Good News to Christendom. Sent to a Venetian in Leghorn, from a Merchant in ALEXANDRIA. Discovering a wonderful and strange Apparition, visibly seen for many days together in Arabia, over the place, where the supposed Tomb of MAHOMET (the Turkish Prophet) is enclosed: By which the learned Arabians prognosticate the Reducing & Calling of the great Turk to Christianity. With many other notable Accidents: But the most remarkable is the miraculous raining of Blood about ROME. Done out of the Italian.   depiction of fire raining down on a city from a cloud carrying an army of soldiers and horses, including one holding a flag with a crescent; beside the city, a large group, some with scimitars and some with arms raised, look up to the cloud; in the top right corner, a female figure holding a sword and book, and enclosed in the sun, looks on 
LONDON, Printed for NATHANIEL BUTTER. 1620.   

THE TRANSLATOR to the Reader.  
Gentle Reader:  
I Confess unto you, when this letter came first into my hand; which was about the 20 of December, brought as it should seem by some of the last Venetian company, I read it as a thing according to the Italian phrase, trovata or bugiarda; and christened it with this opinion, that it could march in no other rank of verity, then amongst ourselves the Sussex Serpent, the Germane Ghosts, and the great Army met in Tartary marching by the Caspian shore over Taurus, all which of my own knowledge came out of the shop of invention, and were beholding more to device, than either religion or discretion: so that in a manner I disclaimed the translating of it, and put it from me with a kind of contracted brow: but in truth there were certain reasons, which got the mastery over my judgement, and kept that a while predominant against further presumption. First, the difficulty of the style, being myself a very poor Linguist. For had not the pulling hook of Florios' Dictionary brought many words nearer unto me, they had all passed for strangers, and those which you have, merely come from the apprehension of the sentence in the coherence of the matter, rather than the particular signification of the words by themselves. Secondly, the time, wherein we live, not like that concise Historiographer Cornelius Tacitus, who spoke what he thought, and wrote what he spoke; but we as soldiers under good Commanders, who must simply obey, and though never so wise, dispute not a word by way of contestation with the business imposed. Thirdly, a private conference with some Italians, who only put it off with a shrug of the shoulder, when any thing is distasting unto them: although some of them went further, and cried out aloud, as their manner is, Cancro and Cazzo when they dislike a thing. Last of all, my own poor affairs, which have busied me otherwise, and out of the rules of morality tied me to the prevention of wants, and that intolerable and insupportable vexation to depend upon any man's bounty. For questionless Friendship now adays is but like a fire from a painted cloth, which for all the brave show reflecteth no warmth: so that I may well conclude with the Dutchman, he never fared worse than when he wished for his dinner: notwithstanding all these reasons, and some thing else more pleasantly enforced, the importunity of my friends, and that same auri sacra fames, got the upper hand of nicety, and not only put the book into my hand, but extracted this poor revolution out of a barren spring, which more and more I confess opened herself from my own affection to the matter and poor experience of certain repine even amongst the Turks themselves, against the long protraction of Mahomet's return, being now full 40 year elapsed beyond their own account, and his promise to bring them glad tidings of a new Paradise: and in truth when I considered those excellent predictions of Scripture, that Antichrist shall not only be discovered, but even punished in this world; that the jews should be recalled, and all apparently to be seen before that doom of dooms, and scourge of incredulity, the terror of the last judgement, I cast up a new account for the entertaining this relation, and ranked it thus in the maniple of my endeavours, which though it troop with a file or two, yet according to the straitness of the passage may serve the turn, as well as a greater Army, or stronger forces. Accept it then, good Reader, and if you be not curious concerning the fullness of truth, and infallibility of the matter; you may make this bulrush of novelty hold up your head in the calmer waters of security, that you sink not over head and ears into pride, contempt, and carelessness. First, considering God hath such a work to bring to pass, and he will finish it in his due time. Secondly, that although the Vrim and the Thummim cease, and miracles are very sparing; yet the heavens declare the glory of God, and many fearful accidents have been prefigured by apparition. Thirdly, that therefore the heavens burn first to light us the way to repentance, and seeing there must come a dissolution of all things, to prepare our hearts to put confidence in nothing: Fourthly, and that we be not so stupefied, as not to admire the Apocalypse of hidden mysteries, but verily believe there is something to be done, which we cannot apprehend by reason. Last of all, to continue our holy duties, especially private prayers, and contrition, which shall so mollify our hard hearts, that they shall make the lifting up of our hands as incense, and by way of propitiation move God to continue his mercies, and avert his judgements from us.   

TO THE MAGNIFICENT SIGNIOR ALUISO CANDIDO, of the family of Morisini, resident at LEGORNE, as Governor of the Venetian factory there.  
Right worthy:  
ACcording to the trust reposed in me, I made my commorance in Allexandria, all the while the goods were unloding out of the Castor & Pollux of Leuca: wherein I received those balls of silk, and rolls of gold, for which I presently trucked with Eleazar Bedly the jew, dwelling in the Scimitar street of the tribe of Isachar, and received in sultanese and uncut stones, what I thought correspondent to the value, all which I have returned unto you by my book of accounts, under the trust of Bartholomeo joco the Florentine, who standeth charged & is accountable for the same: the greater stuffs and chests of glasses are entered into the blanks of the customhouse, and you shall receive the bill of Benjamin Hely the jew, who is chief farmer under the Bashâ for the same: and so when I had thus ordered your business with some cheerful confidence, that you should receive 4. for one; I took the opportunity of a Turkish Carmisall, and went presently to Cayro: we took the middle stream: for you must know, that Nilus brancheth out with 7. heads into the midland sea, & having a pleasant wind Northwest and by north, quickly saluted the river in her fullness, which without controversy had driven us back with the swiftness of his current, had not the goodness of our sails counterchecked the violence of his speed, so that we made three day's journey of this passage and although I do not accustom to fill up a private letter with public discourses, either concerning Topography or Poligraphy, yet cannot I over pass an accident that happened unto us the second day: For a little a fore noon we heard a great cry among the reeds, and wondering what it was, we might well perceive it was nothing but a crocodile howling over a woman, whom it had caught? as if a heard of wolves had been coming down the mountain to bark at the moon. And truly Good Sir, it is strange to relate, how ravenous and fell in desires these creatures are of women, and will hunt them extremely by the sent, imitating the Alligators of Guinea, never to show their bodies till they can obtain their prey: yea such is their manner, that they will pass by children and men, and take only the opportunity to surprise the women, whom they will strip as handsomely of their apparel, after they have brought them to their nests, as if they had been taught a kind of cunning not to be cumbered with their sluttishness: yet must I not let pass this secret of nature, that they commonly use to pinch the neck and head so at the first, that the miserable wretch left to a prey findeth a courtesy in the dispatch of her life, for otherwise it were a thousand deaths to be so long a dying, considering she is three hours a howling over the body, before she devour it, of which yet how ravenous so ever she be, she leaves the head only untouched, but after she hath done howling, she eats, after eating she weeps, after weeping she sleeps, & then, they are many times slain, and their young ones stolen from them: this was the voice we heard, and within an hour after we met a boat of Egyptians, who came to seek the woman, and discovered unto us, that she was a poor man's wife, that had been to gather reeds that morning with her husband, and by reason of some displeasure, thought to be revenged by sequestering herself, and so was surprised by the serpent, as a warning to other women, not to make every small unkindness, the author of a lumpish countenance, or a sullen heart: the next day we aproached the great City, of which to talk never so little, would make my letter to great, and besides you have been in these parts yourself, & make daily use of most uberant relations, & remarkable circumstances. It was not long ere I prepared my lodging, nor long ere Signior Stephano Delphino came unto me, who finding more conveniency in mine than his own, quickly settled himself to bear me company, nor long ere the great Caravan troup of merchants arrived from Ormus, who came the next way over Arabia with 600. Camels, and 200. Arabian horse for their Convoy, whose entertainment for 5. weeks cost the Merchants 3000. Checkinoes' amongst them: they only tarried a day and a night to make themselves drunk; which they may quickly do. For though the wine of Palestina, which we much vented here, be reasonable good, yet as if they would pleasure Bacchus with an unsatiate desire to cellebrate his Orgies, they intermingled the berries of Aethiopia, whose fulsome juice do rather intoxicate the brain, then quench the thirst: The next day they departed, and the next day I singled out the company, to find what Italians were amongst them: For in a word I never saw so many strangers in one journey and agreeing so well together, the report of it was pleasant, but when I heard it from their own mouths, it added both delight & contentment, I could both name the parties and the places of their abode. But because I aim at another mark I will not unfurnish my quiver to spend a roving shaft to no purpose, but in a word, here were many of my acquaintance, amongst whom only Siluano Gritti and Bartholomeo Caponi with two friars, one an Augustine, another of the order of Serui, lodged in the same house with us: They spent three days in rest, and rested the night very sound, yet the friars were many times jangling, and so angered Signior Stephano, that over-passionate one night he bade the devil take them, whether they crossed themselves or no: the darkness interdicted my discovery, but I will be sworn, I heard them thump their breasts to my bed, and I entreated my Gent: to let them alone. Oh, said the Mendicant friar, little do you know the disceptation between us, and less may we instruct you in it, till a fit opportunity. For we have such a strange story to discourse upon, as will spend a day in the Epitome, and make all Europe to wonder in the exemplification.  
Truly good Sir, the very Emphasis of his words amazed me, and the over desire of instruction led me presently to the way of vigilancy, and I sat up in my bed, as if I meant to hear a tale indeed, had not Signior Stephano made me also the subject of his anger, and bade me go out of the bed, if I was so womanish and idle, that I could not tarry till day light, to hear a lying tale of a friar.  
Till this the Augustine friar was silent, but now in some distemperature raised his passion, as high as ever Signior Stephanoes was, telling him to his face, it was spoke like a Lutherane, and Heretic, to lay any such imputation on men of their quality, religious observants, and father-confessors. For they made a conscience of telling an untruth, and acknowledged it more than a Venial sin to countenance a lie through the credit of any religious order: well; said Signior Stephano if you will not lie in your words, yet I pray you lie still in your beds, and it shall be part of my penance, to acknowledge mine error, and make a retractation of offending you: This answer made way to the sedation of this unquietness, and so we gave over our parley, and made some use of a morning's sleep.  
The next day the friars of themselves remembering their Matutine hours, after devotion was overpassed, came voluntarily into our chamber, and with a small preamble of pacification prevailed so much with my companion, (who by this time was as desirous of the novelty, as myself) that we arose, and because they would not be interrupted in their discourse, we made a short repast together, and so locking the door to us, attended the poor Mendicant; who thus began.  
My Brother and I about the tenth of September, embarked ourselves from Ormus, and came to Catara, where the Christian Caravan was almost ready for their voyage to Cayro, but before I proceed any further, I will be plain to tell you the occasion of our going thither; 1. partly for Curiosity; 2. partly for Devotion; 3. partly for Wealth.  
1. First, for curiosity, the desire of acquaintance with foreign Countries, and the willingness to put the Practic in the other scale against the Theory; or, if you please, to make our superficial reading the sweeter by industrious experience, taught us the way to conceive, that all Countries might be national to a wise man.  
2. Secondly, concerning Devotion, having long since heard, that the Persians in this place condescended even against the rule of their Koran, to communicate with certain Portugal Friars, about the Verity of both Religions, we thought it not amiss to put it to the trial, whether we might attain to such a meritorious act as the Conversion of a Mahumetane.  
3. Thirdly, concerning Wealth, at the end of August there is a general fishing for Pearl, by reason that the Oysters in this hot month resort to the shore, and as if nature had taught them to breathe for air, they gape, as it were in shoals, and then the fishers, and such as are appointed for this purpose, throw little pebble-stones into their mouths, and so keep them from closing again; and thus are their Pearls kindly taken out, and known to be full ripe by their colour. For you must consider the Pearls grow as the meat in bigness, and yield great plenty being soft, but afterwards most worth of estimation, as she is Oriental, the shell makes that we call Mother of Pearl, and in the same they are ranked together like teeth in one's mouth, as if they were couched in a bed of purpose; sometimes 15. or 16. in a shell, only the Union hath his name of being alone, and I think is privileged with extraordinary greatness by being alone: Now at every draught (or if you will, course of separation) they have a custom by way of gratuity, to give to such religious men as are resident amongst them, to some more, somelesse, according as affection shall induce them, so that for my part such as they are, I have 500 to show you: at Catara we had diverse camels, that came from jafu and Catiffa: and within three days according to their custom 200. Arabian horse came from Zoar and Cazape: there was one principal Aga and 4. under Captains, and so in several companies we prepared for the great desert of Elact, passing such mountains and strange woods, that the voyage alone were worthy the description; in regard we found snow in greater abundance, then is in mount Senese, & so many wild beasts both on the mountains, and in the woods, that we lay not one night without a hedge of fire, & in several companies we made a show as it were of a burning camp, and both Lions and Tigers came to see, what we did, though they durst not approach, we made thirty days of this travel, and ere we came to Mecha had only sight of 3. Towns, for whose sake we fetched a great compass, although the pretence was to avoid the hugest hills, and so we went from Catara to Lagana to Salata and Gacha: from thence loding our camels with many skins and teeth of beasts, as we unloded them of our provision, we came in good time to Mecha. I cannot call it a city because it is unwall, nor a village, because it hath 8000. houses in it, nor rich because the opulent merchant lies at Liden a port town upon the red sea, some 50. Italian mile from Mecha, nor poor because it is so populous, for the resort of so many thousand strangers that come hither to view the tomb of Mahomet, in which (as I myself was) they are all deceived: for although he was borne here, and hath Charactered with his Fame one of the gloriousest stories in the world, yet was he not buried here, but by a strange policy translated over a great desert, to Medina Talnabi, where at this hour is both his Temple and his Sepulchre; by the way you come to the pretty town of Tacine: & howsoever any man presumes of his own cunning, & better intelligence, yet from what coast soever he comes, he must go to Mecha first, and their receive a ticket from the Beglerbeag; for which he pays half a florence ducat, ere he can be admitted into the Convoy for Medina: a little apprehension brought us to the knowledge of these things, and so by general consent, my brother and I to cure our understanding the better, which was almost ulcerated with strange variety both of report and history, went thither in person about the end of September, to be beholding to our own experience against opinion: But before we came thither, we met with many passengers, as it were distracted with fear, and when we came found all the country confounded at a vision or apparition, which had lasted for a fortnight, and so continuing: 7. days longer, affrightted the people, and the rather because no man durst interpret the same, or could indeed be beholding to discovery for the truth; only one of the Deruices, astonished them with a sudden boldness, and because here were many of the race of Mahomet, and some Doctors of the law, who repugning the oratory, rather believed Naturals and Lunatics, whom indeed they imagine extraordinarily inspired with a Supernatural Spirit. the poor Priest was much offensive in his discourse to them all; so they conspired against him, and put him to death, by which occasion here are Four remarkable things to be considered, 1. First the vision itself. 2. Secondly his oration, 3. Thirdly the manner of his execution. 4. Fourthly what a Deruice is.  
Concerning the vision about the 20. of September, there happened so great a tempest, that there was as it were a sensible darkness about midnight, so fearful a thunder, that those, which were asleep were a wakened at the same, and those which were awake, besides themselves: at last a voice like lightning made a strange rapture, and with Significant Arabian Characters so opened the thick clouds, and dispelled the vapowres that with a kind of stench, & suffocating smoke the darkness departed, & the people heard, and the rest read it to this purpose, O why will ye believe in lies? For when the storm was appeased, and that the serene ellement presented herself to their view, they might easily read these words in the firmament. Some two hours after between to and three in the morning, there appeared a woman all in white compassed with the beams of the Sun, her countenance was amiable and cheerful, and she held in her hand a written book: she had no sooner mounted out of the North west and by West, to her full height and radiance, but round about the East, and South many armies of Turks, Persians, Arabians, Moors and such like appeared, ranked as it were with martial discipline, and ready to charge upon her, but she with an undaunted courage, kept her standing, and used no other means, but only opened the book, at the sight whereof the whole army fled, and presently all the lamps about Mahomet's tomb were extinguished. For as soon as ever the apparition or vision vanished, which was commonly an hour before Sun rising, a pleasant murmuring wind was heard, to whose eruption they imputed the putting out of the lamps. For you must understand, that though the windows of the temple, were double barred with iron, and richly guilt, well glazed and curiously cemented, yet the storm came upon them with such impetuosity, that neither glass nor iron withstood the violence: the Temple, itself is very high, made with a rotund and cube fashion, it hath many galleries, yet none so near in approach, as to discover, how the Tomb is fastened: only the common opinion is, that it is made of steel, and by cunning imposture placed in the Centre of the Church, under a great Adamant, whose virtue attracted it to the top, this the lamps show plainly, that there hangs such a coffin: For 3000. lamps continually, night and day make a most resplendent show about the galleries, but yet how the coffin is fastened, do not discover: only my brother and I learned thus much, that the coffin is indeed most cunningly mortised into the roof, and hath nothing in it, but the first Alcheron originally writ by Sergius a monk, of the first order that ever was, which contracted with him; who lived to see the people apprehend, that the Angels had drawn him to heaven, and kept his monument with their continual guard about it: The monk indeed buried the body just under the place, and lived so long, that he saw this position of the religion ratified, that it was Capital for any man to dispute of the verity of the story:  
The ancient pilgrims I mean Turks of Mahomet's race, who after they have visited this place never cut their hair, were much exanimated, and so exasperated at this accident, that they wrecked their anger upon the poor Priest, who, for his plain dealing paid for all.  
2. This is the Second thing considerable: For his discourse tended to this purpose: Ayama Horranda: which is as much as Honourable troop of auditors, who knows not but the God, that made the heaven and earth by his instrument, our Prophet Mahomet, hath chosen us of all the nations of the world to be his secret people, and for this purpose raised the great Ottoman to expatiate his power, and enlarge the Turkish Empire: For the world had never but three true religions, every one of which had three principal Prophets:  
First God chose the jews, and wrought wonders for them in Egypt, and Canaan under the conduct of that same Prophet Moses; who prescribed them a law, which had both blessings and cursings, wherein questionless, if they had held the beam of integrity up aright, no doubt he would have been as an impregnable wall of brass about them, and terrified their enemies with an hedge of fire; as they use against beasts in the wilderness: but when neither promises nor threatenings, blessings nor judgements, prosperity, nor adversity, could keep these people close to their maker, but they proved obstinate and rebellious, yea such refractory delinquents, that they denied their God, and committed Idolatry in despite, and made their sons go through the fire (an exorbitant device of the Devil: then God not only gave them over to diverse captivities, but at last extirped them and dissipated them over the earth, like chaff before the wind, so that by lamentable experience we see, they have now neither King, nor Priest, nor law, nor kingdom, nor government, nor city, nor any country of their own; notwithstanding God would not be unfurnished of servitors, but presently raised a new Prophet who taught the religion of Christianity, and which is a wonder to relate: For all they crucified this good man, & condemned him for a deceiver of the people, neither taken with the piety of his life, nor apprehending the greatness of his miracles, neither wondering at his person, nor admitting of his doctrine, yet after he was dead the very report of a few fisher men, made that impression into the hearts of the people, that the mightiest Emperors and kings of the world, vailed their bonnets to his very title, and laid their crowns down, to be commanded by his ministers; But it should seem they grew as corrupt as the jews, falling into a main division of their Church, with the distinction of East and west: erecting most grossly Idolatry again, with setting up of images, and a number of most gewgaw foppish ceremonies, besides corruption of life and personal faults in many impious breaches of their law, so that God was weary of them to, and not only sent divisions amongst them, but forsook them in the midst of their violent race to gormandize and ease, lashing their sides with the whips of foreign people, and dispossessing them of their chiefest cities jerusalem and Constantinople to the contristation of their hearts, and irrecoverable vexation of their souls: yet still is God the governor of the world, and provides himself of another Prophet and people, raising our great Mahomet, & giving way to our nation to open the store-house of his wonders to all the world, and to hold the victory of many nations the stronger unto us, with an unvanquishable arm, so that no doubt we shall thrive with a perpetuity, if we can serve this God aright, and take warning by the relapse of others, not to degenerate from the people of God indeed, but observe them with the same faith and trust, as they are committed unto us. But alas I tremble to speak it, what have we done, and what have we seen, we have transgressed in every point, and from a premeditated wilfulness abrogated our first constitutions, so that God is not only angry, but hath manifested it by wonderful signs & tokens, keeping back our Prophet from us, who as you know prefixed a time to return, with the full consummation of all happiness to his people, so that full 40. years are elapsed beyond his limitation, and our account, whereupon this fearful vision is a prediction of great troubles and alteration:  
For either doth the opening of the book in the woman's hand portend our manifest falling away, from the first scope and intent of our law, whereat as ashamed the whole armed multitude departed, confounded with the guiltiness of their own consciences: or else it signifies some other book, in which we have not yet red, and against which neither force nor policy (as it should seem) shall prevail. so that to speak with an undaunted confidence of mercy from my God for telling the truth; I am afraid our religion will be proved adulterate, & our Prophet discovered for Collusion, & another brought from the touchstone of truth, for the purer metal, & so this Christ that they talk of, shall shine as glorious as the sun & set up his name with everlasting eternity.  
Till this, the company were silent, but when they heard him so audacious, they cried out upon this blasphemy, and taking advantage of their law, which makes all blasphemy Capital, they presently condemned him by a definitive sentence, and acquainting the Beglerbeag with all the occurrences, had both his consent and warrant to put him to death.  
3. This is the third remarkable thing, which I proposed, because he died not the ordinary death amongst them, which is commonly either to tie about his neck a huge stone or pellet, & so cast him into the sea; or else to strangle him with a string made of sinews, like our bowstringes, for which executions certain mutes are always ready, who cast it over his head with a riding knot, and so two pulling one way, and two another, quickly throttle him, & many times with the violence even sunder the wine pipe in twain: but they took him by the way of torturing, & striping of him gave him first the Corbatch, which was 100 blows on the soles of his feet, with a flat lever even to the draing of blood, the poor man still crying out on the woman that opened the book. Then they took a Bull's pizzle, and beat him all over to the cracking of his sinews, last of all they laid, him upon a wheel, and with an Indian sword made of sinews half an inch thick, a full yard long, a handful broad, only it increased toward the point like a fishes tail, broke his bones all to pieces, the Priest crying to the last gasp O thou woman with the book save me, and so yielded up his soul, no man knew to whom: nor indeed how to demean themselves: For the same instant was a fearful tempest, and the Beglerbeag by the consent of the Mufti dispatched certain of the Spahies to the port of Sidon, that so they might acquaint the Emperor at Constantinople with all these occurrences the sooner.  
4, The Fourth thing considerable was the explication of this order of Deruices, who are more significantly called Turner's, they are of the lowest degree and strictest order amongst them, much like our Capuchins, they live in contemplation, and seem ravished with the apprehension of the joys of paradise. For they preach nothing but abstinence, and with the Platonist infer the immortality of the soul: on the day of solemnity, which is our friday, they meet all together in one quadrant, or if you will some rotunda, which is gallered round about for the people to be sequestered in the hearing and viewing their ceremonies, which on this day commonly last three hours: the principal of these Priests, all the rest sitting cross legged in the quadrant, raiseth up himself unto a certain pulpit, before which, such as have been pilgrims at Mecha with shagg and long hair are seated, and on a desk lie their books, both of Persian and Arabian character: thus advanced for the better accommodating his speech to the auditory, he preacheth an hour, and ever as he names the God that gives them bread, a murmuring silence much like our custom at the name of jesus, is heard amongst the people with low bending of their bodies, but not a word spoken. After his discourse certain music gins, and a song of thanksgiving is distinctly pronounced, which finished, the Priest, that preached comes into the quadrant amongst the rest, and leadeth a kind of measures, with a soft and sober gate; according to the modulent sound of the music, going faster, and faster, as the music increaseth, they continuing in the gesture, of looking up to heaven, and holding up their hands, till they turn round as fast as they can, which lasteth a full quarter of an hour, so that either by faintness or by custom, they fall down flat upon the ground, being all in a sweat, & so lie grovelling, till they have recovered their former breath & strength, certain officers in the mean while casting mantles over them, lest they catch cold: this turning hath four divisions, and lasteth a full hour, but time overcometh all things, and so this solemnity receiveth her period, only the Priest, that preached, returneth back again to his pulpit, and after another song, blesseth the company, who presently departed. But you must understand, that no man out of the galleries hath his shoes on, nor in any of their Mosques, though they pass but through. Besides, they are of great account, and some of the fantastics amongst them, will undertake to interpret dreams and visions, and as we say, tell fortunes: they commonly discover the strange gesture of naturals and lunatics, who are unmocked, unhurt amongst the people, and so reverenced with the better sort, that they verily believe some inspiration and extraordinary infused spirit belongs unto them.  
After the Priest's execution, and that the whole country grew tumultuous through the intricateness and fearful disputing of this Vision, my brother and I, to prevent further danger, hasted to Cayro, and in good time, as you saw, came orderly with the Caravan, only the last night there happened this disceptation between us: that the opening of the book in the Vision must needs signify our Bible; to which my hastiness inferred, not by way of contradiction, but by diversity of argument, that then surely we do ill to shut the book, that the people may not read; which my Augustine brother plainly told me was schismatical. For the book might be opened to the Clergy, though not to the Laity: whereupon I replied, then belike the Laity must know no other, than what we relate unto them: great reason too (said my brother) the letter is death to ignorant men, and it is sufficient for such as remain in other callings, to understand no more, then properly belongs to their salvation: I still opposed, whereby our conference grew to unkindness, and so resteth, till a fit opportunity for the deciding.  
Well said Signior Stephano, agree as well as you can; but to this I agree, that as I am much amazed at your discourse, so I am resolved, that this presageth the conversion of the Turks to Christianity; therefore let us haste home into Italy, and there we shall know what to trust unto, or at least both secure ourselves from the confusions of these Kingdoms, and be able to furnish our understanding with a better certainty of these ambiguities. I told them I would accompany them to Alexandria, but I could yet pass no further, till I had received letters from Florence for my discharge: and so we ordered our affairs accordingly, and coming with the stream, took the next arm of the river, which led us to the Port.  
But good Signior, one novelty begets another, at our settling ourselves, we found that the day before, there was arrived the Archbishop of Rhodes, confined into Egypt by the Bashaw, even in a manner upon the like occasion, as the Deruice Priest was executed about Mecha: yet there was suggested against him the delivering of certain prisoners, whom they call by the name of slaves; amongst whom, diverse Knights of Malta so overcame the private regard of himself, that in mere commiseration and some happy remembrance of the place, wherein he lived, he adventured his own life for their freedom; all which I learned out of a discourse of his own, as the Friars brought us into his presence, and we gave attention unto his gravity and orderly relation of his business: but before I enter upon the particulars of his discourse, I must remove certain blocks of contradiction, and make my way clear from absurdity, and that rough manner of disputing by Questions, according to a proverb, that a fool may ask a Question, that all the wise men in the world cannot resolve.  
1. First than you must know, that although the Turk have conquered Greece, and some parts of Hungary, yet he admitteth the toleration of any religion, so that they contribute his customs, and acknowledge his superiority, he is contented to leave them to their own establishments; so that the Greek Church do publicly maintain their ceremonies, and the Roman Catholics have by themselves a Church by the name of Francs, even in Constantinople, or if you will, in the Vines of Pera, or Galata, choose you whether: yea when the covetous patriarch of Constantinople would have farmed his place to the jews, the Viceer did not permit the same, but by way of punishment, confined him to Zio, from whence with a belial spirit, he in a monstrous contumacy went to Mosko, and about the year 1588. resigned that title to the Archbishop there, & for 100000. pieces of gold, invested him with the absolute Primacy of the Patriarch of the Greek Church: but see the just judgement of God, ere he had passed quite through Moldavia, certain janissaries set upon him, and not only taken away his gold, but bereft him of his life.  
2. Secondly, you must consider, that among the Turks in taking of prisoners, they have no distinction of persons, but in their ransom accounting all slaves, and confining them to the Galleys with an ignominious robe, shaving them, and marking them on some parts of their flesh.  
3. Thirdly, that this famous town, and harbour, and Island of Rhodes was remarkable for two things. 1. First, for a Colossus of brass, which boasted of great antiquity, and was indeed a man in absolute proportion straddling over the haven, between whose legs, a ship with full sails, top and top gallant, might enter, so that when the Turk surprised this place, he laded 1500 Camels with the rubbish of this one monument, whereby most of his great Ordinance were cast, which be now in the Tapinare, the office of his Artillery; and whereas you shall read that S. Paul writ to the Colossians, it was no other than the inhabitants of Rhodes. 2. Secondly, that after the Knight's Templars were dissolved, there arose a new order to supply that place, called S. john's of jerusalem, who when the Turks conquered Syria and Palestina, were of so great revenue in Europe, that for many years, they both expulsed the Saracens, and held wars with these new mahumetans: till at last the high decider of controversies submitted them to alteration, and both their Monastery and their Palace were pulled in pieces, by those barbarous hands, that neither spared jerusalem, nor the wonderment of the world, the Temple of Diana in Ephesus, falsified by some stories upon Herostratus, who to perpetuate to himself a name of villainy, set it on fire. 4. Last of all, that however the Koran position, of not disputing of their religion, sealed up as it were the lavishness of men's tongues from going at large, yet will they hear strangers in civil opposition, and even the strictest arguments, that may conculcate and beat down their new inventions: but this seldom happens, because either they learning none but the Persian or Syriack language, few men understanding theirs, can dispute with them.  
But now to the Archbishop.  
After the Friars had overpassed the ceremonies of gratification, & amplified the discourse of there travel with the circumstances of the vision, the Archbishop replied: your news hath no way got any hand of my admiration. For it hath been long since frequent amongst us, and upon another report of the troubles in Europe, especially that it reigned a whole day blood into Tiber, and that three suns were seen in full radiance over the city of Rome, many Greek priests resorted unto me to Rhodes with an impressed cheerfulness, as if our Church were already reestablished in the first form of the primitive pattern: nor passed it thus amongst ourselves; but the Bashaw sent for me in all haste, and not only demanded my opinion of these things, but made means to certain doctors of their law to enter into further disputation with me, I told them plainly, that the original of Mahomet was a mere devise, which they might easily perceive by the assotiation of Sergius one of our monks. For if he had been a Prophet of God, he would questionless never have intermingled any devices of man: then again for his prefixed time of returning, it was a thing never heard nor read of, that any one returned from the dead, nor shall ever rise, till the last dissolution, and therefore how much are you beholding to that God which you do now worship, that hath from heaven discovered unto you in a vision what you must trust unto in these latter times, & if you be not stupefied with obstinacy, & remain more stony hearted then ever the jews were, that crucified the Saviour of the world, now are glad tidings brought unto you: For the woman, which appeared is questionless the Church of God compassed about with a Sun, representing the son of righteousness, even Christ the Saviour of mankind, without whom no flesh can come to happiness; the book in her hand is questionless the scriptures, and the opening of it, prefigureth the searching and contemplation of the secrets: but whereas so great an army still fled, as she opened the book, how can any thing be personated by it, but that both Persians, Moors, and yourselves, will be ashamed and abashed to conceive in what a sottish ignorance and senseless blindness, you have been so many years detained, therefore embrace the truth, and return to Christianity, which will bring you into the direct path of salvation, and in the end the glorious kingdom of heaven. Why replied one of the Doctors, 
jewish Doctors.  how can this be? your prophet was but a man, as ours was, and for inventions of men your religion exceeds, and fare exceeds those fanatical impositions, as you term them that ever Mahomet gave us.  
But among all as the jews have often told you, there be three or four such strange things in your religion, that it is impossible for an honest resolution to apprehend, that God would be served so foppishly, and childishly: First the erecting of Images: did God cast away the jews, & as I have heard, cursed jeroboams calves, yea rend the kingdom from your great Solomon, and all because he gave way to the Idols of his wives, and will you haven us be so entangled again, as to heap up vengeance for so foul an absurdidie on our own heads? Believe it, it will never be and it is impossible.  
2. Secondly your profanation of the Sabbath. Do we or the jews buy and sell as you do? labour and travel, eat and gourmandize, gambol and play, dance, and sing and commit such abuses on that day, as if all the week were tied into one bundle, and then set open to flourish her expenses.  
3. Thirdly your dispensations with sin and selling of indulgences for money: O God is God a receiver of money? or what conceit have you to think, that he that is all love and mercy, will be corrupted with reward, or brought about with mercenary bribes?  
4. Last of all your sumptuous lives, and excess of vanity, wherein your Cardinals go beyond greater princes, and shame indeed their profession with unsanctified superfluity: I name no more because, I know these be un answerable and not capable of the distinction of personal faults.  
With that I replied, although these might be all well excused with circumstantial infirmities, and apological inferences, that the main points of salvations are held amongst them, yet you know, we have opposed Rome in these things, and not only returned the pride of their supremacy upon their heads, but discovered their tyrannous usurpation of our rights. For Christianity began in Antioch and the Greeks' were the first receivers of the truth, long before the Latins, therefore believe it without further disputing, unless we had time to over look Ptolemeis' library of 200000. books, both Rome shall be disrobed, Antichrist discovered, & the river of Tiber flow with blood, as this the raining of blood prefigureth, and Mahometh himself proved an impostor, so that both jews and Turks do what you can, and say what you list, shall be taken into our fold, and set down in the accounts of God's sheep, and the Christian flock of Christ.  
When I had made an end of my speech, I protest I cannot tell; whether I left them to the extremity of rage or laughter: For they were so far from approving my words, that they cried out it was pity such a fellow should live, & so the Bashaw to show himself a true maintainer of the Ottoman glory, committed me to prison, where I remained, until such time as their came a new enforcement against me, for hiding out of the way certain knights of Malta, slaves, and taken by their galleys in a florentine ship as supposed to join with the pirates, that had projected the surprising of Scanderon: but the Bashaw willing to save my life, as much affecting these grey hairs, my former demeanour, and that outward proportion I carry, shipped me from Rhodes to Alex: and hath confined me an exile to Egypt, with licence to live in Cayro as I list.  
Hence arose a new contention between the Friars and himself, about the Pope's supremacy, & the augmentation of the Clergies power from the donation of Princes, and the suffrages of general Counsels, but the Archbishop quickly cut them of, and told them plainly, that the Italian Bishop was but an usurper, and he made no doubt but the raining of blood into Tiber prefigured the destruction of Rome, & the shining of the Suns an hereafter manifestation of greater truth: For fellows, saith he, you know, that our john, Patriarch of Constantinople began these tumours of ambition, against whom your Bishop of Rome, called the Great Gregory opposed, assuring him that any assumption of such an universal title was antichristian but what followed: the destruction of Phocas and Mauritius the Emperors of the East, and the horrible combination of Bonifacius in the West, which your Bishops can relate, as for your Arrian faction; what a wonder was shown in the world, when our poor Athanasius for opposing 700. Bishops, was condemned for an Heretic, had not our blessed Emperor interdicted the sentence, and saving him, by a vision sent for him to private conference, wherein the spirit made him so great a workmaster, that he confirmed the Emperor in his faith, and made that Creed, which is so famous, for the conversion of Europe: as for your Images, who knows not, that the Counsels of Nice, and Constance were contradictory about it, and at last a sentence prevailed for their overthrow, and so could I proceed to the overthrow of the rest, but that I will have no further wrangling, therefore hast you into Italy and mark but the revolution of times, and what I by way of prediction have spoken: For on my soul both jews and Turks shall turn to Christianity, and Rome your babilonish Rome, shall beset on fire, to the terror of all the world, that have wished well to the great strumpet, who hath made the Kings of the earth drunk with the cup of her abomination. With this the company divided themselves. The Archbishop prepared for Cayro: the Friars and the rest for Florence, and I settled awhile in Alexandria, from whence having so convenient a messenger I thought it my duty to acquaint you with these occurrences, wherein if I have somewhat extended the limits of a letter, I crave your pardon and hope you will conceive, that my good will overcame discretion; and so I commit myself to your care for my dispatch, and in all humility. Bascio le honorate many di V S.  
Octob: 12. 1619. Stilo novo. Osseruantissimo: Ludovico Cortano.   

❧ The Translators Epilogue.  
WHat I have done, you now both see & read. For it cannot be recalled, nor do I mean to make any apology, though it be but like a spider's cobweb, fit for nothing but sweeping away, lest I prove like the courtier, that leapt reasonable well upon the sudden taking him in his boots, but when he thought to put them of, and make apparent his further dexterity and strength, he came far short, and thus you shall read of Protogenes pencil, that having made an artificial dog and coming to finish it, with the muzsled hair about his chaps, he still misliked it, and wiped it away, till at last casting his pencil from him in a rage, he effected that by chance, which all his art was defective in: For application I have now done a thing as we say, ex improviso, not caring to what use the reader puts it to, so I have my own ends: yet as I hear, it will be liked, whether I will or no, and is merely a trick of blind fortune to outface both good endeavours, and true scholership: For let me never be trusted, if ever so hoodwinked a bayard adventured before on so hard a style, and durst publish it as a work, either worthy the viewing, or censuring. The obstinate Papist will storm, and the pedantical humorist will swear, if not sweat: the censorious traveller will smile, the novelist will buy it, though it were a lie; and he that life's by an Almanac will suppose, there may be something in it for direction; the young man may affect it, being himself not solid enough for a Critic; and some old men may be young enough to entertain it: The freehearted Gentleman will say, it was well done to affright idleness with some endeavours; and the man of gravity and learning will conclude it a devise to get money. To get money; what as this world goes? In the name of Covetousness, who would care for money? when every man's doors are open to the hungry belly, every naked soul clothed, every empty purse filled, nay a man cannot look sadly, but his friend will ask him, what he aileth; and if want be the cause, send him a gratuity the next morning; when our young Ladies will leave off their tiers, painting, and feathers to bestow it on poor Scholars, and a man shall no sooner characters a book with a Moecenae, but the Lord will send all over the town to look him out, and not trouble him to wait upon him: when the money shall be spared, that was wont to be spent upon Barbers, panders, and whores, and equally divided amongst men of well-deserving. In a word, when old acquaintance will stay his Caroche in the streets to speak to his decayed friend; and when he comes home to negotiate with him, will send for him up without excuses, though he be in bed with his Lady. Notwithstanding all this, considering my disastrous improvidence, and dogged humour to snarl at the baseness of men indeed; I was glad it got money: For if the worst fall; I shall be able while it last to pay for my dinner, and prevent the cutting my throat, in expecting to be sent for elsewhere: yet good Reader, in way of civility, I would it could get you somewhat too; that is, if you cannot believe it as truth, yet to make that use of it, as if it were true; and then shall you know, there is but one way to happiness, and all the predictions, prophecies, visions, apparitions, Comets, inundations, storms, tempests, famine, war, alteration, and subversion of Kingdoms, with all the cabinet of of mysteries, tend to this end, that proemium and poena be the mastering curbs of the world: that is, that God hath a Magazine of judgements to inflict on the obstinate sinner with punishments; and a store-house of mercy to support the penitent soul with comfort.  
FINIS.