THE
HISTORY
OF
SABATAI SEVI,
The Pretended
Messiah of the Jewes,
In the Year of our Lord, 1666.
The Third Impostor.
ccording to the Predictions of several Christian Writers, especially of such who Comment on the Apocalyps, or Revelations, this Year of 1666 was to prove a Year of Wonders, of strange Revolutions in the World, and particularly of Blessing to the Jewes, either in respect of their Conversion to the Christian Faith, or of their Restoration to their Temporal Kingdome: This Opinion was so dilated, and fixt in the Countreys of the Reformed Religion, and in the Heads of Phanatical Enthusiasts, who Dreamed of a Fift Monarchy, the downfall of the Pope, and Antichrist, and the Greatness of the Jewes: In so much, that this subtile People judged this Year the time to stir, and to fit their Motion according to the season of the Modern Prophesies; whereupon strange Reports flew from place to place, of the March of Multitudes of People from unknown parts into the remote Desarts of Arabia, supposed to be the Ten Tribes and halfe, lost for so many Ages. That a Ship was arrived in the Northern parts of Scotland with her Sailes and Cordage of Silke, Navigated by Mariners who spake nothing but Hebrew; with this Motto on their Sailes, The Twelve Tribes of Israel. These Reportes agreeing thus near to former Predictions, put the wild sort of the World into an expectation of strange Accidents, this year should produce in reference to the Jewish Monarchy.
In this manner Millions of People were possessed, when Sabatai Sevi first appear'd at Smyrna, and published himself to the Jewes for their Messiah, relating the greatness of their approaching Kingdome, the strong hand whereby God was about to deliver them from Bondage, and gather them from all partes of the World. It was strange to see how the fancy took, and how fast the report of Sabatai and his Doctrine flew through all partes where Turkes and Jews inhabited; the latter of which were so deeply possessed with a beliefe of their new Kingdome, and Riches, and many of them with promotion to Offices of Government, Renown, and Greatness, that in all parts from Constantinople to Buda (which it was my fortune that year to Travel) I perceiv'd a strange transport in the Jewes, none of them attending to any business unless to winde up former negotiations, and to prepare themselves and Families for a Journey to Jerusalem: All their Discourses, their Dreames, and disposal of their Affaires tended to no other Design but a re-establishment in the Land of Promise, to Greatness, Glory, Wisdome, and Doctrine of the Messiah, whose Original, Birth, and Education are first to be recounted.
Sabatai Sevi was Son of Mordechai Sevi, an Inhabitant, and Natural of Smyrna, who gained his Livelihood by being Broaker to an English Marchant in that place; a person, who before his death was very decrepit in his Body, and full of the Goute, and other Infirmities, but his Son Sabatai Sevi addicting himself to Study, became a notable Proficient in the Hebrew and Metaphysicks; and arrived to that point of Sophistry in Divinity and Metaphysicks, that he vented a New Doctrine in their Law, drawing to the Profession of it so many Disciples, as raised one day a Tumult in the Synagogue; for which afterwards he was by a Censure of the Chochams (who are Expounders of the Law) banished the City.
During the time of his Exile, he Travelled to Thessalonica, now called Salonica, where he Marryed a very handsome Woman; but either not having that part of Oeconomy as to govern a Wife, or being Impotent towards Women, as was pretended, or that she found not favour in his Eyes, she was divorced from him: Again, he took a second Wife, more beautiful then the former, but the same causes of discontent raising a difference between them, he obtained another Divorce from this Wife also. And being now free from the Incumbrances of a Family, his wandring Head mov'd him to Travel through the Morea, thence to Tripoli in Syria, Gaza, and Jerusalem; and by the way picked up a Ligornese Lady, whom he made his third Wife, the Daughter of some Polonian or German, her Original and Parentage not being very well known. And being now at Jerusalem he began to Reforme the Law of the Jewes, and Abolish the Fast of Tamuz (which they keep in the Moneth of June) and there meeting with a certain Jew called Nathan, a proper Instrument to promote his Design; he communicated to him his Condition, his Course of Life, and Intentions, to Proclaime himself Messiah of the World, so long expected and desired by the Jewes. This Design took wonderfully with Nathan; and because it was thought necessary according to Scripture, and Antient Prophesies, that Elias was to precede the Messiah, as St. John Baptist was the fore-runner of Christ: Nathan thought no man so proper to Act the Part of the Prophet as himself; and so no sooner had Sabatai declared himself the Messiah, but Nathan discovers himself to be his Prophet, forbiding all the Fasts of the Jewes in Jerusalem; and declaring, that the Bridegroom being come, nothing but Joy, and Triumph ought to dwell in their Habitations; Writing to all the Assemblies of the Jewes, to perswade them to the same beliefe.
And now the Schisme being begun, and many Jewes really believing what they so much desired, Nathan took the courage and boldness to Prophesie, That one Year from the 27th of Kislev, (which is the moneth of June) the Messiah shall appear before the Grand Signor, & take from him his Crown and lead him in Chaines like a Captive.
Sabatai also at Gaza Preached Repentance to the Jewes, and Obedience to Himself and Doctrine, for that the coming of the Messiah was at hand: which Novelties so Affected the Jewish Inhabitants of those partes, that they gave up themselves wholly to their Prayers, Almes, and Devotions; and to confirme this beliefe the more, it hapned, that at the same time that Newes hereof, with all perticulars were dispatched from Gaza, to acquaint the Brethren in Forrain Partes: The Rumour of the Messiah hath flown so swift, and gained such reception, that Intelligence came from all Partes and Countreys where the Jewes inhabit, by Letters to Gaza, and Jerusalem, Congratulating the happiness of their Deliverance, and expiration of the time of their Servitude, by the Appearance of the Messiah. To which they adjoyned other Prophesies, relating to that Dominion the Messiah was to have over all the World: that for Nine Moneths after he was to disappeare; during which time the Jewes were to suffer, and many of them to undergoe Martyrdom: but then returning again Mounted on a Cœlestial Lyon, with his Bridle made of Serpents with seven heads, accompanyed with his Brethren the Jewes, who Inhabited on the other side of the River Sabation, he should be acknowledged for the Sole Monarch of the Universe; and then the Holy Temple should descend from Heaven already built, framed, and beautified, wherein they should offer Sacrifice for ever.