The tragedies of tyrants Exercised upon the church of God, from the birth of…The tragedies of tyrantes Exercised vpon the church of God, from the birth of…

Machomet that false prophet and¹ murderous seducer of the world, had persuaded his Saracens, that they are the true children & heirs of Sarah wife to Abraham, and that in respect thereof: belonged unto them all the promises made unto Abraham, namely that his seed should rule all the world, and therefore he exhorted the Saracens that taking weapon in hand, they should valiantly assay to possess all the kingdoms of the world as their own inheritance.

Machomet that false prophet and¹ murdrous seductour of the worlde, had persuaded his Sarracens, that they are the true children & heiers of sarra wife to Abraham, and that in respect therof: béelonged vnto them all the promises made vnto Abraham, namely that his séede should rule all the world, and therfore hée exhorted the Sarracens that takyng weapon in hand, they should valyently assay to possesse al the kingdoms of the world as their owne inheritaunce.

1. 1What the Saracens were.What the Sarracens were.

The Saracens were a barbarous and rough people of Arabia, which before that time were called Agareni, the same receiving stipend of the Romans, fought under them in the war against the Persians. But when he which bare the name of general, & had the charge of the army in giving them their pay, had reproachfully called them dogs, saying: who shall give money enough to this company of dogs: they revolted from y• Romans, and being persuaded by Homer their ⟨image 59⟩chieftain: they chose Machomet to be¹ their prince, specially since he had persuaded them that they should not be called Agareni of Hagar the handmaid, but rather Sarraceni of Sarah the lawful wife, by reason whereof, as it is said, they were the Lords, and heirs of all kingdoms. These things were done in the year of Christ. 623. But this seditious, murderous, and wicked villain Machomet, so soon as he had obtained the Empire: began to enlarge and set forth his abominable religion with the sword, and to enforce men to receive it, persecuting also and oppressing the true Christian faith. And for the better ratifying hereof, he continued in this travail the space of. 9. years unto the year of our Lord. 632. Unto all that would follow his religion he promised felicity, glory, Empire, victory, riches, and after this life the pleasure of Paradise. And by this means he gat unto him great multitudes of men, specially when at the beginning things prospered so well with him, for why, the common people followeth good fortune