The separation from the Church of Rome was not effected in any country without great struggles; many battles were fought, and many crimes committed, under pretence of religion, on both sides.
Luther died in 1546, having lived to see the doctrines he had taught, too firmly established ever to be overthrown by the opposition of the Pope and his supporters, who made great efforts to bring all men back to the Church of Rome.
Mary, the daughter of Henry the Eighth, who became Queen of England on the death of her brother Edward the Sixth, a.d. 1553, tried hard to make her subjects submit again to the Church of Rome, and many were burnt to death for refusing to do so.
Elizabeth, who succeeded her sister Mary in 1558, was zealous for the doctrines opposed to the Papal teaching; and in her time the Church of England was firmly established in this country, though many Englishmen have never joined it, and continue to this day to be Roman Catholics, as we call those who belong to the Church of Rome, to distinguish them from those who have renounced her errors; for we all claim to be Catholics, as members of the Catholic or Universal Church of Christ. Many, too, in our own times have unhappily forsaken the Church of their forefathers, and joined that of Rome. Let us watch and pray, that we fall not into such grievous error.
The Reformation relieved the Jews from much active persecution, but, on the other hand, Luther declared, that no Christian might even employ a Jewish physician; for as the whole race lay under the curse of God, they ought not to cure those who were the children of God: the Jews naturally detested Luther, by whose advice many Christian princes in Germany, refused to receive them into their dominions. The chief persecution against the Israelites in Europe during this century, arose from their being falsely accused of causing a fire that did great damage in Bohemia. In Persia they suffered much from one of the kings, who was resolved to make them embrace the Mahometan faith.
The Jews at this time, seem to have enjoyed more peace in Egypt, Abyssinia, and other parts of Africa, than in any other countries in the world. They became numerous, wealthy, and powerful at Cairo, and also in Morocco, from whence one of them was sent as ambassador to the united provinces of Holland, in the beginning of the seventeenth century. Although the King of Portugal had banished the Jews from his European dominions, he allowed them to settle at Goa and other places, which then belonged to him in the East Indies: but, unfortunately, after some years, these Jews allowed themselves to be deceived by a pretended Messiah. The news spread to Portugal where some of the Israelites, who had become Christians, showed such joy at the intelligence, as to make it clear that they still clung to their old faith, and were Christians only in name. The Inquisition, therefore, interfered, and all Jews living in such parts of the East as were subject to the King of Portugal, were forced either to become Christians, or to leave the country.
The Jews had now been shut out of England for about 350 years; but when, after the murder of king Charles the First, Cromwell became ruler under the name of Protector, a.d. 1654, he, seeing the benefit which Holland had gained by allowing this persecuted race to settle in that country, was anxious to bring their industry and their riches back into Great Britain. At his request, the Parliament allowed Manasses Ben Israel, who was greatly looked up to by the whole Jewish people, to come to England, to beg permission for his countrymen to return: but the idea was so displeasing to the people in general, and was so strongly opposed by some persons of ability and learning, that Cromwell was unwillingly obliged to dismiss Manasses, without giving him any positive answer. Some of his countrymen, however, did venture into England, where they were left in peace, and allowed to reside together in a certain part of London: but no laws were made for their protection, though they were ready to pay large sums for any such marks of favour.
Unfortunately for Cromwell's project of re-establishing the Jews in England, a deputation arrived from the Asiatic Jews, for the purpose of making out that Cromwell was the Messiah. This made the Protector very angry; and when the object of these Jews became known, it excited so much indignation throughout the country, that they were obliged to leave the kingdom in all haste. This incident greatly increased the feelings of prejudice and dislike, with which the children of Israel were regarded. When Charles the Second was restored to the English throne, a.d. 1660, he, being greatly in want of money, sold to the Jews permission to settle in England, and their numbers increased greatly in consequence.
James the Second, who in 1685 succeeded his brother Charles, also favoured the Jews; and during this seventeenth century, they also regained a footing in France, from whence they had been finally banished in 1394, though, as has been said, some Jews were always to be found in different parts of that kingdom. The first place in which they were now permitted to reside and carry on trade, was Bordeaux; they were also allowed to buy estates in France.