Tallagio non concedendo are three the last whereof was certainly made in 25. E. 1. not 34 E. 1. as Sir Edw. Cooke and most Collectors of our Statutes and Lawyers mistake as is clear by Thomas Walsingham Hist Angl. Ann. 1298. p. 37 38 40. and Ypodigma Neust. p. 84 85. The first De Iudaismo was made in 3 Ed. 1. as these subsequent Historians evidence who are the best and only witnesses in this case the Parliament Rolls being not extant to resolve us Matthew Westminst who lived and writ his History in or near that time is most clear herein Anno gratiae 1275. Rex ad ParliamentuÌ„ Westm. omnes Nobiles regni sui jusserat congregari In quo statuta multa ad utilitatem regni fuerunt publâ—cata INTER QUAE JUDAEIS FUIT INTERDICTA EFFRAENATA LICENTIA USURANDI ut possint à Christianis discerni praecepit Rex quod ad instar Tabularum ad vnius palmae longitudinem signa fierent in exterioribus indumentis Who is thus seconded if not translated by Rich Grafton Ann. 1273. Soon after he King Edward 1. ordained certain new Laws for the wealth of the Realm which are too large here to rehearse He made a Law also THE SAME TIME AGAINST THE EXCESSIVE TAKING OF USURY BY THE JEWS and that they should wear a certain Cognisaunce upon their uppermost garment whereby they should be known from Christians Both which are expresly provided for in these Statutes de Iudaismo The same is attested by Iohn Rouse and by Iohn Stow out of him in his Chronicle p. 200. in these words In the 3. year of King Edward the 1. in a Parliament at Westminster USURY WAS FORBIDDEN TO THE JEWS and that they might be known the King commanded them to wear a Tablet the bredth of a palm upon their outmost garments Which in his Survey of London 1633. p. 289. he thus expresseth The 3. of Edward the 1. in a Parliament at London USURY WAS FORBIDDEN TO THE JEWS And that all Jewish Vsurers might be known the King commanded that every Vsurer should wear a Tablet on his brest the bredth of a paveline or else to avoid the Realm With whom Sir Rich Baker in his Chronicle of the Kings of England Edit 2. London 1653. p. 147. concurrs So that without all question the Statutes De Iudaismo were made in the Parliament of 3. not of 18 E. 1. as the Statutes themselves will sufficiently evidence which had all been nugatory ridiculous useless if made in the Parliament of 18 E. 1. as Sir Edward Cook affirms wherein they were hence exiled These Statutes I shall here translate out of French and insert being not extant in our Statutes at large nor never yet all printed in the English tongue that I can find but only some clauses of the first of them 1. Forasmuch as the King hath seen that many mischiefs and disherisons of honest men of this land have happened by the usuries which the Iews have made therein in times past and that many sins have therein risen from thence Albeit he and his Ancestors have had great profit from the Jews both now and in times past Notwithstanding this for the honour of God and for the common benefit of the People the King doth ordain and establish that no Jew hereafter shall take ought for usury upon lands rents nor upon other things and that no Usury shall run from the Feaâ—t of St. Edward last past and before but that the covenants before made shall be held save only that the Usuries themselves shall cease Provided that all those who are indebted to Jews upon pawns moveable shall discharge them between this and Easter at furthest and if not let them be forfeited And if any Jew shall take usury against this establishment The King neither by himself nor any of his Officers will not intermeddle to cause him to recover his debt or use but will punish him at his pleasure for the Trespasse and shall do right to the Christian to recover his gage 2. And it is provided that the distresses for the debt of Jews shall not hereafter be so grievous that the moity of Lands and Chattels to the Christians shall not remain for their sustenance And that no distresse shall be made for the debt of a Jew upon the heir to the Debtor named in the Charter of the Jew not upon other which holds the Land which was the Debtors before the debt shall be dereigned and acknowledged in Court And if the Sheriff or other Bayliffs by commandment of the King ought to make seisin to a Jew to one or more for their debt of chattels or of lands to the value of the debt the chattels shall be praised by the Oath of honest men the Chattels shal be delivered to the Jew or Jewesse or to their Arturney to the value of the debt And if the chattels be not sufficient the lands shall be extended by the same Oath before that the seisin shall be delivered to the Jew or Jewesse every one according to the value and so that they may after know certainly the Debt is discharged that the Christian afterwards may then have his lands saving to the Christian for ever the moity of his lands and of his chattels for his sustenance as afore is said and the chief house 3. And if any thing stollen at this hour shall be found in the possession of a Jew and any will sue let the Jew have his summons if he may have it and if not he shall answer so that he shall never be priviledged for it otherwise than a Christian 4 And that all the Jews shall be residents in the Cities and in the Burroughs which are the Kings owne where the Chest for the Jews Indenture is wont to be And that every Jew after he is past 7 years of age shall carry a sign or badge in his chief garment that is to say in form of two Talles of yellow taffety of the length of six fingers and breadth of 3 fingers or an handfull And that every one after he is past 12 years shall pay 3 d. the poll every year to the King which shall be paid at Easter and this shall be intended as well of women as of men 5. And that no Jew shall have power to infeoffe another Jew nor Christian of their houses rents or tenements which they have now purchased nor to alien them in any manner nor to make an acquittance to any Christian of his debt without the special license of the King untill the King hath otherwise ordained 6. And because holy Church wills and suffers that they should live and be protected the King takes them into his Protection and gives them his peace and wills that they shall live and shall be guarded and defended by his Sheriffs and his other Bayliffs and by his Leiges and commands that none shall doe them harm injury nor force in their bodies nor in
their goods moveables or immoveables And that they shall not be impleaded sued nor challenged in any Court but in the Kings Court wheresoever they are 7. And that none of them shall be obedient respondent nor render rent but to the King and his Bayliffs in his name if it be not of their houses which they now hold rendering rent saving the right of holy Church 8. And the King grants them that they shall live of their lawfull merchandizes and by their labour and that they shall converse with the Christians for lawfull merchandizing in selling and in buying But yet that by this privilege nor any other they shall not be levant rising or couchant lying down amongst them And the King will not that by reason of their merchandize that they should be in lots nor scots nor Tallage with those of the Cities or Burroughs where they remain seeing they are tailable to the King as his own Vassals and to none other 9. Moreover the King grants them that they may buy houses and curtelages in the Cities or Burroughs where they reside so as they hold them in chief of the King saving to the Lords the Services due and accustomed 10. And that they may take Lands to farm for term of ten years or under without taking homages or fealties or such manner of service of a Christian and without having advowson of holy Church for to support their life in the world if they know not how to merchandize or be unable to labour And this power for to take Lands to farm shall not endure to them but 15 years from this time forth to come By these Laws this politick King to please his English Christian Subjects abridged many of the Jews former priviledges and put many new restraints upon them And yet on the other hand to gratifie the Jews who gave him more monies than the English he takes them all into his special protection prohibits all violence to their persons or estates and grants them some petty priviledges for the present which seemed to content them and made for his owne advantage more than theirs Rot. Clauseâ— E. 1. in the Tower rot 8. I find that one who was bound to Gamilelâ— a Jew and had lands afterwards acknowledged himself a Villain whereupon a writ then issued to inquire what lands he had at the time of the making of the bonds and to extend them JUXTA STATUTA JUDAISMI And claus 4 E. 1. rot 11. there is this recital made of this very Statute of Judaism Cum secundum Assisam ET STATUTUM JUDAISMI NOSTRI Judaei nostri in partâ— ne habere DEBEANT Ã Christianis creditoribus MEDIETATEM terrarum reddituum et Catallorum ipsorum quousque debita sua perciperent c. execution awarded in the case of a Jew according to the 2 clause of this Statute Therefore it is most certain it was not made in 18 E. 1. which was 14 years after these two records reciting it both by name and words but in 3 E. 1. the very next year before these records the end for which I here insert them In the 7th year of King Edward the 1. Anno Dom. 1278. as some or 1279. as others compute it the King held a Parliament at London which was chiefly called for the reformation of his coyn which was then sore clipped by reason whereof it was much diminished and impaired In the time of this Parliament in the moneth of November all the Jews throughout England as Matthew Westminster or many of the Jews in London and other parts of the Realm were apprehended in one day and imprisoned in London for clipping of money and in December following divers Enquests were charged in London to enquire of the said Jews and all others who had so blemished and clipped the Kings coyn By which Enquests the Jews of the City with the Gold-smiths that kept exchanges of silver were indicted And shortly after Candelmas the Mayor and Justices of the Land sat at London where before them was cast 297 persons for clipping of the which 3 only were Englishmen and all the other were Jews born either within this Realm or elsewhere but most of them English Jews who were all of them at sundry places and times put to execution in London who impeached the chief men of London and very many Christians who consented to their wickednesses After which a very great multitude of Jews were hanged in other Cities of England for the same offence Hereupon in the Patent Rolls of 7 8 and 9 Edw. 1. in the Tower I find sundry grants of the Jews Houses and Lands in London Yorke and Northampton made by the King to several persons as escheated to him by those executed Jewish offenders Anno 1279. The Jews of Northampton crucified a Christian boy but did not thoroughly kill him upon Good-Friday for the which fact many of the Jews at London after Easter were drawn at Horses tails and hanged In the year of our Lord 1282. John Peckham Arch-bishop of Canterbury sent an expresse precept and command to the Bishop of London to suppresse and destroy all the Synagogues of the Jews within his Diocesse On May 2. Anno 1287. All the Jews of England were apprehended by the Kings precept for what cause was not known who ransomed themselves for 12000l of silver They had then a Synagogue at Canterbury Fabian writes that the Jews of England were sessed at great sums of mony perchance the cause of their seisure which they paid unto the King But of other Authors it is said That the Commons of England then granted to the King the fifth part of their moveables for to have the Iews banished out of the Land For which cause the said Jews for to put the Commons from their purposes gave of their free wills great sums of money to the King which saying appeareth to be true for that the said Jews were exiled within few years after with whom Grafton and Holinshed accord A strong evidence of the potency of Jewish money over-powring the whole Commons of England in Parliament and this their Liberal subsidy for their banishment at that season K. Edward the 1. the next year 1288. being in Gascoigne a certain English Knight decreed to convent a Jew for the undue detention of a certain Mannor morgaged to him before the Judges but the crafty Jew refused to answer pretending a Charter of King Henry heretofore which was granted to him that he should not be drawn into judgement before any Judge except only before the person of the King The Knight being troubled at this went into Gascoigne that he might obtain some remedy hereupon from the King Whom when the King had heard he answered It is not seemly for children to make void the deeds of their parents to whom by Gods Law they are commanded to give reverence wherefore I have decreed not to make void the deed of my Father but I grant to thee and to
if faithfully transcribed and methodically digested into a Parliamentary Chronicle would for rare usefull matter Excellency certainty far exceed all Histories Statute-Books Law-Books Chronicles ever yet compiled rectifie many grosse mistakes in most of them and make more able knowing Lawyers Judges parlamentmen Statesmen than former ages have produced Besides the old Records in the respective Treasuries of the Tower Courts at Westminster and the Rolls faithfully relate at large the Institutions Jurisdictions procedings Judgements Writs Formalities Debates commissions Law-cases Judges Officers names customes Fees of all the great courts of Law Justice Equity civil Ecclesiastical Military Marine Justices Itinerant Justices of the Forrest Justices of Assize Oyer and Determiner of most other inferiour Courts and Commissioners boâ—h in England Wales Ireland Scotland Gascoyne Normandy Poyters the Isles of Man Gernsy Iersy Alderny Serk Silly and other Isles the Stanneries in Cornwall and in most Corporations Counties Hundreds Honors Mannors in them Record all sorts of commissions charters Writs Warrants Instruments relating to Law Iustice Trade peace Waâ— The Courts Jurisdictions priviledges Mannors Lands Fees Rents exemptions Liberties Royalties Tenures Services customs Offices Successions pedigrees of the Kings Princes Queens Archbishops Bishops Deans Chapters cities corporations Fraternities Guiâ—ds Nobility Gentry Freâ—holders of England Ireland Wales Scotland and all Dominion Isles annexed to them with sundry other particulars necessary for an accomplished Lawyer out of which industrious Lawyers if countenanced by authority and encouraged by a a publike Salary might collect such a rare new Body and Systeme of the Laws customs courts and ancient legal proceedings in all the courts of Justice throughout our Dominions as would as far excell all other Abridgements collections Reports Institutes Registers Law-Books hitherto published for use excellency as the richest Diamond exceeds the basest pibble and bring more honour benefit to the English Nation than all the Shepheards Calenders and New-corps or Models of our old English Laws attempted by Hugh Peters Sword-men and â—ome bold illiterate Ignoramusses of the Law who neuer yet perused any of our old Records nor read over half our English Law-books and yet will be reformers or deformers rather of what they neâ—er exactly knew nor understood In brief the exact knowledge of our Records wiâ—â— furnish industrious Lawyers with such rare usefull materials of all sorts for the publike service of their Natiâ—e country upon all emergent occasions the benefit information of their clyents the honour of their profession and their own reputation advancement profit as will enable them to outshine all others of their robe unversed in the Records as far as the Sun and Moon outshine the lesser stars which lose all their borrowed splendor when â—hey once apâ—ear in place Witnesse Mr. Noy Mr. Seldon Mr. Littleton and some other Lawyers of late times whose real and Sir Edward Cooke whose borrowed superficial insight in Records advanced not only their Names Fames Arguments Books but practise and imployments likewise whiles they practisâ—d above all others of their Profession and hath immortalized their memories to posterity A sufficient Argument to engage all generous Students and Practisers of the Law to spend some years or long Vacations at least in the Study of our almost forgotten Records which though it may hinder their present gains and practise for a time will abundantly increase them afterwards the longest Studies in this kind like Merchants longest voyages being recompenced with the richest returns 2. All persons of quality desirous thoroughly to enable themselves to serve their Soveraign or Country in any publick great State-Offices Imployments at home or in foreigne parts may out of our Records furnish themselves with all former publike Negotiations Embassies Treaties Truces Leagues Contracts Agreements Transactions Letters Missives Commissions Instructions Claims Controversies Debates between the Kings Parliaments Nobles Clergy Merchants Kingdom People of England Ireland Scotland Wales and Dominions thereunto annexed or any of them and any other forraigne Kings Kingdoms Princes States Cities Embassadors Agents Legates Merchants relating to Peace Warre Amity Trade Marriages Alliances Government mutual aid Jurisdictions Soveraigntie Regulation of Injuries Abuses Depredations c. and likewise between themselves All Passages Writs Commissions Debates resolves relating to the Parliaments Judicatories Laws Justice Trade Merchandise Manâ—factures Navy Shipping Ports defence Militia by Land or Sea Coins Weights Measures of England Ireland and other our Dominions formerly specified with all other particulars fit for an accomplished Statesman no where extant but in our Record wherein they are faithfully registred for the information and benefit of posterity 3. All Heroick English Spirits desiring exact knowledg in the History and Chronology of England may find in our old Records all the choicest materials relating there unâ—o faithfully recorded with all the particular dates circumstances of time and place All Grounds Occasions Commissions Summons of Arrayes Armies Navies Fleets Ships Fortifications of Townes Castles Conâ—ultations Articles Instructions transactions relating to our Civil Foraign wars by Land or Sea with the Names of the Generals Officers Marshals Admirals and persons of greatest eminency in them All Truces Leagues Embassies Contracts Agreements Letters passages of State Parliamentary affairs Coronations Charters Patents of our Kings and what ever may compleat adorn our English History exactly registred which if faithfully transcribed and digested into order would make a farre more usefull compleat excellent English History and Chronicle then any yet published or compiled And if all the Charters Patents Commissions Records Writs Mandates priviledges Leâ—ters granted sent written by our Kings Parliaments Counsel and Officers of State relating to England Wales Ireland Scotland Jersey Gernsey Man and our other Isles and Dominions and to the particular Counties Hundreds Cities Corporations Ports Officers Bishopricks Monasteries Colleges Hospitals Free Schooles Parishes Churches Noblemen Gentlemen and particular Mannors places in them were judiciously collected digested after the moddel of Mr. Cambdens Britannia I dare affirm they would as far excel it in use and benefit as it transcends all former publications of our British world and Monarchy 4. Such Gentlemen as are addicted to Heraldry may find a Rich Magazine of all choice materials belonging to the Office and Study of an English Herald relating either to the Regal Noble Gentile families Great Officers Pedegrees Marriages Successions Coats Titles of Honor Chivalry c. of England Scotland Ireland Wales and other parts of our English Dominions The Coronations and Solemnities of our Kings the creations of our Nobles Knights Officers of all sorts with their Formalities Robes c. Most of our English Heraulds having been either Keepers of our Records or Clerks under them out of which they extracted most of their knowledge 5. All Divines studious of eminency in the Church History of England may read in our Records many excellent Letters Embassies passages Debates between our English Kings Parliaments Prelates Clergy Councils Synods and the Popes Cardinals Legates Court of Rome and forraign Councils
of The Court of the Justices assigned for the Government of the Jews he saith But when the Iews were utterly banished as hath been said this Court ceased with them in 18 E. 1. Anno Dom 1290. misprinted 1293. but likewise in this very Chapter his own subseqvent words and Records in direct terms contradicting this opinion of his no less than 5 times which I wonder he observed not I shall recite them at large to undeceive his over-credulous Readers of the long Robe who take his words and works for Oracles though in many things very full of gross mistakes contradicted by his own Records he cites specially in his Chapter of Parliament and Admiralty And for that writes he they were odious both to God and Men that they might pass out of the Realm in safety they made Petition to the King that a certain day might be prefixed to them to depart the Realm it was prefixed by the King and Parliament against their wills to the end that they might have the Kings writ to his Sheriffs for their safe conduct and that no injury molestation damage or greivance be offered to them in the mean time for which perchance they did petition though not for their departure hence One of which Writs we will transcribe Rex Vic G. Cum Judaeis Regni nostri universis Certum tempus praefixerimus a regno illo transfretandi therefore prefixed by the King hâ—mself without their Petition and that for the banishment of them all out of the Realm Nolentes quod ipsi per ministros nostros aut alios quoscunque aliter quam fieri consuevit indebite pertrectentur Tibi praecipimus quod per totam Ballivam tuam publice proclamati firmiter inhiberi facias ne quis eis intra terminum praedictum injuriam molestiam damnum inferat seu gravamen Et cum contingat ipsos cum catallis suis quae eis concessimus versus partes London causa transfretationis suae dirigere gressus suos salvum securum conductum eis habere facias sumptibus eorum Proviso quod Judaei praedicti ante recessum suum Vadia Christianorum quae penes se habent illis quorum fuerint si ea acquietare voluerint restituant ut tenentur Teste Rege apud Westmin 18. die Julii Anno 18 E. 1. This Statute De Judaismo was made at the Parl. post festum Hilarii Anno 18 E. 1. a gross mistake At which Parliament the King had a 15 granted to him pro expulsione Iudaeorum Therefore by his own confession they were expelled banished by the King and Parlament against their wills and a fifteenth given for it as the former Historians note And this writ was granted in July following in pursute therefore of their Judgement of banishment not upon their petition the King beginning his reign Novemb. 16. For the Parliament knew a strange conceit of a Judge for how could they certainly know it that by banishing of Usury though they banished it only not the Jews the Jews would not remain And thus this Noble King by this means banished for ever these infidel usurious Iews Ergo their persons not their Usury only the number of which Jews thus banished was fifteen thousand and threescore We will here adde a Parliament Record de Priore de Bridlington thus Et quod praedictus Prior cognoscit quod praedicta peonnia praed Judaeo debebatur viz. 3 col nec ei solvebatur Ante exilium Iudaeorum therefore by this Parliamentary record but 3 years after they were judicially banished by Parliament not voluntarily of themselves no banishment in Law Et quicquid remansit eorum debitis aut catallis in regno post eorum Exilium again repeated as most certain Domino regis suit Confideratum est quod Dom. Rex recuperet pecuniam praedictam dictum est eidem Priori quod non exeat Villa antequam Domino Regi de praedicta pecunia satisfaciat Et respondeat Johannes Archiepiscopus Eborum quia praecepit dicto Priori solvere Valetto suo praedictam pecuniam in deceptionem Regis contra Sacramentum fidelitatem suam Domino Regi datam Idem in alio Rot. Ann. 27. E. 1. rot 5. Therefore by these 3 records resolutions cited by himself the Jews were all banished by sentence of Parliament in such sort as our Historians record and not in his New sence alone amounting but to a voluntary Recess And to put this beyond all future doubt or controversie though the particular Act and Parliament Roll for their Banishment be utterly lost for ought I can find upon diligent search and inquiry after it as are all other Parliament Rolls during this Kings reign yet there is a particular Roll still extant in the Tower of the particular sales of all the Jews Houses and Lands in London Yorke Canterbury Northampton and all other places of England where they resided made by King Edward the 1. in the 19 and 20 years of his reign the next years after their exile reciting they were all escheated into the Kings hands By the Iews banishment out of England which Roll was thus indorsed in that age Charta de Judaismo Patentes de domibus Iudaeorum concessis post eorum exilium de Anglia Annis 19 20. E. 1. The fifth Charter mentioned in the Roll of 19 E. 1. conteins this Kings Grant of the House of one Leo a Jew in St. Martins Parish in London Domus Leonis filu Cusae filii Eliae Judaei de Parochia Sancti Martini c. per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei e Regno nostro tanquam escheata in manu nostra existentis After which follow near one hundred other several charters of other particular Jews houses to particular Englishmen the same year in the self-same Roll as escheated to the King per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei After these in the same Roll follow several other Patents of this King of the Jews houses made in the 20 year of his reign the first whereof is this Kings grant Domus Benedicti Iudaei per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei ex Regno nostro tanquam escheata nostra in manu nostra existentis After which follow several other Charters of other Jews Houses in the self same form So that by the testimony of all these Charters and Records likewise of the Patent Roll of 19 E. 1. granting all the profits of the Jews houses a tempore Exilii eorundem to charitable uses the two very next years after their exile the Jews were all immediatly and legally banished out of England against their wills and all their houses there upon escheated into the Kings hands who upon this Title made sales of them to Englishmen recited in all their Charters the Rolls whereof I have lately perused in the Tower where all who please may examine them for their satisfaction herein By all these concurrent irrefragable Records and Testimonies it is apparent against Sir Edward Cooks grounlesse conceit 1. That all the Jews
Sybarites Bysantii Antissiaei Apoloniatae Chii Syracusani Amphipolitae who by receiving strangers into their cities and countries were all much infested some of them quite supplanted and ejected by them the rest enforced to expel them by force of arms Then he subjoyneth That the strangers admitted among Gods own people proved briars and thorns unto them and Solomon himself by many strange women fell into Idolatry concluding thus The Spaniards in my opinion did not unjustly banish the seditious Iews out of their Coasts propius non accedo â—ed Christum oro ne peregrinorum turba immanis turbo in civitate fiat As these Grecians in ancient times prohibited the introduction of strangers amongst them for the forementioned reasons so likewise did some of the wisest Romans Pennus in ancient times and Papius after him as Cicero relates Peregrinos Vrbibus prohibent eosque exterminant which although he thus censures as an inhumanity suverò urbis prohibere peregrinos sanè inhumanum est Yet he intends it only of excluding strangers from all trading and commerce not from cohabitation as Denizens from which he holds it just to debarre them there being a special Law then in force for that purpose which he thus expresseth Nam esse pro cive qui civis non sit RECTUM EST NON LICERE QUAM LEGEM TULERUNT SAPIENTISSIMI CONSULES Crassus Scaevola Hence Claudius the Emperour banished the Jews out of Rome Acts 18.2 and Suetonius in his life And the mischief of admitting forraigners is largely argued in Cornelius Tacitus who were after his time banished out of Rome as Coelius Rhodigmus relates out of Ammianus Marcelinus So the Carthaginians Solthians Scythotauri Gamphasantes Seres Indians Aegyptians in some places the Epidauri Athenians also excluded foraigners their country company conversation Ne cives longo usu dissimiles mores imbuerent in alienas leges ritusque transirent as Alex. ab Alexandro Gen. Dierum l. 4. c. 10. and Boêmus de Mor. Gentium record Yea we read of the Tartars and most politick Inhabitants of China at this day that they will admit no strangers into their Countries so much as to travel or traffick for fear of discerning their secrets and corrupting their manners and those few they admit by special licence to enter into their Country they will by no means suffer to return thence nor permit Merchants and Marriners there trading to walk abroad publikely in their Cities and Countries nor to lodge on land but only in their ships And to come nearer home our Kings heretofore upon the grievous complaint of the Nobility Gentry People have frequently banished all strangers out of England as the greatest pests inconveniences and grievances to the Natives Thus in the reign of King Edward the Confessor Anno 1052 All the Normans except two or three were banished our of England for giving ill counsel to the King and incensing him against the English by agreement both of the King and Parliament So King Henry the 2. in the 1 year of his reign Anno Dom. 1154. or in the second year of his reign as others write commanded all strangers to avoid out of the Realm by Proclamation by a certain day under great penalty especially the Flemings and Souldiers who committed all kinds of mischief under pretence of a liberty permitted to Souldiers by the Law of arms in time of war In the year 1220. King Hen. the 3. by his Proclamation commanded all strangers to avoid the land by Michaelmas next following except such as came with Merchandize to make sale of their wares under the Kings safe conduct After which the Poâ—ctouvines coming into England in great number obtaining great offices about the King miscounselling seducing and encensing him against the English Nobility and ingrossing the wealth of the Kingdom into their hands were assaulted plundered and many of them inforced to retire out of England by the Barons in the year 1258. And the next year after they were all banished out of England by Edict of Parliament After which they returning and oppressing the Realm were again expulsed and exiled by the Barons Anno 1260. So in the Parliament of 4 Ed. 2. Anno 1311. It was ordained by the Archbishops Bishops Earls and all the Commons in Parliament amongst other things That the King should banish all Foraigners out of his Court and Kingdom as his Father had commanded him which the King obliged himself by Oath to performe And thereupon banished his own Minion Pierce Gaveston into Ireland Which practices and proceeding of all these recited Nations and our Ancestors being if not grounded on yet at least warranted by Gods own forcited Precepts to the Israelites being warranted by the Jews own practise who had no dealings with the Samaritans John 4.9 and the Samaritans reciprocal carriage towards the Iews whom they would neither lodge nor entertain Lu. 9.51 52 53. Why we should not upon this account seclude those alien Jews so different from us both in manners customs Laws Religion and obeying not the Laws of our Saviour Christ Jesus it being not for the Kings or the Kingdoms profit to suffer them as Haman Esther 3.8 once said of them in another case I referre it to all wise Statesmen to resolve since it may be truly said of such unwelcom guests Turpius ejicitur quâm non admittitur hospes Neither will this contradict that Gospel precept Heb. 13.2 Be not forgetfull to entertain strangers or Deutr. 10.18.19 c. 23.7 Mat. 25.35 43. which extend only to Christian hospitality liberality and pity towards private distressed exiles travellers and other strangers coming to lodge or sojourn with us for a short season into our houses or country upon extraordinary or just occasions especially such who stand in need of our releif and are of the Houshold of Faâ—th as is clear by the Texts themselves compared with Rom. 12.13 1 Pet. 4.9.3 Iohn 5. Gal. 6.10 not to Infidels Jews Pagans or who are in no such absolute necessity nor stand in need of our charity or reception nor yet to the reception of any forraign Nation or Colony into our Island to cohabit perpetually with us the only point in question which the Scripture no where commands nor intends but disallows in the aforecited Texts Neh. 9.2 c. 13.30 And these Scripture expressions Prov. 5.10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth Isay 1 7. your lands strangers devour in your presence and it is desolate as overthrown by strangers Lam. 5.2 Our inheritance is turned unto strangers our Houses to aliens Hosea 7.9 Strangers have devoured his strength and he knoweth it not sufficiently manifest both the illegallity folly and sad consequences of our receiving Jews and other strangers in such a nature of which our Ancestors had sufficient experience in the Jews themselves enforcing them for ever to exile them hence who have places enough in many other parts of the world where they now inhabit in
nobis a die Pasche in 15 dies ad recipiendum ab eo finem debitis illis Et mandetis Vicaquibus necesse fuerit quod nullam interim districtinem faciant eidem Abbati pro debitis illis reddendis T. G. fil Petri apud Suth 25 die Marcii Rex W. de Warren et sociis suis custodibus Iudaeorum c. Mandamus vobis quod quietum esse faciatis Rogerum Wesperill de usuris debitorum quae debet Simoni Iudeo Oxon. ab hoc inst Pasce anno Reg. nostri 9. usque ad Pasche prox sequent et interim ei respectum habere faciatis de praedict debitis T. Aaron Norwic. apud Clarenden 21 die Marcii per eundem By these 3 Presidents it is apparent that the Jews Usury was condemned and no ways favoured by King Iohn and his Justices in that age long before either the Statute of Merton 20 H. 3. c. 5. or De Iudaismo 3 E. 1. c. 1. were enacted and that the King would by no means permit it to run against any whilst actually imployed in his service nor others whom he favoured to whom he released the Usury at his pleasure and his Judges likewise by his command In the Roll of Fines of the 9 year of King Iohn I find these two cases concerning extents of Lands for the debts of Jews in that age Margareta de Lucy dat quinque marcas pro habenda haereditate de Kerchel et de Hammes quam Robertus de Lucy quondam vir ejus invadiavit Iudaeis in vita sua quod Iudaei capiant se a debito quod idem Robertus eis debuit super praedictum vadium ad haeredem ipsius Roberti qui haereditatem suam tenet Et mandatum est Vicecomiti quod accepta ab ea securitate de praedictis 5 marcis faciat ei habere plenariam seisinam de praedicta haereditate sua quae capta fuit in manum Domini Regis occasione praedicta Et mandatum est Iusticiariis Iudaeorum quod de praedicto debito capiant se ad haereditatem praedicti Roberti quam haeres ejus tenet The husband morgaged his wives inheritance to a Jew for a debt and dies for which the wives land being taken by way of extent into the Kings hands upon the Wives suit and fine of 5 marks her land is discharged the husbands land descended to his heir charged with and extended for it all the lands of the Jews Debtors on that age before the Statutes of Acton Burnel or de Mercatoribus 13 E. 1. being liable to extents for their debts as this Record of the same year resolves especially if assigned forfeited to or seised by the King Mandatum est Baronibus de Scaccario quod omnes terras quas Jollarius de Anumdevil habuit tempore quo ipse mutuo accepit debita de Aaron Judaeo capiantur in manum Dom. Regis quicunque illas teneat pro 200 72 libris quas ipse Domino Regi debuit de debito Aaron similiter districtionem faciatis de omnibus aliis quae Dom. Regi tenentur de debito Aaron de 26 lib. 8 sol 9 d. By this Record it appears that debts to Jews in that age were in the nature of Judgements and Statutes binding all the debtors lands he had at the time of the money borrowed into whose hands soever they came afterwards The King at this time claimed such an absolute jurisdiction over the Jews debts that he used to discharge or release them absolutely or for life and to respite them as he pleased as this and other presidents maniâ—est Rex omnibus c. Sciatis quod quietavimus Roberto silio Rogori tota vita sua de omnibus debitis Judaeoorum Willi de Chesney patris Margaretae uxoris ejusdem Roberti praecipimus quod inde sit quietus tota vita sua in hujus rei testimonium has literas nostras Patentes ei fieri fecimus Teste meipso apud Wimo 19 die Augusti In the 13 year of King John of which there are no Rolls or Records in the Tower I meet with this notable Record in the Treasury of the Exchequer touching the Jews assignment of their debts to Christians and extents upon them by Judgment of the Justices assigned for the custody of the Jews whom the assignee thereupon vouched to warranty in this case Placita a die Sancti Michaelis in 15 dies Anno Regni Regis Johannis 12. capta apud Westmonasterium inter alia sic continetur sequitur Rotulo secundo Assisa venit recogn si Robertus de Kanvill injuste sine Judicio disseseivit Willielmum Couse Beatricem uxorem ejus in Lincoln infra Assisas Robertus venit dicit quod Assisa non debet procedere quia ipse babet seisinam inde per preceptum Domini Regis ut ille qui fecit finem cum Judaeis quibus idem Willielmus debuit debitum super tenementum illud unde ipse profert Cartas Judaeorum quas ipsis acquietavit per finem illum vocat Justiciarios Judaeorum ad Watrantum quod habuit inde seisinam per eos ut de vadio suo Quia nihil Juris clamat in tenemento illo nisi ut de vadio Justiciarii Judaeorum sic warrantizant ideo consideratum est quod Willielmus in misâ—ricordia Robertus teneat in vadium suum By the Clause Roll of the 15 of King Iohn it appears that the King then seised granted and sold the houses of the Jews at his pleasure as a Lord his Villains without any other Title but his absolute Soveraignty over them witnesse these Writs of his compared together Rex Majori Vicecom London c. Sciatis quod dedimus dilecto fideli nostro Com. de Ferrariis domum Isaac Judaei de Norw c. in London in parochia Sanctae Margaretae cum redditibus omnibus pertinentiis suis Cartam nostram eo modo fieri fecimus Et ideo vobis mandamus quod secundum tenorem ejusdem Cartae nostrae ei sine dilatione plenam seisinam habere faciatis T. meipso apud Craneborn 8 die Julii Rex Vicecom Praeposit Oxon. salutem Sciatis quod ad petitionem venerabilis patris nostri N. Tuscul Episcopi Apostol sedis Legati concessimus Albrico fil Isaac Judaeo domos suas et domos quae fuerunt Isaac patris sui in Oxon. quae non valent per annum nisi viginti sol ut dicitur Unde vobis mandamus quod plenam seisinam domorum illarum eidem Albrico fine dilatione habere faciatis nisi valeant per annum plus quani 20 s. T. W. Brewer apud Freemer 11 die Novemb. This year the King laid an heavy Tax upon the Jews at Bristol which some Jews in Southampton refusing and delaying to pay the King thereupon issued this Writ to the Sheriff of Southampton to apprehend and send them prisoners to Bristol unlesse they presently paid it Rex
circumcidendo ut dicitur suis literis mitti faciat ad custos eorum usque London liberandos ibidem Constabulario Turris London cui Rex praecepit per literas suas quas eidem Vic. mittit ei mittendas quod eos recipiat et eos salvo custodiat T. R. apud West 21 die Novemb. The Indictment and whole Proceedings against them I have elsewhere at large related And this respit of their trial for which they paid a fine De Respectu Rex Iustic suis itinerant in Com. Suff. salutem Mandamus vobis quod Iudicium quod faciendum est de quibusdam Iudaeis de Norwic. qui capti sunt et detenti in prisona nostra pro transgressione quam fecerunt de quodam puero Christiano circumcidendo â—ponatis in respectum coram nobis apud London usque in 15 dies a die Sancti Hil. An. r. n. 19. accepta prius securitate de praedictis Iudaeis de centum marcis ad opus nostrum reddendis pro hoc respectu habendo Et habeatis tunc coram nobis recordum illius loquelae Mandamus enim Vic. Norf. quod cum festinatione praedictos Iudaeos mitti faciat usque Lond. liberandos ibidem Constabulario Turris nostrae London T. R. apud Westm 21 die Novemb. The same year the King sent this writ to the Sheriff of Northfolk and Suffolk to proclaim That no Iew should lend any money from thenceforth to any Christian that held any Demeasne Lands of the King in Socage or Villenage upon the lands themselves but only upon their chattels and moveables under pain of losing the money lent or falling under the Kings amerement Rex Vicecom Norf. Suff. salutem Praecipimus tibi quod clamari facias per totos Comitatus tuos Quod nullus Iudaeus de caetero aliquam pecuniam credat alicui Christiano qui teneat de nobis in Dominicis et Maneriis nostris per servicium Scocagii uel Villenagii super tetram vel tenementum aliquod quod sit de Dominico nostro set si ipsi Christiani mutuam videlicet a Iudaeis pecuniam recipere vellint illam recipiant super vadium catallorum et rerum mobilium Et si aliquis contra hoc praeceptum nostrum in posterum venire presumpserit Iudaeus pecuniam sic creditam amittat et in misericordiam nostram incidat et Christianus similiter tenementum suum in perpetuum videlicet illud quod tam temere contra praeceptum nostrum obligaverit amittat Teste Rege apud Certes 1 die Sept. The same year Mandatum est Vic. Buck. quod non permittat quod aliquis Judaeus de caetero maneat in villa de VVeycumbe sed Iudaeos qui ibidem sunt manentes sine dilatione amoveri fac et maneant in aliis villis in quibus prius manete consueverant T. R. apud Herwic 28 die Novemb. This year I find this notable proclamation Mandatum est Vicecomiti Norf. et Suff. quod in Civitate de Norwic. et singulis bonis vâ—llis Com. suorum clamori faciat quod nulla faemina Christiana de caetero serviat Iudaeis ad alendos puerulâ—s suos vel in aliquo alio officio Teste R. apud VVestm 20 die Ian. per ipsum regem Vrsilla filia Hamonis de Hereford Judaei pays a fine of 5000 marks pro habendis terris domibus et omnibus debitis et catallis quae fuerunt praedict Hamonis to be paid at certain days Such Fines of Iews to enjoy their fathers houses and chattels are frequent in the Fine Rolls Isaac a Jew was this year fined 100l de pluribus transgressionibus de quibus convactus fuit coram Justic Dom. Reg. ad custod Iudaeorum assignatis In this year also the King discharged Aaron a Jew of York from all Tallages whatsoever during his life paying annually into his Exchequer one hundred marks yearly at two terms for his exemption Rex omnibus ad quos presentes litterae perveniunt salutem Sciatis quod concessimus Aaron de Ebor. Judaeo quod ipse toto tempore vitae suae quietus sit de Taâ—lagio reddendo pâ—r annum ad Scac. nostrum Cent. marc ad duos terminos scil 50 mar ad fest Pasch et 50 marc ad festum Sancti Michis Ita quod de debitis quae nobis debuit de quibus finem fecit nobiscum reddend per annum ad Scac. nostrum cent solidos qutetus erit per praedict 100 mar an In cujus c. T. R. apud Suthan 13 die Feb. Et mandatum est Iusticiariis ad custodiam Iudeorum per literas clausas quod ita fieâ—i et irrotulari faciant VVhich exemption is frequently mentioned and ratified afterwards and yet availed him very little as I have elsewhere manifested out of Mat. Paris Aaron de York to pay 100 marks per an to the Kings Exchequer to be free from taxes during all his life In 20 H. 3. I find this pardon of Usury due to a Jew by the King Rex pardonavit Roberto de Pedtiling totam usuram debitorum quibus tenetur Isaac Judaeo Nottingh et Benedicto Judaeo Warwic salva praedictis Judaeis â—orte predict debitorum Et mandatum est Justiciariis ad custod Judaeorum assignatis quod de usura praedicta ipsum Robertum quietum else et ad sortem eorundem debitorum praedict Judaeis redendam eidem Roberto rationabiles terminos habere faciant T. Rege apud Winton 10 die Iunii This year the Inhabitants of Suthampton being weary of the Jews company who intruded themselves into the Town procured this grant from the King to be quit of them unlesse by special command for the future Rex concessit Burgensibus suis Suthampton quod nullus Iudaeus de caetero maneat apud Suthampton sine speciali praecepto Regis Et mandat est Iusticiariis ad custod Iudaeorum assignatis quod illinc nullum Iudaeum mittant ad manendum ibi nec aliquem ibi remanere permittant sine speciali praecepto Regis T. Rege apud Winton 21 die Iunii I conceive all corporations in England will be as unwilling to entertain any Iews now to dwell amongst them as the Inhabitants of Suthampton and those of Newcastle and Wickham forementioned were to receive them in that age In this year I find one Iew extending the lands of another Iew for a debt by this VVrit to their Iustices for that end Mandatum est Iustic ad custod Iudaeorum assignatis quod per Sacramentum proborum et legalium hominum extendi faciant Domos et terras Aaronis Benedicti Suthampton in Suthampt. et in la Hull videlicet quantum valeant per annum in dominicis redditibus serviciis villenag et omnibus aliis exitibus et fac extendi praedict eidem Aaroni rationabilem finem et rationabiles terminos habere fac ad debita in quibus tenetur David Iudaeo Oxon. et Deuleben fil Urseâ— Iudaeo Winton secundum valorem praedictar
Cook had been so well seen in records as most deem him he would certainly have remembred this in his Commentary on the Statute of Merton cap. 5. I meet with these four records in 23 H. demonstrating what fines Releifs the Jews heirs paid to the King to enjoy their Estates after their decease c. Aaron Judeus Ebor. Benedictus fil Jossei haeredes Samuelis fil Joscei Judei finem fecerunt cum Rege pro habendis terris et catallis quae fuerunt praedicti Samuelis pro centum libris de quibus reddit xx l. per annum scil x l. ad Pasch An. 23. ad festum Sancti Michaelis Anno eodem x l. et sic de anno in annum et de termino in terminum donec praedict 100 lib. plene fuerint solutae Et mandatum est Justic ad custod Judaeorum assignatis quod ita irrotulari omnes terras et catalla praedicta eisdem Aaron et Benedicto deliberari faciant salvo uxori ejusdem Samuelis rationabili dote sua secundum Legem et consuetudinem Judeorum quam quidem dorem idem Justiciar ei sine dilatione facient assignari T.R. apud VVoodstock 18 die Novembris Rex Baronibus suis de Scac. salutem Sciatis quod concessimus Ursello fil Hamond de Hereford et fratribus suis quod de sine quem fecerunt nobiscum pro habendis terris â—t catallis praedicti Hamonis patris sui habeant eosdem terminos quos eis prius concessimus et tantundem Nobis reddent per annum quantuÌ„ reddere debent per praefatam concessionem nostram eis prius factam ita quod primus terminus eorum incipiet ad Pasch an r. n. 23. sic deinceps reddant nobis de termino in terminum tantum denar per ann quant reddere debuerunt per praedict concessionem donec totus finis nobis persolvatur non obstante eo quod praedicti Ursell et fratres sui terminos suos quos eis concessimus non observarunt T. R. apud Westm 18 die Ian. By these two Presidents and many others in the Fine Rols of this Kings reign which I pretermit is is apparent 1. That all the Jews goods chattels houses lands upon their decease remained in the Kings hands neither could their children enjoy them till they had made a special Fine with the Kings Iustices for them and thereupon had a special Writ of restitution awarded to give them actuall possession of them 2ly That those Fines were usually ordered to be paid by certain portions half yearly till satisfied by their heirs 3ly That all the Jews sons were equally heirs to their Fathers lands houses Chattels 4ly That their wives were endowed of their lands and houses and that by special assignment of the Iustices assigned for the custody of the Iews 5ly That if they failed of paying their Fines according to their first composition they must purchase a New order for confirmation thereof else all was null In the Clause roll of 24 H. 3. pars 1. m. 9. scedula there is a writ to the Sheriff of Glocester to receive the debts and goods of one Vinion a Iew of Glocester in sundry Abbots his wives and others hands to the Kings use and deliver them to the Clerk of the wardrobe It seems this year the Sheriff of Glocester had arrested all the Iews of Glocester upon some occasion whereupon this writ to restore them issued Mandatum est Vic. Glouc. quod Iudeis Glouc. liberam administrationem de cattallis suis mobilibus immobilibus quae arestatae fuerunt habere fâ—ciat sicut habere debent secundum assisam regni nostri et solent ita quod occasione nullius mandati prius habiti non impediantur T. c. I find this Writ the same year for extending lands for a Iews debt by the Kings Almoner Rex Vic. Kant salutem Sciatis quod Elias le Eveske Iudaeus London concessit Fraâ—ri G. Elemosin nostro et custodi Hospitalis nostri de Offspringe pro fine quem idem frater G. fecit cum eo totum debitum quem Andr Kinkerel et Rob. de Syrycon debuerunt praedict Iudaeo Et ideo tibi precipimus quod eidem fratri G. plenam seisinam habere fac de Manerio de magna Delte cum pertinentiis quod est vadium ipsius Iudaei pro dicto debito et eundem fratrem G. iuÌ„ seisina praedict Manerii manuteneatis donec a nobis aliud recipies praeceptum T. R. apud Westm 24 die Ian. In the 25 year of Henry the 3. I find this Writ to several Sheriffs to summon 6 of the richest Iews out of all Counties and Towns wherein the Iews resided to come to treat with the King at VVorcester as well concerning his as their benefit and to seise as well their bodies as chattels if they made default herein Rex Vic. Northampt. salutem Praecipimus tibi quod sicut teipsum et omnia tua diligis et sicut vis quod ac te gravissime non capiamus venire facias coram nobis apud Wigorn die dominica prima ante Cineres sex de ditioribus et potentioribus Judaeeis nostris Northampt. et de singulis villis comitatus tui in quibus Judaei maneant vel duos Judaeos secundum numerum eorum ad tractandum nobiscum tam de nostra quam sua utilitate Sciturus quod nisi illuc ad terminum praefatum venenerint Ita manum nostram tam erga corpus quam catalla tua aggravabimus quod tuo perpetuo te sentires non mediocriter praegravari T. R. apud Merleberg 24 die Jan. Eodem modo scribitur Vic. Salop Kanc. Lege Ebor. Suthampt. Worcest Linc. Essex Canteb Bedford Herf Warwic Gloucest Buck. Huntindon Heref. Oxon. et Vicecom London quod praedictis die et loco venire faciant sex de diâ—ioribus et potentioribus Judaeis London ad tractandum c. T. ut supra Here we have a Record of a Parliament of Jews summoned out of every County and Town where they inhabited to treat with the King about that which concerned both his and their profit but the issue proved far otherwise to them for they were there constrained to submit unto a Tax of 20 thousand marks imposed on them by the King to be paid that year whereof these Jews themselves were made both the Assessors and Collectors and to levy it by most rigorous distresses from their fellow Jews togethet with the Sheriffs by the terms prescribed under pain of forfeiting their goods and estates and the greatest penalties to the terror of all others as appears by these memorable Records concerning it wherein most of the principal Jews then in all places of England are recorded by name being as I conceive those summoned by the former Writ to appear before the King at Worcester Rex Ursello fil Ham. Leoni fil Ham. Mosse fil Ham. Jacobo fil Iaeobi Manasser Leveske Iacobo de Moster Judeis Hereford
ita quod eam cap. et in prisona detineri pâ—â—cipimus donâ—c solverit pecuniam praedict Et ideo vobis mandâ—mus quod praedict Coc. Samuel ceterosque omnes Iudeos de Stâ—nford de praedict 13 lib. quietos esse faciatis T. Rege apud Not. 10 die July This year Aaron a Jew of York assigned a Debt of 500 l to the King in part of a debt which he owed the King which the King commanded Hugh Bygod who owed it in right of his wife to pay into the Exchequer And likewise commanded all the Jews to be removed out of Nuberry and Spenhamland by this writ Mandatum est Vic. Berks Quod Judeos qui manent in Villa de Nubury et in villa de Spenhamland remittat sine dilatione usque Winton et ibi maneant sicut prius solent nec de caetero maneant in Villis praedictis T. R. apud Reading 27 die Decemb. A Jew accused for clipping and falsifying monies fled for refuge to the King who thus remanded him Rex W. de Ebor prepos Beverley Hen de Bath salutem Quia intelleximus quod vos mandaveritis Vic. nostro Hereford ad capiend Cok Judeum Hereford tanquam falsarium et retuntorem Denar et idem Judeus venit ad Curiam nostram apud Reading quaerens subterfugium captionis suae Nos ipsum Judaeum fecimus arrestari ad vos mittentes eundem ut vos super eo quod ei imponitur secundum quod videritis expedire faciatis T. R. apud Reading 12 die May. After which follows this record Rex W. de Havershull Thesaur suo et Constab suo London salutem Mandamus vobis quod Judeos assignatos ad custodiam catallorum debitorum quae fuerunt David Judei Oxon distringatis ita quod illi Judei qui manuceperunt finem 5000 marc quem Licoric quae fuit uxor praedict David fecit nobiscum pro habendis catallis et debitis ipsius David ut eum habeamus terminis assignatis de Tallagio Iudeorum nobis solvend et ipsam Licoric a prisona deliberari faciatis Ita tamen quod nullam habeat administrationem de catallis debitis praedictis ante instans festum Nativitatis beat Mariae conâ—c post eundem festum vobis inde mandaverimus Et Sciatis quod remissimus Aaron Judeo Ebor. custodiam praedict catallorum et debitorum pro fine quem propter fecit nobis et quae solvit in Garderoba nostra et loco ejus subrogavimus Bondum Judeum Cant. By which Record it is apparent That no Jews wife or other Jew could administer or meddle with her Husbands or Parents chattels or debts without paying a vast fine for them as here 500 marks and that at such time as the King assigned that the custody of their Goods and debts were in the mean time committed to other Iews to be responsible for them and that their persons were imprisoned and their administrations suspended if they failed in paying the fine at the termes appointed In the 29 of Hen. 3. the King sends writs to his Iustices for the custody of the Iews and to Sheriffs to levy the Debts due to him from the heirs of Hamond the Iew of Hereford and that Crespin a Iew should pay him 28 marks to be laid out in silk and cloth of gold for Westminster Church as his Alms. Mandatum est Baron de Scacc. et Iusticiariis ad custod Iudeorum assignatis quantum poterint apponant ut 4000 marc quae Regi debent Iudei ad hoc festum sancti Michaelis tunc omnibus modis solvantur Thesaur Camerar ad faciend inde quod Rex injunxerit et si forte in solutione earund 4000 marc defecerint ad terminum praedict tunc capiant aliquos de ditioribus Iudeis ut corpora eorum mittant ad R. usque Gannock non omittando illuci pro aliquo custo et Rex illos faciet deliberari Iustic Hyberniae ducendos in Hyberniam et ibidem in prisona detinendos T. Rege apud Gannock in castris x. die Septem By which record it seems the Iews were taxed to pay 4000 marks at Michaelmas to the King and if they failed then some of the richest of them were to be seised on and sent prisoners to the King into his camp and from thence into Ireland and there imprisoned til it was all paid Such was the rigor then used in levying their heavy Taxes Another 4000 marks was then likewise to be paid by them at Christs Nativity the same year and commanded by this writ to be effectually levied by the Justices of the Jews Mandatum est Justic. ad custod Judaeorum assign quod sicut corpora et catalla sua diligunt et ab indempnitate et periculo maximo volunt conservari provideant quod 4000 marc quae Regi debentur de Judaismo reddendas citra festum Nativitatis Dom citra festum illud reddantur quia si in eorum solutione aliquis inveniatur defectus id solummodo negligentiae suae imputaretur T. Rege apud Woodstoke 4. die Dec. Mandatum est Thesaur et Camerar quod de illis 4000 m. deliberent Magistro Militis Templi in Anglia 2000 marc deponend in domo sua ad opus Comitissae Provinciae sicut alias eis mandat est de resid mille marc quantum se extendunt satisfaciant mercatoribus Vinorum et aliis de debitis in quibus Rex eis tenetur T. ut supra Ibidem Dorso 2. There is a command to the Justices of the Jews to respit a suit there pending against one Mansel by two Jews for 40 l. and an horse In this 29 year of Henry the 3. this writ was issued to the Justices of the Iews to proclaim in all Counties that no Iewes wife or childe should fly from nor obscure himself in the places he or they resided for one year then next ensuing and that they should be there readily found by the Kings Officers under pain that their husbands as also their wives and children should be outlawed banished and all their lands rents and chattels forthwith forfeited to the King and presently sold to his use and they banished never to return again into England without his special license Mandatum est Justiciariis ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis quod statim visis Literis clamati faciant per omnes Comitatus Angliae ubi Judaei Regis sunt quod si aliqua Iudaea uxor alicujus Iudaei vel pueri sui diffugiant vel fugam capiant vel aliquo modo lateant a Villa ubi fuerint manentes ad festum Sancti Andreae Anno regni Regis 29 usque in unum annum proximo sequentem Ita quod ad Summonitionem Regis vel Ballivorum suorum in quorum Ballivis ipsi fuerunt manentes prompti inveniti non possint quod vir ipsius Iudeae et etiam ipsa Iudaea et omnes pueri sui statim utlagentur et omnes terrae redditus
Judeorum assignatis quod pro predictis quinque marc ipsos Judeos non distringant Teste Rege apud Windesor primo die Maii. Mandar est c. quod distringi faciant terras quae fuerunt Mathei Peverel c. for a debt due to a Jew and to others to answer a debt to Aaron the Jew In the 33 of H. 3. I find these records concerning the Jews An Extent of Robert de Muntenay in Littlebar of a Jews land per Sacramentum proborum et legalium hominum extendi fac c. The King himself in that age appointed the Jews Bayliffs in the Eschequer as is evident by this record Mandatum est Justic ad custodiam Judeorum assign quod non permittant quod aliquis Judeus habeat aliquam Ballivam ad Scacc. Judeorum praeter Jacobum Episcoâ—um Abrah fil Vines et Jacob fil Flurye et si Elyas Episcopus qui prius fuit ad dictum Scac. resideat ad idem Scac. per preceptum Regis tunc Rex vult quod reâ—ipiant Aaron fil Abraham tanquam socium suum T. R. apud Westm xi die Julii anno c. The King then likewise appointed the Clerks of the Jews Exchequer and the Cirographers of their publick Chests as this record doth manifest Rex vult quod Abraham fil Vines sit clericus Regis in Scac. suo Iudeorum et quod sit Cyrograph Archae Regis Cyrograforum Iudaeorum apud London loco Abrahamae fil Muriell Et ideo mandatum est Justic. ad custodiam Judeorum assignatis quod acceptis ab eodem Abrahamo fil Vines sufficientibus plegiis de fidelitate ipsum ad praemissa Officia admittant et clavem Archae Cirographorum quam Abraham fil Muriel habet eidem liberari faciant T. R. apud Westm xxix die Junii Rex vult quod Aaron fil Abraham Iudeus London resideat ad Scaccarium Regis Iudeorum tanquam Vines c. ut supra T. R. apud Winton 26 die Maii. The same year I find an Extent of John of Coniz of Brewineston his Land for a Debt to a Jew per sacram proborum et legalium hominum extendi fac c. T. R. apud VVestm 9 die Maii. The same year Aaron of Yorke agreed again with the King to pay a certain Tax to him yearly expressed in this Patent Rex omnibus c. salutem Sciatis quod concessimus Aaroni filio Abrahami Iudeo quod sicut talliatus fuit ad decem octo libras coram Nobis ad terminum Sancti Michaelis Anno c. 33. sic tallietur ad quatuor Annos sequentes ad triginta et sex libras singulis annis praedictorum quatuor annorum videlicet ad festum Paschae Anno c. 34 to ad 18 libras et ad festum Sancti Michaelis proximo sequâ—nâ— ad 18 libras et sie DE ANNO IN ANNUM ad eosdem terminos ad 36 libras Ita quod post praefatum terminum praedictorum quatuor annorum ad majorem pecuniae summam modo talliâ—tur In cujus c. Teste Rege apud VVindsore 21 die Sept. In the Fine Rolls of this year I find these Passages relating to the Jews who all joyntly and severally made great fines to the King this year particularized in the Fine rolls what sum every Jew whose name is there entred at large was to pay to the King whereof take this brief account of some few as a pattern of all â—he rest Mandatum est Vic. Kanc. quod si Judei Cantuaâ— invenerint securitatem sufficientem de 7 l. 8 s. 8 d. de novo Tallagio super eos assesso de 11 l. 17 s. 5 d. de veteri Tallagio super eos assesso ad aurum Regi inde emendum unde alias recepit mandatum Regis ita quod pecuniam illam habeat in manu sua quod inde Regi respondere rossit ad Scacc. Regis in Crastino Sancti Michaelis tunc praefatos Judeos permittat in pace ita quod eos non distringat pro aliquo alio Tallagio donec aliud a Rege acceperit in mandatis T. R. apud Merton 12 dle Sept. Mandat est Vic. Ebor. quod sicut se ipsum diligit habeat ad Scac Regis in Octabis Sancti Michaelis de Aaron de Ebor. Judeo de novo Tallagio â—uper eum assesso 16 l. 11 s. Et de eodem de veteri Tallagio uper eum assesso unde Vic. alias recepit mandatum Regis 26 l. 7 s. et de caeteris Judeis Civitatis Ebor. de novo Tallagio 14 l. 11 s. et de eiâ—dem de veteri Tallagio unde Vic. alias recepit mandat Regis 23 l. 7 s. ad aurum Reg. inde emendum T. ut supra Eodem modo scribitur de Iudaeis Exon de Tallag Vic. Devon De Iudeis Bedford Merlebr Bristoll Warw. Glocest Cantebr London Norwic. Colecester Winton Wigorn Hereford Oxon Nottingh Northampton Lincoln and other Towns and to their respective Sheriffs to levy the particular sums both of the New and Old Tallage forementioned there specified in like manner as to the Sheriff of Yorke which particulars fill up an whole roll well nigh In the same Roll the King respites Jacobus Le Eveske a Jew and Flora his daughter a fine of 45 l. 6 s. 8 d. pro Relevio et aliis finibus and sundry other Jews there named paid the like Fines pro Relevio upon their Parents deaths to injoy their estates to be paid at certain times â—here limited into the Exchequer Et mandatum est Baron de Scac. et Justic ad custod Judeorum assignatis quod â—ic fieri et irrotulaâ—i faciant T. R. apud Guldeford 13 die Sept. The like Fines for relief pro terris catallis Patris eorum ratione relevii Regi contingentibus paid by sundry Iews I meet with in 34 H. 3. and many Fine Rolls else throughout his reign and in Edward the 1. which I pretermit it being entred of some Dederunt Regi 20 s. auri or some other sum of gold prae manibus In 34 H. 3. There was a tax of ten thousand marks imposed on the Jews and this composition made between the King and Salmon Bishop a Jew concerning it future Taxes thus entred in the Fine roll of that year Rex concessit Salmoni Episcopo Judeo London quod de Tallagio 10 mil. marc per annum sit ad 20 l. dum Tallagium Judeorum sit in tali statu et si crescat Tallagium Judeorum crescat ejus portis quae ipsum continget de Tallagio praedicto et si decrescatur simili modo Ita tamen quod si tota Communitas Judeorum Regi gâ—avetur de Tallagio praedicto aut summa X. millium marc debeat decrescere eo quod idem Salmon est ad talem summam respondeat idem Iudeus ad liberatum librae suae de praedict 20 l. sicut alii Judei faciunt in tallagio suo
contigerit adjudicari vel per preceptum nostrum vel per considerationem Scac. nostri Judeorum Quia etiam predicti Custodes et Constab tenere consueverunt placita inter Christianos et Iudeos de vadiis usque ad summam 40 s. Providimus volumus quod de cetero sic fiet in omnibus Et ideo vobis mandamus quod omnes tam Christianos quam Judeos quos contigerit per preceptum nostrum vel considerationem praedicti Scac. nostri Iudeorum catcerali custodia ratione Judaismi quoquo modo committi eos liberari faciatis Constab Turris nostrae et per ipsos et Ministros suos praedict faciatis attachiamenta de Judeis et placita vadiorum reneri sicut praedict est Ita quod nullus nisi Constabulatius predict Turris nostrae de caetero se intromittat de hujusmodi attachiamentis vel imprisonamentis vel placitis vadiorum praedict Et hoc faciatis firmiter teneri et observari T.R. apud Sanctum Paulum London 26 die Maii Which record fully sets forth the Iurisdiction of the Keepers and Constable of the Tower of London over the Jews persons and affairs in that age Rex Iustic ad Custod c. Monstravit nobis Cresse Iudeus de Wilton qui decimo anno preterito finem vobiscum fecisset per aurum ad opus nostrum ut sine occasione implacitare posset coram vobis Galf. de Winelesford de debitis quae ei debet extra Archam Judaeorū quod idem Galf. recognovisset coram vobis se debere praefato Iudeo X. libr attamen quidam prefat Iudeo invidentes ipsum super dicto debito frandulenter et maliciose inquietare et molestare nituntur Et ideo vobis mandamus quod si scrutatis rotulis Scac. nostri Judeorum inveneritis ipsum Judeum finem predict fecisse tunc finem illum secundum irrotulat praedict et consuetudinem Judaismi nostri remanere fac sine occasione T. R. apud Windes 5. die Febr. The King wanting present moneys this year sent forth this writ Quia Rex plurimum indiget ad praesens pecunia Mandat est Justic ad custod Iudeorum assignat quod omnes denarios de Judaismo regis quos reservant ad autum inde emend ad opus Regis sine dilatione liberent in Garderoba Regis Aberico de Fischamp Petro de Winton Cler. et faciend inde quod Rex eis injunxit Anno 46 H. 3. I find 18 several Jews paying several fines to the King for Patents and that they might abide within certain Towns As likewise a Precept to the Constable of the castle of Glocester to seise all the chattels houses Lands and tenements of Caupon a Jew of Glocester and keep them safe till the King gave farther Order with this further command to the Barons Mandatum est Baron de Scac. Quod omnes Cartas Tallias et instrumenta inventa in Archis Regis Cyrographariis de debitis Judeorum per Angliam Regi relictis seu concessis post ultimum scrutinium et proventum fact de debitis predictis per illos quos Rex ad hoc deputavit coram eis venire faciant ad praedicta debita ad usus Regis levanda secundum quod Rex eis injunxit T. c. He likewise made several grants to Jews not to release pardon respite or extend their Debts in this form Rex omnibus c. Sciatis Quod per finem quem Benedictus de Lincoln Judeus fecit nobiscum et de quo nobis satisfecit in Garderoba nostra concessimus eidem Iudeo quod de nullis debitis suis quae eidem debentur aliquam extentam aut terminorum prorogationem quietantiam seu donationem aliquam faciemus infra quinquennium à tempore confectionis praesentium literatum In cujus c. T. R apud Windsore 15. die Maii. The like Patents were then granted to 4 other Jews and to 8. Jews more on the 19th of February The Jews of Canterbury complaining to the King of violence offered to them by the people in Canterbury who broke open their doores beat them and intended to burn their houses with fire in the night issued this commission to inquire out the Malefactors that they might be punished Cum Rex ex parte Judaeorum Cant. gravem accepit querimoniam quod quidem malefactores et pacis Regis perturbatores tam Clerici quam Laici ejusdem civitatis nuper venerunt noctanter ad domos eorundem Judeorum in eadem villa et ostia et fenestra eorundem domorum securibus exciderunt et fregerunt et ad domus illas comburendas ignem ibidem detulerunt postmodum quosdam ex Judeis praedictis enormiter verberaverunt maletractaverunt contra pacem Regis Rex assignavit Walt. de Bersted ad inquirend per sacram c. qui transgressionem praedict fecerunt quid per eandem inquisitionem invenerit regi in propria persona sua sine dilatione scire fac ut ad insolentiam predict malefactorum reprimendum et correctionem debitam de transgressionibus predict faciendam de consilio suo faciat quod super fuerit faciendum Et mandat est Vic. Kanc. c. The Justices of Assize this year proceeding notwithstanding a Prohibition from the Justices of the Jews to stay the proceedings in a suit for a Jews house in Colchester which was recovered by his default notwithstanding the Prohibition thereupon there issued this writ of restitution for the Jew Rex Vic. Essex salutem Cum Willielmus de Ponte nuper Arraniavit per Breve nostrum quandam Assisam novae disseisinae coram Nich. de True et sociis suis Justic nostris ultimo Itin. in Com. Essex vers Hanekun de Flemeg et Ursellum Judeum de Colecester de ten in Colecester ac per Iohannem de Weston et Tho. de Pynkesden Iustic ad custod Iud. assign eidem Ursello sit inhibitum ne alibi quam coram eis super aliquo respondere praesumeret per quod idem Ursell coram praefato Nicho. et sociis suis Iustic nostris comparere non audebat praefato Willielmo inde respondere Cumque Assisa illa per defaltum praefati Urselli tunc capta fuisset ac idem Willus seisinam de tenem predicto per ret Assisae praedict recuperavit Attendentes absentiam praefati Iudaei occasione Inhibitionis praedict sibi factae ei non debere imputari tibi praecipimus quod praefato Iudeo tenem praedict cum pertinentiis rehabere fac tenendum absque destructione vel absque alienatione aliqua inde facienda vizt usque in crastinum Epiphaniae Dom prox futur ita quod tunc vel citra per praedict Mich. Johan Tho. quos Iustic nostros ad hoc assignavimus exhibeant in praemissis utraque parte Iusticiae complementum Et tu ipse provideas quod per judicium supradictum de tenemento illo nulla fiat alienatio seu domorum deterioratio nec aliquo modo
care and cost as the richest Pearls Treasures and Jewels of the Nation To which I answerâ— 1. That all our wisest Kings Parliaments Ancestors Statesmen in former ages had ever a special care to record all businesses of publike or private ocncernment and to preserve our ancient Records as the choicest Treasures appointing special Treasuâ—ies places to preserve them in and Custodes Râ—tulorum Treasurers Chamberlains Registers Clerks to keep them safe from injury corrupting and embeâ—â—lâ—ing and enacting many Statutes for this purpose wiâ—neâ—â—e not only the Chests Cyrographers Officers and oâ—hers forementioned for keeping the Records and Charteâ—s of the Jews and their Rolls but also 13 E. 1. c. 25.30 1 E. 3. c. 4. 5 E. 3. c. 12. 9 E. 3. c. 5. 6 R 2. c. 4. 13 H. 4. c. 7. 2 H. 5. c. 8. 4 H. 6. c. 3. 8 H. 6. c. 12.15 10 H. 6. c. 4. 18 H. 6. c. 1.9 27 H. 8. c. 16. 32 H. 8. c. 28. 34 H. 8. c. 22.28 37 H. 8. c. 1. 2 E. 6. c. 10.3 4 E. 6. c. 1.1 2 Phil. Mar. c. 2. 23 Eliz. c. 3. 27 Eliz. c. 9. 31 Eliz. c. 3. 1 Jac. c. 6. with other Acts And must they now after all these Statutes be all maâ—e a burnt-offring unto Vulcan upon the crack-brain'd Motion of an Ignatian Incendiary 2. The Statute of 8 H. 6. c. 12. still in force Oâ—daiâ—s That if any Record or parcel of the same writ retoriâ— paâ—el proces or warrant of Attorney in the Kiâ—gs Couâ—ts of Chancery Eschequer the one Bench or other or in his Treasury be willingly stolen taken away withdrawn or avoided by any Clerk or other Person by cause whereof any judgement be reveâ—sed 〈…〉 â—alâ—r taker away wiâ—hdrâ—â—◠〈◊〉 and avoider their Procurers Counsellors and Abettors being thereof inaâ—â—ted and by process theâ—eupon 〈◊〉 thereof duly convict by their own confession or by enquest to be taken by legal men whereof the one half shall be of the men of some Court of the same Courts and the other halâ— of â—â—her shall be judged for Felons and shall incurre the pain of Felons And that the Iudgâ—s of the saiâ—â—ourâ—â—â— of the one Bench and of the other have power to hear and detâ—rmine such defaults before them and thereoâ— to mâ—ke due puniâ—hment as is aforesaid And now Hugh Peters if I may be thy Counselâ—or in sober sadnesse look to thy neck which as thou hast oft indangered forfeited by thy late Fire-works to blow up Kings Kingdoms Parliaments Lords our old fundamental Lawes Liberties Government as Straffords Canterburies late Impeachments Sentences with Mr. St. Iohns and others Arguments at their Attaâ—ndâ—rs will resolve thee and thy open treasonable advising abetting the seising imprisoning of my self and above 40 more Members of Parliament in Hell on the bare boards Decemb. 6. 1648. whose names thou didst then list with an iron Sword under thy arme instead of the Sword of the Spirit So this thy Iesuitical Project to burn all our old Records whereby all former Judgement Titles Fines Recoveries c. will be nulled reversed which thou publickly abettest counsellest thy Magistrate to effect in Print proclaimes thee by thine own Confession without other evidence a Notorious Felon within this Act in the highest degree The burning avoiding of all our Records in general being a more transcendent Felony yea Treason to the whole Kingdom Nation than the embezelling only of one or two private Records or Writs relating but to one private person And if ever thou be brought to a legal Trial for it before such a Iury and such Iudges as this Act prescribes thou art sure to undergoe a Halter-Martyrdome at Tyburne which all will cry up according to thy Pamphlets Title for A good work of a good Magistrate and a short cut to great quiet for thy devoting all our old Records to a fiery Martyrdom in Smithfield which I trust they shall never undergo And that upon these enâ—uing weighty Considerations First theâ—e old Records which he would have burnt contain in them all the antient Rights Titles Evidences Charters Agreements Leagues Compacts of the Kings Kingdom Nation and people of England to all their pristine and present Dominions Jurisdictions Prerogatives Preheminences Priviledges Hereditaments and enjoyments both at home and abroad by Land and by Sea as they are a Kingdom Nation Republike body Politick in general and that both in relation to themselves and their own intrinsecal affairs at home as they have been owned reputed negotiated treated with upon special occasions as a Kingdom Nation Republike by any forraign Kings Princes Kingdoms States whose ancient undoubted Rights Titles to all or any of our Dominions Territories Jurisdictions Royalties cannot otherwise be legally câ—eared judicially evidenced upon any emergenr occasion or controversie between our Kingdom Nation and other Forraign States and Realms or between our selves at home but by our old Records the only publike evidences of the whole Kingdom and English Nation as necessary to defend maintain justifie their common publick Rights Dominions Possessions Jurisdictions Claims priviledges upon all occasions as any private Noble or Gentlemans ancient Charters Records Writings are to defend manifest his right and Title to his private Inheritance and Injoyments witnesse the famous Letter of the King Parliament and Nobles of England written and sent to the Pope Anno 1302. to clear the subordination of Scotland to the Crown of England and the Homage of the Kings of Scotland made for their kingdom to the Kings of England as their superiour Lords from time to time manifested by the ancient Histories and Records of England beyond all contradiction Mr. Selden his Mare Clausum proving the Dominion and Jurisdiction of the Kings of England oâ—er the Narrow Seas by Records and Sir Robert Cottons Posthuma Therefore it must necessarily be as bad and mad a worke for a bad and mad Magistrate to burn all the publick Evidences and Records of the whole Kingdom and Naâ—ion upon the frantick motion of a Bedlam in this particular as for a Great landed Nobleman to burre all the old Charters Evidences of his Lands and Honors or for a rich Usurer to burn all his Bonds and Morgages which all wise men will repute an act of Frenzy and Hugh Peters too in his right senses 2. They contein in them all the great publike Charters Contracts Agreements Leagues formerly granted or made by the Kings of England to or with the Prelates Earles Barons Freemen Commons of England Ireland Scotland Wales Gernsey Iersy Man and all other Isles and Dominions belonging to the Crown of England in general all Charters Patents Grants Contracts Writs Releases Gifts Pardons Offices Honors Liberties Franchises Customs Priviledges Faires Markets Inheritances Rents Revenues Licences compositions formerly granted by our Kings to the respective Counties Cities Towns Burroughs Villages Hundreds Arch-bishops Bishops Deans Chapters Prebends Abbies Priories Nunneriâ—s Colledges Hospitals Free-schools Universities great Officers Chancellors Generals Admirals Marshals
not to be passionately zealous not to contend earnestly for the Faith against these ungodly men turning the Grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ is in a great measure to deny and betray them together with our Church Nation at once unto these their inveterate enemies For whose Conversion not National but of the very small elect Remnant of them as I shall pray so I cannot but pray and write against their Re-admission amongst us on these or any other terms for the Reasons here humbly presented to thy view and Christian Consideration by Thy Christian Brother and Companion in tribulation and in the Kingdom Patience of Jesus Christ William Prynne Lincolnes-Inne 14 December 1655. A Short Demurrer to the Jews long discontinued Remitter into ENGLAND HOw the Nation of the Jews once Gods own beloved special chosen People after their malitious crucifying of our Saviour Jesus Christ and imprecation That his Bloud might be on them and their children were for this their crying sin especially made the saddest spectacles of divine Justice and humane Misery of all other Nations in the World being quite extirpated out of their owne Land almost totally deleted by the sword pestilence famine carried away Captives and dispersed like so many Vagabonds over the face of the whole Earth as the very off-scowring of the World and execration derision of all other people having no place City form of Government or Republike of their own in any corner of the Universe according to Gods Comminations against them Levit. 26.14 to 46. Deut. 28.15 to 68. Jer. 9.10 c. 13.24 Ezech. 5.2 to the end c. 12.15 c. 22.15 Mich. 1.21 Mat. 24. Or what banishments punishments oppositions restraints by penal Lawes suppressions of their Synagogues Ceremonies they have received in all ages from Christian Kings Princes Republikes in Forein parts for their implacable malice blasphemie against our Saviour Jesus Christ Christians Christian Religion and other Crimes and Misdemeanors to which they are most addicted is not the subject of my intended Brief Discourse and so fully related by Josephus Egesippus Eusebius Nicephorus Zonaras Paulus Diaconus Paul Eber the Magdeburgian Centuriators out of them and other Historians in their 2. to their 13 Centuries chap. 14 and 15. in Baronius his Annals and Heylins Microcosm p. 568 569 570. where all may peruse them that I shall not spend time to recite them but wholly confine my self to a Brief Relation of their first admission into their ill deportment misdemeanors sufferings popular insurrections against them in and their final banishment by Judgement and Edict of Parliament out of England never to return again collected out of the best Historians to which I shall subjoyn a taste only of such Laws Scriptures and Reasons as seem strongly to plead against their readmission into our Island especially at this season When the Jews came first into England appears not certainly by any Historians there being no mention of their being here in any of our British or Saxon Kings reigns to my remembrance Antoninus in his Chronicles Tit. 16. c. 5. records That William the Conqueror King of England translated the Jews from Rhoan to London and the Magdeburg Centuries out of him Cent. 11. cap. 14. col 686. adde thereto that it was OB NUMERATUM PRECIUM for a sum of money given to him by them which I find not in Antoninus Both these Authors intimate That this was their first arival in England yet in what year of this King they are silent With them concurs Raphael Holinshed Vol. 3. p. 15. where thus he writes Among other grievances which the English sustained by the hard dealings of the Conqueror this is to be remembred That he brought Jews into the Land from Rouen appointed them a place to inhabit and occupy reputing their very first introduction a Grievance to the English and hard dealing Which Iohn Stow in his Annals of England p. 103. and Survey of London printed 1633. p. 288. thus seconds King William FIRST brought the Iews from Rhoan here to inhabit in England and Sir Richard Baker in his Chronicle of the Kings of England London 1653. p. 39. This King was the FIRST that brought the Iews to inhabit here in England But this Law concerning the Jews inserted amongst the Laws in the Confessors time seems to prove their arival and settlement in England to be before this Normans reign unless mis-placed in point of time amongst his Laws by Hoveden being rather in my opinion a Declaration of the Jews servile condition under King William and Richard the first when Hoveden writ then any Law in King Edwards reign or before amongst whose Laws or the Conquerors it is not to be found in Abbot Ingulphus his Original copy published by Mr. Selden in his Notae Spicilegium ad Eadmerum p. 172 c. as the words themselves import De Judaeis in Regno consticutis SCiendum est quoque quod omnes Judaei ubicunque in Regno sunt sub tutela defensione Domini Regis sunt nec quilibet eorum alicui diviti se potest subdere sine Regis licentia Judaei omnia sua Regis sunt Quod si quispiam detinuerit eis pecuniam suam perquirat Rex tanquam suum proprium or detinuerit eos vel pecuniam eorum perquirat Rex si vult tanquam suum proprium as Sir Henry Spelman renders it This Law or Declaration being the first record making mention of their being and condition in England proves That as all the Jews when they came first into England were under the Kings protection and patronage where ever they resided so they were all under him only as his meer Vassals their persons and goods being his alone and that they could dispose of neither of them without his license Into which slavish condition they doubtless then put themselves being banished out of other Nations for their villanies only to avoid the fury of the common people to whom they were most detestable who else would have quickly murdered or ston'd them to death and stript them of all their wealth as the sequel will declare The next Passage in Historians concerning the Jews being and condition in England is that of William of Malmsbury in William Rufus his reign The Jews writes he in his time gave a testimony of their insolency Once at Rhoan endeavouring by gifts to perswade and revoke certain men to Judaism who had deserted their error Another time at London being animated to enter into a combate or dispute against our Bishops because the King in merriment as I believe had said That if they should overcome the Christians and confute them by open arguments he would then revolt to them and become one of their Sect Whereupon it was managed with great fear of the Bishops and Clergy and with pious solicitude of such who were afraid of the Christian Faiths miscarriage And from this
a thousand five hundred of the Iews destroyed at that time in York alone beside those slaughtered in other places so that this year which the Iews took to be their Iubile was to them a year of confusion Neither was this plague of theirs undeserved for every year commonly their custom was to get some Christian mans child from the Parents and on Good-Friday to crucifie him in despite of our Religion King Richard the first after his return out of the Holy Land in the year 1194. appointed Iustices Itinerant through all the Counties of England who amongst other Articles were to enquire Concerning the slayers of the Iews who they were that slew them and concerning the pawns and chattels and lands and debts and charters of the Iews that were slain and who had them and how much any one owed to them and what morgages they had and who held them and how much they were worth and who took the issues of them and what they were and that all the Morgages and Debts of the Iews who were slain should be taken into the Kings hands and that those who were present at the slaying of the Iews and had not made a fine or end with our Lord the King or his Iustices should be apprehended and not delivered unless it were by the King our Lord or his Iustices The self-same year King Richard appointed Justices Laws and Orders for preventing the frauds and regulating the contracts of the Jews both between themselves and between Christians and them thus recorded at large by Roger de Hoveden and briefly touched only by some others All the Debts Pawns Morgages Lands Houses Rents and Possessions of the Iews shall be registred The Jew who shall conceal any of these shall forfeit to the King his body and the concealment and likewise all his possessions and chattels neither shall it be lawfull to the Iew ever to recover the concealment Likewise 6 or 7 places shall be provided in which they shal make all their contracts and there shall be appointed two Lawyers that are Christians and two Lawyers who are Iews and two Legal Registers and before them and the Clerks of William of the Church of St. Maries and William of Chimilli shall their contracts be made Charters shall be made of their contracts by way of Indenture And one part of the Indenture shall remain with the Iew sealed with his seal to whom the money is lent and the other part shall remain in the common chest wherein there shall be 3 locks and keys whereof the 2 Christians shall keep one key and the 2 Iews another and the Clerks of William of St. Maries Church and William of Chimilli shall keep the third And moreover there shall be three seals to it and those who keep the seals shall put the seals thereto Moreover the Clerks of the said William and William shall keep a roll of the transcripts of all the Charters and as the Charters shall be altered so let the roll be likewise For every Charter there shall be 3 pence paid one moity thereof by the Iew and the other moity by him to whom the money is lent whereof the 2 writers shall have 2 pence and the keeper of the roll the third And from henceforth no contract shall be made with nor payment made to the Iews nor any alteration made of the Charters but before the said persons or the greater part of them if all of them cannot be present And the aforesaid 2 Christians shall have one roll of the Debts or receits of the payments which from henceforth are to be made to the Jews and the 2 Jews one and the keeper of the roll one Moreover every Iew shall swear upon his Roll that all his debts and pawns and rents and all his goods and possessions he shall cause to be enrolled and that he shall conceal nothing as is aforesaid And if he shall know that any one shall conceal any thing he shall secretly reveal it to the Iustices sent unto them and that they shall detect and shew unto them all falsifiers or forgers of Charters and clippers of moneys where or when they shall know them and likewise all false charters By these strict politick Laws the King and his Officers knew the particular wealth monies goods debts and real and personal estates of every Jew and in whose hands they were and so could seize and command them at their pleasure upon any real or pretended misdemeanors or complaints against them King Iohn who in the 1 and 2 years of his reign granted them large liberties and an high Priest for moneys in the year of our Lord 1210. commanded all the Jews of both sexes throughout Englâ—nd to be apprehended and imprisoned and to be afflicted with most grievous torments that so they might satisfie the Kings pleasure with their money Some of them being grievously tortured gave all things which they had and promised more that they might by this means escape so many kinds of torments Amongst whom one Jew at Bristol punished with various torments when as he would neither redeem himself nor submit to any fine the King commanded his tormentors that they should every day pull out one of his grinding teeth until he should pay to the King ten thousand marks of silver And when at last for 7 days space they had pulled out 7 of his teeth with intollerable torment and now on the 8 day the tormentors had begun the like work again this Jew an over-flow provider for his profit gave him the aforesaid money that he might save the 8 tooth to himself the other 7 being pulled out who with much more wisdom and lesse pain might have done so before and have saved his 7 teeth having but 8 in all In the 17 year of King Iohn the 17 day of May the Barons coming to London brake into the houses of the Jews and searched their Coffers to stuff their own purses that had been long empty After which they applyed all diligence to repair the Gates and Walls of the City with the stones of the Jews broken houses In the year 1222. 7 H. 3. in a Council at Canterbury under Archbishop Stephen a certain Apostate Jew made of a Christian a Deacon and afterwards apostatizing was there judicially punisht whom Falco presently apprehending caused to be hanged as Matthew Paris writes but Bracton and others record that he was burned to ashes King Henry the 3. in the 11 year of his reign Anno Dom. 1226. granted the lands and houses of Benomye Matton a Jew in London escheated to him by a murder committed by this Jew to Semain and others as appears by his Chatter of that year King Henry the 3. Anno. 1230. wanting moneys constrained the Jews whether they would or would not to give him the third part of all their moveable goods and that with all expedition The Jews in the year of our Lord 1231. builded a Synagogue
the dead And this very year Robert de la Ho to whom the king had committed the custody of the Jews and of the Seal which belonged to their Exchequer was grievously accused before the king being charged with this crime That he had oppressed the innocent Son of a certain knight by a certain false Charter confirmed with the Seal of which the said Robert Iustice of the Iews was the bearer and keeper Whereupon he was basely apprehended and committed to a close Prison and defamed with the like scandal wherewith Philip Luuel but the year just before had been intangled in the snares of the perfidious Jews who was then their Iustice. At last by the great labour of his friends the malice of the Jews is detected but the innocency of the said Robert then set free scarce declared Whereupon being put from his Offices he openly paid 4 marks of gold at least for his fine This very year 1252. there came out of the holy Land a Mandate from the king of France that all the Jews should be expelled out of the Realm of France and condemned to perpetual exile with this clause of moderation added thereto But he who desires to remain let him be an artificer or handicrafts-man and apply himself to mechanical artifices For it was scornfully objected to the said King by the Saraccus That we did little love or reverence our Lord Jesus Christ who tolerated the murderers of him to live among us In the year of Christ 1253. November 10. the Obligatory Chatter wherewith the Abbot and Covent of St. Alban were held bound for the debt of Richard de Oxaie knight was taken out of the hand of Elias the London Jew and freed out of the chest and it was proclaimed 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 Ann 1254. King Henry after Easter so cruelly raged against the most miserable people of the Jews that they loathed even to live And when they were called together Earl Richard exacted of them for the use of the King who was then in great want no small sum of money under pain of a most loathsom prison and a most ignominious death Elias therefore of London High Priest of the Jews taking counsel with his Companions answered for them all who had frequently paid very great summs of money whether they would or would not O noble Lords we see undoubtedly that our Lord the King purposeth to destroy us from under heaven VVe intreat for Gods sakâ— that he would give us license safe conduct of departing out of his Kingdom that we may seek and find a mansion in some other place under some Prince who bears some bowels of mercy and some stability of truth and faithfullnesse And we will depart never to return again leaving here our houshouldstuff and houses behind us How can he love or spare us miserable Jews who destroyes his own natural English He hath people yea his own Merchants I say not Usurers who by usurÃous 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 froÌ„ us those things we cannot give him although he would pull out our eyes or out our throats when he had first pulled off our skins And speaking this with sighs and tears hindring his speech he held his peace falling almost into an extasie ready to die Which 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 earnestness from the Jews although very frequently impoverished 8000 marks to be speedily paid unto him under pain of hanging But they seeing nothing else hanging over them but destruction with confusion answered all unanimously Sir King we see that thou sparest neither Christians nor Iews but studiest with crafty fetches to impoverish all men we have no hope of respiration left us the Vsurers of the Pope have supplanted us permit us to depart out of thy kingdom with safe conduct and we will seek for our selves such a mansion as we can be it what it will Which when the King had heard he cried out with a querulous voice saying It is no marvel if I covet money it is an horrible thing to imagin the debts wherein I am held bound By the head of God they amount to the sum of two hundred thousand marks and if I should say of three I should not exceed the bounds of truth I am deceived on every side I am a maâ—med and abridged King yea now but an halfed King For having made a certain estimate of the expences of my rents the sum of the annual rent of Edward my Son amounts to above 15000 marks There is therefore a necessity for me to live of the mony gotten from what place soever from whomsoever and by what means soever Therefore being made another Titus or 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 Earl spared them considering their abbreviated power and ignominious poverty The same year about the Feast of Peter Paul the Jews of Lincoln stole a child call'd Hugo being 8 years old and when as they had nourished him in a certain most secret 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 blood and lividness crowned with thorns wearied with spittings and shriekings and moreover he is pricked by them all with ponyards made to drink gall dâ—rided with reproaches and blasphemies and frequently called by them with grinding teeth Jesus the false Prophet And after they had derided him in divers
alio discesserunt Ita profuga Gens de Anglia in perpetuum exivit misera semper alicubi terrarum petiâ—ura usque eo dum denique deleatur But I shall pass from Latin to our more common Englâ—sh Historians Fabian in his Chronicle part 7. p. 133. Mr. Iohn Fox in his Acts and Monuments Lond. 1640. Vol. 1. p. 443. and Richard Grafton in his Chronicle p. 169. thus report it in the same words almost This year also 1290. all the Iews were utterly banished the Realm of England for the which the Commons gave he King a fifteenth Nâ—cholas Trivet Polychronicon l. 7. c. 38. and William Caxton in his Chronicles printed 1502. in the life of K. Edward the 1. thus stories the Jews banishment out of Hygden and Trevisa in their words Anone after the King had done his will of the Iustices tho lete he inquere and espye how the Iews dysceyved and beguyled his people thorough the synne of falseness and of usury And lete Ordain a Prevy Parlement among his Lords So they ordainned among theim That all Iewes should void out of Englande for their Mysbyleve and also for their false vsury that they did unto Crysten Men. And for to speed and make an end of this thing All the Comynalte of Englande gave unto the King the XV. Penny of all theyr Goodes mevable and so were the Iewes driven out of Englande And tho went the Iews into France and there they dwellyd thrugh leve of Kyng Phylip that tho was Kyng of France Raphael Holinshed in his Chronicles out of them Vol. 3. p. 285. thus publisheth it In the same year was a Parliament holden at Westminster wherein the Statutes of Westminster the 3 d. were ordained It was also DECREED That all the Jews should avoid out of the Land in consideration whereof a fifteenth was granted to the King and so hereupon were the Jews banished out of all the Kings Dominions and Never since could they obtain any priviledge to return hither again All their goods not moveable were confiscated with their tailles and obligations but all their goods that were moveable together with their coyn of gold and silver the King licensed them to have and convey with them A sort of the richest of them being shipped with their Treasure in a mighty tall ship which they had hired when the same was under sail and got down the Thames towards the mourh of the River beyond Quinborow The Master Mariner bethought him of a wile and caused his men to cast anchor and so rode at the same till the ship by ebbing of the stream remained on the dry sands The Master herewith inticed the Jewes to walke out with him on land for recreation and at length when he understood the tyde to be comming in he got him back to the ship whither he was drawn by a cord The Jews made not so much hast as he did because they were not ware of the danger But when they perceived how the matter stood they cryed to him for help Howbeit he told them that they ought to cry rather unto Moses by whose conduct their Fathers passed through the red Sea and therefore if they would call to him for help he was able enough to help them out of these raging flouds which now came in upon them They cryed indeed but no succour appeared and so they were swallowed up in the water The Master returned with the ship and told the King how he had used the matter and had both thanks and reward as some have written But others affirm and more truly as should seem that divers of those Marriners which dealt so wickedly against the Jews were hanged for their wicked practise and so received a just reward of their fraudulent and mischievous dealing In Capitula Itineris in Totles Magna Charta f. 151. made in Edward the first his reign There is one chapter of Inquiry De catallis Judaeorum occisorum et eorum chartis vadiis qui ea habeant taken out of the Eyre of Rich. the 1. forecited which relates to these Jewes thus drowned and slain as I conceive since I read of no other massacre of them near that time John Stow in his Annals p. 204. and Survey of London p. 289. writes thus of it King Edward banished all the Iews out of England gâ—ving them to bear their enaâ—rges till they were out of the Realm The number of the Iews then expelled was fifteen thousand and sixty persons whose housâ—s being sold the King received an infinite masse of money Iohn Speed in his History of Great Britain p. 545 thus varieth the expression of it King Edward Anno 1290. to purge England from such corruptions and oppressions as under which it groaned not neglecting therein his particular gaâ—n banished the Iews out of the Realm confiscating all their goods leaving them nothing but money to bear their charges they by their cruel Usuries having eaten his People to the bones To passe by Heylins Microcosm p. 570. Henry Isaacsons Chronology Anno 1290. Sir Rich. Baker his Chronicle of the Kings of England p. 146 147. with others who mention this their final banishment out of England I shall conclude with the words of Samuel Daniel his History p. 160. Of no lesse grievance than corrupt Judges then fined displaced banished this King eased his people by the banishment of the Jews for which the kingdom willingly granted him a fifteenth having before in Anno Regis 9. offered a fifth part of their goods to have them expelled But then the Jews gave more and so stayed till this time which brought him a great benefit by confiscation of their immoveables with their Tallies and Obligations which amounted to an infinite value But now hath he made his last commodity of this miserable people which having never been under other cover but the will of the Prince had continually served the turn in all the necessary occasions of his Predecessors but especially of his Father and himself Sir Edward Cook in his 2 Institutes p. 506 507 508. in his Commentary upon Statutum de Judaismo forecited seems to contradict these forecited Historians touching their banishment whose words I shall at large rehearse and refute too in this particular This Statute was made writes he in the Parliament of 18 Ed. 1. That the mâ—schiefs before this Statute against Jewish Usury were these 1. The evils and disherisons of the good men of the land 2. That many of the sins and offences of the Realm had risen and been committed by reason thereof to the great dishonour of Almighty God And are noâ— theâ—e two sufficient grounds to keep them out now as well as to restrain and banish them then The difficulty adds he was how to apply a remedy considering what great yearly revenue the King had by the Usury of the Iews and how necessary it was that the King should be supplyed with Treasure What benefit the Crown had before the making of this
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 Shroveride the 2 year of Edward the first whâ—ch was about 7 years the Crown had four hundred and twenty thousand pounds fifteen shillings and four pence De exitibus judaiâ—mi at which time the ounce of silver was 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 Iudaism 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 laâ—ge Privileges whereby the mischiefs rehearsed in this Act multiplyed But the lucre and gain which King John had and expected of the Infidel Iews 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 fidelibus suis omnibus Judaeis Anglis salutem Sciatis nos concessisse Jacobo Judaeo de Londoniis Presbytero Judaeorum Presbyteratum omnium Judaeorum totius Angliae Habendum tenendum quamdin vixerit liberè quietè honorificè integrè it a quod nemo ei super hoc molestiam aliquam aut gravamen inferre presumat Quare volumus firmiter praecipimus quod eidem Jacobo quoad vixerit Presbyteratum Judaeorum per totam Angliam garantetis manu-teneatis pacificè defendatis Et si quis et super eo forisfacere 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 pertinâ—nte ponatur in placitum nisi coram nobis aut coram capiâ—ali Justiciario nostro sicut Charta Regis Richardi sratris nostri testatur Teste S. Bathonien Episcopo c. Dat. per manus Huberti Cantuarientis Archiepiscopi Cancellarii nostri apud Rothomagum 12 die Julii Anno Regni nostri primo To which Charter Sir Edward Cook annexeth this marginal Note Thâ—s King had a most troublesom and dishonourable reign God raising against him for his just punishment two potent Enemies Pope Innocent the 3. and Philip Kâ—ng 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 feaâ—full end He adds Our Noble King Edward 1. and his Father H. 3. before sought by dâ—vers Acts and Ordinances to use some means and moderation herein but in the end it was found That there was no mean in mâ—schief and as Seneca saith Res profecto Stulta est nequitiae modus And will it not be so now in their new limited re-admission 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 Iewish Vsury was forbidden This Law struck at the root of this pestilential weed for hereby usury it self was forbidden and thereupon the cruel Iews thirsting after rich gain to the number of 15060 departed out of this Realm into forraign parts where they might use their Jewish trade of usury and from that time that Nation never returned again into this Realm Some are of opinion and so it is said in some of our Historâ—es That it was enacted by authority of Parliament that the usurious Iews should be banished out of the Realm â—â—t the truth is that their usury was banished by tâ—â—s Act of Paâ—liament and that was the cause that they banished themselves iâ—to other Countries where they might lâ—ve 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 Statute against their Usury But under the favour of this deceased reverend Judge whose memory and judgement in Law I generally reverence this opinion of his is a meer mistake For 1. This Statute de Iudaismo was not made in the Parliament of 18 E. 1. as he confidently affirmeth without any ground or Authority at all but in the 3d year of his reign as I have formerly proved being full 15 years before the Jews banishment out of England the term the Statute de Iudaâ—smo allowed them to take Lands and Houses to farm but no longer If then they resided here full 15. years after the banishment of their Usury by this Statute it is most certaine it was not the ground of all their voluntary banishments in 18 E. 1. as he strangely fancieth but some particular Act for their general expulsion then made upon the Commons importunity else they would have voluntarily exiled themselves 15 years before upon the first publication of this Statute against their Usury in all probability rather than so long after its banishment of it in 3 2. This Stat. hath not one syllable of their banishment in it but expresly authorizeth them to take houses and lands to farm and continue here 15 years space but no longer Now had it been made in 18 E. 1. as Sir Edw. Cooke affirms the King and Parliament had been so far from banishing them that year as the premised Histories and Records he cites do joyntly attest they did that they had thereby authorized them to continue here 15 years longer even till 33 E. 1. Yea the Commons had been much overseen to give the Kâ—ng a fifteen in the Parliament of 18 E. 1. for the present banishment of all the Iews out of England had they passed the Statute de Iudaismo at that very time which allows them 15 years space longer to take Houses and Lands to farm to extend the moâ—ty of the Lands and Goods of their Creditors to be resident in the Kings Cities and Burroughs where their chests for Indentures were to grant them the Kings Peace and Protection both for their persons and estates and exempt them from suits in all Courts but the Kings and from all Taxes with other Subjects And that clause of this Statute prescribing them to wear a badge on their uttermost Garments after they were 7. years of age and to pay 3 d. the poll yearly to the King after they were 12 years old had been meerly ridiculous if
made but in 18 E. 1. when they were forthwith banished and not in 3. before their exile as our Historians affirm who are only to be credited in this case because all the Parliament Rolls of this Kings reign and before are utterly lost and this very Statute de Iudaâ—smo not extant on Record in the Tower or elsewhere nor any other Statutes made in his or his Ancestors reigns all lost as well as that of 18 Edw. the 1. for the Jewes Banishment as the Clerks and Keepers of the Records informed me upon my searches after them 3ly No Record nor Historian mentions that the Jews voluntarily banished themselves upon the making of this Law and their voluntary departure hence upon the publication of it could not be stiled a Banishment since Cornelius Tacitus resolves Exilium non est ubi quis abit non Senatus consulto non Lege pulsus This their banishment therefore must necessarily be by an express Law or Decree of Parliament 4ly The forecited Historians record that the Jews but a few years before gave King Edw. the 1. a vast summ of money full 12 years after this Statute De Judaismo made in the 3. of his reign to prevent their banishment hence urged by the Commons in Parliament in the 15 year of his reign with the profer of the 5 th part of their goods to the King for their banishment Therefore it is very improbable they would in 18 E. 1. full 15 years after this Statute voluntarily banish themselves only because their Usury was so long before exiled by it 5. All the forecited Historians of those and of later times who are more to be credited then Sir Edward Cookes singular groundless opinion unanimously record that the Iews were all judicially really expelled banished the Realm in 18 E. 1. both by the King and Parliament and that principally for their infidelity not Vsury and other fore-alleged reasons and commanded under pain of hanging by a special Decree and Edict to depart hence by a prefixed day for the effecting and hastning whereof the Commons gave the King a fifteenth Therâ—fore they were all precisely banished by the King and Parliament not by themselves alone 6. The King then banished them out of England upon the same grounds and in the self-same manner as he had newly banished them the year before out of Gascoigne and all his Dominions in France as Matthew Westminster Walsingham and others record But then and there he banished their persons by an express Decree not only for their Vsury but chiefly for their Infidelity and Enmity to Christs Cross Therefore he did the like in England 7ly All Usury in all persons whatsoever was strictly prohibited and quite banished out of England long before this Statute De Judaismo which was but a meer confirmation of former Lawes with particular relation to the Jews not an introduction of any new Law The clearing whereof nor impertinent to my Theam against Jewish Usurers will most fully discover Sir Edward Cooks mistake to the very meanest capacity The famous Council of Calchuth Anno Dom. 787. under King Alfwood and King Offa condemned all usury in these terms c. 17. Vsuras quoque prohibemus dicente Domino ad David dignum fore habitatorem Tabernaculi sui qui pecuniam suam non dederit ad Vsuram c. After which King Edward the Confessor enacted this Law against Usury about the Year 1050. ratified by William the Conquerour in the fourth year of his reign Usurarios quoque defendit rex Edwardus Ne remaneret aliquis in toto regno c. si quâ—s inde convâ—ctus esset quâ—d fâ—râ—ns exâ—gerâ—â— omni substantia propria careret pro Exlege haberetur Hoc autem asserebat ille Rex se audisse in Curta Regis Francorum dum ibidem moraretur quod Usura summa radix est omnium vâ—tiorum This Law precisely banished all Usurers with their Usury out of England and confiscateth all their goods to the King as Outlaws upon conviction If therefore there had been any Jewish Usurers in England in St. Edwards reign as the spurious Law just before it in Spelman Hoveden forecited pretends they had all been expresly banished the land by this Law and never permitted to reside therein above 270 years before the Stat. de Judaismo was enacted In the Council of London Anno 1128. 25 H. 1 and in the Council of Westminster Anno 1138. the 3 of King Stephens reign All usury was prohibited under pain of deprivation both from Office and Benefice in Clergy men By virtue of which laws and Canons all the goods of Usurers became forfeited to our Kings after their deaths they excoÌ„municâ—ted persons This is evident by the words of Ranulp de Glanvil a famous Lawyer under King Henry the 2. De legibus consuetudinibus Regni Angliae lib. 7. c. 16. where thus he writes Usurarit verò omnes res sive testatus sive intestatus decesserit DOMINI REGIS SUNT Vivus autem non solet aliquis de crimine usurae appellari nec convinci Sed inter caeteras Regias Inquisitiones solet inquiri probari aliquem in tali crimine decessisse per duo decim legales homines de vicâ—neto per eorum Sacramentum Quo probato in Curia omnes res mobiles and omnia catalla quae fuerunt ipsius usurarii mortui Ad usus domini Regis capientur penes Quemcunque inveniantur res illae Haeres quoque ipsius hac eadem de causa exhaeredatur secundum jus regni ad DeminuÌ„ vel Dominos revertetur haereditas Sciendum tamen quod si quis aliquo tempore Usurarius fuerit in vita sua super hoc in patria publice defamatus si tamen a delicto ipso ante mortem suam destituit poenitentiam egerit post mortem ipsius ille vel res ejus lege Usurarii minime censebuntur Oportet ergo constare quod usurarius decesserit aliquis ad hoc ut de eo tanquam de usurario post mortem ipsuis judicetur de rebus ipsius tanquam de rebus usurarii disponatur which he likewise affirms for Law in that age lib. 10. c. 3.8 Therefore usury in that and former ages was equally prohibited to all as well Jews as English under pain of forfeiture of all their real and personal estates to the King and their inheritances to the Lords in case they died usurers And if the Jews had not been within the compass of these Laws but might have freely exercised usury when the English could not they had been in this respect in far better condition than the native English when as the forecited law concerning them resolves us Iudaei omnia sua Regis sunt both in this Kings reign and before upon this account amongst others because they were known Usurers This Law continued still the same in succeeding ages as is most apparent by Capâ—tula placitorum
negocia nostra quae pertinent ad officium illud rectand per totam Angliam Et ideo vobis mandamus quod praedicto Ric Alex. et Elye sitis intendentes in omnibus quae spectant ad officium illud sicut fieri solebat tempore Will de Wartun Thom. de Nevil Galfr. de Norwic. T. Com. apud West 8. die Maii. Not long after the same year there were several writs sent to the Sheriff of Hereford and others to protect the Jews persons and estates from violence which the people were prone to offer to them and to preserve them from all suits and arrests against them for contracts or other things both in the Bishops Ecclesiastical Court and before the Sheriffs or Kings ordinary Justices and Judges but only before the Justices specially designed for their custody as in the time of King Iohn which writs were all sent them in this form Rex Vicecomiti Hereford salutem Scias quod de communi Concilio nostro concessimus Judaeis nostris ut ipsi maneant in Hereford sicut solebant tempore Domini Johannis Regis Patris nostri quod talem habeant communionem qualem habere consueverant inter Chrisâ—ianos Et ideo tibi praecipimus quod eos custodias mâ—nnreneâ—s protegas non eis infetens vel inferri permitteâ—â—â— aâ—iquod gravamen vel molestiam si aliquis 〈…〉 forisfecerit id eis sine dilatione facias 〈…〉 clamari facias per totam Ballivam tuam 〈…〉 pacem nostram dedimus non obstante 〈…〉 â—â—bitione inde facta ab Episcopo Hereford quia nihil ad ipsum pertiner de Judaeis nostris Et proâ—ibemus tibi ne manus mittas in eos aut in Catalla eoâ—um nec eos capias aut imprisones nec in Placitum trahas aut a Justiciariis nostris ab aliquo trahi permittas Sedu aâ—iquid fecerint quare poni debeant per vadium plegios tunc illos eorum excessus attachies quod â—â—nt coram Jusâ—iciariis nostris ad Custodiam Judaeâ—rum attornatis inde responsuri hoc facias per viâ—um legalium Christianorum Judaeorum Et non permittas quod placitentur in curia Christianitatis occasione â—â—cujus debiti Et haec omnia fieri facias sicut fieri solebant tempore Johann Regis patris nostri Teste Com. apud Tâ—â—rom London 19 die Junii Anno c. secundo Eodem modo scribitur Vicecomiti Wigorn. Vicecom Civibus Eborum Vicecomiti Constabulario Lincoln 〈◊〉 de Stanford Constabulario Bristol pro Judaeis de Bristol Vicecom Constabul Gloucest pro Judaeis Gloucestriae Vicecom Constab Northamton â—â—cecom Suthampton civibus Winton pro Judaeis There 〈◊〉 Jews then residing in all these places Iâ— the 2 year of King Henry the 3. I find this Kings â—rit to several Sheriffs where the Jews resided to proclâ—â—m that all the Jews where ever they did walk or ride should on their upper Garments wear a white â—abâ—es on their breasts made of Linnen Cloath or parchment as well within the Town as without that so they might be known from Christians Rex Vicecomiti Wigorniâ— salutem Prâ—cipimus tibi quod â—lamari observari facias per totam Ballivaâ— tâ—â—m quâ—d omnes Judaei deferunt in superiori indumento suo ubicur 〈◊〉 ambulaverint aut equitaverint infra villam vel exâ—ra quaâ—â— duas Tabulas albas in Pectore fact as de lineo pâ—atano vel dâ— parcameno Ita quod per hujusmodi signum manifeste poâ—sint Iudaei à Christianis discerni Tâ—ste Câ—mite to wit William Marshal Earl of Glâ—cester the Kings Guardâ—an and Protector apud Oxon. 30. die Martiii Item mandatum est Vicecomit Glocest VVarwick Lincoln Oxon Northampt. Majori Vicecomitious London In the Fine Roll of 2 H. 3. there is a writ directed to the Barons of the Exchequer by the King reciting Constat Nobis per inspectionem rotulorum Iustâ—ciariorum de Iudaismo c. that King Iohn his Father released Mirabilia the wife of Ely a Jew of all Debts due to him by her Husband Ita quod omnes Chaâ—â—e quâ—e fuerunt ipsius Eliae debita in eis contenta ipsi patri nâ—stro remâ—neant that King Iohn upon Elye his death seiâ—ed and granted â—ll his houses except two which Mirabilâ—â— by agreement was to have paying a fine of 15 marks to his Fatheâ— which was not yet paid which agreement he confirmâ—d and thereupon orders the Sheriff to â—â—y the â—aid Fine and Debts T. Com apud Gloc. 3. die Ian. It appears by many Rolls of â— and also of 3 4 5. H. 3. that King Iohn seiâ—ed and gaâ—e away â—o other the Houses of divers Jews both in Gloceâ—ter Oxon. Noâ—thampton and that King Hâ—nâ—y likewise diâ—poâ—ed of them as escheated to him either by the Jews deaths oâ—â—oâ— some other causes Take these two presâ—dents for all the rest Rex Fulk de Breant salutem Mandamus vobis quod sine dilatione habere fac Pho Marc. domum quae fuit Isaac Iudaei de Eboraco in Northampton et domum quae fuit Isaac Judaei Oxon in Oxon quas Dom. Jo. pr. noster dedit Galf. Luterel cujus terrae et haeredis custodiam concessimus eidem Pho. T. Com. apud West 17 die Jan. per ipsum Com. coram Dom. Winton Eodem modo scribitur Vic. Oxon. pro eodem et Ballivis Iudaeorum Oxon. pro eodem Rex Vic. Gâ—ouc salutem Constat nâ—bis per inspectionem Rotulorum nostrorum quod Dom. J. Rex pater noster dedit Guiberto de Rue Domum quae fuit Elye Iudaei Gloc. c. cum quadam placiâ—a quae fuit Mostei Judaei cum pert suis Et ideo tibi praecipimus quod eidem Guiberto de praedict domo placia plenariam seisinam sine dilatione habere fac T. Dom Pet. Winton apud Novum Templum London 23. die Sept. per eundem In the 3d. year of King Henry the 3. some Jews coming into England from foreign parts with their goods to reside there the Wardens of the Ports of England seised upon the persons and estates of these unwelcom Guests which occasioned these new Writs to be sent unto them for their free admission into England without impediment or seizure upon such security and terms as are expressed in the Writs and prohibiting the transportation of any Jews or their Chattels out of this Land into foreign parts without the Kings special Letters and Licenâ—e being once within his power Rex Custodâ—bus Portuum Angliae Praecipimus vobis quod Judaeos qui venturi sunt in teâ—ram nostram Angâ—iae de traâ—â—â—ia triâ—is partâ—bus ad morandum in terra nostra Angliae cum catalâ—is suis liberè et sine impedimento in portu nostro â—ccâ—dere permittatis accepta ab eis sufficienti securitate secundum Lâ—gem Judaeorum per fidem eorundem quod quam câ—ritis poterint veniant ad Iusticiarios nostros ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatos ad inrotuland
nomina eorum in rotulis nâ—st is Et si aliquem Judaeum qui de partibus transmarinis venerit sicut praedictum est retinueritis ipsum et catalla sua sine dilatione deliberari faciatis Si quos autem inveneritis Iudaeos de terra nostra qui ad vos venerint ad transfretandum usque ad partes transmarinas sine literis nostris de licentia transfretandi ipsos cum catallis suis arrestari faciatis donec a Nobis vel a Iusticiariis nostris ad custodiam Indaeorum assignatis inde aliud mandatum habueritis T. Petro VVinton Episcopo apud VVestm 13 die Novemb. Anno Regni nostri tertio Divers Debtors of the Jews made a fine with king Iohn in the 10th year of his reign to be paid at certain terms of which payments they failing the Jews thereupon paying the fine had these debts assigned them by king Henry the 3. and a precept to extend all the lands they had in 10 of king Iohn prohibiting the taking of any use from them before the kings assignment but allowing use afterwards as this Record demonstrates Rex Vic. Lincoln et Eborum salutem Quia Gilb. de Bercumworth Norm de Arecy and 5 more there named non servaverunt terminos suos de fine quem fecerunt cum Dom. Rege patre nostro de debitis Iudaeorum Nos de consilio nostro die Sancti Martini An. reg nostr 3. Liberavimus Helie de Linc. Iudaeo debita eorundem de quibus finem fecerunt per finem quem idem Helie nobis fecit Ita quod de eisdem debitis exigere possit totum catallum suum sine lucro quod sibi de cetero proveniet Et ideo praecipimus G. de Bercumworth quod sine dilatione reddat eidem Helie 316 l. 10 s. cum lucro quod sibâ— excreverit a praedicto die sancti Martini Item praecipimus Norm de Arecy quod sine dilatione reddat eidem Helie 23 l. 17 s. c. reciting the other 5 debâ—s at large cum lucris quae de praedictis debitis excreverit a praedicto termino Et nisi fecerint tunc sine dilatione seisiatis ipsum H. and the rest de omnibus terris ei redditibus quae fuerunt praedict debitorum in Balliva vestra An. regni Dom. I. regis patris nostri decimo quae scil terrae et redditus sunt vadia nostra pro praedict debitis sicut contineretur in rotulis nostris in quibus Cartae Cirographa omnium praedictorum irrotulentur et ipsum in seinna illa custodiatis et manuteneatis non ei inferentes aut inferri permittentes in seisina illa aliquod gravamen vel molestiam Istud autem mandatum nostrum ita diligenter exequamini ne pro defectu vestri debita nostra ad terminos eidem Helie Statutos remaneant insoluta c. T. P. Winton Epo apud VVinton 13 die Nov. An. reg n. tertio After which follows this Patent reciting that Isaac of Norwich a Jew made a fine of 10000 marks to King Iohn a vast summe in that age to be paid by a mark every day till it was satisfied Rex Baronibus de Scac. salutem Sciaris quod recepimus per manum Vener Patris nostri P. Wynton Epis in 15 dies post Nativ Sancti Iohis Baptistae an c. 2. Usque ad festum St. Martini An. c. tertio Utraque die computata quolibet die 1 marc de fine quem Isaac de Norw fecit nobiscum pro 1 marc nobis singulis diebus reddend pro fine 10 mil. marcarum quem fecit cum Dom. Ioh. Rege patre nostro Et rei hujus c. per ipsum Com. et ipsum Wynton Epis An. c. 3. The Jews in that age and before used to assign over Debts to the King to satisfie their Taxes and other duties whereupon the King gave them a discharge from being sued for these debts but only before himself his Chief Justice or the Justices assigned to them witness this Prohibition Rex omnibus Ballivis c. Prohibemus quod non permittatis quod aliquis Judaeus vel Judaea in Balliva vestra trahat in Placitum Mossaeum fil Isaac de Colecester Judaeum de debito W. Hastings quod ei liberavimus per finem quem modo nobiscum fecit quod quidem debitum idem Mosseus et fratres sui haeredes praedicti Isaac liberaverunt quietum in Thesaurarium nostrum in salvatione debiti quod dictus Isaac debuit Domino Johanni Regi patri nostro nisi coram Nobis vel Capitali Justiciario nostro vel Justiciariis nostris ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis sine eo quod inde speciale mandatum nostrum habuerint T. H. de Burgo c. In the 5 year of Henry the 3. The King granted the Custody of a Jews house in Melchstreet escheated to him till his full age by this writ Rex Rico de Dol. et Magist Alex. de Dorset et sociis suis ad custod Judaeorum assignatis salutem Sciatis nos concessisse dilecto nostro Luce Capellano H. de Burgo Justiciarii nostri custod domus et terrae cum pertinentiis quae fuerunt Solomonis de Melchstreet Judaei quae sunt in manu nostra sicut escaeta nostra occasione Judaeorum usque ad aetatem nostram Et ideo vobis praecipimus quod eidem Luce plenam seisinam sine dilatione habere faciatis T. H. apud Turr. London 7 die Ian. an reg n. 5. per eundem In the 7 year of this King the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Lincoln had issued forth Precepts That none should buy any thing of nor sell any victuals or necessaries to the Jews nor have any communnion with thâ—m being excommunicated persons for their infidelity and usury by the Laws of the Church whereupon the King issued forth this ensuing Writ to the Sheriffs and Maior of Canterbury and Lincoln and the like Writs to others upon the Jews complaint commanding all to sell them victuals and other necessaries and apprehend and imprison those that refused notwithstanding the Bishops inhibition Rex Vicecomiti Lincoln Majori Cantuariae salutem Ostenderunt nobis Judaei nostri Lincolniae quod ratione praecepti Venerab patr S.S. Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi et Episcopi Lincoln facti de Judaeis ne quis eis victualia vendant nec communionem habeant cum eis nec inveniant aliquem qui eis aliquid vendant Ideo vobis praecipimus quod visis Literis istis praecipi et clamari faciatis ex parte nostra in Balliva vestra quod vendantur eis victualia et alia necessaria in Civitate Cantuariae et alibi illum capiatis et corpus ejus salvo custodiatis donec aliud mandatum praeciperimus Teste H. c. apud Westmon 10 die Novembris Eodem modo scribitur Majori Praeposito Oxon. de Iudaeis Oxon. et Ballivis de Norwic. de Iudaeis Norwic In the Fine Rolls of 7 H. 3. I find several
Et reddat Regi praedict 20 lib. annuatim ad duos terminos viz. 10 l. ad Scac. S. Michaelis 10 l. ad Scac. Paschae Et mandatum est Iusticiariis ad custod Iud assignatis quod sic fieri et irrotulari faciant et pro licentia concessionis dedit Regi unam marcam auri T. R. apud Wyndes 1. die Octob. et habet inde Literas Patentes per eadem verba The like compositions were made with the King by Aaron of York and many other Jews in this and other years In the 34 year of King H. 3. I find this recital in a writ That the King by the long received custome of the Realm ought to succeed the Iews themselves in all houses and other Lands which they should purchase within the realme upon their deaths outlary or departure hence and that he might grant them to whom he pleased as well as tax them and seise their goods at his pleasure Rex Vicecomiti Norff. salutem Licet de consuetudine longeva dicatur obtentum in regno nostro quod Nos in Domibus et aliis quas acquisiverint Iudaei in regno nostro succedere debeamus ipsis Iudaeis aures tamen nostras precibus Edmundi Kake de Norwic. Capellani misericorditer inclinantes concessimus eidem Edmundo de gratia nostra quod non obstante consuetudine praedicta habeat Messuagium illud in Norwic de quo nuper seisinam fieri fecimus Magistro Benedicto et quod Seigumet Iudaeus utlagatus tenuit de praedicto Edmundo in eadem villa de Norwic. Et ideo tibi praecipimus quod eidem Edmundo de praedicto messuagio sine dilatione plenam seisinam habere facias T.R. apud Clarendon 13 die Decembris In the same roll I find a writ to attach both the body and goods of a Jew and to bring them both before the Justices assigned for the Iews Mandatum est Vicecomiti Dorset quod habeat coram Iusticiariis regis ad Custodiam Iudeorum assignatis apud Westm in Crastino Sanctae Mariae Magdalenae corpus Solomonis Iudei de Dorcestria cum omnibus catallis ipsius Iudaei sub sigillo suo T. R. apud Merleberge 21 die Junii In the Patent roll of this year the King granted this License to the Masters of the Law of the Commonalty of the Jews in London to excommunicate such Jews as refused to contribute that subsidy they had promised towards the sustaining of their common Churchyard in London whom they could not excommunicate without his leave Râ—x Iusticiariis suis ad Custodiam Iudaeorum assignatis salutem Sciatis quod concessimus Iudaeis nostris London quod Magistri legis eorundem Iudaeorum in Ciuitate London promulgare possint summam Excommunicationem in omnes illos Iudaeos qui subsidium aliquod promiserunt ad Cimiterium London sustinendum et illud non solverint Ita quod Nos non alii de Judaeis excommunicatis sufficientes emendas recipiamus T. R. 28 Die Julii In the 35 of Henry 3. there are these records touching the Jews Mandatum est Philippo Luvel et Sociis suis Justiciariis Judaeorum sicut alias Quod de Tallagio X. milium Marcarum assesso super Communitatem Iudaeorum Angliae faciant habere Reginaldo de Salinis 40 â—ibras ad terras inde emendas ad opus suum vel ad commodum suum alio modo faciendum prout sibi viderit expediri et illas in eodem Tallagio faciendo allocari Communitati praedictae Et Rex bene vult quod eadem 40 l. Ricardo de Salinis allocantur in debitis quod debet in Judaismo pro eodem Reginaldo dum tamen idem Reginaldus securus sit de portione sua T. R. apud Wherwell 25 die Maii. Per ipsum Regem The wives and children of the Jews oft times used to be distrained and imprisoned for their Debts as appears by this record to respite such proceedings against them for a time Anno 35. H. 3. Mandatum est Vic. Devon quod non distringat nec distringi permittat uxorem Boneufaunt Judei Exon. vel pueros suos per corpora sua ipsos imprisonando occasione alicujus debiti seu demandae tangentis ipsum Boneufaunt de fine 100 marc auri quia Rex vult ipsam Iudeam cum predictis pueris suis esse in pace usque ad octabis Sti. Mich. prox futuri Et si ipsos imprisonavit eos interim deliberari faciat T. R. apud Windsore 2 die Septemb. per ipsum regem This year there was a tax of 10000 marks imposed on the Iews as is evident by Pat 35. H. 3. pars 2. m. 4. De tallagio Iudeorum assidendo for assessing it and this Ptecept concerning it Mandatum est Baron de Scac. ad custodiam Iudeorum assignatis quod provideant et ordinent inter se qualiter illa 10 millia marc quae regi debentur de Tallagio Iudeorum regi persolvi possint And in the same membrana there is this command to buy gold with the Jews money for the Kings use Mandat W. de Hoverhull Thes reg Edward de Westm et Phil. Luvell quod de omnibus denariis de Judaismo provenientibus aurum ad opus regis emi faciant sicut rex eidem Philippo dudum injunxit et sicut T. Espernon eis exponet ex parte regis T.R. What great sums of gold the King received of some Iews this year to be exempted from taxes paying set rates for 4 years space will appear by this record Mandatum est Justiciariis ad custodiam Judeorum assignatis quod illas 10 mil. marcas auri quas Elias Judeus London regi dedit pro sic quod a festo St. Mich. An. 34. usque in quatuor annos prox sequentes completos non talliaretur nisi ad centum libr. per annum dum Tallagium regis duraret eidem inde proximis terminis suis Tallagii sui fac allocari Ita quod de cetero respondeat in tallagio suo Judeorum secundum facultates suas sicut rex alias eis manda it non obstanre gratia regis quam ei concesserit pro donatione predicti auri T. R. apud Clarendon 10 die Iunii Consimiles literas habet Aaron fil Abrah Judeus London de 25 marc auri allocari ut supra continetur eisdem Justic directas T. ut supra per ipsum regem Et quia Aaron de Ebor. affirmavit coram rege quod predict aurum prefatis Aaron et Eliae alia vice per mandatum Regis de quo Rex non recolit fuit allocatum Mandat est prefatis Justic quod super hoc regem fine dilatione certificent Scituri quod dictus Aaron Regi promisit 200 marc argenti nisi predicta summa auri praedictis Iudeis per regem fuit allocata in Tallagio suo T. R. c. per ipsum regem The King this year allows a Jew to sue for the remainder of a debt which the King
suor et eos duci fac Lond. ibi custod Turr. R. Lond. T. ut supra The like command is to the Sheriff of Hereford to seal up the Jews Chest there and for Hugh P. to search it In Claus 39 H. 3. pats 2. dors 16 17. There is a large Catalogue of the Lands Houses Rents Morgages real and personal estate and debts of Abraham a Jew in several Counties amounting to a vast sum taking up near two Membranes which were all imbreviated and confiscated to the Kings use And a proclamation by the King that No Iew should be suffered to depart out of the realm of England In 40 H. 3. the King by his Letters Patents authorized Commissioners to sell the houses and enquire after the goods and chattels of the Jews condemned for crucifying a child at Lincoln Rex omnibus c. Sciatis quod constituimus dilect et fidel nostros Simon Passeâ—eiw et Will de Leighton Vic. nostri London ad vendend per visum et testimonium legalium hominum domos quae fuerunt Judaeorum Linc. suspensorum pro parvo crucifixo ibidem prout commodo nostro magis viderint expedire et ad inquirend quo devenerunt catalla eorundem Iudaeorum et qui ea habeant et quantum valeant Et ideo vobis mandamus quod eidem Simoni et Vic. ad hoc sitis intendentes et auxiliantes cum ab eis requisiti fueritis In cu us c. T. R. apud Woodest 20 die Aug. It seems some of these Jews that crucified this child turned Christians to save their lives for which I find this kind of pardon granted to one of them at the suit of a Frier Rex omnibus c. salutem Sciatis quod ad instantiam dilecti nobis in Christo fratris Iohannis de Dorbuton pardonaâ—i Iohanni Converso sectam pacis nostrae quae ad nos pertinet pro morte pueri nuper crucifixi apud Lincoln dum predictus Iohannis fuit Iudeus ejusdem Civitatis unde rectatus est et firmam pacem nostram ei inde concedimus Ita tamen quod stet recto in Curia nostra si quis versus eum inde loqui voluerit In cujus c. T. R. apud Westm 10 die Jan. The same year there issued a precept to the Sheriff of Lincoln to send the Chest of the Iews of Lincoln to London belike for the same crucifying of this child Mandat est Vic. Linc. quod statim visis literis istis mittat usque London Archam Cirogr Lincoln sub salva custodia liberand Ph. Luvel Thesaur Regis et Justic ad custodiam Iud assignatis et quod venire fac ibidem cum eadem Archa omnes Cyrographarios ejusdem Villae tam Christianos quam Iudaeos et hoc non omittat This year the King ordained a New Justice for the Iews who took an Oath of Fealty to the King due to his Office and was formally invested in the place as this record relates Rex constituit Adam de Greenvile Iusticiarium suum Iudâ—â—rum et ab eo recipit Sacramentum fidelitatis Regi debitum pretextu officii sui Et mandat est Phil. Luvel Thesaurar regis c. quod ipsum in locum suum tanquam Iustic Regis in Scac Iudaeorum sine dilatione ponant T. R. per R. Walis Cok. fil Aaron Iudeus London cum instantia supplicavit regi Quod super Fine quem nuper fecit coram Philip. Luvel Thes et Henrico de Bathon ad opus regis pro 20 marc auri eidem Iudeo literae Patentes fieri fac Et mandatum est eisdem Philippo et Ric quod formam Literarum Patent quas pred Judeus inde habere debet ad terminos solucionis ejusdem auri sub sigillis suis significent ut Rex literas illas eidem Judeo fieri et consignari faciat T. R. apud Clarend 3 die Iulii It seems these Justices directed all the Iews Patents of this nature In the 41 year of King Henry the 3d. Elyas Bishop the High Priest of the Iews as Mat. Paris stiles him for a certain Transgression against the King and his Brother King of Almaine was judicially deprived of his High-Priesthood and Priestly Office by the judgement of the Kings Justices assigned for the custody of the Jews in the Exchequer and of all his other Offices formerly granted him by the King and that he should never be capable to receive or execute these Offices again whereupon the King for a Fine of 3 marks of gold paid by the Commonalty of the Jews granted unto them by his Charter that from thenceforth none should be their Priest but by the common election of the said Commonalty of the Jews and that upon the death of every Priest they should have free Liberry to chuse another Priest and of presenting him to the King that he might obtain his assent and savour therein as this memorable record informs us wherein the names of the Justices assigned to the Iews are specified Rex omnibus c. Cum Elyas Episcopus Iudaeus noster London pro tâ—ansgressione quam feciâ— tam Nobis quam dilecto fratri nostro Regi A mannorum a sacerdotio communitatis Iudaeorum Angliae coram dilectis fidelibus nostris Philippo Basset Philippo Luvel Henrico de Bathonia Simon Passelew caeteris Iusticiariis ad custodiam Iudaeorum assignatis quos ad Transgressionem illam convincendam Iusticiarios nostros assignavimus Per Iudicium eorundem ad Scaccarium nostrum Fuerit abjudicatus et de ejusdem Sacerdotii Officio et etiam de omni modis alâ—is officiis et Ballivis quas a Nobis prius obtinuit sit depositus Nos de consilio e rundem Iusticiariorum concessimus praedictae Communitati Iudeorum nostrorum Angliae per finem trium marcarum auri quem Cresse et Haginus fratres ejusdem Iudaei nobis pro eadem Communitate fecerunt quod praedictus Elyas Sacerdotium illud nunquam in posterum habeat et recuperet Et quod nullus de Communitate illa de caetero sit Sacerdos nisi per communem Electionem Communitatis ejusdem Quod illa Communitas post decessum cujuslibet Sacerdotis sic electi alium eligendi quemcunque voluerint Sacerdotem liberam habeat facultatem ac ipsum Nobis praesentandi ut nostrum super hoc assensum optineat et favorem In cujus c. Teste Rege apud Wodstoke 20 die Iulii I observe in this Record that Elyas is stiled only Sacerdos not Presbyter Iudeorum his only Priestly office called Sacerdotium communitatis Angliae Sacerdotii officium not Presbyteratus omnium Judeorum totius Angliae as Jacobs and Aarons forementiontioned Offices are And he that should succeed him by common election is still here stiled Sacerdos Sacerdotis Sacerdotem thrice together not Presbyter at all Therefore certainly these offices were distinct the one ecclesiastical the other temporal in the Exchequer only as I formerly manifested
protectionem vos assignantes Et ideo vobis mandamus firmiter injungentes quatenus per totam civitatem praedict London publice proclamari fac ne quis sub periculo vitae et membrorum praedict Iudaeis in personis vel rebus suis dampnum inferat molestiam aut gravamen et vos ipsi Iudeos illos familias suas terras vel redditus domos et omnes possessiones suas et eorum bona infra civitatem praed et extra quantum in vobis est manuteneatis protegatis et defendatis non inferentes c as in the former Et si quid c. talem diligentiam apponentes ut vobis c. donatur per vicecomitem T. R. Consimiles literae habent Iudei Cantebr Ballivis et probis hominibus Cant. directae durant ut supra This year the King granted the custody of the Iews Rolls and a salary for it by this patent Rex omnibus c. Sciatis quod commissimus dilecto Clerico nostro Tho Wabrun rotulos et brevia nostra Iudaismi nostri custodiend quamdiu nobis placuerit ita quod capiat per annum ad Scac. nostr 10 lib. vid. 100 s. ab Scac. nostr St. Michis et 100s ad Scac. nostr Pasche ad se sustentandum in officio praedicto quamdiu fuerit in eodem The same year the King by Patent granted leave to sundry Jews presently to sue for and levy their debts upon their Creditors and distrain them for them and likewise that he will not release pardon nor respite the debts due to them from sundry particular persons expressed in the Patents in form like those already cited elsewhere Yea I find this Writ for electing a new Cyrographer in the place of one that was dead issued this year Rex Constab castri Winton et Ballivis ejusdem villae salutem Quia Petrus Westman Christianus unus Cyrogr. Arch. Iud. Winton diem clausit extremum ut rex accepit Vobis mandamus quod per Sacramentum 12. tam Christianorum quam Iudeorum villae praedict eligi fac loco praedict Pet. unum alium Coffrarium qui praestito sacramento sicut moris est officio illo de caetero intendat et nomen ejus Regi scire fac T. R. apud Cant. 26 die Oct. And this recital of the Kings grant of his Iudaisme to the Prince and a confirmation of his grant to a Jew Rex omnibus c. Sciatis quod cum dudum commiss rimus dilect primog nostro Judaismum nostrum Angliae habendum ad certum terminum cum omnibus ad Judaismum illum pertinentibus item quod idem fil noster omnia inde medio tempore illo perciperet Judeorum tam ratione mortis Iudeorum aliunde quam eodem modo quo nos percipere debuissemus si Iudaismum praedict in manu nostra tenuissemus et dictus fil noster tertiam partem omnium catal et debitorum quae fuerunt Deulecres filius Aaron qui tunc in fata concessit ad ipsum filium nostr ratione mortis eâ—usdem Deulecres sicut moris est in Iudaismo pertinentem occasione nostrae concessionis antedict dederit et concesserit Hagio fil Mosse Iudeo London una cum custodia catal et debitorum pertinent ad pueros haeredes ejusdem Deulacres de catallis et debitis supradictis Nos praedict donationem concessionem ratam habemus acceptam Volentes etiam eidem Hagino gratiam facere specialem concedimus eidem quod de debitis antedictis extentam vel etiam prorogationem seu quietantiam aliquam vel donum non faciemus infra quinquennium a tempore confect presentium In cujus c. T. R. apud Westm 26 die Novemb. In 51 H. 3. I find this grant to divers plundered Jews of Lincoln and other parts to recover their pawns which they could prove though their Charters were lost or not extant on Record Rex diâ—ectis et fidelibus suis custodibus pacis in Com. Linc. North. Ebor. Vic. eorundem Com. et Vic. Norf. Suff. et Rutland et omnibus Ballivis et fidelibus nostris quos c. salutem Volentes Manfro and to sundry other Iews there named Iudeis Linc. et aliis Iudeis nostris ejusdem Civit. pro dampniset gravaminibus eis ab inimicis nostris illatis in insultu habito apud Linc nec non et in turbatione regni nostri gratiam facere ad praesens Concessimus quod Vadia sua nominata in Cyrogr. inter ipsos et debit suos confect de debitis quae sibi rationabiliter monstrari poterint in quorumcunque manibus existent vadia illa in manus suas secundum legem et consretudinem Iudaismi nostri seisientur donec debita illa levantur et persolventur eisdem sicut praedict est nisi debitores illi rationabiliter monstrare poterint quod de debitis illis debent esse quieti In cujus c. T. R. apud Windsore The like Patent he made to Aaron the son of Lion le Blund a Jew of London this year upon the same grounds being plundered by the King enemies in London and elsewhere In 52 H. 3. the King confirmed the grant of Sam. a Jew of York to Hagino a Jew of London of certain houses in York and grants to him further pro nobis et haeredibus nostris sibi et haeredibus suis quod supra domos praedict nulla fiat districtio pro aliquibus debitis in quibus Aaron the father of Samuel nobis tenebatur die quo in fata concessit T. R. 30 die Aug. He likewise ratified the grant of a Jew of Wilton of a debt due to him to Tho. de Irpeign with the grants of several houses in Winton by sundry Christians and Jews to Benedict a Jew of Winton Pardons a fee to a Jew and grants some Jews that had suffered for him leave to levy their debts on their debtors lands There is likewise mention of what moneys were delivered into the Kings VVardrobe this year out of the profits of his Judaisme and an acquittance thereof to his Iustices This year the King granted to Hagino fil Mossei and some other Jews that they should be exempted quieti de omnibus auxiliis et Tallagiis super ipsis assidendis et de quibuscunque debitis in quibus nobis tenentur from the feast of St. Andrew usque in terminum proximo sequent T. R. apud Clarendon 27 die Novemb. In the Clause Rolls this year I find fines made by the Jews to the King to enjoy the goods and debts of other Iews Prohibitions to the Iustices iâ—inerant not to suffer any Iews to be vexed or prosecuted before them cum sicut nostis Iudei Angliae coram aliquibus Iustic nostr de aliquibus Judaismum nostr tangentibus non debeanâ— placitare vel respondere nisi coram Iustic nostris ad custod Iud. assignatis A grant to some Iews not to pardon acquit prorogue or extend their
the more special things therein are these two First this License to a Jew to dwell where he pleased amongst any Jews in what Burrough of England he listed Rex omnibus c. salutem Sciatis quod ad instantiam Edwardi fil nostri carissimi concedimus Aaroni fil Vynes Iudeo quod in quocunque Burgo Regni nostri voluerit ubi alii Judei habitant morari possit pro voluntate sua sine contradictione nostra vel Ballivorum nostrorum quorumcunque Dum tamen tanquam bonus et fidelis Judeus se gerat et habeat in eodem In cujus c. T. R. apud Winds 30 die Octob. An. 55. Next this morgage of Judaisme for payment of 2000 marks to Richard King of Almain Rex omnibus c. salutem Cum ante recessum cariss fil Edwardi primogeniti nostri versus terram sanctam dederimus eidem Edw. 6000 marc de Judaismo nostro in subsidium peregrinationis sux de quibus 6000 marc 4000 marc exceptis quibusdam arreragiis solvuntur eidem Ita quod 2000 marc et eadem arreragia adhuc sibi reddenda supersunt ipse filius noster moram saciens in terra sancta non mediocriter pecunia indigeat ad expensas suas propter quod car fr. fid n. Ricus Rex Alemani illustris illa 2000 mar quae aretro sunt c. fil nostro credidit ad partes nostras Nos eidem Rico. pro praedicta Curialitate dict fil n. facta concessimus quod ipse vel executores vel assign sui habâ—ant et teneant Judaismum nostrum et Judaeos nostros Angliae a Festo sancti Michis An. 1271. usque ad Festum sancti Michis prox sequent per unum An. completum pro praed 2000. marc dicto fil n. creditis Ita Scil. quod Iudei nostri Angl. illa 2000 marc dict fratri nostro terminis subscriptis solvant infra praedict An. Then he limits the time for she Iews to pay it by several summes Et si pretextu nostro vel mandatorum nostrorum huic concessioni nostrae contradictorum dictus frater noster fuerit impeditus quo minus dictam pecuniam dictis terminis levare possit tunc liceat ei tam diu Judaismum nostrum in manu sua tenere donec super principale debito et paena praedict fuerit sibi satisfactum Hanc autem concess dicto fratri nostro fecimus salvis nobis haeredibus nostris placitis perquisitis eschaetis dicti Judaismi nostri ad nos pertinentibus de toto tempore praedict c. Nec volumus quod praedict frat n. infra terminum praedict aliquam faciat pardonationem quietantiam vel alienationem de debitis Judaismi nostri memorati nec tempore praedict aliquod aliud recipiat de Judaismo nostro nisi debitum praed 2000 marc c. In cujus c. T. R. apud Westm 15 die Iun. Anno 56. H. 3. In the Clause Roll I find Many licenses to Jews to sell their Debts wherein the Ordinance of 53 H. 3. is recited A Release and grant of some debts of Jewes and to take the Charters of them out of the Chest Respites of other debts due to them pardon of usury to others and an extent of Creditors Lands at reasonable rates But the most material things in this Roll are The Kings assignation of 1000 lib. to Prince Edward out of the Tallage of the Jews this year de quibusdam certis personis praedict Iudeorum percipiendas some of which having paid their proportion to the Prince are thereupon discharged of former sequestrations on them and their estates And this gift of the Jews Synagogue in London to the Friers penitents in London whom the Jewes with their Howlings in it disturbed at their Masses and Divine services yet licensing them if they pleased to build another Synagogue in any convenient place that should be elsewhere allotted them Rex Majori Vic. suis London Quia dilecti nobis in Christo fratres de paenitentia Jesu Christi London commorantes per strepitum Judeorum confluentium ad Ecclesiam suam quae contigua est Oratorio dictorum fratrum ibidem et etiam pro ipsorum Judeorum continuam ululatum in eadem Schola juxta ritum suum impediantur quo minus ea quae ad Officium spirituale pertinent exercere possint circa celebrationem divinorum et praecipue hora confectionis corporis Jesu Christi sicut per testimonium fidelium accepimus Nos ad divina inibi quietius celebranda volentes predict impedimentum modis omnibus amoveri ob salutem animae nostrae et animarum predecessorum et haeredum nostrorum de gratia nostra speciali dedimus et concessimus predictis fratribus successoribus suis in augmentum mansi sui ibidem predict Scholam una cum fundo ejusdem Habend tenend eisdem fratribus successoribus suis imperpetuum Et ideo vobis mandamus quod eisdem fratribus de Scola illa sicut praedict est plenam seisinam sine dilatione habere faciatis Sustinentes quod predicti Judei sibi aliam Scholam alibi ubi ad minus nocumentum dictorum fratrum et Ecclesiae suae et Ecclesiarum alirum fieri poterit facere vel construere possint si voluerint et sibi viderint expedire T. R. apud St. Edmundum 6. die Sept. There being some few poor Jews converted this same yeare and the revenues of the House of the Converts being swallowed up by rich Jews not living in it and the poor Converts there like to starve for want of relief and enforced to begg from door to door thereupon the King assigned to a convert Jew and his wife a certain annual pension out of some houses in London belonging to the House of the Converts and issued a Commission to inquire of and regulate the abused revenues of the House of Converts which he had founded and to bestow them on the poor Jews c. as these Records at large relate Rex omnibus c. salutem Sciatis quod cum de propriis bonis et elemosinis nostris fundaverimus quandam domum in honore sanctae Trin. infra suburbium civitatis nostrae London ad usus Conversorum ab errore Judaico usque ad fidem Christianam quosdam redditus nostros ad sustentationem eorundeÌ„ assignando Concessimus pro nobis et haeredibus nostris quantum in nobis est Nich. aurifabro London et Matildae uxori ejus conversis quod ipse Nich. singulis septimanis decem denar et ipsa Matilda singulis septimanis octo denar habeant et percipiant per manus suas ad sustentationem suam quoad vixerint de redditibus predictis dictae domus a nobis assignatis infra civitatem predictam videlicet de domibus Walteri de Vallibus in parochia Sanctae Wyburge duas marcas de quatuor shopis ejusdem Walteri in parochia Sancti Matth. de Fridaistreet viginti solidos de domibus
Patents made of the Jews houses by the King in the 20 year of his reign intituled in the Roll and Margin Patentes de Domibus Judaeorum concessis Post eorum Exilium ab Anglia the first whereof in Memb. 2. runs thus Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Sciatis quod concessimus pro Nobis et haeredibus nostris Willielmo de Tabâ—rer de Bedeford Katerinae uxori ejus Domos illas quae fuerunt Cok filii Benedicti de Bedeford Per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei a Regno nostro tanquam Escaeta nostra in manu nostra existentes et â—uâ—ae ad sex soudos extenduntur Habendum et tenendum eisdem Willielmo Kater et haeredibus suis vel cui ilias secundum consuetudineÌ„ villae praedictae donare vel assignare voluerint de Nobis haeredibus nostris imperpetuum Reddendo inde Nobis haeredibus nostris unum denarium per manum Vicecom nostri Bedf. singulis annis ad Scaccarium nostrum ad festum Sancti Michaelis Et faciendo aliis dominis feodi illius servicia inde debita consueta T. Rege apud Westm 29 die Novemb. After which follow near 20 patents more of other Jews houses made that year in the same form Therefore by the unanimous irrefragable verdict of all these manifold Patents the Jews were legally and judicially Banished out of England and by this their Judgment of Banishment both by the King and Parliament all their houses and lands actually escheated into the Kings hands who thereupon seized and sold them to others in fee upon this very Title of Escheat by their Exile out of England which had Sir Edward Cooke known or observed I am confident he would never have asserted this untruth that they voluntarily banished themselves out of England only because their Usury was banished thence To these Records I might annex the case of the Prior of Bridlington which himself cites in the Placita Parliamenti post Pascha apud London 21 E. 1. rot 4. recited again in alio Rotulo Anno 22 E. 1. rot 5. wherein there is this double recital of the Jews exile hence and of a Debt of 200 l. due to the King thereby which he had Judgement to recover against the Prior. Et quia praedictus Prior cognoscit quod praedâ—cta pecunia praed Judaeo debebatur nec ei solvebatur Ante Exilium Iudaeorum et quicquid remansit eorum debitis catallis in Regâ—â— Post eorum Exilium Domino Regi fuit Consideratum est quod Dominus Rex recuperet pecuniam praedictam An unanswerable euidence of their judicial legal actual Banishment hence here twice together repeated in this Plea in Parliament but three years after their exile I have now traced the History of the English Jewes through the obscure untrodden generally unknown and almost forgotten path of our English Records yet remaining in the Tower of London and Exchequer from the very first year of King John where our yet extant Records begin to the 22. of King Edward the first full 4 years after their universal Banishment out of England which as it then put a period to any further memorial of them in our subsequent Records so it now sets a final conclusion to this my Chronological Collection of such Records as concern the generality of the English Jews and their affairs To which I shall only annex some few Records in succeeding times relating to some particular Jewish Converts since their general banishment hence and to the forementioned house of the Iewish Converts now the Rolls in Chancery Lane which are some wayes pertinent like so much gleanings after the Harvest to the Jewish History and so draw toward a conclusion of this my Undertaking There being a great want of Jewish Converts after the Jews banishment hence to receive the Alms Revenues formerly setled on their house by the premised charters of our Kings I find King Edw. the 3d in the 18th year of his reign by special Patents granted to other poor people who had nothing to live on both the benefit and easment of the Houses and Gardens of the House of the Converts together with a penny a day out of the Exchequer and so much besides as any one Convert there received out of the Rents and profits of the house Partiâ—ularly he granted to one Alianor Quae non habet unde 〈◊〉 quod habeat tantum in omnibus pro sustentatione sua iam de pecunia ad Scaccarium videlicet per diem 1 d. et pro aisiamento Domorum Gardinarum sicut una Conversorum habet et capit ac de Deodandis alâ—is proficuis quam de Redditibus Tenementis Conversorum Domus London et alibi infra Regnum Angliae commorant c. quantum una Conversa inde percepit After this a converted Jew John Castell by name coming over into England in the 30 year of King Edward the 3d. the King thereupon granted him such admittance into and sustenance in this house of Convertr as other Converts had in former times received by this ensuing writ of Privy Seal Rex dilecto Clerico suo Hen de Ingleby Custodi Domus nostra Conversorum in civitate nostra London salutem Quia volumus quod Johannes de Chastell à ritu Judaeorum conversus qui in Regnum nostrum Angliae nuper venit habeat talem sustentationem in Domo nostra praedicta de Elemosina nostra qualem alii ejusdem conditionis in eadem ante hoc tempus habuerunt Vobis mandamus quod ipsum Johannem in domum nostram praedictam admittatis et ei sustentationem hujusmodi pro uno converso consuetum de eadem domo liberari habere facias T. Rege apud Westm primo die Iulii Per Breve de privato Sigillo This Henry de Ingelby afterwards resigning his Office of Keeper or Gardian of the House of Converts to the King thereupon King Edward the 3. in the 45 year of his reign granted this Office to William de Burstall Clerk during his life by this following Patent Rex omnibus ad quos c. Sciatis quod dedimus concessimus dilecto Clerico nostro Will de Burstal custodiam domus nostrae conversorum London vacantem per resignationem Hen. de Ingleby ultimi Custodis domus praedictae et ad nostram Donationem spectantem habendum tenendum cum omnibus ad custodiam illam quoquo modo spectantibus ad totam vitam ipsius Willielm In cujus c. T. R. apud Westm 22 die Julii Per ipsum Regem Et Mandatum est Vicecomit London quod ipsum Will. in corporalem possessionem Domus praedictae inducant vel induci faciant habendum juxta tenorem Literarum Regis praedictarum Teste ut supra Per ipsum Regem This house with the Chappel and other Edifices being greatly ruined after the Jews banishment through the negligence of former Guardians William Burstal being made keeper thereof bestowed much money upon
whom they were to have no intimate communion who were prohibited to be servants nurses to any of the Jews in any kind and were all of them to be slaves and servants to the King in one kinde or other 7ly They were all prohibited to depart the Realm when once entred without special licence which they could not obtain and imprisoned yea put to fines and ransoms when they attempted it to avoid their Taxes Such was their Vassallage in respect of their persons As for their real and personal estates they were wholly at the Kings disposal First the King could seise all their Lands Houses Rents Annuities Fees Morgages Debts Goods Chattels goâ—d silver and sell grant release give them unto whom he pleased at his pleasure 2ly All their real and personal estates chattels debts escheated to the King upon their deaths neither could their children wives heirs executors enjoy them without making Fines reliefs and compositions with the King for them at high rates 3ly They could not sue for any debt morgage house fee duty nor assign grant sell give release them unto others without the Kings special license for which they paid such fines as he thought fit to impose 4ly The King could stay their actions debts usury respite them for what time he pleased order them to be paid at other Terms and by other summes than those expressed in their charters and obligations and finally pardon release them and deliver up their Charters to their Debtors when and where he pleased 5ly The King seised searched inrolled sealed up all their publick Chests Charters Writings Debts Goods Chattels Estates and disposed of them to his own use upon all occasions notwithstanding all Grants and Charters to them and appointed all their Judges Officers Cyrographers Cofferers Escheators Presbyters Priests and Tallagers at his pleasure yea inforced them to tax distrain imprison one another under pain of perpetual imprisonment banishment confiscation of all their estates and the severest penalties as the premised Records assure us 3ly They alwayes lived under uncessant perpetual arbitrary unsu portable Taxes and Tallages imposed on them without any act of Parliament or their common assents by our Kings and their griping Officers at what rates soever they pleased sometimes 5000. or 6000. somtimes 20000. 60000 but commonly 8000. 10000. marks or pounds by the year levyed with the greatest rigour which some of the richest Jews in all places were commonly engaged to see punctually paid in at the terms appointed and when any of them opposed or neglected to pay or levy them their persons wives children families infants were all distrained imprisoned their estates Debts seised confiscated some of them sent Prisoners into Ireland and frequently menaced with perpetual banishment hence and loste of their estates their taxes being levyed by the strictest menacing warrants and all rigorous violent ways the King and his instruments could possibly invent And are not their Taxes in case they will now return again like to be more high frequent oppressive since the very English themselves after all their late contests wars consultations and prodigal expences of their blood treasures estates are now brought under heavy uncessant monthly arbitrary Taxes Excises Imposts decimations levyed with the greatest rigour and such as dare oppose them out of conscience or defence of publike liberty though in a legal way imprisoned close imprisoned ruined yea threatned with perpetual banishment even by such who pretend themselves the Patrons Protectors of the English liberties franchises Properties from such Aegyptian and Jewish Bondage and greatest Antagonists against such arbitrary exorbitant Tyranny 4. That besides these constant annual Taxes our Kings upon all occasions enforced them by way of Loans to lend what sums they demanded under pain of imprisonment confiscation of their estates seisure of all their Debts Pawns Chests And frequently seised searched released granted sold all their gold silver chests debts houses fees annuities pawns and imprisoned their persons wives children to extort and raise monies upon all extraordinary necessities 5. That when they had fleeced them to their very skins and could expect no more moneys from them then they morgaged and sold their persons estates and the revenues proceeding from them unto others to adâ—ance present moneys before hand like so many Slaves and Villains And though many of them notwithstanding all their endlesse Taxes Extortions Squeezings fleecings grew rich again in a short time through asury broccage clipping and falsifying coyn plate frauds and extortions of all kinds and their base parsimony industry frugality yet their wives children heirs friends enjoyed little or no benefit at all by it but the King and his Officers commonly fleeced them of al they gained by one device or other So that England was little better â—han a second Aegypt and our Kings and their griping Officers nothing else but so many new Pharoahs and Aegyptian Tax-matters to them during all their continuance here they haâ—ing no assurance of lives liberties eâ—tates under them by any Charters Grants Protection Engagements which they made no conscience to revoke and violate at their pleasures as some of fate have done eâ—en to their own Christian Brethren in as high a degree as they did to the Jews 6. That they were so exceeding execrable and detestable to the people in all places where they resided both for their infidelity blasphemies apostacies enmity to Christ and Christianity circumcising and crucifying Christian Children clipping of coin falsifying of Charters extortion brokage usury frauds unconscionable Jewish cut-throat dealing and discrepancy of maners from the English that many places and ports opposed their coming over other Towns as Newcastle Winchelse Wycombe Newbury Berkhamsted Suthampton other places purchased exemptions or removals of them And those Towns where they resided frequently rose up in a tumultuous maner against them burning their houses beating abusing kiling their persons pillaging their goods and forcing them to fly to the Kings Castles for Sanctuary notwithstanding all the Kings Charters Proclamations Provisions of all sorts for their protection and defence against violence and committing them to the protection of the Sheriffs Maiors Chief Officers and Burgesses of the places where they resided But especially they were above measure assaulted beaten slaughtered pillaged by the Cruce-signati and Saint-like Souldiers of that age who listed crossed themselves for the Holy-Wars and by the Barons Souldiers who took up arms against their Soveraigns under pretext only of defending the Great Charters Laws Liberties of the Church and Realm of England usually stiling themselves exercitus Dei et sanctae Ecclesiae in Anglia Neither were they free from violence plunder nor the common people satisfied till their universal final banishment hence which they oft sollicited their implacable enmity against them being such that the symptoms thereof yet continue amongst us in our proverbiall speeches I hate thee as I do a Jew I would not have done so to a Jew None but a Jew would have done so and