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)

to be Printed, nor are Christians permitted to enter into Mecca, least their absurdities and impieties of their Religion should be manifested, and thus are those silly souls kept in blindness and ignorance, and therefore I never read that any Nation did voluntarily receive the Alcoran except the theevish Sarcens of Arabia, because it was a friend both to their theevery and lechery, as permitting multiplicity of Wives and Concubins, and a reward for those that shall murther and rob.

5. The Alcoran is translated into French and other vulgar Tongues, and the chief heads thereof by Purchas in his Pilgrimage, by Heilin in his Geography, and by others into our own tongue without scruple or exception; and I pray you, why is the Arabick tongue, the language of that false Prophet, and in which he writ his Alcoran, so much learned and taught in Schools and hristian Universities, but that by it we may come to the knowledg of Mahomets Laws and Religion? and how should we know this little born in Daniel that spake high and proud things against the Almighty, if we read not his life and doctrine?

6. There is a kinde of necessity we should know evil as wel as good, falshood as well as truth, that we may avoid the one, and so much more love the other; he that hath smelled a stinking weede will smell with more delight the sweet Rose; he that reades the Alcoran will finde itsmell worse then Mahomets carkass did, which after his death lay putrifying upon the ground, which his disciples permitted for many dates together, hoping he would have been as good as his word, who made them a promise that he would rise again the third day; but at last finding he had forgot himself, and that his body smelled not so sweet as Alexanders did after his death, they were forced to bury it, or otherwayes the dogs who were beginning to bury him in their guts had saved them a labour; though Suger be sweet in it self, yet it is much more sweet to him that hath tasted Aloes, and though Italy in it self be a delicious Countrey, and garden of the world, yet it is much more delightful, pleasant, and beautiful, to him who hath passed over the mountainous, craggy, and rugged Alpes: Did not the Prodigal love the bread of his fathers house evermore the better after he had been fed on husks with swine? doubtless we shall finde, that after we have