Menasseh ben Israel's Mission to Oliver Cromwell: Being a reprint of the pamphlets published by Menasseh ben Israel to promote the re-admission of the Jews to England, 1649-1656Manasseh ben Israel
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Menasseh ben Israel's Mission to Oliver Cromwell: Being a reprint of the pamphlets published by Menasseh ben Israel to promote the re-admission of the Jews to England, 1649-1656
Manasseh ben Israel
Jews -- Great Britain
From hence (if it please your Highnes) it results, that the Iewish
Nation, though scattered through the whole World, are not therefore a
despisable people, but as a Plant worthy to be planted in the whole
world, and received into Populous Cities: who ought to plant them in
those places, which are most secure from danger; being trees of most
savory fruit and profit, to be alwayes most favoured with Laws and
Priviledges, or Prerogatives, secured and defended by Armes. An Example
of this we have in our times. His Majesty, the Illustrious King of
Denmark, invited them with speciall Priviledges into Geluckstadt: the
Duke of Savoy into Nisa of Provence; and the Duke of Modina in Retio,
allowing them such conditions and benefices, as like never were
presented unto them by any other Prince, as appeareth by the copy of
those Priviledges, which I have in my hands. But supposing it would be a
matter of too large extention, if I should make a relation of all the
places under whose Princes the Iews live, I will onely speake briefly of
the two Tribes Iudah and Benjamin. These in India in Cochin have 4
Synagogues, one part of these Iews being there of a white colour, and
three of a tawny; these being most favoured by the King. In the year
1640. dyed Samuel Castoel, Governour of the City, and Agent for the
King, and David Castoel his sonne succeeded in his place. In Persia
there is a great number of Iews, and they live indifferent freely: there
are also amongst them that are in favour and great respect by the King,
and who live there very bravely. Some years past, there was Elhazar
Huza, the Viceroy, and now there is David Ian; if yet he be living. In
the year 1636. the Saltan Amarat took in Bagdad, and puting all to the
sword, he commanded that they should not touch the Iews, nor their
houses, and besides that, he freed them from one half of the tribuit
they were wont to pay to the Persian.
But the chiefest place where the Iews life, is the Turkish Empire, where
some of them live in great estate, even in the Court of the Grand Turke
at Constantinople, by reason there is no Viceroy, or Governour, or
Bassa, which hath not a Iew to manage his affaires, and to take care for
his estate: Hence it cometh that in short time they grow up to be Lords
of great revenues, and they most frequently bend the minds of Great ones
to most weighty affaires in government.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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