And now all the Cities of Turky where the Jewes Inhabited were full of the expectation of the Messiah; no Trade, nor course of Gaine was followed: every one imagin'd that dayly Provisions, Riches, Honours, and Government, were to descend upon them by some unknown and Miraculous manner: an example of which is most observable in the Jewes at Thessalonica, who now full of Assurance that the Restoration of their Kingdome, and the Accomplishment of the time for the coming of the Messiah was at hand, judged themselves obliged to double their Devotions, and Purifie their Consciences from all Sins and Enormities which might be obvious to the scrutiny of him who was now come to Penetrate into the very Thoughts and Imaginations of Mankinde. In which Work certain Chochams were appointed to direct the People how to Regulate their Prayers, Fasts, and other Acts of Devotion. But so forward was every one now in his Acts of Penance, that they stay'd not for the Sentence of the Chocham, or prescription of any Rules, but apply'd themselves immediately to Fasting: And some in that manner beyond the abilities of Nature, that having for the space of seven dayes taken no sustenance, were famished to death. Others buryed themselves in their Gardens, covering their naked Bodies with Earth, their heads onely excepted, remained in their Beds of dirt until their Bodies were stifned with the cold and moisture: others would indure to have melted Wax dropt upon their shoulders, others to rowle themselves in Snow, and throw their Bodies in the Coldest season of Winter Into the Sea, or Frozen Waters. But the most common way of Mortification was first to prick their Backs and Sides with Thornes, and then to give themselves thirty nine Lashes. All Business was laid aside, none Worked, or opened Shop, unless to clear his Warehouse of Merchandize at any Price: who had superfluity in Houshold-stuffe, sold it for what he could; but yet not to Iewes, for they were Interdicted from Bargaines or Sales, on the pain of Excommunication, Pecuniary Mulcts, or Corporal Punishments; for all Business and Imployment was esteemed the Test, and Touchstone of their Faith. It being the general Tenent, that in the dayes that the Messiah appeares, the Iewes shall become Masters of the Estates and Inheritance of Infidels; until when they are to content themselves with Matters onely necessary to maintain and support Life. But because every one was not Master of so much Fortune and Provision, as to live without dayly Labour, therefore to quiet the Clamours of the Poor, and prevent the Enormous lives of some, who upon these occasions would become Vagabonds, and desert their Cities, due order was taken to make Collections, which were so liberally bestow'd, that in Thessalonica onely 400 Poore were supported by the meer charity of the Richer. And as they indeavour'd to purge their Consciences of Sin, and to apply themselves to good Workes, that the Messiah might find the City prepared for his Reception; so, least he should accuse them of any omission in the Law, and particularly in their neglect of that Antient Precept of Increase and Multiply; they marryed together Children of ten yeares of age, and some under, without respect to Riches, or Poverty, Condition or Quality: But, being promiscuously joyned, to the number of 6 or 700 Couple, upon better and cooler thoughts, after the deceipt of the false Messiah was discover'd, or the expectation of his Coming grew cold, were Divorced, or by Consent separated from each other.

In the heat of all this Talk and Rumor, comes Sabatai Sevi to Smyrna, the City of his Nativity, infinitely desir'd there by the common Iewes; but by the Chochams, or Doctors of their Law, who gave little or no credence to what he pretended, was ill receiv'd, not knowing what mischief or ruine this Doctrine and Prophesie of a New Kingdome might produce. Yet Sabatai bringing with him testimonials of his Sanctity, Holy Life, Wisdom, and Gift of Prophesie, so deeply fixed himself in the heart of the Generality, both as being Holy and Wise, that thereupon he took courage and boldness to enter into Dispute with the Grand Chocham (who is the Head, and Chief Expositer of the Law and superintendent of their will and Government) between whom the Arguments grew so high, and Language so hot, that the Iewes who favoured the Doctrine of Sabatai, and feared the Authority of the Chocham, doubtful what might be the issue of the Contest, appear'd in great numbers before the Cadi of Smyrna, in justification of their New Prophet, before so much as any Accusation came against him: The Cadi (according to the Custome of the Turkes,) swallows Mony on both sides, and afterwards remits them to the determination of their own Justice. In this manner Sabatai gaines ground dayly; and the Grand Chocham with his Party, losing both the affection and obedience of his People, is displaced from his Office, and another Constituted, more affectionate, and agreeable to the New Prophet, whose power daily increased by those confident Reports. That his Enemies were struck with Phrensies and Madness, until being restor'd to their former temper and wits by him, became his Friends, Admirers, and Disciples. No Invitation was now made in Smyrna by the Iewes, nor Marriage, or Circumcision solemnized, where Sabatai was not present, accompanyed with a multitude of his Followers, and the Streets cover'd with Carpits, or fine Cloath for him to tread on; but the Humility of this Pharisee appear'd such, that he would stoop and turne them aside, and so pass. And having thus fixed himself in the Opinion and Admiration of the People, he began to take on himself the Title of Messiah, and the Son of God; and to make this following Declaration to all the Nation of the Iewes, which being wrote Originally in Hebrew, was Translated for me faithfully into Italian, in this manner.

L'unico figliolo, e primogenito d' dio, Sabatai Sevi, il Messiah, e Salvatore d' Israel eletti di dio pace bessendo che sete fatti degni di veder quel grangiorno della deliberatione e Salvatione d' Israel, e consummatione delle parole di dio, promess per li sua Profeti, e padri notri, per il suo diletto figlio d' Israel, ogni vestra amaritudine si converta in allegrezza, e li vestri diginguiti facino feste, per che non piangerete O miei figliole d'Israel havendovi dati iddio la consolatione inenarrabile, festegiate contimpani e musiche, ringratiando quello chi ha adempito il promesso dalli secoli, facendo ogni giorno quelle cose che solete fare nelle callende, e quel giorno dedicato ali' afflictione e mestitia, convertite lo in giorno giocondo per la mia comparsa, e non spaventate niente, per che haverete Dominio sopra, le genti, non solamente di quelle, che si vedodono in terra, ma quelle che sono in fondi del mare, il tutto pro vestra consolatione & allegrezza.

Which Translated into English, runs thus;

The Onely, and First-borne Son of God, Sabatai Sevi, the Messiah and Saviour of Israel, to all the Sons of Israel, peace. Since that you are made worthy to see that great Day of Deliverance, and Salvation unto Israel, and Accomplishment of the Word of God, Promised by his Prophets, and our forefathers, and by his Beloved Son of Israel: let your bitter sorrowes be turned into Joy, and your Fasts into festivals, for you shall weep no more, O my sons of Israel, for God having given you this unspeakable Comfort, rejoyce with Drums, Organs, and Musick, giving thanks to him for performing his Promise from all Ages; doing that every day, which is usual for you to do upon the New-Moons; and, that Day Dedicated to affliction and sorrow convert you into a Day of Mirth for my appearance: and fear you nothing, for you shall have Dominion over the Nations, and not onely over those who are on Earth, but over those Creatures also which are in the depth of the Sea. All which is for your Consolation and Rejoycing.

Sabatai Sevi.

Notwithstanding the Disciples of Sabatai Sevi were not so numerous, but many opposed his doctrine, publiquely avouching that he was an Impostor, and Deceiver of the people, amongst which was one Samuel Pennia, a man of a good estate and reputation in Smyrna, who arguing in the Synagogue, that the present signs of the coming of the Messiah were not apparent, either according to Scripture, or the doctrine of the Rabbins, raised such a sedition and tumult amongst the Jews, as not onely prevailed against arguments, but had also against his life, had he not timely conveyed himself out of the Synagogue, and thereby escaped the hands of the multitude, who now could more easily endure blasphemy against the Law of Moses, and the prophanation of the Sanctuary, than contradiction, or misbelief of the doctrine of Sabatai. But howsoever it fell out, Pennia in short time becomes a convert, and preaches up Sabatai for the Son of God, and deliverer of the Jews: and not onely he, but his whole family; his daughters prophesie, and fall into strange extasies; and not onely his house, but four hundred men and women prophesie of the growing kingdom of Sabatai, and young infants who could yet scarce stammer out a syllable to their mothers, repeat, and pronounce plainly the name of Sabatai the Messiah, and Son of God. For thus farr had God permitted the devil to delude this people, that their very children were for a time possessed, and voices heard to sound from their stomacks, and intrails: those of riper years fell first into a trance, foamed at the mouth, and recounted the future prosperitie, and deliverance of the Israelites, their visions of the Lion of Judah, and the triumphs of Sabatai, all which were certainly true, being effects of Diabolical delusions: as the Jews themselves since have confessed unto me.

With these concomitant accidents, and successes, Sabatai Sevi growing more presumptuous, that he might correspond with the Prophesies of greatness, and dominion of the Messiah, proceeds to an election of those Princes which were to govern the Israelites in their march towards the Holy-Land, and to dispence Judgement and Justice after their Restoration. The names of them were these which follow, men well known at Smyrna, who never (God knows) had ambition to aspire to the title of Princes, until a strange spirit of deceit and delusion had moved them, not onely to hope for it as possible, but to expect it as certain.

Isaac Silvera.King David.
Salomon Lagnado.was Salomon.
Salom Lagnado jun. named Zovah.
Joseph Cohen.Uzziah.
Moses Galente.Josaphat.
Daniel Pinto.Hilkiah.
Abraham Scandale.Jotham.
Mokiah Gaspar.Zedekiah.
Abraham Leon.Achas.
Ephraim Arditi.Joram.
Salom Carmona.Achab.
Matassia Aschenesi.Asa.
Meir Alcaira.Rehoboam.
Jacob Loxas.Ammon.
Mordecai Jesserun.Jehoachim.
Chaim Inegna.Jeroboam.
Joseph Scavillo.Abia.
Conor Nehemias.was Zarobabel.
Joseph del Caire.named Joas.
Elcukin Schavit.Amasia.
Abraham Rubio.Josiah.

Elias Sevi had the title of the King of the king of kings.