(that ingens telum) compells; that having bene long time very sickly
(an expensive condition) I make my moan to your Highnesse, as the
alone succourer of my life, in this land of strangers, to help in
this present exigence. I shall not presume to prescribe to your
Highnesse but havinge had great experience of your greatnesse in
compassions as well as in majestie, I lay myselfe at your feet, that
am your infinit obliged supplicant & servant
“MENASSEH BEN ISRAEL.”
11. Further petition from Menasseh ben Israel to Oliver Cromwell. It is
endorsed “17 Sep. 1657” (S. P., Dom. Inter., clvi. 89):—
“To his Highnesse, the Lord Protector, the humble petition of
Menasseh Ben Israel.
“May it please your Highnesse, my only sonne, being now dead in my
house, who before his departure, engaged me to accompany his corps
to Holland, & I indebted here, I know not which way to turn mee but
(under God) to your Highnesse for help in this condition, emploring
your bowells of compassion (which I know are great & tender) to
supply me with three hundred pounds, & I shall surrender my pension
seal & never trouble or charge your Highnesse any more, I am very
sensible considering your great past kindnesse (which with all
thankfullnesse I acknowledge) how highly-bold this my petition is,
but the necessitie of my present exigence & my experience of your
admirable graciousnesse to mee have layd mee prostrat at your feet,
crying, Help, most noble prince, for God’s sake, your most humble
supplicant
MENASSEH BEN ISRAEL.”
12. Petition on behalf of the widow of Menasseh ben Israel, addressed to
Richard Cromwell by John Sadler (S. P., Dom. Inter., cc. 8):—
“To his Highness the Lord Protector the humble petition of John
Sadler.
“Sheweth that although your petitioner being often pressed to
present petitions in behalf of the Jewes did rather dissuade their
comming hither, yet by some letters of your late royall father &
others of note in this nation some of their synagogs were encouraged
to send hither one of their cheife rabbines, Menasseh Ben Israel,
for admittance & some freedome of trade in some of these ilands. And
when he had stayed heere so long, that he was allmost ashamed to
returne to those that sent him or to exact their maintenance heere
where they found so little success after so many hopes, it pleased
his Highnes & the councell to setle on the said Menasseh a pension
of 100£ a yeare which ere long he offered to resigne for 300£ for
present satisfaction of debts & other pressures which lay so heavy
on him that at length he submitted to resigne his former pension for
a new grant of 200£ to be presently paid as the councell ordered.
“But notwithstanding his stay & expense in procuring several seales,
he never gott one penny of the said 200£ but at length with his
heart ever broken with griefe on losing heer his only sonne and his
presious time with all his hopes in this iland he got away with so
much breath as lasted, till he came to Midleburg & then he dyed.
Leaving a poore desolate widow (with other relations) who solemnly
professed she had not money enough to lay him in the sepulchres of
his fathers, but for the charity of some that lent or gave them
money. It pleased allso your Highess late father to receive one or 2
of the same poore widowes letters to your petitioner (whom they both
trusted in that business) & with his owne hands to commit them to
the especiall care of Mr. secretary Thurloe who hath also divers
times minded the same, but your Highness exchequer is so charged
that there is little hope of obteining it there.
“May it please your Highnesse in compassion to the said poore widow
& relations of a man so eminent & famous in his owne & meny other
nations & for the honour of Christian religion with many other
reasons, to order the said 200£ out of the contingencies for the
councell or some other treasure where it may be speedily had and
without fees allso if it may be according to former orders.
“And your petitioner shall desire to pray.”
[Illustration]
PEREGRINANDO QVÆRIMVS. MENASSEH BEN ISRAEL THEOLOGVS ET PHILOSOPHVS
HEBRÆVS.
_ÆTATIS SVA
ANNO XXXVIII_
_ANNO
MDCXLII_
Salom
_Doctrina hic volúit volúitg Modestia pingi.
An poterit vúltús charta referre dúos?
Hos orúlos, hæc ora vide. Conucuit útrinque.
Illa fúos vúltús dixit, & illa fúos._
_D.I._
THE
HOPE OF ISRAEL
Written
By _MENASSEH BEN ISRAEL_,
An Hebrew Divine, and
Philosopher.
Newly extant, and Printed at _Amsterdam_,
and Dedicated by the Author, to
the High Court, the Parliament of _England_,
and to the Councell of State,
The second Edition corrected and amended.
Whereunto are added,
_In this second Edition, some Discourses
upon the point of the Conversion of the_
JEWES.
_By_ MOSES WALL.
LONDON
_P_rinted by _R. I._ for _Livewell Chapman_ at the Crowne in
_P_opes-Head Alley, 1652.
[Illustration]
TO THE
Parliament, The Supream Court of ENGLAND,
_And to the Right Honourable the Councell of State_, Menasseh Ben
Israel, _prayes God to give Health, and all Happinesse_:
It is not one cause alone (most renowned Fathers) which useth to move
those, who desire by their Meditations to benefit Mankind, and to make
them come forth in publique, to dedicate their Books to great Men; for
some, and those the most, are incited by Covetousnesse, that they may
get money by so doing, or some peece of Plate of gold, or Silver;
sometimes also that they may obtaine their Votes, and suffrages to get
some place for themselves, or their friends. But some are moved thereto
by meere and pure friendship, that so they may publickly testifie that
love and affection, which they bear them, whose names they prefixe to
their Books; let the one, and the other, please themselves, according as
they delight in the reason of the Dedication, whether it be good or bad;
for my part, I best like them, who do it upon this ground, that they may
not commend themselves, or theirs, but what is for publick good.
As for me (most renowned Fathers) in my dedicating this Discourse to
you, I can truly affirm, that I am induced to it upon no other ground
then this, that I may gain your favour and good will to our Nation, now
scattered almost all over the earth; neither think that I do this, as if
I were ignorant how much you have hitherto favored our Nation; for it is
made known to me, and to others of our Nation, by them who are so happy
as near at hand, to observe your apprehensions, that you do vouchsafe to
help us, not onely by your prayers; yea, this hath compelled me to speak
to you publickly, and to give you thanks for that your charitable
affection towards us, and not such thanks which come only from the
tongue, but as are conceived by a grateful mind.
Give me leave therefore (most renowned Fathers) to supplicate you, that
you would stil favor our good, and farther love us. Truly, we men doe
draw so much the nearer to Divine nature, when by how much we increase,
by so much we cherish, and defend the small, and weak ones; and with how
much diligence doe you performe this, most renowned Fathers? who though
you seem to be arrived to the highest top of felicity, yet you do not
only not despise inferior men, but you so wish well to them, that you
seem sensible of their calamity; you knowing how acceptable to God you
are by so doing, who loves to do good to them who doe good. And truly it
is from hence, that of late you have done so great things valiantly, and
by an unusuall attempt, and things much to be observed among the
Nations. The whole world stands amazed at these things, and the eies of
all are turned upon you, that they may see whither all these things do
tend, which the great Governour of all things seems to bring upon the
world by so great changes, so famously remarkable, of so many Nations;
and so all those things which God is pleased to have fore-told by the
Prophets, do, and shall obtain their accomplishment. All which things of
necessity must bee fulfilled, that so _Israel_ at last being brought
back to his owne place; peace which is promised under the Messiah, may
be restored to the world; and concord, which is the only Mother of al
good things. These things I handle more largely in this Treatise, which
I dedicate to you (most renowned Fathers) you cannot be ignorant, that
it is not only not unprofitable, but very useful for States and
Statesmen, to fore-see the issue (which yet is ever in Gods hand) of
humaine Councells, that so they may observe, and understand from Divine
truth, the events of things to come, which God hath determined by his
Spirit in his holy Prophets. I know that this my labour will not be
unacceptable to you, how mean soever it be, which I trust you will
chearfully receive, because that you love our Nation, and as part of it,
the Author of this Discourse. But I intreat you be certain, that I pour
out continual prayers to God for your happinesse. Farewell, most
renowned Fathers, and flourish most prosperously.
_Menasseh Ben Israel._
[Illustration]
_Menasseh Ben Israel_, To the Courteous Reader.
_There are as many minds as men, about the originall of the people of_
America _and of the first Inhabitants of the new World, and of the_ West
Indyes; _for how many men soever they were or are, they came of those
two_, Adam, _and_ Eve; _and consequently of_ Noah, _after the Flood, but
that new World doth seem wholly separated from the old, therefore it
must be that some did passe thither out of one (at least) of the three
parts of the world sc._ Europe, Asia, _and_ Africa; _but the doubt is,
what people were those, and out of what place they went. Truly, the
truth of that must be gathered, partly out of the ancient Hystories, and
partly from conjectures; as their Habit, their Language, their Manners,
which yet doe vary according to mens dispositions; so that it is hard to
finde out the certainty. Almost all who have viewed those Countryes,
with great diligence, have been of different judgements: Some would have
the praise of finding out_ America, _to be due to the_ Carthaginians,
_others to the_ Phenicians, _or the_ Canaanites; _others to the_
Indians, _or people of_ China; _others to them of_ Norway, _others to
the Inhabitants of the_ Atlantick Islands, _others to the_ Tartarians,
_others to the ten Tribes. Indeed, every one grounds his opinion not
upon probable arguments, but high conjectures, as will appeare farther
by this Booke. But I having curiously examined what ever hath hitherto
been writ upon this subject doe finde no opinion more probable, nor
agreeable to reason, then that of our_ Montezinus, _who saith, that the
first inhabitants of_ America, _were the ten Tribes of the_ Israelites,
_whom the_ Tartarians _conquered, and drove away; who after that (as God
would have it) hid themselves behind the Mountaines_ Cordilleræ. _I also
shew, that as they were not driven out at once from their Country, so
also they were scattered into divers Provinces, sc. into_ America,
_into_ Tartary, _into_ China, _into_ Media, _to the Sabbaticall River,
and into_ Æthiopia. _I prove that the ten Tribes never returned to the
second Temple, that they yet keepe the Law of_ Moses, _and our sacred
Rites; and at last shall return into their Land, with the two Tribes_,
Judah, _and_ Benjamin; _and shall be governed by one Prince, who is_
Messiah _the Son of_ David; _and without doubt that time is near, which
I make appear by divers things; where, Reader, thou shalt finde divers
Histories worthy of memory, and many Prophesies of the old Prophets
opened with much study, and care. I willingly leave it to the judgement
of the godly, and learned, what happy worth there is in this my Book,
and what my own Nation owes me for my paines: It is called_, The Hope of
Israel; _which name is taken from_ Jerem. 14.8. _O the hope of Israel,
the Saviour thereof. For the scope of this Discourse is, to show, that
the hope in which we live, of the comming of the Messiah is of a future,
difficult, but infallible good, because it is grounded upon the absolute
Promise of the blessed God._
_And because I intend a continuation of_ Josephus _his History of the_
Jewes, _our famous Historian; I intreat, and beseech all Learned men, in
what part of the world soever they live (to whom I hope that shortly
this Discourse will come) that if they have any thing worthy of
posterity, that they would give me notice of it in time; for though I
have collected many Acts of the_ Jewes, _and many Hystories out of the_
Hebrewes, _the_ Arabians, _the_ Grecians, _the_ Latines, _and other
Authors of other Nations; yet I want many things for this my enterprize,
all which I am willing to performe, that I may please my Nation; but
rather to the glory of the blessed God, whose Kingdome is everlasting,
and his Word infallible_.
[Illustration]
_The Translator to the Reader._
This discourse of a Jew comming to my hand, and having perused it, I
thought it not inconvenient to make it speake _English_; for the benefit
of my Country-men, who wait for the redemption of _Israel_; and at the
same time of the _Gentiles_ also. That the Author is a _Jew_, ought to
be no scandall to us (though some of us Christian _Gentiles_ are
ignorant of, and scandalized at the notion of the conversion of the
_Jewes_, as the _Jewes_ of old were, concerning our being converted, and
grafted into the true Stock, as in _Acts_ 11.3.) for though God hath
rejected them, yet not for ever: _Rom._ 11.25, 26. And also the many
prophesies both in the Old, and New Testament, which concern their being
received againe to grace, gathered from their dispersion, and settled in
their own Land; and their flourishing estate under, now our, and then
their and our Prince, Jesus Christ the Messiah, who will then triumph
gloriously, and all his people with him; these and many more Promises
would want a fulfilling (which the God of Truth wil never suffer) if
there should not be the revolution of a time, in which they shall be
converted, and grace and peace be poured out upon _Jewes_ and
_Gentiles_; though first upon the _Jew_, then the _Gentile_. But besides
this, the Author expresseth so much learning that he deserveth honour of
all; so much ingenuity, and (so far as his light reacheth) so great a
measure of the knowledge and fear of God, that he may wel be set for a
pattern to us Christians, who profess much better than he, but live much
worse. One thing is very remarkable in him, that wheras many of us (like
them who canot see Wood for Trees) though inviorned with mercies in
these late revolutions, (I speake not to them who measure mercies only,
or chiefly, by plentiful tables, ful purses, rich accoutrements, and the
like; that wretched Generation is unworthy of the name of _Men_, much
more of _Christians_) yet will unthankfully cry out, What have we got by
all these troubles? and what hath been done? surely this _Jew_ shall
rise up in judgement against such unchristian Christians; for he in his
Epistle Dedicatory says, _The whole world stands amazed at what the
Parliament hath done_; besides he cordially and openly owns the
Parliament, who as far as I know never did him nor his Nation any
further good then to pray for them; (_though we hope, and pray, that
their favour may extend to realities, towards that people to whom
certainly God hath made many, and great Promises, and shortly will give
answerable performances_:) but many among us who injoy peace under them,
and many other blessings, (too many for an unthankfull Generation) doe
refuse to acknowledge them, doe curse them whom God hath blessed, and
even in their prayers to that God who cannot be deceived, or imposed
upon; doe vent themselves against this present Government, in
expressions so wilde and false, that such Language would be accounted
most unworthy, in our addresse to any considerable person, much more
then to the great God. I shall only adde this, _sc._ Do not think that I
aime by this Translation, to propagate or commend _Iudaisme_ (which its
no wonder if the Author doth so much favour, especially in his thirtieth
Section) no, through Grace I have better learned the truth, as it is in
Jesus, but to give some discovery of what apprehensions, and workings
there are at this day in the hearts of the _Jewes_; and to remove our
sinfull hatred from off that people, whose are the Promises, and who are
beloved for their Fathers sakes; and who of _Jewes_, we shall hear to
be, ere long, reall Christians.
The Authors of other Nations, which are quoted in this Treatise.
A
_Abrahamus Ortelius_
_Agathias_
_Augustinus_
_Alexis Vanegas_
_Alfonsus Cemedro_
_Alonsus Augustianus_
_Alonsus de Erzilla_
_Alonsus Venerus_
_Arias Montanus._
B
_Baronius_
_Berosus_
_Boterus_
_Bozius._
C
_Constantinus_.
D
_Diodorus Siculus_
_Dion_
_Duretus._
E
_Eselius Geradus_
_Eusebius Cesariensis._
F
_Famianus Strada_
_Franciscus de Ribera_
_Franciscus lopez de_
_Gomara._
G
_Garcilassus dela Vega_
_Genebrardus_
_Goropius_
_Guil. Postellus_
_Guilielmus Blawius_
_Guil. Schilkardus._
H
_Henricus Alangre_
_Hugo Grotius_.
J
_Jacobus Verus_
_Joan. de Castillanos_
_Joan. de Bairos_
_Joan. Roman_
_Joan. de Laet_
_Joan. Huarte_
_Josephus d’ Acosta_
_Joan. Linscboten_.
L
_Lescarbotus_
_Lucanus_.
M
_Manuel Sa._
_Marcilius Facinus_
_Marinus._
N
_Nicolaus Trigautius._
O
_Origines_
_Orosius_
_Osorius Lusitanus._
P
_Petrus de Cleza_
_Plancius_
_Petrus Simon_
_Petrus Hernandes de Quiros_
_Petrus Teixera_
_Pineda_
_Plato_
_Plinius_
_Pomarius_
_Proclus_
_Porphyrius_
_Possevinus_
_Plutarchus_
_Picus Mirandulanus_
_Ptolomæus._
S
_Semuel Bochardus_
_Solinus_
_Strabo_
_Suetonius Tranquillus._
T
_Tacitus_
_Thomas Malvenda_.
X
_Xenophon._
Z
_Zarate._
_The Hebrew Bookes, and Authors._
Talmud Hierosolymitanum
Talmud Babylonicum
Paraphrasis Chaldaica
R. Simhon ben Johay
Seder Holam
Rabot
Jalkot
Tanhuma
Joseph ben Gurion
R. Sehadia Gaon
R. Moseh de Egypto
R. Abraham Aben Ezra
R. Selomoh Jarhi
Eldad Danita
R. David Kimhi
R. Benjamin Tudelensis
R. Moseh Gerundensis
R. Abraham bar R. Hiya
Don Shac Abarbanel
R. Joseph Coen
R. Abraham Friscoll
R. Mordechay Japhe
R. Mordechay Reato
R. Hazarya a-Adomi.
[Illustration]
THE
RELATION
OF
_ANTONY MONTEZINUS_.
_In the 18th. of the Month of_ Elul: _the 5404 year from the Worlds
creation, and according to common compute, in 1644_. Aaron Levi,
_otherwise called_ Antonius Montezinus _came into this City_ Amsterdam,
_and related to the Sieur_ Menasseh ben Israel, _and other cheifetains
of the_ Portugal _Nation, Inhabitants of the same City, these things
which follow_.
_That it was two years and a halfe, since that he going from the Port_
Honda _in the_ West-Indies, _to the_ Papian _jurisdiction, he conducted
some Mules of a certaine_ Indian, _whose name was_ Franciscus
Castellanus, _into the Province of_ Quity, _and that there was one in
company with him and other_ Indians, _whose name was_ Francis, _who was
called by all_ Cazicus. _That it happened that as they went over the
Mountaines_ Cordilleræ, _a great tempest arose, which threw the loaden
Mules to the ground. The_ Indians _being afflicted by the sore tempest,
every one began to count his losses; yet confessing that all that and
more grievous punishments were but just, in regard of their many sins.
But_ Francis _bad them take it patiently, for that they should shortly
injoy rest: the others answered, that they were unworthy of it; yea that
the notorious cruelty used by the_ Spaniards _towards them, was sent of
God, because they had so ill treated his holy people, who wer of al
others the most innocent: now then, they determined to stay all night
upon the top of the Mountain. And_ Montezinus _tooke out of a Box some
Bread, and Cheese, and Jonkets, and gave them to_ Francis, _upbraiding
him, that he had spoken disgracefully of the_ Spaniards; _who answered,
that he had not told one halfe of the miseries and calamities inflicted
by a cruell, and inhumane people; but they should not goe unrevenged,
looking for helpe from an unknown people_.
_After this Conference_, Montezinus _went to_ Carthagenia, _a City of
the_ Indians, _where he being examined, was put in Prison; and while he
prayed to God, such words fell from him; Blessed be the name of the
Lord, that hath not made me an Idolater, a_ Barbarian, _a_
Black-a-Moore, _or an_ Indian; _but as he named_ Indian, _he was angry
with himselfe, and said, The_ Hebrewes _are_ Indians; _then he comming
to himselfe againe; confessed that he doted, and added, Can the_
Hebrewes _be_ Indians? _which hee also repeated a second, and a third
time; and he thought that it was not by chance that he had so much
mistaken himselfe_.
_He thinking farther, of what he had heard from the_ Indian, _and hoping
that he should find out the whole truth; therefore as soon as he was let
out of Prison, he sought out_ Franciscus _beleeving that hee would
repeat to him againe what he had spoken; he therefore being set at
liberty, through Gods mercy went to the Port_ Honda, _and according to
his desire, found him, who said; He remembred all that he had spoken,
when he was upon the Mountaine; whom_ Montezinus _asked, that he would
take a journy with him, offering him all courtesies, giving him three
peeces of Eight, that he might buy himselfe necessaries_.
_Now when they were got out of the City_, Montezinus _confessed himselfe
to be an_ Hebrew, _of the Tribe of_ Levi, _and that the Lord was his
God; and he told the_ Indian, _that all other gods were but mockeries;
the_ Indian _being amazed, asked him the name of his Parents; who
answered_ Abraham, Isaac, _and_ Jacob; _but said he, have you no other
Father? who answered, yes, his Fathers name was_ Ludovicus Montezinus;
_but he not being yet satisfied, I am glad (saith he) to heare you tell
this, for I was in doubt to beleeve you, while you seemed ignorant of
your Parents_: Montezinus _swearing, that he spoke the truth, the_
Indian _asked him, if he were not the Son of_ Israel, _and thereupon
began a long discourse; who when he knew that he was so, he desired him
to prosecute what he had begun, and added, that he should more fully
explaine himselfe, for that formerly he had left things so doubtfull,
that he did not seem at all assured of any thing. After that both had
sate downe together, and refreshed themselves, the_ Indian _thus began:
If you have a minde to follow me your Leader, you shall know what ever
you desire to know, only let me tell you this, whatsoever the journey
is, you must foot it, and you must eate nothing but parched_ Mayz, _and
you must omit nothing that I tell you_; Montezinus _answered that he
would doe all_.