of Quo Warranto and of Glocester 13 E. 1. 12 E. 2. of York 9 10 14 15 25 28 36 37. E. 3. 1. 3 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 21. R. 2. 1 2 4 6. H. 4. 1 8 10 12. 36. H. 6. 18 E. 3. c. 1 2 3. R. 2. Rot. Parl. n. 36 40. 6 H. 6. c. 5. and other Acts declare and resolve That the Kings of England by their Oath and Duty and the Lords and Commons in Parliament are all obliged by their trusts and our Laws to advance uphold maintain and defend the welfare wealth safety of the Church Realm Subjects People of England and to prevent redresse suppresse remove by wholsom Laws and Ordinances all Grievances Mischiefs Damages Inconveniences Disinherisons contrary thereunto it being a fundamental Maxime both in our Laws and Law-Books SALUS POPULI SUPREMA LEX which the Army Officers in their Declaration of 16 Nov. 1648. and Mr. Iohn Pym in his Speech against Strafford 12 April 1641. p. 3. c. printed by the Commons special Order much insist on Moreover it is another Maxime in our Law Summa ratio est quae pro religione facit Now the admission of the Jews into England as appeareth by the Statute de Judaismo and premised Histories is no way consistent with the welfare profit wealth safety of the Church Realm Subjects People or Religion of England and will be an extraordinary damage mischief grievance inconvenience and disinherison to them all Therefore prohibited enacted against by the general scope of all these Laws and Maximes and no wayes to be admitted 4ly The Jews heretofore in England an â— still in all other parts being most grievous Clippers Coyners Forgers of money Usurers Extortioners and the greatest Cheaâ—ors Cozeners Impostors in the world in all their Merchandizes and Manufactures whatsoever upon this accompt they are and ought to be still excluded and never re-admitted amongst us by the provisions of all our Laws yet in force prohibiting clipping coyning usury extortion frauds deceipts in any Merchandizes or Manufactures whatsoever unlesse we intend to have them all now more practised by them and others among us then ever heretofore The rather because they were never admitted free Trading Habitation in England by any of our Laws touching Alten Merchants and Artificers free Traffick amongst us from the time of their forementioned banishment till this present under the Name and Notion of Jews Foraign Merchants or Artificers And therefore not to be admitted to those desired Priviledges from which all these forecited Laws in my weak Judgement with the former old Parliamentary Judgment and Edict for their per petual banishment in Law Justice Conscience still debarre them readmittance till repealed and they if ever readmitted against all these Acts and Statutes must be introduced resetled by special Acts of Parliament which no English Parliament in probability will ever indulge unto them as the peoples general present declamations in all places against their endeavoured introduction prognostick And thus much I thoughr meet to inform the Nation touching those Laws Statutes which in my poor opinion directly or by consequence oppose their re-admission and refute those Lawyers misinformation who confidently averred there is no Law of England at all against it if Mr. Nye did truly inform me 2. For Scriptures these Texts may engage us against their re-admission 1. Matth. 5. 13. Lu. 14. 34 35. Salt is good but if the salt have lost its savor wherewith shall it be seasoned It is neither fit for the land nor yet for the dunghil but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men This is the condition of the Jews who have lost both their Saviour their Savor too Therefore not fit for our land or dunghils but to be kept and cast out from amongst us and trodden under foot of all true Christian men 2. 1 Cor. 16. 22 If any man love not the Lord Iesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha That is separated and cast out from all Christian society and Communion until the day of Judgment the highest kind of Jewish Excommunication Now the Jews are such who do not only not love but deny defie and hate our Lord Jesus Christ in the highest degree Therefore to be excommunicated and secluded from our Christian Communion and Cohahitation amongst us to which they can pretend no right 3. 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 c. Be ye not unequally yoaked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness and what concord hath Christ with Belial and what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols c VVherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch no unclean thing and I will receive you The unconverted Jews are both Unbelievers Infidels Darknesse Belialids and the very Synagogue of Satan as the Scripture resolves them Acts 14. 1. Mar 6. 6. Rom. 11. 20. 23. 32. Heb. 4. 6. 11. Ioh. 1. 5. Mat 8. 12. Rev. 2. 9. 1 Thâ—ss 2. 14 15 16. Therefore we Christians ought not to be unequally yoaked or to have any fellowship communion agreement part or mixture with them much lesse to receive them into our land and boâ—omes from whence they were formerly spued out but to keep our selves separated from amongst them lest God reject us as he hath done them 4. 2 John 9. 10. 11. VVhosoever transgressith and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Sonne If there come any unto you and bring not this Doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds The Jews abide not in the Doctrin of Christ and if they come unto us they will not bring this Doctrine to us but the quite contrary Therefore we ought not to receive them into our Dominions or Houses nor bid or wish them God speed in returning to dwell amongst us And if any do the contrary they are and shall be partakers of their evil deeds 5 Tit. 1. 10 11 13 14 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers ESPECIALLY THEY OF THE CIRCUMCISION whose mouthes must be stopped WHO SUBVERT WHOLE HOUSES teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucres sake VVherfore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith NOT GIVING HEED TO JEWISH FABLES and commandements OF MEN THAT TURNE FROM THE TRUTH If the circumcised Jews were such unruly Deceivers seducers and subverters of whole houses even in the Apostles own dayes and their Jewish fables then did turn so many from the truth With what colour of Christianity piety conscience can we call them in amongst us now in these times of fearfull and almost universal Apostacy from the truth when lesse dangerous
newly delivered their Opinions there was no Law against it To which I answered That the Jews were in the yeer 1290. all banished out of England by Judgement and Edict of the King and Parliament as a great Grievance never to return again for which the Commons gave the King the fifteenth part of their Moveables and therefore being thus banished by Parliament they could not by the Laws of England be brought in again without a special Act of Parliament which I would make good for Law He replied I wish it might not be done otherwise that this business had been formerly moved in the Bishops time rather than now To which I subjoyned That it was now a very ill time to bring in the Jews when the people were so dangerously and generally bent to Apostacy and all sorts of Novelties and Errors in Religion and would sooner turn Jews than the Jews Christians He answered He thought it was true and was sorry he could not discourse longer with me the Committee about the Jews being sate and staying for him as he feared Whereupon as he was turning in towards White-Hall-Gate I told him The Jews had been formerly great Clippers and Forgers of Mony and had crucified three or four Children in England at least which were principal causes of their banishment To which he replied That the crucifying of Children was not fully charged on them by our Historians and would easily be wiped off Whereto I answered He was much mistaken and so we parted As I kept on my way in Lincolnes-Inne Fields passing by seven or eight maimed Soldiers on Stilts who begged of me I heard them say aloud one to another We must now all turn Jews and there will be nothing left for the poor And not far from them another company of poor people just at Lincolnes-Inne back Gate cried aloud to each other They are all turned Devils already and now we must all turn Jews Which unexpected concurrent Providences and Speeches made such an impression on my Spirit that before I could take my rest that night I perused most of the passages in our English Histories concerning the Jews carriage in England with some of their misdemeanors in other parts to refresh my memory and satisfie my judgement making some Collections out of them which after I enlarged and digested into this ensuing Demurrer with as much speed as the sharpness of the season would permit and was induced to publish it knowing no particular discourse of this Subject extant for the general information satisfaction of others and honour of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the righteous whom the Jews with malicious hearts and wicked hands crucified in person heretofore and their posterity by their blasphemies despiteful actions against Christ his Kingdom Offices Gospel crucifie afresh every day trampling under foot the Son of God putting him to open shame offering despite to the Spirit of Grace counting the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing And in all their publick and private Devotions praying constantly for the sodain universal total final subversion extirpation perishing of Christs Kingdom Gospel and all his Christian Members which they plot and continually expect such is their implacable transcendent malice I have deduced their introduction into England only from William surnamed the Conqueror because I finde not the least mention of them in any of our British or Saxon Histories Councils Synods Canons which doubtlesse would have mentioned them and made some strict Laws or Canons against their Iewish as well as against Pagan Superstitions had they exercised them here as they would have done as well as in Spain other places had they resided here That any of them were here in the time of our famous Emperor Constantine is but a dream of such who because they finde an Epistle of Constantines in the Council of Nice to all the Churches of Christ in Sir Hen. Spelmans Collections of the Decrees Canons and Constitutions of the British World wherein is mention made of the Churches of Britain in that age as well as in Rome France and other parts keeping the Passeover in a different manner from the wicked blinded Iews would thence infer there were then Jews resident in Britain of which there is not one syllable in that Epistle nor in any Classick Author Forrain or Domestick I yet ever saw or heard of That they were setled in our Island in the Saxons time is collected onely from that Law inferted by Hoveden and Spelman amongst Edward the Confessors here cited p. â— But there being no mention of the Jews in any of our Saxon Kings Raigns Councils Decrees Laws before the Confessor out of which all his Laws were wholly extracted and this Law of the Jews being not to be found in the true Original Copy of the Confessors and Conquerors Laws of Abbot Ingulphus who flourished in that age was present at their confirmation and then brought them to Croyland Abby published by Mr. Iohn Selden nor yet in Bromton I cannot but reject it as counterfeit and esteem it rather a Declaration of the Jews Condition in England in Hovedens time inserted by him as well as some other things of puâ—ier date amongst these Laws rather than any Law of or in the Confessors days wherein I can finde no evidence of any Jews residence here but only this interpolation and forged Law which Mr. Selden wholly omittes in his Collection of his Laws The History of King William Rufus his compelling the Iews of Rhoan that were turned Christians to renounce their Christianity and turn Iews again ACCEPTO PRETIO APOSTASIAE upon the complaint and mony given him by the Infidel Jews there with the Dialogue between Him and Stephen the Jew cited out of Holinshed here p. 5 6. I finde originally recorded of him by Eadmerus living in his raign who though very bitter and injurious to him by reason of the great Contests between him Anselme whose Favourite Follower and Companion in adversity Eadmerus was yet he relates it not as a certain Truth but as a Report of others of that Country who had another Opinion of Rufus Quam de Christianis Christianos Lex Christiana docet habere quae tamen sicut illa accepimus simpliciter ponam non astruens vera an secus extiterint an non Onely he addes this passage to the story of Stephen which Holinshed omits That St. Stephen appearing to him as he was travelling on the way he demanding of him who he was Answered That he was long since of a Jew made a Christian and was Stephen the first Martyr but for this cause I have now come down from Heaven to Earth that thou casting away thy Iewish Superstition mightest be made a Christian and being baptized in Christ mightest be called by my name Whereupon he became a Christian and was baptized That immediately after the conference between the King and Stephen which agrees with that in Holinshed he
Christian for ever the moity of his lands and of his chattels for his sustenance as afore is said and the chiefhouse 3. And if any thing stollen at this hour shall be found in the possession of a Jew and any will sue let the Jew have his summons if he may have it and if not he shall answer so that he shall never be privileged for it otherwise than a Christian 4. And that all the Jews shall be residents in the Cities and in the Burroughs which are the Kings own where the Chest for the Jews Indenture is wont to be And that every Jew after he is past 7. years of age shall carry a sign or badge in his chief garment that is to say in form of two Talles of yellow taffety of the length of six fingers and breadth of 3. fingers or handfulls And that every one after he is past 12 years shall pay 3 d. the poll every year to the King which shall be paid at Easter and this shall be intended as well of women as of men 5. And that no Jew shall have power to infeoff another Jew nor Christian of their houses rents or tenements which they have now purchased not to alien them in any manner nor to make an acquittance to any Christian of his debt without the special license of the King untill the King hath otherwise ordained 6. And because holy Church wills and suffers that they should live and be protected the King takes them into his Protection and gives them his peace and wills that they shall live and shall be guarded and defended by his Sheriffs and his other Bayliffs and by his Leiges and commands that none shall doe them harm injury nor force in their bodies nor in their goods moveables or unmoveables And that they shall not be impleaded sued nor challenged in any Court but in the Kings Court wheresoever they are 7. And that none of them shall be obedient respondent nor render rent but to the King and his Bayliffs in his name if it be not of their houses which they now hold rendering rent saving the right of holy Church 8. And the King grants them that they shall live in their lawfull merchandizes and by their labour and that they shall converse with the Christians for lawfull merchandizing in selling and in buying But yet that by this priviledge nor any other shall they be levant rising or couchant lying down amongst them And the King will not that by reason of their merchandize that they should be in lots nor scots nor Tallage with those of the Cities or Burroughs where they remain seeing they are tailable to the King as his own Vassals and to none other 9. Moreover the King grants them that they may buy houses and curtelages in the Cities or Burroughs where they reside so as they hold them in chief of the King saving to the Lords the Services due and accustomed 10. And that they may take Lands to farm for term of six years or under without taking homages or fealties or such manner of service of a Christian and without having advowson of holy Church for to support their life in the world if they know not how to merchandize or be unable to labour And this power for to take Lands to farm shall not endure to them but 15 years from this time forth to come By these Laws this politick King to please his English Christian Subjects who desired and sollicited the Jews banishment in Parliament abridged many of their former priviledges and put many new restraints upon them And yet on the other hand to gratifie the Jews who gave him more monies than the English to reside here still he takes them all into his special protection prohibits all violence to their persons or estates and grants them some petty priviledges for the present which seemed to content them and made for his own advantage more than theirs K. Edward the 1. the next year 1288. being in Gascoigne a certain English Knight decreed to convent a Jew for the undue detention of a certain Mannor morgaged to him before the Judges but the crafty Jew refused to answer pretending a Charter of King Henry heretofore which was granted to him that he should not be drawn into judgement before any Judge except only before the person of the King The Knight being troubled at this went into Gascoigne that he might obtain some remedy hereupon from the King Whom when the King had heard he answered It is not seemly for children to make void the deeds of their parents to whom by Gods Law they are commanded to give reverence wherefore I have decreed not to make void the deed of my Father but I grant to thee and to the rest of my Realm by the like Law lest a Jew might seem better than a Christian that for any injury whatsoever done to the Iew so long as he shall enjoy his Charter you shall not be convented before any Iudge except my self The Knight returning with this priviledge the Jew considering that danger and peril hung over his head voluntarily renounced his Charter evacuating the condition of his priviledge and wishing that both parties might be subject to the Common Law The year following Anno 1289. King Edward taking upon him the character of the Crosse at Blankeford in Gascoigne presently banished all the Jews out of Gascoigne and all other his Lands which he possessed in the Realm of France AS ENEMIES OF THE CROSSE From whence returning into England Anno 1290 he was joyfully received at London both by the Clergy and all the people and the same year exiling the Jews likewise out of England giving them expences into France he confiscated all the rest of their goods Upon what grounds by what Authority for what time in what manner with what desire of and content to all the whole Commons and Realm of England the Jews were then banished thence these ensuing Historians will at large relate in their own words which I shall transcribe for the better information and satisfaction of all sorts of men whether Christians or Jews Matthew Westminster flourishing at that time gives this relation of it About the sâ—â—days namely the 31 of August the exasperating multitude of Jews which dwelt confidently in times past through divers Cities and strong Forts JUSSA EST was commanded with their wives and children together with their moveable goods to depart out of England about the Feast of All Saints which was assigned to them for the term WHICH THEY DARED NOT TO TRANSGRESSE UNDER PAIN OF HANGING whose number was supposed to be 16511. Such A DECREE had issued out before from the landable King of England in the parts of Aquitain from whence all the Jews were likewise banished Thomas Walsinghaem living near that age thus records it The King returning out of Gascoigne to London was solemnly received by the Clergy and all the people who the same year banishing all the
Wayland Chief Justice of the Common Pleas 19. E. 1 Rot. Parl. rot 12. and these Jews then banished Exilium Hugonis le Dispenser patris filii Tottles Magna Charta f. 50 51. The double banishment of Peter de Gaverston out of England assensu communi Procerum Magnatum and of the King in Parliament Walsingham Hist Angliae p. 68 71 72. The Statute of 1 Edward the 3. c. 2. 11 Richard the 2. c. 2 3 4. for the banishment of Belknap and other Judges into Ireland 21. R. 2. Rot. Paâ— l. n. 16. 17. For the banishment of Thomas Arundel Arch-bishop of Canterbury The Statute of 35 Eliz. c. 1. of 39 Eliz. c. 4. For banishing dangerous Sectaries Rogues out of the Realm after conviction upon Indictment only not before which could not be done by Law before these Acts Cooks 2 Institutes f. 47. Mr. St. Iohns speech against the Shipmony Judges p. 22 My New Discovery of the Prelates Tyranny p. 166 167 168. VValsingham Hist. Angliae p. 394 and other Testimonies as also by 1 E. 3. r. 5. 4 H. 4. c. 13. The Statute for the pressing of Souldiers for Ireland 17 Caroli Exact Collect p. 435. The Petition and Protestation of the Lords and Commons in Parliament against serving the King in person or contribution to his wars in Flanders and other forain parts 25 E. 1. Walsingham Hist. p. 35 37 38 c. nor yet in Gascoigne France Notmandy Scotland or Ireland Cooks 2 Instit p. 528. 4. H. 4. n. 48. 1 H. 5. n. 17. 7 H. 5. n. 9. 18 R. 2. n. 6. So none once banished the Realm by judgement or Act of Parliament can may or ought by the fundamental and known common Laws of England to be restored and recalled again but only by a like judgement Act and Restitution in full Parliament as is adjudged declared resolved by the cases and Petitions of the two Spencers and Peirce Gaveston VValsingham Ypodig Neustriae p. 152. and Hist Angl. p. 68. 71 72. Holinshed p. 328. Speeds History p. 674. The Printed Statute of 20 R. 2. c. 6. for the restitution of Belknap and the other exiled Judges 28 E. 3. Rot. Parl. n. 8. to 14. and 29 E. 3. Rot Parl. n. 29. touching the Repeal of the Judgement in Parl. against Roger Mortimer Earl of March 17 R. 2. Rot. Parl. n. 18. for the pardon and restitution of the Justices banished into Irel. 21 R. 2. n. 55. to 71. for confirmation of the repeal of the exile of Hugh de la Spencer Father Son An. 15. E. 2. and the revocation of the repeale thereof in 1 E. 3. A notable full Record in point 3 H. 7. 10. 4 H 7. 10. 1. H. 7. 4. 10 H. 7. 22 b. 15. E. 3 Fitz Petâ—t 2. 9. E. 3. 23 24. 9 E. 4. 1 b. with sundry other Records for the repeals of Iudgements and Acts of former Parliaments by the subsequent Judgments and Acts of other Parliaments in Cooks 4 Institutes c. 1. and Ashes Tables Parliament 16. and Statutes 68. Therefore the Jews being so long since by Judgement Edict and Decree both of the King and Parliament for ever banished out of England never since repealed or reversed neither may nor can by Law be readmitted reduced into England again but by common consent and Act of Parliament which I conceive they will never be able to obtain I have now presented you with a true Historical and exact Chronological Relation of the Jews first admission into England not in the time of the Emperour Constantine the great as some groundlesly would collect from his General Epistle to all Churches touching the Decrees of the Council of Nice and the Vnanimous observation of the Feast of Easter not after the Jewish computation wherein there is mention of the Churches in Britain as well as in Rome Africk Spain France and other places concurring with other Churches herein but not one syllable of any Jews therein or in Britain then nor in any other particular places but onely these general passages against Christians complying with them in their Paschal observation Ac primum quidem indigna res fuit sanctissimum eum diem imitatione atque consuetudine Iudaeorum celebrare qui manibus suis nefario flagitio contaminatis non injuria quoque animis sunt excaecato homines scelerati Quidni enim liceat gente ea rejecta rectiore verioreque ordine quem à primo passionis die hucusque servavimus ad futura quoque saecula observationis hujus ritum transmittere Item nihil nobis commune sit cum infestissima Iudaeorum turba c. Quin strictior ipsa atque exactior ratio flagitare videtur NEQUA NOBIS CUM IUDAEORUM PERJURIO COMMUNIO From whence no rational man can inferr that there were any Jews at that time observing their Jewish Passeover in Britain of which I can find no syllable in any Domestick or forreign Historians or Writers whatsoever nor yet that they inhabited here or were here in the Briton Saxon or Danish Kings reigns which if they had some of our Historians Synods Decrees and Laws in those ages would have mentioned it as well as the Gothish Spanish Histories Laws Councils and Constitutions where they resided in which there is not one syllable of them but only in the forecited Law foisled in amongst the Confessors to which doubtlesse it was puny but in Will the Conq. reign Together with their ill deportments misdemeanors suffrings massacres servile condition and manifold popular tumults against them during all the time of their residence in England final banishment out of it never yet to my knowledg collected into one intire History before The serious consideration whereof will in my weake judgement sufficiently satisfie convince the whole English Nation that they have just grounds and reasons in point of piety of policy never to re-admit them more into our Island and likewise resolve the very Jewes themselves that they have little cause or reason at all to desire to re-plant themselves in England where their ancestors in times past susteined so many miseries massacres affronts oppressions fleecings upon all occasions themselves can expect little better usage for the future To this principal part of my undertaking for fuller satisfaction I shall hereunto subjoyn a Taste of such Lawes Scriptures Reasons as seem strongly to plead yea conclude against their re-admission into England at least in that latitude and freedom as formerly they there enjoyed As 1. To erect new Synagogues Temples amongst us or turn any of our Churches Chapels into Synagogues for the free publique exercise of their Judaisme Jewish Worship Customes Religion diametrically contrary to the Gosple Person Kingdome Priesthood Offices Mediation Redemption of our Lord Jesus Christ which they thereby professedly deny renounce as false and fabulous 2ly To set up a Jewish Corporation or Fraternity amongst us in our Cities and Corporations distinct and separate from the English subject to their own immediate peculiar
Officers and Judges as heretofore 3ly To purchase Houses Habitations Rents Lands Exercise of all sorts of Trades and Manufactures amongst us as free Denizens or Merchants upon such terms and qualifications as shall be indulged to them 1. For our Laws and Statutes these following make directly or obliquely by way of necessary consequence against their re-admission 1. For their Jewish Synagogues worship Sacraments Religion these ancient pious Laws of our Saxon and Danish Kings made in their great Parliaments and Councils before the Jews first coming into England strongly oppose their admission now As namely the Laws of King Alfred and Guthern Lex 1. 2. of King Ethelred in the Council of Aenham c. 1. 3. 27 29 30. of Habam c. 1. with the Laws of King Cnute the Dane Lex 1. 27 28 All which enact That the only true God and our Lord be loved worshipped in all ages by all the people with all their might the one Christian holy Catholick faith orthodoxly kept and the Churches of God to be diligently frequented throughout the Realm That all Paganisme and false Religions be renounced both in words and deeds That who ever wickedly resisteth the Laws of Christ shall be grievously fined and put to death and that all men should diligently seek out by all means Ut recta Christi religio maxime provehatur That the right Religion of Christ might be most of all advanced obtesting all Ecclesiiastical and secular persons again and again most earnestly to keep the sincere faith unanimously in the true God and the right Christian faith in a right manner diligently to hear the Teachers of Gods word studiously to follow their Doctrine and Precepts to maintain peace and tranquility in the Church of God and there diligently to pour forth their prayers All which particulars exclude all Jewish Synagogues and Judaisme and are of perpetual force being grounded on the very Law of God Moreover King Cnute his Ecclesiastical Laws made by the advise of his wise men to be observed throughout all England prohibited That no Christian should be sold or sent out of the Realm or banished amongst those who had not as yet embraced the faith in Christ lest per adventure those Souls should perish at anytime which our Lord Iesus Christ had redeemed with his own blood and life If Christians for this cause ought not to be sent sold or banished amongst Jews and Infidels much more then ought not Infidel Jews with their Jewish Synagogues Religion Ceremonies to be now introduced amongst us Christians to the hazard of many Christian Souls redeemed by Christs blood 2. All the Statutes concerning Uniformity of Common Servicc administration of the Sacraments as 1 Ed. 6. c. 1 2. 2 Ed. 6. c 1. 6 Ed. 6. c. 1. 1 Eliz. c. 2. 23 Eliz. c. 1. 35 Eliz. c. 1. 2. most of them still in force being never legally repealed do fully and directly oppugne the introduction of any Jewish Synagogues Service Sacraments Worship Ceremonies with the use of them in any place within our Realm 3. The Statutes of 3 E. 6. c. 10. 13 Eliz. c. 2. 23 El. c. 1. 28 Eliz. c. 2. 6. 35 Eliz. c. 1. 3 Iac. c. 4. against Popish Recusants Seminary Priests Iesuites Friers Masse-Books Agnus Dei's Popish Books Superstitions for preventing the withdrawing of the Subjects of this Realm from the publique Ordinances Sacraments and Religion here established and for speedy banishing all Seminary Priests and Jesuites and keeping them perpetually out of the Realm upon this account amongst others though professing Christ Christian Religion and agreeing with us in all Articles of the Creed and most fundamental points of Christianity Must in Substance Law Reason in this regard much more perpetually exclude abolish all Jews Jewish Priests Rabbies Synagogues worship Ceremonies Superstitions out of our Dominions being farre more dishonourable to Christ opposite to our Christian Religion and destructive to the peoples souls if once admitted then any Jesuits Seminary Priests Friers Popish Recusants or any Romish Masses Superstitions whatsoever And if the Jewish Priests Judaism and Jewish Ceremonies may be now set up and practised publiquely amongst us notwithstanding all these Statutes then much more Masse-Priests Masses Popery and Prelacy by the self same reason justice equity To these I might annex all the late Ordinances for the Directory The solemn League and Covenant and for Suppressing punishing of Heresy and Blasphemy therefore of Iudaism which is both Heresy and Blasphemy and Jewish assemblies the very Synagogues of Satan and Iews great blasphemers by Christs own resolution Rev. 2. 9. c. 3. 9. Acts 18. 6. Rom. 2. 21. With the late printed Instrument of Government which though it allows not only toleration but protection to all Sects and Religions professing faith in God through Iesus Christ though differing from the Doctrine and Discipline publtkely held forth in the Nation except only to Popery and Prelacy yet certainly it can no ways extend to the toleration or protection of Jews and their Antichristian blasphemies against Christ himself and the Gospel seeing they are so far from professing faith in Jesus Christ that they utterly renounce and professedly decry him to be the true Saviour and Messiah of the world rejecting the whole New Testament and Doctrin of the Gospel and so by consequence are necessarily secluded by this Instrument and Oath for its observation from practising their Jewish worship Ceremonies or erecting any Synagogues in our Nation for that purpose 2ly Though the Kings of England by the Law and their Prerogative may in sundry cases erect New Corporations of their Subjects by their Charters only yet notwithstanding no Corporation or Fraternity of Iews being meer Aliens may can or ought to be erected in England by the Fundamental Lawes and Constitutions of the Realm but only by full consent of the Nation in Parliament by special Acts of Parliament it being one of the greatest Intrenchments that can be upon the English Nations Rights Liberties Customs Priviledges Profit and a violation of all the ancient Charters Priviledges Rights Franchises confirmed to them by the Great Charter of England forty times since ratified by new Acts of Parliament This is evident by the Statutes of Magna Charta c. 9. 37. 34 E. 1. c. 4. 1. E. 3. c. 9. 14. E. 3. c. 1. 1. H. 4. c. 1. 2. H. 4. c. 1. 7. H. 4. c. 1. 9. H. 4. c. 1. 13. H. 4. c. 1. 3. H. 5. c. 1. 2. H. 6. c. 1. compared with 2 E. 3. c. 9. 27. E. 3. c. 1. to 29. 28 E. 3. 13. 15 36. E. 3. c. 7 19 H. 7. c. 12 and all other Acts for the Staple and Styliard and with 3. E. 4. c. 6. 1. R. 3. c. 9. 14 H. 8. c. 2. 21 H. 8. c. 16. 22 H. 8. c. 8. 32 H. 8. c. 16. touching Artificers Merchants and Aliens 3ly The preambles of the Statute of Merton 20 H. 3. 3 E. 1. with c. 17. 48. 6 E. 1.
necessarie subsistance now in their Native country and must neither teach nor preach Christ Jesus to any in publique or private though Gods word and their function condition enjoyn necessitate them to do both when as these admitted Jews may both teach and preach against him too in publique private Which restraints on these English Royalists on the one hand indulged liberty to the alien Jew Antichrists on the other if now put in execution I humbly referre it to the saddest considerations conscientious meditations of all in power to resolv themselvs how scandalous odious it will prove both to God and all good men how much it will resemble the proceedings not only of the malicious Jews themselves against the Apostles and Ministers of Christ recorded Acts 4. 1. to 24. c. 5. 24. to 32. 1 Thes 2. 14 15 16. of beheaded Canterbury against Mr. Workman of Glocester But likewise of that detestable Apostate Emperour Iulian who out of his desperate malice to Christ to undermine and extirpate Christian Religion without shedding the blood of Christians first shewed himself a most zealous Christian professor reducing the Orthodox Bishops Ministers christians whom the persecuting Arian Emperor Constantius had exiled restoring them to their confiscated Bishopricks to ingratiate himself with the people but not long after turning Apostat he took away all the Privileges honours revenues of the Clergy setled on them by Constantine with the Laws for their establishment shut up the Churches Schools of the Christians prohibiting them to teach in publike or private or set their children to School unless they would renounce their former Religion and turn Pagans impoverished oppressed the Christians with extraordinary doubled Taxes from which the Pagans were exempted and castmany of them into prison But on the contrary at the same time he shewed extraordinary favour and affection towards the Jews sent for the chiefest of them to his court where he discoursed with them writing a special Letter to them wherein he desired their prayers for him granted them free exercise of their Jewish ceremonies and sacrifices long discontinued encouraged and assisted them with monies out of his publike Treasury to re-edifie the Temple at Jerusalem to receive set up all their Jewish Sacrifices and customes there formerly used whereupon they began to build it till-miraculously interrupted thereinâ— and all to vex and undermine the Christians By which indulged Liberty the Jews then grew so insolent against the Christians that they greivously persecuted divers of them destroyed and burnt down some of their Churches and threatned to persecute them worse than the Pagan Romans had done as the Marginall Historians record more at large The imitation of whose proceedings now in any degree in these particulars what harsh constructions and sad events they may produce I refer to all wise Christian States-men seriously to ponder for their own and our Religions honor and Security My 4. argument is this The Orders for securing the peace of the Nation which the Declaration relates to contrary to all the Statutes Acts Resolutions of our Parliaments and Law-books forecited upon another occasion authorize the Major Generals and Commissioners named in them To banish and send into Foraign parts and Plantations all persons of the royal party formerly in arms of no estate and living loosly and all persons whatsoever that shall appear by their words or actions to adhere to the party of the late King or his Son to be dangerous Enemies to the peace of the Commonwealth even without and before any Legal indictment tryal conviction of any particular crime for which a Sentence of Banishment is prescribed by our Laws or any Judgement or Act of Parliament inflicting this heavy Punishment upon them far worse to many than death it self Now I shall earnestly intreat in the name and fear of God all those whom it most concernes to consider in their own retired thoughts how unjust unrighteous unreasonable unchristian it will seem to all Free-born English men and conscientious Christians both at home and abroad and what great scandals it may bring both upon our Nation Government and Religion it self in this manner and on this old account alone to banish these Christian English freemen one of their Native Country both from their Wives Children Kinred and Gods own publike Ordinances and at the self-same time to call in foraign Infidel Jews greatest Enemies to Christ himself and Christians and in that respect more dangerous to the peace and welfare of the Nation than thoâ—e thus to be banished to supply their places even against an express old Judgement and Edict of the whole Kingdom in Parliament for their perpetual exile What a sad pâ—rnicious president it may prove in future ages upon every new revolution to banish all English freemen of a contrary party and call in Forraigners in their rooms Whether it will not revive that ancient complaint of Petrus Cluntacensis Lex nam vetusta sed verè diabolica ab ipsis Christianis Principibus processit c. Manet inultum scelus detestabile in Judaeo quod exilio vel horrenda morte suspendiâ— punitur in Christiano Pingrescit inde deliciis affluit Iudaeus unde laqueo suspenditur Christianus And whether upon consideration of this and the precedent reasons deduced from these Declarations and all the premises they ought not peremptorily to conclude against the Jews present and future re-admission into England most seriously to determine I shall close up all with an Answer to the two principal Allegations for their reception into our Realm 1. The main and only consciencious Argument for their introduction is this That it may be a very probable hopefull means of the general calling and conversion of the Iewish Nation to the Christian Faith which hath been so long prayed for and expected by Christians and seems now approaching which their seclusion from us may much obstruct Not to enter into any large debate of this conversion of the Iews wherein learned Orthodox Divines and Writers are much divided I say 1. That I could never yet be satisfied that there shall be such a general call and conversion of the whole or major part of the Nation of the Jews as some expect but only of an elect remnant of them The foreciced Texts with I say 30. 8 9 10 11. Now go write it before them in a Table and note it in a book that it may be for the time to come FOR EVER and EVER That this is a rebellious people children that will not hear the Law of the Lord which say to the Seers see not and to the Prophets prophesie not unto us right things c. cause the holy one of Israel to depart from before us Luk. 20. 16 17 18. Mat. 21. 41 42 43 44 45 John 1. 11. 12. Rom. 9. 27. 26. 33. c. 11. 2 5 7 8. contradicting such a general conversion of them that of
A Short DEMURRER To the JEWES Long discontinued REMITTER into ENGLAND Comprising An exact Chronological Relation of their first Admission into their ill Deportment Misdemeanors Condition Sufferings Oppressions Slaughters Plunders by popular Insurrections and regal Exactions in and their total final Banishment by Iudgment and Edict of Parliament out of England never to return again collected out of the best Historians With a Brief Collection of such English Laws Scriptures as seem strongly to plead and conclude against their Readmission into England especially at this season and against the General calling of the Jewish Nation With an Answer to the chief Allegations for their Introduction By William Prynne Esq a Bencher of Lincolnes-Inne 2 Chron. 19. 2. Shouldst thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. Prov. 6. 27. Can a man take coals in his bosome and his cloaths not be burnt Concil Toleta 4. cap. 57. Surius Concil Tom. 2. p. 734. Tanta est quandam cupiditas ut quidam eam appetenles etiam a fide erraverint multi quippe hucusque ex Sacerdotibus atque Laicis accipiâ—ntes a Judaeis munera perfidiam corum suo patrocinio sovent qui non immerito ex corpore Antichristi esse noscuntur quia contra Christum faciunt Quicunque ergo deinceps Episcopus sive Clericus sive Secularis illis contra fidem Christianam suffragium vel munere vel savore praesâ—iterit vere ut prophanus Sacrilegus anathema effectus ab Ecclesia Catholica Regno Dei habeatur extraneus quia dignus est ut a corpore Christi separetur qui inimicis Christi PATRONUS efficitur Printed at London for EDWARD THOMAS dwelling in Green-Arbor 165â— To the Christian Reader THat I may not justly suffer so much as in thy Thought as a busie-body in other men's matters for publishing my Opinion in a publick Case wherein I conceive my self some wayes interessed both as a Christian and English Free-man I shall inform thee of the true original cause of this my sodain unpremeditated undertaking Being much affected with God's late admirable Providence in causing the sixth day of this instant December to be set a part for a Day of Solemn Fasting and Humiliation for the late Rebukes we have received the Tares of Division that have been sown by the envious one and the growth they have had through his subtilty the abominable Blasphemies Apostacies and abuse of Liberty by many professing Religion and the continual Series of Difficulties we have been exercised under and inviting all the People of God in these three Nations on that day to joyn in solemn and earnest Supplications to the Throne of Grace That the Lord will be pleased truely to humble our present Governours and the Nation under his Righteous Hand that we may be every one searching out the Plague of his own Heart and turn unfeignedly from the evil of our wayes This being the very day of the Month whereon this time seven yeers December 6. 1648. Colonel Pride with other Officers of the ARMY besetting the Parliament-House with their armed Forces raised to Defend its PRIVILEDGES and MEMBERS against their Trusts Duties forcibly seised secured my self with above forty Parliament-Members more as we were going into the Commons-House to discharge our duties translating us that day from the Queens Court where they first imprisoned us to Hell in Westminster and there lodging us upon the bare boards without Beds all that miserable Cold Night like so many Turkish Gally-slaves rather than Parliament Members seconded with other succeeding Restraints and high unparalel'd Violations both of our Parliamentary Priviledges and Hereditary Laws and Liberties Which transcendent Exorbitancies as we may justly fear are the Plague of the Heart and Evil of their Wayes who were the chief Contrivers or Actors of them if not the greatest Rebukes the English Parliament or Nation ever received the most dangerous Tares of Division that have ever been sowen by the envious one in our Realm which have since extraordinarily grown and spread amongst us through his subtilty the saddest Apostacy and abuse of Liberty by men prosessing Religion ever heard of amongst Christians and the very Fountain of all that continued series of difficulties we have since been exercised under For which the principal Architects Executioners and whole English Nation had never publickly been humbled nor seriously lamented repented them in seven whole yeers space It pleased God by his over-ruling Providence beyond the Intentions or Thoughts of Men so at last to bring it about that this very forgotten sad day whereon this was publickly acted should be now by a printed Declaration specially devoted for A Day of solemn Fasting Humiliation throughout this Commonwealth to lament and bewail these former enormious Actions on it as well as other Crimes Having informed divers thereof both before and on this Fast-day who were much taken with it On the seventh of December the day after the Fast on which the secured Members that time seven yeers were carried from Hell to White-Hall and there kept fasting till past seven a clock at night to attend the Army-Officers who pretended a desired conference with them and at last without vouchsafing to see them sent them PRISONERS through the dirt with Musqueteers at each of their backs other Guards of Horse by their sides to the King's Head and Swan where they long remained I walked down to Westminster to visit some of my then Fellow-Prisoners and Members to acquaint them with this memorable Providence in my passage thither in Martin's-Lane I unexpectedly met with Sir John Clotworthy who was one of them leading his Lady on foot towards Wallingford-house the place whether the Officers promised to carry and there to confer with us when they thrust us into Hell who taking notice of and saluting me I informed him of the foresaid adorable Providence in appointing the former dayes Fast on that day seven yeers whereon we were seised who prosessing he had forgotten it and that it came not within his thoughts but in truth it was very miraculous and worthy special observation We thereupon walked on discoursing of it till we came to Wallingford-house-gate where Colonel Pride who then seised met us full but and I not perfectly knowing him Sir John told me here is Colonel Pride and then gave him this seasonable Memento Fellow Pride Remember this time seven yeers So we parting company I went visited some others of my then Fellow Prisoners in Westminster discoursing with them of these Providences wherewith they were much affected as having not observed them before and of our Fast at White-Hall this day seven yeers In my return homewards that day by the Garden-wall at White-Hall Mr. Nye the Minister going very fast there overtook and saluting me by name presently demanded this unexpected Question of me Whether there were any Law of England against bringing in the Jews amongst us for the Lawyers had
and subversion of our only Lord Saviour Redeemer Mediator Jesus Christ his Person Offices Kingdom Gospel and Christianity it self without any thoughts of turning Christians themselves In which case 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 him together with our Church Nation at once unto these their inveterate enemies For whose Conversion not National but of the 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 Kindom Patience of Jesus Christ William Prynne Lincolnes-Inne 14 December 1655. ERRATA Title p. for quandam read quorundam p. 9. l. 12. est r. et p. 12. l. 7. homes r. houses p. 22. l. 21. p. 23. l. 26 r. Iuvel p. 37. six r. ten p. 48. l. 3. quod l. 8. coâ—um p. 51. l 16. exâ—aecati p. 70. l. 2. dele record p. 88. l. 1. receive revive A short Demurrer to the Jews long discontinued Remitter into ENGLAND HOw the Nation of the Jewes once Gods own beloved speciall 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 sinne especially made the saddest Spectacles of divine Justice and humane Misery of all other Nations in the World being quite extirpated out of their own 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 mid c. 12. 15. c. 22. 15. Mich. 1. 21. Mat. 24. Or what banishments punishments oppositions restraints by penal Laws suppressions of their Synagogues Ceremonies they have received in all ages from Christian Kings Princes Republikes in Forreign 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 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 Hâ—ylâ—â—s 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 re-admission 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. ca. 5. records That William the Conqueror King of England translated the Jews from Rhoan to London and the Magdeburg Centuries out of him Centur. xi cap. 14. Col. 686. adds thereto that it was OB NUMERATUM PRECIUM for a summ 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 and appointed them a place to inhabit and occupy reputing their very first introduction a Grievance to the English and hard dealing Which John Stow in his Annals of England p. 103. thus seconds King William brought the Jews from Rhoan here to inhabit in England But this Law concerning the Jews inserted amongst the Laws in the Confessors time seems to prove their arrival and settlement in England to be before this Normans reign unlesse mis-placed in point of time amongst his Lawes 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 as the words import De Judaeis in Regno constitutis SCiendum est quoque quod omnes Judaei ubicunque in Regno sunt sub tutela defensione Domim 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 detmuerit eos vel pecuniam corum 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 that they were under him only as his meer Vassals their persons and goods being his alone that they could dispose of neither of them without his License Into which slavish condition they doubtlesse 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 sequell 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
imagining that they should do God good service if they assaulted these his enemies boldly rushed upon them no man opposing himself against so great attempts whereupon divers of the Jews were slain the rest being received into the Castle hardly escaped with their lives their goods being all plundered and the plunderers departing freely away with their booty none of them being so much as questioned or punished by the Kings discipline The Citizens of Lincoln hearing what was done to the Jews of Stanford taking occasion and being animated by the examples of others were willing to do something against them and being assembled together against the Jews inhabiting together with them became enraged against them But these Jews being made more wary by the slaughters and damages of others some few of them suffering harm and damages the rest fled timely with their monies into the Royal Fort and there secured themselves In all other places wheresoever the Jews were found they were pillaged and slain by the hands of the Pilgrims who hastning through England towards Jerusalem decreed to rise up first against the Jews before they invaded the Saracens Hereupon all the Jews who were found in their own houses at Norwich were slain on the 8. of February some few of them only escaping to the Castle At the same time The Nobles and Gentry of Yorkeshire nothing fearing the Kings Proclamation the wicked Jews having by Usury reduced theÌ„ to extream poverty joyning with them some holy soldiers brake up thâ— Houses of the chief Jews equall to the Kings Palace sleâ— their families spoiled their goods and burnt their hoâ—â—s in the night and then retired themselves to their hâ—mes in the dark After which the promiscuous multitudâ— making an assault upon the Jews slew them without diâ—â—â—â—ction of sex or age except some few who would give up their names to Christ in baptism to save their lives On the 18 day of April being Palm-Sunday the rest of the Jews in the City of Yorke being 500 men and women besides their children fearing the violence of the Christians shut up themselves within the Castle of Yorke by the will and consent of the Guardian thereof and of the Sheriff who being thus received into the Castle for their defence by the Guardian and Sheriff would not afterwards deliver it up unto them again Whereupon the Sheriff and keeper of the Castle being much offended with them assembled the Souldiers of the County and men of the City that they might free the Castle from those Jews exhorting them to do their utmost endeavours to effect it who when they had assaulted the Castle day and night the Jews offered a great summe of money to save their lives but all in vain the people being so incensed against them that they would not accept it whereupon a certain Jew skilfull in their Law stood up and said Men of Israel hearken to my counsel It is better for us to die for our Law then to fall into the hands of the enemies of our Law and our very Law commands the same thing Upon which all the Jews as well men as women consented to his counsel and every Father of a Family going with a sharp razor first of all cut the throats of his own wife and children and then of his family casting the dead corps of those whom they had thus sacrificed to Devils over the Castle walls upon the Christian people After which burning their rich cloathes an casting their golden Vessels and Jewels into Privies that the Christians might not be inriched by them these murderers shutting up themselves and the rest they had killed in the Kings house set it on fire and so burnt both themselves and it After which the Citizens of Yorke and the Souldiers of the County burnning all the Jews houses together spoyled their goods seized their possessions to themselves and burn'd all the charters of their debts The King being informed hereof and much incensed both for the contempt of his Royal Proclamation and Authority and dammage to his Exchequer to which all the Goods and Debts of the Jews being Usurers belonged commanded his Chancellor to inflict due punishment upon the authors of this Sedition Whereupon after Easter the Bishop of Ely the Kings Chancellor gathering a great Army together came to Yorke to apprehend those as malefactors who had destroyed the Jews of the City And understanding that this was done by the command of the Sheriff and Governour of the castle he put them both from their Offices and took sureties from the Citizens of the City for to keep the Peace of the King and Kingdom and to stand to the Law in the Kings court concerning the death of the Jews and commanded the Souldiers of the County who were at the destruction of the Jews to be apprehended but the chief of them flying into Scotland escaped not one of them all being put to death for this great massacre and Riot Henry de Knighton De Eventibus Angliae l. 2. c. 13. gives this censure of these slaughters and popular tumults against the Jews The Zeal of the Christians conspired against the Jews in England but in truth not sincerely that is for the cause of faith but either out of emulation and envy because of their felicity or out of gaping after their goods The Justice truly of God not at all approving such things but decently ordering them that by this means he might punish the insolency of a perfidious Nation He likewise addes That one John a most bold Christian flying from Stanford with many spoyls of the Jews to Northampton was there secretly slain by his Host to get his money and thrown without the city in the night the murderer flying therupon After which through the dreams of old women falacious signs the simple people atributing to him the merits of a martyr honoured his Sepulchre with solemn vigils and gifts This was derided by wife men yet it was acceptable to the Clerks there living by reason of the gains Which the Bishop hearing of presently un-saincted him and prophaned the Monuments of this false martyr continued by the study of simple and covetous persons I wish no such plunderers as this might be saincted and adored in our age as too many of them are even before their deaths who will be un-saincted after them as well as this bold plunderer of the Jews Mr. Fox in his Acts and Monuments Vol. 1. p. 305. relating the story of the massacres of the Jews this year out of the Chronicle of VVestminster saith That there were no less than a thousand five hundred of the Jews destroyed at that time in York alone beside those slaughtered in other places so that this year which the Jews took to be their Jubile 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 Justices Laws and Orders for preventing the frauds and regulating the contracts of the Jews both between themselves and between Christians and them thus recorded at large by Roger de Hoveden and briefly touched only by some others All the Debts Pawns Morgages Lands Houses Rents and Possessions of the Jews shall be registred The Jew who shall conceal any of these shall forfeit to the King his body and the concealment and likewise all his possessions and chattels neither shall it be lawfull to the Jew ever to recover the concealment Likewise 6 or 7 places shall be provided in which they shall make all their contracts and there shall be appointed two Lawyers that are Christians and two Lawyers who are Jews and two egal Registers and before them and the Clorks of William of the Church of St. Maries and William of Chimilli shall their Contracts be made and Charters shall be made of their contracts by way of Indenture And one part of the Indenture shall remain with the Jew sealed with his seal to whom the money is lent and the other part shall remain in the common chest wherein there shall be 3 locks and keys whereof the 2 Christians shall keep one key and the 2 Jews another and the Clerks of William of St. Maries Church and William of Chimilli shall keep the third And moreover there shall be three seals to it and those who keep the seals shall put the seals thereto Moreover the Clorks of the said William and William shall keep a roll of the transcripts of all the Charters and as the Charters shall be altered so let the roll be likewise For every Charter there shall be 3 pence paid one moity thereof by the Jew and the other moity by him to whom the money is lent whereof the 2 writers shall have 2 pence and the keeper of the roll the third And from henceforth no contract shall he made with nor payment made to the Jews nor any alteration made of the Charters but before the said persons or the greater part of thē if all of them cannot be present And the aforesaid 2 Christians shall have one roll of the Debts or receites of the payments which from henceforth are to be made to the Jews and the 2 Jews one and the keeper of the roll one Moreover every Jew shall swear upon his Roll that all his debts and pawns and rents and all his goods and possessions he shall cause to be enrolled and that he shall conceal nothing as is aforesaid And if he shall know that any one shall conceal any thing he shall secretly reveal it to the Iustices sent unto them and that they shall detect and shew unto them all Falsifiers or forgers of Charters and clippers of moneys where or when they shall know them and likewise all false charters By these strict politick Laws the King and his Officers knew the particular wealth monies goods debts and real and personal Estates of every Jew and in whose hands they were and so could seize and command them at their pleasure upon any real or pretended misdemeanors or complaints against them King John in the year of our Lord 1210. commanded all the Jews of both sexes throughout England to be apprehended and imprisoned and to be afflicted with most grievous torments that so they might satisfie the Kings pleasure with their mony Some of them being grievously tortured gave all things which they had and promised more that they might by this means escape so many kinds of torments Amongst whom one Jew at Bristol punished with various torments when as he would neither redeem himself nor submit to any fine the King commanded his tormentors that they should every day pull out one of his grinding teeth untill he should pay to the King Ten thousand marks of silver And when at last for 7 dayes space they had pulled out 7 of his teeth with intollerable torment and now on the 8 day the Tormentors had begun the like work again this Jew an over-slow provider for his profit gave them the aforesaid money that he might save the 8 tooth to himself the other 7 being pulled out who with much more wisdom and less pain might have done so before and have saved his 7 teeth having but 8 in all In the year 1222. in a Council at Canterbury under Archbishop Stephen a certain Apostate Jew made of a Christian a Deacon and afterwards apostatizing was there judicially punisht whom Falco presently apprehending caused to be hanged as Matthew Paris writes but Bracton and others record that he was burned to ashes King Henry the 3 Anno 1230. wanting moneys constrained the Jews whether they would or would not to give him the third part of all their movable goods and that with all expedition The Jews in the year of our Lord 1231. builded a Synagogue very curiously but the Christians obtained of the King that it should be dedicated to our blessed Lady and was since by the same King Henry granted to the Brethren of St. Anthony of Vienna and called St. Anthonies Hospitall In the year of our Lord 1233. King Henry the 3. at his proper costs built in London not farr from the old Temple a decent House and Church sufficient for a Covent with other convenient edifices thereto belonging called The house of the Converts To which house the converted Jews flying leaving the blindnesse of Judaism under a certain honest rule of living might have a certain habitation a safe refuge and a sufficient livelihood during their whole liues without servile labour and the gain of Usury Whereupon it came to passe that in a short time there was gathered together to that place a great number of Converts who were there baptized and instructed in the Christian Faith and lived laudably being governed by a skillfull Rector specially appointed for that purpose King Henry in the year 1235. keeping his Court and the Nativity at VVestminster with many of his Bishops and Nobles there were brought before him upon the complaint of John Toly 7 Jews who had circumcised a certain child in Norwich whom they had stollen away from his parents and kept for a years space from the sight of Christians intending to crucifie him on the feast of Easter But being convicted for this fact they confessed the truth of the thing in the Kings presence and so being at the Kings pleasure both for their life and members were detained in prison for this fact and some of them drawn and hanged In the year of our Lord 1240. the Jews circumcised a Christian child at Norwich and being circumcised they called him Jurninus but reserved him to be crucified in contumely of Jesus Christ crucified But the Father of the child from whom the Jews had stollen him diligently seeking after his Sonne at the last found him shut up in the
and a Christian and as the condition so the operation is changed As Mathew Paris Ironically writes of him A certain Jew in the year 1260 fell into a Privy at Teukâ—sbury but because it was then the Sabbath he would not suffer himself to be pulled out except on the following Lords day for the reverence of his Sabbath Wherefore Richard Clare Earl of Glocester commanded him in reverence of the Lords Day to be kept there till Munday at which time he was found dead of the stink or hunger The Barons of England Ann. 1262. robbed and slew the Jews in all places There were slain of them in London to the number of 700. the rest were spoyled and their Synagogues defaced The original occasion of which massacre was because one Jew had wounded a Christian man in London within Cole-church and would have enforced him to have paid more than two pence for the Usury of 20 s. for one week In the year 1264. in the Passion week the Jews that inhabited the City of London being detected of Treason which they had devised against the Barons and Citizens were slain almost all the whole number of them and great riches found in their houses which were taken and carried away by those that ransacked the same houses The disinherited Barons and Gentlemen in the Isle of Oxholme in the year 1266 took and sacked the City of Lincoln spoyled the Iews and slew many of them entred their Synagogue and burnt the Book of their Law In the 7th year of King Edward the 1. Ann. Dom. 1278. as some or 1279. as others compute it the King held a Parliament at London which was chiefly called for the reformation of his coyn which was then sore clipped by reason whereof it was much diminished and impaired In the time of this Parliament in the moneth of November all the Jews throughout England as Matthew VVestminster or many of the Jews in London and other parts of the Realm were apprehended in one day and imprisoned in London for clipping of money and in December following divers Enquests were charged in London to enquire of the said Jews and all others who had so blemished and clipped the Kings Coyn By which Enquests the Jews of the City with the Gold-smiths that kept exchanges of silver were indicted Andshortly after Candelmas the Mayor and Justices of the Land sat at London where before them was cast 297 persons for clipping of the which 3 only were Englishmen and all the other were Jews born either within this Realm or elsewhere but most of them English Jews who were all of them at sundry places and times put to execution in London who impeached the chief men of London and very many Christians who consented to their wickednesses After which a very great multitude of Jews were hanged in other Cities of England for the same offence Anno 1279. The Jews of Northampton crucified a Christian boy but did not throroughly kill him upon Good-Friday for the which fact many of the Jews at London after Easter were drawn at Horses tails and hanged In the year of our Lord 1282. John Peckham Arch-bishop of Canterbury sent an expresse precept and command to the Bishop of London to suppresse and destroy all the Synagogues of the Jews within his Diocesse On May 2. Anno 1287. All the Jews of England were apprehended by the Kings precept for what cause was not known who ransomed themselves for 12000l of silver They had then a Synagogue at Canterbury Fabian writes that the Jews of England were sessed at great sums of mony perchance the cause of their seisure which they paid unto the King But of other Authors it is said That the Commons of England then granted to the King the fifth part of their moveables for to have the Iews banished out of the land For which cause the said Jews for to put the Commons from their purposes gave of their free wills great sums of money to the King which saying appeareth to be true for that the said Jews were exiled within few years after with whom Grafton and Holinshed accord A strong evidence of the potency of Jewish money over-powring the whole Commons of England in Parliament and this their Liberal subsidy for their banishment at that season About this year as I conceive the Statutes of Edward the first Intituled de Judeismo were made and published Printed in rench in Tottles Magna Charta Anno 1556. part 2. f. 58 59. which being not printed amongst our Statutes at large in the English Tongue I shall here insert and translate 1. For that the King hath seen that many mischiefs disherisons of honest men of this land have happened by the Usuries which the Jews have made therein in times past and that many sins have therein risen from thence Albeit he and his Ancestors have had great profit from the Jews both now and in times past Notwithstanding this for the honour of God and for the common benefit of the People the King doth ordain and establish that no Jew hereafter shall take ought for usury upon lands rents nor upon other things and that no Usury shall run from the Feast of St. Edward last past and before but that the Covenants before made shall be held save only that the Usuries themselves shall cease Provided that all those who are indebted to Jews upon pawns moveable shall discharge them between this and Easter at furthest and if not let them be forfeited And if any Jew shall take usury against this establishment The King neither by himself nor any of his Officers will not intermeddle to cause him to recover his debt or use but will punish him at his pleasure for the Trespasse and shall do right to the Christian to recover his gage 2. And it is provided that the distresses for the debt of Jews shall not hereafter be so grievous that the moity of Lands and Chattels to the Christians shall not remain for their sustenance And that no distresse shall be made for the debt of a Jew upon the heir to the Debtor named in the Charter of the Jew nor upon other which holds the Land which was the Debtors before the debt shall be dereigned and acknowledged in Court And if the Sheriff or other Bayliffs by commandment of the King ought to make seisin to a Jew to one or more for their debt of chattels or of lands to the value of the debt the chattels shall be praised by the Oath of honest men the chattels shall be delivered to the Jew or Jewesse or to their Attorney to the value of the debt And if the chattels be not sufficient the lands shall be extended by the same Oath before that the seisin shall be delivered to the Jew or Jewesse every one according to the value and so that they may after know certainly the Debt is discharged that the Christian afterwards may then have his lands saving to the
John Stow in his Annals p. 204. writes thus of it King Edward banished all the Jews out of England giving them to bear their charges till they were out of the Realm The number of the Jews then expelled was fifteen thousand and sixty persons whose houses being sold the King received an infinite mass of money Iohn Speed in his History of Great Britain p. 545. thus varieth the expression of it King Edward Anno 1290. to purge England from such corruptions and oppressions as under which it groaned not neglecting therein his particular gain banished the Iews out of the Realm confiscating all their goods leauing them nothing but mony to bear their charges they by their cruel Vsuries HAVING EATEN HIS PEOPLE TO THE BONES To passe by Heylms Microcosm p. 570. Henry Isaacsons Chronology Ann. 1290. with others who mention this their final banishment out of England I shall conclude with the words of Samuel Daniel his History p. 160. Of NO LESSE GRIEVANCE than corrupt Judges then fined displaced banished this King eased his people by the banishment of the Jews for which the kingdom willingly granted him a Fifteenth HAVING BEFORE in Anno Regis 9. OFFERED A FIFTH PART OF THEIR GOODS TO HAVE THEM EXPELLED But then the Iews gave more and so stayed till this time which brought him a great benefit by confiscation of their immoveables with their Tallies and Obligations which amounted to an infinite value But now hath he made his last commodity of this miserable people which having never been under other cover but the will of the Prince had continually served the turn in all the necessary occasions of his Predecessors but especially of his Father and himself Sir Edward Cook in his 2d Institutes p. 506 507 508 in his Commentary upon Statutum de Judaismo forecited seems to contradict these forecited Historians touching their Banishment whose words I shall at large rehearse and refute to in this particular This Statute was made writes he in the Parliament of 18 Edw. 1. That the mischiefs before this Statute against Jewish Usury were these 1. The evils and disherisons of the good men of the land 2. That many of the sins and offences of the Realm had risen and been committed by reason thereof to the great dishonour of Almighty God And are not these two sufficient grounds to keep them out now as well as to restrain and banish them then The difficulty adds he was how to apply a remedy considering what great yearly revenue the King had by the Usury of the Jews and how necessary it was that the King should be supplyed with Treasure What benefit the Crown had before the making of this Act appeareth by former records as take one for many From the 17 of December in the 50 year of H. 3 until the Tuesday in Shrovetide the 2d year of Edward the first which was about 7. years the Crown had four hundred and twenty thousand pounds fifteen shillings and four pence De exitibus Judaismi at which time the ounce of silver was but 20 d. and now it is more than treble so much So as the recital of the Preamble is true That he and his Ancestors had received great profit from Judaism i Many provisions were made both by this King and others Some time they were banished but their cruel usury continued and soon after they returned and for respect of lucre and gain King John in the second year of his reign granted unto them large Liberties and Priviledges whereby the mischiefs rehearsed in this Act multiplyed But the lucre and gain which King John had and expected of the Infidel Jews made him IMPIE JUDAISARE for to the end they should exercise the Laws of their Sacrifices which they could not do without a Priesthood the King by his Charter granted them to have one c. Which for the great rarity thereof and for that we find it not either in our Books or Histories I will rehearse in haec verba Rex omnibus sidelibus suis omnibus Judaeis Anglis salutem Sciatis nos concessisse Jacobo Judaeo de Londoniis Presbytero Judaeorum Presbyteratum omnium Judaeorum totius Angliae Habendum tenendum quam in vixerit liberè quietè honorificè integrè it à quod nemo â—i super hoc molestiam aliquam aut gravamen inferre praesumat Quare volumus firmiter praecipimus quod eidem Jacobo quoad vixerit Presbyteratum Judaeorum per totam Angliam garantitis manu-teneatis pacificè defendatis Et si quis eum super eo sorisfacere praesumpserit id ei sine dilatione salva nobis emenda nostra de forisfactura nostra emendare faciatis tanquam Dominico Judaeo nostro quem specialiter in servicio nostro retinuimus Prohibemus etiam ne de aliquo ad se pertinente ponatur in placitum nisi coram nobis aut coram capitali Justiciario nostro sicut Charta Regis Richardi fratris nostri restatur Teste S. Bathoniens Episcopo c. Dat per manus Huberti Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi Cancellarii nostri apud Rothomagum 21 die Julii Anno Regni nostri primo To which Charter Sir Edward Cook annexeth this marginal Note This King had a most troublesom and dishonourable rrign God raising against him FOR HIS JUST PUNISHMENT two potent Enemies Pope Innocent the 3 and Philip King of France And besides which was the worst he lost the heart and love of his Baronage and Subjects and at the last had a fearfull end He adds l Our Noble King Edward 1 and his Father H. 3 before him sought by divers Acts and Ordinances to use some means and moderation herein but in the end it was found That there was no mean in mischief and as Seneca saith Res profecto Stulta est nequitiae modus And will it not be so now in their new limited readmission if consented too And therefore King Ed. 1. as this act saith for the honour of God and for the common profit of his people without all respect in respect of these of the filling of his own Coffers did ordain That no Jew from thenceforth should make any bargain or contract for usury nor upon any former contract should take any usury from the Feast of St. Edward then last past So in effect all Jewish Usury was forbidden This Law struck at the root of this pestilent weed for hereby Usury it self was forbidden and thereupon the cruel Jews thirsting after rich gain to the number of 15060 departed out of this Realm into foraign parts where they might use their Jewish trade of Usury from that time that Nation never returned again into this Realm Some are of opinion and so it is said in some of our Histories That it was enacted by authority of Parliament that the usurious Iews should be banished out of rhe Realm But the truth is that their usury was banished by this Act of Parliament and that was
the cause that they banished themselves into other Countries where they might live by their usury So that by his opinion they were not then banished by the King or Parliament but only voluntarily banished themselves upon the making of this Statutes aginst their Usury But under the favour of this deceased reverend Judge whose memory I generally reverence this opinion of his is a meer mistake For 1. This Statute of Judaisme was made some years before their banishment hence as I formerly hinted and the last clause thereof for renting houses to continue for 15 years manifests not in 18E 1. 2ly No Record nor Historian mentions that they voluntarily banished themselves upon the making of this Law neither can their voluntary departure hence upon this occafion be stiled a Banishment 3ly The forecited Historians record that they gave but few years before a vast sum of money to prevent their banishment then urged in Parliament by the Commons with the profer of the 5 part of their goods to the King for their banishment and therefore it is very improbable they would at the same time volunntarily banish themselves 4ly All the last cited Historians of these latter times unanimously record and theywere judicially really banished both by the King and Parliament principally for their infidelity and other fore-alloaged reasons commanded under pain of hanging to depart out of it by a set day for the effecting and hastning whereof the Commons gave the King a sifteenth Therefore not banished by of themselves alone Who are more to be credited than this Judges singular opinion 5ly His own subsequent words and Records in direct terms contradict this opinion of his no lesse than 5 times which I wonder he observed not I shall recite them at large to undeceive his over-credulous Readers of the long Robe who take his words and works for Oracles though in many things very full of grosse mistakes contradicted by by his own Records he cites specially in his Chapter of Parliament and Admiralty And for that writes he they were odious both to God and Man that they might passe out of the Realm in safety they made Petition to the King that a certain day might he prefixed to them to depart the Realm it was prefixed by the King and Parliament against their wills to the end that they might have the Kings writ to his Sheriffs for their safe conduct and that no injury molestation damage or grievance be offered to them in the mean time One of which Writs we will transcribe Rex Vic G. Cum Judaeis Regni nostri universis CERTUM TEMPUS PRAEFIXERIMUS therefore prefixed by the King himself without their Petition â— regno illo transfretandi Nolentes quod ipsi per ministros nostros aut alios quoscunque aliter quam sieri consnevit indebite pertrectentur Tibi praecipimus quod per totam Ballivam tuam publice proclamari firmiter inhiberi facias ne quis eis intra terminum predictum injuriam molestiam damnum inferat seu gravamen Et cum contingat ipsos cum catallis suis quae eis concessimus versus partes London causa transfretationis suae dirigere gressus suos salvum securum conductum eis habere facias sumptibus eorum Proviso quod Judaei praedicti ante recessum suum Vadia Christianorum quae penes se habent illis quorum fuerint si ea acquietare voluerint restituant ut tenentur Teste Rege apud Westminst 18. die Julii Anno 18 E. 1. This Statute De Judaismo was made at the Parl. post festum Hilarii Anno 18 E. 1. At which Parliament the King had a 15 granted to him PRO EXPULSIONE JUDAEORUM Therfore by his own confession they were banished by the King and Parlament against their wils and a Fifteenth given for it as the former Historians note And this writ was granted in July following in pursute therefore of their Judgement of banishment not upon their petition the King beginning his reign Novemb. 16 For the Parliament knew a strange conceit of a Judge that by banishing of Usury Did they banish it onely not the Jews the Jews would not remain And thus this Noble King by this means BANISHED FOR EVER THESE INFIDEL USURIOUS JEWS Ergo their persons as well as Usury only the number of which Jews THUS BANISHED was fifteen thousand and threescore VVe will here adde a Parliament Record de Priore de Bridlington thus Et quod praedictus Prior cogno cit quid praedicta pecunia praed Judaeo debebatur viz. 300l nec ei solvebatur ANTE EXILIUM JUDAEORUM therefore by this Parliamentary record but 3 years after they were judicially banished by Parliament not voluntarily of themselves no banishment in Law Et quicquid remansit reorum debitis aut catallis in regno POST EORUM EXILIUM again repeated Domino Regi fuit Consideratum est quod Dominus Rex recuperec pecuniam praedictam dictum est eidem Priori quod non exeat Villaean equam Domino Regi de praedicta pecunia satisfaciat Et respondeat Johannes Archiepiscopus Eborum quia praecepit dicto Priori solvere Valetto suo praedictam pecuniam in deceptionem Regis contra Sacramentum fidelitatem suam Domino Regi datam Idem in alio Rot. An. 22 E. 1. rot 5. Therefore by these 3 records resolutions cited by himself the Jews were all banished by sentence of Parliament in such sort as our Historians record and not in his New sence alone amounting but to a Recesse By all these concurrent Testimonies it is apparent against Sir Edward Cooks groundlesse conceit 1. That all the Jews were then banished out of England never to return again at the special instance and request of the Commons in two several Parliaments as an intollerable grievance and oppression under which they then groaned 2. That the principle grounds of this their perpetual banishment were their infidelity Usury forgeries of Charters clipping and falsifying of monies by which they prejudiced the King and kingdom and much oppressed and impoverished the pople 3. That this their banishment was so acceptable to all the people who oft-times pressed it in Parliament that they gave the King a Fift and Fifteenth part of their moveables to speed and execute it 4. That this their banishment was by the unanimous desire Iudgement Edict and Decree both of the King and his Parliament and not by the King alone and this Banishment total of them all and likewise final Never to return into England Which Edict and Decree not now extant in our Parliament Rolls many of which are lost nor printed Statutes yet it is mentioned by all these Authorities From whence I shall inferre and conclude That as by the fundamental Laws of England No Freeman and Natives of England can be justly banished or exiled out of it but by special judgement of Parliament or by Act of Parliament as is evident by Magna Charta c. 29. The banishment of Sir Thomas
undermine our Religion Church and State and sow the seeds of Heresie Blasphemy Popery Superstition Schisms and Divisions amongst us they having formerly sent over some of late years amongst us under the notion and vizard of converted Jews as Ramsey the Scot and Eleazer and Joseph Ben-Isaiah all Jesuitical wicked cheating Impostors the two last whereof have cheated the honest people of the Nation of many thousand pounds being notorious Villains one of them formerly a Trooper and Plunderer in Prince Ruperts army as he confessed to his Hostesse at Dursly in Glocestershire in his drink where he would have ravished the Maid-servant of the house locking the door upon her whiles she was warming his bed in the night and upon her crying out for help fled away presently in the night to avoid apprehension And yet wanders about cheating the people in other places instead of being brought to Tyburne for his Villanies And if they abuse and cheat us thus already much more will they doe it upon and after the Jewes admission 9. To pretermit their banishment out of Rome by the Emperor Claudius recorded Acts 18. 2. and that as Ecclesiastical Historians report for their cheating and tumults there raised I shall only in brief relate how they have from time to time been banished expelled many Christian Cities Countries Kingdoms and their Synagogues burnt and destroyed especially for their Infidelity and other forementioned Misdemeanors Crimes Villanies About the year of Chriâ—â— 430. at the instigation of St. Cyril Bishop of Alexandriâ— and the Christians there they were expelled and banished that famous City where they had long inhabited for their insolencies seditious conspiracies against the Christians About the year of Christ 615. they were banished out of Jerusulem it self by Heraclius the Emperour as Zonaras Tom. 3. in his life Paulus Diaconus rerum Rom. l. 18. Cent. Magd. 7. c. 14. storie About Anno 616. King Sisebutus banished them all out of Spaine unlesse they would turn Christians which the most of them refusing to doe departed thereupon into France as the marginal Authors unanimously attest About the year 618. they were all banished out of France by King Dagobert unlesse they would renounce their Judaism and turn Christians upon the command and instigation of Her aâ—lius the Emperour as Regino Chron. l. 1. Cent. Magdeb. 7. c. 14. relate King Wamba about the year 710. banished them out of the Province of Narbon as Rodericus Toletanus de Rebus Hisp. l. 3. c. 11. informs us The Emperor Phocas about the year 60â— banished them out of the City of Antioch for the tumults they had there raised against the Christians and Government About the year 1196. they were banished out of the City of Mentz and near the same time out of the City of Triers and the Bishoprick thereof by Bishop Everhard Philip Augustus King of France banished them all out of France by several Edicts Anno 1152 1162. 1182. for these reasons because they had divers times crucified children of Christians in Paris and elswhere in contempt of Christ and his Passion entertained Christian men servants and maid servants in their houses who did likewise play the Jews with them contrary to the Decrees of God and the Church above measure oppressed impoverished by their Usuries the Citizens Knights Gentry and Country people both in the Cities Suburbs and Villages of France and detained some of them prisoners in their houses like captives binding them by an Oath not to depart out of them most vilely profaned the sacred Vessels pawned to them by church-men in cases of necessity causing their little children ordinarily to drink wine and eat sops out of them in contempt of the Sacrament and casting the silver Vessels Crosses and guilded Books of the Gospel pawned to them into Jakes in a sack that the Christians might not find them and because the Saracens upbraided the Christians for entertaining them amongst them being the professed Enemies of Christ Upon these grounds as also because their wealth and Number were so increased that they had almost gotten half the City of Paris into their hands King Philip caused them to be all apprehended through France in one day as they were in their Synagogues then spoiled them of all their rich gold and silver garments confiscated all their Lands Houses Possessions and banished them the Realm notwithstanding the intercessions of many Bishops and Nobles bribed with their gold and gifts on their behalf and the proffers of great summes of money to him by the Jews wherewith he would not be mollified After which he caused their Synagogues to be prophaned and then consecrated and converted to Churches that so where Christ was first blasphemed after the manner of the Jews he might in the same places be praised both by the Clergy and people as Vincentius records at large After this creeping into that Realm again by money and Bribes they were again banished out of France and their goods confiscated by King Philip the Fair in the year 1293. as some or 1307. as others compute it and driven into Germany In the year 1349. at the earnest importunity of the people they were all banished out of Alsatia and the Imperial Cities by the agreement of the Bishops and Nobles and most of them burnt and destroyed as they had been formerly in those parts by Earl Emicho An. 1102. who then banished them thence Ludovicus Duke of Bavaria about the year 1450 banished all the Iews out of his Territories as Aeneas Picolomâ—neus in his Europâ— staius sub Frederico l. 3. c. 32. p. 79. assures us In the years 1474. 1482. and 1492. they were all banished out of Spain by King Ferdinand surnamed the Catholique from whence they were transported and received into Portugal they paying to K. Iohn 2. 8. Duckets for every poll of them at first for their admission which much augmented his Eschequer though it diminished his piety and honour Not long after Anno 1497. they were driven and banished out of Portugal by King Emanuel And in the year 1539. they were banished out of Naples and Sicily by Charles the 5th To which I might adde the destruction burning and utter extirpation of the Jews by the Rubeaquenses Anno 1309. and 1338. Munst Cosm l. 3. p. 547. out of Worms and Spires An. 1092. Munsteri Cosm l. 3. p. 580. Out of Prague by VVratislaus for hating and slaying the Christians Geor. Bartholdus Pontanus Bohemiae Piae l. 2. p. 20. Out of Berne An. 1287. Munsteri Cosm l. 3. p. 582. Having therefore been thus frequently banished by Christian Kings Princes from time to time at the earnest sollicitation of their godly Christian Ministers Bishops People and by our King and Parliament too out of England so long since never to return again what shadow colour of Piety Policy Prudence Justice Law Reason there can be for any person or persons whatsoever to re-admit them except the
Argument of dishonest private filthy under-hand Bribes or Lucre by which they usually scrue themselves into those places whence they have been exiled transcends my shallow capacity to comprehend especially at this season when we are so over-stored with English that some think of sending and planting Colonies in another world whither these Gold-thirsty Jews may do well to transplant themselves if they be weary of their former habitations 9. The forecited Christian Authors Historians old and new much applaud and magnifie those Christian Emperors Kings Magistrates States who have most opposed restrained suppressed by severest Laws Edicts the Jewish Synagogues Ceremonies Superstitions Rites Abuses and banished these Antichristian Blasphemers and Enemies of Christ Jesus out of their Kingdoms and Territories especially for their Infidelity and censured those who favoured them And Matthaeus Flacius Illericus Johannis Wigandus Andreas Corvinus Thomas Holthuter 4 famous learned Protestant Historians and Divines in their laborious learned Ecclesiastical Centuries as they every where do the like So in their 12. Cent. cap. 7. col 1078 1079. they passe this sharp censure against the Decrees of Pope Alexander the 3. and Clement the 3. prohibiting the Jews to build any new Synagogues where were none before yet tolerating theÌ„ only to repair old ones where they were fallen down or defaced to use their rites in But withall forbidding all Christians under pain of Excommunication communion with them for fear of being seduced to their Superstitions c. Denique ut EXTREMAM Romanorum Paparum IMPUDENTIAM ET STUPENDAM IMPIETATEM VIDEAS non pigebit eorum Decreta PRO BLASPHEMA IN DEUM GENTE JUD AEORUM LATA adscribere And Peter Herlin in his Microcosme p. 569 570. writing That the Iews having been put to divers fines and ransoms they are at last even quite thrust out of Europe also They were banished out of England by Edward the 1. Anno 1290. Out of France Spain Portugal Naples and Sicily by the Kings forecited subjoyns by way of Censure Yet are they found in great numbers in the Romish part of Germany and Poland in most Cities of Italy especially Rome where there are not lesse than 15000. or 20000. of them and also in the Popes Country of Avignion The reason why they are permitted to live thus under our Holy Fathers nose is forsooth AN EXPECTATION OF THEIR CONVERSION WHICH IS A MERE PRETENCE THE REASON BEING INDEED THE BENEFIT HENCE ARISING TO HIS HOLINESSE COFFERS But the hopes of their conversion is small and the means less c. And therfore we cannot now readmit them in to England upon the self-same Papal pretence and Ground of Gain without incurring the like Censures from Protestants and Papists too and bringing intollerable Scandal Dissâ—onor Reproach on our Nation and Religion in these times of pretended highest Reformation they being the professed Enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ who will not not have him to rule over them Luk. 19 27. and so odious to the very Turks them selves for cruâ—fying Christ that they oft use to say in detestation of a thing I would I might die a Jew Neither will they permit a Jew to turn Turk unless he be first baptized 11 Many of the wisest Heathen Law-givers Polititians States have especially prohibited the introduction and habitation of foraigners amongst them Hence Lycurgus the famous Legislator and the Spartans by his Law and advice expelled all foraigners out of their City and Country lest by insinuating themselves amongst them they should teach their Citizens some ill introduce foraign manners and an ill disordered kind of life upon which ground they all prohibited their Citizens to travell into foraign Countries Upon these grounds the Thebans and also Apotloniatae in imitation of the Spartans banished all foraigners out of their City as Aelian Variae Historiae l. 13. c. 16. Alexander ab Alexandro l. 4. c. 10. record Plato the Philosopher Dialogo 12. de Legumlatione though he permits forainers by way of study trade travel and embassie to come into his City and Republike under certain Laws Râ—ules yet he totally secludes them from inhabiting therein or to trade without strict Laws to prevent their danger Solet enim civitatum in commercâ—is permixtio varios mores civitatibus ammiscere dum externi externiis vicissim novationes inducum quae res civitatibus per rectas leges benè institutis MAXIMUM DETRIMENTUM AFFERT Arist. observes Thatthe bringing in of forainers is a principal cause of seditions quarels Qui inquilinas aut advenas 〈…〉 nt in vitatem Hi ferè Omnes aut certè plurimi SEDITIONIBUS CONFLICTANTUR Dr. Jo. Case gives the reason of it Nam ut nihil citius corpus humanum inficit quà m pestilentium vaporum malis humoribus copulatio ita NIHIL VELOCIUS CORRUMPIT CIVITATEM QUAM PEREGRINORUM HOMINUM ADMISSIO in qua contagio venenum latet And hereupon he raiseth this question from Aristotles Text Utrum periculosa sit in Rempublicam peregrinorum admissio And thus resolves it It is perillous to take Snakes into the Bosom and Forraigners into the Commonwealth for as they being refreshed with heat doe bite and sting So these being enfranchised destroy the Republike To prove this by arguments we may consider that every Nation hath its proper manners and ceremonies which they bring along with them do not change with the climat when they come into another Country VVherefore there is great danger lest by receiving strangers the ancient manners Laws should be changed into new and forain Now what sooner begets sedition then alteration of Laws and Customs as we may see even in sundry Scripture examples which he remembers not and of the Jews especially Acts 14. 2. to 7. 16. c. 16. 19. to 25. c. 18. 5 6 7 17 18 19. c. 17 12. to 18 c. 19. 24. to 41. c. 21 27 to 40. c. 22. 22. c. c. 23. 24. 25. VVhat therefore is more perillous than the admission of Foraigners into our Commonwealth Moreover wherefore hath Nature instructed like to associate together with like if it should draw men of strange and different manners into a Republike Nature will not that sheep should be associated with wolves neither wills Prudence that Natives should be coupled with forraigners For Philosophy perswades this that contraries cannot dwell in the same place but strangers for the most part are enemies to the Citizens with whom they converse Adde to this that as Locusts are to the corn so are foraigners to the Republike for as they do wast and consume the grain of corn so these devour the fruit of the Commonwealth for although they are branches of the same plant yet they suck not wholesom juyce but poyson from the root wherewith at length the whole plant being infected perisheth This he proves by several examples out of Aristotle himself as by the Trezenii Zanclei Sybarites Bysantii Antissiaei Apolloniatae Chii Syracusani Aniohipoliâ—e who by
been and pierced themselvs through with many sorrows Therfore 't is not as much as once to be named or insisted on amongst us unlesse we will renounce our Christianity make great gain our only godlinesse instead of making Godlinesse with contentment our great gain betray and sell our Saviour Christ again to the Iews like Iudas for thirty peeces of silver without repenting and making restitution of it to the Iews as he did and most blasphemously transferre our very Saviours most blessed Deity and stamp his most sweet and most highest Title GOD WITH US upon a contemptible piece of white and yellow shining clay as some have lately done on all our New State coyn as if it were the only God with them and us how christian-like let themselves determine 3ly God himself who saith Behold I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbour by oppression other unlawfull means will certainly smite his hand at this gain by the Iews re-admission And therefore let us give that resolute answer to the Iewish Agents if they proffer to purchase an idenization amongst us by their gold as St. Peter once did to Simon Magus in another case THY MONEY PERISH WITH THEE Thou hast neither part nor lot in this businesse for thy heart is not upright with God 4ly None ever gained by the Iews introduction or continuance in any Christian State but the King and some of his bribed Officers and that by oppressing squeezing fleecing taxing excoriating eviscerating crucifying pillaging plundering the poor Iews in such an unchristian inhuman illegal unrighteous manner against the express commands of God as made both Christians and Christianity most detestable to them brought a secret curse of God upon all those unrighteous gaines as also upon their very persons and Government witnesse King Iohn and Henry the 3d. and encouraged them to oppresse fleece and pillage their Native Subjects by illegal Taxes and Projects and to use them rather like Iews than Christians enforcing them thereby to take up arms against them for their Laws Liberties and Properties just defence as those Kings reigns and others sufficiently evidence 5ly The introduction of the Iews into England and other Nations never advanced the publike wealth of the Natives and Republike but much impaired it by their Vsuries and Deceits clipping and falsifying monies ingrossing all sorts of commodities into their hands usurping the Natives trades and becomming such intolerrable grievances to them that they were never quiet till they were banished as their greatest Annoyance and purchased their Exiles even with publick Subsidies granted to their Kings to be quit of them as the premises abundantly evidence 6ly The Trade of this Nation flourished more after their banishment hence then ever it did before and their introduction now will but supplant undoe our English Merchants and other Natives to enrich them and some few other Grandees who shall share with them in their spoils and unrighteous gains 7ly The taking off all long continued uncessant new illegal Taxes Excises Imposts imposed without common consent in Parliament on the Nation ingrossing anticipating most of the current Monies of the Land which are the nerves and wheels of Trade eating up all the Merchants Peoples gains and labors and overclogging all or most Commodities imported or exported The disbanding of all unnecessary mercenary Forces and Garrisons who have devoured most of the publike and private wealth of our three Kingdoms and extraordinarily impoverished them only to enrich and advance themselves and setting up the old unmercinary Trained Bands and Legal Militia of the Realm in their steads The encouraging of Merchants to bring in gold and silver Bullion to set the Mint on work which hath lain for the most part idle near 15 years the suppressing of the superfluous making wearing use of gold and silver lace wyre gilding which consume many thousand pounds of current coyne every year The inhibiting of the excessive use of that late intoxicating smoke of Tobacco causing such a prodigal expence of money time and hindring more necessary usefull staple merchandizes and plantations The regulating of the gross abuses of Letters of Mart now little better than commissioned open pyracies occasioning the ruine of Trade and Merchandize by way of Reprisal The ordering according to Law Iustice Conscience that all prizes taken from any foraign Enemy or other who pillage or damage the English by the States Ships and men of War set out by the Merchants Customs Tonnage Poundage Imposts and therewith maintained for their defence which therfore should be equally distributed to our English Merchants that are damnified undon by them towards the reparation of their losses who maintain them to enable and encourage them in their trading especially when much impoverished or undone by their losses and not all converted to the use of that some stile the Admiralty and State or Mariners who take them at whose cost they are not maintained The binding of all Captains of all States men of war to make good all the English Merchants and their Allies losses susteined by their default or negligence The resuming of all the late alienated ancient Lands rents revenues of the Crown got into private hands which ought to defray the constant expence of the Government now extorted for the most part by arbitrary new devices out of the exhausted peoples purses The speedy preventing of the late unparalleld wasts in all places of English Timber for shipping of which there is like to be such scarcity ere long as will both destroy our Navy and Fishing Trade All these and every of them will far more advance the Trade and Traffique of the Nation and the publike wealth and give all the people far better content and satisfaction ten thousand fold then this New distastefull pernicious project of bringing in the Iews against which I shall only discharge this ancient Canon of the 4th Council of Toledo in Spain under their most religious King Sysenandus in the year of our Lord 681. which thus batters all ecclesiastical and temporal promoters of this allegation for filthy Lucres sake with this direfull thunderbolt So great is certain mens lucre of money that some coveting after it according to the Apostles saying have erred from the faith For many hitherto of the Priests and Laity receiving gifts from the Iews foster their perfidiousnesse or infidelity by their patronage who not undeservedly are known to be of the body of Antichrist because they act against Christ Therefore whatsoever Bishop or Clergy mâ—n or secular person shall from henceforth give his suffrage to them against the Christian faith Either For reward or favour being as prophane sacrilegious really made accursed let him be reputed excommunicated from the Catholick Church and Kingdom of God because he is worthy to be separated from the Body of Christ who is made a Patron or Protector to the enemies of Christ I