The commercial policy that had led to the Navigation Act in October 1651 had made Cromwell want to attract the rich Jews of Amsterdam to London so that they might transfer their important trade interests with the Spanish Main from Holland to England.
The mission of Oliver St. John to Amsterdam, though failing to establish a coalition between English and Dutch commercial interests as an alternative to the Navigation Act, had negotiated with Menasseh Ben Israel and the Amsterdam community.
The mystically inclined Manasseh, a Marrano by birth and an outstanding man of letters, believes in a cabalistic Bible interpretation that Jews must dwell in every country before the Messiah can appear.
A pass had been granted to Menasseh to enter England, but he had been unable to use it because of the war between England and Holland from 1652 to 1654.
As soon as the war had ceased, Menasseh Ben Israel had sent his brother-in-law, David Abravanel Dormido, to London to present to the council a petition for the readmission of Jews.
The council, however, had refused to act.
Cromwell, heeding his Puritan advisors, who believe Jews should be allowed into England, confident they will convert to pure, Biblical Christianity, therefore induces Menasseh himself to come over to London, which he does at the end of September 1655, and here he prints his "humble address" to Cromwell.
