Alexander Ross, The Alcoran of Mahomet, translated out of Arabick into French, by the Sieur Du Ryer, Lord of Malezair, and resident for the French king, at Alexandria. And newly Englished, for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities. (1649)

presence, fell into that distemper, and at the departure of the Divine Ambassador, recovered its former condition. His wife believing this, was not wanting to divulge the rare qualities of her husband, his admirable sanctity, and frequent converse with the Angel, which gained him the esteeme of a Prophet in his own house, and reverence among his Neighbours.

That this Infant-repute of his Holiness might be the better strengthned, Mahomet thought it requisite to promulgate some Chapters of his Alcoran (as a Remonstrance of his Commission) which as he saw occasion, he shaped (though ill-favourebly) to his designs, giving out that he received them from the Angel Gabriel, as the Counsell and precepts of God, who for that he had not saved men, either by the Law of Moses, the Psalmes of David, or the Gospel of Jesus Christ, did now promise them infallible Salvation by the means of the Alcoran, which though rudely, yet cunningly contrived, as complying with the loose humor of the Arabians, enjoying nothing strict or burthensome, but leaving all to liberty; as the sole means to allure them to a belief of it, induced first the Parents and allies of his wife, then the more ignorant and meaner sort to embrace it, and esteeme Mahomet as the Messenger of God sent to guide them into eternall felicity, and the enjoyment of Paradise, which the easier to ensnare them, he fained to be fully of such pleasures as fall under sense, and a plentifull fruition of those delights, that in those more barren and desert parts of Arabia they exceedingly wanted.

Having thus drawn to his devotion, a numerous, though vulgar party of the people, who in opinion of this prophetical