and a Christian and as the condition so the operation is changed As Mathew Paris Ironically writes of him A certain Jew in the year 1260 fell into a Privy at Teukâ—sbury but because it was then the Sabbath he would not suffer himself to be pulled out except on the following Lords day for the reverence of his Sabbath Wherefore Richard Clare Earl of Glocester commanded him in reverence of the Lords Day to be kept there till Munday at which time he was found dead of the stink or hunger The Barons of England Ann. 1262. robbed and slew the Jews in all places There were slain of them in London to the number of 700. the rest were spoyled and their Synagogues defaced The original occasion of which massacre was because one Jew had wounded a Christian man in London within Cole-church and would have enforced him to have paid more than two pence for the Usury of 20 s. for one week In the year 1264. in the Passion week the Jews that inhabited the City of London being detected of Treason which they had devised against the Barons and Citizens were slain almost all the whole number of them and great riches found in their houses which were taken and carried away by those that ransacked the same houses The disinherited Barons and Gentlemen in the Isle of Oxholme in the year 1266 took and sacked the City of Lincoln spoyled the Iews and slew many of them entred their Synagogue and burnt the Book of their Law In the 7th year of King Edward the 1. Ann. 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 VVestminster 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 Andshortly 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 Anno 1279. The Jews of Northampton crucified a Christian boy but did not throroughly 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 About this year as I conceive the Statutes of Edward the first Intituled de Judeismo were made and published Printed in rench in Tottles Magna Charta Anno 1556. part 2. f. 58 59. which being not printed amongst our Statutes at large in the English Tongue I shall here insert and translate 1. For that the King hath seen that many mischiefs disherisons of honest men of this land have happened by the Usuries which the Jews 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 Feast 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 nor 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 shall be delivered to the Jew or Jewesse or to their Attorney 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 chiefhouse 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 privileged 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 own 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 handfulls 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 infeoff another Jew nor Christian of their houses rents or tenements which they have now purchased not 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 unmoveables 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 in 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 priviledge nor any other shall they 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 six 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 who desired and sollicited the Jews banishment in Parliament abridged many of their 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 to reside here still 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 own advantage more than theirs 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 Edward 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 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 Jews 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 the sâ—â—days namely the 31 of August the exasperating multitude of Jews which dwelt confidently in times past through divers Cities and strong Forts JUSSA EST was commanded with their wives and 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 landable King of England in the parts of Aquitain from whence all the Jews were likewise banished Thomas Walsinghaem 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 Iudaeorum concessa sunt Regi a Populo quinta decima pars bonorum In which Parliament likewise for the banishment of the Iews there was granted to the King by the People a fifteenth part of their goods Henry de Knyghton a Canon of Leâ—cester a most diligent Antiquary flourishing in Richard the 2ds reign rendreth it in these terms King Edward grievously punished the Iews and their consorts for clipping of money and corrupt exchanges where upon 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 Iudges fined deposed and some of them banished in the same Parliament that the Jews were exiled presently another cause moved him concerning Money which he found to be basely clipped and corrupted to the preiudice of the Crowns and the great damage of the people By the Infidelity and Malice of the Iews as it was inquired and found Et feâ—it stabilire unum Parliamentum in quo convicti sunt Iudaei de ea falsitate Et statuit quod omnes Iudaeos 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 dâ—latione explenda communes regni â—ederunt Regi quintum denarium de omnibus bonis suis mobilibus And he caused a Parliament to be 〈…〉 ed wherein the Iews are convicted of that falshood And he ordained that all the Iews 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 Iohn Major and the Centuriators of Magdeburgh out of him thus register it to posterity In the year 1290 the Iews were banished out of England for the Englishmen had made a great complaint to Edward the 1. that by their usuries and frauds most mâ—n 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 that he might banish the Jews = Our learned Iohn Bale Polydor Virgil and the Century VVriters out of him thus expresse it Anno 1291 It should be 1290 In the Parliament at London there was a debate in the first place Concerning the banishing of the Jews whereof there was a great multitude throughout England Sed edicto Publico Concilii Londinensis writes one Publico igitur decreto saith another But by the publick Edict of the Parliament assembled in London and by a publick decree They were all commanded to depart the Realm with their goods which they Concilii jussis obedientes obeying the commands of the Parliament speedily did To these Latin Authors I might annex Thomas Stubs his Act a Pontificum Eboracensium col 1728. who makes mention of this universal banishment of them out of all England in one day but I shall passe to our more Common English 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 Jews were utterly banished the Realm of England for the which the Commons gave the King a fifteen Nicholas Trivet in his Polychronicon and VVilliam Caxton in his Chronicles printed 1502. in the life of K. Edw. the 1. thus stories the Jews banishment out of Hygden and Trevâ—sa in their words A none after the King had done his will of the Justices tho lete he inquere and espye how the Iews dysceyved and beguyled his people thorough the synne of falsness and of Usury And lete Ordain a Prevy Parlement among his Lords So they ordained among theim That all Iewes should voyde 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 Englonde gave vnto the King the XV. Penny of all theyr Goodes mevable and so were the Iewes driven out of Englonde And tho went the Iewes 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 3d. 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 mouth of the River beyond Quinborow The Master Marmer 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 Jews to walk 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 whether he was drawn by a cord The Iews 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 floods 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 mischiâ—vous dealing
Religion King Richard the first after his return out of the Holy Land in the year 1194. appointed Justices Laws and Orders for preventing the frauds and regulating the contracts of the Jews both between themselves and between Christians and them thus recorded at large by Roger de Hoveden and briefly touched only by some others All the Debts Pawns Morgages Lands Houses Rents and Possessions of the Jews shall be registred The Jew who shall conceal any of these shall forfeit to the King his body and the concealment and likewise all his possessions and chattels neither shall it be lawfull to the Jew ever to recover the concealment Likewise 6 or 7 places shall be provided in which they shall make all their contracts and there shall be appointed two Lawyers that are Christians and two Lawyers who are Jews and two egal Registers and before them and the Clorks of William of the Church of St. Maries and William of Chimilli shall their Contracts be made and Charters shall be made of their contracts by way of Indenture And one part of the Indenture shall remain with the Jew sealed with his seal to whom the money is lent and the other part shall remain in the common chest wherein there shall be 3 locks and keys whereof the 2 Christians shall keep one key and the 2 Jews another and the Clerks of William of St. Maries Church and William of Chimilli shall keep the third And moreover there shall be three seals to it and those who keep the seals shall put the seals thereto Moreover the Clorks of the said William and William shall keep a roll of the transcripts of all the Charters and as the Charters shall be altered so let the roll be likewise For every Charter there shall be 3 pence paid one moity thereof by the Jew and the other moity by him to whom the money is lent whereof the 2 writers shall have 2 pence and the keeper of the roll the third And from henceforth no contract shall he made with nor payment made to the Jews nor any alteration made of the Charters but before the said persons or the greater part of thē if all of them cannot be present And the aforesaid 2 Christians shall have one roll of the Debts or receites of the payments which from henceforth are to be made to the Jews and the 2 Jews one and the keeper of the roll one Moreover every Jew shall swear upon his Roll that all his debts and pawns and rents and all his goods and possessions he shall cause to be enrolled and that he shall conceal nothing as is aforesaid And if he shall know that any one shall conceal any thing he shall secretly reveal it to the Iustices sent unto them and that they shall detect and shew unto them all Falsifiers or forgers of Charters and clippers of moneys where or when they shall know them and likewise all false charters By these strict politick Laws the King and his Officers knew the particular wealth monies goods debts and real and personal Estates of every Jew and in whose hands they were and so could seize and command them at their pleasure upon any real or pretended misdemeanors or complaints against them King John in the year of our Lord 1210. commanded all the Jews of both sexes throughout England to be apprehended and imprisoned and to be afflicted with most grievous torments that so they might satisfie the Kings pleasure with their mony Some of them being grievously tortured gave all things which they had and promised more that they might by this means escape so many kinds of torments Amongst whom one Jew at Bristol punished with various torments when as he would neither redeem himself nor submit to any fine the King commanded his tormentors that they should every day pull out one of his grinding teeth untill he should pay to the King Ten thousand marks of silver And when at last for 7 dayes space they had pulled out 7 of his teeth with intollerable torment and now on the 8 day the Tormentors had begun the like work again this Jew an over-slow provider for his profit gave them the aforesaid money that he might save the 8 tooth to himself the other 7 being pulled out who with much more wisdom and less pain might have done so before and have saved his 7 teeth having but 8 in all In the year 1222. in a Council at Canterbury under Archbishop Stephen a certain Apostate Jew made of a Christian a Deacon and afterwards apostatizing was there judicially punisht whom Falco presently apprehending caused to be hanged as Matthew Paris writes but Bracton and others record that he was burned to ashes King Henry the 3 Anno 1230. wanting moneys constrained the Jews whether they would or would not to give him the third part of all their movable goods and that with all expedition The Jews in the year of our Lord 1231. builded a Synagogue very curiously but the Christians obtained of the King that it should be dedicated to our blessed Lady and was since by the same King Henry granted to the Brethren of St. Anthony of Vienna and called St. Anthonies Hospitall In the year of our Lord 1233. King Henry the 3. at his proper costs built in London not farr from the old Temple a decent House and Church sufficient for a Covent with other convenient edifices thereto belonging called The house of the Converts To which house the converted Jews flying leaving the blindnesse of Judaism under a certain honest rule of living might have a certain habitation a safe refuge and a sufficient livelihood during their whole liues without servile labour and the gain of Usury Whereupon it came to passe that in a short time there was gathered together to that place a great number of Converts who were there baptized and instructed in the Christian Faith and lived laudably being governed by a skillfull Rector specially appointed for that purpose King Henry in the year 1235. keeping his Court and the Nativity at VVestminster with many of his Bishops and Nobles there were brought before him upon the complaint of John Toly 7 Jews who had circumcised a certain child in Norwich whom they had stollen away from his parents and kept for a years space from the sight of Christians intending to crucifie him on the feast of Easter But being convicted for this fact they confessed the truth of the thing in the Kings presence and so being at the Kings pleasure both for their life and members were detained in prison for this fact and some of them drawn and hanged In the year of our Lord 1240. the Jews circumcised a Christian child at Norwich and being circumcised they called him Jurninus but reserved him to be crucified in contumely of Jesus Christ crucified But the Father of the child from whom the Jews had stollen him diligently seeking after his Sonne at the last found him shut up in the
John Stow in his Annals p. 204. writes thus of it King Edward banished all the Jews out of England giving them to bear their charges till they were out of the Realm The number of the Jews then expelled was fifteen thousand and sixty persons whose houses being sold the King received an infinite mass 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 gain banished the Iews out of the Realm confiscating all their goods leauing them nothing but mony to bear their charges they by their cruel Vsuries HAVING EATEN HIS PEOPLE TO THE BONES To passe by Heylms Microcosm p. 570. Henry Isaacsons Chronology Ann. 1290. 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 Iews 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 2d 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 to in this particular This Statute was made writes he in the Parliament of 18 Edw. 1. That the mischiefs 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 not these 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 Jews and how necessary it was that the King should be supplyed with Treasure What benefit the Crown had before the making of this Act appeareth by former records as take one for many From the 17 of December in the 50 year of H. 3 until the Tuesday in Shrovetide the 2d year of Edward the first which was about 7. years the Crown had four hundred and twenty thousand pounds fifteen shillings and four pence De exitibus Judaismi at which time the ounce of silver was but 20 d. and now it is more than treble so much So as the recital of the Preamble is true That he and his Ancestors had received great profit from Judaism i Many provisions were made both by this King and others Some time they were banished but their cruel usury continued and soon after they returned and for respect of lucre and gain King John in the second year of his reign granted unto them large Liberties and Priviledges whereby the mischiefs rehearsed in this Act multiplyed But the lucre and gain which King John had and expected of the Infidel Jews made him IMPIE JUDAISARE for to the end they should exercise the Laws of their Sacrifices which they could not do without a Priesthood the King by his Charter granted them to have one c. Which for the great rarity thereof and for that we find it not either in our Books or Histories I will rehearse in haec verba Rex omnibus sidelibus suis omnibus Judaeis Anglis salutem Sciatis nos concessisse Jacobo Judaeo de Londoniis Presbytero Judaeorum Presbyteratum omnium Judaeorum totius Angliae Habendum tenendum quam in vixerit liberè quietè honorificè integrè it à quod nemo â—i super hoc molestiam aliquam aut gravamen inferre praesumat Quare volumus firmiter praecipimus quod eidem Jacobo quoad vixerit Presbyteratum Judaeorum per totam Angliam garantitis manu-teneatis pacificè defendatis Et si quis eum super eo sorisfacere praesumpserit id ei sine dilatione salva nobis emenda nostra de forisfactura nostra emendare faciatis tanquam Dominico Judaeo nostro quem specialiter in servicio nostro retinuimus Prohibemus etiam ne de aliquo ad se pertinente ponatur in placitum nisi coram nobis aut coram capitali Justiciario nostro sicut Charta Regis Richardi fratris nostri restatur Teste S. Bathoniens Episcopo c. Dat per manus Huberti Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi Cancellarii nostri apud Rothomagum 21 die Julii Anno Regni nostri primo To which Charter Sir Edward Cook annexeth this marginal Note This King had a most troublesom and dishonourable rrign God raising against him FOR HIS JUST PUNISHMENT two potent Enemies Pope Innocent the 3 and Philip King of France And besides which was the worst he lost the heart and love of his Baronage and Subjects and at the last had a fearfull end He adds l Our Noble King Edward 1 and his Father H. 3 before him sought by divers Acts and Ordinances to use some means and moderation herein but in the end it was found That there was no mean in mischief and as Seneca saith Res profecto Stulta est nequitiae modus And will it not be so now in their new limited readmission if consented too And therefore King Ed. 1. as this act saith for the honour of God and for the common profit of his people without all respect in respect of these of the filling of his own Coffers did ordain That no Jew from thenceforth should make any bargain or contract for usury nor upon any former contract should take any usury from the Feast of St. Edward then last past So in effect all Jewish Usury was forbidden This Law struck at the root of this pestilent weed for hereby Usury it self was forbidden and thereupon the cruel Jews thirsting after rich gain to the number of 15060 departed out of this Realm into foraign parts where they might use their Jewish trade of Usury from that time that Nation never returned again into this Realm Some are of opinion and so it is said in some of our Histories That it was enacted by authority of Parliament that the usurious Iews should be banished out of rhe Realm But the truth is that their usury was banished by this Act of Parliament and that was
Argument of dishonest private filthy under-hand Bribes or Lucre by which they usually scrue themselves into those places whence they have been exiled transcends my shallow capacity to comprehend especially at this season when we are so over-stored with English that some think of sending and planting Colonies in another world whither these Gold-thirsty Jews may do well to transplant themselves if they be weary of their former habitations 9. The forecited Christian Authors Historians old and new much applaud and magnifie those Christian Emperors Kings Magistrates States who have most opposed restrained suppressed by severest Laws Edicts the Jewish Synagogues Ceremonies Superstitions Rites Abuses and banished these Antichristian Blasphemers and Enemies of Christ Jesus out of their Kingdoms and Territories especially for their Infidelity and censured those who favoured them And Matthaeus Flacius Illericus Johannis Wigandus Andreas Corvinus Thomas Holthuter 4 famous learned Protestant Historians and Divines in their laborious learned Ecclesiastical Centuries as they every where do the like So in their 12. Cent. cap. 7. col 1078 1079. they passe this sharp censure against the Decrees of Pope Alexander the 3. and Clement the 3. prohibiting the Jews to build any new Synagogues where were none before yet tolerating theÌ„ only to repair old ones where they were fallen down or defaced to use their rites in But withall forbidding all Christians under pain of Excommunication communion with them for fear of being seduced to their Superstitions c. Denique ut EXTREMAM Romanorum Paparum IMPUDENTIAM ET STUPENDAM IMPIETATEM VIDEAS non pigebit eorum Decreta PRO BLASPHEMA IN DEUM GENTE JUD AEORUM LATA adscribere And Peter Herlin in his Microcosme p. 569 570. writing That the Iews having been put to divers fines and ransoms they are at last even quite thrust out of Europe also They were banished out of England by Edward the 1. Anno 1290. Out of France Spain Portugal Naples and Sicily by the Kings forecited subjoyns by way of Censure Yet are they found in great numbers in the Romish part of Germany and Poland in most Cities of Italy especially Rome where there are not lesse than 15000. or 20000. of them and also in the Popes Country of Avignion The reason why they are permitted to live thus under our Holy Fathers nose is forsooth AN EXPECTATION OF THEIR CONVERSION WHICH IS A MERE PRETENCE THE REASON BEING INDEED THE BENEFIT HENCE ARISING TO HIS HOLINESSE COFFERS But the hopes of their conversion is small and the means less c. And therfore we cannot now readmit them in to England upon the self-same Papal pretence and Ground of Gain without incurring the like Censures from Protestants and Papists too and bringing intollerable Scandal Dissâ—onor Reproach on our Nation and Religion in these times of pretended highest Reformation they being the professed Enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ who will not not have him to rule over them Luk. 19 27. and so odious to the very Turks them selves for cruâ—fying Christ that they oft use to say in detestation of a thing I would I might die a Jew Neither will they permit a Jew to turn Turk unless he be first baptized 11 Many of the wisest Heathen Law-givers Polititians States have especially prohibited the introduction and habitation of foraigners amongst them Hence Lycurgus the famous Legislator and the Spartans by his Law and advice expelled all foraigners out of their City and Country lest by insinuating themselves amongst them they should teach their Citizens some ill introduce foraign manners and an ill disordered kind of life upon which ground they all prohibited their Citizens to travell into foraign Countries Upon these grounds the Thebans and also Apotloniatae in imitation of the Spartans banished all foraigners out of their City as Aelian Variae Historiae l. 13. c. 16. Alexander ab Alexandro l. 4. c. 10. record Plato the Philosopher Dialogo 12. de Legumlatione though he permits forainers by way of study trade travel and embassie to come into his City and Republike under certain Laws Râ—ules yet he totally secludes them from inhabiting therein or to trade without strict Laws to prevent their danger Solet enim civitatum in commercâ—is permixtio varios mores civitatibus ammiscere dum externi externiis vicissim novationes inducum quae res civitatibus per rectas leges benè institutis MAXIMUM DETRIMENTUM AFFERT Arist. observes Thatthe bringing in of forainers is a principal cause of seditions quarels Qui inquilinas aut advenas 〈…〉 nt in vitatem Hi ferè Omnes aut certè plurimi SEDITIONIBUS CONFLICTANTUR Dr. Jo. Case gives the reason of it Nam ut nihil citius corpus humanum inficit quà m pestilentium vaporum malis humoribus copulatio ita NIHIL VELOCIUS CORRUMPIT CIVITATEM QUAM PEREGRINORUM HOMINUM ADMISSIO in qua contagio venenum latet And hereupon he raiseth this question from Aristotles Text Utrum periculosa sit in Rempublicam peregrinorum admissio And thus resolves it It is perillous to take Snakes into the Bosom and Forraigners into the Commonwealth for as they being refreshed with heat doe bite and sting So these being enfranchised destroy the Republike To prove this by arguments we may consider that every Nation hath its proper manners and ceremonies which they bring along with them do not change with the climat when they come into another Country VVherefore there is great danger lest by receiving strangers the ancient manners Laws should be changed into new and forain Now what sooner begets sedition then alteration of Laws and Customs as we may see even in sundry Scripture examples which he remembers not and of the Jews especially Acts 14. 2. to 7. 16. c. 16. 19. to 25. c. 18. 5 6 7 17 18 19. c. 17 12. to 18 c. 19. 24. to 41. c. 21 27 to 40. c. 22. 22. c. c. 23. 24. 25. VVhat therefore is more perillous than the admission of Foraigners into our Commonwealth Moreover wherefore hath Nature instructed like to associate together with like if it should draw men of strange and different manners into a Republike Nature will not that sheep should be associated with wolves neither wills Prudence that Natives should be coupled with forraigners For Philosophy perswades this that contraries cannot dwell in the same place but strangers for the most part are enemies to the Citizens with whom they converse Adde to this that as Locusts are to the corn so are foraigners to the Republike for as they do wast and consume the grain of corn so these devour the fruit of the Commonwealth for although they are branches of the same plant yet they suck not wholesom juyce but poyson from the root wherewith at length the whole plant being infected perisheth This he proves by several examples out of Aristotle himself as by the Trezenii Zanclei Sybarites Bysantii Antissiaei Apolloniatae Chii Syracusani Aniohipoliâ—e who by
newly delivered their Opinions there was no Law against it To which I answered That the Jews were in the yeer 1290. all banished out of England by Judgement and Edict of the King and Parliament as a great Grievance never to return again for which the Commons gave the King the fifteenth part of their Moveables and therefore being thus banished by Parliament they could not by the Laws of England be brought in again without a special Act of Parliament which I would make good for Law He replied I wish it might not be done otherwise that this business had been formerly moved in the Bishops time rather than now To which I subjoyned That it was now a very ill time to bring in the Jews when the people were so dangerously and generally bent to Apostacy and all sorts of Novelties and Errors in Religion and would sooner turn Jews than the Jews Christians He answered He thought it was true and was sorry he could not discourse longer with me the Committee about the Jews being sate and staying for him as he feared Whereupon as he was turning in towards White-Hall-Gate I told him The Jews had been formerly great Clippers and Forgers of Mony and had crucified three or four Children in England at least which were principal causes of their banishment To which he replied That the crucifying of Children was not fully charged on them by our Historians and would easily be wiped off Whereto I answered He was much mistaken and so we parted As I kept on my way in Lincolnes-Inne Fields passing by seven or eight maimed Soldiers on Stilts who begged of me I heard them say aloud one to another We must now all turn Jews and there will be nothing left for the poor And not far from them another company of poor people just at Lincolnes-Inne back Gate cried aloud to each other They are all turned Devils already and now we must all turn Jews Which unexpected concurrent Providences and Speeches made such an impression on my Spirit that before I could take my rest that night I perused most of the passages in our English Histories concerning the Jews carriage in England with some of their misdemeanors in other parts to refresh my memory and satisfie my judgement making some Collections out of them which after I enlarged and digested into this ensuing Demurrer with as much speed as the sharpness of the season would permit and was induced to publish it knowing no particular discourse of this Subject extant for the general information satisfaction of others and honour of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the righteous whom the Jews with malicious hearts and wicked hands crucified in person heretofore and their posterity by their blasphemies despiteful actions against Christ his Kingdom Offices Gospel crucifie afresh every day trampling under foot the Son of God putting him to open shame offering despite to the Spirit of Grace counting the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing And in all their publick and private Devotions praying constantly for the sodain universal total final subversion extirpation perishing of Christs Kingdom Gospel and all his Christian Members which they plot and continually expect such is their implacable transcendent malice I have deduced their introduction into England only from William surnamed the Conqueror because I finde not the least mention of them in any of our British or Saxon Histories Councils Synods Canons which doubtlesse would have mentioned them and made some strict Laws or Canons against their Iewish as well as against Pagan Superstitions had they exercised them here as they would have done as well as in Spain other places had they resided here That any of them were here in the time of our famous Emperor Constantine is but a dream of such who because they finde an Epistle of Constantines in the Council of Nice to all the Churches of Christ in Sir Hen. Spelmans Collections of the Decrees Canons and Constitutions of the British World wherein is mention made of the Churches of Britain in that age as well as in Rome France and other parts keeping the Passeover in a different manner from the wicked blinded Iews would thence infer there were then Jews resident in Britain of which there is not one syllable in that Epistle nor in any Classick Author Forrain or Domestick I yet ever saw or heard of That they were setled in our Island in the Saxons time is collected onely from that Law inferted by Hoveden and Spelman amongst Edward the Confessors here cited p. â— But there being no mention of the Jews in any of our Saxon Kings Raigns Councils Decrees Laws before the Confessor out of which all his Laws were wholly extracted and this Law of the Jews being not to be found in the true Original Copy of the Confessors and Conquerors Laws of Abbot Ingulphus who flourished in that age was present at their confirmation and then brought them to Croyland Abby published by Mr. Iohn Selden nor yet in Bromton I cannot but reject it as counterfeit and esteem it rather a Declaration of the Jews Condition in England in Hovedens time inserted by him as well as some other things of puâ—ier date amongst these Laws rather than any Law of or in the Confessors days wherein I can finde no evidence of any Jews residence here but only this interpolation and forged Law which Mr. Selden wholly omittes in his Collection of his Laws The History of King William Rufus his compelling the Iews of Rhoan that were turned Christians to renounce their Christianity and turn Iews again ACCEPTO PRETIO APOSTASIAE upon the complaint and mony given him by the Infidel Jews there with the Dialogue between Him and Stephen the Jew cited out of Holinshed here p. 5 6. I finde originally recorded of him by Eadmerus living in his raign who though very bitter and injurious to him by reason of the great Contests between him Anselme whose Favourite Follower and Companion in adversity Eadmerus was yet he relates it not as a certain Truth but as a Report of others of that Country who had another Opinion of Rufus Quam de Christianis Christianos Lex Christiana docet habere quae tamen sicut illa accepimus simpliciter ponam non astruens vera an secus extiterint an non Onely he addes this passage to the story of Stephen which Holinshed omits That St. Stephen appearing to him as he was travelling on the way he demanding of him who he was Answered That he was long since of a Jew made a Christian and was Stephen the first Martyr but for this cause I have now come down from Heaven to Earth that thou casting away thy Iewish Superstition mightest be made a Christian and being baptized in Christ mightest be called by my name Whereupon he became a Christian and was baptized That immediately after the conference between the King and Stephen which agrees with that in Holinshed he
to have Church-yards without the Cities wherein 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 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 while she was crowning or his Palace whiles he was therein feasting Notwithstanding some of the principal Jews 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 greatmultitudes to the Kings Coronation fell upon the Jews standing in great multitudes at the Pallace 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 Yorke 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 Jews 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 datâ— dedecâ—ri 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 Glanvd 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 till the next day Ac licet immensit as tantae rabiei si dissimulata est inulta transiret primordia regiae majestatis denigraret plurimum propter reâ—â—um 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 permitted the Christians to do to him what they would that he might escape death Then the King demanded of the Archbishop in the presence of many Archbishops and Bishops VVhat 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 In the mean time the King sent his Writs throughout all the Counties of England prohibiting That none should doe any harm to the Jews but that they should enjoy his peace But before that Edict was â—ublisâ—e the Jews which were in the Towne of Dâ—nstaple to preserve their lives from the peoples fury being conâ—erted to the Christian Faith were baptized bâ—â—roathing their Wiâ—es 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 notwithstanâ—ing 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 the Law taking an opportunity assaulted him with arms as he passed through the city whereupon he took sanctuary in the Church yet notwithstanding he raging Jews would not rest quiet â—or this but with a continued fury presently began to assault the said Church with great violence presently hereupon there arose a great clamor and the Christians assistance was desired with loud out-cries This clamor and fame incensed the Christian people and young men who 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 lest they should be questioned and 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 held in Lent the young men and Souldiers who had taken upon them the sign of the Crosse and were then ready to go to Jerusalem with the King assembling together there out of divers Counties disdaining that the Jews being the enemies of the Crosse of Christ possessed such great store of goods and wealth when as they had not sufficient to defray the necessary expences of so great a journey and
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 mercilesse Jew that he might wickedly falsly accuse all the rest against the truth who verily reprehended the Christians pitying 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 daily to the Kings Christian Exactors In the mean time the King ceased not to scrape mony together from all hands but principally from the Jews so that from one Jew alone born and living in Yorke 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 K. since his return from forraign parts 30000 marks of silver and two hundred marks of gold to the Queen as the said Aaron upon the attestation of his honor 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 mony and of charters and manifestly and frequently proved condemned and reprobated as such Philip Lunel Clerk called to the service of the King and addicted 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 untill he should satisfy him for this great transgression Philip hereupon a crafty and circumspect man humbly craved advice and assistance from the Lord John Mansell 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 summ of mony 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 the dead And thâ—s very year Robert de la Ho to whom the King had committed the custody of the Jews and of the Seal which belonged to their Exchequer was grievously accused before the King being charged with this crime That he had oppressed the innocent Son of a certain Knight by a certain false Charter confirmed with the Seal of which the said Robert Justice of the Jews was the bearer and keeper Whereupon he was basely apprehended and committed to a close Prison and defamed with the like scandal wherewith Philip Lunel but the year just before had been intangled in the-snares of the perfidious Jews who was then their Justice At last by the great labour of his friends the malice of the Jews is detected but the innocency of the said Robert then set free scarce declared Whereupon being put from his Offices he openly paid 4 marks of gold at least for his fine This very year 1252. there came out of the holy Land a Mandate from the King of France that all the Jews should be expelled out of the Realm of France and condemned to perpetual exile with this clause of moderation added thereto But he who desires to remain let him be an artificer or handicrafts-man and apply himself to mechanical artifices For it was scornfully objectd to the said King by the Saracens That we dâ—d little love or reverence our Lord Jesus Christ who tolerate the murderers of him to live among us In the year of Christ 1253. Novemb. 10. the Obligatory Charter wherewith the Abbot and Covent of St. Alban were held bound for the debt of Richard de Oxaie Knight was taken out of the hand of Elias the London Jew and freed out of the chest and it was proclaimed in the School of the Jews at London where it seems they had then a School that the foresaid Abbot and Covent should be quit from all this debt against them from the beginning of the world till then as the Statute obtained by them protesteth The Jews in Northampton about the year of our Lord 1253. had among themselves prepared wild-fire to burn the City of London for the which divers of them were taken and burned in the time of Lent in the City of Northampton Anno 1254. King Henry after Easter so cruelly raged against the most miserable people of the Jews that they loathed even to live And when they were called together Earl Richard exacted of them for the use of the King who was in great want no small summe of mony under pain of a most loathsom prison and a most ignominious death Elias therefore of London High Priest of the Jews taking counsel with his Companions answered for them all who had frequently paid very great summs of mony whether they would or would not O noble Lords we see undoubtedly that our Lord the King purposeth to destroy us from under heaven We intreat for Gods sake that he would give us license safe conduct of departing out of his kingdom that we may seek and find a mansion in some other place under some Prince who bears some bowels of mercy and some stability of truth and faithfulness And we will depart never to return again leaving here our housholdstuff and houses behind us How can he love or spare us miserable Jews who destroyes his own natural English He hath people yea his own Merchants I say not Usurers who
by usurious contracts heap up infinite heaps of money Let the King rely upon them and gape after their emoluments Verily they have supplanted impoverisht us Which the K. howsoever dissembles to know exacting fro us those things we cannot give him although he would pull out our eyes or cut our throats when he had first pulled off our skins And speaking this with sighs and tears hindring his speech he held his peace falling almost into an extasie ready to die Which when it came to the knowledge of the Magistrates they permitted them not to depart out of the Realm saying Whether will ye flee O wretches Behold the King of France hateth and persecuteth you and hath condemned you to perpetual exile shunning Charibdis you desire to be drowned in Scylla And so the small little substance which was left to them for their mean sustentation was violently extorted from them King Henry the 3d. An. 1255. exacted with great earnestnesse from the Jews although very frequently impoverished 8000 marks to be speedily paid unto him under pain of hanging But they seeing nothing else hanging over them but destruction with confusion answered all unanimously Sir King we see that thou sparest neither Christians nor Jews but studiest with crafty fetches to impoverish all men we have no hope of respiration left us the Usurers of the Pope have supplanted us permit us to depart out of thy kingdom with safe conduct and we will seek for our selves such a mansion as we can be it what it will Which when the King had heard he cryed out with a querulous voice saying It is no marvel if I covet money it is an horrible thing to imagin the debts wherein I am held bound By the head of God they amount to the sum of two hundred thousand marks if I should say of three I should not exceed the bounds of truth I am deceived on every side I am a maimed and abridged King yea now but an halfed King For having made a certain estimate of the expences of my rents the sum of the annual rent of Edward my Sonne amounts to above 15000 marks There is therefore a necessity for me to live of the mony gotten from what place soever from whomsoever and by what means soever Therefore being made another Titus or Vespasian he sold the Jews for some years to Earl Richard his brother that those whom the King had excoriated he might eviscerate Yet the Eatl spared them considering their abbreviated power and ignominious poverty The same year about the Feast of Peter and Paul the Jews of Lincoln stole a child called Hugo being 8 years old and when as they had nourished him in a certain most secret chamber with milk and other childish aliments they sent almost to all the Cities of England wherein the Jews lived that in contempt and reproach of Jesus Christ they should be present at their sacrifice at Lincoln for they had as they said a certain child hid to be crucified Whereupon many assembled at Lincoln And comming together they appointed one Lincoln Jew for the Judge as it were for Pilate By whose judgement by the consent of all the child is afflicted with sundry torments He is whipped even unto bloud and lividnesse crowned with thorns wearied with spittings and shriekings and moreover he is pricked by them all with ponyards made to drink gall derided with reproaches and blasphemies and frequently called by them with grinding teeth Jesus the false Prophet And after rhey had derided him in divers manners they crucified him and peirced him with a spear to the heart And when the child had given up the ghost they took down his body from the crosse 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 dayes and it was told her by neighbours 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 Baylifs 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 sighs There was then present at the place John 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 Owretch knowest thou not that speedy destruction abides thee All the gold of England will not suffice for thy deliverance or redemption 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 John if thou makest thy words good by thy deeds I will reveal wonderful things to thee and the industry of Sir John animating and exciting him thereto 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 Jews 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 vomitted it out and the body sometimes appeared inhuman whereupon the Jews 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 Baylifs the body she had found But Sir John notwithstanding this kept the Jew 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 them And when it had been sufficiently viewed by an infinite company of people it was honourably buryed in the Church of Lincoln as the corps of a most precious Martyr The Jews kept the child alive for 10 days that being fed for
the cause that they banished themselves into other Countries where they might live by their usury So that by his opinion they were not then banished by the King or Parliament but only voluntarily banished themselves upon the making of this Statutes aginst their Usury But under the favour of this deceased reverend Judge whose memory I generally reverence this opinion of his is a meer mistake For 1. This Statute of Judaisme was made some years before their banishment hence as I formerly hinted and the last clause thereof for renting houses to continue for 15 years manifests not in 18E 1. 2ly No Record nor Historian mentions that they voluntarily banished themselves upon the making of this Law neither can their voluntary departure hence upon this occafion be stiled a Banishment 3ly The forecited Historians record that they gave but few years before a vast sum of money to prevent their banishment then urged in Parliament by the Commons with the profer of the 5 part of their goods to the King for their banishment and therefore it is very improbable they would at the same time volunntarily banish themselves 4ly All the last cited Historians of these latter times unanimously record and theywere judicially really banished both by the King and Parliament principally for their infidelity and other fore-alloaged reasons commanded under pain of hanging to depart out of it by a set day for the effecting and hastning whereof the Commons gave the King a sifteenth Therefore not banished by of themselves alone Who are more to be credited than this Judges singular opinion 5ly His own subsequent words and Records in direct terms contradict this opinion of his no lesse 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 grosse mistakes contradicted by 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 Man that they might passe out of the Realm in safety they made Petition to the King that a certain day might he 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 grievance be offered to them in the mean time One of which Writs we will transcribe Rex Vic G. Cum Judaeis Regni nostri universis CERTUM TEMPUS PRAEFIXERIMUS therefore prefixed by the King himself without their Petition â— regno illo transfretandi Nolentes quod ipsi per ministros nostros aut alios quoscunque aliter quam sieri consnevit indebite pertrectentur Tibi praecipimus quod per totam Ballivam tuam publice proclamari firmiter inhiberi facias ne quis eis intra terminum predictum 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 Westminst 18. die Julii Anno 18 E. 1. This Statute De Judaismo was made at the Parl. post festum Hilarii Anno 18 E. 1. At which Parliament the King had a 15 granted to him PRO EXPULSIONE JUDAEORUM Therfore by his own confession they were banished by the King and Parlament against their wils 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 that by banishing of Usury Did they banish it onely not the Jews the Jews would not remain And thus this Noble King by this means BANISHED FOR EVER THESE INFIDEL USURIOUS JEWS Ergo their persons as well as Usury only the number of which Jews THUS BANISHED was fifteen thousand and threescore VVe will here adde a Parliament Record de Priore de Bridlington thus Et quod praedictus Prior cogno cit quid praedicta pecunia praed Judaeo debebatur viz. 300l nec ei solvebatur ANTE EXILIUM JUDAEORUM 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 reorum debitis aut catallis in regno POST EORUM EXILIUM again repeated Domino Regi fuit Consideratum est quod Dominus Rex recuperec pecuniam praedictam dictum est eidem Priori quod non exeat Villaean equam 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. An. 22 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 Recesse By all these concurrent Testimonies it is apparent against Sir Edward Cooks groundlesse conceit 1. That all the Jews were then banished out of England never to return again at the special instance and request of the Commons in two several Parliaments as an intollerable grievance and oppression under which they then groaned 2. That the principle grounds of this their perpetual banishment were their infidelity Usury forgeries of Charters clipping and falsifying of monies by which they prejudiced the King and kingdom and much oppressed and impoverished the pople 3. That this their banishment was so acceptable to all the people who oft-times pressed it in Parliament that they gave the King a Fift and Fifteenth part of their moveables to speed and execute it 4. That this their banishment was by the unanimous desire Iudgement Edict and Decree both of the King and his Parliament and not by the King alone and this Banishment total of them all and likewise final Never to return into England Which Edict and Decree not now extant in our Parliament Rolls many of which are lost nor printed Statutes yet it is mentioned by all these Authorities From whence I shall inferre and conclude That as by the fundamental Laws of England No Freeman and Natives of England can be justly banished or exiled out of it but by special judgement of Parliament or by Act of Parliament as is evident by Magna Charta c. 29. The banishment of Sir Thomas
undermine our Religion Church and State and sow the seeds of Heresie Blasphemy Popery Superstition Schisms and Divisions amongst us they having formerly sent over some of late years amongst us under the notion and vizard of converted Jews as Ramsey the Scot and Eleazer and Joseph Ben-Isaiah all Jesuitical wicked cheating Impostors the two last whereof have cheated the honest people of the Nation of many thousand pounds being notorious Villains one of them formerly a Trooper and Plunderer in Prince Ruperts army as he confessed to his Hostesse at Dursly in Glocestershire in his drink where he would have ravished the Maid-servant of the house locking the door upon her whiles she was warming his bed in the night and upon her crying out for help fled away presently in the night to avoid apprehension And yet wanders about cheating the people in other places instead of being brought to Tyburne for his Villanies And if they abuse and cheat us thus already much more will they doe it upon and after the Jewes admission 9. To pretermit their banishment out of Rome by the Emperor Claudius recorded Acts 18. 2. and that as Ecclesiastical Historians report for their cheating and tumults there raised I shall only in brief relate how they have from time to time been banished expelled many Christian Cities Countries Kingdoms and their Synagogues burnt and destroyed especially for their Infidelity and other forementioned Misdemeanors Crimes Villanies About the year of Chriâ—â— 430. at the instigation of St. Cyril Bishop of Alexandriâ— and the Christians there they were expelled and banished that famous City where they had long inhabited for their insolencies seditious conspiracies against the Christians About the year of Christ 615. they were banished out of Jerusulem it self by Heraclius the Emperour as Zonaras Tom. 3. in his life Paulus Diaconus rerum Rom. l. 18. Cent. Magd. 7. c. 14. storie About Anno 616. King Sisebutus banished them all out of Spaine unlesse they would turn Christians which the most of them refusing to doe departed thereupon into France as the marginal Authors unanimously attest About the year 618. they were all banished out of France by King Dagobert unlesse they would renounce their Judaism and turn Christians upon the command and instigation of Her aâ—lius the Emperour as Regino Chron. l. 1. Cent. Magdeb. 7. c. 14. relate King Wamba about the year 710. banished them out of the Province of Narbon as Rodericus Toletanus de Rebus Hisp. l. 3. c. 11. informs us The Emperor Phocas about the year 60â— banished them out of the City of Antioch for the tumults they had there raised against the Christians and Government About the year 1196. they were banished out of the City of Mentz and near the same time out of the City of Triers and the Bishoprick thereof by Bishop Everhard Philip Augustus King of France banished them all out of France by several Edicts Anno 1152 1162. 1182. for these reasons because they had divers times crucified children of Christians in Paris and elswhere in contempt of Christ and his Passion entertained Christian men servants and maid servants in their houses who did likewise play the Jews with them contrary to the Decrees of God and the Church above measure oppressed impoverished by their Usuries the Citizens Knights Gentry and Country people both in the Cities Suburbs and Villages of France and detained some of them prisoners in their houses like captives binding them by an Oath not to depart out of them most vilely profaned the sacred Vessels pawned to them by church-men in cases of necessity causing their little children ordinarily to drink wine and eat sops out of them in contempt of the Sacrament and casting the silver Vessels Crosses and guilded Books of the Gospel pawned to them into Jakes in a sack that the Christians might not find them and because the Saracens upbraided the Christians for entertaining them amongst them being the professed Enemies of Christ Upon these grounds as also because their wealth and Number were so increased that they had almost gotten half the City of Paris into their hands King Philip caused them to be all apprehended through France in one day as they were in their Synagogues then spoiled them of all their rich gold and silver garments confiscated all their Lands Houses Possessions and banished them the Realm notwithstanding the intercessions of many Bishops and Nobles bribed with their gold and gifts on their behalf and the proffers of great summes of money to him by the Jews wherewith he would not be mollified After which he caused their Synagogues to be prophaned and then consecrated and converted to Churches that so where Christ was first blasphemed after the manner of the Jews he might in the same places be praised both by the Clergy and people as Vincentius records at large After this creeping into that Realm again by money and Bribes they were again banished out of France and their goods confiscated by King Philip the Fair in the year 1293. as some or 1307. as others compute it and driven into Germany In the year 1349. at the earnest importunity of the people they were all banished out of Alsatia and the Imperial Cities by the agreement of the Bishops and Nobles and most of them burnt and destroyed as they had been formerly in those parts by Earl Emicho An. 1102. who then banished them thence Ludovicus Duke of Bavaria about the year 1450 banished all the Iews out of his Territories as Aeneas Picolomâ—neus in his Europâ— staius sub Frederico l. 3. c. 32. p. 79. assures us In the years 1474. 1482. and 1492. they were all banished out of Spain by King Ferdinand surnamed the Catholique from whence they were transported and received into Portugal they paying to K. Iohn 2. 8. Duckets for every poll of them at first for their admission which much augmented his Eschequer though it diminished his piety and honour Not long after Anno 1497. they were driven and banished out of Portugal by King Emanuel And in the year 1539. they were banished out of Naples and Sicily by Charles the 5th To which I might adde the destruction burning and utter extirpation of the Jews by the Rubeaquenses Anno 1309. and 1338. Munst Cosm l. 3. p. 547. out of Worms and Spires An. 1092. Munsteri Cosm l. 3. p. 580. Out of Prague by VVratislaus for hating and slaying the Christians Geor. Bartholdus Pontanus Bohemiae Piae l. 2. p. 20. Out of Berne An. 1287. Munsteri Cosm l. 3. p. 582. Having therefore been thus frequently banished by Christian Kings Princes from time to time at the earnest sollicitation of their godly Christian Ministers Bishops People and by our King and Parliament too out of England so long since never to return again what shadow colour of Piety Policy Prudence Justice Law Reason there can be for any person or persons whatsoever to re-admit them except the
and the Gospel the greatest Apostates from God and abusers of Liberty of any professing Religion The greatest designers plotters and lifters up of themselves against the interest of Christ and his people as the Premises undeniably evidence And their introduction amongst us at this season when the generality of the people and professors of Religion likewise are so bent to Apostacy and all kind of Errors of Novelties in Religion will no ways allay but most certainly increase the venting and spreading of abominable Blasphemies amongst us multiply the Apostacies of and abuse of liberty by the professors of Religion and make thousands in probability turn Apostate Jews instead of converting any of the Jews to Christianity It will not disappoint but most of all advance the designes of those that labour to lift up themselves against the interest of Jesus Christ and his people this being as some justly fear the Jews very end and plot in pressing now to be received amongst us to seduce us unto Judaism to which many are now inclined and to deny our Saviour Christ in words as too many have denied him in their works and some in their opinions of late years It will not rebuke but foment the foresaid Evils obstruct Gods people both from knowing and pursuing the things that concern their peace and instead of enabling them with one heart and shoulder to serve the Lord divide them into more Sects and Schisms than formerly and set up Judaism to affront Christianity with open face as 2 Pet. 2. 1. Jude 3. 4. c. Tit. 1. 10. 11. 1 Joh. 4. 3. resolve so multiply the late Rebukes and Judgements of God upon the Nation Therfore their re-admission into England after such a Solemn Declaration and Day of Humiliation as this and some others formerly prescribed observed through the Nation for the late monstrous growth and spreading of Errors and Blasphemies amongst us if resolved and effected will be reputed by God and Men A most palpable violation yea contradiction of this Declaration and Humilation a most hypocritical Atheistical mocking of God himself to his face a most prophane abuse and perversion of this Solemn Fast and Humiliation a frustration of all the prayers hopes of most religious people thereon who observed it for far other prescribed ends and an high Provocation of Gods severest wrath against the perverters of it to this very end to introduce the long-since banished Jews the debate whereof was proposed immediately before and began the very next day after it My 2. Reason shall be deduced from the Declaration of the 24 Novemb. 1655. in order to the securing of the peace of the Commonwealth Declaring it necessary to use all good means to secure the Peace of the Nation and prevent future troubles within the same The bringing in of the Jews at this season when the people are so generally divided discontented and declare for ought I can learn their highest unanimous dislike and derestation of it is the most probable means to disturb the peace of the Nation and to engender future new troubles Tumults within it the generality of the people in England and in other Countries having in former ages frequently risen up in armes against them massacred burnt and destroyed them notwithstanding their Kings and Magistrates Proclamations and Edicts to the contrary And the Jews themselves in all ages having been principle firebrands of sedition both in their own Land and all places where they have been dispersed as the Texts and Authors in the 3. and 7. premised reasons with the foregoing Relations out of our English Historians attest Therefore their re-admission into England especially in this unquiet season must needs be diametrically contrary to the scope of this Declaration and neither in policy nor prudence to be resolved on but utterly rejected My 3d. reason shall be grounded on this clause of that Declaration That no person who hath or shall be sequestred or ejected for Delinquency or being in actual arms for the late King against the then Parliament or for Charls Stuart his Son c. out of any Benefice School or Colledge shall from and after the 1. day of December be kept as a Chaplain or School-master in any sequestred persons house Nor after the 1. day of January keep any School publike or private Nor preach in any publike place or private meeting of any other persons than those of his own family Nor shall administer Baptism or the Lords Supper or Marry c. upon pain that every person so offending in any of the premisses shal be proceeded against as by Orders therin mentioned is provided prescribing 3 months imprisonment for the 1. 6 months for the 2d and banishment for the 3d Offence as I am informed If native freeborn Englishmen formerly ejected out of any Benefice Colledge or School only for their old delinquency in adhering to the lare King and Prince though according to their Oaths duties and dictate of their consciences after some years publike liberty to preach Articles of Agreement confirmed by the Army and both Houses and that which some call An Act of Oblivion and future indempnity though orthodox in Doctrine unblameable in conversation and eminent in learning without any particular impeachment hearing conviction of any new Delinquency or misdemeanors whatsoever must not have so much liberty as to keep any School or preach Gods Word in publike or private or to be entertained in formerly sequestred Englishmens houses under the foresaid penalties at this season only in Order to the Nations peace Then much lesse ought Jews meer aliens who always have been and still are professed Enemies in arms against the Person Kingdom Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ which the late Parliament by their solemn Protestation Vow and Covenant engaged by all good means to defend and advance to be entertained by any English Christians or publikely or privately to teach preach spread propagate their Jewish Doctrines Errors and abolished Ceremonies in our Island but to be banished for ever from amongst us if any of them should publikely or privately artempt to creep in amongst us Else not only all sequestred Delinquents but the whole English Nation and world too will cry out and say x the faithfull loyal Chaplains Servants followers Friends of the late K. and Pr. though English Nativs Freemen ye our felow brethren Members in Christ are more execrable to more injuriously unchristianly uncharitably dealt with by their Fellow English Christians in present power only for their loyalty and conscientious adhering to their late temporal King and Prince than the very alien Jews who both denied rejected crucified the Lord Jesus Christ their own temporal Soveraign who was born King of the Iews and had this very title inscribed on his Crosse and their our only spiritual King and Saviour whose Honour Power Kingdom Gospel we a vowedly profess to advance that they enjoy lesse Christian or civil liberty for themselves their wives and families
been and pierced themselvs through with many sorrows Therfore 't is not as much as once to be named or insisted on amongst us unlesse we will renounce our Christianity make great gain our only godlinesse instead of making Godlinesse with contentment our great gain betray and sell our Saviour Christ again to the Iews like Iudas for thirty peeces of silver without repenting and making restitution of it to the Iews as he did and most blasphemously transferre our very Saviours most blessed Deity and stamp his most sweet and most highest Title GOD WITH US upon a contemptible piece of white and yellow shining clay as some have lately done on all our New State coyn as if it were the only God with them and us how christian-like let themselves determine 3ly God himself who saith Behold I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbour by oppression other unlawfull means will certainly smite his hand at this gain by the Iews re-admission And therefore let us give that resolute answer to the Iewish Agents if they proffer to purchase an idenization amongst us by their gold as St. Peter once did to Simon Magus in another case THY MONEY PERISH WITH THEE Thou hast neither part nor lot in this businesse for thy heart is not upright with God 4ly None ever gained by the Iews introduction or continuance in any Christian State but the King and some of his bribed Officers and that by oppressing squeezing fleecing taxing excoriating eviscerating crucifying pillaging plundering the poor Iews in such an unchristian inhuman illegal unrighteous manner against the express commands of God as made both Christians and Christianity most detestable to them brought a secret curse of God upon all those unrighteous gaines as also upon their very persons and Government witnesse King Iohn and Henry the 3d. and encouraged them to oppresse fleece and pillage their Native Subjects by illegal Taxes and Projects and to use them rather like Iews than Christians enforcing them thereby to take up arms against them for their Laws Liberties and Properties just defence as those Kings reigns and others sufficiently evidence 5ly The introduction of the Iews into England and other Nations never advanced the publike wealth of the Natives and Republike but much impaired it by their Vsuries and Deceits clipping and falsifying monies ingrossing all sorts of commodities into their hands usurping the Natives trades and becomming such intolerrable grievances to them that they were never quiet till they were banished as their greatest Annoyance and purchased their Exiles even with publick Subsidies granted to their Kings to be quit of them as the premises abundantly evidence 6ly The Trade of this Nation flourished more after their banishment hence then ever it did before and their introduction now will but supplant undoe our English Merchants and other Natives to enrich them and some few other Grandees who shall share with them in their spoils and unrighteous gains 7ly The taking off all long continued uncessant new illegal Taxes Excises Imposts imposed without common consent in Parliament on the Nation ingrossing anticipating most of the current Monies of the Land which are the nerves and wheels of Trade eating up all the Merchants Peoples gains and labors and overclogging all or most Commodities imported or exported The disbanding of all unnecessary mercenary Forces and Garrisons who have devoured most of the publike and private wealth of our three Kingdoms and extraordinarily impoverished them only to enrich and advance themselves and setting up the old unmercinary Trained Bands and Legal Militia of the Realm in their steads The encouraging of Merchants to bring in gold and silver Bullion to set the Mint on work which hath lain for the most part idle near 15 years the suppressing of the superfluous making wearing use of gold and silver lace wyre gilding which consume many thousand pounds of current coyne every year The inhibiting of the excessive use of that late intoxicating smoke of Tobacco causing such a prodigal expence of money time and hindring more necessary usefull staple merchandizes and plantations The regulating of the gross abuses of Letters of Mart now little better than commissioned open pyracies occasioning the ruine of Trade and Merchandize by way of Reprisal The ordering according to Law Iustice Conscience that all prizes taken from any foraign Enemy or other who pillage or damage the English by the States Ships and men of War set out by the Merchants Customs Tonnage Poundage Imposts and therewith maintained for their defence which therfore should be equally distributed to our English Merchants that are damnified undon by them towards the reparation of their losses who maintain them to enable and encourage them in their trading especially when much impoverished or undone by their losses and not all converted to the use of that some stile the Admiralty and State or Mariners who take them at whose cost they are not maintained The binding of all Captains of all States men of war to make good all the English Merchants and their Allies losses susteined by their default or negligence The resuming of all the late alienated ancient Lands rents revenues of the Crown got into private hands which ought to defray the constant expence of the Government now extorted for the most part by arbitrary new devices out of the exhausted peoples purses The speedy preventing of the late unparalleld wasts in all places of English Timber for shipping of which there is like to be such scarcity ere long as will both destroy our Navy and Fishing Trade All these and every of them will far more advance the Trade and Traffique of the Nation and the publike wealth and give all the people far better content and satisfaction ten thousand fold then this New distastefull pernicious project of bringing in the Iews against which I shall only discharge this ancient Canon of the 4th Council of Toledo in Spain under their most religious King Sysenandus in the year of our Lord 681. which thus batters all ecclesiastical and temporal promoters of this allegation for filthy Lucres sake with this direfull thunderbolt So great is certain mens lucre of money that some coveting after it according to the Apostles saying have erred from the faith For many hitherto of the Priests and Laity receiving gifts from the Iews foster their perfidiousnesse or infidelity by their patronage who not undeservedly are known to be of the body of Antichrist because they act against Christ Therefore whatsoever Bishop or Clergy mâ—n or secular person shall from henceforth give his suffrage to them against the Christian faith Either For reward or favour being as prophane sacrilegious really made accursed let him be reputed excommunicated from the Catholick Church and Kingdom of God because he is worthy to be separated from the Body of Christ who is made a Patron or Protector to the enemies of Christ I