The estate of the Church with the discourse of times, from the apostles vntill this present: also of the liues of all the emperours, popes of Rome, and Turkes: as also of the Kings of Fraunce, England, Scotland, Spaine, Portugall, Denmarke, &c. With all the memorable accidents of their times. Translated out of French into English by Simon Patrike, Gentleman.

The Sect of the Mahometists.

In the said Alcoran is conteined that they of his Sect shall bee circumcised, that they shall abstaine from Swines flesh, that they shall drinke no wine, and that certaine whole months they shall fast. They take as many wiues as they can maintaine, and if they keepe company with others they die for it. Friday is their Sunday. No woman goeth in publike, vnlesse she haue her face couered. They hold Christ for a true & great Prophet, and make Moses and Mahomet Christs companions. Vadianus.

* 1.1The Alcoran promiseth to his followers a Paradice, where there are sweet waters and of all sorts of fruites, and goodly and fine women, also flouds of wine and honey; yea briefly all that sensualitie can wish; and there they shall enioy all good things eternally. Azoara. 2. and Naucler.

They confesse the Resurrection of the dead.

By Testament they leaue and do great Almes.

The Alcoran forbiddeth to take siluer or victuals for aduo∣cating or pleading in Iudgement. They like to take no wiues of an other Religion then their owne: neither to giue their daugh∣ters to men of diuers Religions, vnles they conuert vnto theirs. Azoara. 3. And although by their Alcoran they be commanded to roote out all such as contradict their lawe, yet they constrain no man to renie his Religion. Women must nourish and giue sucke to their owne children, and that by the space of 2. yeares. They are also commaunded to defend their religion by Armes and strong hand. Azoara. 5. chap. 5. And by force of Armes to force the Christians and Iewes to agree. Azoara 18. Euery one may take & sley him whom he knoweth to be incredulous and an heretike in their lawe. Azoara. 10.

* 1.2They reproach Christians because they worship others then one onely God, as the virgin Mary. & Images of Saints. Azoa∣ra. 13. In the 18. cha. he bringeth in God speaking to his prophet Mahomet, & promising him y^e 20. of their mē shal resist against 200. & y^e 100. of theirs,* 1.3 shall ouerthrow a 1000. of others. They are also cōmanded to wash thēselues, yea the priuie places after

they haue done their naturall necessities, and after they haue lyen with their wiues: and this must they euer do before they pray vnto God.* 1.4 Vpon commaundement they goe on pil∣grimage into certaine places. Azoa. 2. They haue Saintes vnto whome they commend themselues and their beasts. See their Alcoran which reciteth great miracles.* 1.5 They haue Priests and Religious men. Some Recluses and contemplatiues which do nothing but pray & meditate, and these are most esteemed.

According to their foure Sects, they haue also foure opi∣nions touching the saluation of soules.* 1.6 1. Their Priests are of opinion that none are saued but in the lawe of Mahomet. 2. Some of their Religious are of opinion that the lawe profi∣teth nothing: but that euery man shall be saued by the grace of God, which alone is sufficient to saluation, without the lawe and merites. 3. The Spiritualls and Speculatiues are of opini∣on, that euery one shall be saued by his owne workes and me∣rites, with grace and the lawe. 4. There are others amongst them, which say that euery one shall be saued in his owne lawe.

Where Iesus Christ is not knowne, all Religion is vaine & vn∣certaine.

Touching Iesus Christ they hold him to be the sonne of a virgin.* 1.7 In the 5. Chap. There they make mention of the virgin Marie, and of her parents. Of S. Iohn Baptist, and of his Father Zacharie. In the 3. chap. at the beginning God is brought in speaking and calling Iesus Christ, his soule conferring his force and vertue vpon him. In the 11. chap. he calleth him Sent of God, the Spirit of God, and the word diuinely sent to Mary, &c. They fast euery yeare one whole moneth,* 1.8 and one weeke very straitly without eating or drinking in the day time: but af∣ter the Sun set, they eate & drinke euen till the day following. On the Friday they assemble all together,* 1.9 and obserue it as carefully as the Iewes do the Saterday, or others the Sunday: and in each Towne there is a principal Temple which they cal∣led (Meschat) into which they come that day after noone, as well Kings & Princes as the common people, and attentiuely pray vnto God. They which come not to this Church, or pray not when they come, are condemned in a certaine

summe of siluer when they are accused by the Guardes which they commit for that businesse. See the Alcoran.

As they pray, they torment themselues pitiously in the con∣tinuall agitation of their bodies, and cries without ceasing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Their Para∣dice.
• * 1.2

  Reproach to Christians.
• * 1.3

  Infamous ce∣remonies.
• * 1.4

  Pilgrimages.
• * 1.5

  Their Priests and Religious men.
• * 1.6

  Diuers opini∣nions of sal∣uation.
• * 1.7

  What they hold of Christ.
• * 1.8

  Fasting.
• * 1.9

  Friday.