" JEWS EXPELLED FROM BOHEMIA, A.M. 5302. 337 borders of Italy in the beginning of the barley harvest*. And the whole dukedom of Milan trembled much; and the heart of the people melted away and became as watert. And he sent three galleys to the east unto Solyman, saying, "Come thou also out, I pray thee, that we may fight against the emperor, and we will see what will become of his dreams." But Solyman would not hearken unto him, for he feared lest peradventure mischief should befall him§; and they returned to their own country, even into France. 1051. In that year there were burned in Germany, many cities, both large and small, and their smoke went up toward heaven; and it was not known who had kindled the fire. And they wrongfully accused the Jews and the shepherds, saying, "Ye have done this wicked thing;" and they chastised them, and afflicted their souls, so that the Jews confessed what never came into their hearts; and they burned them with fire." 1052. Then Bohemia rebelled against her king and her God, because of the wrath of the Lutherans; and in those days they drave out the Jews from the provinces of Bohemia and from Prague, the capital; and they removed from thence in waggons in the month Adar three hundred and two, after 338 קיז JEWS EMIGRATE TO POLAND, A.M. 5302. the smaller date, and went into Poland and abode there. And many died on the road, and many were slain by the edge of the sword. And the Jews had dwelled in Prague from the day they were led captive from their own country until that day*. But the Bohemians turned to be their enemiest, saying, "They were among those that troubled us in the wars of the Turks, and joined our enemies; and now let them get up out of the lands, and we shall see what will become of their dreams||." 1053. And God took away their reproach¶, and Lienz was burned after they went out. And it was a great city, the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth**, and only twenty houses were left in the midst thereof; and it was a lasting heap for many daystt. 1054. And it came to pass, after some days, that King Ferdinand returned unto his former throne‡‡, and spake kindly concerning the Jews§§, to bring them back; and many returned to their country, and unto their kindred|||| as at the first¶¶¶. * Comp. Deut. xxix. 28. + Is. lxiii. 10. Jud. xi. 39. § Exod. i. 10. || Gen. xxvii. 20. ¶ Comp. Gen. xxx. 23. ** Lam. ii. 15. + Deut. xiii. 16; Josh. viii. 28. ; ad solium suum primum rediit וישוב על כסאו הראשון it i. e. He recovered his former power. Comp. Ps. xlv. 7; lxxxix. 4 (5); Chr. xvii. 14. §§ 2 Kings xxv. 28; Comp. I King xxii. 13. Gen. xii. 1. ¶¶ Is. i. 26. קיז EARTHQUAKE AT FLORENCE. 339 1055. And there was a great earthquake in the borders of Florence on the twelfth day of the month of June, which is the fourth month. And all the people of the country feared much, and many fled from before the earthquake, according as they did in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah*. And great and mighty buildings and towers it cast to the ground†, and much people died. And in Scarpariat, which is a little city, nigh unto Florence, about twenty houses only were left; but the rest of the city the earthquake cast down, and the pit swallowed them up alive§. This was the finger of God||; there was not such an earthquake in the borders of Florence since it became a nation¶. 1056. In Milan also was the hand of God in the month of July, which is the fifth month. And they kindled a fire in the gunpowder at the gate of Como, and there fell about twenty houses to the ground, and they that died in that slaughter were but few in number; and they carried them in their coats**, and all the city was moved. And they bewailed the burning which the Lord had kindledtt. *Zech. xiv. 5. .סקארפראריה ! || Exod. viii. 19. ** Lev. x. 5. † Comp. Ezek. xxxviii. 19, 20. 340 EARTHQUAKE IN ANATOLIA. קיז 1057. From the uttermost parts of the earth we have heard songs*, that in Anatolia also was a great earthquake; and it cast the city of Tirot to the ground, and there was only a small number of all its inhabitants left; and the son of the Turk was not there, for he went out to war against the Sophi, king of Persia, and the Lord delivered him from that great earthquake. 1058. And the king of France did not hasten to go into Italy, but turned his face toward Perpignan, and the French besieged it many days, and they cast up trenches against it, but could not do anything, for the Spaniards had fortified themselves much; and the French returned unto their country with shame. And war was also in the border of Flanders at that time, for the duke of Cleves gathered together about twenty thousand men, and went to war against Antwerp; but could not fight against it, so he drew back. And there met him about four thousand men who were sent to their help; and they discomfited them with the edge of the sword||, and he returned unto his own country. And also in Navarra¶ they fought with the emperor in that year, but could not prevail against him, and returned unto their own country with shame. i. e. Vague reports. Comp. Is. xxiv. 16. .טירו + קיח THE FRENCH REPULSED FROM ALBA. 341 1059. And the French, who were in Piedmont, went unto Cherasco in the darkness of the night, and took it on the twenty-fifth day of the month of August, which is the sixth month. And the soldiers they sent away free, but took the spoil of their horses, and of their money, and of all their substance*. And they went also unto Verruat, and in the midst thereof were the Stradiotit, who ride on swift beasts; and they took it, and took all their substance, but sent them out free. And they went also unto Ardison and Sillon§ in that night, and did unto the soldiers as they had done in Verrua; and it was unto the Spaniards for shame. And also unto Alba|| the men went, and about fifty men climbed up its walls. And when the watchmen of the walls heard it, they cried with a loud voice, and the soldiers and the inhabitants of the city awoke from their sleep. And they all arose [P] as one man, and fell upon them, and the French could not stand before them and drew back; and those rash men who climbed upon its walls were slain by the edge of the sword; there remained not so much as one of them** [קיה] • Num. xxxi. 9. .ווירואה + .סטראדיוטי + ארדיסון וזיליאן 5 אלבה ! ¶ Ezra iii. 1; Neh. viii. 1. **Exod. xiv. 28. |