ine of pardons, they returne the way they came vnto Mina,
whereof wee haue made mention. In returning at the end of the plaine are
the abouesaid 4. pillers, to wit, two on ech side of the way, through the
midst whereof they say it is needfull that euery one passe, saying, that
who so passeth without looseth all that merit which in his pilgrimage he
had gotten. Also from the mountaine of pardons vntill they be passed the
said pillers none dare looke backward, for feare least the sinnes which he
hath left in the mountains returne to him againe. Being past these pillers
eueryone lighteth downe, seeking in this sandy field 50. or 60. litle
stones, which being gathered and bound in an hankerchiffe they carry to the
abouesaid place of Mina, where they stay 5. dayes, because at that time
there is a faire free and franke of al custome. And in this place are other
3. pillers, not together, but set in diuers places, where (as their prophet
saith) were the three apparitions which the diuel made vnto Abraham, and to
Ismael his sonne; for amongst them they make no mention of Isaac, as if he
had neuer bene borne. So they say, that the blessed God hauing commanded
Abraham his faithfull seruant to sacrifice his first begotten Ismael, the
old Abraham went to do according to God's wil, and met with the infernall
enemie in the shape of a man, and being of him demanded whither he went, he
answered, that he went to sacrifice his sonne Ismael, as God had commanded
him. Against whom the diuel exclaiming said: Oh doting old man, sith God in
thine old age hath marueilously giuen thee this son (in whom all nations
shalbe blessed) wherefore giuing credite vnto vaine dreames, wilt thou kill
him whom so much thou hast desired, and so intirely loued. But Abraham
shaking him off proceeded on his way, whereupon the diuel seeing his words
could not preuaile with the father attempted the sonne, saying; Ismael,
haue regard vnto thyselfe betimes in this thing which is so dangerous.
Wherefore? answered the childe. Because (saith the diuel) thy doting father
seeketh to take away thy life. For what occasion, said Ismael? Because
(saith the enemie) he saith, that God hath commanded him. Which Ismael
hearing hee tooke vp stones and threw at him, saying, Auzu billahi minal
scia itanil ragini, which is to say, I defend me with God from the diuel
the offender, as who would say, wee ought to obey the commandement of God
and resist the diuel with al our force. But to r