HISTORY

OF

THE JEWS IN GREAT BRITAIN.

CHAPTER I.

The French Ambassador's, in Holland, communication to the French Minister in England-The English made overtures to the Jews-The Jews propose to purchase St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Bodleian Library-The ground upon which the Jews' proposition was discarded-Rabbi Menasseh Ben Israel's address to Oliver Cromwell-God the disposer of Domains-A good Governor a heavenly gift-The persecutors of God's people always punished-The benefactors of God's people always flourish-Many eminent and pious persons amongst the English-Request for the grant of a place of worship-The entertainment of English Ambassadors at Amsterdam-Rabbi Menasseh's address to the people of England-First motive to erect a synagogue-Second motive to bring about the universal dispersion preparatory to the coming of the Messiah-Third motive, the VOL. II.

B

profit that will accrue to the English nation-Fourth motive, the affection for the English-Cromwell summons a Council-The three great departments of the Constitution-The Proposition for Discussion-The Opinion of the Legal Faculty-Lord Chief Baron Steel's Disquisition-The Divines divided in opinion-The fearful forebodings of some-Lord Lawrence and General Lambert's repliesMr. Newcomen's argument-Messrs. Nye's and Goodman's arguments-Mr. Joseph Caryl's argument-The Representatives of Commerce-Cromwell's Address-Sir RycautThe Protector grants the Jews Toleration-The probable period of the final decision-The First Jewish Synagogue -The First Jewish Cemetery.

IN 1654 the French Ambassador in Holland, writing to the French Minister in England, says, "A Jew of Amsterdam informed me for certain, that the three generals of the fleet have presented a petition to his Highness the Protector, to obtain that their nation may be received in England to draw the commerce thither." A little sound reflection on the history of those days will make it most palpable that the overtures for the Jews' return to this country were first made by the English, through Mr. Secretary Thurloe, which alone can account for the daring proposal, on the part of the Hebrews, of purchasing St. Paul's Cathedral and the Bodleian Library, the former for the use of a synagogue,

and the latter for a warehouse.

However fabu

lous the learned Dr. Jost, the great German Jewish historian, may pronounce this statement, it is nevertheless on record that a discussion on the subject did actually take place, and several debates were devoted to its consideration; and the only ground upon which the Jews' proposition was discarded, was the insufficiency of the Jewish offer. The Hebrews bargained to give five hundred thousand pounds for those edifices, whilst the Puritans demanded eight hundred thousand pounds.* That the Jews were not in earnest, but simply tried the temper and disposition of the ruling powers of the time, can easily be imagined; else they would have complied with the Parliamentary demand. But the Spanish Jews of Amsterdam were too great politicians to believe that things would remain in statu quo with the English Republic.

In the year 1655, however, the celebrated

* "Eben so unwahr ist, was gewiss nur spottwise erzählt wird, die Juden hätten durch Unterhändler, 500,000 Liv. geboten, damit ihnen die St. Paul'skirche zur Synagoge eingeräumt und die Bodleyanische Bibliothek zum Verkauf überlassen würde." Jost's "Geschichte der Israeliten." Vol. viii. p. 253. Compare Monteth's "History of Great Britain." Page 473.; and "Thurl. Sta. Pap." Vol. ii. p. 652

Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel, made his appearance before the English Parliament and public, pleading the re-admission of his brethren into this realm. The efficiency of his advocacy as an especial pleader must be judged, from a perusal of his inaugural address to Cromwell and the people.

"To his Highnesse the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

The humble Address of Menasseh Ben Israel, a Divine, and Doctor of Physic, inbe half of the Jewish nation.

"Give me leave, at such a juncture of time, to speak to your Highnesse, in a style and manner fitting to us Jewes, and our condition. It is a thing most certaine, that the great God of Israel, Creator of heaven and earth, doth give and take away dominions, and inspires, according to his own pleasure; exalting some, and overthrowing others; who, seeing he hath the hearts of kings in his hand, he easily moves them whithersoever himselfe pleaseth, to put in execution his Divine commands. This, my Lord, appears most evidently out of those words of Daniel, where he, rendering thanks