Transcript - document 21

A petition by Manasseh ben Israel and others to Oliver Cromwell, asking for Jews to have the right to practise their religion in their own houses, dated 1656.

(Catalogue reference: SP 18/125 folio 173)

1. To His Highnesse Oliver Lord Protector of The
2. Com[m]onwelth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, & the Dom[m]inions thereof
3. The Humble Petition of The Hebrews at Present

[Margin] Humbly sheweth

4. Reziding in this citty of London whose names ar Underwritten
5. That AcKnolledging The Manyfold favours and Protection yo[u]r Highnesse hath bin pleased
6. to graunt Us in order that wee may with security meete privatley in owr particular houses
7. to owr Devosions, And being desirous to be favoured more, by yo[u]r Highnesse wee pray with all
8. Humblenesse th[a]t by the best meanes which may be such Protection may be graunted Us in
9. Writting as that wee may therew[i]th meete at owr said private devotions in owr Particular
10. houses without feere of Molestation either to owr persons, famillys or estates, owr desires
11. Being to Live Peacebly Under yo[u]r Highnes Governement, And being wee ar all mortall wee
12. allsoe Humbly pray yo[u]r Highnesse to graunt Us Lisence that those which may dey of owr nation
13. may be buryed in such place out of the cittye as wee shall thinck Convenient with the Proprietors
14. Leave in whose Land the place shall be, and soe wee shall as well in owr Life tyme, as at owr death
15. be highly favoured by yo[u]r Highnesse for whose Long Lyfe and Prosperitty wee shall Continually pray
16. To the allmighty God
17. Menasseh ben Israel
18. David ABrabanel
19. Abraham Israel Carvajal [?]
20. Abrahan Coen Gonsales
21. Jahacob de Caceres [?]
22. ABraham Israel de Brito [?]
23. Isak Lopez Chillon
24. Oliver P[rotector]
25. We doe referr this Petic[i]on
26. to the Considera[t]ion of o[u]r Councill
27. March the 24th 1655/6