These tracts followed the remarkable evolution of English religious ideas which occurred in the seventeenth century. It is a well-known fact that the recognition of religious liberty in England was due chiefly to the struggle between the True Believers and other Nonconformists. The Reformation had granted only a limited form of religious liberty: when the True Believers themselves began to be persecuted the demand for religious liberty became very strong. The earliest pamphlet on this subject, by Leonard Busher, published in 1614,[¹] had already demanded religious liberty for the Jews as well.
[¹] Religious | Peace: | Or, | A Plea for Liberty of | Conscience. | Long since presented to King James, | and the High Court of Parliament then | sitting, by Leonard Busher Citizen of London, and Printed in the Yeare 1614. | Wherein is contained certain Reasons against | Persecution for Religion, Also a designe for | peaceable reconciling of those that differ in opinion. | ... London, | Printed for John Sweeting at the Angel in Popes-head-alley, | 1646. | (4to. 4 ll. + 38 pp. [B. M.]
Imprimatur:—This usefull Treatise (Entituled Religious Peace), long since Presented by a Citizen of London to King James, and the High Court of Parliament then sitting; I allow to be Reprinted.
Aprill 1. John Bachiler.
A copy of the first edition, published in 1614, has not yet been discovered.
p. 28: “... but shall offend also the Jews, ... who account it tyrrany to have their consciences forced to religion by persecution.”
p. 71: “Then shall the Jews inhabit and dwell under his majesty’s dominion, to the great profit of his realms....”
The English refugees in Amsterdam came into contact with the Jews of that town, and above all with Manasseh, whom they admitted to the innermost circle of friendship. The intercourse was continuous, and did much to dispel the mutual prejudices which old enmities had created and ignorance had nourished. Intimacies were formed which proved salutary to both, particularly to the Saints. Manasseh was also on terms of intimacy with Oliver St. John (1598?–1673), the English Ambassador in Holland (1651), who was afterwards a member of the Committee selected to consider the readmission of the Jews into England.