[174] Johann Reuchlin was born at Pforzheim, December 28, 1455, of poor parents. The sweetness of his voice attracted attention to him, and he was sent to be educated at Paris. He began his career as a teacher of classics at Basle, but soon abandoned this for the profession of the law. In 1482 he had become known as a Hebrew scholar, and he was noticed by the Emperor Frederick III. In 1498 he returned to Stuttgard, where his fame continued to increase; in consequence of which Pfeffercorn’s proposals were submitted to him by Maximilian. The most celebrated satire of the day, the _Epistola Obscurorum Virorum_, was written to uphold his views, and had the effect of completely crushing his adversaries. Reuchlin died at Stuttgard, December, 1521. [175] Some of the Jewish books were no doubt extremely offensive to Christians, as, for example, the _Chisuk Emunah_ of Isaac ben Abraham, a Polish Jew. The Portuguese Jews translated it into their own language, and diffused it widely. The _Nitzachon_ again, ascribed to Rabbi Lipman, of Mulhouse, was equally, if not more virulent. It could hardly be expected that even the wisest and most far-seeing men of the sixteenth century would tolerate these. [176] Seidelius taught that Messiah, when He came, would come to the Jews only, the Gentiles having neither part nor lot in Him. Francis David acknowledged Jesus Christ, but held that it was sinful to pray to Him. George de Novara claimed to believe Christian doctrine, but denied that Messiah had come. He was burnt at the stake. CHAPTER XXXII. A.D. 1500-1600. THE JEWS IN ASIA AND AFRICA.