THE PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA a.d. 



c. 1580. 

 was by the inhabitants hereof some injurie done unto his 

 Carovan, which hee understanding of, dissembled till his 

 returned from Mecca, and then caused it to bee burned 

 and destroyed in pitifull sort for revenge of the injurie 

 done unto the Carovan. The Carovan having rested and 

 being refreshed as is abovesayd, the next day departeth 

 on the way, and the first place they arrive at woorthy 

 mention is called Bedrihonem, in which place (as is afore- 

 sayd) grow those little shrubbes whereout Balme issueth. 

 And before the Carovan arriveth at this place, a mile 

 from the citie is a large and great field environed about 

 with most high and huge mountaines. And in this field, 

 according to the Alcoran, their prophet Mahomet had a 

 most fierce and cruell battell given by the Christians of 

 the countrey and other people which set themselves 

 agaynst them, and withstood his opinion, so that hee was 

 overcome and vanquished of the Christians, and almost 

 halfe of his people slaine in the battell. Whereupon, the 

 prophet seeing himselfe in such extremitie, fell to his 

 prayers, and they say, that God having compassion upon 

 his deare friend and prophet, heard him, and sent him 

 infinite thousands of angels, wherewith returning to the 

 battell, they conquered and overcame the conquerour. 

 And therefore in memorie of this victorie, the Carovan 

 lodgeth every yeere one night in this place, making great 

 bonefires with great mirth. And they say that as yet 

 there is heard upon the mountaines a litle drumme, which 

 while the Carovan passeth, never ceaseth sounding. And 

 they say further, that the sayd drumme is sounded by the 

 angels in signe of that great victory graunted of God to 

 their prophet. Also the Mahumetan writings afBrme, 

 that after the ende of the sayd battell, the prophet com- 

 maunded certaine of his people to goe and burie all 

 the Mahumetans which were dead in the fields, who 

 going, knew not the one from the other, because as yet 

 they used not circumcision, so they returned unto him, 

 answering, that they had bene to doe his commaunde- 

 ment, but they knew not the Musulmans from the 



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