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
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 ParliamentuÌ„ Westm. omnes Nobiles regni sui jusserat congregari In quo statuta multa ad utilitatem regni fuerunt publâ—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 Feaâ—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. Clauseâ— E. 1. in the Tower rot 8. I find that one who was bound to Gamilelâ— 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 partâ— ne habere DEBEANT Ã 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 Edwaâ—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 inqâ—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 theâ—e was a debate â—n the first place de Iudaeorum ejectione Concerning the banishing of the Iews whereof there was a grâ—â—t mâ—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 Parliâ—meâ—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 câ—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 expulsiâ—â— 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 petiâ—ura usque eo dum denique deleatur But I shall pass from Latin to our more common Englâ—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 Nâ—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 gâ—ving them to bear their enaâ—rges till they were out of the Realm The number of the Iews then expelled was fifteen thousand and sixty persons whose housâ—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 gaâ—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 mâ—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 noâ— theâ—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
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 hâ—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
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 Tâ—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 Monâ—tae audienda et terminanda assignatis et dilecto Clerico suo Philippo de VVylegheby salutem Quia datum est Nobis intelligâ— Quod quidam Judaei Regni nostri fidem Caâ—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 obsequiâ—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 maâ—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 descâ—ibant sicut praedictum est Et hoc propter lapsum anni a tempore impignorationis hujusmodi nullatenus omiâ—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 dampnatoruÌ„ seu dampnandoruÌ„ 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 subâ—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
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 thâ—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 â—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 rabâ—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
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 wâ—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 noâ— 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 thaâ— 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 hiâ— 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 Phâ—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
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 redâ—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 Lâ—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
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 varâ—etatibus â—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. CeremonÃes l. 35. these p. 109. l 32 others r their Margin p. 35. l. 13. Geogr. p. â—9 l. â— c 10. p 105. l. 1. Imo â— 23 1 Tiâ— 5.8 p. 115. l 17. 〈◊〉 l. 22. servirebant p. 116. l. 42. Episcopalis l. 42. Calâ—ernâ—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 Lincoâ—ns-â—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 dediâ—â—et â—i de quibus prâ—â—â—â— fuerat rectuudinem vestrae mentis inflectere pecuniarum summam offeâ—â—◠〈…〉 sunt quam Excellentia vestra contempsit omnipotentâ—s Dei placere judâ—â—â—â—r quiâ—â—nâ— auro innocentiam praetulit Si igitur ab armato Regâ— in Sacâ—ificiuâ— Dâ—â— vâ—â—sa câ—â— aqua contempta pensemus quale sacrificium omnipotenti Dâ—o Râ—x â—â—â—uâ—it qui pro amore illius non aquam SED AURUM ACCIPERE CONTEMPSIT Itaque fili Excellentissime fidentâ—â— dicam quia libaâ—iâ— AURUM Dâ—mino quod contra cum habere noluisti LONDON Printed and sold by Edward Thomas in Green Arbor 1â—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 incrâ—asing it into an over-large bulke and of oâ—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 Paâ—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 insâ—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 Edwâ—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 consisâ—ing of unprinted and for the most part unknown Records never formerly published I cannot diâ—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 oâ— 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 moâ—â—sâ—ation trouble or disturbance by any Jew or English 〈◊〉 in the exerâ—â—se thereof c. Such a Chaâ—teâ— as Mâ—â—â—sseh Bâ—n-Isrâ—el now aspires after for himâ—elf as his Addresses intiâ—â—â—â—â— 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 obâ—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 tà m ultrà mare quà m 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 impedâ—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
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 Chrisâ—ianos Et ideo tibi praecipimus quod eos custodias mâ—nnreneâ—s protegas non eis infetens vel inferri permitteâ—â—â— aâ—iquod gravamen vel molestiam si aliquis 〈…〉 forisfecerit id eis sine dilatione facias 〈…〉 clamari facias per totam Ballivam tuam 〈…〉 pacem nostram dedimus non obstante 〈…〉 â—â—bitione inde facta ab Episcopo Hereford quia nihil ad ipsum pertiner de Judaeis nostris Et proâ—ibemus tibi ne manus mittas in eos aut in Catalla eoâ—um nec eos capias aut imprisones nec in Placitum trahas aut a Justiciariis nostris ab aliquo trahi permittas Sedu aâ—iquid fecerint quare poni debeant per vadium plegios tunc illos eorum excessus attachies quod â—â—nt coram Jusâ—iciariis nostris ad Custodiam Judaeâ—rum attornatis inde responsuri hoc facias per viâ—um legalium Christianorum Judaeorum Et non permittas quod placitentur in curia Christianitatis occasione â—â—cujus debiti Et haec omnia fieri facias sicut fieri solebant tempore Johann Regis patris nostri Teste Com. apud Tâ—â—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 â—â—cecom Suthampton civibus Winton pro Judaeis There 〈◊〉 Jews then residing in all these places Iâ— the 2 year of King Henry the 3. I find this Kings â—rit to several Sheriffs where the Jews resided to proclâ—â—m that all the Jews where ever they did walk or ride should on their upper Garments wear a white â—abâ—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 Wigorniâ— salutem Prâ—cipimus tibi quod â—lamari observari facias per totam Ballivaâ— tâ—â—m quâ—d omnes Judaei deferunt in superiori indumento suo ubicur 〈◊〉 ambulaverint aut equitaverint infra villam vel exâ—ra quaâ—â— duas Tabulas albas in Pectore fact as de lineo pâ—atano vel dâ— parcameno Ita quod per hujusmodi signum manifeste poâ—sint Iudaei à Christianis discerni Tâ—ste Câ—mite to wit William Marshal Earl of Glâ—cester the Kings Guardâ—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 Iustâ—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 Chaâ—â—e quâ—e fuerunt ipsius Eliae debita in eis contenta ipsi patri nâ—stro remâ—neant that King Iohn upon Elye his death seiâ—ed and granted â—ll his houses except two which Mirabilâ—â— by agreement was to have paying a fine of 15 marks to his Fatheâ— which was not yet paid which agreement he confirmâ—d and thereupon orders the Sheriff to â—â—y the â—aid Fine and Debts T. Com apud Gloc. 3. die Ian. It appears by many Rolls of â— and also of 3 4 5. H. 3. that King Iohn seiâ—ed and gaâ—e away â—o other the Houses of divers Jews both in Gloceâ—ter Oxon. Noâ—thampton and that King Hâ—nâ—y likewise diâ—poâ—ed of them as escheated to him either by the Jews deaths oâ—â—oâ— some other causes Take these two presâ—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. Gâ—ouc salutem Constat nâ—bis per inspectionem Rotulorum nostrorum quod Dom. J. Rex pater noster dedit Guiberto de Rue Domum quae fuit Elye Iudaei Gloc. c. cum quadam placiâ—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 Licenâ—e being once within his power Rex Custodâ—bus Portuum Angliae Praecipimus vobis quod Judaeos qui venturi sunt in teâ—ram nostram Angâ—iae de traâ—â—â—ia triâ—is partâ—bus ad morandum in terra nostra Angliae cum catalâ—is suis liberè et sine impedimento in portu nostro â—ccâ—dere permittatis accepta ab eis sufficienti securitate secundum Lâ—gem Judaeorum per fidem eorundem quod quam câ—ritis poterint veniant ad Iusticiarios nostros ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatos ad inrotuland
aut emat carnes in Quadragessima Et quod nullus Judeus detrahat fidei Christianae vel publice disputet de eadem Et quod nullus Iudeus habeat secretam familiaritatem cum aliqua Christiana nec aliquis Christianus cum Iudea Et quod quiliber Iudeus ferat manifestam Tabulam Et quod nullus Judeus ingrediatur aliquam Ecclesiam vel aliquam Capellam nisi transeundo nec incis moretur in vituperium Christi Et quod nullus Judeus impediat aliquo modo alium Judeum volentem ad fidem Christi convertere Et quod nullus Judeus receptetur in aliqua villa sine speciali licentia regis nisi in villis illis in quibus Judei manere consueverunt Et mandatum est Justiciariis ad custodiam Judeorum assignatis quod sic fieri et sub incursione bonorum praedictorum Iudeorum firmiter teneri faciant Teste Rege apud Westm 31 die Ianuarii Per REGEM Et CONSILIUM These are the most memorable Constitutions of all others I have met with made by the King and his Counsel for restraining the insolencies rites and preventing the Leprosie and leaven of the Iews except those of 7 E. 1. which I shall recite in due place derived from these which none of our Historians mention In the 39 year of H. 3. I find this large record touching the assessing of a Tallage upon the Commonalty of the Jews in London and other places assessed levyed with all diligence and all sorts of new devises Rex Constab Turris suae London salutem Precipimus tibi quod statim visis literis istis starim in presentia tua eligi fac tres de legalioribus et discretioribus Iudeis de communitate Iudeorum London de assensu Iudeorum eorundem ad assidend super eandem communitatem 472 marc quae ipsam commun contingunt de Tallio mille libr. super Iudeos nostros Angliae assesio de termino sancti Martini prox futuri et assidend super eandem communitatem 50 marc quae ipsam contingunt de portione Tallag Aaron de Ebor. Iudeo de Tall. predict cui concessimus ad instantiam dilecti fratris et fidelis nostri Rici Com. Cornub. quod hac vice propter nimiam suam paupertatem de praedicto Tallagio sit quietus Et distringas omnes Iudeos et Iudeas de Com. praedicto omnibus modis quibus modis sciveris et poteris per corpora et catalla sua infra Archas Cyrograph London et extra inventa ad reddendum Regi ad opus dicti frattis nostri portionem quae eis continget de praedict 522 marc Et si contigerit quod aliquis Iudeus vel Iudea defecerit in solutione porcionis quae ipsum Judeum vel Iudeam contingit de tall et portione predictis tunc accedas ad Arch. praedict et extrahi facias de melioribus et clarioribus debitis suis in Atchis illis inventis usque ad portionem quae ipsum Iudeum vel Iudeam continget de tallio et portione predict ad distringendum omnes debitores eorundem debitotum ita quod habeas omnes denariâ—s illos albos et integros per manum tuam propriam apud Wallingfoâ—d in vigilia St. Andr. Apostoli an r. n. 40. liâ—erand â—raedicto Com. vel ipsis qui per ipsum Com. ad haec fuerint deputati et habeas ad eosdem diem et locum de arreragiis Tallagii 100 l. de termino Sancti Trinit praeter de Coc. fil Aaron and 20 other Iews there named ordered to pay special sums there specified as due from each of them liberandos per manum tuam praedicto Com. vel ipsis qui ad hoc fuerint deputati unde alias recepisti mandatum nostrum quod non es exercutus habeas etiam ad eosdem diem et locum corpora Eliae Epi. Aaron fil Abraham Solomon Epi. et Iacob Epi Iudeorum plegios de tallio praedicto una cum corporibus illorum Iudeorum Iudearum quae aliqua arreragia debuerunt de Tallagio praedict Et Ita te habeas in hoc mandato exequendo quod pro defectu tui ad te graviter capere non debeamus nec de terris et catallis tuis praedicta debita levari faciemus T. meipso apud Westm 24 die Octob. an r. n. 39. Eodem modo mandatum est Vic. Linc. VVigorn Oxon. Suthampt. Linc. Ebor. Devon Wilteshire Gloucest Cantebr Norff. Bedeford Essex Hereford Constab Bristol to levy other particular summes upon particular Jewes there mentioned too tedious to transcribe conteining an whole Roll where all who please may view them at their leasure and the Jews too names being many Then follows Quia Com. Cornub. supplicavit Regi quod mittat aliquem de suis usque Wallingford in vigil St. Andr. prox futur qui intersit solutioni tunc faciendae ibid. de Tallagio et debitis Judeorum formerly particularized at large quae ei concessit in parte solutionis debitorum in quibus ei tenetur Mandatum est Tho. Espernon quod omnibus negotiis pretermissis eidem solutioni dictis die loco inretersit ad eam videndam et irrotuland hoc non omittat T. ut supra Eodem modo mandat est Cyrogr. Arch. Iudeorum Winton quod adjuvantes sint et consulentes Vic. Suth ad levand ad opus dic Com. Cornub. de 160l 12 marc quae communitatem Judeor Winton contingunt de Tallagio nulle libr. super Iudeos Angliae assess de termino St. Martini prox preter et quod permittant predict Vic. Visis literis ipsis habere liberam administrationem debitorum in Archis illis inventorum ad levand praedict 160 l. 12 marc hoc sicut se et sua diligunt non omittant T. ut supra Eodem modo mandat est Cyrograph Archae Iudaeorum Colecester Wigorn London to levy other particular summs there specified in like manner And Dors 4. there are the same writs in all things pro assidendo levando upon the Commonalty of the Jews of London 247 mar and of other sums upon all Jews of England in form aforesaid In Claus 39. H 3. m. 7 There is order for Vines a Jew to recover his debts owed by creditors by reason of his poverty Also Commands to Sheriffs to seal up the Iewes Chests and to others to open and view their writings Mandat est Cyrogr. Christianis Judeis Hereford quod petmittant Vic. Hereford Hug. de Pylardington habere accessum ad Arch. Cyrogr. er illam sigillis suis signare et quod permittant Will. Mansell Vic. War praedict Hug. predict sigilla frangere Cyro in praedict Archa invent videre et irrotulare prout injunxit T. per Philip Luvel Eodem modo mandat c. Cyrogr. Christ Jud. et Vic. Wigorn. statim visis literis accedat ad Arch. Cyr. Wigorn. illum sigillo suo signet quod capiat corpota Hake de VVigorn Iud. et Aar et Samps fil
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 perâ—inent intendâ—n es sitis et respondentes sicut praedictum est In cujus c. T. Rege apud Odyham 16 diâ— 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 aâ—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 prâ—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 Liâ—â—re Patenâ—â—s de domibus Iudaeorum concessis Post eorum Exilium de Anglia wherein are near one hundred partiâ—ular Patents oâ— saâ—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 quâ—tâ—â— marcas extenduntur Habenâ—â—m tenendum eidem Isabellae et haeredibus suis de Nobis et haeredibus nostâ—is imperpetuum Reddendo inde Nobis haeredibus nostris unum denarium per manum Vicecomitis ejusdem Civitatis singulis annis ad Scaccarium nostrum Pasche et facienâ—o aliis Dominis feodi illius servicia inde debita et consueta In cujus c. Teste Rege apud Asheâ—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 Tabâ—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 â—uâ—ae ad sex soudos extenduntur Habendum et tenendum eisdem Willielmo Kater et haeredibus suis vel cui ilias secundum consuetudineÌ„ 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 praedâ—cta pecunia praed Judaeo debebatur nec ei solvebatur Ante Exilium Iudaeorum et quicquid remansit eorum debitis catallis in Regâ—â— 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 Partiâ—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 alâ—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 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 prinâ—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 counâ—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 â—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 Christeâ—â—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 withâ—ut any special Edict for their exile thence What other particulars of lesâ—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 Whimâ—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