"In 1632, it was published at Cologne with a new title; and in 1658 at Liege, but very much altered. Wading (Bibl. Ord. Min.) has given a catalogue of Albizzi's other works, which has been copied by Casimir, Oudin, and Fabricius."
A Venice edition, then, it would appear according to this writer, is the original edition; and that of Milan, 1510, is but the second. Will any one give me some accurate information on this point? Brunet and the publishers of the various editions of "L'Alcoran," seem quite ignorant of the existence of any edition previous to that of Milan, 1510.
DR. ERASMUS ALBER, the compiler of the Alcoranus Franciscorum, was "a warm friend and violent partizan of Luther; his chief characteristic is severe, but broad, coarse satire."
The Amsterdam edition of 1734 commences the 1st vol. with a preface in French, by Conrad Badius, which is succeeded by one from Luther in Latin: at the end of the same vol. occurs another and longer Præfatio Martini Lutheri, Germanico libello præfixa utcumque translata; then follow Typographus Lectori, and Ex Epistola Erasmi Alberi, qui hunc libellum ex detestando illo Conformitatum volumine contexuit.
To any one who is acquainted with the Book of Conformities, which has been justly denominated THESAURUS BLASPHEMIÆ, the propriety and aptness of the title of THE FRANCISCAN KORAN is very obvious. Luther (and there seems no reason to doubt the genuineness of these prefaces), after commenting on the expressions used in this book with reference to our Blessed Lord, and the great exemplar of the "minors" and "minims," observes:
"Hinc sequitur quod Christus veluti figura Francisci, nihil fit amplius: id QUOD TURCI SENTIUNT. At figuratus ille Franciscus, omnia est in omnibus. Ex quo jam altera hæresis manat, quod Franciscum, ut verum Messiam, Mediatorem, Advocatum ac Patronum invocunt, et vitam æternam ab ipso petunt."
ALBER, after quoting some of the Conformities, adds—
"Et, ut paucis dicam, Christus nihil fecit quod non item Franciscus fecerit, et longe plura etiam. Itaque et in Alcorano Franciscanorum sæpe reperitur, Franciscum Christo esse SIMILEM. Nam quod sit SUPRA CHRISTUM, perquam vellent quidem dicere, sed diabolis metuit ne nimium se prodat et agnosci possit."
The mere facts of this monstrous book having been written, approved by the highest authority, and for a century and a half receiving universal applause (with the exception perhaps of a few jealous Dominicans), nay, the mere toleration of such a book, would have been amply sufficient to show the corruption of the Western Church, and call loudly for reformation. This—
"Abominationem [says Luther] quam non ipsi solum exercuerunt ac in summo pretio habuerunt, sed ipse etiam Sanctissimus eam confirmavit, commendavit, privilegiis ornavit, ac omnibus Christe fidelibus pro focis et aris defendendam mandavit."