their goods moveables or immoveables And that they shall not be impleaded sued nor challenged in any Court but in the Kings Court wheresoever they are 7. And that none of them shall be obedient respondent nor render rent but to the King and his Bayliffs in his name if it be not of their houses which they now hold rendering rent saving the right of holy Church 8. And the King grants them that they shall live of their lawfull merchandizes and by their labour and that they shall converse with the Christians for lawfull merchandizing in selling and in buying But yet that by this privilege nor any other they shall not be levant rising or couchant lying down amongst them And the King will not that by reason of their merchandize that they should be in lots nor scots nor Tallage with those of the Cities or Burroughs where they remain seeing they are tailable to the King as his own Vassals and to none other 9. Moreover the King grants them that they may buy houses and curtelages in the Cities or Burroughs where they reside so as they hold them in chief of the King saving to the Lords the Services due and accustomed 10. And that they may take Lands to farm for term of ten years or under without taking homages or fealties or such manner of service of a Christian and without having advowson of holy Church for to support their life in the world if they know not how to merchandize or be unable to labour And this power for to take Lands to farm shall not endure to them but 15 years from this time forth to come By these Laws this politick King to please his English Christian Subjects abridged many of the Jews former priviledges and put many new restraints upon them And yet on the other hand to gratifie the Jews who gave him more monies than the English he takes them all into his special protection prohibits all violence to their persons or estates and grants them some petty priviledges for the present which seemed to content them and made for his owne advantage more than theirs Rot. Clauseâ— E. 1. in the Tower rot 8. I find that one who was bound to Gamilelâ— a Jew and had lands afterwards acknowledged himself a Villain whereupon a writ then issued to inquire what lands he had at the time of the making of the bonds and to extend them JUXTA STATUTA JUDAISMI And claus 4 E. 1. rot 11. there is this recital made of this very Statute of Judaism Cum secundum Assisam ET STATUTUM JUDAISMI NOSTRI Judaei nostri in partâ— ne habere DEBEANT Ã Christianis creditoribus MEDIETATEM terrarum reddituum et Catallorum ipsorum quousque debita sua perciperent c. execution awarded in the case of a Jew according to the 2 clause of this Statute Therefore it is most certain it was not made in 18 E. 1. which was 14 years after these two records reciting it both by name and words but in 3 E. 1. the very next year before these records the end for which I here insert them In the 7th year of King Edward the 1. Anno Dom. 1278. as some or 1279. as others compute it the King held a Parliament at London which was chiefly called for the reformation of his coyn which was then sore clipped by reason whereof it was much diminished and impaired In the time of this Parliament in the moneth of November all the Jews throughout England as Matthew Westminster or many of the Jews in London and other parts of the Realm were apprehended in one day and imprisoned in London for clipping of money and in December following divers Enquests were charged in London to enquire of the said Jews and all others who had so blemished and clipped the Kings coyn By which Enquests the Jews of the City with the Gold-smiths that kept exchanges of silver were indicted And shortly after Candelmas the Mayor and Justices of the Land sat at London where before them was cast 297 persons for clipping of the which 3 only were Englishmen and all the other were Jews born either within this Realm or elsewhere but most of them English Jews who were all of them at sundry places and times put to execution in London who impeached the chief men of London and very many Christians who consented to their wickednesses After which a very great multitude of Jews were hanged in other Cities of England for the same offence Hereupon in the Patent Rolls of 7 8 and 9 Edw. 1. in the Tower I find sundry grants of the Jews Houses and Lands in London Yorke and Northampton made by the King to several persons as escheated to him by those executed Jewish offenders Anno 1279. The Jews of Northampton crucified a Christian boy but did not thoroughly kill him upon Good-Friday for the which fact many of the Jews at London after Easter were drawn at Horses tails and hanged In the year of our Lord 1282. John Peckham Arch-bishop of Canterbury sent an expresse precept and command to the Bishop of London to suppresse and destroy all the Synagogues of the Jews within his Diocesse On May 2. Anno 1287. All the Jews of England were apprehended by the Kings precept for what cause was not known who ransomed themselves for 12000l of silver They had then a Synagogue at Canterbury Fabian writes that the Jews of England were sessed at great sums of mony perchance the cause of their seisure which they paid unto the King But of other Authors it is said That the Commons of England then granted to the King the fifth part of their moveables for to have the Iews banished out of the Land For which cause the said Jews for to put the Commons from their purposes gave of their free wills great sums of money to the King which saying appeareth to be true for that the said Jews were exiled within few years after with whom Grafton and Holinshed accord A strong evidence of the potency of Jewish money over-powring the whole Commons of England in Parliament and this their Liberal subsidy for their banishment at that season K. Edward the 1. the next year 1288. being in Gascoigne a certain English Knight decreed to convent a Jew for the undue detention of a certain Mannor morgaged to him before the Judges but the crafty Jew refused to answer pretending a Charter of King Henry heretofore which was granted to him that he should not be drawn into judgement before any Judge except only before the person of the King The Knight being troubled at this went into Gascoigne that he might obtain some remedy hereupon from the King Whom when the King had heard he answered It is not seemly for children to make void the deeds of their parents to whom by Gods Law they are commanded to give reverence wherefore I have decreed not to make void the deed of my Father but I grant to thee and to
Devil or the manifestly damned we are not to hope nor pray because there is no hope of them for death and a definitive sentence at once irrevocably intangle them Neither could this answer excuse the Minors for although they were not guilty yet the scandal did defame them The common people now hath withdrawn their hands that they doe not benefit them with their alms as heretofore and the Londoners devotion is grown cold towards the Minorites For procuring these condemned Jews life and liberty whose money it seemeth could even corrupt these very self-denying Popish Saints who had renounced the world in habit but not in heart All the Prelates of England in the year 1257. drew up certain Articles in writing concerning their liberties which they intended to present to the King and Nobles to be ratified by them in Parliament in due season wherein they complain Artic. 32 33. That when as the Iews are convicted before the Ecclesiastical Iudges for delinquency against an Ecclesiastical person or for Ecclesiastical things or for sacriledge or for laying violent hands upon a Clerk or for adultery with a Christian woman the conusans of the cause is hindered by the Kings prohibition because it alleageth that they have their proper Judge the Sheriff of the place and their proper delegated Iudges who may and ought to have conusance of these things And yet if they be convented by a Clergy-man or Lay-man before them for such things upon the denial thereof by the person alone by the simple assertion of another Iew and of one Christian without the administring of an Oath they purge themselves the proof of the prosecutor being utterly rejected Item If Communion be denied to them by the Church because they bear not their Table or sign or because they retain Christian Nurses against the Precepts of the Church or if they be excommunicated for some other excesses the Bailiffs or Officers of the King communicating with them command on the behalf of our Lord the King himself that they be not avoided by any and cause them to be admitted and received to Communion Against which grievances in derogation of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction the Bishops then thus provided And because in like manner the Office of the Prelates is hindred when as it happens a Iew offending against Ecclesiastical things and persons shall be convented for these things before them and for other things which appertain to their Ecclesiastical Court of meer right We provide that the Iew notwithstanding shall be compelled to aswer in these cases by the interdict of commerce contracts and Communion of the faithfull likewise the inhibiters hinderers and distrainers shall incurre the punishments of interdiction and excommunication In the year of Christ 1259. On the Feast of Christs Nativity a certain creature Elias a Jew of London whose Sirname was Bishop fearing danger and manifest damnation to himself fled to the laver of defence and salvation and was new-born in the Spirit for being cleansed with wholesom Baptism two others also accompanying him he was delâ—vered out of the lot of the Devil and saved from the revenge of the most wicked crime heretofore committed by hâ—m For it was said that in his house that poysonous drink was made which had proved mortal and perillous to many Nobles of England poysoned therewith by the Jews which even he himself as was reported well confessed But then he was a Devil but now throughly changed and a Christian and as the condition so the operation is changed As Mathew Paris Ironically writes of them A certain Iew in the year 1260. fell into a Privy at Teuxsbury 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 de 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 Anno 1262. robbed and slew the Jews in all places There were slain of them in London to the number of 700. the rest were spoiled and their Synagogues defaced The original occasion of which massacre was because one Jew had wounded a Christian man in London in Cole-church and would have enforced him to have paid more then 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 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 dis-inherited Barons and Gentlemen in the Isle of Oxholm in the year 1266. took and sacked the City of Lincoln spoiled the Jews and slew many of them entred into their Synagogue and burnt the book of their Law with all their Charters and Obligations Anno 1275. the 3. of King Edward the 1. his reign the Statute De Iudaismo was made not in the 18 E. 1. as Sir Edward Cooke most grosly and confidently mistakes in his commentary thereon To clear which I desire the Reader to take notice that this Statute is not now extant on record all the Parliamentary Rolls before 5 E. 2. the first extant with sundry others since that time being utterly lost through the iniquity injury or carelesness of the times and some Pleas only in the Parliaments of King Edward the 1. extant in a Parchment Book in the Tower but no Acts nor Rolls of Parliament during his reign except such as are elsewhere extant on the backs of some clause Rolls or Patents or in the Red Book of the Exchequer as some few of them only are or in our Manuscript or printed Statutes This Statute de Iudaismo was first printed in French by Richard Totel in his Magna Charta Anno 1556. part 2. f 58 59. with this Title Statuta Ed. primi de Iudaismo with out mention of any year of his reign wherein it was made not extant in the Manuscript copies out of which he printed them and the first Statute of them is also printed in Iustice Rastall his Abridgement and Collection of Statutes Title Usury sect 2. without any date for which he renders this reason in his Elenchus Parliamentorum at the end of his Abridgement Tempus Ed. 1. Ceux Statutes auxi come semble fueront faits in temps E. 1. mais LA CERTAINTIE DES ANS JEO NE TROVE UNCORE for lack of skill in our Histories which too many Lawyers want He mentions 5. Statutes in his reign of this Nature whereof DE JUDAISMO De terris tenementis non amortisandis made in 3 E. 1. as Walsingham Hist Angl. p. 5. Ypodigma Neustriae p. 68. Holinshed Speed and others affirm and Henricus de Knyghton de Eventib. Angliae l. 3. c. 1. col 2462. and De
Act appeareth by former records as take one for many From the 17 of December in the 50 year of H. 3. until the Tuesday in Shroveride the 2 year of Edward the first whâ—ch was about 7 years the Crown had four hundred and twenty thousand pounds fifteen shillings and four pence De exitibus judaiâ—mi at which time the ounce of silver was 20 d. and now it is more than treble so much So as the recital of the Preamble is true That he and his Ancestors had received great profit from Iudaism Many provisions were made both by this King and others Some time they were banished but their cruel usury continued and soon after they returned and for respect of lucre and gain King John in the second year of his reign granted unto them laâ—ge Privileges whereby the mischiefs rehearsed in this Act multiplyed But the lucre and gain which King John had and expected of the Infidel Iews made him impie judaisare for to the end they should exercise the Laws of their Sacrifices which they could not do without a Priesthood the King by his Charter granted them to have one c. Which for the great rarity thereof and for that we find it not either in our Books or Histories I will rehearse In haec verba Rex omnibus fidelibus suis omnibus Judaeis Anglis salutem Sciatis nos concessisse Jacobo Judaeo de Londoniis Presbytero Judaeorum Presbyteratum omnium Judaeorum totius Angliae Habendum tenendum quamdin vixerit liberè quietè honorificè integrè it a quod nemo ei super hoc molestiam aliquam aut gravamen inferre presumat Quare volumus firmiter praecipimus quod eidem Jacobo quoad vixerit Presbyteratum Judaeorum per totam Angliam garantetis manu-teneatis pacificè defendatis Et si quis et super eo forisfacere praesumpserit id ei sine dilatione salva nobis emenda nostra de forisfactura nostra emendare faciatis tanquam Dominico Judaeo nostro quem specialiter in servicio nostro retinuimus Prohibemus etiam ne de aliquo ad se pertinâ—nte ponatur in placitum nisi coram nobis aut coram capiâ—ali Justiciario nostro sicut Charta Regis Richardi sratris nostri testatur Teste S. Bathonien Episcopo c. Dat. per manus Huberti Cantuarientis Archiepiscopi Cancellarii nostri apud Rothomagum 12 die Julii Anno Regni nostri primo To which Charter Sir Edward Cook annexeth this marginal Note Thâ—s King had a most troublesom and dishonourable reign God raising against him for his just punishment two potent Enemies Pope Innocent the 3. and Philip Kâ—ng of France And besides which was the worst he lost the heart and love of his Baronage and Subjects and at the last had a feaâ—full end He adds Our Noble King Edward 1. and his Father H. 3. before sought by dâ—vers Acts and Ordinances to use some means and moderation herein but in the end it was found That there was no mean in mâ—schief and as Seneca saith Res profecto Stulta est nequitiae modus And will it not be so now in their new limited re-admission if consented too And therefore King Ed. 1. as this Act saith for the honour of God and for the common profit of his people without all respect in respect of these of the filling of his own Coffers did ordain That no Jew from thenceforth should make any bargain or contract for usury nor upon any former contract should take any usury from the Feast of St. Edward then last past So in effect all Iewish Vsury was forbidden This Law struck at the root of this pestilential weed for hereby usury it self was forbidden and thereupon the cruel Iews thirsting after rich gain to the number of 15060 departed out of this Realm into forraign parts where they might use their Jewish trade of usury and from that time that Nation never returned again into this Realm Some are of opinion and so it is said in some of our Historâ—es That it was enacted by authority of Parliament that the usurious Iews should be banished out of the Realm â—â—t the truth is that their usury was banished by tâ—â—s Act of Paâ—liament and that was the cause that they banished themselves iâ—to other Countries where they might lâ—ve by their usury So that by his opinion they were not then banished by the King or Parliament but only voluntarily banished themselves upon the making of this Statute against their Usury But under the favour of this deceased reverend Judge whose memory and judgement in Law I generally reverence this opinion of his is a meer mistake For 1. This Statute de Iudaismo was not made in the Parliament of 18 E. 1. as he confidently affirmeth without any ground or Authority at all but in the 3d year of his reign as I have formerly proved being full 15 years before the Jews banishment out of England the term the Statute de Iudaâ—smo allowed them to take Lands and Houses to farm but no longer If then they resided here full 15. years after the banishment of their Usury by this Statute it is most certaine it was not the ground of all their voluntary banishments in 18 E. 1. as he strangely fancieth but some particular Act for their general expulsion then made upon the Commons importunity else they would have voluntarily exiled themselves 15 years before upon the first publication of this Statute against their Usury in all probability rather than so long after its banishment of it in 3 2. This Stat. hath not one syllable of their banishment in it but expresly authorizeth them to take houses and lands to farm and continue here 15 years space but no longer Now had it been made in 18 E. 1. as Sir Edw. Cooke affirms the King and Parliament had been so far from banishing them that year as the premised Histories and Records he cites do joyntly attest they did that they had thereby authorized them to continue here 15 years longer even till 33 E. 1. Yea the Commons had been much overseen to give the Kâ—ng a fifteen in the Parliament of 18 E. 1. for the present banishment of all the Iews out of England had they passed the Statute de Iudaismo at that very time which allows them 15 years space longer to take Houses and Lands to farm to extend the moâ—ty of the Lands and Goods of their Creditors to be resident in the Kings Cities and Burroughs where their chests for Indentures were to grant them the Kings Peace and Protection both for their persons and estates and exempt them from suits in all Courts but the Kings and from all Taxes with other Subjects And that clause of this Statute prescribing them to wear a badge on their uttermost Garments after they were 7. years of age and to pay 3 d. the poll yearly to the King after they were 12 years old had been meerly ridiculous if
in the Jews amongst us for the Lawyers had newly delivered their Opinions there was no Law against it To which I answered That the Jews were in the yeer 1290. all banished out of England by Judgement and Edict of the King and Parliament as a great Grievance never to return again for which the Commons gave the King the fifteenth part of their Moveables and therefore being thus banished by Parliament they could not by the Laws of England be brought in again without a special Act of Parliament which I would make good for Law He replied I wish it might not be done otherwise that this business had been formerly moved in the Bishops time rather than now To which I subjoyned That it was now a very ill time to bring in the Jews when the people were so dangerously and generally bent to Apostacy and all sorts of Novelties and Errors in Religion and would sooner turn Jews than the Jews Christians He answered He thought it was true and was sorry he could not discourse longer with me the Committee about the Jews being sate and staying for him as he feared Whereupon as he was turning in towards White-Hall-Gate I told him The Jews had been formerly great Clippers and Forgers of Mony and had crucified three or four Children in England at least which were principal causes of their banishment To which he replied That the crucifying of Children was not fully charged on them by our Historians and would easily be wiped off Whereto I answered He was much mistaken and so we parted As I kept on my way in Lincolnes-Inne Fields passing by seven or eight maimed Soldiers on Stilts who begged of me I heard them say aloud one to another We must now all turn Jews and there will be nothing left for the poor And not far from them another company of poor people just at Lincolnes-Inne back Gate cried aloud to each other They are all turned Devils already and now we must all turn Jews Which unexpected concurrent Providences and Speeches made such an impression on my Spirit that before I could take my rest that night I perused most of the passages in our English Histories concerning the Jews carriage in England with some of their misdemeanors in other parts to refresh my memory and satisfie my judgement making some Collections out of them which after I enlarged and digested into this ensuing Demurrer with as much speed as the sharpness of the season would permit and was induced to publish it knowing no particular discourse of this Subject extant for the general information satisfaction of others and honour of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the righteous whom the Jews with malicious hearts and wicked hands crucified in person heretofore and their posterity by their blasphemies despiteful actions against Christ his Kingdom Offices Gospel crucifie afresh every day trampling under foot the Son of God putting him to open shame offering despite to the Spirit of Grace counting the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing And in all their publick and private Devotions praying constantly for the sudden universal total final subversion extirpation perishing of Christs Kingdom Gospel and all his Christian Members which they plot and continually expect such is their implacable transcendent malice I have deduced their introduction into England only from William surnamed the Conqueror because I finde not the least mention of them in any of our British or Saxon Histories Councils Synods Canons which doubtlesse would have mentioned them and made some strict Laws or Canons against their Iewish as well as against Pagan Superstitions had they exercised 〈◊〉 â—ere as they would have done as well as in Spain other places had they resided here That any of them were here in the time of our famous Emperor Constantine is but a dream of such who because they finde an Epistle of Constantines in the Council of Nice to all the Churches of Christ in Sir Hen. Spelmans Collections of the Decrees Canons and Constitutions of the British World wherein is mention made of the Churches of Britain in that age as well as in Rome France and other parts keeping the Passeover in a different manner from the wicked blinded Iews would thence infer there were then Jews resident in Britain of which there is not one syllable in that Epistle nor in any Classick Author Forrain or Domestick I yet ever saw or heard of That they were setled in our Island in the Saxons time is collected onely from that Law inserted by Hoveden and Spelman amongst Edward the Confessors here cited p. 3. But there being no mention of the Jews in any of our Saxon Kings Raigns Councils Decrees Laws before the Confessor out of which all his Laws were wholly extracted and this Law of the Jews being not to be found in the true Original Copy of the Confessors and Conquerors Laws of Abbot Ingulphus who flourished in that age was present at their confirmation and then brought them to Croyland Abby published by Mr. Iohn Selden nor yet in Bromton I cannot but reject it as counterfeit and esteem it rather a Declaration of the Jews Condition in England in Hovedens time inserted by him as well as some other things of punier date amongst these Laws rather than any Law of or in the Confessors days wherein I can finde no evidence of any Jews residence here but only this interpolation and forged Law which Mr. Selden wholly omits in his Collection of his Laws The History of King William Rufus his compelling the Iews of Rhoan that were turned Christians to renounce their Christianity and turn Iews again ACCEPTO PRETIO APOSTASLE upon the complaint and mony given him by the Infidel Jews there with the Dialogue between Him and Stephen the Jew cited out of Holinshed here p. 5 6. I finde originally recorded of him by Eadmerus living in his raign who though very bitter and injurious to him by reason of the great Contests between him Anselme whose Favourite Follower and Companion in adversity Eadmerus was yet he relates it not as a certain Truth but as a Report of others of that Country who had another Opinion of Rufus Quam de Christianis Christianos Lex Christiana docet habere quae tamen sicut illa accepimus simpliciter ponam non astruens vera an secus extiterint an non Onely he addes this passage to the story of Stephen which Holinshed omits That St. Stephen appearing to him as he was travelling on the way he demanding of him who he was Answered That he was long since of a Jew made a Christian and was Stephen the first Martyr but for this cause I have now come down from Heaven to Earth that thou casting away thy Iewish Superstition mightest be made a Christian and being baptized in Christ mightest be called by my name Whereupon he became a Christian and was baptized That immediately after the conference between the King and Stephen
held in Lent the young men and Souldiers who had taken upon them the sign of the Crosse and were then ready to go to Ierusalem with the King assembling together there out of divers counties disdaining that the Jews being the enemies of the crosse of Christ possessed such great store of goods and wealth when as they had not sufficient to defray the necessary expences of so great a journey and 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 and 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 inraged 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 Ierusalem 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 them to extreme poverty joyning with them some holy foldiers brake up the Houses of the chief Jews equal to the Kings Palace slew their families spoild their Goods burnt their houses in the night then retired themselves to their homes in the dark After which the promiscuous multitude making an assault upon the Jews slew them without distinction 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 endeavors to effect it who when they had assaulted the castle day and night the Jews offered a great summ 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 Iew skillfull 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 women as men 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 and 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 burning all the Jews houses together spoiled 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 Iews 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 Knyghton De Eventibus Angliae l. 2. c. 13. gives this censure of these slaughters 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 Iohn 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 thereupon After which through the dreams of old women and fallacious signs the simple people attributing to him the merits of a martyr honoured his Sepulchre with solemn vigils and gifts This was derided by wise men yet it was acceptable to the Clerks there living by reason of the gains Which the Bishop hearing of presently unsaincted 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 Westminster saith That there were no less than
the Iews who desired to turn Christians should remain for 8 moneths space amongst the Catechimeni for trial of the sincerity of their conversion before they were baptized upon this ground because they frequently returned to their infidelity vomit again Judaei qui eorum perfidia FREQUENTER ad vomitum reddit Which Alexander Alensis summa Theolog pars 2. qu. 161. approves 7ly If any private Iews out of meer conscience or sincere desires of being converted to the Christian faith shall upon that account alone desire admission into England to be instructed by our English Divines I suppose no English Christians will oppose but further their desires herein and contribute both their prayers and best endeavors for their conversion and if ther be cause admit them also into our Churches Communion upon real testimonies of the truth of conversion in and work of grace upon them which is as much as they can desire at our hands But to admit whole multitudes and Colonies of infidel Iews at once into our Nation who neither desire nor pretend conversion to Christianity but the quite contrary together with the free use of their Iewish Synagogues Rites Ceremonies which they strongly insist upon to establish their Judaism make way for their long expected Messia his comming increase their wealth and traffique and enable them to recover their ancient Country and Kingdome again the only things they now aim at as Menasseh Ben Israels printed addresses proclaims to all the World is such an Impious Unchristian Antichristiaâ— dangerous president glossed over only with a possibility of their future conversion as no sincere English Christians can approve of nor the Iews themselves desire For as the Iews by Gods own Laws and their own Iewish Rabbies precepts neither might nor yet would permit any Heathen Gentiles heretofore to dwell among them nor to set up any Altars Images Idols Groves or exercise any Idolatrous worship amongst them or to blaspheme reproach their God or Religion under pain of death if they transgressed therein There being the self same Law of God in these things both to Gentiles Iews And like as they afterwards would not permit the Apostles and Christians in Ierusalem or any other Cities for to preach the Gospel and exercise the Christian Religion freely but raised up present tumults against and persecuted and cast them out thence as 1 Thes 2.14 15 17. the whole History of the Acts and premises abundantly testifie So by the very self same justice and equity they can neither now demand nor expect that we or any Christian Realm or State should tollerate or connive at much lesse openly countenance and protect them in the publick or private exercise of their Iudaisme or Iewish Rites and Blaspemies against our crucified Saviour and his Gospel All then that English Christians can do for them is to desire and pray for the conversion of all Gods elect amongst them in his due time by such means as he shall think meetest and to instruct them in the faith by learned Ministers sent to them if they desire it but not to admit them and perchance many disguised Iesuits Papists and Friars with them promiscuously into our Nation to undermine our Church and Religion and undo many thousand Souls it being our duty as to give no just offence to the Iew so neither to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God whom their admission amongst us especially upon Manasseth Ben-Israels motives and addresses tending nothing at all to Piety or their converversion but worldly gains and obstinate perseverance in their Jewish Antichristian Rites and Superstitions will most justly offend Lastly those Popes Popish Princes who have hertofore admitted any Iews to cohabit amongst them have done it under these several cautions and limitations prescribed to them by their Laws Councils Canons Decrees Divines and Canonists 1. That they should build no new Synagogues nor repair any old oâ—es quâ—te demolished 2. Thâ—t where there were old Synagogues formerly used by them standing they should only repair but not enlarge or build them higher than before nor extraordinarily adorn them 3. That they should not stir out of their doors on good Friday nor open their doors windows shops or do any servile work on the Lords days or other solemn Christian Festivals 4. That they shall utter no blasphemous words speeches against God Christ Christians or Christian Religion nor manifest their open contempt of them by gestures or actions under pain of pecuniary corporal and capital punishments according to the quality of the offence Yea King Eringius Leges Wisigothorum l. 2. Tit. 3. c. 3.4.7 and 12. Council of Toledo c. 9. prohibited the Jews the use of circumcision the observation of their Jewish Passeovers Sabbaths differences of meats and other Jewish Rites under pain of whipping confiscation of goods losse of Noses Genitals Banishment 5. That they shall be admitted to no degress of learning honour dignity office or preferment whatsoever in state or Church because it is most absurd and unjust that any blasphemer of Christ should exercise any power or authority over Christians in any Christian State 6. That * they should neither eat nor drink nor have any dayly familiarity or communion with Christians nor entertain any Christian man or woman in or out of their houses either as a Servant or Nurse to their Children or otherwise nor yet administer physick to any Christian in his sicknesse lest any simple Christians should be seduced by them to Judaisme by these means 7. That all Iews both males and females should always wear a specicial badge or sign in all places upon their outward Garments or heads whereby they might be distinguished from Câ—ristians and known by all men to be Iews to avoid commixtion and communion between them and Christians which otherwise would happen 8. That they should be disabled to bear witnesse or give in any legal testimony against Christians or to purchase any advowson or Ecclesiastical preferment or to bequeath any legacy to the Nation or Corporation of the Iews or to exercise usury amongst them 9. That they should be subject both to the Ecclesiastical Temporal Courts and Iudges for all offences properly punishable by them which they should commit 10. That they should pay all predial and personal Tithes to the Christian Ministers where they lived 11. That though they should not be compelled to be baptized or turn Christians against their will yet they should at certain times be all constrained to come to the Sermons of such Christian Priests and Ministers as were appointed to instruct them in the Christian faith and to preach unto them to convert them 12. That their Servants and Children being Iews when once baptized and turned Christians should no more cohabit with nor be under their power 13. That upon their conversion to Christianity all their goods and mony gotten by usury and cheating should be distributed to pious uses and the rest only retained for their
praedictam concessimus quod omnia negotia ipsum Aaron contingentia et quae examen judiciale requirunt coram nobis et eodem fratre nostro audiantur et prout justum fuerit terminentur Vobis mandamus quod de bonis et catallis ipsius Aaron aut aliquibus ipsum tangentibus vos in nullo intromittatis contra donationem concessionem et confirmationem supradictas nisi ex voluntate fratris nostri praedicti T. Edmund apud Westm. 24 die Maii. Eodem modo mandatum est Iohanni de Breton custodi civitatis London T. ut supra In the 18 year of King Edward the 1. I find this grant of his on the 12 day of Iune of all his Deodands to the House of the Converts for the better maintenance and support of the Converts Chapel and edifices thereof during his pleasure only Rex Iustieiariis omnibus aliis Ballivis et fideliâ—â— suis c. salutem Cum nos dudum concessimus Conversis Domus nostrae London ad sustentationem ipsorum Deodanda quae nobis accidere coram quibuscunque Iusticiariis nostris adjudicari contingent ad certum terminum jam transactum Nos concessionem illam intuitu Dei pradictis conversis convertendis coutinuare volentes concessimus eisdem conversis et convertendâ—s ad sustentationem ipsorum et fabricam Capellae suae et aedisiciorum suorum perficiendam omnia Deodanda quae Nobis ubicunque in Regno nostro Angliae accidere et coram quibuscunque Iusticiariâ—s seu Ministris nostris adjudicari contingent Habenda percipienda quamdin Nobis piacuerit T. Rege apud Westm 12 die Iunii On the 17 day of the same month and year I find this special grant made by the King to Auntlera a Jewesse to sell the inheritance of a Garden in London to any Jew and his heirs and for them to purchase it of her without being questioned or molested for it by any of his Officers which without such license she could not sell nor he purchase of her without seisure or forfeiture Rex omnibus c. Sciatis quod de gratia nostra speciali Licentiam dedimus Auntlerae quae fuit uxor Vynes fil Magistri Mossei Judaei London quod quoddam Gardinum suum quod habet in Civitate nostra London in parochia sancti Laurentii in Cattestreet vendere possit cuicunque Judaeo Gardinum illud emere volenti habendum et tenendum eidem Judaeo haeredibus suis in perpetuum eidem Judaeo quod praedictum Gardinum ab eadem Auntlera recipere possit tenore praesentium similiter licentiam concedimus specialem Nolentes quod eadem Auntlera vel haeredes sui an t praedictus Iudaeus aut haeredes sui ratione venditionis seu receptionis Gardini praedicti per nos vel haeredes nostros Justiciarios Ballivos aut alios Ministros nostros occasionentur gravantur in aliquo seu molestantur In cuâ—us c T. R apud West 17 die Junii The â—ike Patent â—â—nd to Aaron the Kings Brothers Jew forementioned to sell his house and rents in fee to any Christian who â—hould purchase them by his Lords license even after the Edict past and Letters of safe conduct granted for the Jews banishment and departure hence as appears by comparing their dates Rex omnibus c. salutem Sciatis quod concessimus licentiam dedimus Aaron fil Vynes Judaeo Edmundi fâ—atris nostri carissimi quod ipse domos et redditus suos tam infra Civitatem nostram London quam infra Regnum nostrum de licentia voluntate praedicti fratris nostri Domini sâ—i vendere possit upon his banishment hence quibuscunque Christiaenis voluerit absque impedimento nostri vel aliorum nostroâ—um quorumcunque eisdem Christianis quod domos illas redditus ab eodem Iudeo emere valeant similiter licentiam concedimus specialem iure cujuslibet in omnibus sâ—mper salvo In cujus c T. R. apud Langeleye 28 die Julii After the date is the Letters for the Jews safe conduct out of Enlgand to the Sheriffs It is very observable that these three last Patents were made but a very little before and the last of them clearly after the Jews universal banishment voted resolved both by the King and Parliament For when as the King his Justices and Parliament by all their Inquisitions Commissions Care Providence and Execution of so many Jews in all parts could no ways suppresse their â—lipping and falsifying of the Money of the Realme nor yet reforme the manifold other wickednesses and misdemeanors of the English Jewes nor all the industry and pains of the Friers Preachers nor all that liberal provisions and grants of the King forecitâ—d to the House of Converts for their comfortable â—â—pâ—ort maintenance and confirmation in the Christian faith so far operate upon their obstinate obdurate hearts as to convert any considerable number or any persons of note amongst them to the Christian faith from which many Converts apostatized nor yet suppresse their continual blasphemies against our crucified Saviour the Christian faith Sacraments of the Church and blessed Virgin Thereupon the King at the earnest frequent solicitation of the Commons assembled this year in Parliament after the Feast of St. Hilary enacte published an Edict or Decree in Parliament for the total universal and final banishment of all these wicked blasphemous unbeleeving Jews out of England then generally execrable detestable to all the people who were so desirous to be for ever quit of their company that they granted the King the 15 part of all their goods and moveables for their banishment and expulsion out of England as I have formerly proved at large by a full grand Jury of Historians and several Records in my former Demurrer against Sir Edward Cooks grosse assertion that they only voluntarily banished themselves because their usury was this year suppresâ—ed by the Stat. de Iudaismo which I have proved was made full 15 years before to be no cause at all of their exile now In pursuance of this Parliamentary Edict Decree now no where extant on Record all the Parliament Rolls before 5 Ed. 2. being whoâ—ly lost and many since by the carelessenesse or iniquity of the times except only an old Parchment Book of some Pleas in Parliam in E. 1. one Statute Roll of K. Ed. the 1. Ed. 2. and Ed. 3. wherein the Statute De Iudaismo with many other printed Acts are not to be found no more than this Edict for the Jews banishment though mentioned in many Histories and Records the King in this very monâ—th of Iuly sent several Writs Letters and Patents to the Sheriffs of Counties Mayors of Towns Bayliffs and Barons of the Cinqueports and likwise to Mariners reciting that he had prescrib'd a certain time term day to all and every of the Iews within the Realm for their departure out of it into forraign parts commanding them not to doe nor suffer any
injury molestation grievance to be done to them by any in their passage beyond the Seas for which he had given them safe conduct but to grant them their wives and children a safe and speedy passage within the time prefixed them at the Jews own costs paying reasonable rates for their freights and passage without immoderate exactions especially on the poorer sort of them lest their passage should be hindred by such immoderate and unreasonable exactions I shall transcribe these Writs and Letters at large out of the Records themselves as most pertinent to my intended Theame beginning with those to Sheriffs Rex Vic Gloucestrie c Cum Iudaeis Regni nostri universis certum tempus praefixerimus a Regno illo Transfretandi Nolentes quod ipsi per Ministros nostros aut alios quoscunque aliter quam fieri consuevit indebite pertrectentur Tibi praecipimus quod per totam Ballivam tuam publice proclamari et firmiter inhiberi facias ne quis eis intra terminum praedictum injuriam molestiam dampnum inferat seu gravamen Et cum contingat ipsos cum catallis suis quae eis concessimus versus partes London causa Transfretrationis suae dirigere gressus suos salvum securum conductum eis habere facias sumptibus eorum Proviso quod Iudaei praedicti ante recessum suum vadia Christiaâ—oâ—um quae penes se habent illis quorum fuerint si ea acquietare voluerint restituant ut tenentur Teste Rege apud Westm 18 die Iulii Anno 18. E. 1. Consimites Literae diriguntur Vicecomitibus Essex Ebor. Northampt. Lincoln Teste ut supra Item Vicecomitibus Hereford Suthampt. The form of the Letters for protection and safe conduct to particular Jews and their Families which the richer sort of Jews purchased at dear rates was this Rex Majori et Ballivis Eborum salutem Quia certum diem praefixerimus Iudaeis nostris Angliae regnum nostrum exeundi et se ad partes alias transferendi Vobis mandamus quod Bonamico Judaeo Eborum uxori pueris vel familiae suae in personis aut rebus interim nullam molesâ—iam inferatis set ipsos quantum in vobis est manuteneatis protegatis et defendatis Et cum idem Bonamicus cum uxore pueris et familia sua post Terminum Proclamationis factae de vadiis Christianorum acquietandis ad partes maritimas causa transfretandi divertere se voluerint sibi et suis salvum conductum cum ab eo fueritis requisiti suis sumptibus habere faciatis ne eis super bonis quae secum deferre contingerit periculum emineat pro defectu conductus hujusmodi faciendi T. Rege apud Lang. 26 die Julii Et sunt Patentes By this Patent it appears First that the Jewes had a certain day prefixed them by the King to depart out of the Realm of England into Foreign parts of which they all had general and particular notice 2ly That the wealthier Jews thereupon to preserve their own persons wives children families from corporal violence and their goods from plunder purchased particular Letters of Protection and safeconduct from the King to Mayors and other Officers 3ly That the King published a general Proclamation upon the Edict of their banishment that all the pawns of Christians to them should be redeemed and discharged before their departure or left behind them when they departed hence The next day after this private Letter of Protection and Safeconduct on the 27 of July the King sent these Letters to the Bailiffs Barons and Seamen of the Cinque ports for the Jews safe conduct passage and transportation out of England within the term which he had prefixed to all and every of them being general for all the Jews Rex omnibus Baliivis Baronibus et Nautis Quinque portuum suorum salutem Cum certum terminum omnibus et singulis Iudaeis Regni nostri praefixerimus idem Regnum exeundi Nolentes quod ipsi in rebus seu personis interim aliqualiter injurientur Vobis mandamus quod eisdem Iudaeis cum ipsos ad Portus praedictos cum uxoribus pueris Catallis suis venire contingerit ad transfretand critical conversion and such converts mostly we are like to find them and none other Whereupon the 2 Council of Nice Canon 3. decreed That no Iews should be admitted suddenly into the Christian Church nor baptized unlesse they publikely certified that they were converted out of a pure sincere faith with all their heart and utterly renounced their judaical rites And the Council of â—gatha Can. 34. decreed That the Iews who desired to turn Christians should remain for 8 moneths space amongst the Catechimeni for trial of the sincerity of their conversion before they were baptized upon this ground because they frequently returned to their infidelity vomit again Judaei qui eorum per fidia FREQUENTER ad vomitum reddit Which Alexander Alensis summa Theolog pars 2. qu. 161. approves 7ly If any private Iews out of meer conscience or sincere desires of being converted to the Christian faith shall upon that account alone desire admission into England to be instructed by our English Divines I suppose no English Christians will oppose but further their desires herein and contribute both their prayers and best endeavors for their conversion and if ther be cause admit them also into our Churches Communion upon real testimonies of the truth of conversion in and work of grace upon them which is as much as they can desire at our hands But to admit whole multitudes and Colonies of infidel Iews at once into our Nation who neither desire nor pretend conversion to Christianity but the quite contrary together with the free use of their Iewish Synagogues Rites Ceremonies which they strongly in-sist upon to establish their Judaism make way for their long expected Messia his comming increase their wealth and traffique and enable them to recover their ancient Country and Kingdome again the only things they now aim at as Menasseh Ben Israels printed addresses proclaims to all the World is such an Impious Unchristian Antichristiaâ— dangerous president glossed over only with a possibility of their future conversion as no sincere English Christians can approve of nor the Iews themselves desire For as the Iews by Gods own Laws and their own Iewish Rabbies precepts neither might nor yet would permit any Heathen Gentiles heretofore to dwell among them nor to set up any Altars Images Idols Groves or exercise any Idolatrous worship amongst them or to blaspheme reproach their God or Religion under pain of death if they transgressed therein There being the selfsame Law of God in these things both to Gentiles Iews And like as they afterwards would not permit the Apostles and Christians in Ierusalem or any other Cities for to preach the Gospel and exercise the Christian Religion freely but raised up present tumults against and persecuted and cast them out thence as 1 Thes 2.14 15 17. the whole History
of the Acts and premises abundantly testifie So by the very self same justice and equity they can neither now demand nor expect that we or any Christian Realm or State should tollerate or connive at much lesse openly countenance and protect them in the publick or private exercise of their Iudaisme or Iewish Rites and Blaspemies against our crucified Saviour and his Gospel All then that English Christians can do for them is to desire and pray for the conversion of all Gods elect amongst them in his due time by such means as he shall think meetest and to instruct them in the faith by learned Ministers sent to them if they desire it but not to admit them and perchance many disguised Iesuits Papists and Friars with them promiscuously into our Nation to undermine our Church and Religion and undo many thousand Souls it being our duty as to give no just offence to the Iew so neither to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God whom their admission amongst us especially upon Manasseth Ben-Israels motives and addresses tending nothing at all to Piety or their converversion but worldly gains and obstinate perseverance in their Jewish Antichristian Rites and Superstitions will 10. day of Octob. being the next day after it An. 1290. just 21 days before the feast of All Saints by which day they were all to depart out of England under pain of death and accordingly departed as I have elsewhere manifested except some few poor converted Jews who remained like Almesmen in the House of the Converts and were not banished with the rest whose Infidelity was the chief cause of their exile as our Historians attest The King on the 27 day of October but 17 days after the Jews final departure from London out of England committed the custody of this Domus Conversorum and the Converts in London to Walter de Agmodisham during pleasure by this his Patent Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Sciatis quod commissimus Waltero de Agmodisham custodiam Domus nostrae Conversorum London conversorum nostrorum therefore not banished with the rest habendum quamdiu nobis placuerit cum omnibus ad custodiam illam pertinentibus sicut Johis de Sancto Dionis quondam Archidiac Roff. eam dum vixit habere consuevit Ita quod idem Walterus domos illas in quibus idem Archidiaconus morabatur ibidem inhabitet pro voluntate sua c. T. R. apud Kingest clipton 27 die Octobris On the 16 day of December following the King granted the custody of this house to Richard de Clunpynges by this Patent which manifests that the converted Jews were not banished with the rest Rex omnibus et singulis Conversis Domus suae London salutem Sciatis quod commissimus ditecto clerico nostro Rico. de Clunpynges custodiam Domus praedictae habendum quamdiu nobis placuerit cum omnibus ad dictam custodiam pertinentibus eodem modo quo Johis de Sancto Dionis quondam Archidiaconus Roffensis defunctus eam dum vixit habere consuevit Ita quod dom illas in quibus idem Archidiaconus morabatur ibidem pro voluntate sua inhabitet Et ideo vobis mandamus quod eidem Rico. tanquam custodi vestro in omnibus que ad custodiam illam perâ—inent intendâ—n es sitis et respondentes sicut praedictum est In cujus c. T. Rege apud Odyham 16 diâ— Decembris The very next year after the Jews banishment within four moneths of their departure hence I find these Letters Patents directed by the King to all his Sheriffs Bayliffs and Lieges expresly mentioning their banishment hence and the Kings designing of all the rents and profits of their houses from the time of their banishment to be collected and disposed to pious uses as Hugh de Kendale Clerk should appoint specially intrusted with the management of this affair Rex Vicecomitibus omnibus aliis Ballivis fidelibus suis ad quos c. salutem Cum assignavimus totam pecuniam provenientem de Domibus quae fuerunt Judaeorum nostrorum in Anglia in quosdam pios usus convertendam per quod volumus quod totum commodum perveniens ex Domibus illis a tempore exilii eorundem ut ex conventione Domorum eatundem rebus aâ—iis in eosdem usus applicetur Assignavimus dilectum Clericum nostrum Hugonem de Kendale ad inquirendum de conductionibus et omnibus receptis hujusmodi plenam veritarem et ad onerandum Vicecomites Ministros et omnes receptores pecuniae inde provenientis a tempore exilii praedicti et ad pecuniam illam in tuto loco reponendam per Vicecomites vel alio modo prout melius viderit expedire Et ideo vobis mandamus quod eidem Hugoni intendentes sitis credentes respondentes Teste Rege apud Asherugge 22 die Ianuarii King Edward presently after the Jews banishment hence seized upon all their Houses Lands and Revenues throughout England as escheated into his hands by this their sentence of banishment and prâ—sently within few moneths after made sale of them to English men by several Letters Patents as appears by a special Pat. Roll of the sales of their houses made in the 19 and 20 years of his reign thus endorsed Carta de Judaismo Liâ—â—re Patenâ—â—s de domibus Iudaeorum concessis Post eorum Exilium de Anglia wherein are near one hundred partiâ—ular Patents oâ— saâ—es of them to several persons running in the selfsame form mutatis mutandis all mentioning their Banishment hence this Kings title to them thereby by way of Escheat take one in the 19. year for an example of all that ensue that year Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Sciatis quod concessimus pro Nobis haeredibus nostris Isabellae quae fuit uxor Ade de Sancto Albano Junior Domos illas cum pertinentiis in London quae fuerunt Leonis fil Cressey fil Magistri Eliae Judaei de parochia Sancti Martini Pomer in Ismongerstane Per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei a Regno nostro tanquam Escaeta nostra in manu nostra existentes 〈◊〉 ad quâ—tâ—â— marcas extenduntur Habenâ—â—m tenendum eidem Isabellae et haeredibus suis de Nobis et haeredibus nostâ—is imperpetuum Reddendo inde Nobis haeredibus nostris unum denarium per manum Vicecomitis ejusdem Civitatis singulis annis ad Scaccarium nostrum Pasche et facienâ—o aliis Dominis feodi illius servicia inde debita et consueta In cujus c. Teste Rege apud Asheâ—igge 27 die Decembris Anno regni Regis Edwardi filii Regis Henrici xix This Patent bears date within two Moneths next after the Jews actual departure hence upon the Decree and Edict for their banishment After which follow near one hundred Patents of their houses made this year wherein was the same recital of their banishment as in this transcribed Then follow many other
Justices Nobles Gentlemen Citizens Merchants Societies Fraternities most private persons both in England Ireland Wales Scotland all the British Isles and other Territories anciently belonging to England All whose particular patents grants evidences though under seaâ— if alleged to be false forged sophiâ—â—ticated must be tryed only by their exemplifications or inrollments on record They likewise comprise all the Judgements Fines Common Recoveries Verdicts Trials Suits Statute Merchants and Staple Recogniâ—anâ—â—s Inrolments yea in any of the private Conveyances Contracts between our Kings and private subjects and one subject another What a universal confusion subversion then disinherison destruction of all Rights Titles Interests Inheritances Priviledges the burning of all our old Records would immediatly bring upon all and every County City Corporation Nobleman Gentleman Inheritor Freeholder of the Realm of England and all the subordinate Dominions thereto annexed let this Short Cutter himself and all Wise men determine who hold or claim any thing by matter of Record their best and surest evidence 3ly All the good old Laws Statutes for the Government Peace safety defence and wellfare of the Nation are originally conteined in our Records by which they must be tryed examined Yea all the perambulations and deafforestations of our forrests All the Limits Bounds Extents Contents Jurisdictions Customs Priviledges Tenures Rents Services of all Counties Cities Burroughs Ports Honors Mannors Parishes Courts of Justice Offices Officers Civil Military Ecclesiastical Marine all the Pedegrees Discents Successions by which all Heirs Successors hold or claim their inheritances are for the most part defined ascertained evidenced proved in and by our Records alone wherein they are enrolled And if they should all be burnt together what a taxies confusions contentions oppressions suits quarrels frauds Disinherisons would thereupon immediatly ensue all wisemen may prognosticke The mighty Nymrods and Grandees of the times wil then soon question al mens Titles devour their lesse potent neighbours estates inheritances adjoyning near to theirs all potent Landlords will exact what services rents customs heriots releifes they please from their poor tenants all superiour inferiour Courts Officers Corporations claim exercise what extravagant Jurisdictions powers they think meet and all legal means of defending mens rights liberties inheritances against malitious potent vexations Adversaries will be utterly abolished by Salt Peters new Firework to burn all our old Records to ashes 4ly Whereas this Ignoramus in ouâ— Records the most whereof he never yet saw and cannot so much as read produceth this only reason for their burning that they are the monuments of Tyranny I would demand of rhis bold blind Bayard who judgeth of coulors he never yet saw how he can make good this notorious untruth The greatest part of our Records are the two great Charters of the Liberties of England and the Forrest or sundry subsequent confirmations of them in several Parliaments the good old Laws Statutes Ordinances made by our wisest Kings Nobles Commons upon long advise and serious debates in our English Parliaments for the Government Peace defence wellfare of the people The proceedings debates Judgements Resolutions of our sagest Parliaments Judges Courts of Justice in all matters cases publike private civil or criminal formerly debated or resolved in them Old Charters Commissions Patents Writs Concords Fines Recoveries Statutes Judgements Extents Indictments Offices Grants of Liberties Lands Franchises Fairs Offices Pardons to particular persons corporations all matters advancing the defence of the Realm by Land and Sea in times of danger war according to the ancient Laws and Customes of the Realm Negotiations Truces Leagues with Embassies Letters to from forain States All particulars concerning Merchants Merchandise Trade Coyn Buâ—lion Measures weights wools Staples Ships and the like Now how all or any of these can be stiled Monuments of Tyranny let this Lindsy-Wolsy great Clerk demonstrate at his best leasure Besides I here averr ex certa scientia against this Imposture That most of our old Records especially in the Tower are so far from being monuments of Tyranny that on the contrary they are the chiefest badges the clearest evidendences of those good old English Liberties which our noble Ancestors claimed purchased and transmitted to us as our richest Birthrights yea the principal Bulworks Fences against all sorts of Tyrannical usurpations encroachments on the Peoples Liberties Rights Properties in any kind whatsoever To put this out of Controversie I shall appeal only to the many excellent old Reeords produced most insisted on by the Commons and others in the several Parliaments of 7 8 21 Jacobi and 3 4 17. Caroli against all Impositions Tunnage Poundage Customs Excises Loans Taxes demanded imposed and exacted from the Subject without common consent and Act of Parliament against imprisoning Subjects by King or Council Table without any legal cause expressed in the warrants and not bailing them in such cases against Shipmoney Court and Conduct money the Bishops late Canons and Oath Commissions for executing martial Law in times of Peace impressing and billiting Souldiers the Commissions of Array with other late Grievances Monopolies and the arbitrary proceedings of Strafford Canterbury the old Council Table Star-chamber and High-commission printed in sundry Treatises in Sir Edw. Cooks 2 4 Institut Sir Robert Cottons Posthuma and in my Legal Historical Vindication and collection of the good old fundamental Liberties c. of England to which I shall refer the Reader and Hugh Peters who if he had St. Augustines ingenuity hath as much cause and more than he to write a book of Retractations especially of this his rash sentence passed against our old Records devoting them to the fire which his and others New-Medles better deserve than they Now that I may the better excite encourage all generous English Spirits especially Lawyers Statesmen Historians Heralds and Divines who have opportunity not only to the diligent preservation but inspection study perusal of our ancient over much neglected sleighted Records so rashly devoted to the fire by Peters I shall in brief acquaint each of them what hidden Treasures and rare precious pearls are locked up in these old Parchment cabinets 1. All grounded Students and Professors of the Law upon diligent search may find in our old Records the several Writs of Summons for our Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Dukes Earls Viscounts Barons Citizens Burgesses Merchants and all other Members to our ancient English Parliaments Great Councils of State Synods Convocations with the several prorogations adjournments dissolutions of them for Knights and others wages The Speeches Proceedings Petitions Debates Consultations Orders Ordinances Statutes Judgements Pleas Demands Grants or Refusals of Aides Subsidies with all transactions resolves concerning peace War Government Trade Merchandise Bullion Coyn Weights Measure purviances Customes Tunnage poundage Imposts Fishing Shipping defence of King or Kingdom by Land or Sea Liberties priviledges properties regulation of abuses supplies of defects of Law Justice and all other matters formerly discussed in our English parliaments Which