The exile of Portugal in the year 5258, six years after the exile from Spain, thus in Toldot Yitzchak in his introduction, first printing, which Rabbi Yitzchak Caro authored—he also was from those who left Spain [(Tzeda). Shomer HaDat wrote, letter 62, section 2] all these were great sages in Ashkenaz in this generation: Rabbi Taavlin the elder, Rabbi Yehudah Eideburg, Rabbi Kasriel in Krakow, Rabbi Natan Maibir, Rabbi Pinchas in Prague, Rabbi Shmuel Sfarda.

And these were in France: Rabbi Yochanan Trivash [(who made a commentary on Machzor Tilinia, (and Kemach HaAvishuna, commentary on Machzor of Ashkenaz) and there is a tradition that he was from the seed of Rashi, Shomer HaDat, letter 65, section 2)], Rabbi Yosef Strasbourg, Rabbi Yechiel bar Rabbi Yosef Trivash, Rabbi Yaakov bar Rabbi Mordechai, Rabbi Yaakov HaLevi, Rabbi Menachem of Mitzburg, Rabbi Refael [(see above year 5245)], Rabbi Shmuel bar Rabbi Yosef called the sage of Mistra, Rabbi Tashbetz of Burgwerk. Sages of Constantinople: Rabbi Avraham Yerushalmi, Rabbi Eliyahu Alfilij, Rabbi Mordechai Komitiano. [(And in Siftei Yeshenim, Sefer Keter Torah, Rabbi Mordechai Bamtiano, derashot on Torah manuscript, commentary of Rabbi Mordechai Gumtiano on Sefer Millot HaHigayon of the Rambam, manuscript.

Perhaps this is the same one)], Rabbi Moshe Kafsali Yoni. And Shomer HaDat wrote there that in this generation men sprouted from the Soncino family who continued for many years printing holy books. And in the introduction to HaMichlol it says in the printing that they printed in Constantinople "I am Gershon, a man of Soncino, son of Rabbi Moshe, son of the distinguished sage Rabbi Yisrael Natan son of Shmuel son of Rabbi Moshe, and he is the fifth generation to the Rabbi Moshe of Spira the aforementioned in Tosafot Tukh. [And Shomer HaDat wrote there] The Rabbi, Rabbi David son of the prince Don Gedaliah ibn Yichya who was in Castile in the year 5085 and for two years led his presidency after the death of his father—and he was the sixth generation of their family—and at the end of his days he was exiled with the refugees, his generation, to the city of Lisbon, for they fled from the decree of Ciutza-Tzu in the year 5150.

And his wife in goodness of taste and understanding restored through the queen of Lisbon all the income that the elders had. And in that time he authored compositions, particularly a composition of laws and a treatise on the laws of terufot, and the Rabbi Caro mentions him at the beginning of Yoreh Deah 14. And he died at age 75 years, his eyes not dim, and left two sons. The first was Don Yehudah, pleasant in songs and full of the spirit of wisdom and knowledge, and he authored compositions and signed in his responsa Niyb"i, meaning Naum Yehudah ibn Yichya, and he authored the lament for the 9th of Av in the Machzor, and he had sons and daughters.

And Don Shlomo went with his father to Portugal and had two sons. Don David was a sage and wealthy and did not want his sons to buy houses and land so that they would not happen to them as to their fathers at the time of the decree. And he passed away old and full of days in the year 5225 in Lisbon, and left five sons. And they are: the Rabbi Don Gedaliah who became very wise in Torah and medicine, and at the end of his days he went to Constantinople and there he spread Torah and authored compositions [(Sefer Derashot, these are)], and one is called Shiva Einayim [(speaks of seven wisdoms, these are)] and the Karaites requested from him that he endeavor to approve them and bring them into the opinion of the sages of the Gemara, and he endeavored to do so but it did not succeed because the sages of Israel did not agree.

And at the end of his days his spirit moved him to go to the Holy Land but the matter did not succeed because in Eretz HaTzvi (the Land of Israel) he passed away on the way and was buried in Tzfat. The prince Don Yosef was the second in Lisbon [(he authored Derekh Chayim, Ner Mitzvah, commentary on the Five Megillot and Writings, these are 298. Torah Or, on Ein Gimel and Beit, and in Gihena, these are 298)], and the king loved him and made him his counselor.

After some days King Don Alfonso died and Don Juan took his place, who also loved him, and they both let him remain as one of his counselors. And one day the king called him and said to him: Behold, because of my great love for you I have chosen to benefit you and all Israel with you, and this is by saving your souls from the Gehenom.

Therefore I want you and all the members of your household to convert, and I know that all Israel in my kingdom will do as you do, for you are a prince and great one over them. And he answered: Not so shall it be done, etc., and he called to his two sons, the Gaon Don David my elder and the sage Don Shlomo who passed away on the 14th of Sivan 5297 and left a son in Salonika, Don Yosef. And the second son Don Meir was a sage in poetry and grammar and went to Avellino and died there in the year 5296.

And Don Yosef the elder took the child in his hand with few possessions and toward evening they boarded a ship and came to Provence and there was born the Gaon, my master, my father. And afterward they came to Ferrara and the Duke there received him with a pleasant face and he died at age 70 in the year 5258. And his sons sent his bones to Tzfat as their father commanded them, and they are buried near the grave of Hosea ben Be'eri, see in the blessings and title of the Yichya family, [end quote]: