(the Mahometans have five set times of prayer in a day), Omar told the patriarch that he had a mind to pray, and desired him to show him a place where he might perform his devotion.  The Patriarch bade him pray where he was; but this he positively refused.  Then taking him out from thence, the Patriarch went with him into Constantine’s Church, and laid a mat for him to pray there, but he would not.  At last he went alone to the steps which were at the east gate of St. Constantine’s Church, and kneeled by himself upon one of them.  Having ended his prayers, he sat down and asked the Patriarch if he knew why he had refused to pray in the church.  The Patriarch confessed that he could not tell what were his reasons.  “Why, then,” says Omar, “I will tell you.  You know I promised you that none of your churches should be taken away from you, but that you should possess them quietly yourselves.  Now If I had prayed in any one of these churches, the Mussulmans would infallibly take it away from you as soon as I had departed homeward.  And notwithstanding all you might allege, they would say, This is the place where Omar prayed, and we will pray here, too.  And so you would have been turned out of your church, contrary both to my intention and your expectation.  But because my praying even on the steps of one may perhaps give some occasion to the Mussulmans to cause you disturbance on this account, I shall take what care I can to prevent that.”  So calling for pen, ink, and paper, he expressly commanded that none of the Mussulmans should pray upon the steps in any multitudes, but one by one.  That they should never meet there to go to prayers; and that the muezzin, or crier, that calls the people to prayers (for the Mahometans never use bells), should not stand there.  This paper he gave to the patriarch for a security, lest his praying upon the steps of the church should have set such an example to the Mussulmans as might occasion any inconvenience to the Christians—­a noble instance of singular fidelity and the religious observance of a promise.  This Caliph did not think it enough to perform what he engaged himself, but used all possible diligence to oblige others to do so too.  And when the unwary patriarch had desired him to pray in the church, little considering what might be the consequence, the Caliph, well knowing how apt men are to be superstitious in the imitation of their princes and great men, especially such as they look upon to be successors of a prophet, made the best provision he could, that no pretended imitation of him might lead to the infringement of the security he had already given.