THE Baptizing of a Turk.  
¶ A Sermon preached at the Hospital of Saint KATHERINE, adjoining unto her majesties Tower the 2. of October 1586. at the Baptizing of one Chinano a Turk, borne at Nigropontus:  
By MEREDITH HANMER, D. of Divinity.  
Printed by Robert waldgrave dwelling without Temple-bar.   

To the Right Worshipful RALPH ROKEBY Esquire, Master of the Hospital of S. Katherine, and also one of the Masters of her majesties Court of Requests, health & wealth in the Lord jesus.  
IT hath been the manner of old (Right worshipful) that if any strange or new thing happened, within any man's charge, the same as ancient histories record, was immediately showed unto the superiors. The Lieutenant of judaea, certified the Emperor Tiberius, & the Senate of Rome, of the fame of Christ, and especially his reion, then rife in the mouths of most men throughout Palaestina. Lest I should seem forgetful of good manners (being of divers entreated to publish this exercise) I have thought good to show unto you the good news here happened through the mercy & goodness of our gracious God, which hath brought home to his fold an erring sheep, by birth a Turk, borne at Nigropontus, heretofore by profession a Saracen, addicted unto the superstitious law of Mahomet, but now by the ministery of our hands (not of worthiness, but of favour called to the function) after public confession of his true faith in jesus Christ, received into the congregation of the faithful, marked by Baptism for a vowed professor, and sealed up in your Hospital of S. Katherine, (where the divine providence hath allotted you, under her Majesty, head governor) for the child of God. Manners being not forgotten, and duty thus remembered, the beholder and hearer have joint cause to be joyful, for the pearl espied in the field, for the coin found after searching, for the sheep called home from straying, according unto the parables in the Gospel, and to praise our God, whose mercy endureth for ever. Of the other side we have cause to sorrow, when we behold the face of the earth in manner all covered with heathens, idolaters and false worshippers. Asia in greatness half the world, (though of old reckoned for the third part) with the most famous governors Zambei of Arabia, the king of Narsinga, great Cham of Tartary, and the Indian islands, (if we may credit Marcus Paulus Venetus) amounting to the number of twelve thousand & seven hundred, all at this day (excepting a few Christians here & there scattered) are either Infidels, living as brute beasts without God, or followers of Mahomet, joining with the Turk in false worship, yet not fearing his power: the which places have been of old acquainted with the voice of Christ, and with the sound of the Apostles feet. Africa (excepting the dominions of Presbyter john the great king of Aethiopia, who professeth the faith in Christ, though not so purely as it is to be wished) hath many Infidels, the rest are moors, Saracens, Nigroes, Barbarians, addicted to Mahomet, and obedient to the great Turk. In these countries there are few Christians seen. This triangle of East, South, & West, have shaken off the faith, which of old hath there been professed. Europe remaineth, though more peopled, yet a lesser part than Africa, neither is this part clear from Mahomet. The great Turk hath taken Greece away, and seated himself at Constantinople. Christian religion is now couched in the North parts of the world, and so far that it seemeth (if we look for fruits) all frozen. The professors (according unto the words of our Saviour) are now a little flock. It is high time we should earnestly pray unto God, that he will enlarge his kingdom, that he will open the eyes of Infidels, that he will direct Idolaters in the true worship, that they which call upon him in word, may follow him in deed, that his name may be glorified upon earth, & that all may be gathered together into one fold, to sing holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth. And here withal I suppose it needful to certify your worship what moved this Turk to become a Christian: not holy words, but works, not the name of faith, but the view of fruits, not the learning of Clarks, but the lives of certain good Christians, whose love & kindness did so ravish him (as he said of himself) that he confessed the God of the christians to be the only true God. And among others he named Sir F. Drake that worshipful knight, & W. Haukins that worthy Captain. The tree is known by the fruits, Gods children are known by their holiness, the true professors are known by their love. Hereby (saith our Saviour) shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another. The jews gloried they were of God, their behaviour declared them (our saviour gave sentence) to be of the devil: they said they were of the seed of Abraham, their works denied them to be such. This is the course that Christ took with the Scribes & Pharisees for the stay of his credit: If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. Again: though ye believe not me, believe the works, This is the rule that jew and Gentile. that Turk & Saracene, & every good Christian now marketh & beholdeth, but at this day nothing rifer than saying, nothing rarer than doing. Where be the alms-houses, Hospitals, Colleges, and Churches now a days founded & builded? No doubt God hath his people, and they have their fruits, though the same be very few. If we were so desirous to have our lights (I mean our fruits) so shine upon the earth in these North parts of the world, where Christianity is professed, as we are greedily bend to get the earthly commodities of Africa, Asia, and the hid treasures of the far Indies, we should no doubt provoke them out of the said countries to seek after our God, and to be ravished with the conversation and steps of the Christians, as they allure us with fame of their commodities, to seek after their foreign riches. And whereas now one silly Turk is won, ten thousands no doubt would receive the faith. The heathens in far countries do wonder at the covetousness of the christians, & the cruelty among other nations of the Spaniard. Presbyter john in Africa crieth out upon the Christian Princes for their division & discord. The great Turk at Constantinople laugheth the pope & his prelates to scorn for their pride, the Christian churches he revileth, and not without cause for their idols & images. Reformation is to be sought for of all men not only in Religion (wherein some overbusy themselves, never satisfied until they have overthrown all) but in lives & manners, that they which are without seeing our good works, may glorify our father which is in heaven. Thus occasioned by these circumstances, my pen hath overruled me, I fear less over tedious. May it please you to accept this remembrance proceeding from a willing mind, though otherwise not furnished to gratify your kindness. From Shoreditch the xii. of October, 1586.  
Yours in the Lord, Meredith Hanmer.   
Math. 5. Verse .16. 
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven.  
THe present occasion here offered, hath moved me (good people & beloved in our saviour Christ) among other places of holy Scripture at this time, to deliver unto you the words of our Saviour Christ, written by the Evangelist Saint Matthew: in the fifth Chapter, which put us in remembrance of our way, our walk, our works, our lights and Christian fruits, a mean to win them that are without, and to move men to sound forth the glory and praise of God. It is high time to speak, the matter concerneth the Majesty of God, the good success and furtherance of the Christian faith. Fulgentius writing unto Trasimund king of Vandals, of the mystery of the incarnation and mediatorshippe between God and man then called into question, saith: 
Fulgent. lib. 1. ad Trasimund.  Cum de Deo res agitur non levis reatus est, si qd ad salutem pertinet, taceatur. When the matter concerneth God, it is no small offence to be silent in that which toucheth salvation: 
Ephes. 2.  We are created (saith the Apostle) in Christ jesus ad bona opera to show forth good works to the honour and glory of God. I have just cause together with you (laying other things aside) greatly to praise God, 
Psal. 66.  whose watchful eye beholdeth continually the wretched wights of the world, who calleth into the vinearde again, 
Math. 20.  and again, the idle persons standing in the market place of the world, who graffeth of his mere mercy and favour, the wild Olive, in the true and natural Olive, 
Rom. 11.  who fetcheth home, with his power, and carrieth home as it were upon his shoulder, 
Luke. 15.  the wandering and lost sheep into the fold, and at this present this silly Turk and poor Saracene upon his confession to be matriculated in the book of the faithful, and by Baptism to be sealed up for the child of God, and inheritor of the kingdom of heaven. I have again to commend for example, to others of christian light and conversation, certain worthy persons of this land, whom this Saracene termed most worthy christians, whose light and behaviour, this silly Turk beholding was (as he confesseth) the rather moved to be of their faith and religion, but of them in the end, when I shall open unto you the things that moved this Turk to receive the christian faith. Moreover by occasion that the Sacrament of Baptism is presently to be ministered, the time requireth I should speak of the principles of christian religion, the rock and foundation of this spiritual building and the corner stone, that closeth up the whole, our Lord jesus christ. But for that my speech is to be directed unto you (good people) that are therein as I hope sufficiently persuaded, and that this Saracene understandeth not the english tongue, but as heretofore upon private conference, and at this present also by an interpreter in the spanish tongue, he is ready, and shall deliver before you all, a true confession of the faith in jesus Christ, therefore happily of these things by the way in the sowing of the seed of God's word. And at this time I have purposed by God's help, to lay before you, first the original of Mahomet, that false Prophet with the nations of Mores, Saracens, and Turks: secondly their false doctrine and wicked religion, wherewith they have bewitched infinite souls: with a brief confutation thereof. Lastly that which concerneth ourselves, how we may please God, with the way & mean to win them that are without, according unto the rule of our Saviour: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven. That this may be done to the glory of God, and comfort of our souls and consciences: I beseech you join with me in prayer etc.  
Our father etc.  
According unto promise I am to lay before you these three parts. 

1 The original of Mahomet the false Prophet of the Turk, with the nations of moors, Saracens, and Turks.  
2 The false doctrine and wicked religion of Mahomet and these erring nations with a brief confutation thereof.  
3 The way to please God, & mean to win them etc.    Let your light so shine etc. 
In the year of our Lord 597. (saith Mathaeus Palmer, 
Math. Palmer. Massaeus chron. lib. 13 Volfgang-Drechsler. Chronic. de Saracen. & Turc. origine.  Massaeus & Drechslerus) & in the reign of Mauricius the Emperor when as Gregorius magnus was Bishop of Rome, one Mahomet was borne of the line of Ishmael the son of Abraham by Agar the bondwoman, having to his father one Abdara, and to his mother one Emma being very obscure and base Parents, in Mecha a City of Arabia. His Parents deceased and left him a very young Orphan, who in short time by misadventure was taken captive, this being known unto his kindred, 
Volaterran. Geogr. lib. 12.  one Abdemonaples (saith Volaterran) an Ismaelite, bearing him great good will for his favour, & forwardness of wit, paid his ransom, made him his servant, and factor in all his merchandise. Not long after his master dieth without issue, his servant Mahomet, matched with his mistress a widow of 50. 
Paul. Diac. rer. Rom. lib. 18.  years of age called Eadigam & (saith Paulus Diaconus) his own kinswoman, so that his master being of great credit & substance & his mistress (afterwards his wife) of no less account & also shortly after departing this life, 
Sabellicus. Enead. 8. lib. 6.  he succeedeth them both in credit & all their substance & by this means grew of great power. Sabellicus doubteth though he were borne in Arabia, whether he were an Arabian or a Persian, he affirmeth that both is received, and that his father was an heathen, & his mother an Ismaelite, and consequently not ignorant in the hebrew tongue, not only this, but I find it reported by ludovicus Carrettus a convert jew that India, Aethiopia, 
Ludovicus Carrett. ad judaeos. lib. divinorum visorum.  the kingdom of Presbyter john, & Arabia hath many Hebrews since the time that king Solomon furnished the Queen of Saba into her country with twelve thousand of all the tribes of Israel, which being dispersed throughout these countries multiplied and increased exceedingly, retaining for remembrance among them, the Standard and Ensign of their several Tribe and family. 
Paulus Diaconus. Rer. Com. lib. 18. Math. Paris. hist. Anglor. in Henric. 3.  Paulus Diaconus and Matthew Paris, deriveth his pedigree lineally from Ishmael, the recital whereof I will omit.  
This Diaconus saith further, that this Mahomet for the space of ten years, gave himself secretly by persuasion to bewitch the people, & other ten years after, together with Rognes' and Vagabonds that repaired unto him with force of Arms, with Sword and shedding of blood, he spent in subduing of Countries. And lastly nine years, he openly and manifestly enjoyed as a deceiver, a false Prophet, and King over those whom he had already infected and conquered throughout Arabia, and the adjoining Regions, his reign began in Arabia, the 15. year of Heraclius, the Emperor, about the year of our Lord 617. the Ismaelites of which line he was, inhabited the wilderness of Madian, feeding of cattle, & lying in Tents. 
Isidor. Etymolog. lib. 14. cap. 3. Sabellic. Enead. 6. lib. 4.  Isidor writeth that the country of the Ismaelites was called Nabathaea, of Nabaioth the son of Ishmael, situate between judaea, and Arabia, & commonly accounted for part of Arabia, of the same opinion is Sabellicus. He had the falling sickness, which took him extremely, so that he groveled along the ground, and foamed piteously at the mouth, his wife being of great honour and substance bewailed her hard hap, in matching with a beggarly Rascal, and a diseased creature, as Diaconus writeth. But he together with his wily companions (of whom I shall have occasion to speak hereafter) having taught a Dove to feed at his ear, wherein he was wont to put grains of Corn) persuaded his wife and others that he was a Prophet, that the spirit of God fell upon him & that the Angel Gabriel, in the form of a Dove came to his ear, and revealed him secrets, whose presence he was not able to abide, therefore he prostrated him self and lay in a Trance, his wife, in a while being therein satisfied, chatted the same among her Gossippes saying: say nothing, my Husband is a Prophet. The women after their manner, whereof some of them all ●anne keep no counsel, blazed abroad that Mahomet was a Prophet. 
Et taliter ex foeminis, fama (saith Diaconus) pervenit ad viros,  
and so by women men came to know thereof.  This once being broached they flocked unto him from all parts of Arabia. He being thoroughly schooled in Satan's subtleties and well seen in Magic observed the present opportunity, saith Aventinus. The Romans, 
Auentin. Annal. lib. 3.  and Persians, warred together, Mahomet, with his Arabians, taking at the first, part with the Romans (for the Emperor had granted him, 
Zonaras. Annal. tom. 3.  saith Zonaras, a Region to inhabit) forsook them, and thereby weakened that side. In a while after he espied the Persians go to wrack, and having despised the Romans, he setteth less by the Persians, and setteth himself forth with might and main together with his Captains, and Lievetenauntes called Amiraei, to subdue Nations, and to destroy the Christians, to the end he might establish that false Religion devised by him and his wicked confederates. He prevailed wonderfully, and in short time after his decease (when as the great Earthquake in Palaestina, 
Paul. Diac.  and the sign 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in heaven foreshowed the success of the Arabians, Et omnes extimuerunt: And all men trembled for fear) in the time of Ebubezer, and Haumar that successively reigned after him in Arabia, the Region of Gaza, the City Bostra, in Arabia, Damascus, Phoenicia, Egypt, Palaestina, the City jerusalem, all Syria, Antioch, Edessa, Mesopotamia, all Persia, (Chosroes the King being driven away to save his life) yea and in manner all Asia, was subdued by the Arabians, in the Reign of the Emperor Heraclius. I may not forget the end of Mahomet. About forty and odd years of his age, and in the year of our Lord jesus 632. 
Volater. lib. Sigebert. Cronic. Elor. histor. Sabellic. Enead 8. lib. 6.  after the supputation of Sigebertus and Sabellicus this false Prophet departed this life after a shameful manner. Matthew of Westmonaster writeth, that this Mahomet in an evening sitting up late in his palace, and having taken his fill of wine wherein one of his companions had poured some poison, felt his wont sickness approaching, made haste forth, saying to them that were present he must needs departed, to confer with the Angel Gabriel, and go aside lest his glorious presence would be an occasion of their death. Forth he went and remembering that a soft place was best for his falling sickness, down he went upon a dunghill, groveling along with great pain, foaming at the mouth, & gnashing with the teeth. And whereas he to please the jews, forbade the eating of swines-flesh, the swine about the dunghill, fell upon him, wounded him sore, and had eaten him up: had not his wife, and others of his house, heard the noise of the Hogs, and rescued the false Prophet. 
Anton. Cropart. 2. tit. 13 cap. 5.  Antoninus reporteth that he was not without sundry diseases, which his intemperate diet brought him to: namely the pleurisy & a kind of lethargy, for oftentimes his senses seemed to be taken away from him. He continued drooping the space of 14. days at length he departed this life, his belly had such a swelling, that it seemed ready to burst, and his little finger bowed backwards. In the time of his sickness he commanded them that were about him, that when breath departed his body they should not strait way bury him, for he said that within three days he would ascend into heaven, but the wicked spirit therein failed him. They kept him with a watch above ground the third & fourth day: 
Flor histor.  yea saith Flores Histor. the space of 30. days, in great hope he would rise, and ascend according to promise but they saw nothing, saving that they felt, an intolerable stench so that in great disdain (saith Antoninus) 
Antoninus.  
Eum long à domibus proijecêrunt,  
They cast him far from any dwelling.  In a while after, his companions such as concealed his falsehood and treachery, remembering themselves, and judging that the disdain of Mahomet would be their discredit, and the fall of his sect their foil, and shame, and the beastly end and death of him their destruction, they fetch him again, 
Sabellic. Enead. 8. lib. 6. Naucler. generat. 22.  they chest him in an Iron Cophin (saith Sabellicus, and Nauclerus) they bring him to the famous temple of Mecha, in which City he was borne, with great solemnitte as if he had never been scared upon the dunghill with swine, they convey to the roof of the temple mighty lodestones, they lift up the Iron Cophin, where the lodestones according to their nature draw to them the Iron, and hold it up & there hangs Mahomet on high. Ludovicus Romanus, 
Ludovic. Roman. Patritius navigat. lib. 1. cap. 12.  describeth at large a certain Tomb below, builded for him as if he lay below. All this while you hear nothing of the moors, the Saracens, & the Turks, but all of Mahomet. Now good people hear their original. The moors called Mauri inhabit Mauritania in Africa, they are (saith Isidor) of the progeny of Cham, 
Isid. Aetym. lib. 14. cap. 5.  whose posterity No accursed, and no marvel cursed people receive the cursed doctrine of Mahomet. 
Sabellic. Enead. 1. lib. 5.  Sabellicus writeth there were some which thought that Mauri was corruptly read for Medi, but I take that a corrupt opinion. These people inhabiting Mauritania in Africa, are because of their hew and colour of the Latins called Nigritae, in our vulgar speech Nigros, and of the Grecians in the same sense for their adust, and black colour called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 moors. These receiving the corruptions of Mahomet, are called Saracens, and why so, I am ready to declare. 
Stephan.  Stephanus thinketh that the people in Asia are called Saracens, of Sarracca, a country in Arabia: This may stand for a bare conjecture and no more. 
Anton. cron part. 2. cap. 5.  But the pride of Mahomet it was, that first found out the name of Saracen, to advance his faith and profession. He knew himself Lineally to have descended of Ishmael, the Son of Agar, the Bondwoman, yet bore he the world in hand that he came of Sara the free-woman the wife of Abraham, and called himself & his followers Saracens. Sabellicus writeth: 
Sabellicus Enead. 8. lib. 6. Volfgang. Drechsler. Cronic.  The Grecians of spite are wont to call the Saracens, Agarens, for that they came not of Sara, but of Agar.  
But Mahomet (saith Drechslerus) Seducing the Arabians and the people of Asia called them Saracens. The like hath Nauclerus: 
Nauclerus Generate. 22.  The Persians having received the Law of Mahomet, at his commandment laid aside their old wont name and were called Saracens. In this sense all Nations who soever that embrace the law of Mahomet are called Saracens. Lastly it remaineth that we speak of the Turks. 
Theodorus Gaza epist. ad francisc. philelph. Strabo. lib. Laonicus Chalcondyl. de reb. Turc. lib. 1. Mathias â Michou de Satmat. Asiatic. lib. 1. cap. 15.  Theodorus Gaza, is of opinion with Strabo, that these whom we call Turks, were of old called Cyrtij, and Curti, a Scythian nation about the mount Caucasus. Laonicus the Athenian, who wrote at large the history of the Turks, allegeth sundry opinions of their original. Some held they had their beginning of the Tartarians, and the reason that lead them thereto is, that they use the same manners and have the same language, for they all (saith Volatteran) speak the Arabike tongue. 
Volater. lib. 12.  Some other think they come of the Parthians. Again, there are that affirm them to be of Caelosyria and Arabia. And others, that they issued forth of Turca a great and a wealthy City of Persia. But all confess that at their first breaking forth they were rude, savage, and fieldish people. 
Andrea's â Lacuna. de Turc. orig. cap. 1.  Solymannus the Tartarian gloried (saith Andreas â Lacuna) that he came of the Trojan blood. Hereby some gather, that whereas the Troyans' were called Teucri, the word might be corrupted, and the posterity called Turci, Turks, The consent of the best historiographers is, that these Turks came from the upper Scythia, being (as it hath been always noted of them) an unquiet nation, living upon the spoil breaking forth in great troops to rob and steal, and seek adventures. So writeth Mathias â Michou of them, 
Mathias â Michou, cap 11.13. Laonicus lib. 1. Otho Frisingensis.  & sundry other Scythian nations. Laonicus saith, that Turca signifieth a Savage and fieldish man: Otho Frisingensis reporteth, that in the year 760. long after the death of Mahomet, there came of them out of Scythia, a great number into Asia and Arabia, & being heathens, they joined with the Saracens in league, and received the Law of Mahomet. After these came others, so that the Saracens by their aid grew to a wonderful power, and the great terror of all Christendom. There reigned from Mahomet the false Prophet, 
Bullinger in Apocalyp. concione. 41  as kings in Arabia, to the number of 25. Amiraei, so are their Princes called: the last Amiras, being the 25. called Mahumet, being king of Persia & Media, in the year 870. conceived displeasure against Imbrael prince of Babylon, a Saracene of his own sect and wickedness, so that he endeavoured to subdue him, and conquer his country. Hear Satan against Satan, Saracene against Saracene, the kingdom divided within itself is ready to come to nought. 
Volater. Geogr. lib. 7  This Mahumet, or (as Volateran writeth) Maugmet, sent to Scythia for aid against Imbrael, but it turned to his own confusion, for he providing sorrow for an other, endured it himself. There came aid from Scythia one Muchulet, with an infinite number of Turks, rude and savage people, ready of themselves to any mischief whatsoever. They are no sooner come, but they vanquished Imbrael of Babylon, and immediately after they set upon him that sent for them, namely Maugmet king of Arabia, Persia, and Media, they conquer his country, and reign in his stead. Thus were the Saracens subdued, and became subject to the Turks of Scythia. In a while after they wanted a governor, they would no Persian or Arabian over them: So that in the year 900. 
Andrea's â Lacuna de orig. Turc. cap. 1.  as (Andreas â Lacuna writeth) one Solymannus a valiant and mighty warrior, chosen by consent of them all, leaving his native soil, broke forth with a great host out of Scythia, invaded Persia, and Asia the less. In the same place again he saith: 
Post Solymannum extinctum duce aliquo insigni diu ipsi Turcae caruerunt.  
After Solyman was dead, the Turks of a long time were without any famous governor.   
johannes Ramus writeth, 
johannes Ramus rer. Turc. lib. 3.  that among these Turks or Scythians there were 4 families, called Asambici, Candelori, Caramini, Othomanni, in the year 1280. which after the wearing out of the ancient houses and nobility, contended among themselves for the principality, and in the civil wars destroyed one another. The last of them, & that which prevailed, was one Othomannus, which in the year 1300. began to bear rule. He was the first Emperor of the Turks, of him lineally unto this day the Emperors of the Turks descend. Thus the kingdom of Mahomet, and reign of the Saracens, these Turks (saith Ramus) having received the Law of Mahomet: 
fatali quadam ambitione de se, Regnum Turcicum appellaverunt.  
By a fatal kind of ambition, called it of themselves the kingdom or empire of the Turks.  So that now the Calipha or Amiras of Babylon, the Sultan of Egypt, the Sophy of Persia, with the Tartarians, and sundry other nations, together with the great Emperor of the Turks (whose seat is at Constantinople) do worship the false Prophet Mahomet. And this great Turk at this day (whom God suffereth to reign for the sins of his people) hath all Afrique (excepting the dominions of Presbyter john) a great part of Asia, and a piece of Europe subject unto him. Thus much of these nations. Now in the second place according unto promise (beloved in our Saviour Christ) of the false doctrine & detestable religion of Mahomet, and these erring nations. We must be wise as serpents, and simple as doves, 
Math. 10.  we must be cunning exchangers, we must be able to discern the spiritual leprosy of Mahomet, 
Leuitic. 13.  we must be skilful in trying of the spirits, 
1. john. 4. judic. 12.  we must learn to know shibboleth from Siboleth (as the Apostle Jude writeth) diiudicantes, putting difference, 
jud. Epist.  we must pray unto God with Solomon, 
3. Reg. 3.  that of his goodness he will give us a wise & an understanding heart to discern between good & bad. This false Prophet Mahomet, having (as some writ) an Heathen to his father, and an Hebrew to his mother, and urged of both sides (as Sabellicus writeth) received nor the one law nor the other thoroughly, 
Sabellic. Enead. 8. lib. 6  but a smack of both. He used the company of Christians, of jews, and Infidels. 
Et ut popularior esset eius lex, ex omnium gentium sectis aliquid assumpsit.  
And to the end his law might be the more favoured, he borrowed somewhat of every sect.  Satan furnished him with three instruments, 
Fascicul. Temporum  as helpers, to bring his mischievous intent about. The first (saith Were nerus Rolevinke) was a jew, a great Astronomer, & a Magician, who opened unto him at large the jewish follies. The second, one john of Antioch. The third, one Sergius a Monk, both abominable heretics. 
Sabel. Enead. 8. lib. 6.  Every one played his part. Sabellicus writeth, that to flatter the Christians, he was baptised of Sergius, and that of these Heretics he learned with the Sabellians to deny the Trinity, with the Manichees to establish two beginnings, with Eunomius to deny the equal power of the father, and the son, with Macedonius to call the holy Ghost a creature, & with the Nicolaites to allow the number of wives, and wandering lust. 
Anton. cron part. 2. tit. 13 cap. 5.  Sergius the Monk (saith Antoninus) persuaded Mahomet in his Alcoran, (so is the book of his law termed) to commend the humility of Christian Monks and priests. He made him deliver the Saracens a monks cowl, which they use unto this day. Also: 
Instarmonachorum multas genu-flexiones:  
Many duckings and crouchings after the manner of Monks,  which is seen in their kind of salutation. Mathias â Michou addeth, 
Mathias â Michou de Sarmat Asiana. lib. 1. lib. 7. Laonicus de reb. Turc lib. 3.  that the sect of Mahomet, use also shaving, and this no doubt was the Monk's doctrine Laonicus the Athenian reporteth that the Turks confess God to be the governor of all things, and that jesus was the Apostle of GOD, begotten by the Angel Gabriel upon Marie the Virgin, which never knew man, and that he was greater or worthier than man. Sabellicus addeth: 
Sabellic. Enead. lib. 6.  they commend the blessed Virgin, they allow the miracles, and approve the Gospel, as far forth as it agreeth with the Alcoran. This is but a shadow of Religion, and a cloak covering a number of blasphemies. In confessing a God, they deny the trinity of persons, in speaking of jesus, they most wickedly with the Arrians deny his Godhead, and that he is the Son of God. Al, that is spoken of the virgin, the miracles, and the Gospel, by those blasphemous Turks, though to seem a praise, yet is it a dispraise, when as the truth is not plainly and absolutely delivered, but maimed & mingled with falsehood. The Apostle S. james saith: 
jacob. 2.  Whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet fail in one point, he is guilty of al. The Saracens jest at the Christians, for affirming that jesus the great friend of God, would suffer coutumely, reproach, and endure death by the hands of the jews, they deny that he suffered, or that he died, but that he ascended into heaven, and that the jews took an other in his stead, 
Naucler. Generate. 22. Anton. cron part. 2. tit. 13 cap. 5.  & executed him (which is an old heresy) so write Nauclerus and Antonimus, with others. Mahomet forgot here to deliver unto his people the testimony of the Prophet Esay, which opened the truth of Christ: 
Esay. 53.  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet did he not open his mouth: he is brought as a sheep to the slaughter, & as a sheep before the shearer is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. It followeth: And who shall declare his age? It passeth man's reach, for he is God from everlasting. Our Saviour testifieth of himself, the willing mind he had to suffer, and to die, that sinners might live. 
john. 6.  The bread which I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. Again: 
john. 11.  I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep, I lay down my life for my sheep. Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. S. Paul yieldeth testimony also to the truth, saying: 
Hebr. 9  He offered up himself without spot to God. When Peter went about to withstand such as came to apprehend him, he forbade him, saying: 
Math. 26.  What thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he will give me more than twelve legions of Angels? how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so? Hear he showeth his yielding and consenting mind. 
Irenaeus lib. 1. cap. 23.25. Epipan. heres. 24.28.  That another suffered in his stead is an old damned heresy which Mahomet revived after the death of Cerinthus, & Basilides. He hath forbidden his followers all pictures & images in their temples, mingling (saith Matthew Paris) some honey with his poison, 
Math. Paris hist. Angl. in Henric. 3. Sabellic. Enead. 8. lib. 6.  that rather to deceive the drinker. He receiveth the old testament correcting therein (so presumptuous is this spirit) certain errors, he alloweth after his manner of three Prophets, Moses, Christ, & Mahomet, whom he calleth Razales. Yet immediately he is found contrary to himself. The Christians pray toward the East, 
jacob. de Vorag. in vita Pelag. legend. 177.  the jews (saith jacobus de Voragine) towards the West, Mahomet commandeth his people to pray toward the south, he might have turned himself for all his religion to the devil towards the north. The christians have sunday for their Sabbath, the jews Saturday, 
Laonic. lib. 3. Volater. lib. 12.  & Mahomet Friday (as Laonicus writeth) to dissent from the Hebrews & Christians (as Volateran writeth) for that he was made king upon that day, 
Anton. cron part. 2. tit. 13. cap. 5. Naucler. Generate. 22.  or (as Antoninus writeth) in the honour of Venus, the Goddess of Arabia, thereby the rather to win that country people, and so it may very well be, for most of his religion standeth upon venery, as I shall deliver unto you anon. He taught Circumcision, although (saith Antoninus) it is not found that he himself was circumcised. He forbade the eating of swine's flesh, blood, & strangled, he commanded washings & purifyings, ad similitudinem judaeorum, after the manner of the jews. He called himself a Prophet, & that he was sent of God to supply the imperfection of all laws, to lace the remiss, & to mitigate the severe law. The jews hearing the name of Moses, the abandoning of pictures, the receiving of the old testament, the using of purifications the doctrine of circumcision & swine's flesh, 
Flor. Hist.  & that he said unto them (as Flores historiarum writeth) he was the promised Messiah, they flocked about him, & 10 of them continued with him to his dying day, 
Paul. Diac. rer. Rom. lib. 18.  (as Paulus Diaconus writeth.) When they had heard his doctrine, & seen the manner of his diet & conversation, they espied that he eat Camels flesh, & thereby perceived he was not the man they looked for. Then they imagined what was to be done, to be driven to forsake him & his religion for altogether, that they judged a disgracing unto them. They kept him company, & fearing lest the Christian religion, by the mean of Sergius, should take much root (after their old manner, showing whose children therein they were) they continually prick him forwards against the Christians. There are six points chief, wherein the jews differ from the Christians. 
Ludovicus Carettus ad judaeos, lib. divinorum visor.  Ludovicus Carettus, a jew converted to the christian faith, shall indifferently report them for both sides, for there-upon he stood, afore he was thoroughly persuaded in the truth. The first is the trinity, which they deny, acknowledging one God, but denying the three persons. The second: the incarnation of the word, which is the divinity of Christ, which they confess not. Thirdly the manner of Christ's coming (as they dream) to destroy kingdoms, 
Esay. 62. Zachar 9  & to reign here upon earth, but he came poor & meek, riding upon an Ass accounted among the wicked, whose sins he bare, 
Math. 21. Esay. 53. john. 18.  for his kingdom was not of this world. The fourth is in the observation of the law of Moses, the ceremonies & traditions of the elders, in the which they are too much & superstitiously addicted. The Christians affirm the law to be fulfilled in Christ, & the ceremonies which were but for a time, to be abrogated, & that there are no more precepts to be kept, then concern the love of God & their neighbour. The fifth consisteth in the salvation of the soul. The jews say, that man is to be saved by good works, & that God will reward every man according unto his works. The manner they mistake: here the Papists show whose children they are. 
Act. 4. Abacuk. 2. Act. 3. Luk. 17.  The Christians confess no salvation, but by jesus Christ, and that the just liveth by faith in him, & that they are taught, when they have done all which they are commanded to say, they are unprofitable servants, & that the virtues & works which God crowneth or rewardeth in them, are not theirs, but his, that gave them, & when he crowneth them, he extolleth his own mercy where by they are saved. The sixth & the last is the time of Christ, the Messiah his coming. The jews allege many prophecies at his coming not to have been fulfilled, the reduction of the exile, the reedifying of the temple, the restoring of Sodom & Samaria into their former state, the whole earth to be filled with his glory, with many other things. The Christians justify them all to be fulfilled, & that the jews understanding all the promises, grossly, earthly, & literally, 
2. Corinth. 3  do therein err, & deceive themselves: For the letter killeth, but the spirit it is that giveth life. 
Naucler. Generate. 22. Sabellic. Enead. 8. lib. 6 Suidas.  Mahomet espied the blindness of this nation, & among other things rebuked them for denying, that jesus was borne of the Virgin Marie, as the prophets had foreshowed. Suidas reporteth an history, which he learned of a jew, that the Pharisees at jerusalem called a counsel to find out the father of jesus. They enjoined certain women to search his mother, the women affirmed they found her a virgin, than was it recorded in the famous register book of the temple, jesus the son of God, and of Mary the Virgin. This condemneth both jew and Saracen, 
Laonic. de reb. Turc. lib. 3.  furthermore this false Prophet joineth with the Rechabits, he forbiddeth the drinking of wine, yet I find that he drank himself drunk therewith, & his people do it by stealth: If they be taken they are set along upon a plank with a gag in their mouth, & a ladle of boiling lead poured therein. 
jeremy. 35 Math. 26. 1. Timoth. 5. Ephes. 5.  After the example of our saviour Christ, the Christians drink wine, but according unto the rule prescribed: wherein there is no excess. It is permitted the Saracens by this law to have four wives, 
jacob. de Vorag. legend. 177. Laonic. de reb. Turc. lib. 3. Anton. cron  though they be of nigh kin (saith jacob) yea five (saith Laonicus) marrying them virgins, & to take beside as many, emptitias & captivas. Of them which they have bought & taken captives, as their ability will serve to maintain contrary to the ordinance of God, there shall be two in one flesh. Volaterran writeth. 
Volater. lib. 12. Genes.  
Voluptates corporis futurae foelicitati minime officere arbitrantur:  
They think that the pleasures of the body hurt not neither hinder at all the felicity of the life to come.  This doctrine is the sink of Sodom, the flesh is the matter, the burning lust is a preamble of the fire falling from heaven, & the justice of God threateneth everlasting fire & torments for such Mahometical Sodomites. They are jealous over their wives, whose faces, when they go abroad are covered, lest these fiery people be therewith inflamed. Mahomet (saith Coelius) had 40. 
Coelius.  wives, & further he gloried of himself, 
Nicol. Clenard. 1. Epist. Anton. cron part. 2. tit. 13 cap. 5.  that it was given him from above to exceed (saith Clenard) 10. men (saith Antoninus) 50. men in carnal lust & venery. another abominable fact he committed, that which a Christian pen is loath to write, and a chaste mouth loath to utter, & modest ears are loath to hear, yet the filthiness of this false Prophet may not be concealed, he committed buggery with an Ass. 
Bonfin. lib. 8 decad. Bernard in Rosar. part. 1. serm 14. Anton. ut supra  Bonfinius writeth it. Again, he committed adultery with another man's wife, which was upon displeasure from her husband, & fearing the murmur of the people, he feigned that he received a paper from heaven, wherein it was permitted him so to do, to the end he might beget prophets & worthy men. And hereupon the foolish law of divorce used this day among the Saracens, is grounded, that a man may put away his wife three times, and so many times receive her again, after that she hath been so many times known by an other man. The Paradise this prophet devised for his people, bewrayeth his lewd disposition. He promiseth them garments of silk, with all sorts of colours, bracelets of gold and Amber, parlours and banqueting houses upon floods and rivers, vessels of gold and silver, Angels serving them, bringing in gold milk, in silver wine, lodgings furnished, cushing, pillows, & down beds, most beautiful women to accompany them, maidens & virgins with twinkling eyes, gardens and orchards with harbours, fountains springs, & all manner of pleasant fruit, rivers of milk, honey, & spiced wine, all manner of sweet odours, perfumes, & fragrant scents, & to be short, 
Anton. Chronic.  
quicquid carnes ad edendum concupiscunt,  
whatsoever the flesh shall desire to eat.  Thus fleshly people have a fleshly religion, 
jacobus de Vorag. legend. 177.  & a fleshly paradise to inhabit. One thing I may not overship which I refer to yourselves either for the strangeness thereof to cast you into a dump or wonder, or else at the folly of the Prophet to move you to a laughter. he saith they shall see in Paradise goodly Angels and these shall have goodly eyes, and one Angel shall have as much space between both his eyes as is in the heavens between sun rising, and sun setting. I have not as yet said any thing of their fasting, the same is continued the space of one month in every year, and precisely kept from morning to night, 
Laonic. Volaterr. Anton. Math. Paris. in Henric. 3. Bernard.  the Stars no sooner appear, but they fall to feasting, they sit up all night, they give themselves to surfeiting, drunkenness, & venery: this is to wash (saith Bernard) Laterem crudam, a green tile, the more water ye pour thereon, the more dirt ye make. To be short (lest these extreme follies, be over tedious unto you) this false Prophet dieth, & such service, ceremonies, and superstition, he enjoined his people, the same they observed, He that succeeded him, commanded Mahomet's Tomb to be adorned, the corpse to be worshipped, his anniversary or yearly remembrance to be solennized, pilgrimage from all places to be made to the temple of Mecha, where he lieth chested, the Saracenicall pilgrims have promise of santitye and righteousness by visiting his: Sepulchre 
Putantes se (saith Laonicus) hinc maxime colligere Religionem,  
Thinking that by this chief they gather Religion.  Many repair thither yearly from Asia, Africa, and Europe, for to worship, and many others staying at home, deliver them money, to offer for them, & therein repose no less holiness. There is provision made for these passengers two famous receptacles which we call Hospitals not far from Mecha, with all manner of Officers and Priests to pray for the founder's Souls: The manner of their worship you shall also hear. The Arabians received and learned of the Indians, to worship the Goddess Venus, Mahomet confirmed the same with a law so that in the honour of Venus, the Saracens, to this day (as I said before) keep friday for their Sabbaoth. As the Indians worshipped Venus naked, so Mahomet commanded the Saracens, men and women yearly to worship in the Temple of Mecha all naked, excepting a brieth or apporne to cover that which nature commanded to be kept in secret, and therein to carry stones to throw about the temple, & to stone the devil. Omitting these heathenish abomination and not forgetting the superstition mentioned a little before. I would have the church of Rome to behold here in the law of Mahomet her founder in superstition, & shameful enormities borrowed either of Mahomet, or of the Heathens his associates. The flocking to Tombs & sepulchres, the worshipping of dead corpses, bones, & relics, the visiting Limina Petri, diriges, anniversaries, or yearly service over the dead, praying for soul's pilgrimages to saints, and shrines of the dead, sending of money in their absence, the opinion of holiness and religion therein, we need not say it is popish, nay it is Turkish and mahometical. And to the end they may be therein, the better persuaded let them, 
Laonic. rer. Turc. lib. 3. Antoninus Cron. part. 2. tit. 13. cap. 5. Cuspinian. Ludovicus Rom. patritius. Navigat. lib. 1. cap. 8. & 13.  peruse Laonicus, Antoninus, & Cuspinianus with others that writ thereof.  
Also as in the year one thousand five hundred and three, one Ludovicus Romanus with a great number of Merchants passing by Mecha, found the experience of mahometical Illusions, for when the Idolatrous Priests of Mahomet understood of the numbered of passengers which harboured not far of (to the end there might be an opinion of holiness conceived of this false Prophet) with certain devices they cast fire into the Aere, & at midnight ran about like mad men, crying: Mahomet the Prophet of God is a rising, O Prophet: O God. Mahomet will rise. Pardon me O God. In like sort of late years, we have been acquainted with feigned miracles, of Romish Idolatry showed at the Tombs of the dead being the feats of Satan: winking, smiling, sweeting, frowning, moving, with other Illusions, yea speaking, and giving of answers. bernard came to a Church of Spire in Germany, whereas he lifted up his eyes to behold the Images of the Church, the Image of our Lady said unto him: Good morrow Bernard, He perceiving (saith the history) Praestigias Demonis, the falsehood of Monks by the instigation of the Devil, made this answer: Paul forbiddeth a woman to speak in the Congregation. 
Ludovic. Rom. lib. 1. cap. 1. & 18. Lib. 2. cap. 6.  The Saracens use invocation of mediators to make intercession for them. They call upon Abraham, and Isaac, They honour Nabi, Bubacar, Othomar, Aumar, Fatoma, the followers of Mahomet with others. They have Herenutes, and solitary men, such as vowed chastity in the service of Mahomet, in whom there is great opinion of holiness, but what is holiness, and chastity, without knowledge of the true God and faith in jesus Christ? all without Christ is to no purpose,  
Now (good people, and believed in our Saviour Christ) as the dear children of God, who is jealous over you & your service, have great regard unto yourselves and the foundation ye build upon: lest your building fall. The wise builder buildeth upon the Rock, jesus Christ, and that is unremovable. Let your faith be fixed in jesus Christ, the true and only Saviour of the world, 
Math. 7.  than hell-gates shall not be able to prevail against you. 
Math. 16.  Mahomet unwisely hath builded upon the sand, his doctrine hath no sure warrant, he hath rejected the true corner stone, that closeth the building, jesus Christ, he hath lewdly mingled together his lome, and mortar of Heathens, jews, and false Christians, his timber warpeth, and shrinketh, being not seasoned with antiquity of the truth, but with the sap of late invention, his walls are but painted papers, a show of religion, his lights are but darkness, wherein his followers stumble, and stumbling they fall, and falling, they plunge in everlasting perdition. There are reasons and arguments to settle our minds, and stay our consciences in the faith of jesus Christ, and to prove that Mahomet's law is no true religion. First Mahomet's law is not warranted, or grounded upon the only true & pure word of God, therefore Mahomet's law is no true religion, he patched together his Alcoron of the laws and doctrines of Heathens, Indians, and Arabians, of superstitious jews, of Rechabits, of false Christians and Heretics, as Nestorians, Sabellians, Manichees, Arrians, Cerinthians, Macedonians, Eunomians, and Nicolaits, of illusions, and inventions of his own brain: and lastly for further credit he borrowed some out of the old and new Testament. God will not be thus served, he delivered his mind of old unto Israel in this sort: and he continueth the same God still: 
Deut. 12.  Ye shall not do every man what seemeth him good in his own eyes. Whatsoever I command you take heed ye do it, thou shalt put nothing thereto, nor take aught therefrom. 
Deut. 22.  Again: Thou shalt not plough with an Ox and an Ass together, thou shalt not sow thy Vineyard with divers kinds of seeds, thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen, and linen together. We have commandment not so eat the pascal Lamb, boiled or sodden in water: 
Exod. 12.  Christ jesus is our pascal Lamb, the water is man's traditions wherewith he may not be mingled, 
1. Corinth. 5  we may not 
Math. 6. Eccle. 13.  serve God and Mammon. What fellowship (saith sirach) hath Hyena with a dog. 
2. Corinth. 6  saint Paul adviseth the Corinthians: Be not unequally yoked with the Infidels By reason he showeth this may not be: For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath the believer with the Infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with Idols? for ye are the temple of the living God. Our Saviour rebuketh the Scribes and Pharisees for transgressing the commandments of God, 
Math. 15.  by mean of their traditions, he pronounceth their worship vain, in teaching the doctrines & precepts of men, the judicial sentence he giveth thereof is this: Every plant (that is all manner of doctrine) which my heavenly father hath not planted shallbe rooted up. Secondly the religion of Mahomet consisteth in fleshly & natural delights in corporal pleasures, therefore the law of Mahomet is a most wicked & false religion, the heathen Philosophers by the rule of natural reason have found this an absurd opinion. 
Auicenna Metaphysic.  Auicenna one of Mahomet's own sect hath misliked with this, saying, The law which our Mahomet hath given us showeth the perfection of felicity to consist in those things which concern the body but there is an other promise which is comprehended only by understanding, and therefore the wise and sages of old had a greater desire to express the felicity of the soul then of the body, the which bodily felicity though it were granted them, yet they regarded not, neither esteemed it in comparison of the felicity which is coupled with the principal verity: His lose doctrine of marriages, his abuse of fasting, and his description of Paradise (spoken of before) deliver unto us that there is herein small difference between Epicurism, Atheism, & Mahometisme, 
Luke. 16.  The glutton in the gospel that was clothed in purple & fine white and fared deliciously every day, showeth unto us how God favoureth & accepteth of such people. 
Rom. 14.  The kingdom of God (saith the Apostle) Is not meat, nor drink but righteousness and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, for whosoever in these things serveth Christ (herein the true felicity consisteth) is acceptable unto God, and approved of men. 
Math. 4.  Satan the schoolmaster of Mahomet showed a gluttonous disposition when he would have had the stones to be made bread. His disciple must content himself with the answer made unto the master: 
Deutr. 8.  Man liveth not by bread only but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord. Our saviour saith: 
joh. 4.  the true worshippers shall worship the father (not in corporal delights & pleasures) In spirit & truth, (this is the manner) For the father requireth even such to worship him. Again an argument reduced of the nature of God God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit & truth. And that I may deliver the whole unto you in few words, perfect felicity consisteth in knowing of God, in believing in God, in loving of God, and enjoying of God, warranted by the words of our Saviour. 
john. 17.  This is life everlasting that they know thee to be the only very God and whom thou hast sent jesus Christ. Thirdly the law of Mahomet was established through wiles, deceit, subtlety, & lies, therefore the law of Mahomet is a most wicked religion. First he having the falling sickness persuaded his wife & others that it was the power of God & the presence of the Angel Gabriel that fell him. Sergius the heretical Monk was at hand & bare false witness to the same, saith Zonaras. 
joh. Zonar. Annal. tom. 3.  He told them that the tame Dove which he taught to feed at his ear was sometime an Angel, & sometime the holy ghost. He had three lewd companions to devise & face out lies with him. When he perceived the men gave ear unto him, he framed that the Angel Gabriel had carried him to jerusalem, and thence to have lifted him up to heaven, & there to have learned the secrets of his law. 
Anton. cron. part. 2. tit. 13. cap. 5.  He made the Saracens believe (saith Antoninus) that before God made the world there was written in the throne of God: there is no god but the god of Mahomet. when he had framed his Alcoran & bound it up fair he caused secretly a wild Ass to be taken & the book to be bound about his neck, & as he preached unto the people, upon a sudden he stood amazed as if some great secretie were revealed unto him from above. He broke out & told the people: Behold god hath sent you a law from heaven, go to such a desert there ye shall find an Ass, & a book tied about his neck. The people ran in great hast they found it so as he had said. They take the Ass, they bring the book, they honour the prophet. Touching divorced, 
Auierus lib. 2. cap. 12. joh. Leo. lib. 3. cap. 23. Aphric.  & separated wives, he told the Saracens he had received a paper from heaven. He used soothsaying & divination the which at Fessa, a City of Mauritama unto this day is called Zarragia. 
Bernard in. Rosar. part. 1. serm. 14  He persuaded his followers that at the end of the world he should be transformed into the form of a mighty Ram full of locks & long fleeces of wool. And that all that held of his Law should be as fleas shrooding themselves in his fleeces, and that he would jump into heaven and so convey them all thither. These and such like were his sleights and untruths without warrauntize of God's word, without reason and probable show of truth. 
Fascicul. temporum.  Satan being conjured to deliver the truth of the Alcoran of Mahomet said, that therein were comprised twelve thousand lies, and the rest was truth, by all likelihood very little: 
Deutr. 18.  In the like respect God threateneth Israel, saying: The Prophet that shall presume to speak, a word many name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that speaketh in the name of other Gods, even the same Prophet shall die. And if thou think in thine heart: how shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a Prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the Prophet hath spoken it presumptuously. If we apply this rightly unto Mahomet we shall not find any one thing in verity and truth the which he spoke that came to pass but whatsoever he wrought was through wiles, fraud, and subtlety, let his prophecy of his ascension after his death be a precedent for all which was not performed. Fourthly the law of Mahomet was thrust in by secular power & force of arms, by battles & bloodshed, therefore the law of Mahomet is a most wicked religion, Paulus Diaconus writeth that he spent ten years in Arms subduing to his reign, 
Paul. Diac. rer. Rom. lib. 18.  & compelling to his religion, thereof writeth Matthew Paris in this sort: 
Math. Paris histor. Angl. Henric. 3.  The law of the Saracens (the devil inditing the same by the ministry of Sergius the Monk & heretic) Mahomet wrote in the Arabike tongue, & taught them. 
A gladio cepit, per gladium tenetur, & in gladio terminatur:  
It began of the sword, it is held by the sword, & it is finished or ended in the sword.  
Idem.  Mahomet's own words unto the Saracens are these 
Non sum cum miraculis aut indicijs ad vos missus sed in gladio rebelles puniturus etc.  
I am not sent unto you with miracles & signs, but with the sword to punish such as resist me. If any therefore receive not my prophecy & precept, & will not willingly enter into this our faith, if he be under our jurisdiction he shall die or be compelled to pay tribute the price of his incredulity & so live. They that are not of this faith & dwell in other countries I charge & command that open wars be proclaimed & armour taken against them until they be constrained to turn unto the faith. They that will not consent unto our doctrine shall die the death, their wives and children shallbe committed to perpetual slavery to our Galleys.  The Scythians from whence these Turks came, are an impatient kind of people. 
Naucler. generat. 22.  When they warred under Heraclius the Emperor against the king of Persia they were too too earnest for their pay. The Clerk of the band, in their greediness called them doogs, thereof rose a mutiny, they made their moan unto the better sort of their country, they forsook their Emperor. This was their first fall from Christian kings & Emperors whereof there ensued great mischief. 
Fulgos. Egnat. sabel.  This furious & cruel disposition an other of the same name with this false prophet, an Emperor of the Turks showed at Constantinople. Missing an apple upon a certain tree in his Orchard, he gave commandment that the bowels of three pages that were about him should be ripped that it might be known which of them had eaten it. The time at this present will not serve to show the infinite streams of Christian and Innocent blood these enemies of God most cruelly shed. There cometh to my remembrance among other histories their doings in Poland, 
john Herburt. hist. Polon. lib. 7. cap. 4.  where at one battle they slew of Christians as many, as their single ears did fill nine great sacks. These people are wild, savage, and cruel, Mahomet made them a law accordingly, saying: 
Paul. Diac. rer Rom. lib. 18.  He that slayeth his enemy, or is slain of his enemy. let him enter and possess paradise. This is contrary to God's word, in the old and new testament, this is contrary to the rule of charity, which slayeth not, but forgiveth the enemy. The Paradise of Mahomet must then be the bottomless pit of Hell. Of the contrary, the true word of God, 
1. Corinth. 2  and the Gospel of jesus Christ was not planted neither by force of arms, neither by eloquence of words, neither by enticing speech of man's wisdom, but by the work of the blessed spirit and power of God. S. Paul putteth the Corinthians in remembrance thereof, saying: 
1. Cor. 1.  Brethren, you see your calling, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise, & God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty things. And vile things of the world, and things which are despised hath God chosen, and things which are not to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should rejoice in his presence. It might seem very strange, that 12. men, the servants of any king or emperor, being abject persons, without weapon or armour, should subdue unto themselves from the king or emperor, the whole dominion. It might seem very strange, that a few unlearned & unlettered men should confound & put to silence all subtle Logicians, all sage philosophers, all skilful Astronomers, & profound Divines. It might seem very strange, that a few men naked & friendless, should conquer the whole world. The 12 Apostles are sent forth to preach according unto the institution of our saviour) & commanded they shall possess neither gold nor silver, 
Math. 10.  nor money in their purses, nor a scrip for their journey, nor two coats, nor shoes nor a staff, being simple men, unlearned, & of one language, yet have they confounded the wise, confuted the learned, converted all languages, & conquered the whole world unto their master Christ. This is it which Chrysostom calleth: 
Chrysost. in 1. cap. Act. apost. hom. 1  
Maximun miraculum, the greatest miracle: orbem terrarum absque miraculis, à duodecim pauperibus & illiteratis hominibus attractum.  
That the whole world should be carried away without miracles (alone) by 12. poor & unlearned men.  They woar no armour, 
Math. 10.  they proclaim no wars, they were authors of no sedition, our saviour bequeathed unto them peace, they preached peace when they came to city or house, their salutation was, peace be in this house, & the spirit of peace was resiant among them. They compelled no man, as Mahomet & his disciples did. Tertullian writeth: 
Tertul. ad scapulam.  Sed nec religionis est cogere religionem, quae sponte suscipi debeat, non vi: cum & hostiae ab animo lubenti expostulentur. But it is not the nature of religion to contrain religion, which ought to be received willingly, not by compulsion, when as sacrifices are required of a willing mind. Lactantius hath the like, 
Lactant. institut. lib. 5. cap. 20.  reasoning with the infidels that compelled the christians to sacrifice. 
Non opus est vi & iniuria, quia religio cogi non potest.  
Ye need not use force & violence, for religion may not be constrained.  He showeth the practice of the Christians, and the reason thereof.  

Nemo à nobis retinetur invitus, inutilis est enim Deo qui fide ac devotione caret.  
We hold no man against his will, for he is unprofitable to God that wanteth faith and devotion.  This compulsion is to be understood of Christian toward Heathen, or Heathen towards Christian, but when as any receive the Christian faith, vow their service unto the only true GOD, matriculate their names in the congregation of the faithful, and afterwards decline, giving themselves unto carnality, raising of schism, broaching of heresies, and falsehood, the whip of Christ must be taken in hand to purge the house of God, the ●●●●e of discipline and correction must be used the magistrate must draw the sword, and execute justice according unto the laws of God, & Christian Princes, established and decreed for the advancing of piety, and rooting out of sin, 
August. ad Bonifac. Epist. 50.  and all iniquity. Augustine discourseth hereof at large, and showeth how heretics and schismatics by imperial laws and constitutions, are forcibly to be reform. Of old the Christians gave alms and relief unto the poor of themselves (charity dieth) they are now taxed and seized: of old Christian devotion moved men to fast (devotion dieth) they have now days & times assigned them: of old they repaired to the Church of great zeal, (zeal dieth) they are now enjoined by penal Laws: of old being mindful of Christ's death, they frequented sundry times to the lords Table (forgetfulness is come in place) they are now called upon, certain times in the year: of old Christ was sincerely & faithfully served, his word purely taught, Christian Princes dutifully obeyed (the fear of God was before their eyes) but now a days there is corruption crept in, papism, idolatry, treason & conspiracy, practised by false Christians. They fall within compass of the Laws, they have justice showed them, they are severely punished & chastised, this is no persecution, this is no compulsion to the faith, but correction for falling from the faith, this is the rule of godliness, which Mahomet observed not. Fifthly, the law of Mahomet is not witnessed and confirmed by signs wonders, and miracles, therefore the Law of Mahomet is a must false religion. He said unto the Saracens of himself: 
Math. Paris hist. Angl. in Henric. 3.  
Non sum cum miraculis aut indiciis ad vos missus.  
I am not sent unto you with miracles and signs.  There was no divine power showed in all his practice. This Law was not revealed unto himself, he confessed himself to be altogether unlearned, he had three helpers, as I said before, he called himself a prophet, when as the Law and prophet's end in john the baptist. And after him we are to look for no more Prophets, The prophets of old arrogated not any such name or title unto themselves, but by long tract of time, their holiness of life, the wonders they wrought, and the truth of God's word which they delivered, declared them to be no less. As for this false prophet, his beastliness of life, his want of testimony from above, his untruths and absurdities, deliver his doctrine to be most damnable. 
Exod. 19.20. Deutr.  The law of God which Moses received, was delivered after a most wonderful manner. God stood upon mount Sinai, there was fire, there was thunder, there was lightening, there was darkness, there was the sound of the trumpetes heard, the voice of the Lord was mighty, the foundations of the earth shook, the mountain smoked, and the people trembled. The prophets and servants of God successively in the times and ages following, confirmed their message and embasies with strange signs & tokens. The birth of our Saviour Christ, the preaching of the Gospel, the sealing up of the same with his blood after most strange & marvelous sights, declared him to be the only true Messiah, & saviour of the world, authorised his doctrine, & confirmed the faith of the Christians. A virgin to bring forth, Angels singing glory, shepherds running to search a strange star appearing, wisemen coming from far, the heavens opening, the holy ghost descending, the father sounding, this is my Son, john the baptist pointing with the finger, Behold the lamb of God: The blind, the deaf, the dumb, the lame, the sick, all cured, & the dead raised to life. These deliver unto us the power of the most high and mighty God. Again at his passion, palpable darkness, the vail of the temple renting, the earth shaking, the rocks cleaving, the graves opening, the dead rising, and yielding testimony to the living of the truth in Christ. Last of all, his rising from the dead, his instructing of the Apostles, his visible Ascension into the Heavens, and his sending of the holy Ghost according unto promise, persuadeth sufficiently in all respects, that his doctrine is the most sacred truth of the only true and everlasting God. Sixtly and lastly, the Law of Mahomet is a confused kind of doctrine, patched together of contraries, dissenting and varying within itself, therefore the Law of Mahomet is a most wicked Religion. Sergius the Monk, john of Antioch, and the superstitious jew, patched together, according unto their variing minds, diverse doctrine, but in this they agreed, in setting down lies and falsehood. 
Anton. cron part. 2. tit. 13 cap. 5.  After the death of Mahomet (saith Antoninus) the disciples of this false Prophet could not agree in the reading, 
Ludovic. Rom. Patritius. navigat. lib. 1. cap. 12.  pointing understanding and expounding of the Alcoran. Some added, some diminished some maimed, and some corrupted the Law. The jews put in what pleased them best, the Heretics urged their opinions, the Heathens also pleaded for themselves, so that the Alcoran was despised, and of no reputation, and worthily. In process of time, after great dissension, one Elehege being chosen to rain over them, commanded all copies should be brought unto him, of them all he made one book, which is the Alcoran, that they have at this day, and the rest he caused to be burned to ashes. There are yet three things to be considered in this false Religion, which I will briefly run over. First, what was the occasion of the beginning thereof? Dissension among Princes, and division among those that called themselves Christians. Satan espied it, and put forth his Servant Mahomet to work mischief. Heraclius the Emperor, and Chosdroes' King of Persia, were at deadly enmity, warring one against the other. The Scythian Nation fell from them both, and found Mahomet to their ringeleader. Again, the Church of GOD was then lamentably divided. Peter Archbishop of Constantinople, fell into a detestable heresy, sucked out of the school of Valentinus, Martion, & Manes the Heretics. jacobus Syrus (of him have the jacobits in the East their name) took part with Severus: he held that Christ neither died, neither suffered, but an other for him, which opinion Mahomet followed. So that the Church was troubled with Nestorians jacobites, Monothelits, and the Monks of benedict's order, which then began to swarm like locusts upon the earth. Not only this, but also the Church of Rome began to lift up herself in pride & abomination, the Pope calling himself universal Bishop. God was highly displeased with this wickedness, and suffered Mahomet to rise as a rod or scourge to whip his people. We are now to pray that GOD at length will be reconciled with his people, and that he will cast the rod into the fire. The second thing we have to consider, is why this false religion of Mahomet is so universally received: carnality and fleshliness is the cause. It entreateth of venery, fleshly delights, and temporal pleasures, therefore it is become plausible to many. 
Flor. Histor.  Matthew of Westmonaster writeth: 
unde credo quod si hody viveret, multos inveniret discipulos.  
Whereupon I believe if Mahomet lived at this day he should find many Disciples.  
Mathias â Michou de Sarmat. Asian. lib. 1. cap. 5.  In the year 1246 Innocentius 4. sent to great Cham the Emperor of the Tartarians, persuading him to receive the Christian faith, to leave shedding of Innocent blood, and to serve GOD in Spirit and truth.  
At that time also came the Ambassadors of the Saracens, pleading and urging him to the Law of Mahomet, alleging that it was easier, more tolerable, full of pleasures, and more fit for Warriors, than the Christian faith. I'm liked of the conditions, he was carnally given, & embraced Mahomet unto this day. Thirdly and lastly, why is the Religion of Mahomet continued, being known to be wicked, 
Anton. cron part. 2. tit. 13. cap. 5.  carnal, and fleshly? Mahomet made it death to dispute thereof. If any speak against me (saith he) 
proditoriè occidatur,  
Let him be traitorously put to death,  Again: 
Sine audientia occidatur,  
let him be put to death without coming to his answer.  
Sabellic. Enead. 8. lib. 6  
Qua sanctione (saith Sabellicus) palam fecit, nihil sinceri in ea lege esse, etc.  
By which decree he made manifest, that there is nothing sound in that Law, the which he covered as an hid mystery, and forbade to be reasoned of, that the vulgar sort should not know what was decreed or established.  I am now coming to that which I have lastly promised to deliver unto you, to wit: that which concerneth ourselves the way to please GOD, and mean to win those that are without: 
Math. 5.  When as our light so shineth before men, that they seeing our good works, may glorify our Father which is in heaven.  
And I will be the shorter herein, for that I doubt not but you have been here tofore by me out of this place often exhorted thereto. I fear me (béloved in our Saviour Christ) lest that I have been over tedious in the premises, I have the longer waded therein, not having at othertimes the like occasion offered me to discourse of the like matter. Christian lights, Christian fruits, & holy conversation, hath now moved this Saracen to serve the true God in the faith of jesus Christ. He is about 40. years of age (as he saith himself) born at Nigropontus, of old called Chalcides, a City of great fame in the Isle Euboea, & belonging sometime unto the Dukedom of Venice, but taken and subdued by the Turk, through the treason of one Thomas Liburne, master Gunner of Nigropontus, in the year 1471. This Turk was taken captive by the Spaniard, where he continued in great misery the space of 25. years, whom the most worthy knight S. Francis Drake found at Carthaginia. God showed great mercy unto this poor Turk, in calling him home (with the prodigal child in the Gospel) by misery, slavery, and captivity, & in sending him a deliverer, not only for the present sorrows and misery, but to his endless joy & solace in Christ jesus, blessed be his name therefore.  
This Saracen being reasoned withal, what should move him at this present to receive the Christian faith: made answer, that experience of the wicked world, at Nigropontus his native country, his misery and captivity under the Spaniards, his travail hither, and the view of this land, had beaten into him (as he said) the knowledge of the true God. And further he faide, that if there were not a God in England, there was none no where. Two things (he did confess) moved him to the Christian faith. The one before his coming to England, the other at his arrival. Before his coming, the virtue, the modesty, the godliness, the good usage, & discrete government of the English Christians, & among others (as he chief noted) he was most beholden unto the Right worshipful knight S. Francis Drake, and the worhty captain W. Haukins, terming them most worthy Christians. After his arrival, he saw courtesy, gentleness, friendly salutations of the people, succour for him & his countrymen, pity & compassion of the English men, & withal he learned that the poor, the aged, the impotent, the sick & diseased Christians were provided for, whereas in his country, & where he had been in captivity, the poor, & sick, & diseased were scorned, despised, & accounted of as dogs. These things moved this silly Saracene to the Christian faith, and thereupon it is that I have chosen for my text, the words of our Saviour tending to the same purpose. 
Math. 5.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. He was demanded why for the space of 25. years, being the time of his captivity in Spain, he received not the Christian faith. His answer was: that he had been by a Friar solicited thereto, & that he heard no more of him but the name of Christ, without instruction, or opening to his comfort any point of the faith (as he hath been here comfortably instructed.) And again, that there were two things which he utterly misliked in the Spaniard (which dissuaded him from the faith) his cruelty in shedding of blood, and his Idolatry in worshipping of Images. He that will have a view of the cruelty of the Spaniard, let him read The Spanish Colony, written in the Castilian tongue by a Friar, afterwards Bishop, one Bartholomew de la Casas, and lately tranlated into english. As for his idolatry, I refer the shame thereof to the founder, the Antichrist of Rome. I am not odiously to note any Christian nation more than other, with any particular vice. If there rise any jar between man & wife, let son & daughter look that they make it not worse: if discord hap between master & mistress, the servants may not blow the fire of hatred: if unkindness grow between Christian kings and Princes (as at this day between England & Spain) It is not the part of subjects to aggravat the displeasure but in all dutifulness to obey their own princes, & pray unto God to establish peace among them we see what the Saracen commendeth, and moveth him to glorify the God of the Christians, and what he discommendeth, and dissuadeth him from the faith. Mahomet himself confessed (as it is alleged) and therein highly commended the christian faith: 
Math. Paris histor. Angl. in Henric. 3  That jesus was borne of the Virgin Mary, that he lived without sin among men, that he was a Prophet & more than a Prophet, and that he ascended into the heavens. Moreover what time the sage and learned among them came to jerusalem, and required the Gospel, and new Testament to be showed them they kissed the book, and had the purity & cleanness of the doctrine which Christ had taught, in admiration, and specially the Gospel after Luke: The Angel Gabriel was sent &c. the which the learned sort of them do read, and often report. The Nigros in the kingdom of Senega, 
Aloys. Cadamust. Navigat. cap. 16  being of the faith of Mahomet (saith Aloysius Cadamustus) are not malicious neither stubbornly bend against the Christians: They are delighted with the behaviour of the Christians, and they gather our faith and religion to be the holier and the better in that we are wealthier and richer than they are, drawing their reason from temporal to eternal things, they add further that we are highly beloved of our God, and they are so persuaded for that our God giveth his people such great riches, & beatifieth them with so many ornaments and gifts of body and mind and that such a law cannot possibly be but of a good law maker. 
Cap. 25.  The king of Senega was in manner thoroughly persuaded to renounce the law of Mahomet but he feared his Nobility, and the loss of his Crown. A nephew of the kings earnestly entreated Cadamustus to deliver there the word of God, 
Mathias â Michou de Sarmat Asian lib. 1. cap. 5. Musda Fa. Beg. ad Elizabeth. Angl. Reg.  so was he in love with the purity thereof. I'm the Emperor of the Tartarians confesseth jesus to be the power and spirit of the great God. Musda fa Beg, secretary to the great. Turk of Constantinople that now is writing to the Queen of England as appeareth by his letters bearing date the 15. of March, and in the year of great jesus (so he writeth) 1579. showeth the great affection his master the Turk together with himself beareth to this land and of our religion as it is interpreted he saith thus: We know that your sovereign Majesty among all the Christians have the most sound religion, and therefore the Christians throughout the world envy your highness, whom if they could, they would hurt. We hear what the enemy reporteth of our God, of jesus our Saviour, and the word of God which we profess, Satan is driven maugre of his beard, to confess the truth, the majesty of our God is so great that the celestial terrestrial and infernal powers vow thereto, the light, and shine of this godhead, is so clear, that Satan with his mist and darkness can not overshadow it, the word of God is so clean and pure that the very enemy can not stain it. What shall we say of the Professors of the same? we know what is required at our hands, & it is often repeated in holy Scripture: be you holy for I am holy saith the Lord, learn of me saith our Saviour, Again: Let your light shine etc. 
1. Peter. 2.  Peter writeth: show forth the virtues of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Paul exhorteth: 
Coloss. 4.  walk wisely toward them that are without, Again we are counseled to be quiet meddling with our own business, working and getting our living with our own hands to what end? 
1. Thess. 4.  That ye may behave yourselves honestly toward them that are without. He also that will be Pastor and governor over the people, must warily walk lest the enemy note any bleamish in him. Therefore the Apostle writeth: 
1. Timoth. 3  He must be well reported of, even of them that are without. So that neither jew, nor gentile, Turk, nor Saracen, neither Heretic or false Christian whatsoever, may justly charge the Christian faith with the life of the professor. 
Philip. 2.  Saint Paul, exhorteth the Philippians: Do all things without murmuring and reasoning, that ye may be blameless, & pure, and the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a naughty, and crooked Nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. This kind of Christian conversation shall bring four notable things to pass. First the Heathens, Turks, and Saracens, seeing this holiness of life, will fall to a great wonder, & admiration, thereof writeth Peter: 
1. Peter. 4.  It is sufficient for us that we have spent the time passed of the life after the lust of the gentiles, in wantonness, lusts, drunkenness, in gluttony, drinkings, & abominable Idolatries wherein it seemeth to them strange that ye run not with them unto the same excess of Riot. Secondly we shall stop the mouths of slanderous people, as it is written: 
1. Peter. 2.  For so is the will of God that by well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. A little before: Have your conversation honest among the gentiles that they which speak evil of you as of evil doers may by your good works which they shall see glorify God in the day of the visitation Thirdly we shall win them that are without as by example this silly Saracen which walked of a long time without knowledge of the true God without the light of the glorious Gospel of jesus Christ, the only saviour of the world, and now having beheld the shine thereof most willingly embraceth the same, blessed be God for it. Saint Peter exhorteth the wives to obedience, his reason is to great purpose: That even they which obey not the word, 
1. Peter. 3.  may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives. Fourthly God the giver of all goodness who with his holy spirit guideth man into all felicity and godliness is thereby blessed and glorified. This end our Saviour pointed us to behold when he enjoined us saying: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven. 
Ephes. 2.  For we are the workmanship of God (saith Saint Paul) created in Christ jesus unto good works (as I said before) which God hath ordained that we should walk in them: But more is the pity there are birds which defile their own nests, there are lose Christians, Gospelers in word, but Atheists in deed. 
Quali pudore suffunditur ecclesia:  
what a shame is this to the Church. (Saith Cyprian)  there is pride, ambition, covetousness, 
Cyprian.  dissension, debate, simony, usury, oppression, cruelty, bloodshedding, schism, heresy, & idolatry, crept in among Christians. The enemy standeth without, pointing at the Christians with the finger, 
Froissart. Cron. 2. vol. cap. 40.  & laughing them to scorn. Froissart writeth of the Turks, & Tartarians in the time of Clement, 7. & Vrban. 6 saying: They do mock the Popes whereof one is at Rome, & an other at avignon, they say that the two Gods of Christendom warreth each against other, whereby they affirm our law to be the more feeble and the lighter to be destroyed & condemned, they lay thereto a reason: in that they that should exalt the Christian faith are the first that minisheth it & destroy it. The Earl of Nevers son to the Duke of Burgoine, coming from Turkey delivered unto the french king, & the Lords of France this news from Lamorabaqui the Turk: 
Cap. 25.  his intent is to see Rome, & to make his horse eat oats upon Saint Peter's altar, also he said how our christian faith was nothing worth but corrupted by the heads that ought to govern them, whereat the Turks made but a mock, wherefore he said it should be the destruction of Christendom. It made France amazed, and some of the Nobility than broke out and said of the Popes: It was time to abate their pomps & to bring them to reason. In the time of Henry the 3. the christians had given the Turks a great foil. The Turk offered peace with most favourable conditions, & saith Matthew Paris. 
Math. Paris. histor. Angl. in Henric. 3.  It was then said and affirmed for truth that the sultan with his Nobility was fully determined to renounce the Law of Mahomet, which is known to be most filthy, and faithfully to cleave to the christian faith which appeareth most honest so that they might quietly enjoy their lands and possessions. The Pope by his Legate most arrogantly refused it. Being denied, the Turk gathereth a great power, and saith: 
Nunc demum spero quod pro superbia eorum confundet Christianos, Dominus ac Deus eorum jesus Christus amator modestiae & humilitatis.  
Now at length I am in good hope that for their pride their Lord and God jesus Christ will confound the Christians, for he is the lover of modesty and humility.  The Turk prevailed, the Christians went to wrack. Fridericus the Emperor wrote to Henry 3. bitter letters against the pride, ambition, cruelty, exaction, usury, with many other enormities of the Church of Rome, calling the same, the root and fountain of all mischief, the Popes, Insatiabiles sanguisugas, Insatiable blood suckers, concluding they are to be known by their fruits, 
Mathias A. Michou de Sarmat. Asian. Lib. 1. cap. 5.  I'm the Emperor of Tartary would not receive the Christian faith offered unto him by Innocentius 4, for that the Ambassadors of the Turk alleged the same to be: 
Religionem otiosorum imbecillium, & Idolatrarum, imagines colentium:  
The religion of idle persons, of faint, and weak people, and of Idolaters, worshipping of Images.  This is the credit these Images have brought into the Church, this was a stumbling block in the way of this Saracen that he would not be baptised in Spain. Fie upon Idolatry, filth, and abomination. Let the Church of God be swept, then will the Heathens, the jews, the Turks & Saracens the sooner come in. About the year 1237. the Greeke-church fell from the church of Rome upon such an occasion. A certain Archbishop orderly elected in Greece came to Rome to be confirmed, he could not be dispatched afore he had paid a certain sum of money, the which he refused to do, at his return he made report unto the Grecians of the abuses of Rome. The two Churches jarred the space of 300. years until the late council of basil, where there was but a colourable reconciliation. Germanus Archbishop of Constantinople telleth Gregorius 9 the cause of their departure, in this sort: 
Math Paris in Henric. 3.  That, great discord, contrariety of doctrine, overthrow of Canons, alteration of rites which the fathers delivered are causes of this partition which separateth those things which at first were united and joined with the conjunction of peace and concord, let the whole world being made one language confess etc. A little after: And that we may touch the marrow of the truth: Many mighty and noble parsonages would obey you unless they feared your unjust oppressions, your insolent exactions of riches, your unlawful servitude, the which you extort of them that are subject unto you. Here hence are crueel battles one against the other, desolation of Cities, sealing up of Church-dores, schism of the brethren, the priestly function ceasing, and a stay that God according unto our duty be not praised under the Climate of the Grecians. He writeth the like unto the Cardinals, & concludeth that the Aethiopians, Syrians, Hyberians, Lazians, Alanians, Goths, Chazarians, all Russia, & Bulgary, hold with the Greeke-church, and because of the aforesaid enormities, have did Rome farewell. The Archbishop of Antioch about the same time calling unto him a great number of Bishops of Greece excommunicated the Pope, and the clergy of Rome. The Patriarch of Constantinople complained at the council of Lions to Innocentius 4. face, what a great number of Churches there were in Greece that rejected the Church of Rome for the abominations thereof. Papa tacuit: The Pope said not a word. He might be justly ashamed, who glorying in the keys locketh up all, shutteth out such as would come and receive the christian faith, but he will neither enter, neither suffer others by reason of the shameful sins and wickedness there reigning. If either Heathen, or jew, or Saracen, speak of the christian faith, immediately he hath Rome in his mouth. Rome cannot be excused. And for that they know not the purity of religion in the reformed Churches being corners, & pingles of Christendom, with open mouth they revile, and speak ill of all, to the great dishonour of God, and hindrance of the preaching of the Gospel. There are many nations no doubt that if the truth were opened unto them they would most willingly receive the christian faith, many hungering & thirsting after the knowledge of the true God. In Turkey they may not call into question the incertainty of Mahomet's law it is death: under the dominion of the Pope, they may not profess what they know for truth. much like them of whom Augustine speaketh, 
August. epist. 50.  that being among the schismatics, and heretics, they durst not confess the Catholic faith, lest they and their houses should be destroyed: Many do hear and see yet are they stopped with stains, misliking the water for the puddle of Rome: O what blessings hath God poured upon England? blessed be his name therefore. We may say, as it is in the Gospel: Many Prophets, 
Luke. 10.  and Kings have desired see those things which England hath seen, and have not seen them. It is to be feared lest the unthankfulness of the people, the recklessness in God's service, 
Apocalyp. 2  and the want of Christian lights and works will cause God to remove the candlestick out of his place, and the light of the Gospel from among us, and deliver it to such a nation (according unto the parable in the Gospel) as will bring forth fruits accordingly. 
Math. 21.  God of his infinite goodness show mercy unto his Church, continue the Gospel, purge all blemishes, open the eyes of all Infidels, jews, Turks, and Saracens, bring into the fold all lost and wandering sheep, make of all nations one sheepfold, under the head shepherd and Bishop of our souls jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost, be all honour and glory now and for ever. Amen  
FINIS.   

¶ After the Sermon ended, the Turk confessed in the Spanish tongue before the face of the congregation, the Preacher out of Pulpit propounding the questions and receiving the answers by skilful Interpreters, in sum as followeth.  
INprimis, that he was very sorry for the sinful life which he had lead in times past, in ignorance and blindness, and hoped to obtain pardon in jesus Christ.  
Secondly, he renounced Mahomet the false Prophet of the moors, Saracens and Turks, with all his abominations, and blessed GOD which had opened his eyes to behold the truth in jesus Christ.  
Thirdly, he confessed there was but one God, he believed the Trinity of persons, the Father, the Son, & the holy Ghost, and the same to be one God in unity, which is to be blessed for ever.  
Fourthly he confessed and affirmed, that he believed verily, that jesus Christ was and is the son of God, & God from everlasting, the only true Messiah, & saviour of the world, that he suffered for the sins of all that believe in him, and that there is no way to be saved, but only by the merits of the death and passion of jesus Christ.  
Lastly, he desired he might be received as one of the faithful Christians, & be baptised in the faith of the blessed Trinity, promising from henceforth newness of life, and fruits according unto this profession.  
¶ In the midst of the congregation, there was a comely Table set, covered with a fair linen cloth, and thereon a Basin with water. After the congregation had blessed God for his great mercies, and after sundry godly Prayers and Collects, according unto the reverend order of holy Church, such as brought him thither, desired his name might be William, so was he baptised: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost.  
Praise be to God.