continuance of factions and disputes, the inhabitants of that city saw in the admission of the prophet’s authority a rest from the miseries which they had suffered, and a suppression of the violence and fury which they had learned to condemn.  After an embassy, therefore, composed of believers and unbelievers, (Mod.  Univ.  Hist.  Vol. i. p. 85.) and of persons of both tribes, with whom a treaty was concluded of strict alliance and support, Mahomet made his public entry, and was received as the sovereign of Medina.

From this time, or soon after this time, the impostor changed his language and his conduct.  Having now a town at his command, where to arm his party, and to head them with security, he enters upon new counsels.  He now pretends that a divine commission is given him to attack the infidels, to destroy idolatry, and to set up the true faith by the sword. (Mod.  Univ.  Hist.  Vol. i. p. 88.) An early victory over a very superior force, achieved by conduct and bravery, established the renown of his arms, and of his personal character. (Victory of Bedr, Mod.  Univ.  Hist.  Vol. i. p. 106.) Every year after this was marked by battles or assassinations.  The nature and activity of Mahomet’s future exertions may be estimated from the computation, that in the nine following years of his life he commanded his army in person in eight general engagements, (Mod.  Univ.  Hist. vol. i. p. 255.) and undertook, by himself or his lieutenants, fifty military enterprises.

From this time we have nothing left to account for, but that Mahomet should collect an army, that his army should conquer, and that his religion should proceed together with his conquests.  The ordinary experience of human affairs leaves us little to wonder at in any of these effects:  and they were likewise each assisted by peculiar facilities.  From all sides, the roving Arabs crowded round the standard of religion and plunder, of freedom and victory, of arms and rapine.  Beside the highly painted joys of a carnal paradise, Mahomet rewarded his followers in this world with a liberal division of the spoils, and with the persons of their female captives. (Gibbon, vol. ix. p. 255.) The condition of Arabia, occupied by small independent tribes, exposed it to the impression, and yielded to the progress of a firm and resolute army.  After the reduction of his native peninsula, the weakness also of the Roman provinces on the north and the west, as well as the distracted state of the Persian empire on the east, facilitated the successful invasion of neighbouring countries.  That Mahomet’s conquests should carry his religion along with them will excite little surprise, when we know the conditions which he proposed to the vanquished.  Death or conversion was the only choice offered to idolaters.  “Strike off their heads! strike off all the ends of their fingers!(Sale’s Koran, c. viii. p. 140.) kill the idolaters, wheresoever ye shall find them!” (Sale’s Koran, c. ix. p. 149.)