Purchas his pilgrimage. Or Relations of the vvorld and the religions obserued in all ages and places discouered, from the Creation vnto this present In foure partes. This first containeth a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the Floud ... With briefe descriptions of the countries, nations, states, discoueries, priuate and publike customes, and the most remarkable rarities of nature, or humane industrie, in the same. By Samuel Purchas, minister at Estwood in Essex.

CHAP. III.

The life of Mahumet the Saracen Law-giuer.

THe life of Mahumet is at large described by diuerse Authors, but no where so fully as before the Alcaron in the Italian Edition, the summe whereof, and of the other reports touching the same, is this; Ismael was the first (according to that Italian Author, others ascribe it to A∣brahara) that built the Temple at Mecca, & hauing to wife an Egypti∣an Idolatresse, had by her twelue sonnes, which (as he saith) being dispersed in Arabia, Persia, Armenia, sowed so many sorts of Religion: and Chedar his second sonne, placed in the Temple of his father (vpon a high Tower called Al∣quibla) an Idoll named Allech and Alleze, instituting certaine ceremonies: and a∣mongst the rest, the sacrificing of a Ramme, in remembrance of that Ramme which was presented to his grandfather Abram at the offering of Isaac. Of Chedar a 1.1 descen∣ded Thebic, and so in order, Caab, Numhib, Almucaien, Ahlucen, Acaha, Amubasca, Amir, Celif, Nisca, Abhimaista, Aadirem, Scaad, Mudhar, Ilges, Mudicita Hudhatfa, Chinene, Anascere, Melich, Phasce, Paliff, Lunai, Cabnai, Morta, Chalef, Facien, Ab∣damanef, Abdalmutalif, Abdalla the supposed father of Mahumet: His mothers name was Hennina or Henima a Iewesse (as some b 1.2 write) his father was an Ethnike or Pa∣gan Idolatour. His base condition and obscurity was such, that the Turks themselues doubt whether hee were an Arabian or Persian, notwithstanding that genealogicall table. c 1.3 Richerius reporteth that hee was a Cyrenean by birth, and that in the time of his minority or childhood, he was by some Plagiary stolne away from his friends, and sold to the Ismaelite-merchants. Others say, that hee was abandoned both of father and mother, and (according to the cruell custome of that barbarous people) sold to strangers; From so base a beginning did this cunning impostor and seducer of the World arise, to be the scourge of Princes, and disturber of the World.

Hee was comely of person, and of sharpe wit, * 1.4 and therefore was made ouerseer of the businesse of Abdalmutalef his Maister, or (as some say) his Grandfather: and traded for him in Soria, Egypt, and Persia, and after his death, inherited his goods: Continuing his trade of merchandise with a great man of Cotozan, he succeeded him in his bed and wealth, by the marriage of his widdow Gadisa (whom d 1.5 others call A∣dega the daughter of Hulert) and that (as some suspect not vnprobably) by the help of sorceries and incantations. With this widdow, after she was become his wife; hee

liued in his wonted course of life thirteene yeres, and had by her one sonne, and three daughters. And by this meanes growne great, he aspired higher; assembling to him∣selfe a company of theeues, vnthrifts, and outlawes, which with him became volun∣taries and Aduenturers in the warres of the Emperour Heraclius against the Persians: in which he valourously behaued himselfe, and was there wounded in the visage, and Cosdroes the Persian King was ouercome.

After this, Mahomet, deuising further how to satisfie his ambitious desire of soue∣raignety, met with occasion fitting those his aspiring designes. The Arabians being denyed their pay (as is sayd) raysed a mutinie, e 1.6 and rebellion: These chose Mahu∣met to be their Captaine, who vsed them as his instruments of robbery and violence about the countreys of Mecca. But the Nobles opposing themselues against him; he, perceiuing that their power and authority would bee a perillous rubbe in his way, thought it his safest course to insinuate with them, and therefore sought by alliance to winne their better liking, taking some of their daughters to his wiues: of which he had at one time eleuen, and in all his life fifteene, besides two slaues.

Heraclius at that time fauouring the heresie of the Monothelites, and neglecting the affaires of the Empire, Mahumets proiects tooke better effect. Hummar also and Mauchia caused all Soria, Iudaea and Aegypt to rebell. Sergius at that time a Ne∣storian Monke of Constantinople (thence for that heresie excommunicated) resorting to Mahumet, kindled these sparkes into a great fire, perswading him to countenance his rebellion, with the pretence of religion; the rather now that Heraclius had offen∣ded the Christians by his exactions and heresies, and the Iewes, by new cruelties, be∣cause by Magicke hee had beene warned to beware of the circumcised Nation. Thus some male contented Iewes, and some hereticall Christians being called to counsell, it was agreed, that he should professe himselfe to be chosen in this turbulent state of the world, to bring vnto the same a New Laws, appoynted heereunto by Diuine authority: to the Iewes affirming himselfe their expected Messias; to the Christians promising amiddest so many heresies Therule of Truth; to the excommunicate he∣retikes, restitution of their persons and goodes; to seruants, liberty; to subiects, im∣munitie from tribute.

And thus hee caused himselfe of Sergius to bee baptized, and to bee f 1.7 circumci∣sed also of Abdalla a Iew, hauing before beene a Paynime. After hee got himselfe into a caue two miles from the Towne called Garhe, continuing there two yeeres in company of Sergius and Abdalla, which acquainted him with the Christian and Iew∣ish Principles: and in the night resorted to his wife, whome hee perswaded to this vaine beleefe by Zeidinus his seruant, rewarding him therefore with freedome, and proclayming (as by an Edict from Heauen) the like liberty to all seruants of all sorts, which would follow him. This rout resorting to him, and by their numbers strength∣ning his faction, their maisters not alittle aggreeued, gaue out a rumour, that Ma∣humet was madde, and possessed of a Deuill, and that an euill end would befall him and his followers. And although they might haue gotten him into their hands, yet in regard of his nine vnckles, and some noble Families linked with him in kindred, viz. the Corassists, the Hassinists, the Benitamines, they abstained from further ri∣gour.

Thus with the helpe of Sergius and g 1.8 Baira a Iacobite, and Cillienus, in the caue, with the fauour of his two vnckles, Hanza and Alabem at Mecca, with his elder bro∣ther (that tooke his daughter Fatima) and Eubocara (a chiefe man of that place, after his father in law) he composed after his and their pleasure Constitutions and Canons, and published the same at Mecca; with protestation that the Angel Gabriel had been sent to him from God, as in old times to the prophets, to teach him these things. And in the first place commanding them to beleeue in God the Creator of heauen and earth, the cau∣ser of raines and fruits, that inflicts death on men, & after raiseth them vp to giue them either, in reward of their good works, paradise; or of their bad, hel; & such other things, neuer before heard of among these simple idolatrous inhabitants of Mecca, he grew in great estimation.

For in Persia and Arabia, before this time, some worshipped a Tree, which they called Putulangua, offering sacrifices thereto: some an Idoll, called Bliomum; and some the Sunne; and others, other idolatries; spread by the so many sonnes of Ismael: and therefore the ruder multitude, astonished with these Propheticall and Angelicall Titles, were easily bewitched. And by degrees he published his intended wicked∣nesse, not sparing outragious villanies, as h 1.9 the stealing of a Camell, the murthering of a Iew sleeping vnder a Tree. Yea, he pretended not humane infirmitie, but diuine authoritie, to his most mischieuous designments. For example, being lustfully affected to i 1.10 Zameb, the daughter of Gaissi, the wife of Zaidi, he writ in his Law, That after vow or promise of marriage it was lawfull for him to enioy her, and (if he pleased) to take her to his wife. And being reprehended, that Aissa his wife k 1.11 was dishonest with Za∣phagam, the sonne of Almuthathum, the Angell (forsooth) said, she was chast. And be∣ing found, by his wiues, with Marie the wife of Macobe, the King of the Iacobites, he in another Chapiter is absolued of his oath, and free to lye with any woman, not be∣ing able to containe himselfe, notwithstanding he had sworne so to doe. And by the same authoritie he enioyned them penance, for blaming the Prophet. And willing to diuorce one of his wiues, but fearing the greatnesse of her kindred, he frameth one Chapiter, blaming him for fearing men more then God.

He wanteth not his miracles also in his Legend. As he iourneyed in the heat of the day l 1.12 with his Camels, a Cloud couered his head from the scorching heat of the Sunne, about the seuenteenth yeare of his age. And when he first entred the Caue, he saw the Angell Gabriel in his proper shape, with white wings on a Seat of Gold be∣twixt Heauen and Earth, who brought him his Prophecie: and going to Mecca to tell his wife; the Beasts, Trees, Stones, and Hearbes saluted him with the name of a Prophet and a Messenger of GOD; and the trunke of a Tree standing in the way, diuided it selfe for him to passe betweene, and then after closed againe. He also, to satisfie his incredulous vnckle Bugellinus, caused the Moone to descend from Heauen, and entred into his sleeue, and after parted it selfe in two, and then ascended againe. To satisfie the peoples doubtings, he caused a Bull (taught before to come at his call) to bring on his hornes a Chapiter, which he there had tied, to testifie the truth of Mahomet.

But while the fame of this his Propheticall Function filled the mouthes of the vul∣gar with acclamations, it no lesse filled the hearts of the Nobles of Mecca with dis∣daine, who sought therefore to apprehend him; but he closely fled to m 1.13 Ietrib or Me∣dina with his followers, where he liued with the name of a Prophet thirteene yeares. He depriued a certaine Carpenters poore Orphans of their patrimonie, and consecra∣ted their House into a Temple. This Citie being for most part inhabited with Iewes, they asked a signe in confirmation of his Office. He said, That he was not sent with miracles, but denuntiation of Armes here, and Hell hereafter: and those which would not receiue his new Doctrine, he expelled by force. Being absolute Lord here, hee aspired also to the Dominion of Mecca. He sent thirtie horse with Hanzeta to robbe the Merchants, trauelling thither: but being then preuented, he sent, foure yeares after, sixe hundred of his best souldiors, vnder Hngaida, to assault Mecca, but he also was discomfited: yet not desisting his enterprise, seuen yeares after he at∣chieued it, and after eleuen battailes entred and sacked the Towne, and gaue the spoyle to his souldiors: and for feare, the neighbouring-Cities submitted them∣selues. Mahomet herewith encouraged, assaulted the Persians and Aegyptians, ex∣changing with those he conquered his New Religion for their old wealth and liber∣tie, binding the Gouernours thereunto. But now being old, and through his intem∣perances weake, and diseased also with the Falling Sicknesse, he coloured his often falling with pretext of Gabriels brightnesse, and the vnsufferable splendour of his pre∣sence.

He was of meane stature, large sinewes, browne colour, broad face, with a cut lippe, and had one of his fore-teeth stricken out in one Expedition, and in ano∣ther

his face wounded. He had a great head, thinne haires, long shankes, not pro∣portionable to his head. He was of few words, but deceitfull; couetous, and with∣all prodigall, (but of other mens goods) and in deeds of lust equalling himselfe to fortie other men, or (as some say) fiftie. When he was threescore & three yeares of age, in the moneth of Iuly, Anno 645. he died; of which, he liued in trade of Merchandise thirtie eight, and in the Caùe two; at Mecca tenne, in Medina thirteene. He had com∣manded, that they should not bury him; for that on the third day after he would as∣cend in body and soule into Heauen. Meane-while the earth being poysoned with the stinke of his carkasse, they buried him, not at Mecca (as some affirme) but at Medina. His Law, in his life time, sustained many alterations; Cellenus his Scribe writing what himselfe pleased: and the seuerall parcels of the same being collected by Odmen, one of his successors, this Booke was thereupon called Alcaron, that is, a Summarie, or Collection of Precepts. Thus Mahomet aduantaged himselfe with the mutinous Rebels, Fugitiues, Vnthrifts, Apostata-Iewes, and hereticall Christians in that diseased State of the Empire: the bodie whereof was afflicted on the East by the Persians, on the West by the Gothes and other Barbarians, and fretted within the owne bowels by intestine rebellions: the Soule thereof being no lesse torne and rent by the Sects and Heresies of the Arrians, Donatists, Nestorians, Pelagians, and others. He fishing in these troubled waters, set on foot his new Religion, to bring light to the Gentiles, and to mitigate to the Iewes and Christians the seueritie of the Law and Gospell. But the Mahumetanes themselues doe report otherwise, fabling of this fabler great matters, as if he had beene the Promise and Hope of Nations, and the most excellent personage of the World.

They haue written a Booke of the generation of Mahomet to this effect: n 1.14 The Booke of the generation of Mahomet, the Messenger of GOD, (the Prayer and Saluation of GOD be vpon him) from Adam and Eue to the time when GOD brought him forth, gracious, perfect, and fit for himselfe. When as Kabachbar had learned out of the o 1.15 Scriptures, and by Astrologie, that his Prophet should be borne to the world, he heard, That there was a man borne in Ieseras, a Citie of Ara∣bia, hauing all such markes and tokens, as he had fore-seene by the Prophecies and his Art, viz. a spot on his forehead, a print betweene his shoulders, &c. And to sa∣tisfie his desire, he went thither to see; where finding those tokens fulfilled in young Mahomet, he thereupon expounded the darke mysterie of his farre-fetched Light, learned of his Master Kabelmedi in this manner: When Adam was newly created, as he stood vp, his braine shaked and made a noyse, as the leaues doe, which are shaken with the winde: whereat Adam wondering, GOD said vnto him, The sound which thou hast heard is the signe of the Prophets and Messengers of my Commaundements. Take heede therefore that thou commit this Seed of Light on∣ly to worthie Loynes, and to a cleane Wombe. And this p 1.16 Light of Mahomet that should be borne, shined from the face of Adam, as the Sunne or Moone at the full. And when hee had begotten Seth, that Light passed instantly from the face of Adam into the face of Eue, insomuch, that the birdes of the Aire, and beastes of the Earth, wondered at her beautie. Yea, the Angels euery day salu∣ted her, and brought her odours out of Paradise, till she brought forth Seth alone, hauing before, at euerie burthen, brought forth a brother and a sister.

Seth inherited this light, which remained betweene heauen and earth, the Angels thereby ascending and descending vpon Seth, and crying alwaies, Retoyce thou earth, worthy of the light of Mahomet, on him be the prayer and saluation of God. Adam draw∣ing neere to his end, declared vnto him, by his Testament, the mysterie of that Light, and the Genealogie of the Prophets. Then descended Gabriel, accompanied with threescore and tenne thousand Angels, bearing euery one of them a white leafe and a penne, which signed the writing, for the continuance of the order of the Propheticall generation. Seth receiued this writing, and was clothed with a dou∣ble redde garment, shining as the Sunne, and soft as the violet-flower.

From him it passed by succession to Noe and Sem; then to Abraham, at whose birth to Lights from the East and West (meeting in the middest) lightned the whole World: and the Angels were heard singing, That it was the Light of the Prophet Mahomet, who should be borne of his Seed, whose Word should be in the vertue of GOD. This Light passed from Abraham to the face of Hagar, being with childe, and after to Ismael; and God told him, That the Soule of Mahomet, in the begin∣ning of the Creation, was mingled with his, and that his name in Heauen should be Asmet, in Earth Mahomet, in Paradise Abualtrazim. At this Sara grieued, vntill three Angels comforted her with the promise of Isaac. From Ismael it remooued to Keidar his sonne, who being indued with q 1.17 seuen Gifts, married Nulta of the Land of Isaac, but, being warned by an Oracle, he tooke to wife Algadira, an Arabian; and after, by diuine warning, carried the chest of this Light vnto Iacob. Then was Hamel borne to him, and receiued the same Light; in which succeeded Thebicht, Hamiessa, Adeth, Aduve, Adne, Machat, Nizar, Musar, Aliez, Madraca, Horei∣ma, Knieua, Anofra, Melic, Falhrem, Luie, Galiben, Kab, Murran, Cudai, Abdamenef, Hefim, a man by diuine testimonie free of all vncleanenesse. To him did all Kings offer their daughters in marriage, and among the rest Constantine, which he refused, and married Seline the daughter of Zeit, and had by her Abdalmutalib, whose Light caused raine in drought. To him an Elephant prostrated himselfe, and sayd with mans voice, Saluation be on you, and on the Light that shineth out of your Reiues, Dig∣nitie, Fame, Honour, and Victorie be on you: and that there should proceede from him a King, greater then all the Kings of the Earth. Another time, as he slept on the stone which was placed by Abraham in his Oratorie at Mecca, hee dreamed of a chayne reaching East and West, and to Heauen, and to the Depth, which was pre∣sently conuerted into a flourishing hearbe. Noe and Abraham presented themselues interpreters of this Dreame. Abdalla his sonne, the father of Mahomet, had a tu∣tor giuen vnto him, to defend him from his enemies, who seemed a man, but was none. Hee was preserued from the lying in wait of the Iewes, by threescore and tenne Angels, which seemed men. He wedded r 1.18 Ermina, and therefore two hun∣dred women perished for his loue; some hanging, some burning themselues.

When the prescribed time was come, in the moneth Dulheia, on a Friday night, God bad Ariduvan to open the gates of Paradise, that the innermost of his secret might be manifested: for it pleaseth me (sayth he) this night to transport the Light of my Prophet from the reines of Abdalla into the wombe of Ermina, and that it come into the world. This being done, as Abdalla, the Iudge and Lord of the Ara∣bians, went into the house of Prayer, he perceiued a great Light to lighten from his house vp toward Heauen, and presently died. On the twelfth day of Rab, on a Tues∣day, Mahomet was borne, circumcised, and all frolicke. And then all Idols fell and became blacke: All Kingdomes were destroyed, and not one stood vpright. Lucifer was cast into the bottome of the Sea, and in fortie dayes could not get out, and then called his fellowes, and told them, that Mahomet was borne with the power of the sword, who would take away all their power. The same also God caused to be proclai∣med in Heauen and Earth. His mother said, That she was deliuered of him without paine, and Angelicall birds came to nourish the child, and that a man clothed in white presented him with three keyes, like to Pearles, which he tooke; the key of Victorie, the key of the Lawes, and the key of Prophecie. And after came three persons with shining faces, presenting him a cauldron of Emeralds, with foure handles, which Ma∣homet accepted as a signe of his rule ouer all the world. The Birds, Clouds, Windes, Angels, contended for the nourishment of the child. But the case was determined by heauenly voice, affirming, That he should not be taken from the hands of men. An Asse, almost famished, worshipped him, and receiuing him on her backe, became Herald to this new Prophet, with mans voice proclaiming the worthi∣nesse of her Carriage. Three men carried him vp into a Mountaine: of which, one of them opened him from the Breast vnto the Nauell, and washed his

entrailes with snow: the second cleared his heart in the middest, and tooke out of it a blacke graine, saying, That it was the portion of the Deuill. The third made him whole againe. Seraphim nourished him three yeares, and Gabriel nine and twentie, who gaue vnto him, in the fortieth yeare of his age, the Law, and carried him to Heauen. This his iourney is related by Frier Richard sometimes a student in the Vni∣uersitie of Baldach, Cap. 14. and in his life s 1.19

Gabriel, with threescore and tenne paire of wings, came to Mahomet, in the chamber of Aissa, his best beloued wife, and said, That GOD would haue him to visit him where he is; and brought with him the Beast Elmparac, or Alborach, of nature betweene a Mule and an Asse. This Beast told Mahomet, That he would not take him on his backe, till he had prayed to GOD for him. His steppes were as farre as one could see, so that in the twinckling of an eye he had brought Mahomet to Ie∣rusalem. Then Gabriel with his Girdle tyed the Beast to a Rocke, and t 1.20 carried Ma∣homet on his shoulders into Heauen; where hee knocked, and the Porter opened. Here Mahomet saw u 1.21 troupes of Angels, and prayed twice on his knees for them: and amongst the rest, old old Father Adam, reioycing for such a sonne, and com∣mending him to his prayers. Then he brought him to the second Heauen, which was a iourney of fiue hundred yeares, and so forth on to the seuenth Heauen: Here he saw the Angelicall people, euery of which was a thousand times greater than the world, and euery of them had threescore and tenne thousand heads, and euery head threescore and tenne thousand mouthes, and euery mouth seuenteene hundred tongues, praying GOD in seuen hundred thousand Languages. And he saw one Angell weeping, and he asked the cause, who answered, That hee was Sinne. And Mahomet prayed for him. Then Gabriel commended him to another Angell, and he to another, and so forth in order, till he came before GOD and his Throne. Then GOD (whose face was couered with threescore and tenne thousand clothes of light, and from whom Mahomet stood two stones cast below) touched him with his hand, the coldnesse whereof pierced to the marrow of his backe-bone. And GOD sayd, I haue imposed on thee and on thy people Prayers. When he was returned as farre as the fourth Heauen, Moses counselled him to returne backe, to obtaine ease vnto the people, which could not beare so many prayers, which hee did oftentimes, till there remained but few. Thus returning to his Elmparac, he rode backe to his house at Mecca. All this was done in the tenth part of the night. But when he was reque∣sted to doe thus much in the peoples sight, he answered, Praysed be GOD, I am a Man, and an Apostle.

The Booke Asear (sayth Bellonius) telleth further, That in this iourney Maho∣met heard a womans voice, crying, Mahomet, Mahomet, but he held his peace. Af∣terwards another called him, but he gaue no answere. Mahomet asked the Angell who they were? He answered, That the one was shee which published the Iewes Law, and if he had answered her, all his Disciples should haue beene Iewes: the o∣ther was shee which deliuered the Gospell, whome if he had answered, all his follow∣ers had beene Christians.

The said Booke telleth, That GODS face was couered with threescore and tenne thousand Linnen Clothes made of Light, and that GOD gaue him a fiue∣fold priuiledge. First, That he should be the highest creature in Heauen or Earth: Secondly, the most excellent of the sonnes of Adam: Thirdly, An vniuersall Re∣deemer: Fourthly, Skilfull in all Languages: Fifthly, That the spoyles of Warres should be giuen him. Gabriel after (sayth that Booke) carried him to Hell, to see the secrets thereof, and the seuen gates thereof, &c. where (as in the place fittest for him) wee will leaue him. The Booke of the vertues of Mahomet sayth, That in glorying of his strength he would boast, that he had knowne his eleuen wiues suc∣cessiuely in one houre.

One of their Chronicles telleth of his martiall affaires. This Chronicle recko∣neth from Adam to Noe one thousand two hundred two and fortie yeares: From thence to Abraham, one thousand and fourescore: Hence to Moses, fiue hundred and fifteene: After him to Dauid, fiue hundred threescore and nine: and from this time to CHRIST, one thousand three hundred and fiftie: from whence to Ma∣homet is numbred sixe hundred and twentie; in all fiue thousand three hundred threescore and sixteene, from Adam to Mahomet. All the Prophets were in num∣ber an hundred and siventie thousand, and the Messengers of GOD three hundred and fifteene: where of Adam, Seth, Esdrik. Noe, Abraham, were Hebrewes; Huth, Schale, Ishmael, Schaib, Mahomet were Arabians.

If this Historie of Mabomets life be long and tedious, I thought good, out of an Arabian Chronicle, to adde this Epitome thereof. His mother died in a iourney to Mecca, when he was foure yeares old, and his Nurse restored him to his Grand∣father Abdalmutalif. with whome he liued eight yeares. The Seraphim preserued him, but was neuer seene. After that, Gabriel was his Guardian, of whome he re∣ceiued the Law, which hee kept close three yeares, communicating it onely to some of his owne opinion, by whose helpe he became Priest and Prince of the A∣rabians and and Saracens, and about eighteene moneths after was carried into Hea∣uen, and being returned into the Earth, hee tooke Eubocara, Ali, and Zaid to be his companions in this enterprise. Hee went to Zaif, or Atharf, and preached publikely, and thence to Mecca, tenne yeares going from place to place. And of his Conuerts, he chose some for guard of his Person, who sware the obseruance of his Law, to the number of fortie, who now with Word, now with the Sword, set forward this Doctrine. After tenne yeares, Mecca was peopled onely with belee∣uers; and all Arabia was conuerted, without difficultie. Then he sent to the neigh∣bouring Kings to become of his Religion; to the King of Persia, to the Romane Emperour, to King Cinna, to the Lord of the two Seas, to the King of Aethiopia, &c. After he returned to Iehib, and on Tuesday, the twelfth of Rab, in the ele∣uenth yeare, died. His Sepulture was appointed by GOD in the House of Aisca his wife, in the Chamber where he was wont to sleepe, where, at this day, is a Temple of Bricke. His bodie was wrapped in throe white Clothes, without any pompe. His Seale was a Siluer Ring, with this inscription, MAHOMET the Messenger of GOD. He went twice on Pilgrimage, and nineteene times con∣ducted an Armie.

The place of his buriall is at Medina, surnamed of him Talnabi x 1.22 , that is, of the Prophet; not (as some write) at Mecca. Neither doth his Corpes hang in the ayre by force of Load-stones, drawing vp his Iron Coffin or Chest, but lyeth buried in the ground (if any where) as Ludouicus Vertom••••us, by his owne view, hath obser∣ued. Of this place, and of Mecha, we shall speake more, in relating the Rites of the Pilgrims that visit them.

Some relate otherwise of the death of Mahomet, as that he died at fortie yeares of age, being poysoned by one of his Disciples, called Albunor, to make tryall of his boasting Prophecie, that he would rise againe within three dayes after his death. * 1.23 This Albuner after comming to see him, found his bodie torne in pieces, and deuoured of dogges: whereupon gathering together the bones that remained, into a Coffin, he caused them to be buried. Which in my minde is not so probable as the former report.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Fortalitium fi∣dei reckoneth another gene∣alogie: and the Saracen Chro∣nicle continu∣eth this, euen from Adam; not agreeing with themselues or any truth.
• b 1.2

  l.Bo.Ben.Vo∣later.&c.
• c 1.3

  Christ.Richer.
• * 1.4

  Vid. p.202. expand_less
• d 1.5

  Arab.Nob.in Alcor.••esut.
• e 1.6

  This mutiny according to others hapned many yeares after that Ma∣humet had vn∣der the cloake of Religion furthered his ambition and rebellion.
• f 1.7

  He neither was circumci∣sed himselfe, (saith an Ara∣bian noble∣man in confu∣tation of the Alcoran) nor did command anything ther∣of in his Iawe.
• g 1.8

  Sansauino calleth him Bacira, and ad∣deth also Ni∣cholas a Priest of Rome.
• h 1.9

  Mahomet a Theefe and Murtherer.
• i 1.10

  An Adulte∣rer.
• k 1.11

  A Wittall.
• l 1.12

  Mahomets miracles.
• m 1.13

  From this slight they be∣gin the com∣putation of their Hegira.
• n 1.14

  Legend of Mahomet, He∣manno Dalmata interprete.
• o 1.15

  These Pro∣phets were Ab∣nabdall••, Ab∣nalmutaira, A∣buzaid, Abama∣chumet, Alabez, Alfad, Abulam∣bez, Ezerigi, Ab∣namare, Kabal∣chabar (scholler of Kabelmedi) or Kabalachbar
• p 1.16

  A Mahume∣tan Chronicle saith, That this Light claue to the hands of God two thou∣sand yeares before Adam, worshipping him as the An∣gels; after in∣closed in the Rib of Adam, &c.
• q 1.17

  Sound, cou∣ragious, faire, swift, iust, a Hunter, and Archer.
• r 1.18

  or Hemina, daughter of Abdemenef.
• s 1.19

  See also Bellon. obseruat. lib.3.c.7.
• t 1.20

  La •••••••• Ma∣hometi sayth, In a shin•• ng ladder they went vp to Heauen, where the starres hung by golden chaynes, as big as Mount Notho by Me∣dina.
• u 1.21

  There were in the first Heauen An∣gels of the shapes of all creatures, praying for the creatures of their shapes: and a Cocke, whose feet touched one Heauen, and head the other, whose crowing mo∣ued the Cocks of the earth to doe so. In the second was Noe. This Heauen was of Gold; the third of Pearls, where∣in was Abra∣ham and the huge huge Angell of Death, with his booke and pennein hand, writing the times of mens liues: (which fatall opinion maketh them hardie) The fourth was of Emerald: here was Ioseph and the Angell of Compassi∣on weeping for the sinnes of men. The fifth of Dia∣mond, and in it Moses. The sixt of Rubie, and in it Iohn Baptist. The seuenth of Fire, and in it IESVS CHRIST. All these recommended themselues to his Prayers.
• x 1.22

  Nabi, a Pro∣phet.
• * 1.23

  The booke of the Policie of the Turkish Empire.