The Jewish Synagogue, Chapter 34
CHAP. XXXIV.
Of the puniſhments for offences among the Jews.
SEeing the Jews have for a long time been without a King and Scepter, and have loſt all power and authority of paſſing ſentence of life and death: they enjoyn at this day a certain kinde of penance to him that offendeth, which he muſt of duty undergo and perform.Lib Chaſidim num. 167. Reſchis Chochma, P▪ 22. The adulterer is bound to divers ſorts of penance, according to the nature of the fact committed. In the Winter time he is compelled to ſtand for certain dayes in the water of ſome River or running Brook. If there be Ice upon the water, then they cut and hew out a place for his ingreſſe with an Hatchet; & he is forced to ſtand up to the chin in the water ſo long as an Egge may be made hard roſted. In Summer time he is compelled to ſit naked in an heap of Piſmires; where, although he be ſo naked, that he hath not the leaſt rag upon him, yet are his ears and noſtrils ſtopped: his penance ended, he waſheth himſelf with cold water. If the ſeaſon be neither hot nor cold in which he is to ſuffer puniſhment, then they appoint him a certain time of faſting, for the ſpace whereof he muſt not eat, unleſſe it be very late at night: at what time they give him ſome ſmall portion of bread and water; and this they practiſe until the time come when he may either ſtand in cold water, or ſit amongſt an heap of Piſmires. It is written in Medraſch, that the firſt man Adam ſtood in the water up to the noſtrils an hundred and thirty years before he begot Seth, for eating of the forbidden fruit. If the puniſhment ſeem to be leſſe then the offence requires: then they compel him in the Summer time to run through the middle of a thick ſwarm of Bees, which may lance and ſting his body until the bulk thereof by reaſon of the anguiſh ſwell again. And ſo ſoon as he is cured of the ſaid malady, he muſt again run through the foreſaid ſwarm of Bees, and that more then once, according to his deſert. If he have often committed fornication and adultery, then for many years he muſt continually ſuffer the ſaid puniſhment. Such a Faſt is ſometimes enjoyned ſuch an offender, that for the ſpace of three years he muſt faſt night and day, not eating any thing unleſs it be at ſupper, when his daintieſt fare muſt be bread and water: onelyonly this qualification is annexed, that he may chuſe whether he will perform the forementioned injunction, or otherwiſe faſt three whole dayes in every one of the three years, not taſting the leaſt morſel of bread or drop of water. As Queen Eſther did in her great and extream neceſſity, and commanded the Jews to practiſe the ſame.
If any go in unto a woman at unfitting time, he is enjoyned to faſt forty dayes, and every day to have his back twice or thrice ſoundly laſhed with a lethern whip, and thirty nine ſtripes to be given him. He muſt not eat any fleſh or hot meats, drink no wine unleſſe it be upon the Sabbath day. If any kiſs or embrace a woman being in her monethly flowers, he muſt undergo the ſame puniſhment.
A Robber is adjudged to a three years exile: as alſo that wandering through every City where any Jews do ſojourn, he ſhould with a loud voice proclaim, Rotzeach Ani From foreign occidere., I am a Robber, and expoſe himſelf to the laſh. He muſt not eat fleſh, nor drink wine. He muſt not cut his hair or beard, nor put on any clean line…, or change of garments. It is not lawful for him to waſh his hands: every monethmonth once he is bound to cover his head, and to binde the arm wherewith he acted the murther thereunto with an Iron Chain, and ſo to deplore the offence committed, in the ſight of the Iews, Some have this puniſhment inflicted upon them, that if they ſleep one night, they ſhould watch the next, and ſo become vagabonds upon the face of the earth, as Cain was. Others are compelled to wear plaits of Iron upon their naked skin, Others forced to proſtrate themſelves before the door of the Synagogue, that every incommer may tread upon. If any Jew accuſe another, and bring him before a Chriſtian Magiſtrate, or divulge his wickedneſſe and evil actions, then is he called a traytor. Others inflict ſome grievous puniſhment upon him, and from thenceforth eſteem him as a man of no account and reckoning.