Demurrer to the Jews, Part 1 (1 of 3)

Demurrer to the Jews · Part 1 (1 of 3)

p. 1A Short Demurrer to the Jews long diſcontinued Remitter into ENGLAND.

HOw the Nation of the Jews (once (a)(a)Deut. 7.6. c. 14. &c. 26.19.Deut 7:6Gods own beloved, special, choſen People) after their (b)(b)Acts 2.22. 1 Theſſ. 2.15, 16.Acts 2:221 Thess 2:151 Thess 2:16malitious crucifying of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, and imprecation, That (c)(c)Mat. 27.25.Matt 27:25his Bloud might be on them and their children, were for this (d)(d)1 Theſſ. 2.15, 16.1 Thess 2:151 Thess 2:16their crying ſin eſpecially, made the ſaddeſt ſpectacles of divine Juſtice, and humane Miſery of all other Nations in the World, being quite extirpated out of their owne Land, almoſt totally deleted by the ſword, peſtilence, famine; carried away Captives, and diſperſed like ſo many Vagabonds over the face of the whole Earth, as the very off-ſcowring of the World, and execration, deriſion of all other people, having no place, City, form of Government, or Republike of their own, in any corner of the Univerſe; (according to Gods Comminations againſt them, Levit. 26.14. to 46. Deut. 28.15. to 68. Jer. 9.10. c. 13.24. Ezech. 5.2. to the end. c. 12.15. c. 22.15. Mich. 1.21. Mat. 24.) Or what baniſhments, puniſhments, oppoſitions, reſtraints by penal Lawes, ſuppreſſions of their Synagogues, Ceremonies, they have received in all ages from Chriſtian Kings, Princes, Republikes in Forein parts, for their implacable malice, blaſphemie againſt our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, Chriſtians, Chriſtian Religion, and other Crimes and Miſdemeanors to which they are moſt addicted, is not the ſubject of my intended Brief Diſcourſe, p. 2and ſo fully related by Joſephus, Egeſippus, Euſebius, Nicephorus, Zonaras, Paulus Diaconus, Paul Eber, the Magdeburgian Centuriators, out of them and other Hiſtorians, in their 2. to their 13 Centuries, chap. 14, and 15. in Baronius his Annals, and Heylins Microcoſm, p. 568, 569, 570. where all may peruſe them, that I ſhall not ſpend time to recite them, but wholly confine my ſelf to, a Brief Relation of their firſt admiſſion into, their ill deportment, miſdemeanors, ſufferings, popular inſurrections against them in, and their final baniſhment by Judgement and Edict of Parliament out of England, never to return again, collected out of the beſt Hiſtorians: to which I ſhall ſubjoyn, a taſte only of ſuch Laws, Scriptures, and Reaſons, as ſeem ſtrongly to plead againſt their readmiſſion into our Iſland, eſpecially at this ſeaſon.

When the Jews came firſt into England, appears not certainly by any Hiſtorians, there being no mention of their being here in any of our Britiſh or Saxon Kings reigns, to my remembrance. Antoninus in his Chronicles, Tit. 16. c. 5. records, That William the Conqueror King of England, tranſlated the Jews from Rhoan to London; and the Magdeburg Centuries out of him, Cent. 11. cap. 14. col. 686. adde thereto, that it was OB NUMERATUM PRECIUM, for a ſum of money given to him by them, (which I find not in Antoninus.) Both theſe Authors intimate, That this was their firſt arival in England, yet in what year of this King, they are ſilent. With them concurs Raphael Holinſhed, Vol. 3. p. 15. where thus he writes, Among other grievances, which the Engliſh ſuſtained by the hard dealings of the Conqueror, this is to be remembred, That he brought Jews into the Land from Rouen, & appointed them a place to inhabit and occupy: (reputing their very firſt introduction a Grievance to the Engliſh, and hard dealing.) Which Iohn Stow in his Annals of England, p. 103. and Survey of London, printed 1633. p. 288. thus ſeconds, King William FIRST brought the Iews from Rhoan here to inhabit in England; and Sir Richard Baker in his Chronicle of the Kings of England, London, 1653. p. 39. This King was the FIRST that brought the Iews to inhabit here in England. But this Law concerning p. 3the Jews inſerted amongſt the Laws in the Confeſſors time, ſeems to prove their arival and ſettlement in England, to be before this Normans reign; unleſs miſ-placed in point of time amongſt his Laws by Hoveden: being rather in my opinion, a Declaration of the Jews ſervile condition under King William, and Richard the firſt, when Hoveden writ, then any Law in King Edwards reign, or before, (amongſt whoſe Laws or the Conquerors it is not to be found in Abbot Ingulphus his Original copy, publiſhed by Mr. Selden in his Notae & Spicilegium ad Eadmerum, p. 172, &c.) as the words themſelves import.

(e)(e)Rog. Hove. Annal. pars poſterior p. 604 Spelmanni Concil. p. 623. Lambard. Archaion.De Judaeis in Regno consticutis.

SCiendum eſt quo que , quod omnes Judaei, ubicun que in Regno ſunt, ſub tutela & defenſione Domini Regis ſunt; nec quilibet eorum alicui diviti ſe poteſt ſubdere, ſine Regis licentia. Judaei, & omnia ſua Regis ſunt. Quod ſi quiſpiam detinuerit eis pecuniam ſuam, perquirat Rex tanquam ſuum proprium: (or detinuerit eos, vel pecuniam eorum, perquirat Rex, ſi vult, tanquam ſuum proprium, as Sir Henry Spelman renders it.)

This Law or Declaration (being the firſt record making mention of their being, and condition in England:) proves, That as all the Jews when they came firſt into England, were under the Kings protection and patronage where ever they reſided: ſo they were all under him only as his meer Vaſſals, their perſons and goods being his alone; and that they could diſpoſe of neither of them without his licenſe: Into which ſlaviſh condition they doubtleſs then put themſelves, (being baniſhed out of other Nations for their villanies) only to avoid the fury of the common people, to whom they were moſt deteſtable, who elſe would have quickly murdered, or ſton'd them to death, and ſtript them of all their wealth; as the ſequel will declare.

The next Paſſage in Hiſtorians concerning the Jews being and condition in England, is that of (f)(f)De Geſtic Regum, l. 4. p. 123.William of Malmsbury, in William Rufus his reign. The Jews (writes he) in his time gave a teſtimony of their inſolency: Once at Rhoan, endeavouring by gifts to perſwade and revoke certain p. 4men to Judaiſm, who had deſerted their error: Another time at London, being animated to enter into a combate (or diſpute) againſt our Biſhops, becauſe the King (in merriment, as I believe) had ſaid, That if they ſhould overcome the Christians, and confute them by open arguments, he would then revolt to them, and become one of their Sect; Whereupon it was managed with great fear of the Biſhops and Clergy, and with pious ſolicitude of ſuch who were afraid of the Chriſtian Faiths miſcarriage. And from this combate the Jews only brought away nothing beſides confuſion; although they would many times boaſt, that they were overcome not by argument or reaſon, but by a faction. (g)(g)Chronica pars 2. Tit. 16. c. 5. f. 167.Antoninus relating the ſtory in the ſame words, addes onelyonly this, That the Jews comming to this King on a certain Solemnity, and offering him gifts; (after their removal from Rhoan to London) he thereupon animated them to a conflict againſt the Chriſtians, ſwearing by St. Lukes face, that if they overcame them, he would revolt to their Sect: (as if he ſpake it in good earneſt) with whom the (h)(h)Centur. xi. …. 14. col. 667.Magdeburg Centuries, Iohn Stow in his Survey of London, p. 288. and Sir Richard Baker in his Chronicle, p. 51. accord.

By which we may obſerve, That the Jews were no ſooner tranſported and ſetled in Rhoan and London, but th…y preſently began to grow very inſolent againſt the Chriſtians, 1. Endeavouring to pervert ſome of them by monies to Judaiſm. 2ly, Attempting to corrupt the King himſelf, by gifts, to ſide with them againſt the Biſhops and Clergy, and to become one of their Sect. 3ly, By entring into open Diſputations with the Biſhops and Clergy againſt the Chriſtian Faith, to the great fear of the Profeſſors, and hazard of the Chriſtian Religion. 4ly, By boaſting frequently when they were overcome, That it was only by power and faction, not truth or diſputation. And will not this be their very practiſe now, if re-admitted, to the hazard of our Chriſtian Religion, and ſeduction of many ſimple, unſtable ſouls, in this unſetled, apoſtatizing age? when not only the ignorant people, but many great Profeſſors, turn Atheiſts, Hereticks, Seekers, Apoſtates, Blaſphemers, p. 5Ranters, Quakers, Antiſcripturiſts, and what not, but real, upright, juſt, and mortified ſelf-denying Chriſtians?

This Hiſtory of William Rufus, cauſing a diſputation between the Chriſtians and the Jews, is related by Raphael Holinſhed in his Chronicle; Vol. 3. p. 27. who likewiſe records of him **See Eadmeri Hiſt. Novorum l. 2. p. 46, 47. Where this Hiſtory is firſt recorded upon the reports of thers and Sir Richard Baker his Chronicle p. 51.That he being at Rhoan on a time, there came to him divers Jews, who inhabited that City, complaining to him, that divers of that Nation had renounced their Jewiſh Religion, and were become Chriſtians; wherefore they beſought him, that for a certain ſumme of money which they offered to give, it might pleaſe him to conſtrain them to abjure Chriſtianity, and turn to the Jewiſh Law again. He was content to ſatisfie their deſires, and ſo receiving the 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 rhe King had done in ſuch like matters, preſented to him 60 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 he ſaid: Sirra, 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 adoe. To whom the Young man anſwered, Your Grace (as I gueſſe) doth but …eſt. Wherewith the King being moved, ſaid, What? thou dunghill knave, ſhould I jeſt with thee; Get thee hence quickly, and fulfill my commandement, or by St. Lukes 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 doe 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 p. 6him, which are joyned to him by Faith. The King herewith confounded, commanded the Jew to avant and get him out of his ſight; But his Father perceiving that the King could not perſwade 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 doe; that was, to perſwade him ſo far as he might. At length, when he would have had the King to have dealt further in the matter; the King (to ſtop his mouth) tendred back to him the one half of his money, and reteined the other to himſelf. All which encreaſed the ſuſpition men had of his infidelity.

By this Hiſtory we may perceive what a prevailing Engine the Jews money is, both to ſerue them into Chriſtian Kingdoms, though the moſt bitter, inveterate, profeſſed Enemies of Chriſt himſelf, Chriſtians, and Chriſtianity, and how their money can induce even Chriſtian Princes to perpetrate moſt unchriſtian, and antichriſtian actions; and enforce by threats and violence, even converted Chriſtian Jews to renounce their Chriſtianity, and apoſtatiſe to their former Jewiſh Errors which they had quite renounced. And do not they ſtill work even by the ſelf-ſame Money Engine? preferred by too many Chriſtians, before Chriſt himſelf and Chriſtianity.

In the year of our Lord, 1145. during the reign of King Stephen, the Jews grew ſo preſumptuous in England, that they crucified a child called William, in the city of Norwich, in deriſion of Chriſtian Religion, as Mathew Weſtminſter, Flores Historiarum, Ann. 1145. p. 36. **Chronicon Johannis Bromton. Col. 1048. Hygden in his Polychronicon; Antoninus: Centuriae Magdeburgenſes: Centuriae 12. c. 14. Mr. John Fox in his Acts and Monuments, 1640. Vol. 1. p. 302. Richard Grafton in his Chronicle, p. 46. Raphael Holinſhed in his Chronicle, Vol. 3. p. 56. Stowes Survey of London, p. 288.and others ioyntly atteſt. Not long after this, Anno, 1160. (the 6 year of Henry the II.) they crucified another child at Glouceſter, (in contempt of Chriſt and his Paſſion) as John Bromtons Chronicon col. 1050. and ††Henry de Knyghton de Event. Angl. l. 2. col. 2394. Polychronicon: Fox Acts and Monuments, Vol. 1. p. 302. Grafton in his Chronicle, p. 46.others record. And in the ſame Kings reign, Anno 1181. upon the ſame account, the Iews on the Feaſt of Eaſter martyred and crucified another child at St. Edmonds-bury, called Robert; who was honourably interred ſoon after in the Church of St. Edmunds, and grew famous by miracles there wrought; as Gervaſius p. 7Dorobernenſis, in his Chronica, col. 1458. relates.

What puniſhments were then inflicted on them for theſe Murders and Inſolencies, I find not recorded; perchance they purchaſed their peace with monies: Yet I (i)(i)Gervaſius Dorobern. Chro. col. 1403.read, That in the year 1168. King Henry the 2. wanting monies, baniſhed the wealthieſt of the Jews out of England, and fined the reſt of them in 5000 Marks; moſt likely for theſe their Miſdemeanors. John Stow in his Survey of London, p. 288. writes, That King Henry the 2. grievouſly puniſhed the Jews for corrupting his coin; which no other Hiſtorian mentions.

The (k)(k)Chronicon Johann. Bromton, col. 1129. Polydor Virgil, l. 13. Holinſheds Chronicle Vol. 3. p. 101. Graftons Chro. p. 79. Cent. Magdeburg. 12 c. 15. col. 1759. John Stow his Survey of London, p. 318. Sir Richard Bakers Chronicle, p. 81.Jews, though there were a great multitude of them in England, in every quarter of the Realm, had only one Church-yard alotted them, and that at London, (near Red-croſs-ſtreet) in which they were enforced to bury all their dead corps, whereſoever they died; which being a great trouble and annoyance to them: thereupon in the year 1178. they petitioned King Henry the 2. (being at Stanstede) for a Licenſe to have church-yards without the Cities wherin they inhabited, in convenient places where they could purchaſe them, wherein to bury their dead; which he then granted to them.

It ſeems the Jews were then ſo odious to the whole Nation, that they would not permit them to bury their very dead corps in any Engliſh ſoyl, for fear of polluting it, nor near any Chriſtians bodies, without the Kings ſpecial Licenſe. Neither did they deſire to be interred near, or amongſt any Chriſtians corps, out of deteſtation to them, as if one earth, could no more contain them, than one Heaven, which the Jews would engroſs to themſelves alone.

(l)(l)Guliel. Nubrigenſ. Hiſt. l. 4. c. 1.7, 8. &c. Matthew weſt. Mat. Paris, Rog. Hoveden, Hygden, Fabian, Holinſhed, Grafton, Stow, Speed, Fox, Daniel, in the life of Rich. 1. Chronicon Johannis Bromton, col. 1152.1160.1171. Radulphus de Diceto Ymagines hiſtoriarum, col. 647.651. Henricus de Knyghton, de Eventibus Angliae, l. 2. c. 13. col. 2401. John Stow his Survey of London, p. 288. Sir Richard Bakers Chronicle, p. 89, 94, 95. Cent. Magd. 12. c. 14.King Richard the firſt being to be crowned King at London, in the year of our Lord, 1189. the chiefeſt of the Jews flocked together from all parts to his Coronation, p. 8reſolving to purchaſe the favour of the New King with moſt ample gifts, and to get their former priviledges confirmed, which they feared they ſhould loſe. But they being ſuſpected of Sorcery and Magick, the King by a publick Proclamation prohibited all Jews from entring the Church whiles he was crowning, or his Palace whiles he was therein feaſting. Notwithſtanding ſome of the principal Iews ſecretly got into the Church and Palace; who being diſcovered one after another, were well beaten, and thruſt out of the Church and Court by the Kings Officers and Chriſtians. Upon which the common people then flocking in great multitudes to the Kings coronation, fell upon the Jews ſtanding in great multitudes at the Palace gate, firſt beating them with their fiſts, and then taking up clubs and ſtones ſlew ſome of them, and left the others half dead: whereupon one of them called Benedict of York, being ſo beaten and wounded, that he deſpaired of life, and extraordinarily terrified with the fear of death, received Baptiſm from William, Prior of St. Maries of Yorke, and thereby eſcaped the peril of death, and hands of the perſecutors. In the mean while there was a great rumor ſpred throughout the city of London upon this occaſion, That the King deſired, and had commanded, that all the Iews ſhould be baniſhed and deſtroyed; Whereupon an infinite number of people, as well out of the City as moſt counties of England then coming to the coronation, inflamed with the deſire of booty, betaking themſelves to their arms, fell pell-mell upon the Jews, and ſlew and pillaged them both in the ſtreets, and in their houſes; and thoſe who defended themſelves for a time in ſuch ſtrong houſes which they could not enter, were there ſoon after burnt and conſumed, together with their houſes by the furious multitude, who put fire to their houſes, and burnt down moſt of them, Synagogae datae dedecori, and likewiſe defaced their Synagogues, as Radulphus de Diceto records. The King being informed hereof whiles he was feaſting with his Nobles, thereupon ſent Ranulphus de Glanvil, then chief Juſtice of the Realm, a potent and prudent man, together p. 9with other great Noblemen to perſwade and reſtrain theſe bold people. But all in vain, for in ſo great a multitude, none would hear their voices, nor reverence their perſons; but rather murmuring againſt them, exhorted them ſpeedily to return: whereupon they adviſedly declining their unbridled rage, the fury of theſe plunderers ceaſed not til the next day. Ac licet immenſitas tantae rab…ei ſi diſſimulata & multa tranſiret, primordia regiae majeſtatis denigraret plurimum, propter reorum tamen infinitam multitudinem diſſimulari oportuit quod vindicari non potuit; writes Henry de Knyghton. Yet the very next day the King ſending his Officers throughout the City, commanded ſome of the ſaid malefactors to be apprehended, and brought before him, of which three were hanged by the judgement of his Court: one, becauſe he had ſtollen the goods of a certain Chriſtian, and two becauſe they had made a fire in the City, whereby the houſes of Chriſtians were burned. After which the King ſent for the man, who of a Jew was made a Chriſtian, and demanded of him, in the preſence of thoſe who had ſeen him baptized, Whether he were made a Chriſtian? Who anſwered, That he was not, but that he permited the Chriſtians to do to him what they would, that he might eſcape death. Then the King demanded of the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, in the preſence of many Archbiſhops and Biſhops, What was to be done concerning him? who anſwering very indiſcreetly, ſaid: If he will not be a man (or ſervant) of God, let him be a man, (or ſervant) of the Devil; And ſo he returned to the Judaical Law and pravity, like a dog to his vomit **Roger de Hoveden, pars post…ior. p. 657.and ſoon after died at Northampton, and was deprived of the common burial of the Jews, becauſe he had been made a Chriſtian in this manner, and likewiſe of common burial with the Chriſtians, becauſe he apoſtatized to the Iewiſh wickedneſſe, for which ſome would have had him proceeded againſt as an Apoſtate. In the mean time the King ſent his Writs throughout all the Counties of England, prohibiting, That none ſhould doe any harm to the Iews, but that they ſhould enjoy his peace. But before that Edict was publiſhed, the p. 10Jews which were in the Town of Dunſtaple (to preſerve their lives from the peoples fury) being converted to the Chriſtian Faith, were baptized, betroathing their wives after the manner of Chriſtians; which was likewiſe done through many Cities of England. And although the King by his Proclamation, had decreed peace to the Jews, yet notwithſtanding the fury againſt the Jews kindled at London, not verily out of a zeal of Faith, but of Gain, vehemently raged in other places of the Land. For a certain Jew at Lynne happening to be made a Chriſtian; thereupon the Jews perſecuting him, as a prevaricator of their Law, taking an opportunity, aſſaulted him with arms as he paſſed throgh the city, whereupon he took ſanctuary in the Church; yet notwithſtanding the raging Jews would not reſt quiet for this, but with a continued fury preſently began to aſſault the Church with great violence: preſently hereupon there aroſe a great clamor, and the Chriſtians aſſiſtance was defired with loud out-cries. This clamor and fame incenſed the Chriſtian people, and young men which were ſtrangers, of which a great number at that time reſorted thither, by reaſon of traffick; who running to the Church armed, valiantly aſſaulted the proud Jews, who being unable to reſiſt the aſſault of the Chriſtians, preſently betook themſelves to flight. After which, the Chriſtians aſſaulting and taking their houſes, ſpoyled and then burnt them with fire. Hereupon the young men who were ſtrangers, laden with prey, departed with it ſpeedily to their ſhips & failed thence, leſt they ſhould be queſtioned, & perchance inforced to reſtore their booty by the Kings officers. But the Inhabitants of the place, when they were queſtioned for this by the Kings Officers, tranſlated this fact to the ſtrangers, who were then departed from thence; although themſelves were not altogether innocent, taking up arms againſt the Jews upon the out-cry; but yet doing nothing againſt the Jews for fear of the Kings diſpleaſure.

Not long after, in Lent there aroſe a new ſtorm againſt the Jews at Stanford; for there being ſolemn Fairs there p. 11held in Lent, the young men and Souldiers who had taken upon them the ſign of the Croſſe, and were then ready to go to Ieruſalem with the King, aſſembling together there out of divers counties, diſdaining that the Jews, being the enemies of the croſſe of Chriſt, poſſeſſed ſuch great ſtore of goods and wealth, when as they had not ſufficient to defray the neceſſary expences of ſo great a journey; and imagining that they ſhould do God good ſervice, if they aſſaulted theſe his enemies; boldly ruſhed upon them, no man oppoſing himſelf againſt ſo great attempts: whereupon divers of the Jews were ſlain, and the reſt being received into the caſtle, hardly eſcaped with their lives, their goods being all plundered, and the plunderers departing freely away with their booty, none of them being ſo much as queſtioned, or puniſhed by the Kings diſcipline. The citizens of Lincoln hearing what was done to the Jews of Stanford, taking occaſion, and being animated by the examples of others, were willing to do ſomething againſt them: and being aſſembled together againſt the Jews inhabiting together with them, became inraged againſt them. But theſe Jews being made more wary by the ſlaughters and damages of others, ſome few of them ſuffering harm and damages, the reſt fled timely with their monies into the Royal Fort, and there ſecured themſelves. In all other places whereſoever the Jews were found, they were pillaged and ſlain by the hands of the Pilgrims, who haſtning through England towards Ieruſalem, decreed to riſe up firſt againſt the Jews; before they invaded the Saracens. Hereupon all the Jews who were found in their own houſes at Norwich were ſlain on the 8 of February, ſome few of them only eſcaping to the Caſtle. At the ſame time, the Nobles and Gentry of Yorkeſhire, nothing fearing the Kings Proclamation, the wicked Jews having by Uſury reduced them to extreme poverty, joyning with them ſome holy foldiers,, brake up the Houſes of the chief Jews, equal to the Kings Palace, ſlew their families, ſpoild their Goods, & burnt their houſes in the night, & then retired themſelves p. 12to their homes in the dark. After which, the promiſcuous multitude making an aſſault upon the Jews, ſlew them without diſtinction of ſex or age, except ſome few who would give up their names to Chriſt in baptiſm to ſave their lives. On the 18 day of April, being Palm-Sunday, the reſt of the Jews in the City of Yorke, (being 500 men and women, beſides their children) fearing the violence of the Chriſtians, ſhut up themſelves within the caſtle of Yorke by the will and conſent of the Guardian thereof, and of the Sheriff; who being thus received into the caſtle for their defence by the Guardian and Sheriff, would not afterwards deliver it up unto them again. Whereupon the Sheriff and keeper of the caſtle being much offended with them, aſſembled the ſouldiers of the county, and men of the city, that they might free the caſtle from thoſe Jews, exhorting them to do their utmoſt endeavors to effect it: who when they had aſſaulted the caſtle day and night, the Jews offered a great ſumm of money to ſave their lives; but all in vain, the people being ſo incenſed againſt them that they would not accept it: whereupon a certain Iew skillfull in their Law, ſtood up, and ſaid. Men of Iſrael hearken to my counſel; It is better for us to die for our Law, then to fall into the hands of the enemies of our Law; and our very Law commands the ſame thing. Upon which all the Jews, as well women as men, conſented to his counſel, and every Father of a family going with a ſharp razor, firſt of all cut the throats of his own wife and children, and then of his family, caſting the dead corps of thoſe whom they had thus ſacrificed to Devils, over the caſtle walls, upon the Chriſtian people. After which, burning their rich cloathes, and caſting their golden Veſſels and Jewels into Privies, that the Chriſtians might not be inriched by them, theſe murderers ſhutting up themſelves and the reſt they had killed in the Kings houſe, ſet it on fire, and ſo burnt both themſelves and it. After which the Citizens of Yorke and the ſouldiers of the county burning all the Jews houſes together, ſpoiled their goods, ſeized their poſſeſſions to themſelves, and burn'd all the charters of their debts. p. 13The King being informed hereof, and much incenſed, both for the contempt of his Royal proclamation and Authority, and dammage to his Exchequer, to which all the Goods and Debts of the Iews, being Uſurers belonged, commanded his Chancellor to inflict due puniſhment upon the authors of this Sedition. Whereupon, after Eaſter, the Biſhop of Ely the Kings Chancellor gathering a great Army together, came to Yorke, to apprehend thoſe as malefactors who had deſtroyed the Jews of the city: And underſtanding that this was done by the command of the Sheriff and Governour of the caſtle, he put them both from their Offices, and took ſureties from the Citizens of the City, for to keep the Peace of the King and kingdom, and to ſtand to the Law in the Kings court concerning the death of the Jews: and commanded the Souldiers of the County who were at the deſtruction of the Jews, to be apprehended; but the chief of them flying into Scotland, eſcaped, not one of them all being put to death for this great Maſſacre and Riot.

Henry de Knyghton, De Eventibus Angliae, l. 2. c. 13. gives this cenſure of theſe ſlaughters & popular tumults againſt the Jews. The Zeal of the Chriſtians conspired against the Jews in England, but in truth not ſincerely, that is, for the cauſe of faith; but either out of emulation and envy, becauſe of their felicity, or out of gaping after their goods: The Juſtice truly of God not at all approving ſuch things, but decently ordering them, that by this means he might puniſh the inſolency of a perfidious Nation. He likewiſe addes; that one Iohn, 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 wiſe men, yet it was acceptable to the Clerks there living, by reaſon of the gains. Which the Biſhop hearing of, preſently unſaincted him, and prophaned p. 14the Monuments of this falſe martyr, continued by the ſtudy of ſimple and covetous perſons. I wiſh no ſuch plunderers as this, might be ſaincted and adored in our age, as too many of them are, even before their deaths, who will be un-ſaincted after them, as well as this bold plunderer of the Jews.

Mr. Fox in his Acts and Monuments, Vol. 1. p. 305. relating the ſtory of the maſſacres of the Jews this year out of the Chronicle of Weſtminſter, ſaith: That there were no leſs than a thouſand five hundred of the Iews deſtroyed at that time in York alone, (beſide thoſe ſlaughtered in other places) ſo that this year, which the Iews took to be their Iubile, was to them a year of confuſion. Neither was this plague of theirs undeſerved, Nota.for every year commonly their cuſtom was, to get ſome Chriſtian mans child from the Parents, and on Good-Friday to crucifie him, in deſpite of our Religion.

King Richard the firſt, after his return out of the Holy Land in the year 1194. **Rog. de Hoveden Annal. pars poſterior, p. 743 744.appointed Iuſtices Itinerant through all the Counties of England, who amongſt other Articles, were to enquire; Concerning the ſlayers of the Iews: who they were that ſlew them? and concerning the pawns and chattels, and lands and debts, and charters of the Iews that were ſlain? and who had them? and how much any one owed to them? and what morgages they had, and who held them? and how much they were worth? and who took the iſſues of them? and what they were? and that all the Morgages and Debts of the Iews who were ſlain ſhould be taken into the Kings hands, and that thoſe who were preſent at the ſlaying of the Iews, and had not made a fine (or end) with our Lord the King or his Iuſtices, ſhould be apprehended, and not delivered, unleſs it were by the King our Lord or his Iuſtices. The ſelf-ſame year King Richard appointed Juſtices, Laws, and Orders, for preventing the frauds, and regulating the contracts of the Jews, both between themſelves, and between Chriſtians and them, thus recorded at large by (m)(m)Annalium pars posterior, p. 745. Chron. Johan. Bromton, col. 1258. Holinſhed, Vol. 3. p. 155.Roger de Hoveden, and briefly touched only by ſome others.

All the Debts, Pawns, Morgages, Lands, Houſes, Rents, and p. 15Poſſeſſions of the Iews ſhall be regiſtred. The Jew who ſhall conceal any of theſe, ſhall forfeit to the King his body, and the concealment, and likewiſe all his poſſeſſions and chattels; neither ſhall it be lawfull to the Iew ever to recover the concealment. Likewiſe 6 or 7 places ſhall be provided, in which they ſhal make all their contracts, and there ſhall be appointed two Lawyers that are Chriſtians, and two Lawyers who are Iews, and two Legal Regiſters; and before them, and the Clerks of William of the Church of St. Maries, and William of Chimilli, ſhall their contracts be made: & Charters ſhall be made of their contracts by way of Indenture. And one part of the Indenture ſhall remain with the Iew, ſealed with his ſeal to whom the money is lent; and the other part ſhall remain in the common cheſt; wherein there ſhall be 3 locks and keys, whereof the 2 Chriſtians ſhall keep one key, and the 2 Iews another, and the Clerks of William of St. Maries Church, and William of Chimilli, ſhall keep the third. And moreover, there ſhall be three ſeals to it; and thoſe who keep the ſeals, ſhall put the ſeals thereto. Moreover, the Clerks of the ſaid William and William ſhall keep a roll of the tranſcripts of all the Charters; and as the Charters ſhall be altered, ſo let the roll be likewiſe: For every Charter there ſhall be 3 pence paid, one moity thereof by the Iew, and the other moity by him to whom the money is lent; whereof the 2 writers ſhall have 2 pence, and the keeper of the roll the third. And from henceforth, no contract ſhall be made with, nor payment made to the Iews, nor any alteration made of the Charters, but before the ſaid perſons, or the greater part of them, if all of them cannot be preſent. And the aforeſaid 2 Chriſtians ſhall have one roll of the Debts or receits of the payments which from henceforth are to be made to the Jews, and the 2 Jews one, and the keeper of the roll one. Moreover, every Iew ſhall ſwear upon his Roll that all his debts and pawns, and rents, and all his goods and poſſeſſions he ſhall cauſe to be enrolled, and that he ſhall conceal nothing, as is aforeſaid: And if he ſhall know that any one ſhall conceal any thing, he ſhall ſecretly reveal it to the Iuſtices ſent unto them; and that they ſhall detect and ſhew unto them, all falſifiers or forgers of Charters, and clippers of moneys, where or when they ſhall know them, and likewiſe all falſe charters.

p. 16By theſe ſtrict politick Laws, the King and his Officers knew the particular wealth, monies, goods, debts, and real and perſonal eſtates of every Jew, and in whoſe hands they were, and ſo could ſeize and command them at their pleaſure, upon any real or pretended miſdemeanors, or complaints againſt them.

King Iohn, (who in the **…ooks 2 Inſtit. p. 507, 508.1 and 2 years of his reign, granted them large liberties, and an high Prieſt for moneys) in the year of our Lord [n][n]Mat. Weſt. An. 1210. Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angliae. Londini 1640. p. 229. Holinſhed Vol. 3. p. 174. John Stow, p. 1.68. & his Survey of London, p. 288. Daniel p. 115. Polyd. Virgil Hiſt. Angl. l. 15. Cent. Magd. 13. c. 15.1210. commanded all the Jews of both ſexes throughout Engl…nd to be apprehended and impriſoned, and to be afflicted with moſt grievous torments, that ſo they might ſatisfie the Kings pleaſure with their money. Some of them being grievouſly tortured, gave all things which they had, and promiſed more, that they might by this means eſcape ſo many kinds of torments. Amongſt whom one Jew at Briſtol, puniſhed with various torments, when as he would neither redeem himſelf, nor ſubmit to any fine: the King commanded his tormentors, that they ſhould every day pull out one of his grinding teeth, until he ſhould pay to the King ten thouſand marks of ſilver. And when at laſt for 7 days ſpace they had pulled out 7 of his teeth, with intollerable torment, and now on the 8 day the tormentors had begun the like work again; this Jew, an over-flow provider for his profit, gave him the aforeſaid money, that he might ſave the 8 tooth to himſelf, the other 7 being pulled out: who with much more wiſdom, and leſſe pain, might have done ſo before, and have ſaved his 7 teeth, having but 8 in all.

In the 17 year ††John Stowes Chron. p. 172. Survey of London. p. 288.of King Iohn, the 17 day of May, the Barons coming to London, brake into the houſes of the Jews, and ſearched their Coffers to stuff their own purſes, that had been long empty: After which they applyed all diligence to repair the Gates and Walls of the City with the ſtones of the Jews broken houſes.

[o][o]Mat. Paris Hiſt. Ang. p. 314.315. Antiq. Eccleſ. Brit. p. 151. Bracton, l. 3. c. 9.In the year 1222. 7 H. 3. in a Council at Canterbury under Archbiſhop Stephen, a certain Apoſtate Jew, made of a Chriſtian a Deacon, and afterwards apoſtatizing, p. 17was there judicially puniſht, whom Falco preſently apprehending, cauſed to be hanged, as Matthew Paris writes; but Bracton and others record, that he was burned to aſhes.

John Stow his Survey of London p. 288.289.King Henry the 3. in the 11 year of his reign, Anno Dom. 1226. granted the lands and houſes of Benomye Matton, a Jew in London, eſcheated to him by a murder committed by this Jew, to Semain and others, as appears by his Chatter of that year.

[p][p]Mat. Paris hiſt. Ang. p. 365. Mat. Weſt. p. 128. Holinſhed. p. 22….King Henry the 3. Anno. 1230. wanting moneys, conſtrained the Jews whether they would or would not, to give him the third part of all their moveable goods, and that with all expedition.

[q][q]Jo. Stows Chronicle. p. 121.The Jews in the year of our Lord 1231. builded a Synagogue very curiouſly, but the Chriſtians obtained of the King, that it ſhould be dedicated to our bleſſed Lady, and was ſince by the ſame King Henry granted to the Brethren of St. Anthony of Vienna, and called St. Anthonies Hospital.

[r][r]Mat. Paris Hiſt. Angl. p. 393. Stow. p. 183. Speed. p. 516. See John Stow his Survey of London, p. 289.455.In the year of our Lord 1233. King Henry the 3. at his proper coſts built in London, not far from the old Temple, a decent houſe & Church, ſufficient for a Covent, with other convenient edifices thereto belonging, called The houſe of the Converts. (now the Rolls) To which houſe the converted Jews flying, leaving the blindneſſe of Iudaiſm, under a certain honeſt rule of living, might have a certain habitation, a ſafe refuge, and a ſufficient livelihood during their whole lives, without ſervile labour, and the gain of Uſury. Whereupon it came to paſſe, that in a ſhort time there was gathered together in that place, a great number of Converts, who were there baptized and inſtructed in the Chriſtian Faith, and lived laudab…y, being governed by a skilfull Rector, ſpecially appointed for that purpoſe.

**Iohn Stowes Survey of London. 1633. p. 435.This Houſe of the converted Jews was founded by King Henry the 3. in the place of a Jews houſe to him forfeited in the year 1233. and the 17 of his reign, who builded there for them a fair Church, now uſed and called p. 18the Chapel for the cuſtody of Rolls and Records of Chancery; It ſtandeth not far from the old Temple and the new, in the which houſe all ſuch Jews and Infidels as were converted to the Chriſtian Faith, were ordained and appointed, under an honeſt rule of life, ſufficient maintenance: Whereby it came to paſſe, that in ſhort time there were gathered a great number of converts, who were baptized, inſtructed in the Doctrine of Chriſt, and there lived under a learned Chriſtian, appointed to govern them. Since the which time, to wit, in the year 1290. All the Jews in England were baniſhed out of the Realm, whereby the number of converts in this place was decayed, and therefore in the year 1377. this Houſe was annexed by Patent to William Bereſtal Clerk, Custos Rotulorum, or Keeper of the Rolls of the Chancery, by Edward the 3. in the 51 year of his reign, and the firſt Maſter of the Rolls, who was ſworn in Weſtminſt. Hall, at the Table of Marble: ſince which time that houſe hath been commonly called, the Rolls in Chancery lane. Notwithſtanding ſuch of the Jews or other Infidels as have in the Realm been converted to Chriſtianity and baptized, have been received there; for I find in record, that one William Peirs a Jew that became a Chriſtian, was baptized in the 5 of Richard the 2. and had 2 d. the day allowed him, during his life, by the ſaid King (out of the Rolls.)

[ſ][ſ]Mat. Paris, Hiſt. Angl. 409. Mat. Weſtm. p. 136. Holinſhed, Vol. 3. p. 2.19. Stow p. 183. Fox Acts & Mon. Vol. 1. p. 423. Speed p. 521. Polychronicon, l. 7. c. 35. Fa…ian part 7. p. 46. Grafton p. 122. Mat. Park. Antiq. Eccl. Bri. p. 178. Rot Clauſ …8 H. 3. m, 2.3.King Henry in the year 1235. keeping his Court and the Nativity at Weſtminster, with many of his Biſhops and Nobles, there were brought before him; upon the complaint of Iohn Toly, 7 Jews, who had circumciſed a certain child in Norwich, whom they had ſtollen away from his Parents, and kept for a years ſpace from the fight of Chriſtians; intending to crucifie him on the Feaſt of Easter. But being convicted for this fact, they confeſſed the truth of the thing in the Kings preſence: and ſo being at the Kings pleaſure, both for their life and members, were dete…ed in priſon for this fact, and ſome of them drawn and hanged.

[t][t]Mat. Paris p. 532. John Stow his Survey …f London. p. 289.In the year of our Lord 1240. the Jews circumciſed a Chriſtian child at Norwich, and being circumciſed, they called him Jurninus, but reſerved him to be crucified in contumely of Jeſus Chriſt crucified. But the Father of the child, from whom the Jews had ſtollen him, diligently ſeeking after his Son, at the laſt found him ſhut up in the cuſtody of the Jews; and with loud clamours declared, that his Son, whom he thought to have been loſt, was wickedly kept up in the Chamber of a certain Jew. Which great premeditated wickedneſſe coming to the knowledge of the Biſhop William Rele, a prudent and circumſpect man, and of other great men, leſt through the ſlothfulneſſe of the Chriſtians ſo great an injury of Chriſt ſhould be paſſed by unpuniſhed, all the Jews of the City were apprehended, and when as they would have defended themſelves by Regal authority; the Biſhop ſaid, Theſe things belong to the Church, and are not to be determined in the Kings Court, ſeeing the Queſtion to be diſcuſſed is concerning circumciſion, and the breach of faith. Whereupon 4 of the Jews being convicted of the aforeſaid wickedneſſe, were firſt dragged at the tails of Horſes, and at laſt hanged on the Gallows, lamentably breathing forth the reliques of life.

The Proceedings in this New caſe I find thus recorded in the Placita of 18 H. 3. rot. 21. thus endorſed, Placitum loquelae de Iudaeis Norwich, qui ſunt in Priſona apud London. Benedictus phyſicus appellat Jacobum de Norwich Judaeum, quod cum Odardus, filius ſuus puer aetatis 5 annorum ivit ludendo in via Villae Norwich vigilia Sancti Egidii 4 annis elapſis, venit idem Jacobus Judaeus & coepit eundem Odardum & eum portavit uſ que ad domum ſuam & circumcidit eum in membro ſuo, & voluit ipſum facere Judaeum, & eum retinuit per unam diem & unam noctem in domo ſua, quouſ que per clamorem vicinorum venit ad quandam domum; & illum invenit in manibus ipſius Jacobi, & ſic …pſum puerum circumciſum monſtravit Officiali Archidiaconi & Coronatoribus ipſo die, qui praeſentes ſimul & hoc idem testantur; Qui dicunt, quod viderunt praedictum puerum circumciſum, p. 20& qui habuit membrum ſuum groſſum & valdè inflatum, & ita aturnatum ſicut praedictum eſt. Et quod hoc nequiter fecit & in felonia, & in diſpectu Crucifixi & Christianitatis, & in pace Domini Regis, et quod ipſe non potuit habere in perfortiam Christianorum, offert diſrationare eum ſicut Curia conſiderabit. Et poſtquam circumciderat eum vocavit eum Jurnipin, & puer viſus coram Juſticiariis, & liquidum eſt quod circumciſus erat.

Idem appellat de forcia & conſilio Leonem filium Margerie ſenior, & filium Joſce Bodon. & plures alios Judaeos, qui omnes venerunt praeter Dedone Joppe, Benedictum Moſes & Iſaac, & hi totum defendunt ſicut Judaei verſus Chriſtianum.

Poſtea praedictus puer, qui tunc fuit aetatis 5 annorum, & nunc eſt aetatis 9 annorum, requiſitus quomodo circumſciderunt eum? dicit, quod ceperunt eum, et adduxerunt eum uſque ad domum ipſius Jacobi; & unus illorum tenuit eum & cooporuit oculos ſuos, & quidam alius circumcidit eum quodam cultello, & poſtea capiunt peciam illam quam ſcinderant de membro ſuo, & poſuerunt in quodam vacyno cum ſabelons, & que ſuenint peciam illam cum parvis ſufflatis quouſque quidam Judaeus 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 praedictus puer ita circumciſus fuit ſicut praedictum eſt, et per praedictos Judaeos, & quod viderunt praedictum puerum recenter circumciſum, habentem membrum ſuum groſſum & valdè inflatum et ſanguinolentum.

Et Coronatores de Comitatu, et Coronatores de Civitate Norwici, & 36 homines de villata de Norwic. Jurati venerunt, & troue (inveniunt) ut fuit circumciſus, &c. Et quod juxta ripam Norwic. il fuittroue (fuit inventus) ululans & plorans per unum Maude de Berneham, & ſa file, & que i luy emeſiont a lovr meaſon; ton eſteaut les Iewes veigne & dioit, que il fuit Judaeum ſuum; & vocaverunt eum Jurnepin, &c. Et quando Judaei non potuerunt eum habere propter Christianos, p. 21prohibuerunt eidem Matildae, Ne daret ei carnem porcinam ad manducandum: quia dixerunt, ipſum eſſe Judaeum. Ita quod per vim venerant Chriſtiani & abstulerunt puerum praedictum à manibus Iudaeorum.

Et Maude examyne confeſſe ceo tout, &c. Et omnes Iudaei ſunt in priſona apud Norwich, praeter illos qui fuerunt apud London, quando haec Inquiſitio facta fuit. Et omnes Iuratores requiſiti, Qui interfuerunt ad Circumciſionem illam? d…cunt. Quod omnes praedicti Judaei fuerunt conſentientes facto illo, praeter Maſſi filius Saloni. Haec autem omnia facta fuerunt in Curia Domini Regis apud Norwic, & Fratribus Praedicatoribus, & Fratribus Minoribus, & pluribus aliis tam Clericis, quam Laicis praeſentibus. Et tout ceo fuit teſtify, per Ric, de Treſingfield Conſtable de Norwich, & auters.

Posteacoram **Aſſembled in Parliament, where all New and doubtfull Caſes were to be decided.Domino Rege, & Domino Cantuar. & Majori parte Epiſcoporum & Baronium Angliae, quia caſus iſte nunquam prius accidit in Curia Domini Reg…s, & praeterea quia factum illud primò tangit Deum, & ſanctam Eccleſiam, eo quod Circumciſio & Baptiſmus ſunt pertinentia ad fidem; et praeterea non eſt ibi talis felonia, nec amiſſio membri, nec Mahemium, nec plaga mortalis, vel alia felonia Laica quae poſſit hominem damnare, ſine Mandato Sanctae Eccleſiae: Conſideratum eſt, quod iſtud in primò tractetur in ſancta Eccleſia, et per Ordinarium loci inquiratur rei veritas: Et mandetur Domino Regi unum Marcum auri perſic, quod puer videatur coram Iuſticiariis, ſi circumciſus fuit, vel non; & 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 Iudicibus Eccleſiaſticis, & ipſi Iudaei remaneant in Priſona. So far this Record relates the proceedings in the Kings Court, and Matthew Paris informs us what they afterwards did in the Biſhops.

It ſeems the Citizens of Norwich upon this occaſion fired the Iews Houſes in the City: for in Placita 18 H. 3. rot. 27. in Dorſo, I find a complaint of the Citizens of Norwich againſt the Sheriff of Norfolk, for certain injuries done unto them, in entring their Liberties, beating their Servants, and ayding the Jews; who juſtified that p. 26what he did, was becauſe the Citizens had fired the Iews houſes; Which buſineſs was debated before the King at Bromholne. And becauſe the Bayliffs of the Town made no Inquiſition concerning theſe burnings, and beatings of their Servants, as belonged to their Office, nor made any emendation thereof, neither would the Commonalty of the City it ſelf, in defence of their Liberties, permit the Sheriff of Norfolke to reform it, it was adjudged, that they ſhould be in the Kings mercy, as well for their Liberties as for the other things, and after paid a fine of fifty marks.

The very next year the Jews in Forraign parts, eſpecially in Germany, believing, that the Tartars were of their own Nation, entred into a ſecret League with them, to deſtroy the Chriſtians, and ſubdue the whole world to themſelves; to which end they provided many Hogſheads filled with arms to be tranſported to the Tartars; pretending to the Chriſtian Princes, that they were Veſſels filled only with poyſoned Wines, wherewith they intended to poyſon and deſtroy the Tartars, who would drink no wines but ſuch as were made by the Iews. But this their treachery being detected by the Cuſtomers in Germany, who found theſe pretended Veſſels of wine, to be fraught with arms for the Tartars wherewith to deſtroy the Chriſtians; thereupon the Iews were delivered to Tormentors, to be perpetually impriſoned, or ſlain with their owne ſwords, as Matthew Paris more at large relates. Anno 1241. p. 564.

(u)(u)Mat. Paris, p. 605.King Henry, Anno 1243. exacted a great ranſom from the moſt miſerable Iews, both in gold and ſilver: ſo that, beſides what he exacted from others, he extorted from one Iew, Aaron of Yorke, 4 marks of gold, and 4000 marks of ſilver: the King himſelf receiving the gold with his own hand from every Iew, man or woman, being made of a King, a new receiver of Cuſtom; but the ſilver was received by others for the King.

(x)(x)Mat. Paris p. 644.Anno 1244. in Auguſt, the corps of a little male child was found buried in the City of London, in whoſe p. 23thighs 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 Iews, 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 falſhood, might declare that writing. For the Kings Bayliffs and Conſervators of the Peace were preſent. They likewiſe believed, neither without cauſe, that the Iews 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 blew marks, and rents of rodds, and manifeſt ſigns and foot-ſteps 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 Iews; but to whom, or to what end, they could not find. In the mean time, certain of the London Iews 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 Iews 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 5 wounds appeared not in the hands and feet & ſide of the ſaid corps, yet the Canons of St. Paul took it violently away, and ſolemnly buried it in their Church, not far from the great Altar.

p. 24[y][y]Mat. Paris p. 641.The ſame year (1241.) The Barons in Parliament ordered, That there ſhould be one Juſtice at the leaſt appointed for the Jews, by the nomination of the Parliament.

[z][z]Mat. Paris, p. 778, 779, 785. Speed. p. 529. John Stow his Survey of London, p. 289. Sir Richard Bakers Chron. p. 120: See Rot. Pat. 33. H. 3. in 4. Rot. Finium. 33 H. 3. m. 6. Rot. Fin. 34 H. 3. m. 1.2.In the year of our Lord 1250. King Henry the 3d. burning with a covetous deſire, commanded money to be extorted from the Jews without all mercy, ſo as they might ſeem to be altogether and irrecoverably impoveriſhed; exacting what monies ſoever they had in their cheſts. Notwithſtanding, although they were miſerable, yet they were pittied by none, becauſe they were often proved and convicted to have been counterfeiters as well of monies as of ſeals. And to paſſe by the monies of others, we ſhall only mention one, that their malice may the more appear to them. There was a certain rich Jew, having his abode and houſe at Berkamſtede, and Wallingford; Abraham in name, not in faith: who was very dear to Earl Richard, who had a very beautifull wife, and faithful to him, named Flora. 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 Sonne in her boſom. This Image the Jew placed in his houſe of Office, and which is a great ſhame and ignomy to expreſſe, blaſpheming the Image it ſelf, as if it had been the very Virgin her ſelf, threw his moſt filthy and not to be named excrements upon her, days any nights, and commanded his wife to do the like. Which when his wife ſaw, after ſome days ſhe grieved at it, by reaſon of the Sex, and paſſing by ſecretly, wiped off the filth from the face of the Image moſt filthily defiled. Which when the Jew here, husband had fully found out, he therefore privily and impiouſly ſtrangled the woman her ſelf, though his wife. 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, p. 25That he would prove all the Jews of England, to have been moſt w…cked Traitors. And when as he was greatly accuſed almoſt by 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 wickedneſſes, offered Earl Richard a thouſand marks, if he would no… protect him; which notwithſtanding the Earl refuſed, becauſe he was called his Jew. This Jew Abraham therefore gave the King 700 marks, that he might be freed from perpetual impriſonment, to which he was adjudged, the Earl aſſiſting him therein. The King thereupon at the ſame time ſent the Juſtices of the Jews throughout all England, to ſearch out all their mony both in Debts and Poſſeſſions, and with them a certain moſt wicked and mercileſſe Jew, that he might wickedly and falſly accuſe all the reſt againſt the truth; who verily reprehended the Chriſtians, pittying and weeping over the affliction of the Jews, and called the Kings Bayliffs, lukewarm and effeminate; and gnaſhing with his teeth over every Jew, affirmed with many great Oathes, that they could give twice as much more to the King, then what they had given, although he moſt wickedly lyed againſt his own head. This Jew, that he might more effectually hurt the reſt, revealed all their ſecrets dayly to the Kings Chriſtian Exactors. In the mean time the King ceaſed not to ſcrape money together from all hands, but principally from the Jews; ſo tha… from one Jew alone; born and living in York, called Aaron, (becauſe he was convicted of falſifying a Charter, as was reported) he extorted 14000 marks, and 10000 marks of gold for the Queens uſe, for a little times reſpite▪ that he might not languiſh in priſon. All which ſums being paid, it was found that this Aaron had paid to the King ſince hi… return from foreign parts, 30000 marks of ſilver, and two hundred marks of gold to the Queen, as the ſaid Aaron upon the atteſtation of his honour and faith averred to Matthew Paris, who records it, Yet notwithſtanding although p. 26the Jews might be pittied, yet were they pittied by no man; ſeeing they were corrupters and counterfeiters of the Kings money and of charters, and manifeſtly and frequently proved, condemned, and reprobated as ſuch.

King **Balaeus Cent. 4. Scrip. Brit. c. 14. in Apendice, Cent. Magd, 13 c. 15. col. 1285.Henry, Anno 1251. Decreed to deſtroy all the Jews in his Kingdom, but ſome of his Counſellors diſſwaded him from it, and that they ſhould rather be left as Vagabonds, like Cain, that their miſery by this means might be ſet before the eyes of men in all ages. Whereupon the Kings mind was mitigated, and his Decree aboliſhed. Notwithſtanding he ſeriouſly prohibited them the eating of fleſh in Lent, and on Fridays.

[a][a]Mat. Paris, p. 827.Ph…lip Luuel, Clerk, called to the ſervice of the King, and deputed to the cuſtody of the Jews, Anno 1251. was grievouſly accuſed before the King, his adverſaries affirming, that when he and Nicholas of St. Albans Clerk, were ſent towards the Northern parts to tax and ſqueeze the Jews, he privily received moſt precious Veſſels from a certain Jew, that he might ſpare him in his Tallage to the King; and that he likewiſe took ſecret gifts from others, that he might ſpare them; and that he oppreſt theſe Jews notwithſtanding, to the dammage of the King, and the violation of his Faith. Whereupon the King being very angry, commanded Philip himſelf to be unworthily handled, until he ſhould ſatisfie him for this great tranſgreſſion. Philip hereupon, a crafty and circumſpect man, humbly craved advice and aſſiſtance from the Lord John Manſel, the Kings Prime Counſellor, concerning his great tribulation, becauſe he had promoted him to the Kings ſervice, who effectually procured that he recovered the kings favor, giving him a great ſumme of money for it, a thouſand marks as was reported, Yet notwithſtanding he was removed from his Office, and not a little diſgraced.

It ſeems the kings Officers could fleece the Jews in that age, by ſecret Bribes and Gifts, as well as himſelf, by intollerable Exactions.

[b][b]Mat. Paris, p. 831.856.King Henry the III. to ſatisfie the Popes deſire in taking a Voyage to the Holy Land, Anno 1252. extorted p. 27from the Jews whatſoever thoſe miſerable wretches might ſeem to have, not only by ſcraping or excoriating, but even by unbowelling them. Being alſo an Hydropical thirſter after gold, he ſo greedily ſucked talents, or Bullion, or Jewels, as well from Chriſtians as Jews, that a new Craſſus might ſeem to be raiſed from the dead. And this very year Robert de la Ho, to whom the king had committed the cuſtody of the Jews, and of the Seal which belonged to their Exchequer, was grievouſly accuſed before the king, being charged with this crime, That he had oppreſſed the innocent Son of a certain knight, by a certain falſe Charter, confirmed with the Seal, of which the ſaid Robert, Iuſtice of the Iews, was the bearer and keeper. Whereupon he was baſely apprehended, and committed to a cloſe Priſon; and defamed with the like ſcandal wherewith Philip Luuel but the year juſt before had been intangled in the ſnares of the perfidious Jews, who was then their Iustice. At laſt, by the great labour of his friends, the malice of the Jews is detected, but the innocency of the ſaid Robert then ſet free, ſcarce declared. Whereupon being put from his Offices, he openly paid 4 marks of gold at leaſt for his fine.

[c][c]Mat, Paris Hiſt. Angl. p. 861, 862. Fox Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. p. 413.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 handicrafts-man, and apply himſelf to mechanical artifices. For it was ſcornfully objected to the ſaid King by the Saraccus; That we did little love or reverence our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who tolerated the murderers of him to live among us.

[d][d]Mat. Paris, p. 873, 874In the year of Chriſt, 1253. November 10. the Obligatory Chatter wherewith the Abbot and Covent of St. Alban were held bound for the debt of Richard de Oxaie knight, was taken out of the hand of Elias the London Jew, and freed out of the cheſt; and it was proclaimed p. 28in the School of the Jews at London (where it ſeems they had then a School) that the foreſaid Abbot and Covent ſhould be quit from all this debt againſt them from the beginning of the world till then, as the Statute obtained by them proteſteth.

[e][e]Fox Acts & Mon. Vol. 1. p. 423 ex Eulogio.The Jews in Northampton about the year of our Lord, 1253. had among themſelves prepared wild-fire, to burn the City of London, for the which divers of them were taken and burned in the time of Lent in the City of Northampton.

[f][f]Mat. Paris, p. 187. See John Stows Survey of London. p. 289. Polydor. Virgil Hiſt. Angl. l. 16. Cent. Magd. 13. c. 15. col. 1286. Bakers Chronicle p. 1…2,Ann 1254. King Henry after Eaſter ſo cruelly raged againſt the moſt miſerable people of the Jews, that they loathed even to live. And when they were called together, Earl Richard exacted of them for the uſe of the King, who was then in great want, no ſmall ſum of money, under pain of a moſt loathſom priſon, and a moſt ignominious death. Elias therefore of London, High Prieſt of the Jews, taking counſel with his Companions, anſwered for them all, who had frequently paid very great ſumms of money, whether they would or would not. O noble Lords, we ſee undoubtedly that our Lord the King purpoſeth to deſtroy us from under heaven. VVe intreat, for Gods ſak… ▪ that he would give us licenſe & ſafe conduct of departing out of his Kingdom, that we may ſeek and find a manſion in ſome other place, under ſome Prince who bears ſome bowels of mercy, and ſome ſtability of truth and faithfullneſſe, And we will depart; never to return again, leaving here our houſhouldstuff, and houſes behind us. How can he love or ſpare us, Nota.miſerable Jews, who deſtroyes his own natural Engliſh? He hath people, yea his own Merchants, I ſay not Uſurers, who by uſuríous contracts, heap up infinite heaps of money. Let the King rely upon them, and gape after their emoluments. Verily they have ſupplanted & impoveriſht us. Which the K. howſoever diſſembles to know, exacting frō us thoſe things we cannot give him, although he would pull out our eyes, or out our throats when he had firſt pulled off our skins. And ſpeaking this with ſighs and tears hindring his ſpeech, he held his peace, falling almoſt into an extaſie ready to die. Which p. 29when it came to the knowledge of the Magiſtrates, they permitted them not to depart out of the Realm; ſaying. Whether will ye flee, O wretches! Behold the King of France hateth and perſecuteth you, and hath condemned you to perpetual exile, ſhunning Charibdis, you deſire to be drowned in Scylla. And ſo the ſmall little ſubſtance, which was left to them for their mean ſuſtentation, was violently extorted from them.

(g)(g)Mat. Paris p. 902. Mat. Weſt. p. 270. Holinſhed, Vol. 3. p. 252. John Stows Survey of London, p. 289. See Pat. 39. H. 3. m. 4. dorſ. & 2. & 46. H. 3. m. 11.King Henry the 3d. An. 1255. exacted with great earneſtneſs from the Jews, although very frequently impoveriſhed, 8000 marks, to be ſpeedily paid unto him under pain of hanging. But they ſeeing nothing elſe hanging over them, but deſtruction with confuſion, anſwered all unanimouſly. Sir King, we ſee that thou spareſt neither Chriſtians, nor Iews, but ſtudieſt with crafty fetches to impoveriſh all men: we have no hope of reſpiration left us: the Ʋſurers of the Pope have ſupplanted us; permit us to depart out of thy kingdom with ſafe conduct; and we will ſeek for our ſelves ſuch a manſion as we can, be it what it will. Which when the King had heard, he cried out with a querulous voice, ſaying: It is no marvel if I covet money, it is an horrible thing to imagin the debts wherein I am held bound, By the head of God, they amount to the ſum of two hundred thouſand marks, and if I ſhould ſay of three, I ſhould not exceed the bounds of truth. I am deceived on every ſide. I am a ma…med and abridged King, yea, now but an halfed King. For having made a certain eſtimate of the expences of my rents, the ſum of the annual rent of Edward my Son amounts to above 15000 marks. There is therefore a neceſſity for me to live of the mony gotten from what place ſoever, from whomſoever, and by what means ſoever. Therefore being made another Titus, or Ʋeſpaſian, he ſold the Jews for ſome years to Earl Richard his brother, that thoſe whom the King had excoriated, he might eviſcerate. Yet the Earl ſpared them, conſidering their abbreviated power, and ignominious poverty.

(h)(h)Mat. Paris p. 912. Fabian pa…t. 7. p. 58. Fox Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. p. 423. Jo. Stow Chronicle. p. 190. Survey of London, p. 289. Grafton, p. 127. Holinſhed, p. 253. Balaeus Cent. 4. c. 22. Johan. Major l. 4. c. 12. Cent. Magd. 13. c. 14. col. 1282.The ſame year, about the Feaſt of Peter & Paul, the Jews of Lincoln ſtole a child call'd Hugo, being 8 years old, and when as they had nouriſhed him in a certain moſt ſecret p. 30chamber, with milk and other childiſh aliments, they ſent almoſt to 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 comming together, they appointed one Lincoln Jew for the Judge, as it were for Pilate. By whoſe judgement, 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 ſhriekings: and moreover he is pricked by them all with ponyards, made to drink gall, d…rided with reproaches and blaſphemies, and frequently called by them with grinding teeth,Nota. 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 corps, 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 neighbors, that the laſt time they ſaw her child whom ſhe ſought, he was playing with the children of the Jews of his age, and entred into the houſe of a certain Jew. Whereupon the woman ſuddenly entred that houſe, and ſaw the body of the child caſt into a certain pit. And having warily called the Bayliffs 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 Iohn de Lexinton, a circumſpect and diſcreet man, and moreover elegantly learned, who ſaid. We have ſometime 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 entred playing, and therefore more ſuſpected than the reſt; he ſaith unto him. O p. 31wretch! knoweſt thou not that speedy deſtruction abides thee? All the gold of England will not ſuffice for thy deliverance or red…mption. Notwithſtanding I will tell thee, although unworthy, by what means thou maiſt preſerve thy life and members, that thou maiſt not be diſmembred. I will ſave both to thee, if thou doſt not fear to diſcover to me whatſoever things are done in this caſe without falſhood. Whereupon this Jew, whoſe name was Copin, believing he had thus found out a way of eſcape, anſwered, ſaying, Sir Iohn, if thou makeſt thy words good by thy deeds, I will reveal wonderfull things to thee, and the induſtry of Sir Iohn animating and exciting him therto, the Jew ſaid. Thoſe things are true which the Chriſtians ſay. The Jews almoſt every year crucify one child, Nota.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 Iews 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 corps 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 Iews 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 ſhewed to the Bailiffs the body ſhe had found. But Sir Iohn notwithſtanding this, kept the Iew 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 ſufficently viewed by an infinite company of people, it was honourably buried in the Church of Lincoln, as the corps of a moſt precious martyr. The Jews kept the child alive for 10 dayes, that being fed for ſo many dayes with milk, he might living ſuffer many ſorts of torments. When the K. returned from the Northern parts of England, and was certified of the premiſes, he reprehended Sir Iohn, that he had promiſed life and p. 32members 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 unavoydable judgement 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 Iews of England conſented to the death of this child, Nota.whereof the Iews are accuſed: and almoſt out of every City in England wherein the Iews 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 horſes tail, and drawn to the Gallows, he was preſented to the aereal Cacodaemons in body and ſoul; and 91 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 Popes Italian Uſurers) their corrivals with dry eyes. Afterwards by the Inquiſition of the Kings Iuſtices, it was diſcovered and found; That the Iews 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, rendred them a condigne retribution, according to their merits; for on St. Clements day, 88. of the richeſt and greateſt Jews of the City of London, were drawn and hanged up in the air upon new Gibbers eſpecially prepared for that purpoſe, and more than 23 others were reſerved in the Tower of London to the like judgement.

I have tranſcribed this Hiſtory at large out of Matthew Paris, who flouriſhed at that time, becauſe our other Hiſtorians doe but briefly touch it, and becauſe it undeniably manifeſts the tranſcendent impiety, blaſphemy, malice, perſecution, and obloquy of the Jews againſt our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, and Chriſtians, and their conſtant, p. 33uſual practiſe of crucifying children almoſt every year, in contempt and reproach of our crucified Saviour, by common conſent; which Mr. Nye conceived might be eaſily wiped off, as falſe, & not fully proved or charged on them by our Hiſtorians, which this enſuing paſſage concerning theſe Jews will further ratify.

[i][i]Mat. Paris p. 622.Certain infamous Jews being 71 in number, adjudged to death by the Oath of 25 Knights, for the miſerable death of the child crucified at L…ncoln, being reſerved in the Priſons of London to be hanged Anno 1256 (the year after their condemnation) ſent ſecret Meſſengers to the Friers Minors, (as their enemies affirm) that they might intercede for them, that they might be delivered from death and priſon, being notwithſtanding worthy of the moſt ſhamefull death. Whereupon they (as the world reports, if the world in ſuch a caſe be to be credited) by the mediation of money, freed them by their prayers and interceſſion, both from the priſon and from the death which they had deſerved; led thereto with a ſpirit of piety, as I think is piouſly to be believed: Becauſe ſo long as any man is in life, and in this world, he hath free-will, may be ſaved, and there is hope of him. But yet for the Devil, or the manifeſtly damned, we are not to hope nor pray, becauſe there is no hope of them, for death and a definitive ſentence, at once irrevocably intangle them. Neither could this anſwer excuſe the Minors, for although they were not guilty, yet the ſcandal did defame them. The common people now hath withdrawn their hands, that they doe not benefit them with their alms, as heretofore, and the Londoners devotion is grown cold towards the Minorites. For procuring theſe condemned Jews life and liberty, whoſe money (it ſeemeth) could even corrupt theſe very ſelf-denying Popiſh Saints, who had renounced the world in habit, but not in heart.

[k][k]Mat. Paris, Additamenta, p. 202.207.All the Prelates of England in the year 1257. drew up certain Articles in writing concerning their liberties, which they intended to preſent to the King, and Nobles, to be ratified by them in Parliament in due ſeaſon; p. 34wherein they complain, Artic. 32, 33. That when as the Iews are convicted before the Eccleſiaſtical Iudges for delinquency againſt an Eccleſiaſtical perſon, or for Eccleſiaſtical things, or for ſacriledge, or for laying violent hands upon a Clerk, or for adultery with a Chriſtian woman; the conuſans of the cauſe is hindered by the Kings prohibition: becauſe it alleageth, that they have their proper Judge, the Sheriff of the place, and their proper delegated Iudges, who may and ought to have conuſance of theſe things. And yet if they be convented by a Clergy-man or Lay-man before them for ſuch things, upon the denial thereof by the perſon alone, by the ſimple aſſertion of another Iew, and of one Chriſtian, without the administring of an Oath; they purge themſelves, the proof of the proſecutor being utterly rejected.

Item, If Communion be denied to them by the Church becauſe they bear not their Table or ſign, or becauſe they retain Chriſtian Nurſes againſt the Precepts of the Church, or if they be excommunicated for ſome other exceſſes; the Bailiffs (or Officers) of the King communicating with them, command on the behalf of our Lord the King himſelf, that they be not avoided by any, and cauſe them to be admitted and received to Communion.

Againſt which grievances in derogation of Eccleſiaſtical Jurisdiction, the Biſhops then thus provided. And becauſe in like manner the Office of the Prelates is hindred when as it happens a Iew offending againſt Eccleſiaſtical things and perſons ſhall be convented for theſe things before them, and for other things which appertain to their Eccleſiaſtical Court of meer right; We provide, that the Iew notwithſtanding ſhall be compelled to aſwer in theſe caſes by the interdict of commerce, contracts and Communion of the faithfull: likewiſe the inhibiters, hinderers and diſtrainers ſhall incurre the puniſhments of interdiction and excommunication.

[l][l]Mat. Paris: Hiſt. Angl. p. …82.In the year of Chriſt 1259. On the Feaſt of Chriſts Nativity, a certain creature, Elias a Jew of London, whoſe Sirname was Biſhop, fearing danger and manifeſt damnation to himſelf, fled to the laver of defence and ſalvation, and was new-born in the Spirit; for, being cleanſed with wholeſom p. 35Baptiſm, two others alſo accompanying him, he was del…vered out of the lot of the Devil, and ſaved from the revenge of the moſt wicked crime heretofore committed by h…m. For it was ſaid, that in his houſe that poyſonous drink was made, which had proved mortal and perillous to many Nobles of England, (poyſoned therewith by the Jews) which even he himſelf, as was reported, well confeſſed. But then he was a Devil, but now throughly changed, and a Chriſtian, and as the condition, ſo the operation is changed. As Mathew Paris Ironically writes of them.

(m)(m)Mat. Paris H…ſt …ngl. p. 990. Fox Acts & Mon. Vol. 1. p. 423. John Stows Chronicle p. …1. Survey of London p. 289. Polychronic. l. 7, c. 37. Cent. Magd. 13. c. 15 col. 1287. Volat. Geogr. l. 3. Bakers Chron. p. 130.A certain Iew in the year 1260. fell into a Privy at Teuxſbury, but becauſe it was then the Sabbath, he would not ſuffer himſelf to be pulled out, except on the following Lords day, for the reverence of his Sabbath; Wherefore Richard de Clare Earl of Gloceſter, commanded him (in reverence of the Lords Day) to be kept there till Munday, at which time he was found dead of the ſtink; or hunger.

(n)(n)John Stows Chron. p. 210. Survey of London, p. 289. Holinſhed, Vol 3. p. 263.The Barons of England, Anno 1262. robbed and ſlew the Jews in all places. There were ſlain of them in London to the number of 700. the reſt were ſpoiled, and their Synagogues defaced. The original occaſion of which maſſacre was, becauſe one Jew had wounded a Chriſtian man in London in Cole-church, and would have enforced him to have paid more then two pence for the Uſury of 20 s. for one week.

(o)(o)Mat. weſt. 1264. pars 2. p. 323. Raphael Hol. Vol. 3. p. 27…In the year 1264 in the Paſſion week, the Jews that inhabited the City of London, being detected of treaſon, which they deviſed againſt the Barons and Citizens, were ſlain almoſt all the whole number of them, and great riches found in their houſes, which were taken and carried away by thoſe that ranſacked the ſame houſes.

(p)(p)Hol. Vol. 3. p 272. Fox Acts & Mon. Vol 1 p 438.The diſ-inherited Barons and Gentlemen in the Iſle of Oxholm, in the year 1266. took and ſacked the City of Lincoln, ſpoiled the Jews, and ſlew many of them, entred into their Synagogue, and burnt the book of their Law, with all their Charters and Obligations.

Anno 1275. the 3. of King Edward the 1. his reign, the p. 36Statute De Iudaiſmo was made, not in the 18 E. 1. as **2 Inſtit. p. 506, 507.Sir Edward Cooke moſt groſly and confidently miſtakes, in his commentary thereon. To clear which, I deſire the Reader to take notice, that this Statute is not now extant on record, all the Parliamentary Rolls before 5 E. 2. (the firſt extant) with ſundry others ſince that time, being utterly loſt, through the iniquity, injury, or careleſneſs of the times, and ſome Pleas only in the Parliaments of King Edward the 1. extant in a Parchment Book in the Tower, but no Acts nor Rolls of Parliament during his reign, except ſuch as are elſewhere extant on the backs of ſome clauſe Rolls or Patents, or in the Red Book of the Exchequer (as ſome few of them only are) or in our Manuſcript or printed Statutes. This Statute de Iudaiſmo, was firſt printed in French, by Richard Totel in his Magna Charta, Anno 1556. part. 2. f, 58, 59. with this Title, Statuta Ed. primi, de Iudaiſmo, with out mention of any year of his reign wherein it was made, not extant in the Manuſcript copies out of which he printed them: and the firſt Statute of them is alſo printed in Iuſtice Raſtall his Abridgement and Collection of Statutes, Title Uſury, ſect. 2. without any date; for which he renders this reaſon in his Elenchus Parliamentorum, at the end of his Abridgement. Tempus Ed. 1. Ceux Statutes auxi come ſemble fueront faits in temps E. 1. mais, LA CERTAINTIE DES ANS JEO NE TROVE UNCORE, (for lack of skill in our Hiſtories, which too many Lawyers want.) He mentions 5. Statutes in his reign of this Nature, whereof DE JUDAISMO; De terris & tenementis non amortiſandis, (made in 3 E. 1. as Walſingham, Hiſt. Angl. p. 5. Ypodigma Neuſtriae, p. 68. Holinſhed, Speed, and others affirm, and Henricus de Knyghton, de Eventib. Angliae, l. 3. c. 1. col. 2462.) and De Tallagio non concedendo; are three: the laſt whereof was certainly made in 25. E. 1. (not 34 E. 1. as **2 Inſtit. p: 332.Sir Edw. Cooke and moſt Collectors of our Statutes and Lawyers miſtake) as is clear by Thomas Walſingham, Hiſt. Angl. Ann. 1298. p. 37, 38, 40. and Ypodigma Neust. p. 84, 85. The firſt De Iudaiſmo was made, in 3 Ed. 1. p. 37as theſe ſubſequent Hiſtorians evidence, who are the beſt and only witneſſes in this caſe, the Parliament Rolls being not extant to reſolve us. **Flores Hiſtorum, pars 2. Londini 1570. p: 363.Matthew Weſtminſt. who lived and writ his Hiſtory in or near that time, is moſt clear herein. Anno gratiae 1275. Rex ad Parliamentū Westm. omnes Nobiles regni ſui juſſerat congregari. In quo ſtatuta multa ad utilitatem regni fuerunt publ…cata. INTER QUAE JUDAEIS FUIT INTERDICTA EFFRAENATA LICENTIA USURANDI: & ut poſſint, à Christianis diſcerni, praecepit Rex, quod ad inſtar Tabularum, ad vnius palmae longitudinem, ſigna fierent in exterioribus indumentis. Who is thus ſeconded, if not tranſlated by **In his Chronicle, printed 1569. p: 163, 164.Rich: Grafton, Ann. 1273. Soon after he (King Edward 1.) ordained certain new Laws for the wealth of the Realm, which are too large here to rehearſe. He made a Law alſo THE SAME TIME AGAINST THE EXCESSIVE TAKING OF USURY BY THE JEWS: and that they ſhould wear a certain Cogniſaunce upon their uppermost garment, whereby they ſhould be known from Chriſtians. Both which are expreſly provided for in theſe Statutes, de Iudaiſmo. The ſame is atteſted by Iohn Rouſe, and by Iohn Stow out of him, in his Chronicle, p. 200. in theſe words. In the 3. year of King Edward the 1. in a Parliament at Weſtminſter, USURY WAS FORBIDDEN TO THE JEWS, and that they might be known, the King commanded them to wear a Tablet, the bredth of a palm upon their outmoſt garments. Which in his Survey of London, 1633. p. 289. he thus expreſſeth, The 3. of Edward the 1. in a Parliament at London, USURY WAS FORBIDDEN TO THE JEWS, And that all (Jewiſh) Ʋſurers might be known, the King commanded that every Ʋſurer ſhould wear a Tablet on his breſt, the bredth of a paveline, or elſe to avoid the Realm. With whom Sir Rich: Baker in his Chronicle of the Kings of England, Edit. 2. London, 1653. p. 147. concurrs. So that without all queſtion the Statutes De Iudaiſmo, were made in the Parliament of 3. not of 18 E. 1. as the Statutes themſelves will ſufficiently evidence (which had all been nugatory, ridiculous, uſeleſs, if made in the Parliament of 18 E. 1. p. 38as Sir Edward Cook affirms, wherein they were hence exiled.In Raſtal uſury 2. & Cooks … Inſtit. p. 89.) Theſe Statutes I ſhall here tranſlate out of French, and inſert, being not extant in our Statutes at large, nor never yet all printed in the Engliſh tongue that I can find, but only **Totles Mag. Charta 1556. part. 2 f. 58, 59.ſome clauſes of the firſt of them.

1. Foraſmuch as the King hath ſeen, that many miſchiefs and diſheriſons of honeſt men of this land have happened by the uſuries which the Iews have made therein in times paſt, and that many ſins have therein riſen from thence: Albeit he and his Anceſtors have had great profit from the Jews both now and in times paſt: Notwithſtanding this, for the honour of God, and for the common benefit of the People, the King doth ordain and eſtabliſh; that no Jew hereafter ſhall take ought for uſury upon lands, rents, nor upon other things: and that no Uſury, ſhall run from the Fea…t of St. Edward laſt paſt, and before, but that the covenants before made ſhall be held, ſave only that the Uſuries themſelves ſhall ceaſe. Provided that all thoſe who are indebted to Jews upon pawns moveable, ſhall diſcharge them between this and Eaſter at furtheſt, and if not, let them be forfeited: And if any Jew ſhall take uſury againſt this eſtabliſhment, The King neither by himſelf, nor any of his Officers, will not intermeddle to cauſe him to recover his debt (or uſe) but will puniſh him at his pleaſure for the Treſpaſſe, and ſhall do right to the Chriſtian to recover his gage.

2. And it is provided that the diſtreſſes for the debt of Jews, ſhall not hereafter be ſo grievous, that the moity of Lands and Chattels to the Chriſtians ſhall not remain for their ſuſtenance. And that no diſtreſſe ſhall be made for the debt of a Jew, upon the heir to the Debtor named in the Charter of the Jew, not upon other which holds the Land which was the Debtors, before the debt ſhall be dereigned and acknowledged in Court. And if the Sheriff or other Bayliffs by commandment of the King ought to make ſeiſin to a Jew, to one or more, for their debt, of chattels, or of lands, to p. 39the value of the debt, the chattels ſhall be praiſed by the Oath of honeſt men; & the Chattels ſhalbe delivered to the Jew or Jeweſſe, or to their Arturney, to the value of the debt; And if the chattels be not ſufficient, the lands ſhall be extended by the ſame Oath, before that the ſeiſin ſhall be delivered to the Jew or Jeweſſe, every one according to the value, and ſo that they may after know certainly the Debt is diſcharged, that the Chriſtian afterwards may then have his lands: ſaving to the Chriſtian for ever the moity of his lands, and of his chattels for his ſuſtenance, as afore is ſaid, and the chief houſe.

3. And if any thing ſtollen at this hour ſhall be found in the poſſeſſion of a Jew, and any will ſue, let the Jew have his ſummons, if he may have it, and if not, he ſhall anſwer ſo, that he ſhall never be priviledged for it otherwiſe than a Chriſtian.

4 And that all the Jews ſhall be reſidents in the Cities and in the Burroughs which are the Kings owne, where the **See here p. 15 & Rot. Clauſ. 1 E. 1. m.Cheſt for the Jews Indenture is wont to be. And that every Jew after he is paſt 7 years of age, ſhall carry a ſign (or ††See Concil. Lat. ſub Innocent. 3. c. 68. Surius Concil. Tom. 3. col. 754. extra de Judaeis & Saracenis c. 13.badge) in his chief garment; that is to ſay in form of two Talles of **So the Fren… but it ſhoul… … white.yellow taffety, of the length of ſix fingers and breadth of 3 fingers (or an handfull.) And that every one after he is paſt 12 years ſhall pay 3 d. the poll every year to the King, which ſhall be paid at Easter; and this ſhall be intended as well of women as of men.

5. And that no Jew ſhall have power to infeoffe another Jew nor Chriſtian of their houſes, rents or tenements which they have now purchaſed, nor to alien them in any manner, nor to make an acquittance to any Chriſtian of his debt, without the ſpecial licenſe of the King, untill the King hath otherwiſe ordained.

6. And becauſe holy Church wills and ſuffers, that they ſhould live and be protected, the King takes them into his Protection, and gives them his peace, and p. 40wills that they ſhall live, and ſhall be guarded and defended by his Sheriffs, and his other Bayliffs, and by his Leiges; and commands that none ſhall doe them harm, injury, nor force in their bodies, nor in their goods, moveables or immoveables. And that they ſhall not be impleaded, ſued nor challenged in any Court, but in the **See Rot. clauſ 3 Ed. 1 memb. 17.Kings Court, whereſoever they are.

7. And that none of them ſhall be obedient, reſpondent, nor render rent, but to the King and his Bayliffs in his name, if it be not of their houſes which they now hold rendering rent; ſaving the right of holy Church.

8. And the King grants them, that they ſhall live of their lawfull merchandizes, and by their labour, and that they ſhall converſe with the Chriſtians for lawfull merchandizing in ſelling and in buying. But yet, that by this privilege, nor any other, they ſhall not be levant (riſing) or couchant (lying down) amongſt them. And the King will not, that by reaſon of their merchandize, that they ſhould be in lots nor ſcots, nor Tallage with thoſe of the Cities or Burroughs where they remain, ſeeing they are tailable to the King, as his own Vaſſals, and to none other.

9. Moreover the King grants them, that they may buy houſes and curtelages in the Cities or Burroughs where they reſide, ſo as they hold them in chief of the King: ſaving to the Lords the Services due and accuſtomed.

10. And that they may take Lands to farm for term of ten years, or under, without taking homages or fealties, or ſuch manner of ſervice of a Chriſtian, and without having advowſon of holy Church, for to ſupport their life in the world, if they know not how to merchandize,Nota. or be unable to labour. And this power for to take Lands to farm, ſhall not endure to them but 15 years from this time forth to come.

p. 41By theſe Laws this politick King to pleaſe his Engliſh Chriſtian Subjects, abridged many of the Jews former priviledges, and put many new reſtraints upon them. And yet on the other hand, to gratifie the Jews, (who gave him more monies than the Engliſh) he takes them all into his ſpecial protection, prohibits all violence to their perſons or eſtates, and grants them ſome petty priviledges for the preſent, which ſeemed to content them, and made for his owne advantage, more than theirs.

Rot. Clauſe… E. 1. in the Tower, rot. 8. I find, that one who was bound to Gamilel… a Jew, and had lands, afterwards acknowledged himſelf a Villain; whereupon a writ then iſſued to inquire, what lands he had at the time of the making of the bonds, and to extend them JUXTA STATUTA JUDAISMI. And clauſ. 4 E. 1. rot. 11. there is this recital made of this very Statute of Judaiſm: Cum ſecundum Aſſiſam ET STATUTUM JUDAISMI NOSTRI, Judaei noſtri in part… ne habere DEBEANT à Christianis creditoribus MEDIETATEM terrarum reddituum et Catallorum ipſorum, quouſque debita ſua perciperent, &c. & execution awarded in the caſe of a Jew, according to the 2 clauſe of this Statute. Therefore it is moſt certain, it was not made in 18 E. 1. which was 14 years after theſe two records, reciting it both by name and words, but in 3 E. 1. the very next year before theſe records, the end for which I here inſert them.

(q)(q)Mat. Weſt. An. 1278. p. 367. Hygden, Polychronicon, l. 7. c. 38. Henry de Knyghton de Eventibus Angliae. l. 3. c. 1. col. 2462. Walſingh. hiſt. Ang. Ann. 1279. p. 18. Ypodigm. Neuſtriae, p. 69. Fabian part. 7. p. 124. Grafton, p. 164. Stows Chronicle. p. 200. Survey of London, p. 289. Holinſhed, p. 279. Balaeus Cent. 4. Script. Brit. c. 61. in Appendice Cent. Magd. 13. c. 15. col. 1286. Bakers Chron. p. 145. Rot. Clauſe 7. E. 1. m. 6, 7.In the 7th year of King Edward the 1. Anno Dom. 1278. as ſome, or 1279. as others compute it, the King held a Parliament at London, which was chiefly called for the reformation of his coyn, which was then ſore clipped, by reaſon whereof it was much diminiſhed and impaired. In the time of this Parliament in the monethmonth of November all the Jews throughout England, (as Matthew Weſtminſter) or many of the Jews in London, and other p. 42parts of the Realm, were apprehended in one day, and impriſoned in London for clipping of money: and in December following, divers Enqueſts were charged in London, to enquire of the ſaid Jews, and all others who had ſo blemiſhed and clipped the Kings coyn; By which Enqueſts the Jews of the City, with the Gold-ſmiths that kept exchanges of ſilver, were indicted. And ſhortly after Candelmas, the Mayor and Juſtices of the Land ſat at London, where before them was caſt 297 perſons for clipping; of the which 3 only were Engliſhmen, and all the other were Jews, born either within this Realm, or elſewhere, but moſt of them Engliſh Jews; who were all of them at ſundry places and times put to execution in London; who impeached the chief men of London, and very many Chriſtians, who conſented to their wickedneſſes. After which a very great multitude of Jews were hanged in other Cities of England for the ſame offence. Hereupon in the Patent Rolls of 7, 8, and 9 Edw. 1. in the Tower, I find ſundry grants of the Jews Houſes and Lands in London, Yorke, and Northampton, made by the King, to ſeveral perſons, as eſcheated to him by thoſe executed Jewiſh offenders.

(r)(r)John Stow his Chron. p. 20. Survey of London p. 289.Anno 1279. The Jews of Northampton crucified a Chriſtian boy, but did not thoroughly kill him, upon Good-Friday; for the which fact many of the Jews at London, after Eaſter, were drawn at Horſes tails, and hanged.

(ſ)(ſ)John Stow his Chronicle, p. 202. Survey of London, p. 289.In the year of our Lord 1282. John Peckham Arch-biſhop of Canterbury, ſent an expreſſe precept and command to the Biſhop of London, to ſuppreſſe and deſtroy all the Synagogues of the Jews within his Dioceſſe.

(t)(t)Stow his Chronicle, p. 203, 204. Su…vey of London, p. 289.On May 2. Anno 1287. All the Jews of England were apprehended by the Kings precept, for what cauſe was not known; who ranſomed themſelves for 12000l. of ſilver; They had then a Synagogue at Canterbury. Fabian writes, that the Jews of England were ſeſſed at great ſums of mony (perchance the cauſe of their ſeiſure) p. 43which they paid unto the King; But of **Fabian part: 7 p. 131. Grafton p. 168. Holinſhed vol: 3. p. 283.other Authors it is ſaid, That the Commons of England then granted to the King the fifth part of their moveables, for to have the Iews baniſhed out of the Land. For which cauſe the ſaid Jews, for to put the Commons from their purpoſes, gave of their free wills great ſums of money to the King, which ſaying appeareth to be true, for that the ſaid Jews were exiled within few years after: with whom Grafton and Holinſhed accord. A ſtrong evidence of the potency of Jewiſh money, over-powring the whole Commons of England in Parliament, and this their Liberal ſubſidy for their baniſhment at that ſeaſon.

(u)(u)Thomas Walſingham Hiſt. Angl. p. 14.K. Edward the 1. the next year (1288.) being in Gaſcoigne, a certain Engliſh Knight decreed to convent a Jew, for the undue detention of a certain Mannor morgaged to him, before the Judges: but the crafty Jew refuſed to anſwer, pretending a Charter of King Henry heretofore, which was granted to him, that he ſhould not be drawn into judgement before any Judge, except only before the perſon of the King. The Knight being troubled at this, went into Gaſcoigne, that he might obtain ſome remedy hereupon from the King. Whom when the King had heard, he anſwered: It is not ſeemly for children to make void the deeds of their parents, to whom by Gods Law they are commanded to give reverence: wherefore I have decreed, not to make void the deed of my Father; but I grant to thee, and to the reſt of my Realm by the like Law (leſt a Jew might ſeem better than a Chriſtian) that for any injury whatſoever done to the Iew, ſo long as he ſhall enjoy his Charter, you ſhall not be convented before any Iudge, except my ſelf. The Knight returning with this priviledge, the Jew conſidering that danger and peril hung over his head, voluntarily renounced his Charter, evacuating the condition of his priviledge, and wiſhing that both parties might be ſubject to the Common Law.

(x)(x)Th. Walſingham, Hiſt. Angl. p. 15.The year following, Anno 1289. King Edwa…d taking upon him the character of the Croſſe at Blankeford in Gaſcoigne, preſently baniſhed all the Jews out of Gaſcoigne, p. 44and all other his Lands, which he poſſeſſed in the Realm of France, AS ENEMIES OF THE CROSSE. From whence returning into England, Anno 1290. he was joyfully received at London, both by the Clergy and all the people; and the ſame year exiling the Jews likewiſe out of England, giving them expences into France, he confiſcated all the reſt of their goods; together with their Lands and Houſes, and in 19 & 20 E. 1. he made ſeveral Gifts of the Jews Houſes and Lands to others: as appears by the Patent Rolls in the Tower of London.

Upon what grounds, by what Authority, for what time, in what manner, with what deſire of, and content to all the whole Commons and Realm of England, the Jewes were then baniſhed thence, theſe enſuing Hiſtorians will at large relate, in their own words, which I ſhall tranſcribe for the better information and ſatisfaction of all ſorts of men, whether Chriſtians or Jews.