The Jewish Synagogue, Chapter 27
CHAP. XXVII.
Of the manner how they kill their Beaſts.
MAny among the Jews are forced to learn the Butchers trade, which they call Scachten. He that learns it is bound Apprentice to ſome skilful Butcher for term of yeers, and thoſe not a few; for there are ſo many precepts, conſtitutions, caveats, axiome… belonging thereunto, that it is very difficult for any man in a ſhort time to be cunning and expert therein; he muſt therefore beſtow great paines and ſtudy in ſeeking the rules appertaning thereunto out of the books of the Rabbines: that thereby he may gain a perfect and ſound knowledge therein.
There is extant a certain ſmal Pamphlet which is called Schochitos and Bed kos, the Butchers book, in which are contained the principal Rules and Canons belonging to this Art; according to the tenor whereof the Jews at this day kill and ſlaughter their beaſts and other cattel: If they meet with any difficult place whoſe true meaning cannot be comprehended by the brains of a Butcher, they repair to ſome Rabbine for the expoſition thereof. He therefore who hath diligently peruſed this little book, and hath been long time a ſpectator of another mans labours in this kinde, and can rightly judge of them, is made by ſome of the Rabbines Freeman of the Company, who alſo makes him a teſtimonial Letter under hand and ſeal of his skil and ability. Wherein he certifies that he is expert and skilful in the Butchers trade; and therefore gives him full power and licenſe to kill and ſlay any Ox, Sheep, or ſuch like kinde of Beaſt, when and whereſoever it pleaſeth him. Not long ſince it was my chance to ſee one of theſe teſtimonials, which was writ in manner and form following:
This day being ſuch a day of the monethmonth, in ſuch and ſuch a yeer, I have examined, and in examining found N. the ſon of N. to be skilful and expert in the Butchers trade, and that as well to teach by mouth as to practiſe with hand. Which things weighed, and rightly by me conſidered, I have granted him a licenſe to kill and ſlaughter, and being killed and ſlaughtered to ſearch all kinde of cattel. And furthermore, it ſhall be lawful for him to eat whatſoever ſhall be by him in this caſe ſearched and ſlaughtered. Alwayes provided for a ſpace of a whole year enſuing the date hereof once a week, the next year every monethmonth once, and after that every quarter of a year for the ſpace of his whole life, he do dilige…tly peruſe all the Rules and Canons belonging to the Butchers trade.
Witneſs Rabbi N. Butcher.
A Butcher is called in the Hebrew tongue Schochet, the Butchers trade Schacten. The ſearcher, or overſeer, who looks whether they be ſound or not Bodek, and the action of ſearching Badken.
In the exerciſe of this their trade they uſe knives of divers ſorts, proportioning them according to the quantity and bigneſs of the beaſt that is to be ſlaughtered. Their knives of a greater ſize have commonly broad and blunt edges, yet apt enough to cut: if they have any gap in them, if it be never ſo little, it is not lawful to uſe them. The greater ſort of beaſts being ready to undergo the knife have their feet tied by the Butcher, in imitation of Abraham, who bound his ſon hand and foot when he was about to ſacrifice him. Afterwards he cuts the weeſil of the beaſt at one cut.
Then he looks upon his knife, to ſee whether there be any flaws or gaps therein, which action of his is very neceſſary, ſeeing a gap in the edge of the knife doth in ſuch manner terrifie the poor beaſt, that the blood runs unto the heart to comfort it, ſo that the knife cannot make a paſſage for it, by which means the beaſt becomes unfit to be eaten. When he hath cut deep enough, he hangs the beaſt upon the Cammerel, unbowels it, and making a couple of holes, one upon the right, another upon the left ſide of the heart; he, or any other who is skilful in ſearching, thruſts his hand through theſe holes into the body of the beaſt, with an intent to know certainly, whether any blood or little Bladders full of blood clag or cleave unto the heart or liver. Which if he perceive any other fault, be it never ſo little; then it is not lawful for any Jew to eat thereof: as it is written: Ye ſhall be an holy people unto me, Exod, 22. 31.neither ſhall you eat any fleſh that is torn of beaſts in the field: ye ſhall caſt it to the Dog. And again, Of a beaſt defiled or rent with beaſts, whereby he may be defiled, ye ſhall not eat: I am the Lord. Out of theſe words the lews draw this concluſion, That it is not lawful to eat the fleſh of any beaſt which is not without taint, ſpot, or blemiſh; when the Text it ſelf ſpeaks not of the living creature, but of a dead carkaſe, a beaſt that hath died of it ſelf: or hath been torn in pieces by another.
Birds and all kindes of fowl the Jews do kill and ſlaughter in the ſame manner that they do their beaſts: cutting their throats, and letting the blood drop down into a heap of aſhes, covering it therewith: This their practiſe they ground upon that action of Rebecca, who when ſhe ſaw Iſ…c, lig…hted down from the Camel. Upon which words the Rabbines in the Schechitos or Butchers book have left in writing, that at that time it was with Rebecca after the manner of women, whoſe virgin, or menſtruous blood the Birds came and covered after that ſhe had riſen from the carth: and therefore they ſay, that God commanded them in lieu of this to cover and hide the blood of Birds when they ſlaughter them.
They cover alſo the blood of other Beaſts with earth; becauſe the earth opened and ſwallowed up the blood of righteous Abel, Gen. 24. 64. Abel ſignifies vanity, ſhewing the righteouſnesse of man to be nothing elſe: hence that excellent Elogie, Adam, Cain, Abel, the earth hath poſſeſſed vanity. The names of the three firſt men making it up.when Cain ſlew him. I alſo, ſaith the Author of the Butchers book have ſeen it recorded in the book Chaſid…m, that the blood is therefore to be hid in the earth, leſt Satan coming, and finding it uncovered, ſhould accuſe us before God of great injuſtice; becauſe it would ſeem a very unjuſt and cruel act, miſerably to kill and ſlaughter a poor innocent and unreaſonable creature in ſuch a tyrannical manner, which hath committed no ſin or offence againſt us, and therefore is not lyable to puniſhment. Surely the Iews would make the Devil a very ſottiſh Fool and ſhallow brain'd Aſſe who cannot know thus much; and themſelves very cunning and crafty in ſuch a circumvention of him.
After that they have killed a great beaſt, they take all the veins and nerves out of his body, picking away the fat which cleaves unto them; then putting them in water to mollifie and ſoften them: after a certain ſpace taking them out again, and waſhing them in clear water, ſo that no drop of blood remain in them; then they lay them upon a ſhingle or cloven, that the water may drop from them; then they put them into a veſſel, and ſalt them; which veſſel is full of holes, to this end, that if any blood remain in them, it being ſucked out by the ſalt, may diſtil, and finde paſſage through the holes and crevices. If they are not deſirous to have their meat throughly ſalted, they put it in the pickle only for an hour, and then boyl it. They eat not any thing which hath the leaſt drop of blood in it; for it hath been alwayes their uſe and cuſtom, and is at this day in a wonderful manner to abſtain from it. They likewiſe do not eat the hinder parts of any beaſt unto this day, becauſe the Angel touched the ſinew that ſhrank in the hollow of Jacobs thigh. Yet the Jews of Italy, Gen. 32.by the rules of their Anatomy, have found out, and concluded, that if the veins, ſinews, and arteries be artificially taken out, the hinder parts may alſo be eaten, without making any ſcruple for conſcience ſake. Surely if the Jews who lived in the time of Moſes, had been cunning skilful and expert in this art, then had he ſpent his breath in vain, in forbidding them to eat ſo many ſeveral ſorts of Beaſts, Fowls, and Fiſhes. And I am verily perſwaded, that if a Sow ſhould be brought at this day to ſome of theſe profound Anatomiſts, they by cutting her up, and taking out the veines, nerves, and ſinews, would make her a dainty diſh for a Jews dinner.
They ſell the hinder parts of the beaſt to the Chriſtians: yet I would wiſh all Chriſtians that do buy any ſuch proviſion at the hands of a Jew, to conſider and know, that the Jews are wont before they bring them to the Shambles, to ſpit upon and defile them, cauſing their children to piſſe upon them: they themſelves pronouncing a curſe upon them, that the Gentile that buyes them may eat up their ſilthineſs, even death it ſelf. I would not have the Reader to think this a Fable, for it is confirmed by the joynt teſtimony of ſo many Jews as have been converted to the Chriſtian faith. Perhaps the Iews are not in every place ſo evil minded, ſo ungodly, and wicked; yet in general they bear a tyrannous hate and malice againſt us Chriſtians.
To conclude: by this their great skil in Anatomy, and cutting up of beaſts, and taking out the nerves and ſinews, it comes to paſſe that they are ſuch excellent Phyſitians, judging of mans body by inſight into that of the beaſt, and of all the diſeaſes incident thereunto: yet many a Chriſtian is forced to pay for his phyſick with the loſſe of his life. Concerning which matter if any one deſire to read more, I refer him to Antonius Margarita in his book of the falth of the Iews.