_The Observations of Captain_ Smith; _Mr._ Henry Archer, _and others in_
Barbary.
Being thus satisfied with _Europe_ and _Asia,_ understanding of the Wars
in _Barbary,_ he went from _Gibralter_ to _Ceuta_ and _Tangier,_ thence to
_Saffee,_ where growing into Acquaintance with a French Man of War, the
Captain and some twelve more went to _Morocco,_ to see the ancient
Monuments of that large renowned City: It was once the principal City in
_Barbary,_ situated in a goodly plain Country, 14 Miles from the great
Mount _Atlas,_ and sixty Miles from the _Atlantick_ Sea; but now little
remaining, but the King's Palace, which is like a City of it self; and the
Christian Church, on whose flat, {MN-1} square Steeple is a great broach
of Iron, whereon is placed the three Golden Balls of Africa: The first is
near three Ells in Circumference, the next above it somewhat less, the
uppermost the least over them, as it were an half Ball, and over all a
pretty gilded Pyramid. Against those Golden Balls hath been shot many a
shot, their Weight is recorded 700 weight of pure Gold, hollow within, yet
no shot did ever hit them, nor could ever any Conspirator attain that
Honour as to get them down. They report, the Prince of _Morocco_
betrothed himself to the King's Daughter of _AEthiopia,_ he dying before
their Marriage, she caused those three Golden Balls to be set up for his
Monument, and vowed Virginity all her Life. {MN-2} The _Alfantica_ is also
a place of note, because it is invironed with a great Wall, wherein lie
the Goods of all the Merchants securely guarded. The _Inderea_ is also (as
it were) a City of it self, where dwell the Jews: The rest for the most
part is defaced; but by the many Pinnacles and Towers, with Balls on their
tops, hath much appearance of much sumptuousness and curiosity. There have
been many famous Universities, which are now but Stables for Fowls, and
Beasts, and the Houses in most parts lie tumbled one above another; the
Walls of Earth are with the great fresh Floods washed to the ground; nor
is there any Village in it, but Tents for Strangers, _Larbes_ and _Moors._
Strange Tales they will tell of a great Garden, wherein were all sorts of
Birds, Fishes, Beasts, Fruits, and Fountains, which for Beauty, Art and
Pleasure, exceeded any place known in the World, though now nothing but
Dung-hills, Pigeon-Houses, Shrubs and Bushes. There are yet many excellent
Fountains, adorned with Marble, and many Arches, Pillars, Towers, Ports,
and Temples; but most only reliques of lamentable Ruins and sad
Desolation.
* * * * *
{MN-1} _The three Golden Balls of_ Africa.
{MN-2} _The description of_ Morocco.
{MN} When _Muly Hamet_ Reigned in _Barbary,_ he had three Sons, _Muly
Sheck, Muly Sidan,_ and _Muly Bufferres,_ he a most good and noble King,
that governed well with Peace and Plenty, till his Empress, more cruel
than any Beast in Africa, poisoned him, her own Daughter, _Muly Sheck,_
his eldest Son, born of a Portugal Lady, and his Daughter, to bring _Muly
Sidan,_ to the Crown now reigning, which was the cause of all those
brawls, and Wars that followed betwixt those Brothers, their Children, and
a Saint that started up, but he played the Devil.
* * * * *
{MN} _A bloody Empress._
{MN-1} King _Muly Hamet_ was not black, as many suppose, but _Molara,_ or
tawny, as are the most of his Subjects; every way noble, kind and
friendly, very rich and pompous in State and Majesty, though he sitteth
not upon a Throne nor Chair of state, but cross Leg'd upon a rich Carpet,
as doth the _Turk,_ whose Religion of _Mahomet,_ with an incredible
miserable Curiosity they observe. His ordinary Guard is at least 5000, but
in Progress, he goeth not with less than 20000 Horse-men, himself as rich
in all his Equipage, as any Prince in Christendom, and yet a Contributor
to the _Turk._ {MN-2} In all his Kingdom were so few good Artificers, that
he entertained from _England,_ Gold-smiths, Plummers, Carvers, and
Polishers of Stone, and Watch-makers, so much he delighted in the
Reformation of Workmanship, he allowed each of them ten Shillings a day
standing Fee, Linen, Woollen, Silks, and what they would for Diet and
Apparel, and Custom-free to transport, or import what they would; for
there were scarce any of those qualities in his Kingdom, but those, of
which there are divers of them, living at this present in _London._
Amongst the rest, one Mr. _Henry Archer,_ a Watch-maker, walking in
_Morocco,_ from the _Alfantica_ to the _Juderea,_ the way being very foul,
met a great Priest, or a _Sante_ (as they call all great Clergy-men) who
would have thrust him into the dirt for the way; but Archer not knowing
what he was, gave him a box on the Ear, presently he was apprehended, and
condemned to have his Tongue cut out, and his Hand cut off: But no sooner
it was known at the King's Court, but 300 of his Guard came, and broke
open the Prison, and delivered him although the Fact was next degree to
Treason.
* * * * *
{MN-1} _King_ Muly Hamet _or the Great_ Zeriff _of_ Barbary.
{MN-2} _His great love to English Men._
{MN} Concerning this _Archer,_ there is one thing more worth noting: Not
far from Mount _Atlas,_ a great Lioness in the heat of the day, did use to
bathe her self, and teach her young Puppies to swim in the River
_Cauzef,_ of a good breadth; yet she would carry, which some _Moors_
perceiving, watched there them one after another over the River;
opportunity, and when the River was between her and them, stole four of
her Whelps, which she perceiving, with all the speed she could passed the
River, and coming near them, they let fall a Whelp (and fled with the
rest) which she took in her mouth, and so returned to the rest: A Male
and a Female of those they gave Mr. _Archer,_ who kept them in the King's
Garden, till the Male killed the Female, then he brought it up as a
Puppy-dog lying upon his Bed, till it grew so great as a Mastiff, and no
dog more tame or gentle to them he knew: But being to return for
_England,_ at _Saffee_ he gave him to a Merchant of _Marseillses,_ that
presented him to the French King, who sent him to King James, where it was
kept in the Tower seven Years: After one Mr. _John Bull,_ then Servant to
Mr. _Archer,_ with divers of his Friends, went to see the Lions, not
knowing any thing at all of him; yet this rare Beast smelled him before he
saw him, whining, groaning, and tumbling, with such an expression of
acquaintance, that being informed by the Keepers how he came thither; Mr.
_Bull_ so prevailed, the Keeper opened the Grate, and _Bull_ went in: But
no Dog could fawn more on his Master, than the Lion on him, licking his
Feet, Hands, and Face, skipping and tumbling to and fro, to the wonder of
all the beholders; being satisfied with his acquaintance, he made shift to
get out of the Grate: But when the Lion saw his Friend gone, no Beast by
bellowing, roaring, scratching, and howling, could express more rage and
sorrow, nor in four days after would he either eat or drink.
* * * * *
{MN} _The strange love of a Lion._
{MN} In _Morocco,_ the King's Lions are altogether in a Court, invironed
with a great high Wall; to those they put a young Puppy-dog: The greatest
Lion had a sore upon his neck, which this Dog so licked, that he was
healed: The Lion defended him from the fury of all the rest, nor durst
they eat till the Dog and he had fed; this Dog grew great, and lived
amongst them many years after.
* * * * *
{MN} _Another kind Lion in_ Morocco.
{MN-1} _Fez_ also is a most large and plentiful Country, the chief City is
called _Fez,_ divided into two parts; old _Fez_, containing about 80
thousand Households, the other 4000 pleasantly situated upon a River in
the heart of _Barbary,_ part upon Hills, part upon Plains, full of people,
and all sorts of Merchandize. The great Temple is called _Carucen_, in
breadth seventeen Arches, in length 120, born up with 2500 white Marble
Pillars: under the chief Arch, where the Tribunal is kept, hangeth a most
huge Lamp, compassed with 110 lesser, under the other also hang great
Lamps, and about some, are burning fifteen hundred lights, They say, they
were all made of the Bells the _Arabians_ brought from _Spain._ It hath
three Gates of notable heighth, Priests and Officers so many, that the
Circuit of the Church, the Yard, and other Houses, is little less than a
Mile and half in compass, there are in this City 200 Schools, 200 Inns,
400 Water-Mills, 600 Water-Conduits, 700 Temples and Oratories; but 50 of
them most stately and richly furnished. Their _Alcazer_ or _Burse_ is
Walled about, it hath twelve Gates, and fifteen Walks covered with Tents,
to keep the Sun from the Merchants, and them that come there. The King's
Palace, both for strength and beauty is excellent, and the Citizens have
many great Privileges. Those two Countries of _Fez_ and _Morocco,_ are the
best part of all _Barbary,_ abounding with People, Cattel, and all good
Necessaries for Man's use. For the rest, as the _Larbs,_ or Mountainers,
the Kingdoms of _Cocow, Algier, Tripoli, Tunis,_ and _AEgypt;_ there are
many large Histories of them in divers Languages, especially that writ by
that most excellent Statesman, _John de Leo,_ who afterwards turned
Christian. {MN-2} The unknown Countries of _Guine_ and _Binn,_ this six
and twenty years have been frequented with a few English Ships only to
Trade, especially the River of _Senega,_ by Captain _Brimstead,_ Captain
_Brockit,_ Mr. _Crump,_ and divers others. Also the great River of
_Gambia,_ by Captain _Johnson,_ who is returned in thither again, in the
Year 1626, with Mr. _William Grent,_ and thirteen or fourteen others, to
stay in the Country, to discover some way to those rich Mines of _Gago_ or
_Tumbatu,_ from whence is supposed the _Moors_ of _Barbary_ have their
Gold, and the certainty of those supposed Descriptions and Relations of
those interiour parts, which daily the more they are sought into, the more
they are corrected: For surely, those interiour Parts of Africa, are
little known to either _English, French,_ or _Dutch,_ though they use much
the Coast; therefore we will make a little bold with the Observations of
the _Portugals._
* * * * *
{MN-1} _The description of_ Fez.
{MN-2} _A brief description of the most unknown parts of_ Africa.
* * * * *