Gods arrow against atheists. By Henry SmithGods arrovve against atheists. By Henrie Smith

Not long after his master died without issue, and his servant Mahomet matched with his mistress, a widow of fifty years of age, called Eadigam, and (saith Paulus Diaconus) his own kinswoman: so that his master being of credit and substance,¹ and his mistress (afterwards his wife) of no less account, and also shortly after departing this life, he succeedeth them both in credit, and all their substance, and by this means grew of great power and estimation.

Not long after his maister died without issue, and his seruant Mahomet matched with his mistresse, a widowe of fiftie yéeres of age, called Eadigam, and (saith Paulus Diaconus) his owne kinswoman: so that his maister béeing of credite and substance,¹ and his mistresse (afterwards his wife) of no lesse account, and also shortly after departing this life, hée succéedeth them both in credit, and al their substance, and by this meanes grew of great power and estimation.

1. 1Paul. Dial rer. Rom. lib. 18.Paul. Dia• rer. Rom. lib. 18.

Diaconus further saith, that this Mahomet for the space of ten years gave himself secretly by persuasion to bewitch the people, and other ten years after, with Rogues 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 a king over those whom he had already infected throughout Arabia.

Diaconus further sayth, that this Mahomet for the space of tenne yéeres gaue himself secretly by perswasion to bewitch the people, and other tenne yéeres after, with Rogues and vagabonds that repayred vnto him, with force of Armes, with sworde, and shedding of bloud, hée spent in subduing of Countryes: And lastly, nine yéeres hée openly and manifestly enioyed as a deceiuer, a false Prophet, and a king ouer those whome hée had already infected throughout Arabia.