The HOPE of ISRAEL.
SECT 1.
IT is hard to ſay what is certaine among the ſo many, & ſo uncertain opinions concerning the originall of the Indians of the new world. If you aske, what is my opinion upon the relation of Montezinus, I muſt ſay, it is ſcarce poſſible to know it by any Art, ſince there is no demonſtration, which can manifeſt the truth of it; much leſſe can you gather it from Divine, or humane Writings; for the Scriptures doe not tell what people firſt inhabited thoſe Countries; neither was there mention of them by any, til Chriſtop. Columbus, Americus Veſpucius, Ferdinandus Cortez, the Marqueſſe Del Valle,16 and Franciſcus Pizarrus went thither; and though hitherto I have been of this minde, that I would ſpeake only of ſolid, and infallible things, (as thoſe things are which concerne our Law) and the obſcurity of the matter, making me doubt, whether it would be worth a while for me to attempt it; yet at laſt I was content to be perſwaded to it, not that I look to get credit by it, but that my friends, and all who ſeeke for truth, that have put me upon this work, may ſee how very deſirous I am to pleaſe them.
I ſhall ſpeak ſomewhat in this Diſcourſe, of the divers opinions which have been, and ſhall declare in what Countries it is thought the ten Tribes are; and I ſhall cloſe, after that I have brought them into their owne Country, which I ſhall prove by good reaſons, following the Revelations of the holy Prophets, who I beleeve cannot be expounded otherwiſe, whatever ſome thinke; yet I intend not to diſpute theſe things, but according to my cuſtom, ſhall lay downe fairly, and faithfully, the opinions of the Iewes only.
SECT. 2.
YOu muſt know therefore, that Alexis Vanegas ſaith, that the firſt Colonies of the Weſt-Indies were of the Carthaginians, who firſt of all inhabited New-Spaine, and as they encreaſed, ſpread to the Iland Cuba; from thence to the continent of America; and after that towards Panama, New-Spaine, and the Iſle of Peru. And he grounds himſelfe on that reaſon, that as the Carthaginians (who of old did moſt uſe the Seas) ſo thoſe of Peru, and the Inhabitants of New-Spaine, did make uſe of pictures inſtead of letters.
But this opinion doth not ſatisfie, becauſe they anciently were white men, bearded, and civill in converſe; but contrarily thoſe of Parama, St. Martha, and of the iſles of Cuba, and Barlovent, went naked. Farthermore, who can thinke that the language which; he ſaith, they firſt ſpoke, ſhould be ſo ſoone changed, that it ſhould be wholly another: and there is no agreement between the one and the other. The learned Arias Montanus thinkes, that the Indians of New Spaine, and Peru, are the off-ſpring of Ophir the ſonne of Jokton, the nephew of Heber. And he backs his opinion, by the name Ophir, which by tranſpoſition of letters, is the ſame with Peru; and he adds, that the name Parvaim in the duall18 number, doth ſignifie the Iſtimus between New-Spaine and Peru, which firſt was called Ophir, then Peru; and that theſe countries are that Peru, from whence King Solomon brought gold, precious ſtones, &c. as in 1 Kin. chap. 9.6.10. & 2 Chron. 9.21. This opinion ſeemes more probable than the other, and may be backed by another name of the River Liru, which according to Gomoras, lies in the 2d degree from the Equinoctiall line, from Panama 222. miles; as alſo by the name of the Province Jucatan, which may be derived from Joktan the father of Ophir. But beſides that this notation is ſomewhat farre fetcht, it croſſes what Joſephus Acoſta affirmes in 1. Hiſtor. of Jud. c. 13. who ſayth, that the name Peru was unknown to the Indians themſelves before thoſe Spaniards gave that name. Add to this what Garcillaſſo de la Vega in the firſt part of his Commentary on Peru, c. 4 ſaith, that when a certaine Spanyard, Baſco Nunnez de Balboa, lived in that country, and asked a Fiſherman, what was the name of that Province, he anſwered Beru; (which was the Fiſhermans owne name, he thinking that was the queſtion) and he farther ſaid, that the name of the River where he fiſhed, was called Pelu. Hence you may ſee, that Peru is made of both thoſe words; which alſo many Spanyards beſides him, we have mentioned, doe teſtifie. 19Beſides, who can thinke that Solomon neglecting the Eaſt-Indies, a place ſo rich, and abounding with all things, ſhould ſend a Fleet ſo farre off as to the Weſt-Indies. Alſo we read in 1 King. 9. that Solomon made ſhips in Ezion-Geber on the ſhoare of the red Sea, which alſo Jehoſophat did, with Ahaziah, as Ezra ſaith, in 2. Chron. 20. and it is certaine that thoſe of thoſe countries went that ordinary way to India. And it will not follow, that becauſe the holy Scripture ſometimes ſaith, that they went to Tarſis, and ſometimes that they went to Ophir, that therefore both thoſe places are the ſame; ſince that Tarſis is not, as ſome thinke Carthage, or Tunes in Africa; for that the navy of Solomon did not ſet ſayle from Joppa, a Port of the mediterranean, but from Ezion-Geber, a Port of the red Sea, from whence they could not ſaile to Carthage, but to the Eaſt-Indies. The anſwer of Iſaac Abarbanel to that argument, cannot be admitted, who ſaith, that an arme of Nilus did run into the red Sea, and another arme ran into the Mediterranean, by Alexandria in Aegypt; ſince it was never heard, that ſhips of great burden, did ſwim in thoſe rivers; and would not he then have built his Navy in the Port of Alexandria? It is more true that Tarſis is the Ocean, or Indian Sea; and becauſe they came into the Ocean, after that they had ſailed over20 the red Sea, which is but narrow, therefore the Scripture ſaith, They Sailed to Tarſis. Rabbi Jonathan ben Vziel followes this opinion, who in his Paraphraſe, for Tarſis, puts (the Sea.) The ſame ſaith Franciſcus de Ribera, in his Comment on Jonah, and alſo Rabbinus Joſephus Coen, in his Chronology; who aſcribe the word Tarſis, to the Indian Sea; becauſe that Ophir is the ſame country, which of old is called The Golden Cherſoneſus; and by Joſephus, The golden Land; and at this day Malacca; from whence they brought Ivory, for the great number of Elephants which are there; none of which are in the Weſt-Indies, And Solomons Navy ſtayd in thoſe Ports of India, 3. yeares, becauſe they traded with the Inhabitants I know that learned Grotius, and famous de Lact thinke differently; as alſo thoſe quoted by them; but I ſhall not inſiſt in confuting their opinions becauſe I ſtudy brevity. I doe like of, in part, the opinion of the Spaniards who dwell in the Indies, who by common conſent doe affirme that the Indians come of the 10. Tribes. And truly they are not altogether miſtaken, becauſe in my opinion, they were the firſt planters of the Indies; as alſo other people of the Eaſt-Indies came by that Streight which is betweene India, and the Kingdome of Anian. But that people, according to our Montezinus, made warre21 upon thoſe Inhabitants the Iſralites, whom they forced up unto the mountaines, and the in-land countries, as formerly the Brittaines were driven by the Saxons into Wales.
SECT. 3.
THe firſt ground of that opinion is taken from 2 Eſdraſ. 13. v. 40. &c, (which we quote as ancient, though it be Apocryphall) where it's ſaid, that the 10. Tribes which Salmanaſter carried captive in the raigne of Hoſeas, beyond Euphrates, determined to goe into countries farre remote, in which none dwelt, whereby they might the better obſerve their law. And as they paſſed over ſome branches of Euphrates, God wrought miracles, ſtopping the courſe of the Flood, till they had paſſed over; and that country is called Arſareth. From whence we may gather, that the 10. Tribes, went to New-Spaine, and Peru, and poſſeſſed thoſe 2 Kingdomes, till then without Inhabitants. Genebrardus, quoting Eſdras concerning that wandring of the 10. Tribes, ſaith, that Arſareth is Tartaria the greater, and from thence they went to Greenland; becauſe that America is lately found compaſſed with it, and ſo it is to be on that ſide farther from Sea, than it is upon other ſides, being almoſt an Iland; and they might paſſe from Greenland, by the Streight of Davis into the country Labrador, which is now called India,22 being 50. miles diſtant from thence, as Gomeras ſaith in his Hiſtory: The ſame journying of the 10 Tribes into India, is confirmed by that which P. Malvenda reports. That Arſareth is that Promontry which is neare to Scythia, or Tartary, neare the Sea, called by Pliny, Tabis, where America is parted from the country of Anian by a narrow Sea; which alſo on that ſide parts China, or Tartary from America; ſo that there might be an eaſie paſſage for the 10. Tribes through Arſareth, or Tartary into the Kingdomes of Anian, and Quivira; which in time might plant the new world, and firme land; which in bigneſſe equals Europe, Aſia, and Africa put together; Alonſus Auguſtinianus counting from the ſhoare of the north Sea, from the country of Labrador 3928. miles, and from Sur 3000. miles; but Gomaras counts from India by the South, and Sur 9300. miles; which ſpace is big enough for the 10. Tribes, that they may there ſpread in places hitherto unknowne.
SECT. 4.
HE ſtrengthens this opinion, that in the iſle S. Michael, which belongs to the Azores, the Spaniards found Sepulchres under ground, with very ancient Hebrew letters, which Genebrardus hath Printed, in lib. 1. chro. p. 159. From whence we gather, that in that inſcription there is a miſtake of the Letter (T),23 ſo that the ſenſe of it is, How perfect is God. Sehalbin is dead. Know God. Unleſs you will have them to be proper Names, and to ſignifie him that is dead, and his Father, in which ſenſe for (M) you muſt read (B), and then the ſenſe will be, Meetabel, ſeal, the Son of Matadel; ſuch names ending in (el) are common in Scripture, as Raphael, Immanuel, and the like. Let it ſuffice him who is pleaſed with neither of thoſe conjectures, that Hebrew Letters were found there. And though that Iland is remote from the Weſt-Indies, yet it might be by accident that they might put in thither.
SECT. 5.
THat ſeems to be to the purpeſe which Garcillaſſe de la Voga ſaith in his Comment on Peru, lib. 3. c. 1. That in Tiahuanacis a Province of Collai, among other Antiquities, this is worthy of memory, (being ſcituated at the Lake which the Spaniards call Chutuytu) That among the great buildings which are there, one was to be ſeen of a very great pile, which hath a Court 15 fathoms broad; a wall that compaſſeth it, 2 furlongs high; on one ſide of the Court is a Chamber 45 foot long, and 22 broad; and the Court, the Wall, the Pavement, the Chamber, the Roofe of it, the entrance, the poſts of the 2 gates of the Chamber, and of the entrance, are made onely of one ſtone; the three ſides of the Wall are an ell24 thick; the Indians ſay, that that Houſe is dedicated to the Maker of the World. I conjecture that building to be a Synagogue, built by the Iſraelites; for the Authors who writ about the Indies, tell us, that the Indians never uſe iron, or iron weapons. Alſo the Indians were Idolaters, and therefore it could not be that they ſhould build an houſe to God. P. Acoſta in lib. 6. Ind. hiſtor. c. 14. mentions ſuch buildings as are in that place; and he reports that he meſured a ſtone which was 38 foot long, 18 foot broad, and 6 foot thick. Petrus Cieza in his firſt part of his Chonicles of Peru, c. 87. relates, That in the City Guamanga, which is ſituated by the river Ʋinaque, there is a vaſt building, which becauſe then it ſeemed almoſt ruined by time, it therefore had laſted many yeares. He asking the neighbouring Indians. Who built that great Pile? he learnt, that it was made by a people (who were bearded, and white as the Spaniards) who came thither a long time before (and ſtaid ſome time after) the Indians raigned there; and the Indians ſaid, that they had received it from their Fathers by Tradition. The ſame Cieza cap. 10 5. of the Antiquity of Tiguanac, ſaith, that what the Indians boa•t to be very ancient, can by no meanes be compared with that Ancient buildings, and other things. From all which you may well gather, that the firſt inhabitants of25 that place were the Iſraelites of the 10 Tribes becauſe they were white, and bearded.
SECT. 6.
TO this opinion adde an argument taken from what Logicians call à ſimili; for he that will compare the Lawes and Cuſtomes of the Indians and Hebrews together, ſhall finde them agree in many things; whence you may eaſily gather, That the Indians borrowed thoſe of the Hebrews (who lived among them) before, or after they went to the unknown mountaines. The Indians of Jucatan, and the Acuzainitenſes do circumeiſe themſelves. The Totones of New Spain, and Mexicans (as Roman and Gomaza in the generall hiſtory of the Indians teſtifie) rend their garments, if their happen any ſudden misfortune, or the death of any. Gregorius Garcias in Monarchia Ingaſonum, an Iſle of Peru, ſaith, that Guainacapacus hearing that his ſon Atagualpa ſled for feare of the army of his enemy, he rent his garments. The Mexicans, and Totones, or the Totonacazenſes kept continually fire upon their altars, as God commands in Leviticus. Thoſe of Peru do the ſame, in their Temples dedicated to the Sun. The Nicaraguazenſes do forbid their women who were lately brought a bed, to enter their Temples, till they are purified. The Inhabitants of Hiſpaniola think thoſe do ſin, who lye with a woman a little after her child-birth. 26And the Indians of new Spain do ſeverely puniſh Sodomie. Many of the Indians do bury their dead on the Mountains; which alſo is the Jewiſh cuſtome, and Garcias ſaith, the name Chanan to found in thoſe countries. You may wonder at this, that the Indians doe every 50. yeares celebrate a Jubily, with great pomp, in Mexico, the Metropolis of the whole Province. Alſo that on the Sabbath-day all are bound to be preſent in the Temple, to perform their Sacrifices, and Ceremonies. They alſo were divorced from their wives, if they were not honeſt. The Indians of Pern, New-Spain, and Guatemala did marry the widdowes of their dead brethren. May not you judge from theſe things, that the Jewes lived in thoſe places, and that the Gentiles learned ſuch things of them? Add alſo to what hath been ſaid, that the knowledge which the Indians had, of the creation of the world, and of the univerſall Flood, they borrowed from the Iſraelites.
SECT. 7.
THe 4th ground of this opinion is, that the Indians are of a brown colour, and without beards; but in the new world, white, and bearded men were found, who had never commerce with the Spaniards; and whom you cannot affirme to be any other than Iſraelites; becauſe alſo as they could never be overcome, ſo they ſhall never be fully known: as appears27 by what followes. Petrus Simon a Franciſcan, in his Hiſtory of finding out the firme land, ſaith, that in the raigne of Charles the 5. he commanded one called Philippus de Vire thither, to diſcover, and plant thoſe countries; that he found them unknown toward the north of America about 5. degrees, in the Province of Omeguas, which is neare the Province of Venezuela, and now is called Garracas. And he having learned of their neighbours, the greatneſſe of that people both in wealth, and in war, he determined to war upon them. Who when they had marched a good way, at laſt found a rich city, full of people, and faire buildings; and not farre off 2 husbandmen tilling the ground; whom they would have made priſoners, that they might be their interpreters. But when they ſaw themſelves ſet on, they fled apace towards the city; but Philippus d' Vire and his Soldiers followed them hard on horſeback, and had almoſt taken them; whereupon the husbandmen ſtood ſtill, and with their Speares wounded Philip in the breaſt, piercing through his Breſt-plate made of wooll to keepe off arrowes. He wondering at the dexterity of that people, judged it a wiſer courſe, not to make war upon that Province, and people ſo expert in war, and who dared to reſiſt armed men. Therefore he retreated with his Company. And to this day none goe to28 that people, neither is it known which way to go to them. It is probable that they are Iſraelites whom God preſerves in that place againſt the day of redemption. Alonſus de Erzilla teſtifies the ſame thing, in 2. part. ſua Araucaniae, Cant. 27. where deſcribing thoſe places, he thus ſpeakes in Spaniſh,
SECT. 8.
IOanues Caſtilianus Vicarius living in the City Pampelona of Nova Granada in Peru, ſaith, that when Gonzalus Piſarrus had revolted from his people, he ſent ſome to ſearch out new countries of the Indians who lived eaſtward, whoſe number could never be knowne, becauſe that (as ſome ſay) their country is above 2000 miles in length, if you compute from the head of the river Maragnon, which runnes neare Andes of Guſco, unto the place where it runs into the Sea, where therefore the River began to be navigable, Petrus d' Orſua being a Captaine, went by water, and h•s Soldiers with him, in Veſſels called Canows; which29 when they were too ſmall for the ſorce of the ſtreame, he built Brigandines, on the bank of the River Guariaga, which waſhing the Province Chachapoyas, runs into Maragnon. He was ſcarce gone aboord his Brigandines, when one of his owne Soldiers named Aquirre, a ſtout man, killed him, who by common conſent ſucceeded the ſlaine ▪ When they had gone a little way, they found a plain without a mountaine, where many houſes ſtood on each ſide of the bank of Maragnon, being built by the Indians. They ſtill went on for 48 houres together, and ſaw nothing but tall, and white houſes, which they feared to goe into, becauſe the Inhabitants were numerous, and becauſe they heard the noiſe of Hammers; for which cauſe they thought the Inhabitants to be Goldſmiths. They went on ſtill, and now ſailed in the north Sea, but alwayes neere to the ſhoar of the Province of Margarita, where Aquirre was catcht by the Inhabitants and hanged; for they heard that he had killed his Captain Petrus de Orſua.
SECT. 9.
CAſpar Bergarenſis (whom I have oft ſpoke with) went from the City Loxa, which is in the Province of Quiti in Peru, and accompanied the Colonell Don Diego Vaca dela Vega going to ſeek a new Country.
In the yeare 1622 they came to the Province Jarguaſongo, which had been diſcovered by30 Captain Salines; and they paſſed the Mountaines Cordillerae, where the River Maragnon is not above a ſtones caſt over. In the Province of the Iude Mainenſes they built a City, whoſe name was S. Franciſcus de Borja, at Eſquilache. In his company were an 100 Spaniards in Canows. Having conquered thoſe Indians, and compelling them to ſweare fealty to the King of Spaine; the Collonel being inſtructed by the Mainenſes, went to other places, after he had put a Garriſon into his new City. Having ſayled fifty leagues in the River (he found ſome Cottages of the Indians which there hid themſelves) by favour of many Rivers which there run into Maragnon. When they had ſailed into the River Guariaga, where Petrus de Orſua had built his Brigaudines, and was killed by Aquerra; they asked the Indians whom they had taken (who were called Guariaga, from the Rivers name) what people doe live on the Rivers ſide? they told the Colonell, that 5 dayes journey off, there live men of tall ſtature, comely in preſence, and have as great beards as the Spanyards have, valiant, and warlick, who are not skilled in Canowes, though the reſt of the Indians uſe no other; he preſently returned the ſame way he came.
SECT. 10.
IN Fardambuc about 40 years ſince, 8 Tabaiares had a mind to look out new Countries, and to ſee whether the Land that was beyond, and unknown, were inhabited. They having ſpent 4 moneths in travelling Weſtward, they came to mountains, to whoſe top they got with difficulty, and found a plain which a pleaſant river did compaſs, by whoſe bank ſide dwelt a people who loved commerce, they were white, and bearded; and this 5 of the Tabaires (for 3 periſhed by the way, and only 5 returned) told to the Braſilians after 9 moneths.
SECT. 11.
IN our time, under King Philip the Third, Captain Ferdinandes de Queiros being returned out of India (where he had ſpent moſt of his life) to Rome, he ſhewed a Table of Lands yet undiſcovered. From thence he went to Madrid, and 5 ſhips were given him by che Governour of Panama (to whom he was ſent) to perfect his deſigne. He began his journey, and was ſcarcely entred the South Sea, but he found land, which he called, The Iſle of Solomon, and Hieruſalem, for reaſons which he told me. He in his courſe of ſayling alwayes kept cloſe to the ſhoare of thoſe Iſlands; he ſaw thoſe Iſlanders of a browne colour, and took many; others dwelt in greater Iſlands, and more fruitful; theſe were white, and wore long garments of ſilk; and the Pilot being bid to bring his Ship neere the ſhoare, he ſplit his Ship upon a Rock, and the Iſlanders running greedily to the ſight) which being ſunke, the Captaine went thence, looking for the32 firme land, which he found to be forty degrees beyond; and he went 300 miles neere the ſhoare And when he perceived the Countrey to be inhabited, by the ſmoak which he ſaw, and would put into a Port on the ſide of the River, there ran to him many white men, of yellow haire, tall like Giants, richly cloathed, and of long beards. But one of the Veſſels being wracked in the Havens mouth, he was forced to put out to Sea; whereupon the Iſlanders ſent 2 Chaloffi of a brown colour, (as the inhabitants were of the firſt Iſland) with ſheep, and other proviſions, and fruits, but deſiring, and threatning them, if they did not depart: The Captaine brought thoſe Coloffi into Spaine, from whom the Spaniards could learne nothing but by ſignes; and in ſtead of anſwers, (when they were asked) would ſhew their beards, as if ſuch thoſe were, who were their Lords, and had ſent them, and if they were asked about Religion, they would hold up their fingers to heaven, implying, that they worſhipped but one God. A little while after, they died in Spain. The Captaine returned to Panama, having left his 2 Ships which were wracked; and when the Governour ſued him, by meanes. of the Senators, who are over the Indian affaires, he was diſmiſſed, and returned with his Ships into Spaine, where he abode 2 years before his matters were diſpatched. But the King created him Marqueſſe of the Countries found out by him, and commanded to give him a good Army, wherewith to compaſſe his deſignes. But he ſcarce got to Panama, when he died, not without ſuſpition of being poiſoned by the Governour.
SECT: XII.
THat which I am about to tell, ſhall ſerve for a proof of that which I ſaid of the Weſt-Indians. A Dutch mariner told me, that not long ſince he was with his ſhip in America, ſeven degrees towards the North between Maragnon, and great Para, and he put into an harbor in a pleaſant river, where he found ſome Indians who underſtood Spaniſh, of whom he bought Meats, and Dy-wood; after he had ſtayed there ſix months, he underſtood that that River extended eighteen leagues towards the Carybes Indians, as far as the ſhip could go; and that the River is divided there into three branches, and they ſayling two months on the left hand, there met them white men, and bearded, well bred, well clothed, and abounding with gold and ſilver; they dwelt in Cities encloſed with wals, and full of people; and that ſome Indians of Oronoch went thither, and brought home much gold, ſilver, and many precious ſtones. Which he having underſtood, ſent thither ſome Sea-men; but the Indian died by the way, who was their guide, and ſo they did not proceed, but ſtayed there two months, and trucked with the Indians who were ſixty leagues from Sea. That Province is called Jisbia, and is ſubject34 to Zealand; they have no commerce with the Spaniards, and the Inhabitants travell ſecurely every way. I heard that ſtory by accident from that Dutch maſter of the ſhip; whence ſome of us gueſſing them to be Iſraelites, had purpoſed to ſend him again to enquire more fully. But he dyed ſuddenly the laſt yeer, whence it ſeems that God doth not permit that thoſe purpoſes ſhould take any effect till the end of days.
SECT: XIII.
YEt I give more credit to our Monterinus, being a Portingal, and a Jew of our order; born in a City of Portingal, called Villefleur, of honeſt and known parents, a man about fourty yeers old, honeſt, and not ambicious. He went to the Indies, where he was put into the Inquiſition as the ſucceſſor of many who were born in Portingal, and deſcended from them whom the King of Portugal Don Manuel forced to turn Chriſtians: (O wicked, and unjuſt action, ſaith Oſorius; and a little after, This was done neither according to Law, nor Religion,) and yet to this day they privately keep their Religion, which they had changed, being forced thereto. He being freed from the Inquiſition, very diligently ought out theſe things, and oft ſpoke with35 thoſe men; and then was not quiet till he came hither, and had told us that good news. He endured much in that journey, and was driven to great want, ſo that no houſe would give him food, or give him money for his work. I my ſelf was well acquainted with him for ſix months together that he lived here; and ſometimes I made him take an oath in the preſence of honeſt men, that what he had told, was true. Then he went to Farnambuc, where two yeers after he died, taking the ſame oath at his death. Which if it be ſo, why ſhould not I beleeve a man that was vertuous, and having all that which men call gain. And who knows but that ſhortly the truth of that prognoſtick may appear, which our Monterinus learned from the Mohanes; anſwerable to that which Jacobus Verus an Aſtrologer of Prague writ after the apparition of the Comet in Ann. 1618. and dedicated to his Highneſs the Prince Palatine, where he thus diſcourſeth: The Comet going towards the South, doth intimate that the Cities and Provinces which God doth threaten, are thoſe of the Weſt-Indies, which ſhall revolt from the King of Spaine, who will finde that loſs greater then he imagined, not that the Indians rebell againſt him of themſelves, but that they are provoked36 to it being ſtirred up by others. Neither did the Comet only foretell that, but the eclipſe of the Sun, which was in that Countrey the yeer before. Thus far the Aſtrologer. Our ancient Rabbins ſay, though we do not beleeve the Aſtrologers in all things, yet we do not wholly reject them, who ſometimes tell truth.
SECT: XIIII.
THus far of the Weſt-Indies; of which Iſaiah may be underſtood (becauſe it lyes in the midſt of the Sea, and alſo hath many Iſlands) in Iſa. 60.9. The iſles ſhall wait for me, and the ſhips of Tarſhiſh firſt, to bring their ſons from far, their ſilver and their gold with them. Jer. 31.10. Hear the word of the Lord O ye nations, and declare it in the iſles afar off, and ſay, He that ſcattered Iſrael will gather him. Pſal. 97.1. The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoyce, and the multitude of iſles be glad. Where part of the ten Tribes do dwell unknown to this day.
SECT. XV.
YOu muſt know, that all the ten Tribes were not carried away at the ſame time. Pul the King of Aſſyria (as I ſhew in the 2d: part of my Reconciler) conquered, and carried away the Tribes of Reuben, Gad, and37 half Manaſſeh, in the reign of Peka, as you may ſee in 1 Chron: 5.26. and Joſephus in li. 9. c. 11. Tiglah-pileſer 8. yeers after took Ijon, Abel-beth-maachah, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he carried away all the captives into Aſſyria, in 2 King. 15.29. At laſt Shalmaneſer king of Aſſyria, nine yeers after, in the reign of Hoſhea the ſon of Elah, beſieged Samaria three yeers; which being taken, he carried away Hoſhea, with the reſt of the Tribes, in 2 King. 17.6. Of thoſe three times the Prophet Iſaiah ſpeaks, Iſa. 9.1. ſaying, the firſt captivity was gentle, if you compare it with the laſt, which was grievous, and unſufferable, when the kingdom, and Monarchy of Iſrael ceaſed.
SECT: XVI.
THe ten Tribes being conquered at ſeverall times, we muſt think they were carried into ſeverall places. As we beleeve they went to the Weſt-Indies by the ſtrait of Anian, ſo we think that out of Tartary they went to China, by that famous wall in the confines of both. Our argument to prove it, is taken from the authority of two Jeſuites, who erected their Colledges in thoſe Countreys. Nicolaus Trigantius a Dutch-man in his diſcourſe of the Chriſtian expedition undertaken38 by the Jeſuites to Sina, ſaith, We finde that in former time the Jews came into theſe kingdoms. And when that ſociety had for ſome yeers ſeated it ſelf in the Court of the Pequinenſes, a certain Jew came to P. Matthaeus Riccius; he was born in Chamfamfu the metropolis of the Province Honan, and was ſurnamed Ngay; and now being licenſed to the degree of Doctor, he went to Pequin. But when he read in a certain book writ by a Doctor of China, concerning the European affairs, That our fathers are not Saracens, and know no God but the Lord of heaven, and earth; and would perſwade himſelf that ours did profeſſe the Law of Moſes, he went into the Church with P. Matthaeus Riccius. On an altar there was the effigies of the Virgin Mary, and the childe Jeſus, whom St. John his fore-runner worſhipped with bended knees; now that day was the holy-day of John the Baptiſt. The Jew thinking it was the effigies of Rebecca, and her two ſons Jacob and Eſau, he bowed alſo to the Image, but with this apology, that he worſhipped no Images, but that he could not but honour theſe who were the parents of our Nation. And he asking if the foure Evangeliſts on both ſides of the altar, were not foure of the twelue ſons of Jacob; the Jeſuite anſwered,39 Yes, thinking he had asked of the 12. Apoſtles. But afterward the Jew acknowledged to the Jeſuite that he was an Iſraelite; and he found the Kings Bible, and acknowledged the Hebrew letters, though he could not read them. By this occaſion our people learnt, that ten or twelve families of Iſraelites were there, and had built a very neat Synagogue which coſt 10000. crowns; in which they have kept the five books of Moſes with great veneration for 600. yeers. He alſo affirmed, that in Hamcheu the metropolis of the Province Chequiona, there are far more families, with a ſynagogue; and elſewhere that many families live without a ſynagogue, becauſe that by little and little they are extinguiſhed. He relating many things out of the old Teſtament, he differed but little in pronouncing thoſe names. He ſaid, that ſome among them were not ignorant of the Hebrew tongue, but that himſelf had neglected it, having ſtudied the China tongue from a childe. For which cauſe he was counted almoſt unworthy of their ſocietie, by the ruler of the ſynagogue. But he chiefly looked after this, that he might get to be Doctor. Three yeers after P. Matthaeus Riccius ſent one of our brethren to that metropolis, who found all thoſe things true. 40He compared the beginnings, and endings of the books which the Jews keep in their ſynagogue, with our Pentateuch, and ſaw no difference, this onely, that thoſe had no pricks. The other Jeſuite is Alfonſus Cimedro, who likewiſe ſaith, that there is a great number of Jews in the Province of Oroenſis, on the Weſt part of China, who know nothing of the coming, and ſuffering of Jeſus. And he from thence gathers, that they are of the ten Tribes, (which opinion I alſo am of) becauſe thoſe Chineſes obſerve many Jewiſh rites, which you may ſee in a manuſcript, which the noble Jaochimus Wicofortius hath. And why might not ſome of them ſail from China to New-Spaine through the Streight between China, and Anian, and Quivira, which do border upon New-Spain; and from thence they went to the Iſles of Panama, Peru, and thoſe thereabout. Theſe in my judgement are thoſe Chineſes of whom Iſaiah ſpeaks, Chap. 49. ver: 12. (treating about Iſraels return to his countrey) Behold theſe ſhall come from afar, and theſe from the North, and from the Weſt, and theſe from the land of Sinim. And ſo Ptolomy in lib 7. c. 3. tab. 11. cals it, The countrey of Sinim, or Sina: and this is the true ſenſe of the words; Aben Ezra therefore is miſtaken, who derives it of Sene, a buſh, or wood, which he placeth in Aegypt.
SECT: XVII.
I Could eaſily believe, that the 10. Tribes as they increaſed in number, ſo they ſpread into more Provinces before-mentioned, and into Tartary. For Abraham Ortelius in his Geography of the world, and map of Tartary, he notes the place of the Danites, which he calls the Hord, which is the ſame which the Hebrew Jerida, ſignifying A deſcent. And lower, he mentions the Hord of Naphtali, poſſeſſed by Peroza in the year 476. Schikhardus in his Tarich, or ſeries of the Kings of Perſia, amplifies the hiſtory of this war, where ex lib. 4. of Agathias he thus ſaith, A little after when they were eaſed of that plague, (ſc. 7. years drought) in the time of the Emperour Zeno, Firuz made a double war with Naphtali, in which at laſt he was deſtroyed. For firſt of all he was brought to the ſtreights of places unknown; who then ſought for peace upon this condition (and obtained it) that he ſhould ſwear that he would never after provoke them; and that he ſhould do reverence to this Conquerer in token of ſubjection: which afterward by the counſell of the Magicians he performed craftily, for he bowed towards the Eaſtern Sun, that his own people might think that he bowed rather to the Sun (after his Countrey cuſtome) then to honour his Enemy. But he did not42 truly perform that firſt agreement, though confirmed by Letters Patents; who becauſe he could not digeſt the diſgrace of bowing to his Enemy, he prepared a new Army and went againſt them; but a ſecond time he being entrapped by the badneſſe of the countrey, he loſt his life, and many with him, in a gulf which the Nephthalites had prepared for him, having dreſſed it over with reeds, and ſome earth thrown a top; they having left in the middle ſome high grounds, and trees where their Souts were, that their ſtratageme might not be found, and that the Perſians might more confidently attempt the ditch. Thus a raſh King paid for his perfidy, he excelling more in daring, then in counſell, as Agathias ſaith. The Patent by which peace had been agreed, was hung upon a ſpear, and might be ſeen of him at diſtance, that he might remember his oath, repent, and diſiſt from his enterpriſe: but he cared little for that. But when by his unexpected fall he ſaw he ſhould die, it is ſaid that he pulled off from his right ear a pearl of huge bigneſſe, and whiteneſſe, and leſt any after him ſhould finde it (more likely that his carps ſhould not be known) he threw it a great way off. The ſame Author asks, who thoſe Nephthalites were? and by many arguments he proves that they are the relicks of the Jews; ſaith he, I do wholly think that they are the relicks of the Jews of the tribe of Nephtali, whom Triglath Pileſſer the Aſſirian carried into thoſe places, in 243 King. 15.29. For 1. The name, in the beſt copies of Agathias, which Lewenclavius hath mended, is the ſame fully; in other books it wants nothing but an (b); now it is ſearce poſſible that in a word of many ſyllables that ſhould fall out by chance. 2. Their countenance diſcovers it, for as Procopious J C ſaith they are not black, or foule in their countenance, as the Huns are among whom they live, but the onely white men of that countrey; that it may evidently appear that they came from ſome other place thither. 3. Their manners agree, for the ſame. Author ſaith, that they are not Nomades, as the Huns who are unconſtant in their dwelling, and eat up one place after another; but they inhabit one certain place. Beſide, they obſerve Law and equity, as the Romanes; and have pollicy, being well governed by their Prince: both which is rare among their neighbour Nations. Alſo they do not lay abroad their dead, as the Barbarians do, but they deſently cover them with earth. Laſtly their jornals do teſtifie that many Jews live there, eſpecially in the mountains, who have ſearched to the mid-land countreys of Eaſt-Aſia. R. Benjamin. f. 23. From thence (the coaſt of Perſia) is 28 daies journey to the mountains Niſebor, which are neer the river Gozan. The Iſralites which come from thence into Perſia, ſay, that there in the Cities of Niſebor, are 4. Tribes (ſo: Dan, Zabulon, Aſer. Naphtali,) of the firſt captivity, which Shalmaneſer the Aſſyrian carried thither,44 as in 2 King 17.6. he brought them to Habor, and Halab, the river Gozan, and the mountains of Media. The compaſſe of that countrey is 20. daies j•urney; and they poſſeſſe Cities, and Caſtles upon the mountains, by one ſide of which, runs the river Gozan; neither are they ſubject to the Nations, but have a Governor over them, by name R. Joſeph Amarkela a Levite, and there are among them ſome who ſtudy wiſdom. They ſowe; and reap; yea they•rage war to the Countrey of Cuth. In the ſame place O•telius addes, in the countrey Tabor, or Tibur (which Solinus commends, in c. 49.) they dwell a people, who though they have loſt the holy writings, they obey one King; who came into France, in Ann. 1530. and ſpoke with Francis the firſt, was burnt at Mantua by the command of the Emperour Charles the fifth, becauſe that he did privately reach Judaiſm to Chriſtian Princes, and to the Emperour himſelf. Boterus ſaith the ſame in his relations of the fartheſt part of Tartary. But both theſe were deceived; for Rabbinus Jeſephus Cohon, a man worthy to be believed, relates this more truly in his Chronology, ſaying, that the Jew who came out of that countrey, was the brother of the King of the Iſraelites, was called David the Reubenite; and having ſeen India in his paſſage, he came to Portugal, where he converted45 the Kings Secretary to Judaiſm, who fled from thence with him, taking the name of Selomoh Molho; he in ſhort time was ſo well verſed in the Law, yea in the Cabala it ſelf, that he made all Italy admire him. The Secretary together with the Rendenite, endevoured to draw the Pope, Charles the fifth, and Francis the firſt to Judaiſm. Selomoh Molho was taken at Mantua, and burnt alive, in the year 1540. He yet was offered his life, if he would turn Chriſtian. The Reubenite was by Charles the fifth carried priſoner into Spain, where he ſhortly after died. Abraham Friſol Orhotolam remembers the Reubenite, ſaying, 45. years agone David Reubenita, a Prince of the Iſraelites, came from Tabor, a Province of Tartary, into Europe, who ſaid that two Tribes are there; and other Tribes a little farther, under their Kings, and Princes, and alſo an unſpeakable number of people. Perhaps the Province Tabor is the ſame that Habor; which is mentioned in•King. 17.6. that the ten Tribes were brough••by Salmaneſer to Habor, and Halah; now the Hebrew letters (h) and (t) are neer in faſhion. Eldad Danita of the Tribe of Dan, came out of thoſe Countreys 500. years agon (a letter from whom, which we call Sephar Eldod a-Dani, is kept to this day) and being46 examined by the Rabbins, was found an approved man. The learned Rabbi David Kimhi, who lived 450. years ſince, in etymol. ſuo in the word Segiah, he ſaith, Rabbi Jonah writes of the name of Rabbi Juda Aben Karis, that he heard Eldad Danita ſay, &c. And ſo what I ſaid is true, as appears by the teſtimonies produced
SECT: XVIII.
PArt of the ten Tribes alſo live in Ethiopia in the Habyſſin Kingdom; as divers Habiſſins reported at Rome. Boterus in his relations ſpeaks the ſame thing, that two potent Nations do live neer Nilus, and that one of them is that of the Iſraelites, who are governed by a mighty King. A Coſmographer who hath added notes to Ptolomyes tables, ſaith thus in his table of New Africa; that part of new Africk was unknown of old, the head of Nilus not being known, which is in the mountains of the Moon, as the Ancients call them; where there dwels a great number of Iſraelites, paying tribute to Preſter John. Rabbi Abraham Friſol in the book already quoted, ſaith, that in his time ſome who had been in thoſe Countreys, reported the ſame to Hercules the Duke of Ferraria. And without queſtion from hence the Habyſſins47 learned circumciſion, the obſervation of the Sabbath, and many more Jewiſh rites. Of theſe Iſaiah ſeems to ſpeak, in Iſa. 18.1, 2. Wo to the land which under the ſhadow of ſails doth ſail beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, by whom (the Prophet ſaith) are ſent ambaſſadors in ſhips of bulruſhes, (ſuch as the Ethiopians uſe, commonly called Almadiae.) Bring back a people driven out of their countrey, and torn, and more miſerable then any among us. Gifts ſhall be brought to the Lord of Sebaoth, in the place where the name of the Lord of Sebaoth, is worſhipped, in the mount Sion. The Prophet Zephany ſaith the ſame, in Zeph. 3.9, 10. Then will I give to the people that they ſpeaking a pure language, may all call upon the name of God, whom they ſhall ſerve with reverence; from beyond the rivers of Ethiopia they ſhall bring to me for a giſt, Hatray the daughter of my diſperſed ones, (that is, the Nations of Ethiopia). Which agrees with that of Iſa. And your brethren (which are the 10. Tribes) ſhall bring gifts to the Lord.
SECT: XIX.
ANd without doubt they alſo dwell in Media; from thence they paſſed Enphrates, whither they were firſt brought, as in 2 King. 17.24. and in the book of Tobit. Joſephus alſo ſpeaks of them in the Preface of his48 book of the War of the Jews, that the Jews did think that their brethren, who dwelt beyond Euphrates, and farther, would rebell againſt the Romanes. Agrippa in his oration to the people of Jeruſalem, that they would not rebell againſt the Romanes, ſpeaks thus, What aſſociates do ye expect to joyn with you, in your rebellion, and war? doth not all the known world pay tribute to the Romans? Perhaps ſome of ye hope to have help from them beyond Euphrates. And in lib. 2. Antiquit. c. 5. ſpeaking of thoſe who in the time of Ezra returned from Babylon to Jeruſalem, he ſaith, All Iſrael dwelt in Media; for two Tribes only dwelt in Aſia, and Europe, and lived ſubject to the Romans; as the other ten on the other ſide Enphrates, where they are ſo many, that they cannot be counted. It is not therfore to be doubted, the people encreaſing after their firſt tranſportation, they ſought out new places, which we have formerly mentioned.
SECT: XX.
LAſtly, all think, that part of the ten Tribes dwell beyond the river Sabbathion, or ſabbaticall. Rabbi Johanan the Author of the Jeruſalem Talmud, who lived 160 years after the deſtruction of the 2d: Temple, ſaith in his treatiſe of the Sanhedrim, ca. 17. That49 the 10. Tribes were carried into 3. places, ſc. to the Sabbaticall river, to Daphne the ſuburbs of Antioch, and thither where a cloud comes down and covers them: and that they ſhall be redeemed from thoſe three places; for ſo he opens that place of Iſa: Chap. 49.9. That they may ſay to the captives, go forth, (ſc: to them who were at the Sabbaticall river) to them that are in darkneſſe, ſhew your ſelves, (ſc: to them who are compaſſed with the cloud) and to all, they ſhall be refreſhed in the wayes, (ſc: to them who live in Daphne of Antioch which is in Syria). Whence you may obſerve, that the learned man l'Emperiur tranſlated it ill, at the ſides of Antioch, whereas Daphne is the proper name of a pleaſant grove near Antioch. Sedar olam makes mention of that cloud, and cals them mountains of obſcurity. And in Talmud tractat. Sanhedr. c. 11. R. Jonathan ben Ʋziel, who lived an hundred yeers before the deſtruction of the 2d: Temple, in Exod. 34.10. where the Lord ſaith, I will do wonders before all thy people, ſuch as were never done in the whole earth, or in any Nation, &c. and he refers all thoſe things to the tranſportation of the people. He ſhall draw them to the rivers of Babylon, and ſhall carry them to the ſabbaticall river, and ſhall teach them, that thoſe miracles were never performed to any Nation of the known world. Our50 ancient Rabbins in Bereſit Rabba (no mean book) in Peraſach, do ſay, that Tornunfus asking how it ſhould appear that the day which we keep, is the 7th. day, on which God reſted after the Creation of the world: Rabbi Aquebah (who lived 52. yeers after the deſtruction of the 2d: Temple) anſwered by an argument taken from the ſtones of the Sabbaticall river, which in the ſix dayes are toſſed up and down with a continuall motion, but do reſt on the Sabbath day, and move not. The ſame is ſaid in the Babylonian Talmud, tractat. Sanhed. c. 7. & in Tanuah Peraſach. c. 9. In eodem Bereſit Raba, in Peraſach 37. Rabbi Simon ſaith, The ten Tribes were carried to the Sabbaticall river, but Juda and Benjamin are diſperſed into all Countreys In Aſirim Raba, the laſt verſe of the Song, its ſaid, Our bed is flouriſhing; that it is meant the ten Tribes, which were carried to the Sabbaticall river; and that river running all the week, doth cauſe the ten Tribes there remaining to be ſhut up; for though on the 7th. day the river doth reſt, yet it is forbidden by our Law to take a journey then; and for that reaſon they remained there miraculouſly, as loſt, and concealed from us. So that of Iſa. 49. That they ſay to the priſoners, go forth, is interpreted of them in Jalcut. R. Aquebah after the ſame manner51 explains that of Levit. 36.38. And ye ſhall periſh among the heathen. And that of Iſa. 27. ult. and they ſhall come, who were ready to periſh in Aſſyria. Becauſe they are remote from the reſt, therefore another Rabbi in Bamibar Raba Paraſa 16. applyes to them that of Iſa. 49.12. Behold them who come from far: that ſo all thoſe Authors mention that River. The teſtimony of Joſephus is famous, lib. 7. de Bel. Jud. ca. 24. ſaying, The Emperour Titus paſſing between Arca, and Raphanea, Cities of King Agrippa, he ſaw the wonderfull River, which though it be ſwift, yet it is dry on every ſeventh day; and that day being paſt, it reſumes its ordinary courſe, as if it had no change; and it always obſerves this order. It is called Sabbaticall, from the ſolemn feaſt of the Jews, becauſe it imitates their reſt every ſeventh day. I know ſome do otherwiſe expound thoſe words of Joſephus, but they hit not his meaning, as appears by this, that he cals the River, Sabbathio, or ſabbaticall: which word cannot be derived but from Sabbath; and who doth not ſee that it ceaſeth to flow, or move, on the Sabbath day; and ſo Joſephus muſt be underſtood according to my ſenſe. Pliny alſo confirms this opinion, lib. 1. Nat: hiſt. c. 2. he ſaith, In Judea a river lyes dry every Sabbath; yet I think Pliny is deceived, and ill informed, when he ſaith it is a river52 in Judea; neither is it to be found in Judea, but in another place, where many Jews live. R. Selomoh Jarchi who lived 540. yeers ſince, mentions that River in Comment. Talm. ſaying, The ſtones, and ſand of that River do continually move all the ſix dayes of the week, untill the ſeventh R. Mardochus Japhe in his learned book Jephe Thoar ſaith, The Arabians derive Sabbathion from the Sabbath, who uſe to adde the particle (ion) to adjectives. The ſame ſaith, that it was told him of an hour-glaſſe filled with the ſand of Sabbathion, which ran all the week till the Sabbath. And I heard the ſame from my father; which teſtimony I account as good, as if I ſaw it my ſelf; (for fathers do not uſe to impoſe upon their ſons.) He told me that there was an Arabian at Lisborn, who had ſuch an hour-glaſſe; and that every Friday at evening he would walk in the ſtreet called the new ſtreet, and ſhew this glaſſe to Jews who counterfeited Chriſtianity, and ſay, Ye Jews, ſhut up your ſhops, for now the Sabbath comes. Another worthy of credit, told me of another hour-glaſſe, which he had ſome years before, before the port Mysketa. He ſaw him by chance (or the Judge of the place) paſſing that way from Cadez, and being asked, what he was? he commanded him to be taken53 away; rebuking the Mahometans that by this mean they did confirm the Jewiſh Sabbath. I ſhould not ſpeak of theſe glaſſes, if the authority of ſuch a man whom I have alledged, did not move me; though I beleeve that God did not onely work that miracle, that he might keep part of the 10. Tribes there, but other alſo, as you may ſee in Eſdras. R. Moſes Gerundenſis a learned Cabaliſt, and Interpreter of the Law in Paraſa Aazinu, thinks the river Sabbathion to be the ſame with Gozan, of Guz, which ſignifies, to ſnatch away, becauſe except the 7th. day, on all the other, it carries with it, by its ſwiftneſſe, the very ſtones. Of this there is mention in 2 King. whither the King of Aſſyria led his captives; and ſo relates Benjamin Tudelenſis in his journall, that part of the 10 Tribes dwelt at the bank of that River. But I know not where the river G•zan is. In the yeer 5394. that is, 15 years agon, in the City Lubin, two Polonians after they had travelled long, they wrot in Ducht a book of the originall of the Sabbaticall river, but the Senate commanded it to be burnt at the Mart of Breſlaw, by the perſwaſion of the Jeſuites. Abraham Friſal in his Orchot Olam, c. 26. will have this river to be in India, he ſaith, The head of the Sabbaticall river is in the countrey of Ʋpper India,54 among the rivers of Ganges. And a little after, The ſabbaticall river hath its originall from the other ſide of Kalikout (which lies far above the bound of Lamik, which he placeth beyond the ſinus Barbaricus) and it parts the Indians from the kingdom of the Jews, which river you may certainly finde there. Though he takes Gozan for Ganges, for ſome nearneſſe of writing; yet its not to be doubted that in that place there are many Jews, witneſſe Joannes de Bairos in his Decads. Eldad Danita ſpeaking of the 4. Tribes, which he placeth at Gozan, ſaith, The Sabbaticall river is among them. Joſephus ſaith, that Titus ſaw the ſabbathion between Arca, and Raphanea. Which teſtimony ſeems the truer, becauſe its not to be thought that Joſephus would tella lie of him, by whom be might be rebuked. I think that ye muſt look for it not far from the Caſpian Sea: & I am not alone in this opinion. What ever it be, it appears that this river is ſomewhere, and that part of the 10. Tribes are hid there; and I may ſay with Moſes in Deut. 29.28, 29. And the Lord caſt them out of their land in anger, and in wrath; Secret things belong to the Lord our God. For it is not known when they ſhall return to their Countrey, neither can it perfectly be ſhewed where they are, God ſuffering it, as its ſaid in Deut. 32.26. I determined55 to caſt them forth unto the ends of the earth, and to make their remembrance ceaſe from among men. As if he ſhould ſay, I will caſt them unto the fartheſt places of the world, that none may remember them; and therfore they are truly in Scripture called impriſoned, and loſt.
SECT: XXI.
NEither is there weight in the argument which ſome have brought to me, if they be in the world, why do we not know them better? There are many things which we know, and yet know not their originall; are we not to this day ignorant of the heads of the foure Rivers, Nilus, Ganges, Euphrates, and Tigris? alſo there are many unknown Countreys. Beſide, though ſome live in known, and neighbour Countreys, yet they are unknown by being behinde mountains; ſo it happened under the reign of Ferdinand, and Iſabel, that ſome Spaniards were found out by accident, at Batueca, belonging to the Duke of Alva, which place is diſtant but 10. miles from Salamanca, and neer to Placentia, whither ſome Spaniards fled, when the Moores poſſeſſed Spaine, and dwelt there 800. years. If therefore a people could lye hid ſo long in the middle of Spaine, why may we not ſay that thoſe are hid, whom God will56 not have any perfectly to know, before the end of daies?
And theſe things we have gathered concerning the habitations of the ten Tribes, who, we beleeve, do ſtill keep the Jewiſh rites, as in 2 King. 17.26. when the Iſraelites were carried captive by Salmaneſer, and thoſe of Cuthah came in their ſtead, an Iſraelitiſh Prieſt was ſent by the King, to teach them, becauſe Lions infeſted them, for that they were ignorant that there was another worſhip uſed in the land: but when the Prieſt ſaw that it was impoſſible to take that people wholly off from idolatry, he permitted them to worſhip divers gods, ſo that they would acknowledge one to be the mover of all things. The ſame is alſo ſufficiently proved out of all the Hiſtories which we have alleaged. And our brethren do keep the Law more zealouſly out of their land, than in it, as being neither ambitious, nor contentious (which hath ſometimes hapned with the family of David) by which means they might eaſily erre in the true Religion, not acknowledge Jeruſalem, and withdraw that obedience, which is due to the Lord, and to his Temple.
SECT: XXII.
VVE learn out of the firſt of Ezra, that none of the 10. Tribes entred the ſecond Temple; for it is ſaid that only ſome of the Tribe of Judah, and ſome of Benjamin did return. Ezra alſo ſaith the ſame in the 1 of Chronicles, that Salmaneſer carried the 10. Tribes to Hala, Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan to this day: ſo that you may gather, that at that time they were there. So likewiſe Joſephus in Antiq. Jud. lib. 11. c. 5.
Perhaps ſome will ſay, ſince Media, and Perſia are near to Bahylon, why did they not return to Jeruſalem with the two Tribes? I anſwer, becauſe ſo few of the 2. neighbouring Tribes did return from thence to Ieruſalem, for that they were well ſeated in Babylon; or elſe becauſe they heard the Prophets ſay, that they muſt not look for any redemption but that which was to be at the end of daies. How then can we think that they, who were more remote, and alſo had learnt the ſame things of the Prophets, ſhould leave their place, perhaps to ſuffer new miſeries, and calamities? Beſide, we do not read that Cyrus gave leave to any to return, but onely to the two Tribes of Juda and Benjamin. And alſo it is probable (as ſome Authors affirm)58 that they could not go up from thence, becauſe they had continually wars with the neighbour people.
SECT: XXIII.
HItherto we have ihewed that the ten Tribes are in divers places, as in the Weſt-Indies; in Sina; in the confines of Tartary; beyond the river Sabbathion, and Euphrates; in Media; in the kingdom of the Habyſſins; of all which the Prophet Iſaiah is to be underſtood, in Iſa. 11.11. It ſhall come to paſſe in that day, that the Lord ſhall ſet his hand the ſecond time to recover the remnant of his people, which ſhall be left from Aſſyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Ethiopia, from Elam, from Sinear, from Hamath, and from the Iſlands of the Sea. From whence you may gather, that it is meant of thoſe places where the ten Tribes dwell. Syria, and Egypt ſhall be the two places of their generall meeting; as more fully hereafter.
Pathros, is not Peluſium, nor Petra, but Parthia, neer to the Caſpian Sea, where I think, with many others, the Sabbaticall river is. Although there is a Pathros in Egypt, as the learned Samuel Bochardus ſaith in his holy Geography.
Chus, according to common opinion, is Ethiopia, as is proved out of Ier. 13.23. and in59 this place of Ieremy are meant the Iſraelites, who live in the Countrey of the Abyſſins.
Elam, is a Province in Perſia, as it appears in Dan. 8.2. where are deſert places, in which, perhaps, the remnant of the ten Tribes is.
Shinar, is a Province about Babylon, as in Gen. 10.10. where Babel is ſaid to be in Shinar; and Dan. 1.2. it is ſaid, that Nebuchadnezzar carried the holy veſſels to the land of Shinar.
Hamath, there are many Hamaths mentioned in the Scripture, many underſtand it of Antioch; but becauſe Geographers reckon up 12. places named Antioch, therefore we can affirm nothing for certain; but I think, that that is meant, which is placed in Scythia. The ſeventy Interpreters by Hamath, underſtand the Sun, from Hamath the Sun; and they tranſlate it, From the riſing of the Sun; and I think it is no ill tranſlation; for hereby all the Iſraelites who are in greater Aſia, India, and Sina, may be underſtood.
The Iſlands of the Sea; ſo almoſt all tranſlate it; but I think it is to be rendred, The Iſlands of the Weſt, for I am in holy Scripture ſignifies The Weſt, as in Gen. 28.14. and in many other places; and upon this account thoſe Iſraelites are implyed, who are Weſtward from the Holy Land, among whom the Americans are.
SECT: XXIIII.
THe Prophet adds in Iſa. 11.12. And he ſhall ſet up a ſign for the Nations, and he ſhall aſſemble the out-caſts-of Iſrael, and gather together the diſperſed of Judah from the foure quarters of the earth. Where he notes two things: 1. that he cals the Iſraelites out-caſts, but the Jews ſcattered; and the reaſon is, becauſe the ten Tribes are not onely far off from the Holy Land, but alſo they live in the extremities and ends of Countreys; from whence the Prophet cals them caſt out. But he doth not ſay, that the Iſraelites are to be gathered from the foure quarters of the earth, becauſe they are not ſo diſperſed through the world, as the Tribe of Judah is, which now hath ſynagogues, not onely in three parts of the world, but alſo in America The Prophet adds in v. 13. The envy alſo of Ephraim ſhall depart, and the adverſaries of Judah ſhall be cut off. For then there ſhall be no contention between Judah, and the 10. Tribes, which are comprehended under the name Ephraim, becauſe their firſt King Jeroboam was of that Tribe. And then, as it is in Ezek. 37.22. One King ſhall be King over them all, and they ſhall be no more two Nations, neither ſhall they be divided any more into two kingdoms. There ſhall be one61 King to them both, of the family of David. Alſo the Lord at the redemption will drie up Nilus, and Euphrates, and will divide it into ſeven ſtreames (anſwerable to his drying up the red Sea when they came out of Egypt) perhaps that the ſeven Tribes, which are in thoſe parts, may go over it; as they paſſe into their Countrey, as Iſaiah, ſaith in ch. 27.12, 13. And it ſhall be in that day, and he ſhall ſhake off from the bank of the river (ſome underſtand Euphrates) unto the river of Egypt (Nilus) and ye, O children of Iſrael, ſhall be gothered one by one. Which was never done in the captivity of Babylon.
The Prophet Iſaiah ſaith in chap. 11.11. that he will return them the ſecond time, &c. Now the redemption from Babylon, cannot be called ſuch an one, becauſe all of them were not brought back to their Countey. But the redemption ſhall be univerſal to all the tribes, as it was when they went out of Egypt; which redemption ſhall be like the firſt in many things, as I ſhew in the third part of my Reconciler; and ſo it may be called the ſecond, in reference to that firſt from Aegypt. Whence Ieremiah ſaith, Chap. 23.7, 8. That then it ſhall not be ſaid, He that brought Iſrael out of Egypt, but from the North, and from all countreys, whither he had driven them. That they ſhall not mention62 their departure from Aegypt, for the cauſe fore-mentioned.
SECT. XXV.
THe ſame Prophet, ſc: Iſa. 43.5, 6. ſaith, I will bring thy ſeed from the Eaſt, and will gather thee from the Weſt: I will ſay to the North, Give up; and to the South, Keep not back; bring my ſons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth. For Media, Perſia, and China, lye on the Eaſt; Tartary and Scythia on the North; the kingdom of the Abyſſins on the South; Europe on the Weſt, from the Holy Land. But when he ſaith, Bring ye my ſons from far, he underſtands America; ſo that in thoſe verſes he underſtands all thoſe places, in which the Tribes are detained. Alſo in Chap. 49. from ver: 7. to the end of the Chapter, he ſaith, that that return ſhall be moſt happy. And in ch: 56. ver: 8. God ſaith, He that gathers the out-caſts of Iſrael. And the Prophet Ieremiah in ch: 33. ver: 16. In thoſe days ſhall Iudah be ſaved, and Ieruſalem ſhall dwell ſafely. It is certain, and Ierom aſſents to all our Authors, that when Iudah is joyned with Iſrael, by Iſrael the ten Tribes are meant. The ſame addes in ch: 31. ver. 15. in the comforting of Rahel, who wept for the carrying away her ſons Ioſeph, and Benjamin, the firſt by Salmaneſer63 into Aſſyria, the laſt by Nebuchadnezzar into Babylon, he ſaith, in ver: 16. Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears, for thy work ſhall be rewarded. And it follows in Cha. 33. ver. 7. And I will cauſe the captivity of Iudah, and the captivity of Iſrael to return, and I wil build them up as at the firſt. Ezekiel ſaith the ſame in Chap. 34.13. and in Chap. 37.16. under the figure of two ſticks, on which were written the names of Iudah, and Ephraim, by which he proves the gathering together of the twelve Tribes to be ſubject to Meſſiah the Son of David; in ver. 22. he ſaith, And one king ſhall be King to them all; according as Hoſea ſaith in Chap. 2. So alſo ſaith Amos in ch: 9. ver. 14, 15. And I will bring again the captivity of my people Iſrael, and they ſhall build the waste cities, and inhabite them; and they ſhall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof: they ſhall make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And they ſhall he no more pulled up out of their land which I have given them, ſaith the Lord thy God. So alſo Mica in ch: 2.12. I will ſurely aſſemble, O Jacob, all of thee, I will gather the remnant of Iſrael, I will alſo place him as the flack in the ſheep-fold. For that in the captivity of Babylon all were not gathered together. The Prophet Zechariah in ch: 8.7. and in ch: 10.6. and all the reſt of the Prophets do witneſſe the ſame thing.
SECT: XXVI.
BUt which way that redemption ſhall be, no man can tell; but onely ſo far as we may gather out of the Prophets, That at that time the ten Tribes ſhall come to Jeruſalem under the leading of a Prince, whom ſome Rabbins in the Talmud, and in ſome places of the Chaldy paraphraſe, do call Meſſiah the ſon of Joſeph; and elſewhere Meſſiah the ſon of Ephraim; who being ſlain in the laſt war of Gog, and Magog, ſhall ſhew himſelf to be Meſſiah the ſon of David, who ſhall be, as Ezekiel, and Hoſea ſay, The everlasting Prince of all the twelve Tribes. Our wiſe men do, in many places, eſpecially in the Babylonian Talmud, in tract. ſuca. c. 5. make mention of that Meſſiah the ſon of Ephraim; where they ſay, that he ſhall dye in the laſt war of Gog, and Magog; and they ſo expound that of Zach. 12.10. And they ſhall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they ſhall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his onely ſon. They adde alſo, that the foure captains, of whom the ſame Prophet ſpeaks in ch. 11. are, Meſſiah the ſon of David, Meſſiah the ſon of Joſeph, the Prophet Elias, and the high Prieſt; which foure are thoſe dignities, which ſhall ſhew their power in that bleſſed age. Obſerve, that65 ſometime they cal Meſſiah the ſon of Ephraim ſometime of Joſeph; for he ſhall come out of the Tribe of Ephraim, and ſhall be Captain of all the 10. Tribes, who give their name to Ephraim, becauſe that their firſt King Jeroboam was of that Tribe. Not without cauſe do they call him the ſon of Joſeph, for he was the true type of the houſe of Iſrael, in his impriſonment, and future happineſs. Add to this, that he was ſo long hid from his brethren, that they did not know him: as in like manner the ten Tribes are at this day, who are led captive, but hereafter ſhall come to the top of felicity, in the ſame manner as Joſeph did. That Meſſiah of Joſeph ſhall dye in the battel of Gog, and Magog, and afterward ſhall riſe again, that he may enjoy the dignity, not of a kingly Scepter, but the office onely of a Vice-roy, as Joſeph in Egypt; for that the Empire of the houſe of Iſrael fell, under the reign of Hoſea the ſon of Elah; as the Prophet Amos ſaith in ch. 5.2. Therefore the Kingdom of the 10. Tribes ſhall not be reſtored, as Ezekiel ſaith in ch. 37. under the reign of Meſſiah the ſon of David, who ſhall be everlaſting; and by the death of Meſſiah the ſon of Joſeph, the 10. Tribes ſhall ſee, that God will not that they ſhould have more Kings then one. As its already ſpoken.
SECT: XXVII.
THoſe Tribes then ſhal be gathered from all quarters of the earth, into Countreys near to the Holy Land; namely, into Aſſyria, and Egypt; and from thence they ſhall go into their Countrey; of which Iſaiah ſpeaks, in ch. 27.13. And it ſhall be in that day, that the great trumpet ſhall be blown, and they who were loſt, ſhall come into the land of Aſſyria; and they who were caſt out, into Egypt; and ſhall worſhip the Lord in the holy mount at Ieruſalem. As if he ſhould ſay, as trumpets ſound, to call any army together: ſo they ſhall come together, who were dead (that is, diſperſed through all Aſia) into Aſſyria; and the out-caſts (that is, which are in America) ſhall come by the Mediterranean Sea to Alexandria of Egypt; and in the like manner thoſe who are in Africa, when Nilus ſhall be dried up, and Euphrates ſhall be divided; as we have already ſaid. And becauſe the gathering together of the captivity, ſhall begin at thoſe, who are in America, therfore Iſaiah ſaith, The ilands ſhall truſt in me, and the ſhips of Tarſis (that is of the ocean) firſt of all, that they may bring thy ſons from far, and with them, their ſilver, and gold. They ſhall then come with ſpeed from thoſe countreys, proſtrating themſelves at the67 mountain of the Lord in Jeruſalem, as the Prophet Hoſea ſaith of that redemption in ch. 11.11. They ſhall come as birds out of Egypt, and as doves out of Aſſyria: ſo ſaith Iſaiah in ch. 60.8. Who are thoſe that flye as a cloud, and as doves to their neſts? They which come firſt, ſhall alſo partake of this joy, to ſee others to come to them every moment; for which cauſe the ſame Prophet ſaith, Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold them who gather themſelves to thee. And becauſe the two Countreys of Aſſyria, and Egypt, ſhall firſt of all kindly receive the people of Iſrael, and ſhall know the truth, firſt of all embracing the Religion of the Jews, ſacrificing, and praying to God, therfore the Peophet Iſaiah ſaith, in ch. 19.25. Bleſſed be Egypt my people, and Aſſyria the work of my hands; but Iſrael is my inheritance. For ſo thoſe words are to be underſtood.
SECT: XXVIII.
ALL thoſe are the ſayings of the holy Prophets, from whence doth appear the return of Iſrael into their countrey. It is given to none to know the time thereof, neither it is revealed to Rabbi Simeon ben Johay, the Author of the Zoar; becauſe that God hath reſerved that myſtery to himſelf, as68 Moſes ſaith, It is hid with me. And Iſaiah in ch. 63.4. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the yeer in which the redemption ſhall come. Which the Rabbins thus interpret, I have reveiled it to my heart, and not to Angels: and elſwhere, If any man tels you when Meſſiah ſhall come, believe him not. So alſo the Angel ſaith to Daniel, ch. 12 9. All things are cloſed up, and ſealed to the time of the end. Therefore all thoſe, who ſearch after that time, as Rabbi Seadiah, Moſes Egyptius, M•ſes Gerundenſis, Selomoh Jarchi; Abraham bar Ribi Hijah, Abraham Zaculo, Mordehai Reato, and Iſaac Abarbanel, have been miſtaken; for that they would go beyond humane capacity, and reveil that, which God concealed. And even to Daniel himſelf (to whom was made known the ſecret of the change of the foure Monarchies) it was ſo revealed to him, that he confeſſed he did not underſtand it. Our Ancients did point at this from the letter (m) in Iſa. 9 7. where he ſaith: Of the increaſe of his government: which (m) in the Hebrew, being ſuch an (m) which they write only in the end of words, and a cloſe letter, yet is put in the middle of the word, againſt common practiſe: becauſe that the time of the fifth Monarchy ſhall be hid, till the time when it ſhall begin.
SECT: XXIX.
YEt this I can affirm, that it ſhall be about the end of this age; and ſo the Prophets ſpeak of that age about the end of days: and that after many labours, and a long captivity. So Balaam prophecies, Numb. 24.17. I ſee, but not now; I behold, but not neer; a Star ſhall come out of Jacob. Iſa. 24.22. They ſhall be caſt into priſon, and they ſhall be viſited after many days. And Iſa. 49.14. And Sion ſaid, The Lord hath forſaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Hoſ. 3.4, 5. The children of Iſrael ſhall be many days without a King, and without a Prince: And after that they ſhall ſeek the Lord their God, and David their King. The King, and Prophet complains of that delay, in Pſal. 44. Pſal. 69. Pſal. 74. Pſal. 77. Pſal. 83. And after that, in Pſal. 89.50.51. he thus concludes, Remember, O God, the reproach of thy ſervants, who ſuffer ſo many injuries of ſo many people: wherewith they have reproached the ſteps of thy Meſſiah. As yet at this day it is ſaid, that ALTHOUGH THE MESSIAH WERE LAME, HE MIGHT HAVE COME BY THIS TIME. Though we cannot exactly ſhew the time of our redemption, yet we judge it to be neer. For,
1. We ſee many prophecies to be fulfilled, and others alſo, which are ſubſervient to a70 preparation for the ſame redemption; and it appears by this, that during that long, and ſore captivity, many calamities are fore-told us under the foure Monarchies. David ſaith in Pſal. 120.7. Lord, when I ſpeak of peace, they ſpeak of war. And elſwhere, We are ſlain all the day for thy name, and are accounted for ſheep which are ſlain. In Iſa. 53.7. He ſhall be led as a ſheep to the ſlaughter, and as a lamb before his ſhearers: he ſhall be dumb, and ſhall not open his mouth. O how have we ſeen theſe things in the baniſhments of England, France, and Spaine! and how have they proved thoſe crimes, which moſt falſe men have ſaid that ours did commit! Behold they have ſlain them, not for wickedneſſes, which they did not commit, but for their riches which they had. O how have we ſeen all thoſe things done by divine providence, for that thoſe misfortunes for the moſt part hapned on the 9th. day of the month Ab, an ominous, and unhappy day, on which the firſt, and ſecond Temple were burnt, and the ſpies wept without cauſe.
SECT: XXX.
VVHat ſhall we ſay of that horrible monſter, the Spaniſh Inquiſition, what crueltie hath not daily been uſed71 againſt a company of miſerable ones, innocents, old men, and children, of every ſex, and age, who were ſlain, becauſe they could not divine who was their ſecret accuſer? But let us ſee, why in all thoſe places (in which that Spaniſh tyranniaall Empire rules,) they were ſlain, who would obſerve the law of Moſts; and by how many, and how great miracles, hath that law been confirmed? and what unrighteouſneſſe is there in it? We daily ſee examples of conſtancy in ours, worthy of all praiſe, who for the ſanctifying of Gods name, have been burnt alive. Truly many who are ſtill living, can witneſſe all thoſe things. In the yeer 1603. At Lisbone, Diego d'Aſſumeaon, a Monk of 24. years, was burnt alive, who defended himſelf in the Inquiſition againſt ſome, who would have reduced him, to Chriſtianity, who was born a Chriſtian, and made a Jew; which all wondred at; the Inquiſitors being grieved that they had publiſhed the reaſons which he had alleadged, would have recalled their ſentence; but it was then too late; for it was divulged through the world, which I my ſelf have by me. Alſo the Lord Lope de Vera y Alarcon deſerves the praiſe of martyrdome, who being born of a noble, and eminent family, and very learned in the72 Hebrew, and Latine tongues, did imbrace our religion; neither thought it ſufficient to be ſuch himſelf, but diſcovered himſelf to many others; thereupon in Ann. 1644. in the 20th. of his age, he being impriſoned at Valladolid, though he lived in the dark, yet he diſcovered light to many; neither could the great number of Doctors, nor the greater affliction of his parents, move him from his enterpriſe, either by tears, or by promiſes. He circumciſed himſelf in priſon (ô ſtrange act, and worthy of all praiſe!) and named himſelf beleeving Judas; and at laſt, as a 2d: Iſaac, offered himſelf to the flames, contemning life, goods, and honors, that he might obtain immortall life, and good things that cannot periſh; in the 25th. yeer of his age. Now though thoſe were not of the family of Iſrael, yet they obtained an immortall glory, which is better then this life. Alſo we have many examples of our own, which did equalize them, of which that is one, which is done in our time, and is worthy to be remembred; Iſaac Caſtrenſis Tartas (whom I knew, and ſpoke with) a learned young man, and verſed in the Greek, and Latine; he being but newly come to Fernambuc, was taken by the Portugeſe, and carried to Lisbone, and burnt alive; he was a young man of 24.73 yeers old; ſcorning riches, and honors, which were offered to him, if he would turn Chriſtian. They who ſay he was a traytor, do lye egregiouſly; for he did defend that place where he was Governor, moſt valiantly; as ours do deport themſelves in thoſe fortified places which are committed to their charge. The ſame martyrdome was undergone at L•m•, by Eli Nazarenus, in Ann. 1639. Januar. 23. who after he had lived 14. whole yeers in priſon, all which time he eat no fleſh, leſt he ſhould defile his mouth; he called himſelf by that name, after he had circumciſed himſelf. Such a Martyr alſo, this yeer, was Thomas Therbinon in the City of Mexico.
SECT: XXXI.
IF the Lord fulfilled his word in calamities, he will fulfill it alſo in felicities. Therefore Rabbi Aquibah laughed, when he ſaith a wolf run out of the Temple being deſtroyed, though his companions wept; he ſaying, Now is fulfilled that prophecie of Jeremiah, in Lament. 5.18. And the foxes ſhall walk therein; and he added, and thoſe bleſſings alſo ſhall follow, which the Lord hath promiſed. We ſee all the curſes of God come to paſſe, which are mentioned in Levit. and Deuteronomy; as well as thoſe, which concern74 our being ſcattered to the ends of the earth (which is Portugal) and thoſe concerning the calamities of the Inquiſition; and thoſe of our baniſhments, as I have opened in my book, De termino vita; from whence it appears, that all the happie prophecies ſhall be fulfilled. And as we have periſhed, ſo alſo ſhall Bozra (that is, Rome) pe••ſh. See Iſa. 34.6.
SECT: XXXII.
SEcondly, the argument which we bring from our Conſtancy under ſo many evils, cannot be eluded, that therefore God doth reſerve us for better things. Moſes in Levit. 26.44. ſaith, Though they be in the land of their enemies, yet I will not caſt them away, neither will I abhor them to deſtroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God. And truly theſe things are now fulfilled, for that in this captivity, and among the many reproaches which we Jews ſuffer, yet many of ours are honourably entertained by Princes, with a ſingular affection. So D. Iſhac Abarbanel, who comes of Davids line, is Counſeller to the King of Spaine, and Portugall. By this alſo he hath got a great name, for that he compoſed the differences, which aroſe between the King of Portugall,75 and the Republique of Venice. And from that family of Abarbarnel (which I note by the by) do proceed my children, by my wifes ſide. And in the houſe of his ſon, D. Samuel Abarbanel, and of his wife Benuenida, the Lady Leonora de Toledo, was brought up at Naples, who is the daughter of D. Peter de Toledo, the Vice-roy of Naples; who afterward was married to the moſt eminent Duke Coſmus de Medicis, and having obtained the Dukedome of Toſcani, ſhe honoured Benuenida with as much honor, as if ſhe were her mother. That peace, which the Venetians made with the Emperour Sultan Selim, 75. years agone, was made, and ratified by a certain Jew Don Selomo Rophe, who was ſent Ambaſſadour to Venice, and received with great pomp, by the Venetians. At Conſtantinople D. Ben Iaeſe, Anaucas, and Sonſiaos are of great authority with the Turk. In Egypt the Jews were alwayes Saraph baxas, and alſo at this day is D. Abraham Alholn. Who knows not that D. Joſephus Naſſi, otherwiſe called Joannes Micheſius, about the 66. year of the former age, was Duke of Naccia, Lord of Milum, and of the ſeven Iſlands, of whom ſee Famian. Strada in Hiſtor. Belgic. part. 1. lib. 5. He was raiſed to theſe honours by Sultan Selim. As alſo by Sultan Amurat, Jacob Aben76 Jaes, otherwiſe called Alvaro Mendez was made Governour of Tyberias; witneſſe Boterus in Relation. part. 3. lib. 2. In Barbary ▪ the Lords Rutes were alwaies Governors of Sekes, Phes, and Taradanta. In Ann. 1609, D. Samuel Palaxe was ſent Ambaſſador to the States, by Mulai Zidan the King of Maracco. But he died at the Haghe in Ann. 1616. And the m•ſt eminent Prince Maurice, and the Nobles, were at his unerall ▪ In Perſia who knows not of what account they are? There, thirty years ſince Elhazar was 2d. to the King, and as it were Governour. Now David Jan ſucceeds him, to whom others alſo being joyned, they live in the Court. And that muſt not be forgot, that when the moſt eminent Duke of Holſtein ſent Otto Burchmannus Ambaſſador to Perſia, in Ann. 1635. he deſired commendatory letters from our Jews at Hamburg, to them, who (as we have already told you) do live there in the Court, that they would make way there, for him that was a ſtranger; that he might diſpatch his affairs. Which was alſo performed. By which mean ours, who are in Perſia, diſmiſſed Burchmannus, with rich gifts, and with Letters to the moſt eminent Duke of Holſtein, which the 12. Chuzae, or Princes, had ſubſigned. A copy of which Leteers the moſt excellent D. Benjamin77 Muſſaphia, one familiar with the Prince, helped me to. Alſo Claudius Duretus en ſon threſor des langues, fol. 302. ſaith, that there are almoſt an infinite number of Jews in Aſia, eſpecially in India, and that King Cochini is their great favourer. Yea Linſchotes ſaith (where he treats of Cochini) that they have Synagogues there, and that ſome of them are of the Kings Counſell. At Prague, Mordocheas Maiſel had Arms given him by the Emperour Matthias, who alſo knighted him. Which honour Jacob Bathſebah alſo had, under the Reign of Ferdinand; and many other Families are graced with other honours. And in this very captivity (who could think it) they are ſo wealthy, that (Gods providence favouring them) they may challenge to themſelves a place among the moſt Noble.
SECT: XXXIII.
VVHo can enumerate the number of ours, who are renowned by fame, and learning? The learned R. Moſes bar Maimon was Phyſician to Saladin the King of Ægypt. Moſes Amon to the Emperour Sultan Bajaſeth. Elias M•ntalto to the moſt eminent Queen of France, Loyſia de Medicis; and was alſo her Counſellor. At Padua Elias Cretenſis78 read Philoſophy; and R. Abraham de Balmas, the Hebrew grammar. And how much honour had Elias Grammaticus at Rome? And almoſt all the Princes of Italy honoured with all kinde of honour, Abraham Kolorni; as appears by a letter writ to him by Thomas Garzoni nella ſua piazza univerſale del mundo. Picus Mirandula (who uſed to ſay, That he had but ſmall underſtanding, who only looked after his own things, and not after other mens) and others, had Hebrew teachers. David de Pomis dedicated his book to Pope Sixtus the fifth, who lovingly, and courteouſly received both the Author, and work. So at this day we ſee many deſirous to learn the Hebrew tongue of our men. Hence may be ſeen that God hath not left us; for if one perſecute us, another receives us civilly, and courteouſly; and if this Prince treats us ill, another treats us well; if one baniſheth us out of his countrey, another invites us by a 1000 priviledges; as divers Princes of Italy have done, the moſt eminent King of Denmark, and the mightie Duke of Savoy in Niſſa. And do we not ſee, that thoſe Republiques do flouriſh, and much increaſe in Trade, which admit the Iſraelites?
SECT: XXXIIII.
MOſes ſaith in his laſt ſong, that God would revenge the blood of his people who are ſcattered. And Jeremiah ſaith in ch. 2.3. Iſrael is the Lords holy thing, the firſt fruits of his increaſe; all who devour him ſhall be found guilty; evill ſhall come upon them, ſaith the Lord. And that the hiſtories of divers times, even from Nebuchadnezzar, to theſe very times, do teſtifie. Have not the Monarchies of great Princes been deſtroyed? Conſider with me the miſerable ends of Antiochus, of Pompey, of Siſibuthus, of Philip the King of France, of Alonſus the ſon of John the 2d. And we may remember, how King Sebaſtian with his 4th. generation, and with all his Nobles, was ſlain in a battel of Africa, in that ſame place, in which he had cauſed the Jews to be baniſhed. Ferdinand, and Iſabel were the great perſecuters of our Nation, but how did both he, and ſhe die? as for him his ſon-in-law, and his own ſubjects did perſecute him; and his onely ſon died (leaving no iſſue) on his wedding-day, being 17. years old. His daughter being Heir of the Kingdom, and of her fathers hatred, would not marry to Emanuel king of Portugal, unleſſe he would compell us to be baniſhed, and change our Religion. 80But ſhe dyed in child-birth of her ſon Saragoci, and alſo her ſon, before he was half a yeer old; and the ſucceſſion was devolved upon the Kingdom of Spaine. It is not long ſince, that the Spaniards exerciſed upon us at Mantua, what ever cruelties they could invent; what ſhall we ſay of that, that at Madrid, in the yeer 1632. was done by the Inquiſition, the King, and Princes of the Kingdom concurring; but in the very ſame month dyed the Infant Charles, and their kingdom declined. What wonder is it if God hath chaſtiſed divers kingdoms by ſundrie wayes: but of this I treat farther in my Hiſtory of the Jews. Let us conclude therefore, that that good, which God hath promiſed, will ſhortly come, ſince we ſee that we have ſuffered thoſe evils, which he hath threatned us with, by the Prophets.
SECT: XXXV.
3ly, THe ſhortneſſe of time (when we beleeve our redemption ſhall appear) is confirmed by this, that the Lord hath promiſed that he will gather the two Tribes Judah, and Benjamin, out of the foure quarters of the world, calling them Nephuſſim. From whence you may gather, that for the fulfilling of that, they muſt be ſcattered81 through all the corners of the world; as Daniel ſaith, Dan. 12.7. And when the ſcattering of the holy people ſhall have an end, all thoſe things ſhall be fulfilled. And this appears now to be done, when as our Synagogues are found in America.
SECT: XXXVI.
4ly, TO theſe, let us adde that, which the ſame Prophet ſpeaks, in ch. 12. ver: 4. That knowledge ſhall be encreaſed; for then the prophecies ſhall better be underſtood, the meaning of which we can ſcarce attain to, till they be fulfilled. So after the Ottoman race began to flouriſh, we underſtood the prophecie of the two legs of the Image of Nebuchadnezzar, which is to be overthrown by the fifth Monarchy, which ſhall be in the world. So Jeremiah after he had handled in Chap. 30. the redemption of Iſrael, and Judah, and of the war of Gog, and Magog (of which Daniel alſo ſpeaks in ch. 12.) when he treats of the Scepter of the Meſſiah the ſon of David, of the ruine of the Nations, of the reſtoration of Judah, of holy Jeruſalem, and of the 3d: Temple, he addes in ver: 24. The fierce anger of the Lord ſhall not return, till he hath executed it, and till he hath performed the intents of his heart; in the latter daies ye ſhall underſtand it. 82From whence follows what we have ſaid, that the time of redemption is at hand. And becauſe Jeremiah in that chapter makes an abridgment of all things that ſhall be, therefore it is ſaid in ver: 2, Write thee all the words which I have ſpoken to thee, in a book. By this mean making the prophecie clearer, by relating in a clear ſtyle, what ever the Prophets had foretold; imitating Moſes, the laſt words of whoſe ſong are, Sing, O ye Nations, with his people, in Deut 32.43. Alſo the laſt words which he ſpoke, after that he had bleſſed the Tribes, are theſe, Happy art thou, O Iſrael: who is like to thee, O people? ſaved by the Lord, who is the ſhield of thy help, and the ſword of thy excellency; and thine enemies ſhall be found lyars to thee, and thou ſhalt tread upon their high places, in Deut. 33.29. From whence it appears, that God will revenge the blood of Iſrael, which hath been ſhed. Joel confirms the ſame in ch. 3.19. Egypt ſhall be a deſolation, and Fdom ſhall he a filthy deſert, for the violence, and injury offered to the Jews, and becauſe they have ſhed innocent blood in their land. And as they ſhall be puniſhed by the juſt judgement of God, who wiſh us evill: ſo alſo God will give bleſſings upon them who favour us. And thoſe are the trees of the field which then ſhall rejoyce. So God ſaith to Abraham, in Gen. 12.3. I will83 bleſſe them who bleſſe thee, and curſe them that curſe thee.
SECT: XXXVII.
THeſe are the things which I could gather concerning this matter, which hath not been heretofore handled; from whence theſe conſequences may be deduced.
- 1. That the Weſt-Indies, were anciently inhabited by a part of the 10. Tribes, which paſſed thither out of Tartary, by the Streight of Anian.
- 2. That the Tribes are not in any one place, but in many; becauſe the Prophets have foretold their return ſhall be into their Countrey, out of divers places; Iſaiah eſpecially ſaith it ſhall be out of eight.
- 3. That they did not return to the 2d: Temple.
- 4. That at this day they keep the Jewiſh Religion.
- 5. That the prophecies concerning their return to their Countrey, are of neceſſitie to be fulfilled.
- 6. That from all coaſts of the world they ſhall meet in thoſe two places, ſo: Aſſyria, and Egypt; God preparing an eaſie, pleaſant way, and abounding with all things, as Iſaiah ſaith, Chap. 49. and from thence they ſhall84 flie to Jeruſalem, as birds to their neſts.
- 7. That their kingdom ſhall be no more divided; but the twelve Tribes ſhall be joyned together under one Prince, that is, under Meſſiah the Son of David; and that they ſhall never be driven out of their land.
SECT: XXXVIII.
I Return to the relation of our Montezinus, which I prefer before the opinions of all others, as moſt true. For that Peru ſhould be derived from the name Ophir, as Gulielmus Postellus, Goropius in Ortelius, Bozius de ſignis Eccleſ. lib. 2. c. 3: Marinus in arcâ Noah, P. Sa. in 3. Reg. Pomarius in his Lexicon, and Poſſevinus lib. 2. Biblioth. c. 8. do think, cannot be proved; as Pineda hath well obſerved, in Job, c. 28. p. 500. for we have ſaid out of Garcilaſſo de la Vega, that that name was unknown to them of Peru. Ophir then is Eaſt-India, if we beleeve Joſephus, lib. 8. Antiquit. Judaic. c. 6. & Acoſta in lib. 1. Hiſtor. Ind. from whence Solomon fetched gold, and precious ſtones. But what Gomara in part. 1. hiſt. Ind. fol. 120. and Zarate in proaem. hiſt. Peru, would have, that ours did paſſe over that famous, and much praiſed Iſland (by Plato in Critia, and Timaeus) of Atlantis, and ſo went into the neighbour Iſlands of Barlovent, and from thence85 to the firm land, and at laſt to the kingdom of Peru, and New-Spaine; it is deſervedly exploded as fabulous; and Acoſta laughs at it, in lib. 1. hist. Ind. c. 22. But Marſilius Ficinus in comment. in Timaeum, c. 4. & Critia, that he might defend Plato, thinks (and his diſciples, Porphyry, Origen, and Proclus do follow him) that all that which is in Critia, and in Timaeus, is to be underſtood allegorically. And who will believe Leſcarbotus, who ſaith, that they are the Canaanites, who fled thither for fear of Joſhua? For I cannot be perſwaded that they ſought out Countreys ſo far remote. They who will have them of Peru to have come out of Norwey, or Spaine, may be confuted by their very form, manners, and the unlikeneſſe of their languages. But that is more falſe, that they are Iſraelites, who have forgot circumciſion, and their rites. For they are of a comly body, and of a good wit, as ſaith Doctor Johannes Huarte, in his book which is called, Examen ingenior. c. 14. But contrarily all men know that the Indians are deformed, dull, and altogether rude. And we have abundantly ſhown, with how great ſtudy, and zeal, the Iſraelites have kept their language, and Religion, out of their Countrey.
SECT: XXXIX.
MOntezinus then ſpeaks moſt likely; that as other people forced the Iſraelites to betake them to the mountains: ſo America being firſt of all inhabited by the perſecuting Tartars, they were driven to the mountains of Cordillecae, where at laſt they were hid, as God would have it. Truly, comparing the Iſraelites themſelves, or their laws, with other people, I ſee not any thing that comes nearer truth. Perhaps alſo America was not of old contiguous to Aſia on the North ſide. It doth not ſeem to me ſuch an abſurdity, to ſay, that the Iſraelites went out of Tartary into America by land; and afterward, that God, to preſerve his, among other miracles, alſo wrought this, to make that a Sea, where now is the ſtreight of Anian. Yea that might be done without a miracle, by accident, as we know that more than once, the Sea by a violent ſtorme hath carried away the Land, and made Iſlands. Xenophon in ſuis aequivoc. mentions the inundations of Aegypt, which happened in the dayes of Prometheus, and Hercules. Alſo Beroſus in lib. 5. and Diodorus li. 6. mention the inundation of Attica, in which Athens ſtands. Pliny in lib. 2. c. 85. & lib. 13. c. 11. Strabo in lib. 1. & lib. 12. and Plutarch in Alexandr.87 relate the drowning of the Iſle Pharaonica; of which Luther ſpeaks ſo elegantly in lib. ultimo. Beſide, who knows not how many, and how great Cities have at divers times been almoſt wholly ruined by ſeverall earthquakes? Sueton. in Tiberio, c. 48. writes, that under Tiberius, twelve Cities in Aſia have been by this mean ruined. Oroſius lib. 7. c. 4. and Dion Caſſius, lib. 57. do affirm the ſame, though they differ about the time. Tacitus in lib. 14. and Euſebius in Chron. relate the deſtruction of that famous, and rich City of Laodicea. Origen tom. 28. in Joan. and Baronius tom. 2. Annal. Eccleſiaſt. Ann. 340. do ſpeak of other Earthquakes, which have deſtroyed divers, and very many men, and Cities. And P. Alonſus in ſuo manual tempor. relates, that the ſame hath happened in our dayes; ſaith he, In the yeer 1638. a great Earthquake happened in the Iſlands of the Tercerae, but eſpecially in S. Michael, where the Governor dwels; for that unheard of ſhaking of the earth, and houſes ſtruck ſo great a terror into the Inhabitants, that all fled out of their houſes, and lived in the fields; a little after, two miles from thence, they ſaw the Sea vomit up abundance of fiery matter, which made a very thick ſmoak, which covered the very clouds; and it caſt up many great ſtomes, which ſeemed like rocks; part whereof falling down again, made an88 Iſland in the Sea, which was half a mile over, and ſixty fathome high, and an hundred and fifty fathome deep. That hot exhalation which that fiery mountain ſent forth, pierced the very waters, and ſtifled ſo many fiſhes, that two Indian ſhips could not carry them. The ſame Iſland two yeers after, was ſwallowed up again of the Sea.
SECT: XL.
HE that doth ſeriouſly weigh thoſe things, may (I think) well gather, that the Sea of the Streight of Anian was an inundation. By affirming which, this doubt may be anſwered, ſc. That after the univerſall Flood, man-kinde encreaſed again, and all beaſts, which had been preſerved in the Ark. But how could ſo many kindes of beaſts, (which come by propagation, and are not bred out of the earth,) be found in thoſe Countreys? Some did ſwim thither, ſome were brought thither by ſome huntſmen, ſome were bred out of the earth, as Av•••thinks it happened in the firſt Creation. But what Land-beaſt can ſwim over ſo great a Sea? And would Huntſmen carry Lyons thither, and other ſuch kinde of beaſts, oftentimes to the great hazard of their lives? And if God would have created thoſe beaſts out of the earth, he would not have commanded89 Noah to have kept them in the Ark. I am fully perſwaded, that the beaſts which are found there, paſſed that way into America; unleſſe any thinks that this new world is joyned to the old, on ſome other ſide, as Herrera beleeves, Dec. 3. Lib. 11. c. 10.
SECT 42.
AS for the other things in the relation of our Montezinus, they ſay nothing which ſavours of falſhood. For their ſaying that Semah, truly it is the cuſtome of our people, in what part ſoever of the world they live; and it is the abridgement of the confeſſion, and religion of the Iewes. That revelation of the Magicians; whom they call Mohanes, it agrees with thoſe things which in 2 Eſdras, you may ſee, concerning the Miracles which God wrought for the Iſraelites, as they paſſed over Eu••rates, concerning thoſe conditions of not revealing ſecrets to any, but ſuch an one who hath ſeene three hundred Moones, (which make twenty five yeares) it appeares to be true, by what the famous De Laet tels, in many parts of America, that the Indians doe compute their yeares by Moones. That a ſecret muſt be told in the Field, doth not that argue a Iewiſh cuſtom,90 which the ancients have obſerved in Iacob. who being about to depart from Laban, he called his Wives into the field.
I now conclude this Diſcourſe, in which this only was in my intention, that I might briefly, and compendiouſly declare mine, and the Rabbies opinion, concerning thoſe things which I have handled. I hope t•••this my endeavour will not be unaccep••ble, being deſired by many men, famous both for Birth, and for Learning; not unprofitable, having therein explained the relation of Montezinus, with what brevity I could. The Name of God be bleſſed for ever. Amen.