A Short Demurrer to the Jews Part 2, Text (1 of 5)

A Short Demurrer to the Jews Part 2 · Text (1 of 5)

p. 1The Second Part of a ſhort Demurrer to the Iews long diſcontinued barred Remitter into ENGLAND.

HAving in my late Short Demurrer to the Jews long diſcontinued barred Remitter into England, preſented the world with an Exact Chronological Hiſtory of the Engliſh Jews and their affairs, from their very firſt arival in England under King William the Conqueror, till their univerſal final Baniſhment and Expulſion thence, in the 18 year of King Edward the firſt, after about 260 years continuance in our Iſland, collected out of the beſt printed Hiſtorians, Law-books, and ſome few Records; I conceived it not only expedient, but neceſſary to ſecond, amplifie and illuſtrate it, with this new Chronological Collection of ſuch unprinted, and generally unknown Records (remaining in the Tower of London, and Exchequer) during the reſpective reigns of King John, King Henry the 3. and Edward the 1. as properly relare to the Hiſtory, State, affairs, Legai tranſactions, Proceedings, Contracts, Government of the Iews in England under theſe three Kings, and to their final Baniſhment hence, which for want of time and other cauſes I could not conveniently inſert into my firſt Demurrer.

The Reaſons inducing me hereunto are, 1. The Rarity and Novelty of theſe Records never formerly publiſhed in print. I have been informed by perſons of Credit, p. 2that our great learned late deceaſed Antiquary Mr. Iohn Selden, many years ſince made a particular collection of the Records concerning the Engliſh Iews, and gave them to Mr. Samuel Purchas to inſert into his Pilgrimage, who in his 3. Edit. thereof, Lond. 1617. B. 2. ch. 10. Sect. 17. p. 171. publiſhed a Section with this Title to it. Of the Jewes ſomtimes living in England, collected out of ancient Records, by Mr. JOHN SELDEN of the Inner-Temple: wherin there is ſuch a poor maimed accompt given of them, out of Records or Hiſtories, and ſo …ifferent from that delivered him; that upon the publication thereof Mr. Selden was very much offended with Mr. Purchas for abuſing him in ſuch a manner, and his Readers likewiſe; there being not above 3 Records, and thoſe maimedly cited in that whole Section; which defect I thought meet here to ſupply. 2ly, The rectifying and refuting of ſome Miſtakes in Sir Edward Cook his 2 Inſtitutes, concerning the Statute de Iudaiſmo, and the Jews Baniſhment out of England, which I have more fully refelled in my ſecond Edition, and ſhall here further clear by ſeveral Records,. 3ly, The illuſtration and ratification of ſome Paſſages in our Hiſtorians, touching the ſlaviſh condition and frequent Taxes impoſed on the Jews by our Kings. 4ly, The fuller diſcovery of the manner of their Contracts, Stars, Legal Proceedings, Judicatories, tranſactions and Government whilſt in England, wherein our Hiſtories and Lawbooks are very defective. 5ly, The manifeſtation of the Machiavillian Policy of King Iohn, and Henry the 3d, to draw the Jews from forraign parts into England, by granting them ample Liberties and Protection, on purpoſe afterwards to enſnare, oppreſs, vex, ſqueeze & prey upon them and their eſtates, with far greater greedineſſe and advantage. 6ly, To publiſh to the world the zealous, pious care of our Anceſtors, even in groſſeſt times of Popery, to prevent all communion of Chriſtians with, and ſed…ction by the Jews, to ſuppreſs their blaſphemy, & convert them, by compelling them to reſort to the Friers Sermons for p. 3their edification & providing for their converts, by ſundry Ordinances not mentioned in any printed Engliſh Hiſtorians, but only in the Records here publiſhed. 7ly, To adde a further Barr to their Re-admiſſion into England; they having been invited hither (if Menaſſeh Ben-Iſrael may be credited) by divers EMINENT PERSONS excelling both in Piety and Learning, as well as power: who from the beginning of their Government of this Commonwealth have profeſſed much reſpect and favor towards them, & made known unto them ſome years ſince, that wiſhed for liberty that they now are about to grant them; as he in his late Humble Addreſſes, and Declaration to the Commonwealth of England hath publiſhed to the world in print; being now inquiring after a convenient Summer-houſe, intending to ſettle himſelf at leaſt, if not his exiled Nation, here among us: whereasaaPars 2. Pat. 1. E. 2. n: 10 Walſingh. Hiſt. Ang. p. 68. to 76. 97. to 108. Ypodigm. Neuſtriae, p. 100, 104, 105. 108. &c. Grafton, Fabian, Speed, Holinſhed, Stow, Daniel, Baker, in Ed. 2. Clauſ. 5. E. 2. m. 15. et Dorſ. 7. clauſ. 15. E. 2. m. 24. & 14. Sched. & Dorſ. 32. Pierce Gaveſton, a Forraigner, and the two Spencers, great Potent Engliſhmen, have heretofore loſt their lives and heads for returning into England, without the Parliaments and Nobles licenſe, though by the Kings own invitation, and licenſe, when baniſhed thence by Parliament; which this Jewiſh Rabbi, and his baniſhed Countrimen may do well adviſely to conſider, for fear of afterclaps.

The firſt Records of our former Kings now extant (except ſome few Charters, and Exemplifications of them in Leiger-books, Records, and Hiſtories) are thoſe of King Iohn preſerved in the Tower of London, and Exchequer. Amongſt the Charter bbRot. chart. part. 1. R. Johan. n. 28. Chart. 171.Rolls of this King Iohn, I find a ſpecial Charter of his in favour of the Jews, made in the firſt year of his reign, dated at Rhoan, July 31. (Anno Dom. 1199.) whereby he grants to James of London, a Jewiſh Prieſt, the Priesthood of all the Jews throughout England, to have and hold it during his life freely, quietly, honorably, and intirely, without moleſtation, trouble or diſturbance by any Jew or Engliſhman in the exerciſe thereof, &c. (Such a Charter as Menaſſeh Ben-Iſrael now aſpires after for himſelf, as his Addreſſes intimate) p. 4which becauſe I find printed byccIn his Pilgrimage, Edit. 3. 1617, l. 2. c. 10. ſect. 7. p. 172. In his Pilgrims, l. 9. c. 5. ſect. 1. p. 1441. in the Margin. Mr. Samuel Purchas, anddd2 Inſtit. p. 508. Sir Edward Cook, and I have already publiſhed it verbatim in my Short Demurrer, Edit. 1. p. 44. and Edit. 2. p. 50. 51.) I ſhall here pretermit, with this obſervation; that in the cloſe thereof there is mention made of a Charter of King Richard, granted to this Jew, That he ſhould not be impleaded for any thing appertaining to him, but only before the King himſelf or his chief Juſtice. This is the very firſt Charter extant on record conning the Engliſh Jews. What is recorded of them in our Hiſtories before this rime, I haveeeA ſhort Demurrer, p. 1. to 16. elſewhere publiſhed at large.

I find another Charter of Safe-conduct, granted by K. John to this Jewiſh Prieſt the ſelf-ſame day and year as the former, for his ſafe and free paſſage, and of all things appertaining to him, in all places, both on this ſide and beyond the Sea, without any injury, moleſtation, impediment, or grievance to be done unto him, more then to the King himſelf: which being never yet printed, I have here tranſcribed out of the Record it ſelf.

ffChart. 1 Johannis, pars 1. n. 50, rot. 28.Johannis Dei gratia, &c. Omnibus fidelibus ſuis, ad quos Literae praeſentes pervenerint, tàm ultrà mare, quàm citra. Mandans vobis & praecipiens, Quatenus per quaſcunque Villas & loca Jacobus Presbyter Judaeorum, dilectus & familiaris Noſter; tranſierit, ipſum ſalvò & liberè cum omnibus ad ipſum pertinentibus tranſire, & conduci faciatis; nec ipſi aliquod impedimentum, moleſtiam aut gravamen fieri ſuſtineatis, plus quam Nobis ipſis. Et ſi quis ei in aliquo forisfacere praeſumpſerit, id ei ſine dilatione emendadari faciatis. Teste VVillielmo Mariſco, &c. Dat. per manum Hu. Cantuar. Archiepiſcopi, Cancellarii noſtri apud Rothomagum, 31. die Julii, Anno Regni noſtri primo.

It is obſervable, that both theſe Charters were made not in England, but at Rhoan in Normandy, whence King William ggA ſhort Demurrer, p. 2, 3.the Conqueror firſt tranſplanted the Jewes p. 5into England: And that both the Charters to this High Prieſt oſ the Iews, were granted by the hand of Hubert, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, then Chancellor, Primate, Metropolitan and High Prieſt of the Engliſh Nation, whoſe Succeſſors have juſtified the Divinity and Lawfulneſs, of their Archiepiſcopal Juriſdiction from the Jewiſh High Prieſts Office, and Pagan Archflamins. Sic mulus mulum ſcalpit. Dignum Patello operculum.

King John having granted ſuch Priviledges and Protection to this Jewiſh High Prieſt and Biſhop in the firſt year of his reign, proceeded (by his and their monies moſt powerfull mediation) to confirm and grant many ample Priviledges and Immunities to all the Engliſh and Norman Jews in his 2 year, by theſe two enſuing Charters, not formerly printed, which I ſhall here tranſcribe verbatim as I finde them on Record. The firſt runs thus.

hhCart. 2. Johannis: num. 49. Carta Judaeorum Angliae.Johannes Dei gratia, &c. Sciatis Nos conceſſiſſe Omnibus Judaeis Angliae & Normanniae, libere et hono…ifice habere reſidentiam in terra noſtra, & omnia illa de Nobis tenenda quae tenuerunt de Rege Henrico Avo Patris noſtri; et omnia illa quae modo rationabiliter tenent in terris et feodis, & vadiis & akatis ſuis: & quod habeant omnes libertates & conſuetudines ſuas ſicut eas habuerunt tempore praedicti Regis H. Avi patris noſtri, melius & quiecius & honorabilius. Et ſi querela orta fuerit inter Chriſtianum et Judaeum, ille qui alium appellaverit ad querelam ſuam dirationandam habeat Teſtes, ſcilicet legittimum Chriſtianum & Iudaeum. Et ſi Iudaeus de querela ſua Breve habuerit, Breve ſuum erit ei teſtis. Et ſi Christianus habuerit querelam adverſus Iudaeum ſit judicata per Pares Judaei. Et cum Iudaeus obierit, non detineatur corpus ſuum ſuper terram, ſed habeant homines ſui pecuniam ſuam & debita ſua, ita quod mihi non diſturbetur, ſi habuerit haeredem qui pro ipſo respondeat & rectum faciat de debitis ſuis & de forisfacto ſuo: Et liceat Judaeis omnia quae eis apportata fuerint ſine occaſione p. 6accipere & emere, exceptis illis quae de Eccleſia ſunt, & panno ſanguine lento. Et ſi Judaeus ab aliquo appellatus fuerit ſine teſte, de illo appellatu erit quietus ſolo Sacramento ſuo ſuper librum ſuum, et de appellatu illarum rerum quae ad Coronam noſtram pertinent, ſimiliter quietus erit ſolo Sacramento ſuo ſuper Rotulum ſuum. Et ſi inter Chriſtianum & Iudaeum fuerit diſſentio de accommodatione alicujus pecuniae, Judaeus probabit Catallum ſuum, & Chriſtianus lucrum. Et liceat Judaeo quietè vendere vadium, poſtquam certum erit, eum illud unum annum & unum diem tenuiſſe. Et Judaei non intrabunt in placitum, niſi coram Nobis, aut coram illis qui Turres noſtras custodierint, in quorum Ballivis Iudaei manſerint. Et ubicunque Iudaei fuerint, liceat eis ire ubicunque voluerint, cum omnibus catallis eorum ſicut res noſtrae propriae, & nulli liceat eos retinere, neque hoc eis prohibere. Et praecipimus quod ipſi quieti ſint per totam Angliam & Normanniam de omnibus Conſuetudinibus & Theoloniis & modiatione vini ficut noſtrum proprium catallum. Et mandamus vobis & praecipimus quod eos cuſtodiatis, & defendatis, & manu-teneatis; et prohibemus ne quis contra Cartam iſtam de hiis ſupradictis eos in placitum ponat ſuper forisfacturam noſtram; Sicut Carta Regis H. patris nostri rationabiliter teſtatur. T. Humf. filio Petri Com. Eſſex, Willielmo de Mareſcal: Com. de Pembr. Henr. de Bohun Com de Hereford, Robert de Turnham, Willielmo Brywer, &c. Dat. per manum S. Well. Archidiac. apud Merleberg, Decimo die Aprilis, Anno regni noſtri ſecundo.

The ſecond Patent runs in theſe words.

iiCart. 2. Johannis. n. 53. Confirmatio Judaeorum de Libertatibus ſuis.Johannes Dei gratia, &c. Sciatis Nos conceſſiſſe, & praeſenti Carta noſtra confirmaſſe Judaeis noſtris in Anglia, ut exceſſus qui inter eos emerſerint, exceptis hiis qui ad Coronam & Juſtitiam noſtram pertinent, & de morte hominis & mahemio, & de aſſaltu praemeditato, & de fractura domus, et de Raptu, et de Latrocino, & de Combuſtione, p. 7& de Theſauris, inter eos deducantur ſecundum Legem ſuam, et emendentur, & Juſtitiam ſuam inter ſe ipſos faciant. Concedimus etiam eis, quod ſi quis eorum alium appellaverit de querela quae ad eos pertineat, Nos neminem compellemus ad teſtimonium cuiquam eorum contra alium exhibendum, ſed ſi Appellator rationabilem & idoneum teſtem habere poterit, eum ſecum adducat. Siquod verò opus ſceleratum & apertum inter eos emerſerit quod ad Coronam noſtram vel ad Juſtitiam pertineat, ſicut de praedictis Placitis Coronae, licet nullus eorum noſter appellator fuerit, Nos ipſam querelam faciemus per Legales Judaeos noſtros Angliae inquiri: ſicut Carta Regis H. patris noſtri rationabiliter teſtatur. Teſte G. filio Petri Com. Eſſex, Willielmo Mareſchallo Com. de Pembr. Hen: de Bohun Com. de Hereford, Petro de Pratell. Roberto de Turnham. Willielmo de Waren, Hugo: de Nevil, Roberto de veteri Ponte. Dat. per manum S. Well. Archidiac. apud Merleberg. X. die Aprilis, Anno Regni noſtri ſecundo.

Both theſe Charters were dated at the ſame place, on the ſelf-ſame day, by the ſelf-ſame hand, and ſubſcribed by the ſame Witneſſes for the moſt part. The firſt of them extends to all the Jews both in England and Normandy, the latter to the Jews in England alone: The perſons ſubſcribing them as witneſſes, were eminent both for honor and power: and it appears by the recitals in the Charters, that the Liberties granted and confirmed by them to theſe Jews, were wholly, or for the moſt part ſuch as King Henry the firſt, Grandfather, and K. Henry the 2. Father to King John had formerly granted and confirmed to them by their reſpective Charters, And if you compare that Law inſerted by**Annal pars Post. p. 604. See the firſt part of A Short Demurrer, p. 3. Hoveden and others amongſt the Confeſſors and Conquerors Laws. De Judaeis in Anglia conſtitutis. You will find it taken almoſt verbatim out of theſe Kings Charters, in whoſe times Hoveden writ his Annals, and puny to the Confeſſors p. 8and Conquerors Laws, in the true Original copyes whereof it is not to be found.

We need not much wonder that King Iohn did grant ſuch large Liberties and Charters as theſe recited to the Jewiſh High Prieſts and Jews throughout his Dominions, ſince ſome few years after (askkHiſt. Augliae, Anno 1213. p. 243. Matthew Paris writes) he ſent ſpecial Embaſſadors to Admirallus the Great Mahometan King of Africk, Feſſe and Spain, profering to ſurrender up his Crown and Kingdom to him, and hold them under him as his Vaſſal; and likewiſe To reuounce the Chriſtian Religion, as vain, and faithfully to Adhere to the Mahometan Religion. For which he was much ſcorned and derided by ihis Mahometan Prince, as the Dregs both of Kings and Men: He will ſoon turn a compleat Turk, who is become half a Jew.

Theſe Liberties thus ratified by King Iohn, drew many Jews into England out of forraign parts with their wealth and treaſure, according to the old Proverb, Fiſtula dulce canit volucres dum decipit auceps. but when theſe Decoyes had drawne them and their wealth into the Net, you may read how he plucked off their feathers and tormented their bodies to gain their monies in our Hiſtorians, and my**Page 16. firſt Demurrer.

Amongſt the Records in the Treaſury of the Receiver of the Exchequer in the 4th year of King Iohn, I find one Bonefand a Jew indicted at Bedford for gelding and cutting off the yard of one Richard, whereof upon his trial he was acqitted: as the Record it ſelf will more fully manifeſt in its own dialect.

Placita capta apud Bedeford a die Sacti Michaelis in … Septim: coram Simon de Pateſhall, & Rich de Faukenbrig, & Sociis ſuis, Anno Regni Regis Johannis 4to. Rot. 5. in dorſo.

Hundr. de Clipton.

Robertus de Sutton appellat Bonefand Judaeum de Bedeford, quod ipſe in pace Domini Regis, & nequiter fecit ementulare p. 9Ricardum nepotem ſuum, unde ipſe obiit: Ita quod ipſe fecit portare eum uſque in terram ſuam de Hacton; quam ipſe habet in vadio, & ibi obiit: et hoc offert probare. Et tunc Bonefand venit, et defendit totum, & offert Domino Regi 1 marc. pro habenda Inquiſitione, utrum ſit inde culpabilis vel non: Et Iuratores inquiſiti dicunt, quod non eſt culpabilis inde: et ideo Bonefand ſit quietus, & Robertus in miſericordia pro falſo appello: And in the Margin of the Roll cuſtodiatur is written. This is the firſt Indictment I find upon record againſt a Jew.

Not long after King Iohns Charters confirmed, the Jews fell to their uſual trade of clipping and waſhing the current coyn of the Kingdom, as is evident by this New Ordinance againſt this abuſe, and touching the Aſſiſe of moneys, in the 6 year of King Iohn.

llPat. 6. Iohan. num 7. dorſo.Aſſiſum eſt de Moneta, quod vetus moneta currat unde quelibet libra ſit lacta ii. s. vi. d. ad plus, & libra quae plus lactaverit, & denarii qui plus lactaverint perforentur & reddantur ſicut alias proviſum fuit. Iudaei vero aurifabri, & mercatores forinici emant moneta iſta victum et veſtitum ſuum tantum, ſed non debent preſtitum vel Merchandizas facere, niſi de groſſa et forti moneta quae ſit de lege & pondere denariorum ſterlingorum. Et ad cognoſcendum denar: de praedicto lacco, exeat a monetaria noſtra I. Pempeis, & liberetur cui voluerit habere habendum uſque ad Pentecoſten Anno regni noſtri 7. de lacco octavae partis denarii. Item denarius qui de caetero fuerit, ſcilicet poſt Natale. Anno Regni noſtri 6. inventus intonſus in alicujus manu perſtietur, et ille cujus manu captus fuerit, capiatur ut lat: Item prohibitum eſt, quod nullus vetus denarius reblangietur, et qui eum reblangiaverit, ſit in miſericordia noſtra de toto catallo ſuo, et amittat quod reblangiavit. Item denarius debet omnis fabricari, ita quod ſit de equa lege & pondere, habens circulum exteriorem, et quod nil ſit extra illum circulum, & ubi aliter inventus fuerit, p. 10fabricator et cuſtos ejus ſint in miſericordia noſtra de toto catallo ſuo. Item ſi quis cambiaverit Denar. vel argentum alibi quam ad Cambium noſtrum (ſalvo Cambio Domini Cantuarienſis Archi Epiſcopi apud Cant.) tam cambiens quam recipiens, cum eo quod cambiaverint, capiantur. Et aſſiſum eſt, quod nullus capiat ad Cambium pro libra de fine et argento plus vel minus quam Denar. de lege; et quod nullus denarius exeat de Cambio noſtro, vel Dom Cantuar. niſi ſit legalis de Victualorum. Itē inquiratur per liberos et legales homines in Civitatibus, Burgis & Villis, quis Chriſtianus vel Judaeus denarretondit, et qui inventus fuerit retonſor Chriſtianus vel Judaeus, capiantur omnia catalla ſua, et corpus ſuum mittatur in priſonam noſtram, et ſit in poteſtate noſtra de Juſtitia facienda. Item ſi denarii qui non ſint rationabiles de lege & pondere inventi fuerint in manu Judaei aurifabri, vel Mercatoris forinſeci vel ſervientium eorum, pro merchandiſa, vel preſtito faciendo, aſſiſum eſt, quod illi in quorum manu fuerint inventi, (niſi tantum ad victum & veſtitum ſuum emendo, ut praedictum eſt) capiantur. T. me-ipſo apud Winton, 26. die Jan.

The ſame year King Iohn granted this enſuing ſafeconduct to one Hamechun a Jew, to come and reſide in England like other Jews.

Rex,Pat. 6 Johan. …. 7. intus. &c. Iuſticiariis, &c. Sciatis quod dedimus Hamichuno Judaeo noſtro firmam pacem noſtram, ita quod conceſſit ſalvò venire et ibi ſtare, ſicut alii Iudai noſtri in terram nostram, pro bono ſervicio ſuo quod nobis fecit in Caſtro Audel. cum dilecto & fideli nostro R. Conſtab. Ceſtriae. Et ideo vobis mandamus et firmiter praecipimus, quod firmam pacem nostram ſicut praedictum eſt, habeat. Teſte me-ipſo apud Weſtm. 2 die Novembr.

The Jews bymmHoveden, Annal. pars poſterior, p. 745. Capitula de Iudaeis, enacted and publiſhed by Rich. the 1 recited at large in my former Demurrer, p. 11were obliged to regiſter all their Contracts, Morgages, Obligations, Debts, and to put them into a common Cheſt with 3 Locks and Keyes, kept by certain Chriſtians and Jewes ſpecially deſigned for that purpoſe, as you may there read at laſt. This Cheſt was callednnSe… Purchas Pilgrimage l. 2. c. 10. ſect. 7. Arca Cyrographica, or Cyrographorum Iudaeorum: and the Notaries or Regiſters of them ſtiled, Cyrographi Chriſtiani et Iudaei Arcae Cyrographicae London, Oxon, or other ſuch City where ſuch Cheſts were kept. All their Deeds, Obligations, and Releaſes were uſually called Stars, and Starra, Starrum, Starr: in our Latin Records. from the Hebrew word SHETAR (contracted by the omiſſion of he) which ſignifieth a Deed or Contract. Theſe Stars were written for the moſt part in Hebrew alone, or elſe in Hebrew on the one ſide or top of the parchment, and in Latin on the other ſide, or bottom of the Deed after the Hebrew. Some of theſe Stars were ſately extant amongſt the evidences and writings belonging to the Dean and Chapter of Weſtminſter, writ in very fair Hebrew Characters; and one of them I have lately ſeen in the Treaſury of the Exchequer, written in Hebrew without pricks, In King Iohns Reign, at the Top; the ſubſtance whereof is thus expreſſed in Latin juſt under it, lik an Engliſh Condition under a Latin Obligation.

Iſtud Star fecit Hagius filius Magri de London, Domino Ade de Strattona, de acquietantia de Stanmore de omnibus debitis in quibus Dominus S, de Cheyndut ei tenebatur: Ita quod idem Iudaeus nec haeredes ſui, nihil exigere poſſunt de praedicto Ade, nec de haeredibus ſuis ratione terrae de Stanmore de praedictis debitis. If any Chriſtian indebted and obliged to any Jew by any Star or writing put up & reſerved in this Cheſt payed not the ſame at the day appointed, tother with all the intereſt where any intereſt was reſerved; then he ſued forth Letters by way of Proces againſt him, both for the Debt and intereſt under the Notaries or Regiſters hand, to appear before the Iuſtices ſpecially appointed for the government and cuſtody of the Jews, p. 12to recover the ſame, paying to the King for a fine for ſuch Letters and Licence to ſue, unum baſantum, or beſantum (as it is variouſly written) for every pound of money he ſued for, as appears by ſundry inſtances in the fine Rolls both of King Iohn, Henry the 3. and Edward the 1. of which we have theſe 3 inſtances together in the fines of the 6 year of King Iohns reign.

**Fines … Ioh. ….Iſaac filius Joie habet literas ſuper Martinum Martel de xxv marcis, cum lucro, per Cirografum.

Elias de Burgi Judaeus habet literas ſuper eundem Martinum Martel de xx libris, cum lucro, per Cirografum.

Manaſſerus Graſſus habet literas ſuper eundem Martinum Martell de xxiiii marcis, cum lucro, per Cirografum; Dominus Rex DEBET HABERE DE QUALIBET LIBRA UNUM BASANTUM.

**Fines 6. Joh. m. 6.And in the ſame Roll of this year there is one more ſuch preſident,

Moſſe Judaeus fil. Leonis habet literas ſuper VValterum fil. Radi de Huncetanoſiot de xlviii marc. cum lucro per Cirografum, Capiatur de qualib. libra 1 Beſantum ad opus Domini Regis.

In the Treaſury of Receipts in the Exchequer in the xth. year of King Iohn, there is this Record touching the manner of proving the validity of the Jews Charters, if denied, or alleaged to be counterfeit, by the teſtimony of two Chriſtians and two Jews, &c. according to the forementioned Charter of King Iohn.

Inter Placita apud VVeſtm. Anno x Regis Johannis Termino Hilarii in Octabis Sancti Hilarii Rotulo 9 in dorſo.

Samuel Mucun & Muriel Judaea petunt verſus Herebertum filium Heb. CCCCl. de Catallis de debito Iſrael, Suthantes ſſ.per quandam Cartam; et producunt duos Chriſtianos & duos Judaeos paratos ad hoc probandum prout Curia conſideraverit. Herebertus dicit, quod Carta illa falſa eſt, & ideo falſa, quia Sigillum illud nunquam ſuum fuit, p. 13nec Cartam illam fecit, nec pecuniam illam mutuo recepit: & producit Sigillum ſuum Eburneum & plurimas Cartas, Sigillo illo Sigillatas, tam de Abaciis, quam de confirmatione terrarum. And hereupon I find no further proceedings in this Record (printed a little out of its due place, before theſe enſuing proceeding it in time, could be tranſcribed.)

It ſeems every Jew in that age had his proper Seal to Seal Charters, Stars and Obligations therewith, which yet were good in Law if really ſealed by him though with any other Seal than his own.

In the 5 year of King Iohn, the Jews of London being aſſaulted, diſturbed and miſuſed by the people againſt the Kings protection and peace, thereupon the King at their requeſt, ſent this ſharp Letter to the Mayor and Barons of London, committing the Jews there to their protection and defence. and threatning ſeverely to puniſh, and require their blood at their hands, if they ſhould ſuffer any injury through their default.

**Pat. 5. Joh. Regi. m. 7. n. 18.Rex, &c. Majori & Bar. London, &c. Semper dileximus vos multum, & jura & libertates vestras bene obſervari fecimus, unde credimus vos nos specialiter diligere, & ea quae ad bonorem noſtrum, & pacem & tranquilitatem terrae noſtrae eduntur, libenter velle preſtare. Verum cum ſciatis, quod Judaei in ſpeciali noſtra protectione ſint; miramur, quod Iudaeis in civitate London morantibus malum fieri ſustinetis; cum id manifeſte ſit contra pacem Regni, & terrae nostrae tranquilitatem: Ita quidem magis miramur et movemur, quia alii Iudaei per Angliam ubicunque moram fecerunt, exceptis illis qui ſunt in villa veſtra, in bona pace conſiſtunt. Nunc id tamen diximus pro Iudaeis noſtris, pro pace noſtra, quia ſi …uidam tantum pacem nostram dediſſemus, debetur inviolabiter obſervari. De caetero autem Iudaeos in civitate London morantes, vestrae committimus cuſtodiae, ut ſi quis eis malum facere attentaverit, vos manu forti eis ſubſidium facientes, eos defendatis. Ʋeſtris enim manibus eorum ſanguinem modo requiremus, ſi forte per defectum veſtri aliquid mali eis acciderit, quod abſit. Scimus enim bene quod per fatuos Villae et non per diſcretos hujuſmodi eveniunt, et debent diſcreti fatuorum Stultitiam compeſcere. Teſte meipſo apud Montem fortem 29 die Julii.

This ſmart Letter demonſtrates the Kings cordial affection to the Jews, though more for his own advantage than theirs.

In the Fine Rolls of the 6 of King Iohn I find this Kecord.

**Fines 6. Jo. Reg. m. 3. Warwic.Galfr. de Salvage dat 10 Mar. ut Willus de Hardreſhal acquietet ipſum verſus Jacob. Iudaeum Northampton de plegagia debiti, unde pleg. Willi. fuit verſus eundem Iudaeum, et unde queritur, quod pro defectu ejus diſtringitur: Et mandat. est licent. quod ſi ipſe Willus non fuerit, et ipſe Galfr. ipſ. ſect. &c.

In the Clauſe Rolls of the 7 & 9 years of K. Iohn I find theſe 3 ſhort records manifeſting the Kings power both to remit their uſury, due upon contracts, and to reſpite their debts themſelves.

**Clauſ. 7. Joh. Reg. m. 26.Rex Constabulario Wallingford, &c. Praecipimus tibi quod pacem habere facias Roberto de Maure de uſuris debiti Iudaeorum de termino quem monſtrare poterit, quod fuerit in ſervicio noſtro cum equis et armis ultra mare per praeceptum noſtrum. Teſte meipſo apud Wodeſtoke 25 die Maii, per Iuſticiarios.

**Clauſ, 9. Joh. Reg. m. 5.Rex W. de Warren et ſociis ſuis, &c. Mandamus vobis, quod quietum eſſe faciatis Abbatem ſanct: Radegunde de uſuris debitorum Iudaeorum, de duobus annis proxime praeteritis uſque ad inſtans Paſche anno reg. noſtri 9. dum fuit in ſervicio noſtro, per praeceptum noſtrum. Et Summoneatis Iudaeos quibus ipſe debita debet, quod ſint coram Iuſticiario noſtro G. fil. Petri, & eoram nobis a die Paſche in 15 dies, ad recipiendum ab eo finem debitis illis. Et mandetis Vic…quibus neceſſe fuerit, quod nullam interim diſtrictinem faciant eidem Abbati pro debitis illis reddendis, T. G. fil. Petri apud Suth. 25 die Marcii.

p. 14**Clauſ. 9. Jo. Reg. m. 6.Rex W. de Warren et ſociis ſuis cuſtodibus Iudaeorum, &c. Mandamus vobis quod quietum eſſe faciatis Rogerum Weſperill de uſuris debitorum quae debet Simoni Iudeo Oxon. ab hoc inſt. Paſce anno Reg. noſtri 9. uſque ad Paſche prox. ſequent. et interim ei reſpectum habere faciatis de praedict. debitis. T. Aaron. Norwic. apud Clarenden 21 die Marcii, per eundem.

By theſe 3 Preſidents it is apparent, that the Jews Uſury was condemned, and no ways favoured by King Iohn and his Juſtices in that age, long before either the Statute of Merton 20 H. 3. c. 5. or De Iudaiſmo 3 E. 1. c. 1. were enacted, and that the King would by no means permit it to run againſt any whilſt actually imployed in his ſervice, nor others whom he favoured, to whom he releaſed the Uſury at his pleaſure, and his Judges likewiſe by his command.

In the Roll of Fines of the 9 year of King Iohn I find theſe two caſes concerning extents of Lands for the debts of Jews in that age.

**Fines 6 Joh. Reg. in 2 Dorſ.Margareta de Lucy dat quinque marcas pro habenda haereditate de Kerchel, et de Hammes quam Robertus de Lucy quondam vir ejus invadiavit Iudaeis in vita ſua; & quod Iudaei capiant ſe a debito, quod idem Robertus eis debuit ſuper praedictum vadium, ad haeredem ipſ…us Roberti, qui haereditatem ſuam tenet. Et mandatum eſt Vicecomiti, quod accepta ab ea ſecuritate de praedictis 5 marcis, faciat ei habere plenariam ſeiſinam de praedicta haereditate ſua, quae capta fuit in manum Domini Regis occaſione praedicta. Et mandatum eſt Iuſticiariis Iudaeorum, quod de praedicto debito capiant ſe ad haereditatem praedicti Roberti, quam haeres ejus tenet.

The husband morgaged his wives inheritance to a Jew for a debt, and dies, for which the wives lands being taken by way of extent into the Kings hands, upon the Wives ſuit and fine of 5 marks, her land is diſcharged, & the husbands land deſcended to his heir charged with, and extended for it; all the lands of the Jews Debtors on that age (before the Statutes of Acton Burnel, or de Mercatoribus 13 E. 1.) being liable to extents for their debts, as this Record of the ſame year reſolves, eſpecially if aſſigned, forfeited to, or ſeiſed by the King.

**Fines 9 Joh. Reg. m. 5Mandatum eſt Baronibus de Scaccario, quod omnes terras quas Jollarius de Anumdevil habuit tempore quo ipſe mutuo accepit debita de Aaron Judaeo, capiantur in manum Dom. Regis quicunque illas teneat, pro 200 & 72 libris, quas ipſe Domino Regi debuit de debito Aaron; & fimiliter diſtrictionem faciatis de omnibus aliis quae Dom. Regi tenentur de debito Aaron de 26 lib. 8 ſol. & 9 d.

By this Record it appears, that debts to Jews in that age were in the nature of Judgements and Statute, binding all the debtors lands he had at the time of the money borrowed, into whoſe hands ſoever they came afterwards.

The King at this time claimed ſuch an abſolute juriſdiction over the Jews debts, that he uſed to diſcharge or releaſe them abſolutely, or for life, and to reſpite them as he pleaſed, as this and other preſidents manifeſt.

**Patents 10. Job. R. m. 5.Rex omnibus, &c. Sciatis quod quietavimus Roberto ſilio Rogori tota vita ſua, de omnibus debitis Judaeoorum, Willi de Cheſney patris Margaretae uxoris ejuſdem Roberti; & praecipimus quod inde ſit quietus, tota vita ſua: & in hujus rei teſtimonium, has literas noſtras Patentes ei fieri fecimus. Teſte meipſo apud Wimo, 19 die Augusti.

In the 13 year of King John (of which there are no Rolls or Records in the Tower) I meet with this notable Record in the Treaſury of the Exchequer, touching the Jews aſſignment of their debts to Chriſtians and exrents upon them by Judgement of the Juſtices aſſigned for the cuſtody of the Jews, whom the aſſignee thereupon vouched to warranty in this caſe.

Placita a die Sancti Michaelis in 15 dies Anno RegniLinc. ſſ. p. 15Regis Johannis 12. capta apud Weſtmonaſterium, inter alia ſic continetur, & ſequitur, Rotulo ſecundo

Aſſiſa venit recogn. ſi Rob…rtus de Kanvill injuſte & ſine Judicio diſſeſeivit Willielmum Couſe & Beatricem uxorem ejus in Lincoln infra Aſſiſas, & Robertus venit & dicit, quod Aſſiſa non debet procedere, quia ipſe babet ſeiſinam inde per preceptum Domini Regis, ut ille qui fecit finem cum Judaeis quibus idem Willielmus debuit debitum ſuper tenementum illud: unde ipſe profert Cartas Judaeorum, quas ipſis acquietavit per finem illum: & vocat Juſticiarios Judaeorum ad Wa…rantum, quod habuit inde ſeiſinam per eos ut de vadio ſuo: Quia nihil Juris clamat in tenemento illo, niſi ut de vadio, & Juſticiarii Judaeorum ſic warrantizant: ideo conſideratum eſt, quod Willielmus in miſericordia & Robertus teneat in vadium ſuum.

By the Clauſe Roll of the 15 of King Iohn it appears, that the King then ſeiſed, granted, and ſold the houſes of the Jews at his pleaſure (as a Lord his Villains) without any other Title but his abſolute Soveraignty over them, witneſſe theſe Writs of his compared together.

**Clauſ. 15. Jo. Reg. m. 3.Rex Majori & Vicecom. London, &c. Sciatis quod dedimus dilecto & fideli noſtro Com. de Ferrariis domum Iſaac Judaei de Norw. &c. in London in parochia Sanctae Margaretae, cum redditibus & omnibus pertinentiis ſuis, & Cartam noſtram eo modo fieri fecimus. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod ſecundum tenorem ejuſdem Cartae noſtrae ei ſine dilatione plenam ſeiſinam habere faciatis. T. meipſo apud Craneborn 8 die Julii.

**Clauſ. 15 Jo. Reg. m. 2.Rex Vicecom. & Praepoſit. Oxon. ſalutem. Sciatis quod ad petitionem venerabilis patris noſtri N. Tuſcul: Epiſcopi Apoſtol. ſedis. Legati, conceſſimus Albrico fil. Iſaac Judaeo domos ſuas, et domos quae fuerunt Iſaac patris ſui in Oxon., quae non valent per annum niſi viginti ſol. ut dicitur. Unde vobis mandamus, quod plenam ſeiſinam domorum illarum ejdem Albrieo fine dilatione habere faciatis, niſi valeant per annum plus quam 20 s. T. W. Brewer apud Freemer 11 die Novemb.

This year the King laid an heavy Tax upon the Jews, at Briſtol, which ſome Jews in Southampton refuſing and delaying to pay, the King thereupon iſſued this Writ to the Sheriff of Southampton to apprehend and ſend them priſoners to Briſtol, unleſſe they preſently paid it.

**Clauſ. 15. Jo. Reg. m. 3.Rex Vic. Suthampton, &c. precipimus tibi quatenus omnes Judaeos de Balliva tua qui nondum peracquietaverunt ſe de Tallagio apud Briſtol ſuper eos poſito, vel qui ſtatim ſe nunc acquietare noluerint ad Caſtrum de Briſtol per literas tuas ſine dilatione remittas, et eis ibidem Conſtabulario noſtro liberari facias. Significavimus autem illi quod eos recipiat cum illuc venerint, et omnes denarios quos de illis recipiſti vel recepturus es, ſicut reipſum diligis, habeas in Scaccario noſtro apud Weſtm. in craſtino aſſumptionis beatae Mariae. T. meipſo apud Beneden 26 die Iulii.

**See my Firſt Demurrer p. 1Theſe Jews no doubt were ordered thus to be ſent to Briſtol Caſtle, to meet with ſuch a Toothdrawer as one of them there found ſome years before.

This year King Iohn ſent theſe Letters to his Governers and Officers in Rochel, Oleron and Zaunt, to cauſe the Jews to ſurceaſe their exaction of uſury there, which you formerly heard he diſcharged here at home.

**Pat. 15. Jo. Reg. pars 1. m. 20.Rex Majoribus et praepoſitis Rupellae, de Aloron, et de Zante, ſalutem. Mandamus vobis, et ſingulis veſtrum, quod Iudaeos Balliva veſtra ceſſare faciatis ab exactione uſurarum quam faciunt. Therefore their uſury was ſuppreſſed, condemned long before the Statute de Iuddiſmo in 3. E. 1. This Precept of the Kings I find thu ſeconded by a Decree of the Popes Legat in thoſe parts, made in the Council of Burdeaux againſt the Jewiſh Uſury, and rancked in the Van of all the other Decrees there enacted.

**Pat. 16 Joh. Reg. Dorſ. 15.Haec ſunt Statuta quae venerabilis Pater Robert: de Tur. ſarroſanctae Romanae Eccleſiae Leg. ſancti Stephani in monte Coelio Presbyter Cardinalis ſtatuit authoritate p. 16Legationis ſuae, in Concilio celebrato apud Burdegal, cum aliis quae in Francia ſtatuit. Sicut praecepit Dominus per pro. in locis ſuis de Judaeis, ita fiat, ut ſcilicet Barones omnes quae tenent Judaeos compellant ipſos remittere uſuras cruce ſignatis: Et ſi hoc efficere contemnunt, compellantur omnes mercatores per cenſuram eccleſiaſticam, ne aliquam communionem cum eis, aut in contractibus, aut in mercimoniis impendant, aut in quibuſlibet; Si autem ſuper hoc Barones incorrigibiles inveniantur cenſura ſimili percellentur.

In the Fine Rolls of the 17 of King Iohn pars 1 there is this pardon of a Jews debt, which this King ſeiſed to his own uſe.

An. Dom. 1215.*Dominus Rex pardonavit Nicholao de Wancy 10 lib. quas ei debuit de debitis Iudaeorum; & mandatum eſt Baronibus de Scaccario, quod ipſum Nich. de praedict. 10 libr. quietum eſſe faciant; T. apud Windſore 16 Julii.

In the 18 and laſt year of King Iohn, I find his Writ to the Barons of the Exchequer to allow upon the account of Hubert de Burgo, * Clauſ. 18. Jo. Reg. m. 24.amongſt other things, Carnarium Judaeorum & Iudaearum in castro de Loſſins. It ſeems ſome Jews of both Sexes were then ſtrictly impriſoned, either for their Taxes, or ſome miſdemeanors not mentioned in the Record.

Theſe are the moſt material Records I have found in my ſearch relating to the Jews affairs, during the not long, but unfortunate troubleſome reign of King Iohn: I proceed to thoſe of Henry the 3 his Son and Succeſſor, which are more copious, various and delightfull both for matter and rarity.

In the very firſt year of King Henry the 3. being (then an Infant under the wardſhip of the Earl Marſhal his Protect,) ſome Iews being formerly areſted & impriſon'd, there iſſued forth theſe Writs and Mandates for their releaſe, the cauſe of their impriſonment not appearing.

**Pat. 1. H. 3. m. 8. D… Judaea deliberanda.Mandatum eſt W. Mareſcai juniori, quod ſine dilatione deliberari faciat Cheram Iudaeam de Winton, quam Galfred de Laurton, et Frnnket ſervientes ſui ceperunt, et captam detinent, et ut permittant ipſam Cheram ſine impedimento venire uſque Winton, quia Dominus Rex plenam pacem ſuam ei conceſſit. T. Com. (to wit W. Earl Marſhal then Protector) apud VVinton 22 die Aprilis, Anno reg. Dom. Regis primo.

Et mandatum eſt praedictis G. et Franket, quod ipſam Cheram ſine dilatione deliberent, et ſine impedimento permittant venire ad VVinton. T. eodem.

**Ibidem.Rex Ioſceo de Plugenap, ſalutem. Mandamus vobis firmiter precipientes, quod ſine dilatione et occaſione aliqua deliberetis, et quietum abire permittatis Ioppe fil. Iocei de VVilton Iudaeum quem cepiſtis et captum tenetis. Et in hujus rei teſtimonium, &c. T. Comite apud Winton 21 die Aprilis An. reg. noſtri primo.

Rex Rico fil. Rog. ſalutem.* Ibidem Mandamus vobis ſicut alias mandavimus firmiter praecipientes, quod ſine dilatione et occaſione aliqua deliberetis Iſaac fil. Solomonis Iudaeum quem cepiſtis apud Winton, ipſumque mittatis quietum ad Comitem VV. Mareſcallum Rectorem noſtrum et regni noſtri apud VVinton. In cujus rei teſtimonium, &c. Teſte Com. apud VVinton 21 die April. an. reg. noſtr. primo.

King Henry in the ſecond year of his raign, being informed by his Counſel what great advantage he might make by the Jews upon all occaſions, by the advice of his Counſel ſent forth thſe ſpecial Writs and Le…ters Parents to 24 Burgeſſes in each Town where the Jews reſided, to protect them and theirs from injury; appointed ſpecial Juſtices for their cuſtody and affaires, and likewiſe confirmed all their former Liberries for protection of their perſons and Eſtates from violence, and exempting them from the Biſhops Juriſdiction, and all other Courts and Judicatures whatſoever, but thoſe Juſtices he ſpecially appointed for their cuſtody. And likewiſe p. 17commanding all the Jews to wear two white Tables in their breaſts▪ that thereby they might be manifeſtly diſtinguiſhed from Chriſtians, and the better known and ſecured from injury and violence by thoſe their new Protectors.

**Clauſ. 2. H. 3. pars 2. m. 10. De Cuſtodia Judaeorum Gloc.Rex Conſtabulario et Praepoſitis Glouceſt. ſalutem. Mandamus vobis, quod ſine dilatione liberetis Jud…os noſtros Glouceſt. 24. Burgenſibus Glouceſtriae cuſtodiendos; Nec permitta…is quod ipſi Iudaei ab aliquibus vexentur, & maxime de Cruce ſignatis vel aliis. Nomina autem Burgenſium quibus illos commiteritis custodiendos imbreviari faciatis. Et ipſi &c. T. Com. apud Glouc. x die Martii. Anno reg: noſtri ſecundo.

**Clauſ. 2 H. 3. pars. 2. m. 9. Pro Judaeis Linc.Rex. Ʋic. Lincoln ſalutem. Praecipimus tibi quod eligas 24. de meloribus et diſcretionibus Civibus Lincoln, qui cuſtodiant Iudaeos noſtros Lincoln, et qui non permittant, quod aliquis eis malum vel injuriam faciat▪ de Cruce ſignatis vel aliis: & qui, &c. T. Com. apud Oxon, 30 die Marcii.

**Pat. 2. H. 3. m. 3. De Juſtic. Iudaeorum.Rex omnibus Ballivis, et fidelibus ſuis, ſalutem, Sciatis, Nos de communi Conſilio …ostro, attornaſſe dilectos et fideles noſtros Ric: de Doli, Magiſt. Alex. de Dorſet, & Elyam de Suvinges ad Scaccarium Iudaeorum cuſtodiend: et ad omnia negocia noſtra quae pertinent ad officium illud rectand: per totam Angliam. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod praedicto Ric: Alex. et Elye …itis intendentes, & in omnibus quae ſpectant ad officium illud, ſicut fieri ſolebat tempore

* Whom they ſuceeded.Will: de Wartun, Thom. de Nevil, & Galfr. de Norwic. T. Com. apud Weſt: 8▪ die Maii.

Not long after, the ſame year, there were ſeveral writs ſent to the Sheriff of Hereford and others, to protect the Jews perſons and eſtates from violence, which the people were prone to offer to them, and to preſerve them from all ſuits and arreſts againſt them for contracts or other things both in the Biſhops Eccleſiaſtical Court, and before the Sheriffs, or Kings ordinary Juſtices and Judges; but only before the Juſtices ſpecially deſigned for their cuſtody, as in the time of King Iohn, which writs were all ſent them in this form.

**Pat. 2. H 3. pars 1. m. 3.Rex Vicecomiti Hereford ſalutem: Scias, quod de communi Concilio noſ…ro conceſſimus Judaeis noſtris, ut ipſi maneant in Hereford, ſicut ſolebant tempore Domini Johannis Regis Patris noſtri, & quod talem habeant communionem qualem habere conſueverant inter Chriſtianos. Et ideo tibi praecipimus, quod eos cuſtodias, manuteneas, protegas, non eis in…etens vel inferri permittens, aliquod gravamen vel moleſtiam, & ſi aliquis eis in aliquo forisfecerit, id eis ſine dilatione facias emendari. Et clamari facias pertotam Ballivam tuam, quod eis ſirmam pacem noſtram dedimus, non obſtante … pro…i…itione inde facta, ab Epiſcopo Hereford, … nihil ad ipſum pertinet de Judaeis noſtris. Et prohibemus tibi ne manus mittas in eos, aut in Catalla eorum, nec eos capias aut impriſones, nec in Placitum trahas, aut a Juſticiariis noſtris ab aliquo trahi permittas; Set ſi aliquid fecerint quare poni debeant per vadium & plegios, tunc illos & eorum exceſſus attachies, quod ſint coram Juſticiariis noſtris ad Cuſtodiam Judaeorum attornatis, inde reſponſuri, & hoc facias per viſum legalium Chriſtianorum & Judaeorum; Et non permittas quod placitentur in curia Chriſtianitatis occaſione alicujus debiti. Et haec omnia fieri facias, ſicut fieri ſolebant tempore Johann. Regis patris noſtris Teſte Com. apud Turrem London 19 die Junii, Anno &c. ſecundo.

Eodem modo ſcribitur Vicecomiti Wigorn. Vicecom. & Civibus Eborum. Vicecomiti & Conſtabulario Lincoln, & de Stanford, & Conſtabulario Briſtol. pro Judaeis de Briſtol, & Vicecom. & Conſtabul. Gloucest. pro Judaeis Glouceſtriae, & Vicecom. & Conſtab. Northamton: & Vicecom. Suthampton, & civibus Winton pro Judaeis: There being Jews then reſiding in all theſe places.

In the 2 year of King Henry the 3. I find this Kings Writ to ſeveral Sheriffs where the Jews reſided, to proclaim, that all the Jews where ever they did walk or ride, p. 18ſhould on their upper Garments wear 2 white Tables on their breaſts, made of Linnen Cloath or parchment, as well within the Town as without, that ſo they might be known from Chriſtians.

Rex Ʋicecomiti Wigorniae ſalutem:2 Clauſ. 2 H. 3▪ in. 10. Dorſ. Praecipimus tibi, quod clamari & obſervari facias per totam Ballivam tuam; quod omnes Judaei deferunt in ſuperiori indumento ſuo, ubicunque ambulaverint aut equitaverint infra villam vel extra, quaſi duas Tabulas albas in Pectore, factas de lineo panno, vel de parcameno: Ita quod per hujuſmodi ſignum manifeſtè poſſint Iudaei à Chriſtianis diſcerni. Teſte Comite (to wit, William Marſhal Earl of Glocester the Kings Guardian and Protector) apud Oxon. 30. die Martiii.

Item mandatum est Vicecomit. Gloceſt. VVarwick, Lincoln, Oxon, Northampt. Majori & Vicecomitibus London.

**Fine 2 H. 3. m. 7.In the Fine Roll of 2 H. 3. there is a writ directed to the Barons of the Exchequer by the King; reciting, Conſtat Nobis per inſpectionem rotulorum Iusticiariorum de Iudaiſmo, &c. that King Iohn his Father releaſed Mirabilia the wife of Ely a Jew, of all Debts due to him by her Husband: Ita quod omnes Chartae quae fuerunt ipſius Eliae, & debita in eis contenta ipſi patri noſtro remaneant: that King Iohn upon Elye his death, ſeized and granted all his houſes, except two, which Mirabilia by agreement was to have, paying a fine of 15 marks to his Father, which was not yet paid; which agreement he confirmed, and thereupon orders the Sheriff to levy the ſaid Fine and Debts. T. Com: apud Gloc. 3. die Ian.

It appears by many Rolls of 2. (and alſo of 3, 4 & 5.) H. 3. that King Iohn ſeized and ga…e away to other… the Houſes of divers Jews, both in Glocester, Oxon, Northampton, and that King Henry likewiſe diſpoſed of them; as eſcheated to him, either by the Jews deaths, or for ſome other cauſes: Take theſe two preſidents for all the reſt.

* Clauſ. 2 H. 3. part 2. m. 2. Clauſ. 3. H. 3. pars 1. m. 12. Clauſ. 4. H. 3. m. 13.* Rex Ful…: de Breant, ſalutem; Mandamus vobis quod ſine dilatione habere fac. Pho: Marc. domum quae fuit Iſaac Iudaei de Eboraco in Northampton, et domum quae fuit Iſaac Judaei Oxon in Oxon, quas Dom. Jo. pr. noſter dedit Galf. Luterel, cujus terrae et haeredis cuſtodiam conceſſimus eidem Pho. T. Com. apud Weſt. 17 die Jan. per ipſum Com. coram Dom. Winton.

Eodem modo ſcribitur Vic. Oxon. pro eodem, et Ballivis Iudaeorum Oxon. pro eodem.

Rex Vic. Glouc. ſalutem;* Clauſ. 3. H. 3. pars 2. m. 2. De domibus Judaeorum Glouc. Conſtat nobis per inſpectionem Rotulorum noſtrorum, quod Dom. J. Rex, pater noſter, dedit Guiberto de Rue Domum quae fuit Elye Iudaei Gloc. &c. cum quadam placita quae fuit Moſſei Judaei cum pert. ſuis: Et ideo tibi praecipimus quod eidem Guiberto de praedict. domo & placia plenariam ſeiſinam ſine dilatione habere fac. T. Dom: Pet. Winton apud Novum Templum London, 23. die Sept. per eundem.

In the 3d. year of King Henry the 3. ſome Jews coming into England from foreign parts with their goods to reſide there, the Wardens of the Ports of England ſeiſed upon the perſons and eſtates of theſe unwelcom Gueſts; which occaſioned theſe new Writs to be ſent unto them, for their free admiſſion into England without impediment or ſeizure, upon ſuch ſecurity and terms as are expreſſed in the Writs, and prohibiting the tranſportation of any Jews or their Chattels out of this Land into foreign parts, without the Kings ſpecial Letters and Licenſe being once within his power.

ooPat. 3. H. 3. pars 2. m. 6. …. ….Rex Cuſtodibus Portuum Angliae. Praecipimus vobis quod Judaeos qui venturi ſunt in terram noſtram Angliae de tranſmarinis partibus ad morandum in terra noſtra Angliae, cum catallis ſuis, liberè, et ſine impedimento in portu noſtro …cedere permittatis, accepta ab eis ſufficienti ſecuritate, ſecundum Legem Judaeorum per fidem eorundem, quod quam citius poterint, veniant ad Iuſticiarios noſtros ad cuſtodiam Judaeorum aſſignatos ad inrotuland: nomina eorum in rotulis noſtris. Et ſi aliquem Judaeum qui de partibus tranſmarinis p. 19venerit, ſicut praedictum eſt, retinueritis, ipſum et catalla ſua ſine dilatione deliberari faciatis. Si quos autem inveneritis Iudaeos de terra noſtra qui ad vos venerint ad tranſfretandum uſque ad partes tranſmarinas ſine literis noſtris de licentia tranſfretandi, ipſos cum catallis ſuis arrestari faciatis, donec a Nobis, vel a Iusticiariis noſtris ad cuſtodiam Indaeorum aſſignatis inde aliud mandatum habueritis. T. Petro VVinton Epiſcopo apud VVeſtm. 13 die Novemb. Anno Regni noſtri tertio.

Divers Debtors of the Jews made a fine with king Iohn in the 10th. year of his reign to be paid at certain terms, of which payments they failing, the Jews thereupon paying the fine had theſe debts aſſigned them by king Henry the 3. and a precept to extend all the lands they had in 10 of king Iohn, prohibiting the taking of any uſe from them before the kings aſſignment, but allowing uſe afterwards, as this Record demonſtrates.

**Pat. 3. H. 3. m. 6. de Debitis Judaeorum.Rex Vic. Lincoln et Eborum ſalutem. Quia Gilb. de Bercumworth, Norm: de Arecy (and 5 more there named) non ſervaverunt terminos ſuos de fine quem fecerunt cum Dom. Rege patre noſtro de debitis Iudaeorum: Nos de conſilio noſtro die Sancti. Martini, An. reg. noſt. 3. Liberavimus Helie de Linc. Iudaeo, debita eorundem de quibus finem fecerunt, per finem quem idem Helie nobis fecit. Ita quod de eiſdem debitis, exigere poſſit totum catallum ſuum ſine lucre quod ſibi de cetero proveniet. Et ideo praecipimus G. de Bercumworth quod ſine dilatione reddat eidem Helie 316 l. 10 s. (cum lucro quod ſibi excreverit a praedicto die ſancti Martini) Item praecipimus Norm. de Arecy quod ſine dilatione reddat eidem Helie 23 l. 17 s. &c. (reciting the other 5 debts at large) cum lucris quae de praedictis debitis excreverit a praedicto termino. Et niſi fecerint, tunc ſine dilatione ſeiſiatis ipſum H. (and the reſt) de omnibus terris et redditibus quae fuerunt praedict. debitorum in Balliva veſtra, An. regni Dom. I. regis patris noſtri decimo, quae ſcil. terrae et redditns ſunt vadia noſtra pro praedict. debitis, ſicut contineretur in rotulis noſtris in quibus Cartae & Ciro…grapha omnium praedictorum irrotulentur, et ipſum in … illa cuſtodiatis, et manuteneatis; non ei inferentes aut inferri permittentes in ſeiſina illa aliquod gravamen vel moleſtiam. Iſtud autem mandatum noſtrum ita diligenter ex…quamini, ne pro defectu veſtri debita noſtra ad terminos eidem Helie Statutos remaneant inſoluta, &c. T P. Winton Epo▪ apud VVinton. 13 die Nov. An. reg. n. tertio.

After which follows this Patent reciting that Iſaac of Norwich a Jew made a fine of 10000 marks to King Iohn (a vaſt ſumme in that age) to be paid by a mark every day till it was ſatisfied.

**Pat. 3. H. 3. …. 6.Rex Baronibus de Scac. ſalutem. Sciaris quod recepimus per manum Vener. Patris noſtri P. Wynton, Epiſ. in 15 dies poſt Nativ. Sancti. Iohis. Baptiſtae, an. &c. 2. Uſque ad feſtum St. Martini An. &c. tertio. Utraque die computata, quolibet die 1 marc. de fine quem Iſaac de Norw. fecit nobiſcum pro 1 marc. nobis ſingulis diebus reddend▪ pro fine 10 mil. marcarum quem fecit cum Dom. Ioh. Rege patre noſtro, Et rei hujus, &c. per ipſum Com. et ipſum Wynton. Epiſ. An. &c. 3.

The Jews in that age and before, uſed to aſſign over Debts to the King, to ſatisfie their Taxes, and other duties: whereupon the King gave them a diſcharge from being ſued for theſe debts but only before himſelf, his Chief Juſtice, or the Juſtices aſſigned to them; witneſs this Prohibition.

Rex omnibus Ballivis,* Pat. pars 2. an. 3. H. 3. m. 1. &c. Prohibemus quod non permittatis quod aliquis Judaeus vel Judaea, in Balliva veſtra trahat in Placitum Moſſaeum fil. Iſaac de Coleceſter Judaeum, de debito W. Hastings, quod ei liberavimus per finem quem modo nobiſcum fecit; quod quidem debitum idem Moſſeus et fratres ſui, haeredes praedicti Iſaac, liberaverunt quietum in Theſaurarium noſtrum in ſalvatione debiti quod dictus Iſaac debuit Domino Johanni Regi patri noſtro, niſi coram Nobis, vel Capitali Juſticiario p. 20noſtro, vel Juſticiariis noſtris ad cuſtodiam Judaeorum aſſignatis: ſine …o quod inde ſpeciale mandatum noſtrum habuerint. T. H. de Burgo, &c.

In the 5 year of Henry the 3. The King granaed the Cuſtody of a Jews houſe in Melchſtreet eſcheated to him till his full age by this writ.

**Clauſ. 5. H. 3. m. 17. De Dom. Judaeorum.Rex Rico de Dol. et Magiſt. Alex. de Dorſet, et ſociis ſuis ad cuſtod. Judaeorum aſſignatis, ſalutem. Sciatis nos conceſſiſſe dilecto noſtro Luce Capellano, H. de Burgo Juſticiarii noſtri, cuſtod. domus et terrae cum pertinentiis quae fuerunt Solomonis de Melchſtreet Judaei, quae ſunt in manu noſtra ſicut eſcaeta noſtra occaſione Judaeorum, uſque ad aetatem noſtram. Et ideo vobis praecipimus quod eidem Luce plenam ſeiſinam ſine dilatione habere faciatis. T. H. apud Turr. London 7 die Ian. an. reg. n. 5. per eundem

In the 7 year of this King the Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and Biſhop of Lincoln had iſſued forth Precepts, That none ſhould buy any thing of, nor ſell any victuals or neceſſaries to the Jews, nor have any communnion with thum (being excommunicated perſons for their infidelity and uſury by the Laws of the Church:) whereupon the King iſſued forth this enſuing Writ to the Sheriffs and Maior of Canterbury and Lincoln, and the like Writs to others upon the Jews complaint, commanding all to ſell them victuals and other neceſſaries, and apprehend and impriſon thoſe that refuſed, notwithſtanding the Biſhops inhibition.

**7. H. 3. part 2. m. 29. dorſ.Rex Vicecomiti Lincoln, & Majori Cantuariae, ſalutem. Oſten…nt nobis Judaei noſtri Lincolniae, quod ratione praecepti Venerab. patr. S.S. Cantuarienſis Archiepiſcopi, et Epiſcopi Lincoln. facti de Judaeis, ne quis eis victualia vendant, nec communionem habeant cum eis, nec inveniant aliquem qui eis aliquid vendant: Ideo vobis praecipimus quod viſis Literis iſtis, praecipi et clamari faciatis ex parte noſtra in Balliva veſtra, quod vendantur eis victualia, et alia neceſſaria in Civitate Cantuariae et alibi illum capiatis, et corpus ejus ſalvo cuſtodiatis, donec aliud mandatum praeciperimus. Teſte H. &c. apud Weſtmon. 10 die Novemb…is.

Eodem modo …cribitur Majori & Praepoſito Oxon. de Iudaeis Oxon. et. Ballivis de Norwic. de Iudaeis Norwic.

In the Fine Rolls of 7 H. 3. I find ſeveral reſpites of Debts demanded from the Jews by the Kings Officers by proceſſe out of the Kings Exchequer for the Jews, till the next account upon ſeveral grounds, take theſe two inſtances for all the reſt of that nature in this Roll, which I ſhall omit.

**Fines 7 H. 3. m. 2. pars 1. Ebor.Mandatum eſt Vicecomiti Eborum, quod Demandam quam facit Euſtachiae de Courtenay de debitis Judaeorum per ſummonitionem Scaccarii, in reſpectu ponat uſque ſuper proximum Compotum ſuum ad feſtum Sancti Michaelis anno, &c. 7. ut tunc coram S. Juſticiar. ad cuſtodiam Judaeorum aſſignat. diſcuriatur, utrum ipſa de debitis illis reſpondere debeat, cum ipſa nihil teneat de tertis quae fuerunt Willielmi filii Anceturi quondam viri ſui, qui debita illa bebuit, niſi nomine dotis. Teſt, H. &c. apud VVeſtm. 7 die Sept.

**Ibid. Kanc.Mandatum eſt Vicecomiti Kanciae, quod demanda 46 ſolidorum et 8 denariorum quam facit VVillielmo Ciſſori noſtro de debitis Judaeorum, per ſummonirionem Scaccarii noſtri, in reſpectu ponat uſque ſuper prox. Compotum ſuum ad feſtum Sancti Michaelis, Anno reg. noſtri ſeptimo. T. ut ſupra per eundem.

Four Jews committed for killing an Engliſh man, were bai…ed and delivered to 9 other Jew… …heir bail, by this Writ in 9 H. 3. and their goods, writings, Letters rents ſeiſed in the interim.

**Clauſ. 9. H. 3. pars 3. m. 7.Rex vic. Suthamt. ſalutem. Praecipimus tibi quod Abrahamum de Cant. Samaris fil Lumbard, Eliam fil. Chierie & Abrah. ſil. Aiare Iudaeos, captos & detentos in priſone noſtra per praeceptum noſtrum, pro morte Willi. fil. Rici, fil. Gervaſ…i, unde idem Ricus eos appellat, tradas in Ball. p. 21Lumbardo Duleberigint, (and 5 others there named) Judaeis noſtris Wint. cum omnibus catallis quae ſunt Judaeorum de morte praedict▪ appellatorum, quas ipſi habeant in terris, redditibus, Cirographis, Talliis et rebus al…is in manum nostram capiatis, Et per viſum hominum Legalium imbrev…atis, uſque ad prox. adventum noſtrum apud VVinton. & praedictos Lumbard. &c. qui praedictos Judaeos de praedicta morte appellatos in ball. ceperunt, et corpora dictor. Judaeorum appellatorum ad veritatem inde plenius attingend. et dic praedicto Rico. quod tunc ſit coram vobis appellum ſuum verſus eos inde proſecuturus. Et habeas ibi hoc breve. T. R. apud Winton 12 die Julii, An. 9. coram Juſtic.

In the 10 of H. 3. I find this Record conteini…g an agreement with ſome Jews concerning a Debt which the King commands to be obſerved, becauſe inrolled.

**Clauſ. 10. H. 3. m. 3. De qu… dam fine in Judaiſmo tenendoMandat. eſt Iuſtic, ad custodiam Iudaeorum aſſignatis quod finem quem VVillus de Lancaſter fecit coram eis pro Rogero de Leiburn cum Bonefaunt de Glou. Mirabile mater ejus Iudaei, (and 6 more Jews there named) de debito quod ipſe Roger eis debuit, qui quidem finis irrotulatus eſt in Rotulo Scac. Iudaeorum▪ ut dicitur, ſicut recordatus fuit coram ipſis Iusticiariis, et irrotulatus, teneri faciant. T. R. apud Gaytington 17 die Julii Anno R. n. 10.

Fines 10. H. 3. m. 9. Reſpite is given Benedicto Creſpen, & aliis Iudaeis, to pay a great debt annually to the King at certain terms by ſet ſums, and the Juſtices for the Jews to allow it. And Ibid. Dorſ. 4. Memorandum quod Dom. Rex pardonavit Roberto de VVolfraton 9 marc. quas debet Leoni Iudaeo Linc. unde loquendum eſt ei cum eodem Iudaeo ad Scac. Dom. Reg. coram Iustic. ad cuſtod. Iudaeorum aſſignatis, et quod charta ſine dilatione ei reddatur, that ſo he might not ſue him on it afterwards.

In the 11 of H. 3. one Auguſtine a Iew turning a Chriſtian Convert at Canterbury, the King commanded the Sheriff to reſtore him his houſe, (which was forfeited upon his converſion) by this Precept.

Mandatum eſt Vic. Kant. quod habere faciat Auguſtino converſo quandam domum in Iudaiſmo in Cant. quae ſua fuit antequam ad fidem converteretur, non obſtante eo quod converſus eſt. T. Rege apud Red. 17. die Jan.* Clauſ. 11 H. 3. m. 21.

Anno 14. H. 3. ſome Iews were ſent up Priſoners to the Tower and ordered to be ſpeedily tried for ſtealing of cloth and clipping of money, as this Warrant manifeſts.

**Clauſ. 14. H. 3. m. 14. …e Judaeis …uſtodiend. in turre London.Mandatum eſt Conſtab. Turris London, quod Iudaeos ſubſcriptos quos Rex ad eum mittit, per Adam Cuſtard, & Richard de Donne, Servientes Vic. Salop: Viuianum: & Bell: uxor: ejus, Iſaac & Ann. uxor▪ ejus, et Aguinam Judaeam, et Aaron, rectatos de latrocinio panni et Tonſura Denariorum, recipiat, et ipſos in Turre London ſalvo cuſtodiat, quouſque Stephanus de Sedgrave venerit London; cui Rex mandavit, quod in primo adventu ſuo uſque London, ipſos Judaeos coram ſe venire faciat: et ſi ipſos inde culpabiles invenerit, de ipſis fieri faciat quod ſecundum conſuetudinem Angliae fuerit faciendum. T. Rege apud Reading 3. die Martii.

Et mandatum eſt ipſi Stephano quod in primo adventu ſuo London loquelam illam audiat, et de illis quos inde culpabiles invenerit fac. judicium fieri ſecundum Legem et conſuetudinem Regni, non expectata ſuper hoc praeſentia Regis, et de aliis qui non ſunt culpabiles, faciat quod viderit faciendum, &c. T. ut ſupra.

In the 15 of H. 3. the King ſent this Writ to the Sheriff of Kent commanding him to ſummon 6. of the richeſt and potenteſt Jews of Canterbury, and ſo many more of Rocheſter, to appear before him at Weſtminster to hear his command, and to bring up with them all their own and the other Jews arrerages of Canterbury and Rocheſter, of the 8000 marks, and likwiſe of the 6000 marks, (not long before impoſed on them) with the arrears of the 1000. marks promiſed to him by the Jews of England to reſpite their debts, witneſs the Record it ſelf.

Mandatum eſt Ʋicecom▪ Kanc. quod ſicut ſeipſum et* Clauſ. 15 H. 3. m. 16. dorſ. p. 22omnia ſua diligit, venire faciat coram Rege apud Weſtm. à die Paſche in 15 dies, Sex: de ditioribus et potentioribus Iudaeis villae Cantuariae, et totidem de villa Roff. ad audiendum ibidem praeceptum Regis. Ita quod ad eundem terminum habeant ibidem omnia arreragia ſua propria ſine omni dilatione, ſimiliter et arreragia omnium Iudaeorum praedictarum villarū, quae Dom. Regi debent, tam de Tallagio 8. millia marcarum, quam de Tallagio 6 millia marcarum, e… preterea id quod ad Iudaeos praedictarū villarum adhuc pertinet Regi reddendum de mille marcis quae Regi promiſſae fuerunt nomine omnium Iudaeorum Angliae pro reſpectu habendo debitis quae ab eis exigebantur: Ea diligentia hoc praeceptum Regis executur: ne pro defectu ſuo ad eum Rex ſe graviter capere debeat. Et habeat ibi nomina illorum ſex Iudaeorum, et hoc breve. T. Rege apud Clarendon, 26 die Marcii.

Anno 16 H. 3. I find this Grant of a Jews houſe by the King.

**Clauſ. 16. H. 3. m. 7. De domo cujuſdam Judaei in London dato Rico. Capellae.Rex conceſſit Richo. de Sancto Johanne Capell: domum illam cum pertinentiis in vico de Pater noſter Church London, quae fuit Rici le Ailer, et modo eſt in manu Jacobi Iudaei London, et Floriae uxoris ejus: habendum de dom. Rege ſibi et haeredibus ſuis, vel …ni…unque ea dare, vendere, vel aliter aſſignare voluerit. Et mandatum eſt Juſtic. ad cuſtod: Iudaeorum aſſignatis, quod eidem Rico: de domo praedicto cum pertinentiis, plenam ſeiſinam habere faciant, ſicut praedict. eſt. Teſte Rege apud Weſtmonaſt. xviii. die Iulii.

††Fines 16 H. 3. pars 1. m. 7. Ibid. m. 7.Pro quibuſdam Iudaeis to pay their fines and debts by certain portions at ſome terms.

In the 17 year of H. 3. the King impoſed a Tax upon the Jews of 10000 marks; which they being unable to pay preſently, had certain dayes aſſigned to pay it in, by ſeveral ſums mentioned in this record, ſome ſpecial Jews excepted.

* Pat. 17. H. 3. m. 6. pro Judaeis Angliae.Rex conceſſit Judaeis Angliae (exceptis Iſaac de Norwic. et Urſell, et fratris ſui haeredibus Ham. de Hereford) quod de 10 mille marcis, quas Regi debent de ultimo Tallagio, ſolvant ad Scacc. Regis ad feſtum Sancti Michaelis, An: 17. 500 l. et ad Paſche prox: ſequent: 500 l. & ſi bene reſpondeant Regi de dictis mille libris ad praedict. terminos, et de aliis arreragiis quae Regi debent; tunc ſolvant ſimiliter de eiſdem 10000 marcis, anno proximo ſequent: 1000 l. ad eoſdem terminos ſcil: ad feſtum Sancti Michaelis Ann. 18. 500 l. et ad Paſch. prox. ſeqaen: 500 l. et poſtea per annum 2000 marc. ad eoſdem terminos, donec dictae 10000 marc. ſic Regi plene ſolvantur. Conceſſit etiam Rex eiſdem Judaeis, (praeter dictis Iſaac, et fratribus ejus) quod interim quieti ſint de Tallagio ſcil: quouſque dictae 10000 marc. perſolutae fuerint, ſicut praedict. eſt. Ita tamen quod illi Judaei qui manuceperunt pro omnibus Iudaeis Angliae Tallagium 8000 marc. Regi plene reſpondeant de arreragiis ejuſdem Tallagii, & quilibet Judaeus reſpondeat pro ſe de arreragiis Tallagii 6000 marc. quia tunc Talliati fuerunt per capita, & de aliis debitis et finibus quae Regi debent, non obſtante hoc fine interim Regi reſpondeant. In cujus &c. T. Pet. Winton Epiſc. apud Westm. 2 die. Martii. Per eundem & Juſtic.

It is evident by this record, That there were 3 ſeveral Taxes lately impoſed, one by the Pol…on every particular Jew, who was obliged to pay his proportion: the other of 8000 marks, impoſed on all the Jews generally throughout England, which ſome of them were engaged to ſee paid to the King, the other of 10000 marks to be paid at certain dayes, by parcels as aforeſaid. The Arrears of all which, beſides other Debts and Fines to the King lay charged all on them at once.

In the pleas of the 18 year of King Henry the 3. I find many things touching the Jews and their affairs. As namely, that memorable Plea, concerning the Iews circumciſing a child at Norwich; in the Placita 18 H. 3. rot. 21. kept in the Treaſury of the Exchequer; which becauſe I have printed at large in the 2 Edition of my former p. 23Short Demurrer, &c. p. 19, 20, 21. and for that it is briefly touched in Mr. Samuel Purchas his Pilgrimage. Edit. 3. lib. 2. c. 10. ſect. 7. with this obſervation on it, out of Celſus, l. 7. c. 25. That by Chirurgery the skin of a circumciſed child may be drawn forth again to an uncircumciſion: I ſhall here pretermit, to avoid repetition and prolixity.

The Jews were ſuch unwelcom Gueſts to all Towns and places in England where they reſided, that King Henry granted this (as a ſpecial Priviledg) by his Charter to the Town of New-caſtle, and their heirs, that no Iew from thenceforth ſhould remain or reſide in their Town, during the reign of him and his heirs, as is evident by this record in the Tower.

ttClauſ. 18. H. 3. m. 16. See Cartae & 18 H. 3.Rex Vice…mi…i Northumberland: ſalutem: Sciatis, quod conceſſimus & Carta noſtra confirmavimus probis hominibus noſtris de Ʋilla Novi Caſtri ſuper Tynam & haeredibus eorum, Quod habeant hanc Libertatem, quod nullus Iudaeus de caetero Tempore noſtro, vel haeredum noſtrorum maneat, vel reſidentiam aliquam faciat in eadem Villa, ſicut plenius continecur in Carta regis quam eis modo fieri fecimus: & mandatum eſt eidem Vicecomiti, quod dictam cartam in pleno…comitatu ſuo legi et clama…i faciat, et Praedictam Libertatem eis habere permittat, ſicut praedictum eſt. Teſte Rege apud Kenit. Quarto die Iulii, per Godfrid: de Crancumb.

If then it were a great Priviledge, Liberty, Benefit, happineſs to the Town on New-caſtle and their heirs, to be thus perpetually exempted from the reſidence and cohabitation of any Jews amongſt them under this King, his heirs and Succeſſors, certainly by the ſelf-ſame reaſon it muſt be ſo likewiſe to all other Cities, Towns, and the whole realm of England; and a great violation of their Liberties, and impeachment of their proſperity now again to introduce theſe blaſphemous old baniſhed Jews amongſt the Engliſh, againſt their wills and conſents.

In the Plea-rolls of Anno 18 H. 3.… apud VVallingford in Octabis Sant… Trinitatis, Ro…. 1. Dorſ. & rot. 10. 11. There are many things concerning the Jws affaires, ſundry complaints and Inquiſitions concerning the oppreſsions and exactions of Peter de Rivallis, Stephen de Segrave, and Robert de Paſſelew Juſtices of the Iews, & for their Bribes received from the Iews, againſt whom Simon Cirographarius Iudaeorum petit Literas; And in rot. 17. & 20, dorſo. Peter de Rivallis being then under a cloud, amongſt other things proffered to ſurrender up to the King, totam Foreſtarium Angliae et Iudaiſmum, which the King had granted him.

In the 19 H. 3. the King ſent this writ to prohibite all Jews hereafter to be obedient to Robert de Paſſelew, as their Iuſtice, being diſcharged of his office for his bribes and miſdemeanors.

††Clauſ. 19. H. 3. pars 1. m. 21. de Judaeis.Mandatum eſt Conſtabulario Turr: London, quod ſcire faciat Iudeis London, et aliis Iudeis qui apud London venient, quod de catero in nullo ſint intendentes vel reſpondentes Roberto Paſſelewe de …iis quae ad cuſtodiam Iud…orum pertinent, donec Dominus Rex aliud inde praeceperit. T. R. apud Gloc. 30 die Maii.

This year alſo the Jews accuſed and impriſoned at Norwich for circumciſing a child at Norwich the year before, were commannded to be removed thence to the Tower of London, as this record aſſures us.

**Clauſ. 19 H. 3. pars 2. m. 23. De Judaeis mittendis uſque London.Mandatum eſt Vic. Norf. quod Iudaeos de Norwic. captos et detentos in priſona Regis pro tranſgreſſione quam fecerunt de quodam parvo Chriſtiano circumcidendo, ut dicitur, ſuis literis mitti faciat ad cuſtos eorum, uſque London; liberandos ibidem Conſtabulario Turris London, cui Rex praecepit per literas ſuas quas eidem Vic. mittit ei mittendas, quod eos recipiat,††Firſt Demurrer, Edit. 2. p. 19. 20. 21. et eos ſalvo cuſtodiat. T. R. apud Weſt. 21 die Novemb. The Indictment and whole Proceedings againſt them I have **Fines 19. H. 3. m. 15. Norw. de Reſpectu Judaeis Iudaeorum Norwic.elſewhere at large rela…ed.

…nd this reſpit of their trial for which they paid a fine. De Reſpectu. Rex Iuſtic. ſuis itinerant. in Com. Suff. ſalutem. p. 24Mandamus vobis quod Iudicium quod faciendum eſt de quibuſdam Iudaeis de Norwic. qui capti ſunt et detenti in priſona nostra pro tranſgreſſione quam fecerunt de quodam puero Chriſtiano circumcidendo ponatis in reſpectum coram n4obis apud London uſque in 15 dies a die Saencti Hil. An. r. n. 19. accepta prius ſecuritate de praedictis Iudaeis de centum marcis ad opus uostrum reddendis, pro hoc reſpectu habendo, Et habeatis tunc coram nobis recordum illius loquelae. Mandamus enim Vic. Norf. quod cum feſtinatione praedictos Iudaeos mitti faciat uſque Lond. liberandos ibidem Conſtabulario Turris noſtrae London. T. R. apud Weſtm. 21 die Novemb.

The ſame year the King ſent this writ to the Sheriff of Northfolk and Suffolk to proclaim, That no Iew ſhould lend any money from thenceforth to any Chriſtian that held any Demeaſne Lands of the King, in Socage or Villenage upon the lands themſelves, but only upon their chattels and moveables, under pain of lofing the money lent, or falling under the Kings amer…ment.

**Clau…. 19. E, 3. pars 1. m 9, Dorſ. De Judaeis.Rex Vicecom. Norf. & Suff. ſalutem. Praecipimus tibi quod clamari facias per totos Comitatus tuos, Quod nullus Iudaeus de caetero aliquam pecuniam credat alicui Chriſtiano, qui teneat de nobis in Dominicis et Maneriis noſtris, per ſervicium Scocagii uel Villenagii, ſuper terram vel tenementum aliquod quod ſit de Dominico noſtro, ſet ſi ipſi Chriſtiani mutuam videlicet a Iudaeis pecuniam recipere vellint, illam recipiant ſuper vadium catallorum, et rerum mobilium: Et ſi aliquis contra hoc praeceptum noſtrum in poſterum venire preſumpſerit, Iudaeus pecuniam ſic creditam amittat, et in miſericordiam noſtram incidat, et Chriſtianus ſimiliter tenementum ſuum in perpetuum, videlicet illud quod tam temere contra praeceptum noſtrum obligaverit. amittat. Teſte Rege apud Certes 1 die Sept. The ſame year

**Clauſ. 19. H. 3. pars 1. m. 23. De Jud…eis avendis de VVicham.Mandatum eſt Vic. Buck. quod non permittat quod aliquis Judaeus de caetero maneat in villa de VVeycumbe ſed Iudaeos qui ibidem ſunt manentes ſine dilatione amoveri fac. et maneant in aliis villis in quibus prius manere conſueverant. T. R. apud Herwic, 28 die Novemb.

This year I find this notable proclamation.

Clauſ 29. H. 3. m. 24.Mandatum est Vicecomiti Norf. et Suff. quod in Civitate de Norwic. et ſingulis bonis villis Com. ſuorum, clamari faciat, quod nulla faemina Chriſtiana de caetero ſerviat Iudaeis ad alendos puerulos ſuos, vel in aliquo alio officio. Teſte R. apud VVeſtm. 20 die Ian. per ipſum regem.

Fines 19. H. 3. m. 3.Vrſilla filia Hamonis de Hereford Judaei, pays a fine of 5000 marks, pro habendis terris, domibus, et omnibus debitis et ca…allis quae fuerunt praedict. Hamonis to be paid at certain days.

Such Fines of Iews to enjoy their fathers houſes and chattels, are frequent in the Fine Rolls.

**Ibid. m. 12.Iſaac a Jew was this year fined 100l. de pluribus tranſgreſſionibus de quibus convictus fuit coram Juſtic. Dom. Reg. ad cuſtod. Iudaeorum aſſignatis.

In this year alſo the King diſcharged Aaron a Jew of York from all Tallages whatſoever during his life, paying annually into his Exchequer one hundred marks yearly at two terms for his exemption.

**Pat. 19. H. 3. m. 14. Pro Aaron J…daeo Ebor. de quietant TallagiiRex omnibus ad quos preſentes litterae perveniunt, ſalutem. Sciatis quod conceſſimus Aaron de Ebor. Judaeo, quod ipſe toto tempore vitae ſuae quietus ſit de Ta…lagio; reddendo per annum ad Scac▪ noſtrum Cent. marc. ad duos terminos, ſcil. 50 mar. ad feſt, Paſch. et 50 marc. ad feſtum Sancti Michis. Ita quod de debitis quae nobis debuit de quibus finem fecit nobiſcum, reddend: per annum ad Scac. nostrum cent. ſolidos quietus erit per praedict. 100 mar. an. In cujus, &c. T. R. apud Suthan 13 die Feb. Et mandatum est Iusticiariis ad cuſtodiam Iudeorum per literas clauſas, quod ita fieri et irrotulari faciant. VVhichWhich exemption is frequently mentioned and ratified afterwards, and yet availed him very little, as I have Firſt Demurrer p. 25. Edit. 2.elſewhere manifeſted out of Mat. Paris.

**Fines 20 H. 3. m. 13.Aaron de York to pay 100 marks per an. to the Kings p. 25Exchequer to be free from taxes during all his life.

In 20 H. 3. I find this pardon of Uſury due to a Jew by the King.

Rex pardonavit Roberto de Pe…tiling totam uſuram debitorum quibus tenetur Iſaac Judaeo Nottingh. et Benedicto Judaeo Warwic. ſalva praedictis Judaeis …orte predict. debitorum.**Clauſ. 20. H. 3. m. 10. de pardonatione Uſurae. Et mandatum eſt Juſticiariis ad cuſtod. Judaeorum aſſignatis, quod de uſura praedicta ipſum Robertum quietum eſſe, et ad ſortem eorundem debitorum praedict. Judaeis redendam eidem Roberto rationabiles terminos habere faciant. T. Rege apud Winton 10 die Iunii.

This year the Inhabitants of Suthampton being weary of the Jews company, who intruded themſelves into the Town, procured this grant from the King to be quit of them (unleſſe by ſpecial command) for the future.

Ibid. m. 10. De Junaeis non remanend. in Suthampt. ſine ſpeciali praecepto Regis.Rex conceſſit Burgenſibus ſuis Suthampton, quod nullus Iudaeus de caetero maneat apud Suthampton ſine ſpeciali praecepto Regis: Et mandat. eſt. Iuſticiariis ad cuſtod. Iudaeorum aſſignatis, quod illinc nullum Iudaeum mittant ad manendum ibi, nec aliquem ibi remanere permittant ſine ſpeciali praecepto Regis. T. Rege apud Winton 21 die Iunii.

I conceive all corporations in England will be as unwilling to entertain any Iews now to dwell amongſt them, as the Inhabitants of Suthampton (and thoſe of Newcaſtle, and Wickham forementioned) were to receive them in that age.

In this year I find one Iew extending the lands of another Iew for a debt, by this VVrit to their Iuſtices for that end.

Clauſ. 20 H. 3. m. 10 De extinctu ſacienda.Mandatum eſt Iuſtic. ad cuſtod. Iudaeorum aſſignatis. quod per Sacramentnm proborum et legalium hominum extendi faciant Domos et terras Aaronis Benedicti Suthampton in Suthampt. et in la Hull, videlicet quantum valeant per annum in dominicis, redditib…s, ſerviciis. villenag. et omnibus aliis exitibus: et fac. extendi praedict eidem Aaroni rationabilem finem, et rationabiles terminos habere fac. ad debita in quibus tenetur David Iudaeo Oxon. et Deuleben fil. Urſel. Iudaeo Winton, ſecundum valorem praedictar. domorum et terrarum e… quantitatem praedictorum debitor… … quod i…t… rim ceſſent uſurae (which here one Jew took of another) T. R. apud Winton 11 die Jun.

Hen. the 3 in the 21 year of his reign granted the Presbytery of all the Jews of England (which I conceive to be rather the Cuſtos Rotulorum, or Controlers place in the Kings Exchequer of the Jews, than the Prieſtly function) as this Record atteſts.

††Clauſ. 21. H. 3. m. 18. Pro Aaron Judaeo Ebor.Mandatum …ſt Iuſticia… iis ad custodiam Iudaeorum aſſignatis. Quod Rex conceſſit Aaron Iudaeo Ebor. Preſbyteratum omnium Iudaeorum Angliae, cum omnibus pertinentiis ſuis tenendum tota vita ſua: Et quotiens Aaron intendere non poſſit ad ſedend. ad Scaccarium Regis ad officium illud (therefore certainly it was a temporal office in the Kings Exchequer, not an Eccleſiaſtical Prieſthood in the Jewiſh Synagogues) Ioceu fil. Copin loco ſuo recipiat, ad ea facienda ad Scaccarium regis quae ad officium illud pertinent (therefore a temporal office only to be executed in the Exchequer, and that by Deputy as well as in proper perſon, which the Jewiſh High Prieſthood could not be) Rotulos etiam qui fuerunt Joc…i Presbyteri praedeceſſoris ſui (…his Office therefore was to keep the Rolls, as Comptroler) eidem Aaron, vel praedicto attornato ſuo habere faciant. T. Rege apud Clarendon 29 die September.

Which record, together with that of Clauſ. 27 H. 3. …ars 2. m. 3. hereafter cited, doth moſt fully convince me upon ſecond thoughts, that the Presbyteratus omnium Iud…orum totius Angliae granted by King Iohn's Charter forementioned, in the 1 year of his reign to Iacob the London Jew, was not an eccleſiaſtical high Prieſthood Epiſ…opacy, or Prieſtly Aaronical Function, but exerciſed over all the Engliſh Jews in their Synagogues, p. 26as Sir2 Inſtitutes p. 507, 508 Edward Coook, M…. Selden, Mr. Pur…has, **Purchas Pilgrimage Edit. 3. l. 2. c. 10. ſect. 7. & Pilgrims l. 9. r. 5. ſect. 1. p. 1441.Dr. Fuller, and others generally aſſert, as a thing beyond diſſpute, whoſe venerable Authorities at firſt induced me to that opinion, but a meer ſecular Office in the Kings Exchequer of the Jews to keep the Rolls of Comptroll, which this Aaron had now granted to him in the ſelfſame words,††Church Hiſt. … l. 3. p. 84. 85. as are uſed in King Iohns Charter, and his Predeceſtors before, and ſucceſſors after him enjoyned by like Charters from the K. A thing now clear to me upon conſideration, that the Jewiſh Prieſthood in the old and new Teſtam. Latin Authors, and Records, is never ſtiled Presbyteratus, but**See Pat. 41. H. 3. m. 4. Sacerdotium, nor their Prieſt not High Prieſt; Presbyter omnium Iudeorum; but Sacerdos, Pontifex, max. ſummus Sacerdos, &c. and upon my comparing of ſeveral records together ſince the 3, 4, and 5. pages of this ſecond Demurrer printed (which I could not tranſcribe, nor compare together till afterwards) that it is paſt all diſpute.

This year the King impoſed a Tax of ten-thouſand marks upon the Jews, from the immediate payment whereof no Iew was to be excuſed or reſpited, but by the Kings ſpecial Writ, as theſe two Records informe us in this very year.

**Clauſ. 21 H. 3. pars 1. m. 19.Mandat…m eſt Iuſticiariis ad cuſtod. Iudaeorum aſſignatis, quod de arreragiis Tallagii Iudaeorum, de 10 mille marc. quae colligi pre…ipit rex, nullos Iudaeos quietos. eſſe permittant, niſi Tallagium illud ad Scac. regis pacaverint, vel literas regis de quietancia inde habuerint, vel aliud rationabile Warrantum producant, quod eis de jure ſufficere debeat. Teſte Rege apud Marleburge 13 die December.

**Pat. 21. H. 3. m. 6. Pro Aaron Judaeo.Rex quietum clamavit Aaron Iudaeum Ebor. de plegiag. 10 mil. marc. de Tallagio poſito ſuper Iudeos. unde idem Aaron fuit unus de 10 plegiis. In cujus, &c. T. R. apud Weſtm. 18 die Iunii: per Archiepiſc. Ebor.

It ſeems 40 rich Iews were pledges to the King for the due payment of this 10 thouſand marks Tallage, whereof Aaron being one, was now diſcharged by this …oyal inſtrument.

Some Iews in Oxford were this year impriſoned for forcibly taking away a Iewiſh child, converted and baptized; who being afterwards found, they were releaſed by this writ.

**Clauſ. 21 H. 3. pars 1. m. 22. Pro Judaeis Oxon deliberandis.Mandatum eſt Conſtab. Oxon: quod omnes Iudaeos quos cepit et captos tenet in Castro Oxon: occaſione cujuſdam parvi converſi et baptizati, qui dicebatur per ipſos Iudaeos raptus eſſe, et qui jam inventus eſt apud Oxon, ſine dilatione deliberet. Teſte Rege apud Weſtm. 4▪ die Novem.

In 22 H. 3. there was a new heavy Tax impoſed on the Jews, which ſome Jews in Briſtol to avoid, thought to flie the Land, whereupon they were there impriſoned; and at laſt releaſed, upon giving ſecurity not to depart the Realm and to pay the Tax; as this record atteſts.

††Clauſ. 22. H. 3. m. 18. De Judaeis deliberandis.Mandatum est Conſtabul. Briſtol, quod ſi Lumbard et Iſaac Iudaei Briſtol capti et in priſona Briſtol detenti, eo quod fugere volebant è terra Regis, fecerint eum ſecurum, quod moram facient in terra Regis, et quod reddent in medio quadrageſimae Ann. &c. 22. id quod ad eos pertinet de Tallagio Regis, tunc eos ita deliberet è priſona. T. R. apud Weſtm. 5 die Martii.

There are ſeveral records this year for extending lands for the Debts of Jews, take one for a preſident of the reſt.

††Clauſ. 22. H. 3. pars 1. m. 17. De terra extendenda, & Clauſ. 22 H. 3. pars 2. m. 9. Fines 23. H. 3. m. 3.Mandatum eſt Juſ…ieiariis ad cuſtod. Judaeorum aſſignatis quod extendi faciant terram Roberti de Ardern, quae eſt vadium Criſpini, & aliorum Judeorum, et ſecundum valorem et quantitatem debiti, rationabiles terras eos habere faciant, T.R. apud Merleburge 25 die Martii. The like extent (mutatis mutandis) is granted this year againſt the lands of William Marſchal.

Clauſ. 22 H. 3. m… 10. Dorſo.In the Clauſe rolls of 22 H. 3. & in the Dorſe of the Fine roll of 23. I find this notable caſe in Law, reciting and expounding the Statute of Merton 20 H. 3. c. 5. concerning Uſurie, made but two years before it.

Fines 23 H. 3 pars 1. m. 20. dorſ.Rex Vic. Ebor. ſalutem. Oſtendit Regi Ric: de p. 27Watervill, quod cum in Curia Regis coram Juſticiariis ſuis apud Weſtm. per conſiderationem ejuſdem Curiae recuperaſſet verſus Rogerum de Colevill, cuſtodiam terrae quae fuit Odmelli de Albano in Dalton uſque aetatem haeredis ejuſdem Odmelli; Aaron de Ebor. Judaeus cujus vadium dicta terra dicitur eſſe, poſtea per Breve Regis recuperavit ſeiſinam ejuſdem terrae, tanquam vadium ſuum. Quia vero Rex generaliter conceſſit in regno ſuo,**2 H. 3. c. 5. quod haeredibus infra aetatem exiſtentibus non currant uſurae ſuper terras ſuas quae vadia ſint Judaeorum, nec hujuſmodi invadationes aufer…e debent Dominis feodorum cuſtodiam t…rrarum quae de eis tenentur per ſervicium militare. Mandatum eſt Vic. Ebor. quod praedict. Nicho. de praedicta terra nomine cuſtod: talem ſeiſ…am faciat qualem inde habuit antequam praedicto Judeo per praeceptum Regis ſeiſ…am inde habere fecit. T. R. apud Windſore 17 die Junii.

If Sir Edw: Cook had been ſo well ſeen in records as moſt deem him, he would certainly have remembred this in his Commentary on the Statute of Merton, cap. 5.

I meet with theſe four records in 23 H. demonſtrating what fines Releifs the Jews heirs paid to the King to enjoy their Eſtates after their deceaſe, &c.

††Fines 23 H. 3. pars 2. m. 11.Aaron Judeus Ebor. & Benedictus fil. Joſſei haeredes Samuelis fil. Joſcei Judei, finem fecerunt cum Rege pro habendis terris et catallis quae fuerunt praedicti Samuelis pro centum libris, de quibus reddit xx l. per annum: ſcil. x l. ad Paſch. An. 23. & ad feſtum Sancti Michaelis Anno eodem x l. et ſic de anno in annum, et de termino in terminum, donec praedict. 100 lib. plene fuerint ſolutae. Et mandatum eſt Juſtic. ad cuſtod: Judaeorum aſſignatis, quod ita irrotulari, & omnes terras et catalla praedicta eiſdem Aaron et Benedicto deliberari faciant; ſalvo uxori ejuſdem Samuelis rationabili dote ſua, ſecundum Legem et conſuetudinem Judeorum, quam quidem do…em idem Juſticiar. ei ſine dilatione facient aſſignari. T. R. apud VVoodſtock, 18 die Novembris.

††Ibid. m. 9. Pro quibuſdam Iudaeis.Rex Baronibus ſuis de Scac. ſalutem. Sciatis, quod conceſſimus Urſello fil. Hamond de Hereford, et fratribus ſuis, quod de fine quem fecerunt nobiſcum pro habendis terris … catallis praedicti Hamonis patris ſui, habeant eoſdem terminos quos eis prius conceſſimus, et tantundem Nobis reddent per annum quantū reddere dēbent per praefatam conceſſionem noſtram eis prius factam, ita quod primus terminus eorum incipiet ad Paſch. an. r. n. 23. & ſic deinceps reddant nobis de termino in terminum tantum denar. per ann. quant: reddere debuerunt per praedict. conceſſionem, donec totus finis nobis perſolvatur, non obſtante eo quod praedicti Urſell: et fratres ſui terminos ſuos quos eis conceſsimus non obſervarunt, T. R. apud Weſtm. 18 die Ian.

By theſe two Preſidents (and many others in the Fine Rols of this Kings reign, which I pretermit) is is apparent, 1. That all the Jews goods, chattels, houſes, lands, upon their deceaſe remained in the Kings hands, neither could their children enjoy them till they had made a ſpecial Fine with the Kings Iuſtices for them, and thereupon had a ſpecial Writ of reſtitution awarded to give them actuall poſſeſſion of them. 2ly. That thoſe Fines were uſually ordered to be paid by certain portions half yearly, till ſatisfied by their heirs. 3ly, That all the Jews ſons were equally heirs to their Fathers lands, houſes, Chattels. 4ly. That their wives were endowed of their lands and houſes, and that by ſpecial aſſignment of the Iuſtices aſſigned for the cuſtody of the Iews. 5ly. That if they failed of paying their Fines according to their firſt compoſition, they muſt purchaſe a New order for confirmation thereof, elſe all was null.

In the Clauſe roll of 24 H. 3. pars 1. m. 9. ſcedula. there is a writ to the Sheriff of Gloceſter to receive the debts and goods of one Vinion a Iew of Gloceſter, in ſundry Abbots, his wives and others hands, to the Kings uſe, and deliver them to the Clerk of the wardrobe.

It ſeems this year the Sheriff of Gloceſter had arreſted p. 28all the Iews of Gloceſter upon ſome occaſion, whereupon this writ to reſtore them iſſued.

Clauſ. 24 H. 3. pars 1. m. 10.Mandatum eſt Vic. Glouc. quod Iudeis Glouc. liberam adminiſtrationem de cattallis ſuis mobilibus & immobilibus quae areſtatae fuerunt, habere faciat ſicut habere debent ſecundum aſsiſam regni noſtri et ſolent, ita quod occaſione nullius mandati prius habiti non impediantur. T. &c.

I find this Writ the ſame year for extending lands for a Iews debt by the Kings Almoner.

**Clauſ. 24. H. 3. pars 1. m. 17.Rex Vic. Kant. ſalutem. Sciatis quod Elias le Eveske Iudaeus London conceſſit Fratri G. Elemoſin. noſtro. et cuſtodi Hoſpitalis noſtri de Offſpringe, pro fine quem idem frater G. fecit cum eo totum debitum quem Andr: Kinkerel et Rob. de Syrycon debuerunt praedict. Iudaeo. Et ideo tibi precipimus quod eidem fratri G. plenam ſeiſinam habere fac. de Manerio de magna Delte cum pertinentiis, quod eſt vadium ipſius Iudaei pro dicto debito, et eundem fratrem G. in ſeiſina praedict. Manerii manutene…tis, donec a nobis aliud recipies praeceptum. T. R. apud Weſtm. 24 die Ian.

In the 25 year of Henry the 3. I find this Writ to ſeveral Sheriffs, to ſummon 6 of the richeſt Iews out of all Counties and Towns wherein the Iews reſided to come to treat with the King at VVorceſter, as well concerning his as their benefit, and to ſeiſe as well their bodies as chattels, if they made default herein.

**Clauſ. 27 H. 3. dorſ. 19.Rex Vic. Northampt. ſalutem. Praecipimus tibi, quod ſicut teipſum et omnia tua diligis, et ſicut vis quod ac te graviſſime non capiamus, venire facias coram nobis apud Wigorn die dominica prima ante Cineres, ſex de ditioribus et potentioribus Judae…is noſtris Northampt. et de ſingulis villis comitatus tui, in quibus Judaei maneant, vel duos Judaeos, ſecundum numerum eorum: ad tractandum nobiſcum, tam de noſtra quam ſua utilitate. Sciturus quod niſi illuc ad terminum praefatum vene…erint, Ita manum noſtram tam erga corpus quam catalla tua aggravabimus, quod tuo perpetuo te ſentires non mediocriter praegravari. T. R. apud Merleberg. 24 die Jan.

Eodem modo ſcribitur Vic. Salop, Kauc. Lege, Ebor. Suthampt. Worceſt. Linc. Eſſex, Canteb. Bedford. Herf. Warwic. Glouceſt. Buck. Huntindon. Heref. Oxon. et Vicecom. London. quod praedictis die et loco venire faciant ſex de di ioribus, et potentioribus Judaeis London ad tractandum, &c. T. ut ſupra.

Here we have a Record of a Parliament of Jews ſummoned out of every County and Town where they inhabited, to treat with the King about that which concerned both his and their profit, but the iſſue proved far otherwiſe to them, for they were there conſtrained to ſubmit unto a Tax of 20 thouſand marks impoſed on them by the King, to be paid that year, whereof theſe Jews themſelves were made both the Aſſeſſors and Collectors, and to levy it by moſt rigorous diſtreſſes from their fellow Jews together with the Sheriffs by the terms preſcribed, under pain of forfeiti…g their goods and eſtates, and the greateſt penalties, to the terror of all others, as appears by theſe memorable Records concerning it, wherein moſt of the principal Jews then in all places of England are recorded by name (being as I conceive thoſe ſummoned by the former Writ to appear before the King at Worceſter.)

Rex Urſello fil. Ham. Leoni fil, Ham. Moſſe ſil. Ham. Jacobo fil. Ia…obi, **Clauſ. 25. H. …. Dorſ. 20. D… Tallagio Iudetum colligendo.Mauaſſer Leveſke, Iacobo de Moſter Judeis Hereford, ſalutem. Sciatis quod conſtituimus vos Ballivos noſtros una cum Vic. noſtro Hereford cui idem mandavimus, ad diſttingend. omnes Judaeos de Balliva veſtra ad ſolvend. nobis Tallagium noſtrum de parte quae vos et illos contingit de hoc ulrimo Tallagio noſtro, viginti millium marcarum. Et ideo vobis firmiter precipimus, quod ſicut corpora veſtra, uxorum et puerorum veſtrorum, et omnia catalla ſua diligitis talem diſtrictionem faciatis ad praedict. Tallagium noſtrum terminos Statutis tam a vobis quam ab aliis de balliva veſtra, per manum ejuſdem Vic. noſtri nobis ad Sca…. noſtrum▪ plenius ſolvatur ſecundum extractam quam eidem Vic. noſtro vobis mittimus oſtende…dam. Scituri quod a vobis requiremus, ſi quid de praedicto Tallagio noſtro in terminis noſtris deficerit, et tam graviter contra vos manum noſtram aggravabimus, quod poena veſtra erit omnibus ad terrorem. T. R. apud Weſtm. 19 die Maii.