A geographical historie of Africa, written in Arabicke and Italian by Iohn Leo a More, borne in Granada, and brought vp in Barbarie. Wherein he hath at large described, not onely the qualities, situations, and true distances of the regions, cities, townes, mountaines, riuers, and other places throughout all the north and principall partes of Africa; but also the descents and families of their kings ... gathered partly out of his owne diligent obseruations, and partly out of the ancient records and chronicles of the Arabians and Mores. Before which, out of the best ancient and moderne writers, is prefixed a generall description of Africa, and also a particular treatise of all the maine lands and isles vndescribed by Iohn Leo. ... Translated and collected by Iohn Pory, lately of Goneuill and Caius College in Cambridge

Of Fez the principall citie of all Barbarie, and of the founders thereof.

FEz was built in the time of one Aron a Mahumetan patriarke, in the yeere of the Hegeira 185. and in the yeere of our Lord 786. by a certaine heretike against the religion of Ma∣humet. But why it should so be called some are of opinion, because when the first foundations thereof were digged, there was found some quantitie of golde, which mettall in the Arabian lan∣guage is called Fez. Which etymologie seemeth to me not improbable,

albeit some would haue it so called from a certaine riuer of that name. But howsoeuer it be, we leaue that to be discussed by others, affirming for an vn∣doubted truth, that the founder of this citie was one Idris, being the foresaid Aron his neere kinsman. This Idris ought rather to haue beene Mahumetan* 1.1 patriarke, because he was nephew vnto Hali the cozen-german of Mahumet, who married Falerna Mahumets owne daughter, so that Idris both by father and mother was of Mahumets linage: but Aron being nephew vnto one Habbus the vncle of Mahumet, was of kinred onely by the fathers side How∣beit both of them were excluded from the said patriarkship for certaine cau∣ses mentioned in the African chronicles, although Aron vsurped the same by deceit. For Arons vncle being a most cunning and craftie man, and fai∣ning himselfe to beare greatest fauour vnto the familie of Hali, and to bee most desirous, that the patriarkship should light thereon, sent his ambassa∣dours almost throughout the whole world. Whereupon the dignitie was translated from Vmeve to Habdulla Seffec the first patriarke. Which, Vmeve being informed of, waged warre against the familie of Hali, and so preuailed, that some of them he chased into Asia, and some into India. Howbeit an ancient religious man of the same familie remained still aliue at Elmadina, who being very olde, no whit regarded the dignitie. But this ancient sire left behinde him two sonnes, who when they were come to mans estate, grew in∣to so great fauour with the people of Elmadin, that they were chased thence by their enemies; the one being taken & hanged; and the other (whose name was Idris) escaping into Mauritania. This Idris dwelling vpon mount Zaron about thirtie miles from Fez, gouerned not onely the commonwealth, but matters of religion also: and all the region adiacent paid him tribute. At length Idris deceasing without lawfull issue, left one of his maides big with childe, which had beene turned from the Gothes religion to the Moores. Being deliuered of her sonne, they called him after his fathers name, Idris. This childe the inhabitants chusing for their prince, caused him to be most carefully brought vp: and as he grew in yeeres, to the end they might traine him vp in feates of chiualrie, they appointed one Rasid a most valiant and skilfull captaine to instruct him. Insomuch, that while he was but fifteene* 1.2 yeeres of age, he grew famous for his valiant actes and stratagems, and be∣gan woonderfully to inlarge his dominions. Wherefore his troupes and familie increasing euery day more and more, he set his minde vpon buil∣ding of a citie, and changing of his habitation. And so he sent for cunning builders into all nations, who hauing diligently perused all places in the region, at last made choise of that where the citie of Fez now standeth. For here they found great store of fountaines, and a faire riuer, which springing foorth of a plaine not far of, runneth pleasantly almost eight miles amidst the little hils, till at length it casteth itselfe vpon another plaine. Southward of the place they found a wood, which they knew would be right commodi∣ous for the towne. Here therefore vpon the east banke of the said riuer, they built a towne containing three thousand families: neither omitted they

ought at al which might be required in a flourishing commonwealth. After the decease of Idris, his sonne erected another towne directly ouer against the foresaid, on the other side of the riuer. But in processe of time either towne so encreased, that there was but a small distance betweene them: for the gouernours of each laboured might and maine to augment their owne iurisdictions. An hundred and fowerscore yeeres after, there fell out great dissension and ciuill warre betweene these two cities, which by report con∣tinued an hundred yeeres together. At length Ioseph king of Maroco of the Luntune-familie, conducting an huge armie against both these princes, tooke them prisoners, carried them home vnto his dominions, and put them to a most cruell death. And he so vanquished the citizens, that there were slaine of them thirtie thousand. Then determined king Ioseph to re∣duce those two townes into firme vnitie and concord: for which cause, ma∣king a bridge ouer the riuer, and beating downe the walles of either towne right against it, he vnited both into one, which afterward he diuided into twelue regions or wardes. Now let vs make report of all such memorable things as are there to be seene * 1.3 at this day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Idris the first founder of Fe
• * 1.2

  Idris his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 valour at fif∣teene yeeres of age.
• * 1.3

  1526.