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A56206 A short demurrer to the Jewes long discontinued barred remitter into England Comprising an exact chronological relation of their first admission into, their ill deportment, misdemeanors, condition, sufferings, oppressions, slaughters, plunders, by popular insurrections, and regal exactions in; and their total, final banishment by judgment and edict of Parliament, out of England, never to return again: collected out of the best historians and records. With a brief collection of such English laws, Scriptures, reasons as seem strongly to plead, and conclude against their readmission into England, especially at this season, and against the general calling of the Jewish nation. With an answer to the chief allegations for their introduction. / By William Prynne Esq; a bencher of Lincolnes-Inne.; Short demurrer to the Jewes long discontinued remitter into England. Part 1. Prynne, William, 1600-1669. 1656 (1656) Wing P4079; ESTC R205682 263,888 373

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not to be passionately zealous not to contend earnestly for the Faith against these ungodly men turning the Grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ is in a great measure to deny and betray them together with our Church Nation at once unto these their inveterate enemies For whose Conversion not National but of the very small elect Remnant of them as I shall pray so I cannot but pray and write against their Re-admission amongst us on these or any other terms for the Reasons here humbly presented to thy view and Christian Consideration by Thy Christian Brother and Companion in tribulation and in the Kingdom Patience of Jesus Christ William Prynne Lincolnes-Inne 14 December 1655. A Short Demurrer to the Jews long discontinued Remitter into ENGLAND HOw the Nation of the Jews once Gods own beloved special chosen People after their malitious crucifying of our Saviour Jesus Christ and imprecation That his Bloud might be on them and their children were for this their 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 and 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 the 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 De Judaeis in Regno consticutis SCiendum est quoque quod omnes Judaei ubicunque 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 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 men 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
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 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 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 That 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 luke-warm 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 the 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 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 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 King Henry the III. to satisfie the Popes desire in taking a Voyage to the Holy Land Anno 1252. extorted from 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
were then banished out of England never to return again at the special instance and request of the Commons in two several Parliaments as an intollerable grievance and oppression under which they then groaned 2. That the principle grounds of this their perpetual banishment were their Infidelity Usury Forgeries of Charters clipping and falsifying of monies by which they prejudiced the King and Kingdom and much oppressed and impoverished the people 3. That this their banishment was so acceptable to all the people who oft-times pressed it in Parliament that they gave the King a Fifth and Fifteenth part of their moveables to speed and execute it 4. That this their banishment was by the unanimous desire judgement edict and decree both of the King and his Parliament and not by the King alone and this Banishment totall of them all and likewise final Never to return into England Which Edict and Decree though not now extant in our Parliament Rolls many of which are utterly lost nor in our printed Statutes yet it is mentioned by all these Authorities and Records From whence I shall inferre and conclude That as by the fundamental Laws of England No Freeman and Natives of England can be justly banished or exiled out of it but by special judgement of Parliament or by act of Parliament as well as by the ancient Romans Athenians and Syracusians Laws no Citizen of Rome Athens Syracuse could be banished his City or Country but by the lawfull judgement of the Senat and People in their Parliamentary Assemblies and Senates which were very numerous as is evident by Magna Charta c. 29. The banishment of Sir Thomas Wayband Chief Justice of the Common Pleas 19 E. 1. Rot. Pat. rot 12. and these Jews then banished Exilium Hugonis le Dispenser patris filii Tottles Magna Charta f. 50.51 The double banishment of Peter de Gaverston out of England Assensu communi Procerum Magnatum and of the King in Parliament Walsingham Hist Angliae p. 71 72. The Statute of 1. Edward the 3. c. 2. 11 Richard the 2. c. 2 3 4. for the banishment of Belknap and other Judges into Ireland 21 R. 2. Rot. Parl. n. 16 17. For the banishment of Thomas Arundel Arch-bishop of Canterbury The Statute of 35 El●z c. 1. of 39. Eliz. c. 4. For banishing dangerous Sectaries Rogues out of the Realm after conviction upon Indictment only not before which could not be done by Law before these Acts Cooks 2 Institutes f. 47. Mr. St. Iohns Speech against the Shipmoney Iudges p. 22. My New Discovery of the Prelates Tyranny p. 166 167 168. Walsingham H●st Angl●ae p 394. and other Testimonies as also by 1 E. 3. c. 54. H. 4. c. 13. The Statute for the pressing of Souldiers for Ireland 17 Caroli Exact Collect. p. 435. The Barons opposition and refusal to assist King Henry the 3 in their persons or purses in his foraign wars in Apulia and elsewhere as no way obliged thereunto The Petition and Protestation of the Lords and Commons in Parliament against serving the King in person or contribution to his wars in Flanders and other foraign parts 25 E. 1. Walsingham Hist p. 35 37 38. Henry de Knyghton de Event Angl l. 3. c. 11.14 or in Gascoign France Normandy Scotland or Ireland Cook 2 Instit p. 528. 4 H. 4. n. 48. 1 H. 5. n. 17. 7 H. 5. n. 9.18 R. 2. n. 6. So none once banished the Realm by Judgement or Act of Parliament can may or ought by the fundamental and known common Laws of England to be restored and recalled again but only by a like judgement Act and Restitution in full Parliament as is adjudged declared resolved by the cases and Petitions of the two Spencers and Pierce Gaveston Walsingh Ypodig Neust p. 104 101 152. Hist Angl. p. 68.71 72. Holinshed p. 328. Speeds Hist. p. 674. The Printed Statute of 20 R. 2. c. 6. for the restitution of Belknap and the other exiled Judges 28 E. 3. Rot. Parl. n. 8. to 14 and 29 E. 3. Rot. Parl. n. 29. touching the repeal of the Judgement in Parliament against Roger Mortimer Earl of March 17 R. 2. Rot. Parl. n. 18. for the pardon and restitution of the Justices banished into Ireland 21. R. 2. n. 55. to 71. for confirmation of the repeal of the exile of Hugh de la Spencer Father and Son An. 15 E. 2. and the revocation of the repeal thereof in 1 E. 3. A notable full record in point The revocation of Abbot Dunston his sentence of banishment by King Edgar and his great Council held at Brentford Anno Dom. 959. 3 H. 7.10 4 H. 7.10 1 H. 7 4. 10 H. 7.22 b. 15 E. 3. Fitz. Petit. 2. 9 E. 2.23.24 9 E. 4.1 b. with sundry other Records for the repeals of Iudgements and Acts of former Parliaments by the subsequent Judgements and Acts of other Parliaments in Cooks 4 Institutes c. 1. and Ashes Tables Parliament 16. and Statutes 68. Therefore the Jews being so long since by Judgement Edict and Decree both of the King and Parliament for ever banished out of England never since repealed or reversed neither may nor can by Law be re-admitted reduced into England again but by common consent and Act of Parliament which I conceive they will never be able to obtain I have now presented you with a true Historical and exact Chronological Relation of the Jews first admission into England not in the time of the Emperour Constantine the great as some groundlesly would collect from his General Epistle to all Churches touching the Decrees of the Council of Nice and the unanimous observation of the Feast of Easter not after the Jewish computation wherein there is mention of the Churches in Britain as well as in Rome Africk Spain France and other places conc●●●ing with other Churches herein but not one syllable of any Jews therein or in Britain then nor in any other particular places but onely these general passages against Christians complying with them in their Paschal observation Ac primum quidem indigna res funt sanctissimum eum diem imitatione atque consuetudine Iudaeorum c●lebrare qui manibus suis nefario flagitio contaminatis non injuria quoque animis sunt excaecati homines scelerati Quidni enim l●ceat gente ea rejecta rectiore verioreque ordine quem à primo passionis di● hucusque servavimus ad futura quoque saecula observationis hujus ritum transmittere Item nihil nob●s commune sit cum infestissma Judaeorum turba c. Quin strict or ipsa atque exactior ratio flagitare v●detur NEQUA NOBIS CUM IUDAEORUM PERIURIO COMMUNIO From whence as all may jui●ly resolve that the blinded wicked Jews ought not to be introduced amongst nor to have communion with us nor we with them so no rational man can thence inferr that there were any Jews at that time observing their Jewish passeover in Britain of which I
Sybarites Bysantii Antissiaei Apoloniatae Chii Syracusani Amphipolitae who by receiving strangers into their cities and countries were all much infested some of them quite supplanted and ejected by them the rest enforced to expel them by force of arms Then he subjoyneth That the strangers admitted among Gods own people proved briars and thorns unto them and Solomon himself by many strange women fell into Idolatry concluding thus The Spaniards in my opinion did not unjustly banish the seditious Iews out of their Coasts propius non accedo ●ed Christum oro ne peregrinorum turba immanis turbo in civitate fiat As these Grecians in ancient times prohibited the introduction of strangers amongst them for the forementioned reasons so likewise did some of the wisest Romans Pennus in ancient times and Papius after him as Cicero relates Peregrinos Vrbibus prohibent eosque exterminant which although he thus censures as an inhumanity suverò urbis prohibere peregrinos sanè inhumanum est Yet he intends it only of excluding strangers from all trading and commerce not from cohabitation as Denizens from which he holds it just to debarre them there being a special Law then in force for that purpose which he thus expresseth Nam esse pro cive qui civis non sit RECTUM EST NON LICERE QUAM LEGEM TULERUNT SAPIENTISSIMI CONSULES Crassus Scaevola Hence Claudius the Emperour banished the Jews out of Rome Acts 18.2 and Suetonius in his life And the mischief of admitting forraigners is largely argued in Cornelius Tacitus who were after his time banished out of Rome as Coelius Rhodigmus relates out of Ammianus Marcelinus So the Carthaginians Solthians Scythotauri Gamphasantes Seres Indians Aegyptians in some places the Epidauri Athenians also excluded foraigners their country company conversation Ne cives longo usu dissimiles mores imbuerent in alienas leges ritusque transirent as Alex. ab Alexandro Gen. Dierum l. 4. c. 10. and Boêmus de Mor. Gentium record Yea we read of the Tartars and most politick Inhabitants of China at this day that they will admit no strangers into their Countries so much as to travel or traffick for fear of discerning their secrets and corrupting their manners and those few they admit by special licence to enter into their Country they will by no means suffer to return thence nor permit Merchants and Marriners there trading to walk abroad publikely in their Cities and Countries nor to lodge on land but only in their ships And to come nearer home our Kings heretofore upon the grievous complaint of the Nobility Gentry People have frequently banished all strangers out of England as the greatest pests inconveniences and grievances to the Natives Thus in the reign of King Edward the Confessor Anno 1052 All the Normans except two or three were banished our of England for giving ill counsel to the King and incensing him against the English by agreement both of the King and Parliament So King Henry the 2. in the 1 year of his reign Anno Dom. 1154. or in the second year of his reign as others write commanded all strangers to avoid out of the Realm by Proclamation by a certain day under great penalty especially the Flemings and Souldiers who committed all kinds of mischief under pretence of a liberty permitted to Souldiers by the Law of arms in time of war In the year 1220. King Hen. the 3. by his Proclamation commanded all strangers to avoid the land by Michaelmas next following except such as came with Merchandize to make sale of their wares under the Kings safe conduct After which the Po●ctouvines coming into England in great number obtaining great offices about the King miscounselling seducing and encensing him against the English Nobility and ingrossing the wealth of the Kingdom into their hands were assaulted plundered and many of them inforced to retire out of England by the Barons in the year 1258. And the next year after they were all banished out of England by Edict of Parliament After which they returning and oppressing the Realm were again expulsed and exiled by the Barons Anno 1260. So in the Parliament of 4 Ed. 2. Anno 1311. It was ordained by the Archbishops Bishops Earls and all the Commons in Parliament amongst other things That the King should banish all Foraigners out of his Court and Kingdom as his Father had commanded him which the King obliged himself by Oath to performe And thereupon banished his own Minion Pierce Gaveston into Ireland Which practices and proceeding of all these recited Nations and our Ancestors being if not grounded on yet at least warranted by Gods own forcited Precepts to the Israelites being warranted by the Jews own practise who had no dealings with the Samaritans John 4.9 and the Samaritans reciprocal carriage towards the Iews whom they would neither lodge nor entertain Lu. 9.51 52 53. Why we should not upon this account seclude those alien Jews so different from us both in manners customs Laws Religion and obeying not the Laws of our Saviour Christ Jesus it being not for the Kings or the Kingdoms profit to suffer them as Haman Esther 3.8 once said of them in another case I referre it to all wise Statesmen to resolve since it may be truly said of such unwelcom guests Turpius ejicitur quâm non admittitur hospes Neither will this contradict that Gospel precept Heb. 13.2 Be not forgetfull to entertain strangers or Deutr. 10.18.19 c. 23.7 Mat. 25.35 43. which extend only to Christian hospitality liberality and pity towards private distressed exiles travellers and other strangers coming to lodge or sojourn with us for a short season into our houses or country upon extraordinary or just occasions especially such who stand in need of our releif and are of the Houshold of Fa●th as is clear by the Texts themselves compared with Rom. 12.13 1 Pet. 4.9.3 Iohn 5. Gal. 6.10 not to Infidels Jews Pagans or who are in no such absolute necessity nor stand in need of our charity or reception nor yet to the reception of any forraign Nation or Colony into our Island to cohabit perpetually with us the only point in question which the Scripture no where commands nor intends but disallows in the aforecited Texts Neh. 9.2 c. 13.30 And these Scripture expressions Prov. 5.10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth Isay 1 7. your lands strangers devour in your presence and it is desolate as overthrown by strangers Lam. 5.2 Our inheritance is turned unto strangers our Houses to aliens Hosea 7.9 Strangers have devoured his strength and he knoweth it not sufficiently manifest both the illegallity folly and sad consequences of our receiving Jews and other strangers in such a nature of which our Ancestors had sufficient experience in the Jews themselves enforcing them for ever to exile them hence who have places enough in many other parts of the world where they now inhabit in
care and cost as the richest Pearls Treasures and Jewels of the Nation To which I answer● 1. That all our wisest Kings Parliaments Ancestors Statesmen in former ages had ever a special care to record all businesses of publike or private ocncernment and to preserve our ancient Records as the choicest Treasures appointing special Treasu●ies places to preserve them in and Custodes R●tulorum Treasurers Chamberlains Registers Clerks to keep them safe from injury corrupting and embe●●l●ing and enacting many Statutes for this purpose wi●ne●●e not only the Chests Cyrographers Officers and o●hers forementioned for keeping the Records and Charte●s of the Jews and their Rolls but also 13 E. 1. c. 25.30 1 E. 3. c. 4. 5 E. 3. c. 12. 9 E. 3. c. 5. 6 R 2. c. 4. 13 H. 4. c. 7. 2 H. 5. c. 8. 4 H. 6. c. 3. 8 H. 6. c. 12.15 10 H. 6. c. 4. 18 H. 6. c. 1.9 27 H. 8. c. 16. 32 H. 8. c. 28. 34 H. 8. c. 22.28 37 H. 8. c. 1. 2 E. 6. c. 10.3 4 E. 6. c. 1.1 2 Phil. Mar. c. 2. 23 Eliz. c. 3. 27 Eliz. c. 9. 31 Eliz. c. 3. 1 Jac. c. 6. with other Acts And must they now after all these Statutes be all ma●e a burnt-offring unto Vulcan upon the crack-brain'd Motion of an Ignatian Incendiary 2. The Statute of 8 H. 6. c. 12. still in force O●dai●s That if any Record or parcel of the same writ retori● pa●el proces or warrant of Attorney in the Ki●gs Cou●ts of Chancery Eschequer the one Bench or other or in his Treasury be willingly stolen taken away withdrawn or avoided by any Clerk or other Person by cause whereof any judgement be reve●sed 〈…〉 ●al●r taker away wi●hdr●●● 〈◊〉 and avoider their Procurers Counsellors and Abettors being thereof ina●●ted and by process the●eupon 〈◊〉 thereof duly convict by their own confession or by enquest to be taken by legal men whereof the one half shall be of the men of some Court of the same Courts and the other hal● of ●●her shall be judged for Felons and shall incurre the pain of Felons And that the Iudg●s of the sai●●our●●● of the one Bench and of the other have power to hear and det●rmine such defaults before them and thereo● to m●ke due puni●hment as is aforesaid And now Hugh Peters if I may be thy Counsel●or in sober sadnesse look to thy neck which as thou hast oft indangered forfeited by thy late Fire-works to blow up Kings Kingdoms Parliaments Lords our old fundamental Lawes Liberties Government as Straffords Canterburies late Impeachments Sentences with Mr. St. Iohns and others Arguments at their Atta●nd●rs will resolve thee and thy open treasonable advising abetting the seising imprisoning of my self and above 40 more Members of Parliament in Hell on the bare boards Decemb. 6. 1648. whose names thou didst then list with an iron Sword under thy arme instead of the Sword of the Spirit So this thy Iesuitical Project to burn all our old Records whereby all former Judgement Titles Fines Recoveries c. will be nulled reversed which thou publickly abettest counsellest thy Magistrate to effect in Print proclaimes thee by thine own Confession without other evidence a Notorious Felon within this Act in the highest degree The burning avoiding of all our Records in general being a more transcendent Felony yea Treason to the whole Kingdom Nation than the embezelling only of one or two private Records or Writs relating but to one private person And if ever thou be brought to a legal Trial for it before such a Iury and such Iudges as this Act prescribes thou art sure to undergoe a Halter-Martyrdome at Tyburne which all will cry up according to thy Pamphlets Title for A good work of a good Magistrate and a short cut to great quiet for thy devoting all our old Records to a fiery Martyrdom in Smithfield which I trust they shall never undergo And that upon these en●uing weighty Considerations First the●e old Records which he would have burnt contain in them all the antient Rights Titles Evidences Charters Agreements Leagues Compacts of the Kings Kingdom Nation and people of England to all their pristine and present Dominions Jurisdictions Prerogatives Preheminences Priviledges Hereditaments and enjoyments both at home and abroad by Land and by Sea as they are a Kingdom Nation Republike body Politick in general and that both in relation to themselves and their own intrinsecal affairs at home as they have been owned reputed negotiated treated with upon special occasions as a Kingdom Nation Republike by any forraign Kings Princes Kingdoms States whose ancient undoubted Rights Titles to all or any of our Dominions Territories Jurisdictions Royalties cannot otherwise be legally c●eared judicially evidenced upon any emergenr occasion or controversie between our Kingdom Nation and other Forraign States and Realms or between our selves at home but by our old Records the only publike evidences of the whole Kingdom and English Nation as necessary to defend maintain justifie their common publick Rights Dominions Possessions Jurisdictions Claims priviledges upon all occasions as any private Noble or Gentlemans ancient Charters Records Writings are to defend manifest his right and Title to his private Inheritance and Injoyments witnesse the famous Letter of the King Parliament and Nobles of England written and sent to the Pope Anno 1302. to clear the subordination of Scotland to the Crown of England and the Homage of the Kings of Scotland made for their kingdom to the Kings of England as their superiour Lords from time to time manifested by the ancient Histories and Records of England beyond all contradiction Mr. Selden his Mare Clausum proving the Dominion and Jurisdiction of the Kings of England o●er the Narrow Seas by Records and Sir Robert Cottons Posthuma Therefore it must necessarily be as bad and mad a worke for a bad and mad Magistrate to burn all the publick Evidences and Records of the whole Kingdom and Na●ion upon the frantick motion of a Bedlam in this particular as for a Great landed Nobleman to burre all the old Charters Evidences of his Lands and Honors or for a rich Usurer to burn all his Bonds and Morgages which all wise men will repute an act of Frenzy and Hugh Peters too in his right senses 2. They contein in them all the great publike Charters Contracts Agreements Leagues formerly granted or made by the Kings of England to or with the Prelates Earles Barons Freemen Commons of England Ireland Scotland Wales Gernsey Iersy Man and all other Isles and Dominions belonging to the Crown of England in general all Charters Patents Grants Contracts Writs Releases Gifts Pardons Offices Honors Liberties Franchises Customs Priviledges Faires Markets Inheritances Rents Revenues Licences compositions formerly granted by our Kings to the respective Counties Cities Towns Burroughs Villages Hundreds Arch-bishops Bishops Deans Chapters Prebends Abbies Priories Nunneri●s Colledges Hospitals Free-schools Universities great Officers Chancellors Generals Admirals Marshals
if faithfully transcribed and methodically digested into a Parliamentary Chronicle would for rare usefull matter Excellency certainty far exceed all Histories Statute-Books Law-Books Chronicles ever yet compiled rectifie many grosse mistakes in most of them and make more able knowing Lawyers Judges parlamentmen Statesmen than former ages have produced Besides the old Records in the respective Treasuries of the Tower Courts at Westminster and the Rolls faithfully relate at large the Institutions Jurisdictions procedings Judgements Writs Formalities Debates commissions Law-cases Judges Officers names customes Fees of all the great courts of Law Justice Equity civil Ecclesiastical Military Marine Justices Itinerant Justices of the Forrest Justices of Assize Oyer and Determiner of most other inferiour Courts and Commissioners bo●h in England Wales Ireland Scotland Gascoyne Normandy Poyters the Isles of Man Gernsy Iersy Alderny Serk Silly and other Isles the Stanneries in Cornwall and in most Corporations Counties Hundreds Honors Mannors in them Record all sorts of commissions charters Writs Warrants Instruments relating to Law Iustice Trade peace Wa● The Courts Jurisdictions priviledges Mannors Lands Fees Rents exemptions Liberties Royalties Tenures Services customs Offices Successions pedigrees of the Kings Princes Queens Archbishops Bishops Deans Chapters cities corporations Fraternities Gui●ds Nobility Gentry Fre●holders of England Ireland Wales Scotland and all Dominion Isles annexed to them with sundry other particulars necessary for an accomplished Lawyer out of which industrious Lawyers if countenanced by authority and encouraged by a a publike Salary might collect such a rare new Body and Systeme of the Laws customs courts and ancient legal proceedings in all the courts of Justice throughout our Dominions as would as far excell all other Abridgements collections Reports Institutes Registers Law-Books hitherto published for use excellency as the richest Diamond exceeds the basest pibble and bring more honour benefit to the English Nation than all the Shepheards Calenders and New-corps or Models of our old English Laws attempted by Hugh Peters Sword-men and ●ome bold illiterate Ignoramusses of the Law who neuer yet perused any of our old Records nor read over half our English Law-books and yet will be reformers or deformers rather of what they ne●er exactly knew nor understood In brief the exact knowledge of our Records wi●● furnish industrious Lawyers with such rare usefull materials of all sorts for the publike service of their Nati●e country upon all emergent occasions the benefit information of their clyents the honour of their profession and their own reputation advancement profit as will enable them to outshine all others of their robe unversed in the Records as far as the Sun and Moon outshine the lesser stars which lose all their borrowed splendor when ●hey once ap●ear in place Witnesse Mr. Noy Mr. Seldon Mr. Littleton and some other Lawyers of late times whose real and Sir Edward Cooke whose borrowed superficial insight in Records advanced not only their Names Fames Arguments Books but practise and imployments likewise whiles they practis●d above all others of their Profession and hath immortalized their memories to posterity A sufficient Argument to engage all generous Students and Practisers of the Law to spend some years or long Vacations at least in the Study of our almost forgotten Records which though it may hinder their present gains and practise for a time will abundantly increase them afterwards the longest Studies in this kind like Merchants longest voyages being recompenced with the richest returns 2. All persons of quality desirous thoroughly to enable themselves to serve their Soveraign or Country in any publick great State-Offices Imployments at home or in foreigne parts may out of our Records furnish themselves with all former publike Negotiations Embassies Treaties Truces Leagues Contracts Agreements Transactions Letters Missives Commissions Instructions Claims Controversies Debates between the Kings Parliaments Nobles Clergy Merchants Kingdom People of England Ireland Scotland Wales and Dominions thereunto annexed or any of them and any other forraigne Kings Kingdoms Princes States Cities Embassadors Agents Legates Merchants relating to Peace Warre Amity Trade Marriages Alliances Government mutual aid Jurisdictions Soveraigntie Regulation of Injuries Abuses Depredations c. and likewise between themselves All Passages Writs Commissions Debates resolves relating to the Parliaments Judicatories Laws Justice Trade Merchandise Man●factures Navy Shipping Ports defence Militia by Land or Sea Coins Weights Measures of England Ireland and other our Dominions formerly specified with all other particulars fit for an accomplished Statesman no where extant but in our Record wherein they are faithfully registred for the information and benefit of posterity 3. All Heroick English Spirits desiring exact knowledg in the History and Chronology of England may find in our old Records all the choicest materials relating there un●o faithfully recorded with all the particular dates circumstances of time and place All Grounds Occasions Commissions Summons of Arrayes Armies Navies Fleets Ships Fortifications of Townes Castles Con●ultations Articles Instructions transactions relating to our Civil Foraign wars by Land or Sea with the Names of the Generals Officers Marshals Admirals and persons of greatest eminency in them All Truces Leagues Embassies Contracts Agreements Letters passages of State Parliamentary affairs Coronations Charters Patents of our Kings and what ever may compleat adorn our English History exactly registred which if faithfully transcribed and digested into order would make a farre more usefull compleat excellent English History and Chronicle then any yet published or compiled And if all the Charters Patents Commissions Records Writs Mandates priviledges Le●ters granted sent written by our Kings Parliaments Counsel and Officers of State relating to England Wales Ireland Scotland Jersey Gernsey Man and our other Isles and Dominions and to the particular Counties Hundreds Cities Corporations Ports Officers Bishopricks Monasteries Colleges Hospitals Free Schooles Parishes Churches Noblemen Gentlemen and particular Mannors places in them were judiciously collected digested after the moddel of Mr. Cambdens Britannia I dare affirm they would as far excel it in use and benefit as it transcends all former publications of our British world and Monarchy 4. Such Gentlemen as are addicted to Heraldry may find a Rich Magazine of all choice materials belonging to the Office and Study of an English Herald relating either to the Regal Noble Gentile families Great Officers Pedegrees Marriages Successions Coats Titles of Honor Chivalry c. of England Scotland Ireland Wales and other parts of our English Dominions The Coronations and Solemnities of our Kings the creations of our Nobles Knights Officers of all sorts with their Formalities Robes c. Most of our English Heraulds having been either Keepers of our Records or Clerks under them out of which they extracted most of their knowledge 5. All Divines studious of eminency in the Church History of England may read in our Records many excellent Letters Embassies passages Debates between our English Kings Parliaments Prelates Clergy Councils Synods and the Popes Cardinals Legates Court of Rome and forraign Councils
in the Jews amongst us for the Lawyers had newly delivered their Opinions there was no Law against it To which I answered That the Jews were in the yeer 1290. all banished out of England by Judgement and Edict of the King and Parliament as a great Grievance never to return again for which the Commons gave the King the fifteenth part of their Moveables and therefore being thus banished by Parliament they could not by the Laws of England be brought in again without a special Act of Parliament which I would make good for Law He replied I wish it might not be done otherwise that this business had been formerly moved in the Bishops time rather than now To which I subjoyned That it was now a very ill time to bring in the Jews when the people were so dangerously and generally bent to Apostacy and all sorts of Novelties and Errors in Religion and would sooner turn Jews than the Jews Christians He answered He thought it was true and was sorry he could not discourse longer with me the Committee about the Jews being sate and staying for him as he feared Whereupon as he was turning in towards White-Hall-Gate I told him The Jews had been formerly great Clippers and Forgers of Mony and had crucified three or four Children in England at least which were principal causes of their banishment To which he replied That the crucifying of Children was not fully charged on them by our Historians and would easily be wiped off Whereto I answered He was much mistaken and so we parted As I kept on my way in Lincolnes-Inne Fields passing by seven or eight maimed Soldiers on Stilts who begged of me I heard them say aloud one to another We must now all turn Jews and there will be nothing left for the poor And not far from them another company of poor people just at Lincolnes-Inne back Gate cried aloud to each other They are all turned Devils already and now we must all turn Jews Which unexpected concurrent Providences and Speeches made such an impression on my Spirit that before I could take my rest that night I perused most of the passages in our English Histories concerning the Jews carriage in England with some of their misdemeanors in other parts to refresh my memory and satisfie my judgement making some Collections out of them which after I enlarged and digested into this ensuing Demurrer with as much speed as the sharpness of the season would permit and was induced to publish it knowing no particular discourse of this Subject extant for the general information satisfaction of others and honour of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the righteous whom the Jews with malicious hearts and wicked hands crucified in person heretofore and their posterity by their blasphemies despiteful actions against Christ his Kingdom Offices Gospel crucifie afresh every day trampling under foot the Son of God putting him to open shame offering despite to the Spirit of Grace counting the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing And in all their publick and private Devotions praying constantly for the sudden universal total final subversion extirpation perishing of Christs Kingdom Gospel and all his Christian Members which they plot and continually expect such is their implacable transcendent malice I have deduced their introduction into England only from William surnamed the Conqueror because I finde not the least mention of them in any of our British or Saxon Histories Councils Synods Canons which doubtlesse would have mentioned them and made some strict Laws or Canons against their Iewish as well as against Pagan Superstitions had they exercised 〈◊〉 ●ere as they would have done as well as in Spain other places had they resided here That any of them were here in the time of our famous Emperor Constantine is but a dream of such who because they finde an Epistle of Constantines in the Council of Nice to all the Churches of Christ in Sir Hen. Spelmans Collections of the Decrees Canons and Constitutions of the British World wherein is mention made of the Churches of Britain in that age as well as in Rome France and other parts keeping the Passeover in a different manner from the wicked blinded Iews would thence infer there were then Jews resident in Britain of which there is not one syllable in that Epistle nor in any Classick Author Forrain or Domestick I yet ever saw or heard of That they were setled in our Island in the Saxons time is collected onely from that Law inserted by Hoveden and Spelman amongst Edward the Confessors here cited p. 3. But there being no mention of the Jews in any of our Saxon Kings Raigns Councils Decrees Laws before the Confessor out of which all his Laws were wholly extracted and this Law of the Jews being not to be found in the true Original Copy of the Confessors and Conquerors Laws of Abbot Ingulphus who flourished in that age was present at their confirmation and then brought them to Croyland Abby published by Mr. Iohn Selden nor yet in Bromton I cannot but reject it as counterfeit and esteem it rather a Declaration of the Jews Condition in England in Hovedens time inserted by him as well as some other things of punier date amongst these Laws rather than any Law of or in the Confessors days wherein I can finde no evidence of any Jews residence here but only this interpolation and forged Law which Mr. Selden wholly omits in his Collection of his Laws The History of King William Rufus his compelling the Iews of Rhoan that were turned Christians to renounce their Christianity and turn Iews again ACCEPTO PRETIO APOSTASLE upon the complaint and mony given him by the Infidel Jews there with the Dialogue between Him and Stephen the Jew cited out of Holinshed here p. 5 6. I finde originally recorded of him by Eadmerus living in his raign who though very bitter and injurious to him by reason of the great Contests between him Anselme whose Favourite Follower and Companion in adversity Eadmerus was yet he relates it not as a certain Truth but as a Report of others of that Country who had another Opinion of Rufus Quam de Christianis Christianos Lex Christiana docet habere quae tamen sicut illa accepimus simpliciter ponam non astruens vera an secus extiterint an non Onely he addes this passage to the story of Stephen which Holinshed omits That St. Stephen appearing to him as he was travelling on the way he demanding of him who he was Answered That he was long since of a Jew made a Christian and was Stephen the first Martyr but for this cause I have now come down from Heaven to Earth that thou casting away thy Iewish Superstition mightest be made a Christian and being baptized in Christ mightest be called by my name Whereupon he became a Christian and was baptized That immediately after the conference between the King and Stephen
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 Antoninus relating the story in the same words addes onely 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 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 Ranters 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 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 him 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. 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 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 Dorobernensis 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 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 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 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 resolving 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 with 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 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 Jews 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
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 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. 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 Roger de Hoveden and briefly touched only by some others All the Debts Pawns Morgages Lands Houses Rents and Possessions 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 By 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 1 and 2 years of his reign granted them large liberties and an high Priest for moneys in the year of our Lord 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 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 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 was 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 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 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 The Jews in the year of our Lord 1231. builded a Synagogue
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 wretch 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 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 members to so flagitious a person which he could not give for that blasphemer and homicide was worthy the punishment of many sorts of death And when as 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 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 usual 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 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
Tallagio non concedendo are three the last whereof was certainly made in 25. E. 1. not 34 E. 1. as 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. as these subsequent Historians evidence who are the best and only witnesses in this case the Parliament Rolls being not extant to resolve us 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 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 Vsurers might be known the King commanded that every Vsurer 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. as Sir Edward Cook affirms wherein they were hence exiled 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 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 the value of the debt the chattels shall be praised by the Oath of honest men the Chattels shal be 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 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 badge in his chief garment that is to say in form of two Talles of 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 wills 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 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 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 By 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 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 moneth of November all the Jews throughout England as Matthew Westminster or many of the Jews in London and other parts 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 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 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 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 which they paid unto the King But of 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 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 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 and 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 Matthew Westminster flourishing at that time gives this relation of it About these days namely the 31 of August the exasperating multitude of Jews which dwelt confidently in times past through divers Cities strong Forts JUSSA EST was commanded with their wives children together with their moveable goods to depart out of England about the Feast of All Saints which was assigned to them for the term WHICH THEY DARED NOT TO TRANSGRESSE UNDER PAIN OF HANGING whose number was supposed to be 16511. Such A DECREE had issued out before from the laudable King of England in the parts of Aquitain from whence all the Jews were likewise banished Thomas Walsingham living near that age thus records it The King returning out of Gascoigne to London was solemnly received by the Clergy and all the people who the same year banishing all the Jews out of England giving them their expences into France confiscated the rest of their goods This year the King held A Parliament in which were made the Statutes called Westminster the 3d. In quo etiam Parliamento pro expulsione Iudaeotum concessa sunt Regi a Populo quinta decima pars honorum In which Parliament likewise for the banishment of the Jews there was granted to the King by the People a fifteenth part of their goods Henry de Knyghton a Canon of Leicester a most diligent Antiquary flourishing in Richard the 2ds reign rendreth it in these terms King Edward grievously punished the Jews and their consorts for clipping of money and corrupt exchanges whereupon in one day he caused all the Iews to be apprehended some he hanged the rest he banished When he had done his will upon his corrupt Judges fined deposed and some of them banished in the same Parliament that the Jews were exiled presently another cause moved him concerning his money which he found to be basely clipped and corrupted to the prejudice of the Crowne and the great damage of the people By the Infidelity and Malice of the Iews as it was inquired and found or found upon inq●iry et fecit stabilire unum Parliamentum in quo convicti sunt Iudaei de ea falsitate Et statuit quod omnes Iudaeis exirent de Terra Angliae deinceps non redituri propter eorum incredulitatem principaliter et propter falsitatem quam eis dure imposuerat et pro hac causa cum festinatione facienda et sine dilatione explenda communes regni dederunt Regi quintum denarium de omnibus bonis suis mobilibus And he caused a Parliment to be summoned wherein the Jews are convicted of that falshood And he ordained that all the Jews should depart out of the Realm of England not to return again afterwards for their incredulity principally and for their falsenesse which he had hardly pressed upon them And for this their banishment speedily to be made and executed without delay the Commons of the Realm gave to the King the fifth part of all their moveable goods John Major and the Centuriators of Magdeburgh out of him thus register it to posterity In the year 1290. Iudaei Anglia pulsi sunt the Jews were banished out of England for the Englishmen had made a great complaint to Edward the 1. that by their usuries and frauds most men of the inferior sort were reduced to nothing which thing was gainfull to the King for every of the Commoners gave the King the fifteenth penny ut Iudaeos ejiceret that he might banish the Jews Our learned Iohn Bale Polydor Virgil and the Century Writers out of him thus expresse it Anno Dom. 1291 it should be 1290 In the Parliament at London the●e was a debate ●n the first place de Iudaeorum ejectione Concerning the banishing of the Iews whereof there was a gr●●t m●ltitude throughout England Sed Edicto publico Concilii Londinensis writes one Publico igitur Decreto jussi sunt alio commigrare ut infra paucos dies omnes exirent saith another But by the publick Edict of the Parli●me●t assembled in London and by a publicke decree They were all commanded to depart the Realm with their goods within a few days which they Concilii jussis obedientes obeying the commands of the Parliament speedily did Thomas Stubs his Acta Fontificum Eboracensium c. 1728 thus relates the universal banishment of them out of all England in one day Anno Dom. 1290. In c●rastino animarum Exulati fuerunt Iudaei a Regno Angliae et hoc eodem die per totam Angliam Raphael Volaterianus Geograph lib. 3. f. 25. thus expresseth it Iudaei omnes expulsi●● Annales Dominicanorum Colmarionsium thus relate it Anno 1291. Rex Angliae omnes Iudaeos Regno expulit Gilbertus Genebrardus Chronogr l. 4. p. 659. thus records it Anno 1291. Concilium Londinense ad Westmonasterium jussu Edwardi Regis Eo in Concilio Publico Edicto jussi sunt Iudaei de Anglia in perpetuum exire words most express Abraham Bzouius thus Anna Ecclesiasticorum Tom. 13. Anno 1291. n. 1. col 966. Londini ad Westmonasterium celebratum est Concilium In hoc imprimis agitatum est De ejectione Iudaeorum quorum erat per omnem Angliam ingens multitudo quo sic oves ab hoedis segregarentur Itaque Publico jussum est Edicto ut intra paucos dies omnes abierint cum bonis illi jussis Concilii parentes alii
alio discesserunt Ita profuga Gens de Anglia in perpetuum exivit misera semper alicubi terrarum peti●ura usque eo dum denique deleatur But I shall pass from Latin to our more common Engl●sh Historians Fabian in his Chronicle part 7. p. 133. Mr. Iohn Fox in his Acts and Monuments Lond. 1640. Vol. 1. p. 443. and Richard Grafton in his Chronicle p. 169. thus report it in the same words almost This year also 1290. all the Iews were utterly banished the Realm of England for the which the Commons gave he King a fifteenth N●cholas Trivet Polychronicon l. 7. c. 38. and William Caxton in his Chronicles printed 1502. in the life of K. Edward the 1. thus stories the Jews banishment out of Hygden and Trevisa in their words Anone after the King had done his will of the Iustices tho lete he inquere and espye how the Iews dysceyved and beguyled his people thorough the synne of falseness and of usury And lete Ordain a Prevy Parlement among his Lords So they ordainned among theim That all Iewes should void out of Englande for their Mysbyleve and also for their false vsury that they did unto Crysten Men. And for to speed and make an end of this thing All the Comynalte of Englande gave unto the King the XV. Penny of all theyr Goodes mevable and so were the Iewes driven out of Englande And tho went the Iews into France and there they dwellyd thrugh leve of Kyng Phylip that tho was Kyng of France Raphael Holinshed in his Chronicles out of them Vol. 3. p. 285. thus publisheth it In the same year was a Parliament holden at Westminster wherein the Statutes of Westminster the 3 d. were ordained It was also DECREED That all the Jews should avoid out of the Land in consideration whereof a fifteenth was granted to the King and so hereupon were the Jews banished out of all the Kings Dominions and Never since could they obtain any priviledge to return hither again All their goods not moveable were confiscated with their tailles and obligations but all their goods that were moveable together with their coyn of gold and silver the King licensed them to have and convey with them A sort of the richest of them being shipped with their Treasure in a mighty tall ship which they had hired when the same was under sail and got down the Thames towards the mourh of the River beyond Quinborow The Master Mariner bethought him of a wile and caused his men to cast anchor and so rode at the same till the ship by ebbing of the stream remained on the dry sands The Master herewith inticed the Jewes to walke out with him on land for recreation and at length when he understood the tyde to be comming in he got him back to the ship whither he was drawn by a cord The Jews made not so much hast as he did because they were not ware of the danger But when they perceived how the matter stood they cryed to him for help Howbeit he told them that they ought to cry rather unto Moses by whose conduct their Fathers passed through the red Sea and therefore if they would call to him for help he was able enough to help them out of these raging flouds which now came in upon them They cryed indeed but no succour appeared and so they were swallowed up in the water The Master returned with the ship and told the King how he had used the matter and had both thanks and reward as some have written But others affirm and more truly as should seem that divers of those Marriners which dealt so wickedly against the Jews were hanged for their wicked practise and so received a just reward of their fraudulent and mischievous dealing In Capitula Itineris in Totles Magna Charta f. 151. made in Edward the first his reign There is one chapter of Inquiry De catallis Judaeorum occisorum et eorum chartis vadiis qui ea habeant taken out of the Eyre of Rich. the 1. forecited which relates to these Jewes thus drowned and slain as I conceive since I read of no other massacre of them near that time John Stow in his Annals p. 204. and Survey of London p. 289. writes thus of it King Edward banished all the Iews out of England g●ving them to bear their ena●rges till they were out of the Realm The number of the Iews then expelled was fifteen thousand and sixty persons whose hous●s being sold the King received an infinite masse of money Iohn Speed in his History of Great Britain p. 545 thus varieth the expression of it King Edward Anno 1290. to purge England from such corruptions and oppressions as under which it groaned not neglecting therein his particular ga●n banished the Iews out of the Realm confiscating all their goods leaving them nothing but money to bear their charges they by their cruel Usuries having eaten his People to the bones To passe by Heylins Microcosm p. 570. Henry Isaacsons Chronology Anno 1290. Sir Rich. Baker his Chronicle of the Kings of England p. 146 147. with others who mention this their final banishment out of England I shall conclude with the words of Samuel Daniel his History p. 160. Of no lesse grievance than corrupt Judges then fined displaced banished this King eased his people by the banishment of the Jews for which the kingdom willingly granted him a fifteenth having before in Anno Regis 9. offered a fifth part of their goods to have them expelled But then the Jews gave more and so stayed till this time which brought him a great benefit by confiscation of their immoveables with their Tallies and Obligations which amounted to an infinite value But now hath he made his last commodity of this miserable people which having never been under other cover but the will of the Prince had continually served the turn in all the necessary occasions of his Predecessors but especially of his Father and himself Sir Edward Cook in his 2 Institutes p. 506 507 508. in his Commentary upon Statutum de Judaismo forecited seems to contradict these forecited Historians touching their banishment whose words I shall at large rehearse and refute too in this particular This Statute was made writes he in the Parliament of 18 Ed. 1. That the m●schiefs before this Statute against Jewish Usury were these 1. The evils and disherisons of the good men of the land 2. That many of the sins and offences of the Realm had risen and been committed by reason thereof to the great dishonour of Almighty God And are no● the●e two sufficient grounds to keep them out now as well as to restrain and banish them then The difficulty adds he was how to apply a remedy considering what great yearly revenue the King had by the Usury of the Iews and how necessary it was that the King should be supplyed with Treasure What benefit the Crown had before the making of this
made but in 18 E. 1. when they were forthwith banished and not in 3. before their exile as our Historians affirm who are only to be credited in this case because all the Parliament Rolls of this Kings reign and before are utterly lost and this very Statute de Iuda●smo not extant on Record in the Tower or elsewhere nor any other Statutes made in his or his Ancestors reigns all lost as well as that of 18 Edw. the 1. for the Jewes Banishment as the Clerks and Keepers of the Records informed me upon my searches after them 3ly No Record nor Historian mentions that the Jews voluntarily banished themselves upon the making of this Law and their voluntary departure hence upon the publication of it could not be stiled a Banishment since Cornelius Tacitus resolves Exilium non est ubi quis abit non Senatus consulto non Lege pulsus This their banishment therefore must necessarily be by an express Law or Decree of Parliament 4ly The forecited Historians record that the Jews but a few years before gave King Edw. the 1. a vast summ of money full 12 years after this Statute De Judaismo made in the 3. of his reign to prevent their banishment hence urged by the Commons in Parliament in the 15 year of his reign with the profer of the 5 th part of their goods to the King for their banishment Therefore it is very improbable they would in 18 E. 1. full 15 years after this Statute voluntarily banish themselves only because their Usury was so long before exiled by it 5. All the forecited Historians of those and of later times who are more to be credited then Sir Edward Cookes singular groundless opinion unanimously record that the Iews were all judicially really expelled banished the Realm in 18 E. 1. both by the King and Parliament and that principally for their infidelity not Vsury and other fore-alleged reasons and commanded under pain of hanging by a special Decree and Edict to depart hence by a prefixed day for the effecting and hastning whereof the Commons gave the King a fifteenth Ther●fore they were all precisely banished by the King and Parliament not by themselves alone 6. The King then banished them out of England upon the same grounds and in the self-same manner as he had newly banished them the year before out of Gascoigne and all his Dominions in France as Matthew Westminster Walsingham and others record But then and there he banished their persons by an express Decree not only for their Vsury but chiefly for their Infidelity and Enmity to Christs Cross Therefore he did the like in England 7ly All Usury in all persons whatsoever was strictly prohibited and quite banished out of England long before this Statute De Judaismo which was but a meer confirmation of former Lawes with particular relation to the Jews not an introduction of any new Law The clearing whereof nor impertinent to my Theam against Jewish Usurers will most fully discover Sir Edward Cooks mistake to the very meanest capacity The famous Council of Calchuth Anno Dom. 787. under King Alfwood and King Offa condemned all usury in these terms c. 17. Vsuras quoque prohibemus dicente Domino ad David dignum fore habitatorem Tabernaculi sui qui pecuniam suam non dederit ad Vsuram c. After which King Edward the Confessor enacted this Law against Usury about the Year 1050. ratified by William the Conquerour in the fourth year of his reign Usurarios quoque defendit rex Edwardus Ne remaneret aliquis in toto regno c. si qu●s inde conv●ctus esset qu●d f●r●ns ex●ger●● omni substantia propria careret pro Exlege haberetur Hoc autem asserebat ille Rex se audisse in Curta Regis Francorum dum ibidem moraretur quod Usura summa radix est omnium v●tiorum This Law precisely banished all Usurers with their Usury out of England and confiscateth all their goods to the King as Outlaws upon conviction If therefore there had been any Jewish Usurers in England in St. Edwards reign as the spurious Law just before it in Spelman Hoveden forecited pretends they had all been expresly banished the land by this Law and never permitted to reside therein above 270 years before the Stat. de Judaismo was enacted In the Council of London Anno 1128. 25 H. 1 and in the Council of Westminster Anno 1138. the 3 of King Stephens reign All usury was prohibited under pain of deprivation both from Office and Benefice in Clergy men By virtue of which laws and Canons all the goods of Usurers became forfeited to our Kings after their deaths they excōmunic●ted persons This is evident by the words of Ranulp de Glanvil a famous Lawyer under King Henry the 2. De legibus consuetudinibus Regni Angliae lib. 7. c. 16. where thus he writes Usurarit verò omnes res sive testatus sive intestatus decesserit DOMINI REGIS SUNT Vivus autem non solet aliquis de crimine usurae appellari nec convinci Sed inter caeteras Regias Inquisitiones solet inquiri probari aliquem in tali crimine decessisse per duo decim legales homines de vic●neto per eorum Sacramentum Quo probato in Curia omnes res mobiles and omnia catalla quae fuerunt ipsius usurarii mortui Ad usus domini Regis capientur penes Quemcunque inveniantur res illae Haeres quoque ipsius hac eadem de causa exhaeredatur secundum jus regni ad Deminū vel Dominos revertetur haereditas Sciendum tamen quod si quis aliquo tempore Usurarius fuerit in vita sua super hoc in patria publice defamatus si tamen a delicto ipso ante mortem suam destituit poenitentiam egerit post mortem ipsius ille vel res ejus lege Usurarii minime censebuntur Oportet ergo constare quod usurarius decesserit aliquis ad hoc ut de eo tanquam de usurario post mortem ipsuis judicetur de rebus ipsius tanquam de rebus usurarii disponatur which he likewise affirms for Law in that age lib. 10. c. 3.8 Therefore usury in that and former ages was equally prohibited to all as well Jews as English under pain of forfeiture of all their real and personal estates to the King and their inheritances to the Lords in case they died usurers And if the Jews had not been within the compass of these Laws but might have freely exercised usury when the English could not they had been in this respect in far better condition than the native English when as the forecited law concerning them resolves us Iudaei omnia sua Regis sunt both in this Kings reign and before upon this account amongst others because they were known Usurers This Law continued still the same in succeeding ages as is most apparent by Cap●tula placitorum
Curiae Regis made and to be inquired of by the Justices itinerant in the 6 year of King Richard the 1. Anno 1194. wherein I find this Article Item de Faeneratoribus eorum catallis qui mortui sunt which is general extending equally to all Usurers whether English or Jews Christians or Infidels But in the Capitula Placitorum Coronae Regis in the 10 year of this King Richard Anno 1198 it was thus varied and confined only to Christian Usurers Inquirendum est by the Justices itinerant then appointed in each County etiam de usuris Christianorum eorum Catallis qui mortui sunt Perchance to put a difference between the Jews whose goods the King claimed as his own whiles living and the English Usurers who forfeited not their estates for usury till after their deaths not unless they died usurers without publike repentance therof before their death This form of Inquisition continued both before and after the Statute de Judaismo as is evident by Capitula itineris used in the reigns of Henry the 3. and Ed. 1. De Christianis usurariis qui fuerunt quae catalla habent qui catalla illa habuerant De catallis Judaeorum occisorum eorum chartis vadiis qui ea habeant King Henry the 3 rot finium 29. H. 3. m. 8. De catallis quae fuerunt cujusdam foeneratoirs seised the Charters of a certain Usurer as confiscated by Law unto him the Statute of Merton c. 5. in the 20 year of his reign provided and granted That usuries should not run against any being within age from the time of the death of his Ancestors whose heir he is unto his lawfull age c. So neverthelesse that the payment of the principle debt with the payment of the usury that was before the death of the Ancestor whose heir he is shall not remain On which Statute St. Edward Cook himself thus Coments This Statute hath been diversly expounded some expounding it only of Nomine poenaes and doubling the rent upon Leases Bonds and Recognizances others literally That the Statute extended to the usurious Iews that then were in England for at that time and before the Conquest also it was not lawfull for Christians he might have added nor yet for Jews to take any usury as it appeareth by the Laws of St. Edward c. and Glanvil and other ancient Authors and Records And by this Act it was manifest that the usury intended by the Statute was not unlawfull for the usury before the death of the Ancestor is enacted to be paid and after the full age of the heir also And no usury was permitted but by the Jews only But King Edw. the 1. That mirror of Princes By aeuthority of Parliament made this Law which is worthy to be written in letters of gold Forasmuch c. That no Jew should take any usury c. As if usury in his opinion had been lawfull for Jews before the Statute de Judaismo when it was equally prohibited to Jews and Christians though not to make to contractor usury meerly void except only against Infants during their minority yet to make both their chatels goods and estates liable to confiscation to the King after their deaths or before as the premises undeniably evidence So that the Statute de Judaismo prohibiting usury to the Jews was no introduction of any new Law as to the unlawfullnesse and penalty of usury it self in the Jews no more than in Christians to whom Rastal equally extends it Vsury 2. but only in respect of the legal means for recovevering the use upon usurious contracts Usury it self being even reputed absolutely unlawfull by Gods Lawes and ours Hence I find Rot. claus 36 H. 3. m 21. A Prohibition by writ to all forain Merchants within the Realme Quod nil capiant ad Vsuram and if they do Omnia mobilia immobilia eorum cedant ad usum Regis all their goods movable and immovable shall be confiscated to the Kings use Rot. claus 2. E 1. m. 1. De Mercatoribus Usurariis commands all Merchants that were Usurers to depart the Realm the year before the Stat. de Iudaismo made And in the Patent Roll of 5 E 1. Dors 26. There is an Inquisition De Usurariis seu Christianis Judaizantibus ut de eis fiat justitia secundum legem terrae which punished them by sines and loss of Goods in the Temporal Courts and by Ecclesiastical censures in the Spiritual Courts as is clear by Placita 18 H. 3. rot 36. and all Canonists in their Titles De Usura which is further evident by these Records Statutes made since the Statute De Iudaismo by 15 E. 3. rot Parl. n. 24.32.21 E. 3. rot Parl. n 49.50 E. 3. rot Parl. n. 47. 6 R. 2. rot Parl. n. 57. 14 R. 2. rot Parl. n. 23. 5 H. 4. rot Parl. n. 68.15 E. 3. c. 5. 3 H. 7. c. 5 6. 11 H. 7. c. 8. 37 H. 8. c. 9.5 E. 6. c. 20. 23 Eliz. c. 8. 39 Eliz. c. 18.21 Iac. c. 17. Therefore the banishing of Usury by this Law thus condemned prohibited in all former ages could no wayes move the Jews voluntarily to banish themselves hence no more than all other English and Italian Vsurers but some new special Act for their final expulsion 8ly It cannot be proved or imagined that all the Jews then in England were Usurers though the most and wealthiest of them were such And it is very improbable that all the Jews throughout England with one consent should agree to banish themselves voluntarily out of England where they were born and lived so long and that on the same day because the Usury of some of them was there prohibited without any Law for their banishment 9ly The Iews by several Laws Canons were expresly prohibited Usury elswhere in that age which they are totally forbidden to use of late years and now in Lithuania Russia Poland and some other places where they reside living only by Merchandize Husbandry and Manufactures Yea Menasseh Ben-Israel himself in his Humble Addresses newly printed p. 22.23 writes thus As for Vsury such dealing is not the essential property of the Iews for though in Germany there be some indeed that practise it yet the most part of them that live in Turky Italy Holland and Hamburgh being come out of Spaigne they hold it infamous to use it Therfore the bare suppression of their Usury in England by this Statute would no more induce them to banish themselves voluntarily out of England and leave all their houses morgages housholdstuff amounting to a vast summ to the King than out of other Countries where their usury was restrained then since seeing they might live as well without Vsury in England by their Merchandizes Husbandry and Manufactures as in any other Climate 10ly Sir Edward Cooke himself contradicts himself herein not only in his 4th Institutes p. 254. where writing
of The Court of the Justices assigned for the Government of the Jews he saith But when the Iews were utterly banished as hath been said this Court ceased with them in 18 E. 1. Anno Dom 1290. misprinted 1293. but likewise in this very Chapter his own subseqvent words and Records in direct terms contradicting this opinion of his no less than 5 times which I wonder he observed not I shall recite them at large to undeceive his over-credulous Readers of the long Robe who take his words and works for Oracles though in many things very full of gross mistakes contradicted by his own Records he cites specially in his Chapter of Parliament and Admiralty And for that writes he they were odious both to God and Men that they might pass out of the Realm in safety they made Petition to the King that a certain day might be prefixed to them to depart the Realm it was prefixed by the King and Parliament against their wills to the end that they might have the Kings writ to his Sheriffs for their safe conduct and that no injury molestation damage or greivance be offered to them in the mean time for which perchance they did petition though not for their departure hence One of which Writs we will transcribe Rex Vic G. Cum Judaeis Regni nostri universis Certum tempus praefixerimus a regno illo transfretandi therefore prefixed by the King h●mself without their Petition and that for the banishment of them all out of the Realm Nolentes quod ipsi per ministros nostros aut alios quoscunque aliter quam fieri consuevit indebite pertrectentur Tibi praecipimus quod per totam Ballivam tuam publice proclamati firmiter inhiberi facias ne quis eis intra terminum praedictum injuriam molestiam damnum inferat seu gravamen Et cum contingat ipsos cum catallis suis quae eis concessimus versus partes London causa transfretationis suae dirigere gressus suos salvum securum conductum eis habere facias sumptibus eorum Proviso quod Judaei praedicti ante recessum suum Vadia Christianorum quae penes se habent illis quorum fuerint si ea acquietare voluerint restituant ut tenentur Teste Rege apud Westmin 18. die Julii Anno 18 E. 1. This Statute De Judaismo was made at the Parl. post festum Hilarii Anno 18 E. 1. a gross mistake At which Parliament the King had a 15 granted to him pro expulsione Iudaeorum Therefore by his own confession they were expelled banished by the King and Parlament against their wills and a fifteenth given for it as the former Historians note And this writ was granted in July following in pursute therefore of their Judgement of banishment not upon their petition the King beginning his reign Novemb. 16. For the Parliament knew a strange conceit of a Judge for how could they certainly know it that by banishing of Usury though they banished it only not the Jews the Jews would not remain And thus this Noble King by this means banished for ever these infidel usurious Iews Ergo their persons not their Usury only the number of which Jews thus banished was fifteen thousand and threescore We will here adde a Parliament Record de Priore de Bridlington thus Et quod praedictus Prior cognoscit quod praedicta peonnia praed Judaeo debebatur viz. 3 col nec ei solvebatur Ante exilium Iudaeorum therefore by this Parliamentary record but 3 years after they were judicially banished by Parliament not voluntarily of themselves no banishment in Law Et quicquid remansit eorum debitis aut catallis in regno post eorum Exilium again repeated as most certain Domino regis suit Confideratum est quod Dom. Rex recuperet pecuniam praedictam dictum est eidem Priori quod non exeat Villa antequam Domino Regi de praedicta pecunia satisfaciat Et respondeat Johannes Archiepiscopus Eborum quia praecepit dicto Priori solvere Valetto suo praedictam pecuniam in deceptionem Regis contra Sacramentum fidelitatem suam Domino Regi datam Idem in alio Rot. Ann. 27. E. 1. rot 5. Therefore by these 3 records resolutions cited by himself the Jews were all banished by sentence of Parliament in such sort as our Historians record and not in his New sence alone amounting but to a voluntary Recess And to put this beyond all future doubt or controversie though the particular Act and Parliament Roll for their Banishment be utterly lost for ought I can find upon diligent search and inquiry after it as are all other Parliament Rolls during this Kings reign yet there is a particular Roll still extant in the Tower of the particular sales of all the Jews Houses and Lands in London Yorke Canterbury Northampton and all other places of England where they resided made by King Edward the 1. in the 19 and 20 years of his reign the next years after their exile reciting they were all escheated into the Kings hands By the Iews banishment out of England which Roll was thus indorsed in that age Charta de Judaismo Patentes de domibus Iudaeorum concessis post eorum exilium de Anglia Annis 19 20. E. 1. The fifth Charter mentioned in the Roll of 19 E. 1. conteins this Kings Grant of the House of one Leo a Jew in St. Martins Parish in London Domus Leonis filu Cusae filii Eliae Judaei de Parochia Sancti Martini c. per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei e Regno nostro tanquam escheata in manu nostra existentis After which follow near one hundred other several charters of other particular Jews houses to particular Englishmen the same year in the self-same Roll as escheated to the King per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei After these in the same Roll follow several other Patents of this King of the Jews houses made in the 20 year of his reign the first whereof is this Kings grant Domus Benedicti Iudaei per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei ex Regno nostro tanquam escheata nostra in manu nostra existentis After which follow several other Charters of other Jews Houses in the self same form So that by the testimony of all these Charters and Records likewise of the Patent Roll of 19 E. 1. granting all the profits of the Jews houses a tempore Exilii eorundem to charitable uses the two very next years after their exile the Jews were all immediatly and legally banished out of England against their wills and all their houses there upon escheated into the Kings hands who upon this Title made sales of them to Englishmen recited in all their Charters the Rolls whereof I have lately perused in the Tower where all who please may examine them for their satisfaction herein By all these concurrent irrefragable Records and Testimonies it is apparent against Sir Edward Cooks grounlesse conceit 1. That all the Jews
can find no syllable in any Domestick or foreign Historians or Writers whatsoever nor yet that they inhabited here or were here in the Briton Saxon or Danish Kings Reigns which if they had some of our Historians Synods Decrees and Laws in those ages would have mentioned it as well as the Gothish Spanish Histories Laws Councils and Constitutions where they resided in which there is not one syllable of them but only in the forecited Law foisted in amongst the Confessors to which doubtless it was puny but in William the Conquerours reign Together with their ill deportments misdemeanors sufferings massacres servile condition and manifold popular tumults against them during all the time of their residence in England and final banishment out of it never to my knowledge collected into one intire History before The serious consideration whereof will in my weake judgement sufficiently satisfie convince the whole English Nation that they have just grounds and reasons in point of piety of policy never to re-admit them more into our Island and likewise resolve the very Jewes themselves that they have little cause or reason at all to desire to re-plant themselves in England where their ancestors in times past susteined so many miseries massacres affronts oppressions fleecings upon all occasions themselves can expect little better usage for the future To this principal part of my undertaking for fuller satisfaction I shall hereunto subjoyn a Tast of such Laws Scriptures Reasons as seem strongly to plead yea conclude against their re-admission into England at least in that latitude and freedom as formerly they there enjoyed and now petition for As 1. To erect new Synagogues Temples amongst us or turn any of our Churches Chappels into Synagogues for the free publique exercise of their Judaism Jewish Worship Customs Religion diametrically contrary to the Gospel Person Kingdom Priesthood Offices Mediation Redemption of our Lord Jesus Christ which they thereby professedly deny renounce as false and fabulous 2ly To set up a Jewish Corporation or Fraternity amongst us in our Cities and Corporations distinct and separate from the English subject to their own immediate peculiar Officers and Judges as heretofore 3ly To purchase Houses Habitations Rents Lands exercise Merchandizes and all sorts of Trades and Manufactures amongst us as free Denizens or Merchants upon such terms and qualifications as shall be indulged to them 1. For our Laws and Statutes these following make directly or obliquely by way of necessary consequence against their re-admission 1. For their Jewish Synagogues Worship Sacraments Religion these ancient pious Laws of our Saxon and Danish Kings made in their great Parliaments and Councils before the Jews first coming into England strongly oppose their admission now As namely the Laws of King Alfred and Guthern Lex 1.2 of King Ethelred in the Council of Aenham c. 1.3.27 29 30. of Habam c. 1. with the Laws of King Knute the Dane Lex 1.27 28. All which enact That the only true God and our Lord be loved worshipped in all ages by all the people with all their might the one Christian holy Catholick faith orthodoxly kept and the Churches of God to be diligently frequented throughout the Realm That all Paganisme and false Religions be renounced both in words and deeds That who ever wickedly resisteth the Laws of Christ shall be grievously fined and put to death and that all men should diligently seek out by all means Ut recta Christi rel●gio maximè provehatur That the right religion of Christ might be most of all advanced obtesting all Ecclesiastical and secular persons again and again most earnestly to keep the sincere faith unanimously in the true God and the right Christian faith in a right manner diligently to hear the Teachers of Gods word studiously to follow their Doctrine and Precepts to maintain peace and tranquility in the Church of God and there diligently to pour forth their prayers All which particulars exclude all Jewish Synagogues and Judaisme and are of perpetual force being grounded on the very Law of God Moreover King Cnute his Ecclesiastical Lawes made by the advise of his wise men to be observed throughout all England prohibited That no Christian should be sold or sent out of the Realm or banished amongst those who had not as yet embraced the faith in Christ lest per adventure those Souls should perish at any time which our Lord Jesus Christ had redeemed with his own blood and life If Christians for this cause ought not to be sent sold or banished amongst Jews and Infidels much more then ought not Infidel Jews with their Jewish Synagogues Religion Ceremonies to be now introduced amongst us Christians to the hazard of many Christian Souls redeemed by Christs blood 2. All the Statutes concerning Uniformity of Common Se●vice and administration of the Sacraments as 1 Ed. 6. c. 1 2. 2 Ed. 6. c. 1. 6 Ed. 6. c. 1.1 Eliz. c. 2.23 Eliz. c. 1.35 Eliz. c. 1.2 most of them still in force being never legally repealed do fully and directly oppugne the introduction of any J●wish Synagogues Service Sacraments Worship Ceremonies with the use of them in any place within our Realm 3. The Statutes of 3. E. 6. c. 10.13 Eliz. c. 2.23 Eliz. c. 1.28 Eliz. c. 2.6 35 Eliz. c. 1.3 Jac. c. ● against Popish Recusants Seminary Priests Jesuites Friers Masse-Books Agnus Dei's Popish Books Superstitions for eventing the withdrawing of the Subjects of this Realm from the publique Ordinances Sacraments and Religion here established and for speedy banishing all Seminary Priests and Jesuites and keeping them perpetually out of the Realm upon this account amongst others though professing Christ Christian Religion and agreeing with us in all Articles of the Creed and most fundamental points of Christianity Must in Substance Law Reason in this regard much more perpetually exclude abolish all Jews Jewish Priests Rabbies Synagogues worship Ceremonies Superstitions out of our Dominions being far more dishonourable to Christ opposite to our Christian Religion and destructive to the peoples souls if once admitted then any Jesuites Seminary Priests Friers Popish Recusants or any Romish Masses Superstitions whatsoever And if the Jewish Priests Judaism and Jewish Ceremonies may be now set up and practised publiquely amongst us notwithstanding all these Statutes then much more Masse-Priests Masses Popery and Prelacy by the self-fame reason justice equity To these I might annex all the late Ordinances for the Directory The solemn League and Covenant and for Suppressing punishing of Heresy and Blasphemy therefore of Judaism which is both Heresy and Blasphemy and Jewish assemblies the very Synagogues of S●tan and Jews great blaspemers by Christs own resolution Rev. 2.9 c. 3.9 Acts 18.6 Rom. 2.21 With the late printed Instrument of Government which although it allows not only toleration but protection to all Sects and Religions professing faith in God through Jesus Christ though differing from the Doctrine and Discipline publickly held forth in the Nation
except only to Popery and Prelacy yet certainly it can no ways extend to the toleration or protection of Iews and their Antichristian blasphemies against Christ himself and the Gosple seeing they are so far from professing faith in Iesus Christ that they utterly renounce and professedly decry him to be the true Saviour and Messiah of the world rejecting the whole New Testament and Doctrine of the Gospel and so by consequence are necessarily secluded by this Instrument and Oath for its observation from practising their Jewish worship Ceremomies or erecting any Synagogues in our Nation for that purpose 2ly Though the Kings of England by the Law and their Prerogative may in sundry cases erect New Corporations of their Subjects by their Charters only yet notwithstanding no Corporation or Fraternity of Iews being meer Aliens may can or ought to be erected in England by the Fundamental Lawes and Constitutions of the Realm but only by full consent of the Nation in Parliament by special Acts of Parliamennt it being one of the greatest Intrenchments that can be upon the English Nations Rights Liberties Customs priviledges profit and a violation of all the former Charters Previledges Rights Franchises confirmed to them by the great Charter of England forty times since ratified by new Acts of Parliament This is evident by the Statutes of Magna Charta c. 9.37 34 E. 1. c. 4. 1 E. 3. c. 9. 14 E. 3. c. 1. 1. H. 4. c. 1. 2. H. 4. c. 1. 7. H. 4. c. 1. 9. H. 4. c. 1. 13. H. 4. c. 1. 3. H. 5. c. 1. 2. H. 6. c. 1. compared with 2 E. 3. c. 9. 27. E. 3. c. 1. to 29. 28 E. 3.13.15 39. E. 3. c. 7 19 H. 7. c. 12 and all other Acts for the Staple and Styliard and with 3. E. 4. c. 6. 1. R. 3. c. 9. 14 H. 8. c. 2. 21 H. 8. c. 16. 22 H. 8. c. 8. 32 H. 8. c. 16. touching Artificers M●rchants and Aliens 3ly The preambles of the Statute of Merton 20 H. 3. 3 E. 1. with c. 17.48 6 E. 1. of Quo Warranto and of Glocester 13 E. 1. 12 E. 2. of York 9 10 14 15 25 28 36 37. E. 3.1.3 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 21. R. 2.1 2 4 6. H. 4.1 8 10 12. 36. H. 6. 18 E. 3. c. 1 2 3. R. 2. Rot. Parl. n. 36 40. 6 H. 6. c. 5. and other Acts declare and resolve That the Kings of England by their Oath and Duty and the Lords and Commons in Parliament are all obliged by their trusts and our Laws to advance uphold maintain and defend the welfare wealth safety of the Church Realm Subjects People of England and to prevent redresse suppresse remove by wholesom Laws and Ordinances all Grievances Mischiefs Damages Inconveniences Disinherisons contrary thereunto it being a fundamental Maxime both in our Laws and Law-Books SALUS POPULI SUPREMA LEX which the Army Officers in their Declaration of 16 Novemb. 1648. and Mr. John Pym in his Speech against Strafford 12 April 1641. p. 3. c. printed by the Commons special Order much insist on Moreover it is another Maxime in our Law Summa ratio est quae pro religione faecit Now the admission of the Jews into England as appeareth by the Statute de Judaismo and premised Histories is no way consistent with the welfare profit wealth safety of the Church Realm Subjects People or Religion of England and will be an extraordinary damage mischief grievance inconvenience and disinherison to them all Therefore prohibited enacted against by the general scope of all these Laws and Maxims and no ways to be admitted 4ly The Jews heretofore in England and still in all other parts being most grievous Clippers coyners forgers of money Vsurers Extortioners and the greatest cheators cozeners Impostors in the world in all their Merchandizes and Manufactures whatsoever upon this accompt they are and ought to be still excluded and never re-admitted amongst us by the provisions of all our Laws yet in force prohibiting clipp●ng coyning usury extortion frauds deceipts in any Merchandizes or Manufactures whatsoever unless we intend to have them now more practised by them and others among us than ever heretofore The rather because they were never admitted free Trading and Habitation in England by any of our Laws touching Alien Merchants and Artificers free Traffick amongst us from the time of their forementioned banishment till this present under the Name and Notion of Jews Foraign Merchants or Artificers And therfore not to be adm●tted to those new desired priviledges from which all these forecited Laws in my weak Judgement with the former old Parliamentary Judgement and Edict for their perpetual banishment in Law Justice Conscience still debarre them re-admittance til repealed and they if ever readmitted against all these Acts and Statutes must be introduced re-setled by special Acts of Parliament which no English Parliament in probability will ever indulge unto them as the peoples general present declamations in all places against their endeavoured introduction prognostick And thus much I thought meet to inform the Nation touching those Laws and Statutes which in my poor opinion directly or by consequence oppose their re-admission and refute those Lawyers mis-information who confidently averred there is no Law of England at all against it if Mr. Nye did truly inform me 2. For Scriptures these Texts may resolutely engage us against their re-admission 1. Matth. 5.13 Luke 14.34 35. Salt is good but if the salt have lost its savor w●erewith shall it be seasoned It is neither fit for the land nor yet for the dunghil but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men This is the condition of the Jews who have lo●t both their Saviour and their favor too Therefore not fit for our land nor yet for our dunghils but to be kept and cast out from amongst us and trodden under foot of all true Christian men whiles unbeliever s. 2. 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha That is separated and cast out from all Christian society and communion until the day of Judgement the highest kind of Jewish Excommunication Now the Jews are such who doe not only not love but deny defie and hate our Lord Jesus Christ in the highest degree Therefore to be excommunicated and secluded from our Christian communion and cohabitation amongst us to which they can pretend no right 3. 2 Cor. 6.14 15 c. Be ye not unequally yoaked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness and what concord hath Christ with Belial and what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols c. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch no unclean thing and I will receive you The
extirpated the Infidelity prevarications and superstitions of the Jews neither would he permit any one of them to live in his Realm who would not become a Christian For which this Council highly commended him rendered special thanks to God for it and withall enacted by the con●ent of the Nobles that every King of Spain in future times before he should be installed and crowned King should take an Oath That he would not suffer the Jews to violate the Christian Faith and that he would in no wise favour their infidelity through any kind of negligene or covetousnes nor give entranc to any thing tending to the precipices of infidelity prevarication c. About the year of Christ 615. they were banished out of Jerusalem it self by Heraclius the Emperour as Zonaras Tom. 3. in his life Paulus Diaconus rerum Rom. l. 18. Cent. Mag. 7. c. 4. storie near that age out of Arverna Bibl Patr. Tom. 6. part 2. p. 243. Venantii Fortun. l. 5. c. 5. About Anno 616. King Sisebutus banished them all out of Spaine unlesse they would turn Christians which the most of them refusing to doe departed thereupon into France as the marginal Authors unanimously attest About the year 618. they were all banished out of France by King Dagobert unlesse they would renounce their Judaism and turn Christians upon the command and instigation of Heraclius the Emperour as Reg●no Chron. l. 1. Cert Magdeb. 7. c. 14. relate King Wamba about the year 710. banished them out of the Province of Narbon as Rodericus Toletanus de Rebus Hisp. l. 3. c. 11. informs us About the year 1196. they were banished out of the City of Mentz and near the same time out of the City of Triers and the Bishoprick thereof by Bishop Everhard Philip Augustus King of France banished them all out of France by several Edicts Anno 1152. 1162. 1182. for the●e reasons Because they had divers times crucified children of Christians in Paris and elsewhere in contempt of Christ and his passion entertained Christian men servants and maid servants in their houses who did likewise play the Jews with them contrary to the Decrees of God and the Church above measure oppressed impoverished by their Usuries the Citizens Knights Gentry and Country people both in the Cities Suburbs and Villages of France and detained some of them prisoners in their houses like captives binding them by an oath not to depart out of them most vilely profaned the sacred Vessels pawned to them by Church-men in cases of necessity causing their little children ordinarily to drink wine and eat sops out of them yea to lay their excrements in them as Petrus Cluniancensis records in contempt of the Sacrament and casting the silver Vessels Crosses and guilded Books of the Gospel pawned to them into a Jakes in a sack that the Christians might not find them and because the Saracens upbraided the Christians for entertaining them amongst them being the professed Enemies of Christ Vpon these grounds as also because their wealth and number were so increased that they had almost gotten half the city of Paris into their hands King Philip caused them to be all apprehended through France in one day as they were in their Synagogues then spoiled them of all their rich gold and silver garments confiscated all their Lands Houses possessions and banished them the Realm notwithstanding the intercessions of many Bishops and Nobles bribed with their gold and gifts in their behalf and the proffers of great sums of money to him by the Jews wherewith he would not be mollified After which he caused their Synagogues to be prophaned and then consecrated and converted to churches that so where Christ was first blasphemed after the manner of the Jews he might in the same places be praised both by the Clergy and people as Vincentius records at large After this creeping into that Realm again by money and bribes they were again bannished out of France and their goods confiscated by King Philip the Fair in the year 1293. as some or 1307. as others compute it and driven into Germany In the year 1349. at the earnest importunity of the people they were all banished out of Alsatia and the Impe●ial Cities by the agreement of the Bishops and Nobles and most of them burnt and destroyed as they had been formerly in those parts by Earl Emicho An. 1102. who then banished them thence Ludov●cus Duke of Bavaria about the year 1425. banished all the Jews out of his Territories as Aeneas Picolomineus in his Europae status sub Frederico l. 3. c. 32. p. 79. assures us and that for conspiring against the Christians c. Procul ejicienda Gens mpia finibus quae in contumeliam Christi in subversionem vergit Christianorum as Abraham Bzovius writes The Jews were banished out of the Kingdome of Cast●le by K. John the 2. about the year 1430. In the years 1474 1482. and 1492. they were all banished out of Spain by King Ferdinand surnamed the Catholique from whence they were transported and received into Portugal they paying to King John the 2.8 Duckets for every poll of them at first for their admission which much augmented his Exchequer though it diminished his piety and honour Not long after Anno 1497. they were driven and banished out of Portugal by King Emanuel And in the year 1539. they were banished out of Naples and Sicily by Charles the 5th To which I might adde the destruction burning and utter extirpation of the Jews by the Rubeaque●ses Anno 1309. and 1338. Munst Cosm l. 3. p. 547. Their banishment out of Germany Anno 1385. out of Misnia and Thuringia Anno 1410. out of Wormes and Spires Anno 1092. Munsteri Cosm l. 3. p. 582. Out of Prague by Wratislans for hating and slaying the christians Geor. Bartholdus Pontanus Bohemiae Piae l. 2. p. 20. Out of Berne Anno 1287. Munsteri Cosm l. 3. p. 582. Out of Trent Anno 1475. for crucifying a child And out of Rome it self Anno 1508. by Pope Pius quintus for their horrid extravagant usuries oppressions combining with Theeves and Robbers Forgeries and ungodly charmes in wooing of women to their lusts Having therefore been thus frequently banished by Christian Kings Princes from time to time at the earnest sollicitation of their godly christian Ministers Bishops people and by our King and Parliament too out of England so long since never to return again what shadow colour of piety policy prudence justice law reason there can be for any person or persons whatsoever to re-admit them except the argument of dishonest private filthy under-hand Bribes or Lucre by which they usually scrue themselves into those places whence they have been exiled transcends my shallow capacity to comprehend especially at this season when we are so over-stored with English that some think of sending and planting Colonies in another world whithet these Gold-thirsty
proper use and livelyhood 14 That if any of them after their baptisme apostatized and turned Iewes again or fell into Heresie they should be proceeded against and burned executed as Apostates and Hereticks 15. That no Christians should communicate with them in any kind except in buying and selling nor cohabit with serve them as a Nurse or Servant under pain of excommunication Yet notwithstanding all these restrictions and cautions we read of few Iews really converted by them and that the Iews have perverted and seduced sundry Christians to Iudaisme and made them professed Iews perswaded other Christians to observe Mosaical ceremonies besides Baptism whereby they made a confused Chaos of Religion yea they corrupted Michael Balbus the Emperor so far that he commanded Christians to fast on their Sabbath and made him as it were a sink of Sects as Zonaras and others record And Frederic Isabella banished them out of Spain upon this ground that they induced many of the Nobles in Andaluzia to become Jews as Manasseh Ben-Israel himself acknowledged p. 15.25 Yea Sedechias the Iewish Physician poysoned the Emperor Charles the Bald his body as well as others in that age and after poysoned other Christians souls What mischiefs then they may doe to mens bodies in England by poysoning of them as they did the English Barons heretofore and Dr. Lopez a Iew bribed by the Spaniard would have poysoned Queen Elizabeth of late whom he professed he loved as well as he did Iesus Christ himself and what desperate venom they may infuse into their souls by their Iewish Doctrines Synagogues and Antichristian Ceremonies if admitted without such or upon these restrictions or any other let all prudent Christians resolve Since Pope Innocent the 3. himself and Cardinal Hostiensis with other Popish Canonists who have tolerated them give us this account of their requital for it in positive terms Iudaei ingrati pro gratia reddunt contumeliam pro familiaritate contemptum impendentes nobis illam retributionem quam juxta vulgare proverbium MVS IN PERA SERPENS IN GREMIO IGNIS IN SINV suis consueverunt Hospitibus exhihere Nam sunt quidam quod nefandum est dicere Nutrices Christianas habentes non permittunt lactare filios cum corpus Christi sumpserunt nisi prius per triduum lac effuderint in latrinam quasi intelligunt quod corpus Christi incorporetur ad secessum descendat alia inaudita committunt detest●bilia quae a fidelibus sunt minime toleranda ne si haec n●gligunt quae inducunt confusionem fidei INDIGNATIONEM DIVINAM INCVRRANT As therefore Oldradus de Ponte Abbbot Panormitan Antonius Corsetus and other Popish Canonists conclude positively That Christians and Christian Kings may lawfully expel and banish all Iews and Infidels out of their Realms though peaceable for their Infidelity and other just causes So may all English Protestants likewise upon the premised reasons conclude we may as justly as lawfully now keep them from re-entring into England notwithstanding the pretence of their conversion to the Faith which I hope I have satisfactorily answered The 2. Allegation for bringing in the Iews is meerly politick That it will bring in much present and future gain and mony to the State and advance trading This is the Argument Menassah Ben-Israel most insists on p. 1. to 11.3 How profitable the Iews are adding That profit is a most powerfull motive and which all the world prefers before all other things And therefore writes he we shall handle that point first Though he handles it so that every eye may see he aims more at his own Nations profit benefit advance than ours I answer 1. That if this argument overpoysed not the scales that of conscience the hopes of their conversion would be lighter than the dust of the ballance and sticke with no man their mony being the only engin which hath opened the gate and passage for them into any Christian Kingdoms at first and made new entrance for them when they have been expelled as Concilium Toletanum 4. c. 57. and others inform us This opened their first passage into England Spain Portugal and Philip Augustus who banished them out of France An. 1182. Postea verò quum propter bella inopia laboraret pecuniae accepta grandi à Iudaeis pecunia redditum eis concessit domicilium Parisiis as Munster and others inform us And this kept them so long in England heretofore till their very banishment A sign we love their money better than their souls or our own 2ly This argument for their readmission is but wordly carnal sensual the very same with that of Hamer to the Shechemites when he would perswade them to be circumcised and turn Iews Gen. 23.25 shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours only let us consent unto them and they will dwell with us An argument only fit for such whom the Apostle characterizeth Phil. 3.18 19. For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you weeping that they are the enemies of the Crosse of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame who mind earthly things Or for such Princes or Governours as God of old complained thus of Her Princes in the midst thereof are like Wolves ravening the prey and to shed blood and TO DESTROY SOULS TO GET DISHONEST GAIN It proceeds from such whose eyes and hearts are not but for their Covetousnes who all seek their own not the things that are Iesus Christs And if the root of it be covetousnesse which is Idolatry which Christ commands all to take heed and beware of and is not so much as to be named much lesse practised amongst Christians whose conversation ought to be without covetousnesse and they to rest contented with those things they have Because They that will be rich fall into temptations and a snare and into many foolish and noysom lusts which drown men in perdition and destruction For the Love of mony is the root of all evill which whiles some coveted after they have been sedu●ed or erred from the faith as thousands of late years have been and pierced themselvs through with many sorrows Therfore 't is not so much as once to be named or insisted on amongst us unlesse we will renounce our Christianity make great gain our only godlinesse instead of making Godlinesse with contentment our great gain betray and sell our Saviour Christ again to the Iews like Iudas for thirty peeces of silver without repenting and making restitution of it to the Iews as he did and most blasphemously transferre our very Saviours most blessed Deity and stamp his most sweet and highest Title GOD WITH US upon a contemptible piece of white and yellow shining clay as some have lately done on all our New State coyn as if it were
the only God with them and us how christian-like let themselves determine 3ly God himself who saith Behold I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbour by oppression other unlawfull means will certainly smite his hand at this gain by the Iews re-admission And therefore let us give that resolute answer to the Iewish Agents if they proffer to purchase an indenization amongst us by their gold as St. Peter once did to Simon Magus in another case Thy money perish with thee Thou hast neither part nor lot in this businesse for thy heart is not upright with God 4ly None ever gain'd by the Iews introduction or continuance in any Christian State but the King and some of his bribed Officers and that by oppressing squeezing fleecing taxing excoriating eviscerating crucifying pillaging plundering the poor Iews in such an unchristian inhuman illegal unrighteous manner against the express commands of God as made both Christians and Christianity most detestable to them brought a secret curse of God upon all those unrighteous gaines as also upon their very persons and Government witnesse King Iohn and Henry the 3d. and encouraged them to oppresse fleece and pillage their Native Subjects by illegal Taxes and Projects and to use them rather like Iews than Christians enforcing them thereby to take up arms against them for their Laws Liberties and Properties just defence as those Kings reigns and others sufficiently evidence 5ly The introduction of the Iews into England and other Nations never advanced the publike wealth of the Natives and Republike but much impaired it by their Vsuries and Deceits clipping and falsifying monies ingrossing all sorts of commodities into their hands usurping the Natives trades and becomming such intolerrable grievances to them that they were never quiet till they were banished as their greatest Annoyance and purchased their Exiles even with publick Subsidies granted to their Kings to be quit of them as the premises abundantly evidence 6ly The Trade of this Nation flourished more after their banishment hence then ever it did before and their introduction now will but supplant undoe our English Merchants and other Natives to enrich them and some few other Grandees who shall share with them in their spoils and unrighteous gains as they utterly supplanted impoverished ruined the City of Norlingen in Germany where they intruded themselves in great numbers by the Emperours priviledges whereupon the Citizens Anno Dom. 1290. being reduced to extreem poverty by them rose up in arms and slew a geeat number of them without destinction of age or sex for with the Citizens were put to so great fines by the Emperour Rodolfus and so oppressed by the Nobility and others obliged to the Jews by morgages and moneys lent them though the Jews instigation that the natives were inforced to leave both their Studies Trades aend the City it self reduced thereby to extreem penury for above 59 years space as Sebastian Mu●ster at large records which together with the premises sufficiently disproves Meuasseth Ben Israels Suggestion of the profit the Natives of England may receive by their readmission 7ly The taking off all long continued uncessant new illegal Taxes Excises Imposts imposed without common consent in Parliament on the Nation ingrossing anticipating most of the current Monies of the Land which are the nerves and wheels of Trade eating up all the Merchants Peoples gains and labors and overclogging all or most Commodities imported or exported The disbanding of all unnecessary mercenary Forces and Garri●ons who have devoured most of the publike and private wealth of our three Kingdoms and extraordinarily impoverished them only to enrich and advance themselves and setting up the old unmercinary Trained Bands and Legal Militia of the Realm in their steads The encouraging of Merchants to bring in gold and silver Bullion to set the Mint on work which hath lain for the most part idle near 15 years the suppressing of the superfluous making wearing use of gold and silver lace wyre gilding which consume many thousand pounds of current coyne every year The inhibiting of the excessive use of that late intoxicating smoke of Tobacco causing such a prodigal expence of money time and hindring more necessary usefull staple merchandizes and plantations The regulating of the gross abuses of Letters of Mart now little better than commissioned open pyracies occasioning the ruine of Trade and Merchandize by way of Reprisal The ordering according to Law Iustice Conscience that all prizes taken from any foraign Enemy or other who pillage or damage the English by the States Ships and men of War set out by the Merchants Customs Tonnage Poundage Imposts and therewith maintained for their defence shall be equally distributed to our English Merchants that are damnified or undone by them towards the reparation of their losses who maintain them to enable and encourage them in their trading especially when much impoverished or undone by their losses and not at all converted or rather perverted to the use of that some stile the Admiralty State or Mariners who take them at whose cost they are not maintained The binding of all Captains of all States men of war to make good all the English Merchants and their Allies losses susteined by their default or negligence The resuming of all the late alienated ancient Lands rents revenues of the Crown got into private hands which ought to defray the constant expence of the Government now extorted for the most part by arbitrary new devices out of the exhausted peoples purses The speedy preventing of the late unparalleld wasts in all places of English Timber fit for shipping of which there is like to be such scarcity ere long as will both destroy our Navy shipping Trade All these and every of them will far more advance the Trade and Traffique of the Nation and the publike wealth and give all the people far better content and satisfaction ten thousand fold then this New distastefull pernicious project of bringing in the Iews against which I shall only discharge this ancient Canon of the 4th Council of Toledo in Spain under their most religious King Sysenandus in the year of our Lord 681. which thus batters all ecclesiastical and temporal promoters of this allegation for filthy Lucres sake with this direfull thunderbolt recited and confirmed in consil Meldenses c. 58. Surius Tom. 3. p. 465. So great is certain mens lucre of money that some coveting after it according to the Apostles saying have erred from the faith For many hitherto of the Priests Laity receiving gifts from the Iews foster their perfidiousnesse or infidelity by their patronage who not undeservedly are known to be of the body of Antichrist because they act against Christ Therefore whatsoever Bishop or Clergy man or secular person shall from henceforth give his suffrage to them against the Christian faith Either For reward or favour being as prophane sacrilegious
audacias turpitudines ne dicam scelera indigna audiru profatuque quae vix credenti non modò enunciata sed visa comperta fuere Iason Matassalanus Ludovicus Matha quum sacerdotalibus quibus fungebantur muneribus cedere nollent quaesitis occasionibus ad inimicorum libidinem tetro carcere usque eò tenti fuere donec illorum arbitrio singulis ornamentis fama fortunis omnibus exturbati quoad illis liberet excruciati sunt non verò judicio sed praesidentis sola temeritate libidine ne prosequar viros vitae inculpassimae summa integritate fide falsis criminibus circunuentos ab impotentibus inimicis miseros laborentes in quos graviter crudeliterque consultum vidimus vel ut afflictas fortunas invaderent ipsosque de possessione antiquissimis sedibus deturbarent vel ut invidorum libidini obtemperarent aliaque in miseros edita exempla nulla pietate in supplices calamitosos eosque innoxios turpibus judiciis conflictari usque premi ab his qui gratiâ opibus plus possunt pollentque alios vero autores manifesti facinoris ne appellari quidem Quae cum viderem patronisque contra vim potentiorum aut gratiam nihil praesidii esse nihil opus frustra nos in legum controversiis ediscendis tot casuum var●etatibus ●am pensiculatè editis tantum laboris vigiliarum suscipere tantoque nos studio fatigari dicebam quum ad ignavissimi impurissimique cujusque temeritatem qui jure dicundo praesideret quem leges virum bonum esse volunt non aequo jure sed ad gratiam libidinem judicia ferri decretaque legum tanto consilio edita convelli labefactari viderem FINIS ERRATA EPistle p. 8. l. 17. servants were r. Converts will be l. 33. excogitavit p. 10. l. 10. discover Book p. 9. l. 8. r. multa p. 20. l. 21. r. quesuerunt sufflatis p. 35. l. 10. thence from p. 41. l. 11. r. Claus 4. E. 1. l. 12. r. Gamalict l. 19. parte ne r. Regno nostro p. 45. l. 20. Judaei p. 62. l. 4. fift r. first p. 105 l. 11. Ceremoníes l. 35. these p. 109. l 32 others r their Margin p. 35. l. 13. Geogr. p. ●9 l. ● c 10. p 105. l. 1. Imo ● 23 1 Ti● 5.8 p. 115. l 17. 〈◊〉 l. 22. servirebant p. 116. l. 42. Episcopalis l. 42. Cal●ern●nus The Second Part of a Short DEMVRRER TO THE IEWES Long discontinued REMITTER into ENGLAND Containing a Brief Chronological Collection of the most material RECORDS in the reigns of King John Henry 3. and Edward 1. relating the History Affaires State Condition Priviledges Obligations Debts Legal Proceedings Justices Taxes Misdemeanors Forfeitures Restraints Transactions of the Jews in and final Banishment out of England never formerly published in Print with some short usefull Observations upon them Worthy the knowledge of all Lawyers Scholars Statists and of such Jews who desire Re-admission into England By VVilliam Prynne Esquire a Bencher of Linco●ns-●nne Amos 3.3 Can two walk together unless they be agreed Gregorius lib. 7. Registri Epist 226. Surius Tom. 2. Concil p. 698. Cùm Excellentia vestra Reccaredus Rex Gothorum Suevorum Constitutionem quandam contra Judaeorum perfidiam dedi●●et ●i de quibus pr●●●● fuerat rectuudinem vestrae mentis inflectere pecuniarum summam offe●●● 〈…〉 sunt quam Excellentia vestra contempsit omnipotent●s Dei placere jud●●●●r qui●●n● auro innocentiam praetulit Si igitur ab armato Reg● in Sac●ificiu● D●● v●●sa c●● aqua contempta pensemus quale sacrificium omnipotenti D●o R●x ●●●u●it qui pro amore illius non aquam SED AURUM ACCIPERE CONTEMPSIT Itaque fili Excellentissime fident●● dicam quia liba●i● AURUM D●mino quod contra cum habere noluisti LONDON Printed and sold by Edward Thomas in Green Arbor 1●56 To the Ingenuous Reader THe Extraordinary Coldness and Shortness of the Time I had to compile transcribe publish my Short Demurrer to the Jews long discontinued Remitter into England that it might come into the world in due season before any final Resolves upon the late Whitehall Debates and Consults concerning it necessitated me not only to omit three or four less pertinent Passages in some of our Historians concerning the English Jews with some few others relating to their misdemeanors in foraign parts which I have since supplied and to be more sparing in refuting reverend Sir Edward Cooks mistakes touching the time of the making of the Statute de Judaismo and the Jews voluntary banishing of themselves thereupon without any particular Act or Edict of the King and Parliament for their universal Exile and Expulsion hence which I have more fully refuted in the second inlarged Edition thereof beyond all contradiction But likewise to leave out most of the unprinted Records in the reigns of King John Henry the 3. and Edward the 1. relating to the History State Affairs of the Iews in England under them and to their final Banishment thence which Records because I could not conveniently insert into the Second Impression for fear of incr●asing it into an over-large bulke and of o●er prejudicing those who had bought the first Edition I have therefore digested into a Chronological method according to their series of time and published apart by themselves in this Second Pa●t that so such who have bought the first Impression may annex them thereunto and those who shall buy the second may bind them up with it if they see cause into which Impression I have ins●rted only such new Records not extant in the first as were necessary to clear some passages in our Histories and to refute our learned Sir Edw●rd Cooks mistakes whose venerable Authority hath misguided many especially of the long robe in point of the Jews expulsion and date of the Statute de Iudaismo VVhat new light information or satisfaction this Additional Publication may yield to the judicious Readers consis●ing of unprinted and for the most part unknown Records never formerly published I cannot di●ine yet the great satisfaction my former Demurrer hath given to and kind acceptation it hath found with most godly and judicious persons throughout the Nation give me some good assurance that this Appendix to back and illustrate it will not be unwelcom but delightfull to them especially to those of my own Profession for whose information I principally intended it I hope both of them united will through Gods blessing prove a perpetual Barr to the Antichristian Iews re-admission into England both in this new-fangled age all future Generations maugre all printed pleas and Endeavors for their present Introduction the sole end of their publication by The unfeigned weak Endeavor to Promote his Saviours Honour Religions Safety with his Native Countries weal and Prosperity by this Undertaking WILLIAM PRYNNE Lincolnes Inne Feb. 1. 1655. 6. The 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 Legal 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 that 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 antient 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 different 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 seduction by the Jews to suppress their blasphemy convert them by compelling them to resort to the Friers Sermons for their 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 whereas 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 o● King Iohn preserved in the Tower of London and Exchequer Amongst the Charter 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 mo●●s●ation trouble or disturbance by any Jew or English 〈◊〉 in the exer●●se thereof c. Such a Cha●te● as M●●●sseh B●n-Isr●el now aspires after for him●elf as his Addresses inti●●●●● which because I finde printed by Mr. Samuel Purchas and 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 ob●ervation 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 have 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 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 imped●mentum 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 the Conqueror first transplanted the Iewes into England And that both the Charters to this Hig● Priest of the Iews were granted by the hand of Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury then Chancellor Prima●e Metropoli●an and High Priest of the English Na●i●n who●e Successors have justified the Divinity and Lawfulness of their Archiepiscopal Jurisdiction from the Jewish High Priests Office and Pagan Archst●●ius Sic mu●●● mulum scalpit Dignum Patello operculum King John having granted such Priviledges and Protection to this Jewish High Priest and Bishop in the fir●t year of his reign proceeded by his and their monies most powerfull mediation to confirm and grant m●●y ample Priviledges and Immunities to all the English and Norman Jews in his 2 year by these two ensuing Char●ers not formerly printed which I shall here transcribe verbatim as I finde them on Record The first r●ns thus Johannes Dei gratia c. Sciatis Nos concessisse Omnibus Judaeis Angliae Normanniae libere et ho●o ifice habere residentiam in terra nostra omnia illa de Nobis tenenda quae tennerunt de Rege Henrico Avo Patris nostri et omnia illa quae modo rationabiliter tenent in terris et feodis vadiis akatis suis quod habeaxt omnes libertates consuetudines suas sicut eas habuerunt tempore praedicti Regis H. Avi pat●is nostri melius quiecius honorabilius Et si querela orta fuerit inter Christianum et Judaeum ille qui alium appellaverit ad querelam suam dirationandam habeat T●stes scilicet legutimum 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 it a quod mihi non disturbetur si habaerit haeredem qui pro ipso ●espondeat rectum faciat de debitis suis de forisfacto suo Et liceat Judaeis omnia quae eis apportata fuerint sine occasione accipere 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 quiete vendere vadium postquam certum erit eum illud unum annum unum diem tenuisse Et Judaei non i●trabant 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 Theoliniis modiatione vini sicut 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 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 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 suerit Nos ipsam que●elam faciemus per Legales Judaeos nostros Angliae inquiti● 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 Hoveden and others amongst the Confessors and Conque●ors 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 and 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 Lib●rties and Charters as these recited to the Jewish High Priests and Jews throughout his Dominions since some few years after as Matthew Paris writes he sent special Embassadors to Admirallus the Great
Mahometan King of Africk Fesse and Spain pr●fe●i●g to surrend●r up his Crown and Kingdom to him and hold them under him as his Vassal and likewise To renounce the Christian Religion as vain and faithfully to Adhere to the Mahometan Religion For which he was much scorned and derided by this Mahometan Prince as the Dregs both of Kings and Men● He will soon turn a com●leat Turk who is become half a Jew These Liberties thus ratified by King Iohn drew many J●ws into England out of forraign parts with their w●a●th and treasure according to the old Proverb Histula dulec canit volueres dum decipit auceps but when these Decoyes had drawne them and their wea●th 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 first Demurrer Amongst the Records in the Treasury of the Receiver of the Exchequer in the 4th year of King Iohn I find one ●●n●fand a Jew indicted at B●dford for gelding and cutt●●● o●f the yard of one Richard whereof upon his trial ●e was acqited as the Record it self will more fully 〈◊〉 in its own dialect 〈…〉 capta apud Bedeford a die Sacti Michaelis in 〈…〉 cor●m Simon de Pateshall Rich de Fau●●nb●ig Sociis suis Anno Regni Regis Johannis 4 to 〈◊〉 5. ●n dorse V●●●dr de C●ipton ●ob●rtus de Sutton appellat Bonefand Judaeum de Bede●o●● quod i●se in pat●r Domini Regis nequiter fecit ementulare Ricardum nepotem suum unde ipse obiit Ita quo● 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 st quietus Robertus in misericordia pro falso appill● And in the Margin of the Roll cast diatur is written This is the first Indictment I find upon record against a Jew Not long after King Iohns Charters confirmed the Jews self 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 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 denatiorum sterlingorum Et ad cognoscendum denar de praedicto lacco exeat a monetaria nostra I. Pempeis liberetur cui voluerit habere habendam 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 de●arius reblangietur et qui eum reblangia●erit sit in misericordia nostra de toto catallo suo et ami●tat quod reblangiavit Item denarius debet omnis fabricari ita quod s●t de equa lege pondere habens circulum exteriorem et quo● nil sit extra illum circulum ubi aliter inventus fuerit fabricator 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 sine 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 denar retondit 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 safe-conduct to one Hamechun a Jew to come and reside in England like other Jews Rex c. Iusticiariis c. Sciatis quod dedimus Hamichuno Judaeo nostro firmam pacem nostram ita quod concessit salvo venire et ibi stare sicut alii Iudaei 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 by Capitula de Iudaeis enacted and published by Rich. the 1 recited at large in my former Demurrer were 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 called 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 lately 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
negocia nostra quae pertinent ad officium illud rectand per totam Angliam Et ideo vobis mandamus quod praedicto Ric Alex. et Elye sitis intendentes in omnibus quae spectant ad officium illud sicut fieri solebat tempore 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 Rex Vicecomiti Hereford salutem Scias quod de communi Concilio nostro concessimus Judaeis nostris ut ipsi maneant in Hereford sicut solebant tempore Domini Johannis Regis Patris nostri quod talem habeant communionem qualem habere consueverant inter Chris●ianos Et ideo tibi praecipimus quod eos custodias m●nnrene●s protegas non eis infetens vel inferri permitte●●● a●iquod gravamen vel molestiam si aliquis 〈…〉 forisfecerit id eis sine dilatione facias 〈…〉 clamari facias per totam Ballivam tuam 〈…〉 pacem nostram dedimus non obstante 〈…〉 ●●bitione inde facta ab Episcopo Hereford quia nihil ad ipsum pertiner de Judaeis nostris Et pro●ibemus tibi ne manus mittas in eos aut in Catalla eo●um nec eos capias aut imprisones nec in Placitum trahas aut a Justiciariis nostris ab aliquo trahi permittas Sedu a●iquid fecerint quare poni debeant per vadium plegios tunc illos eorum excessus attachies quod ●●nt coram Jus●iciariis nostris ad Custodiam Judae●rum attornatis inde responsuri hoc facias per vi●um legalium Christianorum Judaeorum Et non permittas quod placitentur in curia Christianitatis occasione ●●cujus debiti Et haec omnia fieri facias sicut fieri solebant tempore Johann Regis patris nostri Teste Com. apud T●●rom 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 ●●cecom Suthampton civibus Winton pro Judaeis There 〈◊〉 Jews then residing in all these places I● the 2 year of King Henry the 3. I find this Kings ●rit to several Sheriffs where the Jews resided to procl●●m that all the Jews where ever they did walk or ride should on their upper Garments wear a white ●ab●es 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 Vicecomiti Wigorni● salutem Pr●cipimus tibi quod ●lamari observari facias per totam Balliva● t●●m qu●d omnes Judaei deferunt in superiori indumento suo ubicur 〈◊〉 ambulaverint aut equitaverint infra villam vel ex●ra qua●● duas Tabulas albas in Pectore fact as de lineo p●atano vel d● parcameno Ita quod per hujusmodi signum manifeste po●sint Iudaei à Christianis discerni T●ste C●mite to wit William Marshal Earl of Gl●cester the Kings Guard●an and Protector apud Oxon. 30. die Martiii Item mandatum est Vicecomit Glocest VVarwick Lincoln Oxon Northampt. Majori Vicecomitious London 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 Iust●ciariorum 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 Cha●●e qu●e fuerunt ipsius Eliae debita in eis contenta ipsi patri n●stro rem●neant that King Iohn upon Elye his death sei●ed and granted ●ll his houses except two which Mirabil●● by agreement was to have paying a fine of 15 marks to his Fathe● which was not yet paid which agreement he confirm●d and thereupon orders the Sheriff to ●●y the ●aid Fine and Debts T. Com apud Gloc. 3. die Ian. It appears by many Rolls of ● and also of 3 4 5. H. 3. that King Iohn sei●ed and ga●e away ●o other the Houses of divers Jews both in Gloce●ter Oxon. No●thampton and that King H●n●y likewise di●po●ed of them as escheated to him either by the Jews deaths o●●o● some other causes Take these two pres●dents for all the rest Rex Fulk 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. G●ouc salutem Constat n●bis per inspectionem Rotulorum nostrorum quod Dom. J. Rex pater noster dedit Guiberto de Rue Domum quae fuit Elye Iudaei Gloc. c. cum quadam placi●a quae fuit Mostei 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 Licen●e being once within his power Rex Custod●bus Portuum Angliae Praecipimus vobis quod Judaeos qui venturi sunt in te●ram nostram Ang●iae de tra●●●ia tri●is part●bus ad morandum in terra nostra Angliae cum catal●is suis liberè et sine impedimento in portu nostro ●cc●dere permittatis accepta ab eis sufficienti securitate secundum L●gem Judaeorum per fidem eorundem quod quam c●ritis poterint veniant ad Iusticiarios nostros ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatos ad inrotuland
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 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 cuicunque 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 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 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 sequen 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 Short 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 d●awn 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 Rex Vicecomiti Northumberland salutem Sciatis quod concessimus Carta nostra confirmavimus probis hominibus nostris de Villa 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 ●●cut plenius continecur in Carta regis quam eis modo fieri fecimus mandatum est eidem Vicecomiti quod dictam cartam in pleno comitatu suo legi et clamaoi 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 of 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. There are many things concerning the Jws affaires sundry complaints and Inquisi●ions 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 Mandatum est Constabulario Turr London quod scire faciat Iudeis London et aliis Iudeis qui apud London venient quod de caetero in nullo sint intendentes vel respondentes Roberto Passelewe de hiis quae ad custodiam Iudaeorum 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 Mandatum est Vic. Norf. quod Iudaeos de Norwic. captos et detentos in prisona Regis pro transgressione quam fecerunt de quodam parvo Christiano
ita quod eam cap. et in prisona detineri p●●cipimus don●c solverit pecuniam praedict Et ideo vobis mand●mus quod praedict Coc. Samuel ceterosque omnes Iudeos de St●nford de praedict 13 lib. quietos esse faciatis T. Rege apud Not. 10 die July This year Aaron a Jew of York assigned a Debt of 500 l to the King in part of a debt which he owed the King which the King commanded Hugh Bygod who owed it in right of his wife to pay into the Exchequer And likewise commanded all the Jews to be removed out of Nuberry and Spenhamland by this writ Mandatum est Vic. Berks Quod Judeos qui manent in Villa de Nubury et in villa de Spenhamland remittat sine dilatione usque Winton et ibi maneant sicut prius solent nec de caetero maneant in Villis praedictis T. R. apud Reading 27 die Decemb. A Jew accused for clipping and falsifying monies fled for refuge to the King who thus remanded him Rex W. de Ebor prepos Beverley Hen de Bath salutem Quia intelleximus quod vos mandaveritis Vic. nostro Hereford ad capiend Cok Judeum Hereford tanquam falsarium et retuntorem Denar et idem Judeus venit ad Curiam nostram apud Reading quaerens subterfugium captionis suae Nos ipsum Judaeum fecimus arrestari ad vos mittentes eundem ut vos super eo quod ei imponitur secundum quod videritis expedire faciatis T. R. apud Reading 12 die May. After which follows this record Rex W. de Havershull Thesaur suo et Constab suo London salutem Mandamus vobis quod Judeos assignatos ad custodiam catallorum debitorum quae fuerunt David Judei Oxon distringatis ita quod illi Judei qui manuceperunt finem 5000 marc quem Licoric quae fuit uxor praedict David fecit nobiscum pro habendis catallis et debitis ipsius David ut eum habeamus terminis assignatis de Tallagio Iudeorum nobis solvend et ipsam Licoric a prisona deliberari faciatis Ita tamen quod nullam habeat administrationem de catallis debitis praedictis ante instans festum Nativitatis beat Mariae con●c post eundem festum vobis inde mandaverimus Et Sciatis quod remissimus Aaron Judeo Ebor. custodiam praedict catallorum et debitorum pro fine quem propter fecit nobis et quae solvit in Garderoba nostra et loco ejus subrogavimus Bondum Judeum Cant. By which Record it is apparent That no Jews wife or other Jew could administer or meddle with her Husbands or Parents chattels or debts without paying a vast fine for them as here 500 marks and that at such time as the King assigned that the custody of their Goods and debts were in the mean time committed to other Iews to be responsible for them and that their persons were imprisoned and their administrations suspended if they failed in paying the fine at the termes appointed In the 29 of Hen. 3. the King sends writs to his Iustices for the custody of the Iews and to Sheriffs to levy the Debts due to him from the heirs of Hamond the Iew of Hereford and that Crespin a Iew should pay him 28 marks to be laid out in silk and cloth of gold for Westminster Church as his Alms. Mandatum est Baron de Scacc. et Iusticiariis ad custod Iudeorum assignatis quantum poterint apponant ut 4000 marc quae Regi debent Iudei ad hoc festum sancti Michaelis tunc omnibus modis solvantur Thesaur Camerar ad faciend inde quod Rex injunxerit et si forte in solutione earund 4000 marc defecerint ad terminum praedict tunc capiant aliquos de ditioribus Iudeis ut corpora eorum mittant ad R. usque Gannock non omittando illuci pro aliquo custo et Rex illos faciet deliberari Iustic Hyberniae ducendos in Hyberniam et ibidem in prisona detinendos T. Rege apud Gannock in castris x. die Septem By which record it seems the Iews were taxed to pay 4000 marks at Michaelmas to the King and if they failed then some of the richest of them were to be seised on and sent prisoners to the King into his camp and from thence into Ireland and there imprisoned til it was all paid Such was the rigor then used in levying their heavy Taxes Another 4000 marks was then likewise to be paid by them at Christs Nativity the same year and commanded by this writ to be effectually levied by the Justices of the Jews Mandatum est Justic. ad custod Judaeorum assign quod sicut corpora et catalla sua diligunt et ab indempnitate et periculo maximo volunt conservari provideant quod 4000 marc quae Regi debentur de Judaismo reddendas citra festum Nativitatis Dom citra festum illud reddantur quia si in eorum solutione aliquis inveniatur defectus id solummodo negligentiae suae imputaretur T. Rege apud Woodstoke 4. die Dec. Mandatum est Thesaur et Camerar quod de illis 4000 m. deliberent Magistro Militis Templi in Anglia 2000 marc deponend in domo sua ad opus Comitissae Provinciae sicut alias eis mandat est de resid mille marc quantum se extendunt satisfaciant mercatoribus Vinorum et aliis de debitis in quibus Rex eis tenetur T. ut supra Ibidem Dorso 2. There is a command to the Justices of the Jews to respit a suit there pending against one Mansel by two Jews for 40 l. and an horse In this 29 year of Henry the 3. this writ was issued to the Justices of the Iews to proclaim in all Counties that no Iewes wife or childe should fly from nor obscure himself in the places he or they resided for one year then next ensuing and that they should be there readily found by the Kings Officers under pain that their husbands as also their wives and children should be outlawed banished and all their lands rents and chattels forthwith forfeited to the King and presently sold to his use and they banished never to return again into England without his special license Mandatum est Justiciariis ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis quod statim visis Literis clamati faciant per omnes Comitatus Angliae ubi Judaei Regis sunt quod si aliqua Iudaea uxor alicujus Iudaei vel pueri sui diffugiant vel fugam capiant vel aliquo modo lateant a Villa ubi fuerint manentes ad festum Sancti Andreae Anno regni Regis 29 usque in unum annum proximo sequentem Ita quod ad Summonitionem Regis vel Ballivorum suorum in quorum Ballivis ipsi fuerunt manentes prompti inveniti non possint quod vir ipsius Iudeae et etiam ipsa Iudaea et omnes pueri sui statim utlagentur et omnes terrae redditus
Et ideo vobis mandamus quod si judicetis hoc esse ad commodum nostrum sic fieri faciatis T. R. How strictly this tax was levied appears by this writ to destrain the Lands Revenues wives children and chattels of all the Jews in York and for the arrears of Aaron too notwithstanding his former exemption Mandat est Vic. Ebor quod distringat Aaron de Ebor Iudeum et omnes alios Judeos Ebor. per terras et tenementa catalla uxores et filios et omnibus aliis modis quibus melius poterit ad reddend Regi Tallagium suum de terminis Sancti Martini et St. Hillarii prox preteritis et id sicut seipsum diligit non omittat T. R. apud Notingh 14 die Ian. I find a Precept of the King this year to detein a convert Jew in prison accused of a Rape and other Trespasses such Converts were they then Mandatum est Vic. Linc. quod M. conversum commorantem apud Tornie capiat et in prisona Regis salvo custodiat donec c. per Orfanna de Geterleg apellat de raptu et pace Regis fracta T. R. And this year Edw. de Westm Will. de Bretun Tho Espernu● assignati sunt ad Inquisitionem fac de concelamentis Iudaismi tam in London quam alibi Anno 37 H. 3. The Jews advancing 5000 marks to the King beforehand for his passage into Gascoigne he thereupon made this Grant to them to be exempted from taxes till Easter and granted them writs in form of appeal if over-taxed witness this record Rex conc●ssit omnibus Iudeis Angliae quod pro 4000 marc quas regi praemanibus ad passagium suum in Vascon pacaverint et pro 1000 marc quas Regi Ric. Com. Cornub. ad dictum passagium pro eis solvit quod sint qu●eti de Tallagio facto ad passagium regis in Vascon pro pred 5000 marc et quod non tallientur citra Pasche et omnes Iudei qui utlagati sunt pro dicto Tall. si placare voluerint quod debeant de dicto Tall. Rex conced●t eis quod ad pacē Regis veniant Rex tamen vult quod nullū Breve allocationis valeat alicui Iudeo in isto Tallagio quia R. Com. Cornubiae 1000 marc de dicto Tallagio habere debet Rex etiam vult quod si aliquis Iudeus aggravetur de dicto Tallagio quod gravamen suum alteri imponatur qui melius ferre pos●it Et super hoc scribitur Thes et Baron de Scac et Iustice ad custod Iud assign T. R. apud Portsm 7. die July per Hen. de Wengham Hereupon some Iews complaining they were over-taxed in their tallages procured this writ for their ease herein Monstravit Regi Manuel Blundus Judeus London quod ipse superoneratus est in uItimo Tallvgio suo et solvit plus ad demidium quam solvisse debuit et quam alii solverint secundum facultates suas Et mandatum est Philippo Luvel et Justiciariis ad custod Jud. assign quod si ita est tunc superonerationem illam in praesentia ipsius Judei assidi faciant super alleviatos Judeos regni nostri in Tallagio predicto et pro eadem superoneratione reddenda districtonem fieri et praedict Man returnari fac sine dilatione Ita quod inde querelam rex non audiat pro defectu Justiciae Consimiles Literae habet Solomon Epis Judeus London The same year Rex concessit Hake fil Ioscey Iudeo quod habeat pacem regis et salvum ire redire licet se substraxerit pro quibusdam plateis argenteis ei impignoratis ut dicitur Ita quod plegios regi inveniat quod stabit recto secundum legem Judaismi Et super hoc scribitur Iustic ad custod Jud. assignatis T. R. apud Harwic 2 die Iuly Also Rex per finem quem Mossi de Hereford Judaeus fecit cum rege pardonavit ei transgressionem quam fecit pro eo quod illicentiatus a rege recessit in fine Scac. regis Sanct. Hillarii pro qua transgressione ipsum capi jusserint Justic ad custod Judeorum assignati Et mandatum est eisdem Iustic quod ipsum propter hoc non occasionari nec capi faciant T.R. apud Harling 7 die April Febr. 15. The King writes to the Iustices of the Iews to allow a Debt to two several Christians and Iews which he had pardoned the Debtors to these Iews in their Taxes they were to pay This year a Iews wife proving a convert Christian her husband was attached for her goods by the King as belonging to him upon her conversion who thereupon paid a fine to have this New case judicially determined in the Jews E●chequer as this record attests Cum Abraham Batekot Iudeus attachiatus esset ad respondend regi de catallis Amiciae Judeae quae fuit uxor sua quae quidem catalla post conversionem suam ad regem pertinebant ut dicitur Idem Iudeus finem fecit cum rege pro dimid marc auri quam regi solvit ut secundum legem et consuetudinem Iudaismi ad Scaccarium Iudaeorum super hoc deducatur Et m●ndatum est Iustic ad custod Iud. assignatis quod citra festum S. And ad Scaccarium Iudeorum quod justum fuerit de catallis praedictis fieri facian● sicut praedict est T. per R. de Essington King Henry in this 37 year of his reign provided and ordained these memorable Laws and ordinances for the better regulation of the Jews in England restraining their Jewish rites erection of new Synagogues or Schools defection from or disputing against the Christian faith entertaining any Christians as Nurses servants and communion wi●h Christians to prevent their leavening of Christians with their Iudaisme distinguishing them from them by wearing a white Table on their breasts in joyning paying of tithes to the Christian Minister where they lived c. Rex providit et statuit c. Quod nullus Judeus maneat in Anglia nisi servicium Regis faciat Et quam cito aliquis Iudeus natus fuerit five sit Masculus sive faemina serviar Nobis in aliquo Et quod nullae Scholae Iudaeorum sint in Anglia nisi in locis illis in quibus hujusmodi scholae fuerunt tempore Domini Iohannis regis patris regis Et quod uni●ersi Judei in Synagogis suis celebrent submissa voce secundum ritum eorum Ita quod Christiani hoc non audiant Et quod quilibet Judeus re●pondeat Rectori Eccl●●iae in cujus parochia maneat de omnibus parochialibus ad domum ipsius Iudei spectantibus Et quod nulla Nutrix Christiana de cetero lactet aur nutriat puerum alicujus Iudei nec asiquis Christianus vel Christiana serviat alicui Iudeo vel Iudeae nec cum ipsis comedat vel in domo sua commoretur Et quod nullus Iudeus vel Iudea comedat
suor et eos duci fac Lond. ibi custod Turr. R. Lond. T. ut supra The like command is to the Sheriff of Hereford to seal up the Jews Chest there and for Hugh P. to search it In Claus 39 H. 3. pats 2. dors 16 17. There is a large Catalogue of the Lands Houses Rents Morgages real and personal estate and debts of Abraham a Jew in several Counties amounting to a vast sum taking up near two Membranes which were all imbreviated and confiscated to the Kings use And a proclamation by the King that No Iew should be suffered to depart out of the realm of England In 40 H. 3. the King by his Letters Patents authorized Commissioners to sell the houses and enquire after the goods and chattels of the Jews condemned for crucifying a child at Lincoln Rex omnibus c. Sciatis quod constituimus dilect et fidel nostros Simon Passe●eiw et Will de Leighton Vic. nostri London ad vendend per visum et testimonium legalium hominum domos quae fuerunt Judaeorum Linc. suspensorum pro parvo crucifixo ibidem prout commodo nostro magis viderint expedire et ad inquirend quo devenerunt catalla eorundem Iudaeorum et qui ea habeant et quantum valeant Et ideo vobis mandamus quod eidem Simoni et Vic. ad hoc sitis intendentes et auxiliantes cum ab eis requisiti fueritis In cu us c. T. R. apud Woodest 20 die Aug. It seems some of these Jews that crucified this child turned Christians to save their lives for which I find this kind of pardon granted to one of them at the suit of a Frier Rex omnibus c. salutem Sciatis quod ad instantiam dilecti nobis in Christo fratris Iohannis de Dorbuton pardona●i Iohanni Converso sectam pacis nostrae quae ad nos pertinet pro morte pueri nuper crucifixi apud Lincoln dum predictus Iohannis fuit Iudeus ejusdem Civitatis unde rectatus est et firmam pacem nostram ei inde concedimus Ita tamen quod stet recto in Curia nostra si quis versus eum inde loqui voluerit In cujus c. T. R. apud Westm 10 die Jan. The same year there issued a precept to the Sheriff of Lincoln to send the Chest of the Iews of Lincoln to London belike for the same crucifying of this child Mandat est Vic. Linc. quod statim visis literis istis mittat usque London Archam Cirogr Lincoln sub salva custodia liberand Ph. Luvel Thesaur Regis et Justic ad custodiam Iud assignatis et quod venire fac ibidem cum eadem Archa omnes Cyrographarios ejusdem Villae tam Christianos quam Iudaeos et hoc non omittat This year the King ordained a New Justice for the Iews who took an Oath of Fealty to the King due to his Office and was formally invested in the place as this record relates Rex constituit Adam de Greenvile Iusticiarium suum Iud●●rum et ab eo recipit Sacramentum fidelitatis Regi debitum pretextu officii sui Et mandat est Phil. Luvel Thesaurar regis c. quod ipsum in locum suum tanquam Iustic Regis in Scac Iudaeorum sine dilatione ponant T. R. per R. Walis Cok. fil Aaron Iudeus London cum instantia supplicavit regi Quod super Fine quem nuper fecit coram Philip. Luvel Thes et Henrico de Bathon ad opus regis pro 20 marc auri eidem Iudeo literae Patentes fieri fac Et mandatum est eisdem Philippo et Ric quod formam Literarum Patent quas pred Judeus inde habere debet ad terminos solucionis ejusdem auri sub sigillis suis significent ut Rex literas illas eidem Judeo fieri et consignari faciat T. R. apud Clarend 3 die Iulii It seems these Justices directed all the Iews Patents of this nature In the 41 year of King Henry the 3d. Elyas Bishop the High Priest of the Iews as Mat. Paris stiles him for a certain Transgression against the King and his Brother King of Almaine was judicially deprived of his High-Priesthood and Priestly Office by the judgement of the Kings Justices assigned for the custody of the Jews in the Exchequer and of all his other Offices formerly granted him by the King and that he should never be capable to receive or execute these Offices again whereupon the King for a Fine of 3 marks of gold paid by the Commonalty of the Jews granted unto them by his Charter that from thenceforth none should be their Priest but by the common election of the said Commonalty of the Jews and that upon the death of every Priest they should have free Liberry to chuse another Priest and of presenting him to the King that he might obtain his assent and savour therein as this memorable record informs us wherein the names of the Justices assigned to the Iews are specified Rex omnibus c. Cum Elyas Episcopus Iudaeus noster London pro t●ansgressione quam feci● tam Nobis quam dilecto fratri nostro Regi A mannorum a sacerdotio communitatis Iudaeorum Angliae coram dilectis fidelibus nostris Philippo Basset Philippo Luvel Henrico de Bathonia Simon Passelew caeteris Iusticiariis ad custodiam Iudaeorum assignatis quos ad Transgressionem illam convincendam Iusticiarios nostros assignavimus Per Iudicium eorundem ad Scaccarium nostrum Fuerit abjudicatus et de ejusdem Sacerdotii Officio et etiam de omni modis al●is officiis et Ballivis quas a Nobis prius obtinuit sit depositus Nos de consilio e rundem Iusticiariorum concessimus praedictae Communitati Iudeorum nostrorum Angliae per finem trium marcarum auri quem Cresse et Haginus fratres ejusdem Iudaei nobis pro eadem Communitate fecerunt quod praedictus Elyas Sacerdotium illud nunquam in posterum habeat et recuperet Et quod nullus de Communitate illa de caetero sit Sacerdos nisi per communem Electionem Communitatis ejusdem Quod illa Communitas post decessum cujuslibet Sacerdotis sic electi alium eligendi quemcunque voluerint Sacerdotem liberam habeat facultatem ac ipsum Nobis praesentandi ut nostrum super hoc assensum optineat et favorem In cujus c. Teste Rege apud Wodstoke 20 die Iulii I observe in this Record that Elyas is stiled only Sacerdos not Presbyter Iudeorum his only Priestly office called Sacerdotium communitatis Angliae Sacerdotii officium not Presbyteratus omnium Judeorum totius Angliae as Jacobs and Aarons forementiontioned Offices are And he that should succeed him by common election is still here stiled Sacerdos Sacerdotis Sacerdotem thrice together not Presbyter at all Therefore certainly these offices were distinct the one ecclesiastical the other temporal in the Exchequer only as I formerly manifested
King Henry the 3 his long and tedious reign relating to the Jews and their affairs pretermitting some few only of lesse moment and private concerment in some of the Fine Clause and Patent Rolls where those who are not fully satisfied with these already recited may glean them at their leasures I now proceed to the Records in the reigne of King Edward the first omitting all passages of the Jewes in the Fine Rolls of his reign as of lesse moment seeing the Patent and Clause Rolls afford us much plenty and variety of matter concerning our English Jews affairs their final banishment out of England and sale of their houses eascheated by their exile which Records were never yet published to the world in print and are unknown to most men King Henry the 3 deceasing and his Son Edward the 1 succeeding him Anno 1272. thereupon he constituted Hamon Hattayn and Robert de Ludham Justices for the custody of his Jews commanding the Treasurer and the Barons of the Exchequer to deliver to them the keys of the Jews Chests together with the Rolls Writs and other things belonging to the Jews as they had formerly done to other Justices by this Writ Quia Rex constituit Hamonem Haittayn et Robernum de Ludham Justiciarios suos ad custodiam Judaeorum suorum Mandatum est Thesaurario et Baronibus de Scaccario quod eisdem Hamoni Roberto claves Archarum Judaismi una cum Rotulis Brevibus et omnibus aliis Judaismum illud contingentibus liberent prout aliis Justiciariis ibidem prius consuevit Dat. per manum W. de Merton Cancellar apud Westm 27 die Ianuarii These new Justices were constituted not above 5 weeks after Kings Henries death and they were as all their Predecessors in that Office first instituted by King Rich. the 1 Anno 1194. Iusticiarii sui ad custodiam Iudaeorum suorum to shew that the Jews were nothing else but the Kings own VVards and Villaines and under his custody and protection only as such to tax and plunder them at his pleasure as his Father and Grandfather had done before him It appears by the Liberate of 1 E. 1. m. 1. 2. that the King allowed 20 marks a year to these Justices of the Jews for their Salary And the custody of the Rolls and writs of the Jews were committed this year to William Middleton as is evident by this Record Cum Rex commiserit Willielm de Middleton Rotulos brevia Iudaismi sui quae sunt in custodia Thesauri Baronum Scaccarii custodiend quamdiu Domino Regi placuerit Mandatum est eisdem Thesaurario et Baronibus quod eidem Will. Rotulos Brevia liberent sicut praedictum est The same year this King in the beginning of his reign caused his peace and protection to be publikely proclaimed as well to all the Jews as others within England and other his Dominions as this record recites for the Jews in B●uges in Flanders Rex Vicecomiti Mall salutem Cum nuper pacem nostram per totum Regnum nostrum publicè proclama●i fecimus ●et eam omnibus et singulis de regno nostro tam Iudaeis quam Christianis observari praecepimus praecipimus quod Iudaei nostri de Bruges in Balliva tua manuteneas defendas ita quod eis pax nostra prout ejus per totum regnum nostrum proclamari fecimus inviolabiliter observetur Et non exigas vel exigi permittas ab eisdem redemptiones vei alias extorsiones ad opus nostrum vel alicujus alterias nisi quatenus ad debita nostra seu Domini Henrici Regis patris nostri seu Tallagia aut alia ad quae de jure tenentur ab eis levanda de nostro aut ejusdem Domini Henr. patris nostri mandato Warrantum habueris Datum c. apud Westm 15 die Iunii Yet notwithstanding this protection and peace granted them by the King the very same year the King grants out this Writ to search all their Chests to enroll and certifie him of all their debts and estates that he might tax them all proportionably at his pleasure as he did soon after Rex dilecto fideli suo Thomae de Espernon salutem Quia de debitis in Archa Cirogtafforum Winton Oxon. Ma●leberg Wilton contentis volumus certiorari vobis mandamus quod ad certum diem quem ad hoc provideritis ad Archas praedictas accedatis easdem per visum Cirograf Archarum praedictarum tam Christianorum quam Judaeorum aperiatis et omnia debita in eisdem contenta diligenter scrutari et inrotulari faciatis Mandamus enim Cirograffariis nostris Archarum praedictar quod ad certum diem quem eis scire faciatis ad hoc faciendum vobis assistant et intendant In cujus c. Dat. c. apud Westm 20 die Feb. Conami●es Lite●ae diriguntur Hamoni Hatayn de debitis in Archa Cirograf Northampt. Nottingh Ebor. Lincol. St●inf conrents Item Consimiles Literae diriguntur Ade de Winton de debitis in Arca Cirograf Judaeorum Bristoll Oxon Gloucest Wigorn. Hereford et Warw. contentis Item consimiles Literae diriguntur Roberto de Ludham super hujusmodi debitis contentis in Archis Cirograff Judaeorum Bedef Cantebr Colecester et Sudbury In all which Cities and Towns the Jews then inhabited and had common chests wherein their Debts and Morgages were reserved Also according to the former Custome of the Jews in England not to remove into any town where they did not anciently inhabit he sent this Writ to the Barons and Bailiffs of Winchelse to remove some Jews thence who had taken up their habitation there without his special license Rex Baronibus Ballivis suis de Winchelse salutem Quia secundum consuetudinem Iudaeismi nostri Angliae in aliis Civitatibus Burgis aut Villis habitare vel morari non debent quam in illis in quibus antiquitus habitare consueverunt morari quidam Iudaei ut intelleximus villam nostram de Winchelse sunt ingressi eam inhabitent in quam nullus Iudaeus aliquibus retroactis temporibus habitare consuevit vel morari Vobis mandamus quod si verum est tunc Iudaeos ab eadem villa absque damno de corporibus seu rebus suis eis faciend sine damno faciatis amoveri Dat. apud Westm 18 die Iunii This King that he might not seem altogether unjust granted forth a Writ to the Sheriff of Oxford in behalf of one Lumbard a Jew of Oxford taken and imprisoned for a fine of fifty marks imposed on one Lumbard a Jew of Bristol for a Trespasse against the Kings Exchange ordering him to be bailed and the mistake examined Rex Vicecom Oxon. salutem Ostensum est nobis ex parte Lumbardi de Krikelad Judaei nostri Oxoniae quod quum quidam Lumbardus Judaeus Bristol amerciatus esset coram Justiciariis Domini Henr. Regis patris nostri ad custodiam Judaeorum
assignatis ad quinquaginta marcas pro transgressione excambii ejusdem patris nostri et ipse Lumbardus Judaeus Oxon. de eadem transgressione nunquam calumpniatus nec de praedicta pecunia oneratus extiterit tu easdem 50 marcas ab eodem Lumb de Oxon. Judaeo exigis et omnia bona sua in Balliva tua ea occasione cepisti in manum nostram et insuper ipsum cepisti et in prisona nostra Oxoniae detines Et quia non est juri consonum nec est voluntatis nostrae quod ipse Lumbardus de Oxonia sit in poena pro debitis alterius unde ipse Lumbardus de Oxonia penitus est immunis ut dicitur Tibi praeci●imus quod si ipse Lumbardus de Oxonia invenerit tibi sufficientem manucaptionem perconsuetudinem Judaismi nostri de veniendo coram Justiciariis nostris ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis a die Pascha in 15 dies ad satisfaciendum nobis de praedictis 50 marcis nisi ibidem ratio inabiliter ostenderit quod non ipse sed alii de dicta pecunia debent onerari tunc ipsum Lumbardum per eandem manucaptionem a prisona qua detinetur deliberari facias omnia bona sua ea occasione capta in manum nostram interim sine distractione sine dampno dicti Judaei reservari facias Et habeas ibi nomina manucaptorum suorum hoc breve Datum c. apud Sanctum Paulum London 4 die Aprilis Dat 20 s. pro hoc Breve habendo No sooner had he provided the foresaid Justices and Guardians for the Jews but he presently imposed new heavy annual Taxes and Tallages on them appointing special Collectors to levy them and their arrerages upon all their goods chattels debts and to banish and abjure the Realm all such Jews together with their wives and children as were rebellious and refused to pay them as these ensuing Patents of his in the 2 year of his reign demonstrate Rex dilectis sidelibus suis Fratri Stephano de Foleburn Ade de Stratten Willielmo de Middleton salutem Sciatis quod assignavimus vos ad omnia arreragia Tallagii super Judaeos nostros Angliae ultimo assessi ad opus nostrum levanda prout citius commodius videritis expedire Dante 's vobis potestatem Arreragia illa de bonis catallis debitis Judaeorum quos dictorum arreragiorum inveneritis detentores levandi nostro nomine adnuandi nec non dictos Judaeos qui in hac parte Rebelles fuerint vel contradictore● per exilium abjurationem Regui nostri si necesse fuerit compellendi ad dicta arreragia pro porcionibus ipsis inde contingentibus nobis sine difficultate qualibet solvenda Et ideo vobis mandamus quod premissa faciatis in forma praedicta Et si forte vos tres ad hoc intendere non poteritis duo vestrum praemissa ficut praedictum est nihilominus exequantur In cujus c. T. Rege apud Westm 20 die Octobris Rex dilectis et fidelibus suis fratri Stephano de Foleburn electo Waterford fratri Luce de Hemmington et Willielmo de Middleton salutem Sciatis quod assignavimus vos ad omnia arreragia Tallagii super Iudaeos nostros Angliae ultimo assessi ad opus nostrum levanda prout citius et commodius videritis expedire Dante 's vobis potestatem arreragia illa de bonis catallis et debitis Judaeorum quos dictotum arreragiorum inveneritis detentores levandi et nostro nomine adnuandi nec non et dictos Judaeos qui in hac parte Rebelles fuerint vel contradictores per exilium et abjurationem regni nostri si necesse fuerit compehendi ad dicta ●●retagia nobis pro porcionibus ipsis contingentibus sine difficultate qualibet solvenda Et ideo vobis mandamus quod praemissa faciatis in forma praedicta Et si aliquis Judaeorum illorum ad diem per nos sibi prefixum in solutione porcionis suae defecerit faciatis ipsum cum uxore et pueris suis exceptis puerisillis qui sunt in Tallagio et solverint eri●s regnum nostrum Angliae et assignetis ei portum Douorum quod infra tertium diem post diem solutionis suae sibi per nos praefixum sit ibi exiturus sicut praedictum est et nunquam rediturus Salvis tamen nobis terris Domibus Redditibus et omnibus catallis suis et suorum Et si aliquis Judaeus post tertium diem sibi assignatum sicut praedictum est inventus fuerit alibi in Regno nostro quam apud Douorum faciatis de eo Judicium tanquam de illo qui furtive propria catalla nostra asportaverit Et si forte vostres ad hoc intendere non poteritis duo vestrum praemissa nihilominus exeqauntur In cujus c. Teste Rege apud Luton primo die Novembris By this imposed penal banishment and abjuration of the Realm prescribed by the King in these two Pateuts to such Rebellious contradictory Jews their wives children as refused to pay the arrears of this last imposed Tax it is more than probable that their total and final general banishment and expulsion out of England by the King and his whole Parliament in the 18 year of his reign 16 years af●er was as compulsory and penal to them as this and no ways voluntary of themselves as Sir Edward Cook hath fansied it against all our Records and Histories In the Clause Roll of this year I find this writ to two of these Collectors for the present levying part of these Arrears upon Elias a Jew of London and paying it into the Wardrobe Rex dilectis fidelibus suis fratri Stephano de Foleburn electo de Waterford Willielmo de Middleton ad arrerag Tallag Judaeor ultimo super eosdem Judaeos assesso levanda assignatis salutem Mandamus vobis quod illas septies viginti marcas quos Richardus de Tany debet Magistro Eliae filio magistri Mosseo Iudaeo London sine dilatione liberari facias in Garderoba nostra eas eidem Judaeo in dicto Tallagio suo allocari facias Teste Rege apud Westm 20 die Octobris It is observable that the first person named as a Collector of the Arrears of this Tax of the Jews in all these 3. Records was a Frier and Bishop Elect of Waterford in Ireland How the Jews who neglected refused or were unable to satisfie their Taxes were handled by these Collectors and imprisoned in the Tower of London till they either paid or secured them to the King out of their best Debts these Records of the ensuing year will discover Rex Thesaurario et Baronibus suis de Scaccario salutem Mandamus vobis quod Sampsonem filium Magistri Miles de Stanford Samuelem fil Maneser de Lincoln Vnim fil Garflye Abrahamum fil Droye de Holms Elyam fil Vrssellae de
ab eisdem Archis extral endas in quadam alia cista per se ad alias Cartas nomine Christianorum bellicatas nondum quietatas in alia cista per se ad alias Cartas in quibus debita clara consistunt in tertia cista per se reponendas Ita quod cistae illae sigillis vestris sigillentur et salvo custodiantur donec aliud inde praeciperimus Et ideo vobis mandamus quod praedista faciatis in forma praedicta In cujus c. T. R. apud Odiham 6 die Augusti Rex dilectis sibi in Christo Abbati de Colcest et Walt. de Essex salutem Sciatis quod assign vos ad Archas Cirograf Judaismi nostri Co●cest et Suthbiry aperiend et ad scrutand examinand Cartas ad omnia debita in Archis illis inventa et ad omnia illa irrotulanda et ad plenum scrutinium inde faciend et ad omnia ea nobis ap●rte et distincte sub sigillis vestris referenda Et ideo vobis mandamus qu●d ad certos dies quos ad hoc provideritis Arch. praedict as aperiatis et Cartas et omnia debita in eis inventa diligenter scrutemini et facto scrutinio illo diligenter illa irrotuletis et Archis illis sic secure reclusis eas sigillis vestris sigilletis Ita quod non aperiantur donec aliud inde duxerimus Ordinandum Proviso insuper quod nullas Cartas extra easdem Archas existentes ponatis in easdem ●●c aliquas infra easdem Archas existentes ab eisdem extrahatis vel aliquo modo extrahi permittatis Et si quas Cartas in manibus Cirografforum nostrorum inveneritis extra Archas illas eas per se irro●ulari et in securo loco reponi faciatis In cujus rei c. T. Rege apud Turr. Lond. 27 die Novembr Eodem modo assignatur Rogerus de Northwode una cum aliquo asio fideli Regis quem sibi associaverit ad aperiendas Archas Cirograf Judaismi Regis Cantuar. Eodem modo assign Robertus de Ludham et Willus Gerebert ad aperiendas Archas Cirograf Judaismi Regis VVinton Oxon. et de Devisis Eodem modo assign Nicholaus de Stapleton et Abbas sanctae Mariae Eborum ad aperiend Archas Cirograf Judaismi Regis de Ebor. Eodem modo assign Prior Sanctae Katerinae extra Lincoln et Robertus de Blund ad aperiendas Archas Cirograf Judaismi Regis Lincoln Stainford Eodem modo assign Abbas Sancti Augustini Bristol et Bartholm le Ieovene Constabularius Castri de Bristol ad aperiend Archas Cirograf Judaismi Bristol Eodem modo assignatur Bartholomeus de Suthleye una cum aliquo alio fideli ad aperiend Arch. Cirograf Judaismi Wigorn. In cujus c. Teste ut supra Rex dilecto sibi in Christo Priori Norwici et dilecto Clerico suo VVillielm de Middleton salutem Sciatis quod assignavimus vos ad aperiend Archam Cirograf Judaismi nostri Norwici et ad scrutand et examinand Cartas et omnia debita in illa Archa inventa et omnia debita illa irrotulanda et ad ●lenum scru●inium inde faciend et ad omnia ea nobis di●●incte et aperte sub sigillis vestris referenda Et ideo vobis mandamus quod ad certum diem quem ad hoc provideatis Archam illam aperiatis er Cartas omnia debita in eadem inventa diligenter scutemini et facto scrutinio illo praemina omnia irrotuletis et Archa illa secure reclusa eam sigillis vestris sigilletis Ita quod non aperiatur don●c a●iud inde duxerimus Ordinandum Proviso quod nullas Cartas extra eandem Archam existentes ponatis in eandem nec aliquas ibidem inventas ab eadem extranatis vel aliquo modo extrahi permittatis Et si quas Cartas in manibus Cirograf nostrorum extra Archam illam inveneritis eas per se irrotulari et in securo lo●o reponi faciatis In cujus c. apud Turr. London 24 die Novembris Eodem modo assignatur Walt. de Helynn una cum aliquo alio fideli Regis quem sibi assignaverit ad aperiendas Archas Cirograf Judaismi Regis Hereford et Gloucester Eodem modo assignatur Iohannis Wigorn. et Roger de Evesham ad aperiend Arch. Cirograf Judaismi Regis Exon. et ad scrutand ut supra Eodem modo assignatur Hugo de Stapleford una cum aliquo alio fideli Regis quem sibi associau ad aperiendas Archas Cirograf Judaismi Regis Huntindon Bedford Northampt. Oxon. Eodem modo assignatur Prior de London et Willielmus de Stirkeslegh ad aperiend Archas Cirograf Judaismi Regis Lincoln et Stainford In cujus c. Teste ut supra I have rehearsed all these Patents and Commissions at large because they vary some thing from each other in form prescribe general and universal searches of the Jews common Chests and Writings and manifest how and where they were dispersed into most of the chief Cities and Towns of England and where they had Chests more exactly then most other Records This year there falling out some difference between the Jews and the Sheriff of Oxford who had the Custody and Regulation of the Oxford Jews thereupon at the Jews procurement there issued forth this Patent to the Mayor and Bayliffs of Oxford to keep the peace between the Sheriff and them and to have the Protection and Government of them till the next Parliament Rex Majori ad Ballivis suis Oxon. salutem Cum ad occasionem turbationis inter Vici nostrum Oxon. Judaeos nostros ejusdem Villae jam exortae sicut dicitur tollendam et ad pacem in Judaismo nostro ibidem quietius conservandam assignavimus vos ad Custod Judaeorum nostrorum e●usdem villae usque ad Parliament nostrum post instans fest Sancti Michaelis Vobis mandamus quod sicut de vestra diligentia et fidelitate specialiter confidimus custodiae illi diligenter intendatis Ita quod Pax nostra in Iudaismo praedicto et in aliis quae statum ipsorum Judaeorum in eisdem partibus tangunt vestro mediante juvamime et Consilo bene et inviolabiter conservetur Mandavimus enim Vicecomiti nostro praedicto quod ad inform●●●●nem status ipsorum Iudaeorum non praesumat aliquid attemptare nec de eisdem in aliquo interim se intromittat In cujus c. Teste Rege apud Windsore 31 die Julii King Edward the 1. in the 5 year of his reign appointed Commissioners to impose a Tax upon all the Commonalty of the Jews throughout England whose names and authority are thus expressed in a Commission granted to them for this end Rex dilectis et fidelibus suis Ioh. de Cobham et Phil. de Wileby et Wil. de Middl. salutem Sciatis quod dedimus vobis potestatem obligandi universos et singulos Judaeos regni nostri secun●um quod vos vel duo
Commission how intollerably the poor Jews were taxed and fleeced by the Kings Tax-masters every year and what rigorous penalties and assessments were extorted from them yet neither these heavy uncessant annual Tallages nor the banishment of their Usury by the forementioned Statute would expel or force them hence before a direct Edict of Parliament and Proclamation for their exile by a set day under pain of hanging some years after this enjoyned banishment and abjuration to such as refused to pay this T●llage ferretted them all out of England In the 7th year of King Edward the first I find this memorable Writ Proclamation and Edict of his to 〈◊〉 Justices for the inhibiting and punishing the Blasphemies of the Jews then frequent against Christ crucified and the faith of Christ Jesus with loss of Life and Member with other strict Orders for preventing their Apostacyes and propagation of their Jewish Rites and all communion betwixt them and Christians worthy our special observation Rex dilectis et fidelibus suis Stephano de Pentecester VValtero de Helynn Johanni de Cobham Iusticiariis suis ad Placita Transgressiorum Mon●tae audienda et terminanda assignatis et dilecto Clerico suo Philippo de VVylegheby salutem Quia datum est Nobis intellig● Quod quidam Judaei Regni nostri fidem Ca●holicam et Sacra Ecclesiastica hactenus diversimode Blasphemare non formidarunt nec adhuc formidant in Divini nominis contumeliam et totius Christianae professionis opprobrium Nos hujusmodi Blasphemias sicut Principem Catholicum decet reprimi cupientes Volumus Quod nullus Iudaeus taliter de caetero blasphemare praesumat videlicet aliquod erroneum detestabile aut abhominabile dicendo vel faciendo in Blasphemia Crucifiri fidei Catholicae seu beatissimae matris Mariae Virginis seu Ecclesiasticorum Sacramentorum Volumus etiam quod hoc per omnia loca Regni nostri in quibus Iudaei morantur publice proclamatur et ne aliquis Iudaeus sub periculo Vitae et Membrorum talia facere vel dicere praesumat Et si quis notorius Blasphemat or inveniatur ita quod per Inquisitionem per Sacramentum Christianorum bonorum et graviorum inde convinci possit evidenter Volumus quod quilibet talis puniretur secundum quod in hujusmodi casibus alias fieri consuevit Idem fiat de ipsis qui aliquando ad fidem Catholicam conversi baptisati fuerunt et postmodum ad Iudaicam pravitatem perversi ab eadem fide Apostatare praesumpserint Volumus etiam quod Mulieres Iudeae de caetero portant signa in superiori veste sicut Iudaei Mares Et quod Iudaei de caetero nullos habeant servientes Christianos mares aut faeminas secum in quibuscunque obsequi●s commorantes nec in domibus propriis nec aliis in Civitatibus am locis aliis ubi morantur set ipsi Iudaei sibi invicem in omnibus sibi serviant et ministrent Et hoc ubique precipiatur tam Christianis quam Iudaeis sub gravi forisfactura nostra Volumus etiam quod omnes Christiani qui pignora sua inter bona Iudaeorum dampnatorum inventa redimere voluerint hujusmode pignora per testes fideles et bonae famae probent esse sua et ea per certa signa et indicia describant hujusmodi Testibus eatenus credatur quatenus ipsis ma●oris vel minoris famae esse constiterit Et si fortè pignora illa sua esse per testes probare non possint eo quod testes defuncti vel absentes sunt ita quod eos habere non possint vel quia secrete et absque testimonio impignor atae fuerunt tunc ad pignora illa recuperanda sufficiat tantummodo Sacramentum ipsorum quorum illa existunt dum tamen pignora illa certis signis et indiciis desc●ibant sicut praedictum est Et hoc propter lapsum anni a tempore impignorationis hujusmodi nullatenus omi●tatur Volumus insuper quod omnes illi qui per Testes fide dignos probare possint debita sua pro suis pignoribus persolvisse et pignora illa propter certam aliquam rationem per ipsos coram vobis ostendendam aut propter maliciam ipsorum Iudaeorum ab eisdem Iudaeis non recipisse ad iteratam solutionem debitorum illorum faciendam nullatenus compellantur testibus illis credatur juxta famam personarum additis testibus aliis si necesse fuerit juxta discretionem vestram De libris autem apud Oxon impignoratis volumus quod nullum fiat judicium usque ad Festum omnium sanctorum prox futurum Volumus etiam quod per Civitates Burgos Villas mercatorias et alias publice proclametur ne quis bona Iudaeorum dampnatorū seu dampnandorū recipiat seu jam recepta celet vel occultet sedea Nobis restituet citra Fest beati Petri ad vincula prox futur Alioquin Nos versus ipsos tanquam ad caelatores et occultatores Thesauri regni graeviter capiemus Et ideo vobis mandamus quod omnia praedicta fieri et firmiter observari faciatis in forma praedicta T. Rege apud Westmon x. die Maii. Consimiles Literae diriguntur Barth de Sutlegh Will de beof Ade de Boteler Ioh de Fauconer Consimiles Literae Breve diriguntur Ioh. Beks Alex de Kirketon Ranulpho de Dacre Hugoni de Kendale In this 7th year of King Edw. the 1. as our Historians elsewhere cited record there was a Parliament held at London principally to inquire after the great clipping and falsifying of the Kings coin and prevent it for the future during this Parliament most of the Jews throughout England were apprehended and hundreds of them by several Inquests found guilty before the Justices mentioned in these VVrits specially appointed for that end for clipping counterfeiting and corrupting the Kings money whereof 294 Jews in London alone were convicted and soon after executed and multitudes more of them in other places throughout the Realm which occasioned these VVrits and Proclamations made most probably by advice of the Parliament and approved by it to be issued forth and put in execution for the just punishment of the blasphemous Jewish Malefactors and better discovery of their concealed confiscated estates for the Kings greater advantage and likewise for releif of such sub●ects who had any pawns or goods in the then condemned Iews possession As those Iews who were legally convicted for clipping and corrupting the Kings coyne were executed for it in all places so many more of them were accused imprisoned for the same crime much oppressed maligned generally by the people and inforced to make fines and ransomes to the King and the houses and estates of those who were executed sold strickt inquiry made after all concealments of their estates as the last these ensuing Records will at large inform us far better than any of our Historians I shall begin with that which is most large Rex
ideo vobis mandamus quod hujusmodi domos terras et redditus Judaeorum sic dampnatorum vendatis in forma praedicta Ita quod de Exitibus venditionis illius Nobis respondere possetis ad mandatum nostrum In cujus c. T. Rege apud Brehul 1 die Aug. When the Jews had all made fines and ransoms for their Trespasses with the Kings Justices and Commissioners as aforesaid then he sent forth a proclamation that they might freely exercise their lawfull Trades Merchandizes with Christians and one another as formerly and buy victuals with other necessaries and have such communion with Christians as they were wont prohibiting any to lay violent hands upon or molest them as this Record with others of the like nature to other Sheriffs attests Mandatum est Vicecomiti Eborum quod in pleno Comitatu Eborum et in Civitate praedicta publice proclamari faciat Quod Judaei ibidem de rebus et mercan disis licitis cum omnibus tam Christianis quam Judaeis libere negociari possint et victualia alia necessaria ab omnibus emere et inter Christianos conversari prout premissa facere consueverunt temporibus retroactis Firtuirer etiam inhiberi facias ne qui in eos manus violentas injiciant vel alias eis malefaciant contra pacem Regis King Edward the 1. in the 8. year of his reign issued forth these Letters patents following for the sale of all the condemned Jews houses Lands and Tenements in London and 14 other several Counties named in them in all which they had Lands Tenements and Possessions amounting to no small value Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Sciatis quod dedimus potestatem pro Nobis haeredibus nostris dilecto fideli nostro Waltero de Helynn vendendi nomine nostro omnes domos terras tenementa cum pertinentiis quae fuerunt quorumcunque Iudaeorum quae ad manum nostram tanquam Escaeca nostra per forisfacturam eorundem occasione transgressionum monetam nostram tangentiū devenerunt videlicet in Civitate London Comitatibus Middle Sussex Surr. Kanc ' Essex Hertf. Norf. Suff. Cantuar. Hunt Bucks Bedf. Oxon. Berks. Ita quod ipsi qui ea emerint à praefato Waltero ea habeant et teneant sibi et haeredibus suis in perpetuum In cujus c. T. Rege apud Windsore 28 die Novombris As the King sold the Houses of these condemned Jews so he likewise took into his hands the Debts of the other Jews to satisfie their Debts due unto him for their Taxes which he levied to his own use and then allowed them for their arrears Rex Thesaurar Baronibus suis de Scaccario salutem Sciatis quod cum nuper capi fecerimus in manum nos●●●m quoddam debitum quinquaginta marcarum in quo Robertus de Percy per Cartam suam in Archa Cyrographar apud Ebor existenti tenebatur Bonamy de Ebor Iudaeo Et quod levari precipimus ad opus nostrum Concessimus eidem Iudeo quod si praedict debitum ad opus nostrum levatum fuerit vel in manum nostram captum sicut praedict est Idem Iudaeu● pro dicto debito 50 marcarum in recompensationem habeat a● 40 marcis in veteribus arreragiis tallagiis aliis debitis quae nobis debet ad Scaccarium praedictum Et ideo vobis mandamus quod si ita est tunc eidem Iudaeo in hujusmodi veteribus arreragiis tal●agiis aliis debitis quae nobis debet ad idem Scaccarium allocationem de praedictis 40 marcis habere faciatis in recompensatione praedicti debiti 50 marcarum sicut praedictum est T. R. apud VVestm 13 die Novemb. By which the King got x. marks clear from this Jews over and above his pretended debt and arrear for which this debt was seized and levied King Edward in the 8. year of his reign at the supplication of the Friers predicants in England who desired to preach unto the obstinate Jews thereby to convert them to the Christian Faith and turn them from their antient errors blindness and unbelief procured this notable ensuing Writ and Patent to all his Sheriffs Bayliffs and other Leige people commanding them to induce the Jews in all places to resort unto and hear their preaching without blasphemy or disturbance at such times and places as these Friers Predicants should direct c. Rex Vicecomitibus et omnibus Ballivis fidelibus suis salutem Cum dilecti nobis in Christo Fratres de Ordine Praedicatorum in Anglia Judaeis quorum mentes vetustas erroris et perfidiae obnubulat et obc●●cat praedicare proponunt verbum Dei quo facilius interveniente gratia Spiritus sancti ad fidei Catholicae converti valeant unitatē ob hoc dilectus nobis in Christo Prior Provincialis ejusdem Ordine nobis supplicaverit ut vobis demus in mandatis Quod omnes Iudaeos ubicunque locorum in Ballivis vestris conversantes efficaciter moneatis et inducatis quod in locis ubi vobis de Consilio Fratrum ipsorum magis expedire videbitur ad audiendum verbum Dei conveniant et illud ab eisdem Fratribus absq tumultu contentione vel blasphemia audiant diligenter benigne Et si forte Altissimus velamen duritiae a cordibus eorum aufereus aliquibus vel alicui ipsorum Iudaeorum gratiam dederit convertendi quod caeteri Iudaei eis super hoc non impediant nec per alios impediri procurent Nos praeat●tum ●●opo●●tam ipsorum ●ratrum alten●entes pium et salubre et precibus predicti Prio●is favor●biliter annuentes in hac parte vobis ma●damus Quod omnes Iudaeos in Ballivis vestris conversantes ad praemissa facienda efficaciter moneatis et eos ad hoc modis quibus melius sciveritis inducatis prout unicuique vestrum inspiraverit Spiritus veritatis In cujus c. quamdiu Regi placuerat duratur Teste Rege apud Winton 2 die Jan. What good effects this zealous pious project of the Friers preachers and Patents of the King in pursuit thereof produced in converting any considerable number of the Jews to the Catholick faith I find not mentioned in Histories or Record but their universal banishment hence 8. years after principally for their infidelity sufficiently manifests that all the endeavours then used for their conversion by drawing them to these Preachers Sermons and the provisions made by the King for the Converts support hereafter specified were very successlesse Wherefore those Zealots and Enthusiasts who so earnestly plead and write for their readmission amongst us now upon the future probability of their Conversion by their powerfull preaching to and exemplary conversation amongst them are like to find no better successe than these preaching Friers then did and other eminenter Divines than themselves of late years and now do find in foraign parts where the Jews reside where they may do well now to try what
Rege apud Winton 12 die Octobris The like Licenses to sell houses I find in other Patent and Clause Rolls This year the King to search out all the Debts owing to the condemn●d Jews or others sent forth this Commission to search all the Chests of the Jews and the Stars and writings in them and to recover all the Debts that were due on them somewhat different from those formerly granted Rex dil fidel suis Hamoni Hutteyn Roberto de Ludham et Magistro Henrico de Bray salutem Quia volumus quod omnes Cartae Starra et munimenta omnia Iudaeorum dampnatorum et alia quocunque modo ad Nos ratione Iudaismo pertinentia per vos scrutentur videantur et tunc transcribantur distinctè et aperte Ita quod extractae fieri possint inde ad debita illa ad opus nostrum levanda prout de jure et secundum legem et consuetudinem Scaccarii Iudaismi nostri fuerit faciend et prout ad opus nostrum magis videritis expedire Et ideo vobis mandamus quod ad certos c. praemissa fac in forma praedicta Et de Cartis Star●is munimentis et debitis illis tres Rotulos faciatis quorum unus liberetur Baronibus nostris de Scaccario alter ad Scaccarium Iudaismi nostri et tertius remaneat in custodia vestra Magistro Henrico nobis liberandus In cujus c. T. R. apud Guildeford 21 die Octobris A like Patent to this with little variation De Archis Cirographorum aperiendis et scrutandis c. I find in the patent Roll of 14 E. 1. m. 20. where all may peruse it at leisure This same year the King confirmed the Grant of his Deodands to the House of the Converts in London towards the repairing of the Chappel and buildings there by this Writ directed to his Justices itinerant Rex Justiciariis itinerantibus in Com. Lincoln salutem Cum nos dudum pro salute animae nostrae et animatum Antecessorum nostrorum Regum Angliae concessimus dilectis Nobis in Christo Fratribus Praedicatoribus London Elemosinam nostram quae Deodanda vocatur in Regno nostro Angliae in subsidium translationis Domorum suarum usque ad finem triennii percipiendam et post idem triennium eandem Elemosinam dei intuitu concessimus Conversis domus nostrae London ad fabricam Capellae suae quam Dom. H. quondam Pater noster Rex Angliae fundavit ibidem persiciend et in subventionem reparationis et sustentationis edificiorum loci illius Vobis mandamus quod praedictam Elemosinam nostram de Itinere vestro in Com praedict et in caeteris Comitatibus in quibus itineraturi estis habere faciatis dilecto Clerico nostro Joh de Sancto Dionisio custodi Domus praedictae ad fabricam et sustentationem ad reparationem praedict inde faciend T. R. apud Westm 13 die Novembris Consimiles Literae diriguntur Justiciariis proximo Itineraturis in Com. Devon pro conversis praedictis T. ut supra King Edward in the 10th year of his reign safely to protect the persons and goods of the Jews in Hereford from the violence of the people there committed the protection of them to 24 of the chief Burgesses of Hereford as he did the Jews in other Towns throughout England an● proclaimed that none should damnifie or mo●est them in their persons or goods under pain of losing his goods as this Patent manifests Rex dilectis sibi Waltero de la Barre Hugoni de Clere Reginaldo Comwood Thomae de Anesye and to 20 more particularly named in the Patent Burgensibus suis Hereford salutem Cum suscererimus in protection●m et defens●onem nostram Judaeos nostros Hereford res omnes possessiones suas ad tuitionem ma●orem securitatem ipsorum vos assignavimus ad custodiam eorun●em Vobis mandamus quod per totam villam praedictam publice proclamari firmiter inhiberi faciatis ex parte nostra Ne quis sub periculo omissionis bonorum suorum praedictis Judaeis in personis aut rebus suis inferat dampnum molestiam seu gravamen Et vos ipsi Judaeos illos res et possessiones suas infra villam praedictam et extra quantum in vobis est manuteneatis protegatis et defendatis In cujus c. quamdiu Regi placuerit durat Teste Rege apud Devises 10 die Aprilis It appears the Jews were then very odious and grievous to the English that they needed so many Gardians to protect their persons and estates from their plunder and violence Soon after this some Jews of Hereford being there imprisoned for Trespasses done to some English there the King sent this Writ to the Sheriff of the County to release them upon their putting in of Bail to answer it and to restore their goods if seased Rex Vic. Hereford salutem Quia Mosseus le Blund Iosseus filius Manasses Judaei Hereford Mosseus fil Jacobi Judaeus London manuceperunt habere apud Westm coram Justiciariis nostris ad Custodiam Judaeorum assignatis Aaron le Blund Mirabiliam uxorem ejus Fautinum filium praedicti Aaron Bonam uxorem ejus Cresseum filium Jacobi Floriam uxorem ejus a die sancti Iohis Baptistae in tres Septimanas ad standum recto super quibusdam transgressionibus quas dicti Judaei fecisse dicuntur Ade de Peyntur Margeriae filiae ejusdem Ade si ipse vel eadem Margeria versus eos loqui voluerit tunc prae ictos Aaron Mirabilem Fautinum Bonam et Cresseum Floriam et eorum familiam si ea occasione et non alia in prisona nostra detineantu● dictis manucaptoribus interim tradas in Ballium et catalla praedict Judeorum si quae occasione praedicta ceperis in manum nostram eis interim restituas per manacaptionem praedictam de corporibus eorum Judaeorum seu de familia aut catallis eorundem occasione transgressionis illorum te non intromittas donec aliud inde preciperimus habeas ibi hoc Breve T. Rege apud Salop 2 die Junii The Jews most likely to avoid the rage and plunders of the English Christians having left the wearing of their Tables on their upper garments formerly prescribed by sundry forecited Writs and Ordinances and the Statute de Iudaismo to distinguish them from Christians were now by this new Proclamation from the King sent to the Justices strictly enjoyned to wear them as well women as men and likewise prohibited to sell any flesh to Christians by any means or to retain any Christian man or woman in their houses or elsewhere in their service under great penalties Rex Justiciariis suis ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis salutem Cum nuper pr●ciperimus publice proclamari fecerimus Quod omnes Judaei regni nostri Tabulas deferant in indumentis suis exterioribus ut a cultoribus Catholicae fidei evidentius
praedictam concessimus quod omnia negotia ipsum Aaron contingentia et quae examen judiciale requirunt coram nobis et eodem fratre nostro audiantur et prout justum fuerit terminentur Vobis mandamus quod de bonis et catallis ipsius Aaron aut aliquibus ipsum tangentibus vos in nullo intromittatis contra donationem concessionem et confirmationem supradictas nisi ex voluntate fratris nostri praedicti T. Edmund apud Westm. 24 die Maii. Eodem modo mandatum est Iohanni de Breton custodi civitatis London T. ut supra In the 18 year of King Edward the 1. I find this grant of his on the 12 day of Iune of all his Deodands to the House of the Converts for the better maintenance and support of the Converts Chapel and edifices thereof during his pleasure only Rex Iustieiariis omnibus aliis Ballivis et fideli●● suis c. salutem Cum nos dudum concessimus Conversis Domus nostrae London ad sustentationem ipsorum Deodanda quae nobis accidere coram quibuscunque Iusticiariis nostris adjudicari contingent ad certum terminum jam transactum Nos concessionem illam intuitu Dei pradictis conversis convertendis coutinuare volentes concessimus eisdem conversis et convertend●s ad sustentationem ipsorum et fabricam Capellae suae et aedisiciorum suorum perficiendam omnia Deodanda quae Nobis ubicunque in Regno nostro Angliae accidere et coram quibuscunque Iusticiari●s seu Ministris nostris adjudicari contingent Habenda percipienda quamdin Nobis piacuerit T. Rege apud Westm 12 die Iunii On the 17 day of the same month and year I find this special grant made by the King to Auntlera a Jewesse to sell the inheritance of a Garden in London to any Jew and his heirs and for them to purchase it of her without being questioned or molested for it by any of his Officers which without such license she could not sell nor he purchase of her without seisure or forfeiture Rex omnibus c. Sciatis quod de gratia nostra speciali Licentiam dedimus Auntlerae quae fuit uxor Vynes fil Magistri Mossei Judaei London quod quoddam Gardinum suum quod habet in Civitate nostra London in parochia sancti Laurentii in Cattestreet vendere possit cuicunque Judaeo Gardinum illud emere volenti habendum et tenendum eidem Judaeo haeredibus suis in perpetuum eidem Judaeo quod praedictum Gardinum ab eadem Auntlera recipere possit tenore praesentium similiter licentiam concedimus specialem Nolentes quod eadem Auntlera vel haeredes sui an t praedictus Iudaeus aut haeredes sui ratione venditionis seu receptionis Gardini praedicti per nos vel haeredes nostros Justiciarios Ballivos aut alios Ministros nostros occasionentur gravantur in aliquo seu molestantur In cu●us c T. R apud West 17 die Junii The ●ike Patent ●●nd to Aaron the Kings Brothers Jew forementioned to sell his house and rents in fee to any Christian who ●hould purchase them by his Lords license even after the Edict past and Letters of safe conduct granted for the Jews banishment and departure hence as appears by comparing their dates Rex omnibus c. salutem Sciatis quod concessimus licentiam dedimus Aaron fil Vynes Judaeo Edmundi f●atris nostri carissimi quod ipse domos et redditus suos tam infra Civitatem nostram London quam infra Regnum nostrum de licentia voluntate praedicti fratris nostri Domini s●i vendere possit upon his banishment hence quibuscunque Christiaenis voluerit absque impedimento nostri vel aliorum nostro●um quorumcunque eisdem Christianis quod domos illas redditus ab eodem Iudeo emere valeant similiter licentiam concedimus specialem iure cujuslibet in omnibus s●mper salvo In cujus c T. R. apud Langeleye 28 die Julii After the date is the Letters for the Jews safe conduct out of Enlgand to the Sheriffs It is very observable that these three last Patents were made but a very little before and the last of them clearly after the Jews universal banishment voted resolved both by the King and Parliament For when as the King his Justices and Parliament by all their Inquisitions Commissions Care Providence and Execution of so many Jews in all parts could no ways suppresse their ●lipping and falsifying of the Money of the Realme nor yet reforme the manifold other wickednesses and misdemeanors of the English Jewes nor all the industry and pains of the Friers Preachers nor all that liberal provisions and grants of the King forecit●d to the House of Converts for their comfortable ●●p●ort maintenance and confirmation in the Christian faith so far operate upon their obstinate obdurate hearts as to convert any considerable number or any persons of note amongst them to the Christian faith from which many Converts apostatized nor yet suppresse their continual blasphemies against our crucified Saviour the Christian faith Sacraments of the Church and blessed Virgin Thereupon the King at the earnest frequent solicitation of the Commons assembled this year in Parliament after the Feast of St. Hilary enacte published an Edict or Decree in Parliament for the total universal and final banishment of all these wicked blasphemous unbeleeving Jews out of England then generally execrable detestable to all the people who were so desirous to be for ever quit of their company that they granted the King the 15 part of all their goods and moveables for their banishment and expulsion out of England as I have formerly proved at large by a full grand Jury of Historians and several Records in my former Demurrer against Sir Edward Cooks grosse assertion that they only voluntarily banished themselves because their usury was this year suppres●ed by the Stat. de Iudaismo which I have proved was made full 15 years before to be no cause at all of their exile now In pursuance of this Parliamentary Edict Decree now no where extant on Record all the Parliament Rolls before 5 Ed. 2. being who●ly lost and many since by the carelessenesse or iniquity of the times except only an old Parchment Book of some Pleas in Parliam in E. 1. one Statute Roll of K. Ed. the 1. Ed. 2. and Ed. 3. wherein the Statute De Iudaismo with many other printed Acts are not to be found no more than this Edict for the Jews banishment though mentioned in many Histories and Records the King in this very mon●th of Iuly sent several Writs Letters and Patents to the Sheriffs of Counties Mayors of Towns Bayliffs and Barons of the Cinqueports and likwise to Mariners reciting that he had prescrib'd a certain time term day to all and every of the Iews within the Realm for their departure out of it into forraign parts commanding them not to doe nor suffer any
injury molestation grievance to be done to them by any in their passage beyond the Seas for which he had given them safe conduct but to grant them their wives and children a safe and speedy passage within the time prefixed them at the Jews own costs paying reasonable rates for their freights and passage without immoderate exactions especially on the poorer sort of them lest their passage should be hindred by such immoderate and unreasonable exactions I shall transcribe these Writs and Letters at large out of the Records themselves as most pertinent to my intended Theame beginning with those to Sheriffs Rex Vic Gloucestrie c Cum Iudaeis Regni nostri universis certum tempus praefixerimus a Regno illo Transfretandi Nolentes quod ipsi per Ministros nostros aut alios quoscunque aliter quam fieri consuevit indebite pertrectentur Tibi praecipimus quod per totam Ballivam tuam publice proclamari et firmiter inhiberi facias ne quis eis intra terminum praedictum injuriam molestiam dampnum inferat seu gravamen Et cum contingat ipsos cum catallis suis quae eis concessimus versus partes London causa Transfretrationis suae dirigere gressus suos salvum securum conductum eis habere facias sumptibus eorum Proviso quod Iudaei praedicti ante recessum suum vadia Christia●o●um quae penes se habent illis quorum fuerint si ea acquietare voluerint restituant ut tenentur Teste Rege apud Westm 18 die Iulii Anno 18. E. 1. Consimites Literae diriguntur Vicecomitibus Essex Ebor. Northampt. Lincoln Teste ut supra Item Vicecomitibus Hereford Suthampt. The form of the Letters for protection and safe conduct to particular Jews and their Families which the richer sort of Jews purchased at dear rates was this Rex Majori et Ballivis Eborum salutem Quia certum diem praefixerimus Iudaeis nostris Angliae regnum nostrum exeundi et se ad partes alias transferendi Vobis mandamus quod Bonamico Judaeo Eborum uxori pueris vel familiae suae in personis aut rebus interim nullam moles●iam inferatis set ipsos quantum in vobis est manuteneatis protegatis et defendatis Et cum idem Bonamicus cum uxore pueris et familia sua post Terminum Proclamationis factae de vadiis Christianorum acquietandis ad partes maritimas causa transfretandi divertere se voluerint sibi et suis salvum conductum cum ab eo fueritis requisiti suis sumptibus habere faciatis ne eis super bonis quae secum deferre contingerit periculum emineat pro defectu conductus hujusmodi faciendi T. Rege apud Lang. 26 die Julii Et sunt Patentes By this Patent it appears First that the Jewes had a certain day prefixed them by the King to depart out of the Realm of England into Foreign parts of which they all had general and particular notice 2ly That the wealthier Jews thereupon to preserve their own persons wives children families from corporal violence and their goods from plunder purchased particular Letters of Protection and safeconduct from the King to Mayors and other Officers 3ly That the King published a general Proclamation upon the Edict of their banishment that all the pawns of Christians to them should be redeemed and discharged before their departure or left behind them when they departed hence The next day after this private Letter of Protection and Safeconduct on the 27 of July the King sent these Letters to the Bailiffs Barons and Seamen of the Cinque ports for the Jews safe conduct passage and transportation out of England within the term which he had prefixed to all and every of them being general for all the Jews Rex omnibus Baliivis Baronibus et Nautis Quinque portuum suorum salutem Cum certum terminum omnibus et singulis Iudaeis Regni nostri praefixerimus idem Regnum exeundi Nolentes quod ipsi in rebus seu personis interim aliqualiter injurientur Vobis mandamus quod eisdem Iudaeis cum ipsos ad Portus praedictos cum uxoribus pueris Catallis suis venire contingerit ad transfretand critical conversion and such converts mostly we are like to find them and none other Whereupon the 2 Council of Nice Canon 3. decreed That no Iews should be admitted suddenly into the Christian Church nor baptized unlesse they publikely certified that they were converted out of a pure sincere faith with all their heart and utterly renounced their judaical rites And the Council of ●gatha Can. 34. decreed That the Iews who desired to turn Christians should remain for 8 moneths space amongst the Catechimeni for trial of the sincerity of their conversion before they were baptized upon this ground because they frequently returned to their infidelity vomit again Judaei qui eorum per fidia FREQUENTER ad vomitum reddit Which Alexander Alensis summa Theolog pars 2. qu. 161. approves 7ly If any private Iews out of meer conscience or sincere desires of being converted to the Christian faith shall upon that account alone desire admission into England to be instructed by our English Divines I suppose no English Christians will oppose but further their desires herein and contribute both their prayers and best endeavors for their conversion and if ther be cause admit them also into our Churches Communion upon real testimonies of the truth of conversion in and work of grace upon them which is as much as they can desire at our hands But to admit whole multitudes and Colonies of infidel Iews at once into our Nation who neither desire nor pretend conversion to Christianity but the quite contrary together with the free use of their Iewish Synagogues Rites Ceremonies which they strongly in-sist upon to establish their Judaism make way for their long expected Messia his comming increase their wealth and traffique and enable them to recover their ancient Country and Kingdome again the only things they now aim at as Menasseh Ben Israels printed addresses proclaims to all the World is such an Impious Unchristian Antichristia● dangerous president glossed over only with a possibility of their future conversion as no sincere English Christians can approve of nor the Iews themselves desire For as the Iews by Gods own Laws and their own Iewish Rabbies precepts neither might nor yet would permit any Heathen Gentiles heretofore to dwell among them nor to set up any Altars Images Idols Groves or exercise any Idolatrous worship amongst them or to blaspheme reproach their God or Religion under pain of death if they transgressed therein There being the selfsame Law of God in these things both to Gentiles Iews And like as they afterwards would not permit the Apostles and Christians in Ierusalem or any other Cities for to preach the Gospel and exercise the Christian Religion freely but raised up present tumults against and persecuted and cast them out thence as 1 Thes 2.14 15 17. the whole History
of the Acts and premises abundantly testifie So by the very self same justice and equity they can neither now demand nor expect that we or any Christian Realm or State should tollerate or connive at much lesse openly countenance and protect them in the publick or private exercise of their Iudaisme or Iewish Rites and Blaspemies against our crucified Saviour and his Gospel All then that English Christians can do for them is to desire and pray for the conversion of all Gods elect amongst them in his due time by such means as he shall think meetest and to instruct them in the faith by learned Ministers sent to them if they desire it but not to admit them and perchance many disguised Iesuits Papists and Friars with them promiscuously into our Nation to undermine our Church and Religion and undo many thousand Souls it being our duty as to give no just offence to the Iew so neither to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God whom their admission amongst us especially upon Manasseth Ben-Israels motives and addresses tending nothing at all to Piety or their converversion but worldly gains and obstinate perseverance in their Jewish Antichristian Rites and Superstitions will 10. day of Octob. being the next day after it An. 1290. just 21 days before the feast of All Saints by which day they were all to depart out of England under pain of death and accordingly departed as I have elsewhere manifested except some few poor converted Jews who remained like Almesmen in the House of the Converts and were not banished with the rest whose Infidelity was the chief cause of their exile as our Historians attest The King on the 27 day of October but 17 days after the Jews final departure from London out of England committed the custody of this Domus Conversorum and the Converts in London to Walter de Agmodisham during pleasure by this his Patent Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Sciatis quod commissimus Waltero de Agmodisham custodiam Domus nostrae Conversorum London conversorum nostrorum therefore not banished with the rest habendum quamdiu nobis placuerit cum omnibus ad custodiam illam pertinentibus sicut Johis de Sancto Dionis quondam Archidiac Roff. eam dum vixit habere consuevit Ita quod idem Walterus domos illas in quibus idem Archidiaconus morabatur ibidem inhabitet pro voluntate sua c. T. R. apud Kingest clipton 27 die Octobris On the 16 day of December following the King granted the custody of this house to Richard de Clunpynges by this Patent which manifests that the converted Jews were not banished with the rest Rex omnibus et singulis Conversis Domus suae London salutem Sciatis quod commissimus ditecto clerico nostro Rico. de Clunpynges custodiam Domus praedictae habendum quamdiu nobis placuerit cum omnibus ad dictam custodiam pertinentibus eodem modo quo Johis de Sancto Dionis quondam Archidiaconus Roffensis defunctus eam dum vixit habere consuevit Ita quod dom illas in quibus idem Archidiaconus morabatur ibidem pro voluntate sua inhabitet Et ideo vobis mandamus quod eidem Rico. tanquam custodi vestro in omnibus que ad custodiam illam per●inent intend●n es sitis et respondentes sicut praedictum est In cujus c. T. Rege apud Odyham 16 di● Decembris The very next year after the Jews banishment within four moneths of their departure hence I find these Letters Patents directed by the King to all his Sheriffs Bayliffs and Lieges expresly mentioning their banishment hence and the Kings designing of all the rents and profits of their houses from the time of their banishment to be collected and disposed to pious uses as Hugh de Kendale Clerk should appoint specially intrusted with the management of this affair Rex Vicecomitibus omnibus aliis Ballivis fidelibus suis ad quos c. salutem Cum assignavimus totam pecuniam provenientem de Domibus quae fuerunt Judaeorum nostrorum in Anglia in quosdam pios usus convertendam per quod volumus quod totum commodum perveniens ex Domibus illis a tempore exilii eorundem ut ex conventione Domorum eatundem rebus a●iis in eosdem usus applicetur Assignavimus dilectum Clericum nostrum Hugonem de Kendale ad inquirendum de conductionibus et omnibus receptis hujusmodi plenam veritarem et ad onerandum Vicecomites Ministros et omnes receptores pecuniae inde provenientis a tempore exilii praedicti et ad pecuniam illam in tuto loco reponendam per Vicecomites vel alio modo prout melius viderit expedire Et ideo vobis mandamus quod eidem Hugoni intendentes sitis credentes respondentes Teste Rege apud Asherugge 22 die Ianuarii King Edward presently after the Jews banishment hence seized upon all their Houses Lands and Revenues throughout England as escheated into his hands by this their sentence of banishment and pr●sently within few moneths after made sale of them to English men by several Letters Patents as appears by a special Pat. Roll of the sales of their houses made in the 19 and 20 years of his reign thus endorsed Carta de Judaismo Li●●re Paten●●s de domibus Iudaeorum concessis Post eorum Exilium de Anglia wherein are near one hundred parti●ular Patents o● sa●es of them to several persons running in the selfsame form mutatis mutandis all mentioning their Banishment hence this Kings title to them thereby by way of Escheat take one in the 19. year for an example of all that ensue that year Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Sciatis quod concessimus pro Nobis haeredibus nostris Isabellae quae fuit uxor Ade de Sancto Albano Junior Domos illas cum pertinentiis in London quae fuerunt Leonis fil Cressey fil Magistri Eliae Judaei de parochia Sancti Martini Pomer in Ismongerstane Per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei a Regno nostro tanquam Escaeta nostra in manu nostra existentes 〈◊〉 ad qu●t●● marcas extenduntur Haben●●m tenendum eidem Isabellae et haeredibus suis de Nobis et haeredibus nost●is imperpetuum Reddendo inde Nobis haeredibus nostris unum denarium per manum Vicecomitis ejusdem Civitatis singulis annis ad Scaccarium nostrum Pasche et facien●o aliis Dominis feodi illius servicia inde debita et consueta In cujus c. Teste Rege apud Ashe●igge 27 die Decembris Anno regni Regis Edwardi filii Regis Henrici xix This Patent bears date within two Moneths next after the Jews actual departure hence upon the Decree and Edict for their banishment After which follow near one hundred Patents of their houses made this year wherein was the same recital of their banishment as in this transcribed Then follow many other
Patents made of the Jews houses by the King in the 20 year of his reign intituled in the Roll and Margin Patentes de Domibus Judaeorum concessis Post eorum Exilium ab Anglia the first whereof in Memb. 2. runs thus Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Sciatis quod concessimus pro Nobis et haeredibus nostris Willielmo de Tab●rer de Bedeford Katerinae uxori ejus Domos illas quae fuerunt Cok filii Benedicti de Bedeford Per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei a Regno nostro tanquam Escaeta nostra in manu nostra existentes et ●u●ae ad sex soudos extenduntur Habendum et tenendum eisdem Willielmo Kater et haeredibus suis vel cui ilias secundum consuetudinē villae praedictae donare vel assignare voluerint de Nobis haeredibus nostris imperpetuum Reddendo inde Nobis haeredibus nostris unum denarium per manum Vicecom nostri Bedf. singulis annis ad Scaccarium nostrum ad festum Sancti Michaelis Et faciendo aliis dominis feodi illius servicia inde debita consueta T. Rege apud Westm 29 die Novemb. After which follow near 20 patents more of other Jews houses made that year in the same form Therefore by the unanimous irrefragable verdict of all these manifold Patents the Jews were legally and judicially Banished out of England and by this their Judgment of Banishment both by the King and Parliament all their houses and lands actually escheated into the Kings hands who thereupon seized and sold them to others in fee upon this very Title of Escheat by their Exile out of England which had Sir Edward Cooke known or observed I am confident he would never have asserted this untruth that they voluntarily banished themselves out of England only because their Usury was banished thence To these Records I might annex the case of the Prior of Bridlington which himself cites in the Placita Parliamenti post Pascha apud London 21 E. 1. rot 4. recited again in alio Rotulo Anno 22 E. 1. rot 5. wherein there is this double recital of the Jews exile hence and of a Debt of 200 l. due to the King thereby which he had Judgement to recover against the Prior. Et quia praedictus Prior cognoscit quod praed●cta pecunia praed Judaeo debebatur nec ei solvebatur Ante Exilium Iudaeorum et quicquid remansit eorum debitis catallis in Reg●● Post eorum Exilium Domino Regi fuit Consideratum est quod Dominus Rex recuperet pecuniam praedictam An unanswerable euidence of their judicial legal actual Banishment hence here twice together repeated in this Plea in Parliament but three years after their exile I have now traced the History of the English Jewes through the obscure untrodden generally unknown and almost forgotten path of our English Records yet remaining in the Tower of London and Exchequer from the very first year of King John where our yet extant Records begin to the 22. of King Edward the first full 4 years after their universal Banishment out of England which as it then put a period to any further memorial of them in our subsequent Records so it now sets a final conclusion to this my Chronological Collection of such Records as concern the generality of the English Jews and their affairs To which I shall only annex some few Records in succeeding times relating to some particular Jewish Converts since their general banishment hence and to the forementioned house of the Iewish Converts now the Rolls in Chancery Lane which are some wayes pertinent like so much gleanings after the Harvest to the Jewish History and so draw toward a conclusion of this my Undertaking There being a great want of Jewish Converts after the Jews banishment hence to receive the Alms Revenues formerly setled on their house by the premised charters of our Kings I find King Edw. the 3d in the 18th year of his reign by special Patents granted to other poor people who had nothing to live on both the benefit and easment of the Houses and Gardens of the House of the Converts together with a penny a day out of the Exchequer and so much besides as any one Convert there received out of the Rents and profits of the house Parti●ularly he granted to one Alianor Quae non habet unde 〈◊〉 quod habeat tantum in omnibus pro sustentatione sua iam de pecunia ad Scaccarium videlicet per diem 1 d. et pro aisiamento Domorum Gardinarum sicut una Conversorum habet et capit ac de Deodandis al●is proficuis quam de Redditibus Tenementis Conversorum Domus London et alibi infra Regnum Angliae commorant c. quantum una Conversa inde percepit After this a converted Jew John Castell by name coming over into England in the 30 year of King Edward the 3d. the King thereupon granted him such admittance into and sustenance in this house of Convertr as other Converts had in former times received by this ensuing writ of Privy Seal Rex dilecto Clerico suo Hen de Ingleby Custodi Domus nostra Conversorum in civitate nostra London salutem Quia volumus quod Johannes de Chastell à ritu Judaeorum conversus qui in Regnum nostrum Angliae nuper venit habeat talem sustentationem in Domo nostra praedicta de Elemosina nostra qualem alii ejusdem conditionis in eadem ante hoc tempus habuerunt Vobis mandamus quod ipsum Johannem in domum nostram praedictam admittatis et ei sustentationem hujusmodi pro uno converso consuetum de eadem domo liberari habere facias T. Rege apud Westm primo die Iulii Per Breve de privato Sigillo This Henry de Ingelby afterwards resigning his Office of Keeper or Gardian of the House of Converts to the King thereupon King Edward the 3. in the 45 year of his reign granted this Office to William de Burstall Clerk during his life by this following Patent Rex omnibus ad quos c. Sciatis quod dedimus concessimus dilecto Clerico nostro Will de Burstal custodiam domus nostrae conversorum London vacantem per resignationem Hen. de Ingleby ultimi Custodis domus praedictae et ad nostram Donationem spectantem habendum tenendum cum omnibus ad custodiam illam quoquo modo spectantibus ad totam vitam ipsius Willielm In cujus c. T. R. apud Westm 22 die Julii Per ipsum Regem Et Mandatum est Vicecomit London quod ipsum Will. in corporalem possessionem Domus praedictae inducant vel induci faciant habendum juxta tenorem Literarum Regis praedictarum Teste ut supra Per ipsum Regem This house with the Chappel and other Edifices being greatly ruined after the Jews banishment through the negligence of former Guardians William Burstal being made keeper thereof bestowed much money upon
the repairing of it out of his own purse which done upon consideration thereof and to keep the same in constant Repair for the future upon the supplication of the said William then Keeper likewise of the Rolls of the Chancery he procured King Edward to annex the house and Chappel of the Converts to the Custos of the Rolls of the Chancery and his Successors for ever in the 51 year of King Edward the 3d. by this Patent Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Sciatis quod Nos considerantes qualiter Domus Conversorum in Suburbio Civitatis nostrae London de Patronatu nostro existens et Capella Edificia Clausura ejusdem tempore quo dilectus Clericus noster Willielmus de Burstall custodiam ejusdem Domus ex collatione nostra primo habuit per negligentiam et incuriam aliorum qui antedictum Willielmum custodiam Domus illius habuerunt et ibidem morari seu inhibitare non curarunt multipliciter debilitata quasi totaliter in ruina extiterunt Et quod praedict Willielmus tempore suo de bonis suis propriis grandes fecit custus et expensas super reparatione et emendatione Domus Capellae Edificiorū Clausurarum praedict At etiam super factura novarum Domorum ibidem Nos ut Domus Conversorum capella edificia clausurae et novae Domus supradicta compatentur sustententur custodiantur in futur ad supplicationem praedicti Will qui Custos Rotulorum Cancellariae nostrae existit in praesenti concessimus de gratia nostra speciali pro Nobis haeredibus nostris quod post mortem ejusdem Willielm dicta Domus Conversorum cum suis Juribus pertinentiis quibuscunque remaneat et moretur in perpetuum Clerico custodi Rotulorum Cancellariae nostrae et haeredum nostrorum pro tempore existenti Et sit annexa ad idem Officium imperpetuum Et quod Cancellarius Angliae vel Custos sive custodes Magni Sigilli nostri et haeredum nostrorum Angliae pro tempore existentes post mortem ipsius Will. habeat et habeant Potestatem ad quamlibet Vacationem dicti Officii custodis Rotulorum per mortem cessionem vel mutationem personae quocunque tempore futuro instituendi successive Custodes Rotulorum praedictorum in dicta Domo Conversorum et Custodes illos ponendi in possessionem ejusdem cum suis juribus et pertinentiis quibuscunque In cujus c. T. Rege apud Shene x. die Aprilis Per Breve de privato Sigillo Since which by vertue of this Patent this house of the Converts hath continued annexed to the Custos and Mastership ol the Rolls of the Chancery yet still liable and subject to the first charitable uses for habitation and sustentation of such Jewish and other Converts to which it was at first designed For which I shall now only recite one president more already printed by John Stow out of the Records of 5 R. 2. One William Pierce a Jew that became a Christian and was baptized was by this Kings Charter in the 5 th of his reign admitted and received into this ancient Domus Conversorum and had there 2 d. a day allowed him by the King during his life And by the self-same Equity if the Jews be now readmitted into England and any of them shall chance to be converted to Christianity and baptized either upon real or hypocritical or politick grounds they ought to be there received and maintained in the self-same manner as they were in former times I have now courteous Reader presented thee and the world with the exactest Chronicle and History of the English Iews from the 1. year of King Iohn Anno Dom. 1599. till their total and final banishment hence in the 18 year of Edward the 1. Anno Dom. 1290 and some years after it hitherto published in any age sincerely collected with no little diligence pains search and cost out of the most excellent Rolls Records of those times yet extant in the Tower and Exchequer all which I diligently perused with mine own eys faithfully transcribed not taking them upon trust as others commonly do and so frequently miscite or mistake them all which Records being diligently entred very year successively under these Kings reigns by publick Clerks and Notaries imployed for that end and faithfully relating every thing concerning the Jews and all other transactions publick or private as they were then really acted are the truest best most unerring guides that posterity can follow the infalliblest evidences they can surely rely on or any Historians make use of in relating the History or proceedings of former ages the ignorance of which Records hath occasioned many mistakes both in matters of fact and Law in most of our Historians Chronicles and Law Books Some whereof relating to the English Jews I have here rectified in the by From all the Records here printed in their own words and language give me leave in brief to observe for thy better information these few general heads concerning the Jews to which they are reducible 1. That though our Kings by their forementioned Charters Writs and Proclamations granted many large Priviledges Protections Immunities to the Jews especially in the beginning of their reigns as if they were their only favourites and darlings above all other of their Subjects yet these their Royal Protectors and their Justices specially appointed for their custody soon after notwithstanding all their former Charters Declarations and promised Liberty Peace Protection proved their most unsatiable merciless perfidious tyrannical Exactors Fleecers Oppressors Taxmasters Tormentors almost without any intermission in one kind or other 2 That the Jews under all these Kings reigns notwithstanding all their indulged Liberties were but their most absolute Bondslaves and exquisite Villains in all respects as these particulars will evidence First their names were all inrolled in the Kings Exchequer for the Jews and they confined to live and abide only in such places as the King and his Justices assigned for their custody should prescribe them from which they might not remove without special license 2ly They were to be there constantly resident that the Kings Officers might there finde both them and their families upon all occasions 3ly They were translated from place to place at the Kings pleasure and permitted to reside in no place but where they had a common chest 4ly Their persons wives children infants families were imprisoned distrained sent to remote Prisons Castles banished executed tormented put to fines and ransoms upon all occasions especially for their Taxes and Debts to the King 5ly They were both by poll and wholesale granted and sold to others like Bondslaves and Villains in grosse by the King and morgaged to those who would purchase them or advance any monies upon their assignment 6ly They were alwayes to wear a badge and Table on their outmost garments as well females as males whereever they rod or went to distinguish them from Christians with
whom they were to have no intimate communion who were prohibited to be servants nurses to any of the Jews in any kind and were all of them to be slaves and servants to the King in one kinde or other 7ly They were all prohibited to depart the Realm when once entred without special licence which they could not obtain and imprisoned yea put to fines and ransoms when they attempted it to avoid their Taxes Such was their Vassallage in respect of their persons As for their real and personal estates they were wholly at the Kings disposal First the King could seise all their Lands Houses Rents Annuities Fees Morgages Debts Goods Chattels go●d silver and sell grant release give them unto whom he pleased at his pleasure 2ly All their real and personal estates chattels debts escheated to the King upon their deaths neither could their children wives heirs executors enjoy them without making Fines reliefs and compositions with the King for them at high rates 3ly They could not sue for any debt morgage house fee duty nor assign grant sell give release them unto others without the Kings special license for which they paid such fines as he thought fit to impose 4ly The King could stay their actions debts usury respite them for what time he pleased order them to be paid at other Terms and by other summes than those expressed in their charters and obligations and finally pardon release them and deliver up their Charters to their Debtors when and where he pleased 5ly The King seised searched inrolled sealed up all their publick Chests Charters Writings Debts Goods Chattels Estates and disposed of them to his own use upon all occasions notwithstanding all Grants and Charters to them and appointed all their Judges Officers Cyrographers Cofferers Escheators Presbyters Priests and Tallagers at his pleasure yea inforced them to tax distrain imprison one another under pain of perpetual imprisonment banishment confiscation of all their estates and the severest penalties as the premised Records assure us 3ly They alwayes lived under uncessant perpetual arbitrary unsu portable Taxes and Tallages imposed on them without any act of Parliament or their common assents by our Kings and their griping Officers at what rates soever they pleased sometimes 5000. or 6000. somtimes 20000. 60000 but commonly 8000. 10000. marks or pounds by the year levyed with the greatest rigour which some of the richest Jews in all places were commonly engaged to see punctually paid in at the terms appointed and when any of them opposed or neglected to pay or levy them their persons wives children families infants were all distrained imprisoned their estates Debts seised confiscated some of them sent Prisoners into Ireland and frequently menaced with perpetual banishment hence and loste of their estates their taxes being levyed by the strictest menacing warrants and all rigorous violent ways the King and his instruments could possibly invent And are not their Taxes in case they will now return again like to be more high frequent oppressive since the very English themselves after all their late contests wars consultations and prodigal expences of their blood treasures estates are now brought under heavy uncessant monthly arbitrary Taxes Excises Imposts decimations levyed with the greatest rigour and such as dare oppose them out of conscience or defence of publike liberty though in a legal way imprisoned close imprisoned ruined yea threatned with perpetual banishment even by such who pretend themselves the Patrons Protectors of the English liberties franchises Properties from such Aegyptian and Jewish Bondage and greatest Antagonists against such arbitrary exorbitant Tyranny 4. That besides these constant annual Taxes our Kings upon all occasions enforced them by way of Loans to lend what sums they demanded under pain of imprisonment confiscation of their estates seisure of all their Debts Pawns Chests And frequently seised searched released granted sold all their gold silver chests debts houses fees annuities pawns and imprisoned their persons wives children to extort and raise monies upon all extraordinary necessities 5. That when they had fleeced them to their very skins and could expect no more moneys from them then they morgaged and sold their persons estates and the revenues proceeding from them unto others to ad●ance present moneys before hand like so many Slaves and Villains And though many of them notwithstanding all their endlesse Taxes Extortions Squeezings fleecings grew rich again in a short time through asury broccage clipping and falsifying coyn plate frauds and extortions of all kinds and their base parsimony industry frugality yet their wives children heirs friends enjoyed little or no benefit at all by it but the King and his Officers commonly fleeced them of al they gained by one device or other So that England was little better ●han a second Aegypt and our Kings and their griping Officers nothing else but so many new Pharoahs and Aegyptian Tax-matters to them during all their continuance here they ha●ing no assurance of lives liberties e●tates under them by any Charters Grants Protection Engagements which they made no conscience to revoke and violate at their pleasures as some of fate have done e●en to their own Christian Brethren in as high a degree as they did to the Jews 6. That they were so exceeding execrable and detestable to the people in all places where they resided both for their infidelity blasphemies apostacies enmity to Christ and Christianity circumcising and crucifying Christian Children clipping of coin falsifying of Charters extortion brokage usury frauds unconscionable Jewish cut-throat dealing and discrepancy of maners from the English that many places and ports opposed their coming over other Towns as Newcastle Winchelse Wycombe Newbury Berkhamsted Suthampton other places purchased exemptions or removals of them And those Towns where they resided frequently rose up in a tumultuous maner against them burning their houses beating abusing kiling their persons pillaging their goods and forcing them to fly to the Kings Castles for Sanctuary notwithstanding all the Kings Charters Proclamations Provisions of all sorts for their protection and defence against violence and committing them to the protection of the Sheriffs Maiors Chief Officers and Burgesses of the places where they resided But especially they were above measure assaulted beaten slaughtered pillaged by the Cruce-signati and Saint-like Souldiers of that age who listed crossed themselves for the Holy-Wars and by the Barons Souldiers who took up arms against their Soveraigns under pretext only of defending the Great Charters Laws Liberties of the Church and Realm of England usually stiling themselves exercitus Dei et sanctae Ecclesiae in Anglia Neither were they free from violence plunder nor the common people satisfied till their universal final banishment hence which they oft sollicited their implacable enmity against them being such that the symptoms thereof yet continue amongst us in our proverbiall speeches I hate thee as I do a Jew I would not have done so to a Jew None but a Jew would have done so and
the like 7. That notwithstanding all the Injuries Oppressions Indignities cruelties they here sustained both from our Kings their Officers the generality of the people by Gods just curse and vengeance on them fot their sins yea notwithstanding all means used by our Kings Magistates Bishops preaching Friers and others both for their reformation and conversion to the Christian Faith yet the generality of them continued persevered still in their willfull obstinacy infidelity blindnesse enmity malice blasphemies despite against our crucified Saviour and Christianity which they manifested upon all occasions in publike and private by circumcising and crucifying chistian children breaking the Crucifix in Oxford and trampling it under foot in the midst of the Universities soleme Procession and otherwise expressed at large in the forementioned records as likewise in their extorsions clipping and falsifying moneys Charters usuries frauds rapes murders forgeries very few of them turning Christian converts and that either to save their lives or prevent some imminent dangers to their persons families estates and those of the poorer sort for the most part to get a present livelyhood from the Christians who frequently turned Apostates or flagitious malefactors to the scandal of religion 8. That the Jews here had their Synagogues Schools Priests Presbyter and Comptroller of their Exchequer Escheator Cofferers Cyrographers Attornies Bayliffs with their proper Judges and Court of Exchequer wherein only they were to be sued proceeded against and by whom they were Iudged their Prisons Attachers Tax-Masters Record-Keepers ordered in all things according as the King by his Writs and Letters directed All which Offices were appointed by the Kings special Patents Writs whose Names Powers Jurisdictions Salaries together with their legal trials and proceedings of all sorts civil criminal the forms of their Starrs Charters Extents of Lands assignments of Debts Releases Reliefs Fines with the names of the chiefest Jews are registred and most clearly fully related in the forecited Records and in no other prin●ed History or Law-book whatsoever 9. That the Jews were exempt from all other Temporal and Ecclesiastical Courts and Jurisdictions but the Justices specially appointed for their custody and the Kings Exchequer for the Jews yea from all publike Taxes imposed on the English and could not be excommunicated by the Masters of their Law without the Kings special license 10. That the Iews usury was no ways coun●enanced nor approved but generally condemned and frequently released by our Kings long before the Statute de Judaismo which most infallibly appears to be made in 3 Ed. 1. not in 18. as Sir Edward Cook very grosly mistook And that the banishment of their Usury by it was not the cause of their voluntary banishment hence as he most fondly conceited 11. That the Presbyteratus Judeorum totius Angliae was not the High Priests spiritual function as Sir Edward Cook and others affirm but only a temporal office and Comptrolership in the Kings Exchequer of the Jews 12. That our Kings and Auncestors in times of Popery made and published ●undry excellent Ordinances against the blasphemies abuses of the Jews and were very zealous industrious to convert them to Christianity and carefull to maintain support confirm and provide for them when converted in their Domus Conversorum That King Edward the first remitted his right to all the goods of convert Jews by an unchristian usage confiscated formerly to the Crowne by their very conversion allowing all Converts the moity of their estates to maintain them and granting the other moity of their Estates together with his Deodands and all forfeitures and Chevages of the Jews for the support of the Converts and their House Chappel Chaplains Yet very few of them were converted 13. That King Edward the 1 in the 18 year of his reign did by publike Edict of Parliam actually banish all the Jews out of England except the Converts by a set prefixed day beyond all contradiction much against the Jews good wills as I have undeniably proved by sundry Records forecited here and by multitudes of Historians in my first Demurrer against Sir Edw. Cooks grosse error A truth so clear that the very Jews themselves as I am informed by those best versed in their Manuscript Antiquities do make special mention of this their Banishment out of England in their Chronicles in Manasseh Ben-Israels custody taking their later computations of years from thence as a time very remarkable and ominous to their whole Nation And well might they do so seeing learned Mr. Edward Brerewood in his Enquiries touching the diversities of Languages and Religions throughout the chief parts of the world London 1614. c. 13. p. 92. assures us that The first Country of Christe●●om whence the Iews were expelled without hope of Return was our Country of England whence they were Banished Anno 1290. by King Edward the first By which example Not long after they were likewise banished France Anno 1307. by Philippus Pulcher Only of all the Countries of France in the Iurisdiction of Avignon the Popes State some are remaining Out of Spain An. 1492. by Ferdinand and shortly after out of Portugal Anno 1539. by Emanuel Out of the Kingdome of Naples and Sicilie Anno 1539. by Charls the V. as he there writes Out of which Sir Edward Cooke might have as well averred they only voluntarily banished themselves as that they voluntarily banished themselves out of England with●ut any special Edict for their exile thence What other particulars of les●er moment concerning the Jews occurre in these Records I have formerly touched in their respective places and shall here omit Having thus compleated my JUDAISMUS ANGLICANUS REDIVIVUS if I may so stile it or Chronological Collections of the Historical and Legal affairs of the English Jews out of the rich unknown Magazine of our generally neglected slighted precious old Records which Hugh Peters the great New-modeller Reformer of our former Lawes Liberties Government Kingdom Republike Church Religion Justice Law Merchandise Navy the Poor and what not but himself out of his rash fiery Zeal and transcendent ignorance would now make all new Martyrs but yet be none himself For which end in his Good Work for a good Magistrate London 1651. after his proposal of A short Model for the Law p. 28. c. he concludes with this advice as a Good Work fit for his good Magistrate p. 33. This being done It is very advisable to burn all the old Records yea even those in the Tower the Monuments of Tyranny that so his New Whim●es only might be known and adored for our English Lawes and Monuments in all succeeding ages I shall therefore crave Liberty to inform the World and this Ignoramus of the incomparable Excellency Utility Necessity of preserving these Records which he hath so brutishly devoted to the fire before he either knew their contents or worth which our Ancestors even in all former Wars Revolutions as well as times of peace and settlement preserved with much
Justices Nobles Gentlemen Citizens Merchants Societies Fraternities most private persons both in England Ireland Wales Scotland all the British Isles and other Territories anciently belonging to England All whose particular patents grants evidences though under sea● if alleged to be false forged sophi●●ticated must be tryed only by their exemplifications or inrollments on record They likewise comprise all the Judgements Fines Common Recoveries Verdicts Trials Suits Statute Merchants and Staple Recogni●an●●s Inrolments yea in any of the private Conveyances Contracts between our Kings and private subjects and one subject another What a universal confusion subversion then disinherison destruction of all Rights Titles Interests Inheritances Priviledges the burning of all our old Records would immediatly bring upon all and every County City Corporation Nobleman Gentleman Inheritor Freeholder of the Realm of England and all the subordinate Dominions thereto annexed let this Short Cutter himself and all Wise men determine who hold or claim any thing by matter of Record their best and surest evidence 3ly All the good old Laws Statutes for the Government Peace safety defence and wellfare of the Nation are originally conteined in our Records by which they must be tryed examined Yea all the perambulations and deafforestations of our forrests All the Limits Bounds Extents Contents Jurisdictions Customs Priviledges Tenures Rents Services of all Counties Cities Burroughs Ports Honors Mannors Parishes Courts of Justice Offices Officers Civil Military Ecclesiastical Marine all the Pedegrees Discents Successions by which all Heirs Successors hold or claim their inheritances are for the most part defined ascertained evidenced proved in and by our Records alone wherein they are enrolled And if they should all be burnt together what a taxies confusions contentions oppressions suits quarrels frauds Disinherisons would thereupon immediatly ensue all wisemen may prognosticke The mighty Nymrods and Grandees of the times wil then soon question al mens Titles devour their lesse potent neighbours estates inheritances adjoyning near to theirs all potent Landlords will exact what services rents customs heriots releifes they please from their poor tenants all superiour inferiour Courts Officers Corporations claim exercise what extravagant Jurisdictions powers they think meet and all legal means of defending mens rights liberties inheritances against malitious potent vexations Adversaries will be utterly abolished by Salt Peters new Firework to burn all our old Records to ashes 4ly Whereas this Ignoramus in ou● Records the most whereof he never yet saw and cannot so much as read produceth this only reason for their burning that they are the monuments of Tyranny I would demand of rhis bold blind Bayard who judgeth of coulors he never yet saw how he can make good this notorious untruth The greatest part of our Records are the two great Charters of the Liberties of England and the Forrest or sundry subsequent confirmations of them in several Parliaments the good old Laws Statutes Ordinances made by our wisest Kings Nobles Commons upon long advise and serious debates in our English Parliaments for the Government Peace defence wellfare of the people The proceedings debates Judgements Resolutions of our sagest Parliaments Judges Courts of Justice in all matters cases publike private civil or criminal formerly debated or resolved in them Old Charters Commissions Patents Writs Concords Fines Recoveries Statutes Judgements Extents Indictments Offices Grants of Liberties Lands Franchises Fairs Offices Pardons to particular persons corporations all matters advancing the defence of the Realm by Land and Sea in times of danger war according to the ancient Laws and Customes of the Realm Negotiations Truces Leagues with Embassies Letters to from forain States All particulars concerning Merchants Merchandise Trade Coyn Bu●lion Measures weights wools Staples Ships and the like Now how all or any of these can be stiled Monuments of Tyranny let this Lindsy-Wolsy great Clerk demonstrate at his best leasure Besides I here averr ex certa scientia against this Imposture That most of our old Records especially in the Tower are so far from being monuments of Tyranny that on the contrary they are the chiefest badges the clearest evidendences of those good old English Liberties which our noble Ancestors claimed purchased and transmitted to us as our richest Birthrights yea the principal Bulworks Fences against all sorts of Tyrannical usurpations encroachments on the Peoples Liberties Rights Properties in any kind whatsoever To put this out of Controversie I shall appeal only to the many excellent old Reeords produced most insisted on by the Commons and others in the several Parliaments of 7 8 21 Jacobi and 3 4 17. Caroli against all Impositions Tunnage Poundage Customs Excises Loans Taxes demanded imposed and exacted from the Subject without common consent and Act of Parliament against imprisoning Subjects by King or Council Table without any legal cause expressed in the warrants and not bailing them in such cases against Shipmoney Court and Conduct money the Bishops late Canons and Oath Commissions for executing martial Law in times of Peace impressing and billiting Souldiers the Commissions of Array with other late Grievances Monopolies and the arbitrary proceedings of Strafford Canterbury the old Council Table Star-chamber and High-commission printed in sundry Treatises in Sir Edw. Cooks 2 4 Institut Sir Robert Cottons Posthuma and in my Legal Historical Vindication and collection of the good old fundamental Liberties c. of England to which I shall refer the Reader and Hugh Peters who if he had St. Augustines ingenuity hath as much cause and more than he to write a book of Retractations especially of this his rash sentence passed against our old Records devoting them to the fire which his and others New-Medles better deserve than they Now that I may the better excite encourage all generous English Spirits especially Lawyers Statesmen Historians Heralds and Divines who have opportunity not only to the diligent preservation but inspection study perusal of our ancient over much neglected sleighted Records so rashly devoted to the fire by Peters I shall in brief acquaint each of them what hidden Treasures and rare precious pearls are locked up in these old Parchment cabinets 1. All grounded Students and Professors of the Law upon diligent search may find in our old Records the several Writs of Summons for our Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Dukes Earls Viscounts Barons Citizens Burgesses Merchants and all other Members to our ancient English Parliaments Great Councils of State Synods Convocations with the several prorogations adjournments dissolutions of them for Knights and others wages The Speeches Proceedings Petitions Debates Consultations Orders Ordinances Statutes Judgements Pleas Demands Grants or Refusals of Aides Subsidies with all transactions resolves concerning peace War Government Trade Merchandise Bullion Coyn Weights Measure purviances Customes Tunnage poundage Imposts Fishing Shipping defence of King or Kingdom by Land or Sea Liberties priviledges properties regulation of abuses supplies of defects of Law Justice and all other matters formerly discussed in our English parliaments Which
Synods Princes Pre●●tes concerning the Popes Ecclesiastical and Tem●●ra● usurped Jurisdiction formerly claimed usurped in England his Legates Bulls Excommunications Interdictons Peter-pence Tenths First-fruits Palls Provisions Letters Taxes all Disputes betweene our Kings Nobles Parliaments Judges and the Pr●la●es or Clergy of England Scotland Ireland Wales and betwixt our Prelate● and Clergymen themselves concerning their Jurisdictions Courts Priviledges Possessions Pr●cedency Visita●ions Exemptions Taxes Tenths First-fruits Elections consecrations Investitures c. And all Charters Priviledg●s Exemptions Glebes rents 〈…〉 ●●●onging to the Bishopricks Monasteries 〈◊〉 clergy of England Ireland ●●les Scotland and the 〈…〉 which if ●ige●ted into an History would not only ●dorn but exce● all Ecclesiastical Histo●ies of Engl●nd hither●o p●blish●d and rectifie some mistakes in ●any of them Upon all which consid●rations I hope the God of the Spi●●●s of all fle●h wi●●in this stupid selfish degenerated age raise up some heroick active publike English Spirits of all these rankes not only to preserve our precious antient Records from Hugh Peters designed Martyrdom but likewise diligently to study and extract such useful collections out of them as I have hinted for the benefit honor of their Native country and advantage of succeeding ages of which I have here given them a leading president in these Historical Legal Chronological collections relating only to our English Iews the transcendent malice of my former causlesse Enemies in debarring me by a special old Council-Table Order from all accesse to the Tower Records during my 5. years Imprisonment in it made the very next day after my commitment thither to deprive me of their benefit seconded with above 3. yeares close imprisonment and exile in remotest Castles and the late ungrateful despiteful unrighteous Oppressions of some of their new Whitehall Successors though my pretended great Friends in seising all my Papers Writings Records they could meet with both in Lincolns Inne a●d the Country ●nd keeping me close Prisoner in ● rem●●e Castles under stri●t●st armed Guards near full 3. y●ars space wi●hou● any accusation hea●ing or cause expr●ssed ●ither th●n or since of purpose to hinder me from our R●cords 〈◊〉 ●ublishing any thing for the common good as ●ome of them have ac●nowledged having so long deba●●ed so much impo●e●ished so ●far disabled me from the●e Noble Undertakin●s de●er●ing all encouragements e●en ●●on ● common publick pur●e and account that I must recommend the pursuite of th●m to some other Gent●emen of l●sser years but far greater abilities and estates then my self who may both demerit receive in after ages far better rewards for their Labors and Publications herein then long tedious Imprisonments close imprisonment Pillories Stigmatizing Fines Exiles Degradations Affronts Losses discouragements of all sorts the only Encouragements Guerdons Recompences I ever yet received for all my useful publications my unmercenary faithful Services and Sufferings for the publike upon all occasions I shall close up all with some Scripture-Texts discovering the excellent use benefit of old Records and what high esteem the wisest Kings in the Old and Paul himself in the New Testament had of them The first Text I shall cite gives us a true character of the Jews seditious carriage then manifested by Records E●ra 4.14 15. Now because we are salted with the Salt of the Palace and it was not meet for us to see the Kings dishonour therefore have we sent and certified the King that search may be made in the Books of Records of thy fathers so shalt thou find in the Book of the Records ●nd know that this City is a Rebe●lious City and hurtfu●l unto Kings and Provinces and they have moved sedition within the same of old times for which cause was the city destroyed which appeared true upon search made in the Records vers 19.20 Esther 6.1 On that ni●ht could not the King sleep and he commanded to bring the Book of Records of the Chronicles and they were r●●d be●o●e the King Neh. 12.22.23 The ●evites in the days of Eliashib Joiada c. were recorded chief of the Fathers also the Priests to the reign of Daruis the Persi●● The Sons of Levy the chief of the Fathers were recorded in the Books of Chronicles c. 2 Tim. ● 1● When thou comest bring with thee the books bu● especially the Parchments which the Latin Translators a●●●end● Membranas ● Parchment Rolls Upon which words ●●e●●o●e●t Oecum●mus and others thus comment M●xime Membranas Membranas Latina magis voce volumina sive Chartas volubiles appell●●●i I● complicatis en●m involutis Chartis habebant olim quae ad divinam spectant Scripturam Quemadmodum ●tiam ad ●re●●n●●m a●●us 〈◊〉 p●u●ima habent If then a●l our parchment Membran●es Rolls Records must be burnt Hugh Peters and his good Magistrate to accomplish this good Work must first burn the old original parchment Membranaes Rolls of the Old and New Testament the ancientest of all others which St. Paul was so carefull to preserve and then those of the Kingdom next And whether this will be a Good or christian work for a Good or christian Magistrate or Minister let all sober men resolve seeing it will totally deprive us of all sacred all civil Antiquities and Records and be matter of greatest rejoycing advantage to our common Romish Enemies and the Jesuites the original projectors of this infernal Jesuitical designe and practice as Ludovicus Lucius Hist Iesuiticae l. 1. c. 6. p. 144. manifests records What therefore our Saviour himself concludes of old Wine that will all learned discreet sage men determine of our good old English Laws Liberties Records compared with Hugh Peters and others New Models Instruments papers relating to the publike Lu. 5.39 No man having drunk Old Wine streightway desireth New for he saith the Old is better FINIS Errata and Omissions KInd Reader Take notice that the Records of Edw. 1. being transc●ibed before the later of King John and those of Henry the 3d. and printed at guess before them they amounting to above double the sheets conjectured thereupon from C. p. 13. to H. p. 53. the folioes only are figured and some sheets altogether w●●hout figures Wherefore I shall desire thee to page them all with thy p●n from p. 13. to p. 53. t●at so thou maist the better correct those few Errataes which have escaped the Press in some Copies here noted as if they had all been paged in order In the Epistle p. 2. l. 27. read Endeavorer In the Book p. 3. l. 32. Priesthood● P●esbytery p. 11. l. 33. together p. 13. l. 6. preceding p. 16. l. 1. on r. in l. 14. Statutes p. 18. l. 30 thu● p. 20. l. 3 Fra●ket p. 24. l. 13. placia p. 25. l. 32. lucio p. 27 l. 37 victu●lia et si quem inveneritis quae deneger eis victualia c. p. 34. l. 36. ●s●nd p. 37. l. 10. reddendam p. 38. l. 36. but then p 43. l. 1. Jews Cha●reis p. 44. l. 37. ●e●minis p