Account

In Rome

I, David, son of King Solomon of blessed memory, from the Khibur Desert, arrived at the gate of the State of Rome on the fifteenth day of the month of First Adar in the year 5584 [1524]. A gentile from Venice came before me and spoke to me in Arabic, and I was angry with him. I went to the court of the Pope, riding on a white horse, with my old servant in front of me, and also accompanied by other Jews. I entered the house of the Pope while riding on the horse, and afterward I came before the Bishop Gudeo [Eugidio], and all the bishops and ministers came to see me. I was in the presence of the aforementioned Bishop Gudeo, with his honor R. Joseph Ashkenazi, who was that bishop’s teacher. His honor R. Joseph Tsarfati came before us, while I was before the bishop and talking with him. My interpreter was the friend who came with me, and the Jews heard everything I said to the bishop. I said to the bishop, “How can I speak of these matters to you in brief; I will deliver all I have to say to the Pope.” And I stood before the bishop until nightfall of the Sabbath night, at which point the Jews asked the bishop permission for me to go with them until after the Sabbath. The bishop said to me, “If you wish to go with them, go, and if you want a room in my house, I will give it to you; for I will go before the Pope tomorrow, and I will send to tell you what the Pope said to me.” And thus I went with his honor R. Joseph Ashkenazi and with the elder R. Raphael, for they live in the same house, and we ate on the Sabbath night and we slept until the morning. I then went with them to the synagogue, in order to recite a blessing of thanks in the presence of a Torah scroll, and I stood in prayer until it was completed. Next, we went to the home of the aforementioned elder R. Raphael, and I was accompanied by children and men and women the whole way, until I entered R. Raphael’s house. I was fasting on the Sabbath [because of a bad dream], and throughout the Sabbath day people came to the house to see me—men and women, Jews and Christians, until the night. After that, Bishop Gudeo sent to his honor R. Ashkenazi and he came before me and said to me that the Pope had ordered the bishop that I should come before him on Sunday at eleven o’clock no matter what, and that the Pope was greatly pleased and desired to meet me. Accordingly, in the morning before prayers they gave me a horse, and I went to the district of St. Giles to the home of an old man, the brother-in-law of R. Joseph Tsarfati, before the morning prayer, and I prayed there. Many Jews came before me, may the Holy One blessed be He preserve them and those like them a thousand times [see Deuteronomy 1:11].

In the Presence of the Pope

At eight o’clock I went to the house of the Pope and entered the house of Bishop Gudeo. Before me were about twelve old and honorable Jews, none of them young men. As soon as he saw me, the bishop rose from his seat, and we went, he and I, to the place of the Pope’s quarters. I conversed with him [the Pope], and he received my words cordially, and he said, “This thing has come from God” [see Genesis 24:50]. And I said to him, “King Joseph and his elders ordered me to speak with you, so that you should make peace between the emperor and the king of France no matter what, for it will be to your advantage and theirs to make this peace. Write me a letter to these two kings, so they will come to our assistance, and we will also help them. Also, write me a letter to King Prester John.” The Pope replied, “Regarding the two kings that you said I should make peace between, I cannot do it, and if you need help—the king of Portugal is enough for you; I will write to him, and he will do everything necessary. His country is closer to your country, over the Great Sea, which they are accustomed to sailing every year, more than the two kings of which you spoke.” I answered the Pope, “Everything you wish I desire, and I will not turn to the right or left from what you command me, because I came for the sake of serving God, not for any other reason. Behold, I am ready for your benefit and advantage all the days of my life.”

Afterward the Pope sent for Bishop Gudeo and asked, “Where does he dwell, the inbashdor [ambassador]?” He answered by describing how the Jews asked for him to go with them on the Sabbath day, as the honorable Jews were before the Pope. The Jews replied to the Pope, “Leave the inbashdor with us, for we will honor him for your sake.” The Pope responded to them as follows: “If you pay me honor, I will reimburse you for all the expenses you incur.” I said to the Pope, “I want to come before you once every two days, to see your face as one who sees the face of God” [see Genesis 33:10]. The Pope responded to me by explaining how he ordered Bishop Gudeo, “that every time he comes to see me, he should come with you, and he will take care all of your affairs.” And thus I took leave of him and departed from his presence and went with the Jews, and I was happy and of good heart. And I went to my house on Saint Giles Street, to the old man’s house.