ssembled.[8] Is it not more reasonable to suppose that
Eulogius and his supporters voted for it--as they seem to have
done--with a mental reservation, while their opponents honestly
considered such a step necessary?

[1] Eulog., "Mem. Sanct.," ii. c. xv. 1--"Fidem praevaricantur,
abdicant religionem, Crucifixum detestantur."

[2] Eulog., "Mem. Sanct.," ii. c. ii. sec. 6. Also in his
letter to Alvar sending the "Mem. Sanct.," he says, very few
remained firm to their principles.

[3] Alvar, "Ind. Lum.," sec. 9--"Cum palam coram ethnicis
orationem non faciunt, signo crucis oscitantes frontem non
muniunt ... Christianos contra fidei suae socios pro regis
gratia, pro vendibilibus muneribus et defensione gentilicia
praeliantes." Elsewhere he says: "Nullus invenitur qui iuxta
iussum Domini tonantis aetherii super montes Babiloniae,
caligosasque turres crucis fidei attollat vexillum, sacrificium
Deo offerens vespertinum."

[4] Eulog., "Mem. Sanct.," iii. c. iv. sec. 5: Alvar, "Ind.
Lum.," sec. 18. See above, p. 51.

[5] Ibn al Kuttiya--apud Dozy, ii. 137.

[6] Eulog., "Mem. Sanct.," iii. c. ii.

[7] Dozy, ii. 137.

[8] Eul., "Mem. Sanct.," ii. c. xv., sec. 3--"Aliquid
commentaremur, quod ipsius tyranni ac populorum serperet
aures." The "praemissum pontificate decretum" he calls
"allegorice editum."

CHAPTER VI.

THE MUZARABES.

The death of Eulogius was a signal for the cessation of the dubious
martyrdoms which had for some years become so common, though the spirit,
which prompted the self-deluded victims, was by no means stifled either
in Spain or the adjoining countries.[1] Yet the measures taken to put
down the mania for death succeeded in preventing any fresh outbreak for
some time.

Under the weak government of Abdallah (888-912) the Christians,
determining to lose their lives to better purpose than at the hands of
the executioner, rose in revolt, as will be related hereafter, in
several parts of Spain. After the battle of Aguilar, or Polei, in 891,
between the Arab and Spanish factions, 1000 of the defeated Christians
were given the choice of Islam or death, and all, save one, chose the
latter alternative.[2]

During the long reign of Abdurrahman III. (912-961) there were a few
isolated cases of martyrdom, which may as well be mentioned now. After
the great battle in the Vale of Rushes,[3] where Abdurrahman d