Prolicionycion [sic]

¶Capitulum / 14

ABoute that tyme lyued machamet the fals prophete duke and leder of Sarasyns and of turkes· his story is brought in this maner / But steuen of caunterbury and girald of cam∣bria helpen moche in this mater. Somtyme while thempyre of ro¦me was in grete myght and strengthe. Crystendome was nyghe wydder and more than thempyre of Rome was in grete myght & is no wonder. for crystendom was soo encreced that it conteyned Europa and many prouynces of Asia and wel nygh al affryca within his merkes and boundes. Atte laste by d••scorde & stryf of crysten men bytwene hem self / It was do that that Agarenes wexe stronge / the agarenes haue thre names and ben called aga¦renes Ismalytes and saracenes / of her empyre prophecyed me∣thodius the martir and sayde that crysten relygyon shold ••aue lytell withoute thendes of Europa ¶ Also after that errour of

Sarasyns had infecte al affryca. hit defouled also a grete dele of spayne And but goddes grace and mercy had holpen / it wolde haue infecte and shente al ffraunce with spayne ¶Thenne after the grete gregoryes tyme the empyre of Rome that stretched som∣tyme from th••ccean of brytayne vnto the endes of perse was soo destroyed with tyrauntrye and ciuile bataylles that it was not of power to defende it self ayenst enemyes / thenne the cruel pay∣nym hoost of perce bygan to occupye many prouynces of the lord¦ship of Rome and of men of crysten feyth in the est landes / Thenne as th•• grete flye foloweth the trace of the malshawe. soo after oth••r woo cometh pestylence of the ismalytes that was mo¦re greuous and destroyed neygh the crysten men that were lefte in the eest londes by ledyng of the prince machomete in heraclius themperours tyme Thenne in the fyfth bonefas tyme while he¦raclius regnede aboute the yere of our lord six honderd and twen¦ty. machamete the fals prophete and witche begyled the ysmaly∣tes and agarenes in this maner. a famous clerk was atte court of Rome and myght not spede atte his wylle and p••ssed the see and plesed many men and had hem at his assente / Amonge the whiche he promysed machomete that he wold make hym prynce of h••s peple yf he wolde doo as he sayde / thenne this clerke fedde vp a douue and made hym fe••che his mete in machome••s ere. for there he put the co••ne that the douue sholde ete / And of that sa∣me the douue wold ofte fede hym self thenne in a day this clerke gadred the peple to geder and promysed them that he wold make hym theyr prynce whom the holy goost wold shewe in lykenes of a douue and lete anone his douue flee. And the douue as he was wonte sate vpon machomets sholderes and put his bylle in machamets ere / And therfore machamet was chosen prynce and leder of the peple. This that is sayd is the comyn tale· but what now foloweth is more alowed and approu••d· A monke that hete sergius was put oute of the company of monkes that he was a¦monge for he was falle in to nestorius errour· he cam in to Ara∣bia and put hym self to machomete and enformed hym though it be radde that this sergius was archedeken of Antiochia or pa∣triarke of Ierusalem· thenne machomet faderles and moderles was in his emes kepynge in his childhode and worshiped mau¦metrye somwhat of tyme with his countrey men of Arabia / and he yaue him self specially to worshipe venus / And therfore it is that yet the saraseyns holden the fryday holy as the Iewes don

the saterday and we the sonday ¶ After that machomet come to age and was sharpe of wytte and wente. in to many londes by cause of marchandyse and was ofte in company of Iewes and of crysten men and lerned the maners· vsages and custommes of both the lawes of crysten men and of the iewes / And couth both wytchecraft and nygromancy / and was a wonder felle man and fer castynge and had noble faconde and fayr speche / th••nne he co¦me to the lady of the prouynte Corozonia / the lady hete cadygan / And with somme spyces that he brought with wytchecraft and fayr wordes he made the lady so madde and so nyse that she wor∣shiped him as the grettest prophete of god almyghty· or as it we¦re messias thāt the Iewes abyden / and she desyred hym to hus∣bond / It is the vsage of that prouynce to be ruled also by womē Thenne he wedded the wedewe that was quene and soo he was made lord of that prouynce / thenne he drewe to hym the Arabes and occupyed the est empyre vnto Allexandria ayenst heraclius themperour / Thenne he toke the maner of spekynge of trewe pro∣phetes as though god had spoke in hym & spake in this maner in his bookes that he made / Oure lord spak to his prophete and sayde. for so the bookes that he feyned gylefully shold be byleuyd as though they were made by auctoryte of god almyghty

Thenne not only his owne men but also men of fer londes fylle to hym and bowed to him in euery syde. he hadde grete lykynge to haue gretter lordship And as it were for to brynge men in to good maner lyuyng and as it were by commaundement of god almyghty he assoylled the nacions that dwellyd nygh hym and dyde by craft and by gyle that he myght not doo by dedes of Ar∣mes ¶Therfor whan Egypte Libia arabia and Siria were sub∣gett by cause he wold seme the more holy· he drewe the peple that were subget to his fals lawe and made hem to forsake the vsages and lawes of theyr fornfaders / And he forbadde the paynems maumetrye and he graunted circumsicion to the Iewes as they had vsed· and feyned of his owne self somme newe lawes and alleged wytnes of eyther testament The sarasyns calle that lawe his lawe yet vnto this tyme ¶And he bade the sarasyns circum¦cide hem as the Iewes don / and forbad hem that wolde folowe hym etyng of swynyssh flessh / And machomet wold telle the cau¦se why he forbade them the swynyssh flessh and sayde that swyne come of camels dirt after noes flood and therfor clene men shold eschewe it as mete that is vnclene. ¶And as it were to acorde

with Crysten men in the manere of crystnynge / he ordeyned ofte wasshing of lymmes in water as it were for clensing of synnes And for to brynge the people that was soo begyled the faster to snarle / what he knewe that was mooste playsanut to mannes ly∣kyng he ordeyned that for lawe / And so he ordeyned that a man shold haue as many wyues and concubynes as he myght sustene with his catel / Also that a man myght haue wyues of his oun kynrede vnto the nombre of four. and that a man myght four si∣thes forsake his wyf and take her agayne / & also that he myghte haue as many concubynes as he wolde of wymmen / that were bought prisoners· And also that he myght selle hem but yf he had brought ony of hem with childe-And ordeyned hem to vse sobre¦nes of mete and drynk / and forbad hym drynkyng of wyn / but it were in certayne solempne dayes in the yere· And for he wolde somdele varye fro the Iewes that worshiped god westward / and fro crysten men that worshiped god eestward / he taughte his pe∣ple to worshipe god south warde with ofte knelynges· for in the south is plente of light / he ordeyned hem to worshipe the goddesse venus and to holde the day therof solempne and •• holy. that is fri¦day / he bade worshipe one almyghty god creatour and maker of alle thynges and sayde that moyses and Iohan were Prophetes and that Cryst was gretter and grettest of all prophetes & that he was born of the mayde marie by vertu of god withoute man∣nes seede as he sayth in his booke that hete Alkaron. netheles he medled somme fals sawes with soth sawes / And sayde that criste was afterwarde born vp to heuen and not slayne· For he sayth that Iudas the traytour sought cryste in a denne and chaunged in to the lykenes of cryst / & soo he was take & nayled to the cros in stede of crist ¶Also he bade that the men of his lawe sholde euery yere yf they myght goo in to goddes hows that is in ma∣tha for to bydde her bedes / & whan they were comen thyder they sholde ben clothed in one maner clothynge / & they sholde throwe oute stones thurgh hooles of the walles· as it were for to stone the deuyl / & sayde that Abraham made that hows for his childe∣ren ismaelytes / for they sholde there bydde theyr bedes / Also by machomets lawe ••e that were take with a woman in spousebre∣che sholde be stoned to deth / & yf he dede fornicacion with a sengle woman he sholde haue four score lasshes / A theef the fyrste tyme and the seconde tyme sholde be beete· & the thyrdde tyme he sholde lese his hondes / and the fou••th tyme he shold lese his feet / And he

seyth that who that holdeth al this and other heestes of his lawe god almyghty promysed him paradys / the orcharde of plesyre & lykynge. there is no distemprure ne payne that is ony maner of gryef but al maner of welthe and of lykynge / there is lykyng mete for to ete and clothes to were and maydens tembrace fayre shal serue them there / the Angels ben so grete and soo huge that from that one eye to that other is the space of a day iourneye· & to them that holde ne kepe not his lawe· he promyseth hem fyre & payne of helle withoute ende / And also in his booke that is cal∣led alcoranum he prayseth alle the faders of tholde testament. & specially moyses and Iohan the baptist· Cryste and machomete Also ther he preyseth alle that that byleue in god and doo right∣wysenes / but it is not there red what is the ryght feyth. ne what men ben of ryght byleue. ne what men ben of mysbyleue Also there is wreton that fyue bookes come fro heuen for the in∣formacion of mankynde / the sawter / moyses bookes / the bookes of prophetes and machometes Alcaron / In that Alcoron it is wreton that god almyghty wolde rule and lede mankynde in to the way of sauacion· and after abraham he yaue to the childeren of Israel a lawe by whiche lawe they shold knowe God and worshipe hym / ¶ But for they told not of his lawe god gaf the gospel to other men / And also they mysused the lawe / And the Arabes that cam of Abraham by ysmael were mo men and gretter peple than the Iewes that come of Abraham. by Isaac. And the Arabes that were lefte were lefte withoute lawe / ther∣fore oute of the consistorye of goddes rightwysenes come a decree that a prophete of her owne peple sholde be sente to the ysmaely¦tes with a lawe / the which prophete and lawe the sarasyns shold folowe as the Iewes folowed moyses· and crysten men Cryst And therfore the Sarasyns holde them self better than Iewes and Crysten men for they holde holy theyr lawe / And Iewes & Crysten men ofte trespacen ayenst theyr owne lawe / For to brin¦ge this aboute / machomet norysshed and fedde a fayr camel in a pryue place / so that the camel had no mete but of his own hon∣de / And machomet wayted his tyme and henge that cursed book Alcaron aboute the camels necke. in that book were the forsayd lawes wreton And machomet lete go the forsayd camel in to the feldes with the book aboute to fore day lyght / Thenne the camell as it was no wonder bygan to lepe and to sterte and made gre¦te ioye for he was at large and fled euery man and wold come

nyghe no mannes honde-Speche of this wonder sprange once in feldes and townes and the peple gadred thyder oute of euery syde. But whan machomete was comen the beest sawe hym a fer that yaf hym alweye mete & ran to hym anon right· & bowed to hym and lykked his hondes as he was taught. thenne the peple cryed and sayde in this dede is shewed the holynes of goddes pro¦phete / And they prayde him that he wolde vndoo the booke with his holy hondes / and whan the book was opened / Lo sayth macho¦met Here is your lawe not wreton with mannes ynke but with angels hondes and sente fro heuen for to be bolden euer withoute ony. ende In the book ye ben taught how ye shal worshipe god / & how greete mede ye shal hope to resseyue of hym for kepynge of this lawe / The daye that this was don in is euery yere made so∣lempne and hooly / and is called the fest of the camel / and they faste a moneth to fore that feste in this maner Euery day of that moneth fro the fyrst lyght of the day whan men maye knowe bi¦twene whyte & blac vnto the goyng doū of the sonne / they fast & ete not ne drynke / ne delen with theyr wyues / but ben alwey in her prayers but after the goynge doune of the sonne vnto the da¦wynge agayne they ete drynke and lye by theyr wyues / but seke men and feble ben not holden so for to faste. This machomet dis∣plesyd ofte his wyf for he hadde the fallynge euyll / and in that euyll he fyll ofte to the grounde / But he plesyd her and other that had r••sseyued his lawe in this maner and sayd that he fyll to groūd for the wordes of seint mychel tharchangel that spak with hym so ofte For a flesshliman he sayde may not suffre an angels wordes but yf he falle / he hated wyn dronkenes as Rybawdrye / and harlottrye / by cause of heete of the countrey he wolde haue it spared· But in a nyght he was dronke and fylle doune in the streete· And there swyn ete him which he reputed vnclene beestes Therfor they that holde his lawes spare wyn and swynes flessh In the fyrst poynt it semeth that they folowe the Iewes / In the seconde poynt it semeth that they folowe the philosophye of theyr mayster Also after the deth of machomet that cursed secte encre¦ced so faste that it caused so myghty men of perce to drawe to that cursed lawe of the Arabes ¶ Also that secte hath infecte vnto this tyme al affrica and a grete dele of spain as gernarde. And tharchebisshop turpinus tellith that machometes ymage of latone that he made with his owne hondes / stondeth in the See stronde and hath his face toward the south. ¶In that ymage

machometus by wytchecraft closed a legyon of fendes. A crystē man that cometh there is lyghtly perysshed. But a sarasyn goth alwey hoole and sound / A byrde that cometh there dyeth anone The ymage holdeth a mace in his right honde And that mace shal fyrst fallen whan a kynge shal be born in gallia that shal renewe al spayne with crysten lawes / And whan the mace shal falle / thē¦ne the sarasyns shall flee ānd leue theyr tresorye / The famous no¦rye of this cursed secte Saladinus duc of turkes the stronge hamer of crysten men about the yere of our lord enleuen honderd four score and ten he herde that crysten men vsed many messes of mete at one mele and sayde that cristen men were not worthy to ha¦ue the holy londe Also he was felle and slyhe for to prayse his owne secte· and to blame and despyse our lawe. and that is kno∣wen by this ensample ¶On a tyme were two whyte monkes brought to fore him that theues of turkes had take. And he kne¦we by her straunge clothynge that they were philosophres and crysten men. And he axyd by one that knewe both langages of hem what they were and of what condicion and profession and they sayde that they were monkes and had don theyr profession to seynt Benettes rule. Thenne he axyd besyly many poyntes of that rule. And specially amonge other. he axed yf they sholde by her rule ete flessh or drynke wyn / Thenne answerd they and sayde that they hadde at al tyme somwhat of wyn for to drynke. but flessh shold they none ete / but it were for sekenes or grete nede / thē¦ne the tyraunt badde that they shold haue more large kepynge and haue two yong fayr wymmen to serue hem / and badde that they shold ete flessh and drynke water / And so they ete flesshe & dronke water· and toke ensample by seynt Iob / and made coue∣naunt with theyr eyen that they wold not thynke of fylthe and of synne and were alwey besy in theyr prayers / Thenne Salady¦nus was waar therof and toke from hem the flesshe and the wa¦ter and bad hem serue with fysshe and wyn / And he badde so doo to that entent that Salamon moeueth and sayth / yeue ye wyn to hem that ben in grete sorow that they may drynke and foryete theyr sorowe and her nede / Whan he had thus done he caste to begy¦le by symplenes these two monkes / For he wold yf they myghte ther bysette chalenge and blame vpon the Relygion / thenne the Monkes dronke wyn & wexe mery & glad & forgate what they sholde haue in mynde and fylle to and laye by the wommen ¶ Thennne on the morowe whanne the wyn was defyed· they

thoughte on theyr trespaas and gan for to wepe ful soore. the ti¦raunt sawe hem wepe and sayde why be ye more soory than ye we¦re wonte to be. For we haue sinned greuously sayde they and we¦re ouercome with wyn· Thenne he sayde / while ye ete flesshe and dranke water ye helde forth your purpose redyly ynowgh / But whan ye were ouercome with wyn without flessh ye brake your rule and your purpose / Therfore it is knowen that Benett the Auctour of your rule was vnwyse for to forbede you etyng of flesshe that distourbled not a mannes wytte & graunted you to drynke wyn that roteth vp the strengthe of reson as ye haue as∣sayed now by newe assaye / Thenne he that made our lawe macho¦met that forbad vs wyne that distourbeth mannes wytte & graū¦ted vs the vse of flessh was wyser than your Benet· But what be your remedyes and clensyng of this synne nowe that ye haue broken your rule and your purpose. Penaunce seyd they and satisfaction by ordenaunce of our ••elder fader / Thenne sa¦yd he mowe ye not be clensed amonge vs / Goo ye to youre owne and be clensed in your owne maner wyse / and soo he lete hem go This man was ful of olde pestylence of sleyght and wyles / And what the wyly shrewe / myghte not haue saueour in· he gan to de¦spyse / For he wolde blame the hooly man seynt Benet / Of the whiche seynt Benet the grete gregory sayth that he wrote the Ru¦le of monkes ful of wytte and of wysedome / and open and clere in wordes. For it was a wyse dede to withdrawe fro hem that go to holy chyualrye. lykynge of metes that withdraweth the sou∣le from holynes of dedes and of thoughtes / & by thappostles lore he graunted hem a lytel what of wyn for to strengthe somwhat the feblenesse of the flessh & graunted hem but lytel. for it sholde not greue the sharpnes of the soule