Purchas his pilgrimes. part 2 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§. I.

How the Kingdome of Barbarie came to MVLEY HAMET XARIF, [ 20] the late deceased King, and the course of his gouernment; of his Sonnes and their behauiour: SHECKS misgouernment and imprisonment: HAMETS death.

THe Family of the Mareines, being Larbies, were long times Kings of Barbarie: vntill a plaine Hali some hundred yeeres ago, calling himselfe Muley Hamet Xa∣rif, * 1.1 came out of the Countrey of Dara, (lying beyond the Mountaynes of At∣las) with a great number of Mountayners, called in their owne Language Bre∣bers: these with their strength got Moruecos from the Mareins. And going for∣ward following the fertilnesse of the soyle, draue the Mareins out of Fez: get∣ting [ 30] into his power all the flat Countryes comprized vnder the Titles of Sus, Moruecos and Fez, from the hils of Atlas to the Streights of Gibraltar. Being thus growne great, hee would proue himselfe a Xarif, that is, one of the Kindred of the Prophet Mahomet, desiring his birth might be held answerable to his new acquired fortunes: But within a little time after this his sodaine inuasion, Sus rebelling, refused his Gouernment, wherefore hee sent to the bordering Turkes for ayde, who fulfilled therin his request. Ayded with these Turkish auxiliary forces, he set forward, and at his entrance into that Kingdome, the Turkish Souldiers through Treason killed him, and cut off his head; sacked Taradant, and running ouer the whole Countrey, spoyled it by the space of two monethes, which done, they would gladly haue returned to Trimasine: yet [ 40] fearing their owne strength to returne the same way Hamet had brought them; it was held their better course and shorter Iourney, to passe ouer the Mountaynes: but the Montayners knowing this their new done bloudie fact, and seeing them haue good store of pillage, set vpon them, so that few or none escaped their hands, but were all slaine. After this Hamet Xarifs death, who raigned some eight yeeres, succeeded his Brother Muley Abdela, hauing all his life time great warre with the Mareins, to keepe that his Brother had conquered: he hauing raigned some fif∣teene yeeres dyed, leauing behind him thirteene Sonnes, the eldest Muley Abdela (who at his entrance to the Kingdome, commanded all his Brethren to be killed:) but the second Brother Abdelmelech fearing hard measure, fled presently vpon the death of his Father into Turkie, and so saued his life. The third Brother Muley Hamet of whom wee are hereafter to entreate, being held a great Church-man, simple and humble spirited, not any way addicted vnto armes, [ 50] was spared aliue as lesse feared. The other ten were all put to death in one day at Taradant in Sus, where they were kept in their Fathers life time. This Abdela raigned fortie yeeres, and dying, left behind him three Sonnes, Muley Mehamet, Muley Sheck, Muley Nassar, Muley Mehamet being King, his two young Brethren ranne away into Spaine, the elder whereof named Muley Sheck is yet liuing, and there turned Christian. The younger Brother called Muley Nassar re∣turned into Barbarie, in the fourteenth yeere of Muley Hamets Raigne, who dyed at last. At this Muley Nassars landing in the Countrey of Fez, much people fauoured him and his Title, and two thousand of Muley Shecks Souldiers (who now liueth, and then gouerned Fez, for his Fa∣ther reuolted from him to Nassar; insomuch, as Muley Sheck was in minde to haue fled vnto his Father. But that Alkeyd Hamet Benlau, being a very wise Captaine and there placed to helpe [ 60] Muley Sheck by his counsell, who was very young,) kept him from running away: and Mu∣ley Nassar with a 〈…〉〈…〉latorie warre, with whom if the Souldiers had stayed, hee might peraduen∣ture haue gotten the Countrey. But their Lent approaching, the Souldiers told Nassar, they

would goe keepe their Easter at their owne houses. Whereupon Nassar, thinking if they were once gone, they would neuer returne to him againe, would giue present battaile, and so was this Nassar slaine. Abdelmelech being second Brother to Abdela, got such fauour in Turkie where he liued, as entering Barbarie with foure thousand Turkish Souldiers, he got the Kingdome from his Nephew Mehamet the eldest Sonne of Abdela, and there raigned two yeeres. Muley Mehamet thus depriued of his Kingdome, fled for succour to Sebastian then King of Portugall, who came in person into Barbarie, to helpe him with thirtie thousand men; giuing battaile, the Moores fled, and the Christians retyred, hoping the Moores would returne, that so the Christians might make the greater slaughter of them. According to this expectation Abdelmelech with his Armie returned, and the Christians charged the foremost of their Horse-men very hotly, [ 10] who would haue fled. But such was the abundance of Abdelmelechs Horse-men, following the foreward which were discomfited, as they could not haue field-roome to flye, but were forced to fight it out. This was a bloudie battaile wherein three Kings lost their liues, Don Sebastian King of Portugall: Muley Mehamet vnto whose ayde Sebastian came ouer: And Abdelmelech who came out of Turkie being second Brother to Abdela; This Abdelmelech left behind him a Sonne yet liuing at this day in Turkie, whose name is Muley Smime. After the death of these two. Abdelas third Brother, Muley Hamet Xarif, was made King, raigned about seuen and twentie yeeres in great peace and felicitie, vntill he went to take his Sonne Muley Sheck at Fez, where the Father dyed, whose death hath caused all these Warres, as yee may reade hereafter.

Touching this Muley Hamet, I thought good, to insert this Letter of Master Bernhere, the Sonne [ 20] of that worthy Augustine Bernhere (as I haue heard) which is so commended by Master Foxe for his zeale in Queene Maries dayes, in the Historie of Bradford, Carelesse, Glouer, &c.

To his louing Brother Master Edward Wright.

THis King Muley Hamet is much delighted in the studie of Astronomie and Astrologie, and va∣lueth Instruments seruing for the course of the Sunne and Moone, that are of rare deuice, ex∣ceedingly. [ 30] Wherefore your Spheare, your Watch, your Mundane Diall, and your Sextans, your new Magneticall Instrument for Declination, or any Astrolable that hath somewhat extraordinarie in it will be accepted: and you might sell the same at good prices. Now with the Eagle there goe from hence certaine Ambassadors, and one of them is the Kings Secretarie, named Abdala Wahed Anoone, who hath some insight in such matters. This Bearer my friend Master Pate, and Robert Kitchen the Master of the Ship, I thinke, will bring him vnto you, vnto whom I would haue you shew all the varietie of Instruments that you haue either in your owne hands, or haue sold and lent to others; that hee may choose some for the Kings vse and his owne. You may shew them also the Draughts and Lineaments of whatsouer you haue in Paper, all which I know, will make them admire and be desirous to haue some that they can vnderstand how to vse. You may cause to be framed some Instruments in Brasse or Sil∣uer, [ 40] leauing the spaces for Arabique words and figures, yet drawing the Pictures of them in Paper ex∣actly, and setting downe the Latine figures, and the words in Latine, or Spanish, which is farre better: there will be found here that can graue the same in Arabique vpon the Instruments hauing some directi∣on from you about the matter. Or Abdala Wahed being a perfect Pen-man, can set the Arabique Let∣ters, figures, and words downe very faire; and so any of your Grauers can worke the same in Metall, ha∣uing his Writing before them. Master Cyprian would be a good Interpreter betweene you and them, or some that vnderstandeth and speaketh both Latine and Spanish, and knoweth what the words of Arte meane.

The experiments Mathematicall of the Load-stone, will content the Ambassadour much. Make no scruple to shew them what you can; for it may redound to your good. I desire to heare more of Mag∣neticall [ 50] workes, and the discouery of the North passage. Write to me thereof, and send any Maps or draughts of instruments, or what you thinke fit about Dyalling, or the course of time, and the motion of the Heauens, which you thinke I can vnderstand: but direct the same either to me, or to one Master Iohn Wakeman, seruant to Master Alderman Hamden; who, though he haue small skill in such things, yet is desirous to see and learne, and can preferre such matters to the view of the King, and his sonnes, who all are exceeding strictious of matters tending this way: so that if I had skill my selfe, or but some of yo••r Instruments, whereof I could make demonstration for their vse, I could giue great content, and be a meanes to pleasure you much. But conferre with Master Pate, and Master Kitchen, who will direct you in this businesse, and from whom you may receiue money before hand, for making any instru∣ments that the Ambassadours would haue for themselues or the King.

Your Magneticall Instrument of Declination, would be commodions for a yeerely Uoyage, which [ 60] some make for the King ouer a Sandy Sea (wherein they must vse Needle and Compasse) to Gago. * 2.1 If you question about the matter, and shew them some instrument seruing for this purpose, it will giue great content. Other directions I might adde vnto you; but from the parties aboue named, you may re∣ceiue

the same fully. And thus with my good will, hoping and wishing to see you shortly, I take my leaue,

This 24. of Iune, 1600. From the Citie of Maroco.From Maroco in Barbary.

Your louing Brother in-law, Thomas Bernhere.

Obtaining the Scepter, hee first prouided himselfe of the grauest men hee could find in his Kingdomes, to be Counsellors of estate; then of the most experienced, and valiant Souldiers, for Commanders ouer his Campe, and Garrison Townes. And whereas he was Monarch ouer two Nations, the Larbies, and Brebers, he found it requisite to vse a two-fold gouernment. The [ 10] Larbies dwelling in the most plaine Champion Countrey of his three Kingdomes, Moruecos, * 2.2 Sus, and Fez, were easily gouerned, being of mild and peaceable nature, giuen to thrift and til∣lage of the ground, sought no alterations, but receiuing from him a due forme of iustice, executed by his Ministers: protecting them from the Montaneirs which are robbers, willingly obeyed his Regall authoritie, and yeerely payed their tenths toward their Kings maintenance. As for the Brebers, or Montaneirs, being of an vntamed and fierce disposition, speaking the Tamiset tongue, which is as much different from the Larbee, as Welch is from our English, dwelling in places by nature defencible, and almost inaccessible: He could not so well gouerne, neither had euer such absolute power ouer them, nor receiued the fift pennie of profite from them, as he did from the Alarbies. Therefore he sought by all meanes to diminish their strength of people, drawing * 2.3 [ 20] them alwayes into forraigne expeditions, especially into that warre, against the Negros, which continued a long time, t••ereby extending his Empire so farre that way, as by Camell it was sixe moneths iourney from Moruecos, to the farthest parts of his Dominion. Likewise, he vsed * 2.4 this people to goe with the Carauans to Gago, to fetch home his yeerely Tribute and Custome, whereby many were consumed in trauelling ouer the Saharas: for any offence or robbery com∣mitted by them, his sword should punish seuerely, that the rest might feare: diuiding their Countrey into seuerall diuisions or Cantons, in euery of which he placed an Alkeid, with Soul∣diers to suppresse any sudden vproares, much like our Lieutenant set ouer our seuerall Coun∣ties, but that the Alkeid is continually resident, and hath greater power in executing Marshall law. And lastly, as pledges of their loyalties, he would get their chiefest mens sonnes into his [ 30] hands, bringing them vp in his Court to a more ciuill and delicate kind of life. He was alwaies of mind to keepe peace with Christendome; with Spaine, who was his next Potent neighbour; but aboue all loued the English Nation, and admired the late Queenes happie Gouernment, wil∣ling to entertaine trading with vs, witnesse his many Letters written to that worthy Lady of happie Memorie, and his Embassage sent vnto her, Anno 1601. Performed by Abdala Wahad Anowne, and Hamet Alhadg, their great trauailer to Mecha; and other places.

Toward his subiects he was not too tyrannicall, but sweetned his absolute power and will, with much clemencie. By diuers wayes he got excessiue store of gold. First, by seeing his tenths truly payd from the Larbees: Secondly, by trading with the Negro, taking vp the salt at Tegazza, and selling it at Gago, hauing from thence returne in good gold. Thirdly, by hus∣banding [ 40] his Maseraws, or Ingenewes, where his Sugar Canes did grow, (though now all spoy∣led * 2.5 with these warres) for it is sufficiently knowen, all of them about Moruecos, Taradant, and Magador, were yeerely worth vnto him, sixe hundred thousand ounces at the least. I omit his loue he tooke in entertaining forraigne Artizans, the reedifying of his house in Moruecos, getting Italian Marbles, the richest that could bee bought for money, and workemen hired from thence at great wages. His sumptuous prouisions for the Sarraile, and maintenance of his * 2.6 women, not so much delighting in the sinne, as his predecessors had done before, as to shew his glory, because the fashion of the Countrey is such, to shew their riches and greatnesse vpon that fraile sexe, and their attendances. For his chiefest pleasures were to see the Gallantrie of his kingdome, managing their good Barbarian Steeds, and the Falchons vpon their wing, ma∣king [ 50] faire flights after the Heron: for these sports he was prouided, no man better, from which he was recalled by certaine discontents, which as clouds fore-runned his owne Sun-set.

At the time of his death, he left fiue sonnes aliue. The eldest Muley Mahemet, commonly * 2.7 called Muley Sheck, a Title giuen alwayes to the eldest of the Kings sonnes: The second, Mu∣ley Boferes, which two sonnes were both by one woman, a Negra, one of his Concubines: The third son Muley Sidan, whom he had by one of his wiues: The fourth sonne Muley Nassar, who was about the age of nineteene yeers: And the fift, Muley Abdela, about fourteene yeers old at the time of the old Kings death, and these two last were the sons of two seuerall Concubines. This deceased King in his life time, had placed his three elder sonnes in seuerall parts of his Kingdome, to gouerne for him in them, to Muley Sheck his eldest he had giuen the Kingdome [ 60] of Fez, which Kingdome hath in former times continually beene allotted by the late Kings of Barbary to their eldest sonnes: Muley Boferes he placed in his Kingdome of Sus, to Muley Sidan he gaue the Prouine of Tedula, which lyeth in the mid-way betweene Moruecos and Fez: his

two younger sonnes Muley Nassar, and Abdela remained with him in his house, whom by reason of their young yeeres, he had not as yet placed in any part of his Kingdomes. The eldest sonne Muley Sheck in his younger yeeres gouerned Fez, and those parts of Barbarie, with great approbation of his Father, through the Counsell of Basha Mustepha a Spanish Renegado: which * 2.8 Basha in continuance of time, grew into such fauour with him, that the whole Gouernment of the Kingdome of Fez was wholly by Muley Sheck put in his hands: Whereupon, the Alkieds of the Countrey that were naturall borne Moores, and continuall attendants vpon the old King, enuying the greatnesse of the said Basha, raised diuers accusations against him: Complaining to the King that he learned Muley Sheck to drinke wine (a thing vnlawfull to the Moores, being forbidden them by their Prophet Mahomet) and that now hauing the whole Gouernment of the [ 10] Kingdome of Fez in his hands, vnder the Kings son, he purposed after he had possessed himself of Muley Shecks Treasure, to flie, and carrie it with him to some parts of Christendome. Which accusations, the old King vpon some probabilities and likelihoods, conceiuing to be true, these Al∣keids procured at last with him, that he should send to his sonne Muley Sheck, commanding him to send the head of the said Basha, which command; how soeuer, Muley Sheck (who greatly lo∣ued, and fauoured the said Basha) at the first delayed to performe, yet after diuers messages, the old King sending at the last a principall seruant of his, to see the execution done, he was forced * 2.9 much against his will, to see fulfilled.

In these younger yeeres of Muley Sheck, whilest this Basha was aliue, none of the Kings sonnes was more dutifull to their father then he, neither any of their actions so contented the [ 20] * 2.10 old King as his; insomuch, as the whole Kingdomes hope for a successor after the old Kings de∣cease, was onely in Muley Sheck, Whereupon, and by the Kings voluntary motion, all the principall Alkeids, and men of Command that were in the Kingdomes, by solemne oath vowed allegeance to Muley Sheck, after the old Kings decease. And at that time Boferes the se∣cond sonne, by reason of the great plague in Sus, and other discontents, he receiued from that re∣bellious * 2.11 people, stayed not long there, but returned againe to his Father in Moruecos, where he stayed with him vntill his Fathers departure to Fez in September, 1602. Muley Sidan the third sonne, continued in Tedula, (a Prouince fruitfull and scituate in the flat of Barbarie, the mid-way * 2.12 betweene Fez and Moruecos, as I haue told you) who gouerned those parts in great peace and quietnesse, euen in the chiefe times of the tumults that were in the bordering Dominions of his [ 30] eldest Brother Sheck, (whereof you shall read hereafter) insomuch, that hee was generally com∣mended and liked both of his Father and of all the Kingdome for his gouernment, being strict in seeing the execution of Iustice to be done in those parts that hee gouerned, not sparing his Kindred or neerest Followers in those cases: From his infancy hee naturally hated all maner of Theeues whatsoeuer, especially those his robbed by the high-wayes, and without any fa∣uour or mercy seuerely punished them. Howsoeuer, he carryed himselfe very dutifull to his Fa∣ther, whilest hee was liuing, yet from his child-hood he was alwayes of an aspiring and ambiti∣ous nature, which could neuer be brought to subiect it selfe to giue any awfull respect to his el∣der Brethren, but to hazard his whole estate in obtayning the Kingdome, accounting himselfe his Fathers lawfull heire, in that he was his Fathers eldest Sonne, which he had by any of his marryed Wiues: In this point, not regarding the custome & Law of the Moores, who in title of [ 40] Inheritance or succession, respect not the mother, whether she be marryed Wife or Concubine bought with money, so that her Sonne be the eldest in birth.

But to returne againe to Muley Sheck the Kings eldest Sonne, who after the death of his Basha Mustepha, (beheaded by his Fathers command) soone shewed vnto all men the want of gouern∣went that was in him; for in his latter times, giuing himselfe ouer to drunkennesse, and other detestable vices, which amongst the Moores commonly accompanieth that sinne, regarded not at all the gouernment of his Kingdome, but suffered his seruants, followers, and Souldiers to doe * 2.13 what they would in robbing and spoyling the goods of his honest minded Subiects, without controlment: And through want of Iustice duely executed, his whole Countrey in a short time [ 50] swarmed so with theeues and robbers by the high wayes, that there was no trauelling through his Dominions, but in Caffilas or companies of three hundred & foure hundred persons at a time, and they hardly somtimes escaped the hands of theeues. The Alarbies, who continue to this day, in Tribes and kindreds, beeing the husbandmen of the Countrey, liuing in the fields in Tents, by Tilling of the Ground, and breeding vp of Cattell, when as they could not quietly gather in, and peaceably enioy the Corne and Fruits of the Ground, denied to pay the King their accustomed duetie: and in the fields followed the courses of Muley Shecks seruants in the Citie, in robbing of all passengers that came within their power. And such was the lauishing manner of spending and consuming of his Treasure, that in his humours, hee neither regarded what he gaue, nor to whom: in so much, that a Iew who was a Musician, and vsed to play before him in his drunken [ 60] * 2.14 fits, (what with the gifts giuen him by the Prince, and what else he got out of his house) had gotten together in money and Iewels, (in the space of foure or fiue yeeres) to the value of foure hundred thousand Duckats, which is about fortie thousand pound sterling.

This dissolute life and carelesse gouernment of Muley Sheck, grieued the old King not a little,

especially to see such a change or alteration in him, whose forwardnesse in former times had been the stay of his age, and had mooued him to cause the Alkeids of the Kingdome, by oath to con∣firme their alleageance after his owne death. Many wayes he sought to amend what was amisse in those parts, and to draw his sonne to a more strict course of life, and more carefull kind of go∣uernment, as well by his Letters, as by sending diuers principall Alkeids to be C••••nsellors vnto him. Yet such was the small account he made either of the one or the other, that the old King in the end seeing no amendment, but the estate of that Kingdome to grow daily worse and worse, determined to goe to Fez in his owne person with an Armie, aswell to displace his son, who had denied to come vnto him, vpon his sending for: as also to put in order all matters in those parts, which through the ill gouernment of his sonne, were all out of frame. And so about * 2.15 [ 10] the beginning of October, 1602. hee set forwards from Moruecos with an Army of eight thou∣sand Shot, and some fiue thousand Horse towards Fez, leauing his second sonne Muley Boferes to gouerne Moruecos and Sus in his absence, vntill his returne; making such speedy iourneys, that he was with his Forces within one dayes iourney of Fez, before his sonne Muley Sheek was certainely aduised of his setting forth from Moruecos. Who, when he vnderstood of his Fa∣thers being so neere, and himselfe euery way vnprouided to resist him, would haue fled towards Tasilet; but being followed by Basha Mustepha, he was constrained to take Sanctuarie, with fiue * 2.16 hundred of his best souldiers, being very good Shot and well prouided. The old King the Fa∣ther, seeing his sonne take the Priuiledge of the place (which is much respected in that Country) willed him to come forth, and submit himselfe to his mercy: But Muley Sheck refused, either obstinate in not obeyiug, or fearefull he could not render a good account of his fiue and twentie [ 30] yeares gouernment in Fez. Wherefore Muley Hamet commanded Mustepha, a Basha of Sidans, though then in the old Muleys seruice, to take three thousand men, and perforce to enter the place; which he performed, bringing Sheck prisoner, and the rest of his company which were * 2.17 left aliue after the conflict. The old man would in no wise admit him into his presence, but committed him to the charge and custodie of Basha Iudar, one of greatest place about the King, who carried Sheck to Mickanes, a strong Garrison Towne, and there remained vntill the time of his Fathers death, which was some fiue moneths after.

The old King in his iourney to Fez, against his eldest sonne, passed by the Prouince of Tedula, * 2.18 and from thence tooke alongst with him his third sonne, Muley Sidan, whom he commanded to [ 30] remoue his houshold to Fez, from Sidania (a Citie which he had begun to build in Tedula, and called it after his owne name) intending to leaue him Vice-roy of those parts, in the roome of his eldest sonne, whom he purposed to carry with him from Mickanes, where he was prisoner to Moruecos; which he had also performed, if hee had not been preuented by sudden death. For in August, 1603. he hauing set all matters in order in those parts of Fez, prouiding for his returne to Moruecos, put out his Tents without Fez Gates; but being abroad, he suddenly fell * 2.19 sicke, and his sicknesse so sore increased, that on Thursday falling sicke, on Sunday morning being the fourteenth of August, 1603. he died.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This is that Seriffe or Xe∣riffe so often mentioned by Leo, which then began (vnder colour of war∣ring against the Christians both Spaniards and Portugals which had made (as you see in Leo) large entries into Barbary) to v∣surpe the State and dis∣possesse the former Kings. So that euen in order of time and af∣faires, this Hi∣storie fitly suc∣ceeds the for∣mer of Leo; for Barb••ry. Of their manner of getting the Kingdome, and the rest of the story, see my Pilgrimage, l. 6. c. 11. §. 2.
• * 2.1

  A Voyage ouer a sandy Sea to Gago for Gold.
• * 2.2

  The Larbies are the dwel∣lers in the plaine, the Brebers Moun∣tainers.
• * 2.3

  The greatnes of his Domi∣nion.
• * 2.4

  A Carauan, is a company of Merchants go∣ing together for trading, with a great number of Horses, Ca∣mels and Mules, laden with Commo∣dities.
• * 2.5

  Sugar Gar∣dens.
• * 2.6

  The place where his wo∣men are kept.
• * 2.7

  Muley Hamet Xaiffs sonnes: the three first ma••e bloody warres with each other for the Kingdom.
• * 2.8

  Basha Musta∣pha.
• * 2.9

  Mustapha be∣headed.
• * 2.10

  M. Sheck.
• * 2.11

  M. Boferes. Plague in Sus.
• * 2.12

  M. Sidan.
• * 2.13

  Muley Shecks misgouerne∣ment of him∣selfe and his Countrey.
• * 2.14

  Rich Iew.
• * 2.15

  The Kings speedy iour∣ney to Fez.
• * 2.16

  Muley Sheck ta∣keth Sanctu∣arie.
• * 2.17

  Taken there by force.
• * 2.18

  Sidania in Tedula.
• * 2.19

  Some say he died of the Plague, which was so hot, that in one yeare they say, there died in Moroco, seuen hundred thousand, in Fez, fiue hun∣dred thousand.