Manuscript, Composition Defending Jewish Books during the Italian Inquisition - Italian and Hebrew - 16th/17th Century

Manuscript, "Risposta generale a tutte quelle blasfemie che si trovano ne i libri hebraici…" [General response to the blasphemies in Hebrew books…]. Composition defending Jewish books which were censored and confiscated during the Italian inquisition. By an unknown Jewish author. [Italy (Ferrara?), end of the 16th century or first decades of the 17th century]. Italian, with Hebrew citations and quotes (Italian script).
The body of the composition is in Italian. In the left margins are long quotes and citations in Hebrew. In several places, Hebrew passages were incorporated into the Italian text.
The composition which seems to have been written for the heads of the inquisition in Italy is a detailed letter defending Jewish books. The author methodically refutes the claims that Jewish books contain ideas that offend Catholic Christianity and its rites, and he quotes many sources which the censors labeled as offensive. The author asserts that these passages actually refer to Idolatry and not to Christianity and that the censorship and confiscation of the books were based on erroneous interpretation of various Hebrew expressions. He calls to return the confiscated books to their Jewish owners and to refrain from punishing them.
At the beginning of the composition, the author explains the meaning of words which often appear in Jewish books and which censors mistakenly tend to color with anti-Christian connotations. For example, he explains that the Hebrew word "Notzrim" refers to Edom, the word "Rome" refers to the Roman Empire, the word "Goyim" to gentiles, etc. The author also proves that Jews are obligated to seek the well-being of the governments and nations among which they dwell. Afterward, he writes extensively about the content of various Hebrew books.
The Hebrew sections contain quotes and citations from a wide spectrum of sources: from the Bible, the Talmud and the Midrash, from the Rambam and the Ramban commentary on the Torah, from Megillat Ta'anit and Josippon. On leaf [2], inside the Italian text, is a long Hebrew section on the Mishnah "R' Chananya son of Akashya says, G-d wanted the Jewish People to gain merits…", quoting the Perush HaMishnayot of the Rambam, the author of Derech Emunah, the author of the Ikarim and the Abarbanel. The Italian text cites various books by Christian scholars. In several places, the writer cites the Beit Yosef in Tur Yoreh Deah (first printed in Venice in 1551).
[6] leaves (11 written pages), 32 cm. Good condition. Stains. Folding marks and creases. Minor tears in several places. Several corrections in another handwriting. New binding. Bookplate.
Provenance: Toaff family collection.