The present state of the empire of Morocco with a faithful account of the manners, religion, and government of that people / by Monsieur de St. Olon.

THE AUTHOR's Epistle Dedicatory TO THE KING.

SIR;

I Doubt not but that Your Ma∣jesty has, from Time to Time, been faithfully inform'd of what relates to the State, Forces, Cu∣stoms, and Religion of the Moors; and indeed, what I have seen in

Print on that Subject, generally agrees with what I have observ'd while I was in the Emperor of Morocco's Dominions: Yet, Sir, Your Majesty's Orders, and what I was enjoyn'd in my Instructions, having oblig'd me to make there some newer and less common Ob∣servations, I hope Your Majesty will not dislike, that, without af∣fecting to swell the Memoirs, which I now have the Honour to lay before you, with superfluous Repetitions of what some Authors have said, I only should give, as a kind of Supplement, such Ob∣servations as seem to have been omitted by them, either in what concerns the Nature and Particulars of the Trade of that Empire, the Character, Manners and Genius of

those who have the greatest share in the Government of it, or, as to what the Conquests of the Prince, who Rules there at this time, may have contributed to the Enlarging of his Dominions, the encreasing of his Forces, and the heightning of that Vanity that does not reign less in him than the other Qualifi∣cations by which he is so parti∣cular.

When Your Majesty did me the Honour to make choice of me to go in Your Name to conclude with that Emperor the Treaty of Peace, of which for some Years he had shew'd himself so desirous that he even seem'd to have remov'd be∣fore hand all the Difficulties that might obstruct it, in the Letter

which he had written about it, and sent to Your Majesty by the Consul of Sally, You were already con∣vinc'd by frequent Trials, how little his Proposals and Promises are to be rely'd upon.

Accordingly one of the most es∣sential and most inforc'd Articles in my Instructions was, That I should take care not to be deceiv'd by them; and therefore 'tis what I chiefly apply'd my self to prevent, by all the Means and Expedients that seem'd to me most proper, to conciliate the Artifice of his Coun∣cil and Ministers, with the fer∣vency and fidelity of my Zeal for Your Majesty's Service and Glory.

Even what I said to that Prince at my first Audience, which I insert at the end of this short Treatise, may also convince Your Majesty that I have not been spa∣ring of such Encomiums and In∣sinuations as I judg'd most capable of flattering his Ambition, and of inclining him to concurr with Your Majesty's Pious and Solid Designs for the Freedom of Your Captive Subjects, and for the security of Your Merchants.

If the Memoirs or Journal which I sent to You of my Negotiation in that Prince's Country, and at his Court, have been read to Your Majesty, You have not only seen, that You had entertain'd very just

Thoughts on that Subject, but that, far from my being able to remove that Punic Faith so general here at this time, or root out its Sci∣ons, grown stronger than their ancient Stock, it has not been in my Power with all my Care and Endeavours to shake them in the least.

Here, Sir, I might have an opportunity to repeat the substance of many Things which I have men∣tion'd at length in that Journal, did not I fear this wou'd be too foreign to the Design of the following sheets, which, according to Your Majesty's Orders, are only to re∣late to the Extent, Government, Strength, and Trade of the Em∣pire of Morocco.

However, I think my self ob∣lig'd before I begin, to acquaint Your Majesty, that by what the subtle Ways and Discourses of the King of Morocco's Ministers have betray'd to me of his Designs and Resolutions, as to the offers he makes from Time to Time to Treat with Your Majesty, it plainly appears, whatever his Demonstra∣tions of Sincerity may seem, that all his Aim and utmost Intent have always been, and will ever be only to procure himself some Presents, Honours, and Supplies for the re∣gaining of the Towns which the Spaniards still hold in his Country.

Besides, as this Prince and his Ministers know very well, that Your

Goodness and Compassion for Your poor Captive Subjects, are the only Motives that incline You to hearken to his Proposals, there is no doubt but that he is not likely to part with those Slaves as long as he hopes they may be a means to procure him the Advantages I have mention'd; so that 'tis not to be expected he will ever treat but upon Terms of this nature, and his Ministers will always endeavour by all imaginable means, that the effect, which they think they ought to expect in that case, may precede the Perfor∣mance of what they shall Promise on their side.

There remains now nothing for me to represent to Your Majesty,

but that I have taken such care in examining what ever is the sub∣ject of these Memoirs, that I may well assure You they contain no∣thing but what is most conform∣able to the Truth.

I also make bold to promise my self, from Your Majesties Good∣ness, that You will the rather ex∣cuse Omissions and Defects, seeing that, by the Journal which I had the Honour to give You of my stay and Negotiation in that King∣dom, where I was almost always detain'd and narrowly observ'd and where 'tis not allow'd to take Infor∣mations of the State of the Country, You may perceive how little I could converse with those who might have enabled me to have given a more

perfect Account of it, and such a one as might better evince the Fi∣delity of the Respectful and In∣violable Zeal with which I am,

SIR,

Your Majesty's Most Humble, most Obedient, and most Faithful Subject and Servant,

Pidou de St. Olon.