Two Epistles in the Year 1599, Letter 1
TVVO EPISTLES VNTOUNTO GREAT MEN OF BRITANIE, IN THE YEARE 1599. Requeſting them to put their neckes vntounto the work of theyr Lord: To break the bread of the ſoule unto the hungry Iewes, by theyr writinges, or by theyr charges, through ſuch as be ready to declare all that theyr neceſsity doth require.
Printed now the ſecond time, in the yeare ſynce the creation of the world 5532.
Or yeare of the LORD 1606.
Tranſlated by the Auctour for the uſe of ſuch as would & ſhould know what in this cauſe ought to be performed.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE TEMPORAL LORDS OF the Q. of Englandes moſt excellent privey Counſell.
It is high time (right honorable) that ſom order were taken for that matter which the Q. Ambaſſadour of Byzāttium iudged likely to turn to the good of Criſtē dome by right vſage. An entrance into which buſines ſtandeth in anſwering D. Abraham Ruben the Ebrew his Epiſtle. which to pas over in ſilence any indifferent wil iudg it great prophaneſſe. Hee ſpeaketh glorious thinges of Gods goodnes vponupon vsus. vntounto which if wee giuegive no acclamation, wee may iuſtly be counted godles. The Q. alſo is highly extolled by him for extraordinary breading of rare knowledge. Where, as it is profitable for the realme that ſhee ſhould be counted in trueth no leſſe then in title defendour of the fayth, (which defence ſtandeth chiefly in breeding rare skil for the trueth & clearnes of the holy Scripture) ſo it is nedefull to confirm the Iewes prayſing in that her Divines ſhew in worck all which his wordes tell: whereby the Ambaſſadour be not counted a Thraſo for his nation, but honorable in ſage ſpech. Moreover the Iew made a petition honorable for the Q. to performe: and ſuch as ſhe may not deny without open contempt of Chriſtianitie: That one might be ſent to Conſtātina able to direct the Iewes willing to learne Chriſtianity. It is reported in Germanie that this Doctor hath turned full many to our fayth: who if they be not wel directed will turne to many by waies. And the nation that ſetleth them ſhould finde Eternal bleſſing of God, and honour among men. An other petition alſo he hath as profitable for our nation: as nedeful for Iewes: and pleaſant for a man of Learning to vndertake. He requeſteth a full treatiſe for the Scripture & againſt the Law of traditions or Talmud. Here great matter of infinite vſe might be handled, for both teſtaments, their tongues & copie, (how they ſhewe Gods wiſedome and quick eye) and theyr ſtory pithily compact, with Chriſtianity breathing through all. So for Iewes traditions, the Ieruſalemy Talmud might be printed, with approbation for their examininge of much text, but in ſuch pointes as Rabbines wreſt, to defeate S. Stephen, Actes. 7. who truly ſaith that after Idolathrous Terahs death Abraham was called from Charan: and to diſgrace S. Paul geving Saul and Samuel 40. yeares they moſt impudently geue Samuel but 11. and Saul bare two: againſt their owne graunt vponupon Midras tillin Pſalm. 24. So to defeate the Iubilees that they fall not vponupon our Lords death, which one poinct falling out from the partition of the Land by fifties vntounto redemption makes all paſt gainſaying, here to worke diſturbance they confound all. So where Gabriel telleth an end of Circumciſion, ſacrifice, and all Moſes and the Gentiles callinge into equall covenaunt: there of malice they wander exceedingly. And for the familie of David to diſgrace S. Luke and S. Mathew, they forge vanity. For all ſuch they ſhould be confuted. And generally for all their traditiones: whereof they that once were lawfull, had expreſſe limitation when they ſhould ende. And all their owne additions were fooliſh or nedeles. For theſe every Maſſecheth or treatiſe might be confuted. This farr reacheth the Iewes Epiſtle, that which I hauehave ſene. His deſire of awnſwer appeareth in that he wrote a ſecond: which the Poſt of Strasburge hath loſt. The iourneys of it are ſo far examined. Your honours muſt ſhew what you meane to doe in this caſe. Religion with policy, as I trow, forbid you to neglect it. Yf your honours thinke otherwiſe; that I may diſcharge my ſelf, and make away for other ſtates to thinck vponupon this ſame cauſe, I truſt your Lordſhips will not be offended that I print this Letter in ſondry languages. Thus I commend your HH. to God, as you regarde his H. & Chriſtianity commended vntounto you. BASIL, 29. Iulij, 1599.
Your Lordships to commaund, HVGH BROVGHTON.