Gente da nação

A history of Conversos and Jews in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. States that an Inquisition tribunal functioned in Olinda in 1594-95 to investigate accusations of Judaizing, resulting in several sentences and at least two autos-da-fé. Describes the Dutch occupation between 1630-54; many local Conversos returned to Judaism openly, while many Portuguese Jews emigrated from Holland. Competition between Jews and Conversos ("the Jewish nation") and the Dutch led to an anti-Jewish campaign based on accusations of Jewish proselytizing among local Catholics (who were in fact Conversos!). Most of the Jews finally fled to Holland after 1654, while others fell into the hands of the Portuguese and were tried by the Inquisition as heretics. Includes a list of names of Jews from the region.