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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A38790	The history of the three late, famous impostors, viz. Padre Ottomano, Mahomed Bei and Sabatai Sevi the one, pretended son and heir to the late Grand Signior, the other, a prince of the Ottoman family, but in truth, a Valachian counterfeit, and the last, the suppos'd Messiah of the Jews, in the year of the true Messiah, 1666 : with a brief account of the ground and occasion of the present war between the Turk and the Venetian : together with the cause of the final extirpation, destruction and exile of the Jews out of the Empire of Persia.	Evelyn, John, 1620-1706.	1669 (1669)	Wing E3490; ESTC R17074	43,042	143

for the space of two Moneths at the end of which the Vizier having designed his expedition for Candia and considering the rumor and disturbance the presence of Sabatai had made already at Constantinople thought it not secure to suffer him to remain in the Imperial Citie whil'st both the Grand Signior and himself were absent and therefore changes his prison to the Dardanelli otherwise called the Castle of Abydos being on the Europe side of the Helespont opposite to Se●tos places famous in Greek Poetrie This removal of Sabatai from a worse Prison to one of a better air confirmed the Iews with greater confidence of his being the Messiah supposing that had it been in the power of the Vizier or other Officers of the Turks to have destroyed his person they would never have permitted him to have lived to that time in regard their Maximes enforce them to quit all jealousies and suspitions of ruine to their state by the death of the party feared which much rather they ought to execute on Sabatai who had not onely declared himself the King of Israel but also published Prophesies fatal to the Grand Signior and his Kingdoms With this consideration and others preceding the Iews flock in great numbers to the Castle where he was imprisoned not onely from the neighbouring parts but also from Poland Germanie Legorne Venice Amsterdam and other places where the Iewt reside on all whom as a reward of the expence and labours of their pilgrimage Sabatai bestowed plenty of his benedictions promising encrease of their store and enlargement of their Possessions in the Holy-Land And so great was the confluence of the Iews to this place that the Turks thought it requisite to make their advantage thereof and so not onely raised the price of their Provision Lodgings and other Necessaries but also denied to admit any to the presence of Sabatai unless for money setting the price sometimes at five sometimes at ten Dollers or more or less according as they guessed at their abilities or zeal of the person by which gain and advantage to the Turks no complaints or advices were carried to Adrianople either of the concourse of people or arguments amongst the Iews in that place but rather all civilities and libertie indulged unto them which served as a farther argument to ensnare this poor people in the belief of their Messiah During this time of confinement Sabatai had leisure to compose and institute a new method of Worship for the Iews and principally the manner of the celebration of the day of his Nativity which he prescribed in this manner BRethren and my People men of Religion inhabiting the City of Smyrna the renowned where live men and women and families Peace be unto you from the Lord of Peace and from me his beloved son King Salomon I command you that the ninth day of the Moneth of Ab which according to our account answered that year to the Moneth of Iune next to come you make a day of Invitation and of great Joy celebrating it with choice meats and pleasing drinks with many Candles and Lamps with Musick and Songs because it is the day of the Birth of Sabatai Sevi the high King above all kings of the Earth And as to matters of labour and other things of like nature do as becomes you upon a day of Festival adorned with your finest garments As to your Prayers let the same order be used as upon F●stivals To converse with Christians on that day is unlawful though your Discourse be of matters indifferent all labour is forbidden but to sound instruments is lawful This shall be the method and substance of your Prayers on this day of Festival After you have said Blessed be thou O holy God! then proceed and say Thou hast chosen us before all people and hast loved us and hast been delighted with us and hast humbled us more than all other Nations and hast sanctified us with thy Precepts and hast brought us near to thy service and the service of our King Thy holy great and terrible Name thou hast publi●hed amongst us and hast given us O Lord God according to thy love time of Joy of Festivals and times of Mirth and this day of Consolation for a solemn Convocation of Holiness for the Birth of our King the Messiah Sabatai Sevi thy servant and first-born son in love through whom we commemorate our coming out of Egypt And then you shall read for your Lesson the 1 2 and 3 Chapters of Deut. to the 17 verse appointing for the reading thereof five men in a perfect and uncorrupted Bible adding thereunto the Blessings of the Morning as are prescribed for days of Festival and for the Lesson out of the Prophets usually read in the Synagogue every Sabbath you shall read the 31 Chapt. of Ieremiah To your Prayer called Mussaf used in the Synagogue every Sabbath and solemn Festival you shall adjoyn that of the present Festival In stead of the Sacrifice of Addition of the returning of the Bible to its place you shall read with an Audible Voice Clear Sound the Psalm 95. And at the first Praises in the Morning after you have Sang Psalm 91 and just before you Sing Psalm 98 you shall repeate Psalm 132 but in the last Verse where it is said As for his Enemies I shall cloath them with shame but upon himself shall his Crown flourish in the place of upon himself you shall read upon the most High after which shall follow the 126 Psalm and then the 113 to the 119. At the Consecration of the Wine upon the Vigil or Even you shall make mention of the Feast of Consolation which is the day of the Birth of our King the ●es●iah Sabatai Sevi thy Servant and First-born Son giving the Blessing as followe●h Blessed be thou our God King of the World who hast made us to live and hast maintain'd us and hast kept us alive unto this time Upon the Eve of this day you shall Read also the 81 Psalm as also the 132 and 126 Psalmes which are appointed for the Morning Praises And this day shall be unto you for a Remembrance of a Solemn Day unto eternal Ages and a perpetual testimony between me and the Sons of Israel A●dite Audiendo manducate bonum Besides which Order and Method of Prayers for Solemnization of his Birth he prescribed other Rules for Divine Service and particularly published the same Indulgence and Priviledge to every one who should Pray at the ●omb of his Mother 〈◊〉 if he had taken on him a Pilgrimage to Pray and Sacrifice at Ierusalem The Devotion of the Iewes toward this pretended Messiah increased still more and more so that onely the Chief of the City went to attend and proffer their service toward him in the time of his Imprisonment but likewise decked their Synagogue with S. S. in Letters of Gold making for him on the Wall a Crown in the Circle of which was wrote the 91 Psalm at length in

the Time not yet Accomplish'd I could wish our modern Enthusiasts and other prodigious Sects amongst us who Dreame of the like Carnal Expectations and a Temporal Monarchy might seriously weigh how nearly their Characters approach the Style and Design of these Deluded Wretches least they fall into the same Condemnation and the Snare of the Devil ERRATA PAge 15 Line 17 Read defide l. 28 r. dignità 18. 6. r. Spina Longa 21 l. 12. r. DETECTED 24 l. 23 r. Wafer 30. 14. dele and 58. l. 17. Essendo l. 21. promessa per gli suoi Profeti e padri nostri 59. l. 2. r. digjuni 66. 11. r. should be wrought 77 l. 18. r. not onely 85. 22. r. one that as it was said 93. l. 22. r. tenor 97. 15. dele which and read it 99. 7. r. As that 110. l. 12. r. Cymeterie THE HISTORY OF PADRE OTTOMANO The first Impostor SUltan Ibrahim began his Reign in the Year 1049 according to the Turkish Hegira or Period which was of our Style Anno 1640. He was about nine years Emperor and had born to him after the first three years a Son nam'd Mahomed who is the present Grand Signior now swaying the Ottoman Scepter The Halaki or Great Sultana his Mother for by that Adjunct of Great she is distinguished from the rest of that high title being extreamly weak after her delivery necessitated them to seek out and provide a fitting Nurse for the new-born Infant But before we can proceed in the event of that some other Circumstances require the Readers attention It fortun'd that from the Year 1640 to 44 there liv'd in Constantinople one Giovanni Iacobo Cesii native of Persia but descended from a noble Family in Rome who being by profession a Merchant did use to traffique not onely in this Port but held commerce likewise in divers other places of the Levant so as being a Man of more than ordinary note he came at last to be particularly favour'd by the Grand Signiors chief Eunuch whose name was Iumbel Aga otherwise called Keslar Agasi a great Minion of Sultan Murad who deceasing a while after his following Successor confirm'd to him his former Charge which was to take Care of the Ladies who were kept in the Seraglio and superintended the Women for so the name imports nor is the dignity of less esteem than that of the Visier himself within the precincts of the Seraglio since it intitules him to the same Access to the Emperour his Lord and Master whom he serves as Pimp of honour if there be any true honour in so vile an Employment This Kefler Aga Eunuch as he was and of no denomination for Sex for his Lower-belly was par'd as smooth as his Chin would for all this be thoughr a Lover of Women not for his ability and furniture or that he took pleasure in their Embraces but because it is the Style of the Countrey and a mark of good breeding and Courtly Grandeur It was upon this Occasion that he one day sent for Iacobo Cesii and desir'd that he would search out and purchase for him the most elegant and handsome Wench he could possibly light upon amongst such slaves as are daily expos'd to sale in the Turkish Dominions The Merchant was not longbe'r he happen'd upon a very beautiful Creature of a modest Countenance and as near as could be guess'd a Virgin He bought her and brought her to the Aga who being extreamly taken with her shape and mine pay'd him for her 450 Dollers which was the Price she was valued at But this pretty Girle had for all her simpering and innocent demeanour been corrupted it seems before she came to the Eunuch and after some time that she had been with him for he kept her in a house of his own and not in the Seraglio was suspected to be with child Her Lord was wonderful importunate to sift out who it was that might be the Father of her great belly but she would by no means be induc'd to discover it which so incensed him that the Aga forthwith causes her to be turn'd out of doores and thus for some time she remained in disgrace though in the house of her Major Damo to whom he had given her to be disposed of till she was at last brought to bed of a goodly Boy Some time after the Child was born the Aga whether mov'd with Compassion or Curiosity we need not enquire begins to discover a most passionate desire to see the little Bastard which was no sooner brought to him but being exceedingly pleas'd with the Babe he immediately orders it a rich Vest and other fine things to wear though it was then not above eight or nine moneths old commanding that it should still be kept in his Stewards house where it was born It fortun'd that not long after was the Birth of the present Turkish Emperour and the Great Sultana as we said being indisposed The grand Aga was sent for to provide a Nurse for the young Prince that care belonging likewise particularly to his charge Immediately the Aga reflects upon his disgrac'd Slave whom he speedily sent for to him and brought to Court together with her pretty By-blow the present Padre Ottomano recommending her for a Nurse to the Royal Infant upon which account she stay'd near two whole years in the Seraglio Sultan Ibrahim father of the young Prince during this time grew so taken with the Nurses Boy as being much a lovelier CHILD than his own that he grew infinitely fonder of him which so inrag'd and displeas'd the Great Sultana that being now no longer able to dissemble her Resentment she grew in wroth with Ibrahim and gave a second and more cruel exilement to the unfortunate Nurse and her darling Child whom she banish'd out of the Seraglio and could never after abide the Aga that introduc'd them This violent action of the Sultana made you may imagine a foul house in the Court and it grew at last to that height that the Emperour who took it greatly to heart his pretty Favorite should be thus thrown out of the Seraglio running one day to the Sultana he snatches his son out of her arms and threw him into a Piscina or large Fountain which was near them where he had like to have been drown'd This passionate and unnatural action of Ibrahim inrag'd the Sultana now more then ever against the Aga so as she sought all occasions possible to put him to death as imputing the ill-nature of her Lord the Emperour to some wicked impressions of his Favorite but chiefly for his bringing the fair Slave and her Bastard into the Seraglio The continual hatred and machinations of the G. Sultana caused the Aga to consult his safety and besides he was not a little apprehensive of the capricious and unconstant humour of Ibrahim who being of a weak complexion and understanding he feared might in time be wrought upon by the Sultana to destroy him and therefore makes suit to the

Israel who Redeems our Captivity the Man elevated to the height of all sublimity the Messiah of the God of Jacob the true Messiah the Coelestial Lyon Sabatai Sevi whose Honour be exalted and his Dominion raised in a short time and for ever Amen After having kissed your hands and swept the Dust from your Feet as my Duty is to the King of Kings whose Majesty be exalted and his Empire enlarged These are to make known to the Supreme Excellency of that Place which is adorned with the Beauty of your Sanctity that the Word of the King and of his Law hath enlightned our Faces that day hath been a solemn day unto Israel and a day of light unto our Rulers for immediately we applyed our selves to performe y●ur Commands as our duty is And though we have heard of many strange things yet we are couragious and our heart is as the heart of a Lyon nor ought we to enquire a reason of your Doings for your Workes are Marvellous and past finding out And we are Confirmed in our Fidelity without all exception resigning up our very Souls for the holiness of your Name And now we are come as far as Damascus intending shortly to proceed in our Iourney to Scanderone according as you have commanded us that so we may ascend and see the Face of God in light as the light of the Face of the King of Life And we servants of your servants shall cleanse the dust from your Feet beseeching the Majesty of your Excellency and Glory to vouchsafe from your habitation to have a care of us and help us with the Force of your Right Hand of Strength and shorten our way which is before us And we have our Eyes towards Jah Jah who will make hast to help us and save us that the Children of Iniquity shall not hurt us and towards whom our hearts pant and are consumed within us who shall give us Tallons of Iron to be worthy to stand under the shadow of your Asse These are the Words of the S●rvant of your servants who prostrates himself to betrod on by the soles of your feet Nathan Benjamine And that he might Publish this Doctrine of himself and the Messiah more plainly he Wrote from Damascus this following Letter to the Iewes at Aleppo and parts the●eabouts To the Residue or Remnant of the Israelites Peace without end THese my words are to give you notice how that I am Arrived in Peace at Damascus and behold I go to meet the Face of our Lord whose Majesty be exalted for he is the Soveraign of the King of Kings whose Empire be enlarged According as he hath Commanded us and the 12 Tribes to elect unto Him 12 Men so have we done And we now go to Scanderone by his command to sh●w our faces together with part of the principal of those particular Friends to whom he hath given Licence to assemble in that same place And now I come to make known unto you that though you have heard strange things of our Lord yet let not your hearts faint or fear but rather fortifie your selves in your Faith because all his Actions are Miraculous and Secret which Humane understanding cannot comprehend and who can penetrate into the depth of them In a short time all things shall be Manifested to you clearly in their Purity and you shall know and consider and be instructed by the Inventor himself Bl●ssed is he who can expect and arrive to the Salvation of the true Messiah who will speedily publish his Authority and Empire over us now and for ev●r Nathan And now all the Cities of Turky where the Iewes Inhabited were full of the expectation of the Messiah no Trade nor course of Gaine was followed every one imagin'd that dayly Provisions Riches Honours and Government were to descend upon them by some unknown and Miraculous manner an example of which is most observable in the Iewes at Thessalonica who now full of Assurance that the Restoration of their Kingdome and the Accomplishment of the time for the coming of the Messiah was at hand judged themselves obliged to double their Devotions and Purifie their Consciences from all Sins and Enormities which might be obvious to the scrutiny of him who was now come to Penetrate into the very Thoughts and Imaginations of Mankinde In which Work certain Chochams were appointed to direct the People how to Regulate their Prayers Fasts and other Acts of Devotion But so forward was every one now in his Acts of Pen●nce that they stay'd not for the Sentence of the Chocham or prescription of any Rules but apply'd themselves immediately to Fasting And some in that manner beyond the abilities of Nature that having for the space of seven dayes taken no sustenance were famished to death Others buryed themselves in their Gardens covering their naked Bodies with Earth their heads onely excepted remained in their Beds of dirt until their Bodies were stifned with the cold and moisture others would indure to have melted VVax dropt upon their Shoulders others to rowle themselves in Snow and throw their Bodies in the Coldest season of Winter into the Sea or Frozen Waters But the most common way of Mortification was first to prick their Backs and Sides with ●ho●es and then to give themselves thirty nine Lashes All Business was laid aside none Worked or opened Shop unless to clear his VVarehouse of Merchandize at any Price who had superfluity in Houshold-stuffe sold it for what he could but yet not to Iewes for they were Interdicted from Bargaines or Sales on the pain of Excommunication Pecuniary Mulcts or Corporal Punishment for all Business and Imployment was esteemed the Test and Touchstone of their Faith It being the general Tenent that in the dayes that the Messiah appeares the Iewes shall become Masters of the Estates and Inheritance of Infidels until when they are to content themselves with Matters onely n●cessary to maintain and support Life But because every one was not Master of so much Fortune and Provision as to live without dayly Labour therefore to quiet the Clamours of the Poor and prevent the Enormous lives of some who upon these occasions would become Vagabonds and desert their Cities due order was taken to make Collections which were so liberally bestow'd that in Thessalonica onely 400 Poore were supported by the meer charity of the Richer And as they indeavour'd to purge their Consciences of Sin and to apply themselves to good VVorkes that the Messiah might find the City prepared for his Reception so least he should accuse them of any omission in the Law and particularly in their neglect of that Antient Precept of Increase and Multiply they marryed together Children of ten yeares of age and some under without respect to Riches or Poverty Condition or Quality But being promiscuously joyned to the number of 6 or 700 ●ouple upon better and cooler thoughts after the deceipt of the false M●ssiah was discover'd or the expectation of his Coming grew

Sabatai was seen to walk through the streets with a numerous attendance and when they laid Shackles on his neck and feet they not onely fell from him but were converted into Gold with which he gratified his true and faithful believers and disciples Some Miracles also were reported of Nathan that onely at reading the name of any particular man or woman he would immediately recount the Story of his or her life their sins or defaults and accordingly impose just correction and penance for them These strong reports coming thus confidently into Italy and all parts the Iews of Casel di Monferrato resolved to send three persons in behalf of their society in the nature of extraordinary Legates to Smyrna to make inquiry after the truth of all these rumors who accordingly arriving in Smyrna full of expectation and hopes intending to present themselves with great Humility and Submission before their Messiah and his Prophet Nathan were entertain'd with the sad news that Sa●atai was turned Turk by which information the Character of their Embassy in a manner ceasing every one of them laying aside the formalitie of his function endeavoured to lodge himself best to his own conveni●nce But that they might return to their brethren at home with the certain particulars of the Success of the affairs they made a visit to the brother of Sabatai who still continued to perswade them that Sabatai was notwithstanding the true Messiah that it was not he who had taken on him the habit and form of a Turk but his Angel or Spirit his body being ascended into Heaven until God shall again see the season and time to restore it adding further that an effect hereof they should see by the prophet Nathan certified now every day expected who having wrought Miracles in many places would also for their Consolation reveal hidden sec●ets unto them with which they should not onely remain satisfied but astonished With this onely hope of Nathan these Legates were a little comforted resolving to attend his arrival in regard they had a Letter to consign into his hands and according to their instructions were to demand of him the grounds he had for his Prophesies and what assurance he had that he was divinely inspir'd and how these things were reveal'd unto him which he had committed to Paper and dispersed to all parts of the World At length Nathan arrives near Smyrna on Friday the third of March towards the Evening and on Sunday these Legates made their visit to him But Nathan upon news of the success of his beloved Messiah began to grow sullen and reserved So that the Legates could scarce procure admittance to him all that they could do was to inform him that they had a Letter to him from the brother-hood of Italy and commission to conferr with him concerning the foundation and authority he had for his prophesies but Nathan refused to take the Letter ordering Kain Abolafio a Chocham of the City of Smyrna to receive it so that the Legates returned ill contented but yet with hopes at Nathan's arrival at Smyrna to receive better satisfaction But whil'st Nathan intended to enter into Smyrna the Chochams of Constantinople being before advised of his resolution to take a Journey into their parts not knowing by which way he might come sent their Letters and Orders to Smyrna Prussia and every way round to hinder his passage and interrupt his journey fearing that things beginning now to compose the Turks appeas'd for the former disorders and the minds of the Iews in some manner setled might be moved and combustions burst out afresh by the appearance of this new Impostor And therefore dispatc●ed this Letter as followeth To you who are the Shepherds of Israel and Rulers who reside for the great God of the whole World in the Citie of Smyrna which is Mother in Israel to her Princes her Priests her Iudges and especially to the perfect wise men and of great experience may the Lord God cause you to live before him and delight in the multitude of Peace Amen so be the will of the Lord. THese our Letters are dispatched unto you to let you understand that in the place of your Holiness we have heard that the learned man which was in Gaza called Nat●an Benjamin hath published Vaine Doctrines and made the World Tremble at his Words and Inventions And that at this time we have receiv'd Advice that this man some dayes since departed from Gaza and took his Journey by the way of Scanderone intending there to Imbarke for Smyrna and thence to go to Constantinople or Adrianople And though it seem a strange thing unto us that any Man should have a desire to throw himself into a place of Flames and Fire and into the Sparkes of Hell notwithstanding we ought to fear and suspect it For the Feet of Man alwayes guide him to the worst Wherefore we Under-written do Advertise you that this Man coming within the compass of your Jurisdiction you give a stop to his Journey and not suffer him to proceed farther but presently to return back For we would have you know that at his coming he will again begin to move those Tumults which have been caused through the Imaginations of a New Kingdome And that Miracles are not to be Wrought every day God forbid that by his coming the People of God should be destroy'd in all places where they are of which he will be the first whose Blood be upon his own Head For in this Conjuncture every little Error or Fault is made Capital You may remember the Danger of the first Combustion And it is very probable that he will be an occasion of greater which the Tongue is not able to express with Words And therefore by Vertue of Ours and Your own Authority you are to hinder him from proceeding farther in his Journey upon paine of all those Excommunications which Our Law can Impose and to force him to return back again both he and his Company But if he shall in any manner Oppose you and Rebel against your Word your Indeavours and Law are sufficient to hinder him for it will be well for him and all Israel For the Love of God let these Words enter into your Eares since they are not vain things for the Lives of all the Iewes and his also consist therein And the Lord God behold from Heaven and have pitty upon his People Israel Amen So be his holy Will Written by those who seek your Peace Ioam Tob Son of Chanania Iacar Moise Benveniste Isaac Alce-nacagne Ioseph Kazabi Samuel Acazsine Caleb Son of Chocham Samuel deceased Moise Barndo Elihezer Aluff Iehoshuah Rap●ael Benveniste By these meanes Nathan being disappointed of his Wandring Progress and partly ashamed of the event of Things contrary to his Prophesie was resolved without entring Smyrna to returne again Howsoever he obtained leave to visit the Sepulcher of his Mother and there to receive Pardon of his Sins according to the Institution of Saba●ai before

Motion according to the season of the Modern Prophe●ies whereupon strange Reports flew from place to place of the March of Multitudes of People from unknown parts into the remote Desarts of Arabia supposed to be the Ten Tribes and halfe lost for so many Ages That a Ship was arrived in the Northern parts of Scotland with her Sailes and Cordage of Silke Navigated by Mariners who spake nothing but Hebrew with this Motto on their Sailes The Twelve Tribes of Israel These Reportes agreeing thus near to former Predictions put the wild sort of the World into an expectation of strange Accidents this year should produce in reference to the Iewish Monarchy In this manner Millions of People were possessed when Sabatai Sevi first appear'd at Smyrna and published himself to the Iewes for their Messiah relating the greatness of their approaching Kingdome the strong hand whereby God was about to deliver them from Bondage and gather them from all partes of the World It was strange to see how the fancy took and how fast the report of Sabatai and his Doctrine flew through all partes where Turkes and Iews inhabited the latter of which were so deeply possessed with a beliefe of their new Kingdome and Riches and many of them with promotion to Offices of Government Renown and Greatness that in all parts from Constantinople to Buda which it was my fortune that year to Travel I perceiv'd a strange transport in the Iewes none of them attending to any business unless to winde up former negotiations and to prepare themselves and Families for a Journey to Ierusalem All their Discourses their Dreames and disposal of their Affaires tended to no other Design but a re-establishment in the Land of Promise to Greatness Glory Wisdome and Doctrine of the Messiah whose Original Birth and Education are first to be recounted Sabatai Sevi was Son of Mordechai Sevi an Inhabitant and Natural of Smyrna who gained his Livelihood by being Broaker to an English Marchant in that place a person who before his death was very decrepit in his Body and full of the Goute and other Infirmities but his Son Sabatai Sevi addicting himself to Study became a notable Proficient in the Hebrew and Metaphysicks and arrived to that point of Sophistry in Divinity and Metaphysicks that he vented a New Doctrine in their Law drawing to the Profession of it so many Disciples as raised one day a Tumult in the Synagogue for which afterwards he was by a Censure of the Cho●hams who are Expounders of the Law banished the City During the time of his Exile he ●ravelled to Thessalonica now called Salonica where he Marryed a very handsome Woman but either not having that part of Oeconomy as to govern a Wife or being Importent towards Women as was pretended or that she found not favour in his Eyes she was divorced from him Again he took a second Wife more beautiful then the former but the same causes of discontent raising a difference between them he obtained another Divorce from this Wife also And being now free from the Incumbrances of a Family his wandring Head mov'd him to Travel through the Morea thence to Tripoli in Syria Gaza and Ierusalem and by the way picked up a Ligernese Lady whom he made his third Wife the Daughter of some Polonian or German her Original and Parentage not being very well known And being now at Ierusalem he began to Reforme the Law of the Iewes and Abolish the Fast of Tamnz which they keep in the Moneth of Iune and there meeting with a certain Iew called Nathan a proper Instrument to promote his Design he communicated to him his Condition his Course of Life and Intentions to Proclaime himself Messiah of the World so long expected and desired by the Iewes This Design took wonderfully with Nathan and because it was thought necessary according to Scripture and Antient Prophesies that Elias was to precede the Messiah as St. Iohn Baptist was the fore-runner of Christ Nathan thought no man so proper to Act the Part of the Prophet as himself and so no sooner had Sabatai declared himself the Messiah but Nathan discovers himself to be his Prophet forbiding all the Fasts of the Iewes in Ierusalem and declaring that the Bridegroom being come nothing but Joy and Triumph ought to dwell in their Habitations Writing to all the Assemblies of the Iewes to perswade them to the same beliefe And now the Schisme being begun and many Iewes really believing what they so much desired Nathan took the courage and boldness to Prophesie That one Year from the 27th of Kislen which is the moneth of Iune the Messiah shall appear before the Grand Signor take from him his Crown and lead him in Chaines like a Captive Sabatai also at Gaza Preached Repentance to the Iewes and Obedience to Himself and Doctrine for that the coming of the Messiah was at hand which Novelties so Affected the Iewish Inhabitants of those partes that they gave up themselves wholly to their Prayers Almes and Devotions and to confirme this beliefe the more it hapned that at the same time that Newes hereof with all perticulars were dispatched from Gaza to acquaint the Brethren in Forrain Partes The Rumour of the Messiah hath flown so swift and gained such reception that Intelligence came from all Partes and Countreys where the Iewes inhabit by Letters to Gaza and Ierusalem Congratulating the happiness of their Deliverance and expiration of the time of their Servitude by the Appearance of the Messiah To which they adjoyned other Prophesies relating to that Dominion the Messiah was to have over all the World that for Nine Moneths after he was to disappeare during which time the Iewes were to suffer and many of them to undergoe Martyrdom but then returning again Mounted on a Caelestial Lyon with his Bridle made of Serpents with seven heads accompanyed with his Brethren the Iewes who Inhabited on the other side of the River Sabation he should be acknowledged for the Sole Monarch of the Universe and then the Holy Temple should descend from Heaven already built framed and beautified wherein they should offer Sacrifice for ever And here I leave you to consider how strangely this Deceived People was Amused when these Confident and vain Reports and Dreams of Power and Kingdomes had wholly transported them from the ordinary course of their Trade and Interest This noise and rumour of the Messiah having begun to fill all places Sabatai Sevi resolved to Travel towards Smyrna the Country of his Nativity and thence to Constantinople the Capital City where the principal Work of Preaching was to have been performed Nathan thought it not fit to be long after him and therefore Travels by the way of Damascus where resolving to continue some time for better Propagation of this Nes Doctrine in the meane while Writes this Letter to Sabatai Sevi as followeth 22. Kesvan of this YEAR To the King our King Lord of our Lords who gathers the Dispersed of