Africa being an accurate description of the regions of Ægypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid, the land of Negroes, Guinee, Æthiopia and the Abyssines : with all the adjacent islands, either in the Mediterranean, Atlantick, Southern or Oriental Sea, belonging thereunto : with the several denominations fo their coasts, harbors, creeks, rivers, lakes, cities, towns, castles, and villages, their customs, modes and manners, languages, religions and inexhaustible treasure : with their governments and policy, variety of trade and barter : and also of their wonderful plants, beasts, birds and serpents : collected and translated from most authentick authors and augmented with later observations : illustrated with notes and adorn'd with peculiar maps and proper sculptures / by John Ogilby, Esq. ...

The City Tunis.

THis City was known to the Greeks and Romans by the same Name, * 1.1 as by its distance of three miles from Carthage, Titus Livius declares. Strabo and Pliny call it Tynis, or Tunis; and Ptolomy, Themise: some will have it, but without any reason, to be Tenissum, lying by the Numidian Sea, which in truth stands thirty miles from it: Others stray as wide from the mark, ma∣king Tunis and Carthage to be one and the same place. The Italians call it Tunisi and Tunis; the English, French, and Dutch, Tunus, or Tunis; and the Arabians, Turks, and Moors, Tunus.

¶ IT lieth upon an Inlet of the Lake Gouletta, * 1.2 three miles to the North of the antient Carthage, and two miles from the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded on the South with high Mountains: The form of it is an Oblong-square, and in bigness, about a small mile in compass, though Gramay enlarge it to three, and others to five Spanish mile, environed with a Wall of forty Cubits high, strengthened with many Turrets; before the last Assault made upon it by the Turks, there were many Bulwarks and Forts, but most of them are since slighted.

¶ THe principal Gates in the Arabick Tongue call'd Bab, are five, viz. * 1.3 Bab Vasouque, Bab Carthago, Bab Elbaar, Bab Asseire, and Bab Efmenar, be∣sides several other Posterns. Formerly they reckoned herein eighteen emi∣nent Streets, besides divers Lanes, all very narrow, sixteen Markets, three hun∣dred and fifteen Mosques, and twelve Christian Churches; besides in the Suburbs eight Jewish Synagogues, four and twenty Hermits Chappels, a hundred and fifty Bathes, eighty six Schools, nine endowed Colledges, sixty four Hospitals, or Inns for Travellers and Strangers, and above three thousand Shops, where∣in

in were sold Woollen and Linnen Cloth; of all which at present there are but few remains.

¶ THere are seven Prisons, * 1.4 where they shut up Christian Slaves, call'd in French, Bagnes; or Bafios, viz. the Bayne of Issouf Dey, the Bayne of Morat Bey, the Bayne of the Patron, another of Solyman, a fifth of Sidi Mamet, the sixth of the Bassa of Tripolis, and lastly that of Sigale.

¶ Among all the Edifices of the City, * 1.5 the Palace is the most eminent, where the Bassa keeps his Court, beautifi'd with four stately Portico's, several Towers, a pleasant square Court, fair and delightful Gardens, and magnificent Cloisters, Chambers and Halls; but above all, the Treasury-Chamber is costly, wherein the King formerly kept the Book of their Teach∣er Elmuachdin, or Elmohadian, of which they boasted as the onely Reconciler of all Differences rising about their Law.

There stands also a Castle on the West side of the City upon a Mount; as also a great Mosque, call'd Ameth Benaros, built by King Zacharias, to the Honor of one of their Santons, serving for a Refuge or Sanctuary for Offenders; and had a Tower that was held the most famous in all Africa. There is also a Quarter for the Janizaries, a Burse or Exchange for Merchants, and a Custom∣house. The other Buildings of most remark, are the Palaces of Aga Sidi la Fes, of Sidi Mahometa Milanoys, of Sidi Jucip Rais, and many others.

¶ THe Citizens Houses, * 1.6 Gramay and Sanutus say, amounted formerly to ten thousand; but much increas'd by the Moors that were driven out of Spain, and settling here, have fill'd it with all sorts of Artificers and Handi∣crafts; by which means it is full of Trade, and will compare with many of our best Cities in Europe. The Houses were heretofore built very artificially, with all sorts of Imagery, wrought both in Stone and Plaister, and curiously painted; the Floor of the Chambers pav'd with smooth and shining Stones; the Roofs flat; but most of them onely one Story high: This was its Antient Beauty: But at present they are slightly built, generally having two Doors or Gates, one to the Street, and another to the backward places; between which they have a small Gallery, chiefly us'd as an Apartment for Friends that come to visit them.

In the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty, * 1.7 there were three Suburbs; one without the Gate Bedsuvaike, containing about three hundred Houses; another without the Gate Bebelmanora, shewing a thousand Habitations of Tradesmen; and the third without the Gate of Beb-el Bachar, a quarter of a mile from the Lake Golette, having three hundred low and small Houses, wherein the Venetians, Genoueses, and other Christians reside, that they may not intermingle with the Moors. But now there are onely two, one on the West towards Biserta, very fair and large; the other on the East towards Sousa: Without the City are the Bu∣rying-Grounds of the Turks, wherein are many Marble Monuments, and great variety of curious Flowers.

¶ THis City hath neither Wells, * 1.8 Rivers, nor Springs of fresh Water, but only Cisterns, wherein they Catch the Rain-water: 'Tis true, there is one Well, sometimes affording pleasant Water; but with great diligence kept for the Vice-roy and his Family.

But some years since Issouf Dey brought Water thither from a Fountain a mile without the City, through a stone Channel, or arch'd Sewer, appointing for the maintenance thereof two Escues yearly.

In the Suburbs there is a Well of Brackish-Water, which the Slaves bring to the City and sell; making thereof good profit, the People accounting it much wholesomer than the Rain-water in the Cisterns.

¶ ANani says, The Soyl on the West side, is reasonably Fertile, * 1.9 having some Rivers to water it: But on the East side, for want of Water, very little worth. But Peter Dan avers, that on the South-side, where it lies sur∣rounded with Mountains, it hath very Fruitful-Valleys, but in all the other Parts very Dry and Sandy. Gramay and Sanutus report, that close by, the Ground is so Dry, that it had need be continually watered. This want of Wa∣ter, together with the frequent Incursions of the Alarbes, makes the Corn at Tunis very dear. The People in the Suburbs being necessitated to Wall in lit∣tle Spots of Ground, wherein to Sow Barley and Rye, to preserve it from their Pillage.

¶ ORanges, Lemmons, Dates, and such like Fruit, grow here plentifully; * 1.10 so also Olives for a mile round about the City, which afford Oyl, not onely for the Natives but Foreigners; and their Wood they burn in stead of other Fewel. Borbo produces Roses and other sweet-smelling Flowers. The high Mountain Zagoan, Barley and Honey. Genslet yields Apples, and St. Johns-Bread; but Benitefren and Naifuse, onely Barley, and but little of that.

¶ THe whole Countrey, especially the Mountainous Parts, * 1.11 are full of Ly∣ons, wild Bulls and Cows, Ostriches, Apes, Camelions, Neat, allow-Deer, Hares, Phesants; besides such abundance of Horses and Camels, that they bear little or no price.

¶ THe People of Tunis are Moors, Turks, Jews, * 1.12 and Slaves of several Nati∣ons, taken by their Pyrates in the Mediterrane, and brought thither.

Here are also a sort of Men that Laze up and down the Streets bare-headed, and bare-footed, with Stones in their Hands, like Mad or Distracted Folks, whose careless Madness hath won such a reputation upon the folly of the Vulgar, that they not onely account them Saints, but allow them a settled Maintenance at the Publick Charge.

¶ THeir Cloathing is according to the best Fashion of their Countrey, * 1.13 each in his several Degree; but all wear Turbans, made and covered with Linnen or other Stuff, after the Turkish manner. Womens Habits, espe∣cially of the better sort, are very neat, and richly adorn'd with Jewels: when they go into the Street they cover their Faces with a great Cloth, over which they cast another, which they call Setfari: these multifarious Coverings, at a di∣stance make them appear of a much larger Size than ordinary: When they re∣main at home, they spend the greatest part of their Time and Means in ma∣king Perfumes, and other like Trifles, not minding Huswifery, or any other profitable Employments.

¶ THeir Bread is for the most part made of Wheat, * 1.14 though the vulgar use Barley; which in stead of kneading with Hands they beat with Battoons. The common Diet of Merchants, Artificers, and the like, is but a course Food, call'd Besis, made of Barley-meal and Water, like Pap or Pud∣ding; to which they give a Haut-goust with Oyl-Olive, and Juice of Lemmons and Oranges, which they buy in the Market appointed for the Sale thereof, and nothing else. Besides this they eat also Flesh, especially that of Lambs: but more than these another kind of Dish they have, in the eating whereof they take great pleasure, the common known Name is Lasis; of which who∣ever eats two Ounces, is so far from satisfying his Stomach therewith, that it rather augments it to a kind of Caninus appetitus, or unsatisfied voraciousness, attended with a continual Laughing, and other antick Gestures, till at length they fall into the extravagancies of a lustful Passion.

¶ IN this City are all manner of Handicrafts, * 1.15 but chiefly Linnen-Weavers, whose skill in their Trade was such as made their Cloth of great repute, both for strength and fineness.

The Mountaineers deal onely in Cattel, living in Hutts, which they draw together to the number of a hundred or two hundred, wherewith they conti∣nually range about and change Places, as their Cattel want fresh Pasture.

Those Hutt-Villages stand in order, with ways and passages between, all leading to a great Field in the midst where the Cattel feed. On the out-sides they stand so close, that they are like a Wall, passable onely at two Entrances, the one for the Cattel, and the other for the Men; and these in the Nights so secured with Trees, Thorns, and the like, that they neither fear Lyons, nor other wild Beasts.

¶ THe King or Bashaw of Tunis receives Annually two hundred thousand Ducats; * 1.16 besides the Custom upon Olives and Linnen; Exported Wheat, heretofore amounted to forty thousand Ducats more. Others reckon that the Bashaw Letts the Lands and Customs for five hundred thousand Escues, or French Crowns. The whole Revenue seems to arise to more than two hun∣dred thousand Ducats yearly.

Peter Dan says, * 1.17 that the Revenue of this Kingdom is but accidental and un∣certain, accrewing chiefly, not from any standing In-come, but onely from the Fishery, which yields a Rent yearly of thirty thousand Ryalls of Eight, and the Jews Poll-money; all the rest raised out of the Prizes of the Ships taken by the Corsaires of Tunis in the Mediterrane from the Christians, which yield Ten in the Hundred; as also from the Tributes and Taxes, which with Flying Parties they fetch from the Land of the Arabians and Moors.

¶ THe Inhabitants are not Rich either in Banks or Stocks, * 1.18 because of the Dearness of all things, especially Corn, which they fetch from Urbs and Beggie.

¶ THeir principal Merchandise is, * 1.19 as we said before, Linnen-Cloth, which is there made in great quantities, and carried all over Africa; so Oyl, Olives, Sheep, Ostritches and Horses, from which they raise great Gain.

¶ THe Native Moorish Kings of the Countreys first stamped here Gold Sultanies, or Ducats, greater by a third part than our European Ducats, * 1.20 and worth four and twenty Carraks. They have also a square silver Coyn call'd Nosara, as also Aspers and Duble's, and another call'd Borbas, of Copper, of the like value with those of Algier.

¶ THe Government heretofore was Monarchical, * 1.21 and long continued in the Line of Moorish Kings, which were not by Election, but an Here∣ditary Succession of the eldest Son of the deceased Kings; or for want of Sons, the next of Blood to the King, took the Dominion: But since their Expulsion by the Turks, the State is wholly altered, being at present Commanded by a Bashaw, or Vice-Roy, sent thither from Constantinople; who Ruled with greater and more unlimited Authority than any other Bashaw of the Great Turk in Afri∣ca: He is assisted with the Council, or Divan of the Janizaries, the Aga, some chief Officers call'd Beniloukbassen, and four Counsellors, who wear upon their Heads a Hood with a Silver Horn.

¶ PEter Dan says this Bashaw is changed every three year, * 1.22 and another sent in∣to his Place; whose present Authority is much eclipsed, in that he med∣dles with nothing but the Receipts of the Revenue: that those of Tunis elect a chief Officer of their own, with the Title of Dey, to whose care the Govern∣ment of the City is committed during his life, unless, which sometimes hap∣pens for miscarriages therein, displaced, and put to death. Other inferior Officers for the better Administration of Justice, are an upper Cadle, that is, a Marshal, or rather a Sheriff, who appoints under him many Substitutes, who hear and determine all criminal Causes, and such as relate to Life and Death, but not without apparent testimony. The occasions of these alterations and new settlements have proceeded from several grounds, whereof we will give you a short Narrative.

Not many years since, the Janizaries and other Souldiers in Pay, to the num∣ber of six or seven thousand, partly Turks, and partly Renegado's, intermixt with Moors, combined together to bereave the Bashaw of his Command, and leave him nothing but the Honour and the Office to pay the Janizaries: in prosecuti∣on of which Design they set up a Divan, or Council of State, like that of Algier, which undertook the Management of all matters of War. This continued till the Year fifteen hundred twenty four, when Kara Osman, a Native Turk and Ja∣nizary, and formerly a Shoemaker by Trade, but very subtle and ambitious, so won the hearts of the Janizaries by Artifices and Presents, that they decla∣red him their Chief, giving him the Title of Dey; so that thence-forward, neither the Divan nor Bashaw himself durst conclude any thing but with the con∣sent of the Dey and his Participants.

With the like absolute Authority have all Successive Deys governed, although the Grand Seignior hath a Titular Bashaw there, who is onely concern'd in the Revenue, as we mention'd before.

Neither at present do these Deyes undertake or conclude any matter of Concernment, till first communicated to the Divan; * 1.23 which is a select Coun∣cel of Officers chosen out of the Janizaries, consisting of an Aga, a Chya, or Lieutenant, twelve Odabaschi's, four and twenty Bouloukbassen, two Secretaries, and six Chiauses. These determine all Matters both Civil and Military, but

not till they have first heard the Opinion of the Dey, whose single Vote, though contrary to all their Judgements, is conclusive and binding. Subser∣vient to these superior Ministers of State are many Cadies, who judge of lesser Causes, to the great ease both of the Dey and his Council. After the De∣cease of one Dey, another is chosen by the Divan.

The Janizaries here transact all Affairs as those in Algier, being distinguisht neither by Commanders or Justice: Out of whom are yearly chosen two Field-Commanders to gather in the Custom and Tributes of the Arabians; and for the increase of their Strength, some few Moors, by the name of Zovaners, are admitted into Pay.

¶ ANd here we shall succinctly render an Account of the several Revolutions that have happen'd in the Government of this Kingdom. After that the Arabians, by the Name of Mahumetane Saracens, had brought a great part of Afri∣ca and all Barbary, under their Command, and made Cairo in Egypt the Head-Seat of their Empire, they sent hither Abelchit, an African by Birth, who being a man of an ambitious and daring spirit, and having withall a Strength an∣swerable thereto, resolv'd to take upon him Sovereign Rule, and accordingly settled his Court at Cairavan, about thirty miles from Old Carthage. Kaim, then Caliph of Egypt, having intelligence of this Revolt, sent thither a strong Army, whose timely Arrival smother'd the Enterprize in the birth, though he had promis'd himself a more happy Fortune; yet was he not discourag'd or disa∣bled, * 1.24 but that he transmitted to Hibraim, one of his Sons, the perfecting his De∣sign in part; for he soon after laid the Foundation of a new Kingdom in Tunis, there settling his Court, and making it the Metropolis of his Dominion.

This Kingdom Hibraim and his Successors held a long time, with much Fe∣licity and Honor, till Joseph King of Morocco made an Invasion upon it; whose Successors tracing the steps of his begun Attempt, never ceas'd till they got all: for Habdul Mumen having gain'd Mahadia from the Christians, in process of time wore out the Race of Abelchit, and got the total Possession thereof, go∣verning it by Vice-Roys or Lieutenants, * 1.25 without any notable molestation, during his own Reign, and his Son Joseph's, and his Successors Jacob and Mansor.

But after the Death of Mahumeth Ennasir, Son of Mansor, and his Brother Joseph, * 1.26 who was overthrown in Battel by the King of Telensin, the Abelchittin Arabians took advantage to resettle themselves in the Command of Tunis, laying a close Siege, and often storming it; so that the Lieutenant sent to the King of Morocco for Assistance; protesting, that without timely help the City must of necessity fall into their hands. Hereupon the King sent a Fleet of twenty Ships for their Relief, under the Command of his approv'd Gene∣ral Abdulhedi, a Native of Sevil; which so politickly plaid his Game, that in∣stead of fighting his Mutineers, he overcame them by Gifts and Rewards be∣stow'd among them by his Masters consent; * 1.27 for which great and good piece of Service, the King made him Vice-Roy, and after his Death continu'd the same Honor to his Son Abu Zacharias, a man of no less prudence and Conduct than his Father; whose Son Abraham or Abu Ferez took it upon him as by Right of Succession; and being very ambitious and proud, would not acknow∣ledge the King of Morocco for his Supream Lord, * 1.28 but made himself an abso∣lute and independent Prince; and soon after, having conquer'd Telensin, and put the Inhabitants to pay Tribute, he call'd himself King and Lord of Tunis; or as others will have it, of all Africa: Which came to pass in the Year 1210.

After him followed his Son Nutman, * 1.29 who was more unhappy than his Fa∣ther, receiving many great damages and affronts from the King of Fez. But Hakmen his Son, call'd by Gramay, Autmen, and by others Hutmen, restor'd again tose decays, leaving for his Successor the unfortunate Abu Bark; for he was scarce warm in his Royal Seat, ere he was treacherously murder'd by one of his near Kinsmen, named Yahaia, who boasted himself the Son of Omar, third Kaliff of the Saracens in Asia. But Gramay contradicts this Story, averring that Aben Ferez, before his death, divided his State between his three Sons, giving to one, Bugie; to Hamar, Numidia; and to this Hutmen, which he call'd Autmen, or Hakmen, Tunis; who barbarously put out his brother Hamar's Eyes, and depri∣ved him of his Dominion, which he annexed to his own: however he held the Scepter forty years; which he left, as we said before, * 1.30 to his unfortunate Son Abu Bark, murder'd by Yahaia, whose Nephew Abdul Mumen, meeting in a Pitch'd Field, overcame and depos'd him: holding the Throne many years, yet at last basely slain: however his Son Zacharias the Second, took the Sove∣raignty, but in a short time dyed of the Pestilence without any Issue. Then succeeded Mahomet, and lastly Muly Assez. But Marmol saith, that after the death of Hutmen the First, the Benemerins, Kings of Fez, waged many Wars against Hutmen's Successors, and that Abu Heman of Fez, having beaten Bulabez of Tunis, made him fly to Constantine, but pursued thither was taken Prisoner, and brought to Fez, but afterwards set at liberty by Abu Celem, and made a League with him; by which those Kingdoms afterwards continued an Amity and Correspondence, till Abu Bark, Son of Hutmen the Second, which was brought to an untimely end by his Nephew Yahaia, as before is declared, who was suc∣ceeded by Abdul Mumen, as he by Zacharias, who dyed in a short time Issueless; so that the Tunissians chose for King Abukamen, Nephew of Zacharias, * 1.31 whose Ty∣ranny caused many Rents and Divisions in his State, and hazarded almost the whole: yet partly by Policy, partly by Force, he so brought it to pass, that Muly Mahomet his Son enjoy'd the Kingdom of Tunis after his death. * 1.32 And his Son Muley Assez, or Assan, the last of this Stock after him, till thereof by Barbe∣rossa bereav'd: yet was he not so absolutely lost, but that afterwards by the assistance of the Emperor Charles the Fifth again restored. The manner this: Muley Mahomet, Father of Muley Assez, had by several Wives many Sons, among which this Muley Assez, though the youngest, was the most intirely beloved, as being a most prudent and generous spirited person: the eldest call'd Manon, he absolutely disinherited, and kept in Prison under strong Guard, be∣cause of his unnatural disobedience, * 1.33 (as having by Treachery endeavour'd to depose his Father) and declared his Brother Muley Assez to be his Heir and Successor, to the great satisfaction of most of his Subjects, who greatly affected Muley Assez for his Endowments; and shortly after Muley Mahomet died much lamented. By this means Muley Assez became sole Master of this State; to secure himself wherein, and taking into consideration the former pretences of his imprison'd Brother Manon, he caused him privately to be put to death.

Araxar his other Brother being inform'd thereof, * 1.34 for fear of the like mis∣chief, fled to Numidia, to Abdalor a mighty Xeque or Prince of Bixkara, whose Daughter he there married, and got a promise of Assistance for regaining the Crown, to which he thought he had the best pretensions, as being elder than his Brother Muley.

The News of Araxars withdrawing so inrag'd Muley Assez, that he appre∣hended

all that were of the Royal Blood, * 1.35 putting out all the Mens Eyes, and keeping the Women in a strict and close Imprisonment.

This Savage Cruelty added wings to Araxar, * 1.36 who by this time had taken the Field with an Army rais'd and furnisht by his Father-in-law, and now marched forward with intent to besiege Tunis: Muley Assez came out with a mighty Army against him, but was soon defeated and necessitated in all haste to retreat to Tunis for Recruits; so that Araxar fearing his own Strength not sufficient to subject the Countrey, * 1.37 requested Assistance from the famous Pyrate Cheredin Barbarossa, who at that time govern'd Algier in the Name of the Grand Seignior; which was promis'd, but yet with this Caution, that it would be necessary (the more happily to bring his Enterprize to pass) to make a Jour∣ney to Constantinople, wherein he (the said Barbarossa) would accompany him, with assurance to procure from Sultan Soliman great Favour and Assistance. Araxar deluded by these Flatteries, went to Constantinople, and was there very friendly receiv'd in outward appearance; but Barbarossa now minding nothing less than what he had said and written, underhand told Soliman, that in regard Prince Araxar was young, he had now a fit opportunity to annex the Crown of Tunis to his Empire. Marvellous pleasing was this Advice to Soliman's ears, who instantly prepar'd a Fleet, which being ready to set Sail, he puts Araxar under Guard; telling him, when Barbarossa had subdu'd Tunis, and forc'd them to receive and acknowledge him for their lawful Prince, he should be sent thither with an honorable Retinue, and put in Possession. In the interim he sent Barbaroussa without him upon his intended Design.

Upon the Approach of Barbarossa, Muley Assez, who knew himself too weak to stand a Siege against such a Force; and believing Araxar to be in the Fleet, added more Cruelty to his former; so that hated by his Subjects, he left the City, and betook himself to his Uncle Dorat, a man of great Power among the Arabians of Uled Aixa.

The Citizens thus forsaken by their Prince, * 1.38 submitted to Barbarossa, who forthwith proclaim'd Sultan Soliman their Prince. Muley Assez on the other side (to turn the Scales) sent to the Emperor Charles the Fifth then in Spain, and re∣quir'd his Aid; which the Emperor willingly hearkned to; and the rather, because it was confidently rumor'd, that Barbarossa intended to harrase with a strong Fleet, not onely the Coast of Italy, as he had done the foregoing year, but also against the next Summer would Ship over to Sicily an Army of Turks and Moors to invade the Kingdom of Naples. Fired with this News, and also instigated by Muley Assez, he put to Sea with a strong Fleet Mann'd with Spa∣niards and Germans, in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty seven, on the Five and twentieth of June, being St. James's Day; with which coming under Tunis, he took at the first Assault the Castle and strong Fort Goletta, and not long after the City it self, and with it the whole Kingdom: Barbarossa foreseeing this Storm, had withdrawn himself, and committed the Defence of the City to Mustapha, a courageous Souldier, who yielded himself up into the hands of the Emperor.

Thus the Emperor Re-instated Muley Assez in his Kingdom, * 1.39 telling him, that for all his Cost he would onely keep the Castle and Goletta in his own possessi∣on, with a Garrison; and that he (Muley Assez) should send yearly to him (the Emperor) and his Successors, two Faulcons, and two Numidian Race-Horses. Other Articles were made between the said Princes, to this effect: That if Muley Assez did make a failer of this Agreement, he should pay for a Forfeiture

for the first Default five thousand Crowns; for the second, twice as much; and for the third, fall into Contempt, and height of Displeasure. That he should always hold a strict Alliance with the Emperor, and be an Enemy to the Turks, and a Friend to the Christians, to whom he was to afford liberty of Religion. That he should pay every year a thousand or twelve hundred Spa∣nish Souldiers, which the Emperor would keep in the Fort of Goletta: And lastly, That neither the Emperor nor his Successors should send any more Forces, nor take into his hands any Places of the Kingdom of Tunis, belonging to the aforementioned Muley Assez, Goletta onely accepted. And this Agreement was sworn to by both Princes with great Solemnity.

This Expedition thus happily performed, the Emperor upon his return, to keep up in memory so great an Action, and to encourage the Valour of such as followed him therein, instituted the Order of Knights of the Cross of Burgundie.

But Muley Assez did not long possess his Kingdom in Peace after his Restaura∣tion; being compell'd within eight years, once more to fly to Spain for Assi∣stance: In which time of his absence his Son Amudas usurped the Kingdom, putting to death his Father's Favourites and Friends: but Muley Assez return∣ing with some few Troops of Italians, and the Garrison-Souldiers of Goletta, soon routed the unnatural Rebel, taking him, with two other of his younger Sons, Prisoners, whose Eyes he immediately put out. After a few years Abdi∣melech, or Abdulmalech, another of Muley Assez Sons fell foul with his Father, for∣cing him once more to fly to his old Benefactor, Charles the Emperor, who maintained him the remainder of his life, which was not long.

But Abdimelech enjoy'd his Usurpation onely one Moneth before he died, and his Son Mahomet his Successor, after four Moneths Reign was expell'd by his Uncle Amidas, who held the Dominion; till Uluzaly, or Aluck Haly, by some call'd Ochiali, by order from the Grand Seignior, in the Year Fifteen hun∣dred sixty eight drove him from Tunis; whereupon he fled to Goletta to the Spa∣niards: At whose Suit, in the Year Fifteen hundred and seventy, * 1.40 Don Johan of Austria made himself Master of Tunis, and of the whole Kingdom; giving Mahomet the Brother of Amidas, a Princely Allowance; but set over Tunis as Lieutenant, in behalf of the Emperor, Gabriel Willon, a Milanois; and over Go∣letta, Pedro Carrero, a Spaniard.

In these continual Conflicts, both the City and Castle were much weaken∣ed; but Willon fortifi'd them anew with strong Ramparts and Palizadoes.

But the Turkish Emperor, * 1.41 Morat or Amurath fearing this new Growth of the Spanish Kingdom, in the Year Fifteen seventy four, sent a Fleet of a hundred and sixty Gallies, besides many other Ships, Mann'd with forty thousand Turks and Moors; the Conduct of the Admiral, Occhially for Sea; but the Land Army was committed to Sinan Bassa, wherewith they besieg'd both Tunis and Goletta; whereupon Don John, who had the Supream Command of the Spanish Fleet, endeavour'd to relieve the Besieged, but to very little purpose; for he had barely thirty Galleys, whereof five and twenty were furnished in Spain with Warlike Provision and Souldiers; and the Princes of Italy undertook for the Raising of the rest. With these, as we said, he made an attempt,; but the Turk soon diverted both their Fury and Design, and there shut them both up with a more close Siege than before: Then raising Batteries by Land, from thence without intermission they tore the Castle with their great Guns, so that the Walls fell; neither was the City or Goletta better able to resist such

impetuous Thunder; * 1.42 for all were taken and razed, and the whole Kingdom wrested out of the Spaniards hands.

In the Overthrow of the City all the Christians were hewen to pieces, except fourteen which were carri'd Captives to Constantinople. Moreover, the Con∣queror demolished the Walls of Tunis, and the Castle built by the Emperor Charles, levell'd with the Ground; erecting another of exceeding Strength to command the Haven. From this time the Turks have always possessed Tunis in Peace, and the Government thereof by Kings ended, who had sway'd the Scepter there about three hundred and seventy years.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The several Names.
• * 1.2

  The Scituation.
• * 1.3

  The Gates.
• * 1.4

  The Prisons,
• * 1.5

  The Palace.
• * 1.6

  The Houses.
• * 1.7

  Suburbs Gram 8. b. 1. H.
• * 1.8

  The Water.
• * 1.9

  The Soyl.
• * 1.10

  The Plants or Vegeta∣bles.
• * 1.11

  Beasts.
• * 1.12

  The Inhabitants.
• * 1.13

  Their Cloathing.
• * 1.14

  Their Food.
• * 1.15

  Their Employment.
• * 1.16

  Their Reverue.
• * 1.17

  Peter Dan.
• * 1.18

  Their Riches.
• * 1.19

  Their Merchandise.
• * 1.20

  Their Coyn.
• * 1.21

  Their Government.
• * 1.22

  Peter Dan.
• * 1.23

  The Divan or Council.
• * 1.24

  Tunis is a Kingdom.
• * 1.25

  It cometh under the Kings of Morocco.
• * 1.26

  The Mutiny of the Ara∣bians.
• * 1.27

  They are stilled.
• * 1.28

  Abu Ferez sets himself up to be King of Tunis.
• * 1.29

  Nutman his Son cometh in his place.
• * 1.30

  Emmoi••n.
• * 1.31

  Abukamen King.
• * 1.32

  Muley Mahomet.
• * 1.33

  Muley Assez declared King.
• * 1.34

  Araxar flyeth out of Tunis.
• * 1.35

  The Rage of Muley Assez.
• * 1.36

  Araxar intends to besiege Tunis.
• * 1.37

  A subtle Invention of Barbaroussa to play the Knave with Araxar.
• * 1.38

  The Turk becometh Ma∣ster of Tunis.
• * 1.39

  Muley Asse•• is Restored.
• * 1.40

  Tunis was again over∣come by Charles the Em∣perour.
• * 1.41

  The Turks come against Tunis.
• * 1.42

  Tunis overcome by the Turks.