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THE
HISTORY
OF
_SABATAI SEVI_,
The Pretended
_Messiah_ of the _Jewes_,
In the Year of our _Lord_, 1666.
The _Third Impostor_.
According to the Predictions of several _Christian_ Writers, especially
of such who Comment on the _Apocalyps_, or Revelations, this Year of
1666 was to prove a Year of Wonders, of strange Revolutions in the
World, and particularly of Blessing to the _Jewes_, either in respect of
their Conversion to the _Christian_ Faith, or of their Restoration to
their Temporal Kingdome: This Opinion was so dilated, and fixt in the
Countreys of the Reformed Religion, and in the Heads of Phanatical
_Enthusiasts_, who Dreamed of a Fift Monarchy, the downfall of the
_Pope_, and _Antichrist_, and the Greatness of the _Jewes_: In so much,
that this subtile People judged this Year the time to stir, and to fit
their Motion according to the season of the Modern Prophesies; whereupon
strange Reports flew from place to place, of the March of Multitudes of
People from unknown parts into the remote Desarts of _Arabia_, supposed
to be the _Ten Tribes_ and _halfe_, lost for so many Ages. That a Ship
was arrived in the Northern parts of _Scotland_ with her Sailes and
Cordage of Silke, Navigated by Mariners who spake nothing but _Hebrew_;
with this Motto on their Sailes, _The Twelve Tribes of Israel_. These
Reportes agreeing thus near to former Predictions, put the wild sort of
the World into an expectation of strange Accidents, this year should
produce in reference to the _Jewish_ Monarchy.
In this manner Millions of People were possessed, when _Sabatai Sevi_
first appear'd at _Smyrna_, and published himself to the _Jewes_ for
their _Messiah_, relating the greatness of their approaching Kingdome,
the strong hand whereby God was about to deliver them from Bondage, and
gather them from all partes of the World. It was strange to see how the
fancy took, and how fast the report of _Sabatai_ and his Doctrine flew
through all partes where _Turkes_ and _Jews_ inhabited; the latter of
which were so deeply possessed with a beliefe of their new Kingdome, and
Riches, and many of them with promotion to Offices of Government,
Renown, and Greatness, that in all parts from _Constantinople_ to _Buda_
(which it was my fortune that year to Travel) I perceiv'd a strange
transport in the _Jewes_, none of them attending to any business unless
to winde up former negotiations, and to prepare themselves and Families
for a Journey to _Jerusalem_: All their Discourses, their Dreames, and
disposal of their Affaires tended to no other Design but a
re-establishment in the Land of Promise, to Greatness, Glory, Wisdome,
and Doctrine of the _Messiah_, whose Original, Birth, and Education are
first to be recounted.
_Sabatai Sevi_ was Son of _Mordechai Sevi_, an Inhabitant, and Natural
of _Smyrna_, who gained his Livelihood by being _Broaker_ to an
_English_ Marchant in that place; a person, who before his death was
very decrepit in his Body, and full of the Goute, and other Infirmities,
but his Son _Sabatai Sevi_ addicting himself to Study, became a notable
Proficient in the _Hebrew_ and _Metaphysicks_; and arrived to that point
of _Sophistry_ in _Divinity_ and _Metaphysicks_, that he vented a New
Doctrine in their Law, drawing to the Profession of it so many
Disciples, as raised one day a Tumult in the _Synagogue_; for which
afterwards he was by a Censure of the _Chochams_ (who are Expounders of
the Law) banished the City.
During the time of his Exile, he Travelled to _Thessalonica_, now called
_Salonica_, where he Marryed a very handsome Woman; but either not
having that part of Oeconomy as to govern a Wife, or being Impotent
towards Women, as was pretended, or that she found not favour in his
Eyes, she was divorced from him: Again, he took a second Wife, more
beautiful then the former, but the same causes of discontent raising a
difference between them, he obtained another Divorce from this Wife
also. And being now free from the Incumbrances of a Family, his wandring
Head mov'd him to Travel through the _Morea_, thence to _Tripoli_ in
_Syria_, _Gaza_, and _Jerusalem_; and by the way picked up a _Ligornese_
Lady, whom he made his third Wife, the Daughter of some _Polonian_ or
_German_, her Original and Parentage not being very well known. And
being now at _Jerusalem_ he began to Reforme the _Law_ of the _Jewes_,
and Abolish the _Fast_ of _Tamuz_ (which they keep in the Moneth of
_June_) and there meeting with a certain _Jew_ called _Nathan_, a proper
Instrument to promote his Design; he communicated to him his Condition,
his Course of Life, and Intentions, to Proclaime himself _Messiah_ of
the World, so long expected and desired by the _Jewes_. This Design took
wonderfully with _Nathan_; and because it was thought necessary
according to _Scripture_, and Antient _Prophesies_, that _Elias_ was to
precede the _Messiah_, as St. _John Baptist_ was the fore-runner of
_Christ_: _Nathan_ thought no man so proper to Act the Part of the
_Prophet_ as himself; and so no sooner had _Sabatai_ declared himself
the _Messiah_, but _Nathan_ discovers himself to be his Prophet,
forbiding all the Fasts of the _Jewes_ in _Jerusalem_; and declaring,
that the Bridegroom being come, nothing but Joy, and Triumph ought to
dwell in their Habitations; Writing to all the Assemblies of the
_Jewes_, to perswade them to the same beliefe.
And now the Schisme being begun, and many _Jewes_ really believing what
they so much desired, _Nathan_ took the courage and boldness to
Prophesie, That one Year from the 27th of _Kislev_, (which is the moneth
of _June_) the _Messiah_ shall appear before the _Grand Signor_, & take
from him his Crown and lead him in Chaines like a Captive.
_Sabatai_ also at _Gaza_ Preached Repentance to the _Jewes_, and
Obedience to Himself and Doctrine, for that the coming of the _Messiah_
was at hand: which Novelties so Affected the _Jewish_ Inhabitants of
those partes, that they gave up themselves wholly to their Prayers,
Almes, and Devotions; and to confirme this beliefe the more, it hapned,
that at the same time that Newes hereof, with all perticulars were
dispatched from _Gaza_, to acquaint the Brethren in Forrain Partes: The
Rumour of the _Messiah_ hath flown so swift, and gained such reception,
that Intelligence came from all Partes and Countreys where the _Jewes_
inhabit, by Letters to _Gaza_, and _Jerusalem_, Congratulating the
happiness of their Deliverance, and expiration of the time of their
Servitude, by the Appearance of the _Messiah_. To which they adjoyned
other Prophesies, relating to that Dominion the _Messiah_ was to have
over all the World: that for Nine Moneths after he was to disappeare;
during which time the _Jewes_ were to suffer, and many of them to
undergoe Martyrdom: but then returning again Mounted on a Coelestial
_Lyon_, with his Bridle made of _Serpents_ with seven heads, accompanyed
with his Brethren the _Jewes_, who Inhabited on the other side of the
River _Sabation_, he should be acknowledged for the Sole Monarch of the
Universe; and then the _Holy Temple_ should descend from Heaven already
built, framed, and beautified, wherein they should offer Sacrifice for
ever.
And here I leave you to consider, how strangely this Deceived People was
Amused, when these Confident, and vain Reports, and Dreams of Power, and
Kingdomes, had wholly transported them from the ordinary course of their
Trade, and Interest.
This noise and rumour of the _Messiah_, having begun to fill all places,
_Sabatai Sevi_ resolved to Travel towards _Smyrna_, the Country of his
Nativity; and thence to _Constantinople_ the Capital City, where the
principal Work of Preaching was to have been performed: _Nathan_ thought
it not fit to be long after him, and therefore Travels by the way of
_Damascus_, where resolving to continue some time for better Propagation
of this New Doctrine; in the meane while Writes this Letter to _Sabatai
Sevi_, as followeth.