THE HOPE OF ISRAEL
(pp. [1]–72)
Bibliographical Note
The title is taken from Jeremiah xiv. 8 (see p. [7]).
The first edition (pp. xiii, 126, 12mo) was in Spanish, and bore the following title:—
מקוה ישראל / Esto es, / Esperança / de Israel. / Obra con suma curiosidad conpuesta / por / Menasseh Ben Israel / Theologo, y Philosopho Hebreo. / Trata del admirable esparzimiento de los diez / Tribus, y su infalible reduccion con los de / mas, a la patria: con muchos puntos, / y Historias curiosas, y declara- / cion de varias Prophecias, / por el Author rectamen- / te interpretadas. / Dirigido a los señores Parnassim del K.K. / de Talmvd Tora. / En Amsterdam. / En la Imprension de / Semvel Ben Israel Soeiro. / Año. 5410.
It was dedicated to the Wardens of the Theological School (Talmud Torah), Josseph Da Costa, Ishak Jessurun, Michael Espinosa, Abraham Enriques Faro, Gabriel de Rivas Altas, Ishak Belmonte, and Abraham Franco. The dedication is dated Shebat 13, 5410 [= Jan. 15, 1650], and is headed with the significant quotation in Hebrew of part of verse 1 of Isaiah lxi.: “To preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted.” This dedicatory epistle is only to be found in the Spanish edition. In the Latin and English translations it is replaced by an address “To the Parliament, the Supream Court of England.”
The Latin edition (pp. xii, 111, 12mo), which was printed very shortly after the Spanish, bore the following title:—
מקוה ישראל / Hoc est, / Spes / Israelis / Authore / Menasseh Ben Israel / Theologo & Philosopho Hebræo / Amstelodami / Anno 1650.
It is doubtful whether Kayserling (Misc. Heb. Lit., ii. p. 16 and note 76), following Castro, is correct in his conjecture that this translation is the work of Menasseh himself. There are too many misunderstandings of the Hebrew names and quotations to admit of this view. The deviations from the original suggest that it was hurriedly executed from a first draft of the Spanish version, which was afterwards revised by the author, who omitted to perform the same service for the Latin text.
The English version (pp. xiv, 90, 12mo) was based on the Latin, and reproduced all its faults. It appeared in London towards the end of 1650. The title-page runs as follows:—
The / Hope of Israel: / Written / By Menasseh Ben Israel, / an Hebrew Divine, and Philosopher. / Newly extant, and Printed in / Amsterdam, and Dedicated by the / Author to the High Court, the / Parliament of England, and to the / Councell of State. / Translated into English, and / published by Authority. / In this treatise is shewed the place where the ten / Tribes at this present are, proved, partly by / the strange relation of one Antony Monte- / zinus, a Jew, of what befell him as he tra- / veiled over the Mountaines Cordillære, with / divers other particulars about the restoration of / the Jewes, and the time when. / Printed at London by R. I. for Hannah Allen, / at the Crown in Popeshead / Alley, 1650.
The only respect in which this version differs from the Latin is that it contains on pp. xi-xiv an address from “The Translator to the Reader.” The name of the translator is not given, but the work was subsequently acknowledged by Moses Wall in a correspondence with E. S. (Sir Edward Spencer); see pp. [66]–72.
A second edition, “corrected and amended,” sm. 4to, was published in 1651 and reprinted in 1652. It is the latter which is reproduced in the present volume on account of its convenient format, and of the Appendices which throw light on the motives by which the publication in England was actuated.
The following is a list of other editions and translations:—
1659. Spanish by Jedidjah Ibn Gabbai (Smyrna). 1666. Dutch by Jan Bara (Amsterdam). 1691. Judeo-German by Mardochai ben Moses Drucker (Amsterdam). 1697. Hebrew by Eljakim ben Jacob (Amsterdam). 1703. Ibid. 1712. Judeo-German (Frankfort) reprint of 1691 edition. 1723. Spanish (Amsterdam) reprint of original edition. 1792. English by Robert Ingram (Colchester). 1836. Hebrew (Wilna) reprint of 1703 edition. 1850. English (London) reprint of 1650 edition. 1881. Spanish, by Santiago Perez Junquera (Madrid), reprint of original edition.
The Epistle Dedicatory
P. [4], l. 9. “Not onely by your prayers.” This, no doubt, refers to the protection extended by the Government to the Marranos in London. (See Introduction, p. xxx.)
To the Courteous Reader
P. [6], l. 21. “Others to the Ten Tribes.” There is a very voluminous literature of the Ten Tribes, a bibliography of which has long been promised by Mr. Joseph Jacobs. Bancroft in his “Native Races of the Pacific States of North America” discusses the theory of the Hebrew origin of the Americans (vol. v. pp. 77–95). Santiago Perez Junquera in his Spanish reprint of “Esperanza de Israel” gives a bibliography of Spanish writers who have dealt with the problem of the Ten Tribes. The Jewish legends on the subject, none of which admit the American theory, have been summarised by Dr. A. Neubauer in the Jewish Quarterly Review (vol. i. pp. 14, 95, 185, 408). See also M. Lewin, “Wo wären die Zehn Stämme Israels zu suchen” (1901).
The following selections from the vast literature of the Ten Tribes, especially in its relation to Menasseh ben Israel, may be recommended to investigators of this curious craze:—
Enquiries touching the Diversity of Languages and Religions through the chief parts of the world, written by Edw. Brerewood. London, 1635.
Thos. Thorowgood—Jews in America, &c. 1650.
John Dury—Epistolary Discourse to Mr. Thomas Thorowgood. 1650.
Sir Hamon L’Estrange—Americans no Jews. 1652.
Thos. Thorowgood—Jews in America [with] an accurate discourse [by] Mr. John Eliot. 1660.
Theophili Spizelii—Elevatio Relationis Montezinianæ de repertis in America tribubus Israeliticis. Basle, 1661.
Account of the Ten Tribes of Israel being in America, originally published by Menasseh Ben Israel, with observations thereon. By Robert Ingram, M.A. Colchester, 1792.
The Ten Tribes of Israel historically identified with the aborigines of the Western Hemisphere. By Mrs. Simon. London, 1826.
The Hope of Israel, presumptive evidence that the aborigines of the Western Hemisphere are descended from the ten missing tribes of Israel. By Barbara Anne Simon. London, 1829.
The Remnant Found, or the place of Israel’s hiding discovered, being a summary of proofs showing that the Jews of Daghistan on the Caspian Sea are the remnant of the Ten Tribes. By the Rev. Jacob Samuel. London, 1841.
The Thorn Tree, being a history of thorn worship of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, but more especially of the Lost Tribes and House of David. By Theta. London, 1863.
Paläorama. Oceanisch-Amerikanische Untersuchungen und Aufklärungen. Erlangen, 1868.
Ireland, Ur of the Chaldees. By Anna Wilkes. London, 1873.
Ueber die Abstammung der Englischen Nation. Von D. Paulus Cassel. Berlin, 1880.
P. [6], l. 29. “Cordilleræ,” Spanish. A mountain chain, sometimes, as here, applied in a specific sense to the Andes.
P. [6], l. 32. “The Sabbaticall River,” or Sambation, a river mentioned in the Midrash as slowing during the first six days of every week and drying up on the Sabbath. (Neubauer, “Géographie du Talmud,” pp. [33]–34, 299; Hamburger, “Real-Encyclopädie des Judenthums,” vol. ii. p. 1071; see also “Hope of Israel,” infra, p. 35.)
P. [7], l. 15. “I intend a continuation of Josephus.” No trace of this work has been found. From a passage in the Vindiciæ there is reason to believe that it it was completed in MS. (see p. 115 and note thereon, infra, p. 167).
The Relation of Antony Montezinus
P. [11]. An earlier translation of this affidavit was published by Thomas Thorowgood in “Jewes in America,” pp. 129, 130. (See Introduction to present work, p. xxv.)
P. [11], l. 13. “Port Honda,” now Bahia Honda, an inlet at the northeastern extremity of Colombia, in 12° 20′ N. and 50° W. It was first visited by Ojeda in 1502, and named by him Puerto de Santa Cruz. There is a town named Honda in the interior, and a bay of the same name on the northern coast of Cuba, 60 miles west of Havana.
P. [11], l. 15. “Province of Quity,” modern Quito, originally a presidency of the Spanish viceroyalty of Peru, afterwards a division of the Republic of Colombia, and in 1831 organised with the districts of Asuay and Guayaquil into a new republic, under the name of Ecuador.
P. [11], l. 17. “Cazicus,” modern Cacique or Cazique, used in Spanish to designate an Indian chief. The word is of Haytian origin. An early Spanish writer derives it from the Hebrew. (Kayserling, “Christopher Columbus,” p. 154.)
P. [11], l. 29. “Jonkets,” junket, from Italian giuncata, a cream-cheese, so called because served on rushes (giuncoa—a rush):
“And beare with you both wine and juncates fit
And bid him eat.”
—Spenser, F. Q., V. iv. 49.
“With stories told of many a feat,
How faery Mab the junkets eat.”
—Milton, L’Allegro, 172.
P. [12], l. 3. “Carthagenia”: modern Cartagena, a fortified maritime city of the United States of Colombia, on the Caribbean Sea.
P. [12], l. 5. “Blessed be the name of the Lord that hath not made me an Idolator, a Barbarian, a Black-a-Moore, or an Indian.” This is an extension of a blessing said in the Hebrew morning service. The original blessing, however, only speaks of “idolator.” There is another blessing said on seeing “negroes and redskins,” and this, curiously enough, is discussed in the same section of the Talmud as that in which the recital of the blessing in regard to heathens is enjoined (see Schwab, “Le Talmud,” vol. i. p. 158).
P. [13], l. 17. “Duerus”: the river Douro or Duero in Spain. Mr. Wall does not seem to have taken the trouble to delatinise the name. In the Spanish edition it appears, of course, “Duero.”
P. [13], l. 18. “Making a sign with the fine linen of Xylus.” This is a misunderstanding of the original Latin, which says, “factoque ex duabus Xyli syndonibus.” The word “Xyli” here is intended for the genitive of Xylon = cotton. The passage should read, “and making out of two pieces of cotton cloth.” The original Spanish says, “y haziendo vandera de dos paños de algodon.” What Montezinos and his companion did was to construct a flag out of their two cotton waistbands.
P. [14], l. 1. Curious mistake overlooking the identity of Jacob and Israel.
P. [14], l. 22. “Mohanes”: American-Indian medicine men. (See infra, p. 56.)
The Hope of Israel
P. [17], l. 21. For Jewish aspects of the early voyages to America see Kayserling, “Christopher Columbus, and the participation of the Jews in the Spanish and Portuguese discoveries” (Lond., 1894); also the same author’s “The First Jew in America,” in the John Hopkins University Studies for 1892.
P. [18], l. 32. “Gomoras” = Francisco Lopez de Gomara.
P. [18], l. 18. “Tunes” = Tunis.
P. [18], l. 22. “Isaac Abarbanel,” Jewish statesman and theologian (1437–1509), served Alphonso V. of Portugal, Isabella of Spain, and Ferdinand of Naples; author of numerous Bible commentaries and philosophical essays. Headed the emigration of the Spanish Jews at the time of the expulsion (Graetz, Geschichte d. Juden, vol. viii. pp. 316 et seq.; Kayserling, Juden in Portugal, pp. 72, 100). The Abarbanels, whose descendants are numerous in Europe, claimed descent from King David. Menasseh ben Israel’s wife was an Abarbanel (see “Hope of Israel,” p. 39). Mr. Coningsby Disraeli is a descendant on his mother’s side.
P. [19], l. 30. “Rabbi Jonathan ben Uziel.” The author of a free Aramaic paraphrase (Targum) to the Hebrew Prophetical Books. His date is about the beginning of the Christian era. A Targum to the Pentateuch is wrongly ascribed to him; this is properly the Targum Yerushalmi or Jerusalem Targum (see Zunz, “Die Gottesdienstlichen Vorträge der Juden,” pp. 66 seq.).
P. [19], l. 33. “Rabbinus Josephus Coen in his Chronology” (see Bialloblotzky, “The Chronicles of Rabbi Joseph ben Meir the Sphardi,” Lond., 1835). Joseph Cohen was born 1496 and died 1575.
P. [21], Sect. 4. The Hebrew in the first case is מה טם אל שעלבין מת דע אל, the ט in the second word being regarded as a mistake for ת. In the second case the Hebrew is מהטבאל שעל בן מתדעאל (see “Esperança de Israel,” pp. 26, 27).
P. [21], l. 32. “Collai” = Callao.
P. [22], l. 7. “Petrus Cieza” = Pedro Cieça de Leon.
P. [22], l. 8. “Guamanga”: modern Ayacucho.
P. [23], l. 30. “Garracas” = Caracas.
P. [24], l. 9. “Alonsus de Erzilla” = Alonzo d’Ercilla y Zuñiga (1530–1595). The quotation is from “La Araucana,” the most famous of Spanish Epics.
P. [24], l. 27. “Maragnon” = Marañon, another name for the Amazon.
P. [24], l. 35. “Farnambuc” = Pernambuco.
P. [26], l. 14. “The Isle of Solomon and Hierusalem.”—Mendaña landed on Isabel Island in 1568, and named the group Solomon, and Bougainville rediscovered the islands in 1768. H. B. Guppy, “The Solomon Islands and their Natives” (Lond. 1887). C. M. Wood in “Proceedings R. Geog. Soc.,” 1888, pp. 351–76, and 1890, pp. 394–418, with map (p. 444), on which are given the original Spanish as well as the modern names of the islands.
P. [28], l. 7. “To this day they privately keep their Religion.” The Marranos. See supra, pp. xii-xiv.
P. [29], l. 9. “My Reconciler.” “Conciliador” Segda Parte. Amsterdam, 1641. This work was translated into Latin by Vossius (1687), and into English by Lindo (1842).
P. [29], Sect. 16. A bibliography of the Jews in China has been published in French by Henri Cordier. A useful summary of our knowledge of the Hebrew Settlements in China, brought down to the most recent date, has been written by Mr. Marcus Adler (Jew. Quart. Rev., vol. xiii. pp. 18–41).
P. [33], l. 20. “David the Reubenite.” David Reubeni, an Oriental Jew, who visited Europe in 1524, alleging himself to be an envoy from the Ten Tribes. He was received with distinction by the Pope and the King of Portugal, and made a great commotion among the Marranos and Jews (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. ix. pp. 244 et seq.).
P. [33], l. 23. “Selomoh Molcho.” A Marrano disciple of David Reubeni. His name was originally Diogo Pires. He migrated to the East and became a learned Cabbalist. He died a martyr’s death in 1532 (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. ix. pp. 251 et seq.).
P. [33], l. 30. “Abraham Frisol Orchotolam.” A mistranslation for Abraham Frisol in his book entitled, “Orhat Olam.” Abraham Farisol or Peretsol (1451–1525) was a Hebrew geographer, author of “Orchat Olam” (The Path of the Universe), which was edited with a Latin translation by Thomas Hyde (Oxford, 1691). For life of Farisol see Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. ix. pp. 46 et seq.
P. [33], l. 38. “The Hebrew letter (h) and (t) are neere in fashion.” The letters referred to are ח and ת.
P. [33], l. 39. “Eldad Danita.” Eldad the Danite lived in the ninth century. His career was similar to that of David Reubeni (Epstein, “Eldad Ha-Dani,” Pressburg, 1891).
P. [34], l. 2. “Sephar Eldad Danita,” ספור אלדד הדני. An edition with a French translation was published by Carmoly (“Relation d’Eldad le Danite.” Paris, 1838). The best editions are those of Epstein and D. H. Müller.
P. [34], l. 3. “Rabbi David Kimhi.” Famous Hebrew exegete, grammarian, and lexicographer (d. 1232). The work referred to as “etymol. suo” is “The Book of Roots” (ספר השרשים).
P. [34], l. 5. “Of the name of Rabbi Juda Aben Karis.” Should be, “in the name of Rabbi Judah ben Koraisch.” Rabbi Judah (fl. circa 870–900) was a Karaite philologist; lived in North-West Africa. He met Eldad in Morocco (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. v. p. 261).
P. [34], l. 9. “Part of the Ten Tribes also live in Ethiopia.” The Falashas of Abyssinia are here referred to (Halévy, “Travels in Abyssinia”; Mis. Heb. Lit., vol. ii. pp. 175 et seq. There are also reports on the Falashas in the Annual Reports of the Alliance Israelite and Anglo-Jewish Association).
P. [35], l. 22. “Rabbi Johanan, the Author of the Jerusalem Talmud.” Rabbi Jochanan, son of the Smith, was a disciple of Rabbi Judah the Prince, compiler of the Mishna. He was one of the most famous Hebrew teachers of the third century. The tradition that he was author of the Jerusalem Talmud rests only on the assertion of Maimonides. Modern critics reject it, and date the Jerusalem Talmud in the seventh century. (Hamburger, “Real-Encyclopädie,” sub voc. “Jochanan” and “Talmud.”)
P. [35], l. 34. “The learned man l’Empereur.” Constantine l’Empereur, an Hebraist of the seventeenth century (d. 1648), who translated into Latin some tractates of the Mishna and other Hebrew works, including the Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela.
P. [35], l. 36. “Sedar Olam.” The name of two Hebrew Chronologies (see Hamburger, “Real-Encyclopädie,” sup. vol., pp. 132, 133).
P. [35], l. 37. “In Talmud tractat, Sanhedr.” “Sanhedrin” is the name of a treatise of the Talmud, the fourth in the fourth book of the Jerushalmi, and the fifth in the fourth book of the Babli. Excerpts have been translated into Latin with elaborate notes by Joh. Coccejus (Amsterdam 1629).
P. [36], l. 9. “Beresit Rabba.” The first part of the “Midrash Rabboth,” the chief collection of Hagadic or homiletic expositions of the Scriptures. As its name implies, it deals with Genesis (Zunz, “Gottesdienstlichen Vorträge,” pp. 184 et seq., 1892.)
P. [36], l. 9. “In Perasach,” should be “in Parashah 11” (see original Spanish “Esperança,” p. 66). The misprint occurs in the Latin. “Parasha” means section. There are 100 sections in the Bereshith Rabba.
P. [36], l. 10. “Tornunsus” = Turnus Rufus.
P. [36], l. 12. “Rabbi Aquebah.” One of the greatest of the Tanaim or compilers of the Mishna. He became an adherent of the Pseudo-Messiah Bar Cochba, who rebelled against the Romans during the reign of Hadrian, and was put to death after the fall of Bethar. His career has passed into legend (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. iv. pp. [53] et seq.).
P. [36], l. 20. “Asirim Rabba” = Shir Ha-Shirim Rabba. Midrashic exposition of the Song of Songs (supra, “Beresit Rabba”).
P. [36], l. 27. “Jalcut.” A collection of Midrashim covering the whole of the Scriptures, and compiled in the eleventh century by R. Simeon b. Chelbo, whence it is called the Yalkut Shimeoni (Zunz, “Gottesdienst,” pp. 183 and 309).
P. [36], l. 31. “Bamibar Rabba”: misprint for Bamidbar Rabba, the Midrashic exposition of Numbers.
P. [37], l. 12. “R. Selomoh Jarchi.” Solomon b. Isaac of Troyes, called Rashi (1040–1105), the most eminent Hebrew Bible commentator of the Middle Ages. The name Jarchi was erroneously given to Rashi by Raymund Martini, Munster, and Buxtorf, who imagined that he was a native of Lunel (ירח = luna). Menasseh ben Israel was the first Jewish scholar to adopt this blunder (Wolf, “Biblio. Heb.” vol. i. 1057, &c.; Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. vi. pp. [77] et seq.; Wolf, “The Treves Family in England”).
P. [37], l. 15. “R. Mardochus Japhe.” Bohemian Rabbi (1530–1612) (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. ix. pp. 465–467).
P. [37], l. 26. “Another worthy of credit.” In the original Spanish, Menasseh gives his name as Señor H. Meyr Rophé. This is omitted from both the Latin and English editions.
P. [37], l. 34. “R. Moses Gerundensis.” Moses ben Nachman (1200–1272), also called Nachmanides, and Ramban. Christian scholars sometimes speak of him as Gerundensis from his birthplace, Gerona. The greatest Talmudic authority of his day, author of a Bible commentary. His public disputation at Barcelona with Pablo Christiani in 1263 is famous (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. vii. pp. 131–136, Schechter “Studies in Judaism,” art. “Nachmanides”).
P. [38], l. 1. “Benjamin Tudelensis,” Benjamin b. Jonah of Tudela, famous Jewish traveller (see Itinerary by, translated by A. Asher. Lond., 1840).
P. [38], l. 4. “The City Lubin”: misprint for Lublin.
P. [45], l. 14. “Rabby Simeon ben Johay, the author of the Zoar.” Rabbi Simeon was a famous doctor of the Mishna and disciple of Akiba. He laid the foundation of the Sifre, the Halachic, or legal exposition of Numbers and Deuteronomy. He figures in Jewish legend as the greatest master of the Cabbala. He was not the author of the Zohar. Internal evidence stamps that work as a product of the thirteenth century, and its authorship is now ascribed to Moses ben Shemtob de Leon (Hamburger, “Real-Encyclopädie,” arts. Simon b. Jochai, Sifre, and Sohar).
P. [45], l. 22. “Rabbi Seadiah” = Saadja ben Joseph or Saadja Gaon (892–942). The most celebrated of the Geonim, who were the chiefs of the schools of Sura and Pumbaditha, and the ecclesiastical counterparts of the Exilarchs. Saadja was one of the most prolific and versatile writers Judaism has produced (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. v. pp. 302 et seq.).
P. [45], l. 23. “Moses Egyptius” = Moses Maimonides.
P. [45], l. 24. “Abraham bar Ribi Hijah” = Abraham ben Chijah ha-Nasi of Barcelona (1065–1136), Jewish astronomical and geometrical writer; was Minister of Police during the Moorish domination in Spain (Graetz, “History,” vol. iii. p. 320).
P. [45], l. 24. “Abraham Zacculo”: misprint for Zaccuto (d. c. 1515). He was a Jewish astronomer employed at the Court of Manuel of Portugal. His works influenced Columbus (Kayserling, “Christopher Columbus,” pp. 9, 13, 14, 46–51, 112, 113).
P. [45], l. 30. “The letter (m) in Isa. ix. 7.” The reference is to the sixth verse of Isaiah ix., in the first word of which, לםרבה, the second letter, which should be מ, is written in its final form ם.
P. [47], l. 13. “Diogo d’Assumean”: misprint for Diogo da Asunçao (Graetz, “History,” vol. iv. p. 711; Kayserling, “Juden in Portugal,” pp. 282, 292).
P. [47], l. 20. “The Lord Lope de Veray Alacron” = Don Lope de Vera y Alarcon. His martyrdom is the subject of a poem by Antonio Enriquez Gomez, “Romance al diuin Martir Juda Creyente” (Kayserling, “Biblioteca Española,” p. 50; Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. x. pp. 101, 197).
P. [47], l. 38. “Isaac Castrensis Tartas” = Isaac de Castro Tartas (Graetz, “History,” vol. v. p. 33).
P. [48], l. 9. “Eli Nazarenus.” His real name was Francisco Meldonado de Silva (“Publications of the American Jew. Hist. Soc.,” vol. iv. p. 113).
P. [48], l. 13. “Thomas Terbinon.” Doctor Thomas (Isaac) Trebiño de Sobremente (“Pub. Amer. Jew. Hist. Soc.,” vol. iv. pp. 124–161).
P. [48], l. 25. “My booke, De Termino Vitæ” (English edition by P. T. [Thomas Pocock]. Lond., 1700).
P. [49], l. 8. “His wife Benuenida” = Bienvenida Abravanela (Kayserling, “Die Jüdischen Frauen,” pp. 77 et seq., 111).
P. [49], l. 16. “Don Selomo Rophe.” Rabbi Solomon ben Nathan Aschkenazi, surnamed Rophe, or the Physician, was a diplomatist in the Turkish service who secured the election of Henry of Anjou to the throne of Poland. (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. ix. pp. 396, 399, 438, 580; Levy, “Don Joseph Nasi,” pp. 8 et seq.).
P. [49], l. 18. “D. Ben Jaese, Anancus, and Sonsinos, are of great authority with the Turk.” These are the names of Jewish families who played an important part in Turkey in the sixteenth century. This is a chapter of Jewish history on which the historians have as yet shed little light. The materials are chiefly in manuscript, and the present author proposes dealing with them in a communication to the Jewish Historical Society. On the Ben Jaese (Ibn Jachya) family, the reader may provisionally consult Carmoly, “Chronica Familiæ Jachya,” and on the Soncinos, Mortara, “Indice Alfabetico.”
P. [49], l. 20. “Abraham Alholn”: misprint for Alhulu, treasurer to the Pasha of Egypt. (See infra, p. 86.)
P. [49], l. 21. “Don Josephus Nassi.” A wealthy Jew, nephew and son-in-law of Donna Gracia Nasi (see note, infra, p. 163). He was in the service of the Sultan, and conquered Cyprus for the Turks. In addition to the sources indicated by Menasseh, see Levy, “Don Joseph Nasi, Herzog Von Naxos” (Breslau, 1859), and Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. ix. passim.
P. [49], l. 25. “Jacob Aben Jaes.” He is sometimes referred to as Don Solomon. He was of the Ibn Jachya family, and was uncle to Joseph Nasi. For a time he was in the service of Queen Elizabeth, and corresponded with her physician Rodrigo Lopez, to whom he was related. The Sultan created him Duke of Mytilene. (MS. materials.)
P. [49], l. 29. “D. Samuel Palaxe.” (See Henriques de Castro, “Keur Van Grafsteenen,” pp. 91, 94.)
P. [50], l. 6. “D. Benjamin Mussaphia.” Dionysius Mussaphia (1605–1674), physician and philologist, court physician to Christian IV. of Denmark, afterwards Rabbi in Amsterdam (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. x. pp. 24, 26, 202, 227, 243, 244; Kayserling, “Juden in Portugal,” p. 298.)
P. [50], l. 9. “King Cochini.” A mistranslation; should be “King of Cochin.” The Jews of the Malabar coast settled there in the fifth century. Local tradition gives the colony a much greater antiquity. Menasseh gives further particulars of them in his “Humbler Addresses,” infra, p. 85 (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. iv. pp. 470–472; Satthianadhan in the Church Missionary Intelligencer, 1871, pp. 365 et seq.)
P. [50], l. 12. “Mardocheas Maisel.” Mordecai Meisel (1528–1601). The first Hebrew capitalist in Germany. Created an Imperial Councillor by the Emperor Rudolph. His charities were on a princely scale. He built two synagogues at Prague (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. ix. pp. 477, 478.)
P. [50], l. 14. “Jacob Bathsebah.” Jacob Basevi Schmieles (1580–1634), an influential Bohemian Jew, ennobled by the Emperor Ferdinand, receiving the title of Von Treuenburg and a grant of arms. (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. x. pp. 41–47; Wolf, “Jewish Coats of Arms.”)
P. [50], l. 22. “Moses Amon” (1490–1565). Physician to Solymon II. Translated the Bible and Hebrew Prayer-Book into Arabic, and was employed by the Sultan on diplomatic missions (Levy, “Don Joseph Nasi,” pp. 6–8).
P. [50], l. 23. “Elias Montalto.” Felipe Montalto, or Eliahu de Luna Montalto, brother of Amato Lusitano. Portuguese physician. Practised in Italy, and afterwards was appointed physician-in-ordinary to Maria de Medicis; died at Tours 1616, and buried in the Jewish Cemetery at Amsterdam (Kayserling, “Biblioteca Española,” pp. 72, 73). Montalto was also known as Don Philipe Rodrigues. Among his descendants is Prof. Raphael Meldola (MS. materials).
P. [50], l. 25. “Elias Cretensis.” Better known as Elia del Medigo (1463–1498). Lectured publicly on philosophy in Padua, and arbitrated in a dispute between the professors and students of the university at the request of the Venetian Senate. Pico di Mirandola was one of his pupils. He was a prolific writer (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. viii. pp. 240–247).
P. [50], l. 26. “R. Abraham de Balmas” (d. 1521). Physician, philosopher, and grammarian. Like Del Medigo, he lectured in Padua, and was one of the Hebraists whose teaching influenced the Reformation. Daniel Bomberg, the famous Venetian printer, was one of his pupils, and translated his poems into Latin (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. ix. p. 215).
P. [50], l. 27. “Elias Grammaticus.” Better known as Elia Levita (1498–1549). A German Rabbi who taught in Padua, Venice, and Rome, and who exercised a strong influence on the Hebrew studies which produced the Reformation. Scaliger describes him as “the greatest Hebrew scholar of his age.” Among his pupils were the Cardinal Egidio de Viterbe, the French bishop and ambassador George de Selve, and the theologians Münster and Fagius (Günsburg, “Masoreth Hamasoreth”; Karpeles, “Geschichte d. Jüd. Lit.,” pp. 855 et seq.).
P. [50], l. 33. “David de Pomis.” Physician, lexicographer, and theologian (1525–1588), translated Koheleth into Italian. Author of “De Medico Hebræo” (Graetz, “Geschichte,” vol. ix. p. 483; Karpeles, “Gesch. Jüd. Lit.,” pp. 880–881). There is a curious tradition that De Pomis was residing in Hull in 1599 (Symons, “Hull in ye Olden Times,” Hull, 1886, pp. 82, 83).
Considerations upon the Point of the Conversion of the Jewes
Pp. [57]–72. This Appendix is, as will be seen, by the English translator, Moses Wall. It does not appear in the first edition, and it is printed here as throwing light on the motives of the English supporters of Menasseh ben Israel.
P. [67], l. 21. “E. S.” Sir Edward Spenser, M.P. for Middlesex. See Introduction, p. xxvii.
P. [68], l. 36. “Did Mr. Broughton gaine upon a learned Rabbi.” See Broughton, “Ovr Lordes Famile” (Amst., 1608), and “A Reqvire of Agreement” (1611).