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diff --git a/old/67851-0.txt b/old/67851-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6ccf477..0000000 --- a/old/67851-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8440 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Jews in Great Britain, by Moses -Margoliouth - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Jews in Great Britain - Being a Series of Six Lectures, Delivered in the Liverpool - Collegiate Institution, on the Antiquities of the Jews in - England. - -Author: Moses Margoliouth - -Release Date: April 17, 2022 [eBook #67851] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Richard Hulse and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive/American - Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JEWS IN GREAT -BRITAIN *** - - - - - - The Jews In Great Britain: - - - - - ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ - │ │ - │ Transcriber’s Notes │ - │ │ - │ │ - │ Punctuation has been standardized. │ - │ │ - │ The text may show quotations within quotations, all set │ - │ off by similar quote marks. The inner quotations have been │ - │ changed to alternate quote marks for improved readability. │ - │ │ - │ Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps. │ - │ │ - │ Non-printable characteristics have been given the following │ - │ Italic text: --> _text_ │ - │ │ - │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ - │ not become standardized in their spelling. Words may have │ - │ multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in │ - │ the text. These have been left unchanged unless indicated │ - │ with a Transcriber’s Note. │ - │ │ - │ Footnotes are identified in the text with a superscript │ - │ number and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which │ - │ they appear. │ - │ │ - │ Transcriber’s Notes are used when making corrections to the │ - │ text or to provide additional information for the modern │ - │ reader. These notes are identified by ♦♠♥♣ symbols in the │ - │ text and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which │ - │ they appear. │ - └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ - - - - - THE - - JEWS IN GREAT BRITAIN: - - BEING A - - SERIES OF SIX LECTURES, - - DELIVERED IN THE - - LIVERPOOL COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION, - - ON - - THE ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS IN ENGLAND. - - - BY THE - - REV. MOSES MARGOLIOUTH, - - INCUMBENT OF GLASNEVIN, DUBLIN. - - - - - LONDON: - - JAMES NISBET AND CO., BERNERS-STREET. - WILLIAM CURRY, JUN. AND CO., DUBLIN. - - 1846. - - - - - Dublin: Printed by EDWARD BULL, 6, Bachelor’s-walk. - - - - - TO - - THE RIGHT REVEREND - - JOHN BIRD SUMNER, D.D., - - LORD BISHOP OF CHESTER, - - AND - - VISITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION, - - These Lectures, - - ON - - THE ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS IN ENGLAND, - - ARE, BY KIND PERMISSION, INSCRIBED, - - WITH FEELINGS OF PROFOUND RESPECT AND ESTEEM, - - BY - - HIS LORDSHIP’S MOST HUMBLE - - AND OBEDIENT SERVANT, - - THE AUTHOR. - - - - -THE following Lectures form a complete History of the Jews in Great -Britain, with reference to their literary, religious, political, and -civil constitution, up to the eighteenth year of Edward I., A.D. 1290. -They are published in deference to, and compliance with, the strong -wishes of many who heard them delivered. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - - LECTURE I. - - INTRODUCTION.――Lecturer’s Disadvantages.――Importance of Jewish - History.――the Antiquity of the Jews.――The intense Interest now - taken in this Subject.――Subject of these Lectures.――Deficiency - of Information on the Subject.――The Literary Character of - the Jews.――The Dilemma of the Jewish Historian.――Reasons - for Historical Deficiency.――The Jews visited Britain before - the Norman Conquest.――Jews trained to be a wandering Nation. - ――A maritime Nation.――The Renown of Solomon’s Fame.――the - Phœnicians’ Marine Expeditions.――Ezekiel’s Description of - the same.――The Meaning of Tarshish.――Wealth of Spain and of - Solomon.――Two Monuments found in Spain.――their Inscriptions. - ――Villalpando institutes an Inquiry.――Adoniram’s tomb-stone. - ――Decyphered not by Jewish but by Christian Divines.――The - same Monument noticed by a Jewish Traveller.――Villalpando’s - Conclusion not premature.――Britain a compound Hebrew Word. - ――Striking Affinity between the Hebrew and Cornish Languages. - ――Whole Sentences alike in both Languages.――the Jews Fathers in - Literature.――Britain one of “the Isles afar off”.――The Terms of - the Alliance between the Jews and the Romans.――Augustus’s Edict - in Favour of the Jews in Britain.――A curious ancient Brick - found.――Richard Waller’s Conjecture respecting it.――St. Peter - may have visited Britain for the sake of the Jews.――The Success - a Missionary meets with among unprejudiced Jews.――Wolff’s - Success in Bokhara, and Stern’s in Persia.――St. Paul’s Visit - to Britain fully established by Bishop Burgess and many other - learned Divines.――The British Church established by Jews. - ――APPENDIX A. A Letter from Mr. Holdsworth, Governor of - Dartmouth.――B. Bochart on תרשיש.――C. Villalpando’s Account - of the Inscription on the Monument.――His Opinion respecting - the Dispersion of the Jews.――D. The Opinions of the Ancients - respecting the Andalusians.――E. Ancient Gentile Writers were - not acquainted with Jewish History.――A Chapter from Trogus - Pompeius.――F. Bochart’s Etymology of Britain.――G. The Scripture - Names of the Welsh.――H. Josipon’s Account of Augustus’s Edict - in Favour of the Jews in Britain.――I. Rabbi David Ganz’s - Account of the same. - - - LECTURE II. - - Objections answered.――Bede the first English Writer who mentions - the Jews.――Ecgbright’s Edict.――♦Whitglaff’s.――Edward the - Confessor’s.――William the First invited the Jews.――Two distinct - Colonies of Jews.――The Conqueror’s Policy.――Rufus’s Convocation - of Christian and Jewish Divines.――Stephen, the Jewish Convert. - ――The State of the Jews at Oxford.――Jews prosper in the Reign - of Rufus and Henry I.――Eum Crescat and St. ♠Frideswide.――There - was no Peace to the Jews after the Reign of Henry I.――With - the Reign of Stephen the Jewish Troubles commenced.――The Jews - accused of crucifying Christian Children.――Absurd Reasons - assigned for the Use of Christian Blood.――Ecclesiastics already - Jewish Debtors.――The Ecclesiastics incensed the King against - the Jews.――Anecdote of a Jew, and Archdeacon Richard ♣Peche, - and Dean Deville.――The Accusations against the Jews a bountiful - Revenue to Church and State.――Jews required to support the - Crusade.――The King’s Death afforded them some respite.――their - learned Men and their Seats of Learning.――Aben Ezra visits - England.――Jews distinguished Physicians.――APPENDIX A. 146 and - 149 Paragraphs of Archbishop Ecgbright’s Canonical Excerptiones. - ――B. The Original of ♦Whitglaff’s Edict.――C. Of Edward the - Confessor.――D. Of William the First.――E. Dr. M‘Caul’s Remarks - on the Charge against the Jews of using Christian Blood.――F. - Aben Ezra’s Preface to his אגרת השכת――Drs. Jost and M‘Caul’s - Testimonies of Jewish Medical Knowledge. - - ♦ ‘Whitglaf’s’ replaced with ‘Whitglaff’s’ - - ♠ ‘Friedswide’ replaced with ‘Frideswide’ - - ♣ ‘Peeche’ replaced with ‘Peche’ - - - LECTURE III. - - A brief Retrospect of the last Lecture.――Jewish Physicians - preferred.――The Jews sadly disappointed.――Jewish History of - that Period a dreary Tale of Woe.――Richard’s Reign ushered in - with a Massacre of the Jews.――Rabbi Jacob, of Orleans, one of - the slain.――Benedict feigns to become a Christian――soon after - avows his unbelief.――The Jews attacked in other Places.――Their - misplaced Zeal brings them into many Troubles.――Effect of - the Crusade upon the Jews.――Their Treatment at Stamford.――At - Lincoln.――The Origin of their Sufferings at York.――They take - possession of the Castle.――The Rabbi calls a Convocation.――His - Address.――The Jews in the Castle terminated their Existence - by murdering each other.――The Cause of that awful Event.――Some - of the Offenders punished.――Richard establishes the Exchequer - of the Jews.――Regulations of the same.――APPENDIX A. Rabbi - Gedaliah’s Account of the Murder of the Rabbi Jacob, of Orleans. - ――B. The Origin of the Epithet משומד _M‘shoomad_.――C. Henry de - ♦Knyghton’s Account of one of the Roaming Saints, or Crusaders. - ――D. The Address of the Rabbi at York.――A Digest of Eleazar’s - Speeches in the Fort of Masada.――E. The Writ of Ricardus - ♠Malebisse.――F. Specimens of Hebrew, Latin, and French Starras. - ――G. Court of Star Chamber. - - ♦ “Knighton’s” replaced with “Knyghton’s” - - ♠ ‘Malbisse’ replaced with ‘Malebisse’ - - - LECTURE IV. - - The Jews allured by John to remain in England.――The Charter - granted by the King to Rabbi Jacob――the Second Charter.――The - Great Charter of Jewish Privileges.――The English Jews’ especial - Charter.――English became envious of the Jews.――John’s Letter - to the Mayor of London.――The King appears in his own Character. - ――He begins to extract their Wealth by most barbarous Tortures. - ――Why the Jews are noticed in the Magna Charta.――An ancient - Tombstone found.――John’s last Act towards the Jews.――The - Conduct of the Earl of Pembroke towards them.――Hubert de Burgh - equally kind.――Reasons for the distinguishing Badge.――The - apparent Kindness allured them again into this Country. - ――Reasons of the Clerical Hatred towards the Jews.――Stephen - Langton’s Edict.――The Royal Counter-Edict.――The Jewish Troubles - commence.――Augustin a Jewish Convert.――Jewish Synagogue turned - into a Christian Church――the Armenian Bishop and the Wandering - Jew.――Henry’s cruel Conduct.――The Jewish Convert’s House. - ――Charter of the same.――APPENDIX A. The State of the Jews - in Spain.――B. C. D. The original Charters of John.――E. The - original Indictment against a Bedford Jew.――F. John’s original - Letter to the Mayor of London.――G. H. Two original royal - Acquittals of Jewish Debts.――I. The Clause in the Magna Charta - referring to the Jews.――K. King John affects to become a - Mahometan.――L. The original Writ of the Cinque Ports.――M. Royal - Counter-Edict to Stephen Langton’s.――N. Prior of Dunstable’s - License to Jews to dwell within his Jurisdiction.――O. The - Writ in Favour of Augustin, a Jewish Convert.――P. The Original - Charter of the Jewish Convert’s House. - - - LECTURE V. - - The King’s Wants.――The Norwich Jews’ Sufferings.――The infamous - Trial of Jacob of Norwich.――Parliament could not find the - accused guilty.――The cruel Conduct of the Christians drove - the Jews from Christianity.――Jews prohibited keeping Christian - Nurses.――Jews supply the King’s Wants when the Barons will - not.――They remonstrate.――The Jews obliged to yield.――The Jews - were, at the time, extremely rich.――Baseless Calumnies invented - against them.――Jewish Parliament.――Martyn, a Jewish Convert. - ――Jewish Converts instigated to accuse their Brethren.――The - Conduct of the Jewish Converts honourable.――Earl Richard’s - Wedding.――The Welsh Incursions.――Westminster Abbey.――Jewish - Alms.――The Pope’s Usurers.――His Method of taking Usury.――Jewish - Cemetery out of repair.――Jewish Hatred of Images.――Abraham - murders his Wife Flora.――Accuses his own Nation.――Henry never - satisfied.――The Remonstrance and Address of Rabbi Elias.――Earl - Richard’s Reply.――Jewish Memorial――the King’s Reply.――The - Lincoln Jews.――Calumniated as Crucifiers of the boy Hugo.――A - false Confession extracted from Copin, the Jew.――Falsely - accuses his Brethren.――The murderous Effect of that venomous - Calumny.――Earl Richard ill-treats the Jews.――Ecclesiastical - Animosity.――Henry sanctions the cruel Edicts of the Church. - ――Sancha’s Funeral.――Henry breaks his Agreement.――Barons - massacre the Jews.――Jews banished from many Places.――Epidemic - Fury against them.――The Jews given to Prince Edward.――The - Effect of the Battle of Lewes upon the Jews.――Jews enjoy a - short Respite.――A Jew accused of forging a Bond.――The Oxford - Jews.――Merton College.――the University in want of a Cross.――The - Jews obliged to erect one.――The Brentford Jews.――The Lincoln - and Cambridge Jews.――Aaron given to Prince Edmund.――The Favour - Individuals experienced stirred up the Envy of the Populace. - ――Henry’s plundering Jews proved oppressive to the Nation at - large.――Henry’s Charter against the Jews.――Edward’s Crusade. - ――Jews mortgage again to Earl Richard.――Another Synagogue taken - from them and given to the Friars’ Penitents.――The last cruel - Conduct of Henry towards the Jews elicited Commiseration even - from their virulent Foes.――The Jewish Converts’ House improved. - APPENDIX A. The original Record of the infamous Trial of Jacob - of Norwich.――B. The Relapse of a converted Jew, a Deacon, into - Judaism.――C. The Writ of the Expulsion of the Newcastle Jews. - ――D. The Decree forbidding Christian Women serving Jews.――E. - Pope Innocent’s Reason for the Act.――F. Henry’s Writ for the - extracting of 10,000 Marks from the Jews.――G. The Memento - of the Jewish Honesty in the original.――H. The Writ for the - Assembly of the Jewish Parliament.――I. The Names of the - Representatives.――J. The Writ given to the Collectors.――K. - A Clause from Bishop Rupibus’s Will.――L. The original Writ - respect the King’s heirship to Jewish Property.――M. The Writ - respecting the Removal of Rabbi Elias from his Office.――N. The - French King’s Edict against the Jews.――O. A Ballad composed on - the Story of Jews crucifying Children.――P. The Deed of the Site - of Merton College.――Q. The Writ of Release of the Oxford Jews. - ――R. The Inquisition on a Jew murdered in Oxford.――S. Writs of - Protection towards the Jews.――T. Aaron’s Enfranchisement.――U. - Henry’s original Charter against the Jews.――V. Charter for - improving the Jewish Converts’ Institution.――W. A Converted - Jewess. - - - LECTURE VI. - - An Epitome of the last Lecture.――the Jews treated kindly in the - Beginning of Edward’s Reign.――The Son soon began to imitate - his Father.――The Jews accused of Treason.――Their Children began - to be taxed also.――The Punishment of Imprisonment changed into - Transportation.――An Irish Bishop and two Friars appointed to - carry the stern Threat into Execution.――♦_Statutum de Judaismo._ - ――The Colour of their Badges changed.――The probable Reason for - the Change.――Jews prohibited to blaspheme.――The Jews considered - their Character defamed, if called Christians.――Jewish Women - also ordered to wear Badges.――Edward’s Zeal in promoting - Christianity amongst the Jews.――The Dominican Monks petition - the King to compel the Jews to listen to their Sermons.――The - Jewish Converts’ Institution much patronized.――Belager, a - Jewish Convert of Oxford.――Edward wants Money.――The Jews - are accused of clipping the Coin.――The Charge of clipping - the Coin examined.――Edward’s Vow.――The King wanted £20,000; - he imprisoned, therefore, all the Jews in England.――Asher - chronicles the Imprisonment on the Walls of the Winchester - Prison.――The Enmity against the Jews epidemic.――The Clergy - and the Laity prevail with the King to banish the Jews.――All - the Jews banished this Country, A.D. 1290.――The Barbarities - practised upon them.――The King and the Queen profited much - by their Banishment.――The Mariner’s Stratagem.――Ben ♠Virga’s - Account of the Banishment of the Jews.――Rabbi G’daliah’s - Account.――Dr. Jost’s Estimate of the English Jews incorrect. - ――The _Jewish Chronicle_.――The unjust Cruelty the Jews - experienced.――A Picture of the Exiles.――De Lyra an English - Jew.――His Writings.――L’Advocat’s Account of him incorrect. - ――APPENDIX A. Edward’s first impartial Proclamation.――B. The - Prohibition of Jewish Blasphemy.――C. Edward institutes an - Investigation respecting Suetecota.――D. The Writ for compelling - the Jews to attend Church.――E. Belager’s Goods and Chattels. - ――F. The Proclamation against accusing the Jews of clipping the - Coin.――G. The Original of Ben ♠Virga’s Account.――H. Of Rabbi - G’daliah.――I. Letter to the Editor of the _Jewish Chronicle_. - ――J. Extract from Bishop Bale. - - ♦ ‘Satutum’ replaced with ‘Statutum’ - - ♠ “Verga’s” replaced with “Virga’s” - - - - - LECTURES - - ON - - THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS. - - - - - LECTURE I. - - -BEFORE I begin with the immediate subject which brings me before your -notice this evening, I would venture to crave your indulgence if my -lisping, broken accents, and my limited attainments, should not reflect -the credit upon your noble Institution which it so richly deserves. I -humbly trust, that you will kindly take into consideration that it is -comparatively but a short time since I began to pay attention to your -language and literature. - -It is but little more than eight years since I landed on the shores of -England, and eight years to a _day_¹ since I arrived in your town of -Liverpool, at a time when you, in all probability, little thought of -erecting such a magnificent edifice for so laudable a purpose. As for -me, I positively aver that I did not then entertain the least ambition -of ever appearing before you as lecturer in any shape whatever, being -then totally ignorant of your language. I trust, therefore, to your kind -and well-known courtesy, that you will put the best construction you -possibly can on my humble efforts. - - ¹ October 28th, 1845. - -Whilst it would be unpardonable presumption in me, seeing as I do before -me such a host of learned and highly-gifted men, to imagine that there -were not those present who, from more extensive reading, were not better -acquainted with several, if not with all the subjects which will come -before them in the progress of these lectures; it would be, at the same -time, regarded as mere affectation and false modesty if I pretended that -there were not others less conversant with these subjects than myself, -and to whom it may be in my power to impart some information which they -may not before have possessed. - -The history of the Jews――part of which I purpose bringing before you in -this and five following lectures――stands indeed associated with all that -is sublime in the retrospect of the past, affecting in the contemplation -of the present, and magnificent in the future history of mankind. - -No one who has any feeling at all can help manifesting it at the mention -of the name Jew――a name “big with a world of import.” The Jew stands -forth until the present day, in the face of the whole world, a living -and lasting miracle――a mighty, though shattered monument, on every -fragment of which is inscribed, in letters of the brightest gold, the -truth of holy writ. No wonder, therefore, that Lord Rochester, when a -conceited infidel (for such is the character of all infidels), was -obliged to make the following confession: “I reject all arguments with -one single exception, that founded on the existence of the Jews; that -alone baffles my scriptural infidelity.” I say, no one can help feeling -interested in the history of the most ancient and venerable people on -the face of the whole earth. The Jewish people can trace back their -progenitors to the very cradle of the human race: the nations about them -are infantine when compared with their hoary antiquity. The following -are the words, respecting them, of a learned English divine, father -of the celebrated Addison, author of “The Spectator:”――“This people, if -any under heaven, may boldly glory of their antiquity and nobleness of -descent; there being no nation who can prove its pedigree by such clear -and authentic heraldry as the Jews. For, though a ridiculous vanity hath -tempted some to date their original before that of the world, and others, -with great assurance, have made themselves sprung from their own soil, -yet the Jews, by an unquestionable display through all periods since -the creation, can prove their descent from the first man. So that all -other nations must have recourse to the Jewish records to clear their -genealogies and attest their lineage.” The interest in the history of -such a people must at all times be intense, and, if at all times, more -especially so now. - -It is a singular fact that, at this present moment, that people -draws the eyes of all the civilized nations with an intensity never -experienced before. The facilities of locomotion have covered Syria and -Palestine with visitors of the curious, or the devout; the claims of the -rightful proprietors of Canaan engage the attention of the statesman; -the tide of worldly interest rolls back upon the shores of Palestine; -and upon a question as to the possession of the land of promise, lately -depended, perhaps still depends, the peace of Europe, the fate of the -habitable world. The dominion of the heathen Roman has long since ceased, -the conquest of the Khosroes is forgotten, the Saracens have passed away, -the Crusaders and the Califs have alike crumbled into dust; all those -are gone, and have left scarcely a vestige behind, whilst the Jews are -once more brought prominently into view. They exist still in very great -numbers, and in all the separatedness of their original character, in -spite of all the persecutions they have gone through. How true did the -Jew speak when he said, “persecution cannot dismay us――time itself -cannot destroy us.” I repeat again, the interest in the history of such -a people must be intense. - -The portion of Jewish history to which I wish particularly to call -your attention in this _first_ series of lectures, is _that_ connected -with this country up to the year 1290, when all the Jews were banished -by EDWARD the First. The _second_ series, which I may deliver at some -future period, will form the history of the Jews from the time of Oliver -Cromwell to our own day. - -Difficult as the historian may find it to fathom the origin of the -first inhabitants who peopled this country, certain it is that the most -difficult part of the same is that of the Jewish early introduction and -establishment in this realm; which is enveloped almost in impenetrable -obscurity. The sources from which we can draw any information at -all on the subject, are very scanty. English historians afford us -no information whatever, and neither have the ante-expulsion Jews -bequeathed us any records or chronicles of their antiquities in this -country. We are left therefore to conjecture from the glimmering sparks -which we now and then catch in the pages of foreign literature; but -no one can venture to fix a positive date to the first landing of the -dispersed of Judah on the shores of Britain. - -In order to prevent erroneous conclusions, however, it may be well just -to state the probable reason why the ante-expulsion Jews yield us no -light on their early history. I am aware that prejudice will readily -exclaim, as a reason, “The Jews had no learned men amongst them to -record their passing events;” or, “They were too much absorbed in money -getting, so that they could not find time to think of anything else.” -But any one acquainted with the national character of the Jews, will -at once produce an array of facts which will prove incontrovertibly the -fallacy of such reasons. I have already demonstrated elsewhere, that -there never has been a period in their history when they were destitute -of first rate genius and learning. It is a striking fact, that there -is _no_ science in which some Jewish name is not enrolled amongst its -eminent promoters. They always entertained a profound love for learning, -and were inspired with an uncontrollable energy in the pursuit of -knowledge. They grace the literary pages of Spain, as pre-eminent -philosophers, philologists, physicians, astronomers, mathematicians, -historians, grammarians, orators, and highly-gifted poets.¹ D’Israeli -does not improperly put the following sentence into Sidonia’s mouth: -“You never observe a great intellectual movement in Europe in which the -Jews do not greatly participate”²――which he illustrates by notorious -facts, and which Dr. Wolff corroborates. But besides all this, we shall -see from their history in this country, even from the little that we can -gather of it, that the ante-expulsion Jews really had learned men, who -were able even to vie with the most learned ecclesiastics of their day, -as I shall show in the progress of these lectures. Mr. Moses Samuel, -a learned Jew of this town, (Liverpool) observes――“Let me tell you,” -addressing his brethren in this country, “that you had great men living -in England eight hundred years ago. The sayings of the wise men of -Norwich and of York are quoted _in_ some of the additions made by the -expounders of the Talmud.”³ A modern Christian writer bears testimony -to the same effect; he says――“Their (_i.e._ Jews’) schools afforded -a far more superior education than those of the Christians, and the -children of the latter were invariably instructed in those schools in -arithmetic and medicine, and also in higher branches of study.”⁴ - - ¹ See “the Fundamental Principles of Modern Judaism - investigated”――“An Address to Christians.” - - ² Coningsby, vol. ii., p. 201. - - ³ “An Address on the Position of the Jews in Britain,” p. 27. - - ⁴ Knight’s London, part 31, p. 5. - -But what _then_ may the reason be for the melancholy deficiency of their -own historical records? The probable reason strikes me to be this; the -severe ill-usages which have been their painful lot to encounter. For -the history of the then Jews is an extremely dreary tale of woe. - -The Jewish historian finds himself in the same dilemma in which Gildas, -commonly called “the wise,” found himself; who sadly lamented (in -the beginning of his epistle, in which he has undertaken to give -some account of the ancient British Church) the want of any domestic -monuments to give him certain information. “For,” saith he, “if there -were any such, they were either burnt by our enemies, or carried so far -by the banishment of our countrymen, that they no longer appear, and -therefore I was forced to pick up, what I could, out of foreign writers, -without any continued series.” So it is with the Jewish historian. - -Fearful in length is the catalogue of the massacres, extortions, and -persecutions which the Jews have sustained in this country during the -dark ages of its annals. Consider how many times they were plundered, -how often fire was set to their houses, which destroyed all their -possessions. Behold them at York, how that before they destroyed their -own persons, they first burnt every thing belonging to them――view them -just before their final banishment, robbed on every side――all which I -shall show more fully in their proper places. I say, take all this into -consideration, and the probable reason will suggest itself――viz., that -the Jewish records perished with their persons and other possessions. It -is not too much to assume, for any one who knows the real character of -the Jews, that they were in possession of valuable documents relative to -their earliest introduction into this country, but which were lost with -the rest of their valuables, by which not only they themselves sustained -a great loss, but also their survivors. - -Deprived as we are of the Jewish own information respecting this -important inquiry; and silent as are the ancient English historians -about their first setting foot on Albion’s ground, which put it beyond -the modern historian’s power to ascertain the positive date of their -doing so: still any one who, having paid critical attention to the -subject, must come to the conclusion that those English historians who -fixed the time of their introduction into this country to be coeval with -the Norman conquest, were wrong. It is highly probable that the Jews -visited this country at a very early period. - -Be it recollected that the Jewish nation had been trained to be -a wandering nation, to prepare them, no doubt, for their mighty -dispersion. Their progenitor, Abraham, seems to have been a type of the -same, who was commanded (Genesis, xii. 1), “Get thee out of thy country, -and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I -will show thee;” and his descendants have ever and anon manifested a -peculiar migratory disposition, as you always find in holy writ. - -Methinks, however, I hear some one say, It may be all true that the Jews -betrayed a migratory disposition at a very early period of their history, -which must, however, be confined to the east, for surely it cannot -be imagined that they travelled as far as the west, at a remote age; -especially, when we take into consideration the rudeness of the state of -navigation in those days. I would respectfully call to such objectors’ -minds a statement of an eminent ancient writer――I mean Tacitus――who -says that the first colonizing expeditions were performed by water, -not by land;¹ and the result of research into the affinities of -nations seems to have established, that at no time, however remote, -has the interposition of sea presented much obstacle to the migratory -dispositions of mankind.² - - ¹ “Nec terra olim, sed classibus advehebantur, qui mutare - sedes quærebant.” - - ² See Appendix A. - -As I said before, however, that Abraham’s descendants were trained to be -a wandering people, so say I, moreover, now, that they were trained to -be a maritime nation; in which pursuit we find them employed soon after -they entered the land of promise. Not only did they possess the small -sea of ♦Galilee, but they were placed all along the upper border of the -great, or Mediterranean, Sea; and no sooner were they established in -their country than they began to be engaged in maritime affairs, as we -read in sacred history (1 Kings, ix. 26–28)――“And King Solomon made a -navy of ships in Ezion-geber ♦which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the -Red Sea, in the land of Edom. And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, -shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. -And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and -twenty talents, and brought it to King Solomon.” - - ♦ ‘Gallilee’ replaced with ‘Galilee’ - - ♦ ‘whieh’ replaced with ‘which’ - -As also in chap. x. 22――“For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish, -with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, -bringing gold, and silver, &c.” - -The Israelites, therefore, had an opportunity of traversing the known -world at a very early period of their history, and thus made known the -wisdom of their heaven-taught monarch; we can, therefore, admit in the -amplest magnitude of signification the narrative contained in verses -23–26 of the same chapter. “So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of -the earth for riches and for wisdom. - -“And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had -put in his heart. - -“And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels -of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate -year by year. - -“And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a -thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom -he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.” - -It will be interesting to our subject to take a brief view of the -navigating expeditions of the Phœnicians at that period, which was their -most prosperous epoch, and who, with far more knowledge of the art of -navigation than modern assumption gives them credit for, were to be seen -in the Mediterranean, the Baltic, the Atlantic――every where upon the -waters; and in doing so, I must refer you to the twenty-seventh chapter -of Ezekiel, where we have a concise, but precise description of their -marine expeditions, which is as follows――“O thou that art situate at -the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, -thus saith the Lord God; O Tyrus, thou hast said I am of perfect beauty. - -“Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected -thy beauty. - -“They have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of Senir; they have -taken cedars from Lebanon to make masts for thee. - -“Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; the company of the -Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory, brought out of the isles of -Chittim. - -“Fine linen, with broidered work from Egypt, was that which thou -spreadest forth to be thy sail; blue and purple from the isles of -Elishah was that which covered thee. - -“The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners: thy wise men, O -Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy pilots. - -“The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers; -all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy -merchandize. - -“They of Persia, and of Lud, and of Phut, were in thine army, thy men -of war; they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy -comeliness. - -“The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and -the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy -walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect. - -“Tharshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of -riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs. - -“Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the -persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market. - -“They of the house of Togarmah traded in thy fairs with horses, and -horsemen, and mules. - -“The men of Dedan were thy merchants; many isles were the merchandise of -thine hand; they brought thee for a present horns of ivory and ebony. - -“Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy -making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds purple, and broidered -work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate. - -“Judah and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants; they traded in -thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm. - -“Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, -for the multitude of all riches; in the wine of Helbon, and white wool. - -“Dan also and Javan going to and fro, occupied in thy fairs; bright iron, -cassia, and calamus, were in thy market. - -“Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots. - -“Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, -and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants. - -“The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants: they -occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious -stones, and gold. - -“Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and -Chilmad, were thy merchants. - -“These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and -broidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and -made of cedar, among thy merchandise. - -“The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market, and thou wast -replenished and made very glorious in the midst of the seas. - -“Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters; the east wind hath -broken thee in the midst of the seas.”――Ezek. xxvii. 3–26. - -It would be beside my subject to enter into an investigation, on this -occasion, of all the places mentioned in this portion of Scripture. I -will therefore confine myself to the meaning of _Tarshish_, which bears -close connexion with the object I have in view. After a rigorous and -critical examination of different works written on it, I am led to adopt -the view of the profoundly learned Bochart――viz., that the Tarshish -of the Scriptures was the Tartessus of Spain, with a district around -including Cadiz.¹ Let us view for a moment the state of Spain in -ancient times. Its treasures of gold and silver were immensely vast. -We read in Strabo a description of the natives by Posidonius, who, he -says, used mangers and barrels of gold and silver. Such a country could -not fail being very attractive to the Phœnicians. Indeed, it is a well -authenticated fact that the Phœnicians did trade to Carthage and Spain. - - ¹ See Appendix B. - -But we also read of Israel’s monarch (1 Kings, x. 21, 22)――“And all -King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the -house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver; -it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon. - -“For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: -once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and -silver, &c.” Now if Tharshish be Spain, the conclusion is inevitable, -the Israelites must have visited the western countries in the days of -Solomon. - -The conclusion resulting from the examination of the meaning of Tarshish, -is confirmed by two very ancient sepulchral monuments found in Spain. -As these monuments attracted the attention of the learned Christian -antiquarians about two hundred years ago, it may not be uninteresting to -give a short sketch of their history, and especially since they form an -important link in the chain of evidence of the very early wanderings of -the Jews. - -The Duke of Savoy, formerly viceroy of Valencia, presented Francis -Gozanga, Bishop of Mantua and General of the Franciscans, with a -manuscript which was originally dedicated to Alfonso Duke of Segorbe -and Count of Ampurias, written in an antique Spanish dialect, in which -the ruins of Saguntum are noticed. After many Roman monuments being -described, a sepulchral monument, bearing a Hebrew epitaph, is mentioned -as being of far greater antiquity than the Roman monuments; for the -characters were more ancient than the square alphabet now in use, -_which_ must have been the Samaritan, as those characters were used -by the Hebrews prior to their Babylonish captivity. In consequence of -the stone being much fractured and defaced, the following could only be -decyphered, but which gives us still a somewhat correct idea of its date. -It runs thus: - - זהוא קבר אדונירם עבד המלך שלמה - שבא לגבת את־המס ונפטר יום . .¹ - -of which the following is the Spanish manuscript version:――“De Adoniram -la fossa es esta, que vigne Salomo del Re servent dia, y mori tribut lo -pera rebre....” The following is a literal English translation:――“This -is the grave of Adoniram, the servant of King Solomon, who came to -collect the tribute, and died on the day....” - - ¹ See Appendix C. - -The Bishop of Mantua published a history of the Franciscan order, in -which he mentioned, on the authority of the manuscript alluded to, -the existence of the above-menioned monument. Villalpando, a learned -Jesuit and a shrewd critic, read the book, but not being willing to -put implicit confidence in the bishop’s startling assertion, desired -his brethren, the Jesuits, who lived in Murviedro, a beautiful little -place built from the ruins of Saguntum, to make great search for that -particular stone on the site described; his request was complied with; -an investigation was instituted. The Murviedro natives immediately -pointed out a large stone near the gate of the citadel, which was -commonly called by the natives, “The Stone of Solomon’s Collector.” -There was an almost obliterated Hebrew inscription on the self-same -stone, but not corresponding to the one looked for: which we shall -presently notice. There was, however, a manuscript chronicle preserved -in the town, in which they found the following entry: “At Saguntum, in -the citadel, in the year of our Lord 1480, a little more or less, was -discovered a sepulchre of surprising antiquity. It contained an embalmed -corpse, not of the usual stature, but taller than is common. It had, -and still retains on the front, two lines in the Hebrew language and -characters, the sense of which is――‘The sepulchre of Adoniram, the -servant of King Solomon, who came hither to collect tribute.’ Of this -Adoniram, the servant of Solomon, mention is made in the 5th chapter -[14th verse] of the first book of Kings, and more expressly in the 4th -chapter [6th verse] of that book. The Hebrew letters rendered into Roman -are these: ‘Ze hu keber Adoniram ebed ha Melec Selomo, seba ligbot et -hammas, voniptar yom.’” - -In page 112 of the same chronicle they found the following: “The marble -mausoleum of surprising antiquity, which was discovered at Saguntum in -the year of our Lord, 1482, and was inscribed with the Hebrew letters -which are these in Roman, ‘Ze hu keber,’ &c. [as above], still exists in -the citadel before the outer gate.” Villalpando did not stop there; he -succeeded in possessing himself afterwards of a careful copy (through -others of his order) of some other manuscript, which makes honourable -mention of the same monument. - -Were the rabbies the originators of this circumstance, I would certainly -have hesitated before I brought it before you; not because I think that -_every thing_ rabbinical is of necessity absurd, ridiculous, and false; -but in order to conciliate the strong prejudices of some who do think -so, and treat _every thing_ coming from that quarter with contempt; and -generally, because they do not understand them. Not a word of the whole -transaction is mentioned by any of the rabbies. The investigation was -set on foot by Christian authors of great learning and extensive reading. -Nor can it be said that it was a story conjured up by the Jesuits. There -was no object in their doing so. They were never friendly to any thing -Jewish; and in Villalpando’s time the most venomous animosity prevailed -in their breast against every thing Jewish. Again, if their object was -to deceive, why did they not make out the inscription on the monument -which the natives have pointed out to them, to correspond with the -one recorded in the Duke of Savoy’s ancient manuscript. There is not -the remotest affinity between the two epitaphs. All the incidental -circumstances connected with those monuments seem to me to conspire to -attest that it was not their object to deceive in this matter. - -Now, I wish to call your attention for a few minutes to the inscription -which Villalpando’s friends discovered on the stone pointed out to them -by the natives. It is the following, according to their decyphering:―― - - שארן נבח פקוד מרה - לשרו קחו יה - ... והדה עד מלך אמציה - -The inscription, as thus given, though it makes rhyme, certainly makes -no sense whatever. To say the least, it is very bad Hebrew, if Hebrew at -all; and is enough to puzzle the worst Hebrew scholar to make any sense -of it.¹ Strange to say, however, there were found such bad Hebrew -scholars, who were able to favour the world with a literal translation, -as they think, of the inscription; and it is the following: “Of Oran -Nebahh, the President, who rebelled against his prince. The Lord has -taken him ... and his glory to King Amaziah.” The only words which I -conceive to be Hebrew are מרה _Marah_, which has been translated -“rebelled,” instead of bitter; יה _yah_, the Lord; and מלך אמציה _Melech -Amaziah_, King Amaziah. I candidly confess, that were I asked to -translate the above, I would have humbly acknowledged my ignorance, -without the least compunction. I find, however, in an old Hebrew book, -called דרכי נעם _Darcay Noam_, or “Ways of Pleasantness” (written by R. -Moses, bar Shem Tob, Aben Chaviv, above a century before Villalpando -instituted the inquiry), an account of an epitaph which, I have no doubt, -is none other but the same with the one which the Jesuits attempted to -decypher; and the following is the rabbi’s account of it according to -his own words: “When I was in the kingdom of Valencia, at the synagogue -of Morvitri [Murviedro], all the people at the gate, as well as the -elders informed me, that a sepulchral monument existed there, of a -prince of the army of Amaziah, King of Judah; I hastened, therefore, to -inspect it. The monument stands on the summit of a hill; whither having -ascended with labour and fatigue, I read the inscription, which was in -verse, and as follows:―― - - שאו קינה בקול מרה - לשר גדול לקחו יה׃² - - “Raise with a bitter voice, a lamentation - For the great prince; the Lord has taken him.” - - ¹ The author has met with many indifferent linguists who were - quicker in making sense of a bad composition than many - learned philologists. - - ² Any one acquainted with the Samaritan alphabet can easily - trace the blunders in the Jesuits’ version of the same. - -I could not read more; but at the conclusion was the word לאמציה “To -Amaziah.” It seems evident that there was more than one Hebrew monument -at Murviedro. - -I hesitate not in saying that, after having examined rigorously these -and various other evidences bearing on the same question, I see no -reason for disbelieving that there were Jews in Spain in the time of -David and Solomon――_startling_ as it may appear. It is easy indeed to -treat the arguments of a young lecturer with a sneer, and to resolve -them into the rashness, or conceit, of inexperience; allow me to -suggest, however, that denial is not answer, and that of all logic flat -contradiction is by far the most illogical. - -Villalpando did certainly not arrive hastily at his conclusion; but -it was after mature consideration that he decided that there existed -colonies of Hebrews all over the world, in the reigns of David and -Solomon, and that the Hebrews thus scattered remitted large sums of -money for the erection and support of the temple.¹ - - ¹ See Appendix D. - -The short time allotted for a lecture of this kind, prevents me -from dwelling much longer now on this subject. To do justice to this -investigation would require a whole series of lectures, exclusively, on -it.¹ I proceed, therefore, at once to trace the probable footsteps of -the Israelites into Britain. - - ¹ See Appendix E. - -Taking for granted that it is highly probable that the Jews visited -Spain in the days of David and Solomon, in company with the Phœnician -merchants; may we not extend the probability also to Britain? - -Appian tells us, that the Spaniards of his time used to perform the -passage to Britain in half a day.¹ Britain was a place of attraction -to mercantile persons at a very early period, and London was styled by -the ancients, at a remote date, “_nobile emporium_.” There remaineth -now no doubt whatever respecting the early intercourse between the -Phœnicians and the Britons――all historians are unanimous upon it. - - ¹ “Quando in Britanniam, una cum æstu maris transvehuntur quæ - quidem trajectio dimidiati diei est.” - -Sir Isaac Newton tells us, “With these Phœnicians came a sort of men -skilled in religious mysteries.” Might they not have been Jews? True it -is that we cannot appeal to monuments in order to establish our position; -but we can, at the same time, appeal to the languages of the Hebrews and -ancient Britons, which furnish a strong argument that they have known -something of each other. - -I begin with the _name_ your country bears, viz. Britain. Various are -the conjectures which antiquarians and philologists advanced in order -to account why this island is so called. Herodotus calls the British -Isles _Cassiterides_, which signifies, the islands of tin. It is a -name whereby the Phœnicians jealously contrived to conceal from their -Mediterranean neighbours the locality of these islands, being the remote -sources of their wealth. Now, Strabo calls Britain Βρετανικη. Bochart, -a profound Oriental scholar, shows that Βρετανικη is a corruption of the -Hebrew words ברת אנך _Barat-Anach_, which are in signification the same -with Cassiterides.¹ Is it not highly probable that Jews came over to -this island with the Phœnicians, and named it according to its peculiar -quality; which designation was ultimately adopted by the aborigines when -they began to have intercourse with the Jews. - - ¹ See Appendix F. - -Any one having paid critical attention to the early history of this -country, can scarcely remain in doubt as regards the existence of an -intimate acquaintance between the Jews and the old Britons or Welch. -An eminent Cornish scholar of last century, who devoted a great deal of -his time to prove the affinity between the Hebrew and Welch languages, -observes,¹ “It would be difficult to adduce a single article or form -of construction in the Hebrew grammar, but the same is to be found in -Welch, and that there are many whole sentences in both languages exactly -the same in the very words.” From two columns of quotations, which -he adduces, I select the following for your satisfaction, and shall -translate them according to the Welch:―― - - ¹ See Monthly Magazine, 1796, vol. ii., p. 543. - - בני אלים - Beni Elyv, - Reared ones of power.――Ps. xxix. 1. - - מחיה מתים - Mychweii Methion, - Thou dost quicken those that have failed. - - בלע אדני את כל נאות יעקב - By-llwng adon-ydh holl neuodh Iago, - The Lord has swallowed up all the tabernacles of - Jacob.――Lam. ii. 2. - - דרך ביתה יצעד - Dyrac buth-hi ai-i-sengyd, - The avenue of her dwelling he would go to tread. - ――Prov. vii. 8. - - דרכי שאול ביתה יורדות אל חדרי מות - Dyracei sâl buth-hi ea-warededh ill cadeiriau mêth. - That leads to vileness is her abode, going the descent - to the seat of failing.――Prov. vii. 27. - - ברוך אתה יהוה אלהינו מלך העולם - Barwch wytti iâ el-eini maelog y-hwylma, - Seat of increase art thou, Supreme, our intellectual power, - possessor of the space of revolution.¹ - - ¹ The first sentence of almost all Jewish thanksgivings to this - very day. - - מגיני על אלהים - Meigen-i hwyl elyv. - My protection is from the intelligences.――Ps. vii. 11. - - מיהוא זה מלך הכבוד יהוה צבאות חוא מלך הכביד סלה - Py yw-o sy maeloc y-cavad I-A-YW-YO savwyod yw-o maeloc - y-cavad. Sela. - - Who is he that is possessor of attainments? I THAT AM HIM of hosts, - he is the possessor of attainment――BEHOLD.――Ps. xxiv. 10.¹ - - ¹ This passage must have been a great favourite with the Jews. - The whole of the twenty-fourth Psalm is supposed to have been - written for, and sung on the occasion of the removal of the - ark by David to Jerusalem. It is moreover supposed, and very - justly, that this Psalm had been employed when the ark was - carried into the majestic temple which Solomon had erected. - The Levites are regarded as approaching in solemn procession, - bearing the sacred depository of sacramental treasures. As - they approached the massive gates, they claimed admission for - the King of Glory, who was perpetually to dwell between the - cherubim that should overshadow the ark, in the words of the - Psalmist, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, - ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in!” - The keepers of the gates are supposed to have heard the - summons, and they demanded from within, “Who is this King - of Glory?” The answer was, “The Lord strong and mighty in - battle;” and then we are to imagine the ponderous gates - thrown open, and the gorgeous throng of priests and Levites - pressing towards the recesses of the sanctuary. Such a - glorious scene could not fail to make a lasting impression - on the Israelite’s mind, and cause him to adopt the above - passage alluded to as a motto for his God, of whom he had - every reason to be proud. It is not at all unlikely that the - aborigines Britons ultimately chose the same as their motto. - -Now, if the aborigines Britons knew not the Jews, where could they have -got hold of such whole Hebrew, purely Hebrew, sentences? I say, then, -_again_, Is it not highly probable, if not demonstrated, that the Jews -visited this island at a very early period, and tried to teach the -natives the lessons which they have themselves learned? - -They possessed already the simple but most sublime Mosaic records, -written above 1000 years before the history of Herodotus; the Psalms -and Proverbs written 1040 years before Horace; and probably Isaiah and -Jeremiah, for they were written 700 years before Virgil. Many Jews were -fathers in literature before any of the present nations, especially -those of Europe, had their existence. Did time permit,¹ I would have -called your attention to some of the proper names which have prevailed -among the aborigines Britons, as _Solomon_, of which name, according -to Lloyd’s Cambria, they anciently had three kings. We read of a Duke -of Cornwall, Solomon by name, openly professing Christianity about the -middle of the fourth century; Daniel, also Abraham, Asaph, and Adam, -from which circumstance some antiquarians attempted to prove that the -Welch are descendants of the children of Israel.² I think that I am very -moderate in endeavouring only to establish a probability of the Jews -mixing with the Britons earlier than it is generally supposed. - - ¹ See Appendix G. - - ² See Jewish Expositor, 1828, pp. 125–130. - -It may not be out of place here to state that “The isles afar off” (Jer. -xxxi. 10) were supposed by the ancients to have been Britannia, Scotia, -and Hibernia. The following statement was made by a celebrated and -venerable divine of the Church of England, when pleading the cause of -the “London Society for promoting Christianity amongst the Jews”――I -mean the Rev. Dr. Marsh:――“The command is to declare the Lord’s purpose -concerning Israel ‘in the isles afar off’ (the expression always -used by the Hebrews for _these islands_――known to them through the -reports of the merchants of Tyre――Britannia, Scotia, and Hibernia). The -proclamation is to be made here.” This notion receives additional force -from the command contained in the 7th verse of the same chapter. “For -thus saith the Lord, sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the -_chief of the nations_: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Lord, save thy -people, the remnant of Israel. - -“Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles -afar off, and say, He that scattereth Israel will gather him, and keep -him as a shepherd doth his flock.” - -The prophet seems to behold Britain in his vision. There can be no doubt -that Britain is now the _chief of the nations_. Her monarch’s territory -is one upon which the sun never sets. The expression “The end of the -world,” mentioned in Isaiah lxii. 11, is also supposed to mean Britain, -which was a common appellation for this island in remote ages. An -expression which readily brings to our mind the phrase - - “... ultimos - Orbis Britannos.” - -I wish now to call your attention to another circumstance, which also -gives colour to the idea, that the Jews visited this country earlier -than is generally supposed. - -There existed once a very amicable alliance between the Hebrews and the -Romans. It is a well-known fact, that many Jews served as soldiers in -the Roman army; they resided in great numbers at Rome and other western -countries in the days of the Cæsars. Josephon ben Gorion informs us -that when Julius became Cæsar, Hyrcanus sent messengers to Rome to renew -the alliance, which had just then expired. Now (B.C. 55) Cæsar invaded -Britain twice, and defeated its gallant natives in several battles, -and compelled them to give hostages, and ultimately planted the Roman -standard in this country. Why should it be a thing unlikely that the -Jews went with him as warriors into Gaul, and aided in his conquests, -and from thence accompanied him into Britain, and remained here under -the protection of the Roman banner. For to assist each other in war was -just in accordance with their original agreement, which is preserved -in the 1st book of the Maccabees, viii. 22–29, and which is as follows: -――“This is the copy of the epistle which the senate wrote back again, -in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that there they might have -by them a memorial of peace and confederacy:―― - -“Good success be to the Romans, and to the people of the Jews, by sea -and by land for ever: the sword also and enemy be far from them. If -there come first any war upon the Romans, or any of their confederates -throughout all their dominion, the people of the Jews shall help them, -as the time shall be appointed, with all their heart. Neither shall -they give any thing unto them that make war upon them, or aid them with -victuals, weapons, money, or ships, as it hath seemed good unto the -Romans, but they shall keep their covenant without taking any thing -therefore. In the same manner also, if war come first upon the nation -of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according -as the time shall be appointed them. Neither shall victuals be given to -them that take part against them, or weapons, or money, or ships, as it -hath seemed good to the Romans, but they shall keep their covenants, and -that without deceit. According to these articles did the Romans make a -covenant with the people of the Jews.” - -A copy of a letter preserved in Josephon ben Gorion, which the Jews of -Asia sent to Hyrcanus and to the nobles of Judah, contains the following -passage:―― - -“Be it known to you that Augustus Cæsar sent, by the advice of his -ally, Antoninus, throughout all the countries of his dominion, as far -as beyond the Indian Sea, and as far as beyond the British territory, -and commanded that in whatever place there be man or woman of the Jewish -race, servant or handmaiden, to set them free without any redemption -money. By the command of Cæsar Augustus and his ally, Antoninus.”¹ - - ¹ See Appendix H. - -In the צמח דוד or “Branch of David,” a Jewish chronicle of some importance, -written by Rabbi David Ganz, we have the following paragraph:―― - -“A.M. 4915.――Cæsar Augustus was a pious and God-fearing man, and did -execute judgment and justice, and was a lover of Israel. And as to that -which is recorded in the beginning of the book, ‘Sceptre of Judah,’ that -Cæsar Augustus caused a great slaughter amongst the Jews, his informant -deceived him, for I have not met even with a hint respecting it in all -the chronicles I have ever seen. On the contrary, in all their [_i.e._ -Gentile] annals, and also in the fifteenth chapter of Josephon, it is -recorded that he was a faithful friend of Israel. He also records in the -forty-seventh chapter, that this Cæsar sent an epistle of freedom to the -Jews in all the countries of his dominion; to the east as far as beyond -the Indian Sea, and to the west as far as beyond the British territory -(which is the country Angleterre, and which is designated England in the -_lingua franca_.”)¹ - - ¹ See Appendix I. - -The Jews in this country chronicle the same event, annually, in their -calendar; in the following words:――“Augustus’s edict in favour of the -Jews in England, C. Æ. 15.” - -An ingenious antiquary of the seventeenth century, Mr. Richard Waller -by name, came to the same conclusion in consequence of a curious -Roman brick which was found in his time in London, when digging up -the foundation of a house in Mark-lane. The brick had on one side a -bass-relief, representing Sampson driving the foxes into a field of -corn. The whole circumstance is thus related in Leland’s Collections, -in the preface to the first volume, pp. 70, 71:―― - -“And now I shall take notice of a very great curiosity found in the -Mark-lane――more properly called Mart-lane, it being a place where the -Romans, and not improbably the ancient Britains, used to barter their -commodities, as tin, lead, &c. with other nations, it may be the Greeks, -who often came into this island to purchase the like goods.... The -curiosity I am speaking of is a brick, found about forty years since -[_i.e._ about 1670], twenty-eight feet below the pavement, by Mr. -Stockley, as he was digging the foundation of an house that he built -for Mr. Wolley.... This brick is of a Roman make, and was a key-brick to -the arch of a vault where a quantity of burnt corn was found. ’Tis made -of curious red clay, and in bass-relief on the front hath the figure of -Sampson putting fire to the foxes’ tayles, and driving them into a field -of corn. This brick is deposited in the museum belonging to the Royal -Society’s house, Fleet-street.” Dr. Leland then gives an extract from -a letter of Mr. Richard Waller, which is the following: “How the story -of Sampson should be known to the _Romans_, much less to the _Britains_, -so early after the propagation of the Gospel, seems to be a great doubt, -except, it should be said, that some _Jews_, after the final destruction -of _Jerusalem_, should wander into Britain; and London being, even in -Cæsar’s time, a port or trading city, they might settle here, and in the -arch of their granary record the famous story of their delivery from -their captivity under the Philistines.” - -All these circumstantial evidences are sufficient, to my mind, to -establish a probability, at least, that the Jews visited this country at -a remote age. - -Baronius may therefore be right after all, that St. Peter preached -the Gospel in Britain, notwithstanding the learned Stillingfleet’s -opposition. The principal argument which the Bishop of Worcester -advances against St. Peter’s visiting this island for the purpose of -preaching the Gospel, is, that St. Peter was emphatically called the -“Apostle of the Circumcision;” but――argues the learned prelate――as -there were no Jews in Britain at that time, consequently Baronius must -be wrong. With all due deference to the most learned Stillingfleet, I -venture to say, that his lordship took for granted what remains to be -proved. Baronius himself must certainly have been convinced that there -were Jews in this realm in the days of the Apostles, or else he must -have contradicted himself. He states that, until the 65th year of our -Lord, the Gospel was preached to none but to the Jews; but he also tells -us, that A.D. 61, Peter came over to Britain in order to preach the -Gospel. Of course, he must have meant, to the Jews of Britain. - -Lippomanus declares, and Nicephorus makes use of his declaration, that -St. ♦Peter preached also to the Britons; “for he carried,” says the -latter, “the same doctrine to the Western Ocean and to the British -Isles.” - - ♦ ‘Petre’ replaced with ‘Peter’ - -But methinks I hear one say, Suppose there were a few Jews in -this island, would that circumstance afford St. Peter sufficient -encouragement and invitation to visit it. I answer, yes――there was -encouragement and invitation enough for an apostle to the Jews to travel -such a great distance. The Jews, being thus far removed from Jerusalem, -had no opportunity of hearing any thing of the awful scene that was -exhibited on Calvary, they would, therefore, be free from all the -prejudices which prevailed in the breasts of their brethren in Palestine. -The apostle might, therefore, calculate on sure success, for he would -come to them, and preach the things noted in their Scriptures of truth -respecting their Messiah, who was then universally expected by them. -St. Peter would unfold to them the ninth chapter of the Book of the -Prophet Daniel, where the time of Messiah’s first advent was fixed, -as also that He was to “be cut off, but not for himself;” all of which -is, to unprejudiced and unbiassed minds, so self-evident, that the -then British Jews could not but believe, especially when preached by a -holy and pious countryman of their own. Dr. Wolff’s last journal of his -travels to Bokhara convinces me, that where the Jews are ignorant of the -controversy at issue between Jews and Christians, the Gospel meets with -an easy and favourable reception by them, as you will perceive from the -following extract:―― - -“Here I may as well notice the Jews of Yemen generally. While at Sanaa, -Mose Joseph Alkaree, the chief rabbi of the Jews, called on me. He is -an amiable and sensible man. The Jews of Yemen adhere uniquely to the -ancient interpretation of Scripture in the passage (Isaiah, vii. 14), -‘A virgin shall conceive,’ and they give to the word עלמה the same -interpretation, virgin, that the Christians do, without knowing the -history of Jesus. Rabbi Alkaree asserted, that in Isaiah, liii. the -suffering of the Messiah is described as anterior to his reign in glory. -He informed me that the Jews of Yemen never returned to Jerusalem after -the Babylonish captivity; and that when Ezra wrote a letter to the -princes of the captivity at Tanaan――a day’s journey from Sanaa――inviting -them to return, they replied, ‘Daniel predicts the murder of the Messiah, -and another destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and therefore we -will not go up until He shall have scattered the power of the holy -people, until the thousand two hundred and ninety days are over.’ I -demanded, ‘Do you consider these days to be literal days?’ The Alkaree -replied, ‘No; but we do expect the coming of the Messiah from the -commotions now going on at Yemen. We think he begins to come from Teman, -_i.e._, Yemen, for you see the tents of Cushan are now in affliction, -and the curtains of Midian tremble. There is now war in the wilderness -unprecedented in our memory. There are twelve gates at Sanaa. As soon as -one of them――the Bab Alstraan, which is always kept closed――is opened, -we expect Him. Rechab and Hamdan are before it.’ I then expounded Isaiah, -liii., and read him the holy history of Jesus. He said, ‘Your exposition -is in better agreement with the ancient interpretation; I approve -it much more than that of our nation, which ascribes the passage to -Josiah.’ This kind Jew assisted me in the distribution of Testaments -among his people. Sanaa contains 15,000 Jews. In Yemen they amount to -20,000. I conceive the total population of the Jews throughout the world -amounts to 10,000,000. I baptized here sixteen Jews, and left them all -New Testaments.”¹ - - ¹ Vol. i., p. 60. - -The latest intelligence we received from Persia bears testimony to the -same striking fact. The following is an extract from a letter of the -Rev. H. A. Stern, dated Tehran, June 19, 1845:―― - -“May 16th, Kermanshah.――We were visited by Hassan Khan Kalentar: he was -very polite, and offered us the use of his house, but we declined his -offer, prefering to remain where we were. We went to the Jewish quarter, -which is situated in the lowest part of the town, and inquired for the -synagogue. A crowd of Jews quickly surrounded us, and conducted us to it. -We had to wait several minutes while a messenger was despatched for the -keys. On entering, we descended into an extremely poor place of worship, -affording the strongest evidence of the poverty and oppression of the -Jews here. They told us that they had repeatedly laid down expensive -carpets, and ornamented the books of the law, but the soldiers had -as often broken in at night, and stolen every article of value. We -then called upon one of the mullahs or rabbies, and preached Jesus -of Nazareth to him. He confessed he had never heard of the message -of salvation, and was entirely ignorant of every thing respecting a -Redeemer. He repeatedly said, ‘Did our forefathers so err?’ During our -conversation the greater part of the Jewish population had crowded round -the door, and the people were anxiously listening to what was said. - -“May 17th.――We went again to the synagogue, and had scarcely entered -before we were called up to the oratory. The mullah, with whom we had -the conversation after our former visit, said he was very sorry that we -did not come before the reading of the law, as he would have conferred -the honour upon us. Some of the Jews gave us vases of roses which -were standing near the reading-desk; and at the conclusion of the -service, two of the mullahs and another influential Jew requested the -congregation to remain quiet while we addressed them. We did so, for -some time, on the first advent of the Messiah, his rejection by the -Jewish nation, his sufferings and atonement, the reason of his coming in -humility the first time, and of his future coming in glory. We entreated -them to believe in Christ, and no longer to reject the proffered -salvation. - -“ONE OF THE MULLAHS――‘We are in captivity, and groan under oppression. -What can we do?’ - -“I――‘Believe in Jesus Christ, and he will redeem you. It grieves us much -to see you scattered like sheep without a shepherd――instead of hearing -the lovely songs of Zion, to hear the wailings of affliction. Shall the -gold always remain dim, and the sword always reek with your blood? No: -come to Jesus, hear the blessed Gospel, and you will then find peace -here and life eternal hereafter.’ Upon which, the whole synagogue――men, -women, and children――loudly answered, ‘Amen! speedily, speedily; and -may the blessing of God rest upon your heads!’ We spoke Hebrew, and -the mullahs interpreted all we said to the people. We gave each of the -mullahs a New Testament, and presented a Bible to the synagogue. Thus -were we enabled, by God’s grace, to preach Christ to no less than three -hundred souls, and in a public synagogue. - -“As we were on our way home, one of the mullahs sent a messenger to -invite us to his house; but his wife being ill, and he poor, we did not -accept the invitation.”¹ - - ¹ See Jewish Intelligence, 1845, pp. 362, 363. - -But Dr. Wolff’s late enterprise convinces us, likewise, that it is -possible for a man who is inspired with benevolence and zeal, to travel -5,000 miles, in order to deliver two fellow-creatures only. Considering -the superiority of the Apostle’s mission, there will be no reason to -object to the probability of St. Peter’s visiting the Jews in this -island, few as they may have been, in order to rescue them from that -eternal death which ever dying never dies. - -As to St. Paul’s being one of the first heralds of salvation in this -island, there can scarcely be any doubt on the subject. Indeed, if we -do not believe it we must make up our minds to reject all the hitherto -authentic historians. By them we can prove to a demonstration, that St. -Paul did preach the Gospel in Britain. However, as to prove this is not -my object at present, I shall, therefore, only confine myself to a few -writers on the subject. - -Dr. Burgess, late Bishop of Sarum, one of the most learned and pious -bishops of our Church, has shown most satisfactorily, in the tracts -he published, that whilst to the Apostles generally――to St. Paul most -particularly is Britain indebted for the foundation of her national -Church. Clemens Romanus, who was an intimate friend and fellow-labourer -of St. Paul, declares in his Epistle to the Corinthians, that “St. Paul -having been a herald of the Gospel both in the east and in the west, -he received the noble crown of faith, after teaching righteousness to -the whole world, and gone even, ἐπὶ τὸ τέρμα τῆς δύσσεως, to the utmost -bounds of the west:” an expression, well known to every scholar, that -always designated, or at least included, the British Islands. - -Theodoret, one of the most learned and sound Church historians of the -fourth century, mentions Britain among the nations which had received -the Gospel. He states in his observations on Psalm cxvi., that “Paul -carried salvation to the islands which lie in the ocean.” Jerome shortly -afterwards writes, when commenting on the fifth chapter of Amos, that -“St. Paul’s diligence in preaching extended as far as the earth itself.” -Again, after his ♦imprisonment he preached the Gospel in the _western -parts_” (De Script. Eccl.), in which (as is evident from a passage in -his Epistle to Marcella) he included Britain. Venentius Fortunatus, -Bishop of Poitiers, who lived in the fifth century, states that “Paul -having crossed the ocean, landed and preached in the countries which -the Britons inhabit.” I could multiply quotations on this subject almost -without end; but they would be as tedious, as they are unnecessary. I -may, however, observe, that some of the greatest men of this country, -who spent a great part of their lives in such researches――viz. the most -learned Ussher, Parker, Stillingfleet, Cave, Camden, Gibson, Godwin, -Rapin, and a great many others――have clearly shown that St. Paul was -the founder of the British Church. But Archbishop Ussher proves also, -that St. Paul did not quit this island before he had appointed the -first bishop or bishops, and the other ministers of the Church――that -Aristobulus was the first bishop he had appointed. Some of the old -Welch writers state, that Bran, son of Llyr Llediaeth (who had been a -hostage for several years at Rome, for his son Caradoc or Caractacus), -brought with him as preachers, on his return from Rome, one Aristobulus, -an Italian, and two Israelites, named Ilid and Cynvan (Hughes’ Hora -Britanica, vol. ii., p. 23), which must have taken place soon after -St. Paul left Rome. - - ♦ ‘imimprisonment’ replaced with ‘imprisonment’ - -As far as the investigation of my subject is concerned, all the above -rays of historical light converge to one point, which is, that some -Jews must have been in this country during the first century; yea, the -government of the British Christian Church was established and set in -proper scriptural order by Jews themselves, be they who they may――Peter, -Paul, Simon Zealotes, Joseph of Arimathea. So that the British Church -actually owes to the Jewish nation a great debt of gratitude, for her -beautiful and scriptural order, and for all her godlike religion. - - - - - APPENDIX TO LECTURE I. - - - A. - -THE following is an extract from a letter I received from the governor -of Dartmouth, A. H. Holdsworth, Esq., a man of great research and -scientific attainments. I have every reason to believe that its perusal -may prove interesting to some, as well as instructive to others; I offer -no apology, therefore, for giving it so largely. The letter I allude to -was dated “Brookhill, October 15th, ♦1845:”―― - - ♦ ‘1485’ replaced with ‘1845’ - -MY DEAR SIR――I believe that man, as he was created, had a mind in -that state of perfection which we can best understand by the term -‘civilized’――that is, capable of discerning the means of gratifying -every wish and providing for every want, whether bodily or intellectual, -that circumstances brought upon him, until society became so corrupt -that the Almighty found it necessary to destroy the whole human race, -except Noah and his family, whom he preserved in the ark, and that -through them the same civilized mind was transmitted to those that were -born to them, and to those who descended from them; and that all the -heathen nations (as they are now termed) have fallen off from that -state in which their forefathers existed, and that as the local distance -increased which divided their several families from the parent stock, so -did their minds become more degraded and ignorant, until they arrived at -the state in which they are now found, endued with sufficient intellect -to enable them to avail themselves of the means which nature has placed -around them to supply their bodily wants, but continuing from father to -son in the same state of mental ignorance, and devoid of all improvement -or intellectual enjoyment. I was first impressed with this view of the -heathen nations from finding that the same canoes exist at this time, -the same rafts or balzas are seen on the same coasts as were found -there when those coasts or islands were first visited by our earliest -navigators, although our own ships have been so much improved during the -same space of time as to be most sensibly distinguishable. - -“These facts induced me to ask myself this question. If we can trace the -same unimproved canoes through such a series of years, how happened it -that ships were ever built? How did those persons who first discovered -the people possessing these canoes, get the ships which conveyed them -to those distant regions? Or why should one set of men turn their canoes -into ships (if our ships grew out of canoes), and other sets of men -never make any improvement in theirs? Why have not the natives of the -coasts of Africa turned their canoes into ships, as well as the natives -of Britain? To solve these questions I had to trace back the history of -shipping from century to century――rising and falling with the nations -to which it belonged, varying in size and form as adopted by newly -civilized countries, but maintaining the same principle of construction; -and when I searched from nation to nation in the Mediterranean, and -thence up the Nile to Thebes, I could not find any period of time -in which it did not appear that ships have existed――that is, vessels -composed of ribs and planks with beams and decks, as are seen at the -present day. We may pass over the more recent time and go back 1000 -years before the birth of Christ. We then find Solomon with a fleet -of ships in the Red Sea, and we read in the 1st of Kings――‘And Hiram -sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, -with the servants of Solomon.’ Hiram, therefore, had long possessed a -fleet; and 450 years before Solomon’s time we find Balaam saying――‘And -ships shall come from the coast of Chittim and shall afflict Asshur,’ -from which it is clear that Balaam must have known that those whom he -addressed understood what he meant by ships, or his prophecy would have -been useless. But there is little doubt but that at that time there -was a large fleet of ships in the Red Sea. Sesostris is said to have -had about four hundred sail of war ships, with which he carried his -army to the conquest of various countries down the coast, and which are -represented on the walls of his palace at Thebes. The pictures on the -walls of the tombs also afford much information on this subject, as well -as some on the inside of mummy cases. - -“The size of these vessels is to a certain extent ascertained by the -number of men which are represented within them, but more accurately -by the models of two vessels which were found in a tomb, and brought -to England by Mr. Salt. These were bought for the British Museum at -the sale of his Egyptian relics. I have measured them, and taking -the figures on the deck as a scale, and calling them six feet, I make -the vessel to be thirty feet long, six feet wide, and four feet deep; -and when to the size is added the form, which is that of an irregular -half-moon, it is clear that such vessels could not be made out of a -single tree, but must have been regularly built with ribs, planks, and -beams to support the deck. And as these were said to have been found in -an early tomb, it is clear to my mind that the persons who built them -must have been in a state of civilization, that they had a thorough -knowledge of the art, and that it affords a proof that those persons -who established themselves at Thebes at a very short space of time after -the Mosaic flood, had no difficulty in constructing vessels, when such -machines were found necessary to them. If the facts are, as I believe -them to be――viz., that the canoes of the uncivilized nations or tribes -are in the same state as when first seen by our earliest navigators, and -if we cannot find any trace that canoes were used by the Thebans before -they constructed vessels or ships, although we can find boats or smaller -vessels of different sorts existing at the same time with such ships -or vessels upon the waters of the Nile, have we not a right to believe -that the ship is the work of a civilized mind, and that it has been -constructed where it has been required by the civilized inhabitants -of our globe from the earliest periods of its existence? Much might be -added as to the state of shipping at the various periods of history, as -nations rose into eminence and fell again into obscurity, and as nations -became civilized and adopted the usages of those who had preceded them -in civilization; but this is not necessary to the subject at present. -There are a variety of other things which are to be found equally -curious and worthy of notice, indirectly connected with this subject, -but leading to very different considerations; I will not, therefore, -touch upon them.” - - - B. - -“His perlectis non puto quemquam esse qui non videat _Tarsis_, vel -esse Hispaniam, vel Hispaniæ partem, quam Tyrii maxime frequentabant, -Gades nimirum et Tartessum, in loco Ezechielis quo Tyrum ita compellat, -cap. 27, v. 12. _Tarsis negotiatrix tua præ copia omnium divitiarum: -argento, ferro, stanno, et plumbo negotiati sunt in nundinis tuis_; cum -his ipsis metallis divitem fuisse Hispaniam, et hanc illecebram Tyrios -eo terrarum pellexisse, jam abunde probaverimus. Tartessus aliis est -Carteia civitas prope Calpe unde initium freti Herculei, aliis insula -Gades in Oceano, aliis denique insula et urbs interamna inter duo Bætis -ostia, qui et ipse Tartessus dicitur ab Aristotele, Strabone, Pausania -et Avieno. Inde et Straboni Tartessis est regio circa Bætis ostia. Circa -hæc loca videtur fuisse _Tarsis_. - -“Quin et nomen Hebræum _Tarsis_ potuit a Phœnicibus mutari in -_Tartessum_, vel prima geminata per pleonasmum, vel in תרשיש _Tarsis_ -altero ש id ת mutato, ut cum אתור _Aturia_ dicitur pro אשור Assyria, et -בתנן _Batanæa_ pro בשן _Basan_.”――_Bochart_, vol. i., p. 170. - - - C. - -Villalpando and others have it thus:―― - - זהואכבר אדונירם עבד המלך השלמו - . . שבא לגבת את חמס ונפטר יום. - -A slight acquaintance with the Hebrew language will show that the -transcribers knew very little or nothing of that language, and it is -therefore natural that they should make such mistakes. - - - D. - -“Ex quibus omnibus aperte demonstrari potest Hebræos olim usque a -Davidis, et Salmonis ætate totum pene terrarum orbem replenisse: -eosdemque tributa, nec pauca, nec parvi precii quot annis manu -supremi tributorum Principis misisse Hierosolymam.”――_Villalpandus -in Ezechielum_, vol. ii., part ii., p. 544. - - - E. - -Polybius, Ptolemy, Pliny, and Strabo have mentioned a people inhabiting -Andalusia and the modern Algarve, differing from all their neighbours, -speaking a peculiar language, using refined grammatical rules, and -possessing inscribed monuments of antiquity, as also poems, and -even laws in verse. Strabo mentions that they say “their laws are of -6,000 years.” Palmerius proposes to read “six thousand verses,” by -♦introducing ἐπῶν instead of ἐτῶν. Men of great erudition and research -maintained that that people was a Jewish population, descendants of -the old colonists in the times of Solomon, Amaziah, and Nebuchadnezzar. -They also maintained that the books of Genesis, Exodus, and Deuteronomy -contained poems, to which may be added the Psalms and Proverbs. -The above-mentioned district also included Tarshish; and many other -arguments were advanced to prove that it was a Jewish colony. However, -the theory is rejected by others, and I must say that I think on -too slender grounds. It is argued that “these people are denominated -Turdetani and Turduli, by authors whose information was extensive upon -national peculiarities, and who were at least so well acquainted with -the Jews as to have been able to pronounce at once, if warranted by -facts, that these Andalusians were of that nation.” Now, it might as -well be argued that the people whom Haman sought to destroy were no Jews, -because he did not pronounce them so at once. He only “said unto King -Ahasuerus, there is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed -among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are -diverse from all people, neither keep they the king’s laws, therefore -it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.”――Esther iii. 8. The -acquaintance of the heathen authors with the history of the Jews, is -nothing more than an assumption. Trogus Pompeius, a writer in the time -of Augustus, professes to have been best acquainted with the Jews, -indeed, at that time he ought to have been so. He wrote the history of -all nations in forty-five volumes, of which we have only an abridgment -by Justin. Judge from the following chapter of the acquaintance which -the heathen had with Jewish history:―― - - ♦ ‘iutroducing’ replaced with ‘introducing’ - -“Namque Judæis origo Damascena, Syriæ nobilissima civitas; unde et -Assyriis regibus genus ex regina Semirami fuit. Nomen urbi a Damasco -rege inditum; in cujus honorem Syrii sepulcrum Arathis uxoris ejus -pro templo coluere, deamque exinde sanctissimæ religionis habent. -Post Damascum Azelus, mox Adores et Abraham et Israhel reges fuere. -Sed Israhelem felix decem filiorum proventus majoribus suis clariorem -fecit. Itaque populum in decem regna divisum filiis tradidit, omnesque -ex nomine Judæ, qui post divisionem decesserat, _Judæos_ appellavit; -colique ejus memoriam ab omnibus jussit, cujus portio omnibus accesserat. -Minimus ætate inter fratres Joseph fuit; cujus excellens ingenium veriti -fratres, clam inceptum peregrinis mercatoribus vendiderunt. A quibus -deportatus in Ægyptum, cum magicas ibi artes solerti ingenio percepisset, -brevi ipsi regi percarus fuit. Nam et prodigiorum sagacissimus erat, -et somniorum primus intelligentiam condidit; nihilque divini juris -humanique ei incognitum videbatur: adeo, ut etiam sterilitatem agrorum -ante multos annos providerit; perissetque omnis Ægyptus fame, nisi -monitu ejus rex edicto servari per multos annos fruges jussisset; -tantaque experimenta ejus fuerunt, ut non ab homine, sed a Deo responsa -dari viderentur. Filius ejus Moses fuit, quem præter paternæ scientiæ -hereditatem, etiam formæ pulcritudo commendabat. Sed Ægypti, quum -scabiem et vitiliginem paterentur, responso moniti, eum cum ægris, ne -pestis ad plures serperet, terminis Ægypti pellunt. Dux igitur exsulum -factus, sacra Ægyptiorum furto abstulit: quæ repetentes armis Ægyptii, -domum redire tempestatibus compulsi sunt. Itaque Moses Damascena antiqua -patria repetita montem Synæ occupat; quo septem dierum jejunio per -deserta Arabiæ cum populo suo fatigatus, cum tandem venisset, septimum -diem more gentis _Sabbatum_ appellatum in omne ævum jejunio sacravit, -quoniam illa dies famem illis erroremque finierat. Et quoniam metu -contagionis pulsos se ab Ægypto meminerant, ne eadem causa invisi apud -incolas forent, caverunt, ne cum peregrinis communicarent: quod ex causa -factum paulatim in disciplinam religionemque convertit. Post Mosen etiam -filius ejus Aruas, sacerdos sacris Ægyptiis, mox rex creatur; semperque -exinde hic mos apud Judæos fuit, ut eosdem, reges et sacerdotes haberent; -quorum justitia religione permixta, incredibile quantum coaluere.” -――_Justini_, lib. xxxvi., cap. ii. - - - F. - -“Et Britanniam Strabo passim appellat Βρεττανικην, et uno T Βρετανικην. -Porro _Bretanica_ mihi quidem nihil videtur esse aliud quam ברת־אנך -_Barat-anac_, id est, _ager_, seu terra _stanni et plumbi_. ברא _bara_, -et in regimine ברת _barat_ Syris agrum esse sciunt omnes, et ex Daniele -abunde notum.... Et אנך _anac_ stannum aut plumbum Hebræi explicant in -Amos 7, 7. Nempe utrumque significat.... Mihi docuisse sufficit ab horum -metallorum fœcunditate has insulas, ut a Græcis Cassiteridas, ita a -Phœnicibus dictas fuisse ברת־אנך _barat anac_ agrum stanni et plumbi.” -――Samuel Bochart, vol. i., col. 647–650. - - - G. - -“I may instance _Rice_ or _Rees_ (written in Greek Ρησα――see Luke, -iii. 27), Davis, Jones, Lewis, &c., which are names greatly abounding in -Wales, and only later corruptions, as I apprehend, of Jewish patronymics. -The final _s_ is, I believe, admitted to be, in _most_ proper names, -not the sign of the plural number, but of the genitive case, and is one -way of signifying the son of the person, and thus we have David’s-son, -David’s, Davis;――Jonah’s-son, Jonah’s, Jones;――Levis’-son, Levis’, or -Lewis. - -“Levi, by the writers of the New Testament, is written Λευϊ, and also -Λευις, which is the identical Levvis of the Welch, and possibly a -corruption of the Greek genitive for the nominative, by a similar -process with the above, and perhaps also Ιωνας. The other Welch form of -denoting a man’s son――viz., by the word _ap_, as Davis-ap-Rees, or Rice, -whence it slides into the word itself, and from ap-Rice becomes _Price_, -is probably Hebrew also; since the sacred historian tells us that Ab-ner -is son of Ner. _Ab_ indeed signifies _father_ rather than son, and it -would appear, from many of their names, that they were in the habit of -recognizing a man by the person whom he had for his father; but it comes -practically to the same thing as if it literally meant son: for we can -scarcely avoid saying of him of whom we would speak as having Ner for -his father, he is Ner’s son.”――_Abdiel_ in the Jewish Expositor, 1828, -pp. 126, 127. - - - H. - -ודעו כי שלח אגוסטוס קיסר בעצת אנטונינוס חברו בכל ארצות ממשלתו עד מעבר לים הודו ועד מעבר ארץ בריטאניאה והיא -ארץ ים אוקיאנוס. ויצו את כל מקום אשר בו איש או אשה מזרע היהודים עבד או אמה לשלחם חפשים בלא פדיון במצות -הקיסר אגוסטוס ואטונינוס חברו׃ - - - I. - -תשעה תו הקיסר אגושטי היה איש חסיד וירא אלהים והיה עושה משפט וצדקה ואוהב ישראל׃ ומה שכתוב בראש ספר שבט -יהודה שקיסר אגושטי עשה הרג רב ביהודיס הלא המגיד כיחש לו כי לא מצאתי רמז מזה בכל הקרוניקים שראיתי מימי אדרכא -בכל ספרי זכרינתיהם גם ביוסיפין פר טו כתב שהיה אוהב נאמן לישראל גם בפּרק מז כתב שהקיסר הזה שלח כתב לים הודו -ולמערב עד מעבר ארץ בריטוניאה׃ (חיא מדינת אנגאלטירה הנקרא בלא ענגל לנד׳)׃ - - - - - LECTURE II. - - -WHEN I had the honour of addressing you from this platform on Tuesday -evening last, I endeavoured to establish, by circumstantial evidence, -the probability that the Jews visited this country at a very early -period of their history. I flatter myself, however, that I have -succeeded in demonstrating that some Jews were certainly in this island -in the very first century of the Christian era. How few, or how many, -is doubtful. - -It is not too much, however, to expect that some of your minds, at least, -have been exercised on this important inquiry since we last met together. -It is not at all unlikely that some objections against my arguments -suggested themselves to your minds――objections which may at first sight -seem both plausible and natural. For instance, I know that a question -suggests itself on taking my view of the early introduction of the Jews -into this country――why did not Julius Cæsar make any mention of them in -his history of Britain? I meet it by another question. Did Cæsar omit -nothing else? Read his writings and compare them with the works of later -historians, and then tell me whether his silence on the existence of -the Jews in this country furnishes any argument against their having -really been here. If indeed he omitted nothing else but the Jews, there -would then be some force in the argument, but since we know that Cæsar’s -history of Britain affords us but a bird’s-eye view of the state of the -country in his time, what then is the value of such an argument? Again, -supposing that Cæsar wrote a minute and detailed description of Britain, -would there have been any necessity on his part to mention the existence -of the Jews? Certainly not; he wrote for the benefit of his countrymen, -to give them some information respecting the Britons. The Romans knew -who the Jews were; it would have been a waste of time on Cæsar’s part -to have given them information on a subject they were already acquainted -with. He might as well have described the Roman army; especially since -it is supposed that many Jews accompanied him as soldiers to Britain. - -Another argument has been advanced against their establishment in this -country at so early a period, which was――“It is not probable that a -total silence respecting them would have prevailed among the British -writers of those days, had any portion of them been then established -in Britain.” I mention those objections because they are the strongest -which have been produced, and you will find them in the eighth volume of -the “English Archæologia,” page 390. - -Now, I must meet this again by another question. To what early British -historians does Mr. Caley refer?――for that is the name of the writer -of the article on this subject in the “English Archæologia.”――England -had no literature for a very long period. Gildas, commonly called the -Wise, is the most ancient British historian now extant. Any one who has -ever taken the trouble to read through his “De Calamitate, Excidio, et -Conquestu Britanniæ” (this is the only work of his printed, and probably -existing), will despair of finding in it any thing of importance. Next -to him comes the venerable Bede, who was, indeed, the brightest ornament -of the eighth century, but he confined himself to ecclesiastical history. -Bede, however, does incidentally mention the Jews, as I shall presently -show, which proves that they must have been here anterior to his time. - -I wish, however, first to call your attention to a striking feature in -the history of the Jews in this country. The Jews are never mentioned in -the early history of England, except to record some flagrant persecution, -or horrible massacre; to reckon up the amount of sums extorted from them -by kings in distress, or to detail some story about the crucifixion of -infants, got up by their enemies for the sake of making the objects of -their injustice odious as well as unfortunate. And when these subjects -did not occur to the monkish historians of the time――that is to say, -when the Jews were unmolested, peaceably employing themselves in traffic, -and gradually acquiring wealth which was not demanded from them too -largely or too rudely, in return for their safety and opportunities -of commerce――it would be conceived that they were unworthy of mention -on any other account. Historians always find the most prosperous to -be the most barren periods of history; as the richest and most fertile -country affords but an uninteresting landscape to the poet or the artist, -when compared with the wild rocks, rugged precipices, and unproductive -solitudes of mountain scenery. So we may fairly conclude that, until the -reign of Stephen, they were enjoying, without molestation, the benefits -of their traffic, and increasing in riches and wealth, whilst the peace -of their Gentile brethren was all that time rent asunder by different -invasions and seditions. - -The first mention I find of the Jews in English works, is that in Bede’s -“Ecclesiastical History,” in connexion with the ridiculous and absurd -controversies which prevailed between the Romish and British monks, viz., -about the form of the tonsure and the keeping of Easter. The priests of -all the then Christian churches were accustomed to shave part of their -head; but the form given to this tonsure was different in the Britons -from that used by the Roman monks, who came over to this country with -Augustine. The latter made the tonsure on the crown of the head, and -in a circular form, whilst the former shaved the forepart of their -head from ear to ear. The Romish monks, in order to recommend their -own form of tonsure, maintained that it imitated symbolically the -crown of thorns worn by our Lord in his passion. But as to the Britons, -their antagonists insisted that their form was invented by Simon Magus, -without any regard to that representation. The Britons also celebrated -Easter on the very day of the full moon in March, if that day fell on -a Sunday, instead of waiting till the Sunday following. The Britons -pleaded the antiquity of their usages; the Romans insisted on the -universality of theirs. In order to render the former odious, the latter -affirmed that their native priests once in seven years concurred with -the _Jews_ in the time of celebrating that festival. - -This incidental circumstance proves that there must have been Jews here -who had synagogues, and observed the feast of Passover. The Jews must -also have had learned men amongst them to arrange their calendars: and -such an arrangement requires a fair astronomical knowledge, or else the -charge would have been totally unintelligible to the Saxons. - -The above charge will account for the edict published soon after by -Ecgbright, Archbishop of York, in the “_Canonical Excerptiones_,” A.D. -740, to the effect, that no Christian should be present at any of the -Jewish feasts,¹ which establishes the fact that Jews must have resided -in this country at the time of the Saxon heptarchy, in tolerable numbers, -and celebrated their feasts according to their own law; and what is -more, they desired to live peaceably with their Christian neighbours. - - ¹ See Appendix A. - -It also appears from a charter granted by Whitglaff, King of the -Mercians, to Croyland Abbey, ninety-three years after the above edict -was issued, that there were Jews in this country at that period, and -possessed landed property; and what is most remarkable, they endowed -Christian places of worship. - -Ingulphus, in his “History of Croyland Abbey,” relates that in the -year 833, Whitglaff, King of the Mercians, having been defeated by -Egbert, took refuge in that abbey, and in return for the protection and -assistance rendered him by the abbot and monks on the occasion, granted -a charter, confirming to them all lands, tenements, and possessions, -and all other gifts which had at any time been bestowed upon them by his -predecessors or their nobles, or by any other faithful Christians, or by -Jews.¹ - - ¹ See Appendix B. - -The Jews in this country chronicle now in their almanack the following: -――“Canute banished the Jews from England,” A.D. 901.¹ Basnage also -asserts that “they were banished from this country in the beginning -of the eleventh century, and did not return till after the conquest.” -I cannot find the authority upon which these two statements rest, -and moreover it seems to me that some Jews were certainly resident in -England towards the middle of the eleventh century, and prior to the -Norman invasion. By the laws attributed to Edward the Confessor, it is -declared that “the Jews, wheresoever they be, are under king’s guard and -protection; neither can any one of them put himself under the protection -of any rich man, without the king’s license, for the Jews and all they -have belong to the king; and if any person shall detain them or their -money, the king may claim them, if he please, as his own:”² another -proof that the Jews were resident in this country prior to the invasion -of William the Conqueror. - - ¹ This is decidedly erroneous, for we know that Canute did not - arrive in England before the beginning of the eleventh century. - - ² See Appendix C. - -From the time of the Conquest, the information afforded by your -historians respecting the Jews, becomes gradually more extensive. -William the First, soon after he had obtained possession of the throne, -invited the Jews to come over in large numbers from Rouen, and to settle -in England; and he is reported to have appointed a particular place for -their residence. - -Of the name of this town we are not accurately informed. But Peck, -in his annals, relates that many of the Jews who came over in this -reign, took up their residence at Stamford. And Wood, in his “History -of Oxford,” shows, upon the authority of some ancient deeds, that in the -tenth year after the Conquest, the Jews resided already in great numbers -in that university. - -It appears that there were two distinct colonies of Jews――the one within -the walls of the city of London, the other in the liberties of the -Tower. I am inclined to adopt the idea that the Jews who came to this -country under the encouragement of the Conqueror, settled within the -jurisdiction of the constable of his Palatine Tower; and that the Jews -who settled in England before the Conquest, and who, according to the -laws published by Edward the Confessor, were declared to stand under the -immediate authority and jurisdiction of the king, were found immediately -adjoining that quarter of the city which appears to have been the court -end under the Saxon monarchs. Mathew Paris, a monkish historian, asserts -that St. Alban’s Church, which stands nearly in the middle of a line -drawn from “the Jewerie” within the city, to the angle of the wall at -Cripplegate, was the chapel of King Offa, and adjoining to his palace. -Mund mentions in his edition of Stow, that the great square tower -remaining at the north corner of Love-lane, in the year 1632, was -believed to be part of King Athelstan’s palace. The name of Addle-street -is derived by the same antiquarian from Adel or Ethel, the Saxon for -noble. The original council chamber of the alderman is known to have -stood somewhere in Aldermanbury, which had its name from it. Without -a certain, a positive belief in any one of these statements, their -coincidence seems to render it extremely probable that the royal -residence was in that quarter, which may account for the king’s men――the -Jews――taking up their residence near it.¹ - - ¹ See Knight’s London. - -William the Conqueror, as soon as he got the Jews into this country, -adopted the policy of Edward the Confessor. The chronicler Hoveden -states that in the fourth year of William the Conqueror’s reign, he held -a council of his barons, in which, among other things, it was provided -“that the Jews settled in this kingdom should be under the king’s -protection; that they should not subject themselves to any other without -his leave: it is declared that they and all theirs belong to the king; -and if any should detain any of their goods, the king might challenge -them as his own.”¹ - - ¹ See Appendix D. - -The first regular account we meet respecting the Jews in England is -during the reign of William Rufus, who, according to the unanimous -testimony of historians, seemed to have a mind capable of rising above -the superstition and ignorance of the age in which he lived, although -not sufficiently enlightened to receive the glorious light of the -Gospel; and owing to the distorted exhibition of Christianity by the -teachers of the same, he almost fell into infidelity, and from the -consistent conduct of the Jews, he was led to believe that Judaism -was at least as good as Christianity. He went therefore so far as -to summon a convocation at London of Christian bishops and Jewish -rabbies, for the express purpose of discussing the evidences of their -respective creeds; and the king swore by St. Luke’s face――a favourite -oath of his majesty――that if the Jews got the better in the dispute, -he would embrace Judaism himself. The Jewish disputants seemed to stand -their ground with vigour, for the Christian champions appeared rather -apprehensive of the result. At the conclusion, as it is generally the -case in public controversy, both parties claimed the victory. The former -added, however, publicly that they were overthrown more by fraud than by -force of argument. The Christians claimed the victory in consequence of -a tremendous thunder-storm and a violent earthquake. All this, however, -produced but little effect on the king’s mind. - -The conduct of Rufus towards the Church, and his frequent disagreement -with the clergy, rendered him an object of dislike to the monkish -writers, who were the principal historians of this period. The following -is recorded of him by Hollingshed, and if true, his conduct was -certainly chargeable with no small measure of guilt:―― - -“The king being at Rhoan on a time, there came to him divers Jews -who inhabited that city, complaining that divers of that nation had -renounced their Jewish religion, and were become Christians; wherefore -they besought him that, for a certain sum of money which they offered to -give, it might please him to constrain them to abjure Christianity, and -to turn to the Jewish law again. He was content to satisfy their desires. -And so, receiving their money, called them before him; and what with -threats, and putting them otherwise in fear, he compelled divers of -them to forsake Christ, and to turn to their old errors. Hereupon the -father of one Stephen, a Jew converted to the Christian faith, being -sore troubled for that his son was turned a Christian (and hearing -what the king had done in like matters), presented unto him sixty marks -of silver conditionally, that he should enforce his son to return to -his Jewish religion; whereupon the young man was brought before the -king, unto whom the king said――‘Sirrah, thy father here complaineth -that without his license thou art become a Christian: if this be true, I -command thee to return again to the religion of thy nation, without any -more ado.’ To whom the young man answered――‘Your grace (as I guess) doth -but jest.’ Wherewith the king being moved, said――‘What! thou dunghill -knave, should I jest with thee? Get thee hence quickly, and fulfil -my commandment, or by St. Luke’s face, I shall cause thine eyes to be -plucked out of thine head.’ The young man, nothing abashed thereat, with -a constant voice answered――‘Truly I will not do it; but know for certain -that if you were a good Christian, you would never have uttered any such -words; for it is the part of a Christian to reduce them again to Christ -which are departed from him, and not to separate them from Him which -are joined to him by faith.’ The king, herewith confounded, commanded -the Jew to get him out of his sight. But the father perceiving that the -king could not persuade his son to forsake the Christian faith, required -to have his money again. To whom the king said, he had done so much -as he promised to do; that was, to persuade him so far as he might. At -length when he would have had the king dealt further in the matter, the -king, to stop his mouth, tendered back to him the half of his money, and -kept the other himself. All which increased the suspicion men had of his -infidelity.” - -The state of the Jews in Oxford at that time became very interesting; -they were so exceedingly numerous and wealthy in that place, as to -become the proprietors of the principal houses, which they let to the -students. Their schools were at this time called, from their Jewish -proprietors, Lombard Hall, Moses Hall, and Jacob Hall; and the parishes -of St. Martin, St. Edward, and St. Aldgate, were designated the Old and -New Jewry, because of the great number of Jewish residents there. In one -of these parishes they had a synagogue wherein their rabbies instructed -not only their own people, but several Christian students of the -university. - -When a see or living in the gift of this wary king fell vacant, he was -in the habit of retaining it in his own hands until he became pretty -well acquainted with its revenues, when he sold it to the best bidder.¹ -The royal simonist was in the habit of appointing Jews to take care of -the vacant benefices, to farm them, and to manage these negociations -for his benefit; from this mark of confidence, and from the increasing -wealth of the Jews, we may conclude that the reign of Rufus was very -advantageous to the interests of his Jewish subjects. This king, however, -did not enjoy his kingdom for any long duration. His tragical end is -well known. - - ¹ When Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, died, William Rufus - appointed no successor for five years after, but kept the - possession of the archbishopric in his own hands. - -In the long reign of Henry the First, we hear almost nothing of the -Jews, which I look upon as evidence that they went on prosperously, and -perhaps began to make some progress amongst their Christian brethren. -Prynne, a Puritan writer, and the most virulent enemy of the Jews from -among Protestants, informs us that the Jews were then beginning to -proselytize and even to bribe some Christians with money, in order -to induce them to embrace Judaism, which may account for the incident -mentioned in this reign, that monks were sent to several towns in which -the Jews were established, for the express purpose of preaching down -Judaism. - -We read in Peck’s “Annals of Stamford,” that “Joffred, abbot of Croyland, -in the tenth year of Henry the First, sent some monks from his abbey -to Cottenham and Cambridge, to preach against the Jews; and about the -same time some ecclesiastics were sent from other parts to Stamford, to -oppose the progress of the Jews in that place;” where, as we are told -by Peter of Blessens, that “they preaching to Stamfordians, exceedingly -prospered in their ministry, and strengthened the Christian faith -against Jewish depravity.” - -It appears from the history of Philip, prior of St. Frideswide, of -Oxford, that the Jews used then to mock publicly the lying fables of -the priests. - -The prior, when writing of the miracles performed by the body of -that famous saint (which was preserved in his monastery), tells us -that “whereas people flocked from all parts of the kingdom to worship -St. Frideswide, and were cured by her of all manner of distempers; a -certain Jew of Oxford called Eum Crescat, the son of Mossey, the Jew, -of Wallingford, was so impudent as to laugh at her votaries, and tell -them that he could cure their infirmities as well as the saint herself, -and therefore hoped they would make him the same offerings. To prove -which he would sometimes crook his fingers, and then pretend he had -miraculously made them straight again; at other times he would halt -like a cripple, and then in a few minutes skip and dance about, bidding -the crowd observe how suddenly he had cured himself. Wherefore (the -most devout amongst them wishing some exemplary judgment might befall -him) St. Frideswide, no longer able to suffer his insolence, caused him -suddenly to run mad and hang himself; which he did with his own girdle, -in his father’s kitchen.” Upon which, says the historian, “he was, -according to custom, conveyed in a cart to London, all the dogs of the -city following his detestable corpse, and yelping in a most frightful -manner.” - -The Jews having experienced so much favour and protection from the first -three Norman monarchs, were naturally led to hope that they had found -in this country a permanent asylum from their persecutions. Under this -impression, they had employed the season of their tranquillity in the -acquirement of property. They were, however, soon made to experience the -fallacy of their expectations; for with the accumulation of wealth their -security vanished, and as their riches increased, so, in proportion, -did their oppressions. From the period of this monarch’s death to the -time of their expulsion, your histories abound with details of their -hardships. A melancholy monotony pervades the history of those two -hundred years. Indeed, the treatment which they received in this country, -during that period, was of a nature more disgraceful than that they -received in other parts of Europe; for while elsewhere, as in Spain -and Germany, the monarchs generally exerted themselves to repress the -hostility of the clergy and people, the English kings, scarcely one -excepted, manifested as persecuting a spirit as any of their subjects. -It would be as useless as it would be tedious, to notice each particular -instance of cruelty and tyranny which is mentioned to have been -exercised towards them, for there is scarcely a year without some -records concerning them, and hardly a record which relates to them but -furnishes some evidence of their sufferings. Taxes and contributions -to an exorbitant amount, were continually imposed upon them at the mere -will of the crown, and payment enforced by seizure of their properties, -by imprisonment, and frequently by the infliction of the most cruel and -wanton bodily torture. Crimes of every description――many of a nature the -most absurd and groundless――were laid to their charge, and the severest -penalties inflicted for them. Tumults were, on the most frivolous -pretences, excited against them; their houses pillaged and burned, and -hundreds of them massacred by the populace, without regard to either age -or sex. That, under such an accumulation of misfortunes, the Jews should -not only have continued to reside in England, but greatly to increase in -numbers, cannot fail to excite wonder and surprise. - -If Jews were the historians who handed down to us the accounts of their -sufferings, we might doubt the veracity of their statements, or believe -them greatly exaggerated. It is not, however, from themselves that -much of my information is derived, for, as I have already stated in my -last lecture, they did not bequeath us any annals of their own in this -country; my information is derived principally from the testimony of -Christian writers――from authorities which admit of no dispute. - -With the reign of the usurper Stephen, the Jewish troubles commenced. -He being solicitous to obtain the good-will of the clergy, the best -means to compass such an end in those days was to inflict cruel injuries -on the poor Jews; and as he gave up the sources of income which his -predecessors had enjoyed――viz., the appropriation of the revenues of the -vacant sees and benefices, he therefore fixed his avaricious eye upon -the wealth of the Jews: and in the fifth year of his reign exacted a -heavy fine, amounting to £2000, from the Jews residing in London, under -pretence that some one of their body had been guilty of manslaughter. - -The Empress Maud, to whom, as it was well said, “moderation in -prosperity was a virtue unknown,”¹ during the eight months of her -authority in England, compelled the Jews settled at Oxford to pay her an -exchange of money. Stephen, upon coming again to the possession of power, -followed the example of the empress, and required the Jews at the same -place to give him three and a-half exchanges; threatening on default -of immediate compliance to set fire to their houses. The Jews first -attempted to evade the payment; the king, to show that he was in earnest, -ordered the house of one of the richest of their body to be burned, and -this command having been put into execution, the whole sum was forthwith -produced. - - ¹ Henry’s Britain, vol. v., p. 104. - -In the ninth year of this reign, the Jews were for the first time -accused of the crime of crucifying an infant――William by name. The -circumstance in this instance is only shortly noticed by historians, and -is stated to have taken place at Norwich; so that to the England of the -middle ages are the Jews indebted for the many persecutions which they -had to undergo in consequence of that foul calumny in different parts of -the world. Various are the absurd reasons which were advanced to account -for that base and false calumny which was subsequently brought against -the unfortunate Jews, in various countries of their captivity. - -Some asserted that the Jews required Christian blood for the celebration -of the Passover. Another set of ignorant fanatics affirmed that they -wanted it to put into their unleavened cakes at Easter. It was also -gravely stated that the Jews used Christian blood to free them from an -ill odour which it was supposed was common to them; others said that of -Christian blood they made love potions; others that with it they stopped -the blood at the circumcision of their children; others that it served -as a remedy for the cure of secret diseases; others that it was required -for the Jewish bride and bridegroom during the marriage ceremony; others -that the Jewish priests were obliged to have their hands tinged with -it when they pronounced the blessing in the synagogues; others that it -helped Jewish women in childbirth, and promoted their recovery; others -that the Jews used blood to make their sacrifices acceptable. But the -most common story was, that the blood was used to anoint dying Jews; -that at the point of death the rabbi anointed his departing brother, -and secretly whispered into his ear these words――“If the Messiah on whom -the Christians believe, be the promised, true Messiah, may the blood of -this innocent murdered Christian help thee to eternal life!” “Pierius -Valerianus assures us that the Jews purchase at a dear rate the blood -of Christians, in order to raise up devils, and that by making it boil, -they obtain answers to all their questions.”¹ - - ¹ See Dr. M‘Caul’s excellent pamphlet, entitled “Reasons for - believing that the Charge lately revived against the Jewish - People is a baseless Falsehood,” p. 23; Appendix E. - -Englishmen now regard such tales as but the vestiges of a long passed-by -period; you listen to it with a smile as belonging to the “olden time;” -and because such base calumnies are no more brought against the Jews -in this your highly-favoured and enlightened country, you may think it -ill-timed to rake up acts of fanatics of the dark ages, which have long -since been buried in oblivion. But it is not so in the other countries -of Christendom; the same incredible charges are even now brought against -the Jews, and are also believed. Not longer than five years ago, the -Jews of Damascus suffered greatly because of such accusations. Only -eighteen months since, a poor Jewish blacksmith in Lithuania, in Poland, -was incarcerated in consequence of such a charge, and was on the point -of being transported to Siberia, when the zealous Christians of the -nineteenth century, of that province, who brought the accusation, -quarrelled amongst themselves, which discovered the real culprit, who -was a Christian by profession, and perpetrated the murder on a young -girl, in order to accuse the Jew. - -In the annals of the reign of Henry the Second, we read of the same -charge being brought against the Jews twice. In the sixth year of that -reign, the act is stated to have been perpetrated at Gloucester. - -The ecclesiastics were already debtors to the Jews, and therefore began -to charge them with usury, which was on all occasions held up by the -clergy to be a crime of the greatest magnitude; though, when the same -ecclesiastics wanted money, they did not scruple to trust those sinners -with the vessels of their churches; for, in the records of this reign -which have come down to us, we find it stated among other things, that -a Jew of Bury St. Edmund’s, Sancto by name, was fined five marks for -taking in pledge from the monks of that place certain vessels dedicated -to the service of the altar. Another Jew of Suffolk, Benet by name, was -fined twenty pounds for taking some consecrated vestments upon pawn. - -A curious story is also related by Hoveden and Brompton, respecting -William de Waterville, the Abbot of Bury. He was deposed for having -entered the church at the head of a band of armed men, and taken thence -the arm of St. Oswald, the martyr, to pawn it to the Jews. - -One of the claims advanced by King Henry against Archbishop Thomas à -Becket, was in respect of a sum of £500, for which that prince had been -surety for him to a Jew. - -All those things coming to light, however, could not fail to swell that -animosity against the Jews which had already existed in the breasts of -the clergy, who even now regarded them with particular abhorrence. They -seized, therefore, every opportunity of prejudicing the people against -them, and rendering them the objects of general detestation. Fox, the -martyrologist, favours us with a list of admonitions which was given -to King Henry the Second, and in that list we find him required by -the bishops “to banish all the Jews, allowing them to take with them -sufficient property to pay their travelling expenses.” What “tender -mercies!” - -During the reign of Henry the Second, the Jews were subjected also to -severe exactions from the crown; on one occasion a tallage of a fourth -part of their chattels was levied upon them. When ambassadors were sent -over to the king by the Emperor Barbarossa, to induce him to take part -against Pope Alexander in a schism which then existed in the Church of -Rome, respecting the right of succession to the papal chair, the sum of -5,000 marks was demanded of the Jews, to be applied for the purpose of -enlisting the emissaries to the king’s interest.¹ This sum was directed -to be paid without delay, and those who refused to contribute were -immediately banished from the country. Besides these demands upon the -body of the Jews generally, individuals amongst them were also compelled -to pay sums to a large amount. - - ¹ Henry II., King of England, and Louis VII., King of France, - held respectively councils of their clergy in July, 1161, for - the purpose of taking into consideration the pretensions of - Alexander III. and Victor IV., both of whom claimed the papal - throne. The monarchs met at a general council in Thoulouse, - in August, and agreed to acknowledge Alexander as Pope.――_W. - Neubrigen_, L. 2, c. 9. - -We read of a Jew of Gloucester, Josce by name, who was fined for -supplying the Irish rebels with great sums of money. - -However, King Henry, in the twenty-fourth year of his reign, was -pleased to show the Jews some slight indulgence. He allowed them to have -cemeteries at the outside of every town they inhabited, for until that -time they had only one place of interment, which was near London, in the -parish of St. Giles Cripplegate, commonly designated in ancient deeds -“The Jews’ Garden.” - -Having experienced such an especial favour from the hands of the king, -their spirits were raised a little, and they even ventured to show -their independence in the presence of their bitterest foes, viz., the -ecclesiastics. - -We read in Giraldus Cambrensis of “a certain Jew, who about this time -chanced to travel towards Shrewsbury in company with Richard _Peche_ -(Sin), Archdeacon of _Malpas_ (Bad-steps), in Cheshire, and a reverend -dean, whose name was Deville. Amongst other discourse which they -condescended to entertain him with, the archdeacon told him that his -jurisdiction was so large as to reach from a place called _Ill-street_, -all along till they came to _Malpas_, and took in a very wide -circumference of the country. To which the infidel, being more witty -than wise, immediately replied, ‘Say you so, sir? God grant me then a -good deliverance, for it seems I am riding in a country where _Sin_ is -the archdeacon, and the _Devil_ himself the dean; where the entrance -into the archdeaconry is _Ill-street_, and the going forth from it, -_Bad-steps_’――alluding to the French words _peche_ and _mal-pas_.” - -It was properly observed, that “it is perhaps too much to judge of the -state and condition of a body of people by a casual jest which fell -from an individual of that body, and yet we would not wish for better -information concerning the actual condition of a small society of men, -dwelling in and at the mercy of an alien country, than the manners and -character of a single person out of the whole community.”¹ - - ¹ Retrospective Review, vol. i., p. 207. - -Dr. Jost thinks that the above piece of wit owed its existence to the -French schools, and justly observes that it does not follow from it -that the Jews were prone to abuse their fellow-creatures (as Dr. Tovey -intimates), even if they disregarded the clergy. Truth to speak, _they_ -merited nothing else from the hands of the Jews but disregard and -contempt.¹ - - ¹ “_Vor ihren Hange zur Witzelei, der sich bei allen, die - aus der frazözischen Schule entsprossen sind und noch - entspriessen, immer findet, hat uns die Zeit noch eine - Anecdote erhalten, die wir als characteristisch nicht - übergehen können.... Daraus folgt nun gerade nicht, was - der Berichterstatter daraus entnehmen will, dass die Juden - so gerne ihre Nebenmenschen beleidigten, da sie sogar die - Geistlichen nicht geschont hätten._”――Jost’s Geschichte der - Israeliten, vol. vii., p. 114. - -The priests, however, did not appreciate the buoyancy of their spirits, -and were not backwards in depressing them, and their indulgence -therefore was but of short duration. They watched every opportunity for -doing so, and the king’s extremity afforded them a convenient season. -The king wanted money, and the monks knew it; they therefore accused -the Jews of crucifying a boy at Bury St. Edmund’s, Robert by name, -which proved a source of great income both to Church and State. Bury -St. Edmund’s had already become famous for its monastic establishments, -and the monks, it seems, who were settled there, did not fail to derive -advantage from the feelings which the belief of the crime excited. They -caused the body of the child to be interred with great ceremony and -every mark of respect; the shrine was declared capable of producing -supernatural effects, and speedily became renowned for the miracles -which it wrought. Persons from all parts, either led by curiosity, or -induced by feelings of superstition, visited the shrine. The offerings -which were made on the occasion could not fail to be productive of -considerable profit to the Church. - -The king, on the other hand, took ♦advantage of the supposed crime, and -banished the wealthiest Jews out of this country, and, as a matter of -course, confiscated their properties, and fined heavily those he allowed -to remain. - - ♦ ‘advanvantage’ replaced with ‘advantage’ - -This alone was enough to damp their spirits, and make them very low; but -the measure of their sufferings was not as yet full in this reign. The -crusading mania revived; King Henry determined to take an active part -in that affair, together with Philip Augustus, King of France; the want -of cash in such an expedition was inevitable. Though the Jews had by -no means either any desire for, or any interest in, the planting of the -cross at Jerusalem, the king saw fit, however, to assess them at £60,000 -towards it, whilst the whole Christian population of England were only -required to furnish £70,000. It is easy to imagine in what a state of -consternation this poor, persecuted race must have been thrown. - -I can easily conceive a fast-day proclaimed, and an especial -prayer-meeting announced, that God would avert that impending calamity. -Happy for the poor Jews, however, that the then dispensation was -a quarrelsome one: the harmony between Henry the Second of England -and Philip Augustus, soon came to a termination――the British king is -supposed to have died of grief in consequence, and with his death the -Jewish prospects of prosperity revived; the Jews began to hope that -their apprehended troubles had disappeared, and that an era of better -days was on the eve of being introduced into their British annals. - -They began again to apply themselves to commerce, of which they were the -masters: they traded with the south of Europe, and thus accumulated vast -sums, which they transferred from one hand to another by means of bills -of exchange――an invention for which commerce is said to be indebted to -them, and which enabled them to transfer their wealth from land to land, -that when threatened with oppression in one country, their treasure -might be secured in another. - -The learned amongst them employed themselves in literature and science, -and promoted the same amongst their Christian neighbours. Whilst the -Christians of that period were groping in the darkness of superstition -and ignorance, the Jews enjoyed and improved the sunshine of intellect -and knowledge. They were honoured in Spain by the appellation of -_sapientissimi_. Whilst the Greek authors were totally neglected by -Christians――and even John of Salisbury, though a few Greek words are -to be found in his compositions, seems to have had only the slightest -possible acquaintance with that language――the Jews, however, were -reading, in their own language, several works of Aristotle, Plato, -Ptolemy, Apollonius, Hippocrates, Galen, and Euclid, which they -derived from the Arabic of the Moors, who brought them from Greece -and Egypt, and employed much of their time in writing dissertations -and controversial arguments upon them. They were the means, therefore, -of the old classics being actively disseminated amongst the western -colleges of Christendom. - -The Jews also held the principal chairs of mathematics in the Mahommedan -colleges of Cordova and Seville; they came in contact with many -Christians, and spread themselves into various countries; they taught -the geometry, the algebra, the logic, and the chemistry of Spain, in -the universities of Oxford and Paris, while Christian students from all -parts of Europe repaired to Andalusia for such instruction.¹ - - ¹ See “the Fundamental Principles of Modern Judaism - Investigated,” pp. 238, 239. Also “An Apology for the Study - of Hebrew and Rabbinical Literature,” by the Rev. Dr. M‘Caul. - -In this country, the Jews had schools in London, York, Lincoln, Lynn, -Norwich, Oxford, Cambridge, and other towns, which appear to have been -attended by Christians as well as by those of their own persuasion. Some -of these seminaries, indeed, were rather colleges than schools. Besides -the Hebrew and Arabic languages, arithmetic and medicine are mentioned -among the branches of knowledge that were taught in them; and the -masters were generally the most distinguished of the rabbies.¹ - - ¹ Knight’s Weekly, volume xvii., p. 64. - -In this reign the celebrated Aben Ezra visited England, and wrote his -work אגרת השבת, _Egereth Ha-Shabbath_, or Epistle on the Sabbath. From the -date the rabbi prefixed to that work, which runs thus――“And it came to -pass in the year 4919 [A.M. 1159, A.D.], in the middle of the night, -even on a Sabbath night, on the fourteenth day of the month Tebath -[corresponding to January], and I, Abraham Aben Ezra, the Sephardy [or -Spaniard], have been in one of the cities of the island called ‘the end -of the earth,’”¹――it is evident that that rabbi visited this country -a great deal earlier than Dr. Tovey fancies, who thinks that it was in -King Richard’s time.² - - ¹ See Appendix F. - - ² Anglia Judaica, p. 35. - -They practised successfully as physicians in this country; they -possessed a thorough knowledge of the medical science in all its -branches. The monarchs and powerful barons of the time frequently -committed themselves to the charge of some experienced sage amongst them, -when wounded or in sickness; and in consequence of the many cures which -their superior medical skill enabled them to effect, they incurred the -envy of the monks, who pretended to effect cures by the means of sainted -relics. They therefore circulated a report that the Jews were acquainted -with the occult sciences and with the cabalistic art, and therefore -performed their cures by incantations and witchcraft, and a general -belief was soon entertained that the Jews were sorcerers,¹ which proved -a source of no small calamity to them in subsequent reigns. Thus also -the second baseless accusation against the Jews owes its existence to -the British ecclesiastics of that reign, whose morning and evening -delight was to do foul scorn to the poor Jewish nation. - - ¹ See Appendix G. - - - - - APPENDIX TO LECTURE II. - - - A. - -THE 146th paragraph of the “Canonical Excerptiones” of Archbishop -Ecgbright runs thus:――“_A Laodicean act._――That no Christian presume -to Judaize, or be present at Jewish feasts.” To which Johnson, in -his collection of ecclesiastical laws and canons, adds, “By this one -would suppose there were in this age Jews in the north of England.” -――_Johnson’s Collection of Ecclesiastical Laws._ - -The following is the 149th paragraph of the same “Canonical -Excerptiones:”――“A canon of the saints. If any Christian sell a -Christian into the hands of Jews or Gentiles, let him be anathema: for -it is written in Deuteronomy, ‘If any man be caught trafficking for -any of the stock of Israel, and takes a price for him, he shall die.’” -――_Johnson’s Collection of Ecclesiastical Laws._ - - - B. - -“Omnes terras, et tenementas, possessiones, et eorum peculia, quæ reges -Merciorum, et eorum Proceres, vel alii fideles Christiani, vel Judæi -dictis Monarchis dederunt.” - - - C. - -22. _De Judæis._――“Sciendum quoque quod omnes Judæi ubicunque in regno -sunt sub tutela et defensione Regis ligea debent esse, nec quilibet -eorum alicui diviti se potest subdere sine Regis licentia. Judæi enim -et omnia sua Regis sunt. Quod si quispiam detinuerit eos vel pecuniam -eorum, perquirat Rex si vult tanquam suum proprium.”――_Spelman’s -Concilia Decreta, &c._, vol. i., p. 623. - - - D. - -“Sciendum est quoque, quod omnes Judæi, ubicunque in regno sunt, sub -tutela et defensione Domini regis sunt; nec quilibet eorum alicui diviti -se potest subdere, sine Regis licentia. Judæi, et omnia sua Regis sunt. -Quod si quispiam detinuerit eis pecuniam suam, perquirat Rex tanquam -suum proprium.” - - - E. - -Dr. M‘Caul goes on to say――“Wagenseil gravely undertakes to disprove -most of these charges; but it is to be hoped that the mere mention of -them together is sufficient to show their falsehood. It is rather too -bad to reproach the Jews, on the one hand, with unbelief, hatred, and -contempt for Christians, and then to charge them with such faith in the -wonder-working and soul-saving power of Christian blood, that to obtain -it they expose themselves to the fury of their enemies. The enormous -lying, profound ignorance of Judaism and the Jews, as well as the -degrading superstition involved in some of these charges, throws -discredit upon all. The mere recital of these follies shows that they -are the offspring of an unbelieving imagination, if not the invention -of a malignant heart.”――_Reason, &c._, pp. 23, 24. - - - F. - -ויהי בשנת ארבעת אלפים ותשע מאות ותשע עשרה שנה בחצי הלילה בליל השבת בארבעה עשר לחדש טּבת ואני אברהם -ספרדי אבן עזרא הייתי בעיר אחת מערי האי הנקרא קצה הארץ. - - - - - -This work has been published in Prague in 1839, in a learned Hebrew -periodical, called כרם חמד _Kerem Chemed_. In the thirty-fifth volume of -the “Quarterly Review,” in an article headed Hurwitz’s Hebrew Tales,” -p. 113, the following passage is to be met with:――“It may astonish the -inquirer into the literary productions of our country, to be informed -that one of the earliest books written here after the Conquest, was by -one of the most eminent of the rabbies, Aben Ezra. In 1159, the sixth -year of Henry II., he wrote from London a letter on the proper time -of keeping the Sabbath, in verse; and in the same year his Jesod Mora -(the Foundation of Fear), a treatise in twelve sections, on the various -requisites for the study of Scripture and science, &c.... We are afraid -that there is not a copy of it in the British Museum, and yet it ought -to be there as a national curiosity. It would be amusing to speculate on -what were the opinions of the critical and scientific Jew on the state -of civilization and literature which he saw about him.” - - - G. - -“_Die Gelehrten unter ihnen trieben die Arzeneiwissenschaft, doch mehr -als Kunst, und sie sind durch Bekanntschaft mit geheimen Heilmitteln so -berühmt gewesen, dass die Geistlichkeit in ihrem Wunder-Kuren gestört -ward, und nur dadurch einen Ausweg suchte, dass sie die Juden für -Zauberer verschrie. Daher hat das gemeine Volk sich geängstigt Juden ans -Krankenbette zu rufen._”――Jost’s Geschichte der Israeliten, vol. vii., -pp. 113, 114. - -Dr. M‘Caul, after dilating on the Jewish knowledge of astronomy, writes -thus:――“Their attention to medicine is a matter of equal notoriety. -Their medical literature is considerable, and would, no doubt, throw -much light on the history of that science.... For a long list of -Jewish medical writers, see Barlolocii, part iv.; Repertorium libr. per -Materias, p. li.; and the Catalogue of the Oppenheim Library, pp. 171, -497, 645.”――_An Apology for the Study of Hebrew and Rabbinical -Literature_, p. 6. - - - - - LECTURE III. - - -IN my last lecture I brought down the history of the Jews in this -country, to the death of Henry the Second. The reign of that monarch -seems, upon the whole, especially when compared with subsequent reigns, -not to have been very unfavourable to the prosperity of the Jews. They -experienced the usual share of imprisonment, fine, and banishment, -which does not seem to have much depressed their general state. From the -nature of some of the fines, which I described to you on Friday evening -last, we may infer the wealth and power of individuals amongst them. -One Josce, it seems, was fined by the king for supplying the rebels -in Ireland with large sums of money; another Jew was fined for taking -in pawn the abbey plate of St. Edmundsbury. When the king intended to -proceed to the Holy Land, after having made an agreement to the same -effect with Philip Augustus, King of France, at the parliament held at -Northampton in the year 1188, the Jews were commanded to supply nearly -half the subsidy requisite for the undertaking――the Christians being -taxed at £70,000, and the Jews at £60,000; and though this money was -never levied, in consequence of a disagreement between the two kings, -and Henry’s subsequent death, as I have already stated,¹ yet these are -facts which clearly prove the flourishing state of the Jewish finances -in England during this reign; and although the Jews had been frequently -subjected to heavy pecuniary exactions under the reign of Henry the -Second, still the vigorous administration of that prince had shielded -them from popular violence. They were still able to carry on their -trades and their professions. In spite of the reports circulated by the -monks, that the Jews were sorcerers (in consequence of their superior -medical skill), Christian patients would frequent the houses of the -Jewish physicians in preference to the monasteries, where cures were -pretended to have been effected by some extraordinary relics, such as -the nails of St. Augustine, the extremity of St. Peter’s second toe, the -breath of our Lord, which Nicodemus secured in a glove, the feathers of -the wings of the archangel Michael, and more such-like relics. I need -hardly add that the cures effected by the Jewish physicians were more -numerous than those by the monkish impostors. - - ¹ From Henry’s History of Great Britain, one would be led to - believe that the “one hundred and thirty thousand pounds were - raised.”――Vol. v., p. 182. - -Andrews――who was evidently no friend to the Jews――in his continuation -of Henry’s Britain, observes――“The partiality in favour of Jewish -physicians was unaccountable, and probably ill-founded; yet Elizabeth -chose to trust her health in the hands of the Hebrew, Rodrigo Lopez, -rather than have recourse to many English students in medicine, -of considerable abilities, who attended her court.” And in a note -he adds――“The same fantastic preference had made Francis I., when -indisposed with a tedious complaint, apply to Charles V. for an -Israelite, who was the imperial physician. Accordingly, the person -whom he sought for visited Paris; but the king, finding that he had -been converted to Christianity, lost all confidence in his advice, and -applied to his good ally, Soliman II., who sending him a true, hardened -Jew, the monarch took his counsel, drank asses’ milk, and recovered.”¹ - - ¹ Vol. ii., p. 63. - -When King Henry died, the Jews began to hope for better days. They were -encouraged in their hopes by Richard’s conduct, who, after his return -from Normandy――where he had been as prince――proclaimed liberty to all -prisoners and captives, even to the greatest criminals. The coronation -day, which was to take place in the beginning of the month of September, -A.D. 1189, was proclaimed by the intended king to be an universal day of -joy; and to crown all, that year was believed by all Jews to have been -one of their jubilees. - -All these circumstances conspired to flatter the oppressed Jews, and -to raise their expectation that they also would experience mercy from -the lion-hearted monarch, and led them to hope that together with this -reign an era of better days would be introduced into the annals of their -history in this country. But, alas! hope told them a flattering tale. - -From the accession of this sovereign to the throne, the Jews had to date -in characters of blood the commencement of a new and most severe series -of sufferings and outrages; their footsteps in this country from the -days of Richard to the days of Edward the First――when they were finally -banished――may be tracked by their blood; against them sympathy has been -steeled, and for their rights justice has had no balances. So far has -the bitterness of their affliction been from exciting commiseration, or -their hopeless prostration from disarming cruelty, that however Norman, -Saxon, Dane, and Briton may have differed in other respects, and however -adverse they were to each other, they concurred in treading down the -Jews, and contended which should look with greatest detestation upon a -people whom it was accounted a point of religion to hate, to revile, to -despise, to plunder, and to persecute. - -How truly was it said, that “except, perhaps, the flying fish, there -was no race existing on the earth, in the air, or in the waters, who -were the objects of such an unintermitting, general, and relentless -persecution as the Jews of this period. Upon the slightest and most -unreasonable pretences, as well as upon accusations the most absurd and -groundless, their persons and property were exposed to popular fury.”¹ - - ¹ Sir Walter Scott. - -It may not be uninstructive, however, to dwell on the history of the -Jews in this realm during that period――though a dreary tale of woe――as -it throws a great measure of light upon the national character of the -people of this country, and the nature of its government during the dark -ages of its annals; and if it be painful to you to hear of massacres, -extortions, and persecutions perpetrated by your ancestors, upon a -defenceless people, it is still a subject of congratulation that you -are permitted to turn your eyes upon the improved state both of the -persecuted and the persecutors――an idea which is naturally reflected -from the opaque surface of these barbarous times with a luminous -brightness, upon your own more happy epoch. - -Richard _Cœur de Lion_, whose whole thoughts were engaged in the -contemplated relief of the Holy Land, and the recovery of Jerusalem, -seems to have regarded the Jews with feelings of especial antipathy, -as being the determined and sworn enemies of a religion of which he -professed himself so zealous a champion. The courtiers and the clergy, -especially Baldwin, Archbishop of Canterbury, endeavoured to make -the king believe that the Jews were in general sorcerers, and might -possibly bewitch him if allowed to be present at his coronation. -Actuated by these sentiments, and desirous, perhaps, to give proof -of the _sovereign_ contempt he entertained towards the opponents of -Christianity in general, Richard, as one of the first acts of his reign, -caused a proclamation to be issued, the day before his inauguration, -forbidding any woman or Jew to approach the palace during the ceremony -of his coronation. Both women and Jews were considered by the ministers -of the Church to practice sorcery and witchcraft.¹ - - ¹ Miss Strickland gives the following as a reason for the - exclusion of women:――“As the etiquette of the queen-mother’s - recent widowhood prevented her from sharing in this splendid - festival, all women were forbidden to be present at its - celebration.”――_Queens of England_, vol. i., p. 373. - -The issuing of such a proclamation at the commencement of the reign, -was an ill omen of the treatment which the Jews were to expect under -the government of the new monarch. They were desirous, if possible, to -reconcile the mind of the king, and with a view to this purpose, deputed -some of the chief men from amongst them to carry rich presents to him.¹ -These persons, hoping that they would be protected by reason of the -gifts of which they were the bearers――which, as Dr. Tovey says, “were -full worthy of his acceptance”――ventured to approach the courtyard of -the palace at the time of the coronation, in order to crave leave of -admittance, but the confluence pressing forward, they were, before -they could obtain permission to enter, forced within the gates. The -attendants who were stationed at the entrance, charged them with -disobedience to the king’s command, and with blows forced them back into -the street. The mob who were assembled at the outside, when they saw -what took place, raised a cry that the king desired the proclamation -he had issued to be enforced, and forthwith fell upon such of the Jews -as were mingled with the crowd, and beating them, many were severely -wounded, some killed, and many were left half dead. A report was now -quickly spread through the city that the king had ordered all the Jews -to be put to death, for the disregard they had shown to his proclamation. -The people lost no time in putting this supposed order into execution. -The Jews were sought out by the populace in every quarter of the city, -and wherever they were found, were slain without mercy. Many took refuge -in their houses, and defended themselves with determined courage, till -the rabble, whose fury was increased by the opposition they experienced, -set fire to their houses and burned them to the ground, the Jews -and their families perishing in the flames. The cruelties that were -inflicted were so atrocious, that the more sober-minded citizens, who -had in vain endeavoured to restrain the mob, sent information at length -to the king of what was taking place. He was at the time seated at the -banquet, but immediately gave directions to Randulph de Grandville, -the Lord High Steward, to quell the tumult. This officer, taking with -him some of the chief nobility, used his endeavours to put a stop to -the outrage; but the populace would pay no regard to his authority, -threatened him with violence, and compelled him to retire. No -interference of the chief justice and his officers, whom the king had -despatched to quell the tumult, availed, until the multitude were gorged -with spoil, and tired with the labour of slaughter. The tumult continued -during the whole night; the houses of all the Jews were plundered, and -most of them burned, and it was not till the next day that an end was -put to the proceedings, by a large force sent into the city by the king. -A few of the most active of the rioters were apprehended, and three of -them were afterwards executed; not, however, for the pillage and murder -of the unfortunate Jews. One of them was hanged because he did not -_confine_ his villany to the Jews, but took advantage of the uproar to -plunder the house of a Christian; and the other two――who also met with -the same fate――because by setting fire to the house of a Jew they had -exposed the dwellings of the neighbouring Christians to destruction. And -we are further informed by another historian, “that the inquiry soon -stopped, as many considerable citizens were involved in the guilt, and -as the priests applauded the pious zeal which destroyed so many enemies -to the Christian faith.”² - - ¹ Those who came from a distance must have been totally ignorant - of the royal proclamation since it was only one day old. - - ² Noorthouck, p. 34. - -The celebrated Rabbi, Jacob of Orleans, was among the great number of -Jews who were slain on this night; as appears from the following short -notice of that awful event, by Rabbi ♦Gedaliah ben Joseph Jachija, in -his _Shalsheleth Hakabbalah_, fol. cxi., col. i.:――“In the year 4930 -[A.M. 1190, A.D.] when Richard became new king in the city of London, -which is in England, our Rabbi, Jacob of Orleans, was put to death in -glorification of God’s name, and many other Jews with him.”¹ - - ♦ ‘Gedeliah’ replaced with ‘Gedaliah’ - - ¹ See Appendix A. - -The following circumstance, which occurred during that dreadful uproar, -will give us some idea of the means which the Christian Church of that -period employed in order to bring the Jews to a knowledge of salvation. -Whilst animated by the above-mentioned mad frenzy and murderous rage, a -Jew who was called Baruch (being interpreted, Benedict or Blessed), of -York, was seized, and commanded to choose either to profess Christianity -or to die immediately. This man, to save his life, called out that he -would embrace the Christian faith, whereupon he was carried by the mob -to the Prior of St. Mary of York, and was by him baptized. The king, -hearing of the conversion, or rather of the baptism, commanded the -Jew to be brought into his presence, and catechised him whether he had -sincerely renounced his former faith. He answered that he had not, but -only through fear of death submitted to whatever the Christians required -of him. Richard, who was at the time attended by the chief dignitaries -of the Church, asked the Archbishop of Canterbury what punishment should -be inflicted on the apostate? The archbishop replied――“Not any; for if -he will not be a man of God, let him be a man of the devil.” - -“With which answer,” says the author of the Anglia Judaica, “the king -being something surprised, suffered the man to slip away, and there -was no further notice taken of him.” He continues――“This archbishop, -delighting more in carnal than spiritual warfare, had his brains knocked -out, within a few months after, at the siege of Acre.” Poor Benedict, -however, did not survive more than a few days after that. - -The Jews, in order to secure the king’s favour, came forward with -large supplies of money towards the holy expedition――profanely so -called――which the king undertook that year, and were therefore declared -by proclamation to be under the king’s especial protection. - -But the spirit which had broken out in London against them, was -speedily communicated to other parts of the country. To put an end to -these disorders, the king caused writs to be issued through all the -counties, forbidding any molestation to be offered to the Jews. But -notwithstanding these writs, the Jews were, in many places, subjected to -severe persecutions; they were attacked in so many places at once, that -their utter ruin seemed determined and inevitable. Brompton tells us -that the citizens of Norwich were the first who followed the bad example -of the Londoners, and were soon followed by those of other places. In -Dunstable and some other towns they saved themselves by professing to -renounce the Jewish faith, and by being baptized into the so-called -Church of Christ. In the town of Lynn they were treated with great -severity and cruelty. And here must be remarked――for it is the part of -an impartial historian to state the whole truth, _pro_ and _con_――that -the Jews were themselves the authors of their sufferings at Lynn. - -The circumstances under which the tumult there took place, were the -following:――a Jew had been converted to Christianity; his brethren were -enraged at his conduct, and sought to be revenged. They waylaid him, and -one day as he passed through the streets, endeavoured to get him into -their power; he, however, fled, and took refuge in a neighbouring church; -some of the Jews pursued him thither; whereupon the sailors belonging to -a ship then lying in the harbour, raised a cry that it was intended to -put the convert to death, and being joined by the townspeople, under the -plea of saving the man’s life, fell upon the Jews, drove them to their -dwellings, and entering with them, slew many, carried off whatever -valuables they could find, and then set fire to their houses. The -mariners, enriched by the spoil, embarked immediately on board their -vessel, and putting to sea, got clear off. The townspeople were called -to account for the outrage which had been committed, in disobedience to -the proclamation issued by the king, but escaped punishment by laying -the whole blame to the charge of the sailors. Dr. Jost betrays here――as -well as in many other places――no small measure of partiality, when he -takes upon himself, without any reason whatever, to assert that “it was -doubtless _his_ [_i.e._ the convert’s] fault that he was persecuted in -the open street, by his former co-religionists.¹” - - ¹ _Den Anlass dazu gab ein getaufter Jude, der, ohne Zweifel - durch seine Schuld, von seinen ehemaligen Genossen auf - offener Strasse verfolgt wurde._ Geschichte der Israeliten, - vol. vii., p. 119. - -The same spirit of animosity still pervades the feelings of the Jews -towards their converted brethren. A circumstance to the same effect -happened in this town (Liverpool) about three years ago. A Jew who -had been groundlessly suspected of inquiring into the doctrines of -Christianity, entered a Jewish shop on the eve of the Passover, and was -accosted by another Jew who was in the shop, by the salutation, you are -an accursed _M’shoomad_,¹ which the accused repudiated with disdain. -The accuser, thinking, I suppose, that he had an opportunity to do God -service, gave his brother a tremendous blow on his face; by which he -almost broke his nose. As I said before, the charge was made without -any ground; the insulted Jew therefore, who was ignorant of the precept, -“pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you,” took -out the offender, on the first day of Passover, from the synagogue, and -brought him before the mayor of this town, and had him duly punished. - - ¹ A nickname given by unconverted Jews to their brethren who - believe in Christ. See Appendix B. - -The Rev. Mr. Pauli, missionary to the Jews at Amsterdam, writes thus -on the eighth of June last:¹――“This moment I hear of the following -extraordinary occurrence. Last night a Jewish gentleman, no doubt from -the country, was passing the Jewish quarter. Some Jews took him for -me, and in a second a tremendous crowd, chiefly Portuguese Jews, was -assembled, and in spite of all remonstrances of the poor man that he was -not ‘Domine’ Pauli, they rushed upon him and beat him unmercifully, and -left him half dead. When the mistake was found out, they did all they -could to prevent the ill-used gentleman from giving notice of the affair -to the police. He complied with their request, only wishing heartily -that his bruises and broken head could be transferred to me.” - - ¹ See Jewish Intelligence for July, 1845, p. 259. - -The Rev. H. S. Joseph, formerly a Jewish Rabbi of Bedford, now a -clergyman of the Church of England, was called upon after his conversion -to Christianity, by a Mr. Moses T. Ansell, a connexion of his, who -professed to be friendly disposed towards him, and wishing to discuss -in a quiet manner the doctrines of Christianity, with which Mr. Joseph -readily complied. The discussion lasted for some time, during which Mr. -Joseph endeavoured to prove to his friend that his reasons for embracing -Christianity were cogent ones.¹ Mr. Ansell, finding that he could not -disprove the convert’s arguments from Scripture, said to him――“Now we -are by ourselves; you need not be afraid of me, I will divulge your mind -to nobody. Tell me, then, do you really believe that Jesus of Nazareth, -the crucified one, was the Messiah?” (The unbelieving Jews fancy that -it is impossible for a Jew to be really a believer in Christ, however -powerful the arguments are in favour of Christianity.) Mr. Joseph -replied――“I believe from my heart that Jesus of Nazareth was the true -Messiah, and in him alone do I hope for salvation.” No sooner did he -utter that confession, than his guest laid violent hands on him, and -knocked him down to the ground. What carnal weapons! It was well for -Mr. Ansell that Mr. Joseph was a Christian. To return, however, to the -twelfth century. - - ¹ See a small pamphlet of his, entitled, “Reasons for believing - that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected Messiah.” - -By this time King Richard had passed over to the Continent, to join -the king of France in the crusade to Palestine. Those who had taken the -cross were assembled in most of the principal towns, preparing to follow -him. Of these, the greater number were ill provided with funds to defray -the expenses of their journey to the Holy Land, and their zeal in the -sacred cause readily justified any conduct, whereby the pious object to -which they were pledged might be advanced. They observed with envy that -the Jews were possessed of wealth; they regarded them as infidels, and -worked themselves into a belief that they should render good service -to God, if, by wresting the riches from the hands of unbelievers, -they obtained the means for aiding in the overthrow of the enemies of -Christianity in the East. - -On the seventh day of March 1190, a public fair being held at Stamford, -had drawn together to that place great multitudes of people, and amongst -them whole troops of those _roaming saints_, as they were called. These -zealous men, indignant that the enemies of Christ should abound in -wealth, while they, who were His great friends, were obliged to strip -their wives and children of common necessaries, in order to be equipped -with travelling expenses, argued that God would be highly honoured if -they should first destroy all the Jews, and then possess themselves -of their property. “So ready are men to believe what makes for their -worldly advantage”――observes Tovey――“accordingly they flew upon them -with great vigour and resolution, and finding very little resistance -from an oppressed and spiritless enemy, quickly made themselves masters -both of their persons and fortunes; the former of which they treated -with all kinds of barbarity. Some few of them, indeed, were so fortunate -as to get shelter in the castle, whither, as they fled without their -riches, the source of all their misery, they were not earnestly -pursued. And as these devout pilgrims pretended to do all this for the -advancement of God’s glory, to show they were in earnest, they took -shipping as fast as they could, and fled away for Jerusalem; not so much -as one of them being detained by the magistrates, or any further inquiry -made by the king into such a sanctified piece of villany.”¹ - - ¹ Anglia Judaica, pp. 19, 20. See Appendix C. - -The same outrages were committed in several other parts of the kingdom. -The same spirit prevailed also at Lincoln. An attack was on the point -of being made on the helpless Jews there; but as by that time the -melancholy intelligence was noised abroad, and the Jews were every where -made acquainted that the _faithful (?)_ aimed at their destruction, -they retired, therefore, as soon as possible into the king’s fortress, -which liberty they purchased, with a large sum, of the governor; so that -the majority of them escaped with little damage. At York, the popular -feeling communicated itself to all classes of the inhabitants, and -many of the nobles and principal gentry of the neighbourhood associated -themselves with the soldiers of the cross, and with the knights of the -temple, whose characters were stained with the vilest of human passions. - -The origin of their persecution at York was the following. It appears -that Benedict and Jocenus, two of the richest Jews of York, were deputed -by their brethren of that city to carry presents to the king on his -coronation day. The fate of the former you have already heard; the -latter was so far fortunate as to be able to return to York, where he -related the sad catastrophe which had befallen his brethren in London; -but instead of exciting commiseration in the breasts of his Gentile -neighbours, his narrative had the effect of stimulating them to a like -outrage. The houses of the richest of the Jews were accordingly spoiled -and burned, and many, together with their families, were murdered. The -common people, urged by the example of their superiors, fell upon such -as escaped the first assaults, and with savage fury slew them, without -regard to age or sex. Fifteen hundred, with their wives and children, -escaped to the castle, and, by permission of the sheriff and keeper, -took refuge there. Afterwards, thinking――for which they had good -reason――that these officers also had taken part with their assailants, -they refused to allow them to enter, whereupon the sheriff assembled an -armed force, and laid siege to the castle. The mob joined in the attack, -and though they were before sufficiently bent upon destruction and -plunder, they were――to the shame of the ecclesiastics of that day be it -recorded――further stimulated by the exhortations of the clergy. One in -particular, a canon of the order of Præmonstratenses, displayed uncommon -zeal on the occasion. For several days he appeared amongst the people, -dressed in his surplice, after having eaten a consecrated host, and -greatly increased their fury by continually calling out in a loud -voice――“Destroy the enemies of Christ!――Destroy the enemies of Jesus!” -At length the priest received the punishment his conduct justly merited; -for having approached too near the walls, he was crushed to death by a -stone which was rolled down from the battlements. - -For a time the Jews defended themselves with desperate bravery; but -the assault being warmly pressed, they found that they had no hopes of -escape, and they offered a large sum of money that their lives might -be spared. This was refused, and they proceeded again to take vigorous -measures for their defence, determining to hold out to the last moment; -calling at the same time――which was right――a council, to take into -consideration what was to be done in case of their being driven to -extremities, which consultation altered their purpose completely. For -when they gathered themselves ♦together into one place, one of their -rabbies, a man of great authority amongst them, and who also made the -convocation, stood up and addressed them in the following words:――“Ye -men of Israel, the God of our fathers, to whom none can say, what doest -thou? commands us at this time to die for his law; and behold! death is -even before our eyes, and there is nothing left us to consider but how -to undergo it in the most reputable and easy manner. If we fall into the -hands of our enemies (which I think there is no possibility of escaping), -our deaths will not only be cruel but ignominious. They will not only -torment us, but despitefully use us. My advice therefore is, that we -voluntarily surrender those lives to our Creator, which He seems to call -for, and not wait for any other executioners than ourselves. The fact -is both rational and lawful; nor do we want examples from amongst our -illustrious ancestors, to prove it so: they have frequently proceeded -in the like manner upon the same occasions.”¹ Thus spoke the old Rabbi, -after which he sat down and wept. - - ♦ ‘toegther’ replaced with ‘together’ - - ¹ See Appendix D. - -The auditors looked first wistfully at each other, and then gave -utterance to their thoughts――some loudly approving the advice of the -Rabbi, whilst others, with tears in their eyes, avowed their dissent -from the Rabbi’s opinion. - -To which the rabbi, standing up a second time, replied――“Seeing, -brethren, that we are not all of one mind, let those who do not approve -of this advice depart from this assembly.” The less courageous departed. -But by far the greater number adhered steadfastly to the leader’s -proposal. And as soon as they perceived themselves alone, which -increased their despair, they first burned every thing belonging to them -that was consumable by fire, and buried the remainder in the earth (to -prevent its falling into the possession of their enemies); they then set -fire to several places of the castle at once, after which each man took -a sharp knife, and first cut the throats of their own wives and children, -and then their own. The persons who remained last alive were this rash -counsellor, and the aforementioned Jocenus, who were possessed of a -strong desire to see everything performed according to their directions; -for they did not survive much longer; as soon as that atrocious work -was over, the Rabbi, out of respect to Jocenus (who was a person of -importance), first slew him, and then himself.¹ When this dreadful act -was completed, those who remained alive took up the dead bodies, and -threw them over the walls, on the heads of the besiegers; and determined -at last upon the expedient of their brethren. They also burned their -clothes, and such of their valuables as would consume, and threw the -rest of their treasures into the sinks and drains of the castle; and -the greater part of those who survived, collecting themselves together -in one of the buildings, set fire to it, and resigned themselves to the -flames. A few only, of less courage than their brethren, still remained. -These, coming forward upon the ramparts, called out to the assailants, -and showed the manner in which their companions had fallen, and offered -to receive baptism, if their lives might be spared. This was granted -to them; but they no sooner passed the gate than the people fell upon -them and slew them, with the exception of one or two who escaped; which -proved that the Rabbi was not far wrong in his calculation. The populace -afterwards betook themselves to the destroying and burning of all the -houses of the Jews in the city which had not been previously demolished. -Thus perished fifteen hundred Jews at York on this occasion, besides -those who fell in the other parts of England. - - ¹ Dr. Jost states, that “Jocenus first strangled his wife - Hannah with his five children, and then allowed himself to - be slain by the Rabbi, whose example was followed by all the - remainder.” - - _Jossen erwürgte seine Frau Hanna mit fünf Kindern, und liess - sich dann von dem Rabbi ♦niederschlachten. Seinem Beispiel - folgten alle Uebrigen._ - - ♦ ‘niedercshlachten’ replaced with ‘niederschlachten’ - -Now comes the secret. No sooner did the English make an end of -butchering that unhappy people, than many gentlemen of the province――who -having been their debtors, and took, therefore, the most active part in -the carnage――repaired to the cathedral, where their bonds were deposited, -compelled the officer to deliver those obligations, and burned them in -the church with great solemnity before the altar. - -When the account of these outrages reached the king’s ears, he was -exceedingly enraged at this insult upon his authority, which at the -same time affected his revenue; he sent over immediate directions to -the Bishop of Ely, his chancellor, to apprehend and punish the offenders. -The chancellor accordingly proceeded to York with a strong force, to -execute the king’s commands: but the principal actors in the massacres -there, being warned of his approach, made their escape; some of them -taking refuge into Scotland, but the greater number proceeding on their -journey to the Holy Land. The governor of the castle and the sheriff -were, however, apprehended, and not being able to clear their conduct, -were deprived of their respective offices. A heavy fine was also imposed -upon the inhabitants of the city, for which the chancellor took one -hundred hostages with him. Richard, _mala bestia_ (wicked beast), or as -he is called Mallebisse, was obliged to pay twenty marks for the use of -his land, as also for protection to himself and his two esquires,¹ till -the king’s return; but, with these exceptions, it does not appear that -any individual was brought to punishment for the part he had taken in -the late disturbances. - - ¹ See Appendix E. - -When Richard returned home, after his captivity, the affairs of the Jews -were again brought under his consideration; and he appointed justices -itinerant to proceed through the different parts of England for the -purpose of making further inquiries concerning the slaughter of the -Jews――who were the murderers?――what lands and chattels belonged to them -at the time they were slain?――who took possession of the same? &c. He -established very curious regulations, professedly for the protection -of the Jews, but really――as it was well observed――“that he might fleece -them at his pleasure.” He established the famous EXCHEQUER of the JEWS. -The revenues arising from them were placed under the care of an office -for the purpose, in which the _justiciaries_ of the _Jews_ presided. To -these places Jews and Christians were indifferently appointed. They had -not only the Jewish revenues under their care, but were also judges of -all civil matters, where a Jew was one of the parties. Lord Coke takes -notice of this court, and calls it the “Court of the Justices of the -Jews.” - -“In order to know”――observes Dr. Tovey――“what were the particular monies, -goods, debts, real and personal estates belonging to every Jew in the -nation, he commanded (something after the manner of the Conqueror’s -Domesday) that all effects belonging to Jews should be registered. - -“That the concealment of any particular should be forfeiture of body and -whole estate. - -“That six or seven public places should be appointed, wherein all their -contracts were to be made. - -“That all such contracts should be made in the presence of two assigned -lawyers, who were Jews, and two that were Christians, and two public -notaries. - -“That the Clerks of William de Sancta Maria, and William de Chimelli, -should likewise be present at all such contracts. - -“That such contracts should likewise be made by indenture: one part of -which was to remain with the Jew, sealed with the seal of him to whom -the money was lent; and the other in a common chest, to which there was -to be three locks and three keys. - -“One key whereof was to be kept by the said Jewish lawyers, the other by -the Christian lawyers, and the third by the aforesaid Clerks. - -“The chest also was to be sealed with three seals. - -“The aforesaid Clerks were also commanded to keep a transcript roll -of all such contracts; which roll was to be altered as often as the -original charters of contract were altered. - -“And the fee for drawing every such charter was to be three pence; one -moiety whereof was to be paid by the Jew, and the other moiety by him to -whom the money was lent. Whereof the two writers were to have two pence, -and the keeper of the rolls the third. - -“It was ordained likewise, that as no contracts for money, so no payment -of it, or acquittance, or any other alteration in the charters, or -transcript rolls were to be made, but in the presence of the aforesaid -persons, or the greater part of them. - -“The aforesaid two Jews were to have a copy of the said transcript roll, -and the two Christians another. - -“Every Jew was to take an oath upon his roll,¹ that he would truly and -faithfully register all his estates, both real and personal, as above -directed; and discover every Jew whom he should know guilty of any -concealment; as likewise all forgers, or falsifiers of charters, and -clippers of money.” - - ¹ Parchment MS. of the Pentateuch. - -Under those regulations the Jews lived peaceably; for they very seldom, -on their part, violate any regulations established between themselves -and others; and as it was the king’s interest to adhere to the above -regulations on his part, the Jews therefore enjoyed comparative -tranquillity. But at no small expense. - -The justices of the Jews at that time were a certain Benedict, and -Joseph Aaron. Their contracts, or, as they were then called, _Shtaroth_, -from the Hebrew, or rather Chaldee, word שטר _Shtar_, were written -either in indifferent Hebrew, or bad Latin, or the same sort of French.¹ -That court where all those documents were deposited, obtained the name -of “The Star Chamber.”² It was well remarked that Richard made the Jews -most unfortunate. He used them as a press, with which to squeeze his -subjects. By which they incurred no small degree of animosity from their -Christian neighbours.³ - - ¹ See Appendix F. - - ² See Appendix G. - - ³ See Geschichte der Israeliten, vol. vii., p. 130 - - - - - APPENDIX TO LECTURE III. - - - A. - -בשנת דתתק״נ בהיות ריקרדו מלך חדש בעיר לונדריש שבאינגלטירה נהדג בקידוש ה׳ רבינו יעקב מאורליינש ויהודים רבים -אחרים עמו׃ - -The same Rabbi Gedaliah, author of the _Shalsheleth Hakabalah_, makes -mention of Rabbi Jacob of Orleans, in another part of the same book, -viz., when speaking of the age of the celebrated Maimonides, Jarchi, -&c., he names our Rabbi Jacob, as “a distinguished sage,” and also tells -us that he was one and the same with Rabbi Tam, grandson of the famous -Rabbi Solomon Jarchi, who was one of the authors of the _Tosephoth_. The -following are Rabbi ♦Gedaliah’s own words:―― - - ♦ “Gedeliah’s” replaced with “Gedaliah’s” - -רבינו יעקב מאורליאינש שבגליל אינגלטירה היה בדור הזה חכם מופלג ינהרג שנת דתתק״נ והוא נקרא בתוספות ר׳ת כאשר -קוראים רבינו יעקב בן בתו דרשי׃ - -_Shalsheleth Hakabalah_, fol. 50, col. 2:―― - - - B. - -משומד _M’shoomad_ literally signifies destroyed one; but it is used by -the Jews to denote a brother Jew who embraced the religion of Jesus. It -is rather curious that the first time the word is made use of, according -to the Jews’ own showing, appears to have been by Jesus, against those -Jews who disbelieved him. The following passage――reproaching the Jews -for their infidelity and blasphemy――occurs in the הולדות ישו _Toledoth -Jeshu_――a most blasphemous production, purporting to give a narrative -of Jesus Christ:―― - -מי הם אותם המשומדים שאומרים עלי שאני ממזר ופסול הם ממזרים ופסולים - -Indeed, whenever a converted Jew gets an opportunity of comparing notes -with an unconverted one, it always appears most palpably that the -epithet משומד _M’shoomad_ is more applicable to the latter than to the -former; for the former generally can prove to demonstration, that he is -a faithful follower of Moses and the Prophets, whilst the latter can do -no such thing. - - - C. - -Henry de Knyghton, in his “De Eventibus Angliæ,” gives us the following -piece of information:――“One John, a most bold Christian, flying from -Stanford with many spoyls of the Jews, to Northampton, was there -secretly slain by his host, to get his money, and thrown without the -city in the night, the murderer flying thereupon. After which, through -the dreams of old women, and fallacious signs, the simple people, -attributing to him the merits of a martyr, honoured his sepulchre with -solemn vigils and gifts. This was derided by the wise men, yet it was -acceptable to the Clerks there living, by reason of the gains.”¹ Strange, -however, Englishmen will attribute avarice and love of money to the -poor Jews, rather than to their own ancestors, who possessed by far the -greater share of both. - - ¹ See Prynne’s Demurrer, Part i., p. 13. - - - D. - -The address of the York Rabbi is evidently a digest of Eleazar’s -speeches in the fort of Masada. After the destruction of Jerusalem -(A.D. 72), a great number of the Jews entrenched themselves in that -fort, and for some time defended themselves so bravely, that it cost -the Romans one bloody battle more. However, when the besieged beheld -that in consequence of the fire which the Roman engines sent into their -fortress, its further defence was impossible, the whole garrison, at -the instigation of Eleazar, their commander, surrendered themselves to -a voluntary death, slaying first their wives and children, and then each -other, to the number of 960, that they might not fall into the hands of -the hated besiegers. As the awful tragedies are so strikingly alike, it -may not be uninteresting to the reader to take a view of both leaders’ -addresses at the same time; I therefore give here the speeches of -Eleazar, long though they are:―― - -“Since we long ago, my generous friends, resolved never to be servants -to the Romans, nor to any other than to God himself, who alone is the -true and just Lord of mankind, the time is now come that obliges us to -make that resolution true in practice. And let us not at this time bring -a reproach upon ourselves for self-contradiction; while we formerly -would not undergo slavery, though it were then without danger, but -must now, together with slavery, choose such punishments also as are -intolerable; I mean this, upon the supposition that the Romans once -reduce us under their power while we are alive. We were the very first -that revolted from them, and we are the last that fight against them; -and I cannot but esteem it as a favour that God hath granted us, that it -is still in our power to die bravely, and in a state of freedom, which -hath not been the case of others who were conquered unexpectedly. It is -very plain that we shall be taken within a day’s time; but it is still -an eligible thing to die after a glorious manner, together with our -dearest friends. This is what our enemies themselves cannot by any means -hinder, although they be very desirous to take us alive. Nor can we -propose to ourselves any more to fight them, and beat them. It had been -proper, indeed, for us to have conjectured at the purpose of God much -sooner, and at the very first, when we were so desirous of defending -our liberty, and when we received such sore treatment from one another, -and worse treatment from our enemies; and to have been sensible that the -same God who had of old taken the Jewish nation into his favour, had now -condemned them to destruction; for had he either continued favourable, -or been but in a lesser degree displeased with us, he had not overlooked -the destruction of so many men, or delivered his most holy city to be -burned and demolished by our enemies. To be sure we weakly hoped to have -preserved ourselves, and ourselves alone, still in a state of freedom, -as if we had been guilty of no sins ourselves against God, nor been -partners with those of others: we also taught other men to preserve -their liberty. Wherefore, consider how God hath convinced us that our -hopes were in vain, by bringing such distress upon us in the desperate -state we are now in, and which is beyond all our expectations; for -the nature of this fortress, which was in itself unconquerable, hath -not proved a means of our deliverance; and even while we have still -abundance of food, and a great quantity of arms and other necessaries -more than we want, we are openly deprived by God himself of all hope of -deliverance; for that fire which was driven upon our enemies did not, of -its own accord, turn back upon the wall which we had built: this was the -effect of God’s anger against us for our manifold sins, which we have -been guilty of in a most insolent and extravagant manner with regard to -our own countrymen; the punishment of which let us not receive from the -Romans, but from God himself, as executed by our own hands, for these -will be more moderate than the other. Let our wives die before they are -abused, and our children before they have tasted of slavery; and after -we have slain them, let us bestow that glorious benefit upon one another -mutually, and preserve ourselves in freedom, as an excellent funeral -monument for us. But first let us destroy our money and the fortress -by fire; for I am well assured that this will be a great grief to the -Romans, that they shall not be able to seize upon our bodies, and shall -fail of our wealth also: and let us spare nothing but our provisions; -for they will be a testimonial when we are dead, that we were not -subdued for want of necessaries; but that, according to our original -resolution, we have preferred death before slavery.” - -The above address was not at first approved of by all, and consequently -a second impetuous speech was elicited, which is the following:―― - -“Truly, I was greatly mistaken when I thought to be assisting to brave -men who struggled hard for their liberty, and to such as were resolved -either to live with honour, or else to die; but I find that you are such -people as are no better than others, either in virtue or in courage, and -are afraid of dying, though you be delivered thereby from the greatest -miseries, while you ought to make no delay in this matter, nor to await -any one to give you good advice; for the laws of our country, and of God -himself, have, from ancient times, and as soon as ever we could use our -reason, continually taught us――and our forefathers have corroborated the -same doctrine by their actions, and by their bravery of mind――that it is -life that is a calamity to men, and not death; for this last affords our -souls their liberty, and sends them, by a removal, into their own place -of purity, where they are to be insensible of all sorts of misery; for -while souls are tied down to a mortal body, they are partakers of its -miseries; and really, to speak the truth, they are themselves dead; for -the union of what is divine to what is mortal is disagreeable. It is -true the power of the soul is great, even when it is imprisoned in a -mortal body; for by moving it after a way that is invisible, it makes -the body a sensible instrument, and causes it to advance farther in its -actions than mortal nature could otherwise do. However, when it is freed -from that weight which draws it down to the earth, and is connected with -it, it obtains its own proper place, and does then become a partaker -of that blessed power and those abilities, which are then every way -incapable of being hindered in their operation. It continues invisible, -indeed, to the eyes of men, as does God himself; for certainly it is not -itself seen while it is in the body, for it is there after an invisible -manner, and when it is freed from it it is still not seen. It is this -soul which hath one nature, and that an incorruptible one also; but yet -it is the cause of the change that is made in the body; for whatsoever -it be which the soul touches, that lives and flourishes; and from -whatsoever it is removed, that withers away and dies: such a degree is -there in it of immortality. Let me produce the state of sleep as a most -evident demonstration of the truth of what I say, wherein souls, when -the body does not distract them, have the sweetest rest depending on -themselves, and conversing with God, by their alliance to him; they -then go everywhere, and foretell many futurities beforehand. And why are -we afraid of death, while we are pleased with the rest that we have in -sleep?――and how absurd a thing it is to pursue after liberty while we -are alive, and yet to envy it to ourselves where it will be eternal! We, -therefore, who have been brought up in a discipline of our own, ought -to become an example to others of our readiness to die; yet if we do not -stand in need of foreigners to support us in this matter, let us regard -those Indians who profess the exercise of philosophy; for these good -men do but unwillingly undergo the time of life, and look upon it as a -necessary servitude, and make haste to let their souls loose from their -bodies; nay, when no misfortune presses them to it, nor drives them upon -it, these have such a desire of a life of immortality, that they tell -other men beforehand that they are about to depart; and nobody hinders -them, but every one thinks them happy men, and gives them letters to -be carried to their familiar friends (that are dead); so firmly and -certainly do they believe that souls converse with one another (in the -other world). So when these men have heard all such commands that are -to be given them, they deliver their body to the fire; and in order to -their getting their soul a separation from the body, in the greatest -purity, they die in the midst of hymns of commendation made to them; -for their dearest friends conduct them to their death more readily than -do any of the rest of mankind conduct their fellow-citizens when they -are going a very long journey, who, at the same time, weep on their own -account, but look upon the others as happy persons, as so soon to be -made partakers of the immortal order of beings. Are not we, therefore, -ashamed to have lower notions than the Indians; and by our own cowardice -to lay a base reproach upon the laws of our country, which are so -much desired and imitated by all mankind? But put the case that we had -been brought up under another persuasion, and taught that life is the -greatest good which men are capable of, and that death is a calamity; -however, the circumstances we are now in ought to be an inducement to -us to bear such calamity courageously, since it is by the will of God -and by necessity that we are to die; for it now appears that God hath -made such a decree against the whole Jewish nation, that we are to -be deprived of this life, which (he knew) we would not make a due use -of; for do not you ascribe the occasion of your present condition to -yourselves, nor think the Romans are the true occasion that this war -we have had with them is become so destructive to us all: these things -have not come to pass by their power, but a more powerful cause hath -intervened, and made us afford them an occasion of their appearing to -be conquerors over us. What Roman weapons, I pray you, were those by -which the Jews of Cesarea were slain? On the contrary, when they were -no way disposed to rebel, but were all the while keeping their seventh -day festival, and did not so much as lift up their hands against the -citizens of Cesarea; yet did those citizens run upon them in great -crowds, and cut their throats, and the throats of their wives and -children, and this without any regard to the Romans themselves, who -never took us for their enemies till we revolted from them. But some may -be ready to say, that truly the people of Cesarea had always a quarrel -against those that lived among them, and that when an opportunity -offered itself, they only satisfied the old rancour they had against -them. What, then, shall we say to those of Scythopolis, who ventured to -wage war with us on account of the Greeks? Nor did they do it by way of -revenge upon the Romans, when they acted in concert with our countrymen. -Wherefore you see how little our good will and fidelity to them profited -us; while they were slain, they and their whole families, after the most -inhuman manner, which was all the requital that was made to them for the -assistance they had afforded the others; for that very same destruction -which they had prevented from falling upon the others, did they suffer -themselves from them, as if they had been ready to be the actors against -them. It would be too long for me to speak, at this time, of every -destruction brought upon us; for you cannot but know that there was -not any one Syrian city which did not slay their Jewish inhabitants, -and were not more bitter enemies to us than were the Romans themselves; -nay, even those of Damascus, when they were able to allege no tolerable -pretence against us, filled their city with the most barbarous slaughter -of our people; and cut the throats of eighteen thousand Jews, with their -wives and children. And as to the multitude that was slain in Egypt, and -that with torments also, we have been informed they were more than sixty -thousand; those, indeed, being in a foreign country, and so naturally -meeting with nothing to oppose against their enemies, were killed in the -manner forementioned. - -“As for all those of us who have waged war against the Romans in our -own country, had we not sufficient reason to have sure hopes of victory? -For we had arms, and walls, and fortresses so prepared, as not to be -easily taken, and courage not to be moved by any dangers in the cause of -liberty, which encouraged us all to revolt from the Romans. But, then, -these advantages sufficed us but for a short time, and only raised our -hopes, while they really appeared to be the origin of our miseries; -for all we had, hath been taken from us, and all hath fallen under our -enemies, as if these advantages were only to render their victory over -us the more glorious, and were not disposed for the preservation of -those by whom these preparations were made. And as for those that are -already dead in the war, it is reasonable we should esteem them blessed, -for they are dead in defending, and not in betraying their liberty; but -as to the multitude of those that are now under the Romans, who would -not pity their condition? And who would not make haste to die, before -he would suffer the same miseries with them? Some of them have been put -upon the rack, and tortured with fire and whippings, and so died. Some -have been half devoured by wild beasts, and yet have been reserved alive -to be devoured by them a second time, in order to afford laughter and -sport to our enemies; and such of those as are alive still, are to be -looked on as the most miserable, who, being so desirous of death, could -not come at it. And where is now that great city, the metropolis of the -Jewish nation, which was fortified by so many walls round about, which -had so many fortresses and large towers to defend it, which could hardly -contain the instruments prepared for the war, and which had so many ten -thousands of men to fight for it? Where is this city that was believed -to have God himself inhabiting therein? It is now demolished to the very -foundations, and hath nothing but that monument of it preserved, I mean -the camp of those that have destroyed it, which still dwells upon its -ruins. Some unfortunate old men also lie upon the ashes of the temple, -and a few women are there preserved alive by the enemy for our bitter -shame and reproach. Now, who is there that revolves these things in his -mind, and yet is able to bear the sight of the sun, though he might live -out of danger? Who is there so much his country’s enemy, or so unmanly, -and so desirous of living, as not to repent that he is still alive? And -I cannot but wish that we had all died before we had seen that holy city -demolished by the hands of our enemies, or the foundations of our holy -temple dug up after so profane a manner. But since we had a generous -hope that deluded us, as if we might, perhaps, have been able to avenge -ourselves on our enemies on that account, though it be now become -vanity, and hath left us alone in this distress, let us make haste to -die bravely. Let us pity ourselves, our children, and our wives, while -it is in our power to show pity to them, for we are born to die, as well -as those were whom we have begotten; nor is it in the power of the most -happy of our race to avoid it. But for abuses and slavery, and the sight -of our wives led away after an ignominious manner, with their children, -these are not such evils as are natural and necessary among men; -although such as do not prefer death before those miseries, when it is -in their power so to do, must undergo even then on account of their own -cowardice. We revolted from the Romans with great pretensions to courage; -and when, at the very last, they invited us to preserve ourselves, we -would not comply with them. Who will not, therefore, believe that they -will certainly be in a great rage at us, in case they can take us alive? -Miserable will, then, be the young men who will be strong enough in -their bodies to sustain many torments; miserable also will be those of -elder years, who will not be able to bear those calamities which young -men might sustain! One man will be obliged to hear the voice of his son -imploring help of his father, when his hands are bound! But certainly -our hands are still at liberty, and have a sword in them. Let them, then, -be subservient to us in our glorious design; let us die before we become -slaves under our enemies; and let us go out of the world, together with -our children and our wives, in a state of freedom. This it is that our -laws command us to do; this it is that our wives and children crave at -our hands; nay, God himself hath brought this necessity upon us; while -the Romans desire the contrary, and are afraid any of us should die -before we are taken. Let us, therefore, make haste, and instead of -affording them so much pleasure as they hope for in getting us under -their power, let us leave them an example which shall at once cause -their astonishment at our death, and their admiration of our hardiness -therein.” - -This second harangue had the desired effect. The Romans having scaled -the walls, apprehended some treachery, by reason of the death-like -silence that prevailed around the fortress; but soon discovered the -slaughtered bodies and learned the dreadful occurrence from the mouths -of two women and five children, who, by concealing themselves, had -escaped the fulfilment of the fatal compact.――_Josephus’ Wars_, Book -vii., Chaps. 8, 9. - - - E. - -“Ricardus Malebisse, r. c. de XX. Marcis, pro rehabendâ Terrâ suâ -usque ad adventum Domini Regis; quæ saisita fuit in manu Regis, propter -occisionem Judæorum Eborac. Et ut Walterus de Carton and Ricardus de -Kukeneia Armigeri ejus habeant Pacem Regis usque ad adventum ejus.” -Mag. Rot. 4 R. I. Rot. 4. b. Everwich. - - - F. - -The following Hebrew Shtar was adduced by the learned John Selden, -of the sixteenth century, in order to prove that the title “Sir” was -considered part of the possessor’s name, so that the Jews of England -retained it in their contracts without translating it. - -אני החתום מטה מודה הודאה גמורה שפטרתי ומחלתי לשי׳ אדאם משטרטונא וליורשיו ולבאים מחמרו כל מן תביעה ועיעור -שיש לי ושיכול להיות ליער המלון כשטנמירא הקטנה בפלך מידלשצע שהאדם הנקו׳ מחזיק זאת לדעת בקרקע ובאהו ובמרעה -ובאגם עם כל האפורטניציע שמקדם היה לשי׳ אשטייבוא מקינדוט בכן שלא אני ולא יורשי ולא שום אחר בעבורי יכולין לתבוע או -לערער על שי׳ אדאם הנקו׳ או על יורשיו או על הבאים מכחו על המלון הנקו׳ עם כל האפורטניצע הנקו׳ בעלילת שום חוב שהיה -אשטייבנא הנקו׳ חייב לי או לשום יהודי אחר מבריאת עולם עד סופו ואם שום יהודי בעולם יבא לתבוע או לערער על שי׳ אדאם -הנקו׳ או על יורשיו או על הבאים מחמרו על המלון משטנמירא הנקו׳ עם האפורטנצע הנקו׳ בעלילת שום חוב שהיה אשטייבנא -מקינדוט הנקו׳ חייב לי או לשום יהודי אחר בעולם מבריאת עולם עד סופו עלי ועל יורשי בתראי להגינם ולהצילם ולפוטרם נגד כל -המעיערים וזאת התמתי היים דניקול - -The above _shtar_, or starr, was very indifferently copied by Selden, -and so badly transcribed by Dr. Tovey, that a reference to the original -became absolutely necessary, and which was after a little trouble -obtained. The original has also a Latin note as follows:―― - -“Istud starrum fecit Hagm. fil. Magistri de London, Domino Adæ de -Stratona, de acquietantia de STANMERE de omnibus debitis in quibus S. -de Cheynduit ei tenebatur. Ita quod idem Judæus nec hæredes sui nihil -exigere possint de prædicto Ada nec hæredibus suis ratione terræ de -Stanmere de prædictis debitis.” - -The following specimen of the second kind is a charter of release, made -by one Aaron, a Jew of Lincoln, to William Fossard, so early as 1176, -A.D., or 22 H. 2, long before the exchequer of the Jews was established. - -“Sciant omnes legentes et audientes Litteras has, quod ego Aaron Judæus -de Lincolnia, attestatione hujus meæ Cartæ quietum clamavi Willielmum -Fossard de toto debito quod ipse vel pater ejus mihi debuerunt; et -testificor, quod ipse est quietus de debito quod debuit vel mihi vel -Josceo de Eboraco, vel cæteris Judæis subscriptis, viz., Kersun Elyae, -Samsoni, Isaac, Judæo Pulcelle, vel ipsi Pulcelle vel Deuecresse de -Danemarchia, usque ad festum S. Michaëlis anni Incarnationis Domini -millesimi centesimi LXXVI. Hanc quietam clamantiam feci ei pro mille et -CC. et LX. marcis unde Monachi de Mealse adquietaverunt eum versus me. -Et sciendum quod quasdam Cartas hujus debiti jam reddidi, et eas si quas -adhuc penes me habeo quamcitius potero reddam.――Mag. Rot. 9. R. I., Rot. -4. b. Everwichseira.” - -Maddox, in his “Formula Anglicana,” gives the following as a specimen -of a Jewish shtar, or starr, in the French language. It is a general -release from a certain Jew, Fitz-Hagyn by name, who acted as attorney -for his father, to a certain John de Say. - -“Jeo ke suy ensele de suz, reconnuse verreye reconusaunce et testimoine -pur mon pere Hagyn le fiz mestre Moss, ke Sire Johan de Say et ses -auncestres et ses Heyres quites sunt de mun Pere avaunt dit, et de ses -heyrs, et de tuz ses enfaunz, et de moy, et de mes heirs, et de mes -assignes, de totes dettes, demaundes, chalendes, et plegages, ke eus a -nus esteint tenuz, par Chartre u par nule Cirographe, u autre estrument; -fetes avaunt ke cest Estar, del commencement du Secle dek a la fyn. Et -si seit trove Chartre, u taille, u autre estrument, sur le nun le avaunt -dit Sire Johan, u akeun de ces auncestres, u akeun de ses heires, e -en le nun mun pere avaunt dit, u akeun de ses heires, u akeun de sez -enfaunz, u en mun nun, u akeun di mes auncestres, u de mes heires, en -la Huche nostre Seynur le Rey, u de hors, fetes avaunt ke cest Estar -fu feyt; Je reconus et tesmoyne pur mun pere avaunt dit, et pur tuz ses -heirs, et pur ses enfaunz, et pur moy, et pur mes heires, et pur mes -enfaunz et assignes, ke quites seent a tuz jurz, et ren ne vaylet. E -Jo et mes heires warrantirum aquiterum et defenderum le avaunt dit Sire -Johan de Say, et ses heires, enver mun pere avaunt dit, et envers tuz -ses heires, et ses assignes de tuttes dettes ke la avaunt dit Sire Johan -a eus esteynt tenuz avaunt cest Estar fu fet, du comencement du secle -dek a la fin. Act le Venderdi prochein apres la Seinte Lucy, lan du -Regne le Re Edeward le fiz le Rey Henry, secund. E ceo ke jeo ay reconu, -ai ensele cum aturne mun pere avaunt dit en ceste chose. - - “JACOB LE FIZ HAGIN.” - - - G. - -“Court of Star-Chamber (_camera stellata_), a famous, or rather infamous -English tribunal, said to have been so called, either from a Saxon -word, signifying to _steer_ or govern; or for its punishing the _crimen -stellionatus_, or cosenage; or because the room wherein it sat――the old -council-chamber of the palace of Westminster (Lamb. 148), which is now -converted into the lottery-office, and forms the eastern side of the -new palace-yard――was full of windows; or (to which Sir Edward Coke, -4 Inst. 66, accedes), because _haply_ the roof thereof was at the first -garnished with gilded _stars_. As all these are merely conjectures (for -no stars are now in the roof, nor are any said to have remained there -so late as the reign of Queen Elizabeth), it may be allowable to propose -another conjectural etymology, as plausible, perhaps, as any of them. It -is well known that, before the banishment of the Jews under Edward I., -their contracts and obligations were denominated in our ancient records -_starra_, or _starrs_, from a corruption of the Hebrew word _shetar_, -a covenant. These _starrs_, by an ordinance of Richard the First, -preserved by Hoveden, were commanded to be enrolled and deposited -in chests, under three keys, in certain places; one, and the most -considerable, of which was in the king’s exchequer at Westminster; -and no starr was allowed to be valid, unless it were found in some -of the said repositories. The room at the exchequer, where the -chests containing these starrs were kept, was probably called the -_star-chamber_, and when the Jews were expelled the kingdom, was applied -to the use of the king’s council, sitting in their judicial capacity. To -confirm this, the first time the star-chamber is mentioned in any record, -it is said to have been situated near the receipt of the exchequer at -Westminster (the king’s council, his chancellor, treasurer, justices, -and other sages, were assembled _en la chaumber des esteilles presta -resceipt at Westminster, Clause 41, Edw. III. m. 13_). For in process of -time, when the meaning of the Jewish _starrs_ were forgotten, the word -_star-chamber_ was naturally rendered in law French, _la chaumbre des -esteilles_, and in law Latin, _camera stellata_, which continued to be -the style in Latin till the dissolution of that court.”――_Encyclopædia -Britannica._ - - - - - LECTURE IV. - - -MY lecture this evening commences with the history of the Jews in -this country, during the reign of King John――the reign of one who -has acquired an unenviable notoriety in the political history of this -country――one who is well known as a disobedient son, an unnatural -brother, and a savage monarch――one who disregarded the rights of all -men――one, in short, who trampled under foot all laws, both Divine and -human. - -What could the Jews expect from such a character? The natural effect -of the cruelties to which they had been subjected during the last reign, -under Richard Cœur de-Lion――who, though generous, was yet rash and -romantic, which was the cause of their very great sufferings――I say, -the natural effect would have been to deter them from attempting to -accumulate any more wealth in this country; and it was to be apprehended -that on the accession of such an unprincipled man to the throne, and the -semi-barbarian state of the then people of England, who were continually -quarrelling with each other, and were ready at all times to plunge the -sword or the lance into the breasts of each other: the Jews, under such -circumstances, instead of resorting to England, as holding out to them -inducements for the acquirement of riches, might have been expected to -have quitted this island altogether. It was well put into the mouth of -a Jewish maiden of that age, “Such is no safe abode for the children of -Israel. Ephraim is an heartless dove――Issachar an over-laboured drudge, -which stoops between two burdens. Not in a land of war and blood, -surrounded by hostile neighbours, and distracted by internal factions, -can Israel hope to rest during her wanderings.” It was to be apprehended -that they would have betaken themselves to Spain, where their brethren -were just then highly honoured, and enjoyed great favour at the Spanish -courts.¹ But John was an artful man as well as a wicked one. - - ¹ See Appendix A. - -The law which his brother Richard enacted, relative to the Exchequer -of the Jews, permitted the king to exercise unlimited power over the -properties of the Jews. This circumstance afforded him great facilities -for obtaining supplies to a large amount, upon any emergency. John -wanted money continually in consequence of his incessant disagreements -with his people. He saw it necessary, therefore, to devise some measure -which would have the effect of allaying the fears of the Jews; and -therefore began his reign with pretended kindness towards them, holding -out to their view the expectation of greater security in future. - -Accordingly, King John, in the first year of his reign, to show the -Jews that they would not be molested by reason of any antipathies which -he entertained towards them on account of their creed, granted them -permission to nominate a person to the office of chief Rabbi of England, -and confirmed the appointment by the following charter:――“The king to -all his faithful, both to all the Jews and English, greeting. Be it -known, that we have granted, and by our present charter confirmed, to -Jacob the Jew, of London, Presbyter of the Jews, the jurisdiction of all -the Jews throughout all England. To be had and to be held by him during -his life-time, freely and quietly, honourably and entirely, so that no -one may presume to molest or trouble him in any way. We wish, therefore, -and firmly command, that the same Jacob, Presbyter of the Jews of all -England, may live secure, shielded, and peaceably defended. And if any -one shall presume to impeach him on that account, that without delay -you cause amends to be made (our interference to be procured for our -protection), as also for our Dominican Jews, whom we keep in our special -service. We also prohibit any plea to be entered in, concerning any -thing that belongs to him, unless before us, or before our chief justice, -as it is appointed by our brother Richard.”¹ - - ¹ See Appendix B. - -Highly flattering as this appointment must have been to the Jews, the -king complimented them still more by granting Jacob, who was their first -chief Rabbi, a charter of safe conduct through his dominions, honouring -him in the record with the highest terms of love and respect, and -commanding all his subjects to regard his person with the same reverence -and affection as they were bound by their allegiance to pay to the king -himself. - -As this was the first time that the Jewish nation was so honourably -mentioned, and so carefully protected, it may not be unacceptable to -hear the whole charter. The original is a mixture of Latin, Saxon, and -French. - -“John by the grace of God, &c. To all his faithful subjects, to whom -these letters shall come, as well beyond as on this side the sea. You -are commanded and enjoined, that through whatever village or place, our -well beloved and intimate Jacob the Presbyter of the Jews may pass, that -you allow him and everything belonging to him to pass safely and freely, -and that you make him comfortable; and that you do not suffer any injury, -trouble, or violence, to be offered to him any more than to ourselves; -and if any one should presume to injure him in any wise, that you cause -redress to be made without delay.”¹ - - ¹ See Appendix C. - -In furtherance of the same purpose of conciliation, the king, also, in -the second year of his reign, granted two other important charters; the -one extended to the Jews of Normandy, as well as to those of England, -the other was confined to England alone. By these charters it was, -amongst other things, granted to the Jews, that they might live freely -and honourably within the king’s dominions, and hold lands and have all -their privileges and customs, as quietly and honourably as they had, -in the time of Henry I.; that if a Jew died, the king would not disturb -his possessions, provided he left behind him an heir who could answer -his debts and forfeitures; that they should be at liberty to go where -they would, with all their chattels and effects, without restraint or -hindrance. Certain regulations were also prescribed for the adjustment -of any differences which might arise between the Jews themselves, or -with Christians; as between themselves, all disputes were to be settled -according to their _own_ laws; if any Christian had a plaint against -a Jew, it was not to be tried in the ordinary manner, but by a jury of -Jews, and before particular judges, as will be seen by the following -literal translation of the same great charter of the Jews. - -“John by the grace of God, &c. Be it known that we have granted to -all the Jews of England and Normandy to have a residence freely and -honourably in our land, and they are to hold all things of us, which -they held of King Henry, our great-grandfather; and all those things -which they now lawfully hold in land, bonds, and mortgages, and their -chattels. That they may have all the liberties and customs which they -had in the time of the said Henry, the grandfather of our father, in a -better and more quiet and more honourable manner. And if complaint shall -arise between a Christian and a Jew, let him who shall have appealed -against the other, produce witnesses to substantiate his plaint, viz., -a lawful Christian and a lawful Jew. And if a Jew shall have a writ -concerning his plaint, his own writ shall be his witness. And if a -Christian shall have a plaint against a Jew, the plaint shall be tried -by the Jew’s peers. And when a Jew dies, his body shall not be detained -above the ground; and let his heirs have his money and his debts, so -that he be not disturbed thence, that is to say, if he have an heir that -would be responsible for him, and do justice as touching his debts and -forfeitures. And let it be lawful for Jews to buy every thing offered -to them and to receive them, except such things as belong to the Church, -and crimson cloth. If a Jew be summoned by any one without a witness, -let him be free from such a summons by his single oath taken upon his -book; and if he be summoned concerning things which belong to the crown, -let him likewise be free by his single oath taken on his roll. If a -difference arise between a Christian and a Jew about the lending of -money, the Jew should prove the capital, and the Christian the interest; -that a Jew may lawfully and quietly sell a mortgage made to him, when he -is certain that he held it a whole year and a day; that the Jew should -not be entered into any plea, except before us, or before the keepers -of our castles, in whose bailiwicks the Jews resided. That the Jews, -wherever they are, may go whither they please, with their chattels, as -if they were our own chattels, nor may any man detain or hinder them. -And we ordain that they should be free throughout England and Normandy, -of all customs, tolls, and modiations of wines, just as much as our own -chattels are. And we command and order you to keep, defend, and protect -them; and we prohibit any one from impleading them in opposition to this -charter touching the things mentioned above, under pain of forfeiture, -as the charter of our father, King Henry the Second, did reasonably -command.”¹ - - ¹ See Appendix D. - -And as a particular encouragement to the English Jews, he granted, -moreover, by another charter, dated the same day, that all differences -among themselves, which did not concern the pleas of the crown, should -be heard and determined by their Rabbies, according to their own law: a -privilege which must have been of great importance to them, as the Jews -consider it strictly unlawful to go to judgment before Gentiles. - -In return for these charters, the Jews paid the sum of 4,000 marks. - -The Jews, encouraged by such extraordinary marks of respect and -kindness, fancied once more that they had found in England a home; and -great numbers began to come over from the Continent. The royal favour, -however, tended to excite the envy of their Gentile neighbours, who -began to accuse them again of various crimes, as crucifying children, -and falsifying the coin, &c. - -In the fourth year of this reign, a Jew, of Bedford, Bonefand by name, -was indicted for a crime of a very incredible nature; which alleged -crime, however, could not be proved, and the Jew was, therefore, -honourably acquitted.¹ - - ¹ See Appendix E. - -In the fifth year of this reign, the Jews were subjected to many ill -treatments and indignities from the citizens of London; but the king -still continued to show a desire of affording the Jews protection. They -petitioned him to interfere his authority, and obtain them security from -a recurrence of like grievances: whereupon he immediately wrote a sharp -letter to the mayor and barons of London, in which he told them that, -“as they knew the Jews were under his special protection, he wondered -that any ill had been suffered to come upon them;” and after committing -the Jews to their guard and protection, concluded with saying, that if -any fresh injuries should be allowed to befall them, he should require -their blood at the hands of the citizens.¹ - - ¹ See Appendix F. - -These measures of conciliation had the desired effect: the Jews, placing -reliance in the protection thus offered them by the king, again applied -themselves, with full confidence, to the acquirement of property; and -before ten years of this reign had passed away, their increasing wealth -rendered them capable of affording a rich harvest to the crown. When the -fickle tyrant found that this was the case, he did not any longer keep -the mask of kindness on his face: he began to throw aside the disguise -he had assumed, and by every means which lay in his power endeavoured -to reap the advantages which his policy had placed within his grasp. It -evidently appears that the reason he lavished so many privileges upon -them, was for the diabolical purpose of alluring them into his power, -that he might plunder and oppress them at pleasure. It was aptly said by -a French historian, that the Jews were used like sponges――allowed for a -time to suck up a large amount of wealth, which was wrung out into the -coffers of the crown. - -In the year 1210, he laid a tallage upon the Jews, of 66,000 marks, and -enforced payment by imprisonment, and by the infliction of various modes -of bodily torture. He commanded all the Jews of both sexes throughout -England to be imprisoned, till they would make a discovery of their -wealth, which he appointed officers to receive in every county, and -return to his exchequer. The generality of them had one eye put out. One -Jew of Bristol, who hesitated to pay the sum at which he was assessed -(no less than 10,300 marks of silver) is stated to have been condemned -to the cruelty of having one of his teeth torn from his head each -day, until he had discharged his quota. For seven days he submitted -to the torture: on the eighth day, having lost all his teeth but one, -he produced the amount demanded of him. Both these facts are briefly -noticed in the chronological table of Valentine’s Hebrew and English -Almanack. - -The many wars King John was engaged in about that time, pressed him very -hard for money. He not only waged war against France, Ireland, and Wales, -but also against his own barons. Money was indispensable, and the poor -Jews were the sufferers. - -The next year a further tallage was levied, in respect of which one -Jew alone paid 5,500 marks. In the sixteenth year of his reign, John -imposed another heavy tax, and compelled its payment by imprisonment and -other measures of violence. Some of the Jews of Southampton were rather -backward in their payments; they were ordered to be imprisoned and sent -to the castle at Bristol. - -Besides the sums which were thus raised upon the Jews by means of -taxes affecting their whole community, the king derived considerable -advantages from appropriating the property of individuals amongst them. -Was he desirous of making a handsome wedding-gift to any one? he did so -by sending the favoured party a full receipt of all the debts owed to -the poor Jew, as was the case with a certain Robert.¹ In some instances -he would seize upon their houses, and grant them away to other persons, -as was the case with Isaac of Norwich, who had a house in London, -which the king without ceremony presented to the Earl of Ferrars.² But -the mode which he more generally adopted to turn their acquisitions -to account, was to enter into agreements and compromises with their -debtors――either releasing in full the sum which was due, or discharging -the interest payable upon the amount. - - ¹ See Appendix G. - - ² See Appendix H. - -It would appear, that the right which the king thus assumed of treating -the debts due to the Jews as his own, although it brought considerable -advantage to the crown, was found, in some instances, to be grievous -in its effects to the people in general; it placed all persons who were -under engagements to the Jews, in the same situation as the debtors to -the king, and thereby subjected them to liabilities much more extensive -than those to which, in common cases, they would have been exposed. When, -therefore, the barons forced from King John the great charter of liberty, -they included in it two several clauses, which had for their object -the regulation of the claims in respect to these debts, and the twelfth -clause of Magna Charta declares――“If any one have borrowed anything of -the Jews, more or less, and dies before the debt be satisfied, there -shall be no interest paid for that debt, so long as the heir is under -age, of whomsoever he may hold; and if the debt fall into our hands, we -will take only the chattel mentioned in the charter or instrument.” The -thirteenth clause further declares, that “If any one shall be indebted -to the Jews, his wife shall have her dower, and pay nothing for the -debt; and if the deceased leave children under age, they shall have -necessaries provided for them, according to the tenement of the deceased, -and out of the residue the debts shall be paid, saving, however, the -service of the Lord.”¹ - - ¹ See Appendix I. - -The barons, who had assembled with the view of compelling the king to -grant this charter, collected part of their forces in London; and whilst -they remained there, imitated the king’s conduct, and broke into the -residences of the Jews, and pillaged them of whatever valuables they -could find; and then, pulling down the houses, carried the stones of -which they were built, and used them for the purpose of repairing the -walls of the city. About two hundred and sixty years ago, when Ludgate -was rebuilt and enlarged, a very large stone was discovered, with the -following Hebrew inscription――מצב ר׳ משה בן הרב ר׳ יצחק ח׳ ו׳――“The tombstone of -Rabbi Moses, the son of the Rabbi Isaac the wise and learned.”¹ - - ¹ The absurd criticism of Dr. Tovey on the above epitaph - has been already refuted by Dr. Jost. See _Geschichte der - Israeliten_, vol. vii., p. 405. - -There were some, however, in this reign who were interested in the -spiritual welfare of the poor persecuted Jews. The king himself was -indeed an infidel,¹ and cared for no religion, and loved no God but the -god of money, and therefore cared for nothing but the treasure of the -Jews. There was, however, a prior, Richard by name, of Bermondsey, who, -A.D. 1213, built a house for the reception of Christian Jews, and called -the building “The Hospital of Converts.” The prior did it in honour to -St. Thomas.² - - ¹ See Appendix K. - - ² It appears that there was an institution of that kind much - earlier in the city of Oxford. See Wood’s History of the - University of Oxford. - -The last act of King John towards the Jews was to employ them in -a barbarous deed, to execute which he could not compel any of his -Christian subjects. Having taken prisoners a great part of the Scotch -army at Berwick, who assisted the barons, he determined to inflict such -a variety of cruel and inhuman tortures upon them, that he could find -none except the Jews whose obedience he was able to command. The Jews in -the neighbourhood were, therefore, reluctantly obliged to become their -executioners. It is not to be supposed that the Jews lamented much his -decease, since even a modern Jew can yet exclaim, at the mention of his -name, “Thank God that there was only one King John!” - -When Henry the Third succeeded to the throne, he was only nine years -old; and owing to the impious and arbitrary conduct of the late king, -the country was in a state of general turbulence and discontent. It was -therefore fortunate for the Jews, in common with the nation at large, -that the administration of affairs, in the early years of this reign, -fell successively into the hands of men of distinguished ability and -virtue. The Earl of Pembroke, whilst by his talents and vigour he -reduced the disaffected to respect the power of the crown, reconciled -all ranks of men to his authority, by the equity and impartiality of -his measures. As soon as he entered on his exalted office, as guardian -to the youthful king, he adopted measures for the special relief and -protection of the poor persecuted Jews. Many individuals amongst them -were exonerated from burdens which had been previously imposed upon them; -and numbers were immediately liberated from imprisonments, to which, -upon various pretences, they had under the late king been condemned. -Writs and letters patent were issued, directed to the principal -burgesses of each of the towns where the Jews resided, viz., London, -Lincoln, York, Hereford, Worcester, Stamford, Bristol, Northampton, -Southampton, Winchester, Gloucester, Warwick, and Oxford, in all which -places great numbers of the Jews resided, commanding that they should -be held secure from any injuries, either to their persons or to their -properties; and particularly that they should be guarded against any -violence from the hands of the crusaders. In addition to these measures, -a confirmation of the charter they had obtained in the beginning of -the late reign was granted, by the terms of which it will be remembered -that most important privileges were granted them, and their estates -and persons were shielded from violence. At the same time with this -confirmation of their former charter, the Jews were further exempted -from the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical courts; and, to secure them -a more strict administration of justice, the judges who in the late -reign had presided over their affairs in the exchequer, and who had -shown themselves unworthy of their trust, were removed from their -office, and persons of character appointed in their place. Hubert de -Burgh, who, upon the death of the Earl of Pembroke succeeded him in the -chief direction of the government, was little inferior to him in the -wisdom and probity of his conduct. During the fifteen years that these -ministers continued in power, no instances are recorded of any acts -of violence having been offered to Jews; but we are, on the contrary, -informed that many unlooked for privileges were lavished upon them. In -conjunction with these measures, the sheriffs of the different places, -where the Jews resided, were directed to require that the Jews should -distinguish themselves by wearing, on all occasions, a particular mark -upon their clothes. The mark was to be attached to their upper garment, -and was to consist of two white tablets of linen or parchment, and -to be affixed to their breasts. Some historians wish to persuade us, -that although this order bore the appearance of being of a nature at -once degrading and oppressive, it had nevertheless been dictated by no -unkindly intention. And it has been remarked, that by making the Jews -thus plainly known from other persons, any one who offended against the -directions given for their protection, would be deprived of the excuse -they might otherwise have made, of being ignorant of their persons. This -certainly sounds plausible; but a critical reader of history will at -once discover that such a reason is a mere gloss. The real reason for -the enactment of that strange order seems to be, that the Jews should -be discernible in the eyes of the king, in order that when he wanted -money he should know where to find it without great search; for we are -informed by Dr. Tovey, that “the next year [of Henry’s reign], the king -being informed of his council that great profit would arise from the -Jews if they were kindly dealt with, sent forth the following writs -to the respective sheriffs and officers, commanding them to elect -twenty-four burgesses out of every town where the Jews resided in any -number, to watch carefully over them that they received no injury, and -particularly guard them against the insults of Jerusalem Pilgrims.” So -that, to my mind, it appears that the government after all watched more -jealously their purses than their persons! - -However, the protection which was thus extended to them again inspired -them with confidence: those who had survived the oppressions of the last -reign began afresh to accumulate wealth; and numbers of their nation -were induced to come over from the Continent, and settle in this country. -The new comers were at first treated with violence by the wardens of -the cinque ports where they landed. They were thrown into prison, and -pillaged of their effects. For though the policy of the government -towards the Jews had changed, the hatred and cupidity of the people in -general remained unabated. When, however, information was given at court -of the circumstance, relief was quickly afforded. Writs were issued to -the officers of the different ports, commanding that such Jews as had -been imprisoned should be set at liberty, and be allowed to live freely -and without restraint, upon consenting to enter their names upon the -Rolls of the Justices of the Jews, _and not to depart the country again -without permission!¹_ - - ¹ See Appendix L. - -The clergy, it would seem, took umbrage at the privileges which the -Jews enjoyed, and resolved to attempt, by an exercise of ecclesiastical -authority, to overbear the effects of the protection which had been -afforded by the measures of government. Stephen Langton, Archbishop -of Canterbury, in conjunction with Hugo de Velles, Bishop of Lincoln, -published a general prohibition, by which all persons were forbidden -to buy anything of the Jews, or to sell them any victuals or other -necessaries, or to have any communication with them; declaring, at the -same time, that they were persons, who, by the laws of the Church, were -excommunicated for their infidelity and usury. Indeed the ecclesiastics -had more cause to be jealous of them then than at any subsequent periods. -The Jews were then a more accomplished and enlightened race, than -centuries of feudal oppression had made them four or five hundred years -later. Benjamin of Tudela, the great Jewish traveller of the preceding -century, informs us, that every association of Jews in the more -important cities of Europe, had its college, or seminary, for training -men learned in their law: whilst on the other hand, Christians were -then groping in the darkness of superstition and ignorance. The laity, -and even the priesthood, were then, in point of enlightenment, as -far inferior to their descendants four hundred years later, as the -Jews were superior to theirs. In England, the balance of learning and -accomplishments decidedly preponderated in favour of the Jews, as I have -shown in the lecture before last.¹ There was a difference, too, in the -relative holds of the two religions upon the minds of their votaries. -Both rested upon one common basis――the Old Testament. The faith which -spiritualises the types and forms of that sacred volume was then -comparatively new in the island; many of its inhabitants had been pagans -only two or three centuries before, and were yet wavering in their faith. -On the other hand, the Jews were stronger in faith then than they are -now. The Jews were then a proselytising race: now they no more seek to -make converts than the Society of Friends. All which tended to excite -emulation on the part of the Church.² - - ¹ See p. 109. - - ² See Knight’s London. - -Stephen Langton issued, therefore, the following edict respecting the -Jews, at his provincial synod:―― - -“That the Jews do not keep Christian servants: and let the servants be -compelled by ecclesiastical censure to observe this, and the Jews by -canonical punishment, or by some extraordinary penalty contrived by the -diocesans. Let them not be permitted to build any more synagogues, but -be looked upon as debtors to the churches of the parishes wherein they -reside, as to tithes and offerings. - -“To prevent likewise the mixture of Jewish men and women with Christians -of each sex, we charge by authority of the general council, that the -Jews of both sexes wear a linen cloth, two inches broad and four fingers -long, of a different colour from their own clothes, on their upper -garment, before their breast; and that they be compelled to do this by -ecclesiastical censure. _And let them not presume to enter into any -church._” - -Alas, how little solicitous was the Christian Church in the middle ages -to bring the Jews to a knowledge of the truth! The above edict virtually -acknowledges the friendly disposition which pervaded the breasts of the -Jewish people towards their Christian neighbours; nay more, it virtually -maintains that the Jews desired to visit Christian places of worship, -but were forced back by Christian bishops. - -The Jews appealed to the crown for protection, and obtained relief. -Directions were sent to the sheriffs of the different counties and -cities, to prevent the prohibitions being enforced; and orders were -given to imprison all persons who, by reason of the commands of the -Church, refused to sell provisions to the Jews.¹ This edict of the -Church was published in the seventh year of this reign. - - ¹ See Appendix M. - -In the annals of the succeeding seven years, no mention is made of -the Jews, and we may therefore conclude that during that period they -were permitted to live free from persecution. They experienced marks -of liberality even from some of the clergy. We know an instance in -the conduct of the prior of Dunstable, who granted several of them -permission to reside within his jurisdiction, and to enjoy all the -privileges in common with the Gentiles, for the annual payment of -two silver spoons, each of which was to weigh twelve pennyweights.¹ -Unfortunately for them, as well as for the nation in general, the -conduct of public affairs assumed a different aspect; it was after -that time taken out of the hands of Hubert de Burgh, who till then -had continued in power, and was placed under the control of men whose -principles and motives were entirely opposite to those of that minister. -From henceforth the Jews, in place of the security they had previously -enjoyed, were subjected to continued violence and arbitrary exaction. - - ¹ See Appendix N. - -The English subjects began to murmur that too much favour had been shown -to the Jews, and consequently charged the king with indifference towards -the Christian religion. The king therefore, wishing to convince them -that he was zealous for Christianity, and thereby quiet the turbulent -minds of his subjects, determined to seize upon the whole effects of any -Jewish convert to Christianity.¹ It is a pleasing consideration, however, -that in spite of such a cruel and anti-Christian conduct, there were -some Jews of some celebrity in this country who hazarded every thing for -the sake of truth. We have an instance in a Jew of Canterbury, Augustin -by name, who about that time embraced Christianity. And the monkish -historians relate as an act of great kindness on the part of Henry, that -he was _actually_ graciously pleased to give him his house again to live -in, notwithstanding that he was converted.² - - ¹ A most impious custom practised by a great many Christian - monarchs of that period, who justified their infamous conduct - by a reference to Jesus’ command to the young ruler. - - ² See Appendix O. - -The change of feeling on the part of the government towards them, was -first manifested in the fourteenth year of this reign. In this year they -were compelled to give up a third part of their moveables to the crown. -Immediately after the imposition of this tax, the Jews in London were -subjected to another unexpected act of injustice and oppression. By -permission of the king, they had lately completed a synagogue, upon a -scale of great magnificence, which surpassed all the Christian churches -in architectural taste. No objection whatever was made to the work in -its progress; but as soon as it was finished, the king sent directions -to have it seized, and forthwith granted it to the brothers of St. -Anthony of Vienna, to be by them converted into a church. Dr. Jost, a -modern German Jewish historian, who has been often referred to during -these series of lectures, observes, “A folly into which all Jews at all -times suffered themselves to be misled by propitious circumstances; not -considering that this desire of vain self-exaltation stimulated jealousy, -and had the inevitable effect of bringing them down very low.”¹ - - ¹ “_Eine Thorheit, zu welcher die meisten Juden zu allen - Zeiten sich durch gunstige Umstande verleiten liessen, nicht - bedenkend, dass dieses auf Eitelkeit beruhende Sich-Erheben - den Neid erwecken und zu ihrem tiefem Sinken Anlass geben - musse._”――Geschichte der Israeliten, vol. vii., p. 140. - -About this time an Armenian bishop arrived in this country with letters -from the pope, in order to see some curious relics; and among other -things which he stated――for the truth of which I cannot vouch――he -related the extraordinary circumstance about the Wandering Jew; and as -at this time the old man is very much talked of, and you see in many -windows in large characters THE WANDERING JEW, I will just give you the -description the prelate gave of him, as it is recorded by Matthew Paris, -a contemporary monkish historian. He tells us seriously that “several -persons examined him about this wonderful Jew, and that the prelate -gave them his word that he was then living in Armenia; and an officer -of his retinue who came along with him, informed the examiners more -particularly, that this Jew had formerly been porter to Pontius Pilate, -and was called Cataphilus; and that standing by when our Saviour was -dragged out of the Judgment hall, he smote him upon the back: at which -Jesus being offended, turned about and said to him, ‘The Son of Man -will go, but thou shalt stay till he come again.’ That afterwards he was -converted to the Christian faith, baptized, and called Joseph, living to -be an hundred years old. But then growing sick and impotent, he fell one -day into a swoon; upon coming out of which he found himself young again, -and as vigorous as a man of thirty the age he was of when Christ was -crucified. The same officer assured them that his master was intimately -acquainted with this strange person, and dined with him not long before -he came into England; that he himself had seen him several times; that -he was a man of great seriousness and gravity, never laughing when -any questions were put to him concerning ancient history, such as the -resurrection of the dead bodies that came out of their sepulchres at the -time of the crucifixion, the apostles’ creed, and other circumstances -relating to those holy persons; that he was very fearful of Christ’s -coming to judge the world, for then he said he was to die; and that -he trembled whenever he called to mind the grievous crime of smiting -the Son of God, yet hoped for salvation, because it was a sin of -ignorance.”¹ A most fit person for examining old relics. - - ¹ A different account of a Wandering Jew was announced about - five centuries later, which I shall notice in the second - series. - -From this time scarce a year was allowed to pass without taxes to a -grievous amount being exacted. In the seventeenth year of this reign, -the king manifested great zeal for the Christian religion, by taxing the -Jews again to the amount of 18,000 marks of silver. - -These taxes were enforced by imprisonment, by seizing the property -and possessions of the Jews, and by taking from them their wives -and children; and punctuality of payment was secured by obliging the -richest of their community to become sureties for the rest, under -similar penalties. In addition to these tallages, extending to the -whole community of the Jews, the title which the crown claimed to their -property was continually enforced against individuals; and on every -succession of property they were constrained to pay fines, often most -exorbitant in amount, to the king, for permission to take possession of -it. - -However, the king was seized with a charitable fit this year, and -erected an institution for Jewish converts. The reason of that fit was, -to deliver his father’s soul from the flames of purgatory. Conscious, -as it were, that his father, by his cruel conduct towards the Jews, -deserved a larger share of punishment than any king before him: Henry -thought perhaps doing something for Jews would quench the purgatorial -fire a little. Most important was and is the existence of such an -institution or institutions, since the Jew who was convinced of the -truth of Christianity, experienced at the same time the loss of all -things besides. - -The following is the king’s charter:―― - -“The king to the archbishops, &c. greeting. Be it known that we, by the -institution of God, and for the safety of our soul, and of the souls of -our predecessors and of our heirs, have granted, and by this our charter -confirmed, for us and for our heirs to the house which we caused to be -built in the street which is called New-street, between the old and new -temple of London, for the maintenance of the converted brethren, and -those to be converted from Judaism to the Catholic faith, and for the -aid of the maintenance of these brethren that dwell in the said house, -the houses and lands which belonged to John Herberton, in London, and -are in our possession as forfeited (except the garden which belonged to -the said John in the aforesaid New-street, and which we granted formerly -by our charter to the venerable Father Rudolph, of Chichester, our -Chancellor), and all other forfeitures which in our time, by felony, or -from any other causes, will fall to us in our city, or in the suburbs -of our city, London. Wherefore we wish, and firmly enjoin for us and for -our heirs, that the aforesaid house have and hold freely, and quietly, -and in peace, for the maintenance of the converted brethren, and those -to be converted from Judaism to the Catholic faith, in aid for the -maintenance of these brethren that dwell in the same house, the houses -and lands which belonged to John Herberton, in London, and are in our -possession, as if our forfeiture (except the garden which belonged to -the same John in the aforesaid street, New-street, and which formerly -by our charter we granted to the venerable Father Rudolph, Bishop of -Chichester, our Chancellor), and all other forfeitures which in our time, -by felony, or from whatever other causes, will fall to us in our city, -or in the suburbs within the liberty of our city, London, as we have -beforesaid.”¹ - - ¹ See Appendix P. - -This is the first royal interest taken in the conversion of the Jews. -Individual cases were known earlier than Henry’s time, even in King -John’s time, as I have already stated in a former part of this lecture.¹ -Henry was no loser by this establishment; the house itself belonged to -a Jew, and he took, moreover, care to indemnify himself more than enough -by the exorbitant imposts he put upon the Jewish community from time to -time. I humbly venture to suggest that it would be quite a legitimate -thing to restore those revenues to the purposes for which they were -originally granted. - - ¹ See p. 193. - - - - - APPENDIX TO LECTURE IV. - - - A. - -Though the Mohammedan dominion began to be on the wane, in Spain, -during this century, the Jews held still high offices and enjoyed great -privileges there. Even the Christian powers, at least the political -rulers, were sensible of the benefit which this people imparted to the -country, not only as teachers of science, physicians, and ministers of -finance, but also by the vigour they excited in foreign and domestic -trade. A Jew was, in this century, fiscal general and treasurer of the -kingdom, Jahudano by name. The sovereign entrusted him with almost all -state negociations.――_See Finn’s Sephardim_, chap. xviii. - - - B. - -Rex omnibus fidelibus suis, et omnibus et Judæis et Anglis salutem. -Sciatis nos concessisse, et præsenti charta nostra confirmasse, Jacobo -Judæo de Londoniis Presbytero Judæorum, Presbyteratum omnium Judæorum -totius Angliae. Habendum et tenendum quamdiu vixerit, libere, et quiete -honorifice, et integre; ita quod nemo ei super hoc molestiam aliquam, -aut gravamen inferre præsumat. Quare volumus et firmiter præcipimus, -quod eidem Jacobo quoad vixerit, Presbyteratum Judæorum per totam -Angliam, garantetis, manuteneatis, et pacifice defendatis. Et si quis -ei super ea foris facere præsumpserit, id ei sine dilatione (salva -nobis emenda nostra de forisfactura nostra) emendare faciatis, tanquam -Dominico Judæo nostro, quem specialiter in servitio nostro retinuimus. -Prohibemus etiam ne de aliquo ad se pertinente ponatur in placitum, nisi -coram nobis, aut coram Capitali Justiciario nostro, sicut charta Regis -Richardi fratris nostri testatur. - -Teste S. Bathoniens. Episcopo, &c. Dat. per manum Huberti Cantuariensis -Archiepiscopi, Cancellarii nostri, apud Rothomagum 12. die Julii an. -Reg. nostr. primo. - - - C. - -Johannes Dei Gratia, &c. Omnibus fidelibus suis ad quos literæ præsentes -pervenerint tam ultra mare quam citra. Mandans vobis et præcipiens, -quatenus per quascunque villas et loca Jacobus Presbyter Judæorum, -_dilectus et familiaris noster_ transierit, ipsum salvo, et libere, cum -omnibus ad ipsum pertinentibus, transire, et conduci faciatis; nec ipsi -aliquod impedimentum, molestiam, aut gravamen fieri sustineatis, _plus -quam nobis ipsis_ et si quis ei, in aliquo, forisfacere præsumpserit, -id ei sine dilatione, emendari faciatis. - -Teste Willelmo di Marisco &c. Dat. per manum Hu. Cantuar. Archiep. -Cancellarii nostri apud Rothomagum 31. die Julii anno Reg. nostr. primo. - - - D. - -Johannes Dei gratia, &c. Sciatis nos consessisse omnibus Judæis Angliæ -et Normaniæ, libere et honorifice habere residentiam in terra nostra et -omnia illa de nobis tenenda quæ tenuerunt de Rege Henrico, avo patris -nostri; et omnia illa quæ modo rationabiliter tenent in terris et -feodis, et vadiis et akatis suis: et quod habeant omnes libertates, -et consuetudines suas, sicut eas habuerunt tempore prædicti Regis H. -avi patris nostri, melius et quietius et honorabilius. Et si querela -orta fuerit inter Christianum et Judæum, ille qui alium appellaverit -ad querelam suam dirationandam, habeat Testes, scilicet legitimum -Christianum et Judæum. Et si Judæus de querela sua breve habuerit, breve -suum erit ei testis. Et si Christianus habuerit querelam adversus Judæum, -sit Judicata per pares Judæi. Et cum Judæus obierit, non detineatur -corpus suum super terram, sed habeat hæres suus pecuniam suam et debita -sua, ita quod non inde disturbetur, si habuerit hæredem qui pro ipso -respondeat, et rectum faciat de debitis suis et de forisfacto suo. Et -liceat Judæis omnia quæ eis apportata fuerint, sine occasione accipere -et emere, exceptis illis quæ de ecclesiæ sunt et panno sanguinolento. Et -si Judæus ab aliquo appellatus fuerit sine teste, de illo appellatu erit -quietus solo Sacramento suo super librum suum, et de appellatu illarum -rerum quæ ad coronam nostram pertinent, similiter quietus erit solo -Sacramento suo super Rotulum suum. Et si inter Christianum et Judæum -fuerit dissentio de accommodatione alicujus pecuniæ, Judæus probabit -catallum suum et Christianus lucrum. Et liceat Judæo quiete vendere -vadium, postquam certum erit, eum illud unum annum, et unum diem -tenuisse. Et Judæi non intrabunt inplacitum, nisi coram nobis, aut -coram illis qui turres nostras custodierint, in quorum ballivis Judæi -manserint. Et ubicunque Judæi, fuerint, liceat eis ire ubicunque -voluerint, cum omnibus catallis eorum, sicut res nostræ propriæ; et -nulli liceat eas retinere, neque hoc eis prohibere. Et præcipimus -quod ipsi quieti sint per totam Angliam et Normaniam de omnibus -consuetudinibus et Theoloniis et modiatione vini _sicut nostrum proprium -catallum_. Et mandamus vobis et præcipimus quod eos custodiatis, et -defendatis, et manu teneatis, et prohibemus nequis contra Chartam istam -de hiis supredictis eos in placitum ponat super forisfacturam nostram; -sicut Charta Regis H. patris nostri rationabiliter testatur. Teste -T. Humf. filio Petri Com. Essex. Willielmi de Merescal. Com. de Pembr. -Henr. de Bohun Com. de Hereford. Robert de Turnham, Willielmo Brywer, -etc. Dat. per manum S. Well. Archidiac. apud Marleberg, decimo dei -Aprilis Anno Regni nostri secundo.――_Charta 2 John_, n. 49. - -The above gracious charter might well have been considered a fabrication -had the following one not been added soon. - -Judæi Angliæ dant Domino Regi M M M M. marc, pro Cartis suis -conformandis, et missæ fuerunt Cartæ Gaufrido filio Petri et Stephano -de Pertico, ut eas faciant legi coram se, et coram Dom. Londoniensi et -Norwicensi Episcopis, et cum acceperit securitatem de illis quatuor -mille marcis reddendis, tunc eis illas cartas coram prædictis liberet. -――_Oblata_ 2 Fo. M. 3. - - - E. - -The following original indictment will supply the curious with the -particulars of the accusation. - -Placita capta apud Bedeford, a die Sancti Michaelis, in tres sept. coram -Simon de Pateshal et Ric. de Faukenbrig et sociis suis, anno regni Regis -Johannis 4to rot. 5. in dorso. - - _Hundred de Clipton._ - -Robertus de Sutton appellat Bonefand Judæum de Bedeford, quod ipse in -pacem Domini Regis, et nequiter, fecit ementulari Ricardum nepotem suum, -unde obiit. Ita quod ipse fecit portari eum usque in Terram suam de -Hacton, quam ipse habet in vadio, et ibi obiit: et hoc offert probare. - -Et tunc Bonefand venit, et defendit totum, et offert Domino Regi unam -marcam pro habenda inquisitione, utrum sit inde culpabilis, vel non. - -Et Juratores inquisiti dicunt, quod non est culpabilis inde: et ideo -Bonefand sit quietus, et Robertus in misericordia, pro falso appello. - - - F. - -Rex, &c. Majori et Baronibus London. &c. Semper dileximus vos multum, -et jura et libertates vestras bene observari fecimus, unde credimus -vos nos specialiter diligere, et ea quæ ad honorem nostrum, et pacem et -tranquillitatem terræ nostræ eduntur, libenter velle præstare. Verum cum -sciatis, quod Judæi in speciali nostra protectione sint, miramur quod -Judæis in civitate London. morantibus, malum fieri sustinetis; cum id -manifeste sit contra pacem regni, et terræ nostræ tranquillitatem. Ita -quidem magis miramur et movemur, quia alii Judæi, per Angliam ubicunque -moram fecerunt, exceptis illis qui sunt in villa vestra in bona pace -consistunt. Nunc id tamen diximus pro Judæis nostris, pro pace nostra: -quia si cuidam tantum pacem nostram dedissimus, debet inviolabiliter -observari. De cætero autem, Judæos in civitate London. morantes, vestræ -committimus custodiæ, ut si quis eis malum facere attentaverit, vos -manu forti eis subsidium facientes, eos defendatis. Vestris enim manibus -eorum sanguinem requiremus, si forte per defectum vestri aliquid mali -eis acciderit, quod absit. Scimus enim bene quod per fatuos villæ, -et non per discretos, hujusmodi eveniunt; et debent discreti fatuorum -stultitiam compescere. - -Teste me ipso, apud Montem fortem, 29 die Julii.――_Pat. 5 Joh._ m. 7, -n. 18. - - - G. - -Rex omnibus, &c. Sciatis quod quietavimus Roberto filio Rogeri, tota -vita sua, de omnibus debitis Judæorum, Willielmi de Chesney, patris -Margaretæ, uxoris ejusdem Roberti; et præcipimus quod inde sit quietus, -tota vita sua, et in hujus rei testimonium, has literas nostras patentes, -ei fieri fecimus. - -Teste me ipso 19 die August.――_Pat. 10. Joh._ m. 5. - - - H. - -Rex Majori et Vicecom. London. &c. Sciatis quod dedimus dilecto, -et fideli nostro, Com. de Ferrariis, domum Isaac Judæi de Norw. &c. -in London. in parochia Sanctæ Margaretæ, cum redditibus et omnibus -pertinentiis suis, et cartam nostram ei modo fieri fecimus; ideo vobis -mandamus, quod, secundum tenorem ejusdem cartæ nostræ, ei sine dilatione -plenam seisinam habere faciatis. - -Teste me ipso apud Craneborn 8 die Julii.――_Claus. 15 Joh._ m. 3. - - - I. - -Si quis debitum mutuo acceperit aliquid a Judæis plus vel minus et -moriatur antequam debitum illud persolverit, debitum illud non usuret -quamdiu hæres fuerit infra ætatem, de quocunque tenet; et si debitum -illud inciderit in manus nostras, nos non capiemus nisi catallum -contentum in charta. Et si quis moriatur et debitum debuerit Judæis, -uxor eius habeat dotem suam et nil reddat de debito illo. Et si liberi -ipsius defuncti qui fuerunt infra ætatem remanserint, provindeantur -eis necessaria secundum tenementum quod fuerit defuncti; et de residuo -solvatur debitum; salvo tamen servitio Dominorum. - - - K. - -Mathew Paris furnishes us with an idea of King John’s religious -principles: he informs us that when John’s subjects saw no other way -of treating him but by taking up arms against him, whilst the former -appealed to the Pope, the latter appealed to Admirallus, King of Morocco, -a Mahometan, promising to surrender his crown and kingdom to him, and -hold them from him as his vassal; and likewise to renounce the Christian -religion, as vain; and faithfully to adhere to the Mahometan religion. -Admirallus rejected the offer with scorn. See also Prynne and Tovey. - - - L. - -Rex Custodibus Portuum Angliæ salutem. Præcipimus vobis quod Judæos -qui venturi sunt in terram nostram Angliæ, de transmarinis partibus, -ad morandum in terra nostra Angliæ, cum catallis suis, libere, et -sine impedimento in portu nostro accedere permittatis; accepta ab eis -sufficienti securitate, secundum legem Judæorum per fidem eorundem, -quod quam citius poterint, veniant ad justiciarios nostros ad custodiam -Judæorum assignatos, ad inrotulandum nomina eorum in rotulis nostris. Et -si aliquem Judæum, qui de partibus transmarinis venerit, sicut prædictum -est, retinueritis, ipsum, et catalla sua, sine dilatione, deliberari -faciatis. Si quos autem inveneritis Judæos de terra nostra, qui ad vos -venerint ad transfretandum usque ad partes transmarinas, sine literis -nostris de licentia transfretandi, ipsos cum catallis suis arrestari -faciatis, donec a nobis, vel a justiciariis nostris ad custodiam -Judæorum assignatis inde aliud mandatum habueritis. - -Teste Petro Winton, Episcopo, West. 13 die Novemb. an. Reg. nostr. -tertio. - - - M. - -Rex Vicecomiti Lincoln, et Majori Cantuariæ salutem. Ostenderunt nobis -Judæi nostri Lincolniæ quod ratione præcepti, Venerabilium Patrum -S. S. Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi, et Episcopi Lincoln, facti, de -Judæis, nequis eis victualia vendat, nec communionem habeat cum eis, -nec inveniant aliquem qui eis aliquid vendet: ideo vobis præcipimus quod -visis literis nostris, præcipi et clamari faciatis ex parte nostra, in -Balliva vestra, quod vendantur eis victulia. Et si quem inveneritis qui -deneget eis victulia et alia necessaria, in civitate Cantuariæ, et alibi, -illum capiatis, et corpus ejus salvo custodiatis, donec aliud mandatum -præcipimus. - -Teste Hugone de Burgo apud Westm. 10. die Novemb.――_Claus._ 7, H. 3, -pars 2, m. 29, dors. - - - N. - -Ricardus, Prior de Dunstaple, et totus ejusdem loci conventus. Sciatis -nos concessisse Flemengo Judæo de London. et Leoni filio suo, et suis, -et servientibus eorum, ire, et venire, et manere in villa de Dunstaple, -bene et in pace, quiete et honorifice. Concessimus etiam eisdem Flemeng. -et Leoni omnes libertates et liberas consuetudines villæ de Dunstaple, -sicut aliquis de hominibus nostris de villa eas melius et plenius habet. -Nec nos nec nostri impedimentum faciemus prædictis Judæis, quin lucrum -suum fideliter faciant in villa nostra, secundum consuetudinem Judæorum. -Et nos manutenebimus prædictos Judæos, et suos et eorum servientes, et -res suas in villa rationabiliter, sicut faceremus si de nobis tenerent. -Pro hac autem concessione nostra, dabit nobis prædictus Flemeng, quamdiu -ipse moram fecerit in Villa Dunstapliæ, singulis annis, duo coclearia -argentea; quorum utrumque duodecim denarios ponderabit. Si autem -prædictus Flemengus absens fuerit, prædictus Leo filius ejus eadem -coclearia eisdem terminis persolvet. Hæc autem concessio et conventio -tota vita prædictorum Judæorum durabit.――_Chartular. de Dunstaple_, -fol. 35, 6. - -Those Jews are reported, however, to have repaid the kindness of the -prior with base ingratitude; by bringing against him a forged bond. I -must confess, after examining all the evidences respecting the affair, I -am rather inclined to think that the bond was not forged, and, moreover, -that the generous prior was not a just one. - - - O. - -Mandatum est Vicecomiti de Kant. quod habere faciat Augustino converso, -quandam domum in Judaismo in Cant. quæ sua fuit, antequam ad fidem -converteretur; non obstante eo quod conversus est. - -Teste Rege apud Red. 17 die Januar.――_Claus._ 11, H. 3, m. 21. - - - P. - -Rex Archiepiscopis, &c. salutem. Sciatis nos intuitu Dei, et pro salute -animæ nostræ, et animarum antecessorum et hæredum nostrorum, concessisse, -et hac charta nostra confirmasse, pro nobis, et hæredibus nostris, -domui quam fundari fecimus in vico, qui vocatur New-street, inter -vetus Templum et novum, London. ad sustentationem fratrum conversorum, -et convertendorum, de Judaismo, ad fidem Catholicam, et in auxilium -sustentationis eorundum fratrum in eadem domo conversantium, domos, et -terras, quæ fuere Johannis Herbeton, in London, et sunt in manu nostra -tanquam eschæta nostra, (except. Gardino quod fuit ejusdem Johannis -in vico prædict. de New-street, et quod prius per chartam nostram -concessimus Venerabili Patri Radulpho Cicestrensi, Cancellario nostro), -et omnes alias eschætas quæ tempore nostro, per feloniam, vel quacunque -alia ex causa nobis accident, in civitate nostra, vel in suburbio -civitatis nostræ London. Quare volumus, et firmiter præcipimus, pro -nobis, et hæredibus nostris, quod prædicta domus habeat, et teneat, -libere, et quiete; bene, et in pace, ad sustentationem fratrum -conversorum, et convertendorum de Judaismo, ad fidem Catholicam, in -auxilium sustentationis eorundem fratrum, in eadem domo conversantium, -domos, et terras quæ fuerunt Johannis Herbeton, in London. et sunt in -manu nostra tanquam eschæta nostra, (excepto Gardino quod fuit ejusdem -Johannis, in vico prædicto de New-street, et quod prius per chartam -nostram concessimus Venerabili Patri Radulpho Cicestrensi Episcopo, -Cancellario nostro), et omnes alias eschætas, quæ tempore nostro per -feloniam, vel quacunque alia ex causa, nobis accident, in civitate -nostra, vel in suburbio, infra libertatem civitatis nostræ London. -sicut predictum est. - -Hiis testibus Venerabilibus Patribus W. Kaerl. et W. Exon. Episcopis, -H. De Burgo comite Kantiæ; Radulpho filio Nicolai, Godefrido de -Crancumbe, Johanne filio Philippi, Amaurico de sancto Aumundo; Willelmo -de Picheford, Galfrido de Cauz, et aliis. - -Dat. per manum Venerabilis Patris Radulphi, Cicestrensis Episcopi, -Cancellarii nostri, apud Westm. 19. die Aprilis. - - - - - LECTURE V. - - -IN my last Lecture I brought down the history of the Jews in this -country, to the year 1233, the seventeenth of the reign of Henry the -Third. You have heard, that as soon as the government of the country was -taken out of the hands of Hubert de Burgh, the Jews began to experience -very great persecutions and grievous exactions from the king, the most -acquisitive of all English monarchs.¹ They had indeed acquired great -wealth during the administrations of the Earl of Pembroke and Hubert de -Burgh; but they could as much enjoy that wealth as King Damocles the -celebrated banquet. They beheld amid their enormous affluence the sword -which was suspended over their heads by a single hair. - - ¹ A. Strickland. - -All sorts of ridiculous and base calumnies began to be invented against -them, in order to furnish a warrant for inflicting upon them fines, -extortions, imprisonment, banishments, and other unheard of cruelties. - -My Lecture this evening commences, as you perceive, by the syllabus in -your hands, with the sufferings of the Jews of Norwich――sufferings which -owe their existence to the venomous calumnies invented by Christians -in order to possess themselves of their Jewish neighbour’s wealth. -In the year 1235, a year when Henry was greatly in need of money, in -consequence of his great outlay on his sister Isabella’s marriage to -the emperor of Germany, as well as his own contemplated marriage with -Eleanor of Provence: poor Count Berenger having positively declined -giving the twenty thousand marks which the mean Henry asked as a dowry, -Henry must, therefore, have been very glad of getting an opportunity, be -it ever so foul, of extorting the required sum from the poor Jews. The -Jews of Norwich were at that time enormously rich. Seven of them were -therefore accused of circumcising a Christian child of that city, and -they were brought before the king himself, whilst he was celebrating his -nativity at Westminster. The poor Jews were condemned to be drawn and -hanged, and, of course, their property confiscated, and thus were the -king’s wants supplied for that time. - -You next perceive in the syllabus, briefly noticed, the famous trial -of Jacob of Norwich. The syllabus, however, can give you no idea of -the nature of that _in_famous process, or of the absurd charge which -originated that trial. - -In the year 1240, the afore-mentioned rich Jew was accused of stealing -a boy from his parents, and circumcising him. The monkish historians -tell us, that it proved a case of such difficulty, that the _postea_ -was thought proper to be returned to parliament. - -Parliament could not decide. Indeed, the strangeness of the accusation -would have puzzled any body of men to decide. Four years were allowed -to elapse before the charge was brought, and the principal witness -was a little boy, of about nine years of age, who stated that when he -was about five years old he was playing in a certain street; the Jews -allured him into the house of one Jacob, where they kept him a day -and a night, and then blindfolded him and circumcised him. Yet strange -to say, with his eyes blinded, and amidst the confusion of so painful -an operation, the youthful boy was able to notice several minute -particulars, which he narrated, but which certainly never had any -existence, inasmuch as the particulars he related to have taken place -after the circumcision, have no connexion with that rite. - -In addition to the boy’s unlikely story, there were no symptoms whatever -that witness ever underwent such an operation. Under such circumstances, -and with such unsatisfactory evidence, the poor Jews would, doubtless, -have been honourably acquitted. But as this calumny originated, in all -probability, with the ecclesiastics, they could not brook disappointment; -and contrived, therefore, to become accusers, witnesses, and judges -themselves. - -The bishops accordingly insisted upon the matter being tried in their -courts; and as soon as the charge was dismissed by parliament, as -incapable of being proved satisfactorily, the professing ministers -of Christianity, who stated that the boy was circumcised in derision -and contumely of their Lord and Master, determined to take the law -into their own hands. They maintained that such questions belonged -exclusively to the jurisdiction of the Church, and that the state had -no right to interfere. - -Baptism and circumcision, they argued, being matters of faith, the -ministers of that faith had, therefore, alone the right of deciding -cases of that kind. The poor Jews were therefore once more dragged -before a judge and jury who were most inimical to them, whose avaricious -affections were set on their hard-earned riches. One can easily guess -the result of the judgment seat, and the fate of the unfortunate Norwich -Jews. - -William Ralegh, Bishop of Norwich, acted as judge: the archdeacon and -the priests as witnesses, who deposed on oath that they saw the boy -immediately after he was circumcised, and that there were then all -the signs, that such an operation had been performed upon him. Why and -wherefore the archdeacon and priests kept it quiet so long; the judge -did neither ask nor care. How it came to pass that the signs had, in -the short space of four years, totally disappeared, the judge did not -investigate. A certain Maude also deposed, in confirmation of the charge, -that after the boy was taken home, the Jews called upon her to warn her -against giving him any swine’s flesh to eat. - -Four of the accused were condemned to be dragged by horses’ tails and to -be hanged.¹ How hateful must the ecclesiastics have rendered themselves -to the Jews! With what a despicable idea have they furnished the -Jews, of the Christian religion! Are we to be surprised that a Jew who -embraced Christianity, and received even holy orders, was induced to -return to Judaism, and to submit to suffer persecution with his brethren, -rather than countenance the religion of such men?² Is it to be wondered -at the paucity of Jews becoming the disciples of a religion, whose -professors were so devoid, not only of any religious feelings whatsoever, -but also of any human feelings? And shall we wonder that the Jew -who embraced Christianity in those days was so dreadfully hated, and -considered altogether such an one as his new co-religionists? - - ¹ See Appendix A. - - ² See Appendix B. - -The populace, who, as usual, only waited for an opportunity to rob and -plunder, as soon as the verdict was pronounced, set fire to the houses -of the Jews and reduced them to ashes; and so barefaced were those -murderers and robbers, that when the sheriff of Norfolk ventured to -interfere on behalf of the wretched Jews, they complained to the king -of the sheriff’s audacious interference. - -The Jews residing then in Newcastle-upon-Tyne were banished from that -place: we are not informed, however, of the cause of that cruel measure; -but simply in consequence of a petition of the inhabitants of that town, -who, in all probability, mortgaged their houses to the Jews, and by the -expulsion of their creditors from amongst them, hoped to rid themselves -of their debts, as no offence whatever is mentioned in the king’s -letter.¹ - - ¹ See Appendix C. - -The king began zealously to espouse the conduct of the Church towards -the Jews; and by royal proclamation prohibited Christian women from -entering into the service of Jews as nurses:¹ and the reason given for -this interdict is, that there was an universal custom among the Jews -of obliging their hired Christian nurses to abstain from nursing their -children for three days after Easter, lest the body and blood of Jesus -Christ――which all Christians in those Popish times were obliged to -receive at that holy festival――should by incorporation be transfused -into their children. - - ¹ See Appendix D. - -This abominable instance of blasphemy and folly emanated from the pen -of Pope Innocent the Third, in an epistle to the Bishop of Paris, in -a style unworthy of the polite English ear.¹ How inconsistent! The -Jews are first accused of little faith, or of total unbelief, and then -again of believing too much. The ridiculous reason would imply that the -Jews believed not only in the doctrine of Christ, but also in that of -antichrist, viz.: the doctrines of transubstantiation. If the Jews had -at all such a practice as above alluded to, it would have been because -of Easter generally occurring about the time of the Jewish passover; -and the fear of leaven being introduced into their dwellings, might have -induced them to have recourse to such an expedient. - - ¹ See Appendix E. - -The Christian inhabitants of Southampton, followed the example of those -of Newcastle, and petitioned the king to rid them also of the Jews, and -perhaps with them of their debts, which the king readily granted. - -The king’s continual want of money was a never ceasing torment to the -poor Jews, for when he could not obtain any money, to squander away, -from his barons and nobles, he fell upon the Jews and wrung out of them -whatever he wanted. - -When Eleanor’s two uncles came over to this country――one of which -having become primate of England, became also a great oppressor of -the Jews――Henry, out of complaisance to his consort, received and -entertained them with such magnificence, that, not knowing how to -support the charge by honest means, he sent word to the Jews, that -unless they presented him with twenty thousand marks, he would expel -them all the kingdom; and thus he supplied himself with money for his -unjust generosity.¹ - - ¹ A. ♦Strickland. M. Paris. Speed. - - ♦ ‘Stricland’ replaced with ‘Strickland’ - -The following circumstance is related by Dr. Tovey, on the authority of -Matthew Paris:―― - -“The next year [the nineteenth year of his reign], the king, keeping his -Christmas at Winchester, sent out writs to all his archbishops, bishops, -barons, abbotts, and priors, that, without any excuse, they should meet -him in parliament upon the octaves of Epiphany at Westminster, to treat -upon matters of the highest consequence. Whither, when they were all -come, William de Keele, the king’s secretary, stood up, and told them -he was commanded by the king to say, ‘that however ill his majesty -might have behaved himself hitherto, in being guided by foreigners, -he was determined to be so no longer; for they had cheated him of all -his money: and that therefore, as he intended for the future to have -no other counsellors but his natural born subjects, he hoped they would -give him a fresh supply.’ The manner of raising it, he said, was to -be left to themselves; and though the king was very necessitous in his -private circumstances, he was willing, if they thought proper, that the -money raised should be disposed of by their own commissioners to the -public advantage. At which speech the barons being greatly surprised, -made answer, that they had already given the king such large sums, -without receiving any return from him, either of good government or -affection, that they thought it inconsistent with their honours to -lay any further tax upon the people till they saw better occasion, and -therefore desired to be excused. - -“But the king, who was not so easily to be satisfied, insisting upon -the vast expenses he had been at lately, in marrying his sister to the -emperor (whose portion was three hundred thousand marks),¹ as also from -his own marriage; and likewise, swearing to take their advice in all -things for the future, and forsake his foreigners, they were prevailed -upon to grant him a thirtieth part of all their moveables; and the -clergy did the same. But as the money, by agreement, was not to be -disposed of without their privity and consent, and was, likewise, to -be deposited in some abbey, castle, or other place of security, and -not in his exchequer; the king, finding himself, in a great measure, -disappointed, was resolved to get money by some other means, which he -might call his own, and lavish away at pleasure. He, therefore, fell -to work again upon his Jewish mines, and extracted no less than ten -thousand marks――from the immediate payment whereof no Jew was to be -excused, but by the king’s especial writ.”² Ten of the richest Jews were -obliged to become security for the payment of this unreasonable demand. -Not that the Jews were unable at once to raise the required sum, but -they dared not appear as wealthy as they really were.³ - - ¹ All of which he expended on Eleanor’s coronation. - - ² See Appendix F. - - ³ See Dr. Jost. - -The wealth which the Jews have accumulated in this country must have -been enormously great; and the ten sureties must have been equal to -raise any sum, be it ever so large, if we may judge from the wealth of -individuals amongst them. From one, Aaron of York――who seems to have -supplied a great part of the necessities both of the king and queen――in -the short space of seven years, the king exacted upwards of 30,000 marks -of silver; and to the queen the same Jew also paid upwards of 200 marks -of gold.¹ Dr. Jost says, “that Aaron’s riches were immeasurable.”² The -same Aaron also entered into a compact with the king to pay him annually, -during the whole period of his life, the sum of one hundred marks, -in order to be free from taxes.³ Nor was Aaron the only one so gifted -with this world’s riches. We read of another Jew of Hereford, Hamon by -name, who must have been equally rich. We do not hear anything about him -during his life-time; but we read, that when he died――which took place -about two years prior to the above exaction――his daughter, Ursula, was -obliged to pay 5,000 marks for a relief.⁴ - - ¹ _Aurum Reginæ_, or queen gold, a due which the queens of - England were entitled to claim on every tenth mark paid to - the king, as voluntary fines for the royal good will. Eleanor - sometimes demanded it in a most unreasonable manner. _Tovey. - A. Strickland._ - - ² “_Sein Reichthum war unermesslich._” - - ³ “Considering the different values of money, this, I believe, - is as much as the richest nobleman pays at present.”――_Anglia - Judaica_, p. 108. - - “When we read or speak of any sum of money in our histories, - from the Saxon times to the year 1344, we are to consider it, - on an average, as about thrice the weight and value of the - like sum in our time.”――_Introduction to the History of - Commerce, by Anderson._ - - ⁴ “Though, by Magna Charta, the relief of an earl’s son, for - a whole county, was settled but at one hundred pounds; of a - baron’s heir, for a whole barony, at but one hundred marks; - and no more than one hundred shillings was to be paid for the - relief of a knight’s fee――all which were called the antiqua, - or accustomed reliefs of the kingdom.” - -In order to diminish the enormity of the incessant persecutions the -poor Jews were subject to, recourse was continually had to many mean and -unworthy acts of vilifying them. Some of them were imprisoned at Oxford, -under the pretence of having forcibly taken away a young Jew who had -been converted and baptized――a charge which, as it was unjustly grounded, -was properly opposed, and in which their innocence so plainly appeared, -that the king very soon after commanded them to be released. - -No offence was, indeed, too improbable to be laid to their charge. They -were even accused of plotting against the state, and of attempts to -overturn the government; but the most absurd accusation brought against -them was, that a party of them had collected together large quantities -of combustible materials at Northampton, for the purpose of employing -them in the destruction of London, by fire. Upon this incredible charge, -many Jews were burned alive, and their effects seized and delivered into -the king’s hands. Matthew Paris, who lived in this reign, and was an -eye-witness of the oppressions to which the Jews were subjected by the -crown, gives a distressing picture of their sufferings. He concludes -his account of the manner in which the king practised his extortions -with these words: _Non tamen abrando, vel excoriando sed eviscerando -extorsit.¹_ - - ¹ Matt. Paris, p. 831; Blunt, p. 42. - -To put a stop to the repeated calumnies which were brought against them, -as clippers and falsifiers of the coin, they came to the conclusion of -paying the king one hundred pounds, in order “that all Jews who should -be _lawfully_ convicted of clipping, robbery, or harbouring of clippers -or robbers, should be for ever banished the realm.”¹ - - ¹ See Appendix G. - -We must also notice the memorable _Parliamentum Judaicum_, which -occurred in the twenty-fifth year of Henry’s reign, A.D. 1240. Soon -after this public testimony of their loyalty, as citizens of the state -in which they lived, they were agreeably surprised at hearing that a -certain number of their nation were summoned to attend a parliament at -Worcester, in order, as the writ ran, “to treat with the king as well -concerning his own as their benefit.”¹ Many of them entertained the -most sanguine hopes that such an occurrence would terminate as much to -their honour as to their advantage.² But in this expectation they were -speedily and sorely disappointed; for the purport of his majesty’s most -gracious speech informed them that he wanted money, and that they must -raise, among their own people, twenty thousand marks, half of which -was to be paid at midsummer, and the other half at Michaelmas. This -peremptory command, however, they appeared unable to obey, although they -had the singular privilege of appointing their own collectors; but the -collectors were not able to raise the demanded sum; and the consequence -was, that themselves, their wives and children, were seized, and -incarcerated, and their goods and chattels were taken from them.³ - - ¹ See Appendix H. - - ² See Appendix I. - - ³ See Appendix J. - -Henry’s expedition against the King of France, two years afterwards, in -order to regain the provinces of Guienne and Poictou, was another reason -for demanding money from his Jewish subjects. You are, however, aware -that Henry was totally unsuccessful in that ill-advised expedition. -After which the king and the queen determined to spend a merry winter at -Bordeaux.¹ Whilst there the king became interested in a certain Jewish -convert, Martyn by name, whom he sent to this country with orders to the -Archbishop of York, whom he had left governor in England, and Walter de -Cantelupe, Bishop of Worcester, to provide some convenient place for the -well educating of the same Jewish convert, and to furnish him with the -means of subsistence.² The king seemed always kindly disposed towards -Jewish converts. - - ¹ A. Strickland. - -The Jewish Converts’ Institution, as a matter of course, must have been -full; and we find it, therefore, soon after augmented. It appears that -Peter Rupibus, Bishop of Winchester, had bequeathed a legacy of one -hundred pounds for the existing Jewish Converts’ Institution.¹ - - ¹ See Appendix K. - -From the following circumstance, it would seem that the converts -were expected to join their patrons in their railing accusations -against their unbelieving brethren. The poor converts found themselves, -therefore, very awkwardly situated, as will evidently appear to every -intelligent reader of the following occurrence. - -The Jews were again accused of crucifying a child. The story and the -made-up circumstances are so extraordinary, that I shall give you the -whole account, as given by Matthew Paris, and translated by William -Prynne, in his malicious Demurrer. - -“Anno 1244 in August, the corpse of a little male child was found buried -in the city of London, in whose thighs and arms, and under whose paps, -there was a regular inscription in Hebrew letters. To which spectacle -when as many resorted, admiring at it, and not knowing how to read -the letters, knowing that the letters were Hebrew, they called thither -converted Jews who inhabited the house which the king had founded in -London, that they as they loved their life or members, for the honour, -love, and fear of their Lord the King, without figment of falsehood, -might declare that writing. For the king’s bailiffs, and conservators of -the peace were present. They likewise believed, neither without cause, -that the Jews had either crucified that little child in obloquy and -contumely of Christ (which was related frequently to have happened) or -had afflicted him with sundry torments to crucify him, and when he had -given up the ghost, they had now cast him there, as unworthy the cross. -Moreover, there appeared in his body blue marks, and rents of rods, and -manifest signs and footsteps of some other torment. And when as those -converts were brought to read those things that were inscribed, and -studied that they might perfectly read them, they found the letters -deformed, and now not legible, being many ways disordered, and tossed -up and down, by reason of the extension and contraction of the skin and -flesh. But they found the name of the father and mother of the little -child, suppressing their surnames, and that the child was sold to the -Jews; but to whom, or to what end, they could not find. In the mean time, -certain of the London Jews took a secret and sudden flight, never to -return again, who by this very thing rendered themselves suspected. And -some affirmed, that the Lord had wrought miracles for the child. And -because it was found that the Jews at other times had perpetrated such -wickedness, and the holy bodies crucified had been solemnly received in -the Church, and likewise to have shined brightly with miracles, although -the prints of the five wounds appeared not in the hands and feet and -side of the said corpse, yet the canons of St. Paul took it violently -away, and solemnly buried it in their church, not far from the great -altar.” To the honour and credit of the then Jewish converts, let this -event be recorded, that though they were stimulated by the Christians to -accuse their unconverted brethren, by whom they were so violently hated, -they brought no accusation whatever against their enemies; and their -total silence respecting the charge of crucifying Christian children -should have convinced the dignitaries of the Church, that that charge -was nothing more but a base and false calumny. - -The king, after his return to England, found himself very much -impoverished, having lost his military chest, and his moveable chapel -royal, with all its rich plate, at the battle of Taillebourg. Henry -wishing, however, to celebrate the wedding of his brother Richard with -his sister-in-law, Sancha, in royal style, he called, therefore, upon -the poor Jews to furnish the funds for the splendid festivities. And -Aaron of York alone was compelled to pay no less than four thousand -marks of silver and four hundred marks of gold; and the Jews of London -were mulcted in like proportion.¹ He was still poor, and wanted more -money; he applied, therefore, to his parliament for it. They well -knew, that vast sums had been exacted by him from the Jews; the barons, -therefore, inquired, what became of all their money. The king did -not relish this sort of procedure on the part of those noblemen, and -appeared to refuse an answer to such an ill-timed query. The barons, -in order to be acquainted in future with his revenues derived from the -Jews, insisted on having one, at least, of the justices of the Jews -appointed by parliament. The king found himself obliged to acquiesce -in that bold proposal, and moreover to confirm it by charter. The Jews -were by no means sorry for this baronical step, for it afforded them -a little respite. For in return for the king’s consenting to the new -parliamentary measure, the barons were likewise obliged to yield to his -request, and supply his pecuniary wants, so that the Jews had peace from -him, during the whole of _that_ year. But it was only for _that_ year. -The next one was introduced with another demand. - - ¹ M. Paris; A. ♦Strickland. - - ♦ ‘Stricland’ replaced with ‘Strickland’ - -In consequence of the king’s again wanting money to meet the Welsh -incursions, the Jews were once more applied to and despoiled of, 10,000 -marks: transportation to Ireland was the punishment in case of refusal. - -Many families removed and hid themselves, fearing Ireland, as it would -seem, more than England;¹ so that the king had recourse to his father’s -measures, and issued a most cruel proclamation respecting their wives -and children: in which, orders were given to the justices appointed -for the protection of the Jews, that they should cause to be proclaimed -throughout all the counties of England, where the Jews were, that if a -Jewess, the wife of any Jew, or their children, fly, or take to flight, -or in any way skulk from the village where they were on the festival -of St. Andrew, in the twenty-ninth year of that reign, up to the year -following: so that if they did not promptly appear, at the summons of -the king, or of his bailiffs, in the bailiwicks in which they dwelt, -that the husband of that Jewess, and even the Jewess herself, and -all their children, shall be presently outlawed; and all their lands, -revenues, and all their chattels, shall come into the hands of the king, -and be sold, for the assistance of the king, and for the future, they -shall not return into the kingdom of England, without the king’s special -orders. - - ¹ It is a favourite boast on the part of many Irish Christians, - that their countrymen never persecuted the Jews. The above - incidental piece of information may account for it. - -Westminster Abbey was about this time rebuilt; and the Jews, who were -prohibited from entering any Christian place of worship, were at the -same time commanded to aid in the rebuilding and ornamenting of that -magnificent church. - -Lucretia, widow of David, a Jew of Oxford, was obliged to pay 2590 -pounds, which was devoted to that undertaking. - -Anderson tells us: “About this time, the beautiful and stately abbey -church of Westminster began to assume the venerable and majestic -appearance which it wears to this day, except the finely rebuilt north -front, reared on the ancient foundation, which is now strengthened and -new cased, where the stone had fallen to decay.” Maddox, in his “History -of Exchequer,” adds: “For this purpose, Henry grants and dedicates to -God and St. Edward, and the Church of Westminster for the re-edifying -of that fabrick, the sum of £2590, which he extracted from Lucretia, the -widow of David, a Jew of Oxford.” Upon which Hunter, in his “History of -London,” remarks: “It is amusing to reflect, that one of our noblest and -most ancient Christian structures owes its renovation and embellishment -to the Jewish nation.” - -There was a tallage laid upon the Jews, for that very purpose, which -went by the name of the Jews’ alms; which is evident from the following -passage in Prynne’s Demurrer: - -“In the 29th of Henry III. the king sends writs to his justices for the -custody of the Jews, and to his sheriffs to levy the debts due to him -from the heirs of Hamond the Jew of Hereford, and that Crespin, a Jew, -should pay him twenty-eight marks, to be laid out in silk and cloth of -gold for Westminster Church, _as his alms_.” - -The most uninteresting part of Jewish history in the annals of this -country, is that during the reign of Henry III. we can scarcely relate -any thing but it is closely connected with the uncontrollable avarice -of the British monarch, as well as that of his subjects. There is a -disagreeable sameness in those annals. I must once more relate, that -Henry extracted again 60,000 marks from the Jews, for which even the -monkish historians find no excuse. In order to keep their treasures -well supplied, usury was permitted to them by act of parliament, which -rendered them most odious in the opinions of their Gentile debtors, who, -generally, as soon as they incurred some large debt, began to scheme -their creditor’s destruction; and which was the means of branding -them with the unobliterable stigmas of “the usurious race,” and “money -brokers,” which polite Gentile writers indulge in even to this very -day.¹ - - ¹ Miss Strickland, in her popular work, “Lives of the Queens - of England,” seems to think such epithets quite elegant. See - vol. i., p. 354. - -Whilst treating of this subject, I think it proper to call your -attention to the pope’s usurers in this country, which will show that -the poor Jews got more of the name than of the gain. Their method was -extremely characteristic. - -The Jews were very much amused at it. Dr. Tovey, after expatiating -for some time on the usurious practice of the Jews, proceeds, “when -I said the Jews were the sole usurers of the kingdom, I meant to have -excepted the pope; for he, indeed, the pope, was wont to carry on -that infamous trade, in such a shameful manner, by the help of several -Italian merchants, called Caursini, that the Jews themselves might -have profited by his example. For though, according to the strict and -legal acceptation of the word, his contracts were not usurious, yet the -effects of them were the most unheard of usury. His method was this: -if a person wanted a sum of money, which he could not repay under six -months, he would lend it him for three, without any interest at all; -and then covenant to receive fifty per cent. for every month afterwards, -that it should remain unpaid. Now, in this case, said he, I am no usurer: -for I lent my money, absolutely without interest; and what I was to -receive afterwards was a contingency that might be defeated. A bond -of this kind, which surpasses every thing of modern invention, is -transmitted to us by Matthew Paris.” - -“To all that shall see this present writing, Thomas the prior, and -the convent of Barnwell wish health in the Lord. Know ye that we -have borrowed and received at London, for ourselves, profitably to be -expended for the affairs of our church, from Francisco and Gregorio, for -them and their partners, citizens and merchants of Millain, a hundred -and four marks of lawful money sterling, thirteen shillings and four -pence sterling being counted to every mark, which said one hundred and -four marks we promise to pay back on the feast of St. Peter ad vincula, -being the first day of August, at the new temple in London, in the -year 1235. And if the said money be not all paid, at the time and place -aforesaid, we bind ourselves to pay to the aforesaid merchants, or any -one of them, or their certain attorney, for every ten marks, forborn -two months, one mark of money, for recompense of damages, which the -aforesaid merchants may incur by the nonpayment of it; so that they -may lawfully demand both principal, damages, and expenses, as above -expressed, together with the expenses of one merchant, for himself, -horse, and servant, until such time as the aforesaid money be fully -satisfied. And for the payment of such principal, interest, damage, -and expenses, we oblige ourselves, our church, and successors, and all -our own goods and the goods of our church, moveable, or immoveable, -ecclesiastical, or temporal, which we have, or shall have, wheresoever -they shall be found, to the aforesaid merchants and their heirs. And do -further recognise, and acknowledge, that we possess, and hold the said -goods from the said merchants, by way of courtesy, until the premises be -fully satisfied. Renouncing also for ourselves and successors, all help -of canon, and civil law, all privileges, and clerkship, the epistle of -St. Adrian, all customs, statutes, lectures, indulgences, and privileges -obtained for the king of England, from the see apostolic, as also the -benefit of all appeal, or inhibition from the King of England; with -all other exceptions, whether real or personal, that may be objected, -against the validity of this instrument. All which things we promise -faithfully to observe, and in witness thereof have set to the seal of -our convent.――Dat. London, die quinto ELPHEGI [24 April.] An. Gratiæ -1235.” Matthew Paris adds――“When the Jews came to understand this -Christian way of preventing usury, they laughed very heartily.” - -The king made himself heir of the Jewish possessions, whether houses -or lands, which they should possess or purchase in this realm. Prynne -furnishes us with a clause of the original writ, wherein the king claims -to succeed to the Jewish property.¹ - - ¹ See Appendix L. - -It appears that in consequence of the incessant taxation of, and -continual display of ill will towards, the unhappy Jews, they began to -think that England would not remain their home much longer, and were -therefore careless about many things. Their cemetery was about that time -out of repair, and there was a disposition on the part of many to leave -it so; but it seems that their leaders, who were perhaps urged by the -king, insisted on having the burying place repaired, and determined to -compel every one to contribute towards it. To be able to carry their -intentions into effect, they applied to the king for permission to -excommunicate all such who should refuse to co-operate and assist in -the undertaking. The king turned this circumstance to his advantage, -and granted the required license, on the condition that the fines which -might arise out of the excommunications should go to him. - -An incident which occurred about this time, of a most awful nature, -furnishes us with an idea of the great animosity which the Jews -manifested towards the religion of their Gentile neighbours――I will not -call it Christianity――image-worship is its proper appellation. It would -seem that they displayed their hatred by treating the dumb Christian -idols with contempt; and any care taken of such an idol, inspired them -with murderous rage even against their nearest and dearest relations, as -the following narrativeshows.¹ The style is altogether popish. - - ¹ It is to be noticed, however, that the Jew here alluded to - was a most unprincipled man. His hatred did not arise out - of conviction that his religion was the only true one. It - is remarkable, that to this very day, the most ignorant and - wicked Jews are the most hostile to Christianity. - -“There was a certain rich Jew, having his abode and house at -Berkhamstede and Wallingford, Abraham by name, not in faith, who was -very dear to Earl Richard, who had a very beautiful wife, and faithful -to him, Flora by name. This Jew, that he might accumulate more disgrace -to Christ, caused the image of the Virgin Mary, decently carved and -painted, as the manner is, holding her son in her bosom, to be put in -an indecent place, and which is a great shame and ignominy to express, -blaspheming the image as if it had been the very virgin herself, threw -all sorts of dirt upon her, days and nights, and commanded his wife -to do the like. But Flora’s delicate feelings so much revolted at the -injunction, that she not only refused to be partner in the indecent act, -but secretly removed the filth from the image as often as it was covered. -Which when the Jew her husband had fully found out, he therefore privily -and impiously strangled the woman herself, though his wife.¹ But when -these wicked deeds were discovered, and made apparent, and proved by -his conviction, although other causes of death were not wanting, he was -thrust into the most loathsome castle of the Tower of London. Whence to -get his freedom, he most certainly promised that he would prove all the -Jews of England to have been most wicked traitors. And when as he was -greatly accused by almost all the Jews of England, and they endeavoured -to put him to death, Earl Richard interceded for him. Whereupon, the -Jews grievously accusing him both of the clipping of money and other -wickedness, offered Earl Richard a thousand marks, if he would not -protect him; which, notwithstanding, the earl refused, because he was -called his Jew. This Jew Abraham therefore gave the king seven hundred -marks, that he might be freed from perpetual imprisonment, to which he -was adjudged, the earl assisting him therein.” - - ¹ This most impious and wicked man, doubtless, thought he did - God service, and fulfilled a plain positive Mosaic precept, - namely, “If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, - or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, - which _is_ as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, - Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, - thou, nor thy fathers; _namely_, of the gods of the people - which _are_ round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from - thee, from the _one_ end of the earth even unto the _other_ - end of the earth; thou shalt not consent unto him, nor - hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither - shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: but thou - shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to - put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.” - (Deut. xiii. 6–9.) Poor Flora did not entice him to worship - the image. The whole Jewish congregation, therefore, justly - considered Abraham as a murderer, and worthy of death.” - -Whilst this Abraham was imprisoned, he promised to the king that if -his liberty were granted to him, he would discover to his majesty, his -brethren’s misdemeanors, stating that they had a great deal of wealth -concealed from the king. Accordingly, as soon as he was set free, -a royal search was instituted for all the Jewish estates, and was -conducted in the most barbarous manner, inasmuch as that unprincipled -Abraham went along with the commissioners appointed for that purpose, -and urged them to make diligent search, threatening them, if at all lax, -to inform against them to the king. This man proved to them a source of -immense trouble. It is a gratifying fact that no Jewish convert caused -them willingly any trouble whatever.¹ - - ¹ See p. 250. It is an unjust insinuation on the part of Mr. - Moses Samuel, in his “Address on the Position of the Jews in - Britain,” p. 27, that the Jewish converts――as he peevishly - calls them apostates――of that time were “breeding mischief - against the sons of Judea, and vituperating their holy - religion.” Oh, no, Mr. Samuel; the unconverted Jews breeded - mischief against each other, but not the converted ones. - -I am almost ashamed to proceed with my monotonous lecture. I have once -more to tell you that the king was in trouble for want of money. He -determined, once more, to see what the Jews could do for him. To begin -with, they were obliged to furnish the king with 5,000 marks previous -to his leaving for Gascony.¹ Whilst there, a match was made up between -Prince Edward and Eleanora of Castille. The intended marriage was -necessarily attended with extravagant expenses. The king, therefore, -commissioned his brother Richard to extort from the luckless Jews the -sum required for the nuptial festivities of his heir.² But Henry was -insatiable; he wanted more money, for which he applied first to the -barons, conjuring up a pitiable tale, viz., that he apprehended a -Spanish invasion. But the barons happily could refuse to be caught with -chaff, and therefore boldly confessed their unbelief, and declined to -give money. The king, therefore, commissioned his brother, once more, -to levy money from the Jews: and a very large sum it was. - - ¹ W. Prynne. - - ² “As soon as Henry received the glittering fruits of this - iniquity, he sent for Eleanor to assist him in squandering - it away in the light and vain expenses in which they mutually - delighted, and to grace with her presence the bridal of their - eldest son, Prince Edward. King Henry waited at Bourdeaux to - receive his son’s bride. He had prepared so grand a festival - for the reception of the young Infanta, that he expended 300, - 000 marks on her marriage-feast, to the indignation of his - English peers.”――_A. Strickland._ - -In vain did the Jews remonstrate against these accumulated oppressions; -their remonstrances were only met by a renewal of their hardships. In -vain did they pray for permission to depart from the country, in order -that they might seek an asylum in some other land; this alternative -was also denied them, and proclamations were issued forbidding any Jew -to leave England without the king’s license. Having failed to obtain -redress when sought in terms of humble supplication, they wanted not -the courage to enforce their complaints in language at once bold and -impressive. When the principal men amongst them had been summoned before -the Earl Richard of Cornwall, the king’s brother, and the council, -and were threatened with imprisonment and death, unless they forthwith -supplied the sum required of them, Elias, their senior rabbi, stood up, -and in the name of his brethren addressed the assembly in these words:―― - -“O noble lords, we see undoubtedly that our Lord the king purposeth to -destroy us from under heaven. We entreat, for God’s sake, that he give -us license and safe conduct to depart out of his kingdom, that we may -seek a mansion in some other land, and under a prince who bears some -bowels of mercy, and some stability of truth and faithfulness, and we -will depart, never to return again, leaving our household stuff and -houses behind us. But how can he spare us miserable Jews, who destroys -his own natural English? He hath people, yea, his own merchants, I say -not usurers, who by usurious contracts accumulate infinite heaps of -money. Let the king rely upon them, and gape after their emoluments. -Verily, they have supplanted us, which the king, however, dissembles to -know; extracting from us those things we cannot give him, although he -would pull out our eyes or cut our throats, when he had first taken off -our skins.” With so much feeling and sincerity was this address made, -that as the orator concluded it, a sudden faintness seized him, from -which he was with much difficulty recovered.¹ The application for leave -to quit this country was refused with as much courtesy and gentleness as -possible. The king’s brother, the Earl of Cornwall, knowing that their -removal would prove injurious to his money-sucking brother, replied to -Rabbi Elias’ application in the following words:――“The king, my brother, -is your loving prince, and ready at all times to oblige you, but in -this matter could not grant your request, because the king of France had -lately published a severe edict against Jews,² and no other Christian -country would receive you; by which means ye would be exposed to such -hardships and difficulties as would afflict the king, who had always -been tender of your welfare.” - - ¹ The king did not leave Rabbi Elias’ speech unresented; for the - following year, the king deprived him of the high office he - held amongst the Jews, without alleging any offence against - him. See Appendix M. - - ² See Appendix N. - -Next year, when the king and queen returned from Gascony to England, the -Jews had occasion to present a memorial to the king himself, in reply to -another unreasonable request, in which they thus addressed him:―― - -“Sir king, we see thou sparest neither Christians nor Jews, but -studiest with crafty excuses to impoverish all men. We have no hope of -respiration left us, the usurers of the pope have supplanted us. Permit -us to depart out of the kingdom with safe conduct, and we will seek -for ourselves such a mansion as we can, be it what it will.” “Although -we may admire the boldness,” observes Mr. Blunt, “with which the Jews -(notwithstanding their degraded and dependent situation) demanded relief -from their wrongs, it can in no way excite astonishment to find that the -language they employed had not the effect of procuring them the redress -which they claimed.” When the king received their memorial, and was -informed of the address to the council, he expressed himself in terms -of violent anger. The words which he used on the occasion are recorded: -――“Is it to be marvelled at,” he said, “that I covet money? It is a -horrible thing to imagine the debts wherein I am held bound. By the head -of God, they amount to the sum of 200,000 marks; and if I should say -300,000, I should not exceed the bounds of truth. I am deceived on every -side; I am a maimed and an abridged king――yea, now but half a king. -There is a necessity for me to have money, gotten from what place soever, -and by what means soever, and from whomsoever.”¹ - - ¹ Well might Henry say, “that it would be a greater act of - charity to bestow money on him, than on those who went from - door to door, begging alms.” M. Paris. A. Strickland. - -No time was lost in devising measures for procuring a supply, according -to the intention thus expressed. The Duke Richard proposed to provide -the king with the sum which was required, upon condition that the whole -of the Jews should be assigned over to him. The king consented to the -proposal, and forthwith, upon receiving the money, he sold the Jews to -the duke as a security for the sum advanced.¹ - - ¹ M. Paris; Maddox; Prynne; Tovey; Blunt. - -The Jews were again accused of crucifying a boy at Lincoln, Hugo by name, -eight years of age. They are reported to have first fattened the boy for -ten days with white bread and milk, in a secret chamber, and then sent -for the principal Jews from all the cities of England, and appointed one -to act as Pilate, others as the tormentors, and then re-enacted all the -indignities mentioned in Scripture; scourged him, cruelly crowned him -with thorns, fastened him to a cross, gave him gall to drink, and lastly, -when dead, pierced his side with a spear. To crown all, they took out -his bowels, as being particularly serviceable in their magic practices, -and then, that the matter might not be known to Christians, diligently -concealed the corpse. The earth, however, vomited forth the innocent -body, worthy of a more honourable sepulchre, and as often as the -Jews tried to bury it, it showed itself again next day above ground. -Terrified beyond measure, they threw it into a well, where the mother -at last found it. The master of the house was seized, and confessing the -whole matter, was tied to horses’ tails, and thus torn to pieces. Ninety -Jews were carried off in chains to London, and received due punishment. - -The whole story is thus related by Matthew Paris, and copied by Prynne -into his Demurrer, part first, pp. 29–32:―― - -“The same year, [_i.e._ when the king wanted so much money, and the Jews -began to remonstrate], about the feast of Peter and Paul, the Jews of -Lincoln stole a child called Hugo, being eight years old; and when as -they had nourished him in a certain most secret chamber, with milk and -other childish aliments, they sent to almost all the cities of England -wherein the Jews lived, that, in contempt and reproach of Jesus Christ, -they should be present at their sacrifice at Lincoln; for they had, as -they said, a certain child hid to be crucified. Whereupon many assembled -at Lincoln. And coming together, they appointed one Lincoln Jew for the -judge, as it were for Pilate. By whose judgment, by the consent of all, -the child is afflicted with sundry torments. He is whipped even unto -blood and lividness, crowned with thorns, wearied with spittings and -strickings; and moreover he is pricked by them all with poniards, made -to drink gall, derided with reproaches and blasphemies, and frequently -called by them with grinding teeth, Jesus the false prophet. And after -they had derided him in divers manners, they crucified him, and pierced -him with a spear to the heart. And when the child had given up the ghost, -they took down his body from the cross, and took the bowels out of his -corpse, for what end is unknown; but it was said it was to exercise -magical arts. The mother of the child diligently sought for her absent -son for some days, and it was told her by neighbours, that the last time -they saw her child whom she sought, he was playing with the children -of the Jews of his age, and entered into the house of a certain Jew. -Whereupon the woman suddenly entered that house, and saw the body of -her child cast into a certain pit. And having warily called the bailiffs -of the city together, the body was found and drawn forth, and there was -made a wonderful spectacle among the people. But the woman, mother of -the child, complaining and crying out, provoked all the citizens there -assembled together, to tears and sighs. There was then present at the -place John de Lexinton, a circumspect and discreet man, and moreover -elegantly learned, who said――‘we have sometimes heard that the Jews -have not feared to attempt such things in reproach of Jesus Christ, our -crucified Lord.’ And one Jew being apprehended――to wit, he into whose -house the child entered playing, and therefore more suspected than -the rest, he saith unto him, ‘O wretch, knowest thou not that speedy -destruction abides thee? All the gold of England will not suffice -for thy deliverance or redemption. Notwithstanding I will tell thee, -although unworthy, by what means thou mayest preserve thy life and -members, that thou mayest not be dismembered. I will save both to thee, -if thou dost not fear to discover to me whatsoever things are done in -this case, without falsehood.’ Whereupon the Jew, whose name was Copin, -believing he had thus found out a way of escape, answered, saying, -‘Sir John, if thou makest thy words good by thy deeds, I will reveal -wonderful things to thee.’ And the industry of Sir John animating and -exciting him thereto, the Jew said, ‘those things are true which the -Christians say. The Jews almost every year crucify one child, to the -injury and contumely of Jesus; but it is not found out every year, for -they do this secretly, and in hidden and most secret places. But this -child whom they call Hugo, our Jews have most unmercifully crucified, -and when he was dead, and they desired to hide him, being dead, he could -not be buried in the earth, nor hid. For the corpse of the innocent was -reputed unprofitable for divination, for he was unbowelled for that end. -And when in the morning it was thought to be buried, the earth brought -it forth, and vomited it out, and the body sometimes appeared inhuman, -whereupon the Jews abhorred it. At last it was cast headlong into a deep -pit; neither as yet could it be kept secret, for the importunate mother -diligently searching all things, at last showed to the bailiffs the body -she had found.’¹ But Sir John, notwithstanding this, kept the Jew bound -in chains. When these things were known to the canons of the church of -Lincoln, they requested the body to be given to them, which was granted; -and when it had been sufficiently viewed by an infinite company of -people, it was honourably buried in the church of Lincoln, as the corpse -of a most precious martyr. The Jews kept the child alive for ten days, -that being fed for so many days with milk, he might living suffer many -sorts of torments. When the king returned from the northern parts of -England, and was certified of the premises, he reprehended Sir John -that he had promised life and members to so flagitious a person, which -he could not give; for that blasphemer and homicide was worthy the -punishment of many sorts of death. And when as unavoidable judgment -was ready to be executed upon this offender, he said, ‘my death is -now approaching, neither can my Lord John preserve me, who am ready -to perish. I now relate the truth to you all. Almost all the Jews of -England consented to the death of this child, whereof the Jews are -accused; and almost out of every city in England wherein the Jews -inhabit, certain chosen persons were called together to the immolation -of that child, as to a Paschal sacrifice. And when as he had spoken -these things, together with other dotages, being tied to an horse’s tail -and drawn to the gallows, he was presented to the æreal Cacodæmons in -body and soul; and ninety-one other Jews, partakers of this wickedness, -being carried in carts to London, were there committed to prison. Who -if so be they were casually bewailed by any Christians, yet they were -deplored by the Caursini (the pope’s Italian usurers), their co-rivals, -with dry eyes. Afterwards, by the inquisition of the king’s justices, it -was discovered and found, that the Jews of England, by common counsel, -had slain the innocent child, punished for many days and crucified. -But after this, the mother of the said child constantly prosecuting -her appeal before the king against them for that iniquity, and such a -death, God, the Lord of revenges, rendered them a condign retribution, -according to their merits; for on St. Clement’s day, eighty-eight of -the richest and greatest Jews of the city of London [what a bountiful -harvest for the needy king], were drawn and hanged up in the air -upon new gibbets, especially prepared for that purpose; and more than -twenty-three others were reserved in the Tower of London to the like -judgment.”²,³ - - ¹ Contrast this again with the conduct of the converted Jews of - that time. - - ² “Lying wonders form as much a part of the stories concerning - the murdered children, as those which describe bleeding - crucifixes, or flying sacramental wafers. Contemporary - writers may be cited for the one set of facts as well as for - the other. The atrocious and murderous lies which envelope - this charge of using blood, give us strong reason for - suspecting, that it is as devoid of truth, as calumnious, - and as devilish as those image and wafer stories, by means of - which so many thousands of unhappy Israelites were put to the - sword, whose blood still cries to heaven for vengeance.”... - - “The mere recital of these follies shows that they are - the offspring of an unenlightened imagination, if not the - invention of a malignant heart. - - “The total absence of all credible testimony compels us - to refuse our belief. The only evidence to be had is that - extracted from the victims of the torture. But that mode of - examination would have made the same persons confess that - they were metempsychoses of Judas Iscariot or Pontius Pilate, - that they had caused the ruinous convulsions of an earthquake - or the devastations of the cholera morbus.”――_Dr. M‘Caul’s - Reasons for believing that the Charge lately revived against - the Jewish People is a baseless Falsehood_, pp. 16, 24. - - ³ See Appendix O. - -Earl Richard, having obtained his election as successor to the Emperor -of Germany, he named himself King of the Romans. This exaltation had -no favourable effect upon the unfortunate Jews. Tyranny and cruelty -seem to have been the predominant features of royalty in those dark -ages. He caused them to be arrested, and would not accept of any bail. -The attorneys he employed were Jews, and in all probability of very -indifferent characters――such as his favourite Abraham, the murderer of -his own wife――who made, no effort to alleviate the oppression of their -suffering brethren; perhaps helped forward their affliction by telling -the Roman king they could raise the money at once, if made to do it. - -There can be no doubt that the Jews had then able judges and lawyers of -their own, and whom the king’s court considered competent to decide all -sorts of questions, spiritual as well as temporal. This circumstance -annoyed the ecclesiastics not a little, which they did not fail to -resent. - -The prelates began to complain that the Jews were protected by the -king’s courts. Alas, for the protection! Boniface, the primate, who was -honoured with the well-merited appellations of “this ruffian, this cruel -smiter ... no winner of souls, but an exacter of money,”¹ convened a -provincial synod, in which the prelates enacted several severe and cruel -edicts respecting the Jews, which are the following:―― - - ¹ M. Paris. A. Strickland. - -“That because ecclesiastical judicature is confounded, and the office of -prelates obstructed, when a Jew offending against ecclesiastical persons -and things is convicted of these or other matters, which belong to the -ecclesiastical court of pure right, and yet is not permitted by the -king’s sheriffs or bailiffs to stand to the ecclesiastical law, but -is rather forced to betake himself to the king’s court; therefore all -such Jews shall be driven to make answer, in such cases, before a judge -ecclesiastical, by being forbidden to traffic, contract, or converse -with the faithful: and they who forbid and obstruct them, and distress -judges and others on this account, shall be coerced by the sentences of -excommunication and interdict.” - -This primate――“elected by female intrigue”――proved a great source of -trouble and virulent persecution to the poor Jews. He being uncle to -Queen Eleanor――who, in fact, was the sole monarch of England, and even -of her husband――had, as a matter of course, great influence with the -king. Henry, therefore, though he opposed the decrees of the Church -against the Jews during Stephen Langton’s primacy, as you heard on -Friday evening last, entirely concurred with the Church in persecuting -the Jews during the ♦administration of Boniface. - - ♦ ‘administraton’ replaced with ‘administration’ - -Accordingly, by an edict enacted in the thirty-seventh year of this -reign, Henry sanctioned Stephen Langton’s decrees; and it was ordained -that “no Jew should remain in England who did not render service to the -king; that there should be no schools for Jews, except in places where -they were wont to be of old; that, in their synagogues, all Jews should -pray in a low voice, according to the rites of their religion, so that -Christians might not hear them; that every Jew should be answerable to -the rector of his parish for parochial dues, chargeable on his house; -that no Christian woman should suckle or nurse the child of a Jew, nor -any Christian serve a Jew, eat with them, nor abide in their houses; -that no Jew or Jewess should eat meat in Lent, or detract from the -Christian faith; that no Jew should associate with a Christian woman, -nor any Christian man with a Jewess; that every Jew should wear a badge -on his breast, and should not enter into any church or chapel, except in -passing to and fro, and then should not stay there, to the dishonour of -Christ. That no Jew should hinder any other who was desirous to embrace -the Christian faith. That they should not abide in any town without the -king’s special license, save in places where they were formerly wont to -reside.” On offending against any of these provisions, their properties -were to be immediately seized. - -In the year 1261, unfortunately for the Jews, died the queen’s sister, -Sancha, Countess of Cornwall and Queen of the Romans, for whom the king -and queen made great lamentations, and gave her a magnificent funeral.¹ -As usual, the poor Jews had to supply the needful, for the king ordered -that new inventories should be made of all their lands, tenements, -debts, ready money, plate, jewels, and household stuff. The king’s -commissioners were to be assisted in their strict search by all sheriffs, -constables of castles, mayors, &c. - - ¹ A. Strickland. - -The king’s opposition to the barons proved a twofold scourge to the -oppressed Jews. He took away their money, in order to be able to -continue his opposition to the barons; whilst the barons took away -their lives, with the remainder of their wealth, for yielding to the -intolerable pressure of that covetous monarch. It was, therefore, a -cause of joy to the Hebrew congregations, that a truce was established -between the sovereign and his barons, and that the former was prevailed -upon to sign an amicable arrangement with the latter, by which he bound -himself to confirm the provisions of Oxford. Henry, however, was not -a man to abide any length of time by any agreement, and as a matter of -course refused to adhere to the rules of the compact, under the pretence -that his consent and signature were extorted from him. He withdrew to -the tower of London. The offended barons unexpectedly entered the city, -eager for plunder and athirst for blood, raised first a dreadful uproar -there against the luckless Jews, which was the prelude to a personal -attack upon the queen, the most unpopular of all the queens of England. -The following are the particular details of this tumult, as related by -Agnes Strickland, copied from T. Wikes, a contemporary chronicler:――“At -the sound of St. Paul’s great bell, a numerous mob sallied forth, led -on by Stephen Buckrell, the marshal of London, and John Fitz-John, a -powerful baron. They killed and plundered many of the wretched people, -without mercy. The ferocious leader, John Fitz-John, ran through with -his sword, in cold blood, Kokben Abraham, the wealthiest Hebrew resident -in London. Besides plundering and killing five hundred¹ of this devoted -race, the mob turned the rest out of their beds, undressed as they -were, keeping them so the whole night.” During which catastrophe, a -newly-erected synagogue was reduced to ashes. - - ¹ Others have seven hundred. - -The oppressions exercised towards the Jews by the king, rendered them -obnoxious to the inhabitants of the places where they resided. The -continual exactions to which they were subjected had necessarily the -effect of withdrawing large sums from the towns of their abode; and it -could not fail, sooner or later, to be discovered that though the tax, -in the first instance, fell upon the Jews alone, yet that eventually the -wealth of the neighbourhood was thereby considerably diminished. It was, -it is probable, partly with a view to this consequence, that many towns -obtained, during the present reign, from the king, charters or writs, -directing that no Jews should reside within their walls. Charters or -writs to this effect were granted to the towns of Newcastle, Derby, -Southampton, as you have already heard, Wycomb, Newbery, and to other -places; and the Jews were forced to remove with their families and -effects. It would have been happy for the Jews, if the necessity of -changing the places of their residence had been the only hardship to -which, through the popular feeling, they were exposed. In many parts of -the country, the people treated them with open violence; charges of the -wildest description were raised against them, and made excuses for the -exercise of every species of cruelty and extortion; tumults were excited; -their houses were pillaged and burned; and hundreds fell victims to the -frenzy of the populace. At Norwich, on the occasion of some Jews being -executed upon a charge of having stolen a Christian child, which you -have already heard, the citizens broke into the houses of the Jews there, -and stripped them, and then setting fire to them, burned them to the -ground. At Canterbury, the Jews were subjected to a similar violence, -the immediate cause of which is not mentioned; but it is stated, that -the clergy there did not scruple to encourage the outrage, and to take -an active part with the mob on the occasion. At Oxford, the scholars of -the university, having upon some pretext picked a quarrel with the Jews, -broke into their houses and pillaged them of their property.¹ - - ¹ Prynne; Tovey; J. E. Blunt. - -When Prince Edward returned from his victorious campaign in Wales, -he was so poor that he could not pay the arrears which he owed to the -troops, and unwilling to disband men whom he foresaw his father’s cause -would require, the king fixed on the expedient of presenting him with -the Jews――the king of the Romans must have got, by this, all he wanted -from them¹――with a new privilege, viz., that of having all writs of -judicature, which had been formerly sealed by the justices of the Jews, -sealed by the chancellor of the exchequer, the profits of which were -to be paid to the prince. Edward, however, did not keep them long in -his grasp; being in want at once of ready cash, he assigned them with -his father’s consent and signature, for two years to the Catercensian -merchants. No more did the latter keep them long, for Edward was soon -after accused of a conspiracy against his father; the king therefore -seized upon the Jews――a trick of olden times in royal trade. - - ¹ See p. 282. - -The battle of Lewes is another melancholy memorable event in the -history of the Jews in this country. This battle, as all of you must be -aware, terminated in the complete discomfiture of the king’s party. The -common people being disbanded and out of employment, betook themselves -to persecute the unfortunate Jews. They pretended that that people -conspired with the king’s party to destroy the barons and the good -citizens of London; which they thought gave them a right to plunder that -defenceless people wherever they were found. They began with London, and -the conduct of the metropolitans was soon followed by the inhabitants -of other places. Lincoln, Northampton, Canterbury, and many other towns -in the kingdom became the scenes of plunder and persecution. The London -Jews were placed in imminent danger, and in all probability, those who -survived the massacre of Montfort and John Fitz-John, would have shared -the fate of their five hundred, or seven hundred, brethren, who perished -there. But the constable of the tower opened the gates, to afford them a -timely refuge. - -The king, in conjunction with the barons, endeavoured to quell these -riots, and issued letters patent to the mayor and sheriffs of London, -and to the persons put under authority in all those places where -outrages were committed, to suppress all sorts of disorders; and as -peace had been established throughout the kingdom, the Jews should share -in that peace. A proclamation was therefore to be published, for the -Jews to return peaceably to their homes. Few, indeed, must have been -the number who found homes. It was also announced that any molestation -offered to the Jews would subject the offender to the danger of life and -limb. - -The king, being anxious to procure for himself the services of his -friends, after his disastrous differences with his Gentile subjects, -resolved to do so at the expense of his Jewish ones. He remitted the -interest money which was owing to them from several of his friends. -So that, though they were permitted to return to their homes, they -had well nigh been deprived of any means of subsistence in those homes. -Parliament, however, soon met, and enacted that their houses, goods, -and chattels should be restored to them in the same condition they were -in before the battle of Lewes. The Jews, therefore, enjoyed comparative -tranquillity for the period of four years, since that meeting of -parliament. They agreed to pay £1000, to be free from taxes during that -period; under the proviso, however, that neither the king nor the prince -should undertake any crusade during that time: and some few had even -great favours bestowed upon them, especially those who rendered the -king effectual service in his distresses. Yet was their tranquillity -only comparative; they were by no means universally exempt from trouble -and annoyance, and individuals were subject to grievous calumnies and -accusations, as was the case with the Jews of Lincoln during that period. - -The dean and chapter of that city would not pay their debts; they -contrived to accuse their Jewish creditor of forging a bond. It is a -faithful picture of the English of those days, “that when churchmen and -laymen, prince and prior, knight and priest, come knocking at Isaac’s -door, they borrow not his shekels with these uncivil terms. It is then, -Friend Isaac, will you pleasure us in this matter, and our day shall be -truly kept, so God save me?――and kind Isaac, if ever you served a man, -show yourself a friend in this need. And when the day comes and I ask -my own, then what hear I, but the curse of Egypt on your tribe, and all -that may stir up the rude and uncivil populace against poor strangers.”¹ - - ¹ Sir Walter Scott. - -The Jews in Oxford for a long time seem, upon the whole, to have been -more prosperous than their brethren in many other places. You have heard -that they had schools and seminaries there at an early period of their -history in England.¹ Their occupation there seems to have been almost -altogether in the literary line, so that we do not find any documents -respecting forged bonds. The Jews have always appreciated learning very -much and encouraged it. We read of individuals selling some land at -a very low rate indeed, for the erection of an institution for that -purpose. The celebrated Sir Walter de Merton, the founder of a college -in Oxford bearing his name, purchased a site from a Jew, as appears from -a deed in the college treasury.² - - ¹ See pp. 87, 109. - - ² See Appendix P. - -Yet they were now and then subject to some accusations: for instance, -we learn from a writ of release, and which has been alluded to already, -that several Jews in that city were imprisoned on a charge brought -against them of taking away a boy belonging to a Jewish convert, and -concealing him. However, it proved a false alarm, the child was soon -found; the prisoners were therefore forthwith released.¹ - - ¹ See Appendix Q. - -Prynne briefly notices an investigation respecting the murder of a -certain Jew there, Jacob by name.¹ - - ¹ See Appendix R. - -The university, however, was at that time very badly off for a nice -elegant cross; they had no means of erecting it. The authorities -therefore ingeniously contrived to make the Jews erect one for them. -One of them was, therefore accused of having, on Ascension Day――whilst -the chancellor, masters, and scholars of the university were walking in -solemn procession to visit the sainted reliques of Frideswide, bearing -the cross before them――snatched the cross――a _wooden_ one――from its -bearer, and trodden it under his feet in contempt of Christ. A very -likely story!¹ - - ¹ Judging from the Popish customs still existing in the - countries where that religion is national, I should say that - certainly no Jew was permitted to appear in the street during - that or any similar procession-day, as is the case to this - day in Poland, and other Roman Catholic countries. A Jew, - in all probability, ventured out at that time, and thus gave - his enemies an opportunity to fabricate the above adventure, - which ended in the erection of a splendid cross by its - enemies. - -Strict search was made after the culprit, but in vain. Of course, there -was evidently no culprit to find; if there were, he could not possibly -have escaped, as no Jew was allowed to travel from place to place -without especial license. - -All those, therefore, who could be found within the city, were seized, -and imprisoned until they had provided sufficient funds for the erection -of a cross of white marble, with golden figures of the Virgin and Jesus -Christ, and also a rich silver cross, to be carried before the masters -and scholars of the university, in their processions. The marble cross -was placed in Merton College, and the silver one entrusted to the -Fellows of that society. The large marble cross appears to have existed -till Henry the Sixth, according to John Ross, a contemporary antiquary, -who copied from it, just before it was destroyed, the following -inscription:―― - -“Quis meus author erat? Judæi. Quomodo? Sumptu. Quis jussit? Regnans. -Quo procurante? Magistris. Cur? Cruce pro fractu LIGNI. Quo tempore? -Festo Ascensus Domini. Quis erat locus? Hic ubi sisto.” - -At Brentford, the people rose up against the Jews, and robbed them -of whatever goods they could lay their hands upon. On this occasion, -forty-five of the principal actors in the outrage were apprehended by -the authorities of the place. The whole of these were, however, shortly -after liberated, upon the intervention of the Bishop of Lincoln, because -it was maintained that no man could impeach them of any crime or breach -of the peace. - -After the battle of Eversham, when the rebel barons had assembled an -army in the eastern counties, they marched a part of their forces to -Lincoln, broke into the houses of the Jews, and plundered them of their -wealth; then making an excursion to Cambridge, they committed a similar -outrage, and carrying away with them the richest of the Jews, forced -them to pay heavy ransoms for their liberation. These and many other -acts of oppression and cruelty were inflicted upon the Jews by the -populace. - -The conduct of the people was the natural result of the unrestrained -extortions practised by the crown. The daily occurrence of these -extortions led the populace to regard the Jews as persons who were not -within the usual protection of the law, and they therefore considered it -no crime to enrich themselves at the expense of those unfortunate people. -But though the king did not hesitate to oppress the Jews himself, yet he -had good reasons for shielding them against the violence and extortions -of his subjects. He considered the Jews and all they possessed as his -own peculiar property, and he consequently looked upon every act by -which they were impoverished, as withdrawing so much from his own wealth. -Measures were therefore taken to prevent a continuance of the outrages -of the people; and directions were issued to twenty-six of the principal -inhabitants of the towns where the Jews resided,¹ to protect them from -any further acts of violence, under heavy penalties for disobedience.² - - ¹ Dr. Jost observes, how great must their danger have been, - since twenty-six burgesses in each town were necessary to - protect them. - - ² See Appendix S. - -The Jews seem to have been treated by that monarch exactly as slaves, -and were presented as gifts to his children. Prince Edmund was presented -with a rich Jew, Aaron. As it happened, however, Aaron was not the -worse off on that account; for Edmund does not seem to have inherited -much of the avarice and rapacity either of his father or mother. This -Jew, therefore, fared far better than many of his brethren. He was -enfranchised altogether by that prince for the trifling remuneration of -an annual pair of gilt spurs,¹ and had, moreover, the peculiar liberty -of residing wherever he liked in any part of the kingdom. There were -several others who were favoured with the king’s countenance; for -instance, Cressey and two other Jews of London were freed, by the -intercession of the king of the Romans, from all sorts of tallages, for -the space of five years, for the trifling remuneration of one mark and a -half of gold, to be paid by each of them annually. And also to a certain -Jacob le Eveske, by the interference of the queen, an exemption was -conceded from all sorts of tributes and taxes all his life-time; and the -same privilege to his son Benedict after his father Jacob’s death. A few -other instances of that kind are adduced by Prynne. - - ¹ See Appendix T. - -However, the favour bestowed on individuals had only the effect of -exciting the odium of the populace against the whole community, and -thus kindled the flame of persecution in the breasts of the British -Christians to an incredible pitch. In fact, they first pretended that -the crown lavished too many favours on the Hebrews, and then maintained -that the king was not a good Christian in consequence; till they wrought -him up to the pitch they aimed at. Eleanor even, who was as unprincipled -a plunderer of the Jews as the king himself, whenever an opportunity -occurred, was also accused of patronizing them, simply because it was -supposed that when Eleanor was married to Henry, a great number of Jews -followed her to this country, hoping to experience the same favour they -enjoyed in her paternal country. All these pretences pressed heavily -upon the poor Jews. New cruel enactments were devised against them; -and the king was obliged to sanction them, in order to retain the -pretensions to the name Christian. Cruelty to the Jews seems, then, -to have been an infallible feature of a good Christian. Thus, in the -fifty-first year of this reign, when the statute of Pillory passed, -it was enacted, amongst other things, that “no person should purchase -flesh of a Jew.” “The regulations of these statutes,” says Mr. Blunt, -“had reference principally to the conduct of the Jews, and to their -intercourse with the Christians.” If their fury went no further, the -Jews would have had no reason to be sorry; for truth to speak, the less -intercourse the Jews had with _those_ Christians, the safer they were. -But the people did not stop here. Indeed, there were circumstances -arising out of the authority claimed by the crown over the Jews, which -induced the nation to require some regulations with respect to their -property and possessions. The right of the crown with respect to them, -was not unfrequently, in the exercise, oppressive to the Christian -inhabitants. When the king seized the estate of a Jew into his hands, he -claimed to be entitled, as part of his effects, to all the debts which -were at the time owing to him, and the debtor to the Jew thereby became -the debtor of the king――a situation which the wants of the crown in -these times rendered dangerous and oppressive. It was the custom of -the Jews, instead of advancing money on mortgage, to purchase certain -rent-charges on annuities, secured upon the landed estates of the -debtor. These rent-charges had increased to a very large extent, and -by becoming vested in the king, were probably found to give the crown a -dangerous hold upon the landed proprietors of the country. As a further -consequence, also, of the title claimed by the king to the property -and estates of the Jews, an encroachment was made upon the accustomed -rights of the tenure. When a Jew became entitled to any landed property, -the fruits and privileges of the lord of the fee became immediately -endangered or suspended; for, besides that the land was liable at -any time to be seized into the hands of the king, who, upon feudal -principles, could not hold of any inferior, the lord was deprived at -once of his chance of escheat and the advantages of reliefs, as the king -claimed in all cases to succeed to the lands of a Jew upon his death; -and the heir, for permission to take the land of his ancestors, paid his -relief to the king. In cases of outlawry, moreover, the king stepped in -and deprived the lord of his escheat. - -In consequence of this state of circumstances, the king was constrained, -towards the conclusion of his reign, to grant the following charter:―― - -“Henry, by the grace of God, king of England, &c. To all our sheriffs, -bailiffs, and liege subjects, to whom these presents shall come, -greeting. Know ye, that for the honour of God and the universal Church, -for the amendment and advantage of our kingdom, and for relieving -Christians from the damages and grievance which they have suffered by -the freeholds which our Jews claimed to have in lands, tenements, fees, -rents, and other tenures; and that no prejudice may hereafter happen to -us, to the commonweal of our kingdom, or to the kingdom itself, we, by -_the advice of our bishops, nobles, and great men who are of our council, -have provided, ordained, and enacted_, for us and our heirs, that no Jew -shall from henceforth have a freehold in any manors, lands, tenements, -fees, rents, or tenures whatsoever, either by charter, gift, feoffment, -confirmation, or other grant, or by any other means whatever. - -“Provided nevertheless, that they may hereafter hold, as in times past -they were accustomed to hold, those houses in our cities, boroughs and -towns, which they themselves inhabit; and likewise that they may let -those houses to lease, which they now hold for that purpose, to Jews -only, but not to Christians. - -“Yet nevertheless it is here provided, that it should not be lawful -for our Jews of London to purchase, or by any other method to acquire, -more houses than they now have in our said city of London; by which the -parochial churches of the said city, or their incumbents, may incur a -loss. However, it shall be lawful for the said Jews of London at their -pleasure to repair their houses, and even to rebuild and restore to -their former condition such of their old houses as have fallen down or -been demolished. - -“We likewise, by and with the advice of our said council, provide and -enact, that with respect to the said houses so to be inhabited, or let -to lease as aforesaid, no Jew shall sue or be sued by our original writs -out of chancery, but before our justices appointed for taking care of -the Jews, and by the writs of Judaism hitherto used and accustomed. - -“But with respect to those lands and tenures in which the Jews were -before _this statute_ infeoffed, and which they now hold, our will is, -that such infeoffments and grants shall be absolutely annulled; and -that the said lands and tenements shall return to the Christians who -granted the same; but upon condition that the said Christians shall make -satisfaction to the Jews, without usury, for the money or consideration -contained in the charters and writings, which was paid by the Jews -to the Christians, for the said feoffments or grants. And also -upon condition, that if the said Christians cannot make immediate -satisfaction for the same, it may be lawful for the said Jews to make -over the said tenements to other Christians, until the consideration -paid by them can, without usury, be raised out of the rents and -profits of the said estate, according to its true value by a reasonable -assessment; saving, however, to such Christians their subsistence; and -so as that the Jew may from thence receive the money or consideration -by the hands of some Christian, and not of any Jew, as aforesaid. - -“And if a Jew should hereafter happen to receive from any Christian a -feoffment of any fee or tenement, contrary to this _present statute_, -the said Jew shall absolutely forfeit the said tenement or fee, and -the same shall be taken into, and safely kept in our hands; and the -Christians or their heirs may recover the said lands or tenements out -of our hands; but upon condition that they pay to us the whole money -which they received from the said Jews for such a feoffment. Or if they -have not sufficient wherewithal to do this, they shall then pay yearly -to us and our heirs, at our exchequer, the true yearly value of those -tenements or fees, according to a just and reasonable assessment, until -we have had full satisfaction of the said money or consideration. - -“And with regard to the nurses of Jewish children, and the bakers, -brewers, and cooks of the Jews, as they and the Christians are different -in their faith and worship, we provide and enact, that no Christian man -or woman shall presume to serve them in any of these capacities. - -“And because the Jews have long since been accustomed to receive, by the -hands of Christians, certain rents something like fee-farm rents, out of -the lands and tenements of Christians, which likewise have been called -fees, we will and ordain that the statute relating to them heretofore -by us made, shall remain in full force, nor shall any way be derogated -from by this present act; therefore _we command_ and strictly charge -you, that you cause the said provision, ordinance, or statute, to be -publicly proclaimed, and duly observed and obeyed, throughout your whole -bailiwick. - -“In testimony whereof we have caused to be issued these our letters -patent. Witness self at Westminster, 24th day of July, and of our reign -the 54th year.”¹ - - ¹ I have here borrowed a couple of pages from John Elijah - Blunt.――See Appendix U. - -One would have fancied that such a statute as was just read, would have -been the crown’s crowning act of violence towards the poor Jews; and -since they had suffered so much of murder, plunder, and robbery both -from the king and his subjects, a little respite, at least, would have -been granted to them. But various as their oppressions were, so were -they also incessant. Soon after the above decree was proclaimed, Prince -Edward proceeded to the Holy Land, “that grave of immense treasures and -innumerable lives.” His expenses were heavy; the Jews were therefore -taxed at 6,000 marks. Now it was high time, after all their endurances, -to be completely drained of their silver and gold, as they really -were; they were therefore unable to raise the demanded sum with the -promptitude with which it was required. Earl Richard came forward -again, and advanced the money on the security of the Jews. But they -seem to have been mortgaged to him in the present instance for one year -only, for the next year they were again very heavily taxed. Several -individuals were assigned over to Prince Edward, who had to pay £1000. - -The Christians of that reign seemed to have cultivated an unaccountable -covetousness for every thing Jewish, not only their money, but also -their public buildings, and particularly their synagogues. We are thus -informed, that this year another synagogue in London――the principal -one――was taken away from the Jewish congregation and given to the Friars -Penitents, who were sadly in want of a church. Unfortunately for the -poor Jews, the Friars’ dark hole of a chapel was standing close to -that magnificent synagogue, upon which those “locusts,” as Tovey calls -them, set their avaricious and malicious affection, and did not rest -till they got the king to sanction their robbery. The pretext they -fixed upon was of a most blasphemous nature. They complained, that in -consequence of the great noise the Jews made in their synagogue during -their worship, _they were not able to make the body of Christ quietly_. -The king thought the reason was a cogent one, and without any further -consideration, ordered the Jewish place of worship to be turned into a -den of thieves. But the king was so gracious as to permit the Jews to -build for themselves another synagogue in some other convenient place, -if they chose. No doubt expecting to get another church for his -_im_pious subjects. - -Henry the Third must have been tormented with the torturous -apprehension――as was the tyrannical Herod――that the Jews anticipated -his death with great complacency.¹ Henry began to grow infirm, and did -not expect to enjoy this world much longer: he determined therefore not -to allow the Jews to be glad on that account. The cruelties, therefore, -which he inflicted upon them in his last days, were of so barbarous -a nature as to excite the commiseration of their most venomous foes. -He called upon his unfortunate Jewish subjects to reckon up all their -accounts with him, and pay him in the balance without delay. All arrears -of his arbitrary tallages were to be settled in the short term of four -months, but half of the aggregate sum was to be paid in seventeen days. -Should any one be unable to pay, or give adequate security, he was -forthwith to be imprisoned, and the privilege of bail denied him, except -by body for body. And if any of their sureties should fail to pay in -their whole quota on the appointed days, any sums formerly paid in part -were to be forfeited, and their persons, goods, and chattels to be at -the king’s mercy. Numbers of them upon this occasion were imprisoned -in the Tower of London, and other places. Nothing but weeping and -lamentation were to be seen and heard in every corner of every street. -Dr. Tovey states――“Even the friars, who had so lately taken possession -of their synagogue, as it is said, pitied them; nor were the Caursini -and the Caturcensian brokers (though their rivals in extortion) without -compassion; for nothing could be more rigorous and unmerciful than the -king’s proceedings at this time.” - - ¹ That savage tyrant, Herod, when he was taken ill in Jericho, - which dreadful illness terminated his life, apprehending - the approach of his dissolution, and remembering the many - cruelties which he inflicted on the poor Jews; he had - every reason to believe that joy instead of mourning would - succeed his death. He ordered, therefore, his sister and - brother-in-law to seize the principal men of the city of - Jericho, and to put them to the sword the moment of his - decease, in order that mourning should be a _sine qua non_. - -I ended my last Lecture with the erection of a Jewish converts’ -institution, which Henry had established “to deliver his father’s -soul from the flames of purgatory,”¹ and with the same subject will I -conclude my lecture tonight; and I am truly glad that this protracted -Lecture is coming to a close. It seems that at the end of Henry’s reign -there were great numbers of Jewish converts. Before that institution -was established, I doubt not that many were deterred from embracing -Christianity, in consequence of the distressing prospect they had -before their eyes, of being deprived of all they possessed, and without -any means of support.² The provision thus made for the Christian Jews -induced many a one to make public confession of his faith. On one of -the rolls of that reign, about five hundred names of Jewish converts -are registered. But as all institutions, if not diligently looked after, -become in process of time abused, so was that one, in an especial manner. -The revenues were swallowed up by a few of the officers of that house, -and the majority of the poor converts were subject to sheer starvation.³ -Henry, therefore, thought that it would be a meritorious thing on -his part――especially as he expected ere long to be called before an -awful tribunal to give an account of his stewardship――to give fresh -encouragement to that asylum, and institute a strict investigation as -to what became of the revenues assigned to that establishment; and he -also enacted, that for the future none should receive any support from -the house, except those who were really in want of it. The regulations -of the house and chapel were also revised and improved. The king’s -commissioners for that purpose were the mayor of London, and John de -St. Dennis, warden of that asylum.⁴ I repeat what I took the liberty to -express in my last Lecture, that such institutions are most important in -our own days, and I venture to cherish the hope, that I shall have the -happiness to see institutions of that kind established in every town in -England where the Jews reside, which, I am convinced, would be the means -of making MANY avow their secret belief in the truth of the Christian -religion. - - ¹ See p. 210. - - ² See page 205. - - ³ See Appendix V. - - ⁴ See Appendix W. - -It is a most gratuitous assertion on the part of Dr. Jost, that only -the impoverished Jews, and such as had to fear any punishment by reason -of some transgression against the laws of the country, took refuge in -that house.¹ The Jewish historian has no authority for such a statement -except his prejudices. There are records existing which prove the -contrary.² - - ¹ _Es scheint jedoch, dass nur arme Juden, und ♦wohl meist - solche, die gesetzliche strafen zu fürchten hatten, zu diesem - Hause ihre Zuflucht nahmen._――Geschichte der Israeliten, vol. - vii., p. 147. - - ² See Appendix X. - - ♦ ‘uohl’ replaced with ‘wohl’ - - - - - APPENDIX TO LECTURE V. - - - A. - -THIS is the record respecting that infamous affair, transmitted unto us -in bad Latin as well as in bad French. The perusal of the original may -interest some. - -“Placitum loquelæ de Judæis Norwich qui sunt in prisona apud London. - -“Benedictus physicus appellat Jacobum de Norwich, Judæum, quod cum -Edoardus, filius suus, puer ætatis 5 annorum, ivit ludendo in via villæ -Norwich, vigilia sancti Ægidii 4 annis elapsis; venit idem Jacobus, -Judæus, et cepit eundem Eodardum, et eum portavit usque ad domum suam, -et circumcidit eum in membro suo, et voluit ipsum facere Judæum, et eum -retinuit per unam diem et unam noctem in domo sua, quousque per clamorem -vicinorum Benedictus venit ad domum, et illum invenit in manibus -ipsius Jacobi, et sic ipsum puerum circumcisum monstravit officiali -archidiaconi, et coronatoribus, ipso die; qui praesentes simul; et hoc -idem testantur. Qui dicunt, quod viderunt prædictum puerum circumcisum, -et quod habuit membrum suum grossum, et valde inflatum, et ita aturnatum, -sicut prædictum est. Et quod hoc nequitur fecit, et in felonia, et in -despectu crucifixi, et Christianitatis, et in pacem domini regis; et -quod ipse non potuit habere eum nisi per forciam Christianorum, offert -disrationare sicut curia consideraverit. Et postquam circumciderat eum -vocavit eum Jurnepin. Et puer visus est coram justiciariis, et liquidum -est quod circumcisus erat. - -“Idem appellat de forcia, et consilio, Leonem, filium Margeriæ senioris, -et filium Josce Bodon, et plures alios Judæos; qui omnes venerunt præter -Dedone Joppe, Benedictum Moses, et Isaac; et hi totum defendunt, sicut -Judæi versus Christianum. - -“Postea, prædictus puer, qui tunc fuit ætatis 5 annorum, et nunc est -ætatis 9 annorum, requisitus quomodo circumciderunt eum? dicit, quod -ceperunt eum, et adduxerunt eum, usque ad domum ipsius Jacobi; et -unus illorum tenuit eum, et cooperuit oculos suos; et quidam alius -circumcidit eum, quodam cultello, et postea ceperunt peciam illam quam -scinderant de membro suo, et posuerunt in quodam vacyno cum sabelone, et -quæ siverunt peciam illam cum parvis sufflatis, quousque quidam Judæus -qui vocabatur Jurnepin invenit eum primo; tunc vocaverunt eum Jurnepin. - -“Et officialis archidiaconi venit coram justiciariis, cum magna secta -sacerdotum, qui omnes dixerunt in verbo Dei, quod prædictus puer ita -circumcisus fuit sicut prædictum est, et per prædictos Judæos, et quod -viderunt prædictum puerum recenter circumcisum, habentem membrum suum -grossum, et valde inflatum et sanguinolentum. - -“Et coronatores de comitatu, et coronatores de civitate Norwici, et 36 -homines de villata de Norwic; jurati venerunt, et trove (inveniunt) ut -fuit circumcisus &c. Et quod juxta ripam Norwic. il fuit trove (fuit -inventus) ululans, et plorans, per unam Maude de Barneham, et sa file, -et que ils luy amesniont a lour maison; et que tout esteaut les Jewes -veigne, et dioit que il fuit Judæum suum, et vocaverunt eum Jurnepin, -&c. Et quando Judæi non potuerunt eum habere propter Christianos, -prohibuerunt eidem Matildæ, ne daret ei carnem porcinam ad manducandam; -quia dixerunt ipsum esse Judæum. Ita quod per vim venerunt Christiani, -et abstulerunt puerum prædictum, a manibus Judæorum. - -“Et Maude exmyne confesse ceo tout &c. Et omnes Judæi sunt in prisona -apud Norwich, præter illos qui fuerunt apud London, quando hæc -inquisitio facta fuit. Et omnes juratores requisiti, qui interfuerunt -ad circumcisionem illam? Dicunt quod omnes prædicti Judæi fuerunt -consentientes facto illo, præter Mossi filius Saloni. Hæc autem -omnia facta fuerunt in curia Domini Regis apud Norwic. Fratribus -prædicatoribus, et fratribus minoribus, et pluribus aliis tam clericis, -quam laicis, præsentibus. Et tout ceo fuit testify per Ric. de -Tresingfield constable de Norwich, et auters. - -“Postea coram Domino Rege, et Domino Cantuar. et majori parte -episcoporum, et baronum Angliæ, quia casus iste nunquam prius accidit in -curia Domini Regis, et præterea quia factum illud primo tangit Deum, et -sanctam ecclesiam, eo quod circumcisio et baptismus sunt pertinentia ad -fidem; et præterea quia non est ibi talis felonia, nec amissio membri, -nec mahemium, nec plaga mortalis, vel alia felonia laica quæ possit -hominem damnare, sine mandato sanctæ ecclesiæ: consideratum est, quod -istud in primo tractetur in sancta ecclesia, et per ordinarium loci -inquiratur rei veritas. - -“Et mandatur Domino Regi una marca auri, per sic quod puer videatur -coram justiciariis, si circumcisus fuit, vel non; et recipitur. Et visus -est puer; et membrum ejus visum est pelle coopertum, ante in capite: -et in tali statu liberatur patri suo, ut eum habeat coram judicibus -ecclesiasticis; et ipsi Judæi remanent in prisona.”――_Placit._ 19, H. 3, -rot. 21. - - - B. - -Matthew Paris in Hist. Angl. says――“Similiter et quidam apostata Judæus, -factus ex Christiano diaconus; qui similiter est judicialiter punitus; -quem Falco statim arreptum suspendi fecit.” Bracton asserts that the -apostate was burned to ashes. - - - C. - -Rex _Vicecomiti_ Northumberland _salutem_. _Sciatis quod_ concessimus, -_et charta nostra confirmavimus, probis hominibus nostris_, de villa -Novi Castri super Tynam, _et hæredibus eorum, quod habeant hanc -libertatem_ quod nullus Judæus de caetero tempore nostro, vel hæredum -nostrorum maneat, vel residentiam aliquam faciat in eadem villa; _sicut -plenius continetur in Charta Regis, &c._ - - - D. - -_Mandatum, est Vicecomit._ Norf. et _Suff. quod in civitate_ Norwic. et -_singulis bonis villis comitatuum suorum, clamari faciant, quod nulla -fœmina_ Christiana, _de cætero, serviat_ Judæos, _ad alendos pueros suos, -vel in aliquo alio officio_. Teste Rege apud _West._ 20 die _Januar._ -――_Claus._ 19, H. 3, m. 14. - - - E. - -_Accepimus autem quod_ Judæi _faciunt_ Christianas, _filiorum suorum -nutrices_: et (_quod non tantum dicere, sed etiam nefandum est -cogitare_), _cum in die resurrectionis Dominicæ illas recipere corpus -et sanguinem Jesu Christi contingit, per triduum ante eos lactent_, lac -_effundere faciunt in_ latrinam. - - - F. - -_Mandatum est Justiciariis ad custodiam_ Judæorum _assignatis, quod de -arreragiis_ tallagii Judæorum _de 10 mille marcis quæ collegi præcipit -Rex, nullos_ Judæos _quietos esse permittant, nisi_ tallagium _illud -ad scaccarium Regis pacaverint, vel literas Regis de quietancia inde -habuerint, vel aliud rationabile warrantum producant, quod eis de jure -sufficere debeat_. - -Teste Rege apud _Marleburge_ 13 die _Decemb._――_Claus._ 21, H. 3, pars 1, -m. 19. - - - G. - -Judæi Angliæ _debent_ C. _l. ut_ Judæi, retonsores, latrones, et -_eorum receptatores, per inquisitionem factam per sacramentum legalium_ -Christianorum _vel_ Judæorum, _vel alio modo, de prædicta malicia -convicti_, a Regno ejiciantur irredituri. - - - H. - -Rex Vic. Northampt. Salutem. Præcipimus tibi, quod sicut teipsum et -omnia tua diligis, et sicut vis quod ad te non gravissime capiamus, -venire facias coram nobis apud Wigorn. die Dominica prima ante cineres, -sex de ditioribus, et potentioribus Judæis nostris Northampt. et de -singulis villis comitat. tui, in quibus Judæi manent, vel duos Judæos, -secundum numerum eorum. Ad tractandum nobiscum, tam de nostra quam sua -utilitate. Sciturus quod nisi illuc ad terminum præfatum venerint, ita -manum nostram tam erga corpus, quam catalla tua aggravabimus, quod tu -perpetuo te senties non mediocriter prægravari. - -Teste Rege apud Marleberg. 24 die Januar.――_Claus._ 25, H. 3, dors. 19. - - - I. - -The following is a list of the Jewish representatives who went up to -Worcester to attend that memorable parliament. From the foregoing writ, -it is evident that that parliament was appointed to be held on a Sunday: -Dr. Tovey, therefore, reasonably conjectures that the Jews may have -anticipated that the king was about to renounce Christianity and embrace -Judaism himself. - - _London._――Benedictus Crespin, Jacobus Crespin, Aaron fil. Abraham, - Aaron Blund, Elias le Eveske, Leo Blund. - - _Ebor._――Aaron fil. Jocei, Leo le Eveske, Joseus nepos Aaron, Joseus - de Kent, Ursel fil. Sampson, Benedictus nepos Aaron. - - _Linc._――Leo fil. Solomon, Abraham fil. Solomon, Judas de Franceys, - Joceus de Burge, Abraham de Solitoster, Duelcusce fil. Elie. - - _Cantuar._――Salom. fil. Joce, _Magist._ Aaron. Benomy Copnius, fil. - Mulkane, Messe fil. Sampson, Abraham fil. Leonis. - - _Winton._――Elias fil. Chere, Deidegrand Lumbard _Senex_, Manasser - fil. Ursell, Ayaye de Wallingford, Kendone fil. Ursell. - - _Stamford._――Jacob _gener._ Eman, Jacob fil. Elye, Meyer fil. David, - Samuel fil. Cok, Dusefaut fil. Cok, Aaron _gener._ Pictaum. - - _Norham._――Elias de Pontrefacto, Isaac Pickether, Sampson fil. - Deulesara, Samps. fil. Samps., Deud fil. Vines, Pech fil. de Sam - de Ivelcester. - - _Bedeford._――Manser fil. Benedicti, Abraham fil. Benedicti, Ursel - fil. Isaac Bovenfunt. - - _Cantebrig._――Isaac fil. Samuel, Jacob fil. Deusestra, Aaron fil. - Isaac Blund, Josce de Wilton, Dyaye fil. _Magistri_ Levi fil. - Solomon. - - _Norwic._――Henne Jurninus fil. Jacobi, Deulcrese fil. Dyaya de - Manecroft, Dure de Resing. - - _Warewick._――Benedictus de Kanc, Elias fil. Abraham, Benedictus de - Evesham, Lion fil. Deule Benete, Dungeun de Warwick, Pettemo fil. - Mossi. - - _Wigorn._――Hake Isaac _senior_, Hake Mosse fil. Deulo Heneye, - Abraham fil. Abraham, Isaac _gener_ Samuel, Abraham fil. Jude. - - _Bristol._――Lumbard Bonefi de Bristol, Salom de Ivelcester, Isaac - fil. Jacob, Mile le Eveske, Isaac de Bath. - - _Colecester._――Aaron de Colecester, Arcel de Colecester, Isaac fil. - Benedicti, Jacob fil. Vinis. - - _Nottingham._――David Lumbard, Dendone fil. Deule Cresse Sampson - Leve, Benedictus Pinkennye. - - _Exon._――Jacob de Exon, Benefand fil. Jude, Joce fil. Abraham Doule, - Cresse le Eveske. - - _Dorset._――Solomon de Dorcester, Benedictus fil. Vivian. - - _Wilts._――Solomon fil. Josse, Isaac de Herleb, Salom de Merleberg, - Abraham de Battecoke, Isaac fil. Jesse. - - _Oxon._――David de Linc., Bonami fil. Copin, Copin fil. Bonefei, - Mosse fil. Dyaye, Vinis fil. Copin, Samuel fil. le Franceys. - - _Glouc._――Bonefaund fil. Elye, Garsie _gener_ Belie, Isaac fil. - Mosse de Paris, Elias fil. Bonefant, Vines fil. Bonenfaund, Elias - fil. Isaac. - -The above persons were also compelled to become the tax-masters of their -brethren. - - - J. - -Rex Ursello fil. Ham. Leoni fil. Ham. Mosse fil. Ham. Jacobo fil. Jacobi, -Manasser Leveske, Jacobo de Moster Judæis Hereford, salutem. Sciatis -quod constituimus vos ballivos nostros una cum vic. nostro Hereford -cui idem mandavimus, ad distringend. omnes Judæos de balliva vestra ad -solvend. nobis tallagium nostrum de parte quæ vos et illos contingit -de hoc ultimo tallagio nostro, viginti millia marcarum. Et ideo vobis -firmiter præcipimus, quod sicut corpora vestra, uxorum et puerorum -vestrorum, et omnia catalla tua diligitis, talem districtionem faciatis, -&c. - -Teste Rege, apud Westm. 19 Maii.――_Claus._ 25, H. dors. 20. - -The author of _Anglia Judaica_ justly observes, “Such inhumanity in -a Christian country ought to have voucher. Take it, therefore, as it -stands upon the _Claus. Roll._ 25. H. 3. m. 9. - -“Rex W. de Havershall salutem. Scire facias omnibus Vic. qui Judæos -habent in balliva sua, quod omnes Judæos de balliva sua qui manuceperunt -solvere nobis tallagium suum, una cum uxoribus et infantibus suis, -habeant Londini a die Sancti Mic. ad unum mensem: respondendum nobis de -arreragiis tallagii sui &c. Sciturus, quod, si in aliquo defeceris, tam -graviter contra vos manum nostram aggravabimus, quod pœna vestra erit -omnibus in terrorem.” - - - K. - -The following are the original words of the bishop’s will: “Ad terras -emendas, ad opus CONVERSORUM, Lond. ad sustentationem eorundem.” - - - L. - -Rex Vicecomiti Norff. salutem. Licet de consuetudine longeva -dicatur obtentum in regno nostro, quod nos in domibus et aliis quas -acquisiverint Judæi in regno nostro succedere debeamus ipsis Judæis; -aures tamen nostras precibus Edmundi Kake de Norwic. Capellani -misericorditer inclinantes, conprimus eidem Edmundo, de gratia nostra, -quod non obstante consuetudine prædicta, habeat messuagium illud in -Norwic: de quo nuper seisinam fieri fecimus Magistro Benedicto, et quod -Seigumet Judæus ut lagatus tenuit de prædicto Edmundo in eadem villa -de Norwic. Et ideo tibi præcipimus, quod eidem Edmundo de prædicto -messuagio, sine dilatione plenam seisinam habere facias. - -T. R. apud Clarendon 13 die Decembris. - - - M. - -Rex omnibus, &c. Cum Elyas episcopus Judæus noster London. pro -transgressione quam fecit, tam nobis, quam dilecto fratri nostro Regi -Almannorum a sacerdotio communitatis Judæorum Angliæ coram dilectis -et fidelibus nostris Philippo Basset, Phillipo Lovel, Henrico de -Bathonia, Simon Passelew, et cæteris justiciariis ad custodiam Judæorum -assignatis, quos ad transgressionem illam convincendam justiciarios -nostros assignavimus, per judicium eorundem ad scaccarium nostrum -fuerit adjudicatus, et de ejusdem sacerdotii officio, et etiam de -omnimodis aliis officiis, et Ballivis, quas a nobis prius obtinuit -sit depositus, nos de consilio eorundem justiciariorum, concessimus -prædictæ communitati Judæorum nostrorum Angliæ, per finem trium marcarum -auri, quem Cresse et Haginus fratres ejusdem Judæi, nobis pro eadem -communitate fecerunt, quod prædictus Elyas sacerdotium illud nunquam -in posterum habeat, et recuperet: et quod nullus de communitate illa de -cætero sit sacerdos, nisi per communem electionem communitatis ejusdem. -Quodque ille communitas post decessum cujuslibet sacerdotis sic electi, -alium eligendi quemcunque voluerint sacerdotem liberam habeat facultatem, -ac ipsum nobis præsentandi, ut nostrum super hoc assensum obtineat et -favorem. In cujus, &c. - -Teste Rege apud Wodestoke 20 die Julii.――_Rot. Pat._ 41, H. 3, m. 4, -m. 6. - - - N. - -“This very year (1252) there came out of the Holy Land a mandate from -the king of France, that all the Jews should be expelled out of the -realm of France, and condemned to perpetual exile, with this clause of -moderation added thereto:――But he who desires to remain, let him be an -artificer or handicraftsman, and apply himself to mechanical artifices. -For it was scornfully objected to the said king by the Saracens, that -we did little love or reverence our Lord Jesus Christ, who tolerated the -murderers of him to live amongst us.”――_Prynne._ - - - O. - -Bishop Percy, in his relics of “Antient English Poetry,” gives us -the following ballad, in which he supposes that its composer “had an -eye to the known story of Hugh of Lincoln, a child said to have been -murthered by the Jews in the reign of Henry III. The conclusion of this -ballad appears to be wanting; what it probably contained may be seen in -Chaucer.” - - THE JEWS’ DAUGHTER. - - The rain rins doun through Mirry-land toune, - Sae dois it doune the Pa: - Sae dois the lads of Mirry-land toune, - Quhan they play at the ba’. - - Than out and cam the Jewis dochter, - Said, will ye cum in and dine? - “I winnae cum in, I cannae cum in, - Without my play-feres nine.” - - Scho powd an apple reid and white - To intice the zong thing in: - Scho powd an apple white and reid, - And that the sweit bairne did win. - - And scho has taine out a little pen-knife, - And low down by her gair, - Scho has twin’d the zong thing and his life; - A word he nevir spak mair. - - And out and cam the thick thick bluid, - And out and cam the thin; - And out and cam the bonny herts bluid: - Thair was nae life left in. - - Scho laid him on a dressing borde, - And drest him like a swine, - And laughing said, gae nou and pley - With zour sweit play-feres nine. - - Scho rowd him in a cake of lead, - Bade him lie stil and sleip. - Scho cast him in a deip draw-well, - Was fifty fadom deip. - - Quhan bells wer rung, and mass was sung, - And every lady went hame: - Than ilka lady had her zong sonne, - But Lady Helen had nane. - - Scho rowd hir mantil hir about, - And sair sair gan she weip; - And she ran into the Jewis castel - Quhan they wer all asleip. - - My bonny Sir Hew, my pretty Sir Hew, - I pray thee to me speik. - “O lady, rinn to the deip draw-well, - Gin ze zour sonne wad seik.” - - Lady Helen ran to the deip draw-well, - And knelt upon her kne: - My bonny Sir Hew, an ze be here, - I pray thee speik to me. - - “The lead is wondrous heavy, mither, - The well is wondrous deip, - A keen pen-knife sticks in my hert, - A word I donnae speik. - - “Gae hame, gae hame, my mither deir, - Fetch me my windling sheet, - And at the back o’ Mirry-land toune - Its thair we twa sall meet.” - -Chaucer, in the last stanza of his Prioress’s Tale, has the following -three lines, which are probably the conclusion of the above:――. - - “Oh, young Hew of Lincoln slain also - With cursed Jews, as it is notable, - For it n’is but a little while ago.” - - - P. - -Omnibus ad quos præsens scriptum pervenerit, Jacobus filius Magistri -Mosey, Judæi London. et Henna [Anna] uxor ejus salutem. Sciatis nos -ad instantiam discreti viri Domini Walteri de Merton, illustris Domini -H. Regis quondam Cancellarii, et pro triginta marcis quas nobis dedit -præ manibus, dedisse, concessisse, et hac carta nostra confirmasse, -scholaribus, et fratribus domus scholarium de Merton, quam idem Dominus -Walterus fundavit, apud Meaudon [Maldon] in comitatu Surr. ad perpetuam -sustentationem scholarium in scholis degentium, domos nostras, cum -pertinentiis, in parochia S. Johannis Baptistæ, Oxon. infra muros; quæ -quondam fuerunt Johannis Halegood, inter terram Prioris S. Frecheswide, -quæ quondam fuit Alwredi Hereprud, versus occidentem, et terram quæ -fuit Rogeri Orlewyne, versus orientem. Habendas, et tenendas eisdem -scholaribus et fratribus dictæ domus, cum omnibus ad domos prædictas -spectantibus, in perpetuum. Reddendo inde capitalibus Domino feodi -quatuor denarios, per annum, pro omni servitio, consuetudine, et demanda. -Et nos, et hæredes nostri, warantizabimus, acquietabimus, et defendemus, -prædictis scholaribus, et fratribus, domos prædictas, cum omnibus -pertinentiis suis, contra omnes homines, tam Christianos quam Judæos, -per prædictum servitium quatuor denariorum per annum in perpetuum. -Et sciendum quod demisimus nos in plena curia villæ Oxon. ad opus -scholarium, et fratrum prædictorum, de prædictis domibus, et omni -potestate, et jure, quod nobis ullo tempore competere potuit dictas -domos habendi, vel petendi, aut eas cuiquam dandi, vel concedendi. Ita -quod si nos, vel hæredes nostri, contra prædictam donationem nostram, -dictis scholaribus et fratribus factam, aliquo tempore venire præsumamus, -per quod ipsi dampnum, vel impedimentum, sustinuerint, nos eis pecuniam -supradictam duplicatam, una cum dampnis prædictis, refundemus; et -nihilominus salvum erit eis jus suum dictas domos retinendi, seu petendi, -si opus fuerit. Et prædicti scholares, et fratres, ad nostram instantiam -concesserunt, quod Domini Antonius Beker et Thomas frater ejus, dictas -domos tenere possint, et inhabitare, usque a festo S. Michaelis, proximo -futuro, in tres annos completos, pro centum solidis, quos custodi -scholarium, et fratrum prædictorum, solvimus in curia prædicta, pro -prædictis Dominis Antonio et Thoma, nomine Locagii domorum prædictarum. -Et ad perpetuam rei hujus memoriam et securitatem præsenti scripto -sigilla nostra fecimus apponi. Hiis testibus Domino Adam Fetteplace, -tunc Majore Oxon. Johanne de Coleshulle, Philippo de Hou, Waltero -Aurifabro, Adam subtus Murum, Gawfrido Aurifabro, Radulpho Aurifabro, -Alexandro Knyht, Jacobo le Especer, Willelmo le Especer, Hugone de -Burgo, Christianis; Manassero de Enveyse, Mosey Parnat, Jacobo de Exonia, -Lombardo de Krikelade, Judæis, et aliis. Dat. in curia Oxon. die lunæ, -proxima post festum S. Matthiæ Apostoli, anno Regni Regis Henrici, filii -Regis Johannis, quinquagesimo primo.” - -Dr. Tovey copied the above from a deed existing in the college treasury. -The doctor was certainly more gifted in copying Latin or French than -in copying Hebrew. There is a Hebrew postscript to the above deed――as -was generally the case in those olden times, when a deed was drawn up -between a Christian and a Jew――but our antiquary copied it so badly, -that it was rendered difficult to make any sense of the writing. Dr. -Jost, however, very likely restored it to its proper reading, which is -the following:―― - -אני יעקב בן רב משה דלונדרש מודה שכל הכתוב למעלח בלשין לטין בלי מחק והדרה [or וחזרה] הודיתי בעבורי ובעבור -יורשי שיחיח שריר וקים וטב ובעבור אשתי הודיתי שיהיה שריר וקים ׃ הזה שהודיתי כתבתי וחתמתי בעבורי ובעבור אשתי חנה -יעקב בן רב משה דלונדרש׃ - -_Anglia Judaica_, p. 182. _Geschichte der Israeliten_, vol. vii., -p. 407. - -There are two seals attached to that charter, bearing an impression of -some unknown four-footed beast. - - - Q. - -Mandatum est Constab. Oxon: quod omnes Judæos quos cepit et captos tenet -in Castro Oxon: occasione cujusdam parvi Conversi et Baptizati, qui -dicebatur per ipsos Judæos raptus esse, et qui jam inventus est apud -Oxon, sine dilatione deliberet. - -Test. R. apud West. 4 die Novem.――_Claus._ 21, H. 3, pars 1, m. 22. - - - R. - -Præceptum fuit Constabulario castri _Oxoniæ_ et _Cyrographo_ Christiano -et Judeo Archæ Cyrograph: ejusdem; quod per sacramentum 12 Judeorum -inquirant, quæ bona et catalla _Jacobus Baseni de Oxon_: Judeus _Oxon._ -interfectus, habuit die quo interfectus fuit. Eodem modo præceptum -est Ballivis Oxon: quod per sacramentum 12 Christianorum inquirant quæ -catalla dictus _Jacobus_ habuit die quo interfectus fuit, &c. - - - S. - -Rex Majori et Vicecomitibus London. Salutem. Cum, divina cooperante -gratia, pax in regno nostro ordinata sit, firmata, et ubique per -regnum proclamata; ac de consilio baronum nostrorum provisum sit, ut -ex parte nostra, et ipsorum, publice sit inhibitum, ne quis sub pœna -exhæredationis, et periculo vitæ et membrorum super aliquem currat, nec -homicidia, nec incendia, depredationes, nec roberias, seu alia hujusmodi -faciat enormia, nec cuiquam damnum inferat contra pacem nostram. Cumque -Judæos nostros London. pro timore turbationis nuper habitæ, adhuc -existentes apud turrim nostram London. in nostram protectionem, ac -defensionem suscipimus specialem, una cum familiis, rebus, et omnibus -possessionibus eorundem; ac ipsis Judaeis concessimus, quod ad domos -suas infra civitatem prædict. libere redire, et eas securi, et absque -aliquo impedimento inhabitare possint, sicut prius ante turbationem -prædict. fieri consueverunt. Vobis de consilio baronum prædict. Mandamus, -firmiter injungentes quatenus per totam civitatem prædict. ex parte -nostra, et baronum ipsorum, publice proclamari, et firmiter inhiberi -faciatis, nequis sub periculo vitæ, et membrorum, prædictis Judæis, -et familiis suis, in personis vel rebus eorum, damnum, molestiam, vel -gravamen, inferre præsumat. Vos autem eos de cætero, tam infra civitat. -prædict. quam extra, quantum in vobis est, manuteneatis, protegatis, et -defendatis, pro quo vos specialiter recommendare debeamus. - -Teste Rege, apud St. Paulum, Lond. 11 die Junii.――_Pat._ 48, H. 3, m. 11. - - - T. - -Rex omnibus, &c., salutem. Inspeximus cartam quam Edmundus filius noster -fecit Aaron filio Vynes in hæc verba. Omnibus præsentem cartam visuris -vel audituris Edmundus illustris regis Angliæ filius salutem. Cum -dominus rex pater noster dederit et concesserit nobis Aaron filium Vynes -Judæum, cum omnibus bonis, debitis, et catallis suis, liberum et quietum, -de omnibus tallagiis, auxiliis, præstitis, et demandis quibuscunque; -ita quod eum, cum omnibus bonis, et catallis suis habeamus, et teneamus, -cum omnibus libertatibus, legibus, et consuetudinibus Judaismi Angliæ, -prout hujusmodi concessio, in prædictis patris nostri carta, super -hoc confecta, plenius continetur. Nos eidem Aaron Judæo specialem -gratiam facere volentes, ipsum, cum omnibus bonis, debitis et catallis -suis, tenore præsentium, donavimus libertati; concedentes eidem, quod -ipse, toto tempore vitæ suæ, liber sit de nobis, ab omnibus tallagiis, -auxiliis, præstitis et demandis. Reddendo nobis, quamdiu vixerit, -quolibet anno, ad festum Pentecost. unum par calcarium deauratorum, -pro omnibus exactionibus et demandis. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum -nostrum fecimus apponi.――Dat. Winton. 11 die Augusti, ann. reg. patris -nostri prædict. 54. Nos autem prædictam donationem, et concessionem, -pro nobis et hæredibus nostris, quantum in nobis est, concedimus et -confirmamus, &c.――_Pat._ 54, H. 3, m. 1. - -The following was also added, to furnish him with safe conduct -throughout England, and to give him liberty to take up his abode in -any place he chose. - -“Rex omnibus &c., salutem. Sciatis quod, ad instantiam Edmundi filii -nostri carissimi, concedimus Aaroni, filio Vynes, Judæo, quod in -quocunque burgo regni nostri voluerit, ubi alii Judæi habitant, morari -possit pro voluntate sua; sine contradictione nostra, vel ballivorum -nostrorum quorumcunque. Dum tamen tanquam bonus et fidelis Judæus se -gerat et habeat, in eodem. - -In cujus, &c., T. R., apud Windsor, 30 die Octob.”――_Pat._ 55, H. 3, -m. 29. - - - U. - -The original act was copied by the author of the “Anglia Judaica” from a -very ancient MS. in the Bodleian Library, which is the following:―― - -“Henricus, Dei Gratia, Rex Angliæ, &c. Dilectis et fidelibus Major -et Vicecomitibus suis London. et omnibus ballivis et fidelibus suis, -ad quos, &c. salutem. Sciatis, quod, ad honorem Dei, et Universalis -Ecclesiæ, ac emendationem, et utilitatem, terræ nostræ, et relevationem -Christianorum, de damnis et gravaminibus, quæ sustinuerunt, occasione -liberorum tenementorum, quæ Judæi regni nostri clamabant, habere -in terris, tenementis, feodis, redditibus, et aliis tenuris: et ne -nobis, sive communitati regni nostri, vel ipso regno, possit de cætero -præjudicium generari: _Providimus, de consilio prælatorum, magnatum, -et procerum, qui sunt de consilio nostro, ac etiam ordinavimus, -et statuimus_, pro nobis, et hæredibus nostris quod nullus Judæus -liberum tenementum habeat in maneriis, terris, tenementis, feodis, -redditibus, vel tenuris, quibuscunque, per cartam, donum, feofamentum, -confirmationem seu quamcunque aliam obligationem, vel quocunque alio -modo. - -“Ita tamen quod domos suas, quas ipsimet inhabitant in civitatibus, -burgis, seu aliis villis, inhabitent, de cætero, et eas habeant, sicut -habere consueverint, temporibus, retroactis. Et etiam alias domos, -quas locandas habent, licite locare possunt, Judæis tantum, et non -Christianis. - -“Ita tamen quod non liceat Judæis nostris London. plures domos quam nunc -habeant emere, sive quocunque alio modo perquirere, in civitate nostra -London: per quod ecclesiæ parochiales ejusdem civitatis, vel rectores -earundem, jacturam incurrant. Poterunt tamen eidem Judæi London. domos -et ædificia sua, antiqua, prius diruta et destructa, reparare, et in -statutum pristinum redigere, ad voluntatem suam. - -“_Providimus_ etiam, _et statuimus de eodem consilio nostro_, quod -de domibus suis prædictis, inhabitandis, vel locandis, ut prædictum -est, nullus Judæus implacitet, vel placitare possit, per brevia nostra -originalia de cancellaria, sed tantum coram Justiciariis nostris, ad -custodiam Judæorum assignatis, per brevia Judaismi consueta hactenus -usitata. - -“De terris autem et tenuris de quibus Judæi, _ante præsens statutum_, -feofati fuerunt, et quas nunc tenent, volumus quod hujusmodi -infeodationes, et dona, penitus adnullentur: et terræ et tenementa -illa, Christianis, qui sibi ea dimiserint, remaneant. Ita tamen quod -Christiani illi satisfaciant ipsis Judæis, de pecunia, seu catallo, -contenta in cartis, et chyrographis suis, sine usura, quod Judæi pro -hujusmodi dono, vel feodatione, dederint Christianis. Hac etiam adjecta -conditione, ut si Christiani illi, incontinenter, inde satisfacere -non possint, liceat Judæis prædictis tenementa illa aliis Christianis -dimittere, donec inde, per rationabilem extentam, secundum verum -valorem eorundem, catalla sua, sine usura, levari possint. Salvo -tamen Christianis illis herbergagio suo. Ita quod Judæus pecuniam, vel -catallum suum, per manus Christianorum, et non Judæorum, inde recipiat, -ut prædictum est. - -“Et si contingat Judæum aliquod feofamentum, à modo, recipere à quovis -Christiano, de aliquo feodo, vel tenemento, _contra præsens statutum_, -Judæus ipse dictum tenementum, vel feodum, penitus amittat; et in manum -nostram capiatur, et salvo custodiatur; et Christiani illi, vel eorum -hæredes, terram illam, vel tenementum illud, de manu nostra rehabeant. - -“Ita tamen quod totam pecuniam, quam ab ipsis Judæis pro hujusmodi -feofamento receperent, nobis tunc solvant. Vel si eorum facultates -ad hoc non sufficiant, tunc verum valorem tenementorum, seu feodorum -illorum, nobis, et hæredibus nostris, annuatim reddant, ad Scaccarium -nostrum, per veram et rationabilem extentam eorundem, donec de hujusmodi -pecunia, seu catallo, nobis plene fuerit satisfactum. - -“De nutricibus autem parvulorum, pistoribus, et brasiatoribus, et -cocis Judæorum, quia Judæi, et Christiani, in cultu fidei dispares sunt, -providimus, et statuimus, quod nullus Christianis, vel Christiana, eis -ministrari presumat in ministeriis predictis. Et quia Judæi quosdam -redditus, de terris, et tenementis, Christianorum, tanquam perpetuos -dudum recipere solent, per manus Christianorum qui etiam feoda -dicebantur; volumus, et statuimus, quod statutum tunc inde per nos -factum, firmitatis robor obtineat; nec ei per præsens statutum in -aliquo derogetur. Et _ideo vobis præcipimus_ firmiter injungentes quod -provisionem, ordinationem, et statum prædictum, publice, per totam -ballivam vestram, clamari, et firmiter teneri, et observari, faciatis. - -“In cujus rei Testimonium has litteras nostras fieri fecimus patentes. -Teste meipso apud Westm. 24 die Julii, anno Regni nostri 54.” - - - V. - -The king, in lieu of the possessions which he robbed the Jewish converts -of, gave them the following begging letter, in which he calls upon his -Christian subjects to support them by corrode:―― - -“Rex Priori et Conventui Sanctæ Mariæ de Wallingham salutem. Cum -per guerram _nostram quam nuper sustinuimus in_ Wasconia, et _alia -ardua negotia, statum nostrum_, et regni nostri, tangentia, de statu -conversorum adhuc plene ordinare non possumus; devotionem vestram -rogamus attente, quatenus latorem præsentium, adhuc per biennium, in -victualibus et aliis necessariis exhibere velitis: ita tamen, quod si -liberatione sua diurna noluerit esse contentus, tunc, in optione vestra -sit conferendi ei tres obolos per diem tantum, ad sustentationem suam: -nullam super hac petitione nostra prætendentes excusationem, _pro qua -vos debeamus alias inde sollicitare_. Quia volumus modis omnibus preces -nostras, in hac parte, a vobis exaudiri. Quibus exauditis, in negotiis -vestris gratiam et favorem a nobis obtinebitis, cum speciali gratiarum -actione; rescribentes nobis per unum de vestris, qualiter has preces -nostras duxeritis exaudire. - -“T. R. apud Merton, 20 die Januar.”――_Rot. Fin._ 39, H. 3, m. 13, dors. - -The above letter in some degree had the desired effect; but in a great -many instances the poor Jewish Christians were left to feed on their -papers; the king, therefore, found it necessary to furnish them with -the following second letter:―― - -“Rex Abbati, et Conventui, de Abendon, salutem. Cum preces nostras nuper -vobis directas pro Ricardo, converso, et Martha uxore ejus, per biennium -in necessariis exhibendis, (nobis existentibus in Anglia), minime -curavistis exaudire, unde plurimum miramur, et movemur; præsumentes ex -hoc, indubitanter, quod si absentes essemus, et in partibus transmarinis -eædem preces nostræ parum, vel nullum, penes vos obtinerent effectum, -maxime cum in præsentia nostra illas admittere recusaveritis: volentes -autem adhuc experiri si erga devotionem vestram in hac parte exaudiri, -vel repulsam pati debeamus pro iisdem conversis; iterato vos duximus -sollicitandos. Rogantes quatenus juxta tenorem priorum litterarum -nostrarum, vobis inde directarum, in necessariis exhibere velitis; -taliter, in hac parte, preces nostras effectui mancipantes, quod dilatio -præcedens per effectum subsequentem penitus expietur: et quod a summo -remuneratore dignam inde remunerationem, et a nobis gratias mereamini. - -“T. R. apud West. 6, die Feb.”――_Rot. Fin._ 39, H. 3, m. 12, dors. - - - W. - -Rex dilectis sibi Majori London. et Magistro Johanni de Sancto Dionisio -clerico suo, custodi domus Conversorum London. Salutem. Ex parte -pauperum conversorum nostrorum London. nobis, et consilio nostro, est -ostensum, quod cum nihil habeant unde sustentari possint, nec sit qui -eis in aliquo subveniat, ostiatim mendicare coguntur, et quasi fame -moriuntur; et cum certos redditus ad sustentationem ipsorum in civitate -London. et alibi assignari fecerimus, ipse ex hiis nihil percipiunt; sed -quidam alii conversi divites, alios redditus et possessiones habentes, -qui etiam non morantur, nec conversantur in domo nostra prædicta, -redditus ipsos, pro magna parte percipiunt, et ad usus suos, pro -voluntate sua convertunt, quod ulterius sustinere nolumus, nec debemus; -maxime cum prædictos redditus, dictæ domui, non pro divitibus, sed -pauperibus et egenis, et ex causa necessitatis, fecerimus assignari. -Volentes igitur præmissa in melius reformari: vobis mandamus, firmiter -injungentes, quod per sacramentum proborum et legalium hominum de -civitate et suburbio London diligenter inquiratis, qui sunt redditus, -et bona prædicta? et quantum valeant per annum? et quis vel qui ea -percipiunt? et a quibus, et qualiter, hactenus distributa, et dispensata -fuerunt? et qua super præmissis corrigenda, et reformanda videritis, -sine dilatione corrigatis. Proviso quod bona et redditus domus prædictæ, -præfatis conversis, qui magis indigent, juxta merita necessitatis de -cætero assignentur. De aliis etiam quæ ad servitium, et debitum statum -capellæ nostræ ibidem, ac domus prædictæ in melius reformandum pertinere -noscuntur, provideatis in omnibus, prout melius, et honestius, videritis -expedire. Volumus etiam quod sicut prædicti redditus, dictæ domui, ad -sustentationem commorantium in eadem specialiter assignati sunt; ita -etiam ad domum deferantur, et distribuantur ibidem, sicut prædictum est. -Et si quos vobis, aut ordinationi vestræ resistentes aut contradicentes, -inveneritis, eos per sequestrationes portionum suarum, et aliter, prout -opus esse videritis, compescatis. - -“T. R. apud West. 26 die Feb.”――_Pat._ 56, H. 3, pars 1, m. 19. - - - X. - -The following particulars, as registered by Prynne, evidently show that -there were many wealthy persons who, in spite of losing all, embraced -Christianity:―― - -“This year, a Jew’s wife proving a convert Christian, her husband -was attached for her goods, by the king, as belonging to him upon her -conversion; who thereupon paid a fine to have this new case judicially -determined in the Jews’ Exchequer, as this record attests.” - -“Cum _Abraham Batekot_ Judeus attachiatus esset ad respondend. regi -de catallis _Amiciæ_ Judeæ, quæ fuit uxor sua, quæ quidem catalla post -conversionem suam ad regem pertinebant, ut dicitur. Idem Judeus finem -fecit cum rege pro dimid. marc. auri quam regi solvit, ut secundum legem -et consuetudinem Judaismi ad scaccarium Judæorum super hoc deducatur. -Et mandatum est justic. ad custod. jud. assignatis, quod citra festum S. -_And._ ad scaccarium Judæorum, quod justum fuerit de catallis prædictis -fieri faciant, sicut prædict. est T. per R. de Essington.” - - - - - LECTURE VI. - - -MY last Lecture, which must have been as tedious to you as it was -to myself, finished with the death of Henry the Third. A melancholy -monotony pervaded the whole of that lecture. The principal feature in -Henry’s disposition was, as you are well aware, uncontrollable avarice, -which was the cause of the many cruel persecutions, to which the poor -unfortunate Jews were exposed. - -I may just recapitulate, in a few minutes, the sums extracted from the -Jews in the preceding reign. In the years 1230 and 1231, 15,000 marks; -in 1233, 18,000 marks; in 1236, 1800 marks. The amount of taxation in -1237, not mentioned. In 1239, a third part of their goods; in 1241, -20,000 marks; in 1244, 20,000 marks; in 1245, 60,000 marks, which tax -the king received with his own hand; in 1246, 10,000 marks; in 1247, -5,525 marks; in 1249, 10,000 marks; in 1250, a great part of their goods -was taken away; in 1251, 5,000 marks of silver, and 40 of gold; in 1252, -3,500 marks; in 1253, 5,000 marks; in 1259, 5,000 marks; in 1269, 1,000 -pounds; in 1271, 6,000 marks; besides many more, of which we have no -records, and also besides the vast sums occasionally extorted from -numbers of individuals.¹ - - ¹ “In Claus. 39, H. 3, pars 2, dors. 16, 17, there is a large - catalogue of the lands, houses, rents, mortgages, real and - personal estate, and debts of Abraham, a Jew, in several - counties, amounting to a vast sum, taking up near two - membrances, which were imbreviated and confiscated to the - king’s use. And a proclamation by the king, that no Jew - should be suffered to depart out of the realm of England.” - ――_Prynne._ See also pp. 242, 243. - - Lord Coke states, that the crown received from the Jews, - in the short space of seven years, viz., from the 17th - of December, in the 50th year of Henry III., until Shrove - Tuesday, the 2nd of Edward I., the sum of £420,000 15s. 4d. - -“Death,” using the words of a quaint writer, “as inexorable as himself, -seized him, and gave the Jews some respite from these afflictions――the -king leaving behind him but a very indifferent character either as a -man, or a prince.” - -For nearly two years after, the government of this country remained -in the hands of the Archbishop of York, and the Earls of Cornwall -and Chester, Edward being abroad, engaged in the holy war, as it was -called; during which time the Jews seem to have been left pretty much -unnoticed, and consequently, we may conclude, in peace. Edward’s return, -however, brings them again prominently before our view, and under more -distressing circumstances than ever. - -The first public act of his reign which had reference to the Jews, was -in conformity with the example set by his ancestors: he held out to them -hopes of safety and protection. Shortly after the death of the late king, -proclamations of peace and security were issued, extending to the Jews -as well as to the nation in general.¹ It was, however, quickly evident -that, as far as regarded the former, there was no peace for them. - - ¹ See Appendix A. - -Edward knew well that his father’s and mother’s unenviable unpopularity -with his subjects, and the incessant civil wars which distracted the -kingdom during the preceding reign, owed their existence to his royal -parents’ insatiable demands for money from the English barons. Edward, -though equally in want of large sums of money, determined, however, to -obtain those sums from the Jews alone, and not ask anything from his -Christian subjects――an expedient whereby he expected to gain popularity, -as well as the supplies he wanted. Accordingly, the king, soon after -his coronation, began to regulate the Jewish affairs after his father’s -model. Steps were, in a short time, taken to facilitate the levying -of taxes upon them. New officers of their exchequer were appointed; -directions were given to enforce the regulations, by which they were -obliged to confine themselves within particular towns and cities; and -orders were forwarded to the sheriffs of the different places where -they resided, to examine the registers of their debts and possessions, -and make a faithful return of their estates and effects. As soon as the -necessary information upon these orders was received from the sheriffs, -a new tallage was imposed upon the Jews. The children began to be taxed -as well as the parents, which made the tallage enormous; and authority -was given to enforce the payment, together with that of all arrears -due on former assessments, by measures of the greatest severity. The -collectors were directed to levy the sums which were demanded, upon the -goods and chattels of those who hesitated to contribute their proportion; -and if the amount could not by this means be obtained――which, as a -matter of course, proved those impoverished Jews to be useless, since -everything, _indeed_, was taken from them――the king thought best to -change the punishment from imprisonment to transportation. Accordingly, -the sheriffs were empowered to punish the refractory (that is, those who -had not money enough) with banishment from the kingdom; to imprison all -such as common thieves, who should be found in the country after three -days from the time they were, under these orders, directed to leave -it; and the lands, houses, and effects of those who should be banished, -were to be forthwith taken possession of and sold. The persons who -were appointed to carry these directions into effect were, an Irish -bishop――Bishop elect of Waterford――and two friars; and they appear to -have executed the office entrusted to them with such relentless severity, -that the king’s mind was moved to pity, and in many cases he gave orders -to release particular individuals amongst the Jews from a part of the -demands made upon them. - -The complaints which had been made, towards the end of the last reign, -of the injuries which were experienced by the people in general, from -the laws and proceedings respecting the Jews, it seems were now again -brought forward. And the extent to which the Jews were permitted to take -interest by the canon law, in order to fill the coffers of the king, was, -it appears, also the subject of increased remonstrance. It must be borne -in mind that the Gentiles were by far the greater usurers than the Jews, -but they could practise the foul profession with impunity, by stating -that they laboured for the pope: for instance, in the thirty-sixth -year of the preceding reign, Henry ordered that the Causini should be -prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law for their usuries; but -they pleaded that they were the servants of the pope, and employed by -him, and were therefore not only left alone, but countenanced in that -nefarious traffic. - -In the third year of this reign, the king, in order to please his -Christian subjects, was pleased to pass the statute which is known by -the name of the STATUTUM DE JUDAISMO. This statute acknowledged that -the king and his ancestors had had great profit from the Jews, yet -that many mischiefs and disinheritances of honest men had happened by -their usuries; and it therefore enacted, that from thenceforth no Jew -should practise usury,――that no distress for any Jew’s debt should be so -grievous as not to leave the debtor the moiety of his lands and chattels -for his subsistence; that no Jew should have power to sell or alien -any house, rents, or tenements, without the king’s leave, but that they -might purchase houses in cities as heretofore, and take leases of land -to farm for ten years; and that they should be at liberty to carry on -mercantile transactions in the cities where they resided; provided, -however, that they should not, by reason of such dealings, be talliable -with the other inhabitants of the cities, seeing that they were only -talliable to the king, as his own bondsmen; and it directed that they -should reside only in such cities and boroughs as were the king’s own; -and that all Jews above the age of seven years should wear a badge, in -the form of two tables of yellow taffety,¹ upon their upper garments; -and that all above twelve years of age should pay to the king, at Easter, -the sum of three pence. Lord Coke recommends that statute as very worthy -to be read. It was drawn up in French, and the following is an English -translation of the same:―― - - ¹ I should not wonder that some royal merchant arrived into this - country to dispose of a certain quantity of yellow taffety, - which perhaps not proving saleable, the merchant procured - the interest of the king or that of his counsellors, and - thus yellow taffety became the Jewish badge. C. White, in his - “Three Years in Constantinople,” relates a circumstance which - gives colour to the above suggestion. He says――“Sometimes - French ambassadors carry their powers of protection to - strange lengths, and apply them to singular purposes. It - is related that one La Rose, first valet-de-chambre to M. - d’Argental, in 1690, was persuaded by some one in Paris to - lay out his savings in wigs, as a good speculation to take to - Turkey. Finding, upon reaching Constantinople, that his stock - remained on hand, and that he had been duped, he fell into - low spirits, and had nigh died of despondency. The ambassador - seeing this, bethought himself of applying to the grand vizir, - to see if he could not devise some plan for getting rid of - the cargo. ‘Nothing can be more easy,’ replied the sultan’s - _alter ergo_; ‘leave the affair to me.’ On the following - day, a firman was issued, and read in the Jewish synagogues, - commanding all Jews to wear wigs. Terrible was the confusion - and running to and fro among the unfortunate Israelites of - Balat and Khass Kouy. Few knew the meaning of wigs: none - knew where to find them. This having quickly reached La - Rose’s ears, he joyously delivered his store to a broker, - who disposed of the whole in a few hours, and the speculator - reaped a rich harvest. He was, however, directed by his - master not to renew the venture. This was not the only - strange proceeding on the part of M. d’Argental: indeed he - carried his vagaries so far, that he was eventually put under - restraint by his own secretaries.” - -“Whereas the king having observed, that in times past, many honest men -have lost their inheritances by the usury of the Jews, and that many -sins have from thence arisen, notwithstanding Judaism is, and has been -very profitable to him and his ancestors, yet nevertheless he ordains -and establishes for the honour of God, and the common benefit of the -people, that no Jew hereafter shall in any manner practise usury; and -that no usurious contracts already made, since the feast of St. Edward’s, -last past, shall stand _good_, excepting bonds relating to the capital -sum. Provided also, that all those who are indebted to the Jews, upon -pledges moveable, shall redeem them before Easter next, under pain -of forfeiture. And if any Jew shall practise usury against the intent -of this statute, the king promises neither to give him assistance by -himself or officers in recovering his debts; but, on the contrary, will -punish him for his trespass, and assist the Christians against him in -the recovery of their pledges. - -“And it is further enacted, that no distress for any Jew’s debt shall -hereafter be so grievous, as not to leave Christians the moiety of their -lands and chattels for subsistence; and that no distress shall be made -by any such Jew, upon the heir of his debtor named in the bond, or any -other person in possession of the debtor’s lands, before such debt shall -be proved in court. And if the sheriff or other bailiff is commanded -by the king to give possession to any Jew, of lands or chattels to the -value of his debt, the chattels shall first be appraised by the oath of -honest men, and delivered to the Jew or Jewess to the value of the debt. -And if the chattels be not found sufficient to answer it, then the lands -shall be extended by the same oath, according to their separate values, -before seisin is given of them to the Jew or Jewess; to the intent, that -when the debt is certainly known to be discharged, the Christian may -have his land again, saving to the Christian, nevertheless, the moiety -of his lands and chattels, and the chief house for his sustenance, as -before expressed. - -“And if anything stolen be found in the possession of a Jew, let him -have his summons, if he regularly may have it; if not, he shall answer -in such a manner as a Christian would be obliged to do without claiming -any privilege. Likewise all Jews shall be resident in such cities -and boroughs as are the king’s own, where the common chest of their -indentures is wont to be kept. And every one of them that is past -seven years of age shall wear a badge, in form of two tables, of yellow -taffety, six fingers long and three fingers broad, upon his upper -garment; and every one that is past twelve years shall also pay annually -to the king, at Easter, the sum of three pence, both male and female. - -“And no Jew shall have power to alienate in fee, either to Jew or -Christian, any houses, rents, or tenements, which they have already -purchased, or dispose of them in any manner, or acquit any Christian -of his debt, without the king’s special license, till he hath otherwise -ordained. - -“And because holy Church wills and permits that they should live, and -be protected, the king takes them into his protection, and commands that -they should live guarded and defended by his sheriffs, bailiffs, and -other liege people. And that none shall do them harm, either in their -persons or goods, moveable or immoveable, or sue, implead, or challenge -them in any courts but the king’s courts, ♦wheresoever they are. - - ♦ ‘wheresover’ replaced with ‘wheresoever’ - -“And that none of them shall be obedient, respondent, or pay any rent -to any but the king or his bailiffs, in his name, excepting for their -houses which they now hold, rendering rent; saving likewise the rights -of holy Church. - -“And the king also grants, that they may practise merchandise or live -by their labour, and for those purposes freely converse with Christians. -Excepting that on any pretence whatever they shall not be levant, or -couchant, amongst them: nor on account of their merchandise, be in -scots, lots, or talliage, with the other inhabitants of those cities or -boroughs where they remain: seeing they are talliable to the king as his -own vassals, and not otherwise. - -“Moreover the king grants them free liberty to purchase houses, and -curtilages, in the cities and boroughs where they reside: provided -they are held in chief of the king, saving to the lords their due and -accustomed services. - -“And further the king grants, that such as are unskilful in merchandise, -and cannot labour, may take lands to farm, for any term not exceeding -ten years: provided no homage, fealty, or any such kind of service or -advowson to holy Church, be belonging to them. Provided also that this -power to farm lands shall continue in force for fifteen years from the -making of this act, and no longer.”¹ - - ¹ It appears that Edward had already contemplated the total - banishment of the Jews in 1290, for fifteen years after that - statute was enacted the Jews were altogether expelled. - -The provisions of this act were afterwards rigorously enforced; writs -were at different periods issued to compel the Jews to reside in the -towns prescribed for them, to levy the sum of three pence a head on all -who were above the age of twelve years, and to oblige all who were more -than seven years old, to wear the badge directed by the statute. - -The Jews were for a long time silent as regards the merits of the -Christian religion, but they could contain themselves no longer. They -began openly to abuse Christianity, and stated publicly that it could -not be a religion given by a merciful God, since it allowed such -inhumanity. - -The king, therefore, with an appearance of pious zeal, which was either -prompted by the dictates of his own conscience, or adopted in deference -to the spirit of the times, commanded steps to be taken to make the -Jews――apparently at least――respect the Christian faith. The first means -adopted with a view to this object were, as might have been expected in -that age, of a compulsory nature. In the seventh year of this reign, the -king issued a proclamation, directing that any Jew who was heard openly -to revile the divinity of Christ, should be forthwith put to death; and -if convicted of being a common blasphemer, should be punished according -to the law in such cases.¹ - - ¹ See Appendix B. - -The Jews insisted, however, that they should not be called by the name -of Christian, considering such an epithet, when applied to them, a -defamation of character. Accordingly we find, that when a Jewish woman -was once called a Christian, and affirmed to have been baptized, her -husband joined with her in an action for scandal and defamation, and -appealed to the king for justice. The king actually sent a formal writ, -concerning it, to his justices, commanding them to try the matter by an -inquisition of Christians and Jews, and obtain for the parties redress, -if slandered.¹ To this circumstance may the origin of the new enactment -be ascribed, viz., that Jewish females should also wear distinguishing -badges. - - ¹ See Appendix C. - -For by an edict subsequently issued by the king, the direction with -respect to the wearing of badges was extended to Jewesses as well as to -Jews; and orders were at the same time given to see that no Christian -served any Jew in any menial capacity. In addition to these regulations, -which were solely of a temporal nature, measures were also taken with -respect to the Jews, which had reference to the promotion of their -spiritual welfare. For about the same time, certain friars of the -order of the Dominicans undertook to preach to the Jews, and vouched -to convince them of the truth of the Christian faith, if the Jews could -only be prevailed upon to listen to their preaching. They therefore -petitioned the king to force all the Jews to attend their sermons. To -forward their pious intentions, the king issued writs to the sheriffs -and bailiffs of the different towns where the Jews resided, commanding -that the Jews should be compelled to attend such places as the friars -should appoint, and be forced to listen to the lectures which were -delivered, with attention, and without disturbance.¹ The king, on his -part, conceded a portion of the advantages to which he had heretofore -been entitled, from the power he possessed over the property of the -converted Jews. Letters patent were published, declaring that for the -future seven years, any Jew, who might become a Christian, should retain -the moiety of his property to his own use; the other half was secured to -the house of converts, founded by the late king, to be applied (together -with the deodands which were granted at the same time) towards the -support of that establishment. We do not find on record many benefits -that resulted, from the measures _thus_ taken to induce the Jews to -investigate attentively the claims of the Christian doctrines; and it -would seem that but few were prevailed upon to surmount the stumbling -blocks thrown in the way of their conversion, and to make the sacrifice -which was still incurred by the convert to the Christian creed. - - ¹ See Appendix D. - -The Jewish converts’ institution was also much patronized by the king. -The warden of the house was commanded to elect an able Presbyter to act -as his coadjutor, and who was to reside in the house, together with a -few other ministers, in order regularly to attend to all the regulations -of the house. The king also ordered, that if any of the converts -residing in the house were qualified to act as assistant Chaplains, -they should be preferred to all others, in the Presbyter’s election. -And if any of the convert-inmates appeared likely to become scholars, -they should be sent to efficient schools, and properly educated. And -if any were more fit for business, they should be sent to learn a -trade, but have their board and lodgings in the institution. Should -the literary converts, however, be promoted to the Church, they were to -cease to participate in the benefits offered by the house. The king also -ordered that if after all the expenses of the house were discharged, -there should still remain some balance in the hand of the collector or -treasurer, the whole of that surplus should be applied to the repairing -and beautifying of the chapel belonging to that institution. - -But, as I said before, we are not favoured with many records of the -conversion of the Jews in this reign: yet those we have registered are -of a very satisfactory nature. We read of a certain Oxford Jew, Belager -by name, who became a Christian, and from the schedule of his goods, -which was seized for the king in consequence of his conversion, we -have every reason to believe that Belager was a man of learning, for -his moveable goods consisted chiefly of books.¹ His conversion was, -therefore, owing to powerful conviction, as is generally the case with -a Jew when he is led to make a public confession of his faith.² - - ¹ See Appendix E. - - ² By this I do not mean to insinuate that there are no - impostors amongst baptized Jews. It is a painful truth - that the human nature of the Jews is as deceitful and as - desperately wicked as that of the Gentiles. - -Whilst it is pleasing to register the concessions which were thus made -on the part of the crown in favour of the Jewish converts, it is no less -painful to have to record that the Jews in general still continued to -be subjected to tallages of very heavy amounts, the payment of which -was enforced by seizure of their goods, and by banishment. The king’s -exchequer being completely exhausted, Edward stood greatly in need of -money in consequence of his Welsh war: the rearing of the two castles -in Wales――viz. that of Caernarvon, as also that of Conway――must also -have amounted to a vast expenditure. Then the question arose, where was -all the money to be got? Answer――By orders which were at various times -issued to open and examine the chests in which the Jewish properties and -possessions were enrolled; and great part of their effects were taken, -and the sums which other persons were indebted to them were levied -and appropriated by the king. Accusations were, moreover, at different -periods made against them, of various descriptions of crimes. The -principal offence with which they were now charged, was with clipping -and falsifying the coin of the realm; and many, on account of this -calumny, were condemned to suffer death, and were executed. In the -seventh year of this reign no less than two hundred and ninety-four were -put to death for this imputed crime; and all they possessed taken to -the use of the king. To what extent the Jews were really guilty of this -latter offence for which they suffered, or whether they were guilty at -all, it is impossible now to determine. - -It is probable, however, that many of you may decide at once that this -charge must have been true; for Edward the First, who is called the -English Justinian, for the excellency of the laws enacted by him, -caused them to be tried for this offence. You may perhaps suppose, -that under a sovereign, who is to this day celebrated on account of the -laws enacted in his reign, these Jews had all regular trials, and were -justly convicted upon evidence. I candidly confess, that those were -the opinions I entertained at my first reading this accusation, which -induced me to examine the subject rigorously; and the following is the -result of my examination of this subject. It is true that where there -are good laws enacted, we naturally look for an upright administration -of them, but it is possible for a prince to enact good laws for the -government of his people, and yet to be misled by his ministers, to -conduct his government without the least regard to law and justice; -and there are few reigns in which greater acts of oppression, cruelty, -and injustice were committed, than in the reign of Edward the First, -although the brilliancy of his exploits, and the greatness of his -abilities, have thrown an unmerited gloss over his administration. Does -not history declare that the very fountains of justice were polluted, -and that loud complaints were made of the corruption and venality of the -judges in Edward’s reign?¹ Kings are ever entitled to profound respect, -and it is the liberal policy of the present age ever to give them the -credit of uprightness of intention, and to consider every investigation, -as an investigation of the acts of their ministers. We shall, therefore, -consider it in this light, and speak of actions as the actions of the -ministers of state; and surely the actions of the administration in his -reign are very reprehensible. Their conduct towards the Welsh and the -Scotch, their sovereigns and people, and especially the slaughter of -the Welsh bards, will ever be considered by those who are not dazzled by -successful cruelty as disgraceful acts; which would have tarnished the -splendour of this reign, had it been a thousand times more splendid; but -in their conduct towards the Jews, they acted the part of most grievous -oppressors. What evidence was produced against them? We read that -they were suspected of the crime, as were also the Flemings. It would, -therefore, have been the part of a good and active government to have -set its officers to seek for the guilty, whether English, Flemings, or -Jews. Does this appear to have been done? By no means. Mark, I do not -deny, but there might have been Jews as well as Flemings and English -concerned in these malpractices. The Jews are men, and subject to like -temptations and like crimes as the rest of mankind; and as they dealt -in money, and had better opportunities than others, the probability -that some of them were not entirely innocent, is strengthened; but the -suddenness of the inquisition, the great number of those executed, and -the conduct of the government and people at large to those whom they -did not execute, convince me that the Jews had not fair play, but that -by far the majority of them were unjustly convicted. It is curious to -observe in the page of the English historian, first the statement that -“the king’s finances were exhausted,” and the same page ends with an -account of “the vast sums raised by the seizure of the Jews’ houses and -effects, and the fines imposed upon those who escaped death, and the -goldsmiths who were involved in the suspicion of being concerned with -them.”² - - ¹ Henry’s Britain, vol. vii., p. 75. - - ² Hume and Smollett. - -The only circumstance mentioned by the historian which seems to glance -at the crimination of any of them is, that great sums of clipped money -were found in their houses. Here seems to be something like evidence; we -must therefore pay attention to it. If he had said that there had been -found in their houses great quantities of gold dust of the same standard -with the current coin, it would have amounted to circumstantial evidence, -which, if strongly corroborated with other proofs, might induce an -impartial jury to convict a prisoner; but no such thing is mentioned; it -is only said that great sums of clipped money were found in their houses. -Now this, so far from being evidence against them, was evidence in their -favour, if rightly considered: but what signified evidence in favour -of a Jew, when he was accused upon a general rumour? His judge and jury -composed of those who hated him and his nation, and who would rejoice -and exult in his conviction and sufferings. Who was there to plead his -cause? Is there the least ground to suppose that they had even a single -chance of being acquitted? The very evidence which is considered as -a proof of their guilt should have produced their acquittal; for if -they had been concerned in clipping the coin, they would have hoarded -unclipped money in order to clip it, and put the clipped money -in circulation. And again they dealt in money, and hoarded money; -if, therefore, the money which was in circulation was clipped and -depreciated in value, what could they deal in, what could they hoard -but clipped money? Once more, the Flemings were mentioned as being -implicated with the Jews in the suspicion of being guilty of this crime; -and in the account we are now considering, we find that the goldsmiths -were charged with being their accomplices, although they (being -Christians) were only fined, and not hanged for it. I think there can -be little doubt, but that they were the principal criminals, for if a -goldsmith were not restrained by the detestation of such a crime, but -would become _particeps criminis_, and subject himself to the punishment -of the law, would he admit an accomplice to render his detection the -more probable? would he permit an accomplice to run away with the main -part of the plunder? Surely he would do all the business himself.¹ - - ¹ See also Witherby’s Dialogues, part i., Dialogue II. - -Unjust, however, as was the condemnation of the Jews for that imputed -crime, the poor Jews seemed convinced that any thing would be believed -of them, be the story ever so incredible. Sums to a large amount were -therefore extorted from them by the common people through threats -of accusing them of the above crime. To such length was this system -of extortion carried on, that the king found it necessary to issue a -proclamation, declaring that from thenceforth no Jew should be held -answerable for any offence heretofore committed.¹ This act of evident -justice was, however, accompanied by a condition which throws a degree -of doubt upon the real motive by which it was suggested. In order -to bring himself within the security of the proclamation, the person -accused was bound to pay a fine to the king. - - ¹ See Appendix F. - -In the fourteenth year of this reign, the king was taken dangerously -ill. On his bed of sickness he made a vow, if his health should recover, -to undertake another crusade. Accordingly, when he recovered, he took -the cross, but appointed no time for his departure. In fact, he could -not conveniently leave his dominions; he, therefore, compromised his -vow, by directing his zealous fury against the Jews of Guienne, whom he -first plundered, and then banished. Alas! for his boasted laws and the -splendour of his victories. It is a truth, an incontrovertible truth, -that “there is no reign, from the Conqueror inclusive, blotted with -greater violence than his. They were cruelties glossed over by ambition -and thirst of empire, which were pursued at the expense of justice, -humanity, and every other virtue.”¹ - - ¹ Witherby. - -The next act relating to the Jews occurred in the sixteenth year of this -reign, when the king was yet on the Continent. In that year it is stated -that the Jews were, on the same night, apprehended throughout England, -and thrown into prison, and were only released upon payment to the -king of the sum of twenty thousand pounds of silver as a ransom. The -celebrated John Selden adduces the following curious evidence of that -event:―― - - יום יא מי היו - תפוסים כל יהודים - בארצי הזי שנת - מ׳ז לפ׳ לאלף - שישי אני אשר - חקקתי.¹ - - ¹ The inscription, as given by Selden, and copied by Tovey, - is very unlike Hebrew. Dr. Jost’s improvement is ingenious; - but according to his reading, the imprisonment took place in - November, whilst Stow and Prynne state that May was the month. - I propose therefore the above reading as the most likely to - be correct: one could easily mistake י for ו, especially when - scratched on a wall. - -That is――“On the 11th day of May, were all the Jews in the counties -of this island imprisoned: in the year of the world 5047 [A.D. 1287], -I, Asher, inscribed this.” The inscription was discovered by Patricius -Junius in an old vault at Winchester. Some historians relate that the -Jews were subjected to this violence, in consequence of a promise made -by the commons to the king, of a fifth of their moveables, provided he -would banish the Jews from the island. When the Jews became acquainted -with the reason of their imprisonment, they caused an intimation to -be conveyed to the king, that they would pay a larger sum than the -amount of the fifth part promised by the commons, if they might be -released from their dungeons, and allowed to remain in England. This -offer had the desired effect, and they were again restored to liberty, -upon payment of the above-mentioned sum. Whether this statement of the -circumstances under which the Jews were imprisoned be correct or not, -it seems certain that from about this time, the clamour against them -became daily more violent. It is not improbable that the edict, by which -the exactions practised upon the Jews by the people were prevented, had -rendered them, with many, still greater objects of hatred. It appears, -however, that the clergy and gentry joined with the nation in general in -desiring the expulsion of the Jews; and it is to inferred that they were -induced entertain this wish, in a great measure, from the heavy debts -they owed to the Jews, and expecting to be relieved of the payment, by -the banishment of the creditors; which gave birth to all the monstrous -accusations brought against them, which were still loudly repeated -against the Jews, not only of their being continually clipping and -depreciating the coin of the country, but also of being the cause of -much hardship through their usurious dealings. But, though this may -have been, in truth, the principal, as in fact, the only avowed reason -for desiring that the Jews should be driven out of England, yet there -can be little doubt that the evils which have been, in a former lecture, -pointed out as resulting to the nation, in general, from the power -continually exercised over the property, persons, and rights of the Jews, -had some effect in increasing the wish to be relieved from the presence -of that people. - -Edward’s conduct towards the Jews, into his continental dominions, has -already been noticed: he first fleeced them for the benefit of the state, -and then banished them, to render heaven propitious to his government. -This measure served greatly to raise his popularity; and upon his entry -into London, he was received with every mark of joy and good-will by the -clergy and people. Before this feeling could subside, he was induced to -consent to the decree for the final banishment of the Jews from England, -which his great grand-father, Henry II., was instigated to do, but was -not prevailed upon.¹ In return for this favour, he received from the -Commons the grant of a fifteenth part of their goods; and the clergy, at -the same time, made a gift to him of the tenth part of their moveables. -A very inadequate sum, when compared with the debts they owed to the -Jews. The above-mentioned decree commanded that the Jews, together with -their wives and children, should depart from the realm within a certain -time――namely, before the feast of All Saints. As a matter of grace, on -the part of the king, they were permitted to take with them a part of -their moveables, and sufficient money to defray the expenses of their -journey. Their houses and other possessions were seized by the king, -and appropriated to his own use. The king wanted vast sums of money this -year. Three of his elder daughters were married in the same year that -the Jews were banished. The king’s seizing all the Jewish property will -readily account for the magnificence displayed at the nuptials of these -princesses. Agnes Strickland, in her second volume of “The Lives of the -Queens of England,” expatiates not a little on the effect, but leaves -the cause unmentioned entirely, viz., that of Edward’s banishing the -Jews. She says, “A list of the plate used in the queen’s household will -prove that the court of Eleanora had attained a considerable degree of -luxury. The plate was the work of Ade, the king’s goldsmith, and the -description of the rich vessels of the goldsmith’s company has been -brought to light by modern research.² Thirty-four pitchers of gold and -silver, calculated to hold water or wine; ten gold chalices, of the -value of £140 to £292 each; ten cups of silver gilt, or silver white, -some with stands of the same, or enamelled, more than one hundred and -eighteen pounds each; also cups of jasper, plates and dishes of silver, -gold salts, alms bowls, silver hanapers or baskets; cups of benison, -with holy sentences wrought thereon; enamelled silver jugs, adorned with -effigies of the king, in a surcoat and hood, and with two effigies of -Queen Eleanora. A pair of knives with silver sheaths enamelled, with a -_fork_ of crystal and a silver fork, handled with ebony and ivory. In -the list of royal valuables were likewise combs and looking-glasses of -silver-gilt, and a bodkin of silver, in a leather case; five serpent’s -tongues, set in a standard of silver; a royal crown set with rubies, -emeralds, and great pearls; another with Indian pearls; and one great -crown of gold, ornamented with emeralds, sapphires of the east, rubies, -and large oriental pearls.” I have no hesitation in saying that a great -part of the articles displayed were Jewish. The coincidence of their -banishment with the above display, warrants such a supposition. - - ¹ See p. 100. - - ² By Mr. Herbert, city librarian, in his History of City - Companies. - -Notwithstanding the harshness and severity of this decree, it seems not -to have been sufficient to excite any commiseration on the part of the -people. Many were still unwilling to allow the Jews to depart in quiet, -but sought to take the last opportunity remaining to them to give vent -to their unchristian hatred and enmity against these unfortunate people, -and to despoil them of the small portion of their wealth which remained -to them. The principal Jews were forced to provide themselves with -letters of safe conduct from the king; and it became necessary, for -their protection, to issue orders to the officers and magistrates of -the towns through which they passed, to guard them against the violence -of the populace. One instance of the barbarities to which they were -subjected, deserves to be particularly noticed, as it affords a just -example of the sentiments entertained by the people towards the Jews. It -is thus related by Hollinshead, and copied by Lord Coke and many other -writers since: “A sort of the richest of them,” he says, “being shipped -with their treasure in a mighty tall ship which they had hired, when -the same was under sail, and got down the Thames, towards the mouth of -the river, towards Quinborough, the master mariner bethought him of a -wile, and caused his men to cast anchor, and so rode at the same, till -the ship, by ebbing of the stream, remained on the dry sand. The master -herewith enticed the Jews to walk out with him on land, for recreation; -and at length, when he understood the tide to be coming in, he got him -back to the ship, whither he was drawn by a cord. The Jews made not so -much haste as he did, because they were not aware of the danger; but -when they perceived how the matter stood, they cried to him for help, -howbeit he told them that they ought to cry rather unto Moses, by whose -conduct their fathers passed through the Red Sea; and, therefore, if -they would call to him for help, he was able enough to help them out -of these raging floods, which now came in upon them. They cried indeed, -but no succour appeared, and so they were swallowed up in the water. -The master returned with the ship, and told the king how he had used -the matter, and had both thanks and rewards, as some have written. -But others affirm (and more truly as should seem) that divers of the -mariners, which dealt so wickedly against the Jews, were hanged for -their wicked practice; and so received a just reward of their fraudulent -and mischievous dealing.” - -By the time appointed, all the Jews had left England; the numbers have -been estimated by some at 15,060, by others at 16,511. - -The following few particulars are to be met with in the histories -of the Jews themselves, respecting their changes, chances, troubles, -and sufferings in this country. Ben Virga, in his chronicle _Shaivet -Y’hudah_, states: “A.M. 5018, in the island which is now called England, -a great and mighty destruction occurred in all the congregations, great -and powerful in wisdom, knowledge, and honour, which were in those days. -And especially that great city called London, which contained about two -thousand Jewish householders; all of them were possessed of wisdom and -wealth. It was there that Rabbi Abraham Aben Ezra, composed his epistle -which he called, ‘The epistle of the Sabbath.’ The cause of their -destruction was, that they [i.e. the Jews] should change their creed; -and when they insisted on the sanctification of God’s name, they [i.e. -the Gentiles] accused them of counterfeiting the coin. This calumny was -brought before the king; the king examined and investigated the matter, -and found that the false accusers invented that calumny against the Jews; -and they escaped. After a time, the Nazarenes resumed their calumnies, -and sought for persons to witness against the Jews, and they found such -persons as they desired [who stated] how they saw a Jew clipping a coin; -and though the king knew that it was all false, but on account of the -murmuring of the populace, he wished to throw off their displeasure, and -fearing lest the nation should rise with a sword in their hand, as was -generally the case with them, and there would be no one to deliver, he -commanded and banished them [the Jews], and this expulsion took place -A.M. 5020.” - -It is my firm conviction that Ben Virga’s account is the true one, as -far as the facts of the case are concerned. There seems certainly to be -a disagreement in the dates.¹ - - ¹ See Appendix G. - -Rabbi G’daliah mixed up several incidents together, and also added a -little of the marvellous out of his own vivid imaginations, which give -his narrative altogether the air of fiction, which is the following:―― - -“A.M. 5020――A priest in England consented to be circumcised in order -to be married to a Jewess, with whom he was desperately enamoured. -The affair became known to the citizens, who were desirous of burning -them. But the king chose to execute the revenge in a different way, and -decreed that within three months, they should change their religion: -those who circumcised the priest were burned, and many of the Jews -changed their religion. And they [i.e. the Gentiles] took all their -children from six years old and downwards, and carried them to the end -of the realm, that they might forget the customs of their fathers, the -Jews. The king died, and his son reigned in his stead, and presently -there came upon his kingdom pestilence and famine, and his counsellors -said to him, that it was because of the Jews [i.e. baptized ones], who -do not sincerely believe, that that calamity came upon them. And he [the -king] made two tents by the banks of the sea; upon one he painted the -figure of Moses, our Rabbi――may peace be upon him――and also his name; -and upon the other he painted their Messiah: and he told them they were -permitted to become Jews, and none of them should be forced to any thing. -But in order that he might ascertain who was a Jew [by creed], he wished -that those who were desirous of becoming Jews should go into the tent -of Moses, our Rabbi――may peace be upon him――and took upon themselves to -do so. Now many of them entered into the tent of Moses, our Rabbi――may -peace be upon him――and after they were gathered there, they were -murdered, and cast into the sea, and thus all of them perished and were -extirpated.”¹ - - ¹ See Appendix H. - -Did Rabbi G’daliah write since the days of Sir Walter Scott, one might -be inclined to think that the Jewish historian borrowed a leaf from one -of the volumes of the Scotch novelist, only suppressing the names of -Brian de Bois-Guilbert and Rebeccah, and putting instead “priest” and -“Jewess;” but as Sir Walter flourished when the Hebrew writer was long -since dead and gone, I am inclined to conjecture _vice versa_. - -The reason why we are not favoured with more information on their -history in this country, by themselves, has already been hinted at -in the first Lecture.¹ It is certain that the Jews had many valuable -libraries in this country, which were taken from them before they were -driven out of it, and were bestowed on the universities and monasteries. -However, this consideration belongs properly to the second series -of these Lectures, which shall be fully treated when that series is -delivered. Dr. Jost is by no means correct when he says, “There is no -trace of (Jewish) schools in England; no Rabbi of that country occupies -a place in the annals of Jewish scholars; there was no time for study, -and no ambition stimulated and encouraged those who were eager for the -acquirement of knowledge.”² Not only is this statement at variance with -Rabbi Solomon ben Virga’s, but also with his own. He himself says, with -reference to the English Jews, “The learned amongst them prosecuted -the medical sciences, yet more as an art; and they were, through their -acquaintance with some secret means of cures, so celebrated, that the -divines were interrupted in their wonderful cures,” &c.³ Indeed there -are many statements in this historian’s productions, which must be -received with a ♦considerable degree of caution. - - ¹ See pp. 7–11. - - ² “_Von Schulen ist keine Spur in England, daher auch nicht - von Gelehrten; kein dortiger Rabbiner hat einen Platz in den - Jüdischen Jahrbüchern der Gelehrten. Zum Studiren war keine - Zeit, und keine Ehre lockte und stärkte den Wissbegierigen_” - ――Geschichte der Israeliten, vol. vii., p. 165. - - ³ For the original refer to Appendix G. of Lecture II. - - ♦ ‘consirable’ replaced with ‘considerable’ - -There is, however, a current opinion amongst the modern English Jews, -that especially “the sayings of the wise men of Norwich and of York are -quoted in some of the additions made by the expounders of the Talmud.”¹ -I must confess, I cannot vouch for the correctness of that opinion. I -addressed once a letter on this subject to the editor of the “Jewish -Chronicle,”² hoping to elicit from his numerous well-educated readers, -information on the above. The learned editor seems to have mistaken the -purport of my letter to him, and therefore gave an answer not at all to -the purpose. It is the following given in a note:―― - - ¹ See p. 9. - - ² See Appendix I. - -“With every deference due to Dr. Jost, and the research displayed in his -History of the Jews, we are bound in this instance to support Mr. Moses -Samuels’ opinion, that we had great men living in England eight hundred -years ago. Although the Rev. Mr. Margoliouth might have read _through -the Talmud again carefully_ (no easy task!) he must have overlooked the -passage in Josephoth [Tosephoth I suppose] (not having a Talmud at hand, -we must defer the quotation of ‘chapter and verse’ to our next number), -where the חכמי נרוויש (wise men of Norwich) are mentioned. Mr. Samuels’ -opinion is also supported by the authority (no small one, even if -compared with Dr. Jost and the Rev. Mr. Margoliouth) of the שלשלת הקבלה -(Chain of tradition), which places ׳ר מאיר מאינגלטירה (Rabbi Meyer of England) -in the same category with Jarchi, Rabenu――Tam, and Maimonides; vide -שלשלת הקבלה fol. 41, p. 2.――Amsterdam Edition, 8vo.” - -That the Jews had learned men in this country, I know full well, and the -editor of the “Jewish Chronicle” might have known this by my quotation -from Ben Virga. It is the especial mention of the wise men of Norwich -and of York, that I am anxious to know about. Nearly two months have -passed away, and the promised “quotation of chapter and verse” has not -been given yet.¹ To return, however, to the immediate subject. - - ¹ It is now about a year since he made this promise, I venture - therefore respectfully to ask him once more for a fulfilment - of the same. - -Thus was this unfortunate race, after nearly two centuries of almost -continual persecution, driven from the country and robbed of their -possessions. In the circumstances that attended this last act of -violence, we see displayed a continuance of the same oppression and -cruelty which the treatment they had experienced, both from the monarch -and the people, had ever evinced. If, as was pretended, their banishment -was sought as a relief from the grievances which their usurious dealings -inflicted upon the nation, we cannot find, in this circumstance, any -necessity for their expulsion, or any justification for the rapacity, -that caused their estates to be confiscated to the crown, or, for the -malice that dictated the cruelties to which, on that occasion, they were -exposed, from the populace. The sums which were advanced to the king -by the commons and by the clergy, as the price of their expulsion, -were more than made up to them by the robbery they practised upon the -unfortunate exiles before their leaving the shores of this country. And -the desire that the nation seems to have entertained for their removal -may, without error, be traced principally to _this_ source. - -In taking a retrospective view of the facts that were stated in the -preceding Lectures, it must be acknowledged that a spirit of relentless -cruelty pervaded the whole nation; and we cannot but feel that the -exactions and barbarities which were recorded, mark an indelible stain -upon this period of your history. They are blots in the characters of -the successive monarchs, and are painfully indicative of the cupidity, -ferocity, and ignorance of the people. On the other hand, we must -admit that the conduct of the Jews themselves, under their continued -sufferings and oppressions, whilst it furnishes a fresh example of -the characteristic perseverance with which they brave all dangers and -difficulties, in pursuit of riches, affords, at the same time, a further -proof of the resignation, fortitude, and self-devotion, for which that -nation has been ever distinguished. Behold them proceeding to leave -the British Isle in the beginning of winter; see their tender infants -clinging to their mothers, who are scarcely able to support them; see -them laying down when unable to proceed, stripped of all their comforts, -insulted by those called Christians; and when they arrive at the sea -shore, behold numbers of them, in their embarkation, drowned by the -mere wanton barbarity of the English, and the rest stripped of the poor -pittance they were permitted to retain. Oh, the reflections are too much -for _me_. I would rather not think of the past, but look at the present -improved state both of the persecuted and persecutors, which shall be -the pleasing subject of the second series. - -It must not be omitted to be mentioned, that in banishing the Jews from -this country, the English have expelled one of the most brilliant stars -of the Reformation, who was a Christian Jew, an Englishman by birth, and -educated in the University of Oxford, the well-known Nicolaus de Lyra, -who wrote a commentary on the Old and New Testament; and being deeply -versed in the ancient tongues, and well read in all the works of the -learned rabbies, he selected their best opinions, and expounded the -holy Scriptures in a manner far above the taste of that age, in which he -showed a greater acquaintance with the principles of interpretation than -any of his predecessors. He was, indeed, a most useful forerunner to -Luther, who made ample use of his commentaries, in which he frequently -reprehended the reigning abuses of the Church――a fact which led Pflug, -Bishop of Naumberg, to say―― - - “Si Lyra non lyrasset, - Lutherus non saltasset.” - -Others have it thus:―― - - “Nisi Lyra lyrasset, - Totus mundus delirasset.”¹ - - ¹ See the Fundamental Principles of Modern Judaism Investigated, - p. 241. _Geschichteder hebräischen Sprache und Schrift_, - p. 105. - -Wickliife has also profited much by De Lyra’s writings: he used them -frequently when translating the Bible. Indeed, his writings were -formerly very famous. Pope, in giving a catalogue of Bay’s library, in -his Dunciad, finds―― - - “De Lyra there a dreadful front extend.” - -It appears that soon after the banishment of the Jews from this country, -De Lyra embraced Christianity in Paris. The French biographers have a -particular talent of Frenchifying any learned man who passes through the -towns and streets of France. Accordingly, L’Advocat, in his biographical -dictionary, made a Frenchman of him. But that is disproved by the -title-page of one of De Lyra’s own works,¹ in which he gives England as -his native country. - - ¹ Brathering’s 8vo. edition of Lyra’s Disputations against the - Jews. See Appendix K. - - - - - APPENDIX TO LECTURE VI. - - - A. - -Rex vicecomiti Mall. Salutem. Cum nuper pacem nostram per totum regnum -nostrum publicè proclamari fecimus, et eam omnibus et singulis de regno -nostro tam Judæis, quam Christianis observari præcepimus, et præcipimus -quod Judæi nostri de Bruges in balliva tua manuteneas, et defendas, -ita quod eis pax nostra, prout ejus per totum regnum nostrum proclamari -fecimus, inviolabiliter observetur. Et non exigas vel exigi permittas ab -eisdem redemptiones vel alias extorsiones ad opus nostrum, vel alicujus -alterius, nisi quatenus ad debita nostra, seu Domini _Henrici_ regis -patris nostri, seu tallagia, aut alia ad quæ de jure tenentur ab eis -levanda, de nostro, aut ejusdem Domini Henr. patris nostri mandato -warrantum habueris. Datum, &c. apud Westm. 15 die Junii. - - - B. - -Rex dilectis et fidelibus suis Stephano de Pentecester, Waltero -de Helynn, et Johanni de Cobham, justiciariis suis ad placita -transgressionum monetæ audienda et terminanda assignatis, et dilecto -clerico suo Philippo de Wylegheby, Salutem. Quia datum est nobis -intelligi, quod quidam Judæi regni nostri, fidem Catholicam, et Sacra -Ecclesiastica, hactenus diversimode blasphemare non formidarunt nec -adhuc formidant, in Divini nominis contumeliam, et totius Christianæ -professionis opprobrium; nos hujusmodi blasphemias, sicut principem -Catholicum decet, reprimi cupientes: volumus, quod nullus Judæus taliter -de cætero blasphemare præsumat; videlicet, aliquod erroneum, detestabile -aut abbominabile dicendo vel faciendo, in blasphemia crucifixi, fidei -Catholicæ, seu beatissimæ matris Mariæ Virginis, seu Ecclesiasticorum -Sacramentorum. Volumus etiam, quod hoc, per omnia loca regni nostri -in quibus Judæi morantur, publice proclamatur; et ne aliquis Judæus -sub periculo vitæ et membrorum talia facere vel dicere præsumat. Et -si quis notorius blasphemator invenietur, ita quod per inquisitionem -per Sacramentum Christianorum bonorum et graviorum inde convinci possit -evidenter; volumus quod quilibet talis puniretur secundum quod in -hujusmodi casibus alias fieri consuevit.――_Claus._ 7. E. 1, m. 6, dors. - - - C. - -Rex Justic. suis ad custodiam Judæorum assignatis, Salutem. -Monstraverunt nobis Mosseus de Hornden et Suetecota, uxor ejus, Judæi -Lond. quod cum ipsa Suetecota Christiana non sit, nec aliquo tempore -fuerat baptizata, quidam emuli eorum, maliciose confingentes ipsam -Suetecotam baptizatam fuisse inter duo bella de Lewes et Evesham, eam -super hoc defamarunt; in ipsorum Mossei et Suetecotæ dampnum non modicum -et gravamen. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod, inquisita inde plenius -veritate per Christianos et Judæos, sicut mos est; si inveneritis quod -prædicta Suetecota non fuit baptizata, sicut sibi imponitur, tunc iisdem -Mosseo et Suetecotæ, juxta officii vestri debitum, pacem habere inde -faciatis.――_Claus._ 16. E. 1, m. 20. - - - D. - -Rex vicecomitibus et omnibus ballivis et fidelibus suis, Salutem. Cum -dilecti nobis in Christo fratres de ordine Prædicatorum in Anglia, -Judæis, quorum mentes vetustas erroris, et perfidiæ, obnubilat, et -obcæcat, prædicare proponunt Verbum Dei, quo facilius, interveniente -gratia Spiritus Sancti, ad fidei Catholicæ converti valeant unitatem; -et ob hoc, dilectus nobis in Christo, Prior Provincialis ejusdem -ordinis nobis supplicavit, ut vobis demus in mandatis quod omnes Judæos, -ubicunque locorum in ballivis vestris conversantes, efficaciter moneatis, -et inducatis, quod in locis, ubi vobis de consilio fratrum ipsorum -magis expedire videbitur, ad audiendum Verbum Dei conveniant, et illud -ab iisdem fratribus, absque tumultu, contentione, vel blasphemia, -audiant diligenter et benigne: et si forte Altissimus velamen duritiæ -a cordibus eorum auferens aliquibus vel alicui ipsorum Judæorum gratiam -dederit convertendi, quod cæteri Judæi eis super hoc non impediant, nec -per alios impediri procurent: Nos prædictum propositum ipsorum fratrum -pium et salubre attendentes, et precibus prædicti Prioris favorabiliter -annuentes, in hac parte, vobis mandamus, quod omnes efficaciter -moneatis, et eos ad hoc, modis quibus melius sciveritis, inducatis, -prout unicuique vestrum inspiraverit spiritus veritatis. In cujus &c. -quamdiu regi placuerit duraturas. Teste rege apud Winton. 2 die Januar. -――Pat. 8 E. 1. m. 27. - - - E. - -Johannes de sancto Dionysio, Custos Domus conversorum, tulit breve regis, -de magno sigillo, in hæc verba. Edwardus, &c. Justiciariis ad Custodiam -Judæorum, &c. assignatis, Salutem. Ex parte conversorum domus nostræ -London. Nobis est ostensum, quod cum medietas bonorum, et catallorum, -Judæorum conversorum seu convertendorum, ad fidem Catholicam, ad -conversos domûs nostræ prædictae, ratione concessionis nostræ eis inde -factæ pertineat, alia medietate, illis qui sic a tempore concessionis -nostræ prædictæ convertuntur, reservata: ac Belager Judæus Oxon. nuper -ad fidem Catholicam se converterit &c. ideo mandamus &c. T. R. apud -Woodstock, 25 die Aprilis, an. Reg. nostr. nono.――_Rot. placit. term. -Pasche 9. E. 1. r. 7._ - -Per hoc breve liberantur eidem Johanni, bona, et catalla subscripta, -videlicet, unus Liber Prest. Constit. precii 12d.; unus Græcismus precii -6d.; una Legenda, precii 10d.; unum Doctrinale Magnum, precii 1d.; -quidam Liber Constitutionum, precii 4s.; quidam Codex, precii 16s.; -quoddam Insciatum, precii 16s., &c. - - - F. - -Rex dilectis et fidelibus suis Stephano de Pentecester, Waltero de -Heylin, et Johanni de Cobham, justiciariis ad placita transgressionis -monetæ audienda, Salutem. Quia omnes Judæi nuper rectati, et per certam -suspicionem indictati de retonsione monetæ nostræ, et inde convicti -cum ultimo supplicio puniuntur; et quidam eorum, eadem occasione omnia -bona et catalla sua forisfecerunt, et in prisonam nostram liberantur, -in eadem, ad voluntatem nostram detinendi. Et cum accepimus quod plures -Christiani, ob odium Judæorum, propter discrepantiam fidei Christianæ, -et ritus Judæorum, et diversa gravamina per ipsos Judæos Christianis -hactenus illata, quosdam Judæos nondum rectatos, nec indictatos, de -transgressione monetæ, per leves et voluntarias accusationes, accusare -et indictare, de die in diem, nituntur, et proponunt; imponentes eis, ad -terrorem ipsorum, quod de hujusmodi transgressione culpabiles existunt, -et sic per minas hujusmodi accusationis ipsis Judæis metum incutiunt, ut -pecuniam extorqueant ab iisdem: ita quod ipsi Judæi super hoc ad legem -suam sæpe ponuntur, in vitæ suæ periculum manifestum. Volumus quod omnes -Judæi qui ante primum diem Maii, prox præteritum indictati, vel per -certam suspicionem rectati non fuerunt de transgressione monetæ prædictæ, -et qui facere voluerunt finem, juxta discretionem vestram, ad opus -nostrum, pro sic quod non occasionentur de hujusmodi transgressionibus -factis ante primum diem Maii, propter novas accusationes Christianorum -post eundum diem inde factas non molestentur, sed pacem inde habeant -in futurum. Proviso, quod Judæi indictati, vel per certam suspicionem -rectati de hujusmodi transgressionibus ante prædictum diem Maii, -judicium subeant coram vobis, juxta formam prius inde ordinatam, et -provisam. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod fines hujusmodi capiatis, et -præmissa fieri, et observari faciatis, in forma prædicta.――Teste Rege -apud Cantuar. 8 die Maii.――_Claus._ 7. E. 1, m. 7. - - - G. - -הי״ח האי אשר נקרא היום אינגלאטירה נעשה שם שמד גדול ועצום בכל אותם קהלות גדולות ועצומות אשר היו שם בימים -ההם בחכמה ובינה וכבוד וביחוד העיר הגדולה הנקראת לונדריש אשר היו שם קרוב לשני אלפים בעלי בתים כלם אנשים -בעלי חכמה ועושר ושם עשה החכם ר׳ אבדהם בן עזרא אגרת קראה אגרת שבת והשמד היה שימירו דתם וכאשר עמדו על -קדושת השם העלילו עליהם שהיו עושים זיוף במטבע ובאה תביעה זו לפני המלך והמלך חקר ודרש ומצא כי המצלילים -המזויפים היו מטילים האשמה על היהורים ונמלטו׃ לימים שבו הנוצרים ובקשו מי שיעיד נגד היהודים ומצאו כרצונם איך ראו -יהודי קוצץ המטבע ואף על פי שידע המלך כי הכל שקר מפניהמיית העם בקש להשליך מעליו תרעומות אלו ושמא יקומו -העם וחרב בידם כדרכם ואין מציל צוה וגרשם והיה הגירוש זה שנת חמשת אלפים ועשרים ליצירה. - - - H. - -בשנת ה אלפים כ׳ כומר אחד נימול באינגילטרה כדי להנשא עם יהודית שנתלהב באהבתה ויודע הדבר |לבני העיר והיורוצים -לשרפם אבל המלך בחר לעשות הנקמה בדרך אחרת וגזר כי תוך ג׳ חדשים ימירו ואשר מלו הכומר שרפו ורבים מהם המירו -ויקחו כל בניהם מו׳ שנים ולמטה ויוליכום לסוף מלכותו למען ישכחו מנהג אבותיהם היהודים וימת המלך וימלוך בנו תהתיו ותכף -בא על מלכותו דבר ורעב ויאמרו יועציו כי לחטאת היהודים שאינם מאמינים היטיב בא העונש להם ויעש שני אהלים על חוף הים -על א׳ צייר צורת מרעה״ ושמו ועל אחר צייר משיחם ויאמר עליהם כי מרשה להם להתיהד ולא יכריח שום מהם לשום דבר -אמנם כדי להכיר מי יהודי רוצה שהמתיהדים יכנסו באהל מרעה״ וקבלו עליהם לעשותו ורבים מהם נכנסו באהל מרעה״ ואחר -הכנסם היו שם מרצחים אותם ומשליכים בים וכן ספו תמו כלם׃ - -Both Ben Virga and Rabbi G’daliah apparently fixed the date of the -expulsion of the Jews from this country A.M. 5020, or A.D. 1260, -which is decidedly erroneous. Asher’s inscription on the wall of the -Winchester dungeon controverts it.¹ Selden ingeniously, and I dare say -correctly, proposes to read נ instead of כ, which proposal reconciles -the apparent contradiction. No mistake is more likely to occur with -transcribers, than writing down a כ instead of נ. - - ¹ See pp. 379, 380. - - - - I. - - _To the Editor of the Jewish Chronicle._ - -DEAR SIR,――As a constant reader of your well conducted Journal, I -venture to hope that you will kindly afford me space in it for the -insertion of these few lines. - -I am anxious to know how the following two statements are to be -reconciled:――“But, let me tell you, that you had great men men living in -England eight hundred years ago. The sayings of the wise men of Norwich -and of York are quoted in some of the additions made by the expounders -of the Talmud.”――Moses Samuels’ Address on the Position of the Jews -in Britain, p. 27. “_Von Schulen ist keine Spur in England, daher auch -nicht von Gelehrten; kein dortiger Rabbiner hat einen Platz in den -Jüdischen Jahrbüchern der Gelehrten. Zum Studiren war keine Zeit, und -keine Ehre lockte unde stärkte den Wissbegierigen._”――J. M. Jost’s -Geschichte der Israeliten, vol. vii., p. 165. - -I know there is a current opinion amongst the Jews of England in favour -of Mr. Samuels’ statement; but after reading through the Talmud again -very carefully, at the expense of a great deal of time, and finding -that “the sayings of the wise men of Norwich and of York” either escaped -my eye, or are omitted in my copy (באמשטרדם לפרט תע׳ו), I bethought me to -apply to you. Perhaps this letter may elicit from some of your numerous -well-educated readers a reconciliation of the above. Ben Virga mentions -the learning of the ancient Jews of Britain, but does not say anything -about Norwich and York. He only says, הי״ח האי אשר נקרא היום אנגלאטירה נעשה שם שמד גדול -ועצים בכל אותם קהלות גדולות ועצמות אשר היו שם בימים ההם בחכמה ובינה וכבוד וביחוד העיר הגדולה לונדרוש אשר היו -שם קרוב לשני אלפים בעלי בתים כלם אנשים בעלי חכמה ועושר וכו׳. An early insertion will greatly -oblige me. - - I am, dear Sir, yours very truly, - - MOSES MARGOLIOUTH. - -Glasnevin, Dublin, August 18, 1845. - - _See Jewish Chronicle, Vol. I., No. 27._ - - - K. - -The following brief account of De Lyra is given by Bishop Bale in his -“Illustrium Majoris Britanniæ Catalogus.” - -“Nicolaus Lyranus ex Judæorum genere Anglus; atque Hebræorum Rabbinos -in literis Hebraicis ab ipsa pueritia nutritus, illud idioma sanctum ad -unguem, ut loquuntur, novit. Qui mox ut frequentasset scholas publicas, -ac minoritarum quorundam sincerioris judicii audisset conciones; -abhorrere coepit a Talmudicis doctrinis, atque ita a tota sua gentis -insania stultissima. Conversus ergo ad Christi fidem, ac regenerationis -lavacro lotus, Franciscanorum familiæ, se statim adjunxit. Inter quos -scripturis sanctis studiosissimus ac longa exercitatione peritus, Oxonii -et Parisiis, cum insulsissimis Rabbinis, qui plebem Judaicum vana Messiæ -adventuri pollicitatione lactaverant, disputationibus et scriptis, -mirifice conflictavit. Denique contra eorum apertissimas blasphemias, -utrumque Dei testamentum diligentiori examine et elucidatione explanavit. -Si in plerisque, ut ei a multis imponitur, deliravit, tempori est -imputandum, in quo fere omnia erant hypocritarum nebulis obscurata. -Meliorem certe cæteris omnibus per eam ætatem navavit in scripturis -operam. De verborum simplicitate non est quod conqueritentur homines, -cum a vocabulis æstimanda non sit æterni patris veritas. Præclara -scripsit opuscula, ut prædictus Tritemius habet, quibus nomen suum -celebriter devenit ad posteritatis notitiam.――Doctor Martinus Lutherus, -in secundo et nono capitibus in Genesim, se ideo dicit amavisse Lyranum -atque inter optimos posuisse, quod præ cæteris interpretibus diligenter -fuerit historiam prosecutus. Claruit A. C. 1337, quo Danielem exposuit, -ac Parisiis demum obiisse fertur.” - - - THE END. - - - - - PROSPECTUS - OF THE - PHILO-HEBRAIC SOCIETY, - - For Promoting the Study of Hebrew Literature, - - AND ESPECIALLY FOR REPRINTING THOSE WORKS OF HEBREW WHICH HAVE - NOW BECOME SCARCE AND RARELY TO BE MET WITH. - - * * * * * - - COMMITTEE. - - PRESIDENT――THE REV. THE PROVOST OF TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN. - - REVS. S. HINDS, D.D. | REVS. C. P. REICHEL. - REVS. J. WEST, D.D. | REVS. T. CRADOCK. - REVS. A. CAMPBELL. | REVS. M. RAINSFORD. - REVS. M. MARGOLIOUTH. | DR. LITTON. - REVS. G. H. CARROLL. | G. A. CRAWFORD, Esq. - - * * * * * - -THE Committee of the above Society beg leave to draw your attention to -the reasons of its establishment, and solicit your co-operation with it. -The beauties of Hebrew literature have been long and fully admitted by -the few whose superior tastes have led them to explore its treasures, -still, we regret to say, too little known. The necessary brevity of a -Prospectus prevents the Committee saying much on the importance of a -knowledge of that literature, especially to those who spend a great deal -of their time in making themselves acquainted with the writings of the -ancients. Suffice it to say, that those who have impartially studied -the compositions of the Greeks, of the Romans, and of the Hebrews, -have found the productions of the latter unrivalled either in beauty or -elegance by those of the two former. - -It is a libel on the literary character of the Jews to say, that -they confined themselves to the cultivation of one department of -literature――a supposition which gave rise to the idea, that their -literature is very scanty, and consists only of the Hebrew Bible -and the Talmud.――The Jewish authors grace the literary pages of -Spanish history as pre-eminent philosophers, philologists, physicians, -astronomers, mathematicians, historians, grammarians, orators, and -highly-gifted poets. The Committee have had the privilege of meeting -many of the Hebrew race, highly distinguished in the above attainments, -and the only education they received was a purely Hebrew one. The Jew -spoke the truth when he affirmed, “That no nation in the universe can, -during a continuous period of full five hundred years, produce a line -of men so truly eminent, so universally learned, as can the Jews of -Spain, from the year 980, until their expulsion from that kingdom in -the year 1492.”――(_Heb. Review_, vol. ii., p. 39.) - -The object of the PHILO-HEBRAIC SOCIETY is――as has been already stated -at the head of the Prospectus――to promote the study of Hebrew literature -more than has been ever done before, by reprinting the most valuable -treatises and choicest works of the Hebrew sages, such as those of -Saadia Gaon, Ben Gabriol, Samuel Nagid, Kimchi, Aben Ezra, Ralbag, -Maimonides, Joseph Albo, Joseph Pinso, Luzzati Mendelssohn, Weizel, -&c., &c., with translations of the same on opposite pages. - -The Society is formed on the principle of the Parker, Camden, and -other similar Societies. Every Subscriber of One Guinea a year -(Subscription to be paid in advance) will be entitled each year to two -volumes, handsomely printed in octavo, and illustrated with prolegomena, -biographies, and notes, by well-qualified editors. - -The Committee earnestly solicit the co-operation of the literary public, -and would feel very much obliged for an early favour of the names of -those who are interested in this important undertaking. - - Signed for the Committee, - - MOSES MARGOLIOUTH, - - _Honorary Secretary_. - -⁂ The Editorial department will be conducted by the Revds. G. H. CARROLL, -M. MARGOLIOUTH, and C. P. REICHEL. - -N.B.――All communications to be addressed to the REV. MOSES MARGOLIOUTH, -Incumbent of Glasnevin, near Dublin. - - - - - BY THE SAME AUTHOR. - - - I. - - Just Published, price 7s. 6d., - - AN EXPOSITION OF THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH; - - Being a Series of Six Lectures, preached in the Parish - Church of Glasnevin. - - HATCHARD AND SON, London. W. CURRY, JUN. AND CO., Dublin. - - - II. - - THE - FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF MODERN JUDAISM - INVESTIGATED; - - Together with a Memoir of the Author, and an Introduction; - - TO WHICH ARE APPENDED, - - A LIST OF THE SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN PRECEPTS, - AND ADDRESSES TO JEWS AND CHRISTIANS. - - B. WERTHEIM, London. W. CURRY, JUN. AND CO., Dublin. - - - III. - - Also, Price 2s., - - ISRAEL’S ORDINANCES EXAMINED; - - A REPLY to CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH’S Letter - to the Right Rev. the Bishop of Jerusalem. - - B. WERTHEIM, London. W. CURRY, JUN. AND CO., Dublin. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JEWS IN GREAT BRITAIN *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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