andaslateasthethirdcenturyoftheHegira，thecityofHeratwillaffordalivelycontrastofprivatezealandpublictoleration。^202Underthepaymentofanannualtribute，theMahometanlawsecuredtotheGhebersofHerattheircivilandreligiousliberties:buttherecentandhumblemoschwasovershadowedbytheantiquesplendoroftheadjoiningtempleoffire。AfanaticImandeplored，inhissermons，thescandalousneighborhood，andaccusedtheweaknessorindifferenceofthefaithful。Excitedbyhisvoice，thepeopleassembledintumult；
thetwohousesofprayerwereconsumedbytheflames，butthevacantgroundwasimmediatelyoccupiedbythefoundationsofanewmosch。TheinjuredMagiappealedtothesovereignofChorasan；hepromisedjusticeandrelief；when，behold!fourthousandcitizensofHerat，ofagravecharacterandmatureage，unanimouslysworethattheidolatrousfanehadneverexisted；theinquisitionwassilencedandtheirconsciencewassatisfiedsaysthehistorianMirchond^203withthisholyandmeritoriousperjury。^204ButthegreatestpartofthetemplesofPersiawereruinedbytheinsensibleandgeneraldesertionoftheirvotaries。
Itwasinsensible，sinceitisnotaccompaniedwithanymemorialoftimeorplace，ofpersecutionorresistance。Itwasgeneral，sincethewholerealm，fromShiraztoSamarcand，imbibedthefaithoftheKoran；andthepreservationofthenativetonguerevealsthedescentoftheMahometansofPersia。^205Inthemountainsanddeserts，anobstinateraceofunbelieversadheredtothesuperstitionoftheirfathers；andafainttraditionoftheMagiantheologyiskeptaliveintheprovinceofKirman，alongthebanksoftheIndus，amongtheexilesofSurat，andinthecolonywhich，inthelastcentury，wasplantedbyShawAbbasatthegatesofIspahan。ThechiefpontiffhasretiredtoMountElbourz，eighteenleaguesfromthecityofYezd:theperpetualfireifitcontinuestoburnisinaccessibletotheprofane；
buthisresidenceistheschool，theoracle，andthepilgrimageoftheGhebers，whosehardanduniformfeaturesattesttheunmingledpurityoftheirblood。Underthejurisdictionoftheirelders，eightythousandfamiliesmaintainaninnocentandindustriouslife:theirsubsistenceisderivedfromsomecuriousmanufacturesandmechanictrades；andtheycultivatetheearthwiththefervorofareligiousduty。TheirignorancewithstoodthedespotismofShawAbbas，whodemandedwiththreatsandtorturesthepropheticbooksofZoroaster；andthisobscureremnantoftheMagiansissparedbythemoderationorcontemptoftheirpresentsovereigns。^206
[Footnote198:TheZendorPazend，thebibleoftheGhebers，isreckonedbythemselves，oratleastbytheMahometans，amongthetenbookswhichAbrahamreceivedfromheaven；andtheirreligionishonorablystyledthereligionofAbraham，D\'Herblot，Bibliot。
Orient。p。701；Hyde，deReligioneveterumPersarum，c，iii。p。
27，28，&c。ImuchfearthatwedonotpossessanypureandfreedescriptionofthesystemofZoroaster。Dr。PrideauxConnection，vol。i。p。300，octavoadoptstheopinion，thathehadbeentheslaveandscholarofsomeJewishprophetinthecaptivityofBabylon。PerhapsthePersians，whohavebeenthemastersoftheJews，wouldassertthehonor，apoorhonor，ofbeingtheirmasters。
[Footnote*:WhatevertherealageoftheZendavesta，publishedbyAnquetilduPerron，whetherofthetimeofArdeschirBabeghan，accordingtoMr。Erskine，orofmuchhigherantiquity，itmaybeconsidered，Iconceive，botha\"pureandafree，\"
thoughimperfect，descriptionofZoroastrianism；particularlywiththeillustrationsoftheoriginaltranslator，andoftheGermanKleuker—M。]
[Footnote199:TheArabianNights，afaithfulandamusingpictureoftheOrientalworld，representinthemostodiouscolorsoftheMagians，orworshippersoffire，towhomtheyattributetheannualsacrificeofaMussulman。ThereligionofZoroasterhasnottheleastaffinitywiththatoftheHindoos，yettheyareoftenconfoundedbytheMahometans；andtheswordofTimourwassharpenedbythismistake，Hist。deTimourBec，parCherefeddinAliYezdi，l。v。]
[Footnote200:ViedeMahomet，parGagnier，tom。iii。p。114，115。]
[Footnote201:Haetressectae，Judaei，Christiani，etquiinterPersasMagoruminstitutisaddictisunt，populilibridicuntur，Reland，Dissertat。tom。iii。p。15。ThecaliphAlMamunconfirmsthishonorabledistinctioninfavorofthethreesects，withthevagueandequivocalreligionoftheSabaeans，underwhichtheancientpolytheistsofCharraewereallowedtosheltertheiridolatrousworship，Hottinger，Hist。Orientp。167，168。]
[Footnote202:ThissingularstoryisrelatedbyD\'Herbelot，Bibliot。Orient。p448，449，onthefaithofKhondemir，andbyMirchondhimself，HistpriorumRegumPersarum，&c。，p。9，10，not。p。88，89。]
[Footnote203:Mirchond，MohammedEmirKhoondahShah，anativeofHerat，composedinthePersianlanguageageneralhistoryoftheEast，fromthecreationtotheyearoftheHegira875，A。D。
1471。Intheyear904A。D。1498thehistorianobtainedthecommandofaprincelylibrary，andhisapplaudedwork，insevenortwelveparts，wasabbreviatedinthreevolumesbyhissonKhondemir，A。H。927，A。D。1520。Thetwowriters，mostaccuratelydistinguishedbyPetitdelaCroix，Hist。deGenghizcan，p。537，538，544，545，arelooselyconfoundedbyD\'Herbelot，p。358，410，994，995:buthisnumerousextracts，undertheimpropernameofKhondemir，belongtothefatherratherthantheson。ThehistorianofGenghizcanreferstoaMs。ofMirchond，whichhereceivedfromthehandsofhisfriendD\'Herbelothimself。AcuriousfragmenttheTaherianandSoffarianDynastieshasbeenlatelypublishedinPersicandLatin，Viennae，1782，in4to。，cumnotisBernarddeJenisch；
andtheeditorallowsustohopeforacontinuationofMirchond。]
[Footnote204:Quotestimoniobonisequidpiampraestitisseopinabantur。YetMirchondmusthavecondemnedtheirzeal，sinceheapprovedthelegaltolerationoftheMagi，cuithefiretempleperactosingulisanniscensuutisacraMohammedislegecautum，abomnibusmolestiisaconeribusliberoesselicuit。]
[Footnote205:ThelastMagianofnameandpowerappearstobeMardavigetheDilemite，who，inthebeginningofthe10thcentury，reignedinthenorthernprovincesofPersia，neartheCaspianSea，D\'Herbelot，Bibliot。Orient。p。355。Buthissoldiersandsuccessors，theBowideseitherprofessedorembracedtheMahometanfaith；andundertheirdynastyA。D。933—1020I
shouldsaythefallofthereligionofZoroaster。]
[Footnote206:ThepresentstateoftheGhebersinPersiaistakenfromSirJohnChardin，notindeedthemostlearned，butthemostjudiciousandinquisitiveofourmoderntravellers，VoyagesenPerse，tom。ii。p。109，179—187，in4to。Hisbrethren，PietrodellaValle，Olearius，Thevenot，Tavernier，&c。，whomI
havefruitlesslysearched，hadneithereyesnorattentionforthisinterestingpeople。]
TheNortherncoastofAfricaistheonlylandinwhichthelightofthegospel，afteralongandperfectestablishment，hasbeentotallyextinguished。Thearts，whichhadbeentaughtbyCarthageandRome，wereinvolvedinacloudofignorance；thedoctrineofCyprianandAugustinwasnolongerstudied。FivehundredepiscopalchurcheswereoverturnedbythehostilefuryoftheDonatists，theVandals，andtheMoors。Thezealandnumbersoftheclergydeclined；andthepeople，withoutdiscipline，orknowledge，orhope，submissivelysunkundertheyokeoftheArabianprophetWithinfiftyyearsaftertheexpulsionoftheGreeks，alieutenantofAfricainformedthecaliphthatthetributeoftheinfidelswasabolishedbytheirconversion；^207
and，thoughhesoughttodisguisehisfraudandrebellion，hisspeciouspretencewasdrawnfromtherapidandextensiveprogressoftheMahometanfaith。Inthenextage，anextraordinarymissionoffivebishopswasdetachedfromAlexandriatoCairoan。
TheywereordainedbytheJacobitepatriarchtocherishandrevivethedyingembersofChristianity:^208buttheinterpositionofaforeignprelate，astrangertotheLatins，anenemytotheCatholics，supposesthedecayanddissolutionoftheAfricanhierarchy。ItwasnolongerthetimewhenthesuccessorofSt。Cyprian，attheheadofanumeroussynod，couldmaintainanequalcontestwiththeambitionoftheRomanpontiff。Intheeleventhcentury，theunfortunatepriestwhowasseatedontheruinsofCarthageimploredthearmsandtheprotectionoftheVatican；andhebitterlycomplainsthathisnakedbodyhadbeenscourgedbytheSaracens，andthathisauthoritywasdisputedbythefoursuffragans，thetotteringpillarsofhisthrone。TwoepistlesofGregorytheSeventh^209aredestinedtosoothethedistressoftheCatholicsandtheprideofaMoorishprince。ThepopeassuresthesultanthattheybothworshipthesameGod，andmayhopetomeetinthebosomofAbraham；butthecomplaintthatthreebishopscouldnolongerbefoundtoconsecrateabrother，announcesthespeedyandinevitableruinoftheepiscopalorder。
TheChristiansofAfricaandSpainhadlongsincesubmittedtothepracticeofcircumcisionandthelegalabstinencefromwineandpork；andthenameofMozarabes^210adoptiveArabswasappliedtotheircivilorreligiousconformity。^211Aboutthemiddleofthetwelfthcentury，theworshipofChristandthesuccessionofpastorswereabolishedalongthecoastofBarbary，andinthekingdomsofCordovaandSeville，ofValenciaandGrenada。^212ThethroneoftheAlmohades，orUnitarians，wasfoundedontheblindestfanaticism，andtheirextraordinaryrigormightbeprovokedorjustifiedbytherecentvictoriesandintolerantzealoftheprincesofSicilyandCastille，ofArragonandPortugal。ThefaithoftheMozarabeswasoccasionallyrevivedbythepapalmissionaries；and，onthelandingofCharlestheFifth，somefamiliesofLatinChristianswereencouragedtoreartheirheadsatTunisandAlgiers。Buttheseedofthegospelwasquicklyeradicated，andthelongprovincefromTripolitotheAtlantichaslostallmemoryofthelanguageandreligionofRome。^213
[Footnote207:TheletterofAbdoulrahman，governorortyrantofAfrica，tothecaliphAboulAbbas，thefirstoftheAbbassides，isdatedA。H。132Cardonne，Hist。del\'Afriqueetdel\'Espagne，tom。i。p。168。]
[Footnote208:BibliothequeOrientale，p。66。Renaudot，Hist。
Patriarch。Alex。p。287，288。]
[Footnote209:AmongtheEpistlesofthePopes，seeLeoIX。
epist。3；Gregor。VII。l。i。epist。22，23，l。iii。epist。19，20，21；andthecriticismsofPagi，tom。iv。A。D。1053，No。14，A。D。1073，No。13，whoinvestigatesthenameandfamilyoftheMoorishprince，withwhomtheproudestoftheRomanpontiffssopolitelycorresponds。]
[Footnote210:Mozarabes，orMostarabes，adscititii，asitisinterpretedinLatin，Pocock，SpecimenHist。Arabum，p。39，40。
Bibliot。Arabico—Hispana，tom。ii。p。18。TheMozarabicliturgy，theancientritualofthechurchofToledo，hasbeenattackedbythepopes，andexposedtothedoubtfultrialsoftheswordandoffire，Marian。Hist。Hispan。tom。i。l。ix。c。18，p。378。Itwas，orratheritis，intheLatintongue；yetinthexithcenturyitwasfoundnecessaryA。Ae。C。1687，A。D。1039
totranscribeanArabicversionofthecanonsofthecouncilsofSpain，Bibliot。Arab。Hisp。tom。i。p。547，fortheuseofthebishopsandclergyintheMoorishkingdoms。]
[Footnote211:Aboutthemiddleofthexthcentury，theclergyofCordovawasreproachedwiththiscriminalcompliance，bytheintrepidenvoyoftheEmperorOthoI。，Vit。Johan。Gorz，inSecul。Benedict。V。No。115，apudFleury，Hist。Eccles。tom。xii。
p。91。]
[Footnote212:Pagi，Critica，tom。iv。A。D。1149，No。8，9。Hejustlyobserves，thatwhenSeville，&c。，wereretakenbyFerdinandofCastille，noChristians，exceptcaptives，werefoundintheplace；andthattheMozarabicchurchesofAfricaandSpain，describedbyJamesaVitriaco，A。D。1218，Hist。Hierosol。
c。80，p。1095，inGest。DeiperFrancos，arecopiedfromsomeolderbook。Ishalladd，thatthedateoftheHegira677A。D。
1278mustapplytothecopy，notthecomposition，ofatreatiseofajurisprudence，whichstatesthecivilrightsoftheChristiansofCordova，Bibliot。Arab。Hisp。tom。i。p。471；andthattheJewsweretheonlydissenterswhomAbulWaled，kingofGrenada，A。D。1313，couldeitherdiscountenanceortolerate，tom。ii。p。288。]
[Footnote213:Renaudot，Hist。Patriarch。Alex。p。288。LeoAfricanuswouldhaveflatteredhisRomanmasters，couldhehavediscoveredanylatentrelicsoftheChristianityofAfrica。]
Aftertherevolutionofelevencenturies，theJewsandChristiansoftheTurkishempireenjoythelibertyofconsciencewhichwasgrantedbytheArabiancaliphs。Duringthefirstageoftheconquest，theysuspectedtheloyaltyoftheCatholics，whosenameofMelchitesbetrayedtheirsecretattachmenttotheGreekemperor，whiletheNestoriansandJacobites，hisinveterateenemies，approvedthemselvesthesincereandvoluntaryfriendsoftheMahometangovernment。^214Yetthispartialjealousywashealedbytimeandsubmission；thechurchesofEgyptweresharedwiththeCatholics；^215andalltheOrientalsectswereincludedinthecommonbenefitsoftoleration。Therank，theimmunities，thedomesticjurisdictionofthepatriarchs，thebishops，andtheclergy，wereprotectedbythecivilmagistrate:thelearningofindividualsrecommendedthemtotheemploymentsofsecretariesandphysicians:theywereenrichedbythelucrativecollectionoftherevenue；andtheirmeritwassometimesraisedtothecommandofcitiesandprovinces。AcaliphofthehouseofAbbaswasheardtodeclarethattheChristiansweremostworthyoftrustintheadministrationofPersia。\"TheMoslems，\"saidhe，\"willabusetheirpresentfortune；theMagiansregrettheirfallengreatness；andtheJewsareimpatientfortheirapproachingdeliverance。\"^216Buttheslavesofdespotismareexposedtothealternativesoffavoranddisgrace。ThecaptivechurchesoftheEasthavebeenafflictedineveryagebytheavariceorbigotryoftheirrulers；andtheordinaryandlegalrestraintsmustbeoffensivetothepride，orthezeal，oftheChristians。^217
AbouttwohundredyearsafterMahomet，theywereseparatedfromtheirfellow—subjectsbyaturbanorgirdleofalesshonorablecolor；insteadofhorsesormules。theywerecondemnedtorideonasses，intheattitudeofwomen。Theirpublicandprivatebuildingweremeasuredbyadiminutivestandard；inthestreetsorthebathsitistheirdutytogivewayorbowdownbeforethemeanestofthepeople；andtheirtestimonyisrejected，ifitmaytendtotheprejudiceofatruebeliever。Thepompofprocessions，thesoundofbellsorofpsalmody，isinterdictedintheirworship；adecentreverenceforthenationalfaithisimposedontheirsermonsandconversations；andthesacrilegiousattempttoenteramosch，ortoseduceaMussulman，willnotbesufferedtoescapewithimpunity。Inatime，however，oftranquillityandjustice，theChristianshaveneverbeencompelledtorenouncetheGospel，ortoembracetheKoran；butthepunishmentofdeathisinflictedupontheapostateswhohaveprofessedanddesertedthelawofMahomet。ThemartyrsofCordovaprovokedthesentenceofthecadhi，bythepublicconfessionoftheirinconstancy，ortheirpassionateinvectivesagainstthepersonandreligionoftheprophet。^218
[Footnote214:AbsitsaidtheCatholictothevizierofBagdad
utparilocohabeasNestorianos，quorumpraeterArabasnullusaliusrexest，etGraecosquorumregesamovendoArabibusbellonondesistunt，&c。SeeintheCollectionsofAssemannusBibliot。Orient。tom。iv。p。94—101thestateoftheNestoriansunderthecaliphs。ThatoftheJacobitesismoreconciselyexposedinthePreliminaryDissertationofthesecondvolumeofAssemannus。]
[Footnote215:Eutych。Annal。tom。ii。p。384，387，388。
Renaudot，Hist。Patriarch。Alex。p。205，206，257，332。AtaintoftheMonotheliteheresymightrenderthefirstoftheseGreekpatriarchslessloyaltotheemperorsandlessobnoxioustotheArabs。]
[Footnote216:Motadhed，whoreignedfromA。D。892to902。TheMagiansstillheldtheirnameandrankamongthereligionsoftheempire，Assemanni，Bibliot。Orient。tom。iv。p。97。]
[Footnote217:RelandexplainsthegeneralrestraintsoftheMahometanpolicyandjurisprudence，Dissertat。tom。iii。p。16—
20。TheoppressiveedictsofthecaliphMotawakkel，A。D。847—
861，whicharestillinforce，arenoticedbyEutychius，Annal。
tom。ii。p。448，andD\'Herbelot，Bibliot。Orient。p。640。A
persecutionofthecaliphOmarII。isrelated，andmostprobablymagnified，bytheGreekTheophanesChronp。334。]
[Footnote218:ThemartyrsofCordovaA。D。850，&c。arecommemoratedandjustifiedbySt。Eulogius，whoatlengthfellavictimhimself。Asynod，convenedbythecaliph，ambiguouslycensuredtheirrashness。ThemoderateFleurycannotreconciletheirconductwiththedisciplineofantiquity，toutefoisl\'autoritedel\'eglise，&c。Fleury，Hist。Eccles。tom。x。p。
415—522，particularlyp。451，508，509。Theirauthenticactsthrowastrong，thoughtransient，lightontheSpanishchurchintheixthcentury。]
AttheendofthefirstcenturyoftheHegira，thecaliphswerethemostpotentandabsolutemonarchsoftheglobe。Theirprerogativewasnotcircumscribed，eitherinrightorinfact，bythepowerofthenobles，thefreedomofthecommons，theprivilegesofthechurch，thevotesofasenate，orthememoryofafreeconstitution。TheauthorityofthecompanionsofMahometexpiredwiththeirlives；andthechiefsoremirsoftheArabiantribesleftbehind，inthedesert，thespiritofequalityandindependence。TheregalandsacerdotalcharacterswereunitedinthesuccessorsofMahomet；andiftheKoranwastheruleoftheiractions，theywerethesupremejudgesandinterpretersofthatdivinebook。TheyreignedbytherightofconquestoverthenationsoftheEast，towhomthenameoflibertywasunknown，andwhowereaccustomedtoapplaudintheirtyrantstheactsofviolenceandseveritythatwereexercisedattheirownexpense。
UnderthelastoftheOmmiades，theArabianempireextendedtwohundreddays\'journeyfromeasttowest，fromtheconfinesofTartaryandIndiatotheshoresoftheAtlanticOcean。Andifweretrenchthesleeveoftherobe，asitisstyledbytheirwriters，thelongandnarrowprovinceofAfrica，thesolidandcompactdominionfromFarganatoAden，fromTarsustoSurat，willspreadoneverysidetothemeasureoffourorfivemonthsofthemarchofacaravan。^219WeshouldvainlyseektheindissolubleunionandeasyobediencethatpervadedthegovernmentofAugustusandtheAntonines；buttheprogressoftheMahometanreligiondiffusedoverthisamplespaceageneralresemblanceofmannersandopinions。ThelanguageandlawsoftheKoranwerestudiedwithequaldevotionatSamarcandandSeville:theMoorandtheIndianembracedascountrymenandbrothersinthepilgrimageofMecca；andtheArabianlanguagewasadoptedasthepopularidiominalltheprovincestothewestwardoftheTigris。^220
[Footnote219:SeethearticleEslamiah，aswesayChristendom，
intheBibliothequeOrientale，p。325。ThischartoftheMahometanworldissuitedbytheauthor，EbnAlwardi，totheyearoftheHegira385A。D。995。Sincethattime，thelossesinSpainhavebeenoverbalancedbytheconquestsinIndia，Tartary，andtheEuropeanTurkey。]
[Footnote220:TheArabicoftheKoranistaughtasadeadlanguageinthecollegeofMecca。BytheDanishtraveller，thisancientidiomiscomparedtotheLatin；thevulgartongueofHejazandYementotheItalian；andtheArabiandialectsofSyria，Egypt，Africa，&c。，totheProvencal，Spanish，andPortuguese，Niebuhr，Descriptiondel\'Arabie，p。74，&c。]