“Such were, substantially, the dogmas of the first Ismailis; and such, nearly, are those which their descendants in Syria profess to this day. I say, nearly; for there can be no doubt that the latter, having fallen so tremendously from their ancient social organization, must also have lapsed from their original faith. This belief, now more than ever disfigured, is become, to the last degree, extravagant, from a mass of abuses and senseless superstitions, introduced in the course of time. A certain Sheikh Rashideddin, who appeared among them, I believe, three hundred years ago, put the finishing stroke to their errors, by making them believe that he was the last of the prophets, in whom the divine power was to be manifested. This impostor, who was profoundly versed in the sacred writings, appears to be the author of the book, some fragments of which I have translated, and in which he promulgates his principles as if he were himself the Almighty.” Note B, page 131. The sovereign of the Assassins is called _sheikh_, by oriental authors. Vincent le Blanc names him, _Ségucmir_, a word compounded of _sheikh_ and _emir_, and makes him reside in Arabia; but nothing that such an author says is astonishing. The Arabic word _sheikh_, which is equivalent to the Latin _Senior_, and which has its two significations in the lower Latinity, has been ridiculously rendered _Vetus_, _Vetulus_; _Senex_, instead of _Senior_, when _Dominus_ was not meant. We read _Vetulus de Monte_, in the chronicle of Nicholas of Treveth, A. D. 1236; _Vetulus de Montanis_, in that of William de Nangis, of the same year; _Vetulus de Montibus_, several times in Sanuto; and _Senex de Montanis_, in the Latin translation of Marco Polo. In Haïton, _Sexmontius_ is but the contraction of _Senex montis_, which Batilli, who translates it, _Prince of Six Mountains_, has not understood: we have seen him called _Summus_ _Abbas_, _Prolatus_, _Magister Cultellorum_, by James de Vitri: in the same author, we read that this sovereign was commonly called _simplex_. He gives himself the title of “_Simplicitas Nostra_,” in his letter to Philip Augustus, handed down by William of Newbury: this is one of the two which have been supposititiously attributed to him. This _simplicity_ consisted in inhumanly putting to death those whom he deemed enemies of his sect, or whom he regarded as extortioners, as William of Tyre expresses himself. The Assassins exercised their enormities alike, against both Mahommedans and Christians: we see in history the catalogue of khalifs, princes, and viziers, slain by their emissaries.[300] I am also convinced, that the sheikh, simple as he entitled himself, caused assassinations to be committed at the solicitation of other princes, from motives of interest, in which religion had no share. We are justified in believing this, from what their commandant in Syria said to Henry the Second, Count of Champagne, when he invited him to pass