History of Zionism, 1600-1918, Vol. 2 (of 2)

Chapter XLIXD (9)

Text size

(_12mo._ 6 _ll._ + 124 _pp._ [_De Hoop Van Israel._])² [I. S.]

¹ A third edition was published in the same year, with the
following addition:――

De Reysen van R. Benjamin Jonasz Tudelens, In de drie Deelen
der Werelt, als Europa, Asia, en Afrika: ... In’t Nederduyt
overgeschreven door Jan Bara.... 117 _pp._ [B. M.]

² Bound up with this copy is a folded engraving of the Author
by Salom Italia.

It has also been translated into _Yiddish_.

VII.

THE HUMBLE ADDRESSES OF MANASSEH BEN-ISRAEL

(_4to._ 4 _ll._ + 26 _pp._)¹ [I. S.]

¹ This was probably printed in Amsterdam, in anticipation of
his visit to England.

A second issue from another press, and in which the
collation varies (4 _ll._ + 23 _pp._ [I. S.]) may have
been printed in London, as at the end it has the following
addition:――

“Which is the close of _Rabbi Menesse Ben-Israel_, a Divine,
and Doctor in Physick, in the _Strand_ over against the
_New-Exchange_ in London.”

The British Museum copy of the 23 _pp._ edition has the
following date in manuscript on the title page: “November 5,
1655.”

VIII.

“VINDICIÆ JUDÆORUM,” BY MANASSEH BEN-ISRAEL

_By_ Rabbi Menasseh Ben Israel _a Divine | and a Physician_. |

Printed by _R. D._ in the year 1656. |

(_4to._ 1 _l._ + 41 _pp._)¹ [I. S.]

¹ In 1743 it was reprinted in octavo form (2 _ll._ + 67
_pp._ [I. S.]). It was translated into German either by
Dr. Marcus Herz (1747‒1803) or by his wife, the celebrated
Henrietta Herz (1764‒1847), and published in 1782, with an
introduction by Moses Mendelssohn (1729‒1786) (_sm._ 8º. LII.
+ 64 _pp._ [I. S.]). It has also appeared in _Hebrew_ [I. S.],
Polish [I. S.], French and Italian.

IX.

ENSEÑA A PECADORES

En casa y acosta | de _David de castro Tartaz_. |

_En Amsterdam_ | Anno 5426. |

(_12mo._ 88 + ח (8) _pp._) [B. M.]

_Page 2._ “Prologo.... _Aviendo pues el Señor hecho merced al mundo en
traer a luz las obras divinas del H. Ribi Esayah, su memoria sea
para benedicion, las quales son llenas de doctrinas y modos de
encaminar al hombre a la salvacion...._”

_pp._ 61‒79. “Conficion _Muy Copiosa Maravillosa y llena de
divinos conceptos y misterios, hecha por el divino Theologo y
excellentissimo Sabio, Ribi Yshac Askenazi de Loria, Traduzida de
Hebrico, en lengua castellana, por el doctissimo Haham Menasseh
ben Ysrael; el Anno 5383. la qual se puede dezir estando el hombre
enfermo o de ajuno o en qual quiera tiempo_.”

_pp._ 80‒88. Vidvy Penitencial ... Auctor Selomoh De Oliuera.

וידוי כפרה ... שלמה די אוליוירה יצ״ו התחלתו ערב ר״ח אדר ראשון. בשנת מגיני אל אלהים מושיע ישרי לב׃
pp. א‒ה
תושלבע׃

“DE TERMINO VITÆ――OF THE TERM OF LIFE,” BY MANASSEH BEN-ISRAEL

_Amstelodami._ Typis & sumpti-|bus authoris An. 1639. |

(_12mo._ 8 _ll._ + 237 _pp._ + 25 _ll._)¹ [I. S.]

¹ Sixty years later it was translated into English:――

With the Sense of the _Jewish_ Doctors, | both Ancient and
Modern, touching | Predestination and Free-Will. |

Also an Explication of several obscure | _Passages_ and
_Prophecies_ in the Old Testa-|ment; together with some
remarkable Cu-|stoms observ’d by the _Jews_. |

_Written in Latin by the Famous_ Menasseh | Ben-Israel _the_
Jew _and now Translated | into_ English, _By_ Tho. Pocock,
M. A. |

To which are added, the Author’s Life, never be-|fore
Publish’d; and a Catalogue of his Works. |

London Printed, and Sold by _J. Nutt_, near |
_Stationers_-Hall, and by the Booksellers of _Lon-|don_ and
_Westminster_, 1699. |

(_sm._ 8º. 6 _ll._ + XVI. + 116 _pp._) [ I. S.]

_sig._ A2. “To _Colthorp Parker_, Esq.;”

* * * * *

With the Sense of the _Jewish_ Doctors, | both Ancient and
Modern, touching | _Predestination_ and _Free-Will_. |

Also an Explication of several obscure _Passages_ and |
_Prophecies_ in the Old Testament; together with | some
remarkable Customs observed by the _Jews_. |

_Written in Latin by the Famous_ Menasseh | Ben-Israel _the
Jew, and now Translated into_ English. |

To which are added, the Author’s Life, never be-|fore
Publish’d; and a Catalogue of his Works. |

London, Printed for _W. Whitwood_ at the _Rose_ | and
_Crown_ in _Little-Brittain_. 1700. | (_sm._ 8º 6 _ll._ +
xvi. + 116 _pp._ + _l._ [_catalogue_]). [I. S.]

_sig._ A2. “To _Colthrop Parker_, Esq.;”

* * * * *

Also an Explication of several obscure | Passages and
Prophecies in the Old Testa-|ment; together with some
remarkable | Customs observed by the _Jews_. |

To which are added, the Author’s Life, by the Translator;
and a Catalogue of his Works. |

London, Printed for Tho. Baker at the | _Bible_ and _Rose_
in _Ludgate-street_. 1709. | (_sm._ 8º. 8 _ll._ + xxiv. +
117 _pp._ + 1 _l._) [I. S.]

_sig._ A2. “To _Christopher Tilson_, Esq.; Of The Treasury.”

XI.

“נשמת חיים――DE IMMORTALITATE ANIMÆ,” BY MANASSEH BEN-ISRAEL

ספר נשמת חיים על ענין הנשמה ... מנשה בן ישראל ... פה ק״ק אמשטרדם נדפס בדפוס בן המחבר שמואל
אברבנאל סואירו בשנת [תיב] לפ״ק׃

(_4to._ 8 + קעד (174) + 2 _ll._) [I. S.]

Some editions, which are excessively rare, have this Latin addition:――

In quibus multæ insignes & ju-|cundæ quæstiones ventilantur, | uti videre est, ex argu-|mento operis. |

Amstelodami, | Apud Autoris filium | _Samuel Ben Israel Abrabanel Sueiro_. |

Anno ϲlͻ. ͻlϲ. LI. |

(8 _ll._) [I. S.]

_sig._ A2. (Epistola Dedicatoria) Ferdinando III. Augustissº. Romanorum Imperatori....

Sig. A4². Augustissimi Imperatoris _Servus humillimus_ Menasseh Ben Israel.

Amstelodami Calendis Decembris Anno ϲlͻ. lͻϲ. LI.

XII.

“RIGHTS OF THE KINGDOM,” BY JOHN SADLER

Rights of the Kingdom; | Or, | Customs of our Ancestours:... With an Ocasionall Discourse of _Great Changes_ yet | expected in the World. |

London, | Printed by _Richard Bishop_. 1649.|¹

(_4to._ 4 _ll._ + AA‒MM + F‒Z + A‒C in fours.) [I. S.]

_sig._ G4. “How they are Now, I need not say, although I might also
beare them witnesse, that They are yet Zealous in Their Way. nor
doe they wholly want, ingenuous able men. of whom I cannot but
with Honour, mention Him, that hath so much obliged the world, by
his learned Writings; _Rab Menasseh Ben Israel_: a very learned,
Civill Man, and a Lover of our Nation.

“The more I think upon the Great Change, now comming on Them, and
All the World; the more I would be Just and Mercifull to Them, to
All.”

¹ It was republished thirty-three years later anonymously, as
was the first issue.
London: Printed for _J. Kidgell_. 1682. _4to._ 4 _ll._ +
319 _pp._ [B. M.]

XIII.

“NOVA SOLYMA,” EDITED BY REV. WALTER BEGLEY

Nova Solyma The Ideal City; Or Jerusalem Regained

An Anonymous Romance Written In The Time Of Charles I.

Now first Drawn From Obscurity, And Attributed To The Illustrious John Milton.¹

With Introduction, Translation, Literary Essays And A Bibliography

By The Rev. Walter Begley

vol. i., ii.

London John Murray, Albemarle Street. 1902.

(_p._ 4). “The book was first presented to the public in small octavo form with this title page:

¹ The author was Samuel Gott (1613‒1671), see “The Authorship
of Nova Solyma,” by Stephen K. Jones (1910), and B.M.
Catalogue.

“The book contained three hundred and ninety-two pages, of which the last contained the errata and the printer’s short notice to the reader. There was no preface or introduction of any kind, and no notes. The only printed extra was this Latin motto in the middle of the blank page facing the title:

‘_Cujus opus, studio cur tantum quaeris inani?_’
‘_Qui legis, et frueris, feceris esse tuum._’

which I turn thus:

(_p._ 5). “‘Whose is the book?’ do you ask. ‘Why start such a bootless
enquiry?

If you but read and enjoy, you will have made it your own.’” (_pp._ 5‒6). “... The next year the same book was published again――an evident attempt to utilise the unsold remainder, as there was no difference whatever, except a new title page with the old fly-leaf motto included in it and a page at the end containing the autocriticon. In the only copy I have seen, [St. John’s College, Cambridge], the title page runs as follows:

Novæ Solymæ Libri Sex; sive Institutio Christiani.

1. De Pueritia.
2. De Creatione Mundi.
3. De Juventute.
4. De Peccato.
5. De Virili Aetate.
6. De Redemptione Hominis.

_Cujus opus, studio cur tantum quaeris inani?_
_Qui legis, et frueris, feceris esse tuum._

Londini: Typis Johannis Legati, et venundantur per Thomam Underhill sub signo Biblii in vico Anglice dicto Woodstreet. MDCXLIX.”

Here we have the very useful addition that it was published by Thomas Underhill, of Wood Street.

(preface _pp._ vii‒viii). “... That such a wide-reaching, learned, and varied work should have been allowed to remain unappreciated and utterly ignored for more than two hundred and fifty years is certainly a very surprising literary fact....

“The critics seem to have been both blind and deaf. They gave no encouraging praise, and no disheartening condemnation. They simply took no notice. And so this great work of seventeenth-century art vanished from the sight of men. A few copies were put away in college libraries, where they rested for years undisturbed and dust-covered in their original positions, and have so continued to rest for two centuries and a half, lost to the world.”

(_p._ 18). “There is a spirit of pure, lofty, and unselfish morality evident throughout all the various scenes of this interesting and unaffected book. It shows us the brightest, strongest elements of God-fearing Puritanism;...” “Here are the lyric songs from ‘the law and prophets,’ Abraham’s meditation on the Mount Moriah, Cain’s lamentations for Abel, David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan, and many a noble ode from the Psalms and short epics from Job....” “Here Truth and Justice and the Fear of God are all placed on the high pedestals they so well deserve; and there is withal a kindly insistence everywhere on those great teachings which tend to make life more abounding in hope, more perfect in self-restraint and more lifted-up in spirit.”

All these ideas are Hebrew, and characteristically Biblical. But the most curious fact, from our point of view, is that this work contains a description of the Ideal State on Mount Zion. Of course, the tendency is thoroughly Christian, but it is that kind of Christianity which is inspired by the Old Testament and by a sentiment of love for the old Jewish nation and the Holy Land. This book is the poetical expression of the Restoration ideas of the seventeenth century. It begins with a description of the springtime in New Jerusalem, “the city with twelve gates” (Ezekiel xlviii. 31), and “a virgin who held in her right hand a golden rod, and in her left the two tables of the Law.” The tourist-visitors, “two Englishmen and the third a Sicilian,” are told that “it is the anniversary of the founding of the city and the virgin you saw represented Zion, or, as they say, the Daughter of Zion.” “They” evidently refers to the Jews.

Strangers are received with remarkable hospitality (as in Herzl’s _Altneuland_).

(_p._ 86). “But Jacob, for that was the old man’s name, urged him all the more, ‘Come, come,’ said he, ‘it is a national duty with us to treat strangers with kindness, not unmindful that we too, long ago, were strangers in Egypt, and since then for a long time strangers and wanderers among all the nations of the earth. But now we call none aliens from Israel....’”

(_p._ 88). “We are now very close on the fiftieth year since our long and widely-scattered nation was restored to its present wonderful prosperity.” The old Jew then explains the system of education adopted in the new country, a system of physical development and moral integrity.

Joseph, who is one of the tourists and the hero of the romance, indulges in songs of Zion.

(_pp._ 175‒6) “O sacred top of Solyma,
How lovely is thy place
Where stands the city of our King
Where faithful saints rejoice and sing
O mercy, love and grace!
“For there our greater Temple stands
With greater glory blest
And there redeemed from alien lands,
Brought back at last by God’s own hands,
His Israel finds her rest.”

Here the translator remarks:

(_p._ 177) note i.: “How many sighs and prayers have gone up from the dispersed children of Zion in Russian Poland, in Galicia, in Roumania and by the old broken wall of Jerusalem in these latter days! What longing for this ‘antepast of Heaven’ that Joseph here speaks of! What passionate desire for that time, when the children of Zion should no longer have to sing ‘the Lord’s song in a strange land’! Is this century to see the Zionists in possession again of their Holy City――their longed-for Salem, the ‘Vision,’ the ‘Foundation,’ the ‘Inheritance’ of Peace, as expositors have variously entitled it? Who can say? From a practical point of view the prospect somehow fails to charm; but when I view it in theory, it seems as if the justice of the world as well as the justice of the Eternal One would be nobly consummated by such a termination to an earthly pilgrimage of nigh two thousand years.”

The anonymous author proceeds to describe the old-new home, and the people, new-born in benevolence, piety and purity, with their national distinctiveness, and the two tables of the Law. Thus, with all his honest and deep Christian convictions and belief in the final triumph of his religious ideas, he recognizes the right of the Jewish nation to have their country and to remain faithful to their traditions. This strange romance, after all sorts of philosophical reflections and sketches of various adventures in Sicily and elsewhere, comes back to Zion to sing the songs of the Old Testament in Latin verse in a way which shows that the author had the rhythm and atmosphere of Biblical poetry to perfection, and also that his views were much more in harmony with the notions of that time than with modern conceptions. The whole work is inspired by great enthusiasm for Israel’s glory, and abounds with sympathy and admiration for the Jewish nation.

Begley, who was a man of profound knowledge and an authority on matters of composition and style, ascribes this work to Milton. If this view be accepted, then to this poet’s glory must be added a further claim to immortality, because he was the first poet who expounded――from a Christian point of view――the idea of Israel’s Restoration in the form of a poetical romance. But from our point of view it does not matter whether Milton was the author, or another poet; the fact remains that this remarkable work is English and appeared in England in 1648.

XIV.

“PRÆDAMITÆ――MEN BEFORE ADAM,” BY ISAAC DE LA PEYRÈRE¹

¹ Account of Peyreyra, Author of “Præadamitæ,” “Rappel des
Juifs,” &c. Translated from “Lettres Choisies de M.
[Richard] Simon, (1638 ‒1721) ou l’on trouve un grand nombre
de Faits et Anecdotes de Literature. Rotterdam 1702.”

(Gentleman’s Magazine, vol. lxxxii., November, 1812, _pp._
432‒434; and vol. lxxxiii., June, 1813, _pp._ 614‒616.)

Another of his famous works, also published anonymously, was:――

Anno Salvtis, | M.DC.LV. |

(_4to._ 22 _ll._ + 297 + 8 _pp._ [Synagogis Ivdæorvm Vniversis.]) [I. S.]

In the following year it was translated into English:――

_By which are prov’d_, | That the first Men were crea-|ted before Adam. |

London, | Printed in the Year, 1656. |

(8º. 8 _ll._ + 61 _pp._ + 9 _pp._ + 35 _ll._) [I. S.]

_The End of the first Part_ (No more published)

_sig._ A.4. “To all the Synagogues to the Jews, dispersed over the face
of the Earth.”

_sig._ M.8. “Terræ Sanctæ Delineatio” (A map of the Holy Land).¹

¹ In another issue in the same year the eight preliminary
leaves are from another press. [I. S.]

XV.

ISAAC VOSSIUS

ISAAC VOSSIUS was born at Leyden in Holland, one of the sons of the renowned scholar Gerard John Vossius by his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Francis du Jon (Junius) (1545‒1602), French theologian and philologist. All the sons were precocious scholars, but Isaac was undoubtedly the most eminent.... He was invited by Queen Christina of Sweden, one of the most erudite women of her time, to come and shed the lustre of his learning upon Stockholm. He arrived towards the end of 1649, was appointed a Court Chamberlain, and taught the Queen Greek. In 1650 he sold her his father’s library for twenty thousand florins, with the stipulation that he received five thousand florins yearly with board and residence for its superintendence. In 1652 owing to certain differences he left Sweden. In 1655 Manasseh Ben Israel dedicated to him:――

(_12mo._ 6 _ll._ + 259 _pp._ + 3 _ll._ + 4 etchings at _pp._ 5, 87, 160, 180.) [I. S.]

“_All muy noble y doctissimo Señor_ Isaco Vossio, Gentil hombre de la camara de su Magestad, La Reyna de Svedia.

_Muy noble y doctissimo Señor, ... Intimo amigo y afficionado servidor de V. M._,

Menasseh ben Ysrael.

_Amsterdam 25. de Abril, An. 5415._”

In a list of Manasseh’s works at the end of the volume, it is catalogued “Piedra preciosa; o de la Estatua de Nebuchadnesar, donde se sexpone lo mas essencial del libro de Daniel.” It was for this small volume that Rembrandt designed and etched four illustrations.¹

¹ Rembrandt’s etchings for the Piedra Gloriosa, by [Dr.]
I[srael] A[brahams] [M.A.], with facsimiles, Jewish
Chronicle, 13 July, 1906, _pp._ 39‒40: The second series of
illustrations for the Piedra Gloriosa of Manasseh Ben Israel,
by Israel Solomons, _ibid._, July 27, _p._ 31.

Vossius was created D.C.L. at Oxford in 1670, and installed to a prebend in the royal chapel at Windsor in 1673, which was presented to him by Charles II. (1630‒1685), and died at Windsor 21 Feb., 1688. He had accumulated the finest private library in the world, including 762 manuscripts. It was sold at Leyden in 1710 for thirty-six thousand florins. A large number of original letters of Vossius are preserved at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

XVI.

“DOOMES-DAY”

With | The gathering together of the Jews in great Bodies | under _Josias Catzius_ (in _Illyria_, _Bithinia_, and _Cappadocia_) | for the conquering of the Holy Land. | ...

London, | Printed for W. Ley. 1647

(_4to._ 1 _l._ + 6 _pp._) [I. S.]

(_p._ 2) “... even those people the Jewes, according to certaine and credible information, are at this time [* Under _Josias Catzius_, and according to Letters from beyond the Seas, they are numerous, and shew themselves in great bodies in Illyria, Bethinia and Cappadocia.] assembling themselves together into one body from out of all countreys, whereinto they have been driven with a resolution to regaine the holy land once more out of the hand of the _Ottaman_:”¹

¹ _Notes and Queries_, 10. S. IV., _pp._ 10 & 77, JOSIAS CATZIUS.

XVII.

“RESTAURATION OF _ALL_ ISRAEL _AND_ JUDAH”

_A Paper, shewing that the great Conversion and Restauration of all_ Israel _and_ Judah _will be fulfilled at Christs second comming; and that the_ New Jerusalem, _called_ Jehovah Shamma, _described by_ Ezekiel, chap. 40. _to the end of the Book, is most probably then to be set up, and is referred to the same time_, &c., May 1. 1674.

(_4to._ 8 _ll._) [I. S.]

XVIII.

“APOLOGY FOR THE HONORABLE NATION OF THE JEWS――APOLOGIA POR LA
NOBLE NACION DE LOS IVDIOS――VERANTWOORDINGE VOOR DE EDELE VOLCKEN
DER JOODEN,” BY EDWARD NICHOLAS

Written by _Edward Nicholas_, Gent. | ...

_London_, Printed by _John Field_, 1648. |

(_4to._ 15 _pp._)¹ [I. S.]

¹ This tract is alluded to in the concluding paragraph of
Manasseh Ben Israel’s “Humble Addresses,” but the author
has not yet been identified. He was at one time thought to
be Sir Edward Nicholas (1593‒1669), Secretary of State to
Charles I. and II., and it has even been stated that “Edward
Nicholas” was a pseudonym of Manasseh himself. (See _Jewish
Chronicle_, 9 Feb., 1906. “Edward Nicholas,” by Israel
Solomons.)

A Spanish translation was also published here:――

Escrita en Ingles | _Por_ | Eduardo Nicholas. |

E impresa en casa de Juan Field, en | Londres, |

Año ϲlͻ ϲlϲ XLIX. |

(_sm._ 8º. 8 _ll._) [I. S.]

Some years later a Dutch version was issued (Published together with “De Hoop Van Israël” of Manasseh Ben Israel).

Verantwoordinge, | Voor | _De Edele Volcken der_ | Jooden, |

_En Kinderen van_ | Israel. |

In het Engels beschreven | Door | Eduardo Nicolas. |

_In’t Nederduyts overgeschreven | en gedruckt._ |

t’Amsterdam, | Voor Jozua Rex, Bœck-binder, | op de Cingel, recht over de Appelen-marreckt | in’t Jaer 1666. |

(_12mo._ 1 _l._ + 26 _pp._ + 1 _l._) [I. S.]

XIX.

“A WORD FOR THE ARMIE,” BY HUGH PETERS

Forced in much plainesse and bre-|vity from their faithfull Servant, | Hugh Peters. | ....

London, | Printed by _M. Simmons_ for _Giles Calvert_ at the black | _Spread-Eagle_ at the West end of _Pauls_, 1647. |

(_4to._ 14 _pp._) [I. S.]

_sig._ B2. “IO{LY}. That Merchants may have all the manner of
encouragement, the law of Merchants set up, and strangers, even
_Jewes_ admitted to trade, and live with us, that it may not be
said we pray for their conversion, with whom we will not converse,
wee being all but strangers on the Earth.”

XX.

ISAAC DA FONSECA ABOAB

HE was the son of David Aboab and Isabel _da_ Fonseca. To distinguish him from his contemporary Isaac _de_ Matatiah Aboab, he is generally alluded to as “Fonseca Aboab.” He was born at Castrodagre, Portugal, and brought to Amsterdam as a child, where he became a pupil of _Haham_ Isaac (_ob._ 1622) _de_ Abraham Uziel. In 1623 he was the _Haham_ of the _Nevé Shalom_, the second synagogue established in Amsterdam. In 1642 he emigrated to Pernambuco (Recife) in Brazil, where he was _Haham_ until he returned to Amsterdam in 1654. (In 1640 Manasseh himself had intended going out to Brazil to join his brother Ephraim Soeiro¹ in business.) During Aboab’s _Rabbinate_ there was war between the Dutch and Portuguese for possession of the colony, which he describes in _Hebrew_ verse, still in manuscript. He was the first _Rabbi_ and the first _Hebrew_ Author in the New World. It has been alleged, that in his declining years he was a secret votary of Sabbatai Zebi. He was a great-grandson of the last _Gaon_ of Castile, the Isaac Aboab (1433‒1493) who wrote a super-commentary to Nachmanides’ commentary on the Pentateuch, printed in Constantinople in 1525. _Rabbi_ Abraham _de_ Samuel Zacuto, the author of the _Juchasin_, was one of his pupils, and on his death delivered the funeral oration.

¹ Ephraim had evidently discarded his surname of “Ben-Israel”
for “Soeiro,” that of his maternal grandfather, who probably
left no male issue. In such cases, it was customary among
_Sephardi_ Jews for the second son of the eldest daughter
to use his mother’s maiden surname exclusively, or add it to
his own patronymic.

XXI.

DR. ABRAHAM ZACUTUS LUSITANUS

HE was one of the most eminent physicians of his time and the author of many valuable works in connection with his profession. He was a native of Lisbon and of _marrano_ origin. In the year 1625, when Philip (1605‒1665) IV. of Spain (1621‒1665) and Portugal (1621‒1640) banished the Jews from the latter kingdom, Zacutus escaped to Amsterdam from the clutches of the Holy Office. Here he was initiated into the _Abrahamic_ covenant and lived as an exemplary Jew. He was one of the “Aprovaciones” of the first volume of the Conciliador “Sapientissimo Viro, Domino Menasseh Ben Israel, sacrorum librorum eruditissimo interpreti, Salvtem.... Amstelodami dié ultim. Mensis August. Anno. 1632.

Te summé colit, & observat,

Doctor Zacutus Lusitanus.”

Among his clientele he numbered the Elector Palatine Frederick V. (1596‒1632), King of Bohemia (1619‒1620), and his consort Elizabeth Stuart (1596‒1662), eldest daughter of James (1566‒1625) I., King of England (1603‒1625). They were the parents of Sophia (1630‒1714), Electress of Hanover, the mother of George (1660‒1727) I. (1714‒1727).

His great-grandfather was Abraham [Diogo Rodriguez] (1450?‒_post_ 1510) _de_ Samuel _de_ Abraham Zacut, the astronomer, mathematician and historian.

In 1473, while a professor in the University of his native town, Salamanca, he wrote his world-famous: ביאור לוחות׃ [B. M.] (Astronomical Tables), and here he became acquainted with Christopher Columbus (1446?‒1506).

His pupil Joseph Vecinho (Vizino) [Diego Mendes], physician to João II., the Great (1455‒1495), King of Portugal (1481‒1495), translated the work into Latin. It was printed by a Jew, Samuel D’Ortas, at Leiria in 1496, and entitled “Almanach Perpetuum.” Dr. Vecinho presented a copy to Columbus, which he always carried with him and consulted on his voyages, deriving invaluable help from it.

It was this very book that he used to predict the eclipse of the moon, which so terrified the Indians in Jamaica that they became obedient to him, and furnished his party food. After his death it was found in his library. On the margins are calculations in his penmanship, which were doubtless made to verify those of Zacuth.¹

¹ _The Authentic Letters of Columbus._ By William Eleroy
Curtis, ... Chicago, ... 1895, _pp._ 115‒116.

On the exile from Spain, 2 August, 1492, the author went to Lisbon, where he was appointed astronomer and historiographer to João II. He was of material assistance to the great navigator Vasco da Gama (1460?‒1524), in preparation of his voyage to India. The ships were provided with Zacuto’s newly perfected iron astrolabes, which hitherto had been of wood. He was highly esteemed by da Gama, who took leave of him on the 8 July, 1497, in the presence of his entire crew.

Portugal also expelled the Jews, so he fled with his son Samuel to Tunis, and here in 1504 he wrote his famous ספר יוחסין which is a chronological history of the Jews from the Creation up to 1500.

It was first printed in Constantinople in 1566 [B. M.], and an issue edited by Herschell Filipowski (1817‒ 1872) was published in London in 1857, some copies of which were printed on vellum [B. M.]. Tunis being invaded by Spain he emigrated to Turkey, where he died some time after 1510.

XXII.

JACOB JUDAH ARYEH D̅E LEON

_Haham_ Jacob Judah Aryeh _de_ Leon [Templo] of _marrano_ origin, was born in Hamburgh in 1603. Here for some years he was teacher in _Hebrew_ and _Rabbinics_ to the _Kahal Kadosh de Talmud Torah_. Subsequently he was appointed _Haham_ of Middelburgh in Holland, where in 1642 he published tracts in Spanish¹ and Dutch,² describing a model he had constructed of Solomon’s Temple. Shortly after he settled in Amsterdam and resumed his tutorial profession, and it was here that a French version³ of the tract was published, and seven years later a _Hebrew_ edition appeared,⁴ translated by the Author from his original Spanish. Versions in German,⁵ Latin,⁶ and _Ladino_⁷ have also been issued at various times. In anticipation of his visit to London to exhibit his model before Charles II. (1630‒1685) and his Court, he prepared an essay in English, which was printed and published in Amsterdam,⁸ describing the model of Solomon’s Temple, and also that of the Tabernacle of Moses, of which he had also constructed a model. It was again on view here in the years 1759 and 1760.⁹ In 1778 it was in the possession of a Mr. M. P. Decastro, who claimed to be a near relation of _Haham de_ Leon. He exhibited the model here, and translated and published the essay describing it,¹⁰ which he tells us was “First printed in _Hebrew_ and Spanish.”¹¹

¹ Retrato Del Templo De Selomo.... _Compuesto, por_ Iaacob
Ievda Leon Hebreo, _vezino de Middelburgo, en la Provincia
de Zelanda_.

En el Año de 5402 ala creacion del Mundo.

En Middelbvrgo, En Casa de la Biuda y Heredeos de Symon
Moulert Imprimidor de los Estados de Zelanda. M.DC.XLII.

(_4to._ 4 _ll._ + 48 _pp._ [Bodleian.])

² Afbeeldinghe Vanden Tempel Salomonis, ... Door Iaacob Iehvda
Leon Ebreo.

Tot Middelburgh, By de Weduwe ende Erfsgenamen van Symon
Moulert, Ordinaris Drucker vande Ed: Mog: Heeren Staten van
Zeelandt. Anno 1642.

(_4to._ 4 _ll._ + 49 _pp._ + folded etching “El Templo de
Selomoh,” _etc._ _etc._ [B. M.])

Reissued at Amsterdam in 1644. [I. S.]

A fourth edition published at Amsterdam in 1669 [Bodleian].

³ Portraict dv Temple de Salomon, ... Composé par Iacob Iuda
Leon Hebreu, habitant de Middelbourg en la Province de
Zelande.

L’an de la creation du Monde 5403.

A Amsterdam, Imprimé chez Jean Frederick Stam, à l’Esperance,

ͻlͻ. lͻ. c. xliii. (_4to._ 6 _ll._ + 88 _pp._ [I. S.])

⁴ ספר תבנית היכל ... חברו בלשון לעז וגם העתיקו ללשון הקדש החכם ... כמהרר יעקב יהודה
ארי ... נדפס פה אמשטרדם שנת ה׳ בהיכל קֹדֹשׂוֹ ה׳ בשמים כסאו לפ״ק ...
(4ᵗᵒ 2 + לח _ll._ [i.s])

Two hundred and ten years later, it was reissued at
Warsaw with an “approbation” of Samuel Mohilewer, the
great Zionist, who at the time was Chief _Rabbi_ of
Suwalk.

⁵ Traktat des Jak. Jeh. Leonis von dem Tempel Salomonis. Aus
dem Holländischen ausgefertigt: Hannover, 1665, 8º.

(Bibliotheca Judaica.... Julius Fürst ... Leipzig ... 1849,
_p._ 232.)

⁶ Jacobi Jehvdæ Leonis De Templo Hierosolymitano, ... ex Ebræo
Latinè recensiti à Johanne Savberto ... Helmæstadt Impressit
Jacobvs Mvllervs ϲlͻ. lͻ ϲ. lxv.

(_4to._ Eng. Frontis. [Augustus ... Dux Brunovicensis et
Lunæburgensis ... Conr. Buno _fec._] + Eng. Title-page +
A‒D in _fours_ [c⁴: Jacobi Yehudæ Leonis Hebræi. Conr. Buno
_fec._] + ): (in _fours_ + 211 _pp._ [incorrectly numbered
203 _pp._] + at _p._ 35 _folio_ folded sheet with Latin
text + _folio_ folded sheet of Temple plans + engraving of
model of Solomon’s Temple, Palace and Fort Antonio, with
explanatory details in Dutch + at _p._ 94, engraving of the
“Priestly garments” + at _p._ 168, engraving of Holy Vessels,
Candelabrum, _etc._ + at _p._ 179, engraving of “Ark of
Testimony.” [I. S.])

It was reissued at Altdorph in 1674. [I. S.]

⁷ ליב׳רו די לה פ׳ורמה די איל פאלאסייו-לייאמאדו לשון הקדש תבנית היכל ... הרב יעקב יאודה
אריה זצוק״ל תח״מ אדונינו המלך שולטן עבדול עז״ז סאן יר״ה שאלוניקו אין ד״ 5636 איסתאמפאריאה
די קופת עץ החיים יב״ץ׃
(8º. 120 _pp._ [B. M.])

_According to Text of Scripture._ |

By Jacob Jehudah Leon, Hebr. |

_Author of the Model of Salomon’s Temple._ |

At Amsterdam, | Printed by Peter Messchaert, in the
Stoof-steech, 1675. |

(_4to._ 4 _ll._ + 27 _pp._) [I. S.]

⁹ Ahiman Rezon, Or a help to all that are or would be Free
and Accepted Masons, ... the Second Edition. By Lau Dermott.
Secretary.... London, 1764. (8º. Eng. Frontis. + xxxvi. +
224 _pp._ [Quatuor Coronati Lodge library]) _p._ xxxiv.

¹⁰ An Accurate Description Of the Grand and Glorious Temple of
Solomon. In which are briefly Explain’d,

I. The Form of that Fabric.
II. The Vessels and Instruments belonging thereto.
III. The King’s Palace.
IV. Fort Antonio, built for the Defence of the Temple.

First printed in Hebrew and Spanish at Middleburgh, By that
celebrated Architect, Jacob Juda Lyon, In The Year MDCXLII.

Translated by M. P. Decastro, (Proprietor of the said Model,
and a near Relation to the Author.)

London: Printed for the above Proprietor, by W. Bailey,
_Wellclose-Square_. M.DCC.LXXVIII.

(8º. Eng. Frontis. [Jacobi Yehudæ Leonis Hebræi ... Salom
Italia _Sculpsit_] + 2 _ll._ + iii. _pp._ + 1 _l._ [etchings
of “Temple,” “Cherubim”] + 48 _pp._) [I. S.]

See “Jacob Jehudah Leon (Templo), by Israel Solomons,”
_Jewish Chronicle_, 30 Oct., 1903.

¹¹ The tract was first printed in Spanish and Dutch in 1642,
and not until 1650 did it appear in _Hebrew_.

Leon Templo,¹ as our _Haham_ is at times referred to, is supposed to have invented “The Arms of yᵉ most Ancient & Honorable Fraternity, of Free and Accepted Masons.” The original drawing was seen by Laurence Dermott (1720‒1791) when he saw the model of the Temple in 1759‒1760.² He also wrote on the “_Cherubim_” and on the “Ark of the Testimony.” In 1671 he issued the Psalms in _Hebrew_, with a Spanish paraphrase and notes. This was his last published work, in the preface of which he tells us that although he was then sixty-seven years of age, he completed the work in seven months, at times that he could spare from his tutorial duties. Four works in manuscript are still unpublished. After his death, among his sketches were found over two hundred designs to illustrate and elucidate Biblical and Rabbinical passages. These his son _Haham_ Solomon Raphael (_ob._ 1733 _circa_) _de_ Leon Templo presented to Willem Surenhuis, who had them engraved for his edition of the _Mishna_.³

¹ Templo was assumed as a surname by his descendants.

² Ahiman Rezon, _ibid._

³ Mischna sive Totius Hebræorum Juris, Rituum, Antiquitatum,
ac Legum Oralium Systema, ... Guilielmus Surenhusius....
Amstelædami, ... [1698‒1703] (vi. vols. _fol._)

Biographers do not seem to know when and where he died. David Franco Mendes (1713‒1792) tells us that after his London visit he returned to Amsterdam, and although he gives a transcription of his epitaph, consisting of eight lines of _Hebrew_ laudatory verse, no date is mentioned.¹ Dr. M. Kayserling suggests that he died after 1675, that is after his London visit.² There is, however, good authority to surmise that he died in London during his visit.

(_Franco_) חפשיby ¹תולדות החכם מחו׳ יעקב יהודה ליאון זצ״ל
.רצז-שא _pp_. המאסף חדש סיון תקמה

² _Jewish Encyclopedia_, 1904, vol. viii. _p._ 1.

XXIII.

THESOURO DOS DINIM

THESOVRO Dos Dinim.... Composto por. Menasseh Ben Israel. Estampado em casa de Eliahu Aboab. An. 5405.

(8º. 16 _ll._ (_one blank_) + 625 _pp._ [in four sections])

*2 _Muy Nobres, Magnificos, e Prudentes Senhores, Parnassim deste Kaal Kados de Talmud Torah_.... o Sʳ David Abarbanel Dormido, Parnas da Sedaká, e Talmud Tora.... Menasseh ben Israel.

_Amsterdam_ 15 _de_ Hiyar, An. 5405. [B. M.]

* * * * *

THESOVRO Dos Dinim ultima parte ... ECONOMICA ... _Por_ Menasseh Ben Israel.

Amsterdā, na officina de _Ioseph ben Israel seu filho_.¹ 5407.

8º 8 _ll._ (_one blank_) + 210 _pp._ + 4 _ll._

A2.... Dedicatoria. _Aos muy nobres, Magnificos e Prudētes Senhores, os Senhores Abrahā e Ishak Israel Pereyra...._

A3. Este sen intimo, e affeiçoado amigo,

_o Hahā, Menasseh ben Israel_

_Amsterdam 12 de Tamuz, An. 5407._ [B. M.]

¹ The author, in his _Nishmath Chayyim_, 1651, _folio_ 103,
bewails the premature death of his son Joseph, the printer
of this book. He was, he tells us, a keen _Talmudist_,
and had a perfect knowledge of four languages. He had
sent him on a voyage for the first time, and on returning
to Amsterdam from Dantzig was shipwrecked. On his second
journey the following year to Poland, on nearing Lublin, he
died, being at the time about twenty years of age.

* * * * *

The two parts of _Thesouro dos Dinim_ were subsequently reissued in one volume:――

Amsterdam Anno 5470 (8º. 4 + 201 + 2 _ll._)¹ [I. S.]

¹ This second issue is rarer than the first: 5470 is a misprint
for 5407.

XXIV.

“RETTUNG DER JUDEN,” BY MANASSEH BEN-ISRAEL

Manasseh Ben Israel Rettung der Juden Aus dem Englischen übersetzt.

Nebst einer Vorrede von Moses Mendelssohn.

Als ein Anhang zu des Hrn. Kriegsraths Dohm Abhandlung: Ueber die bürgerliche Verbesserung der Juden....

Berlin und Stettin bey Friedrich Nicolai. 1782.

(8º. lii. + 64 _pp._) [I. S.]

XXV.

NEWES FROM ROME.

Illustration: _Newes from Rome._
Printed by I. R. for Henry Gosson, and are to be sold in Pater

_From a rare tract lent by Mr. Israel Solomons._

Of two mightie Armies, aswell footemen as horsmen: The first of the great Sophy, the other of an Hebrew people, till this time not discouered, comming from the Mountaines of Caspij, who pretend their warre is to recouer the Land of Promise, & expell the Turks out of Christendome. With their multitude of Souldiers, & new invention of weapons.

Also certaine prophecies of a Iew seruing to that Armie, _Caleb Shilocke_, prognosticating many strange accidents, which shall happen the following yeere, 1607.

Translated out of Italian into English, by W. W.

Illustration: (‡ decoration)

❧ TO THE RENOWNED

Lord, _Don Mathias de Rensie_, of Venice.

AFTER the particuler thinges alleaged in my former writings vnto your Lordshippe, I thought it good and conuenient by this my Letter, to aduertise your Lordship, of certaine great, horrible, and fearefull things that hapned in this quarter.

Purposing to certifie your Lordship of the pompe and great triumph at the presenting of the Captaines of the Sea, vnto the great Turke: the miserie and vnhappines of the poore prisoners: the discorde & contention that came by the sonne of the Vice Roy of Naples, being prisoner: the threatnings made to the Christians: the receiuing of the Ambassadors of the Soffy: the pompes, tryumphes, and entertainments made vnto them, and yet dissembled enough, with mocking one the other at their departing: the presents giuen: the going of the great Turke a hunting and all other thinges written at large, as your Lordship shall vnderstand.

But now your Lordship shall vnderstand at thys time, the greatest, the most wonderfull, and most strange thing that euer was heard of. The which partly hath so troubled the great Turke, and all the rest, that they haue left of all other affayres, to prouide for the perrill and danger that at this time hangeth ouer theyr heads.

Your Lordships to vse,

Signior Valesco.

_Newes from Rome_
⁂

The newes are come that the king of _Hungarie_ maketh a great Army, which shall haue for his ayde the gallies of _Buda_, and of many other Princes of Christendome. And they say moreouer, that the king of _Bohemia_ will helpe therein, and that the most part of Christian Princes will come and ayde him in this enterprise against the Turke, except the Signorie of _Venice_, which medleth nothing at all in it. These reporters of newes affirme, that there shal come aboue a hundred gallies, besides other Barks, ships, & Hulkes without number, which is occasion that they hasten the warre the more. Notwithstanding, men esteeme not so much hereof, as of the war that is made beyond the Mountaines, as you shall understand not without wondering at it. The _Tartars_ make friendes upon the greater Sea, & haue made a league & friendship with the great Turke, requiring ayde, for they are molested with war by the great Emperour of _Muscouia_, & prince of _Sagodie_, of _Pogore_, of _Smelengie_, of _Drossy_, of _Gazam_, of _Virgolosam_, of _Tartarie_, of _Cham_, and of diuers other people and regions lying toward the South: they say that this Emperor or Duke hath two Armies, and is called _Iohn Dwatillo_, a young man, of the age of xxiiii. yeeres, noble and valiant, and a Christian, after the institution of the Greekes, and presumeth that by reason of his blood, the Empire of _Constantinople_ doth belong to him, And these two Armies are about two hundred thousand horse.

They were not wont in time past to be so strong, nor so feared of the Turks, for they had not the use of artillarie in the warre: but nowe they haue meruailous great preparation in theyr warre. Hee hath in wages certaine Dutch Captaines, and about tenne thousand Maister gunners, and is meruailously well furnished with harquebushes, and artillery, and because men understand that hee hath so vanquisht the Tartarians, and brought thē to such a state, that they cannot much more resist him, and that if the saide Muscouite should be maisters ouer the Tartars, they should consequently be Rulers of the great sea, & the way should bee open and easie for them to come, not onely to Constantinople, but also to driue the Turke out of Europe: and because that the saide great Turke is assured of this enterprise and commotion of the Greekes: he hath cōcluded and determined, to send to the said Tartars a good assistance of fifteene thousand fighting men, and also for this purpose, hee hath sent to the sea ten Gallies to passe them ouer.

Men make mention and doubt of _Mondaccio_ which is a great Prince and Ruler, and able to make foure score, or a hundred thousand horse: and yet men are uncertaine whose part he will take, because hee is tributarie unto the great Turke.

There is newes also from _Affrica_, that the king of _Bugien_, the king _Tramece_, the king of _Tunis_, the children of _Serif_. The Lord of _Murocho_, and of _Gran_, with the _Arabians_ and other, haue taken in hand to driue and expulse the turke wholy out of _Affrica_, & to endomage him as much as they may. Men know not yet in what place they will war, but we shall know it shortly. The newes also is, that the _Soffie_ is in Campe with a great Armie, and hath the _Medes_ to helpe him, which border upon the Caspian Sea, and of one side neighbour to the _Hircans_, called at this day _Correxans_ and _Zecatans_, with whom he hath made a league and peace. There are on his side also the _Ibeians_ and _Albians_, and also the people of _Melibar_, which harbor upō the _Indians_, and likewise with the king of _Bosphorus_, all beeing people meruailous swift and nimble. In this so mightie an host and armie, is also _Bascet_ the sonne of the great Turke, by meanes whereof, all in those parts is in great trouble, as well as heere. It seemeth that the _Ienissaries_ bring him the lot of _Turkie_, as _Baduget_, _Zermonia_, _Alepo_, and all the Regions lying neere to the _Soffi_ is reuolted, all the which particularities shall be understoode more at large.

This newes is great, and hath made the great turke to muse enough upon it, but aboue all these meruelous and dreadfull newes which are hapned, there is yet chaunced another, which hath greatly feared & abashed all men, which although it seemeth to be incredible, yet upon my credit it is most true, and that is, that a people heretofore unknowne, mighty, swift, and meruelous nimble, hath taken weapon in hand, to the disaduantage and losse of the house of _Ottoman_. They say that _Alexander_ the great did in time past driue beyond the mountaine _Caspe_ nine tribes and a halfe of the _Hebrewes_ which worshipped the Calfe & Serpent of gold, and draue them away, that neuer since there was no newes of them, neither knewe any man if they were in the worlde or not: because the Sea of sand, or the sandie sea, by a certaine inconuenience of sand Grauel or Beche, swelled & rose so high, that it utterly tooke from them the way into this our Region. But now by the meane of the newe Nauigation that yᵉ Hollanders haue made, they are arriued in their country, and haue espied out all their dooings: and after yᵗ the said Hollanders had instructed and taught them in the science and knowledge of artillery, and gun=pouder for Harquebushes and dags, whereunto they are meruelous apt and ready, they are become in all thinges perfit. After this they egged them forward to take weapon in hand, and passe the saide mountaine by Land. And because the sandy sea did hinder their passage, it appeareth yᵗ some Duchman or Italian, which yet men knowe not, but notwithstanding some great Astrologian or Cosmographer taught them the way, making some hill plaine with fire, whereby they might easilie passe, which is a thing of great wonder.

These people haue two mighty great armies, and infinite store of victualls, by reason of the fruitfulnesse of theyr country, they are also well prouided of all manner of preparation for war, & cunning in the practise of theyr weapons. They say they will come & recouer the land of Promise, towards the which the first army is already very neere, to the great terror and dread of euery man which hath either seene or heard of them. The spyes which haue been sent out by the great turke to discry them, doe affirme, that beside a hundred and two armies, there followe an infinite number of people, as well footmen as horsemen, and theyr first armie is already arriued upon the limmits of Turkie, putting all to fire and sword. Theyr language is bastard Hebrew: & because men speake much of it heere, I will not forget to speake also something thereof woorthy to be noted, and well understoode: The Hebrewes of Constantinople say, that they haue certaine prophesies, among the which one maketh mention, that from the foure parts of the world, shall rise a people, and come into Gog and Magog, and then shall appeare (as they perswade themselues) their _Messias_ in might and power, and then they shall haue dominion and rule in the world, whereof they secretly reioyce, & are wonderous glad. They say moreouer, that there is a prophecie grauen in a piller set at _Podromo_ which saith thus: A mightie Prince shall rise, whose beginning shall be of small reputation, who by his Issue shal war of such force and strength (with the helpe of God) that he shall bring to nothing, the empire and rule of _Ottoman_, and shal be the right possessour and inheritor of the Empire of _Constantinople_, & they beleeue all that it shall be this Emperor and duke of _Muscouia_, which is alreadie in great estimation among the Greeks.

The Turks haue a prophecie, which they sing often, and weepe bitterlie the while, for it betokeneth and denounceth unto them, their utter ruine and destruction. And although it seeme strange, to say that the Turkes haue prophecies, it is no meruaile: for _Balam_ was a false Prophet: the _Sybilles_ also prophecied and were Pagans. For all these causes the great Turke hath forbidden wine & will that all men goe fiue times in a day to the _Moschea_, and pray to God for theyr health and saftie. And so hee prepareth three great armies, one against the _Muscouites_ another against the _Soffie_, and the third for to goe against the _Hebrewes_ of the Mountaines of _Caspij_. Within these fewe dayes you shall haue other newes, wherefore thus making an end, I commend me unto your good Lordship: from _Rome_, the first day of June, 1606. Your faithfull and trustie seruant, _Signior Valesco_.

_The description of the first Armie, conducted_
by _Zoroam_ a Iew, Captaine generall of the Armies.

First of all a Jew, of verie great stature, of a fleshlie colour, more red then otherwise, with broad eyes, called _Zoroam_, is Captaine generall of all the Armies, hee leadeth under his Ensigne twelue thousand horse, and twenty thousand footmen. The horsemen are armed after a light sort, but very good Harnes, almost after our fashion: they carrie Launces of long Reedes, very hard and light, yet so sharpe pointed, that they passe thorowe a thing with incredible lightnesse: they carrie also shields or targets of bone, and in steede of swords, they use certaine Courtilaxes.

They are apparrelled with the colour of their Ensigne, and all clothed with silke: the foote-men carrie Pikes of the same sort, with Helmet and Habergin: their Ensigne is of blacke silke and blew, with a dog following a Hart, or Bucke, and a saying written in it, which is in our language thus: _Either quick or dead_.

2. _Of the Armie of Don Phares._

There is one called _Phares_, which is an Earle, yong and valiant, not regarding this present life: this man hath under his commaund fifteene hundred horsemen armed lightly, onely on the fore-part and head-peece: yet this Armour is so well tempered and wrought, that it keepeth out a Launce and Harquebush shot.

This manner of arming themselues, is to the intent they may neuer turne their backe to runne awaie: they have also fierce and light horses: there are eighteene thousand footemen, apparrelled with a kinde of sodden leather, made of the skinne of a certaine beast, so that no pike nor harquebush can pearse it. These men are beastlie people, & will neuer flie for any thing, they are very obedient and subiect unto their Prince, and their ordinarie apparell is silke. The Ensigne that they beare, is a falcon pecking or billing with another bird, with a sentence that saith, _Either thine or mine shall breake_.

3. _Of the Marquesse of Galair._

There is a Marquesse of _Galair_ called _Goes_, this man leadeth fifteen hūdred men of armes, which be all exceeding well armed & stout, strong, and rebust men: their horses are moriskes, the greatest, the strongest, the fairest, and the best that bee in the world: there are also seuenteene thousand souldiers, very wel appointed with Launce and harquebush: theyr Ensigne or armes is a redde field, with a maid clothed in greene, holding a Lion in her hand, with these words _I hope to subdue a greater thing_.

4. _Of the Duke of Falach._

There is a Duke of _Falach_, called _Obeth_, who hath under his conduct xx. thousand footemen, armed with a certaine mettall like yron, but it is light and hard, they have many good swords, launces, and other force, harquebushes, and wiflers: their Ensigne or armes, is a mermaid in a blacke field, and the deuise thus, _My singing shall not cease untill the end_.

_The description of the Armie conducted by Captaine Nauison._

There is a captaine called _Nauison_, which hath under him xx. thousand men, appointed and armed with the skin of a serpent, most hard & stiffe, they haue Axes, pollaxes, pikes, harquebushes, and other kind of weapons: their Ensigne or armes, is a white snaile in a blacke fielde, with a deuise about it, _By little and little, men goe very farre_.

Of the tribe of _Simeon_ there is a Prince of _Arsay_, whose name is not yet knowne, but they say he is a deuill, great, grosse, & thicke beyond measure, with a flat nose, and both he and his men are of the stature of Giants: he leadeth with him xx. thousand footemen, almost all _Alfiers_, which are also so swift & nimble that they will take horses running: they make a meruailous noise, such as no people use: their Ensigne is an Lute in a blacke field, and haue for their posy, _Such is my government_.

6. _Of the Duke of Barsalda._

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