El Haham Menasseh Ben Israel.
Jewish Quarterly Review, No. 63, p. 569, vol. xvi., April, 1904.—About Hebrew Manuscripts, by Elkan Nathan Adler ... London ... 1905, pp. 65–77—The Jewish Historical Society of England Transactions ... Edinburgh and London. 1908 ... pp. 177–183.
CHAPTER VIII.
PURITAN FRIENDS OF THE JEWS
Newes from Rome—Rev. Dr. William Gouge—Sir Henry Finch, Sergeant-at-law—King James I.—Archbishop Laud—Archbishop Abbot—Roger Williams—Johanna Cartwright and her son Ebenezer—John Harrison—Rev. John Dury—Rev. Henry Jessey—Rev. Thomas Fuller—Re-admission and Restoration—Manasseh and the Puritans.
The publication of a tract in 1607, entitled:—
“Newes from Rome ... of an Hebrew people ... who pretend their warre is to recouer the land of Promise....” (Appendix xxv)
is remarkable for the interest evinced at a time when the presence of a Jew in England was deemed unlawful. It purports to be a translation from the Italian of a letter dated 1 June, 1606, sent by Signior Valesco to Don Mathias de Rensie of Venice. In it he is informed of the perturbed state of the world, and that Hungary, Bohemia and Muscovia are to declare war, seize Constantinople, and drive the Turk out of Europe. Tunis, Morocco, with the Arabians, and others, are to expel the Turk entirely out of Africa. The Soffie, the Medes, the people of Melibar on the border of India are in revolt. The most alarming news is to the effect than an unknown people, strong, mighty and swift, from beyond the Caspian mountains, claiming to be descendants of the lost Ten Tribes, are coming to recover the Land of Promise from the Turk. This is followed by a detailed account of the leaders of each tribe, the strength of each army, with the particulars of its equipment. The letter concludes by a promise of more news in a few days.
It was, however, a Puritan England that welcomed back the Jews as an ancient nation and as the “People of the Book.” In 1621 the Rev. Dr. William Gouge (1578–1653) published the anonymous work:—
The World’s Great Restauration. Or, The Calling of the Iewes (Appendix xxvi).