they came ashore, but that Count Julian's Relations and Friends came to join them, with a great number of their Vassals, whom they had caused to Revolt. Tariff sent immediately to view the Country. His men entered very far into it without meeting with any Resistance; and after having killed all those they met, pillaged and ravaged not only the open Country, but also the Burroughs and Towns, they returned loaded with Booty.  
Tariff seeing things still more easy than he had imagined them, gave an immediate account accordingly to the Viceroy; who signified to him, not to stay the longer for that in this Country, but to return speedily again into Africa, with all his Troops. He obeyed his Orders, though with some reluctancy, and went back into Africa with great Riches, and an infinite number of Slaves; carrying along with him all those, that having declared themselves for Count Julian, durst not stay any longer in Spain, but expected to return thither in a short time with greater Forces: we we shall see in the sequel of this History, they failed not of doing.   

CHAP. VI  
Rodrigo enters a Cave that was at the Gates of Toledo, and thinking to find Treasures therein, finds only Presages of the loss of Spain.  
THe King Rodrigo having had notice of the descent of the Moors into Spain, with Captain Tariff, and Count Julian his Enemy; and that, after having overrun all Andalousia, they were returned with many Slaves; was not so anxious for what they had newly done, as for the apprehension of the long and dangerous War; with which he saw himself threatened; it being easy to judge that Tariff had not made that trial, to stop there.  
He knew Count Julian to be a Man of Wit and Execution, of Courage, and a through knowledge of War, a Natural Spaniard, that knew the state of his Affairs, knew the Country, had there many Adherents, nay, and Places, wherein he could enter and go out as often as he pleased. He easily perceived, but too late, the fault he had committed, in losing, for a moment's Pleasure, a man of such importance, and in giving him to his Enemies. He made reflection upon the bad posture of his Kingdom, since he had disarmed his Subjects, and caused all the strong Places to be demolished. He considered that the long Peace which Spain had enjoyed, was the occasion that he had no Disciplined Troops, and that when he had assembled an Army, they would be only raw men: All this plunged him into surious Disquiets. He asked Counsel of all People, and found none good. At length, having consulted and Archbishop, a Relation of his, called Torrife, and having told him the little Money he had to raise and keep forces on foot; this Archbishop persuaded him to break open a Place called the Enchanted Tower, where there was said to be a Treasure. And as this is a thing very extraordinary, I am willing to insert here at length what the same Torrife told me; who shortly after quitted that King's Party, to come to Count Julian in our Camp; and who could give the best account of it, as having been present when D. Rodrigo caused it to be opened. Now this is what he then told me.  
About a mile from Toledo, between steep Rocks that lie East of that great City, there was formerly a Tower, of a very ancient and very magnificent structure, though a little endamaged by Time, that consumes all: Under whose foundation was a very deep Cave, separated into four different Vaults, across a very narrow Entrance cut in the Rock, where a great Iron Door had been made up, with a thousand Locks, and as many Bolts: Upon this Door there was Greek Characters, that seemed rather Ciphers than Letters, and might be diversely interpreted; but whose meaning were, (as those pretended, who thought they knew them best) that the King that should open this Cave, and discover all the Wonders that were therein, would certainly find a great deal of Good and Evil.  
Several Kings before this, had had a desire to shrift into the truth of this mystery, but whatever Orders they had given for that purpose, they had never been able to cause them to be executed. Upon the opening this Door, so great a Noise was heard, that the Earth seemed to open at the same time under the feet of those that meant to enter therein: 
Half.  They were seized with such a dread, that most of 'em fell sick upon't, some died, and no body had the Courage to enter further. The Door had still been shut up more strongly than before, and People still believed that the time appointed for the breaking so great an Enchantment was not yet come; but Rodrigo's ill fate would have it that this fatal adventure was reserved for him. He had chosen very resolute men to enter with him into that Cave; but they had not gone very far, when the Torches they had being extinguished, the greater part fled away, out of a panic fear which seized them, of a terrible Hobgoblin they said they saw. The King in great anger caused other Flambeaux to be lighted which he had caused to be made on purpose, after a particular manner, that so the air of the Cave might not put them out: With this light he entered the first of all, and without showing any fear, though perhaps he was not exempt from a little; hardly had he gone some steps, but that he found himself in a beautiful Room, enriched with as delicate Sculptures as those we see in the greatest Palaces: In the midst of this great Room was a Brazen Statue, with a fierce posture, placed upon a Pillar three Cubits high, holding in its hand a 
* Macmah.  Battle-axe, with which it struck the Earth from time to time, and so strongly, that there was reason to believe it to be partly the violent agitation it occasioned in the air, by the blows it gave, that made the great noise that was heard at their entrance.  
Rodrigo, though a little startled, did not however lose Courage; and began to conjure this Phantom; telling him, That he did not pretend to commit any Disorder in the place of his abode, and that he would go his ways as soon as he had seen all its Wonders.  
He had no sooner uttered these words, but the Statue left off beating the Earth. The King and his Attendants being a little encouraged, most carefully visited all the corners of that great Room. On the Left hand of the Statue they saw these words written on the Wall, Unhappy Prince, thy ill Destiny hath brought thee hither. Turning to the Right, he found nothing better, for there was written, Thou shalt be dispossessed by foreign Nations, and thy Subjects shall be punished as well as thee, for all their Crimes. Upon the back of the Statue was written these words in Arabic, To my Succours: and upon its Breast these, I do my Duty.  
I forgot to say that at the entrance of this Room there was a kind of round Fat, like a Bowl; from whence there issued a kind of spout, whose surging made a hideous murmur.  
After having well considered all these things, and caused the Inscriptions of them to be taken in a Table-book; the King went away very much disturbed, and very peevish; and had no sooner turned his back, but that the Statue fell again to striking the ground, after its usual manner. The King caused this Cave to be shut up again more carefully than before, and had its entrance stopped with Earth, that so none thenceforward might enter therein, forbidding all his Attendants to make the least mention of this Adventure, by reason of the terror that so ill a presage might put into all People's minds: But nevertheless is was immediately buzzed about all the Court.  
The Night following Cries were heard, that waywards, like to those that People make when they are fight; and after a Clap, that made a mighty hurly burly, this old Tower sunk; and all people were amazed the next day to find no more footsteps of it, than if all they had seen before had been only a Dream.  
The King having assembled the Wise men of his Kingdom, to demand of them the Explication of all he had seen: They found that the Brazen Statue, with its perpetual motion, signified Time, that was obliged never to stop, as was noted by the Inscription it had upon its Breast. That that which was on the Back signified, that in the sequel of time, Spain should be conquered by the Arabians: That of the Walls presaged, The loss of his Kingdom, and a great Calamity of all his People: And that above the Door, The great Evils the Conquered would suffer, and the great benefits the Victors would thence derive.  
Such an Explication gave no little anxiety to Rodrigo, and to such of his People as heard it. They all lift up their Eyes to Heaven, well seeing that it was from God alone that they could hope for any succours. For though they had news that Tariff and Count Julian were returned into Africa, this was not capable of re-assuring the King against so many intimations of the anger of Heaven. Whereupon he began to order the re-erecting all the Fortifications he had caused to be demolished; and had Proclamation made throughout his Kingdom, that the People should take up again the Arms he had forbidden, and exercise themselves therein, as before. He resolved also to quit Toledo, and go make his residence at Cordova; that so he might be nearer the place, from whence apparently all the mischief was to come, and thereto apply Remedies the more easily.   

CHAP. VII.  
Muca sends Tariff and Count Julian into Arabia, to give an account to Almanzor, of the success of the Voyage they had made into Spain.  
TAriff Abenriet and Count Julian being returned into Africa, much satisfied with their Voyage, were there admirably well received by the Viceroy; and after having among themselves concerted the means of effecting their Design, it was resolved, That this Captain and this Count should both go to Almanzor's Court, to communicate to him, and render him a faithful and an exact account of all they had done, and of the propitious Disposition wherein they had found the People of Spain: well perceiving it to be difficult by Letters to remove all the doubts 
* Hirisaf, Inconveniences. , and solve all the Difficulties that might be started upon an affair of so great a moment, as the Conquest of so great a Kingdom; and show upon Paper, and at a distance, so great an Enterprise, so easily as those could do it by word of mouth, that had themselves considered things more nearly.  
Whereupon having caused a Ship to be fitted out, and having provided themselves with all Necessaries 
* Sarra, Martial Men. , as well for their Subsistance, as for their Safety; after having weathered a furious Storm, they at length arrived happily in Arabia, where having presented themselves to Almanzor, he received them as well as they could wish, and had them lodged and treated with all their Train, and all the Soldiers they had brought along with them. Tariff in a few days after his arrival, had a long audience of Almanzor; in which, after having given him an account of all he had done for his service, he promised him, That if he would do him the honour to send him back into Spain, and rely upon him for the Conquest of so great a Country, he would subdue it in a little time to his Obedience. The Confidence with which this great Captain spoke, had so mnch power over Almanzor's mind, that he immediately caused his Council to assemble, with it, still more particularly to examine all the Difficulties that might be met with in so great an Enterprise, and all the means he proposed to bring it about. Whereupon, this affair having been agitated with mature deliberation, and accordingly reported to the Emperor, and debated anew again in his presence. At last the Conquest of Spain was resolved on, and the rumour of the Declaration of War against the King Don Rodrigo spread immediately throughout the whole extent of the Caliph's Empire. Tariff, who had already exerted his Valour, as well as his Conduct, in other occasions, wherein he had acquired Almanzor's esteem, and that of all the Arabians; knowing the Country better than any man, and having entered into strict Engagements with Count Julian, it would have been both injustice and imprudence to have taken from him the Command of the Army: For which reason he was at the same time nominated General, and these are the Letters Patents that were issued out to that intent.  
Letters Patents.  
Praise be to God alone, Amen.  
THe Great and Warlike Valid Almanzor, of the high Lineage of Motaleb, Vicar of God, and the Defender of his Law; Son of the most High and most Noble Caliph, and potent Ruler of all the Arabic Nation, Abdulmeleck; to all those who shall these present Letters see, Greeting. We, for certain considerations and just causes us thereunto moving, having Ordered, as We Order by these presents, the Conquest of the Western Kingdoms, that are possessed by the King, Don Rodrigo, a Christian by Profession, our Capital Enemy; by reason of the great profit which will redound thence to our Subjects, and the augmentation which will thence accrue to our Empire. We have resolved to nominate and choose, as We choose and nominate by these presents, for Governor and Captain General in all those Countries, the Noble, the Virtuous, Honoured and Renowned Captain, our Vassal, and Faithful Servant, Tariff Abenriet; whom for this purpose We empower to go with the Troops We shall cause to be given him, into the Territories of Spain, and there execute the Orders that we shall cause to be expedited to him, and do all that to him shall seem fitting, for the accomplishment of our Will, without his needing to stay for new Orders from Us, on that acconnt. We enjoin all Governors of Places, Officers and Soldiers, as well those he shall lead into his Army, as those of all our Realms, that they obey him, and execute his Commands, as well by Sea as by Land, as if they were issued out immediately from us, and Sealed with our own Seal, and Signed by our own Hand: Giving him for this purpose, Power and Authority sufficient to give them, and expedite them, under the penalties he shall please to establish; and which he may cause to be Executed, as Sovereign Judge, upon the Persons and Estates of those as shall Countervene them, and shall be Rebels to our Commands, which We have encharged him to accomplish and execute, in the entire Confidence we have in him: For such is our Pleasure.  

The year 713 of our Lord, in the month of December.  Given in our High Presence, in our Palace Royal of Carval, in Arabia Foelix, in the 22 of the Moon Dulchisa, in the year 92.  
Almanzor had still another Captain, a Greek and Renegado, called Hiza Humani, in whose Valour he had much Confidence: He gave him the Command of the Troops he caused to be raised in the East, of which he quickly made a Body of thirty thousand good Men, and well Armed. At the same time he fitted out a great number of Ships, wherein he put not only all sorts of Ammunition, but a great abundance of Arms, Tools and Instruments of War. And as soon as this Fleet was ready, he Shipped all the Forces, and caused it to depart 
* In the year 714 of our Lord, in the month of June.  on the thirteenth of the Moon of Inmod, and the second day of the year 93.  
This Prince, not content with these great preparations, imagined that as it was a War of Religion he was going to undertake, it was convenient to assemble all the Mahometan Forces. For which reason he dispatched a Man away on purpose, to the King of Thunis, his Ally, to impart to him his Design; and represent to him the great advantages he might derive from the Conquest of Spain; conjuring him to come and join him, and succour him, as soon as possible, with what Foot and Horse he could assemble. This Envoy having put himself into a Felucca, was not long on his Voyage, and met with a most welcome Reception from the King of Thunis, who expressed much Joy to see, by Avilgalit's Letter, and by his Envoys discourse, that he would make use of him in this occasion. He caused the Drum immediately to be beat throughout all his Kingdom, and in a short space levied an Army of thirty thousand Foot, and three thousand Horse; the Command of which he would needs give to Prince Mahomet-Gilhair, his second Son. What troubled him most, was the few Ships he had in a readiness to put to Sea, as not being prepared for so great an Embarkment. For which reason he was obliged to cause all these Troops to wait in a Body, till the arrival of Merchant Ships, wherein he caused them to embark; and at last weighed Anchor, 
In the month of August, in the year 714.  on the 2 of the Moon of Sanguel, in the same year 93.  
These two great Armies being arrived on the Coast of Africa, Muca, who waited for them there, after having held a Council of War with all the General Officers, found they needed some days refreshment after the fatigue of the Sea. For which reason all the Troops were brought on shore; and that the time they might spend in refreshing themselves might not be lost, Tariff and Count Julian were sent before, with a small Body, to make a Descent into Spain; and inquire into the state things were in since their Departure thence; and what Forces the King D. Rodrigo might have on foot. The Troops they chose for this Expedition were to the number of six thousand Foot, as well Moor as Julianist Christians; and about three hundred Horse: With these they crossed the Straight of Gilbralter, and having found a Mountain by the Seaside, fitting to Encamp the few Troops they had, Tariff gave it his own 
* It is still called Tariff.  Name, as being the first place where he began to establish himself. Since the first entrance of the Moors, Rodrigo had not lain idle, but had made the best Preparations he could for War: Insomuch, that as soon as he knew Tariff had made a fresh Descent, for the hindering his Fortifying himself there, he sent his General Astolpho, with an Army of thirty thousand Foot, and about five hundred Horse, that were indeed not over-well Armed, nor over-well Martialized, for the Reasons I have already hinted.  
Astolpho going directly to Tariff, and Encamping in sight of him, there was at first several Skirmishes between the Horse of both sides, wherein that of Tariff had the disadvantage, which so intimidated the Moors, that it had already quite discouraged them; when that on the morrow morning, at break of day, one of the Sentinels perceived a Christian Woman, with a Staff in her hand, on which was a little white Streamer, for a sign of Peace: This Woman being taken, asked to speak with the General of the Army, saying, she was come to bring him such News as would undoubtedly be agreeable to him. As soon as she was in Tariff's presence, she prostrated herself at his Feet, and having embraced them with great signs of 
* Tafacrum, Caresses Applause.  Joy, and great demonstrations of affection, she spoke to him in this manner.  

A Prediction made by a Religious.  
Related to General Tariff by a Christian Woman.  
SIgnior, I am born in Spain, and am called Lafoy Testue. I remember that about sixty years agone, when I was very young, I heard my Father relate, as I was in the Corner of his Chimney, a Prophecy, importing that the people of our Religion should lose the Government of our Country, which was to be conquered by the Moors: And among other things, it was precisely mentioned, that the Captain who was to make this Conquest, should be very brave, and have on his Right Shoulder a Mole very hairy, of the bigness of a Pea, nay, and that his Right Hand should be much longer than his other; insomuch, that without stooping, he might cover all his knee with that hand. He who made this Prediction is an honest Religious, for whom we Christians have a singular veneration. I earnestly conjure you, in case you have these marks I have newly specified, in recompense for the good News I bring you, to save our Lives, I and my Children; and to hinder any injury from being done to their Persons or Goods.   
Tariff having caused what this Woman had newly said, to be explained by a Christian Interpreter he had with him, was overjoyed to hear these things. He strips himself immediately, in the presence of Count Julian, and of all his People, and having caused the place the Woman instanced to be viewed, they found there the Mole she had mentioned, and the Right Hand longer than the Left, though not quite so long as she had said.  
This News being spread about the Army, occasioned an universal joy, and all the Officers would needs share in that their General had, to hear, by infallible proofs, that he it was that was to have the Honour of so noble a Conquest. And indeed he was resolved to give Battle, and therein to vanquish or die. And that all the Soldiers might have the same Resolution, he would needs deprive 'em of all hopes of Retreat.  
For that purpose, as he wanted no industry, he secretly caused Fire to be set to all the Ships that had brought his Troops, and reserved nothing but a small Vessel, nay, and would needs have that too put out to Sea, for the sending by it to Muca, the good or ill News of the Battle.  
Tariff having given this Order, and by a Speech, short indeed, but pithy, animated his Soldiers to the Conflict: It was very bloody and obstinate on both sides, but at length the Christians were put to flight.  
Astolpho, wanting neither Heart nor Conduct, performed in this occasion, not only the Duty of a General, but also that of a Soldier; he Rallied the Runaways the best he could, returned several times to the Charge, and would never yield himself up, whatever entreaties he had made him, choosing rather to die with his Sword in Hand, as all those are wont to do that are jealous of their Honour, and are resolved to leave no room ever to be 
* Almubatida, to blame wrongfully, or without reason.  reproached that they have done any thing contrary to the Fidelity they owe their King.  
In this action Count Julian was dangerously wounded in the Arm with a Partisan, and Tariff slightly in the Left Leg; which very much afflicted the Moors and Julianists.  
The News of this great Defeat being come to Rodrigo, he was extremely grieved, particularly when he knew his General Astolpho to be dead, and that he had been defeated by such a small handful of men.  
Tariff and Count Julian retired forthwith with their Troops to their former Camp on Tariff, from whence they sent in all haste to Muca, by the Bark he had reserved on purpose for this intent, the News of this first Victory, earnestly desiring him to Ship, with all expedition, the two Bodies of Army that had been left in Africa, for their refreshment; which Muca failed not to do, fearing they might need them.   

CHAP. VIII.  
Great Preparations for War made by Rodrigo, in all the parts of his Dominions.  
ROdrigo being dejected, as I have newly said, at this first loss, knew not what course to take to hinder the progress of the Enemies, and with whatever hopes those of his Council and Court would needs flatter him, he was not capable of receiving any Consolation, so full had his Heart been of anxiety for some time, and prepossessed with the ill Opinion he had of the success of this War. He was not wanting however to use all possible Diligence, and omitted nothing of what he thought could help to free him out of so great a danger, for he was but too sensible, that he it was, particularly, that so horrible a Tempest threatened.  
Wherefore he caused the Troops he had levied in all the Provinces of his Kingdom to advance from all parts, and gave them a general Rendezvous at Cordona, where of late he kept his Court; that so he might send them from thence to such places as should need them, and be the readier to take such courses as his occasions should require.  
His Orders were so well Executed, that in a little time his Army was found to be fourscore thousand Foot, and twenty thousand Horse; all of 'em People huddled indeed together, and most of 'em without Arms and Experience. He gave them for their General the Archbishop D. Oppas, his very near Relation; whom he sent before with thirty thousand Foot, and six thousand Horse, to try Fortune once again against Tariff, and endeavour to take the Count D. Julian, imagining, that as he had the Secret and Conduct of this Enterprise, it was, doubtless, the most compendious way to put an end to the War.  
In the mean while fresh reinsorcements came every minute to Tariff, Muca caused the two Armies that were left behind in Africa, to file daily into Spain, as well that which Hiza had brought from Arabia, as that which Prince Mahomet Gilhair had brought from Tunis: But as they came by little and little, and separately, it could not otherwise be but that there must be some Disorder. Tariff, to prevent the being surprised in the hurry of Landing, and to draw his Troops up in Battle array, accordingly as they descended from their Ships, resolved to take more ground, and a little farther in the Country to choose a place sufficiently spacious for the Encampment of his whole Army, and in security wait the coming of D. Rodrigo: Wherefore he advanced as far as the River which the Arabs call 
* 'Tis the River called Guidalette.  Guidalete, at the same time that the Archbishop D. Oppas came thither, and sent to propose to him a Truce for eight days, to give the two Armies time to recover themselves after the fatigues of the March. The Archbishop, who doubtless was not informed of the state of the Enemy's Army, imagined this Truce would turn to his advantage, by giving his own time to increase. But in the mean while, all those Troops that Tariff had caused to file off, according as they landed, being come, they made up Sixty Thousand Foot, and Ten Thousand Horse, at the review he made of them after the Truce was expired. Oppas perceiving the fault he had committed, and fearing that the King would reproach him with having given the Enemy's time to join all their Forces, and fortify their Camp, he resolved to give them Battle without any farther delay. The reinforcement he had received, joined with what he had before, made not up above Forty Thousand Men: Yet was he not wanting with these to push the Moors so vigorously, that Tariff was constrained to retire, after having lost Three Thousand Foot, and about Five Hundred Horse: Whereas the Christians lost no more in this action, than Two Thousand Foot, and Two Hundred Horse. The Night having parted them, Oppas also retreated into his own Camp, to let his Soldiers take Breath, before he renewed the Conflict. The number of the Wounded being very great on both sides, Oppas sent to propose a Truce to Tariff, for three days, which was forthwith concluded on between the two Generals. Things being in this estate, the following Night, a Traitor (for so he may well be called, since he sold his own Country) stole out of the Christians Camp, into that of the Arabs. This Man being the Companion of Oppas, and called Sisebert, went to tell Tariff, that the King D. Rodrigo's General, had only demanded this Truce, that he might surprise him that Night, and put him by that means the more easily to rout. Tariff affording Credence to this notice, upon the account of the eminent Quality of the person that brought it, (though it was an imposture, as was afterwards verified) thought it became him to prevent his Enemy, and without waiting till he had put himself in a posture to execute his evil intentions, he made his Soldiers stand immediately to their Arms, and caused them to march directly to the Christians Camp, where they fell on with so much impetuosity, that they forced it, put the whole Army to rout, took General Oppas, with the Principal Officers, Prisoners, and got an inestimable Booty, and an infinity of Slaves.  
After this Victory, Tariff made great presents to Sisebert, and retreated near to the Guadalette, into the Quarters he had before, and which he had found very convenient for the Subsistance of his Army.   

CHAP. IX.  
Muca passes into Spain, and joins with Tariff. Rodrigo puts himself at the head of his Army, gives them Battle, and loses it.  
MVca hearing daily of Tariffs great Victories, began no longer to doubt of the Conquest of Spain, whether he incessantly sent reinforcements of Soldiers, and Amunitions, and Provisions.  
But not being with this contented, he resolved to pass the Sea in person, in the head of a fourth Army, so to share in the honour of so fine a Conquest. Wherefore he left to a Brother of his, called Ishmael, the Government of Africa, in his absence; and having with all possible diligence, got together twenty thousand Foot, and six thousand Horse, brave Men, and well appointed; he went to join Tariff, who was very joyful at the thing.  
When it came to be known that the Viceroy had himself passed the straits, there passed so great a number of Moors, being invited by the hopes of pillage, that in the review they made of all their Troops, they were found to be a hundred and fourscore thousand Foot, and forty thousand Horse, besides an infinite number of useless people that are wont to accompany Armies.  
Rodrigo, who then exerted all the Duties of a great King, seeing the number of the Moors daily to augment, thought it in no wise convenient to give them time to fortify themselves more: And having assembled his Council, to see what Resolution it became him to take in so great an exigency; they unanimously agreed, That he could do nothing better than go himself in the head of his Army, give them Battle, rather sooner than later; and that all the Nobility, Gentry, and People of Service in Spain would not fail to attend him.  
This Resolution being taken, the King having nominated for Generalissimo of all his Troops, his Favourite Almerique, a man very brave and resolute; a General review was held near Cordova, in a Plain the Arabs shortly after named Fahe Alguidah 
* It is now called the plain of Truth. , where was found twenty three thousand Horse, and a hundred and thirty thousand Foot. This Prince having caused the General Officers to come thither, and the most considerable of the Captains, gave them to understand the danger their Country was in, that not only their Honour and their Estates, but their Life and Liberty depended on the good or ill success of the Battle he was going to fight; that after this Action there was no more succours to be expected from their Country, that was exhausted by the late Defeats; that they had no longer any hopes but in their own Valour; that they had only to consider whether they should not rather choose to die generously, in fight for their Country, than to fall themselves, their Families and Children, into a perpetual Slavery 
* Dimiin, slaves of one Enemies. , and be a Prey to foreign Nations, and so different from them in Manners and Religion, that he said not this to them, to expose them alone to the peril, with a design to shelter himself from it; that he should be the first to show them the way and example; and that he did not believe there to be any man that made a difficulty of going with his King, when they should see him resolved to die with them, and for them.  
The Soldiers being encouraged by this discourse, and resolved to die for their King and Country, having had order to march against the Enemies, there happened a remarkable thing, and and of an ill augure, which was that D. Ramiro, Alfier Major of King Rodrigo; being mounted on Horseback, his Horse gave him so terrible a fall, that he died of it, and the Lance broke in two, to which the Royal Standard 
* Halam.  was fastened.  
Those who saw so sudden a 
* Atiar, Prodigy.  Death, were a little terrified; but Rodrigo having given the Colours 
* Badr. Cornet.  to another, continued his march to the River Gardalete, where he encamped in sight of Tariff, in a Plain very proper for the ranging all his Troops in Battalia.  
The day following, the King sent one of the bravest men of his Army, called Thodomir, with five hundred Horse, and two hundred Foot, all choice men, and well armed, to view the Enemies. Tariff failed not to detech out at the same time, five hundred Moors, and three hundred Julianists, having in the head of them Abraham Abenabis, who began so bloody, and so obstinate a Combat, that it lasted from Three a Clock in the Afternoon, till Night 
* Vear, from dinner till the Evening. , which constrained them to part, leaving it undecided which had the advantage; the dead and wounded being much the same on both sides.  
The King, whose heart was puffed up with the success of this Skirmish, having held a Council in the Evening, and proposed to the principal Officers of his Army, to give Battle on the morrow, it was resolved on, and a Herald sent to signify it to Tariff, who accepted it.  
It was on the third Wednesday of the month of Maharran, 
In the midst of October, in the year 714.  in the year 94 of the Hegira, that this Battle was fought, which began at break of day, and cost both Parties a great deal of Blood: For the Christians in this action lost their General Almerique, with about three thousand Foot, and eight hundred Horse, and the Moors a thousand Foot, and three hundred Horse.  
Rodrigo was extremely afflicted for the Death of Almerique; 
●abra, Grief.  for he had that day performed Heroic actions, and shown he was not only a good Soldier, but a great Captain. And indeed, he it was alone, that had put the Camp of the Moors to disorder; among whom he broke in with so much bravery, that he was killed upon the spot; and after his death, the Christian Army wanted little of being totally defeated.  
And indeed, Rodrigo found it convenient to go and encamp six Leagues from thence, the more safely to deliberate on what he had to do. Whereupon he made his Retreat in the best order imaginable; by these means abandoning the Field of Battle to Tariff, who on his side, caused all the dead, both Moors and Christians, to be buried, for fear the Corruption of their Bodies might occasion some Distempers in his Camp. But as soon as he heard Rodrigo was retired, taking his Retreat for a flight, he marched after him with all Expedition, and overtook him on the Friday following; when the Conflict 
* 〈…〉 Battle.  being renewed, it lasted from Noon till Night, which parted them, without either parties having the occasion to boast of the advantage. What most afflicted General Tariff, was, that Prince Mahomet Gilhair, the King of Thunis Son, and Count Julian, were both dangerously wounded in this action, and the later particularly of three great wounds. On the other side, Rodrigo being pauled by the opposition of the Enemies, found that all he had been thitherto able to do, was but a small matter, and desponding of his being capable of doing any thing more hereafter, he knew not what to determine upon; and all the courses proposed to him, seeming to him equally bad and dangerous, he chose rather to leave the Decision of Fortune to the day following, than to wait it any longer, having taken a steadfast resolution to Conquer then or Dye.  
Whereupon having marshaled all his Forces in the best order he could, he led them to the Enemies with great vigour, and was by them received with so much bravery and firmness, that there died that day fifteen hundred Foot, and two hundred and fifty Horse, of the Christians, and fifteen hundred Moors, in all, as well Horse as Foot. As for the wounded, on both sides, the number of them scattered up and down, was so great, that they were not reckoned 
* Mudmia, Bloody. . The Battle having been deferred till the Wednesday following, by the consent of both parties, it began again at break of day, but not with the same obstinacy. For in short, Rodrigo seeing his Men stagger, threw himself into the midst of the fray, to reinspire them with Courage, and did all he could to rally them; but the defeat being absolute, and without remedy 
* Diz, Hopes. , he forbid the few people he had about him, to follow him; and he left his Camp, without its being known what became of him.  
All the Christians being thus, or dead, or prisoners, or put to slight; all the Riches of their Camp, wherein there was abundance, became the booty of the Conquerors. But Tariff, without suffering his Soldiers to trifle away their time in plunder, and without allowing them one days rest, marched directly to Cordova, which he took without its costing him one man; and encamped all his Troops in the neighbourhood of the Town, in such manner as he judged most fitting to refresh them, after so many fatigues; and to give the wounded time to be cured of their wounds.   

CHAP. X.  
General Tariff, causes search to be made through all the Country for D. Rodrigo, and promises great rewards to whom ever shall deliver him dead or alive into his hands.  

Taurib, Exploits.  TAriff reckoned for nothing, all these Battles he had won, since Rodrigo had escaped him; and did not think Spain was ever conquered, unless he had him in his hands, For which reason, he had Proclamation made throughout his Army, That whosoever, either Moor or Christian, should deliver him up alive, or dead; he would not only grant 
* Inhan, Promise.  him great Franchises and Exemptions, but wherewithal to live at his ease the rest of his days. The hopes of such great gains, set several Christians, Moors, and Renegadoes, upon the hunt, throughout all Andalousia, to inquire after the King.  
At last, some of them questing in the Mountains and Lands thereabouts, at a distance saw a Shepherd in a very rich garb, being the same that unhappy Prince was wont to wear. With great joy did they run after him to catch him, and brought him immediately to the General, who having caused Count Julian to come to view him, he was found to be a very simple and ignorant Swain, from whom they could hardly get a word, and much less information of what they were in quest. He told them he knew nothing else of what they demanded, but that as he was keeping his flock upon the Mountain where they had taken him, he had seen coming towards him, upon a Horse very much tired, and that seemed out of Breath, a man, in the clothes he at present wore, who, with a furious voice, and frightful countenance, had bid him pull off forthwith a Coat lined with Sheepskin he had then on; that accordingly having stripped himself immediately, he had caused him to take those fine clothes in lieu of his own; and that having afterwards asked him if he had any thing to eat in his Scrip, he had given him a little Bread he had left. After which, the Unknown having taken his Crook, commanded him to come show him the way; which he did, putting him in a little path that went upwards, which he saw him mount, till he lost sight of him.  
Tariff was not satisfied with this News, for after having discoursed the People of the Country of the place where the Shepherd had seen Rodrigo, he understood he was gone towards Castille; insomuch that he lost hopes of finding him, and bend his thoughts wholly upon taking all the advantages he might derive from his Victory.  
Queen Zahra Beneliaza was at Cordova, at the taking of that Town; and though she had time enough, before the Defeat of her Husband, to make her escape into Castille, she had not done so, either that she had been surprised by Tariff's Diligence, or for want of Resolution, and improving her time; or rather, in short, through the ill luck those labour under, whom Fortune prosecutes, who are wont to want Council as well as all things.  
Tariff left her in her Palace, without suffering any one to enter therein, to commit the least Disorder; he only made sure of her Person as well as the Palace: And as this great City could not be kept without a great number of Troops, he thought fitting to leave there Prince Mahomet Gilhair, as well for the containing 'em in their Duty, as for the recovering his perfect health, for he was not yet well cured of his Wounds, nor recovered from the fatigues of this War. He placed about this Prince the Moor, Abulcacim Hadilbar, to assist him with his Council in Military Expeditions, in case such occasions should be offered; and after having given his Orders, he divided his Troops into two equal Armies, one of which he left to the Viceroy Muca, to go into the Western part of Andalousia, and took the other to go into the more Southern, called Grenada; so to leave nothing behind them, when they had a mind to enter into the Province of Castille, which is separated from Andalousia on the Eastern side by a great Desert, composed of Mountains and Lands, which the Spaniards call Sierra Morena. This Resolution being taken, those two Generals directed their March each his own way, and Mahomet Gilhair stayed with Queen Zahra.   

CHAP. XI.  
The Amours of Mahomet Gilhair with the Queen, who induces him to turn Christian, and then Marries him.  
BEfore they departed from Cordova, Tariff failed not to do what is commonly done by Conquerors; who change the manner of the Government of the Cities they take, and there Establish such Laws as they please. He seized on the great Church, and of some others which he turned into Mosches; leaving some to the Christians, for the exercise of their Religion. And after having caused great Fortifications to be made around that Town, which he considered as the Metropolis of Spain; he particularly encharged Prince Gilhair to have great respect for Queen Zahra Beneliaca, and so to order matters, that she might be as little as possible sensible of her Captivity; representing to him, that being by Nation an Arabian, and a near Relation of Almanzor, his Master; so nigh that Mahomet Abnehedim, her Father, had shared Africa with him; they ought all to treat her as their real Queen, to endeavour to make her again espouse the Manners and Religion of her Forefathers; which there was a likelihood she would not find it a difficult matter to resolve on, seeing she must needs be inclined thereto, by the sentiments of Nature. The Unfortunate Gilhair did but too faithfully acquit himself of this Commission; for he saw her so often, and rendered her so many services, that as she was Young and Beautiful, and he Gallant and Witty, he became desperately in Love with her. Nothing now but Feasts and Merriments at Cordova, he daily invented something new to divert and please her, and his thoughts were wholly taken up in making her a thousand presents, wherein there was ever as much gallantry as magnificence: As he had all the conveniency of seeing her he could desire, the respect he bore her, had long hindered him from declaring his passion to her. But this at length being become the strongest, he could not forbear giving her to understand, in a thousand conversations he had with her, that if she would again espouse the Religion in which she had been brought up, he would bring her back into her own Country, with the Crown of Thunis, which he would put upon her Head, instead of that of Castille, which she had lost. Every time he discoursed her upon this point, she pretended she did not understand him; but he imagined it to be an uneasiness of hers, in suffering a Declaration of Love, that hindered her from answering; and that he had to vanquish rather her modesty than her aversion. At length, they two only being together one day, and he thinking her disposed to be more favourable to him, he threw himself at her feet, and conjured her not to leave him any longer in the uncertainty of his good or evil fortune; and at last, resolve upon pronouncing the word that was to give him his death, or to render him happy all his life long. The Queen not hating him, would not suffer him any longer to flatter himself with vain hopes: Wherefore she declared to him, she was resolved to live and die in the Faith 
* Hy●man, Faith.  she had embraced; but that if the desire he expressed to her of marrying her, was as strong as he would fain persuade her, and if he imagined it so easy a matter to change Religion, he would find no difficulty in doing for her, what he proposed to her, to do for him; that instead of pressing her to turn Mahometan, he needed only to turn Christian; and that upon this condition, she would consent to a match, wherein there was nothing unworthy of her Royal extraction 
* Fac● Alcatanae, Blood Royal. . After this answer, the Prince went his ways home very pensive, but he was not capable to resist his passion long. They were neither of them in a place to solemnize this Marriage, which was quickly agreed on; and the juncture of times was not propitious: For which reason, the Princess caused one of her 
* Calch, Religious.  Religious to come, without the least notice being taken out, and marry her in private with the Prince, after he had baptised him. The Ceremonies were performed with all possible secrecy 
* Muh●i, convert. , and Gilhair and Zahra enjoyed their Amours peaceably for some time, carefully concealing the Images they adored in private. But they could not keep their intelligence so secret, but that it was discovered by one of the Queen's Ladies, in whom she confided: She was born in Arabia, of the number of those that had been thrown upon the Coasts of Spain, with the Queen, and who with her were converted. This Woman, called Sigebeste, having been persuaded 
* Muhin, persuasion.  by some Moors, had betaken herself again to her ancient Religion; insomuch, that having seen Mahomet make profession of Christianity with the Queen, in her Palace; she resolved, though with trouble, to inform Abulcacim Adilbard how matters went, whom Tariff had left with that Prince, in all things to assist him, with his Council. Aldilbar was extremely afflicted at the tidings, and would by no means believe the least on't for a long time; imagining this Woman might perchance, have a grudge to the Prince, for some particular reason 
* Varia, false testimony. . But making reflection upon the greatness of the passion he had long observed this Prince have for the Queen, he began to believe him capable of all.  
He had then the curiosity, to fathom the thing, without making semblance of aught; and knew at length so well to observe his actions, that without the Queens suspecting it, he discovered all that had passed between them. When he was throughly assured, he went to the Army, where he acquainted Tariff with the particulars of this Intrigue.  
Tariff was surprised and perplexed at the same time, for he considered that Mahomet Gilhair being no Vassal of Almanzor, but the Son of a Prince as Potent as himself, and his Ally, who came to assist him voluntarily with his Forces in this War 
* ●ifta●, Conquest▪ ; however, just the resentment that ought to be had against him for so great a rashness, it might be attributed to some jealousy, or to some particular ill will, which might make him incur the Disfavour of his Master. Wherefore he contented himself with sending Adilbar back to Cordova, with a reinforcement of Troops, to confine the Queen, Prince Mahomet, and all those he should believe to have had a hand in his evil designs 
* Almubhniin, Accomplices. ; and gave him order to take an exact Information of all, and to send it him with all diligence.  
As soon as Adilbar was returned, he carefully executed the orders he had brought; after having seized on the Person of the Queen of Spain, of the Prince of Thunis, and of the Religious that had Baptised him; he sent what he had discovered to Tariff, who immediately gave notice of it to the King of Thunis, by a Courier, who carried him the Process that Adilbar had caused to be made against his Son, leaving it to him to decree thereupon, according to his good pleasure.  
The Proceedings of this General, were found very Wise, and very Prudent; by this means, he screened himself from all suspicion 
* Haiz, suspicion. , envy and jealousy, and discharged himself from the odium he might have incurred by the Death of this Young Prince: For, assoon as his Father was informed of his Impiety, he wrote to his men to put him to Death, without waiting for further orders. The Courier having brought his dispatches to Tariff, while that he was in the Province of Grenada, the General being not permitted to quit the War he had in those Parts; sent an absolute Power to Adilbar, with all his Forces, to see this Execution done; and to make an Exemplary punishment of all those that were found accomplices of so black a business.  
Adilbar having received Tariff's Commission 
* Amr, thing. , and that of the King of Thunis, caused the Process to be reviewed against Zahra and Mahomet, and had them fetched out of Prison, one Friday morning, to conduct them before the Principal Church of Cordova, where there is a good handsome Place. There he exhorted 
* Munhin, Exhortation.  them to renounce the Law of the Christians, if they were willing to save their Lives. But they would in no wise consent thereto; and declared that they rather chose to suffer the Death with which they were threatened, and which they were ready to receive, than renounce the Faith they had Embraced. Adilbar, both surprised and provoked at this obstinacy, caused them all three to be beheaded; and their Bodies were a long time abandoned in the place, in the midst of the dirt; from whence they were taken by the Christians, who buried them the best to their ability, though not accordaccording to the grandeur of their Birth.   

CHAP. XII.  
Tariff makes himself master of the Province of Grenada, and of the Snowy Mountains, called by the Spaniards of the Sun, and of the Air.  
ALL things being peaceable at Cordova, and nothing more being to be feared on that side, Tariff pursues his Conquests towards the South, and marched with all his Army, towards the Province of Grenada; he met with no 
* Marmohauda, without resistance.  Resistance in all the Places where he passed; on the contrary, all the Inhabitants went to meet him, and brought Victuals, and all sorts of Refreshments to his Forces; conjuring his Soldiers, not to injure 
* Facat, insolences.  People that put themselves under his Obedience and Protection. Tariff gave the necessary orders for the containing them in subjection, but though he was feared, and by consequence obeyed; for that he was very severe, and did not willingly suffer Omissions in the Executing his Commands; his Soldiers seeing themselves in a Land of Conquest, did not however refrain from committing some Insolences.  
At last, at a distance he perceived a City built upon a Hill, from whence one had the Prospect of the most pleasant and most fertile Plain imaginable, and that had the air of the Terrestrial Paradise. For it was all about surrounded with little Mounts, full of Trees and Springs, and cut by a large and deep River, that passed in the midst of a great extent of Meadows, all sowed with Flowers. Those he sent to view it, having brought him word that it had good Walls and good Towers, he Encamped in the midst of that Plain, that his Forces might take Breath, and that he might at his leisure see where it was to be attacked with most success. But no sooner had he begun the Approaches in the forms, than that the Inhabitants, seeing the few men they had to oppose against so great a strength, and having no hopes of succours, being informed of the Defeat of their King, after having long conferred together about the means of securing their freedom, they resolved upon sending to offer Tariff to surrender up the Town, provided he suffered them and their Families to enjoy in Peace all their Goods and Estates, and remain in their Country without Oppression 
* Tapdit, ill treatment.  in their Persons, or Violence done them in their Religion.  
Tariff having held a Council, accepted their Offers; and promised to cause the Conditions carefully to be observed, upon which they were willing to put their Town into his hands. The Articles of the Capitulation were drawn up by them, and signed by this General, who swore in the Name of Almanzor punctually to observe them: And thus, without its costing him so much as one man, he entered Grenada with part of his Army; and placed as Governor, one of his Captains, called Betis Abenabur 
* Betis Abenabur, first Governor of Grenada. , born in Arabia Foelix. He only crossed this Town, that so he might at the same time reduce the Mountains which cover it on the South; these the Christians call the Mountains of the Sun and of the Air 
† This is what the Spaniards call Sirrah ne vada, The Snowy Mountain, and the Arabs from the ancient Spanish word corrupted, Solayt. , by reason they are in the Middle Region: For he had been told that the Peasants being brave resolute fellows, were resolved to defend them; relying upon the little knowledge the Moors had of their Country, wherein it was impossible to penetrate very far with an Army.  
Tariff, who hitherto had not found any obstacle in his Conquests, no not even in the City of Grenada, where he expected to have met with some resistance, confided in his wont success, and the Resolution of his Soldiers; and imagined that this little corner of Earth being only defended by Bumpkins, would not hold out longer than the other Places where he had passed.  
But when he was at a great Ravine, 
It is not known what this Ravine is, or Par de To●, unless it be the bridge of Tabalate.  making a Torrent that falls into a River, which the Christians call Auzeva, being obliged to stop there, about midnight the Peasants came and attacked his Camp with so much fury, that he was forced to abandon it, 
The Moors have since called this River Orgiba.  after having there lost four thousand Foot, and some Horse. On the morrow, being enraged to have been thus beaten by Bumpkins, he resolved to be Revenged on 'em, and to attack 'em, as he did, in the same place. But the Christians defended themselves with as much vigour as the day before, and without losing hardly one of their side, they killed fifteen hundred more of his Men. What enraged him most, was the difficulty of the Country, where the Cavalry, wherein consisted his greatest strength, could not penetrate; whereas these Peasants, from the advantageous Posts they possessed, made a great slaughter of his Men, without his being able to come at them: Whereupon he was upon the point of desisting from his Enterprise, where he only lost time and Soldiers, and to carry his Arms elsewhere, when that one of those Mountainers called Fandino, to secure a little Estate he had in that Canton, came and showed him a place, by which he might come and enter with the Horse into the heart of the Country, and easily subdue it: The General was overjoyed, and having asked this Peasant a thousand Questions 
* Izticrat, Examination. , to which he made pertinent answers; by his advice he drew off his Troops four miles from the place where they lay, and having given order to his Fleet to draw near that Coast, he detached one of his most Valiant Captains, called Abraham Abuxarra, with ten thousand Foot, and four hundred Horse, to a place called Xat, by the Arabs, where he Shipped him with all his Men, and Fandino, whom he sent along to serve him for his Guide; Abraham was not long before he arrived at a Town upon the Eastern Coast of Spain by the Christians, called 
* It is at present Adra.  Adrada, and in good order entered the heart of the Country, pillaging, and laying all waste.  
The Christians had no Cavalry, and expected no succours, seeing themselves shut up on all sides, Abuxarra attacking them behind, while Tariff beat them before, yet made not any movement, by which we could perceive the Extremity they were reduced to: But after being assembled to see what course was best for them to take, they resolved to send to demand a Truce 
* Colch, Truce.  for fifteen days of Tariff, that so they mighr have time to concert with him the Conditions on which they were willing to surrender.  
Tariff having immediately accepted the offers they made him, and having given a safe Conduct 
* Amr, Thing.  for such as they were minded to send as Deputies to him; they chose the Bishop of that Country, called Otoger, with some other Persons of Credence, whom they sent into the Camp with the necessary Powers. He was a man of Wit and Learning, and very Expert and knowing in affairs. He was very kindly received by Tariff, who immediately struck up with him in the following Conditions: That the Christians should remain in that Country if so minded, and should not be molested either in their Persons, or Estates, or their Consciences: That they should not pay any other Imposts, than the Tribute they were wont to pay to Christian Kings. That if any among them were not willing to stay there, they should be suffered to sell their whole Estate, and and go into whatever Country, inhabited by Christians, they should best like.  
This Capitulation being signed by Tariff, in the name of the Great Almanzor his Master, in whose name he promised to observe it very exactly; Abraham Abuxarra 
* It is now still called Las Alpuxarras.  was left there as Governor: And as he was the first that entered the Country, and had been its first Governor, this little Province was from this time called by his name. This General having now totally reduced those parts that fell to his lot, reassembled all his Forces to return to Cordova, by the same way he came, with a Design to rejoin Muca, after that to enter both together, and without any longer delay, into the Province of Castille.   

CHAP. XIII.  
The Conquests of Muca, and his return to Cordova.  
AT the same time that General Tariff began his march, to lead his Army towards the East and South, into the Province of Grenada, as we have said, the Viceroy Muca went to lead his towards the West, into the Province which the Natives of the Country call Andalousia, from the name of certain People, that formerly inhabited it, called Vandals. He marched at first against Carmona, a small Town indeed, but well fortified; where several Christians had taken refuge, from all the Burroughs, and all the Villages of that Country, which they had forsaken at Muca's Approach, and where they had stored themselves with all sorts of Ammunition and Provisions, that so they might defend themselves as long as possible they could.  
The Viceroy having blocked it up on all sides, the Besieged resolved to make a Sally out of the strongest of their Gates, and with the best men they had, to see if there was any possibility of defeating their Enemies, before they had better fortified themselves.  
Wherefore on the morrow at break of day, having taken Arms, and encouraged one another to do well, they attacked the Moors Camp with so much Bravery, and in such good order, that they killed three hundred of them before they could know, and put themselves in a posture of Defence, and returned into the Town, having lost but five and twenty on their side.  
This success having puffed up their Hearts, they would needs see the day following, if Fortune 
* Ychadad Zogle, Good Fortune tried.  would be as favourable to them. But having found the Moors upon their Guard, they were received a little more smartly than the day before, and constrained to return into the Town faster than they came thence. The Moors pursued them so closely, that the Governor of Carmona fearing that by opening the Gates to receive them, the Enemies would enter pellmell with them, and so make themselves masters of the Place; he found it more expedient to let the few Christians that were without to be lost, than to lose the Town in endeavouring to save them; and forbid the opening to them the Gate, he feared it would be no longer in his power to shut.  
The Christians seeing the Resolution their Governor had taken, all on the sudden took a very generous one; for having all engaged rather to die like Men of Courage, than be made slaves, they faced about upon those that pursued them, and fight like Desperate People, killed eight hundred of them, and pushed on into the midst of Muca's Camp, where they were all killed upon the spot, or taken Prisoners, without so much as one of them escaping. Muca being very much enraged at these two bad successes, assembled the Principal Officers to hold a Council of War, wherein it was resolved on the morrow morning to make a General attack. The Ladders were set up against the Walls, and the Moors mounted them with great Resolution: On the other side, the Beleaguered defended themselves with great firmness, Killing and Topsyturvying those that mounted. Among others, the Governor of the Place, called Galo, did then perform Heroic Actions; for he alone, with two men he had with him, defended a whole Courtine, from one Tower to another, which he had undertaken to maintain; and with a Cross-bow, killed or wounded for his own part that day himself alone fourscore Moors. This Conflict lasted from Noon till Night, and in it the Viceroy lost fifteen hundred men; whereas the Besieged, as we were afterwards informed, lost but three hundred.  
The time and men Muca lost before this Place, made him resolve, for the rendering himself master of it, to try another way than that of force, which he had sped so ill in thitherto. Whereupon he sent to summons the Besieged to surrender, offering not only to spare their Lives, but to grant them great Privileges, if they made their Composition sooner than later. This Proposal caused the Besieged to open their Eyes, and the Principal of them assembling to confer with their Governor; they concluded, that though they should still hold out for a while, their 
* Zid, Amunitions.  Provisions would at length fail them, and their Soldiers would diminish; that all that Province was almost subdued, that they could not expect succours from any body, that thus sooner or later they would be a Prey to the Victorious: For which reason, they made answer, That they were content to open him the Gates of their City, provided he would suffer them to depart thence with their Wives and Children, and all they had of Money, Arms and Baggage, and generally all things whatever that they could carry along with them, whither they pleased, with full freedom.  
All that they required was granted them, bating the Baggage; upon which they were told, That they might only carry away with them, what they could load upon a hundred Wagons, with which they were contented. Thus all the Christians departed, and went to another City near the Sea, called His pala in their Tongue, while that Muca, after having placed a Governor there, with some Soldiers, for its Guard, decamped forthwith to march towards a very great and populous City, which the Spaniards in their Tongue call Merida.  
In this Town there was a very brave Christian Governor, and as he Signalised himself in this Siege, and therein performed Actions worthy of Praise, he well deserves that I should dwell a little longer upon the Relation of his Performances.  
This Governor, called Salara, seeing the havoc made by the Moors Army in the Countries where it passed, caused all the Christians in the Neighbourhood of Merida to retire into that Town, with their Wives and Children, and caused them to bring along with them, all the Victuals there was in the Country; where having left only what could not be removed, he himself sent some to burn all the Villages thereabouts, and to make a havoc throughout all the Country, that so when the Moors should come thither, they might find nothing left. He did not content himself with this, he caused all the Waters to be poisoned, and having employed all the Peasants, he caused 'em to work upon the Fortifications of the Town: He repaired its Walls, its Battlements and Parapets: And having caused a Review to be made of what men he had in a condition to fight, he found 'em five thousand strong, whom he distributed into the Towers, and other Places he judged convenient. Things were in this posture when the Viceroy drew near the Place, and having blocked it up on all sides, began by sending to Summons Salaru to Surrender, otherwise that he would put all that were in it to the Sword.  
But the Governor having made him Answer, That he might do as he pleased; That the Mercy of God was greater than his Forces, and that it afforded him more Confidence than all his threatenings gave him Fear.  
Muca being provoked at this Refusal, caused all things to be prepared for the making the Assault. The next day the Moors being mounted to the Scalade, were there received, and vigorously repulsed by the Beleaguered, by means of the great order, with which they ran to the 
* Ygata, help in diligence.  relief of one another upon occasion. The Attack lasted the whole day, wherein the Besiegers lost six hundred Men, and the Besieged only fifty seven. But the Moors having renewed the fight the next morning at break of day, that they might afford the Besieged no respite it was so obstinate and furious, that the Town had like to have been taken at unawares. The Moors having already got to the top of the Wall, and being ready to leap into the Town, when that Salara, who went to all the places that had need of his Succours, running thither just in the nick, tumbled them down from the top of the Walls, and by this means delivered Merida, that but for him had been now taken; obliging the Besiegers to retire with the loss of eight hundred men, whereas he had lost but about three hundred.  
The Vigour the Christians had exerted in these two Conflicts, did a little cool that of the Viceroy, who resolved to quarter all his Army round the place, and see if he could not take it by Famine. Salaru having perceived his Design, made a very exact review of all that was in the Town, that he might more duly see how long his Victuals could last. He found there to be several useless Mouths, in Women, Children, and Old Men, that were past bearing of Arms, and yet consumed the Provisions, that began already to diminish, though there had been as yet but thirty days Siege, and that they had laid up great stores beforehand. He also saw it to be impossible for him to hold out much longer, and not being strong enough to stir out of the enclosure of the Town to fight the Enemies, he bethought himself of employing Stratagem, to endeavour to make them raise the Siege. Wherefore he sent to Muca, That he was mistaken, if he thought, by Famine, to force him to Surrender: that he had still Bread enough for above ten years; and to make good his words, he caused a world of Baskets full of Loaves, to be thrown from off the Walls.  
This Compliment had like to have made Muca run mad, and he made no answer to it but by a General Assault, which lasted a whole day, with great vigour on both sides: for there fell above five hundred Moors, without reckoning Captain Aliculeyman, who was very much wounded, which extremely afflicted Muca. It cost the Besieged little less, who also lost in this occasion four hundred men. But Muca having been obliged to cause the Retreat to be sounded, by reason of the night, the next morning he sent a Trumpeter to the Governor, to signify to him, That he had made an Oath, and sworn by the most high God, that if the Beleaguered delayed Surrendering any longer, they should after this, all to no purpose implore his Mercy.  
Salaru having straghtways assembled the principal men of the Town, gave them in a little time a very exact account of the state of the place; and after having made them apprehend the necessity they were in of all things, and the little likelihood he saw of being Relieved, they all agreed to Surrender, but upon the most advantageous Conditions they could get: Insomuch that they made him answer; That they would willingly put the Place into his hands, provided he would suffer them, they, their Wives and Children, with their Arms and Baggage, to go to whatever City of the Christians they should please; that all those that were minded to stay, should not receive any ill treatment, nor be constrained to quit their Religion. Muca agreeing to all these Articles, and having been induced to Sign 'em, and swear in the Name of the Caliph his Master, never to act to the contrary, conceived such an esteem of the Bravery and Fidelity of this Governor, and of his ability to take his Precautions, that he took a Scimitar of great value he had at his Girdle, and himself put it on his side, saying, That the Valour with which he had saved his People from so great a Danger, merited a thousand times more Honour than he did him.  
Salaru having given him the Keys of the Town, where the Riff-raff only stayed, he took all those along with him that were minded to follow him, with whom he went on Shipboard, to waft o'er to the nearest Islands of that Coast, that he might not see the Ruin of his Country, and so shelter himself from the servitude 
* 〈◊〉 Servitude.  of the Arabians, under which he foresaw that all Spain was going to be reduced.  
The Viceroy of Africa was overjoyed at the taking of this great City, but could not stay there long, for that there was no subsistence to be got out of the Country, that had been forsaken by the People, who had all taken refuge in the Province, called in the Spanish Tongue Castille, and had left this Country desert. For which reason, after having put a Garrison into the Place, he caused all his Troops to march towards Hispalis. They were not gone far, when that his Scouts came to give him notice, that the world of People that had taken refuge there, had occasioned such a Contagion, that the mortality was general. This News put a full stop to his Career that way; and the fear he was in of causing his Army to perish, made him return to Cordova, to rejoin Tariff, who had signified to him, he was already on his way from Grenada thither.   

CHAP. XIV.  
The Conjunction of the two Generals, and their entrance into Castille.  
THese two Generals, being returned from their Expedition, after having each on his side acquired much Honour; did for a long while hold Council what course to take, for the finishing the absolute Conquest of Spain; for which they had received precise orders from Almanzor. During that time, the Soldiers being put into good Quarters, recovered themselves of the Hardships of that War. The Officers repaired their Equipages, which so long a march had ruined; and the Commissioners not only received all the new Provisions that were come to them from Africa, but had also gathered up on all sides, 
Al●aul, Provision of all things.  all that was necessary for the Invasion of Castille, according to the resolution they had taken.  
At last, the two Armies that now made but one Body, being decamped in the best order imaginable, marched small days journeys, along a great River, which having its course towards the Setting Sun, crosses that Province; and after having washed the Walls of Cordova, at a great distance lower falls into the Ocean. Thus still on their Right leaving this River 
* Dan Curnain, the greater Sea. , which the Christians call Betis, and the Arabs, Alguidalquibir; the first Town they found in their Left was Vbeda, whose Inhabitants brought them their Keys, as not being in a posture of making a Defence.  
Tariff having on pain of Death, forbidden any entrance into the Town, without Express order; or in any wise, the injuring of People, that had thrown themselves into his Arms, did there only leave one Captain Abencorbas, with some Soldiers, and leisurely marched to another Town, not three miles thence, called Balle. The Citizens seeing that if they paused at following the Example of Vbeda, they should but Exasperate the Moors, and incur their inevitable ruin, without any profit; they sent immediately to beseech this General, to hinder any mischief from being done them by his Soldiers; and in consideration of that, they would not only surrender to him, but likewise present him with all sorts of Victuals and Refreshments for his Troops.  
Tariff very joyfully accepted their offers, and to manifest his Clemency to them, and the Discipline he caused his Army to observe, having forbidden any one soever to enter therein without his order, he himself, one after the other, nominated all those he was willing should accompany him thither, to the number of five hundred; with whom alighting, he took a turn round the Town, visited all the Fortifications, and left there a Natural African, called Mahomet Abencorba, with a pretty strong Garrison, for its Preservation. He stayed no longer there than he had done at Vbeda, and pursued his way Northwards, across a vast pile of Mountains, that separate Andalousia from Castille, and stretch from the Mediterranean Sea to the Ocean. Thus having traversed twenty miles, or thereabouts, they are in breadth, he descended into the Plains de la Manche, which the Arabs call the Dry Fields 
* Say abis, in Spanish Campo seco. ; where having gone near sixty miles without meeting with any body, all the People having quitted, and being retired into the heart of the Country; he at last discovered a Town, which seemed very beautiful to him, and much stronger than all those he had yet seen, and was told that it was Toledo, the Metropolis of Castille, where the Christian Kings had in all times made their abode. Along this City passes the famous River of Tage, which also disembogues into the Western Sea. And here it was King Rodrigo had caused the Enchanted Tower to be opened, whereof I have made mention in the beginning of this History.  
Tariff having Encamped all his Troops in the Neighbourhood, with intention to Besiege it, the Christians sent to tell him, That they had no thoughts of holding out; and that, provided he would suffer them to enjoy peaceably what they had, and permit all those that were so minded, to go where they pleased, with their Families, and all their Baggage, they would pay him all sort of Obedience, and would be as faithful to him, as they had thitherto been to their King.  
This General having expected to have met with some opposition in this Place, was overjoyed it did not oblige him to any stop; and swore solemnly in the Name of the Caliph Almanzor, his Master, for ever to observe the Conditions, on which they would put the Keys of so great a Town into his hands. He would needs also, for the maintaining it in the ancient Prerogative it had, of being the Capital City of so great a Kingdom, leave there, as Governor, one of his principal Officers, called Mahomet Abenbamin, of the City of Damas', with the Quality of Viceroy, and a Garrison he judged convenient.  
It is a thing somewhat astonishing to be remarked, that in near a hundred and forty miles' march, made by these two Generals, still skirting the Sea of the Levant, and drawing Northwards, they found not one living Soul 
* Mahalue, living Soul. , till they came to a Province called Arragon, in the midst of which there is a City called Saragoza, where several Christians had taken refuge, as well as in the Mountains next adjoining, to shelter themselves from the fury of the Moors.  
This City would needs stand out an Assault, that was bloody; after which it Surrendered upon very advantageous terms. Thus they stayed there only the time requisite for the settling, as Governor of all that Province, a Captain of great Reputation, born in Arabia, called Ishmael Abenhut; and resolved to push their Arms further, and even beyond the Mountains the Christians call the Pyrenees, which separate the Kingdom of Spain from that of France.  
They are very rugged and high; and the Christians were said to be retired thither, with a resolution of making a stout Defence. Nevertheless they advanced there about twenty miles, without meeting with any Resistance; insomuch that the Generals having made reflection that their Master having only given them order to Conquer Spain, and France being a great Kingdom, wholly different, and wholly separate, it would be exceeding their Power, to push on their Invasion upon it. And seeing their Troops wearied with so long a March, and much diminished by all the Garrisons they had been obliged to leave in the Towns they had taken; they resolved to go no further, and remitting the Conquest of France till another time, they thought it more convenient to return into Castille, to give the necessary orders for the conservation of what they had taken, and the reduction of what they had still left to take.   

CHAP. XV.  
The March of the two Generals towards Valentia and Murtia, and their Return to Cordova.  
THE two Generals taking the Field again with their Forces, upon their departure from Arragon, bend their march towards the East, and continued it without any stay, to a great Plain, in the midst of which is a great City, enclosed with good Walls; whence you have a Prospect of the Mediterranean Sea, that is but but four small Leagues distant: All the Country adjacent is full of very delightful Gardens, Groves, and a world of Springs, which form the finest Landscape imaginable.  
Tariff, before he would begin the Siege, thought fitting to send to summon the Inhabitants to Surrender, as all the other Cities of Spain had done; in consideration of which, he promised to suffer 'em to live in Peace, according to their Law, and to hinder any injury from benig done them. But the Trumpeter coming near the City-gate, the Centinel that was upon the Wall, without harkening to what he said aloud, or imparting it to the Governor, let fly a Bullet from a Stone-Bow at him, by which the Trumpeter perceiving himself wounded, without staying any longer, came flying to the Camp. Tariff being provoked at the little regard they had for a man that came from him, took this affair, not only for a want of respect 
* Quilathia, Discourtesy.  to him, but for an infraction of all the Laws of War, and the Right of Nations, and gave order for the Attacking the Town on all sides.  
The next day the Governor, called Agros, having been informed of what the Centinel had done, was very much surprised at this misunderstanding, and thought convenient to send to make his excuse to Tariff, and propose to him at the same time a Truce for three days; during which, they would see to contrive the means of making their Capitulation.  
The Envoy of Valence was kindly received by the General. The Truce was granted, and the Hostages having been agreed on, he went out of the Town with full power to treat on the behalf of the Besieged, and came to Tariff's Camp, with whom he agreed to deliver him the Town, on Condition, that all the Christians that were minded to go thence, might have the freedom so to do, with their Wives and Children, and all their Goods, to whatever place they should please to choose. As also that all those that would stay there, might do it without being injured in the least. Tariff made no difficulty of granting them all they demanded, and of promising to observe what he granted in the name of Almanzor his Master. In consideration of which, he made his entrance into that Town, and there left as Governor one of his Captains, a Native of Arabia Foelix, named Abubaxar Xandalg, whom he placed there with a numerous Garrison, to curb not only that Town, but the whole Province depending on it.  
After having thus settled matters at Valence, Tariff and Muca, having bend their march a little more towards the South, entered the Province, by the Spaniards called Murtia; where having met with no resistance, they rendered themselves Masters of the Capital City, that goes by the same name. Finding it forsaken by the Inhabitants, and the Country very good, they resolved upon settling there a part of the Soldiers of their Army, for the repeopling it, and therein to put as Governor, Abraham Alexandri, by Nation an African. These two Armies being by these means reduced to a very scanty number, and by leaving so many upon the way, both for Guarding and Populating all the Towns where they had passed, they returned to Cordova, to recreate themselves after the fatigues of this War.   

CHAP. XVI.  
The Order that Tariff left in Spain, before his Departure thence.  
THE Governor of Cordova, Abulxacim by name, knowing the coming of the two Generals, went out to meet them four Leagues from that Town, with all the Foot and Horse in Arms he had, and accompanied them in the Triumphant Entrance they made into that Place. During the abode they had occasion to make there, to recover themselves after the Hardships of so long and painful a War, they applied themselves carefully to regulate the form of Government of the Countries they had Conquered. But above all things, they judged it in no wise safe for them, to suffer the Christians to remain Masters of so considerable a Town as Hispalis. I have noted in the beginning of this History, that the Siege of this Town had not been undertaken, for fear of bringing the Pestilence into the Army: Wherefore a trusty man was sent on purpose into those parts, to see how matters stood; who having brought word back, That the Contagion was there more rife than ever, and that an infinite number of Persons died of it, it was judged requisite to leave it still alone, and that it would be sufficiently destroyed by this Scourge of Heaven, without there being any need to infect it likewise with that of War.  
One thing on which they found themselves obliged to think preferable to all others, was to recompense Count Julian, for the great Services he had done to Valid. They had promised him to cause his Castle of Algesirees to be 
* Hara, Reparation.  Rebuilt, and to Repair and Re-establish his other Lands and Lordships, that had been ruined by the passage he had given through them, to all the Forces that came out of Africa into Spain. Insomuch that they caused great sums of Money to be given him, and granted great Franchises and Privileges to all his Relations and Followers. Whereupon he took his leave of them, to repair home to set all things again to Rights, and enjoy, if he could, the Sweets of the Revenge he had taken of D. Rodrigo.  
After this, they fell in good earnest to consider of regulating and policying their new Kingdom, and of re-populating that great Country that was become a Desert, by the flight of all the Inhabitants. Wherefore seeing that the Moors they had left in Garrison in the Cities and Burroughs where they had passed, had no Wives, though they were all very Young, and that it was impossible to furnish them with enough from Africa, whence their Fathers and Mothers would never consent to suffer them to depart; they caused Proclamation to be made by sound of Trumpet, throughout all Spain, That all the Christian Women and Maidens, as well of the ancient Inhabitants, as of whatever Nation they were, that were willing to be Converted, and Mary themselves to the Conquerors, should enjoy the same Privileges and Prerogatives which they enjoyed before. They caused at the same time, another Declaration to be Published in favour of the Gentlemen, to whom they offered the Dividend of the Conquered Lands.  
This Publication in a short time, either out of fear or interest, caused an infinite number of Christians to change their Religion, and the Women and Maidens to resolve upon matching themselves with the Moors. At that time was it that the Archbishop of Oppas, who had been General of Rodrigo's Army, that Tariff had beaten and taken Prisoner in the second Battle, that had been fought near the River Guadalete, as I have said; and the Archbishop Toriso, a very near Relation of that Unhappy King, abjured their Faith to 
* Nahic, Persuasion.  comply with Tariff and Muca. These two new Moors, to manifest their Zeal, and acquire still more credit than they had with the Generals, represented to them, that to hinder the Christians from revolting for the future, or retrieving Courage with time, it was expedient throughly to clear all the Mountains on the Left Hand of Arragon, in Spanish called biscay, and the Asturies; where they gave them notice that several Persons of great Quality had made their Retreat with a great number of Soldiers; nay, and that there was at the head of them such Persons as were Princes of the Blood of Spain, and D. Rodrigo's near Relations; without which their Conquest would never be secure.  
This advice jumped wholly with Tariff's sense, who gave immediate order to a Tartar, a very good Officer, Abraham le Sujari by name, to take six thousand men of the Forces he had by him, and likewise to draw as many as he should need out of the Garrisons of Castille, and to march with the two Renegado-Arch-bishops, into the aforementioned Mountains.  
At that time a Young Prince, a Kinsman of the K. D. Rodrigo, called Pelage, was retired thither with a good number of resolute men, that were willing to follow his Fortune; and as he was brave, and pretended to the Crown, all the Christians that had taking refuge in the Mountains, had elected him King; and certainly he made himself appear to be very worthy of that Supreme Dignity.  
General Abraham being come near the Austuries, 
Fa●palia fegal, in Spanish, Cabo de contiendas.  and encamped in a place called Cangas by the Christians, and which the Moors since named the Term of War, thought convenient to send the two Archbishops to him; having brought them along with him, that so being his Relations and Friends, they might the more easily persuade him to desist from the Temerity of his Enterprise; with orders to offer him such Presents, and propose such advantages to him, as they should judge convenient, as well as to all the Christians that should be with him. Whereupon these Archbishops being come into the Country, and offering to make this Proposal to Pelage, he was so provoked at them, that he had them seized on, and both thrown from off the top of a Rock, into a River that was at the bottom. And as he had first been informed by them of the Situation of Abraham's Camp, and the number of his Forces, he assembled what men he had, and went to attack them that very same Night: And after having defeated the greatest part of the Moors, he returned into the heart of the Mountains without any loss. Abraham not expecting this at all, and not seeing the return of the two Renegadoes he had brought along with him, fancied they had betrayed him; and with the few men he had left, without making any longer stay, he returned with all expedition to Toledo, where he died of Grief.  

Alfiqr, Sadness.  Tariff was very much troubled at this bad event; but having not then Troops sufficient in one Body to go force the Asturies, he contented himself with leading upon the frontier the most men he could, that so he might hinder the Christians of the Mountains, from coming to make Inroads upon the Moors. Then he resolved upon sending to Almanzor, his Master, a very exact Relation of all he had thitherto done, with the state of all things in Spain, and to ask what was his Pleasure to have further done for his Service. As he was finishing his Dispatches, he had a Letter brought him from Pelage; which Translated out of Spanish into Arabic, is as follows.  
A LETTER.  
King Pelage, to General Tariff Abenziet.  
THE King D. Pelage, Lawful Heir, Successor in a Right Line of the Kingdom of Spain, by the death of the King D. Rodrigo, whose sins may God pardon, they being, doubtless, the cause of his ruin, and my misfortune; to the Valiant and Renowned Captain Tariff Abenziet, Cherished and Esteemed by the Caliph Almanzor, his Master; Greeting. Tho I am as great a sinner as any other, and that I have nothing good but the confidence I put in the mercy of God; I am willing to make known to thee, that in thy name came two Envoys, who being my Relations, ought not to have come to me, since they were Traitors to their Country; I thought myself obliged to punish them, as I have done; and was content to signify to thee at the same time, that though thou hast very unjustly, and by the force of thy Arms, seized on a Kingdom that appertains to me; nevertheless, I hope, with the help of God, to regain it in spite of thee. But if it be not his will, I beseech him to give me the Force and Courage to die, I and mine, for the Justice of my Cause, and for the Truth of our Faith, rather than to groan under the Cruel Yoke that thou wouldst impose upon us; beseeching him daily to give affairs that current as I desire.  
From the Asturies of Oviedo 
* This Date jumps with the year 715 of our Lord. , the 9th of July, of the Aera of Caesar, 753.  
Tariff Abenziet upon reading Pelage's Letter, had more joy to hear of Rodrigo's Death, which was the thing he had the most desire to know, than uneasiness for all the rest. Wherefore he made an end of writing Almanzor the following Letter.  
A LETTER.  
General Tariff Abenziet, to Caliph Valid Almanzor, Emperor of the Moors.  
PRaise be given to the Sovereign God, to whom alone is due Sacrifice and Prayer; and afterwards to the most High and most Illustrious Caliph, and Emperor of the Moors, his Vicar, the Buckler of God, and Defender of his Law, the most Noble Caliph Valid Almanzor; whose good Designs may God bring about, to the Happiness and Tranquillity of all his Subjects, as is wished by Tariff Abenziet, General of his Armies; one of his least, but most Faithful Servants.  
Spain is absolutely conquered and ranged under your Obedience 〈…〉 all the Nations have received the 
* Dirma, Yoke.  Yoke as far as their mighty high Mountains, by the Spaniards called the Pirenees, which parts their Kingdom from that of France. And there is nothing more to conquer in all that vast extent of Land, but a small corner of Earth, amid very ragged Mountains, where some Christians have taken refuge, that is of no great consideration, and a very great and Populous Town, called Hispalis, upon the Coasts of the great Sea, for fear of introducing among your forces the Pestilence that rages in that place. I have restored to Count Julian all his Lands, as you promised him. I salute your Grandeur, and the Felicity of so many great successes. In the midst of a great Province called Andalousia, is a very populous Town, where the King D. Rodrigo commonly had his Residence; whose Death I have been lately informed of by one of his Relations; I have settled there as Viceroy, with your good liking, the Person of Abulcacim Adilbar, your faithful Servant: This City being proper to serve as Metropolis to the whole Kingdom; which I make known to your Celcitude, that you may order him as you shall please, for your service.  
Muca, the Viceroy of Africa, has rendered great services in this Expedition, where he was several times in danger of losing his Life; insomuch that he, doubtless, merits a great Reward, and hopes it from your Goodness and Magnificence. May God heap his blessings daily upon you.  
From Cordova, the 23 day of the Moon Rageb, the year of the Hegira 94.  
All the Answer Almanzor made to this Letter, was, That Tariff should come himself to him into Arabia, to give him an account of the particulars of the Conquest; ordering Muca to return into his Government of Africa; and sending Adilbar Letters Patents, as Viceroy of all the Kingdom of Spain, ordering all the particular Governors that had been left in the Towns, to whom he had sent Commissions, to obey him in all things.  
These two great Captains having received this order, passed both into Africa immediately after; whence Tariff went into Arabia, while Muca remained in his Government.   

CHAP. XVII.  
Pelage takes the City of Gixa from the Moors, and burns it.  
SInce that Pelage had once vanquished the Moors, he did not doubt but that he could defend himself in his Mountains. All the Christians of the Neighbouring Provinces repaired to him after this Victory, flattering themselves with the hopes he might one day restore them to their Liberty. Till than they did not believe there to have been any place in all Spain, where they could shelter themselves from the fury of those Conquerors, for as they had not any Retreat where they could be in safety, they suffered themselves to be put into Fetters. But the young People, that had no Wives, and were most proper for Warfare, began to make their Escapes, by little and little, out of the Moors hands; and steal away by night into the Mountains, where Pelage had his abode, so to put themselves under his Protection. Insomuch that in a short time there was a pretty considerable Body of an Army assembled. Wherefore seeing that General Abraham was Retreated into Castille, he resolved to make some attempt as might accrue to the Credit of his Party.  
With this Design, he drew together the most men he could, and made up a body of six thousand men, with whom he came to a small City, called Gixa by the Spaniards, and by the Arabs after they had taken it, Takla. Wherefore having blocked it up with this small Army, few Moors were there that expected to be beleaguered by Pelage, whom they did not think so hardly as to budge out of the Tenure where he had hold. Nevertheless they stood out so obstinately with the Captain that commanded in the Place, that they all died bravely fight, refusing to listen to any Capitulation.  
Pelage much satisfied with this small Conquest, caused it to be fortified, left there as Governor one of his Captains, called Manuzes, and retired with his men into the heart of the Mountain, which the Christians in their Tongue call Oviedo. Tariff was much afflicted at this bad suecess. He then perceived that the Renegado-Bishops had well advised him, when they would have induced him to have rendered himself master of that nook of Land; wherefore imagining that some mischief would come on't; after having given order to the Troops that were in those parts to be ready, and sent word to Mahomet, Abenramin, Governor of Toledo, to draw the most he could together. He also sent him Troops from him, under one of his Captains, called Abenhamza; who carried him an order to attack Pelage. All their Troops being assembled, were found to make up a Body of twelve thousand good men, with whom Abenramin bent his march towards the North.  
Pelage making no doubt of getting the advantage this second time as he had done the former, resolved upon waiting the coming of the Enemy in that Town he had newly conquered, with about 8000 men he then had with him.  
While he was preparing to go receive the Moors there, a Christian Renegado gave him notice that his Captain Manuzes, had made an offer to Tariff of delivering up to him that little City; nay, and to seize on his Person. Pelage could not doubt of the truth of what he told him, when he had showed him a Letter he carried from that General to Manuzes, wherein was the whole train of the Conspiracy minuted against him. He highly entertained the Renegado; and after having made him a world of Presents, he desired him, since he expressed so much desire to serve his Country, to return to the Moors Camp, to tell Abenramin that it was not yet time for him to advance, Pelage not being yet arrived in the Town with all his Forces.  
The Renegado having accepted this Commission, made that forged answer to Abenramin, who was very glad at it, and sent him forthwith back to Gixa, to stay till the Prince was there arrived, and to bring him immediate word. But instead of going thither, he went to the Christians Camp. Pelage not losing time, marched all the night; and being acquainted with the Country, he arrived at the Camp of the Moors, without they having the least inkling of him, and attacked them with so much vigour, that he killed a very great number of them, and put all the rest to flight; obliging General Abenramin to Retreat in great disorder.  
In this Attack the Moors lost two thousand men, and the Christians about eight hundred. But Pelage fearing to engage too far in the Battle with Abenramin, who had double the number of his men; and who, after having rallied his Soldiers that had been taken unprovided, might surround him; he made a hasty retreat to the Town of Gixa; where as soon as he was entered, he caused the Traitor Manuzes to be hanged, and his Body burnt. Then for fear the Moors might take that Town again, after having turned out all its Inhabitants, he set fire to't, and Retreated into the Mountains to defend their entrance against the Moors, by whom he was under fear of being pursued.  
And indeed Abenramin followed Pelage at the heels; so as that he arrived at Gixa before the fire was quite extinguished. Whereupon having crossed it without making any stay, that he might endeavour to overtake Pelage, he found him posted at the same Place where General Abraham was defeated. He found this Post too difficult to force, that he durst not undertake it, for fear of not succeeding; and contenting himself with garnishing well that frontier, he bent his march back to Toledo with all his Army, being ashamed at his having performed so little in this Expedition. He signified to Tariff all that had passed, while he expected his orders, which he desired he would send him; and this General signified to him to separate his Troops, and remain in his Government till farther order. This caused Abenramin to dismiss his Army, and seek to recreate himself after the fatigues of this War.   

CHAP. XVIII.  
The Unhappy end of Count Julian, of the Countess his Wife, and of Florinda his Daughter.  
COunt Julian having taken leave of the Moorish Generals, as has been said in the former Chapter, assembled all his Adherents, as well Relations, as those that had followed his Fortune; and seeing the bad condition the Algesires, and his other Lands were in, he went to settle himself in a very pleasant place, that is upon the back of the Mediterranean Sea, called by the Spaniards Villa Vitiosa; from whence he could give the orders necessary for the reparation of all his Houses, and the administration of the vast Estate he had. As soon as he was there arrived, he sent to his Wife and Daughter to come to him. They had ever made their abode at Tangier, waiting the event of this War; but seeing it terminated, they failed not to repair immediately to him.  
The Count and Countess were overjoyed to see one another again, after so long a separation 
* Alfirac, Absence. ; only Florinda continued still melancholy, whatever Caresses were made her by her Father and Mother, and whatever care they both took for her Diversion. She had ever before her Eyes the ruin of her Country, the destruction 
* Alfacar, Destruction.  of the Christians; the Death, Servitude, or at least, the Misery of so many Millions of men; and when she called to mind that she was the occasion of so many evils, she was not capable of any joy: Above all, what gave her most anxiety, was to see herself dishonoured, and without hopes of ever seeing herself in the Rank and Establishment she might have expected according to her condition. All this so Topsy-turvyed her mind, that at the long-run, either through the instigation of the Devil, or through a black vapour that offuscated her Brain; she mounted to the top of a Tower, 
Alhueran, Despair.  where shutting the Door after her, for fear of being hindered from Executing what she had resolved on; she entreated a Governant to go seek her Father and Mother, with whom she had a mind to speak. And as soon as they were come, she began to speak to them from the top of the Tower, as a Person that had absolutely lost her senses; telling them, that so unfortunate a Maid as she did not deserve to live, principally being the cause of so great a Desolation 
* Alfacar, Destruction. , as that of all Spain; and continuing such like Discourses; My Father and Mother, cried she to them, Henceforward in memory of my misfortune, let not this City any longer be called Villa Vitiosa, but Malaca; for now the worst Person that ever was, is going to die.  
No sooner had she uttered these last words, but that without hearing or Father or Mother, or any of those that were there, and without yielding to the Remonstrances they made her, she threw herself from off the top of that Tower; and having battered herself in falling, she only lived three days. Her Mother swooned away at this Spectacle, and Count Julian laid so to heart the misfortune of a Maiden for whom he had had so much kindness, that his imagination remaining wounded thereby, he thought it to be a 
* Hi●●ab, Punishment.  Punishment of God: And perhaps it was so, and that this befell him for his sins. For the Leaf of the Tree makes not any motion in the Air; and the Ant takes not a step upon the Earth but by his order 
* Id●, the will of God. . Thus this Imagination made him lose his senses, and become mad to that degree, that he himself Stabbed a Poniard into his own Breast. In a little time also after his Death, the Countess his Wife fell sick of a Cancer 
* Karatan, a Cancer. ; and after having undergone inconceivable pains, she died at last of a Natural, but a very grievous Death.  
As they left no Legitimate Children, Almanzor took Possession of his Lordships, and Reunited them to the Crown of Spain. This Death proved a great scandal, both among the Christians and Moors; and that Town is called Malaca, on occasion of the last words Florinda uttered at her dying, when she threw herself off from the top of the Tower. The Spaniands say Malaga in lieu of Malaca; and this word is made of the two she was heard to utter at her Death; for she said, Let this Town be no longer called by its ancient name, but let it be called Malaca, said she, that is to say Wicked; because in it this Day dies the most Wicked Creature in the World.  
The Arabs call this Florinda, as also lafoy Cava, which signifies Wicked; and certain it is, that though this Count had served Almanzor with great Fidelity, yet was he a Traitor to his King and Country. For which reason, Wise and Virtuous Men ought to have a care of those sort of People that are ever covered with Infamy 
* Cufa hac●, Infamous People. , and that were never seen to come to a good end, but like to that of this Count, and of all his Adherents.   

CHAP. XIX.  
Muca being vexed that Almanzor did not send for him as well as Tariff, dispatches his Brother to him with the Description of all Spain.  
MVca was very much vexed that he had not been sent for to Court as well as Tariff, and would willingly have been present at the Relation that Captain was to make to Almanzor, of the particulars of all that War, and of the state he had left all things in, in Spain; fearing that in giving the Account all alone, he would attribute the whole Glory to himself. He fancied he had done him some ill Office in the Letter he had written to their Monarch, since he did him not the Honour to desire to see him, no more than if he had not had the least share in the Conquest they had made together; wherein Muca was very much deceived; for Tariff spoke of him as his Friend, as well in his absence as his presence; and he since found it plainly by the Letter, whose Tenor I am going to insert.  
He fancied he had rendered as great Services as Tariff, and that he had not only had all the Principal Direction, but that he had served in his own Person, and exposed his Life to a thousand Dangers. Nevertheless, he plainly saw that it might befall him, what commonly befalls those that are distanced from the Court; and that, instead of receiving a Recompense 
* Socr, Recompense.  proportionable to his Services, he might, perchance, be put out of his Master's favour.  
Labouring under this anxiety, he knew not what course to take; for to leave his Government, and repair to Court without Permission, that could not be; to stay, and not go thither, was a hazarding his Fortune, and an exposing himself to all the lashes of Envy and Jealousy. At length, having unbosomed his Heart to some of his Friends, they found a medium betwixt these two Parties, which was, to send his Brother Ishmael to Court, under colour of carrying the Caliph a Description 
* hatred, Description.  of the Land they had subdued, and a state of all things that concerned the War. But indeed there to value and improve his Services, and fathom if the Emperor did him Justice. Now these are the terms of his Letter, in form of Relation.  
A Letter from Muca, Viceroy of Africa, to Caliph Almanzor, Emperor of the Arabians.  
PRaise be first given to God, the Sovereign Creator of all things, Amen; and then to the most high and most Illustrious Caliph, the Buckler of God, the Defender of his Law, and Emperor of the Arabians, the Emir Mumenin Almanzor; to whom God give a long and happy Life, and a flourishing and quiet Reign; as is wished him by the least, but the most Faithful of his Subjects, Muca, Viceroy of his Realms of Africa: Who makes known to You, as he is thereunto obliged, that most of those that inhabit them, are happier than ever they were; being returned Rich with the Spoils they have brought from Spain; as must, doubtless, have been told you, by one of your most Valiant Captains and Loyal Subjects, Tariff Abenziet; who Exposed his Life a Thousand times for the augmentation of your Crown, in this Conquest. This I can better testify than any Body, having been in most Actions with him, as I thought it my Duty. I did not content myself with providing the two Armies by Land and Sea, with what was necessary for them 
* Tachi al●mart, Provision of all. , to take all the trouble of them, and be at all the Charges; the zeal I have ever for your Service, made me pass over thither with a third Army: And since I entered into that Country, which is a Peninsula in respect of us, I have carefully observed all I have seen, and took a very exact Information, as well of the Christians, as the Renegadoes of that Country; of its Situation, and of the manner of living of its Inhabitants. I thought you would pardon me the freedom of sending a Relation of it a little long, but true.  

The Relation.  

Irtifah, Climate.  THis Island is Situated under the Elevation of the Arctic Pole, from the Thirtieth to the Fiftieth Degree, on the North of those Kingdoms of Africa, that are under my Government; and which are severed from it partly by the Mediterranean Sea, and partly by the great Ocean.  
All this Country that we have Conquered, contains about Eighteen Hundred Miles in Circumference; and stretches out into a Length, representing the Figure of an Animal. The Climate is exempt from bad Vapours; the Air is there ever Serene and refreshed by the Winds, which occasions the People to be long Lived and very Healthful; the Plains are watered with an Infinity of Springs that fall from the Rocks, whose Water is very subtle and well tasted. All these Waters collected from space to space, from Noble Rivers, the most of which have their Course towards the West, and so go and disembogue themselves into the Ocean, though there are some that fall into the Mediterranean Sea; and all of them furnish the People with a World of Fish of a very good Taste, and not Unhealthful. We see no Serpents there, nor any Wild Beasts; there are no Leopards nor Lions, Ounces or Griffins: And when any of those Creatures have been sometimes brought thither from other Countries, they could not live. This occasions the Country to be very Populous, and that there are neither Lands nor Mountains altogether uninhabited 
* Hala, Desert. . Besides this, there are all sorts of Fruits, as well in Winter as Summer; there being so many Trees in the Gardens, that they seem to be Forests, and such Delicious Places, as seem to be a Terrestrial Paradise. In Summer, there is a vast abundance of all sort of Meat, by means of the great abundance of Pasturages; where an infinity of cattle is ever found, and a great quantity of all sorts of Wild and Tame Birds, that even come to Winter there from several Countries, as one more Temperate.  
The People, as well Men as Women, are of a middle stature 
* Hadaca, Discretion. ; and the Cities observe an Excellent Policy. The Inhabitants are all Clothed in very Fine Woollen, are naturally Wise, and being addicted to War, they are curious of Horses, and have such as are very Vigorous. The Soil produces good Bread and excellent Wine, and so great a quantity of Oil, that there is rather too much than too little. There grows all sorts of Herbs and Pulse; and particularly, all Simples as are needful in Physic. They gather there Silk and Linen in abundance, of which they make very fine Stuffs. There are Mines of Silver, of Copper, of Lead, of Iron, and Quicksilver: For as for Gold, I have not heard there was any. As there are many different Nations, there are also several sorts of Tongues, that have not any Relation with ours.  
This Peninsula confines upon France on the North, and is 
* Tuhcim, Divided.  separated thence by very high and very rugged Mountains, by them called the Pyrenees. We passed them, Tariff and I, in the Head of your Armies; but we thought that it became us not to undertake the Conquest of another Kingdom than that of Spain, without your Permission: After having entered pretty far into the Country, we Retired again, without having lost any of our Men.   
I end in telling you, That this Country is full of all sorts of Riches, and that there is wherewithal to live very pleasantly, and with all sorts of Conveniences: Congratulating you for so many, and such happy succrsses, which I only inform you of in the Bulk, leaving the particulars to Tariff, who will give you an Account of all that is not in this Letter; relieve me in the faults I have therein committed, and with your Celcitude's leave, will here find assurances of my Friendship; praying God that he would assist you in all things with his Grace.  
From the Palace of Morocco in Africa, the 3d of the Moon Dulquesita 
* This is in the month of November, in the Year 715 of our Lord. , the Year 94.  
Ishmael with this his Brother's dispatch, being Shipped in a very light Bark, for the making the more haste; in a little time arrived in Arabia, and presented his Letter to Almanzor: This great Prince, though sufficiently informed of all those Affairs of Spain, did nevertheless express much joy at his receiving Testimonies of the care Muca took of all things that related to his Service; and to show the value he had for him, he commanded his Brother to stay with him until farther order.  
Ishmael sent immediately a Courier to his Brother, to signify to him the manner of his Reception.  
This was a great Consolation to Muca, he taking the order the Emperor had given his Brother to attend upon his Person, as a good Augur. This Mighty Prince having assembled the Principal Lords of his Empire, and conferred with them, and particularly with Tariff, upon all matters; the Result of this Council was to send Ishmael, as Ambassador, to the King of Thunis, to condole with him the Death of the Prince his Son, thank him for the Succours he had given him in that War, that had more than a little contributed to the Conquest of Spain; and to demand in Marriage his Daughter, called Omahair, for Abilgualit Abinacer, his Eldest Son, and Heir to all his Kingdoms.  
Ishmael, very well satisfied with being chosen for so Noble an Employ, departed with an Magnificent Equipage; a very Noble Train, and a great number of Martial Men, as well for his Guard as for the Dignity of his Embassy. He was very welcome at Thunis, and had immediate Audience of Mahomet; to whom he gave the Caliph's, his Master's Letter, and the Presents he had brought. He was highly entertained by that Prince; who having agreed to the Proposal, and having Examined it with the Principal of his Council, this Match was found advantageous for the State, and suitable for the Princess Omahair; and for this reason, he with all Expedition dispatched away Ishmael with an Answer as favourable as the Valid could desire it; as it is easy to see by the Letter and Answer.  
A Letter from Valid, to the King of Thunis.  
Praise be to God, Amen.  
THE most High, and most Puissant Caliph Valid Almanzor, Emperor of the Arabians, to the most Wise, and most Potent King of the Moors, Grand Justiciar, Warrior, Martial, and Defender of the Law of God, Mahomet Gilhair, Greeting with all sort of Tenderness and Amity. I am under great Obligations of imparting to you the happy Event of the Enterprise I made upon the Kingdom of Spain, since you had so great a share therein, by the Succours you gave me for the Conquering of it. But the Death of Prince Gilhair your Son 
* Ga●an, Extraordinary Grief. , has much diminished the joy I should have had; and I have only to represent to you on this Occasion, that since it has pleased Destiny, 
* 〈◊〉, Farality. , or rather the Providence of our Great God, so to ordain by one of his Decrees, conceived from the knowledge of men, and reserved to his Eternal Science: There is only Suffering with Patience the Evils he sends us; and praise him in the mean while for the Benefits we daily receive from him. For which reason I shall say no more to you upon this, resting satisfied with showing you how much I interest myself in all that concerns you, through the peculiar Esteem I have of your Virtue, through the acknowledgement I ought to have of all the Benefits I have received from you, and the Amity you have ever had for me, as your Good Relation: And through a thousand other Reasons, which Ishmael the Bearer of this Letter will tell you; whom I desire you to afford entire Credence, as to the Proposals he shall make you in my Name, that I shall reckon myself happy, can they but Succeed as well as all your Designs; for which I pray God with all my Heart.  
From our Palace of Carbal 
* This is in the month of April, in the Year 716 of our Lord. , the 4th. of the Moon of Babeth, the 2d. day of the Year 94.  
The King of Thunis' Answer.  
Praise be to God the Creator of all things; to whom alone is due Sacrifice and Prayer.  
THE Generous King of the Moors, the Exalter of the Law of God, and Extirper of his Enemies, Mahomet Gilhair; to the most Honoured, most Noble, most Wise, most Prudent, and most Potent Emperor of the Arabians, Valid Almanzor; to whom the Great God give a Long and Happy Life, as well as to all his Servants: Health. I am obliged to you for imparting to me the happy success of the Conquest of Spain, which has afforded great joy; and still more at the Proposal that has been made me in your name, according to the Credentials you sent me. To which I have no other answer to make, but that I shall esteem myself very Happy, that all you express yourself desirous of, be treated and accomplished in such manner as you shall please to order; as a thing that absolutely depends on you. I pray God to take you into his keeping.  
From our Palace Royal of Thunis 
* This is in the month of July, in the year 716 of our Lord. , the 11th of the Moon of Rageb, in the year 95.  
Ishmael was very much pleased to carry back so favourable an Answer as this into Arabia, where he had a kind Reception made him by Almanzor and all his Court. The happy issue of this Embassy, occasioned the Caliph to give him the Office of 
* The Office of Algovazil among the Moors, was as that of Precedent of Castille.  Algovazil; being one of the Chief of his State that fell vacant after his Return, and made him at the same time incur a great deal of Envy.   

CHAP. XX.  
Adilbar went to invest the City of Hispalis with his Army, but is constrained to raise the Siege, and return to Cordova.  
WHen that General Tariff and the Viceroy Muca had repassed the Sea, before they began their Voyage, the one into the East, according to Almanzor's orders, and the other into the West, to his Palace of Morocco, where his Brother Ishmael expected him; they caused Proclamation 
* Bore● A●●l●an, a public cry by sound of Trumpet.  to be made throughout all Africa, in the name of the Emperor their Master; That all those that were minded to pass into Spain, there to inhabit, needed only to repair thither; and that they should have Lands given them to cultivate, Houses to dwell in, with all the conveniences necessary to Life; and great Privileges and Exemptions. These Promises, and the rumour of the Beauty of the Country, caused a world of People to pass the Sea; not only Natural Moors, 
This is the second time that the Jews came into Spain.  but Jews of the Hebrew Nation, who passed it with their Wives and Children, and all the Goods they had, to the number of fifty thousand Families, according to the Register taken of 'em by Adilbar.  
This Viceroy, by an express order he had received from Almanzor, of re-populating that great Kingdom, which he had confided to his Conduct, distributed with an admirable oeconomy, throughout the Kingdom of Spain these new Spaniards, according as they landed. The Governors, and Subordinate Commanders, gave afterwards in the Provinces and Cities, to each of those Families, Conquered Lands, proportionably as they were convenient for 'em to live in, whereof he made particular Estates. And they had all so great an application to this matter, and kept such good order, that this great extent of Land became in a short space more populous, and more cultivated, than it had ever been before; and the new comers were so well accustomed with the Natives of the Country, that there seemed not to be any difference among 'em, nor as if any change had there happened.  
Adilbar seeing so numerous a People under his sway, and all the particular Governors so obedient to his will 
* 〈◊〉, obeyed by all. , thought himself in a posture to make some attempt for the service of his Master. He remembered that they had not dared to attack Hispalis, by reason of the Pestilence that raged there when the Generals went away; and had informations that the Christians flocked thither from all patts, since its ceasing. For which reason, having assembled the greatest number he could of Infantry and Cavalry, and made a Body of twelve thousand Foot, and two thousand Horse; he departed from Cordova, after having given all the Directions requisite, and marched directly to Hispalis in the head of this Army; small indeed, but very brave, and provided with all things necessary 
* 〈…〉 well appointed. . He straightways sent a Trumpeter to Summons the Inhabitants to Surrender, promising them all sort of good usage, as Generals of Armies are wont to do in such occasions.  
The Inhabitants, without listening to his Promises, or being concerned at his Threats, made no other answer, but that they were resolved to defend the goodness of their Cause to the last, and to be cut all in pieces, rather than fall under Slavery.  
After such an Answer, Adilbar thought there was no farther parlying. On the morrow morning, he caused a most furious Assault to be made: But as the Besieged were well informed of the manner with which the Moors had performed the Sieges of all the other Towns of Spain, they had made Provision of a world of Posts of several fashions, which they filled with boiling Oil, Juniper and Turpentine, and threw them upon the Besiegers; which burned them alive, and incapacitated them from fight, by reason of the violence of the pain they suffered.  

Farica.  Adilbar confused and vexed at the damage his men had received from the Beleaguered, without its being in his Power to do them any, caused the Rerreat to be sounded, and his Troops put into Quarters, to see what he had to do: He had lost four hundred men in this first Assault, and plainly perceived, that as often as he employed force, there would be nothing to be got. Wherefore he imagined, that being Master of the Field, and having Victuals abundance in his Army, whose subsistence he could furnish to as long as he pleased, in the Neighbourhood of that Town, he could so well block up the Avenues, that it should be constrained to Surrender, without his so much as losing one man; he resolved not to decamp thence till he had famished it.  
The Beleaguered guessing that the Moors had taken this course, since they had remained five and twenty days together, without continuing their attacks; they resolved to Sally out upon them, when as they lest expected it. For this purpose, without making any Bustle, as could make the Besiegers suspect their Design, they assembled all their resolute 
* Inzi, Hachi, Resolution.  men; And one Night, Sallying out of one of their Gates, they fell with much vigour upon Adilbar's Camp.  
The Moors defended themselves with great Resolution, but believing the number of their Enemies still greater than it was, in the darkness that hindered them from viewing one another, they betook themselves to flight 
* Fazar, a Rout. , and the Christians made a great slaughter of them. To avoid the inconveniences that commonly happen in Engagements that are performed by Night, the Governor had ordered all those that were commanded out upon that Sally, to cease fight, and retire into the Town, as soon as he should cause a Horn to be sounded; whose sound he had caused them to observe. Thus fearing they might engage too far on the pursuit of the Moors, who might cut them off, he caused it to be sounded, when he judged it convenient.  
The Christians had much ado to resolve upon quitting the Engagement, being very much fleshed by the Moors, who gave way before them on all sides, and were pursued by them with the Sword in their Reins: But at the long run, retiring by little and little, in the order that had been prescribed them, they reentered the Town, where they were received with great Applauses, by the Beleaguered; who caused a world of Musical Instruments to be sounded, in token of Joy for so great a Victory.  
The Day being come, the slaughter the Christians had made appeared to Adilbar much greater than he had believed it: And perceiving the strength of this Town, and the Valour of those that defended it, he found it more convenient to raise the Siege, than to persist any longer obstinately in an Enterprise, which was more difficult than he had imagined. Whereupon he took his march back to Cordova; and having found his Army diminished in two thousand Foot, and two hundred Horse, he had lost in this Siege, he separated it, and put it into good Quarters in the Country, that it might recover itself.   

CHAP. XXI.  
Adilbar makes a second Attempt upon Hispalis, and is as Successless as before.  
ADilbar was disconsolate at the bad event of the first Enterprise he had made for the Valid's Service: He was ashamed that the only Town the Christians held in Spain, had resisted him, after Tariff, with so little pains, had taken all the rest. He imagined all the Moors 
* Hird, Murmur, Scandal.  murmured at it, and himself found that Almanzor could not effectually call himself absolute Master of that Country, as long as that Town was not under his Obedience.  
Wherefore having sent for all the Governors of those Provinces, and conferred with them about the necessity, and the means for the reducing it; he began to make greater Preparations than he had yet done; and having assembled fifteen thousand Foot, and fifteen hundred Horse, he took the Field in the beginning of the Spring 
* Fael Arabeh, Spring. , of the 95th Year of the Hegira, and marched directly to Hispalis; in the Neighbourhood whereof, he lodged all his Troops.  
The trial he had made in the first Siege, of the Valour and Industry of the Beleaguered, which had made him break up from thence, without having effected the least, had rendered him wise; and as he was a good 
* Harbal Ahidad, Genius for War.  Commander, he had caused certain Chariots to be made, covered with very thick Board's, that so his Soldier's might, as under cover, fight sheltered, without any inconvenience from the Boiling Oil, and all the other things, that the Christians might throw from off their Walls.  
After having begun, by Summoning the Town again to Surrender, and received thence as haughty an Answer as that he had before, he caused his covered Chariots to advance, with a multitude of Pioners, sustained by a good number of Soldiers, that he had placed underneath; and having brought them near the Courtin, he had it undermined in the Places he judged to be the weakest.  
The Beleaguered seeing these Machine's, and dreading the effect of them, assembled to consult about the most proper means to secure themselves from so great a danger. Their Governor, called Sarmato, being a Man of Wit and Resolution, let them see that there was no occasion for them to be alarmed as they were, and caused them to separate into three Brigades, that they might the more easily sustain the three different Attacks.  
Adilbar had not omitted any one of the Precautions he could imagine, against all that the Beleaguered could invent for their defence; and as he had caused to be made a kind of great Stone-Bows 
* The Arabs call them Mausenech. , with which they shot up very great Stones, he pointed them to the places where they could do most mischief; and making 'em mount upon his Chariots, he caused so great a quantity of 'em to be thrown, that few places were there in the City, where the Christians could be in safety.  
Sarmato seeing so many extraordinary means employed to attack him, fell on his side also to the contriving some for his Defence; and having caused the strongest of the Inhabitants to assemble, with fitting Instruments for the removing the Earth, he caused Ramparts to be raised, behind and within the Walls, that when even the Moors should have effected the making some Breaches therein, they might find 'em stopped with so much Earth, as that it would be impossible for them to enter 'em. This wise Governor, by this Precaution, put himself in a posture of receiving no damage from all the Inventions of his Enemies: For there was already so much Earth behind the Wall, that when they had broken it, they would find they had got nothing by the bargain: Nay, and many had been crushed to pieces by the great Stones the Christians rolled upon those Chariots: And as for those the Moors caused to be thrown into the Town, as there stood Sentinels on the top of the Towers, to give the Signal to the Inhabitants to make their escape, when they saw any coming, most commonly all their Machine's were fruitless.  
Adilbar being in Despondency at so many ill successes, resolved upon giving a general Assault. While he was preparing all his Forces for that purpose, and that the Scaling, Ladders were erected on one side, he caused his Chariots to take a great circuit towards the other end of the City, for the undermining the Wall at the same time. Whereupon, having given the Signal for the attack, at break of day, which he had chosen for that intent, the Besiegers went on with an extraordinary fury, and the Besieged sustained it with great resolution.  
The Moors in the mean while, having again changed their Chariots, and fastening upon part of the Wall that was weaker than the rest, made a great Breach, by which some entered the Town; but Sarmato repairing in all haste thither, with a great many Soldiers, left them there not long; and having drove them thence, caused that gap to be stopped up with a great quantity of Earth: Certain it is, the Town had been taken, had he delayed one moment longer; but the Night having put an end to the Conflict, Adilbar found he had lost five hundred men, whereas the Besieged had lost but two hundred: So great an opposition made him take up again the Resolution he took the time before, of stopping up all the Avenues of the Town, that so the Christians, being pressed by hunger and thirst, might be constrained to Surrender. He remained there in this manner forty five days, after which, Sarmato considering that Adilbar might hold him blocked up in this manner, as much, and as long as he pleased, being Master of the Field, from whence he might have all sorts of Refreshments; he resolved upon going to attack him in his Camp, as he had done the time before.  
Wherefore having assembled twelve hundred Foot, choice men, and a hundred Horse, he caused them to Sally out at Midnight, through a Postern gate of the Town. The Moors having seen the Christians had been so long without fight, did not expect this sudden Assault at all: By this means the Christians killed a very great number of them, and retired in good order, by favour of the night. Adilbar fearing the like accident to that which befell him in the former Siege, sent a part of his Horse to stop the Soldiers that were minded to pursue them; insomuch, that he found the next day that he had lost four hundred Foot, and thirty Horse, whereas there fell not above a hundred and fifty of the Christians, whom this General caused to be Interred as well as the Moors, for fear of their creating an Infection in his Camp.  
The Besieged were much satisfied with the success of this second Sally; but in a short time after, Adilbar caused a second assault to be made, which was so furious, that whatever resistance they made, the Moors at length gained a Courtine. The Governor flying thither forthwith with a re-inforcement of Soldiers, performed so well, that he at last drove the Moors again from their Post, and put it into a posture of Defence. This Conflict lasted from break of day, till Three of the Clock in the 
* This time is called Hacar in Arabic.  Afternoon; when Adilbar seeing his men disheartened, caused a Retreat to be sounded, to dress the wounded. He found among the Dead three hundred Moors, and about a hundred and fifty Christians; but there was a very great number wounded; and among others, one of his Officers, called Hali Abenzainee, which afflicted him very much, and whom he caused carefully to be dressed, as well as all the rest; confirming himself in the first Resolution he had taken, of having the Town by Famine.  
The Besieged fearing to want Victuals, that they might precaution themselves beforehand, with the remedies necessary against the mischief wherewith they were threatened, had caused very deep 
* Hazir, Ditches,  Canals to be made, from the Western Gate of their Town to a great River, that passing very near their Walls, falls afterwards into the Sea. By the means of these Canals, they went into the River with great Boats; and these Canals being Fortified all along with good Trenches, insomuch that the Cavalry could not do them any mischief, there came to them, from time to time, Victuals from the Mountains of a certain Country, called Biscaya: These Canals were a very great help to the Besieged; for besides their having by this means all things brought them, the Water of the River served them for a thousand conveniences.  
Adilbar having not then any Ships to hinder the Christians from having every moment all necessaries, was very much at a loss, and was loath to resolve upon raising the Siege once again: When news was brought him of the revolt of the Governor of Valence, called Abubaher el Handali, and of the Inroads he made into the Neighbouring Provinces of that Kingdom.  
So urgent an evil, and which he saw himself indispensably obliged forthwith to remedy, made him presently raise the Siege, and march long days journeys to Cordova; which the Christians of Hispalis were very glad of.   

CHAP. XXII.  
Adilbar goes to Valence, defeats the Governor of that Province and has him Beheaded.  
THe great Siege, wherein Abubaher el Handali, Governor of Valence, saw Adilbar engaged in, had made him hope that he might in that time, render himself absolute Master of that fine Province. In this Design, having gained all the Governors of the smaller Cities, and all the Martial Men under his Authority, he would needs cast off the Valid's Oath; and having brought a small Army on Foot, he began to make Incursions into the Neighbourhood, that he might by force oblige all the People thereabouts to obey him as their Sovereign Lord.  
Adilbar being informed of these Transactions, as I said in the foregoing Chapter; caused a new Army to assemble, of ten thousand Foot, and eight hundred Horse; and with these Forces, crossing the high Mountains that are on the South, he arrived at the City of Murcia; to whose foot extends the Government of Valence: Abraham Escaladari was then Governor of the Place, who being informed of Adilbar's march against Abubaher, had got ready a Magazine of Provisions, to distribute them, as he did among his Soldiers: And having joined him with all the men he had, they two marched together toward Valence.  
The Rebel seeing so great an Army coming against him, and having no place of safety whether to Retire, thought it much better to try the fortune of a Battle, and win it, or die like a Man of Courage, than go basely yield himself up. Having inspired the same resolution into the minds of his Adherents, and disposed them into the best order he could, as soon as Adilbar had set footing in his Government, he went to meet him; and in that Battle, did all that could be done by a good General, and good Soldier; but being at last taken, and all his men defeated, Adilbar caused his Head to be struck off, and had it set on the top of a Lance, on the Gate of that Town, which he gave for Plunder to his Soldiers.  
He made a strict scrutiny after all those that had had a hand in this Rebellion, that he might of them accordingly make an Exemplary Punishment: And indeed, many Commanders and Captains had the same Fate with their Leader; and after having reduced that Country to its Obedience, and there established one of his Captains, called Mahomet Abenbucar, he returned to Cordova, and dismissed his Troops.   

CHAP. XXIII.  
Almanzor gives Tariff a place in his Council, and chooses him for his Ambassador Extraordinary, for the Conclusion of the Prince his Son's Match, with the King of Thunis' Daughter.  
ALmanzor making reflection on the great Services rendered him by General Tariff, on all occasions, and particularly in the Conquest of the Kingdom of Spain; for the discharging himself of the Obligation he had to him of so great an augmentation of Empire, and of such vast Riches he had thence derived, had not a more Glorious Recompense to give him, than a place among those of his Council 
* Mutagua Quilalriaca, Minister of State. , and who share in the administration of all his Kingdoms; for which account he put him into that number, and nominated him Ambassador Extraordinary, to go conclude the Prince's Match, and fetch away the Princess of Thunis. He caused a Fleet of forty Ships to be fitted out for that purpose, with all the Magnificence requisite for so solemn an Embassy, and which was undertaken for so agreeable an end. Tariff being embarked with a world of Courtiers, and a good number of Soldiers, arrived safe at Thunis, where he was received and entertained with all his People, as well as heart could wish; and after having made a very short abode there, he went on Board his Ships again, with the Princess Omalahaire, and all her Train, and returned into the Levant with a very fair wind.  
The Infanta being arrived in Arabia, the Nuptials were Celebrated with great Pomp; and there were Tournaments, Tilting, and all the other merriments that are wont to attend those sort of Festivals.  
Almanzor seeing his Son Married, and finding him at an age to govern his State himself, thought it to be now time to Execute a design he had long meditated, of discharging himself of that heavy burden, he had for so many years born upon his Head; finding also that his Old Age, caused him by little and little, to sink under the weight of it: For which reason, seeing himself worn out, and attacked with many Infirmities, he resolved upon devolving it upon that of his Son, that so he might retire into a House of Pleasure, he had caused to be built in a Mountain, where he had very pleasant Gardens, very thick Woods, and excellent Waters. Whereupon having caused the States to assemble, where it was his Pleasure to have all the Governors of the Provinces present, he imparted to them the Dimission he meant to make of the Empire, in favour of his Son; and at the same time, caused the following Letters Patents to be expedited.  
Letters Patents, Of Almanzor's Demission in favour of his Son.  
Praise and Glory be given to that Great God, the Creator of all things, Amen.  

Luna amis Abihabdi Allabi. that signifies the Father of the Servants of God; and Ibninacer, intimating the Son of Victory.  THE most High, the most Noble, the most Dread Lord and Emperor of the Arabs, Valid Almanzor; Vicar of God, and Protector of his Law, Son of the most Noble, and most Honoured Lord, and Martial; Warrior, Caliph, and Emperor of the Arabs; Father of the Servants of God, and exalter of his Law, Abdulmelech, Son of Victory.  
Considering the Necessity we are reduced to, by the Infirmities with which it hath pleased God, our Sovereign Lord, to visit 
* Ziara, Regale.  us; and the decrepit Age wherewith Nature is wont to over-whelm all men in the order of times; which occasions our being not strong enough to govern so great an Empire, as we have done in time past; for the settlement of our Crown, the Peace and Tranquillity of the State, and the greatest Good and Utility of our Subjects; and to hinder the Dissensions and Discords that commonly happen after the Death of Kings, which are wont to overturn the best established Empires; and for other Considerations, us thereunto moving; we have thought convenient to Renounce, Grant and Transport, by these Presents 
* Dahir, Patents. , all the Sovereign Authority that we have, with the Sceptre and Crown we bear, in such manner as it appertains to us, in Quality of Caliph, Absolute and Sovereign Lord, without acknowledging any Person living for Superior in Temporals; to our Well Beloved, and Obedient Son, the Wise, Virtuous, and accomplished Aboulvalid Abenacer, our eldest Son, Lawful Heir, and nearest Successor; on whom may God bestow the Wisdom necessary for the Governing all his Kingdoms, in such manner, as that all his Subjects may enjoy a continual Peace and Tranquillity, by reserving to us the direct Siegneury, in case of Death, or failure of Succession, or any other such like misfortune, or disgrace; which we pray God not to suffer to make way for our returning to the Throne, to which we no longer pretend any Right. For which reason, We signify and order to our wellbeloved Son, and Lawful Heir and Successor in the second Degree, the Prince Abraham Amcari, and to all those of our Council of State and of War, and to all the Governors, Cadis, Generals and Captains; and to all, and as many as there are of our Officers and Subjects, of what Quality and Condition soever they be, to hold and Honour, as Emperor of all these Kingdoms, our said Son Aboulvalid Abenacer; and in that Quality, make Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity to him, as from this present we mean to make to him ourselves, acknowledging him for King, and giving him all the Power we have hitherto had, according to the Laws, commanding expressly all our Subjects 
* Alumyid, People.  to obey his Commands, and Execute all his Orders, as if they were issued out by us, on pain not only of our Malediction, but of that of God, of his anger, as they must needs all incur that want Fidelity to their King; and for a token of the effectual Possession of all that is contained in these Presents, we mean to put them ourselves into his hand, in the presence of all the Governors and Subjects, assembled in our Palace for that purpose. For such is our Express determinate Will and Pleasure; to which end, we have ourselves signed these Presents with our hand, and have caused our Great Seal to be put thereto.  
In our Palace of Corbal, in Arabia Foelix 
* Beginning of the month of October, in the year 716 of our Lord. , the 3d. of the Moon de Vaguel, in the Year 95.  
By the means of this Renunciation, Aboulvalid Abenacer being acknowledged Crowned King, his Father Almanzor took a chosen number of his most Faithful and most Ancient Domestics, to attend and serve him in the Place he had resolved upon making his Retreat, leaving his Youngest Son Abraham Amcari, with the King, his Eldest; and no sooner was he arrived in that Solitude, but that his Infirmities daily augmenting, he fell into an ill Distemper, which lasted upon him till Death, which, in short, fell out in a little time after.  
Abraham had a haughty Spirit, and and mmense Ambition; the Caliph being very jealous of him, and uneasy on his score, that he might deprive him of the means of fomenting Cabals against him, sent him into Stony Arabia, which is a Country of very small extent; and where he could not find wherewithal to do him any great mischief.  
About that time the Governor of Damas', Abenbukar by name, who all his life long had had roving and Chimerical thoughts, imagined that Almanzor being no longer in the World, he might attempt all with impunity. He thought of no less than of dispossessing Aboulvalid, and of placing himself in his stead; and had assembled a great Army, with which he ravaged all the Provinces bordering upon his Government. The Caliph was also obliged on his side to take the Field, to bring him to his Duty; when that Prince Abraham Amcari, who was continually gnawed with the lust of Reigning, and omitting nothing he judged useful to his Designs 
* Alhadar, lost no occasion. , found it to be the most propitious juncture he could wish, for the manifesting them to the World. Whereupon he on his side assembled the most Horse and Foot that was possible for him; and after having passed the Deserts of Arabia 
* Alcahari, Sandy Mountains. , he marched directly to Court with all his forces, making semblance of coming to his Brother's assistance against Abenbukar the Rebel. And accordingly he met with a kind welcome at first; but having all on the sudden changed face, and having seized on the Castle, and the best Gates of the City, about midnight he sent to seize on the principal persons of the Court, as well Officers as people of Service, whom he thought Loyal to his Brother, and had 'em all beheaded. This so intimidated all the rest, that either out of the fear they had of him, or by reason of the little affection they bore the King, and the esteem they had for this Prince, whom they saw to be brave and generous, and love War 
* Ymala, to win hearts. , they were easily inclined to acknowledge him for their King; nay, and there was so great a concourse of People at his Coronation, that meaning to improve that first heat he saw them in, and not thinking it convenient to let it cool again, he took the Field with all those that suffered themselves to espouse his Party. His Brother Aboulvalid was gone at the head of his Forces against Abenbukar; wherefore he thought he could easily pen him up, between his own Army, and that of that Rebel. And after having left at Court a Captain, a Creature of his, called Xaira Alxadali, in whom he put entire confidence, he marched directly to his Brother with all his Troops; which he found to make up twenty thousand Foot, and fifteen hundred Horse.  
The King was so surprised at this News 
* Aturmuhim, Ill News. , that he was ready to run mad; and to see if he could apply some remedy to so great and unforeseen an Evil, he quitted the design of reducing Abenbukar, to return with all expedition to meet his Brother.  
The two Armies being in sight of one another, Aboulvalid sent a man on purpose to Abraham, to divert him from so unjust and unreasonable an Enterprise; and representing to him that he was going to be the occasion of the Death of an infinite number of men, which could be only imputed to him alone; but that if he would desist from his design, he promised him in the word of a King, to forget all that was passed, and to receive him as his Friend and Brother 
* Taha, obedience, protection, friendship. . Abraham made no other answer to this, but that he was not come thither to be reconciled, but to fight; that he stood in no need of the friendship he offered him, but of the Crown he had upon his Head; that he was Almanzor's Son and Heir as well as he; that he had only to prepare to defend himself, and that their Rights being at the point of their Swords, they would that day decide which of the two had the best, giving the Kingdom to him that should gain the Victory.  
Having in this manner sent back Aboulvalid's mediator, and having threatened to have him hanged, if he came again to importune him with such like harangues. The Caliph with grief saw himself obliged to give Battle; but at last, having marshaled all his Army in Battalia, it began with some squadrons of Horse of both sides, who were a long while mingled with one another, before any judgement could be passed which of the two had the advantage: And this Skirmish that lasted above half the day, without any great loss on either side, plainly showed the Cavalry to be composed only of good men, that knew admirably well both to attack and defend.  
On the morrow, the twelfth of the Moon Dulquehala 
* In the month of December, in the year 717. , in the Year 96, the Battle was renewed, and proved still more bloody for both Parties; for it lasted from Morning till Noon, without ones being able to judge on which side the Victory leaned: But at length, Aboulvalid's people beginning to buckle, and those of Abraham to break in upon them on all sides, Aboulvalid fearing to fall into his Brother's hands, made his escape out of the hottest of the Engagement, upon a very fleet Horse, after having made a sign to some of his people to follow him. The King's Retreat utterly disheartened all his men, who were immediately after easily put 
* Facar, fl●● put to rout.  to flight.  
The Prince pursued them at their heels; and after having killed a very great number of them, he returned to give the necessary orders for all Occurrences, and then return against Abenbukar, while that Aboulvalid was withdrawn into the Kingdom of Thunis, where he was kindly received by his Father-in-Law, who knowing the misfortune that was befallen him, through the perfidy and wickedness of his Brother, comforted him the best he could, and promised to assist him in his revenge.   

CHAP. XXIV.  
Abraham Amcary goes to fight Abenbukar; defeats him, and has him beheaded.  
ABraham being puffed up with the winning of this Battle, and overjoyed to see that all the paces he made, conducted him upon the Throne, without any stop, he marched directly to Court; where having convened the Estates, to confirm the Government he meant to establish, he caused them there to take a new Oath of Allegiance to him, by which, all that he had not been able to get approved of, but by some, before his going to fight his Brother, was confirmed and ratified by all the rest: And thus was he owned and declared by a common consent, Emperor of all Almanzor's Realms, as his Lawful Heir.  
Then having made such Regalations as he pleased, and bestowed great Bounties on all his Creatures, without losing time, he took the Field with fifteen thousand Foot, and fifteen hundred Horse, to go to Damascus.  
Abenbukar, being fully informed of all these Transactions, came to meet him with an Army of twenty thousand Foot, and two thousand Horse, insomuch, that they were not long without coming to blows. Abraham would needs, before he gave the Signal for Battle, do as lawful Kings do to Rebels; and sent to tell him, That as he had not any Right to the Crown, he could not believe he would persist in his bad designs, or that he would be wanting in his Allegiance to his Prince; wherefore he offered to Pardon him all that had passed, if he would but return to his Duty.  
Abenbukar having caused the Prince's Envoy to come into his presence, would not go about to excuse himself with sorry reasons, as do all Traitors that can never have any that are good; but answered him sharply, and like a gallant man, That between two Traitors, and two Disloyalists, as they both were, he had only the hand of him: but that Abraham had committed a much greater infidelity in dispossessing his Brother Aboulvalid, who was his Lawful King, according to the disposition of his Father, and that of Nature, than he, in withdrawing himself from his obedience, with all the Province of which he was Governor, seeing all his people oppressed with impositions 
* Magarem, Subsidies. , and very severely used by King Aboulvalid.  
That he had learned that to state things aright, Nature caused no body to be born upon a Throne; that all the Kings of the Earth were Tyrants; that the Sceptre belonged to him to whom God had given the strength to bear it; and the Sovereign Authority to him that had Wisdom and Ability sufficient to govern the people; and that as all Created things had their beginning, and their end, Monarchies were not exempt from this general vicissitude; that thus there was no need of reasoning any farther.  
Abraham being extremely provoked at so haughty and so insolent an Answer, would no longer defer giving Battle, contrary to the advice of most of his Officers, who counselled him to stay the Conjunction of all his Forces, that were not yet arrived, Abubenkar's Army being much stronger than his, and all his Troops appearing much more sprightful; but they could not prevail with him to change the resolution he had taken.  
Some of the Cavalry that were detached on both sides, having began the Skirmish, they quickly engaged in a general Battle, that was very obstinately fought, and very bloody, Abenbukar being skilled in all the stratagems of War, had placed his best Officer in Ambuscade behind a Hill, with five hundred chosen Horse, that had order not to appear till the Battle was far engaged, and then to attack the Prince's men in the Rear; and this occasioned Abenbukar's winning the Battle: For this Captain, bolting just in the nick from his Ambuscade, put all Abraham's Forces into such great disorder, that this Prince seeing himself penned up on all sides, threw himself from off his Horse, and so fled o'er the Mountains, that he might get again into Arabia.  
Abenbukar being Master of the Field of Battle, returned to Damascus, loaded with Honour, and the Spoils of Abraham's Camp he had plundered; and expecting to have suddenly another Army upon his back, he did not dismiss his, but put it only into good Quarters in that Country.  
Abraham, at his return, having met with a very cool reception from the Arabians, it spighted him extremely, and gave him great confusion. Wherefore having again convened the Governors and Commanders that were under his sway, he gave them to understand that he was resolved not to suffer Abenbukar to glory long in his Victory; and commanded them to make ready to take the Field in fifty days space, with all the Forces they had under their charge. They so very punctually executed this order, that at the day appointed, he found himself at the head of an Army of forty thousand Foot, and five thousand Horse; with which he marched again for Syria.  
Abenbukar had not slept on his side, and knowing the great preparations that were making against him, caused Proclamation to be made throughout all the neighbouring Countries, of large pay, and great Rewards, for all those that would come into his service, and bring him Troops: By this means he framed a body of thirty thousand Foot, and three thousand Horse; and with these Forces stayed Prince Abraham's coming up, who without entering into any parleys, as he had done the time before, as soon as he came in fight of Abenbukar's Army, he marched directly upon him, to engage him in the Battle, that was very bloody on both sides. But at last, Abenbukar's Troops being defeated, he was taken generously fight, and brought to Abraham, who, without saying a word to him, in the rage he was in, and without giving him time to speak, or the Executioner to come, he cut his Throat with his own hands, striking him so furious a blow with his Scimitar upon the nape of his Neck, that he cut off his Head, which he caused to be put on the top of a Pike, on the Gate of Damascus. He was not satisfied with having himself performed the Execution, for having caused him to be fleed, he commanded the placing upon that same Gate that Wretch's Skin, which he had caused to be filled with straw; and the like usage did all those meet with that had had a hand in this Rebellion. At length, being grown weary of putting people to Death, and believing that Province absolutely reduced, and sufficiently chastised, he left there as Governor, a Captain, in whom he had great confidence, called Abencirix, and returned to recreate himself at Court, where he was received by his Partisans with great Huzzahs, and mighty Exultation.   

CHAP. XXV.  
King Aboulvalid assembles a great Army in Africa, and marches against his Brother Abraham, gives him Battle, wherein his Brother is killed.  
KING Aboulvalid being retired to Thunis, as I have before observed, laboured under great anxiety to see himself drove out of his Kingdom by his own Brother, and employed his thoughts wholly upon the means of being revenged. Mahomet Gilhair was no less concerned than this Unhappy Prince, considering him not barely as his Son-in-law, but as his own Son. Wherefore having resolved on assisting him with all his might, he made great Levies thoughout the whole extent of his Kingdom, gave Commissions to all the principal Persons of his Court and Country, and fitted out a great Naval Army, which he had stored with all the Provisions necessary for a great Embarkment.  
Aboulvalid did not forget himself on his side, and well perceiving there was no man that could assist him more strongly in his occasions than Muca, Viceroy of Morocco, and of all the African Provinces; he sent a man on purpose to him in a Felucca, with this Letter.  
King Aboulvalid's Letter, to Muca, Viceroy of Morocco and Africa.  
Praise be to God, Amen.  
THE Great and Warlike Emperor of the Arabs, of the high Lineage of Motaleb; Vicar of God, and Defender of his Law; Aboulvalid Abenacer; Son of the most High and most Dread Caliph, and Emperor of the Arabs, Valid Almanzor: To the Valiant Captain, Virtuous and Accomplished Knight; Trusty and Loyal Servant of our Royal Crown, Muca, our Viceroy in Africa, Greeting. Abenbukar Governor of Damascus, meaning to withdraw himself from his Allegiance to Us, and we having taken the Field with an Army to chastise him, Prince Abraham our Brother, taking that occasion to execute the design he long had had of troubling the State, and having had the boldness to take up Arms against Us, to the great damage of our Subjects, and to the great contempt of the Obedience to Us owning; for which, according to all Laws of Justice, he merits Death as well as Abenbukar; and for the procuring his punishment, and preventing the misfortunes that his Rebellion may produce, you are ordered, That as soon as you shall have received this Letter, to cause to assemble, with all possible diligence, the greatest number of Troops possible, in the extent of our Kingdom of Africa, and that you cause them to embark with all the Provisions necessary, nay, and with all the Gold and Silver that is found in Our Treasury of Morocco, all which to be sent Us to Thunis, where we are at present; further conjuring You, if You have any one in whom You have sufficient confidence, as to trust with him the care of your Government, to come yourself in Person at the head of your Army, to serve Us in so urgent an occasion, and to provide for all things according to your wont prudence, wherein We have an entire confidence.  
From Thunis, the 
* In January 718.  14th. of the Moon of Mahatran, the Year 97.  
Muca having with great respect received the King his Master's Letter, in a short time assembled an Army of thirty thousand Foot, and having got together all sorts of Ammunition, and fitted out a mighty Fleet, he embarked in it himself, with the Royal Treasure he had in his keeping, finding that it could not be better employed than for so good an occasion, for which it was undoubtedly reserved: Nay, he thought himself obliged to quit all things, to signalise his Zeal and Fidelity in his Master's 
* Maulab, King and Lord.  service, and contribute thereto, not only with his Cares, but with his Person. In his room in Africa he left a very brave Man, and in whom he had great Confidence, called Alicunicy, a Native of Stony Arabia, and arrived safe at Thunis with all his Army, at the end of the Moon of Rabeh, on the 2 of that same year 97 of the Hegira.  
There he found King Aboulvalid employed in Shipping the Troops he had got together in those parts; who embraced him very affectionately, and caressed him to a high degree. This Prince had already nominated Tariff Abenziet, who had achieved the Conquest of the Kingdom of Spain, in his Father's Life-time, Generalissimo of all his Forces, and had cast his Eyes upon him, as upon the greatest, and most lucky Captain of those times.  
These two great Armies having been a long while in embarking, the King put at length to Sea, and with as fair a Wind as he could wish, in a few days time he arrived in Arabia; where having made a Review of all his Troops, his Army was found to be sixty five thousand Foot, and five thousand Horse, which gave him a great deal of Joy.  
All the People of that Coast, seeing so numerous and so flourishing an Army, far from opposing his Descent, declared themselves immediately for him.  
In the mean while, Prince Abraham knowing all his Brother's Preparations, did not sleep on his side. He had assembled all the Chiefs 
* Musta Mahami, States.  of the Arabians, and after having given 'em notice of the storm wherewith they were threatened, and having made them apprehend that they were to expect little less than to be strangled, if Aboulvalid ever remounted upon the Throne; and that it was much better to die in the Bed of Honour, than upon a Scaffold, as he was resolved to do, to show 'em the way. They were all so sensibly persuaded by his Arguments, that in their own Defence, they made up a very considerable Army, that was found to be sixty thousand men, got truly in the best manner they could together.  
Abraham having made no difficulty to go meet his Brother with his Forces, the Battle was fought in the Plain of Cahar, on the 3 of the Moon Dulquihida 
* The Arabians name is Faliaz Ahra, in November 718. , in the year 97. It lasted from Sun rising to its setting. Abraham then performed all that could be done by a great General, and a good Soldier: But seeing his Army in Disorder, he threw himself into the hottest of the Engagement, where he was killed with his Sword in his hand.  
Aboulvalid did much lament his not having been able to take him alive; and doubtless, as he had ever had a kindness for him, maugre all the mischief he had done him, he would have given him his life, and would have been contented with continuing him in a perpetual imprisonment. Wherefore having caused his Body to be put into a Coffin, he pursued his way towards Carbal, whence the Queen his Wife was coming to meet him; though she had ever been kept as a Prisoner, the Prince had ever had her very civilly treated: Aboulvalid was mighty joyful to see her again, but could not forbear expressing much grief for Abraham's death; he caused the whole Court to put on 
* Hisu, mourning, tears.  mourning, and assisted at his Funeral, which he caused to be performed with great Pomp; nay, he was seen to shed tears in that occasion; but he had not the same mildness and clemency for all the Officers that sided with his Brother; he put a great number of them to Death, and set himself to retrieve his Authority, and set matters again to rights throughout the whole Empire.  
General Tariff received a wound in his Right Arm in the Battle, which he had neglected at first, by not refraining to mount on Horseback, after his usual manner; but through the little care he took of it, and through the toil and drudgery of marching, his Arm swelled in such manner as to gangre; and so in a few days time sent him out of the world.  
Aboulvalid was much grieved at the loss of so great a General, and to show the esteem he had for him, he caused him to be Interred with great magnificency, and had the same honours paid him, as had been paid to the Person of his Brother. And I can certainly say one thing of him that is somewhat singular, that his Valour was accompanied with such great Fortune in War, that he never undertook any enterprise but what he sped in to his honour.  
This Prince, after having punished, as I have said, those that were revolted against him, began with recompensing those that had served him so usefully in that War, by distributing among them the Governments, Lieutenancies, and Employs, insomuch, that they were all satisfied with the returns he made to their Services; and then set his thoughts upon enjoying amid Pleasure, the repose that had cost him so dear.   

CHAP. XXVI.  
Adilbar, Viceroy of Spain, leads his Army into Biscaya, against Pelagius, and thence returns without doing aught.  
ADilbar having sped so ill in the Siege of Hispalis, he had received order from King Aboulvalid his Master, to go the soon he could, to make the Conquest of those Mountains, where Pelage had made his Retreat, and where an infinite number of Christians were gone to find him, from all the corners of Spain, to save themselves, with their Wives and Children, from the fury of the Moors.  
Whereupon, he sent a Renegado-spy, to examine the strength of those Places where this Prince lurked, and to inquire into the number of the Soldiers he had with him, and the world of People that had there taken refuge.  
The Renegado being entered into the Country, pretended to make his escape as well as the other Christians, from the Persecution of the Moors, and overran all the Mountains of Biscaya, where he most carefully observed all he saw, in pursuance of the orders he had received from Adilbar: But when upon his departure thence again, he was brought before Pelage, by the Guards he had placed upon the Frontiers, having been taken for a spy as he really was; Pelage asked him a Thousand Questions, but as he was cunning and crafty, he answered very pertinently, and without being at a loss: Pelage nevertheless was not willing to let him go, and kept him some days in Prison; but at length, finding nothing against him but a weak suspicion, with which his Imagination had been possessed, he set him at liberty.  
After this, the Renegado took his time so well, that he found the means to get again to Cordova, where he delivered Adilbar an account of all that had befallen him, and of all he had seen; assuring him, that it was no difficult matter to force the pass of those Mountains, that were guarded only by a small handful of men, of little Courage.  
Adilbar being encouraged by this Relation, resolved upon undertaking the War against Pelage, well perceiving that if he had once reduced the Christians of that Canton, Hispalis would no longer put him in pain, the succours that Town had received from Biscaya, having occasioned it's not being surrendered. Wherefore he prepared suddenly to besiege it, as not believing those Mountainers could resist him long; and flattering himself with the hopes of rendering Aboulvalid the absolute Master of all Spain, as far as the Pyrenean Mountains, that separate it from France.  
For this purpose he assembled twelve thousand Foot, and would not take any Horse along, as not believing they could be useful to him in so rocky a Country 
* 〈◊〉, Country of Rocks. . With this small Army, composed of choice men, he advanced as far as the place by the Spaniards called the Term of War.  
Pelage having notice of his march, convened the Principal Persons of the Cantons of Biscaya, to concert with them the means of opposing him; and their unanimous opinion was, to think of defending the Entrance of the Mountains, which was very difficult; this was also the sentiment of Pelage; so as that having placed five hundred chosen men, and well armed in Ambuscade in a great Quarry or Den, that is under a steep Rock, Pelage placed himself a little higher with fifteen hundred men, being all he could assemble.  
The Moors going about to mount, to get to that Mountain's top, Pelage charged them with the small Forces he had, but had quickly been overcome, had not the five hundred men that were hid in that Cavern, as I newly hinted, appeared in the nick behind the Enemies, put them into disorder, killed a great number of them, and put all the rest to flight.  
That day Adilbar by computation lost a thousand men, besides the great number of those that were dangerously Wounded; whereas the Christians lost but four hundred.  
Pelage Retreated forthwith, with all his Men, into the hallow of those Mountains, to defend the Entrance of them, well knowing this to be the most important of all; insomuch, that Adilbar enraged at the loss he had newly undergone; all the faults of which he reflected upon the Christian Renegado, who had deceived him; he sent him to the Gallows.  
After having well examined the difficulty there was in forcing such narrow and steep Passages, he found his continuing any longer in that Country, would be only the losing of time and men, and resolved to put off this Enterprise till another time, when as he might find an entrance more easy to force, than that from whence he had been newly repulsed. Wherefore without staying there much longer, he returned into Andalousia, where he dismissed his Army, and set his thoughts wholly upon Regulating and Policying that Kingdom, while Pelage and his People blessed God for so favourable a success, and were confirmed in their opinion of those Mountains, being made in due manner for the putting a stop to the Conquests of the Moors, and serve for an Azylam and Retreat to the Christians; wherefore they used their utmost endeavours to fortify them to the best advantage.   

CHAP. XXVII.  
Of the Death of the King of Thunis, and of the great Wars Aboulvalid was obliged to make to render himself Master of that Kingdom.  
THE joy King Aboulvalid had for the victory he had gained over his Brother Abraham, was quickly ruffled by the news he received in a little space after, of the Death of his Father-in-law, Mahomet Gilhair. He left no other Children save Queen Omhalair, wherefore he resolved to send out of hand to take possession of so fine an Inheritance, for fear that if he deferred any longer, some change might happen, as commonly does in such occasions: for so solemn an Embassy, he chose one of his favourites, called Abulcacim Aben Marchan, who departed in great haste with all his Train, and was very kindly received by all the Grandees of that Court, and Lodged in the Deceased King's Palace.  
Having forthwith convened all the Members of the Council of that Kingdom, and having let them peruse the Powers he had from Aboulvalid, in his Name to take Possession of that State; they examined them, and having found them in the form they ought to be, King Aboulvalid was acknowledged and declared King of that great Kingdom, and Abulcacim Aben Marchan Viceroy in his absence. But as in all times, and all Countries, People there are Transported with a desire of Ruling; one of the Principal Governors was there of this; who flattering himself with the thought that being Mahomet Gilhairs near Relation, the Kingdom ought rather to appertain to him, than to his Daughter, began underhand to solicit all the Leading men and Governors, each in his turn, to assist him with his Forces. He represented to them, That being born in the Country, and with them brought up, and the late Kings nearest Relation, the Crown belonged to him, rather than to a Foreigner; and had the knack so to coaks them with fine promises, that they at last resolved among themselves for the most part, to throw off Aboulvalid's Yoke, and to place him in his stead upon the Throne. Hacan (so was this Captain called) wanting not courage for so noble an enterprise; having assembled all the heads of his Party, entered by main force into the Palace, where Aben Marchan had his residence. This Vice-King disinherited nothing; but as soon as he had notice of so very treacherous a design, having put himself upon his defence with what happened to be about him, he chose rather to die in defending himself generously, than to fall alive into the hands of the Revolted. Thus though they only really desired to take him Prisoner, they killed him, with all those that were about him, without so much as one escaping.  
The rumour of this rising being immediately spread, all those of Hacan's Party proclaimed him King, after the wont manner, taking withal an Oath of Allegiance to him: And this new King failed not at his accession to the Crown, to bestow favours upon all his Partisans, and to give, as all Usurpers do, all the orders necessary for the acquiring of reputation 
* Tani, get into credit. .  
At that same time, 
* Subb, a Comet.  one Wednesday evening, a very great Comet appeared upon the Horizon; about whose angle it took up towards the East: It was accompanied with very thick Clouds, extraordinary Winds, and pernicious Exhalations, and appeared for forty whole days together. This very much affrighting the new King, he caused the Mathematicians and Astrologers of the Country to meet; who, after having very exactly examined the Elevation and Nature of this Comet, and the sign in which it rise, said that it threatened the Kingdom with great Wars, and the King's Person with an imminent Death.  
While they were still making their Observations, a great Earthquake was felt, and being repeated to the eighth, or ninth time; and there arose so furious a storm at Sea by the great Eastern Winds, that all the people of this Country, thought that the end of the World was coming; nay, they said they had heard by night, strange howl in the Mountains, that seemed to be roaring Lions. But what most amazed and was most strange, was a Cloud that coming from the West, burst upon their heads, and reigned a water of the colour of blood. The Earthquakes I have newly mentioned, had topsy-turvyed some Houses, and overwhelmed whole Families vuder their ruins; insomuch, that not only the people, but the King himself was in a Consternation.  
These surprising signs of Heaven's anger, were followed with a great scarcity of Corn, that famished to death several persons, as also with certain Contagious 
* Acain.  Sores, that taking them in the Groin, and behind the Ears, knocked off a very great number.  
Aboulvalid, whom Hacan's Rebellion had very much enraged, seeing the people wearied and ruined by all the late Wars, was not in a very good posture to undertake so great an one as this that fell upon his hands. He convened the Estates, where having exposed the necessity he was under, to go reduce under his obedience a Kingdom that so lawfully belonged to him, on the account of the Queen his Wife; and having demanded of them succours in Money, they answered him that they should not fail him in his need, but that it was requisite first to know in what state the Kingdom of Thunis was, and whether the Pestilence that had already lasted two months was ceased; the resolution was taken that enquiry should be made; and the persons sent thither brought word back, That a world of people was there dead of it, but that the contagion began to diminish. This occasioned the hastening the preparations for that War; insomuch, that a great number of stout Ships were fitted out for the taking on Board so great an Army, as was that then preparing to be embarked in it, in the Spring in the Year following.   

CHAP. XXVIII.  
Aboulvalid makes Muca Generalissimo of his Armies, and after having reduced the Kingdom of Thunis under his Obedience, returns into Arabia.  
MVca had served Aboulvalid usefully in the War he had with his Brother; he was his Father Almanzor's most Trusty Servant, and had had a great share in the honour of the Conquest of Spain: All these reasons made this Prince cast his eyes upon him, to confer on him the Conduct of his Army; and being then in his Government, he sent him an express Courier to give him notice of this new War, and that he had nominated him Generalissimo in all his Armies; the terms of his Letter to him were as follow.  
Aboulvalid's Letter to Muca Abenzairi, Generalissimo in his Armies.  
Praise be to our Sovereign God, Amen.  
THE most High, and most Dread, King of the Arabians; Vicar of God, and Defender of his Law, Aboulvalid Abenacer; Son of the Martial, Caliph, and Protector of the Faith, Valid Almanzor; to the Governor of our Kingdom of Africa; the Prudent, Virtuous, and accomplished Gentleman, Loyal and Faithful Servant of our Crown, and Captain-General of our Armies, by Sea and Land; Muca Abenzair, Greeting. We write to you at present, to let you know that the Great Caliph Mahomet Gilhair, King of Thunis, our honoured Lord and Father-in-law being dead, and the virtuous Abulcacim Aben Marchan our Servant, who had been in our name to take possession of that Kingdom, of Right and Justice to us belonging, hardly beginning to make our people taste the sweetness of our Reign, when Captain Hacan, as you doubtless have been already informed, entered by main force into the Palace Royal of Thunis; and after having killed our Governor, and all our faithful Servants, had withdrawn himself from his Allegiance to us; and by force, caused himself to be owned the absolute King of all the Country; which he governs Tyrannically. Wherefore, for the recovery of that Kingdom, it is necessary that you assemble the greatest number of Troops as shall be possible for you, in the Kingdoms that are under your Government; and that you set forth with them and our Army, to repair to the Port of Capha 
* It is not known in what place that Port is, nor how it's called at present. , in the midst of the month of Ragab, in the approaching hundredth Year of the Hegira; at which time, we will go to join you with the Army which we cause to be raised in the Kingdom of Syria and Arabia; till when we refer the resolving with you upon all matters, enjoining you to order all as you shall judge most expedient, by your Prudence and Valour; wherein we have an entire confidence.  
From our Presence, in the Palace of Corbal, in Arabia Faelix, the 2d. of the Moon Mahairan, in the Year 99  
Muca having received the King his Master's Orders, was overjoyed at the employment with which he honoured him; and having made Levies throughout all his Kingdom, and heaped up all sorts of Ammunition, as well for the Fleet he had fitted out, as for his Land Army; he embarked with twenty thousand very brisk men, and made Sail towards the Levant, while the King was embarked with twenty five thousand Foot, and eight hundred Horse, he had assembled in Arabia, and made Sail towards the West; insomuch, that the two Armies joined happily in the Port of Capha. This filled this Prince full of joy, for he would needs come in Person to this War, well perceiving that when he should have reduced the Kingdom of Thunis, he was absolute Master of all Africa, from the Sea of the Levant, to that of the Ponant. Wherefore having Landed at Thunis, he found not any opposition at his descent, and had the means to marshal both his Armies in Battle-array.  
Hacan being fully informed of these Warlike preparations, was extremely intimidated: Nevertheless, as he had been long prepared to maintain his Usurpation, he had assembled forty thousand Foot, and eight thousand Horse; with whom he went with great Resolution to meet Aboulvalid, and courageously stood his coming in a large Plain, not far distant from the Sea, and called Falh Almaligue 
* The King's Field. ; where having drawn up his Army in Battalia, it began by two bodies of Horse, that Skirmished for some time before they engaged the rest in the Battle, that lasted all that day, from Three a Clock in the Afternoon, till Night 
* Daelam, obscurity. , that separated the two Armies with the loss of eight hundred Foot, and about three hundred Horse, on the King's side; and five hundred Foot, and four hundred Horse on that of Hacan, without reckoning a number of Wounded; among others, one of Muca's Children, called Ishmael, had two thrusts with a Pike in his Thigh, for which Aboulvalid was much concerned. But the Father seeing the Grief his Master thence received, told him with a very gay and resolute countenance, that there was not matter for so much trouble as his Majesty expressed; neither he nor his Son being come thither to gain Riches, but to die for his Service; and that thus, though his Son should not recover of his Wounds, the matter would be small, since he was only Born to die: On the contrary, he should hold his Death as well employed, because he had first so well avenged it; and this was true, for he had killed with his own hand a very great number of the Enemies; and that day performed actions worthy of an Eternal memory.  
On the morrow, 
At the beginning of October, in the Year 725. of our Lord.  which was the 9th. of the Moon of Taquel, in the hundredth Year, the Battle renewed at break of day, and lasted till Noon, when Hacan's Men began to Buckle, and were at length by dint of Sword defeated. Hacan seeing the flight of his Forces, sought his safety in galloping after them.  
The King being entered into Thunis, did not think he had gained an absolute Victory, unless he had Hacan in his hands: So as that he forthwith sent Foot and Horse out on all sides to seek him, promising them great rewards if they brought him to him. They sought him so well, that the Dogs of a Flock of Sheep barking after him in a Cave where he was hid, created a desire in them to go thither, and occasioned his being taken. He was immediately brought before Aboulvalid, to whom having given a great deal of ill language, as a desperate man, that saw there was no Remission for him; the King, that was otherwise very mild, was so provoked, that he caused him to be impaled alive, and left him in that condition upon the Gate of the Town, where he languished five whole days; at the end of which he died a very cruel Death. All the Principal Leaders of this Rebellion were then Beheaded; and one of the General Officers of the Army, called Abraham Hacen, was chosen to be Viceroy of Thunis, in the room of Hacan the Rebel.  
Aboulvalid having settled his Authority in that Country, and brought all things again into their Primitive order, set forth again with his Army towards the Levant; and being arrived at Carbal, where he was received with great Acclamations, the first thing he did, was to reward all the Principal men that had served him in that War, and particularly Muca, whom he made of his high Council, and one of the Principal Ministers of his State. After this, without staying longer in his Palace than was necessary to repose himself, he thought of taking a Pilgrimage to Mecque, whither he went with a part of his Court.  
Being on his return through the Deserts, there arose so furious a Wind, that removing whole Mountains of Sand from one side to another, as sometime happens; it buried above three hundred Persons of his Retinue, that were found thus Interred alive, which much afflicted him. But having passed them, at the long run he arrived in good health in Arabia Foelix, where he was received with great joy by all his Court, and thought in good earnest to recreate himself, after all the troubles he had thitherto undergone.   

CHAP. XXIX.  
The Oath of Allegiance which Aboulvalid causes the States to take to Jacob Almanzor his Son.  
THE Caliph thinking only now of leading a more calm and sedate life, and considering that he had not any other Children than Jacob Almanzor capable of succeeding him; he was very willing to secure to him the Crown, before he was overtaken by Death, that regards Kings no more than other men. For which reason, after having convened all the Grandees of his Kingdom, a Morabite, called Mahomet Algaseli, that was in great favour with him, and whose advice he demanded in things of the highest importance; by his order made them a long Speech, on which he gave them to understand, the reason for which he had called them together; which was to own Prince Jacob Almanzor for Lawful King of all his great Realms, after his Father's Death. 
Curci Almulq Canopy, Throne.  The States having declared, they all approved this design, as a thing very advantageous to the good and profit of all the Nations. King Aboulvalid having one day put on his Royal Robes, sat in his Throne, and caused Prince Jacob Almanzor to sit there with him, on his Right Hand; and then all the Governors of the Places being present, Mahomet Algaseli the Morabite, being seated on the King's Left Hand, rose up and uttered these words, with a loud and intelligible voice: Gentlemen, Honoured Governors, Virtuous Lords, and all you here present; King Aboulvalid wills and requires, that you own Prince Jacob Almanzor, his Lawful Son, who is here present, for absolute Master of all his Realms, after his Death. Are you willing to make Oath to him accordingly? To which they answered aloud, Yes, we are willing; Do then, replied Algaseli, as a token of the Allegiance you promise to him, and of the Possession he from this present is going to take of the Crown, all that the King and I am going to do. Then the King rising, took his Son by the Hand, and seated him in his Throne; and the Prince having taken the Right Hand of his Father, kissed it for a mark of his Obedience. The Father on his side, for a token of the Blessing 
* Rida, Benediction.  he gave him, laid his Hand upon his Head; and also kissing his Son's Hand, sat down by him on his Right Hand; Algeseli the Morabite did the same, and sat down on his Left; and after him all the Governors of the Provinces having also kissed his Hand; an Alfaqui having brought the Alcoran, wrapped up in a very rich stuff, and having laid it on the Table, Algaseli the Morabite rose up from his Seat, and lifting up his voice, that he might be heard by the whole Assembly; Honourable Governors, said he, and Virtuous Knights, and also every one of you here present; Do not you swear and promise by the Supreme God, and by all that is contained in this Book, to acknowledge and hold all your life long, Prince Jacob Almanzor, for your King and Sovereign of all the Realms, as Son and Lawful Heir, and Successor of King Aboulvalid Abenacer, his Father? And all having answered, Yes, we promise it: Let him then, the Morabite replied, that shall not accomplish what he has now promised, be declared Perjured, Infamous 
* Hazir, Infamous, Perjured. , and a Traitor to the State, and may the curse of the Great God fall upon him, and on all his; and the whole Assembly cried, Amen. And the Morabite having said, with an audible voice, That for the solemnity of their Oath of Allegiance, all should do the same as the King and he did. The King being got up, and having kissed the Alcoran, put it upon his Head, the Morabite, and all the Chiefs and Governors did the same afterwards, each in their order. After which, the Morabite being got up from his Seat, and having addressed his Speech to Prince Jacob Almanzor; Your Celsitude, said he to him, do you not swear and promise by the most Great, and most High, and by all that is contained in this Book, in Quality of Kings, and Sovereign of these Realms, to do Justice to his Subjects; and maintain and keep all the Privileges, that the Kings his Predecessors in general, and each of them in particular have granted them; so as that you may cause them to live in Peace, and not suffer any wrong to be done them. And the Prince having said, Yes, and that he swore and promised it: Mind it well then, replied Algaseli, for if you do not do it, the curse of God will fall upon you, as upon one perjured; to which the Prince having answered, Amen: Let your Celsitude then, continued he, to show you make an solemn Oath, do as I do: In uttering these words, he took the Book, and having kissed, and put it on his Head, he presented it to the Prince, who did the like.  
This Ceremony being finished, all the Governors, and Leaders of Troops, going out before the Prince, set him on Horseback, and carried him around through the City, in great Pomp, amid the noise of a world of Instruments: And all alighting at the great Mosch; and having said their Prayers there, returned with the same Pomp to the Palace, where the King his Father waited his coming, and where the whole Cavalcade ended and separated.  
This solemnity lasted three whole days; during which, there was nought but Feasts, Conserts of Music, Tournaments, and all the other Recreations to be thought of.  
These three days that had been given to joy being passed, the King caused the States to be held once again in his Palace, to confirm and ratify all that had been done; and the Morabite opened the Sessions in these terms. Illustrious Captains, Generous Governors, Brave Cavaliers, that are here all present; do not you confirm and ratify the Oath of Allegience, to Prince Jacob Almanzor, our Sovereign Lord, who is here present? And all having answered Yes; and said expressly, that they ratified it. Let all, pursued he, for the conclusion of so solemn an Oath, do then, as the King and I shall do: In finishing these words the King arose, and having taken the Alcoran, he kissed it, and put it again upon the Table; he also took the Prince his Son's hand and kissed it; and after that the Morabite, and all those that composed that great Assembly, had done the same, they were dissolved, after having all received some favours from the King, who was very much satisfied with seeing the Accomplishment of a thing he had so much desired. This great Ceremony passed in the ten first days 
* This date falls in the Year 725 of our Lord, in the month of March.  of the Moon of Rabeh, on the first day of the Year 104 of the Hegira.   

CHAP. XXX.  
Aboulvalid's Death, who leaves to one of his Kinsmen, called Mahomet Amcari, the Regency of his State, during his Son's Minority.  
ABoulvalid was much joyed to see all his great Kingdoms in Peace, and all the Wars and Dissensions he had been obliged to undergo, absolutely stifled: But as the Wheel of Fortune turns continually, and there is no man upon Earth, that has a continued and an accomplished happiness; all Great, and all Mighty, as he was, he tried it like other men: For he fell into so obstinate and so violent a Fever, that whatever care the greatest and ablest Physicians in the World took, that were at that time, they could not bring any Remedy to it. Wherefore this Prince seeing that all that was given him, did him more hurt than good, resolved upon taking nothing at all: And one day, in their presence, and in that of the Principal Persons of his Court, he said, That he plainly perceived it to be the Will of God, that he should die of that illness; that thus he thanked them for all the pains they had thitherto taken, and that he had no longer any need of them. Then he dismissed them, as well as all those that were about his Bed, and sent for Mahomet Algaseli the Morabite, to confer with him upon all things, and to provide the best he could for the Government of the State, after his Death; which was what put him most in pain: For he plainly saw his Son was as yet too Young, to be able to contain so many Nations in their Duty; and that it was absolutely requisite, to give the Regency of the State to some one, during his Minority. He was much at a loss, how to determine on whom to pitch; but he and Algaseli at last concluded, that there was not a man of more Ability, nor in whom more Confidence could be put, than in Mahomet Amcari; his very near Relation; insomuch, that having had him called to him, to tell him the choice he had made of his Person; and Amcari having made him a thousand Protestations of Acknowledgement and Fidelity, he named him in his last Will and Testament, the Regent and Lieutenant-General of the Empire, till that his Son Almanzor was at Age to Govern.  
He lived but a very few days after having declared his Will in this manner. And as he had governed with much Lenity and Justice, his Funeral, that was performed with great state, was accompanied with a real Mourning by all the People, and with such tears as departed from a downright Affliction. Mahomet Amcari having immediately taken upon him the management of Affairs, the Queen Mother resolved to live retired, as being well becoming a Widow; and that she might have the more care of her Son, and keep him in the greater security, withdrew to a Country House, whither the Caliph Almanzor, her Father-in-law, formerly retired; and where there was all sorts of Conveniences.  
Wherefore being gone thither to shut herself up with all her Family, and that of the King her Son; Amcari seeing himself absolute Master of the State, and obeyed by all the Governors of all the Realms that compose this great Empire, began to be sensible of the movements of Ambition, and the desire of Reigning, that glides by little and little, like an Earthworm, into the Hearts of all men; who from the nothing, wherein they were, see themselves raised up to Authority: For after having began to prick him on by little bites, they came at length to gnaw him all over.  
Having his mind possessed with this thought, and only thinking of the means to bring it about, he thought it expedient to begin with gaining over the Principal men of the Council and Army, and the Governors of the Towns and Provinces; as those that had all the Forces of the State in their hands. Wherefore he let not any occasion slip, of making them Presents, and of obliging them. When any of them died, he only put in their place such people as of whom he was well assured 
* Mutben, ready to serve him , and whom he thought would not fail him on occasion; and did this with so much dissimulation, that as he spoke to no body of his design, nor did any body perceive it. At length, having disposed all things to his fancy; having reduced them to the point he judged proper for the Executing of his Treason, he would needs communicate his mind to one of his principal friends, whom he had made head of the Council of War, called Aben Culeyman; who told him frankly, That since he asked him his advice, he found great inconveniences, in undertaking a thing of that nature, as long as the Prince Jacob Almanzor his Master was alive: For as he was beloved by all his Father's Creatures, there would be doubtless, many Governors that would declare for him; that this enterprise would seem very strange to the Arabians; and that it would meet with great difficulties in the Provinces; where, in imitation of himself, there would not be a Governor, but would make himself King, in the extent of his Government: That thus, whereas all he intended to do, was only to augment his Authority, and be absolute and independent, he would find himself abyssed, in the stormy Sea of Wars, which such an 
* Sutar, Rebellion.  overturning would occasion; and that after he had thus Rioted the people, it would be no longer in his power to calm them: These reasons seemed very pertinent to Mahomet Amcari; and as he had ever sped in following the other Councils given him by Aben Culeyman, he plainly saw, that this he then gave him, departed from a man consummated in the experience of State Affairs: Wherefore he bethought himself of an indubitable expedient, which was to rid himself of Prince Almanzor. He was resolved not to communicate this thought to any other than the same Aben Culeyman; but that Wise Counsellor still endeavoured to divert him gently, and by the best reasons he could bethink himself of, from so wicked a design; being in no wise able to approve of so horrible a cruelty, and so base and black an action. Nevertheless perceiving he could not root this intention out of his mind, he was furiously vexed; and having at last resolved upon applying a fitting remedy, he thought it to be time to discover the secret of this Treason, to the Captain-General, as to his best friend, and to the Prince his Masters most Faithful Servant. Muca being much surprised at such an infidelity, having confirmed his friend in the design he already had, of preventing so great a mischief; after having concerted together what they had to do, and promised one another the strictest secrecy, they resolved that Aben Culeyman should continue to put the Regent upon this matter, of which he made him the confident; and that he should endeavour to discover by what bias he pretended to bring about his design, that so they might by the same means break all his measures.  
This being their result, Aben Culeyman happening to be with Amcari alone, did not fail to put him upon that Chapter; and the Regent having told him, That finding the difficulties he had urged rational to all intents, he was resolved to overcome them, by causing the Prince to be Poisoned; after which all things would be easy to him: Aben Culeyman having to this made him answer, That he was in the right; and having much ado to entertain the vexation he had on this account, he left him as soon as he could, and went in all haste to inform Muca. These two Trusty Servants, considering the blackness of the Regent's action, and of what a consequence it was to think of saving the Prince their Master, from the peril that was preparing against him, found there to be less evil in bereaving the Traitor Mahomet Amcari of his life, and fail him in that occasion, that to keep his secret, to be Traitors to their Lawful King: Wherefore they both resolved together, that they might make the less noise and disorder, to invite him one day to Dinner, and to seize on his Person while at Table: But in the mean while, for fear the Prince should fall into the Trap that was laid for him, while they were taking their measures for so hardy a design, they thought it convenient to inform the Queen of all that passed, that so she might be upon her Guard, against the Treason that was preparing against the Prince her Son. Whereupon Muca went to her with all Expedition, in that retired House I mentioned; and having acquainted her with the Regent's Perfidy, she was much afflicted; but she received comfort at the same, in having found such Loyal Persons as would discover it to her. Muca having entreated the Queen, to keep the matter very secret, as it highly became her to do, both for her Son's sake, and the whole Kingdoms; and having assured him, she might make account of him, and that he was resolved to die for her Service; he returned in all haste to the Court of Mahomet, the Regent.   

CHAP. XXXI.  
The Regent Amcari, meaning to bereave Prince Almanzor of his Life, is discovered, and punished for his Perfidy.  
MAhomet Amcari, still contriving to work the Prince's Death, and seeking for that purpose, the safest and least noisy means, caused a very rich 
* Goyhrim, a Poisoned Robe.  Garment to be made, to make him a Present of, as is customary at certain times: And after having caused it to be well prepared, with a very subtle Poison, sent it to the Prince, with a thousand other very gallant, and very curious Presents.  
All those of the Queen's Palace, seeing these Presents unfolded, were immediately transported with the beauty of that Vestment; all saying, That the Prince could not put on a finer: But the Queen being afraid of its being poisoned, would by no means suffer him to wear it that day, no not so much as try it: And the Night being come, to see if she had any reason to harbour such apprehensions, she had it put upon a great Greyhound, that was found dead on the morrow, his Skin all covered with Sores.  
Mahomet's malice and design being then past all doubt, this generous Princess being very Prudent, and having a Courage above her Sex; without making any noise of the thing she had discovered, or of the resolution she had taken in her mind to punish such an attempt, sent to tell Mahomet Amcari the Regent, That the Prince would be very glad to see him, and she also, to discourse upon some matters of consequence. And knowing him to be upon the way thither, she caused all her Guards to keep the entrance of the Gate, as if it were to do him honour; but with order, That none of his should be admitted in with him. As soon as he was entered, they seized on his Person, and brought him into the Queen's presence; who having reproached him with his perfidy, and told him how she knew all his Treacherous design, she had an Executioner called in, whom she had at hand on purpose for his Execution, and had his Throat cut into the Basin of a Fountain that was in the Castle: Then having caused his Body to be laid upon an Ass, had it carried to Carbal, and so through all the Streets of that City, followed by the public Criers, who by sound of Trumpet, Proclaimed he was in that condition, for having designed to Poison his King, and seize on the Crown; and after having left it in the public place, she caused his Head to be set upon the Gate of the City.  
She did not long defer coming to Carbal, with the Prince her Son; and entering the Palace, she sent immediately for the two Faithful Servants, who had revealed to her this most Traitorous design; and told them, That the obligation she lay under, for the Service they had both newly done her, was so great, that she knew not how to express the acknowledgement she had of it; that the only reward proportionate to it, was the Regency of the State; that she had had a design to give it to the one and to the other: but that as this great Authority which they both equally deserved, could not be divided, and that she was afraid of offending one of the two, if she gave it to the other, she was resolved to Govern the best she could herself, without giving any one that Title; but that she would ever manage all things by their Councils, and that they should ever be the first of the State after her. They were both very well satisfied with this resolution; and News being come of a Party that was framing in the West, she sent them both, as those in whom she had most confidence; namely, Aben Culeyman into the Kingdom of Thunis, and Muca into that of Morocco, with an absolute Authority, there to contain the People in their Duty. Whereupon they both departed from Carbal, covered with Honour and Testimonies of Esteem and Affection, which the Queen and Prince gave them, and took their way towards the Ponant, where they safely arrived; but in a short while after, Aben Culeyman falling ill, died on the way: Muca spent his time in setting things in order, in a Kingdom he had so long since left; and Queen Omhalair remained sole Regent.   

CHAP. XXXII.  
Prince Almanzor's Death; the Queen his Mother dies of Grief, in a short time after, and Ali Abilhachek causes himself to be Proclaimed Caliph.  
QUeen Omhalair made it the whole study and application of her mind, to bring up well her Son, the Prince Jacob Almanzor, whom she had ever in her Eye. One day when that she was gone to Dine with him, in a Garden out of the Town, the Prince after Dinner threw himself upon a Bed, in a Room where he fell a sleep; and a Spider having pricked him in the Right Eye, his Face swelled in such a manner, and put him to such great Pain, and occasioned such dangerous Fits, as that he lived but seven days. The Queen laid his Death so to heart, that not being capable of receiving any Consolation, or of surviving a Son, for whom she had so tender an affection; she fell into so great a Languishment, that all the Remedies of the Physicians in no wise easing her Malady, she died fifteen days after him.  
These two Deaths, so sudden and so close upon one another, occasioned a mighty amazement in the Court, that was for some time in such a surprise, that their whole discourse was upon so extraordinary a thing. But at length, coming to think that there was none left of the Race of the Almanzor's, to whom the Crown appertained by Succession; the Leading men of the Arabians, and the Governors of the Provinces, began to make their Cabals. One of them, called Ali Abilhacheck, chancing to have more Friends than the rest, caused himself himself to be Proclaimed Caliph; and after having caused an Oath of Allegiance to be taken to him, and had his Coronation solemnised with great Pomp, with the Solemnity, and the Merriments that are wont to be practised in such like occasions; he began with rewarding those that raised him to the place he held, giving them Governments and Employs; insomuch, that there was no body but on whom he conferred some savour: Besides this, he applied himself in good earnest to make regulations upon all abuses that were introduced into the Government, and to do Justice to all those that required it of him, without making them wait; insomuch that he acquired in a short time not only a great Reputation, but also the friendship of all the people; they esteemed themselves very happy in being governed by so good a King.  
Thus ended the Line of the Aboulvalid Almanzor's.   
The End of the First Part.