missum, cum lege diuina in dicto libro plene contenta. Tenent itaque
indubitate, quod beata Maria Iesum peperit, et concepit virgo manens
intacta, ac libentèr loqui audiunt de incarnatione in ipsa facta per
annunciationem Gabrielis Archangeli. Nam et Alcharon eorum dicit, ad
salutationem Angeli virginem expauisse, quod tunc erat in partibus Galileæ
incantator, Turquis nomine, qui per susceptam sibi formam Angeli plures
virgines deflorauerat, et beatam Virginem conuenisse Angelum, an esset
Turquis. Refert quoque eam peperisse sub palma Arbore, vbi habebatur
præsepe bouis, et asinæ, et illic præ confusione puerperij, et verecundia
ac dolore, fuisse in proximo desperatam, et infantulum in consolationem
matris dixisse, mater ne timeas, Deus in te effudit secreta ad saluationem
Mundi. Hæc et his similia multa ibi scribuntur figmenta, et isti plura
inter se narrando componunt, quæ hoc loco ventilanda non sunt.
Et dicit liber Iesum sanctissimum omnium Prophetarum fuisse veracem in
dictis et factis, benignum, pium, iustum, et ab omni vitio penitus alienum:
Sanctum quoque Ioannem Euangelistam post prædictos Prophetas fuisse alijs
Sanctiorem, cuius et Euangelium fatentur esse plenum salutari, ac veraci
doctrina, et ipsum Sanctum Ioannem illuminasse cæcos, leprosos mundasse,
suscitasse mortuos, et in coelum volasse viuentem. Erat enim (prout dicit)
plus quàm Propheta, et absque omni peccato, contradicente eodem de seipso,
si dixerimus quòd peccatum non habemus, veritas in nobis non est: vnde et
si quando Sarraceni tenent scriptum Euangelij Sancti Ioannis, aut illud
beati Lucæ, missus est Angelus Gabriel, eleuant ambabus manibus pro
reuerentia super caput et super oculos id ponentes, et osculantur quàm sæpè
cum summa deuotione. Nonnulli etiam eorum in Græco, aut Latino literati
consueuerunt cum deuotione cordis id lectitare.
Idem liber dicit Iudæos perfidos fuisse, quod Iesu eis primùm misso a Deo,
et multa miracula facienti credere noluerunt, quodque per ipsum tota gens
Iudæorum fuit dignè decepta, et meritò illusa hoc modo. Iesus in hora dum
Iudas eum pro signo traditionis osculabatur, posuit per Metamorphosin
figuram suam, in ipsum Iudam, sícque Iudæi in ambiguo lumine nocturni
temporis, pro Iesu Iudam capientes, ligantes, trahentes, deridentes, in
fine crucifixerunt, putantes se omnia facere Iesu, qui protinus capto et
ligato Iuda, viuus ascendit in cæelum, descensurus iterum viuus ad iudicium
in die finali.
Et addit, Iudæos falsissimè vsque hodie nos Christianos suo mendacio
decipere, quo dícunt se Iesu crucifixisse quem non tetegerunt. Hinc errorem
tenent Sarraceni obstinati: et quoddam argumentum inire conantur. Nam si
Deus (aiunt) permisisset Iesum, innocentem, et iustum ita miserabiliter
occidi, censuram suæ summæ iustitiæ minuisset. [Sidenote: Conuersio
Saracenorum non desperanda.] Sed cùm ipsi, vt supradictum est, in tenebris
ambulant, idcircò ignorantes Dei iustitiam, statuere volunt iustitiam, imo
iniustitiam quam fabricant in corde suo, quia nos de cruce Christi scriptum
nouimus, benedictum est lignum per quod fit iustitia. Isti tamen quod in
aliquibus appropinquant veræ fidei, multi quandoque eorum inuenti sunt
conuersi, et plures adhuc de facili conuerterentur, si haberunt
prædicatores, sincerè eis verbum tractantes, quippe cùm iam fateantur legum
Mahometi quandoque defecturam, sicut nunc perijt lex Iudæorum, et legem
Christianorum vsque in finem seculi permansuram.
CAPVT 22.
De vita, et nomine Mahometi.
Promisi in superioribus aliquid narrare de vita Mahometi legislatoris
Sarracenorum, prout vidi in scriptis, vel audiui in partibus illis. Itaque
Macho, siue Machon, vtrum in secunda syllaba scribatur N, litera, vel non
idem refert: et si tertia syllaba addatur, et dicatur Machomet, vel etiam
quarta, Machometus, nihil differt, quòd semper idem nomen representat. Ipsi
tamen illum sæpiùs nominant Machon. Putatur autem istum Mahomet habuisse
generationis ortum de Ismael Abrahæ filio naturali de concubina Agar, vnde
et vsque hodie quidam Sarracenorum dicuntur Ismaelitæ, alij Agarení: sed et
quidam Moabitæ, et Ammonitæ, à duobus Loth filijs Moab et Amon, genitis per
incestum de proprijs filiabus.
[Sidenote: Tempus Natiuitatis Mahometi.] Hic verò Machon, circa annum
incarnationis Domini sexcentissimum natus, in Arabia pauper erat gratis
pascens camelos, et interdum sequens Mercatores in Aegyptum fordellos
illorum proprio collo deferens pro mercede. Et quoniam tunc temporis tota
Aegyptus erat Christianæ fidei, didicit aliquid de fide nostra, quod
diuertere solebat ad cellulam Heremitæ commorantis in deserto. [Sidenote:
Fabulæ Saracenorum.] Et quodammodo fabulantur Sarraceni, quod illo
quandoque ingrediente cellulam, cellulæ ostium mutatum in ianuam valdè
patentem, velut ante palatium, et gloriantur hoc primum miraculum. Qui ex
tunc conquerendo sibi pecunias, et discendo seculi actus diues est
effectus, et prudens ab omnibus reputatus, in tantum, vt postmodum in terræ
gubernatorem Corrozæn, (quæ est vna prouinciarum regni Arabiæ) assumeretur,
ac de inde defuncto principe Codige per coniugium illius relictæ in eiusdem
prouinciæ principem eleuaretur. Erat autem satis formosus, et valens, et
vltra modum in verbis et factis maturus, et principalis, et satis
diligebatur à suis, magis tamen metuebatur, et erat epilepticus, nemine
tamen sciente. Sed tandem ab vxore comperto contristabatur, se tali morbido
nuptam, qui versutus fefellit, et consolabatur moestam figmento mendacij
excogitati, dicens sanctum Dei Archangelum Gabrielem ad colloquendum et
inspirandum sibi, quædam arcana et diuina interdum venire, et pro virtute
aut claritate veniente se subito cadere et iacere ad intendendum
inspirationem.
[Sidenote: Incrementum authoritatis Mahometi.] Post hoc autem, mortuo etiam
Rege Arabiæ, tanta egit per simulationem sanctitatis, per donorum
effusionem, et copiam promissionum, quod electus est et assumptus, in
totias Arabiæ Regem.
[Sidenote: Tempus promulgationis Alcharani.] Confirmato igitur Mahometo in
regnationis suæ maiestate suprema, transactis à conceptione Domini nostri
Iesu Christi annis solaribus 612. in die Iouis feria quinta Hebdomadæ
promulgauit præfatum detestandæ legis suæ librum, plenum perfidiæ et
erroris, et à subditis tempore vitæ suæ seruari coegit, qui et vsque hodie
in tanto æuo, et tot populis non sine iusto Dei iudicio colitur et
seruatur, quamuis miserabile, et miserandum videtur, quod tot animæ in illo
perduntur. Erat quoque tempore regni eius et alius Heremita in deserto
Arabiæ, quem etiam quasi pro deuotione frequentare solebat, ducens secum
aliquos de principibus et famlia. Super quo plures eorum attediati
tractabant occidere Heremitan. [Sidenote: Occasio vina, interdicendi
Sarracenis.] Accedit tandem vna noctium, vt rex Heremitam et seipsum
inebriaret, et inter loquendum ambo consopiti dormirent. Et ecce habita
occasione comites gladio de latere Regis clam extracto Heremitam
interfecerunt, iterum clam condentes cruentum gladium in vagina: ac ille
euigilans virum videns occisum, magno furore succensus imposuit familiæ
factum, volens omnes per iustitiam condemnari ad mortem. Cumque coram
iudicibus et sapientibus ageretur, hi omnes pari concordia, simili voce, et
vno ore testabantur tam diuisim quam coniunctim, Regem in ebrietate sua
hominem occidisse, quamuis fortassis esset facti oblitus. Et in plenariam
rei probationem, dixerunt ipsum reposuisse mucronem in loculo nudum
intersum, sed calido cruore madentem. Quo ita inuento, ac tantis rex
obrutus testificationibus nimiùm erubuit, plenè obmutuit, et confusus
recessit. Et ob hoc omnibus diebus suis vina bibere renunciauit: et in lege
sua à cunctis bibi vetuit, ac vniuersis bibentibus, colentibus, et
vendentibus maledixit. Cuius maledictio couertatur in caput eius, et in
verticem ipsius iniquitas eius descendat, cum de vino scriptum constet,
quòd Deum et homines lætificet. [Sidenote: Potus Sarracenorum.] Igitur de
eo Sarraceni in sua superstitione deuoti vinum non bibunt, quanquam plures
eorum quòd timent in publico non verentur in secreto.
Est autem communis potus eorum dulcis, delectabilis, et nutritiuus de
Casaniel confectus, de qua et Saccarum fieri solet.
[Sidenote: Alias Mecca.] Mahometus iste post mortem suam pessimam (mors
enim peccatorum pessima) conditus fuit honorificè in capsa, ditissimo auro,
et argento, et saxis perornata in vna ciuitate regni sui Arabiæ, vbi et pro
sancto, et vero Dei nuncio incepit deuotè coli à suis per annos ducentos
sexaginta, atque ex tunc circa annum Domini nongentissimum cum veneratione
multa cadauer eius translatum est, in digniorem ciuitatem dictam Merchuel
Iachrib, vbi iam longe lateque pro maximo sanctorum, à cordibus à diabolica
fraude deceptis colitur, requiritur et adoratur.
[Sidenote: Oregus a Templarijs proditus.] In ipsius translatione ipsa
ciuitas restaurabatur, et firmabatur multò honorificentiùs, et fortiùs
destructione sua, quæ per Carolum magnum Regem Franciæ antea fuit plenè
annihilata, dum Ogerus dux Danorum præfatus in ea tenebatur captiuus, quem
Templarij ad filios Brehir Regis Sarracenorum cum traditione vendiderant,
eò quòd ipse Ogerus dictum Brehir in proelio occiderat, iuxta Lugdunum
Franciæ ciuitatem. Et si quando nationis alterius quis ad legem conuertitur
Sarracenorum, dum a flamine eorum recipiendus est, dicit et facit eum Dei
nuncium, et repetit sic: Lællech ella alla Mahomet zoyzel alla heth: quod
valet tantum: Non est Deus nisi vnus, et Mahomet fuit eius nuncius.
CAPVT. 23.
De colloquio Authoris cum Soldano.
Finaliter Sarraceni ponunt Iudæos malos, eò quod legem Dei violauerunt sibi
missam, et commissam per Mosem. Et à simili probant Christianos malos, quod
non seruant legem Euangelij Christi, quam seruandam susceperint. [Sidenote:
Error eorum qui putant vnumquemque in sua religione posse beari.] Inest
enim ijs falsa persuasio ita vt putent vnumquemque in ea qua natus est
secta posse beari, si susceptam seruauerit illibatè: ideoque probant ab
opposito se esse bonos, quia, sicut dicunt, obseruant scripta legis
præcepta et ceremonias sancti libri sui à Deo sibi transmissi per beatum
nuncium suum Mahomet. Vnde et ego non tacebo quid mihi contigit.
Dominus Soldanus quodam die in castro, expulsis omnibus de camera sua, me
solùm retinuit secum tanquam pro secreto habendo colloquio. [Sidenote:
Colloquium Soldani cum Mandeuillo.] Consuetum enim est ijs eijcere omnes
tempore secretorum: qui diligenter à me interrogauit qualis esset
gubernatio vitæ in terra nostra, breuiter respondebam, bona, per Dei
gratiam, qui recepto hoc verbo dixit ita non esse. [Sidenote: Reprehensio
Sacerdotum.] Sacerdotes (inquit) vestri, qui seipsos exhibere deberent
alijs in exemplum, in malis iacent actibus, parùm curant de Templi
seruitio: habitu et studijs se conformant mundo: se inebriant vino,
continentiam infringentes, cum fraude negotiantes, ac praua principibus
consilia ingerentes. [Sidenote: Reprehensio vulgi iustissima.] Communis
quoque populus, dum festus diebus intendere deberent deuotioni in templo,
currit in hortis, in spectaculis, in tabernis vsque ad crapulam, et
ebrietatem, et pinguia manducans et bibens, ac in bestiarum morem, luxuriam
prauam exercens. [Sidenote: Vestimentorum varietas reprehensa.] In vsura,
dolo, rapina, furto, detractione, mendacio et periurio viuunt plures eorum
euidenter, ac si qui talia non agant, vt fatui reputantur, et pro nimia
cordis superbia nesciunt ad libitum excogitare, qualiter se velint habere,
mutando sibi indumenta, nunc longa, nunc curta nimis, quandoque ampla,
quandoque stricta vltra modum, vt in his singulis appareant derisi potiùs
quam vestiti: pileos quoque, calceos, caligas, corrigias sibi fabricante
exquisitas, cùm etiam è contra deberent secundùm Christi sui doctrinam
simplices, Deo deuoti, humiles, veraces, inuicem diligentes, inuicem
concordantes, et inluriam de facili remittentes. Scimus etiam eos propter
peccata sua perdidisse hanc terram optimam quam tenemus, nec timemus eam
amittere, quamdiu se taliter gubernant. Attamen non dubitamus, quin in
futurum per meliorem vitæ conuersatíonem merebuntur de nostris eam manibus
recuperare.
Ad hoc ego vltra confusus et stupefactus, nequiui inuenire responsum;
verebar enim obloqui veritati, quamuis ab Infidelis ore prolatæ, et vultu
præ rubore demisso percunctatus sum, Domine, salua reuerentia, qualiter
potestis ita plenè hoc noscere? De hominibus (ait) meis interdum mitto ad
modum Mercatorum per terras, et regiones Christianorum, cum Balsamo,
gemmis, sericis, ac aromatibus, ac per illos singula exploro, tam de statu
Imperatoris, ac Pontificum, Principum, ac Sacerdotum, quàm Prælatorum, nec
non æquora, prouincias, ac distinctiones earum.
Igitur peracta collocutione nostra satis producta, egressos principes in
cameram reuocauit, ex quibus quatuor de maioribus iuxta nos aduocans, fecit
eos expressè ac debitè, per singulas diuisiones in lingua Gallicana
destinguere per partes, et singuarum nomina partium, omnem regionem terræ
Angliæ, ac alias Christianorum terras multas, acsi inter nostros fuissent
nati, vel multo tempore conuersati.
Nam et ipsum Soldanum audiui cum ijs bene et directè loquentem idioma
Francorum. Itaque in omnibus his mente consternatus obmutui, cogitans, et
dolens de peccatis singulis, rem taliter se habere.
Nunc piè igitur (rogo) consideremus, et corde attendamus, quantæ sit
confusionis, et qualis opprobrij, dum Christiani nominis inimici nobis
nostra exprobrant crimina. [Sidenote: Insignis Mandeuilli peroratio.] Et
student quilibet in melius emendare, quatenus (Deo propitio) possit in
breui tempore, hæc, de qua loquimur, terra Deo delecta, hæc sacrosancta
terra, hæc filijs Dei promissa, nobis Dei adoptiuis restitui: vel certè,
quod magis exorandum est, ipsi Sarraceni ad fidem Catholicam, et
Christianam obedientiam, Ecclesiæ filijs aggregari, vt simul omnes per
Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum consubstantialem Dei filium perueniamus ad
coelestem Paradisum.
Explicit prima pars huius operis.
The English Version.
Betheleem is a litylle cytee, long and narwe and well walled, and in eche
syde enclosed with gode dyches; and it was wont to ben cleped Effrata; as
Holy Writt seythe, _Ecce audivimus cum in Effrata_; that is to seye, _Lo,
we herde him in Effrata_. And toward the est ende of the cytee, is a fulle
fair chirche and a gracyouse; and it hathe many toures, pynacles and
corneres, fulle stronge and curiously made: and with in that chirche ben 44
pyleres of marble, grete and faire. And betwene the cytee and the chirche
in the felde floridus; that is to seyne, the feld florisched: for als moche
as a fayre mayden was blamed with wrong, and sclaundred, that sche hadde
don fornycacioun; for whiche cause sche was demed to the dethe, and to be
brent in that place, to the whiche sche was ladd. And as the fyre began to
brenne about hire, sche made hire preyeres to oure Lord, that als wissely
as sche was not gylty of that synne, that he wold helpe hire, and make it
to be knowen to alle men, of his mercyfulle grace. And whan sche hadde thus
seyd, sche entred in to the fuyer: and anon was the fuyr quenched and oute:
and the brondes that weren brennynge, becomen rede roseres; and the brondes
that weren not kyndled, becomen white roseres, fulle of roses. And theise
weren the first roseres and roses, both white and rede, that evere ony man
saughe. And thus was this mayden saved be the grace of God. And therfore is
that feld clept the feld of God florysscht: for it was fulle of roses. Also
besyde the queer of the chirche, at the right syde, as men comen dounward
16 greces, [Footnote: Steps.] is the place where oure Lord was born, that
is fulle welle dyghte of marble, and fulle richely peynted with gold,
sylver, azure, and other coloures. And 3 paas besyde, is the crybbe of the
ox and the asse. And besyde that, is the place where the sterre fell, that
ladde the 3 kynges, Jaspar, Melchior and Balthazar: but men of Grece clepen
hem thus, Galgalathe, Malgalathe and Saraphie: and the Jewes clepen in this
manere, in Ebrew, Appelius, Amerrius and Damasus. Theise 3 kynges offreden
to oure Lord, gold, ensence and myrre: and thei metten to gedre, thorghe
myracle of God; for thei metten to gedre in a cytee in Ynde, that Men
clepen Cassak, that is 53 journeyes fro Betheleem; and thei weren at
Betheleem the 13 day. And that was the 4 day aftre that thei hadden seyn
the sterre, whan they metten in that cytee: and thus thei weren in 9 dayes,
fro that cytee at Betheleem; and that was gret myracle. Also undre the
cloystre of the chirche, be 18 degrees, at the righte syde, is the
charnelle of the innocentes, where here bones lyzn. And before the place
where oure Lord was born, is the tombe of Seynt Jerome, that was a preest
and a cardynalle, that translatede the Bible and the psaultere from Ebrew
in to Latyn: and witheoute the mynstre; is the chayere that he satt in,
whan he translated it. And faste besyde that chirche, a 60 fedme,
[Footnote: Fathom.] is a chirche of Seynt Nicholas, where oure Lady rested
hire, aftre sche was lyghted of oure Lord. And for as meche as sche had to
meche mylk in hire pappes, that greved hire, sche mylked hem on the rede
stones of marble; so that the traces may zit be sene in the stones alle
whyte. And zee schulle undrestonde, that alle that duellen in Betheleem ben
Cristene men. And there ben fayre vynes about the cytee, and gret plentee
of wyn, that the Cristene men han don let make. But the Sarazines ne tylen
not no vynes, ne thei drynken no wyn. For here bokes of here lawe, that
Makomete betoke hem, whiche thei clepen here Alkaron, and sume clepen it
Mesaphe; and in another langage it is cleped Harme; and the same boke
forbedethe hem to drinke wyn. For in that boke, Machomete cursed alle tho
that drynken wyn, and alle hem that sellen it. For sum men seye, that he
sloughe ones an heremyte in his dronkenesse, that he loved ful wel: and
therefore he cursed wyn, and hem that drynken it. But his curs be turned in
to his owne hed; as Holy Wrytt seythe; _Et in verticem ipsius iniquitas
ejus descendet_; that is for to seye, _Hi wykkednesse schalle turne and
falle in his owne heed_. And also the Sarazines bryngen forthe no pigges,
nor thei eten no swynes flessche: for thei seye, it is brother to man, and
it was forboden be the olde lawe: and thei holden hem alle accursed that
eten there of. Also in the lond of Palestyne and in the lond of Egypt, thei
eten but lytille or non of flessche of veel or of beef; but he be so old,
that he may no more travayle for elde; for it is forbode: and for because
the have but fewe of hem, therfore thei norisschen hem, for to ere here
londes. In this cytee of Betheleem was David the kyng born: and he hadde 60
wyfes; and the firste wyf hihte Michol: and also he hadde 300 lemmannes.
An fro Betheleem unto Jerusalem nys but 2 myle. And in the weye to
Jerusalem, half a myle fro Betheleem is a chirche, where the aungel seyde
to the scheppardes, of the birthe of Crist. And in that weye is the tombe
of Rachelle, that was Josephes modre, the patriarke; and sche dyede anon,
aftre that sche was delyvered of hire sone Beniamyn; and there sche was
buryed of Jacob hire husbonde: and he leet setten 12 grete stones on here,
in tokene that sche had born 12 children. [Footnote: Rachel had only two
children, but twelve grandchildren.] In the same weye, half myle fro
Jerusalem, appered the sterre to the 3 kynges. In that weye also ben manye
chirches of Cristen men, be the whiche men gon towardes the cytee of
Jerusalem.
Of the Pilgrimages in Jerusalem and of the Holy Places thereaboute.
[Sidenote: Cap. VII.] After for to speke of Jerusalem, the holy cytee, zee
schulle undirstonde, that it stont fulle faire betwene hilles: and there
ben no ryveres ne welles; but watre comethe be condyte from Ebron. And zee
schulle undirstonde, that Jerusalem of olde tyme, unto the tyme of
Melchisedeche, was cleped Jebus; and aftre it was clept Salem, unto the
tyme of Kyng David, that putte theise 2 names to gidere, and cleped it
Jebusalem; and aftre that Kyng Salomon cleped it Jerosoloyme: and aftre
that, men cleped it Jerusalem; and so it is cleped zit. And aboute
Jerusalem is the kyngdom of Surrye: and there besyde is the lond of
Palestyne: and besyde it is Ascolone: and besyde that is the lond of
Maritaine. But Jerusalem is in the lond of Judee; and it is clept Jude, for
that Judas Machabeus was kyng of that contree; and it marchethe estward to
the kyngdom of Arabye; on the southe syde, to the lond of Egipt; and on the
west syde, to the grete see; on the north syde, towarde the kyngdom of
Surrye, and to the See of Cypre. In Jerusalem was wont to be a patriark,
and erchebysshoppes and bisshoppes abouten in the contree. Abouten
Jerusalem ben theise cytees: Ebron, at 7 myle; Jerico, at 6 myle; Bersabee,
at 8 myle; Ascalon, at 17 myle; Jaff, at 16 myle; Ramatha, at 3 myle; and
Betheleem, at 2 myle. And a 2 myle trom Betheleem, toward the sowthe, is
the chirche of Seynt Karitot, that was abbot there; for whom thei maden
meche Doel [Footnote: Mourning.] amonges the monkes, whan he scholde dye;
and zit thei ben in moornynge, in the wise that thei maden here
lamentacioun for him the firste tyme: and it is fulle gret pytee to
beholde.
This contree and lond of Jerusalem hathe ben in many dyverse naciounes
hondes: and often therfore hathe the contree suffred meche tribulacioun,
for the synne of the people, that duellen there. For that contree hathe ben
in the hondes of alle nacyouns: that is to seyne, of Jewes, of Chananees,
Assiryenes, Perses, Medoynes, Macedoynes, of Grekes, Romaynes, of Cristene
men, of Sarazines, Barbaryenes, Turkes, Tartaryenes, and of manye othere
dyverse nacyouns. For God wole not, that it be longe in the hondes of
trytoures ne of synneres, be thei Cristene or othere. And now have the
hethene men holden that lond in here hondes 40 zeere and more: but thei
schulle not holde it longe, zif God wole.