THE PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA ad. 



c. 1580. 

 of Arabia, & being all approched as is abovesayd, there 

 commeth a square squire, one of the Santones, mounted 

 on a camell well furnished, who at the other side of the 

 mountain ascendeth five steps into a pulpit made for 

 that purpose, and all being silent, turning his face towards 

 the people, he maketh a short sermon of the tenour 

 folowing. 



The summe of the Santones sermon. 



THe summe of this double doctors sermon is thus 

 much in briefe. He sheweth them how many and 

 how great benefits God hath given to the Mahumetan 

 people by the hand of his beloved friend and prophet 

 Mahomet, having delivered them from the servitude of 

 sinne & from idolatry, in which before time they were 

 drowned, and how he gave unto them the house of 

 Abraham wherein they should be heard, and likewise the 

 mountaine of pardons, by meanes whereof they might 

 obtaine grace and remission of their sinnes : adding, that 

 the mercifull God, who is a liberall giver of all good 

 things, commaunded his secretarie Abraham to build him 

 an house in Mecca, where his successours might make 

 their prayers unto him and bee heard, at which time all 

 the mountains in the world came together thither with 

 sufi^ciencie of stones for building hereof, except that litle 

 and low hill, which for povertie could not go to dis- 

 charge this debt, for the which it became sorrowfull, [II. i. 210. 

 weeping beyond all measure for the space of thirtie yeeres, 

 at the ende whereof the eternall God having pitie and 

 compassion upon this poore Mountaine, saide unto it : 

 Weepe no more (my daughter) for thy bitter plaints have 

 ascended up into mine eares, therefore comfort thy selfe : 

 for I will cause all those that shall goe to visite the house 

 of my friend Abraham, that they shall not be absolved 

 from their sinnes, unlesse they first come to doe thee 

 reverence, and to keepe in this place their holiest feast. 

 And this I have commanded unto my people by the 

 mouth of my friend and prophet Mahumet. This said, 



357 



