19. And so it hath been divers times; men mischieving the _Iewes_ to excuse their own wickednesse; as to instance one precedent in the time of a certain King of _Portugal_. The Lord, blessed for ever, took away his sleep one night, (as he did from King _Ahashuerus_) and he went up into a belcony in the palace, from whence he could discover the whole city, and from thence (the moon shining clear) he espyed two men carrying a dead corps, which they cast into a _Iew’s_ yard. He presently dispatches a couple of servants, and commands them, yet with a seeming carelesnesse, they should trace and follow those men, and take notice of their house; which they accordingly did. The next day there is a hurly burly and a tumult in the city, accusing the _Iewes_ of murder. Thereupon the King apprehends these rogues, and they confesse the truth; and considering that this businesse was guided by a particular divine providence, calls some of the wise men of the _Iewes_, and asks them how they translate the 4. verse of the 121 Psalm, and they answered, _Behold, he that keepeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleep_. The King replied, if he will not slumber then much lesse will he sleep, you do not say well, for the true translation is, _Behold, the Lord doth not slumber, neither will he suffer him that keepeth Israel to sleep_. God who hath yet a care over you, hath taken away my sleep, that I might be an eye witnesse of that wickednesse which is this day laid to your charge. This with many such like relations we may read in the book called _Scebet Iehuda_, how sundry times, when our nation was at the very brink of destruction, for such forged slanders, the truth hath discovered it self for their deliverance. 20. This matter of bloud hath been heretofore discussed and disputed before one of the Popes, at a full councell; where it was determined to be nothing else but a mere calumnie: and hereupon gave liberty to the _Iewes_ to dwell in his countryes, and gave the princes of _Italy_ to understand the same, as also _Alfonso_ the wise King of _Spain_. And suppose any one man had done such a thing, as I believe never any _Iew_ did so, yet this were great cruelty to punish a whole nation for one mans wickednesse. 21. But why should I use more words about this matter, seeing all that is come upon us, was foretold by all the prophets? _Moses_, _Deut._ 28.61. _Moreover, every sicknesse and every plague which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, &c. because thou hast not hearkned to the voice of the Lord thy God._ _David_ in the 44. Psalm make a dolefull complaint of those evils, and ignominious reproaches, wherewith we are invironed round about in this captivity, as if we were the proper center of misery, saying, _For thy sake are we killed all the day long, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter_. The same he speaks Psalm 74. and in other Psalms.