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
History
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
In our time, under King _Philip_ the third, Captaine _Ferdinades de
Queiros_ being returned out of _India_ (where he had spent most of his
life) to _Rome_, he shewed a Table of Lands yet undiscovered. From
thence he went to _Madrid_, and five ships were given him by the
Governour of _Panama_ (to whom he was sent) to perfect his designe. He
began his journey, and was scarcely entred the South Sea, but he found
Land, which he called, _The Isle of Solomon_, and _Hierusalem_, for
reasons which he told me. He in his course of sayling alwayes kept close
to the shoare of those Islands; he saw those Islanders of a browne
colour, and took many; others dwelt in greater Islands, and more
fruitfull; these were white, and wore long garments of silk; and the
Pilot being bid to bring his Ship neare the shoare, he split his Ship
upon a Rock, (and the Islanders running greedily to the sight) which
being sunke, the Captaine went thence, looking for the firme Land, which
he found to be forty degrees beyond; and he went three hundred miles
neare the shoare; and when he perceived the Country to be inhabited by
the smoke which he saw, and would put into a Port on the side of the
River, there ran to him many white men, of yellow haire, tall like
Giants, richly cloathed, and of long beards. But one of the Vessels
being wracked in the Havens mouth, he was forced to put out to Sea;
whereupon the Islanders sent two Chaloffi of a browne colour, (as the
inhabitants were of the first Island) with sheep, and other provisions,
and fruits, but desiring, and threatning them, if they did not depart:
The Captaine brought those Chaloffi into _Spaine_, from whom the
_Spaniards_ could learne nothing but by signes; and instead of answers,
(when they were asked) would shew their beards, as if such those were,
who were their Lords, and had sent them, and if they were asked about
Religion, they would hold up their fingers to Heaven, implying, that
they worshipped but one God. A little while after, they dyed in
_Spaine_. The Captaine returned to _Panama_, having left his two Ships
which were wracked; and when the Governour sued him, by meanes of the
Senators, who are over the _Indian_ affaires, he was dismissed, and
returned with his Ships into _Spaine_, where he abode two yeares before
his matters were dispatched. But the King created him Marquesse of the
Countries found out by him, and commanded to give him a good Army,
where-with to compasse his designes. But he scarce got to _Panama_, when
he dyed, not without suspition of being poysoned by the Governour.
_SECT. 12._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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