_Sabatai Sevi_ was Son of _Mordechai Sevi_, an Inhabitant, and Natural of _Smyrna_, who gained his Livelihood by being _Broaker_ to an _English_ Marchant in that place; a person, who before his death was very decrepit in his Body, and full of the Goute, and other Infirmities, but his Son _Sabatai Sevi_ addicting himself to Study, became a notable Proficient in the _Hebrew_ and _Metaphysicks_; and arrived to that point of _Sophistry_ in _Divinity_ and _Metaphysicks_, that he vented a New Doctrine in their Law, drawing to the Profession of it so many Disciples, as raised one day a Tumult in the _Synagogue_; for which afterwards he was by a Censure of the _Chochams_ (who are Expounders of the Law) banished the City.
During the time of his Exile, he Travelled to _Thessalonica_, now called _Salonica_, where he Marryed a very handsome Woman; but either not having that part of Oeconomy as to govern a Wife, or being Impotent towards Women, as was pretended, or that she found not favour in his Eyes, she was divorced from him: Again, he took a second Wife, more beautiful then the former, but the same causes of discontent raising a difference between them, he obtained another Divorce from this Wife also. And being now free from the Incumbrances of a Family, his wandring Head mov'd him to Travel through the _Morea_, thence to _Tripoli_ in _Syria_, _Gaza_, and _Jerusalem_; and by the way picked up a _Ligornese_ Lady, whom he made his third Wife, the Daughter of some _Polonian_ or _German_, her Original and Parentage not being very well known. And being now at _Jerusalem_ he began to Reforme the _Law_ of the _Jewes_, and Abolish the _Fast_ of _Tamuz_ (which they keep in the Moneth of _June_) and there meeting with a certain _Jew_ called _Nathan_, a proper Instrument to promote his Design; he communicated to him his Condition, his Course of Life, and Intentions, to Proclaime himself _Messiah_ of the World, so long expected and desired by the _Jewes_. This Design took wonderfully with _Nathan_; and because it was thought necessary according to _Scripture_, and Antient _Prophesies_, that _Elias_ was to precede the _Messiah_, as St. _John Baptist_ was the fore-runner of _Christ_: _Nathan_ thought no man so proper to Act the Part of the _Prophet_ as himself; and so no sooner had _Sabatai_ declared himself the _Messiah_, but _Nathan_ discovers himself to be his Prophet, forbiding all the Fasts of the _Jewes_ in _Jerusalem_; and declaring, that the Bridegroom being come, nothing but Joy, and Triumph ought to dwell in their Habitations; Writing to all the Assemblies of the _Jewes_, to perswade them to the same beliefe.