The fictional Jewish council of 1650: A great English pipedream

Abstract

In the large amount of philosemitic literature that came to the surface in England during the Puritan Revolution, one of the stranger items is a twelve-page pamphlet by one Samuel Brett, entitled A Narrative of the Proceedings of a great Council of JEWS, Assembled in the Plain of Ageda in Hungaria, about 30 Leagues distant from Buda, to examine the Scriptures concerning Christ; on the 12th of October 1650. By Samuel Brett there present. There is then a lengthy second title, Also, A Relation of some other Observations in his Travels beyond the Seas, all around the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Italy and Paris. The work was published in April 1655 by Richard Moon, and it purports to be the eyewitness report and observations by Mr. Brett of a great meeting of Jewish leaders in 1650. The "author" states (p. 4) that many honest Christians wanted the narrative to be published, though he himself intended to communicate it privately, only to friends. 'The chief Argument by which they have perswaded me to do it, is, because they do conceive it to be a preparative and hopeful sign of the Jews conversion; and, that it will be glad tidings to the Church of Christ; and therefore I have yielded to satisfie their desires therein" (pp. 4-5).