_Qui legis, et frueris, feceris esse tuum._
Londini: Typis Johannis Legati, et venundantur per Thomam Underhill
sub signo Biblii in vico Anglice dicto Woodstreet. MDCXLIX.”
Here we have the very useful addition that it was published by Thomas
Underhill, of Wood Street.
(preface _pp._ vii‒viii). “... That such a wide-reaching, learned,
and varied work should have been allowed to remain unappreciated and
utterly ignored for more than two hundred and fifty years is certainly
a very surprising literary fact....
“The critics seem to have been both blind and deaf. They gave no
encouraging praise, and no disheartening condemnation. They simply took
no notice. And so this great work of seventeenth-century art vanished
from the sight of men. A few copies were put away in college libraries,
where they rested for years undisturbed and dust-covered in their
original positions, and have so continued to rest for two centuries and
a half, lost to the world.”
(_p._ 18). “There is a spirit of pure, lofty, and unselfish morality
evident throughout all the various scenes of this interesting and
unaffected book. It shows us the brightest, strongest elements of
God-fearing Puritanism;...” “Here are the lyric songs from ‘the
law and prophets,’ Abraham’s meditation on the Mount Moriah, Cain’s
lamentations for Abel, David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan, and many a
noble ode from the Psalms and short epics from Job....” “Here Truth and
Justice and the Fear of God are all placed on the high pedestals they
so well deserve; and there is withal a kindly insistence everywhere on
those great teachings which tend to make life more abounding in hope,
more perfect in self-restraint and more lifted-up in spirit.”
All these ideas are Hebrew, and characteristically Biblical. But the
most curious fact, from our point of view, is that this work contains
a description of the Ideal State on Mount Zion. Of course, the tendency
is thoroughly Christian, but it is that kind of Christianity which is
inspired by the Old Testament and by a sentiment of love for the old
Jewish nation and the Holy Land. This book is the poetical expression
of the Restoration ideas of the seventeenth century. It begins with a
description of the springtime in New Jerusalem, “the city with twelve
gates” (Ezekiel xlviii. 31), and “a virgin who held in her right
hand a golden rod, and in her left the two tables of the Law.” The
tourist-visitors, “two Englishmen and the third a Sicilian,” are told
that “it is the anniversary of the founding of the city and the virgin
you saw represented Zion, or, as they say, the Daughter of Zion.”
“They” evidently refers to the Jews.
Strangers are received with remarkable hospitality (as in Herzl’s
_Altneuland_).
(_p._ 86). “But Jacob, for that was the old man’s name, urged him all
the more, ‘Come, come,’ said he, ‘it is a national duty with us to
treat strangers with kindness, not unmindful that we too, long ago,
were strangers in Egypt, and since then for a long time strangers and
wanderers among all the nations of the earth. But now we call none
aliens from Israel....’”
(_p._ 88). “We are now very close on the fiftieth year since our long
and widely-scattered nation was restored to its present wonderful
prosperity.” The old Jew then explains the system of education
adopted in the new country, a system of physical development and moral
integrity.
Joseph, who is one of the tourists and the hero of the romance,
indulges in songs of Zion.
(_pp._ 175‒6) “O sacred top of Solyma,
How lovely is thy place
Where stands the city of our King
Where faithful saints rejoice and sing
O mercy, love and grace!
“For there our greater Temple stands
With greater glory blest
And there redeemed from alien lands,
Brought back at last by God’s own hands,
His Israel finds her rest.”
Here the translator remarks:
(_p._ 177) note i.: “How many sighs and prayers have gone up from the
dispersed children of Zion in Russian Poland, in Galicia, in Roumania
and by the old broken wall of Jerusalem in these latter days! What
longing for this ‘antepast of Heaven’ that Joseph here speaks of!
What passionate desire for that time, when the children of Zion
should no longer have to sing ‘the Lord’s song in a strange land’!
Is this century to see the Zionists in possession again of their Holy
City――their longed-for Salem, the ‘Vision,’ the ‘Foundation,’ the
‘Inheritance’ of Peace, as expositors have variously entitled it? Who
can say? From a practical point of view the prospect somehow fails
to charm; but when I view it in theory, it seems as if the justice
of the world as well as the justice of the Eternal One would be nobly
consummated by such a termination to an earthly pilgrimage of nigh two
thousand years.”
The anonymous author proceeds to describe the old-new home, and the
people, new-born in benevolence, piety and purity, with their national
distinctiveness, and the two tables of the Law. Thus, with all his
honest and deep Christian convictions and belief in the final triumph
of his religious ideas, he recognizes the right of the Jewish nation
to have their country and to remain faithful to their traditions.
This strange romance, after all sorts of philosophical reflections and
sketches of various adventures in Sicily and elsewhere, comes back to
Zion to sing the songs of the Old Testament in Latin verse in a way
which shows that the author had the rhythm and atmosphere of Biblical
poetry to perfection, and also that his views were much more in harmony
with the notions of that time than with modern conceptions. The whole
work is inspired by great enthusiasm for Israel’s glory, and abounds
with sympathy and admiration for the Jewish nation.
Begley, who was a man of profound knowledge and an authority on matters
of composition and style, ascribes this work to Milton. If this view
be accepted, then to this poet’s glory must be added a further claim
to immortality, because he was the first poet who expounded――from a
Christian point of view――the idea of Israel’s Restoration in the form
of a poetical romance. But from our point of view it does not matter
whether Milton was the author, or another poet; the fact remains that
this remarkable work is English and appeared in England in 1648.
XIV.
“PRÆDAMITÆ――MEN BEFORE ADAM,” BY ISAAC DE LA PEYRÈRE¹
¹ Account of Peyreyra, Author of “Præadamitæ,” “Rappel des
Juifs,” &c. Translated from “Lettres Choisies de M.
[Richard] Simon, (1638 ‒1721) ou l’on trouve un grand nombre
de Faits et Anecdotes de Literature. Rotterdam 1702.”
(Gentleman’s Magazine, vol. lxxxii., November, 1812, _pp._
432‒434; and vol. lxxxiii., June, 1813, _pp._ 614‒616.)
Another of his famous works, also published anonymously, was:――
Præadamitæ. | Sive | Exercitatio | super Versibus duodecimo,
decimotertio, & | decimoquarto, capitis quinti Epistolæ | D. Pauli ad
Romanos. | Qvibvs Indvcvntvr | Primi Homines ante Adamum | conditi. |
Anno Salvtis, | M.DC.LV. |
(_4to._ 22 _ll._ + 297 + 8 _pp._ [Synagogis Ivdæorvm Vniversis.]) [I. S.]
In the following year it was translated into English:――
_Men before Adam._ | Or | A Discourse upon the twelfth, | thirteenth,
and fourteenth Verses | of the Fifth Chapter of the Epistle | of the
Apostle _Paul_ to the | Romans. |
_By which are prov’d_, | That the first Men were crea-|ted before
Adam. |
London, | Printed in the Year, 1656. |
(8º. 8 _ll._ + 61 _pp._ + 9 _pp._ + 35 _ll._) [I. S.]
_The End of the first Part_ (No more published)
_sig._ A.4. “To all the Synagogues to the Jews, dispersed over the face
of the Earth.”
_sig._ M.8. “Terræ Sanctæ Delineatio” (A map of the Holy Land).¹
¹ In another issue in the same year the eight preliminary
leaves are from another press. [I. S.]
XV.
ISAAC VOSSIUS
ISAAC VOSSIUS was born at Leyden in Holland, one of the sons of the
renowned scholar Gerard John Vossius by his second wife Elizabeth,
daughter of Francis du Jon (Junius) (1545‒1602), French theologian
and philologist. All the sons were precocious scholars, but Isaac was
undoubtedly the most eminent.... He was invited by Queen Christina of
Sweden, one of the most erudite women of her time, to come and shed the
lustre of his learning upon Stockholm. He arrived towards the end of
1649, was appointed a Court Chamberlain, and taught the Queen Greek.
In 1650 he sold her his father’s library for twenty thousand florins,
with the stipulation that he received five thousand florins yearly with
board and residence for its superintendence. In 1652 owing to certain
differences he left Sweden. In 1655 Manasseh Ben Israel dedicated to
him:――
אבן יקרה | Piedra Gloriosa | O | De La | Estatua | De | Nebuchadnesar. |
_Con muchas y diversas authoridades | de la S.S. y antiguos sabios._ |
Compuesto por el Hacham | Menasseh Ben Israel. | Amsterdam An. 5415. |
(_12mo._ 6 _ll._ + 259 _pp._ + 3 _ll._ + 4 etchings at _pp._ 5, 87,
160, 180.) [I. S.]
“_All muy noble y doctissimo Señor_ Isaco Vossio, Gentil hombre de la
camara de su Magestad, La Reyna de Svedia.
_Muy noble y doctissimo Señor, ... Intimo amigo y afficionado servidor
de V. M._,
Menasseh ben Ysrael.
_Amsterdam 25. de Abril, An. 5415._”
In a list of Manasseh’s works at the end of the volume, it is
catalogued “Piedra preciosa; o de la Estatua de Nebuchadnesar, donde
se sexpone lo mas essencial del libro de Daniel.” It was for this small
volume that Rembrandt designed and etched four illustrations.¹
¹ Rembrandt’s etchings for the Piedra Gloriosa, by [Dr.]
I[srael] A[brahams] [M.A.], with facsimiles, Jewish
Chronicle, 13 July, 1906, _pp._ 39‒40: The second series of
illustrations for the Piedra Gloriosa of Manasseh Ben Israel,
by Israel Solomons, _ibid._, July 27, _p._ 31.
Vossius was created D.C.L. at Oxford in 1670, and installed to a
prebend in the royal chapel at Windsor in 1673, which was presented
to him by Charles II. (1630‒1685), and died at Windsor 21 Feb., 1688.
He had accumulated the finest private library in the world, including
762 manuscripts. It was sold at Leyden in 1710 for thirty-six thousand
florins. A large number of original letters of Vossius are preserved at
the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
XVI.
“DOOMES-DAY”
Doomes-Day: | Or, | The great Day of the Lord’s Iudgement, | proved by
Scripture; and two other Prophecies, | the one pointing at the yeare
1640. the other at this | present yeare 1647. to be even now neer at
hand.
With | The gathering together of the Jews in great Bodies | under
_Josias Catzius_ (in _Illyria_, _Bithinia_, and _Cappadocia_) | for the
conquering of the Holy Land. | ...
London, | Printed for W. Ley. 1647
(_4to._ 1 _l._ + 6 _pp._) [I. S.]
(_p._ 2) “... even those people the Jewes, according to certaine and
credible information, are at this time [* Under _Josias Catzius_,
and according to Letters from beyond the Seas, they are numerous, and
shew themselves in great bodies in Illyria, Bethinia and Cappadocia.]
assembling themselves together into one body from out of all countreys,
whereinto they have been driven with a resolution to regaine the holy
land once more out of the hand of the _Ottaman_:”¹
¹ _Notes and Queries_, 10. S. IV., _pp._ 10 & 77, JOSIAS CATZIUS.
XVII.
“RESTAURATION OF _ALL_ ISRAEL _AND_ JUDAH”
_A Paper, shewing that the great Conversion and Restauration of all_
Israel _and_ Judah _will be fulfilled at Christs second comming;
and that the_ New Jerusalem, _called_ Jehovah Shamma, _described by_
Ezekiel, chap. 40. _to the end of the Book, is most probably then to
be set up, and is referred to the same time_, &c., May 1. 1674.
(_4to._ 8 _ll._) [I. S.]
XVIII.
“APOLOGY FOR THE HONORABLE NATION OF THE JEWS――APOLOGIA POR LA
NOBLE NACION DE LOS IVDIOS――VERANTWOORDINGE VOOR DE EDELE VOLCKEN
DER JOODEN,” BY EDWARD NICHOLAS
An | Apology | For The | Honorable Nation | Of The | Jews, | And all
the Sons of | Israel.
Written by _Edward Nicholas_, Gent. | ...
_London_, Printed by _John Field_, 1648. |
(_4to._ 15 _pp._)¹ [I. S.]
¹ This tract is alluded to in the concluding paragraph of
Manasseh Ben Israel’s “Humble Addresses,” but the author
has not yet been identified. He was at one time thought to
be Sir Edward Nicholas (1593‒1669), Secretary of State to
Charles I. and II., and it has even been stated that “Edward
Nicholas” was a pseudonym of Manasseh himself. (See _Jewish
Chronicle_, 9 Feb., 1906. “Edward Nicholas,” by Israel
Solomons.)
A Spanish translation was also published here:――
Apologia | _Por_ | La noble nacion de los | Ivdios | _y hijos de_ |
Israel. |
Escrita en Ingles | _Por_ | Eduardo Nicholas. |
E impresa en casa de Juan Field, en | Londres, |
Año ϲlͻ ϲlϲ XLIX. |
(_sm._ 8º. 8 _ll._) [I. S.]
Some years later a Dutch version was issued (Published together with
“De Hoop Van Israël” of Manasseh Ben Israel).
Verantwoordinge, | Voor | _De Edele Volcken der_ | Jooden, |
_En Kinderen van_ | Israel. |
In het Engels beschreven | Door | Eduardo Nicolas. |
_In’t Nederduyts overgeschreven | en gedruckt._ |
t’Amsterdam, | Voor Jozua Rex, Bœck-binder, | op de Cingel, recht over
de Appelen-marreckt | in’t Jaer 1666. |
(_12mo._ 1 _l._ + 26 _pp._ + 1 _l._) [I. S.]
XIX.
“A WORD FOR THE ARMIE,” BY HUGH PETERS
“A word for the | Armie. | And two words to the | Kingdome. | To |
Cleare the One, | And cure the Other. |
Forced in much plainesse and bre-|vity from their faithfull Servant, |
Hugh Peters. | ....
London, | Printed by _M. Simmons_ for _Giles Calvert_ at the black |
_Spread-Eagle_ at the West end of _Pauls_, 1647. |
(_4to._ 14 _pp._) [I. S.]
_sig._ B2. “IO{LY}. That Merchants may have all the manner of
encouragement, the law of Merchants set up, and strangers, even
_Jewes_ admitted to trade, and live with us, that it may not be
said we pray for their conversion, with whom we will not converse,
wee being all but strangers on the Earth.”
XX.
ISAAC DA FONSECA ABOAB
HE was the son of David Aboab and Isabel _da_ Fonseca. To distinguish
him from his contemporary Isaac _de_ Matatiah Aboab, he is generally
alluded to as “Fonseca Aboab.” He was born at Castrodagre, Portugal,
and brought to Amsterdam as a child, where he became a pupil of _Haham_
Isaac (_ob._ 1622) _de_ Abraham Uziel. In 1623 he was the _Haham_
of the _Nevé Shalom_, the second synagogue established in Amsterdam.
In 1642 he emigrated to Pernambuco (Recife) in Brazil, where he was
_Haham_ until he returned to Amsterdam in 1654. (In 1640 Manasseh
himself had intended going out to Brazil to join his brother Ephraim
Soeiro¹ in business.) During Aboab’s _Rabbinate_ there was war between
the Dutch and Portuguese for possession of the colony, which he
describes in _Hebrew_ verse, still in manuscript. He was the first
_Rabbi_ and the first _Hebrew_ Author in the New World. It has been
alleged, that in his declining years he was a secret votary of Sabbatai
Zebi. He was a great-grandson of the last _Gaon_ of Castile, the
Isaac Aboab (1433‒1493) who wrote a super-commentary to Nachmanides’
commentary on the Pentateuch, printed in Constantinople in 1525.
_Rabbi_ Abraham _de_ Samuel Zacuto, the author of the _Juchasin_, was
one of his pupils, and on his death delivered the funeral oration.
¹ Ephraim had evidently discarded his surname of “Ben-Israel”
for “Soeiro,” that of his maternal grandfather, who probably
left no male issue. In such cases, it was customary among
_Sephardi_ Jews for the second son of the eldest daughter
to use his mother’s maiden surname exclusively, or add it to
his own patronymic.
XXI.
DR. ABRAHAM ZACUTUS LUSITANUS
HE was one of the most eminent physicians of his time and the author
of many valuable works in connection with his profession. He was a
native of Lisbon and of _marrano_ origin. In the year 1625, when Philip
(1605‒1665) IV. of Spain (1621‒1665) and Portugal (1621‒1640) banished
the Jews from the latter kingdom, Zacutus escaped to Amsterdam from
the clutches of the Holy Office. Here he was initiated into the
_Abrahamic_ covenant and lived as an exemplary Jew. He was one of the
“Aprovaciones” of the first volume of the Conciliador “Sapientissimo
Viro, Domino Menasseh Ben Israel, sacrorum librorum eruditissimo
interpreti, Salvtem.... Amstelodami dié ultim. Mensis August. Anno.
1632.
Te summé colit, & observat,
Doctor Zacutus Lusitanus.”
Among his clientele he numbered the Elector Palatine Frederick V.
(1596‒1632), King of Bohemia (1619‒1620), and his consort Elizabeth
Stuart (1596‒1662), eldest daughter of James (1566‒1625) I., King
of England (1603‒1625). They were the parents of Sophia (1630‒1714),
Electress of Hanover, the mother of George (1660‒1727) I. (1714‒1727).
His great-grandfather was Abraham [Diogo Rodriguez] (1450?‒_post_ 1510)
_de_ Samuel _de_ Abraham Zacut, the astronomer, mathematician and
historian.
In 1473, while a professor in the University of his native town,
Salamanca, he wrote his world-famous: ביאור לוחות׃ [B. M.] (Astronomical
Tables), and here he became acquainted with Christopher Columbus
(1446?‒1506).
His pupil Joseph Vecinho (Vizino) [Diego Mendes], physician to João II.,
the Great (1455‒1495), King of Portugal (1481‒1495), translated the
work into Latin. It was printed by a Jew, Samuel D’Ortas, at Leiria in
1496, and entitled “Almanach Perpetuum.” Dr. Vecinho presented a copy
to Columbus, which he always carried with him and consulted on his
voyages, deriving invaluable help from it.
It was this very book that he used to predict the eclipse of the moon,
which so terrified the Indians in Jamaica that they became obedient to
him, and furnished his party food. After his death it was found in his
library. On the margins are calculations in his penmanship, which were
doubtless made to verify those of Zacuth.¹
¹ _The Authentic Letters of Columbus._ By William Eleroy
Curtis, ... Chicago, ... 1895, _pp._ 115‒116.
On the exile from Spain, 2 August, 1492, the author went to Lisbon,
where he was appointed astronomer and historiographer to João II.
He was of material assistance to the great navigator Vasco da Gama
(1460?‒1524), in preparation of his voyage to India. The ships were
provided with Zacuto’s newly perfected iron astrolabes, which hitherto
had been of wood. He was highly esteemed by da Gama, who took leave of
him on the 8 July, 1497, in the presence of his entire crew.
Portugal also expelled the Jews, so he fled with his son Samuel
to Tunis, and here in 1504 he wrote his famous ספר יוחסין which is a
chronological history of the Jews from the Creation up to 1500.
It was first printed in Constantinople in 1566 [B. M.], and an issue
edited by Herschell Filipowski (1817‒ 1872) was published in London in
1857, some copies of which were printed on vellum [B. M.]. Tunis being
invaded by Spain he emigrated to Turkey, where he died some time after
1510.
XXII.
JACOB JUDAH ARYEH D̅E LEON
_Haham_ Jacob Judah Aryeh _de_ Leon [Templo] of _marrano_ origin,
was born in Hamburgh in 1603. Here for some years he was teacher
in _Hebrew_ and _Rabbinics_ to the _Kahal Kadosh de Talmud Torah_.
Subsequently he was appointed _Haham_ of Middelburgh in Holland, where
in 1642 he published tracts in Spanish¹ and Dutch,² describing a model
he had constructed of Solomon’s Temple. Shortly after he settled in
Amsterdam and resumed his tutorial profession, and it was here that
a French version³ of the tract was published, and seven years later a
_Hebrew_ edition appeared,⁴ translated by the Author from his original
Spanish. Versions in German,⁵ Latin,⁶ and _Ladino_⁷ have also been
issued at various times. In anticipation of his visit to London to
exhibit his model before Charles II. (1630‒1685) and his Court, he
prepared an essay in English, which was printed and published in
Amsterdam,⁸ describing the model of Solomon’s Temple, and also that
of the Tabernacle of Moses, of which he had also constructed a model.
It was again on view here in the years 1759 and 1760.⁹ In 1778 it
was in the possession of a Mr. M. P. Decastro, who claimed to be a
near relation of _Haham de_ Leon. He exhibited the model here, and
translated and published the essay describing it,¹⁰ which he tells us
was “First printed in _Hebrew_ and Spanish.”¹¹
¹ Retrato Del Templo De Selomo.... _Compuesto, por_ Iaacob
Ievda Leon Hebreo, _vezino de Middelburgo, en la Provincia
de Zelanda_.
En el Año de 5402 ala creacion del Mundo.
En Middelbvrgo, En Casa de la Biuda y Heredeos de Symon
Moulert Imprimidor de los Estados de Zelanda. M.DC.XLII.
(_4to._ 4 _ll._ + 48 _pp._ [Bodleian.])
² Afbeeldinghe Vanden Tempel Salomonis, ... Door Iaacob Iehvda
Leon Ebreo.
Tot Middelburgh, By de Weduwe ende Erfsgenamen van Symon
Moulert, Ordinaris Drucker vande Ed: Mog: Heeren Staten van
Zeelandt. Anno 1642.
(_4to._ 4 _ll._ + 49 _pp._ + folded etching “El Templo de
Selomoh,” _etc._ _etc._ [B. M.])
Reissued at Amsterdam in 1644. [I. S.]
A fourth edition published at Amsterdam in 1669 [Bodleian].
³ Portraict dv Temple de Salomon, ... Composé par Iacob Iuda
Leon Hebreu, habitant de Middelbourg en la Province de
Zelande.
L’an de la creation du Monde 5403.
A Amsterdam, Imprimé chez Jean Frederick Stam, à l’Esperance,
ͻlͻ. lͻ. c. xliii. (_4to._ 6 _ll._ + 88 _pp._ [I. S.])
⁴ ספר תבנית היכל ... חברו בלשון לעז וגם העתיקו ללשון הקדש החכם ... כמהרר יעקב יהודה
ארי ... נדפס פה אמשטרדם שנת ה׳ בהיכל קֹדֹשׂוֹ ה׳ בשמים כסאו לפ״ק ...
(4ᵗᵒ 2 + לח _ll._ [i.s])
Two hundred and ten years later, it was reissued at
Warsaw with an “approbation” of Samuel Mohilewer, the
great Zionist, who at the time was Chief _Rabbi_ of
Suwalk.
⁵ Traktat des Jak. Jeh. Leonis von dem Tempel Salomonis. Aus
dem Holländischen ausgefertigt: Hannover, 1665, 8º.
(Bibliotheca Judaica.... Julius Fürst ... Leipzig ... 1849,
_p._ 232.)
⁶ Jacobi Jehvdæ Leonis De Templo Hierosolymitano, ... ex Ebræo
Latinè recensiti à Johanne Savberto ... Helmæstadt Impressit
Jacobvs Mvllervs ϲlͻ. lͻ ϲ. lxv.
(_4to._ Eng. Frontis. [Augustus ... Dux Brunovicensis et
Lunæburgensis ... Conr. Buno _fec._] + Eng. Title-page +
A‒D in _fours_ [c⁴: Jacobi Yehudæ Leonis Hebræi. Conr. Buno
_fec._] + ): (in _fours_ + 211 _pp._ [incorrectly numbered
203 _pp._] + at _p._ 35 _folio_ folded sheet with Latin
text + _folio_ folded sheet of Temple plans + engraving of
model of Solomon’s Temple, Palace and Fort Antonio, with
explanatory details in Dutch + at _p._ 94, engraving of the
“Priestly garments” + at _p._ 168, engraving of Holy Vessels,
Candelabrum, _etc._ + at _p._ 179, engraving of “Ark of
Testimony.” [I. S.])
It was reissued at Altdorph in 1674. [I. S.]
⁷ ליב׳רו די לה פ׳ורמה די איל פאלאסייו-לייאמאדו לשון הקדש תבנית היכל ... הרב יעקב יאודה
אריה זצוק״ל תח״מ אדונינו המלך שולטן עבדול עז״ז סאן יר״ה שאלוניקו אין ד״ 5636 איסתאמפאריאה
די קופת עץ החיים יב״ץ׃
(8º. 120 _pp._ [B. M.])
⁸ A Relation | Of the most memorable thinges | In The
Tabernacle | of Moses, | And The | Temple _of_ Salomon, |
_According to Text of Scripture._ |
By Jacob Jehudah Leon, Hebr. |
_Author of the Model of Salomon’s Temple._ |
At Amsterdam, | Printed by Peter Messchaert, in the
Stoof-steech, 1675. |
(_4to._ 4 _ll._ + 27 _pp._) [I. S.]
⁹ Ahiman Rezon, Or a help to all that are or would be Free
and Accepted Masons, ... the Second Edition. By Lau Dermott.
Secretary.... London, 1764. (8º. Eng. Frontis. + xxxvi. +
224 _pp._ [Quatuor Coronati Lodge library]) _p._ xxxiv.
¹⁰ An Accurate Description Of the Grand and Glorious Temple of
Solomon. In which are briefly Explain’d,
I. The Form of that Fabric.
II. The Vessels and Instruments belonging thereto.
III. The King’s Palace.
IV. Fort Antonio, built for the Defence of the Temple.
First printed in Hebrew and Spanish at Middleburgh, By that
celebrated Architect, Jacob Juda Lyon, In The Year MDCXLII.
Translated by M. P. Decastro, (Proprietor of the said Model,
and a near Relation to the Author.)
London: Printed for the above Proprietor, by W. Bailey,
_Wellclose-Square_. M.DCC.LXXVIII.
(8º. Eng. Frontis. [Jacobi Yehudæ Leonis Hebræi ... Salom
Italia _Sculpsit_] + 2 _ll._ + iii. _pp._ + 1 _l._ [etchings
of “Temple,” “Cherubim”] + 48 _pp._) [I. S.]
See “Jacob Jehudah Leon (Templo), by Israel Solomons,”
_Jewish Chronicle_, 30 Oct., 1903.
¹¹ The tract was first printed in Spanish and Dutch in 1642,
and not until 1650 did it appear in _Hebrew_.
Leon Templo,¹ as our _Haham_ is at times referred to, is supposed to
have invented “The Arms of yᵉ most Ancient & Honorable Fraternity, of
Free and Accepted Masons.” The original drawing was seen by Laurence
Dermott (1720‒1791) when he saw the model of the Temple in 1759‒1760.²
He also wrote on the “_Cherubim_” and on the “Ark of the Testimony.”
In 1671 he issued the Psalms in _Hebrew_, with a Spanish paraphrase
and notes. This was his last published work, in the preface of which
he tells us that although he was then sixty-seven years of age, he
completed the work in seven months, at times that he could spare from
his tutorial duties. Four works in manuscript are still unpublished.
After his death, among his sketches were found over two hundred designs
to illustrate and elucidate Biblical and Rabbinical passages. These
his son _Haham_ Solomon Raphael (_ob._ 1733 _circa_) _de_ Leon Templo
presented to Willem Surenhuis, who had them engraved for his edition of
the _Mishna_.³
¹ Templo was assumed as a surname by his descendants.
² Ahiman Rezon, _ibid._
³ Mischna sive Totius Hebræorum Juris, Rituum, Antiquitatum,
ac Legum Oralium Systema, ... Guilielmus Surenhusius....
Amstelædami, ... [1698‒1703] (vi. vols. _fol._)
Biographers do not seem to know when and where he died. David Franco
Mendes (1713‒1792) tells us that after his London visit he returned
to Amsterdam, and although he gives a transcription of his epitaph,
consisting of eight lines of _Hebrew_ laudatory verse, no date is
mentioned.¹ Dr. M. Kayserling suggests that he died after 1675, that is
after his London visit.² There is, however, good authority to surmise
that he died in London during his visit.
(_Franco_) חפשיby ¹תולדות החכם מחו׳ יעקב יהודה ליאון זצ״ל
.רצז-שא _pp_. המאסף חדש סיון תקמה
² _Jewish Encyclopedia_, 1904, vol. viii. _p._ 1.
XXIII.
THESOURO DOS DINIM
THESOVRO Dos Dinim.... Composto por. Menasseh Ben Israel. Estampado em
casa de Eliahu Aboab. An. 5405.
(8º. 16 _ll._ (_one blank_) + 625 _pp._ [in four sections])
*2 _Muy Nobres, Magnificos, e Prudentes Senhores, Parnassim deste Kaal
Kados de Talmud Torah_.... o Sʳ David Abarbanel Dormido, Parnas da
Sedaká, e Talmud Tora.... Menasseh ben Israel.
_Amsterdam_ 15 _de_ Hiyar, An. 5405. [B. M.]
* * * * *
THESOVRO Dos Dinim ultima parte ... ECONOMICA ... _Por_ Menasseh Ben
Israel.
Amsterdā, na officina de _Ioseph ben Israel seu filho_.¹ 5407.
8º 8 _ll._ (_one blank_) + 210 _pp._ + 4 _ll._
A2.... Dedicatoria. _Aos muy nobres, Magnificos e Prudētes Senhores,
os Senhores Abrahā e Ishak Israel Pereyra...._
A3. Este sen intimo, e affeiçoado amigo,
_o Hahā, Menasseh ben Israel_
_Amsterdam 12 de Tamuz, An. 5407._ [B. M.]
¹ The author, in his _Nishmath Chayyim_, 1651, _folio_ 103,
bewails the premature death of his son Joseph, the printer
of this book. He was, he tells us, a keen _Talmudist_,
and had a perfect knowledge of four languages. He had
sent him on a voyage for the first time, and on returning
to Amsterdam from Dantzig was shipwrecked. On his second
journey the following year to Poland, on nearing Lublin, he
died, being at the time about twenty years of age.
* * * * *
The two parts of _Thesouro dos Dinim_ were subsequently reissued in one
volume:――
Amsterdam Anno 5470 (8º. 4 + 201 + 2 _ll._)¹ [I. S.]
¹ This second issue is rarer than the first: 5470 is a misprint
for 5407.
XXIV.
“RETTUNG DER JUDEN,” BY MANASSEH BEN-ISRAEL
Manasseh Ben Israel Rettung der Juden Aus dem Englischen übersetzt.
Nebst einer Vorrede von Moses Mendelssohn.
Als ein Anhang zu des Hrn. Kriegsraths Dohm Abhandlung: Ueber die
bürgerliche Verbesserung der Juden....
Berlin und Stettin bey Friedrich Nicolai. 1782.
(8º. lii. + 64 _pp._) [I. S.]
XXV.
NEWES FROM ROME.
Illustration: _Newes from Rome._
Printed by I. R. for Henry Gosson, and are to be sold in Pater
_From a rare tract lent by Mr. Israel Solomons._
Of two mightie Armies, aswell footemen as horsmen: The first of
the great Sophy, the other of an Hebrew people, till this time not
discouered, comming from the Mountaines of Caspij, who pretend their
warre is to recouer the Land of Promise, & expell the Turks out of
Christendome. With their multitude of Souldiers, & new invention of
weapons.
Also certaine prophecies of a Iew seruing to that Armie, _Caleb
Shilocke_, prognosticating many strange accidents, which shall happen
the following yeere, 1607.
Translated out of Italian into English, by W. W.
Illustration: (‡ decoration)
❧ TO THE RENOWNED
Lord, _Don Mathias de Rensie_, of Venice.
AFTER the particuler thinges alleaged in my former writings vnto your
Lordshippe, I thought it good and conuenient by this my Letter, to
aduertise your Lordship, of certaine great, horrible, and fearefull
things that hapned in this quarter.
Purposing to certifie your Lordship of the pompe and great triumph
at the presenting of the Captaines of the Sea, vnto the great Turke:
the miserie and vnhappines of the poore prisoners: the discorde &
contention that came by the sonne of the Vice Roy of Naples, being
prisoner: the threatnings made to the Christians: the receiuing of the
Ambassadors of the Soffy: the pompes, tryumphes, and entertainments
made vnto them, and yet dissembled enough, with mocking one the other
at their departing: the presents giuen: the going of the great Turke a
hunting and all other thinges written at large, as your Lordship shall
vnderstand.
But now your Lordship shall vnderstand at thys time, the greatest, the
most wonderfull, and most strange thing that euer was heard of. The
which partly hath so troubled the great Turke, and all the rest, that
they haue left of all other affayres, to prouide for the perrill and
danger that at this time hangeth ouer theyr heads.
Your Lordships to vse,
Signior Valesco.
_Newes from Rome_
⁂
The newes are come that the king of _Hungarie_ maketh a great Army,
which shall haue for his ayde the gallies of _Buda_, and of many
other Princes of Christendome. And they say moreouer, that the king
of _Bohemia_ will helpe therein, and that the most part of Christian
Princes will come and ayde him in this enterprise against the Turke,
except the Signorie of _Venice_, which medleth nothing at all in it.
These reporters of newes affirme, that there shal come aboue a hundred
gallies, besides other Barks, ships, & Hulkes without number, which
is occasion that they hasten the warre the more. Notwithstanding,
men esteeme not so much hereof, as of the war that is made beyond the
Mountaines, as you shall understand not without wondering at it. The
_Tartars_ make friendes upon the greater Sea, & haue made a league &
friendship with the great Turke, requiring ayde, for they are molested
with war by the great Emperour of _Muscouia_, & prince of _Sagodie_,
of _Pogore_, of _Smelengie_, of _Drossy_, of _Gazam_, of _Virgolosam_,
of _Tartarie_, of _Cham_, and of diuers other people and regions lying
toward the South: they say that this Emperor or Duke hath two Armies,
and is called _Iohn Dwatillo_, a young man, of the age of xxiiii.
yeeres, noble and valiant, and a Christian, after the institution of
the Greekes, and presumeth that by reason of his blood, the Empire of
_Constantinople_ doth belong to him, And these two Armies are about two
hundred thousand horse.
They were not wont in time past to be so strong, nor so feared of
the Turks, for they had not the use of artillarie in the warre: but
nowe they haue meruailous great preparation in theyr warre. Hee hath
in wages certaine Dutch Captaines, and about tenne thousand Maister
gunners, and is meruailously well furnished with harquebushes, and
artillery, and because men understand that hee hath so vanquisht the
Tartarians, and brought thē to such a state, that they cannot much more
resist him, and that if the saide Muscouite should be maisters ouer the
Tartars, they should consequently be Rulers of the great sea, & the way
should bee open and easie for them to come, not onely to Constantinople,
but also to driue the Turke out of Europe: and because that the saide
great Turke is assured of this enterprise and commotion of the Greekes:
he hath cōcluded and determined, to send to the said Tartars a good
assistance of fifteene thousand fighting men, and also for this purpose,
hee hath sent to the sea ten Gallies to passe them ouer.
Men make mention and doubt of _Mondaccio_ which is a great Prince
and Ruler, and able to make foure score, or a hundred thousand horse:
and yet men are uncertaine whose part he will take, because hee is
tributarie unto the great Turke.
There is newes also from _Affrica_, that the king of _Bugien_, the king
_Tramece_, the king of _Tunis_, the children of _Serif_. The Lord of
_Murocho_, and of _Gran_, with the _Arabians_ and other, haue taken
in hand to driue and expulse the turke wholy out of _Affrica_, & to
endomage him as much as they may. Men know not yet in what place they
will war, but we shall know it shortly. The newes also is, that the
_Soffie_ is in Campe with a great Armie, and hath the _Medes_ to helpe
him, which border upon the Caspian Sea, and of one side neighbour to
the _Hircans_, called at this day _Correxans_ and _Zecatans_, with
whom he hath made a league and peace. There are on his side also the
_Ibeians_ and _Albians_, and also the people of _Melibar_, which harbor
upō the _Indians_, and likewise with the king of _Bosphorus_, all
beeing people meruailous swift and nimble. In this so mightie an host
and armie, is also _Bascet_ the sonne of the great Turke, by meanes
whereof, all in those parts is in great trouble, as well as heere.
It seemeth that the _Ienissaries_ bring him the lot of _Turkie_, as
_Baduget_, _Zermonia_, _Alepo_, and all the Regions lying neere to the
_Soffi_ is reuolted, all the which particularities shall be understoode
more at large.
This newes is great, and hath made the great turke to muse enough upon
it, but aboue all these meruelous and dreadfull newes which are hapned,
there is yet chaunced another, which hath greatly feared & abashed
all men, which although it seemeth to be incredible, yet upon my
credit it is most true, and that is, that a people heretofore unknowne,
mighty, swift, and meruelous nimble, hath taken weapon in hand, to
the disaduantage and losse of the house of _Ottoman_. They say that
_Alexander_ the great did in time past driue beyond the mountaine
_Caspe_ nine tribes and a halfe of the _Hebrewes_ which worshipped the
Calfe & Serpent of gold, and draue them away, that neuer since there
was no newes of them, neither knewe any man if they were in the worlde
or not: because the Sea of sand, or the sandie sea, by a certaine
inconuenience of sand Grauel or Beche, swelled & rose so high, that it
utterly tooke from them the way into this our Region. But now by the
meane of the newe Nauigation that yᵉ Hollanders haue made, they are
arriued in their country, and haue espied out all their dooings: and
after yᵗ the said Hollanders had instructed and taught them in the
science and knowledge of artillery, and gun=pouder for Harquebushes and
dags, whereunto they are meruelous apt and ready, they are become in
all thinges perfit. After this they egged them forward to take weapon
in hand, and passe the saide mountaine by Land. And because the sandy
sea did hinder their passage, it appeareth yᵗ some Duchman or Italian,
which yet men knowe not, but notwithstanding some great Astrologian or
Cosmographer taught them the way, making some hill plaine with fire,
whereby they might easilie passe, which is a thing of great wonder.
These people haue two mighty great armies, and infinite store of
victualls, by reason of the fruitfulnesse of theyr country, they are
also well prouided of all manner of preparation for war, & cunning in
the practise of theyr weapons. They say they will come & recouer the
land of Promise, towards the which the first army is already very neere,
to the great terror and dread of euery man which hath either seene or
heard of them. The spyes which haue been sent out by the great turke to
discry them, doe affirme, that beside a hundred and two armies, there
followe an infinite number of people, as well footmen as horsemen,
and theyr first armie is already arriued upon the limmits of Turkie,
putting all to fire and sword. Theyr language is bastard Hebrew:
& because men speake much of it heere, I will not forget to speake
also something thereof woorthy to be noted, and well understoode: The
Hebrewes of Constantinople say, that they haue certaine prophesies,
among the which one maketh mention, that from the foure parts of the
world, shall rise a people, and come into Gog and Magog, and then shall
appeare (as they perswade themselues) their _Messias_ in might and
power, and then they shall haue dominion and rule in the world, whereof
they secretly reioyce, & are wonderous glad. They say moreouer, that
there is a prophecie grauen in a piller set at _Podromo_ which saith
thus: A mightie Prince shall rise, whose beginning shall be of small
reputation, who by his Issue shal war of such force and strength (with
the helpe of God) that he shall bring to nothing, the empire and rule
of _Ottoman_, and shal be the right possessour and inheritor of the
Empire of _Constantinople_, & they beleeue all that it shall be this
Emperor and duke of _Muscouia_, which is alreadie in great estimation
among the Greeks.
The Turks haue a prophecie, which they sing often, and weepe bitterlie
the while, for it betokeneth and denounceth unto them, their utter
ruine and destruction. And although it seeme strange, to say that the
Turkes haue prophecies, it is no meruaile: for _Balam_ was a false
Prophet: the _Sybilles_ also prophecied and were Pagans. For all these
causes the great Turke hath forbidden wine & will that all men goe
fiue times in a day to the _Moschea_, and pray to God for theyr health
and saftie. And so hee prepareth three great armies, one against the
_Muscouites_ another against the _Soffie_, and the third for to goe
against the _Hebrewes_ of the Mountaines of _Caspij_. Within these
fewe dayes you shall haue other newes, wherefore thus making an end, I
commend me unto your good Lordship: from _Rome_, the first day of June,
1606. Your faithfull and trustie seruant, _Signior Valesco_.
_The description of the first Armie, conducted_
by _Zoroam_ a Iew, Captaine generall of the Armies.
First of all a Jew, of verie great stature, of a fleshlie colour,
more red then otherwise, with broad eyes, called _Zoroam_, is Captaine
generall of all the Armies, hee leadeth under his Ensigne twelue
thousand horse, and twenty thousand footmen. The horsemen are armed
after a light sort, but very good Harnes, almost after our fashion:
they carrie Launces of long Reedes, very hard and light, yet so sharpe
pointed, that they passe thorowe a thing with incredible lightnesse:
they carrie also shields or targets of bone, and in steede of swords,
they use certaine Courtilaxes.
They are apparrelled with the colour of their Ensigne, and all clothed
with silke: the foote-men carrie Pikes of the same sort, with Helmet
and Habergin: their Ensigne is of blacke silke and blew, with a dog
following a Hart, or Bucke, and a saying written in it, which is in our
language thus: _Either quick or dead_.
2. _Of the Armie of Don Phares._
There is one called _Phares_, which is an Earle, yong and valiant, not
regarding this present life: this man hath under his commaund fifteene
hundred horsemen armed lightly, onely on the fore-part and head-peece:
yet this Armour is so well tempered and wrought, that it keepeth out a
Launce and Harquebush shot.
This manner of arming themselues, is to the intent they may neuer turne
their backe to runne awaie: they have also fierce and light horses:
there are eighteene thousand footemen, apparrelled with a kinde of
sodden leather, made of the skinne of a certaine beast, so that no pike
nor harquebush can pearse it. These men are beastlie people, & will
neuer flie for any thing, they are very obedient and subiect unto
their Prince, and their ordinarie apparell is silke. The Ensigne that
they beare, is a falcon pecking or billing with another bird, with a
sentence that saith, _Either thine or mine shall breake_.
3. _Of the Marquesse of Galair._
There is a Marquesse of _Galair_ called _Goes_, this man leadeth
fifteen hūdred men of armes, which be all exceeding well armed & stout,
strong, and rebust men: their horses are moriskes, the greatest, the
strongest, the fairest, and the best that bee in the world: there are
also seuenteene thousand souldiers, very wel appointed with Launce
and harquebush: theyr Ensigne or armes is a redde field, with a maid
clothed in greene, holding a Lion in her hand, with these words _I hope
to subdue a greater thing_.
4. _Of the Duke of Falach._
There is a Duke of _Falach_, called _Obeth_, who hath under his conduct
xx. thousand footemen, armed with a certaine mettall like yron, but it
is light and hard, they have many good swords, launces, and other force,
harquebushes, and wiflers: their Ensigne or armes, is a mermaid in a
blacke field, and the deuise thus, _My singing shall not cease untill
the end_.
_The description of the Armie conducted by Captaine Nauison._
There is a captaine called _Nauison_, which hath under him xx. thousand
men, appointed and armed with the skin of a serpent, most hard & stiffe,
they haue Axes, pollaxes, pikes, harquebushes, and other kind of
weapons: their Ensigne or armes, is a white snaile in a blacke fielde,
with a deuise about it, _By little and little, men goe very farre_.
Of the tribe of _Simeon_ there is a Prince of _Arsay_, whose name is
not yet knowne, but they say he is a deuill, great, grosse, & thicke
beyond measure, with a flat nose, and both he and his men are of the
stature of Giants: he leadeth with him xx. thousand footemen, almost
all _Alfiers_, which are also so swift & nimble that they will take
horses running: they make a meruailous noise, such as no people use:
their Ensigne is an Lute in a blacke field, and haue for their posy,
_Such is my government_.
6. _Of the Duke of Barsalda._
There is a duke of _Barsalda_, and he is the conducter of xiii.
thousand footmen, which are all Harquebushers, & carry no fire matches,
but strike it with a stone: they are apparrelled & armed with such a
hard kind of leather, and so enchaunted, that no yron weapon in the
world is able to perse it thorow. They bee also very swift and light:
their Ensigne or armes, is a dry tree in a blew field, and their deuise
thus, _I hope to spread, and be greene againe_.
7. _Of the Armie of the Duke Passill._
There is a duke of _Passill_ called _Abia_, he hath under his conduct
a thousand footmen, very cruell, hauing all kind of weapons to push or
pricke far off, and to strike nigh, but farre different from ours, they
are very expert in artificiall fire, and make the greatest and most
dreadfull thinges withall yᵗ a man can imagin: they do it either by
arte or enchauntment, so that it seemeth that it raigneth fire upon
their enemies, and yet notwithstanding hurteth not themselves at all,
by reason they are apparalled with a certaine Serpents skin which
preserueth them. Their Ensigne is a Cat holding a Rat in her paw in a
blacke fielde, and theyr posie thus, _Euen so hapneth it to him that
is not gouerned_.
8. _Of the Army conducted by the Earle of Albary._
There is an Erle of _Albary_ called _Orut_, which hath under his
gouernaunce a thousand horse-men with Crosse-bowes, some of them weare
certaine light armour of a kind of hard mettall, with Rapyers and
daggers after theyr manner, they fight alwayes running and their horses
are so swift that it is wonderfull. This man also hath xx. thousand
horses barbed with very fine leather. Some carry pikes & Partisans,
& such like weapons. Their Ensigne or armes is a man in chaines, in
a field parted halfe with greene and purple, and this deuise withall,
_My chaines shall bind another man_.
9. _Of the Marquesse of Vorio._
There is a Marques of _Vorio_ called _Manasses_, who hath under his
conduct xvii. thousand footemen, armed with a very hard & strong
leather, which men beleeue to be enchaunted, because that no weapon nor
harquebush is able to perse it thorowe, yet it is as light as Linnen
cloth, and a thing very fayre to see to. These now haue all sorts
of weapons that an Armie may haue: and they are deuided and set in a
very faire, comely, and decent order: their Ensigne is an old man in a
chariot, in a blacke field, saying thus, _After a long iourney, I shall
be happy_.
_Caleb Shilock_ his prophesie, for the yeere, _1607_.
Be it knowne unto all men, that in the yeere _1607_, when as the Moone
is in the watrie signe, the world is like to bee in great danger: for
a learned Jew, named _Caleb Shilock_, doth write, that in the foresaid
yeere, the Sun shall be couered with the Dragon in the morning, from
fiue of the clocke untill nine, and will appeare like fire: therefore
it is not good that any man doe behold the same, for by beholding
thereof he may lose his sight.
Secondly, there shall come in the same yeere a meruailous great flood
of water, to the great terror and amasement of many people.
Thirdly, there shall arise a meruailous great wind, and for feare
thereof many people shall be consumed, or distraughted of their wits.
Fourthlie the same yeere, about the month of May, will arise another
wonderfull great flood, and so great as no man hath seene since _Noyes_
flood, which wil continue three daies and three nights, whereby many
Citties and Townes which standeth uppon sandie ground will be in great
danger.
Fiftly, Infidels and Hereticks, through great feare and dread, will
flie, and gather together, and asmuch as in them lies, make war against
Christian princes.
Sixtlie, in the same yeere after the great waters be past, about the
end of the yeere will be very great and fearefull Sicknesses: so that
many people are like to die by the infection of strange diseases.
Seauenthly, there will be throughout the Worlde great trouble and
contention about matters of Religion, and wonderfull strange newes unto
all people, as concerning the same.
Eightly, the Turke with his God Mahomet shall be in danger to lose his
Septer, through the great change and alteration in his Regiment, by
reason of famine and warres, so that the most part of his people will
rather seeke reliefe from the Christian, then from him.
Ninthlie, there will also arise great Earth=quakes, whereby diuers
goodly buildings & high houses, are like to be ouerthrowne and ruinated.
Lastlie, there will be great remoouings of the earth in diuers places,
so that for feare thereof, many people will be in a strange amazement
and terror.
These punishments are prognosticated by this learned Jew, to fall
uppon the whole world by reason of sinne, wherefore it behooueth all
Christian to amend their euill liues, and to pray earnestly unto God to
with=hold these calamities from us, and to conuart our harts wholy to
him, whereby we may find fauour in our time of neede, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
FINIS.
COLLATION
A‒B in fours; Black letter, with the exception of title-page and
introductory leaf: Lowndes, p. 2749 notes “Valesco, S. Jewes Prophecy,
&c. Halliwell, May, 1856, imprint cut into £10‒5‒0: No other copy
known.” This is now in the British Museum, the fore edge of which is
badly cropped, the name “_Shilocke_” on the title-page being cut down
to “_Shilo_.” As in this copy, the imprint is cut off after “Pater,”
but there is just visible the top edge of the next line, which may
be “noster rowe at the signe of the Sunne,” but no indication of a
date. These are the only two copies known of this remarkable tract.
To students of Shakespeare, it is of considerable interest. James
Orchard Halliwell-Phillips, _formerly_ Halliwell (1820‒1889), the great
Shakespearean scholar, in his introduction to the Merchant of Venice
(Halliwell’s Shakespeare, vol. v., p. 277: London, 1853) maintains that
the name of the predominant character of the play suggested itself to
the author, from this tract. [Notes and Queries, 10s. ix. 269. April 4,
1908.]
XXVI.
“THE WORLD’S GREAT RESTAURATION,” BY SIR HENRY FINCH
THE | Worlds | Great Restavration. | _Or_ | The Calling Of | The Ievves,
and (with them) | _of all the Nations and King_-|domes of the earth, to
the faith | of Christ. |
Published by _William Gouge_, B. of D. and | _Preacher of Gods Word in
Black-fryers. London._ |
London | Printed by Edvvard Griffin for | William Bladen, and are to be
sold at his Shop | neare the great North dore of _Pauls_, at the signe
| of the Bible. 1621. |
(_4to._ 7 _ll._ + 234 _pp._ + 1 _l._) [I. S.]
This work has a second title page:――
“The Calling of the Ievves. | A | Present | To Ivdah And | The Children
Of | Israel that ioyned with him, | and to Ioseph (the valiant tribe |
of Ephraim) _and all the_ | house of Israel that | ioyned with him. |
The Lord giue them grace, that they | may returne and seeke Iehovah |
_their God, and_ David _their_ | King, in these latter dayes. | There
is prefixed an Epistle vnto them, | written for their sake in the
Hebrue tongue,¹ | and translated into English. |
Published by _William Gouge_, B. of D. and | _Preacher of Gods word in
Blackefryers. London._ |
London | Printed by Edward Griffin for | William Bladen, and are to be
sold at his Shop | neare the great North dore of _Pauls_, at the signe
| of the Bible. 1621.” |
¹ The Hebrew epistle referred to is a translation by the author
of a section of this title page. It is printed by itself on
one of the preliminary leaves in somewhat archaic characters,
and reads as follows:――
מזרה ישראל
ᵃיקבצנו׃
* * * * *
ᴮמנחה היא
ליהודה ולבני ישראל חבריו וליוסף
אשר ביד אפרים וכל בית ישראל
וישבו ᵈ׃ ימציאם אלהים חן ᶜהבריו
ובקשו את יהוה אלהיהם ואת
דויד מלכם באחרית
ᵉהימים
ᶠעמוס חּ גּ אדני יהוה
דבר מי לא ינבא
ᵃ Jeremiah xxxi. 10.
ᵇ Genesis xxxii. 19.
ᶜ Ezekiel xxxvii. 16.
ᵈ Proverbs iii. 4.
ᵉ Hosea iii. 5.
ᶠ Amos iii. 8.
The British Museum, and the Mocatta Library, in University
College, have copies, without the first title page (The
Worlds Great Restauration) and Gouge’s preliminary leaf
“To the Reader.” Probably issued in this state after the
incarceration of Finch and Gouge.
XXVII.
“THE WORLD’S GREAT RESTAURATION” (_continued_).
Contemporary reference to the book is to be found in letters from the
Rev. Joseph Mead (Mede) (1586‒1638), the eminent biblical scholar, to
Sir Martin Stuteville.
(B. M. _Add._ 4176: 121, 123‒6.)
_Christ’s College Cambr. March 31. 1621._
_Sr._
“_... Sʳ Henry Finch was last week examined before the High
Commission about the book I wrote of, but wonderful privately.
He gave up his answer in writing, ᶜʰ⁄w was sent to the King, &
expected from him what should be his censure...._”
_Christ’s College, Apr. 7 [1621]_
_Sr_
_... I have seen Sʳ Henry Finch’s =The World’s Great
restauration, or Calling of the Jews=, & with them of all the
Nations of the Earth, to the Faith of Xᵗ. I cannot see but for
the main of the discourse I might assent unto him. God forgive
me, if it be a sin; but I have thought so many a day. But the
thing, which troubles His Majesty, is this point, which I will
write out for you =verbatim=; “The Jews & all Israel shall
return to their land & antient Seats, conquer their =foes=,
have their Soil more fruitfull than ever. They shall erect a
glorious Church in the Land of Judah it self & bear rule far
and near.” ... We need not be afraid to aver and maintain,
that one day they shall come to Jerusalem again; be Kings
& chief Monarchs of the Earth; sway & govern all, for the
glory of Xᵗ; that shall shine amongst them. And that is it
Lactantius saith Lib. 7. Cap. 15. =“The Romans name I will
speak it, because it must one day be shall be taken from the
Earth, & the Empire shall return to Asia. And again shall the
East bear dominion & the West be in subjection.”= In another
place Ashur & Egypt, all these large & vast Countries, the
whole tract of the East & South, shall be converted to Christ;
the chief Sway & sovreignty remaining with the Jews. All
nations shall honour them._
_Some say, the King says, he shall be a pure King, & he is so
auld that he cannot tell how to do his homage at Jerusalem._
_This with my best respect,_
_Yours ever,_
_JOSEPH MEAD._¹
¹ This letter has been transcribed, somewhat inaccurately
in “The Court and Times of James the First;” ... [Robert
Folkestone Williams.] ... London: ... 1848. Vol. ii., _pp._
250‒251. It is also to be found in (Notes & Queries, 2nd S.
xi. 127., Feb. 16, 1861) “Modern Apocryphal Apocalypse,” by
Moses Margoliouth, LL.D., PH.D.
Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, James I. 1619‒1623....
Edited by Mary Anne Everett Green.... London ... 1851.
_p._ 247 April 18? (1621).
96. Petition of Sir Hen. Finch to the King. Disclaims the opinion which
His Majesty thinks is asserted in his book; is sorry for having
written so unadvisedly; begs liberty and restoration to favour.
_p._ 248 April 18, 1621 London:
Chamberlain [to Carleton.]
97. ... Serjeant Finch is committed for his book on the conversion of
the Jews.
XXVIII.
PHILIP FERDINANDUS
THE Jew referred to was Philip Ferdinandus (1555?‒1598), a native of
Poland. He was converted to Roman Catholicism, but afterwards became a
Protestant. He taught Hebrew at Oxford, and subsequently at Cambridge
(D.N.B.).
His only publication is entitled:――
_Hæc sunt verba Dei, etc._ |
Praecepta In Monte Sinai | data Iudæis sunt 613, quorum 365 negativa, &
248 af-|firmativa, collecta per Pharisæum Magistrum Abraha-|mum filium
Kattani, & impressa in Bibliis Bomber-|giensibus, anno à mundo creato
5288 Vene-|tiis, ab Authore VOX DEI appellata: |
translata in linguam Latinam per _Phi-|lippum Ferdinandum Polonum_. |
_His accesserunt nonnulla quæ sequens pa-|gina indicabit._ |
_Lex Dei integra est, Psal. 19._ |
_Aperi oculos meos, vt videam mirabilia legis tuæ._ |
_Vocem audivistis, et similtudinem non vidistis, | præter vocem._ Deut.
4. 12. |
Vox Dei semel data est per Mosem in monte Sinai. |
Sed similitudinem videre. i. arcana, singulis diebus da-|tur. _Ex
Hazoar._ |
Cum licentia omnium primariorum virorum in in-|clyta & celeberrima
Cantabrigiensi Academia.
Cantabrigiae, | Ex officina Iohannis Legat. 1597. |
(_4to._ 3 _ll._ + A‒H. in fours.) [B. M.]
XXIX.
PETITION OF THE JEWES
JOHANNA & EBENEZER CART[EN][W]RIGHT
THE | Petition | Of The | Jewes | For the Repealing of the Act of |
Parliament for their banishment | out of England. |
Presented to his Excellency and the | generall Councell of Officers on
| Fryday Jan. 5. 1648. | _With their favourable acceptance thereof._ |
Also a Petition of divers Comman-|manders, (_sic_) prisoners in the
Kings | Bench, for the releasing of all pri-|soners for Debt, according
to | the Custome of other | Countries. |
_London_, Printed for _George Roberts_, 1649. |
(_4to._ 1 _l._ + 6 _pp._) [I. S.]
_sig._ A.2. “To the Right Honourable, Thomas _Lord_ Fairfax, (His
Excellency) Englanes (_sic_) Generall, And The Honourable Councel
of Warre, Conveaned for Gods Glory, _Izraells_ Freedom, Peace,
and Safety, _The humble Petition of_ Johanna Cartenright, _Widdow,
and_ Ebenezer Cartwright _her Son, freeborn_ of England, _and now
Inhabitants of the City of_ Amsterdam.”
_sig._ A.3. “_This Petition was presented to the generall Councell
of the Officers of the Army, under the Command of his Excellency,
Thomas Lord Fairfax, at Whitehall on Ian. 5. And favourably
received with a promise to take it into speedy consideration, when
the present more publike affaires are dispatched._”¹
¹ American Elements in the Re-settlement. By Lucien Wolf.
(Transactions of the Jewish Historical Society of England,
vol. iii. 1896‒8.... London, ... 1899.... _p._ 87.)
XXX.
“THE MESSIAH ALREADY COME,” BY JOHN HARRISON
THE | Messiah | Already Come. | ...
Written in Barbarie, in the yeare 1610, and for that cause directed |
to the dispersed Iewes of that Countrie, and in them to all others now
groaning under the heauy | yoake of this their long and intollerable
captivitie, which yet one day shall have an end:...
Amsterdam, | Imprinted by Giles Thorp. Anno M.DC.XIX. |
(_4to._ 5 _ll._ + 68 _pp._) [B. M.]
_sig._ A3.――To The High And Mighty Prince Frederick King of Bohemia,
&c.... _This Treatise was published seven yeares agoe and Printed in
the Low Countries...._ Your Maᵗᶦᵉˢ most humble devoted seruant Iohn
Harrison.¹
¹ It appeared again under the following title:――
A Vindication Of The Holy Scriptures....
By that Learned, and late Eminent Divine John Harrison.
London ... 1656.
(_12mo._ 11 _ll._ + 150 _pp._ + 1 _l._) [I. S.]
XXXI.
“DISCOURSE OF MR. JOHN DURY TO MR. THOROWGOOD――JEWES IN
AMERICA,” BY THO. THOROWGOOD――“AMERICANS NO JEWS,” BY
HAMON L’ESTRANGE
AN Epistolicall Discourse Of Mr. Iohn Dury, To Mr. Thorowgood.
Concerning his conjecture that the Americans are descended from the
Israelites. With the History of a Portugall Iew, _Antonie Monterinos_,
(_sic_) attested by _Manasseh Ben Israel_, to the same effect.... _Your
faithfull friend and fellow-labourer in the Gospel of Christ._ J. Dury,
St. Iames, _this_ 27 Ian. 1649/50.
(_sig._ D‒E, in fours.)
This will be found in the preliminary leaves of:――
Ievves in America, | Or, | Probabilities | That the Americans are of |
that Race. |¹
“The Epistle to the Reader” is dated _Mar. 30. 1651._
With the removall of some | contrary reasonings, and earnest de-|sires
for effectuall endeavours to | make them Christian. | Proposed by Tho:
Thorovvgood, B. D. one of the | Assembly of Divines. | ...
_London_, Printed by W. H. for _Tho. Slater_, and are to be sold | at
his shop at the signe of the Angel in Duck lane, 1650. |
(_4to._ 22 _ll._ + 139 _pp._) [I. S.]
The Imprimatur signed _Iohn Downame_ is dated _Septem. 4. 1649._
_pp._ 129‒(139) contain “_The Relation of Master_ Antonie Monterinos,
(_sic_) _translated out of the French Copie sent by_ Manasseh Ben
Israel.... J. Dvry Received this at _London_, 27 of _Novem._ 1649.”
This was the affidavit of Montezinos, superscribed by Manasseh Ben
Israel, sent to John Dury at his particular request.
¹ A reply was made to this tract:――
Americans no Iewes, | Or | Improbabilities that the |
_Americans_ are of that race | ...
By Hamon l’Estrange, Kᵗ. |
London, | Printed by W. W. for _Henry Seile_ over against |
St. _Dunstans Church_ in _Fleetstreet_. 1652. |
(_4to._ 2 _ll._ + 80 _pp._) [I. S.]
XXXII.
“WHETHER IT BE LAWFUL TO ADMIT JEWS INTO A CHRISTIAN
COMMONWEALTH,” BY JOHN DURY
A | Case | Of | Conscience, | _Whether it be lawful to admit Jews |
into a Christian Common-wealth?_ |
Resolved By | Mʳ John Dury: | Written To | _Samuel Hartlib_, Esquire. |
London, | Printed for _Richard Wodenothe_, in Leaden-Hall street, |
next to the Golden Heart, 1656. |
(_4to._ 1 _l._ + 9 _pp._) [I. S.]
_p._ 9: “... Sir! _Your most affectionate and faithful servant_ ...
John Dury. _Cassell_, in haste, Januarie 8 1656.”¹
¹ John Dury and the English Jewry. By the Rev. S. Levy, M.A.
(Transactions of the Jewish Historical Society of England,
vol. iv. 1899‒1901.... London.... 1903.... _pp._ 76‒82.)
XXXIII.
“LIFE AND DEATH OF HENRY JESSEY”
THE | Life and Death | of | Mr. Henry Jessey, | Late Preacher of the
Gospel of | Christ in _London_; | Who, having finished his Testimony,
was | Translated the _4th_ day of _September_, 1663. | Written for the
benefit of all, especially such as | were acquainted with his godly
conversation, | and Pertakers of his unwearied Labours in | the Lord. |
With an Elegy upon the Death of Mr. | William Bridg. | ... _Anno
Domini_ 1671. |
(8º. 4 _ll._ + 108 _pp._) [B. M.]
The author is unknown, but page 97 bears the initials “E. W.”
_p._ 67: “Towards the Jews his Charity was famous beyond President and
many ways exprest,...”
_p._ 69: “3. His Charity was most eminently shewn to them in the
great Collections, which through his importunity was made for the
poor _Jews_ at _Jerusalem_, who were reduced to extream poverty
and misery; having lost, by reason of the _Swedish_ Navies Wars,
15000000 of Rix Dollers; which their brethren of _Hungary_,
_Poland_, _Lithuania_, and Prussia, were wont to send them yearly,
for the maintenance of learned _Rabbies_ and Students, and for the
relief of antient Widows and decripid men, and other necessitous
people, with which the _Holy-Land_ doth abound; who (as we said)
by cutting off their subsistance were brought (in 1657) into great
extremity, not only of Famine and nakednesse (that of 700 Widows,
400 were famished out-right) but also by the imprisonment and
scourgings of their Elders and Rabbyes, by their cruell Creditors,
being the principal men of the Land to whom the _Jews_ were
indebted 20000 Rialls of Eight, which if the Ryall be 4_s._ 8_d._
a piece, it is 4666_l._ 13_s._ 4_d._ for the liberty of dwelling
there, etc. which they extorted with great rigor and exaction,
resolving to sell them all for slaves, in case payment was not
speedily made.”
_p._ 70: “This befel the onely then _Germane Jews_ at _Jerusalem_, for
the Congregation of _Portugal Jews_ were relieved by the Alms of
their Rich Brethren in _Portugal_.”
_p._ 70: “4. The only Anchor the miserable Wretched and distressed
Persons had, was to Implore succour from their Brethren in other
parts, to which end they sent Letters to _Venice_, _Amsterdam_,
and by _Rabbie Nathan Levita_, an Elder, and Cabalist: But all
they got from them served only for payment of Interest of Debts:
so that they had still perished, if the bowels of Christians in
_Holland_, had not compassionated their State, who sent them 500.
Rix Dollars, and by Letters did earnestly press Mr. H. J. to
further a Collection in _England_.
“To which he made some demurs till he obtained full satisfaction of
the truth of the Relation, and certainty of safe conveyance of the
money that Charity might not be abused; for the first, the Messengers
from _Jerusalem_ brought Commissions signed by their Elders, which
Commissions were sent to the _Synagogues_ in _Germany_, and in the
_Netherlands_ to be examined; who assured that they knew the hands,
and that those men would not subscribe to an untruth, and that they
themselves had contributed upon the same Information.
“And as for Conveyance, two Noted Merchants of _Francford_, would
return the mony, and give Bond for so much; till they procure a Receipt
from the Elders of _Jerusalem_, as they had done for the above named
summe of 500. Rix Dollars; and had a Letter returned from _Jerusalem_
to the Charitable Christians of _Amsterdam_, both in way of Receipt
and Gratitude with Original _Hebrew_ Letter with the Messengers,
Commissioners, and other necessary Instructions being sent to Mr.
_Jessey_, removed all scruples, so that immediatly informed divers
_London_ Ministers, by whose assistance, together with his own private
Friends and Interest, the some of 300_l._ Sterling was in short time
gathered and sent, and a Bill of Receipt, with thankfulness returned:
some of it being also sent to distressed _Iews at Vilna_ and other
places in _Poland_.”
_p._ 67: “When their liberty of returning and trading in _England_ (as
they did in _Germany, Poland, Russia, Portugal, Netherlands etc._)
was moved, disputed and debated for and against; He laboured that
it might be granted, with such limitations, (as our Merchants
yielded unto, _viz_) that they should be seated in some decayed
Port Towns, and pay Custome for Goods, thence transported into
other parts of the Nation, besides what they should pay there for
exporting _English_, and importing forreign Commodities: such a
tollerating of their trade might not onely be beneficial several
ways to our selves, but be some satisfaction for the unhandsome
dealings of our Nation against that people in the days of King
_Rich._ I. King _John_ and _Edward_ the first, for the space of
100 years till their final Banishment, _An. Dom._ 1290. with those
circumstances of cruelty, that our own Histories do not seem to
approve of;...”
XXXIV.
“THE GLORY OF JEHUDAH AND ISRAEL――DE HEERLICHKEYDT ...
VAN JEHUDA EN ISRAEL,” BY HENRY JESSE.
THE Glory of Jehudah and Israel is referred to in the concluding
paragraph of “The Humble Addresses.”
Manasseh Ben Israel writes:――
“... Now, having prooved the two former Points, I could adde a third,
viz. of the Nobility of the Iewes: but because that Point is enough
known amongst all Christians, as lately yet it hath bene most worthily
and excellently shewed and described in a certain Booke, called, _The
Glory of Iehudah and Israel_, dedicated to our Nation by that worthy
Christian Minister Mr. Henry Iessey, (1653. in Dutch) where this matter
is set out at large:...”
“The Life and Death Of Mʳ Henry Jessey,” page 79: “... Mr. H. J.
seconded his Almes with divers Consolatory Letters to the dispersed
seed of _Jacob_, having before in 1650. wrote a compleat Treatise yet
extant, and called (the glory & Salvation of _Jehudah_, and _Israel_)
tending towards the reconciliation of _Jews_ and _Christians_,...”
J. C. Wolf, in his _Bibliothecæ Hebræae_, 1733, vol. iv., _p._ 901,
in his biography of Manasseh Ben Israel, incidentally refers to “De
Heerlickheid en heyl van Jehuda en Israel” written in Flemish (Belgice)
by Henr. Jesse.
It is apparently very rare, the only copy that has been traced is
mentioned in “Catalogue De La Bibliothèque de literature hebraique et
orientale et d’Auteurs hebreux De Feu Mʳ Leon V. Saraval Trieste ...
1853.”¹ [I. S.]
Nᵒ. 619 “JESSE HENRY de Heerlichkeydt en Heyl van Jehuda en Israel
(en langue flamande, traduit de l’anglais.) Amst. 1653 in 8º ...
tres-rare....”
¹ In 1853 the Saraval library was purchased for the Breslau
Jewish Theological seminary.
XXXV.
OF THE LATE PROCEEDS AT WHITE-HALL, CONCERNING THE JEWS
[HENRY JESSE]
A | Narrative | Of the late Proceeds at | White-Hall, | Concerning The
| Jews: | Who had desired by _R. Manasses_ | an agent for them, that
they might return to | England, and Worship the God of their Fa-|thers
here in their Synagogues, etc. |
Published for satisfaction to many in several parts of _Eng-|land_,
that are desirous, and inquisitive to hear the | Truth thereof. |
London: | Printed for L: Chapman, at the Crown in Popes-|head-Alley.
1656. |
(_4to._ 1 _l._ + 14 _pp._)¹ [I. S.]
¹ A translation appeared in:――
Neue Schwarmgeister=Brut Oder Historische Erzehlung....
IV. Die Wieder=Einnehmung der Juden in Engeland
V. Die Bekehrung der Indianer in New=Engeland ...
Gedrukkt im Jahr 1661. pp. 189‒223.
(8º. 24 _ll._ + 223 _pp._ + 1 _l._) [I. S.]
_p._ 11: “_Here followeth part of a Letter written at_ Ligorn, 1652.
_and sent by the Preacher in the_ Phœnix _Frigot, to a friend in
London_.
_Ligorn, aboard the_ Phœnix, 19 _of the_ 1, 1652.
_Dear Brethren_:...”
_p._ 12: A Postscript, To fill up the following Pages, that else had
been vacant: Containing,
1 _The Proposals of_ R. Manasses ben Israel, _more fully_.
2 _Part of his Letter written Anno_ 1647.
3 _The late progress of the Gospel amongst the Indians in
New-England._
A translation appeared in:――
Neue Schwarmgeister=Brut Oder Historische Erzehlung....
IV. Die Wieder=Einnehmung der Juden in Engeland
V. Die Bekehrung der Indianer in New-Engeland ...
Gedrukkt im Jahr 1661. pp. 189‒223.
(8º. 24 _ll._ + 223 _pp._ + 1 _l._) [I. S.]
XXXVI.
BISHOP THOMAS NEWTON AND THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL
“THE preservation of the Jews is really one of the most signal and
illustrious acts of divine Providence. They are dispersed among all
nations, and yet they are not confounded with any. The drops of rain
which fall, nay the great rivers which flow into the ocean, are soon
mingled and lost in that immense body of waters: and the same in all
human probability would have been the fate of the Jews, they would
have been mingled and lost in the common mass of mankind; but, on the
contrary they flow into all parts of the world, mix with all nations,
and yet keep separate from all. They still live as a distinct people,
and yet they no where live according to their own laws, no where
elect their own magistrates, no where enjoy the full exercise of their
religion.... No people have continued unmixed so long as they have done,
not only of those who have sent forth colonies into foreign countries,
but even of those who have abided in their own country. The northern
nations have come in swarms into the more southern parts of Europe; but
where are they now to be discerned and distinguished? The Gauls went
forth in great bodies to seek their fortune in foreign parts; but what
traces or footsteps of them are now remaining any where? In France
who can separate the race of the ancient Gauls from the various other
people, who from time to time have settled there? In Spain who can
distinguish exactly between the first possessors the Spaniards, and the
Goths, and the Moors, who conquered and kept possession of the country
for some ages? In England who can pretend to say with certainty which
families are derived from the ancient Britons, and which from the
Romans, or Saxons, or Danes, or Normans? The most ancient and honorable
pedigrees can be traced up only to a certain period, and beyond
that there is nothing but conjecture and uncertainty, obscurity and
ignorance: but the Jews can go up higher than any other nation, they
can even deduce their pedigree from the beginning of the world. They
may not know from what particular tribe or family they are descended,
but they know certainly that they all sprung from the stock of Abraham.
And yet the contempt with which they have been treated, and the
hardships which they have undergone in almost all countries, should
one would think, have made them desirous to forget or renounce their
original; but they profess it, they glory in it: and after so many wars,
massacres, and persecutions, they still subsist, they still are very
numerous: and what but a supernatural power could have preserved them
in such a manner as none other nation upon earth hath been preserved?
“Nor is the providence of God less remarkable in the destruction of
their enemies, than in their preservation. For from the beginning
who have been the great enemies and oppressors of the Jewish Nation,
removed them from their own land, and compelled them into captivity
and slavery? The Egyptians afflicted them much, and detained them
in bondage several years. The Assyrians carried away captive the ten
tribes of Israel, and the Babylonians afterwards the two remaining
tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The Syro-Macedonians, especially
Antiochus Epiphanes, cruelly persecuted them: and the Romans utterly
dissolved the Jewish state, and dispersed the people so as they have
never been able to recover their city and country again. And where are
now these great and famous monarchies, which in their turns subdued
and oppressed the people of God? Are they not vanished as a dream,
and not only their power, but their very names, lost in the earth? The
Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians, were overthrown, and entirely
subjugated by the Persians; and the Persians (it is remarkable) were
the restorers of the Jews, as well as the destroyers of their enemies.
The Syro-Macedonians were swallowed up by the Romans: and the Roman
empire, great and powerful as it was, was broken in pieces by the
incursions of the northern nations; while the Jews are subsisting as
a distinct people to this day.”¹
¹ Dissertations on the Prophecies ... By Thomas Newton, D.D.,
... vol. i., London ... MDCCLIV. _pp._ 216‒219.
XXXVII.
“A CALL TO THE CHRISTIANS AND THE HEBREWS”
“YOU are at length to be restored to the land of your forefathers,
where, after ages of dispersion and suffering, you will find rest and
enjoyment; and will restore, surpass and enjoy, for ever, all that you
have ever known, or conceived of happiness and glory. ... Ye have sown
in tears, _ye shall reap_ in joy.” (Psalm cxxvi, 5.)
“They who deny that you will be restored and re-established in your
ancient inheritance, may better deny that you are dispersed; for as
certainly as the prophecies of your dispersion and preservation have
been verified, so shall the numerous prophecies of your _restoration_
be realized and fulfilled.”
“Will the British who preside over the Atlantic, Mediterranean and
Indian Seas assume the glorious enterprise, and conduct the Hebrews
from Tarshish and the various coasts of their dispersion?
“This island has given birth to the Bible Society, through whose
labours the glorious work has been undertaken and sustained of
circulating the sacred scriptures, among the various nations of the
earth in the respective languages.
“From this isle of ancient fame, the Hindoos and the lone isles of the
Pacific and Atlantic Seas, again receive their Vedas and sacred scrolls.
“The uplifted shell sounded from this Arctic isle, will gain the ear
of the wakeful Spirits of peace within it, and upon either Continent;
of those watchers of the world, who listen to gather and transmit to
all kindred and nations, the grateful sounds fraught with good tidings,
which ascend ever and anon, as the all-presiding God calls them forth
from some one of his train on Earth.”¹
¹ A Call to the Christians and the Hebrews. By Theaetetus....
London MDCCCXIX. 8º. 1 _l._ + 35 _pp._ [B. M.] _pp._ 16‒17,
33‒34.
XXXVIII.
THE CENTENARY OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY
THOSE who wish to read the full record of the Society’s work can do so
in the two delightful volumes of Mr. William Canton. In his _History of
the British and Foreign Bible Society_ (London, Murray, 1904) he tells,
in fine style, the story of the first half-century of the Society’s
career. When the Society began its work, that is to say at the
beginning of the nineteenth century, “all the Bibles in the world in
all languages and in every land, printed or in MSS., did not greatly
exceed 4,000,000 copies, and of the forty or fifty languages into which
the Scriptures have been translated, several, like the Anglo-Saxon of
Bede and the Mæso-Gothic of Ulfilas, were extinct tongues.” But now
how stands the matter? “Under its auspices and mainly at its charges,
scholars have been employed in translating the Scriptures into over 300
languages, including all the great vernaculars of the world. Neither
expense nor labour has been spared in making these versions as perfect
as possible; and when completed they have been printed, and thus placed
within the reach of the poorest of those for whom they were intended.
In 100 years over 180,000,000 copies of the scriptures, complete or
in part, have been issued by the Society; and at the present time more
than 6,000,000 copies per annum are being put into circulation.”
The well-known scholar, Dr. Israel Abrahams, after quoting this passage
in the _Jewish Chronicle_, March 4th, 1904, rightly remarks: “... the
Society is doing a noble work, with much of which Jews must completely
sympathise. With some of its work we do not sympathise; but this
reservation does not prevent us from offering cordial congratulations
to the Society on its centenary,...” This is our point of view with
regard to non-Jewish activities on behalf of Zionism, as well as on
behalf of the Bible.
XXXIX.
LORD KITCHENER AND THE PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND
DR. SAMUEL DAICHES read a paper on the 7th February, 1915, to the
Jews’ College Union Society about Lord Kitchener’s work in Palestine.
Sir Edward Pears, who is a member of the Council of the Palestine
Exploration Fund, presided. Dr. Daiches pointed out that there was
an early period in Lord Kitchener’s life which provided him with work
in which he developed his great capacities――the period of his work in
Palestine――nearly forty years ago, when he was engaged for four years
(from 1874 to 1878) in exploration work in the Holy Land. He first
took up the work (at the age of twenty-four) as second-in-command under
Lieutenant Conder, and later, owing to the ill-health of Conder, took
command of the survey party of the Palestine Exploration Fund. The
lecturer made it clear that the real underlying motive which induced
Lord Kitchener to take up this work was a love for the Bible and the
land of the Bible. Kitchener left for Palestine in command of the
Survey in January, 1877. By the beginning of July the survey of Galilee
was completed, 1000 square miles having been added to the map. Four
weeks later he went with a reduced party to the south country and
surveyed 340 square miles in the desert around Beer Sheba. The survey
of the whole of Western Palestine was thus completed. Then the revision
work was done. In January, 1878, Kitchener was back in England, and
after a short leave he joined Conder at the South Kensington Museum,
and arranged and wrote the Memoirs for the sheets of the map executed
by himself. In September he formally handed over to the Committee the
whole of the Maps and Memoirs complete. As a result of the work of
Conder and Kitchener we now have the large map of Western Palestine
in twenty-six sheets, three volumes of Memoirs on the topography,
orthography, hydrography and archæology, and the volume of Arabic
and English name lists. A volume of _Special Papers_ (vol. v. of the
series) contains contributions from Conder and Kitchener. Kitchener’s
contributions concerning the ancient Synagogues in Galilee are very
valuable, and his reports show a sympathetic understanding of Jewish
traditions in Palestine.¹
¹ Lord Kitchener and his work in Palestine. By Dr. Samuel
Daiches. London ... 1915. (8º. 88 _pp._)
XL.
BONAPARTE’S CALL TO THE JEWS (1799)
Gazette Nationale ou Le Moniteur Universel.
_No. 243. Tridi, 3 prairial an 7 de la république française une et
indivisible._
[_Page_] 987. Politique. Turquie. _Constantinople, le 28 germinal._
“Bonaparte a fait publier une proclamation, dans laquelle il invite
tous les juifs de l’Asie et de l’Afrique à venir se ranger sous ses
drapeaux pour rétablir l’ancienne Jérusalem. Il en a déjà armé un grand
nombre, et leurs bataillons menacent Alep.”
_No. 279. Nonidi, 9 messidor_ etc.
[_Pages_] 1136‒1137. _De la conquête probable de-l’empire ottoman par
Bonaparte._
“... Attendons la confirmation de ces heureuses nouvelles. Si elles
sont prématurées, nous aimons à croire qu’elles se réaliseront un
jour. Ce n’est pas seulement pour rendre aux juifs leur Jérusalem que
Bonaparte a conquis la Syrie;...” (David.)
XLI.
[A ZIONIST] LETTER, ADDRESSED BY A [FRENCH] JEW
TO HIS CO-RELIGIONISTS IN 1798
“_Brothers_,
“You who have groaned for so many ages under the weight of the cruelest
persecutions, do you not wish to burst from the state of degrading
humiliation in which intolerant and barbarous religions have placed
you? Contempt accompanies us everywhere. Our sufferings are unpitied
and despised. The unshaken constancy with which we have preserved the
faith of our ancestors, far from procuring for us the admiration due to
such a conduct, has only increased the unjust hatred which all nations
bear towards us. It is only by affecting the exterior of baseness and
misery, that we are enabled to secure our property and preserve our
unhappy existence. It is at least time to shake off this insupportable
yoke――it is time to resume our rank among the other nations of the
universe. Vile robbers possess that sacred land which our ancestors
were compelled to yield to the Romans. They profane the holy City which
we defended with so much courage. Posterity has preserved a dreadful
remembrance of the struggle――we, surely, have not forgotten it. That
courage has only slumbered: the hour to awaken it is arrived. O my
brethren! let us rebuild the temple of Jerusalem!
“An invincible nation, which now fills the world with her glory, has
shewn us what the love of country can perform. Let us implore her
generosity――request her assistance; and we may be assured that the
philosophy which guides the chiefs of that nation, will induce them to
give our demand a favourable reception.
“We are more than six millions of people scattered over the face of
the earth; we possess immense riches: let us employ the means that are
in our power to restore us to our country. The moment is propitious,
and to profit by it, is our duty. The following are the means best
suited for carrying this holy enterprize into execution:――There shall
be established a Council, the members of which shall be elected by the
Jews, who are spread over Europe, Asia, and Africa.”
[Here the writer divides the Jews into the 15 following tribes, viz.
The Italian, Helvetic, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Northern, British,
Spanish, Gallic, Dutch, Prussian, German, Turkish, Asiatic, and African.
These the author proposes shall each form a body of electors in the
capitals of the respective districts; and then he proceeds.]
“The fifteen deputies of these tribes shall form the Council, which
shall hold its sittings at Paris. When they shall have assembled to
the number of nine, they may begin to deliberate on the object of their
mission. Their decisions will have with all the Jews the force of laws;
they shall be obliged to submit to them. The Council shall appoint
an agent, to communicate to the Executive Directory of France the
propositions which it may think proper to make to the French government.”
“The country we propose to occupy shall include (liable to such
arrangements as shall be agreeable to France) Lower Egypt, with the
addition of a district of country, which shall have for its limits a
line running from Ptomelais or Saint John D’Acre, to the Asphaltic
Lake, or Dead Sea, and from the South point of that Lake to the Red Sea.
This position, which is the most advantageous in the world, will render
us, by the navigation of the Red Sea, masters of the commerce of India,
Arabia and the South and East of Africa; Abyssinia, and Ethiopia, those
rich countries which furnished Solomon with so much gold and ivory and
so many precious stones, will trade the more willingly with us, that
the greater part of their inhabitants still practise the law of Moses.
The neighbourhood of Aleppo and Damascus will facilitate our commerce
with Persia; and by the Mediterranean we may communicate with Spain,
France, Italy, and the rest of Europe. Placed in the centre of the
world, our country will become the _entrepôt_ of all the rich and
precious productions of the earth.
“The Council shall offer to the French government, if it will give us
the assistance necessary to enable us to return to our country, and to
maintain ourselves in the possession of it,
“1. Every pecuniary indemnification.
2. To share the commerce of India, &c. with the merchants of France
_only_.
“The other arrangements, and the propositions to be made to the Ottoman
Porte, cannot yet be rendered public: we must, in these matters,
repose on the wisdom of the Council, and the good faith of the French
nation. Let us choose upright and enlightened deputies, and we may have
confidence in the success of this undertaking.
“O! my brethren! what sacrifices ought we not to make to obtain
this object? We shall return to our country――we shall live under our
own laws――we shall behold those sacred places which our ancestors
illustrated with their courage and their virtues. I already see you all
animated with a holy zeal. _Israelites_! the term of your misfortunes
is at hand. The opportunity is favourable――take care you do not allow
it to escape.”¹
¹ The Restoration of the Jews the Crisis of all Nations;...
Second Edition. By J. Bicheno, M.A. London:... 1807....
(8º. 2 _ll._ + 235 _pp._ [I. S.]) _pp._ 60‒62.
See _Appendices_ XLIII.‒XLVI.
This appeal――a prototype of Pinsker’s _Autoemancipation_ and of
Herzl’s _Judenstaat_――produced a deep impression, but since the whole
expedition proved a failure, Jewish opinion――not on the principle, but
on the opportunity and the means――was divided.
XLII.
“TRANSACTIONS OF THE PARISIAN SANHEDRIM,”
BY DIOGENE TAMA
TRANSACTIONS Of The Parisian Sanhedrim,
Or Acts Of The Assembly Of Israelitish Deputies of France and Italy,
Convoked At Paris By An Imperial And Royal Decree, Dated May 30, 1806.
Translated From The Original Published By M. Diogene Tama,
With A Preface And Illustrative Notes By F. D. Kirwan, Esq.
London;... Published by Charles Taylor, Hatton Street. 1807.
(8º. xvi. + 334 _pp._) [I. S.]
XLIII.
“SIGNS OF THE TIMES”――“A WORD IN SEASON”――“COMMOTIONS SINCE
FRENCH REVOLUTION”――“HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY”――“THE GERMAN
EMPIRE”――“FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY,” BY REV. JAMES BICHENO
THE Signs of the Times:... By J. Bicheno ...
London: Printed For The Author; And Sold by Parsons, Paternoster-Row;
Wayland, Holborn, London; and James and Cottle, Bristol.
Price 1S. 6D.[1793]
Of whom may be had the Author’s Friendly Address to the Jews, and a
Letter to Mr. D. Levi. Price 1s. 6d.
(8º. 4 _ll._ + 67 _pp._) [B. M.]
A Word in Season:... To Stand Prepared For The Consequences Of The
Present War ...
By J. Bicheno,... London ... 1795.
(8º. 2 _ll._ + 53 _pp._) [B. M.]
The Probable Progress And Issue Of The Commotions Which Have Agitated
Europe Since The French Revolution,...
By J. Bicheno ... London ... MDCCXCVII.
(8º. 2 _ll._ + 94 _pp._) [B. M.]
A Glance At The History of Christianity,...
By James Bicheno, M.A., Newbury ... MDCCXCVIII....
(8º. 28 _pp._) [B. M.]
The Destiny Of The German Empire;...
By J. Bicheno, M.A.... London:... 1801....
(8º. 2 _ll._ + 96 _pp._) [B. M.]
The Fulfilment of Prophecy Farther Illustrated By The Signs Of The
Times;...
By J. Bicheno, M.A. London ... 1817.
(8º. xvii. + 254 _pp._) [B. M.]
XLIV.
“RESTORATION OF THE JEWS”――“FRIENDLY ADDRESS TO THE JEWS,” BY
REV. JAMES BICHENO――“LETTER TO MR. BICHENO,” BY DAVID LEVI
THE Restoration of the Jews, The Crisis Of All Nations;
Or, An Arrangement Of The Scripture Prophecies, Which Relate To
The Restoration Of The Jews, And To Some Of The Most Interesting
Circumstances Which Are To Accompany And Distinguish That Important
Event;
With Illustrations And Remarks Drawn From The Present Situation And
Apparent Tendencies Of Things, Both In Christian And Mahomedan
Countries.
By J. Bicheno, M.A.... London ... 1800. [Price Two Shillings And
Sixpence.]
(8º. 2 _ll._ + 115 _pp._) [B. M.]
The Restoration Of The Jews The Crisis Of All Nations;
To Which Is Now Prefixed, A Brief History Of The Jews, From Their First
Dispersion, To The Calling Of Their Grand Sanhedrim At Paris, October
6th, 1806.
And An Address On The Present State Of Affairs, In Europe In General,
And In This Country In Particular.
Second Edition.
By J. Bicheno, M.A.
London:... 1807. (_Price_ 5s.――_Entered at Stationer’s-Hall._)
(8º. 2 _ll._ + 235 _pp._) [I. S.]
He also wrote:――
A Friendly Address To The Jews....
To Which Is Added, A Letter To Mr. D. Levi; Containing Remarks On His
Answer To Dr. Priestley’s Letter To The Jews; Shewing, That however
his Arguments may affect the Opinions of Dr. Priestley, they form no
Objection against the Christian Religion.
By J. Bicheno, Newbury. London:...
(8º. vi. _pp._ + 1 _l._ + 88 _pp._) [I. S.]
Which occasioned the following reply:――
A Letter To Mr. Bicheno, Occasioned By His Friendly Address to the Jews,
And A Letter To Mr. David Levi, Containing Remarks On Mr. Levi’s Answer
To Dr. Priestley’s First Letters To The Jews.
By David Levi, Author Of Lingua Sacra, The Ceremonies Of The Jews,
etc....
See _pp._ 127‒134 in “Letters To Dr. Priestley, In Answer To His
Letters To The Jews, Part II.” Occasioned By Mr. David Levi’s Reply to
the Former Part. Also Letters 1. To Dr. Cooper, ... 2. To Mr. Bicheno,
3. To Dr. Krauter, 4. To Mr. Swain, And 5. To Anti-Socinus, _alias_
Anselm Bayly. Occasioned By Their Remarks On Mr. David Levi’s Answer To
Dr. Priestley’s First Letters To The Jews. By David Levi, ... London:
... M,DCC,LXXXIX.
(8º. 2 _ll._ + 159 _pp._) [I. S.]
XLV.
“ATTEMPT TO REMOVE PREJUDICES CONCERNING THE JEWISH NATION,”
BY THOMAS WITHERBY
AN Attempt To Remove Prejudices Concerning The Jewish Nation. By Way Of
Dialogue.
By Thomas Witherby.