knowledge of any man.

[p.79]

And when the king saw him, he said to him, "Who brought thee hither,
and who has released thee?" "My own wisdom and skill," answered the
other; "for I am not afraid of thee, nor of any of thy servants." The
king forthwith loudly bade his servants to seize him, but they
answered, "We cannot see any man, although our ears hear him." Then
the king and all his princes marvelled at his subtlety; but he said to
the king "I will go my way"; so he went forth. And the king went after
him; and the princes and servants followed their king until they came
to the river-side. Then Alroy took off his mantle and spread it on the
face of the water to cross thereon. When the servants of the king saw
that he crossed the water on his mantle, they pursued him in small
boats, wishing to bring him back, but they were unable, and they said,
"There is no wizard like this in the whole world." That self-same day
he went a journey of ten days to the city of Amadia by the strength of
the ineffable Name, and he told the Jews all that had befallen him,
and they were astonished at his wisdom.

[p.80]

After that the king of Persia sent word to the Emir Al-Muminin, the
Caliph of the Mohammedans at Bagdad, urging him to warn the Head of
the Exile, and the Head of the Academy Gaon Jacob, to restrain David
Alroy from executing his designs. And he threatened that he would
otherwise slay all the Jews in his Empire. Then all the congregations
of the land of Persia were in great trouble. And the Head of the
Captivity, and the Head of the Academy Gaon Jacob, sent to Alroy,
saying, "The time of redemption is not yet arrived; we have not yet
seen the signs thereof; for by strength shall no man prevail. Now our
mandate is, that thou cease from these designs, or thou shalt surely
be excommunicated from all Israel." And they sent unto Zakkai the Nasi
in the land of Assur (Mosul) and unto R. Joseph Burhan-al-mulk the
astronomer there, bidding them to send on the letter to Alroy, and
furthermore they themselves wrote to him to warn him, but he would not
accept the warning.

[p.81]

Then there arose a king of the name of Sin-ed-din, the king of the
Togarmim, and a vassal of the king of Persia, who sent to the
father-in-law of David Alroy, and gave him a bribe of 10,000 gold
pieces to slay Alroy in secret[158]. So he went to Alroy's house, and
slew him whilst he was asleep on his bed. Thus were his plans
frustrated. Then the king