illah Ben
Israel.

The Jewish females were brought up, at the period of which we treat,
with the utmost strictness, and kept in great seclusion, scarcely ever
associating but with their own people, and enduring many privations in
consequence of never mixing in general society. It is true they had
companions of their own nation, and amusements befitting (according to
the notions of the Elders) their state and age; but, nevertheless, they
were held under much and injudicious restraint, the result of which was
evil. It is seldom that the young can be held back by a tight and
galling rein, without either biting the bit, or breaking the bridle.
Zillah was the only child of her father, and nothing could exceed the
expense or the care lavished upon her. Had Manasseh himself
superintended her education, it is but fair to infer that his wisdom and
judgment would have curbed the headstrong and stubborn nature of her
mind and temper; but, deprived in her infancy of a mother's
watchfulness, and Ben Israel's duty and business calling him continually
from one country to another, she was necessarily intrusted to the care
of certain relatives of his own, Polish Jews; who, though excellent
friends in their way, and well versed in all the rites and ceremonies of
the Mosaic law, were totally ignorant of the proper course to be pursued
with a wild, high-spirited girl, fully aware of the importance of her
father's wealth and influence, and panting for the time when she should
share in both. The people with whom she resided perceived her
wilfulness; but, instead of combating it with reason, they sought to
overcome it by force--and the best of all force, according to their
ideas, was that which a staid and sober husband might exercise. The
person upon whom they fixed was a Jew diamond-dealer, who had numbered
about as many years as her father, but was greatly his inferior both in
sagacity and power; indeed, there were very few who could compete with
the learned Rabbi, Manasseh Ben Israel, in either of these qualities.
Cromwell thought most highly of his talents, and bestowed upon him a
degree of confidence he reposed in few, treating him with a respect and
attention which all classes of Christians thought he carried much too
far; for, at that time, Toleration was only in its infancy, and true
peace-loving Religion suffered much from the persecutions with which the
successful party never failed to visit those over whom they had
triumphed. Cat