hearkening to his petition, the walls utterly fell to the ground of
themselves; but Charles spared the lives of the Saracens that consented
to be baptized; the rest he put to the edge of the sword. The report of
this miracle induced all their countrymen to surrender their cities, and
consent to pay tribute to the Emperor. Thus was the whole land soon
subdued.

The Saracens were amazed to see the French well clothed, accomplished in
their manners and persons, and strictly faithful to their treaties; they
gave them therefore a peaceful and honourable reception, dismissing all
thoughts of war. The Emperor, after frequently visiting the shrine of
St. James, came to Ferrol, and, fixing his lance in the sea, returned
thanks to God and the Apostle for having brought him to this place,
though he could then proceed no further.

The Pagan nations, after the first preaching of St. James and his
disciples, were converted by Archbishop Turpin, and by the grace of God
baptized; but those who refused to embrace the faith were either slain
or made slaves by the Christians. Turpin then traversed all Spain from
sea to sea.

CHAPTER IV.

_Of the idol Mahomet._

The Emperor utterly destroyed the idols and images in Spain, except the
idol in Andalusia, called Salamcadis. Cadis properly signifies the place
of an island, but in Arabic it means God. The Saracens had a tradition
that the idol Mahomet, which they worshipped, was made by himself in
his lifetime; and that by the help of a legion of devils it was by magic
art endued with such irresistible strength, that it could not be broken.
If any Christian approached it he was exposed to great danger; but when
the Saracens came to appease Mahomet, and make their supplications to
him, they returned in safety. The birds that chanced to light upon it
were immediately struck dead.

There is, moreover, on the margin of the sea an ancient stone excellently
sculptured after the Saracenic fashion; broad and square at the bottom,
but tapering upward to the height that a crow generally flies, having on
the top an image of gold, admirably cast in the shape of a man, standing
erect, with a certain great key in his hand, which the Saracens say was
to fall to the ground immediately after the birth of a King of Gaul, who
would overrun all Spain with a Christian army, and totally subdue it.
Wherefore it was enjoined them, whenever that happened, to fly the
country, and bury their jewels in the