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
which agrees with that in Holinshed he being thrust out and meeting his Father standing before the door expecting the event being animated against him said O Son of death and fewel of eternal perdition is not thine own damnation sufficient for thee unless thou also cast me headlong into it together with thee But God forbid that I to whom Christ is now revealed should ever acknowledge thee henceforth for a Father because the devil is thy father I have omitted in this second enlarged Edition of my Demurrer no passage to my knowledge in any of our Historians relating to our former English Iews reciting them all in a Chronological Order in the Historians own words quoted in the Margin only I finde sundry Records concerning them which I shall supply by a subsequent Appendix by themselves to gratifie those who bought the first Edition whom their insertion into this might have injur'd Herein I have only briefly touched not handled the great Question of the general calling conversion of the Iewish Nation to the Faith of Christ towards the end of the world for which I cannot finde any satisfactory grounds in Scripture That Text of Levit. 26.41 to 46. on which some build their general call having these two clauses in it that seem strongly to oppose or make it very dubious v. 41. IF THEN their uncircumcised heart be humbled and that they accept of the punishment of their iniquity c. v. 46. I will not cast them away neither will I abhor them to DESTROY THEM UTTERLY And that other Text of Rom. 11. whereon others most rely having this conditional passage express clauses against it v. 23. And they also IF they abide not still in unbelief shall be grafted in for God is able he saith not resolved to graffe them in again And v. 3 to 8. I have reserved to my self 7000 men c. Even so then at this present time there is a Remnant according to the election of grace c. But the Election hath obtained it and the rest were hardned or blinded Which compared with Rom. 9.27 29. Isaiah also saith concerning Israel Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the Sea yet a REMNANT of them only shall be saved Except the Lord of Hosts had left unto us A SEED A VERY SMALL REMNANT so Isaiah calls it we had been as Sodom c. will necessarily evince that Rom. 11.26 And so all Israel shall be saved c. on which they ground this general call must be intended onely of all this small elect remnant of the Israel of God and seed of Abraham according to the faith not flesh Rom. 4 11 12 13 14 15 16. Gal. 3.7 8 9 14 16. Ga. 6.16 of all such who are Jews inwardly and have the Circumcision of the heart Rom 2.28 29. not of the whole Jewish Nation whose servants I fear weâ—e as few under the Gospel as the Gentiles Converts and Proselytes under the Law And those who will strain that Text further must necessarily aver not only an Universal Calling but likewise Salvation and taking away the ungodliness and sins of the whole Nation then by Christ of which that Text only speaks not only contrary to these forecited Scriptures and Gods dealing with all other Churches Nations but to Jer. 3.14 I will take you one of a City and two of a Tribe and I will bring you to Sion Mat. 21.16 Many are called but few chosen few saved Mat. 7.14 Luke 13.23 Therefore for any to call in the Jews among us upon this surmise of their general approaching Conversion is a strange Solecism both in State-Policy and Christianity especially in this age wherein that Speech of Waltramus Bishop of Naumburge is most truely verified Diabolus videns Idola derelicta per nimium credentium populum sedes suas ac templa deserta excogâ—itavit novam fraudem ut sub ipso Christiani nominis titulo fallat incautos haeresesque invenit schismata quibus subverteret fidem corrumperet veritatem Exinde divisa est Ecclesia divisa sunt Ecclesiae Sacerdotia atque omnia scandalorum orta sunt genera Exinde crevit grave diuturrum bellum non solum civile bellum sed plusquam civile bellum factae sunt absque divino pariter humano respectu vastationes Ecclesiarum caedes hominum Exinde etiam corruptae sunt divinae pariter humanae leges sine quibus non subsistit vel Dei Ecclesia vel Imperii Respublica ex inde violata est fides publica Catholica exinde etiam illa crevit injustitia ut pro veritate falsa testimonia pro fide Catholica abundent perjuria ut post quam Leges bello silvere coactae impleaturiam ista Domini sententia per Osee Prophetam Non est veritas non est misericordia non scientia Dei in terra maledictum mendacium homicidium furtum adulterium inundaverunt sanguis sanguinem tetigit Ipse Diabolus videtur nunc de carcere suo solutus esse Hinc publicae civium contra Cives congressiones aliis pro pastoribus legitimis aliis vero contra pastores dimicantes as he and Gerhobus Richerspergensis writ of Pope Hildebrands dayes If any man chance to censure me as overharsh or earnest in my expressions against the Jews I hope that speech of their royal Prophet a man after Gods own heart Ps 139.20 21 22. Do not I hate them O Lord that hate thee and am I not grieved with those that rise up against thee I hate them with a perfect hatred I count them mine enemies for they speak against thee wickedly depart from me therefore ye bloody men will apologize for me especially seeing their Proposals are Not only to be admitted and received into our Commonwealth under the protection and safeguard of our Governours AS THE NATIVES THEMSELVES and that all the Heads and Generals of Arms may take an Oath to defend them upon all occasions that they may be permitted to traffick freely in all sorts of Merchandize as others but to be judged by their Judges in differences between themselves according to the Mosaick Law And to be allowed PUBLICK SYNAGOGUES not onely in ENGLAND but also IN ALL OTHER PLACES under our power and TO OBSERVE IN ALL THINGS THEIR RELIGION AS THEY OUGHT That in case there have been any Laws against their Jewish Nation they may IN THE FIRST PLACE and BEFORE ALL THINGS BE REVOKED A clear evidence of an intended design in them only to set up their Synagogues of Satan Judaism Jewish Ceremonies in the highest degree amongst us as lawful in direct opposition 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 As Manasseh Ben Israel his printed Addresses most fully discovers In which case
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 people 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 Fifth and Fifteenth part of their moveables to speed and execute it 4. That this their banishment was by the unanimous desire judgement edict and decree both of the King and his Parliament and not by the King alone and this Banishment totall of them all and likewise final Never to return into England Which Edict and Decree though not now extant in our Parliament Rolls many of which are utterly lost nor in our printed Statutes yet it is mentioned by all these Authorities and Records 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 well as by the ancient Romans Athenians and Syracusians Laws no Citizen of Rome Athens Syracuse could be banished his City or Country but by the lawfull judgement of the Senat and People in their Parliamentary Assemblies and Senates which were very numerous as is evident by Magna Charta c. 29. The banishment of Sir Thomas Wayband Chief Justice of the Common Pleas 19 E. 1. Rot. Pat. 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. 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. Parl. n. 16 17. For the banishment of Thomas Arundel Arch-bishop of Canterbury The Statute of 35 Elâ—z 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 Shipmoney Iudges p. 22. My New Discovery of the Prelates Tyranny p. 166 167 168. Walsingham Hâ—st Anglâ—ae p 394. and other Testimonies as also by 1 E. 3. c. 54. H. 4. c. 13. The Statute for the pressing of Souldiers for Ireland 17 Caroli Exact Collect. p. 435. The Barons opposition and refusal to assist King Henry the 3 in their persons or purses in his foraign wars in Apulia and elsewhere as no way obliged thereunto 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 foraign parts 25 E. 1. Walsingham Hist p. 35 37 38. Henry de Knyghton de Event Angl l. 3. c. 11.14 or in Gascoign France Normandy Scotland or Ireland Cook 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 Pierce Gaveston Walsingh Ypodig Neust p. 104 101 152. Hist Angl. p. 68.71 72. Holinshed p. 328. Speeds Hist. 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 Parliament against Roger Mortimer Earl of March 17 R. 2. Rot. Parl. n. 18. for the pardon and restitution of the Justices banished into Ireland 21. R. 2. n. 55. to 71. for confirmation of the repeal of the exile of Hugh de la Spencer Father and Son An. 15 E. 2. and the revocation of the repeal thereof in 1 E. 3. A notable full record in point The revocation of Abbot Dunston his sentence of banishment by King Edgar and his great Council held at Brentford Anno Dom. 959. 3 H. 7.10 4 H. 7.10 1 H. 7 4. 10 H. 7.22 b. 15 E. 3. Fitz. Petit. 2. 9 E. 2.23.24 9 E. 4.1 b. with sundry other Records for the repeals of Iudgements and Acts of former Parliaments by the subsequent Judgements 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 re-admitted 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 unanimous 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 concâ—â—â—ing 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 funt sanctissimum eum diem imitatione atque consuetudine Iudaeorum câ—lebrare qui manibus suis nefario flagitio contaminatis non injuria quoque animis sunt excaecati homines scelerati Quidni enim lâ—ceat gente ea rejecta rectiore verioreque ordine quem à primo passionis diâ— hucusque servavimus ad futura quoque saecula observationis hujus ritum transmittere Item nihil nobâ—s commune sit cum infestissma Judaeorum turba c. Quin strict or ipsa atque exactior ratio flagitare vâ—detur NEQUA NOBIS CUM IUDAEORUM PERIURIO COMMUNIO From whence as all may juiâ—ly resolve that the blinded wicked Jews ought not to be introduced amongst nor to have communion with us nor we with them so no rational man can thence inferr that there were any Jews at that time observing their Jewish passeover in Britain of which I
except only to Popery and Prelacy yet certainly it can no ways extend to the toleration or protection of Iews and their Antichristian blasphemies against Christ himself and the Gosple seeing they are so far from professing faith in Iesus 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 Doctrine of the Gospel and so by consequence are necessarily secluded by this Instrument and Oath for its observation from practising their Jewish worship Ceremomies 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 Parliamennt 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 former Charters Previledges 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 39. 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 Mâ—rchants and Aliens 3ly The preambles of the Statute of Merton 20 H. 3. 3 E. 1. with c. 17.48 6 E. 1. 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 wholesom 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 Novemb. 1648. and Mr. John 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 faecit 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 Maxims and no ways to be admitted 4ly The Jews heretofore in England and still in all other parts being most grievous Clippers coyners forgers of money Vsurers Extortioners and the greatest cheators 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 clippâ—ng coyning usury extortion frauds deceipts in any Merchandizes or Manufactures whatsoever unless we intend to have them now more practised by them and others among us than ever heretofore The rather because they were never admitted free Trading and Habitation in England by any of our Laws touching Alien 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 therfore not to be admâ—tted to those new desired priviledges from which all these forecited Laws in my weak Judgement with the former old Parliamentary Judgement and Edict for their perpetual banishment in Law Justice Conscience still debarre them re-admittance til repealed and they if ever readmitted against all these Acts and Statutes must be introduced re-setled 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 thought meet to inform the Nation touching those Laws and Statutes which in my poor opinion directly or by consequence oppose their re-admission and refute those Lawyers mis-information 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 resolutely engage us against their re-admission 1. Matth. 5.13 Luke 14.34 35. Salt is good but if the salt have lost its savor wâ—erewith 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 loâ—t both their Saviour and their favor too Therefore not fit for our land nor yet for our dunghils but to be kept and cast out from amongst us and trodden under foot of all true Christian men whiles unbeliever s. 2. 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha That is separated and cast out from all Christian society and communion until the day of Judgement the highest kind of Jewish Excommunication Now the Jews are such who doe 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 cohabitation 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. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch no unclean thing and I will receive you The
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
A Short DEMURRER To the JEWES Long discontinued barred 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 and Records With a Brief Collection of such English Laws Scriptures Reasons 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 The second Edition enlarged 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 quorundam â—isâ—uâ—â— aâ— ut quidam eam appetentes etiam a fide erraverint multi quippe hucusque ex Sacerdotibus atque Laicis accipientes a Judaeis munerà perfidiam eoâ—um suo patrocinio fovent 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 favore praestiterit 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 1656. 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 sudden unpremeditated undertaking Being much affected with God's late admirable Providence in causing the sixth day of this instant December to be set apart 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 impresoned 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 unparallel'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 professing 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 enormous 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 whither 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 professing 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 perfectâ—y 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
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
Tallagio non concedendo are three the last whereof was certainly made in 25. E. 1. not 34 E. 1. as Sir Edw. Cooke and most Collectors of our Statutes and Lawyers mistake as is clear by Thomas Walsingham Hist Angl. Ann. 1298. p. 37 38 40. and Ypodigma Neust. p. 84 85. The first De Iudaismo was made in 3 Ed. 1. as these subsequent Historians evidence who are the best and only witnesses in this case the Parliament Rolls being not extant to resolve us Matthew Westminst who lived and writ his History in or near that time is most clear herein Anno gratiae 1275. Rex ad ParliamentuÌ„ Westm. omnes Nobiles regni sui jusserat congregari In quo statuta multa ad utilitatem regni fuerunt publâ—cata INTER QUAE JUDAEIS FUIT INTERDICTA EFFRAENATA LICENTIA USURANDI ut possint à Christianis discerni praecepit Rex quod ad instar Tabularum ad vnius palmae longitudinem signa fierent in exterioribus indumentis Who is thus seconded if not translated by Rich Grafton Ann. 1273. Soon after he King Edward 1. ordained certain new Laws for the wealth of the Realm which are too large here to rehearse He made a Law also THE SAME TIME AGAINST THE EXCESSIVE TAKING OF USURY BY THE JEWS and that they should wear a certain Cognisaunce upon their uppermost garment whereby they should be known from Christians Both which are expresly provided for in these Statutes de Iudaismo The same is attested by Iohn Rouse and by Iohn Stow out of him in his Chronicle p. 200. in these words In the 3. year of King Edward the 1. in a Parliament at Westminster USURY WAS FORBIDDEN TO THE JEWS and that they might be known the King commanded them to wear a Tablet the bredth of a palm upon their outmost garments Which in his Survey of London 1633. p. 289. he thus expresseth The 3. of Edward the 1. in a Parliament at London USURY WAS FORBIDDEN TO THE JEWS And that all Jewish Vsurers might be known the King commanded that every Vsurer should wear a Tablet on his brest the bredth of a paveline or else to avoid the Realm With whom Sir Rich Baker in his Chronicle of the Kings of England Edit 2. London 1653. p. 147. concurrs So that without all question the Statutes De Iudaismo were made in the Parliament of 3. not of 18 E. 1. as the Statutes themselves will sufficiently evidence which had all been nugatory ridiculous useless if made in the Parliament of 18 E. 1. as Sir Edward Cook affirms wherein they were hence exiled These Statutes I shall here translate out of French and insert being not extant in our Statutes at large nor never yet all printed in the English tongue that I can find but only some clauses of the first of them 1. Forasmuch as the King hath seen that many mischiefs and disherisons of honest men of this land have happened by the usuries which the Iews have made therein in times past and that many sins have therein risen from thence Albeit he and his Ancestors have had great profit from the Jews both now and in times past Notwithstanding this for the honour of God and for the common benefit of the People the King doth ordain and establish that no Jew hereafter shall take ought for usury upon lands rents nor upon other things and that no Usury shall run from the Feaâ—t of St. Edward last past and before but that the covenants before made shall be held save only that the Usuries themselves shall cease Provided that all those who are indebted to Jews upon pawns moveable shall discharge them between this and Easter at furthest and if not let them be forfeited And if any Jew shall take usury against this establishment The King neither by himself nor any of his Officers will not intermeddle to cause him to recover his debt or use but will punish him at his pleasure for the Trespasse and shall do right to the Christian to recover his gage 2. And it is provided that the distresses for the debt of Jews shall not hereafter be so grievous that the moity of Lands and Chattels to the Christians shall not remain for their sustenance And that no distresse shall be made for the debt of a Jew upon the heir to the Debtor named in the Charter of the Jew not upon other which holds the Land which was the Debtors before the debt shall be dereigned and acknowledged in Court And if the Sheriff or other Bayliffs by commandment of the King ought to make seisin to a Jew to one or more for their debt of chattels or of lands to the value of the debt the chattels shall be praised by the Oath of honest men the Chattels shal be delivered to the Jew or Jewesse or to their Arturney to the value of the debt And if the chattels be not sufficient the lands shall be extended by the same Oath before that the seisin shall be delivered to the Jew or Jewesse every one according to the value and so that they may after know certainly the Debt is discharged that the Christian afterwards may then have his lands saving to the Christian for ever the moity of his lands and of his chattels for his sustenance as afore is said and the chief house 3. And if any thing stollen at this hour shall be found in the possession of a Jew and any will sue let the Jew have his summons if he may have it and if not he shall answer so that he shall never be priviledged for it otherwise than a Christian 4 And that all the Jews shall be residents in the Cities and in the Burroughs which are the Kings owne where the Chest for the Jews Indenture is wont to be And that every Jew after he is past 7 years of age shall carry a sign or badge in his chief garment that is to say in form of two Talles of yellow taffety of the length of six fingers and breadth of 3 fingers or an handfull And that every one after he is past 12 years shall pay 3 d. the poll every year to the King which shall be paid at Easter and this shall be intended as well of women as of men 5. And that no Jew shall have power to infeoffe another Jew nor Christian of their houses rents or tenements which they have now purchased nor to alien them in any manner nor to make an acquittance to any Christian of his debt without the special license of the King untill the King hath otherwise ordained 6. And because holy Church wills and suffers that they should live and be protected the King takes them into his Protection and gives them his peace and wills that they shall live and shall be guarded and defended by his Sheriffs and his other Bayliffs and by his Leiges and commands that none shall doe them harm injury nor force in their bodies nor in
their goods moveables or immoveables And that they shall not be impleaded sued nor challenged in any Court but in the Kings Court wheresoever they are 7. And that none of them shall be obedient respondent nor render rent but to the King and his Bayliffs in his name if it be not of their houses which they now hold rendering rent saving the right of holy Church 8. And the King grants them that they shall live of their lawfull merchandizes and by their labour and that they shall converse with the Christians for lawfull merchandizing in selling and in buying But yet that by this privilege nor any other they shall not be levant rising or couchant lying down amongst them And the King will not that by reason of their merchandize that they should be in lots nor scots nor Tallage with those of the Cities or Burroughs where they remain seeing they are tailable to the King as his own Vassals and to none other 9. Moreover the King grants them that they may buy houses and curtelages in the Cities or Burroughs where they reside so as they hold them in chief of the King saving to the Lords the Services due and accustomed 10. And that they may take Lands to farm for term of ten years or under without taking homages or fealties or such manner of service of a Christian and without having advowson of holy Church for to support their life in the world if they know not how to merchandize or be unable to labour And this power for to take Lands to farm shall not endure to them but 15 years from this time forth to come By these Laws this politick King to please his English Christian Subjects abridged many of the Jews former priviledges and put many new restraints upon them And yet on the other hand to gratifie the Jews who gave him more monies than the English he takes them all into his special protection prohibits all violence to their persons or estates and grants them some petty priviledges for the present which seemed to content them and made for his owne advantage more than theirs Rot. Clauseâ— E. 1. in the Tower rot 8. I find that one who was bound to Gamilelâ— a Jew and had lands afterwards acknowledged himself a Villain whereupon a writ then issued to inquire what lands he had at the time of the making of the bonds and to extend them JUXTA STATUTA JUDAISMI And claus 4 E. 1. rot 11. there is this recital made of this very Statute of Judaism Cum secundum Assisam ET STATUTUM JUDAISMI NOSTRI Judaei nostri in partâ— ne habere DEBEANT Ã Christianis creditoribus MEDIETATEM terrarum reddituum et Catallorum ipsorum quousque debita sua perciperent c. execution awarded in the case of a Jew according to the 2 clause of this Statute Therefore it is most certain it was not made in 18 E. 1. which was 14 years after these two records reciting it both by name and words but in 3 E. 1. the very next year before these records the end for which I here insert them In the 7th year of King Edward the 1. Anno Dom. 1278. as some or 1279. as others compute it the King held a Parliament at London which was chiefly called for the reformation of his coyn which was then sore clipped by reason whereof it was much diminished and impaired In the time of this Parliament in the moneth of November all the Jews throughout England as Matthew Westminster or many of the Jews in London and other parts of the Realm were apprehended in one day and imprisoned in London for clipping of money and in December following divers Enquests were charged in London to enquire of the said Jews and all others who had so blemished and clipped the Kings coyn By which Enquests the Jews of the City with the Gold-smiths that kept exchanges of silver were indicted And shortly after Candelmas the Mayor and Justices of the Land sat at London where before them was cast 297 persons for clipping of the which 3 only were Englishmen and all the other were Jews born either within this Realm or elsewhere but most of them English Jews who were all of them at sundry places and times put to execution in London who impeached the chief men of London and very many Christians who consented to their wickednesses After which a very great multitude of Jews were hanged in other Cities of England for the same offence Hereupon in the Patent Rolls of 7 8 and 9 Edw. 1. in the Tower I find sundry grants of the Jews Houses and Lands in London Yorke and Northampton made by the King to several persons as escheated to him by those executed Jewish offenders Anno 1279. The Jews of Northampton crucified a Christian boy but did not thoroughly kill him upon Good-Friday for the which fact many of the Jews at London after Easter were drawn at Horses tails and hanged In the year of our Lord 1282. John Peckham Arch-bishop of Canterbury sent an expresse precept and command to the Bishop of London to suppresse and destroy all the Synagogues of the Jews within his Diocesse On May 2. Anno 1287. All the Jews of England were apprehended by the Kings precept for what cause was not known who ransomed themselves for 12000l of silver They had then a Synagogue at Canterbury Fabian writes that the Jews of England were sessed at great sums of mony perchance the cause of their seisure which they paid unto the King But of other Authors it is said That the Commons of England then granted to the King the fifth part of their moveables for to have the Iews banished out of the Land For which cause the said Jews for to put the Commons from their purposes gave of their free wills great sums of money to the King which saying appeareth to be true for that the said Jews were exiled within few years after with whom Grafton and Holinshed accord A strong evidence of the potency of Jewish money over-powring the whole Commons of England in Parliament and this their Liberal subsidy for their banishment at that season K. Edward the 1. the next year 1288. being in Gascoigne a certain English Knight decreed to convent a Jew for the undue detention of a certain Mannor morgaged to him before the Judges but the crafty Jew refused to answer pretending a Charter of King Henry heretofore which was granted to him that he should not be drawn into judgement before any Judge except only before the person of the King The Knight being troubled at this went into Gascoigne that he might obtain some remedy hereupon from the King Whom when the King had heard he answered It is not seemly for children to make void the deeds of their parents to whom by Gods Law they are commanded to give reverence wherefore I have decreed not to make void the deed of my Father but I grant to thee and to
the rest of my Realm by the like Law lest a Jew might seem better than a Christian that for any injury whatsoever done to the Iew so long as he shall enjoy his Charter you shall not be convented before any Iudge except my self The Knight returning with this priviledge the Jew considering that danger and peril hung over his head voluntarily renounced his Charter evacuating the condition of his priviledge and wishing that both parties might be subject to the Common Law The year following Anno 1289. King Edwaâ—d taking upon him the character of the Crosse at Blankeford in Gascoigne presently banished all the Jews out of Gascoigne and all other his Lands which he possessed in the Realm of France AS ENEMIES OF THE CROSSE From whence returning into England Anno 1290. he was joyfully received at London both by the Clergy and all the people and the same year exiling the Jews likewise out of England giving them expences into France he confiscated all the rest of their goods together with their Lands and Houses and in 19 20 E. 1. he made several Gifts of the Jews Houses and Lands to others as appears by the Patent Rolls in the Tower of London Upon what grounds by what Authority for what time in what manner with what desire of and content to all the whole Commons and Realm of England the Jewes were then banished thence these ensuing Historians will at large relate in their own words which I shall transcribe for the better information and satisfaction of all sorts of men whether Christians or Jews Matthew Westminster flourishing at that time gives this relation of it About these days namely the 31 of August the exasperating multitude of Jews which dwelt confidently in times past through divers Cities strong Forts JUSSA EST was commanded with their wives children together with their moveable goods to depart out of England about the Feast of All Saints which was assigned to them for the term WHICH THEY DARED NOT TO TRANSGRESSE UNDER PAIN OF HANGING whose number was supposed to be 16511. Such A DECREE had issued out before from the laudable King of England in the parts of Aquitain from whence all the Jews were likewise banished Thomas Walsingham living near that age thus records it The King returning out of Gascoigne to London was solemnly received by the Clergy and all the people who the same year banishing all the Jews out of England giving them their expences into France confiscated the rest of their goods This year the King held A Parliament in which were made the Statutes called Westminster the 3d. In quo etiam Parliamento pro expulsione Iudaeotum concessa sunt Regi a Populo quinta decima pars honorum In which Parliament likewise for the banishment of the Jews there was granted to the King by the People a fifteenth part of their goods Henry de Knyghton a Canon of Leicester a most diligent Antiquary flourishing in Richard the 2ds reign rendreth it in these terms King Edward grievously punished the Jews and their consorts for clipping of money and corrupt exchanges whereupon in one day he caused all the Iews to be apprehended some he hanged the rest he banished When he had done his will upon his corrupt Judges fined deposed and some of them banished in the same Parliament that the Jews were exiled presently another cause moved him concerning his money which he found to be basely clipped and corrupted to the prejudice of the Crowne and the great damage of the people By the Infidelity and Malice of the Iews as it was inquired and found or found upon inqâ—iry et fecit stabilire unum Parliamentum in quo convicti sunt Iudaei de ea falsitate Et statuit quod omnes Iudaeis exirent de Terra Angliae deinceps non redituri propter eorum incredulitatem principaliter et propter falsitatem quam eis dure imposuerat et pro hac causa cum festinatione facienda et sine dilatione explenda communes regni dederunt Regi quintum denarium de omnibus bonis suis mobilibus And he caused a Parliment to be summoned wherein the Jews are convicted of that falshood And he ordained that all the Jews should depart out of the Realm of England not to return again afterwards for their incredulity principally and for their falsenesse which he had hardly pressed upon them And for this their banishment speedily to be made and executed without delay the Commons of the Realm gave to the King the fifth part of all their moveable goods John Major and the Centuriators of Magdeburgh out of him thus register it to posterity In the year 1290. Iudaei Anglia pulsi sunt the Jews were banished out of England for the Englishmen had made a great complaint to Edward the 1. that by their usuries and frauds most men of the inferior sort were reduced to nothing which thing was gainfull to the King for every of the Commoners gave the King the fifteenth penny ut Iudaeos ejiceret that he might banish the Jews Our learned Iohn Bale Polydor Virgil and the Century Writers out of him thus expresse it Anno Dom. 1291 it should be 1290 In the Parliament at London theâ—e was a debate â—n the first place de Iudaeorum ejectione Concerning the banishing of the Iews whereof there was a grâ—â—t mâ—ltitude throughout England Sed Edicto publico Concilii Londinensis writes one Publico igitur Decreto jussi sunt alio commigrare ut infra paucos dies omnes exirent saith another But by the publick Edict of the Parliâ—meâ—t assembled in London and by a publicke decree They were all commanded to depart the Realm with their goods within a few days which they Concilii jussis obedientes obeying the commands of the Parliament speedily did Thomas Stubs his Acta Fontificum Eboracensium c. 1728 thus relates the universal banishment of them out of all England in one day Anno Dom. 1290. In câ—rastino animarum Exulati fuerunt Iudaei a Regno Angliae et hoc eodem die per totam Angliam Raphael Volaterianus Geograph lib. 3. f. 25. thus expresseth it Iudaei omnes expulsiâ—â— Annales Dominicanorum Colmarionsium thus relate it Anno 1291. Rex Angliae omnes Iudaeos Regno expulit Gilbertus Genebrardus Chronogr l. 4. p. 659. thus records it Anno 1291. Concilium Londinense ad Westmonasterium jussu Edwardi Regis Eo in Concilio Publico Edicto jussi sunt Iudaei de Anglia in perpetuum exire words most express Abraham Bzouius thus Anna Ecclesiasticorum Tom. 13. Anno 1291. n. 1. col 966. Londini ad Westmonasterium celebratum est Concilium In hoc imprimis agitatum est De ejectione Iudaeorum quorum erat per omnem Angliam ingens multitudo quo sic oves ab hoedis segregarentur Itaque Publico jussum est Edicto ut intra paucos dies omnes abierint cum bonis illi jussis Concilii parentes alii
alio discesserunt Ita profuga Gens de Anglia in perpetuum exivit misera semper alicubi terrarum petiâ—ura usque eo dum denique deleatur But I shall pass from Latin to our more common Englâ—sh Historians Fabian in his Chronicle part 7. p. 133. Mr. Iohn Fox in his Acts and Monuments Lond. 1640. Vol. 1. p. 443. and Richard Grafton in his Chronicle p. 169. thus report it in the same words almost This year also 1290. all the Iews were utterly banished the Realm of England for the which the Commons gave he King a fifteenth Nâ—cholas Trivet Polychronicon l. 7. c. 38. and William Caxton in his Chronicles printed 1502. in the life of K. Edward the 1. thus stories the Jews banishment out of Hygden and Trevisa in their words Anone after the King had done his will of the Iustices tho lete he inquere and espye how the Iews dysceyved and beguyled his people thorough the synne of falseness and of usury And lete Ordain a Prevy Parlement among his Lords So they ordainned among theim That all Iewes should void out of Englande for their Mysbyleve and also for their false vsury that they did unto Crysten Men. And for to speed and make an end of this thing All the Comynalte of Englande gave unto the King the XV. Penny of all theyr Goodes mevable and so were the Iewes driven out of Englande And tho went the Iews into France and there they dwellyd thrugh leve of Kyng Phylip that tho was Kyng of France Raphael Holinshed in his Chronicles out of them Vol. 3. p. 285. thus publisheth it In the same year was a Parliament holden at Westminster wherein the Statutes of Westminster the 3 d. were ordained It was also DECREED That all the Jews should avoid out of the Land in consideration whereof a fifteenth was granted to the King and so hereupon were the Jews banished out of all the Kings Dominions and Never since could they obtain any priviledge to return hither again All their goods not moveable were confiscated with their tailles and obligations but all their goods that were moveable together with their coyn of gold and silver the King licensed them to have and convey with them A sort of the richest of them being shipped with their Treasure in a mighty tall ship which they had hired when the same was under sail and got down the Thames towards the mourh of the River beyond Quinborow The Master Mariner bethought him of a wile and caused his men to cast anchor and so rode at the same till the ship by ebbing of the stream remained on the dry sands The Master herewith inticed the Jewes to walke out with him on land for recreation and at length when he understood the tyde to be comming in he got him back to the ship whither he was drawn by a cord The Jews made not so much hast as he did because they were not ware of the danger But when they perceived how the matter stood they cryed to him for help Howbeit he told them that they ought to cry rather unto Moses by whose conduct their Fathers passed through the red Sea and therefore if they would call to him for help he was able enough to help them out of these raging flouds which now came in upon them They cryed indeed but no succour appeared and so they were swallowed up in the water The Master returned with the ship and told the King how he had used the matter and had both thanks and reward as some have written But others affirm and more truly as should seem that divers of those Marriners which dealt so wickedly against the Jews were hanged for their wicked practise and so received a just reward of their fraudulent and mischievous dealing In Capitula Itineris in Totles Magna Charta f. 151. made in Edward the first his reign There is one chapter of Inquiry De catallis Judaeorum occisorum et eorum chartis vadiis qui ea habeant taken out of the Eyre of Rich. the 1. forecited which relates to these Jewes thus drowned and slain as I conceive since I read of no other massacre of them near that time John Stow in his Annals p. 204. and Survey of London p. 289. writes thus of it King Edward banished all the Iews out of England gâ—ving them to bear their enaâ—rges till they were out of the Realm The number of the Iews then expelled was fifteen thousand and sixty persons whose housâ—s being sold the King received an infinite masse of money Iohn Speed in his History of Great Britain p. 545 thus varieth the expression of it King Edward Anno 1290. to purge England from such corruptions and oppressions as under which it groaned not neglecting therein his particular gaâ—n banished the Iews out of the Realm confiscating all their goods leaving them nothing but money to bear their charges they by their cruel Usuries having eaten his People to the bones To passe by Heylins Microcosm p. 570. Henry Isaacsons Chronology Anno 1290. Sir Rich. Baker his Chronicle of the Kings of England p. 146 147. with others who mention this their final banishment out of England I shall conclude with the words of Samuel Daniel his History p. 160. Of no lesse grievance than corrupt Judges then fined displaced banished this King eased his people by the banishment of the Jews for which the kingdom willingly granted him a fifteenth having before in Anno Regis 9. offered a fifth part of their goods to have them expelled But then the Jews gave more and so stayed till this time which brought him a great benefit by confiscation of their immoveables with their Tallies and Obligations which amounted to an infinite value But now hath he made his last commodity of this miserable people which having never been under other cover but the will of the Prince had continually served the turn in all the necessary occasions of his Predecessors but especially of his Father and himself Sir Edward Cook in his 2 Institutes p. 506 507 508. in his Commentary upon Statutum de Judaismo forecited seems to contradict these forecited Historians touching their banishment whose words I shall at large rehearse and refute too in this particular This Statute was made writes he in the Parliament of 18 Ed. 1. That the mâ—schiefs before this Statute against Jewish Usury were these 1. The evils and disherisons of the good men of the land 2. That many of the sins and offences of the Realm had risen and been committed by reason thereof to the great dishonour of Almighty God And are noâ— theâ—e two sufficient grounds to keep them out now as well as to restrain and banish them then The difficulty adds he was how to apply a remedy considering what great yearly revenue the King had by the Usury of the Iews and how necessary it was that the King should be supplyed with Treasure What benefit the Crown had before the making of this
Sybarites Bysantii Antissiaei Apoloniatae Chii Syracusani Amphipolitae who by receiving strangers into their cities and countries were all much infested some of them quite supplanted and ejected by them the rest enforced to expel them by force of arms Then he subjoyneth That the strangers admitted among Gods own people proved briars and thorns unto them and Solomon himself by many strange women fell into Idolatry concluding thus The Spaniards in my opinion did not unjustly banish the seditious Iews out of their Coasts propius non accedo â—ed Christum oro ne peregrinorum turba immanis turbo in civitate fiat As these Grecians in ancient times prohibited the introduction of strangers amongst them for the forementioned reasons so likewise did some of the wisest Romans Pennus in ancient times and Papius after him as Cicero relates Peregrinos Vrbibus prohibent eosque exterminant which although he thus censures as an inhumanity suverò urbis prohibere peregrinos sanè inhumanum est Yet he intends it only of excluding strangers from all trading and commerce not from cohabitation as Denizens from which he holds it just to debarre them there being a special Law then in force for that purpose which he thus expresseth Nam esse pro cive qui civis non sit RECTUM EST NON LICERE QUAM LEGEM TULERUNT SAPIENTISSIMI CONSULES Crassus Scaevola Hence Claudius the Emperour banished the Jews out of Rome Acts 18.2 and Suetonius in his life And the mischief of admitting forraigners is largely argued in Cornelius Tacitus who were after his time banished out of Rome as Coelius Rhodigmus relates out of Ammianus Marcelinus So the Carthaginians Solthians Scythotauri Gamphasantes Seres Indians Aegyptians in some places the Epidauri Athenians also excluded foraigners their country company conversation Ne cives longo usu dissimiles mores imbuerent in alienas leges ritusque transirent as Alex. ab Alexandro Gen. Dierum l. 4. c. 10. and Boêmus de Mor. Gentium record Yea we read of the Tartars and most politick Inhabitants of China at this day that they will admit no strangers into their Countries so much as to travel or traffick for fear of discerning their secrets and corrupting their manners and those few they admit by special licence to enter into their Country they will by no means suffer to return thence nor permit Merchants and Marriners there trading to walk abroad publikely in their Cities and Countries nor to lodge on land but only in their ships And to come nearer home our Kings heretofore upon the grievous complaint of the Nobility Gentry People have frequently banished all strangers out of England as the greatest pests inconveniences and grievances to the Natives Thus in the reign of King Edward the Confessor Anno 1052 All the Normans except two or three were banished our of England for giving ill counsel to the King and incensing him against the English by agreement both of the King and Parliament So King Henry the 2. in the 1 year of his reign Anno Dom. 1154. or in the second year of his reign as others write commanded all strangers to avoid out of the Realm by Proclamation by a certain day under great penalty especially the Flemings and Souldiers who committed all kinds of mischief under pretence of a liberty permitted to Souldiers by the Law of arms in time of war In the year 1220. King Hen. the 3. by his Proclamation commanded all strangers to avoid the land by Michaelmas next following except such as came with Merchandize to make sale of their wares under the Kings safe conduct After which the Poâ—ctouvines coming into England in great number obtaining great offices about the King miscounselling seducing and encensing him against the English Nobility and ingrossing the wealth of the Kingdom into their hands were assaulted plundered and many of them inforced to retire out of England by the Barons in the year 1258. And the next year after they were all banished out of England by Edict of Parliament After which they returning and oppressing the Realm were again expulsed and exiled by the Barons Anno 1260. So in the Parliament of 4 Ed. 2. Anno 1311. It was ordained by the Archbishops Bishops Earls and all the Commons in Parliament amongst other things That the King should banish all Foraigners out of his Court and Kingdom as his Father had commanded him which the King obliged himself by Oath to performe And thereupon banished his own Minion Pierce Gaveston into Ireland Which practices and proceeding of all these recited Nations and our Ancestors being if not grounded on yet at least warranted by Gods own forcited Precepts to the Israelites being warranted by the Jews own practise who had no dealings with the Samaritans John 4.9 and the Samaritans reciprocal carriage towards the Iews whom they would neither lodge nor entertain Lu. 9.51 52 53. Why we should not upon this account seclude those alien Jews so different from us both in manners customs Laws Religion and obeying not the Laws of our Saviour Christ Jesus it being not for the Kings or the Kingdoms profit to suffer them as Haman Esther 3.8 once said of them in another case I referre it to all wise Statesmen to resolve since it may be truly said of such unwelcom guests Turpius ejicitur quâm non admittitur hospes Neither will this contradict that Gospel precept Heb. 13.2 Be not forgetfull to entertain strangers or Deutr. 10.18.19 c. 23.7 Mat. 25.35 43. which extend only to Christian hospitality liberality and pity towards private distressed exiles travellers and other strangers coming to lodge or sojourn with us for a short season into our houses or country upon extraordinary or just occasions especially such who stand in need of our releif and are of the Houshold of Faâ—th as is clear by the Texts themselves compared with Rom. 12.13 1 Pet. 4.9.3 Iohn 5. Gal. 6.10 not to Infidels Jews Pagans or who are in no such absolute necessity nor stand in need of our charity or reception nor yet to the reception of any forraign Nation or Colony into our Island to cohabit perpetually with us the only point in question which the Scripture no where commands nor intends but disallows in the aforecited Texts Neh. 9.2 c. 13.30 And these Scripture expressions Prov. 5.10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth Isay 1 7. your lands strangers devour in your presence and it is desolate as overthrown by strangers Lam. 5.2 Our inheritance is turned unto strangers our Houses to aliens Hosea 7.9 Strangers have devoured his strength and he knoweth it not sufficiently manifest both the illegallity folly and sad consequences of our receiving Jews and other strangers in such a nature of which our Ancestors had sufficient experience in the Jews themselves enforcing them for ever to exile them hence who have places enough in many other parts of the world where they now inhabit in
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 indenization 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 gain'd 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 as they utterly supplanted impoverished ruined the City of Norlingen in Germany where they intruded themselves in great numbers by the Emperours priviledges whereupon the Citizens Anno Dom. 1290. being reduced to extreem poverty by them rose up in arms and slew a geeat number of them without destinction of age or sex for with the Citizens were put to so great fines by the Emperour Rodolfus and so oppressed by the Nobility and others obliged to the Jews by morgages and moneys lent them though the Jews instigation that the natives were inforced to leave both their Studies Trades aend the City it self reduced thereby to extreem penury for above 59 years space as Sebastian Muâ—ster at large records which together with the premises sufficiently disproves Meuasseth Ben Israels Suggestion of the profit the Natives of England may receive by their readmission 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 Garriâ—ons 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 shall be equally distributed to our English Merchants that are damnified or undone 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 at all converted or rather perverted to the use of that some stile the Admiralty 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 fit for shipping of which there is like to be such scarcity ere long as will both destroy our Navy shipping 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 recited and confirmed in consil Meldenses c. 58. Surius Tom. 3. p. 465. 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 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 man or secular person shall from henceforth give his suffrage to them against the Christian faith Either For reward or favour being as prophane sacrilegious
Remitter into ENGLAND HAving in my late Short Demurrer to the Jews long discontinued barred Remitter into England presented the world with an Exact Chronological History of the English Jews and their affairs from their very first arival in England under King William the Conqueror till their universal final Banishment and Expulsion thence in the 18 year of King Edward the first after about 260 years continuance in our Island collected out of the best printed Historians Law-books and some few Records I conceived it not only expedient but necessary to second amplifie and illustrate it with this new Chronological Collection of such unprinted and generally unknown Records remaining in the Tower of London and Exchequer during the respective reigns of King John King Henry the 3. and Edward the 1. as properly relare to the History State affairs Legal transactions Proceedings Contracts Government of the Iews in England under these three Kings and to their final Banishment hence which for want of time and other causes I could not conveniently insert into my first Demurrer The Reasons inducing me hereunto are 1. The Rarity and Novelty of these Records never formerly published in print I have been informed by persons of Credit that our great learned late deceased Antiquary Mr. Iohn Selden many years since made a particular collection of the Records concerning the English Iews and gave them to Mr. Samuel Purchas to insert into his Pilgrimage who in his 3. Edit thereof Lond. 1617. B. 2. ch 10. Sect. 17. p. 171. published a Section with this Title to it Of the Jewes somtimes living in England collected out of antient Records by Mr. JOHN SELDEN of the Inner-Temple wherin there is such a poor maimed accompt given of them out of Records or Histories and so different from that delivered him that upon the publication thereof Mr. Selden was very much offended with Mr. Purchas for abusing him in such a manner and his Readers likewise there being not above 3 Records and those maimedly cited in that whole Section which defect I thought meet here to supply 2ly The rectifying and refuting of some Mistakes in Sir Edward Cook his 2 Institutes concerning the Statute de Iudaismo and the Jews Banishment out of England which I have more fully refelled in my second Edition and shall here further clear by several Records 3ly The illustration and ratification of some Passages in our Historians touching the slavish condition and frequent Taxes imposed on the Jews by our Kings 4ly The fuller discovery of the manner of their Contracts Stars Legal Proceedings Judicatories transactions and Government whilst in England wherein our Histories and Lawbooks are very defective 5ly The manifestation of the Machiavillian Policy of King Iohn and Henry the 3d to draw the Jews from forraign parts into England by granting them ample Liberties and Protection on purpose afterwards to ensnare oppress vex squeeze prey upon them and their estates with far greater greedinesse and advantage 6ly To publish to the world the zealous pious care of our Ancestors even in grossest times of Popery to prevent all communion of Christians with and seduction by the Jews to suppress their blasphemy convert them by compelling them to resort to the Friers Sermons for their edification providing for their converts by sundry Ordinances not mentioned in any printed English Historians but only in the Records here published 7ly To adde a further Barr to their Re-admission into England they having been invited hither if Menasseh Ben-Israel may be credited by divers EMINENT PERSONS excelling both in Piety and Learning as well as power who from the beginning of their Government of this Commonwealth have professed much respect and favor towards them made known unto them some years since that wished for liberty that they now are about to grant them as he in his late Humble Addresses and Declaration to the Commonwealth of England hath published to the world in print being now inquiring after a convenient Summer-house intending to settle himself at least if not his exiled Nation here among us whereas Pierce Gaveston a Forraigner and the two Spencers great Potent Englishmen have heretofore lost their lives and heads for returning into England without the Parliaments and Nobles license though by the Kings own invitation and license when banished thence by Parliament which this Jewish Rabbi and his banished Countrimen may do well advisely to consider for fear of afterclaps The first Records of our former Kings now extant except some few Charters and Exemplifications of them in Leiger-books Records and Histories are those oâ— King Iohn preserved in the Tower of London and Exchequer Amongst the Charter Rolls of this King Iohn I find a special Charter of his in favour of the Jews made in the first year of his reign dated at Rhoan July 31. Anno Dom. 1199. whereby he grants to James of London a Jewish Priest the Priesthood of all the Jews throughout England to have and hold it during his life freely quietly honorably and intirely without moâ—â—sâ—ation trouble or disturbance by any Jew or English 〈◊〉 in the exerâ—â—se thereof c. Such a Chaâ—teâ— as Mâ—â—â—sseh Bâ—n-Isrâ—el now aspires after for himâ—elf as his Addresses intiâ—â—â—â—â— which because I finde printed by Mr. Samuel Purchas and Sir Edward Cook and I have already published it verbatim in my Short Demurrer Edit 1. p. 44. and Edit 2. p. 50.51 I shall here pretermit with this obâ—ervation that in the close thereof there is mention made of a Charter of King Richard granted to this Jew That he should not be impleaded for any thing appertaining to him but only before the King himself or his chief Justice This is the very first Charter extant on record conning the English Jews What is recorded of them in our Histories before this rime I have elsewhere published at large I find another Charter of Safe-conduct granted by K. John to this Jewish Priest the self-same day and year as the former for his safe and free passage and of all things appertaining to him in all places both on this side and beyond the Sea without any injury molestation impediment or grievance to be done unto him more then to the King himself which being never yet printed I have here transcribed out of the Record it self Johannis Dei gratia c. Omnibus fidelibus suis ad quos Literae praesentes pervenerint tà m ultrà mare quà m citra Mandans vobis praecipiens Quatenus per quascunque Villas loca Jacobus Presbyter Judaeorum dilectus familiaris Noster transierit ipsum salvò liberè cum omnibus ad ipsum pertinentibus transire conduci faciatis nec ipsi aliquod impedâ—mentum molestiam aut gravamen fieri sustineatis plus quam Nobis ipsis Et si quis ei in aliquo forisfacere praesumpserit id ei sine dilatione emendadari faciatis Teste VVillielmo Marisco c. Dat. per manum Hu. Cantuar. Archiepiscopi
King Henry the 3 his long and tedious reign relating to the Jews and their affairs pretermitting some few only of lesse moment and private concerment in some of the Fine Clause and Patent Rolls where those who are not fully satisfied with these already recited may glean them at their leasures I now proceed to the Records in the reigne of King Edward the first omitting all passages of the Jewes in the Fine Rolls of his reign as of lesse moment seeing the Patent and Clause Rolls afford us much plenty and variety of matter concerning our English Jews affairs their final banishment out of England and sale of their houses eascheated by their exile which Records were never yet published to the world in print and are unknown to most men King Henry the 3 deceasing and his Son Edward the 1 succeeding him Anno 1272. thereupon he constituted Hamon Hattayn and Robert de Ludham Justices for the custody of his Jews commanding the Treasurer and the Barons of the Exchequer to deliver to them the keys of the Jews Chests together with the Rolls Writs and other things belonging to the Jews as they had formerly done to other Justices by this Writ Quia Rex constituit Hamonem Haittayn et Robernum de Ludham Justiciarios suos ad custodiam Judaeorum suorum Mandatum est Thesaurario et Baronibus de Scaccario quod eisdem Hamoni Roberto claves Archarum Judaismi una cum Rotulis Brevibus et omnibus aliis Judaismum illud contingentibus liberent prout aliis Justiciariis ibidem prius consuevit Dat. per manum W. de Merton Cancellar apud Westm 27 die Ianuarii These new Justices were constituted not above 5 weeks after Kings Henries death and they were as all their Predecessors in that Office first instituted by King Rich. the 1 Anno 1194. Iusticiarii sui ad custodiam Iudaeorum suorum to shew that the Jews were nothing else but the Kings own VVards and Villaines and under his custody and protection only as such to tax and plunder them at his pleasure as his Father and Grandfather had done before him It appears by the Liberate of 1 E. 1. m. 1. 2. that the King allowed 20 marks a year to these Justices of the Jews for their Salary And the custody of the Rolls and writs of the Jews were committed this year to William Middleton as is evident by this Record Cum Rex commiserit Willielm de Middleton Rotulos brevia Iudaismi sui quae sunt in custodia Thesauri Baronum Scaccarii custodiend quamdiu Domino Regi placuerit Mandatum est eisdem Thesaurario et Baronibus quod eidem Will. Rotulos Brevia liberent sicut praedictum est The same year this King in the beginning of his reign caused his peace and protection to be publikely proclaimed as well to all the Jews as others within England and other his Dominions as this record recites for the Jews in Bâ—uges in Flanders Rex Vicecomiti Mall salutem Cum nuper pacem nostram per totum Regnum nostrum publicè proclamaâ—i fecimus â—et eam omnibus et singulis de regno nostro tam Iudaeis quam Christianis observari praecepimus praecipimus quod Iudaei nostri de Bruges in Balliva tua manuteneas defendas ita quod eis pax nostra prout ejus per totum regnum nostrum proclamari fecimus inviolabiliter observetur Et non exigas vel exigi permittas ab eisdem redemptiones vei alias extorsiones ad opus nostrum vel alicujus alterias nisi quatenus ad debita nostra seu Domini Henrici Regis patris nostri seu Tallagia aut alia ad quae de jure tenentur ab eis levanda de nostro aut ejusdem Domini Henr. patris nostri mandato Warrantum habueris Datum c. apud Westm 15 die Iunii Yet notwithstanding this protection and peace granted them by the King the very same year the King grants out this Writ to search all their Chests to enroll and certifie him of all their debts and estates that he might tax them all proportionably at his pleasure as he did soon after Rex dilecto fideli suo Thomae de Espernon salutem Quia de debitis in Archa Cirogtafforum Winton Oxon. Maâ—leberg Wilton contentis volumus certiorari vobis mandamus quod ad certum diem quem ad hoc provideritis ad Archas praedictas accedatis easdem per visum Cirograf Archarum praedictarum tam Christianorum quam Judaeorum aperiatis et omnia debita in eisdem contenta diligenter scrutari et inrotulari faciatis Mandamus enim Cirograffariis nostris Archarum praedictar quod ad certum diem quem eis scire faciatis ad hoc faciendum vobis assistant et intendant In cujus c. Dat. c. apud Westm 20 die Feb. Conamiâ—es Liteâ—ae diriguntur Hamoni Hatayn de debitis in Archa Cirograf Northampt. Nottingh Ebor. Lincol. Stâ—inf conrents Item Consimiles Literae diriguntur Ade de Winton de debitis in Arca Cirograf Judaeorum Bristoll Oxon Gloucest Wigorn. Hereford et Warw. contentis Item consimiles Literae diriguntur Roberto de Ludham super hujusmodi debitis contentis in Archis Cirograff Judaeorum Bedef Cantebr Colecester et Sudbury In all which Cities and Towns the Jews then inhabited and had common chests wherein their Debts and Morgages were reserved Also according to the former Custome of the Jews in England not to remove into any town where they did not anciently inhabit he sent this Writ to the Barons and Bailiffs of Winchelse to remove some Jews thence who had taken up their habitation there without his special license Rex Baronibus Ballivis suis de Winchelse salutem Quia secundum consuetudinem Iudaeismi nostri Angliae in aliis Civitatibus Burgis aut Villis habitare vel morari non debent quam in illis in quibus antiquitus habitare consueverunt morari quidam Iudaei ut intelleximus villam nostram de Winchelse sunt ingressi eam inhabitent in quam nullus Iudaeus aliquibus retroactis temporibus habitare consuevit vel morari Vobis mandamus quod si verum est tunc Iudaeos ab eadem villa absque damno de corporibus seu rebus suis eis faciend sine damno faciatis amoveri Dat. apud Westm 18 die Iunii This King that he might not seem altogether unjust granted forth a Writ to the Sheriff of Oxford in behalf of one Lumbard a Jew of Oxford taken and imprisoned for a fine of fifty marks imposed on one Lumbard a Jew of Bristol for a Trespasse against the Kings Exchange ordering him to be bailed and the mistake examined Rex Vicecom Oxon. salutem Ostensum est nobis ex parte Lumbardi de Krikelad Judaei nostri Oxoniae quod quum quidam Lumbardus Judaeus Bristol amerciatus esset coram Justiciariis Domini Henr. Regis patris nostri ad custodiam Judaeorum
assignatis ad quinquaginta marcas pro transgressione excambii ejusdem patris nostri et ipse Lumbardus Judaeus Oxon. de eadem transgressione nunquam calumpniatus nec de praedicta pecunia oneratus extiterit tu easdem 50 marcas ab eodem Lumb de Oxon. Judaeo exigis et omnia bona sua in Balliva tua ea occasione cepisti in manum nostram et insuper ipsum cepisti et in prisona nostra Oxoniae detines Et quia non est juri consonum nec est voluntatis nostrae quod ipse Lumbardus de Oxonia sit in poena pro debitis alterius unde ipse Lumbardus de Oxonia penitus est immunis ut dicitur Tibi praeciâ—imus quod si ipse Lumbardus de Oxonia invenerit tibi sufficientem manucaptionem perconsuetudinem Judaismi nostri de veniendo coram Justiciariis nostris ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis a die Pascha in 15 dies ad satisfaciendum nobis de praedictis 50 marcis nisi ibidem ratio inabiliter ostenderit quod non ipse sed alii de dicta pecunia debent onerari tunc ipsum Lumbardum per eandem manucaptionem a prisona qua detinetur deliberari facias omnia bona sua ea occasione capta in manum nostram interim sine distractione sine dampno dicti Judaei reservari facias Et habeas ibi nomina manucaptorum suorum hoc breve Datum c. apud Sanctum Paulum London 4 die Aprilis Dat 20 s. pro hoc Breve habendo No sooner had he provided the foresaid Justices and Guardians for the Jews but he presently imposed new heavy annual Taxes and Tallages on them appointing special Collectors to levy them and their arrerages upon all their goods chattels debts and to banish and abjure the Realm all such Jews together with their wives and children as were rebellious and refused to pay them as these ensuing Patents of his in the 2 year of his reign demonstrate Rex dilectis sidelibus suis Fratri Stephano de Foleburn Ade de Stratten Willielmo de Middleton salutem Sciatis quod assignavimus vos ad omnia arreragia Tallagii super Judaeos nostros Angliae ultimo assessi ad opus nostrum levanda prout citius commodius videritis expedire Dante 's vobis potestatem Arreragia illa de bonis catallis debitis Judaeorum quos dictorum arreragiorum inveneritis detentores levandi nostro nomine adnuandi nec non dictos Judaeos qui in hac parte Rebelles fuerint vel contradictoreâ— per exilium abjurationem Regui nostri si necesse fuerit compellendi ad dicta arreragia pro porcionibus ipsis inde contingentibus nobis sine difficultate qualibet solvenda Et ideo vobis mandamus quod premissa faciatis in forma praedicta Et si forte vos tres ad hoc intendere non poteritis duo vestrum praemissa ficut praedictum est nihilominus exequantur In cujus c. T. Rege apud Westm 20 die Octobris Rex dilectis et fidelibus suis fratri Stephano de Foleburn electo Waterford fratri Luce de Hemmington et Willielmo de Middleton salutem Sciatis quod assignavimus vos ad omnia arreragia Tallagii super Iudaeos nostros Angliae ultimo assessi ad opus nostrum levanda prout citius et commodius videritis expedire Dante 's vobis potestatem arreragia illa de bonis catallis et debitis Judaeorum quos dictotum arreragiorum inveneritis detentores levandi et nostro nomine adnuandi nec non et dictos Judaeos qui in hac parte Rebelles fuerint vel contradictores per exilium et abjurationem regni nostri si necesse fuerit compehendi ad dicta â—â—retagia nobis pro porcionibus ipsis contingentibus sine difficultate qualibet solvenda Et ideo vobis mandamus quod praemissa faciatis in forma praedicta Et si aliquis Judaeorum illorum ad diem per nos sibi prefixum in solutione porcionis suae defecerit faciatis ipsum cum uxore et pueris suis exceptis puerisillis qui sunt in Tallagio et solverint eriâ—s regnum nostrum Angliae et assignetis ei portum Douorum quod infra tertium diem post diem solutionis suae sibi per nos praefixum sit ibi exiturus sicut praedictum est et nunquam rediturus Salvis tamen nobis terris Domibus Redditibus et omnibus catallis suis et suorum Et si aliquis Judaeus post tertium diem sibi assignatum sicut praedictum est inventus fuerit alibi in Regno nostro quam apud Douorum faciatis de eo Judicium tanquam de illo qui furtive propria catalla nostra asportaverit Et si forte vostres ad hoc intendere non poteritis duo vestrum praemissa nihilominus exeqauntur In cujus c. Teste Rege apud Luton primo die Novembris By this imposed penal banishment and abjuration of the Realm prescribed by the King in these two Pateuts to such Rebellious contradictory Jews their wives children as refused to pay the arrears of this last imposed Tax it is more than probable that their total and final general banishment and expulsion out of England by the King and his whole Parliament in the 18 year of his reign 16 years afâ—er was as compulsory and penal to them as this and no ways voluntary of themselves as Sir Edward Cook hath fansied it against all our Records and Histories In the Clause Roll of this year I find this writ to two of these Collectors for the present levying part of these Arrears upon Elias a Jew of London and paying it into the Wardrobe Rex dilectis fidelibus suis fratri Stephano de Foleburn electo de Waterford Willielmo de Middleton ad arrerag Tallag Judaeor ultimo super eosdem Judaeos assesso levanda assignatis salutem Mandamus vobis quod illas septies viginti marcas quos Richardus de Tany debet Magistro Eliae filio magistri Mosseo Iudaeo London sine dilatione liberari facias in Garderoba nostra eas eidem Judaeo in dicto Tallagio suo allocari facias Teste Rege apud Westm 20 die Octobris It is observable that the first person named as a Collector of the Arrears of this Tax of the Jews in all these 3. Records was a Frier and Bishop Elect of Waterford in Ireland How the Jews who neglected refused or were unable to satisfie their Taxes were handled by these Collectors and imprisoned in the Tower of London till they either paid or secured them to the King out of their best Debts these Records of the ensuing year will discover Rex Thesaurario et Baronibus suis de Scaccario salutem Mandamus vobis quod Sampsonem filium Magistri Miles de Stanford Samuelem fil Maneser de Lincoln Vnim fil Garflye Abrahamum fil Droye de Holms Elyam fil Vrssellae de
Patents made of the Jews houses by the King in the 20 year of his reign intituled in the Roll and Margin Patentes de Domibus Judaeorum concessis Post eorum Exilium ab Anglia the first whereof in Memb. 2. runs thus Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Sciatis quod concessimus pro Nobis et haeredibus nostris Willielmo de Tabâ—rer de Bedeford Katerinae uxori ejus Domos illas quae fuerunt Cok filii Benedicti de Bedeford Per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei a Regno nostro tanquam Escaeta nostra in manu nostra existentes et â—uâ—ae ad sex soudos extenduntur Habendum et tenendum eisdem Willielmo Kater et haeredibus suis vel cui ilias secundum consuetudineÌ„ villae praedictae donare vel assignare voluerint de Nobis haeredibus nostris imperpetuum Reddendo inde Nobis haeredibus nostris unum denarium per manum Vicecom nostri Bedf. singulis annis ad Scaccarium nostrum ad festum Sancti Michaelis Et faciendo aliis dominis feodi illius servicia inde debita consueta T. Rege apud Westm 29 die Novemb. After which follow near 20 patents more of other Jews houses made that year in the same form Therefore by the unanimous irrefragable verdict of all these manifold Patents the Jews were legally and judicially Banished out of England and by this their Judgment of Banishment both by the King and Parliament all their houses and lands actually escheated into the Kings hands who thereupon seized and sold them to others in fee upon this very Title of Escheat by their Exile out of England which had Sir Edward Cooke known or observed I am confident he would never have asserted this untruth that they voluntarily banished themselves out of England only because their Usury was banished thence To these Records I might annex the case of the Prior of Bridlington which himself cites in the Placita Parliamenti post Pascha apud London 21 E. 1. rot 4. recited again in alio Rotulo Anno 22 E. 1. rot 5. wherein there is this double recital of the Jews exile hence and of a Debt of 200 l. due to the King thereby which he had Judgement to recover against the Prior. Et quia praedictus Prior cognoscit quod praedâ—cta pecunia praed Judaeo debebatur nec ei solvebatur Ante Exilium Iudaeorum et quicquid remansit eorum debitis catallis in Regâ—â— Post eorum Exilium Domino Regi fuit Consideratum est quod Dominus Rex recuperet pecuniam praedictam An unanswerable euidence of their judicial legal actual Banishment hence here twice together repeated in this Plea in Parliament but three years after their exile I have now traced the History of the English Jewes through the obscure untrodden generally unknown and almost forgotten path of our English Records yet remaining in the Tower of London and Exchequer from the very first year of King John where our yet extant Records begin to the 22. of King Edward the first full 4 years after their universal Banishment out of England which as it then put a period to any further memorial of them in our subsequent Records so it now sets a final conclusion to this my Chronological Collection of such Records as concern the generality of the English Jews and their affairs To which I shall only annex some few Records in succeeding times relating to some particular Jewish Converts since their general banishment hence and to the forementioned house of the Iewish Converts now the Rolls in Chancery Lane which are some wayes pertinent like so much gleanings after the Harvest to the Jewish History and so draw toward a conclusion of this my Undertaking There being a great want of Jewish Converts after the Jews banishment hence to receive the Alms Revenues formerly setled on their house by the premised charters of our Kings I find King Edw. the 3d in the 18th year of his reign by special Patents granted to other poor people who had nothing to live on both the benefit and easment of the Houses and Gardens of the House of the Converts together with a penny a day out of the Exchequer and so much besides as any one Convert there received out of the Rents and profits of the house Partiâ—ularly he granted to one Alianor Quae non habet unde 〈◊〉 quod habeat tantum in omnibus pro sustentatione sua iam de pecunia ad Scaccarium videlicet per diem 1 d. et pro aisiamento Domorum Gardinarum sicut una Conversorum habet et capit ac de Deodandis alâ—is proficuis quam de Redditibus Tenementis Conversorum Domus London et alibi infra Regnum Angliae commorant c. quantum una Conversa inde percepit After this a converted Jew John Castell by name coming over into England in the 30 year of King Edward the 3d. the King thereupon granted him such admittance into and sustenance in this house of Convertr as other Converts had in former times received by this ensuing writ of Privy Seal Rex dilecto Clerico suo Hen de Ingleby Custodi Domus nostra Conversorum in civitate nostra London salutem Quia volumus quod Johannes de Chastell à ritu Judaeorum conversus qui in Regnum nostrum Angliae nuper venit habeat talem sustentationem in Domo nostra praedicta de Elemosina nostra qualem alii ejusdem conditionis in eadem ante hoc tempus habuerunt Vobis mandamus quod ipsum Johannem in domum nostram praedictam admittatis et ei sustentationem hujusmodi pro uno converso consuetum de eadem domo liberari habere facias T. Rege apud Westm primo die Iulii Per Breve de privato Sigillo This Henry de Ingelby afterwards resigning his Office of Keeper or Gardian of the House of Converts to the King thereupon King Edward the 3. in the 45 year of his reign granted this Office to William de Burstall Clerk during his life by this following Patent Rex omnibus ad quos c. Sciatis quod dedimus concessimus dilecto Clerico nostro Will de Burstal custodiam domus nostrae conversorum London vacantem per resignationem Hen. de Ingleby ultimi Custodis domus praedictae et ad nostram Donationem spectantem habendum tenendum cum omnibus ad custodiam illam quoquo modo spectantibus ad totam vitam ipsius Willielm In cujus c. T. R. apud Westm 22 die Julii Per ipsum Regem Et Mandatum est Vicecomit London quod ipsum Will. in corporalem possessionem Domus praedictae inducant vel induci faciant habendum juxta tenorem Literarum Regis praedictarum Teste ut supra Per ipsum Regem This house with the Chappel and other Edifices being greatly ruined after the Jews banishment through the negligence of former Guardians William Burstal being made keeper thereof bestowed much money upon
if faithfully transcribed and methodically digested into a Parliamentary Chronicle would for rare usefull matter Excellency certainty far exceed all Histories Statute-Books Law-Books Chronicles ever yet compiled rectifie many grosse mistakes in most of them and make more able knowing Lawyers Judges parlamentmen Statesmen than former ages have produced Besides the old Records in the respective Treasuries of the Tower Courts at Westminster and the Rolls faithfully relate at large the Institutions Jurisdictions procedings Judgements Writs Formalities Debates commissions Law-cases Judges Officers names customes Fees of all the great courts of Law Justice Equity civil Ecclesiastical Military Marine Justices Itinerant Justices of the Forrest Justices of Assize Oyer and Determiner of most other inferiour Courts and Commissioners boâ—h in England Wales Ireland Scotland Gascoyne Normandy Poyters the Isles of Man Gernsy Iersy Alderny Serk Silly and other Isles the Stanneries in Cornwall and in most Corporations Counties Hundreds Honors Mannors in them Record all sorts of commissions charters Writs Warrants Instruments relating to Law Iustice Trade peace Waâ— The Courts Jurisdictions priviledges Mannors Lands Fees Rents exemptions Liberties Royalties Tenures Services customs Offices Successions pedigrees of the Kings Princes Queens Archbishops Bishops Deans Chapters cities corporations Fraternities Guiâ—ds Nobility Gentry Freâ—holders of England Ireland Wales Scotland and all Dominion Isles annexed to them with sundry other particulars necessary for an accomplished Lawyer out of which industrious Lawyers if countenanced by authority and encouraged by a a publike Salary might collect such a rare new Body and Systeme of the Laws customs courts and ancient legal proceedings in all the courts of Justice throughout our Dominions as would as far excell all other Abridgements collections Reports Institutes Registers Law-Books hitherto published for use excellency as the richest Diamond exceeds the basest pibble and bring more honour benefit to the English Nation than all the Shepheards Calenders and New-corps or Models of our old English Laws attempted by Hugh Peters Sword-men and â—ome bold illiterate Ignoramusses of the Law who neuer yet perused any of our old Records nor read over half our English Law-books and yet will be reformers or deformers rather of what they neâ—er exactly knew nor understood In brief the exact knowledge of our Records wiâ—â— furnish industrious Lawyers with such rare usefull materials of all sorts for the publike service of their Natiâ—e country upon all emergent occasions the benefit information of their clyents the honour of their profession and their own reputation advancement profit as will enable them to outshine all others of their robe unversed in the Records as far as the Sun and Moon outshine the lesser stars which lose all their borrowed splendor when â—hey once apâ—ear in place Witnesse Mr. Noy Mr. Seldon Mr. Littleton and some other Lawyers of late times whose real and Sir Edward Cooke whose borrowed superficial insight in Records advanced not only their Names Fames Arguments Books but practise and imployments likewise whiles they practisâ—d above all others of their Profession and hath immortalized their memories to posterity A sufficient Argument to engage all generous Students and Practisers of the Law to spend some years or long Vacations at least in the Study of our almost forgotten Records which though it may hinder their present gains and practise for a time will abundantly increase them afterwards the longest Studies in this kind like Merchants longest voyages being recompenced with the richest returns 2. All persons of quality desirous thoroughly to enable themselves to serve their Soveraign or Country in any publick great State-Offices Imployments at home or in foreigne parts may out of our Records furnish themselves with all former publike Negotiations Embassies Treaties Truces Leagues Contracts Agreements Transactions Letters Missives Commissions Instructions Claims Controversies Debates between the Kings Parliaments Nobles Clergy Merchants Kingdom People of England Ireland Scotland Wales and Dominions thereunto annexed or any of them and any other forraigne Kings Kingdoms Princes States Cities Embassadors Agents Legates Merchants relating to Peace Warre Amity Trade Marriages Alliances Government mutual aid Jurisdictions Soveraigntie Regulation of Injuries Abuses Depredations c. and likewise between themselves All Passages Writs Commissions Debates resolves relating to the Parliaments Judicatories Laws Justice Trade Merchandise Manâ—factures Navy Shipping Ports defence Militia by Land or Sea Coins Weights Measures of England Ireland and other our Dominions formerly specified with all other particulars fit for an accomplished Statesman no where extant but in our Record wherein they are faithfully registred for the information and benefit of posterity 3. All Heroick English Spirits desiring exact knowledg in the History and Chronology of England may find in our old Records all the choicest materials relating there unâ—o faithfully recorded with all the particular dates circumstances of time and place All Grounds Occasions Commissions Summons of Arrayes Armies Navies Fleets Ships Fortifications of Townes Castles Conâ—ultations Articles Instructions transactions relating to our Civil Foraign wars by Land or Sea with the Names of the Generals Officers Marshals Admirals and persons of greatest eminency in them All Truces Leagues Embassies Contracts Agreements Letters passages of State Parliamentary affairs Coronations Charters Patents of our Kings and what ever may compleat adorn our English History exactly registred which if faithfully transcribed and digested into order would make a farre more usefull compleat excellent English History and Chronicle then any yet published or compiled And if all the Charters Patents Commissions Records Writs Mandates priviledges Leâ—ters granted sent written by our Kings Parliaments Counsel and Officers of State relating to England Wales Ireland Scotland Jersey Gernsey Man and our other Isles and Dominions and to the particular Counties Hundreds Cities Corporations Ports Officers Bishopricks Monasteries Colleges Hospitals Free Schooles Parishes Churches Noblemen Gentlemen and particular Mannors places in them were judiciously collected digested after the moddel of Mr. Cambdens Britannia I dare affirm they would as far excel it in use and benefit as it transcends all former publications of our British world and Monarchy 4. Such Gentlemen as are addicted to Heraldry may find a Rich Magazine of all choice materials belonging to the Office and Study of an English Herald relating either to the Regal Noble Gentile families Great Officers Pedegrees Marriages Successions Coats Titles of Honor Chivalry c. of England Scotland Ireland Wales and other parts of our English Dominions The Coronations and Solemnities of our Kings the creations of our Nobles Knights Officers of all sorts with their Formalities Robes c. Most of our English Heraulds having been either Keepers of our Records or Clerks under them out of which they extracted most of their knowledge 5. All Divines studious of eminency in the Church History of England may read in our Records many excellent Letters Embassies passages Debates between our English Kings Parliaments Prelates Clergy Councils Synods and the Popes Cardinals Legates Court of Rome and forraign Councils
Synods Princes Preâ—â—tes concerning the Popes Ecclesiastical and Temâ—â—raâ— usurped Jurisdiction formerly claimed usurped in England his Legates Bulls Excommunications Interdictons Peter-pence Tenths First-fruits Palls Provisions Letters Taxes all Disputes betweene our Kings Nobles Parliaments Judges and the Prâ—laâ—es or Clergy of England Scotland Ireland Wales and betwixt our Prelateâ— and Clergymen themselves concerning their Jurisdictions Courts Priviledges Possessions Prâ—cedency Visitaâ—ions Exemptions Taxes Tenths First-fruits Elections consecrations Investitures c. And all Charters Priviledgâ—s Exemptions Glebes rents 〈…〉 â—â—â—onging to the Bishopricks Monasteries 〈◊〉 clergy of England Ireland â—â—les Scotland and the 〈…〉 which if â—igeâ—ted into an History would not only â—dorn but exceâ— all Ecclesiastical Histoâ—ies of Englâ—nd hitherâ—o pâ—blishâ—d and rectifie some mistakes in â—any of them Upon all which considâ—rations I hope the God of the Spiâ—â—â—s of all fleâ—h wiâ—â—in this stupid selfish degenerated age raise up some heroick active publike English Spirits of all these rankes not only to preserve our precious antient Records from Hugh Peters designed Martyrdom but likewise diligently to study and extract such useful collections out of them as I have hinted for the benefit honor of their Native country and advantage of succeeding ages of which I have here given them a leading president in these Historical Legal Chronological collections relating only to our English Iews the transcendent malice of my former causlesse Enemies in debarring me by a special old Council-Table Order from all accesse to the Tower Records during my 5. years Imprisonment in it made the very next day after my commitment thither to deprive me of their benefit seconded with above 3. yeares close imprisonment and exile in remotest Castles and the late ungrateful despiteful unrighteous Oppressions of some of their new Whitehall Successors though my pretended great Friends in seising all my Papers Writings Records they could meet with both in Lincolns Inne aâ—d the Country â—nd keeping me close Prisoner in â— remâ—â—e Castles under striâ—tâ—st armed Guards near full 3. yâ—ars space wiâ—houâ— any accusation heaâ—ing or cause exprâ—ssed â—ither thâ—n or since of purpose to hinder me from our Râ—cords 〈◊〉 â—ublishing any thing for the common good as â—ome of them have acâ—nowledged having so long debaâ—â—ed so much impoâ—eâ—ished so â—far disabled me from theâ—e Noble Undertakinâ—s deâ—erâ—ing all encouragements eâ—en â—â—on â— common publick purâ—e and account that I must recommend the pursuite of thâ—m to some other Gentâ—emen of lâ—sser years but far greater abilities and estates then my self who may both demerit receive in after ages far better rewards for their Labors and Publications herein then long tedious Imprisonments close imprisonment Pillories Stigmatizing Fines Exiles Degradations Affronts Losses discouragements of all sorts the only Encouragements Guerdons Recompences I ever yet received for all my useful publications my unmercenary faithful Services and Sufferings for the publike upon all occasions I shall close up all with some Scripture-Texts discovering the excellent use benefit of old Records and what high esteem the wisest Kings in the Old and Paul himself in the New Testament had of them The first Text I shall cite gives us a true character of the Jews seditious carriage then manifested by Records Eâ—ra 4.14 15. Now because we are salted with the Salt of the Palace and it was not meet for us to see the Kings dishonour therefore have we sent and certified the King that search may be made in the Books of Records of thy fathers so shalt thou find in the Book of the Records â—nd know that this City is a Rebeâ—lious City and hurtfuâ—l unto Kings and Provinces and they have moved sedition within the same of old times for which cause was the city destroyed which appeared true upon search made in the Records vers 19.20 Esther 6.1 On that niâ—ht could not the King sleep and he commanded to bring the Book of Records of the Chronicles and they were râ—â—d beâ—oâ—e the King Neh. 12.22.23 The â—evites in the days of Eliashib Joiada c. were recorded chief of the Fathers also the Priests to the reign of Daruis the Persiâ—â— The Sons of Levy the chief of the Fathers were recorded in the Books of Chronicles c. 2 Tim. â— 1â— When thou comest bring with thee the books buâ— especially the Parchments which the Latin Translators aâ—â—â—endâ— Membranas â— Parchment Rolls Upon which words â—â—eâ—â—oâ—eâ—t Oecumâ—mus and others thus comment Mâ—xime Membranas Membranas Latina magis voce volumina sive Chartas volubiles appellâ—â—â—i Iâ— complicatis enâ—m involutis Chartis habebant olim quae ad divinam spectant Scripturam Quemadmodum â—tiam ad â—reâ—â—nâ—â—m aâ—â—us 〈◊〉 pâ—uâ—ima habent If then aâ—l our parchment Membranâ—es Rolls Records must be burnt Hugh Peters and his good Magistrate to accomplish this good Work must first burn the old original parchment Membranaes Rolls of the Old and New Testament the ancientest of all others which St. Paul was so carefull to preserve and then those of the Kingdom next And whether this will be a Good or christian work for a Good or christian Magistrate or Minister let all sober men resolve seeing it will totally deprive us of all sacred all civil Antiquities and Records and be matter of greatest rejoycing advantage to our common Romish Enemies and the Jesuites the original projectors of this infernal Jesuitical designe and practice as Ludovicus Lucius Hist Iesuiticae l. 1. c. 6. p. 144. manifests records What therefore our Saviour himself concludes of old Wine that will all learned discreet sage men determine of our good old English Laws Liberties Records compared with Hugh Peters and others New Models Instruments papers relating to the publike Lu. 5.39 No man having drunk Old Wine streightway desireth New for he saith the Old is better FINIS Errata and Omissions KInd Reader Take notice that the Records of Edw. 1. being transcâ—ibed before the later of King John and those of Henry the 3d. and printed at guess before them they amounting to above double the sheets conjectured thereupon from C. p. 13. to H. p. 53. the folioes only are figured and some sheets altogether wâ—â—hout figures Wherefore I shall desire thee to page them all with thy pâ—n from p. 13. to p. 53. tâ—at so thou maist the better correct those few Errataes which have escaped the Press in some Copies here noted as if they had all been paged in order In the Epistle p. 2. l. 27. read Endeavorer In the Book p. 3. l. 32. Priesthoodâ— Pâ—esbytery p. 11. l. 33. together p. 13. l. 6. preceding p. 16. l. 1. on r. in l. 14. Statutes p. 18. l. 30 thuâ— p. 20. l. 3 Fraâ—ket p. 24. l. 13. placia p. 25. l. 32. lucio p. 27 l. 37 victuâ—lia et si quem inveneritis quae deneger eis victualia c. p. 34. l. 36. â—sâ—nd p. 37. l. 10. reddendam p. 38. l. 36. but then p 43. l. 1. Jews Chaâ—reis p. 44. l. 37. â—eâ—minis p