, called the Rosel who was wife to Sultan Solimam grandfather to
this emperour. The sayd Hospitall hath nought els woorthy mention, saue
that it is fairely built, and hath large reuenues belonging thereunto, and
nourisheth many poore people. A mile from the city are certaine houses
whereof they affirme one to be the same, where Mahumet in his lifetime
dwelt. This house hath on euery side very many faire date trees, amongst
which there are two which grow out of one stocke exceeding high, and these,
they say, their Prophet graffed with his owne hand: the fruit thereof is
alwayes sent to Constantinople, to be presented vnto the Grand Signior, and
is sayd to be that blessed fruit of the Prophet. Nere vnto the date trees
is a faire fountaine of cleere and sweet water, the which by a conduct pipe
is brought into the city of Medina. Also there is a little Mosquita,
wherein three places are counted holy, and greatly reuerenced: the first
they affirme, that their Prophet made his first prayer in, after he knew
God: the second is that whither he went when he would see the holy house of
Abraham, where when he sate down to that intent, they say the mountaines
opened from toppe to bottome to shew him the house, and after closed againe
as before: the third holy place is in the midst of the sayd Mosquita, where
is a tombe made of lime and stone fouresquare, and full of sand, wherein,
they say, was buried that blessed camel which Mahumet was alwayes woont to
ride vpon. On the other side of the city are other tombes of holy
Mahumetans, and euery one or them hath a tombe built vpon foure pillers,
amongst which three were the companions of Mahumet, to wit, Abubacar;
Ottoman, and Omar; all which are visited of the pilgrims as holy places.

The offering of the vestures vnto the sepulchres.

The Carouan being come to Medina two houres before day, and resting there
till the euening, the captaine then with his company and other pilgrims
setteth forward, with the greatest pompe possible: and taking with him the
vesture which is made in maner of a pyramis, with many other of golde and
silke, departeth, going thorow the midst of the city, vntill he come to the
Mosquita, where hauing praied, he presenteth vnto the tombe of his prophet
(where the eunuchs receiuing hands are ready) the vesture for the sayd
tombe: and certaine eunuchs entring in take away the old vesture, and lay
on the new, burning the olde one, and diuiding the golde thereof into