|
Our readers are doubtlessly aware that at the
time of the Protector Cromwell, Jews were prohibited from residing in
England, having been banished from England by various royal decrees, and
lastly by that of Edward I., in 1290. We extract from Lingard: “The
sufferings, however, of this unhappy people were not yet at an end. In
1287, on an appointed day, all the Jews in England, without any
distinction of age or sex, were arrested, thrown into prison, and
confined till they had purchased their liberty by a present to the king,
of twelve thousand pounds. Three years later, in 1290, their doom was
fixed. The whole race was ordered by proclamation to quit the kingdom
for ever, within the space of two months, and under the penalty of
death. The number of the exiles was sixteen thousand five hundred and
eleven, who were furnished with passports by the king, and allowed to
carry with them a competent supply for the journey; but their houses and
lands, treasures and debts, were confiscated for the benefit of the
crown. It is said that during their passage, many perished through the
hatred or rapacity of the mariners, of whom several were afterwards
convicted, and suffered the punishment due to their crime.” This is
merely one instance of what the Jews suffered; we shall probably give
more hereafter, with some comments of our own. At present our object is
merely to introduce to our readers the contents of the Apology of the
celebrated Rabbi and physician Menasseh Ben Israel, who visited England
during the protectorate, and addressed Cromwell upon the benefit which
the country would derive by re-admitting the Jews within its boundaries.
The existence of this document is generally known, but few we think have
ever seen it. And as we wish to make the Occident the recipient of every
thing of interest, we believe that we cannot communicate to our friends
a more gratifying article than the one which we commence in this number.
We retain the ancient spelling, and state merely at the same time, that
from the appearance of the copy from which we transcribe, we deem it to
be one of the original edition, say of the year 1655.—Ed. Oc.
To
His Highnesse The Lord Protector of the Common-Wealth of England,
Scotland, and Ireland. The Humble Addresses of Menasseh Ben Israel, A
Divine and Doctor of Physick, in Behalf of The Jewish Nation.
Give
me leave, at such a juncture of time, to speak to your Highnesse, in a
style and manner fitting to us Jewes and our condition. It is a thing
most certaine, that the great
God of Israel, Creator of Heaven and Earth, doth give and take away
Dominions and Empires, according to his owne pleasure; exalting some,
and overthrowing others: who, seeing he hath the hearts of Kings in his
hand, he easily moves them whithersoever himselfe pleaseth, to put in
execution his Divine Commands. This, my Lord, appears most evidently out
of those words of Daniel, where he, rendering thanks unto God, for
revealing unto him that prodigious dreame of Nebuchadnezar, doth say: Thou
that removest Kings, and sets up Kings. And else-where, To the
end the living might know, that the Highest hath dominion in Mans
Kingdome, and giveth the same to whom he please. Of the very same
minde are the Thalmudists likewise, affirming that a good Government, or
Governor, is a Heavenly Gift; and that there is no Governor, but is
first called by God unto that dignity: and this they prove from that
passage of Exodus: Behold I have called Bazale’l by name,
&c., all things being governed by Divine Providence, God dispensing
rewards unto Vertues, and punishment unto Vices, according to his owne
good Will. This the Examples of great Monarchs make good; especially of
such, who have afflicted the people of Israel: For none hath ever
afflicted them, who hath not been by some ominous Exit, most
heavily punished of God Almighty; as is manifest from the Histories of
those Kings, Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezar, Antiochus
Epiphanies, Pompey, and others. And on the contrary, none ever was a
Benefactor to that people, and cherished them in their Countries, who
thereupon hath not presently begun very much to flourish. In so much
that the Oracle to Abraham (I will blesse then that blesse thee, and
curse them that curse thee) seemeth yet daily to have its
accomplishment. Hence I, one of the least among the Hebrews,
since by experience I have found, that through Gods great bounty toward
us, many considerable and eminent persons both for Piety and Power, are
moved with sincere and inward pitty and compassion towards us, and do
comfort us concerning the approaching deliverance of Israel,
could not but for myself, and in the behalf of my Countrey men, make
this my humble addresse to your Highness, and beseech you for Gods sake,
that ye would, according to that Piety and Power wherein you are eminent
beyond others, vouchsafe to grant, that the Great and Glorious Name of
the Lord our God may be extolled, and solemnly worshipped and praised by
us through all the bounds of this Common-wealth; and to grant us place
in your Countrey, that we may have our Synagogues, and free exercise of
our Religion. I nothing doubting, but that your Clemency will easily
grant this most equitable Petition of ours. Pagans have of old, out of
reverence to the God of Israel; and the esteem they had to his people,
granted most willingly free liberty, even to apostated Jewes; as Onias
the High Priest, to build another Temple in their Countrey, like unto
that at Jerusalem: how much more then may we, that are not Apostate or
runagate Jewes, hope it from your Highnesse and your Christian Council,
since you have so great knowledge of, and adore the same one onely God
of Israel, together with us. Besides, it increases our confidence of
your bounty towards us, in that so soon as ever the rumour of that most
wished-for liberty, that ye were a thinking to grant us, was made known
unto our Countrey-men; I,
in the name of my Nation, the Jewes, That live in Holland, did
congratulate and entertaine their Excellencies, the Ambassadors of
England; who were received in our Synagogue with as great pomp and
applause, Hymns and cheerfulnesse of minde, as ever any Soveraigne
Prince was. For our people did in their owns mindes presage, that the
Kingly Government being now changed into that of a Common-wealth, the
antient hatred towards them, would also be changed into good-will: that
those rigorous Laws (if any there be yet extant, made under the Kings)
against so innocent a people, would happily be repealed. So that we hope
now for better from your gentleness and goodness, since, from the
beginning of your Government of this Common-wealth, your Highnesse hath
professed much respect, and favour towards us. Wherefore I humbly
entreat your Highnesse, that you would with a gracious eye have regard
unto us, and our Petition, and grant unto us, as you have done unto
others, free exercise of our Religion, that we may have our Synagogues,
and keep our own publick worship, as our brethren doe in Italy, Germany,
Poland, and many other places, and we shall pray for the happinesse and
Peace of this your much renowned and puissant Common-wealth.
A
DECLARATION TO THE COMMON-WEALTH OF ENGLAND, BY RABBI MENASSEH BEN
ISRAEL, SHOWING THE MOTIVES OF HIS COMING INTO ENGLAND.
Having
some years since often perceived that in this Nation, God hath a People,
that is very tender hearted, and well-wishing to our sore-afflicted
Nation; Yea, I my selfe having some Experience thereof, in divers
Eminent persons, excelling both in Piety and Learning: I thought with
my-self, I should do no small service to my owne Nation, as also to the
People and Inhabitants of this Common-wealth, if by humble addresses to
the late Honourable Parliament, I might obtaine a safe-Conduct once to
transport my selfe thither. Which I having done, and according to my
desire, received a most kinde and satisfactory Answer, I now am come.
And to the end all Men may know the true Motives and Intent of this my
coming, I shall briefly comprehend and deliver them in these
particulars.
First and formost, my Intention is to try, if by
Gods good hand over me, I may obtaine here for my Nation the Liberty of
a free and publick Synagogue, wherein we may daily call upon the Lord
our God, that once he may be pleased to remember his Mercies and
Promises done to our Fore fathers, forgiving our trespasses, and
restoring us once againe into our fathers Inheritance; and besides to
sue also for a blessing upon this Nation, and People of England, for
receiving us into their bosoms, and comforting Sion in her distresse.
My
second Motive is, because the opinion of many Christians and mine doe
concurre herein, that we both believe that the restoring time of our
Nation into their Native Countrey, is very neer at hand; I believing
more particularly, that this restauration cannot be, before these words
of Daniel, Chap. 12. ver. 7. be first accomplished, when he saith, And
when the dispersion of the Holy people shall be compleated in all
places, then shall all these things be compleated: signifying
therewith, that before all be fulfilled, the People of God must be first
dispersed into all places and Countreyes of the World. Now we know, how
our Nation at the present is spread all about, and hath its seat and
dwelling in the most flourishing parts of all the Kingdomes, and
Countreys of the World, as well in America, as in the other three parts
thereof; except onely in this considerable and mighty Island. And
therefore this remains onely in my judgement, before the Messia
come and restore our ration, that first we must have our seat here
likewise.
My
third Motive is grounded on the profit that I conceive this
Common-wealth is to reap, if it shall vouchsafe to receive us; for
thence, I hope, there will follow a great blessing from God upon them,
and a very abundant trading into, and from all parts of the World, not
onely without prejudice to the English Nation, but for their profit,
both in Importation, and Exportation of goods. Yet if any shall doubt
hereof, I trust their Charity towards the people of God, will satisfie
them, especially when they shall reade the ensuing Treatise.
The
fourth Motive of my coming hither, is, my sincere affection to this
Common-wealth, by reason of so many Worthy, Learned, and Pious men in
this Nation, whose loving kindnesse and Piety I have experience of:
hoping to finde the like affection in all the People generally; the
more, because I alwayes have, both by writing and deeds, professed much
inclination to this Common-wealth; and that I perswade my selfe they will be mindfull of
that Command of the Lord Our God, who so highly recommends unto all men
the love of strangers; much more to those that professe their good
affection to them. For this I desire all may be confident of, that I am
not come to make any disturbance, or to move any disputes about matters
of Religion; but onely to live with my Nation in the fear of the Lord,
under the shadow of your protection, whiles we expect with you the hope
of Israel to be revealed.
(To
be continued.) |
