St. _Hierom_ (who certainly had a peculiar knowledge of the condition of the ten Tribes of _Israel_, because he liv’d in _Asia_, and held Correspondence with the _Jews_, that he might perfectly learn the _Hebrew_ Tongue,) relates, “That the ten Tribes (St. _Hierome_ liv’d about the Year four hundred, under the Emperor _Theodosius_) underwent great slavery in the Cities of _Medes_ and _Persians_; so that this strange Voyage to _Assareth_, which must have happen’d long before St. _Hierom_’s time, may be Recorded amongst the other Legends of the Rabbies, concerning their _Behemoth_ and _Leviathan_, who lock’d up the Souls of those that sleighted their Laws, in Caves under ground, as _Esdras_.” [Sidenote: Antient condition of the _Persians_.] [Sidenote: _Melchior Soiterus de Reb. Turc._] And how little opportunity the _Israelites_ had to remove since his time, may appear by the horrible Destruction that was made for several Ages together in _Persia_ and _Media_; for although the _Persians_ became Masters again of the Realm, Conquer’d by _Alexander_ the Great, whilst _Alexander_’s Successors invaded one another, yet they were continually in War, either against the _Romans_, or else the _Indians_, and other Eastern People; nay, the _Saracens_ wrested the Scepter out of their hand, though but for a small time; for soon after, breaking out into Factions amongst themselves, _Muchumet Subictigenes_, _Imbrael_’s Son, establish’d his Throne on their Ruines, and incourag’d by such success, Arm’d himself against the _Indians_, and made use of the _Turks_ assistance, with which he subdu’d the _Babylonian Arabians_: After which, the _Turks_, not without great slaughter see the _Persian_ Crown on their Head, which, immediately totter’d by bloudy Commotions; for _Tangrolipix_ being King of _Persia_, clashing with his Brother _Cutlumuses_, made _Persia_ swim in the Blood of a Civil-War, till at last _Zengis Chan_ brought from _Tartary_ so great an Army, _Anno 1200._ that none durst stay to make opposition; for the _Turks_ forsook _Persia_ after a Conquest of six Ages, and made their own way for new Quarters into _Carmania_, _Phrygia_, and _Bithynia_, whence they made such incursions on the _Greek_ Empire, that at last they became sole Masters thereof. Who cannot but easily judge by this, how little opportunity the ten Tribes had, to be assembled together from remote Countreys, and to go long Journeys through untrack’d ways, and full of Enemies, to travel to _America_? [Sidenote: _Mora_’s opinion concerning the _Americans_ Extract.]