The preachers trauels Wherein is set downe a true iournall to the confines of the East Indies, through the great countreyes of Syria, Mesopotamia, Armenia, Media, Hircania and Parthia. With the authors returne by the way of Persia, Susiana, Assiria, Chaldæa, and Arabia. Containing a full suruew of the knigdom [sic] of Persia: and in what termes the Persian stands with the Great Turke at this day: also a true relation of Sir Anthonie Sherleys entertainment there: and the estate that his brother, M. Robert Sherley liued in after his departure for Christendome. With the description of a port in the Persian gulf, commodious for our East Indian merchants; and a briefe rehearsall of some grosse absudities [sic] in the Turkish Alcoran. Penned by I.C. sometimes student in Magdalen Colledge in Oxford.

The description of Arabia.

FRom the ruines of old Babilon wee set forwards to

Alepo; traueling, for the most part, through the De∣sart Arabia. This country of Arabia hath on the North Palestina, and Mesopotamia: on the East the golfe of Persia: on the South the maine Ocean of India; on the West Egipt & the red-sea. It is deuided into three parts: the North-part whereof, is the desart Arabia: the South-part is called Arabia Foelix: and the middle be∣tweene both, is Arabia Petrosa. It is not my purpose to write any thing either of Arabia Foelix, or Arab••a Petrosa, because they lie not in the compasse of my tra∣uell: onely it shall not be amisse to insert a word or two, of Mahomet and his superstition, who was borne in this country, and hath seduced the greatest part of the world with his abominable religion.

Concerning Mahomet, the people of Mecha (where he lieth intombed) doe altogether condemne him both for his robberies and murders. And himselfe in his Al∣coran confesseth himselfe to be a sinner, an idolator, an adulterer, and inclined to women aboue measure, and that in such vnciuil termes, a I am ashamed to repeate.

And concerning his Alcoran, wherein hee hath in∣serted the precepts of his inuention, there is no truth in it. For first vpon paine of death, it may not bee dispu∣ted vpon, whereas the truth loues triall, so that though the Arabians, Turkes, and Persians will not spare to say, and that vauntingly, that the doctrine of Mahomet, is di∣uine & conformable both to the old & new Testament, yet as good as they make it, you may not examine it or call it into question; as if a man should say, behold you are paide in good money; but you must not weigh it, neither looke vpon it by day-light. 2 Besides his Alco∣ran is pestred with a number of fables and falsities, as nine hundreth vntruthes; whereof two are most grosse, that Abraham was the sonne of Lazarus: and Mary the sister of Aaron. 3. Againe it pointeth out at things sensible and corporall, and not to things internall and

spirituall: for Mahomet most blasphemously reporteth in his prograce vp to the throne of God, that hee felt the hand of God three-score and ten times colder, then any yee: that he saw an Angel that had a thousand heads, a diamond table of a thousand miles in length, and a Cocke of a wonderfull bignesse, which is kept vntil the day of doome, that then by the shrilnesse of his crowing the dead may be raised: and further he setteth it downe that the diuell is circumcised, with this leasing also, that the starres, are very candles hung out euery night from the firmament. 4. And for his promises to all such as call vpon him faithfully, are meere carnal and earthly, such as I am ashamd to name, being fit for none but Heliogabalus, and Sardanapalus. 5. His precepts are indulgent to per∣iury, giuing leaue to haue as many wiues as a man will, to couple themselues not only with one of the same sex, but with bruit beasts also: to spoile one anothers goods, and none to be accused vnder foure witnesses. 6. For his miracles he wrought none at al, but hee confesseth that God sent Moses with miracles, and Christ his forerunner with miracles, but for himselfe he was to come with fire and sword to force men, to obey his law, whereas the truth doth draw men of their own accords: rediculous al∣so is that which hee writeth of himselfe, how when hee was a child, an Angel was sent from God to open his heart, and to take out that lumpe of bloud, which is the cause of sinne, as though the cause thereof were not spirituall. 7. The effect of his doctrine is periury, as that they need not to keepe any oth made with a Chri∣stian, who is an Infidell: and also murder, as the eldest brother, so soone as hee commeth to weare the crowne, to strangle all the rest. For instance whereof, Mahome•• the third (this Kings father that now swaieth the Scep∣ter at Constantinople) did not onely murder his brethren, but to rid himselfe of the feare of all competitours (the greatest torment of the mighty) at the very same time

caused ten of his fathers wiues and concubines, such as by whom any issue were to bee feared, to bee all drowned in the sea.

And is it not now a wonder, that the people of the Turks and Persians, being both warlike and politicke, magnifi∣cent and stately, and to say in a word, the very hammer of the world, as it was said of Babylon, should be thus ledde away with these vild inchantments of their wicked Pro∣phet Mahomet. I will say no more, but since the darknes of Turkie and Persia is so great, that it may be felt, and that it is a wonder in our eyes, to see such mists in those places, then let vs in this land reioyce, that are not onely endued with nature as they are, but with a speciall inspi∣ration from aboue besides: hauing the celestiall doctrine of the euerlasting Sonne of God, to guide vs vnto true happinesse. For certainely the time will come, when both the great Turke and his Bassaes, and the Persian with his Chans, shall bitterly rue the time, and wish, with the losse of both their eyes, that they had but heard and seene, as much as we haue done.

Let this then perswade my louing Countri-men, that either shall hereafter serue in the warres of Hongary a∣gainst the Turk▪ or trade in those places, vtterly to detest the Turk••sh Religion, as the only way that treads to death and destruction. We may conclude with Ludouicus Viues, who compareth Heathenisme and Mahometisme, to glasse: Touch not glasse, for though it be bright, yet is it brittle, it cannot endure the hammer: and Christianisme to gold, do you melt it, or doe you rubbe it, or do you beate it, it shineth still more orient.

But to returne where wee left, hauing spent three dayes and better, from the ruines of old Babylon, wee came vnto a towne called Ait, inhabited onely with Ara∣bians, but very ruinous. Neere vnto which towne is a valley of pitch very merueilous to behold, and a thing almost incredible, wherein are many springs throwing

out aboundantly a kinde of blacke substance, like vnto tarre and pitch, which serueth all the countries there∣abouts to make staunch their barkes and boates; euery one of which springs maketh a noise like a Smiths forge, in puffing and blowing out the matter, which neuer ceaseth night nor day, and the noyse is heard a mile off, swallowing vp all weighty things that come vpon it. The Moores call it, the mouth of hell.

Heere wee entred on the Desart of Arabia, wherein it pleased God, after the deliuery of his people out of E∣gipts fornace, to exercise them, for their rebellion, vnder the conduct of Moses for fortie yeeres together; feed∣ing them from heauen with Manna; and giuing them drinke miraculously out of the drie rockes. Three daies spent wee on this Desart, and so arriued at Anna, a town of three miles in length, but very narrow, inhabited al∣together with Curdies, a most theeuish people. Here we staied two daies, and could not bee suffered to passe without a present to the gouernor of this towne, which came to a duckat a peece. Close by this towne run∣neth the riuer Euphrates, with a very swift current, which doth merueilously fructiferate the country round about, whereby we prouided our selues of all necessaries fit for trauaile through the rest of the Desart.

F••om this towne wee proceeded, and euery second night, through the good descretion of our guid, we pitch∣ed on the bancke of the riuer Euphrates, which much re∣freshed our selues and wearied beasts, beholding euery day, great droues of wild beasts, as wild Asses all white, Gasells, Wolues, Leopards, Foxes, and Hares. And now to winde vp all, in passing from Babilon to Alepo, they ordinarily with Camels spend forty daies, trauelling through this sory & barren Desart▪ lying vnmanured be∣cause of the scarcity of moisture. Neuerthelesse great is the mutuall commerce and trade, through these sandy and barren places, and that by the labour of Camels,

which carry wonderous burdens, as a thousand weight a peece, and that for forty daies and vpwards. They drink in these sterill and sandy places, but once euery fifth day, and if extremity inforce, they will indure the want of water tenne or twelue daies. When their burdens are off, a few thistles, thornes, or leaues of trees, and a little round ball of paste made of barley meale wil suffice them. There is no lyuing creature lesse chargeable, and more laborious then the Camel, how beit wee vsed not their seruice, by reason of the speed which the Chiaus made for Constantinople, so that the trauell with the Carauan is forty daies about; wee passed in eighteene daies in much security, and so in great safety by the mercy of God I arriued againe in Alepo.

FINIS.

Notes

• The opinion of them of Mecha touch∣ing Mahome•• their Prophe••
• The Turkish religion a meere s••igne inuention.
• It is ful of li•••• and fables.
• Th•• promises are meere car∣nall pleasures.
• Mahomet wrought no mir••cles, but propagated his doctrine with fire and sword.
• The effects of ••he Turkish religion.
• Lud. Viues 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1. de ve••itate Fidei.
• The mouth c. Hell.
• Anna a towne in Arabia.
• The Cam••ll a commodi∣ous beast.