The Second Part of a Short DEMVRRER TO THE IEVVES Long discontinued REMITTER into ENGLAND Containing a Brief Chronological Collection of the most material RECORDS in the reigns of King John Henry 3. and Edward 1. relating the History Affaires State Condition Priviledges Obligations Debts Legal Proceedings Justices Taxes Misdemeanors Forfeitures Restraints Transactions of the Jews in and final Banishment out of England never formerly published in Print with some short usefull Observations upon them Worthy the knowledge of all Lawyers Scholars Statists and of such Jews who desire Re-admission into England By VVilliam Prynne Esquire a Bencher of Lincolns-Inne Amos 3. 3. Can two walk together unless they be agreed Gregorius lib. 7. Registri Epist 226. Surius Tom. 2. Concil p. 698. Cùm Excellentia vestra Reccaredus Rex Gothorum Suevorum Constitutionem quandam contra Judaeorum perfidiam dedisset hi de quibus prolata fuerat rectitudinem vestrae mentis inflectere pecuniarum summam offerendo moliti sunt quam Excellentia vestra contempsit omnipotentis Dei placere judicio requirens auro innocentiam praetulit Si igitur ab armato Rege in Sacrificium Dei versa est aqua contempta pensemus quale sacrificium omnipotenti Deo Rex obtulit qui pro amore illius non aquam SED AURUM ACCIPERE CONTEMPSIT Itaque fili Excellentissime fidenter dicam quia libasti AURUM Domino quod contra eum habere noluisti LONDON Printed and sold by Edward Thomas in Green Arbor 1656. To the Ingenuous Reader THe Extraordinary Coldness and Shortness of the Time I had to compile transcribe publish my Short Demurrer to the Jews long discontinued Remitter into England that it might come into the world in due season before any final Resolves upon the late Whitehall Debates and Consults concerning it necessitated me not only to omit three or four less pertinent Passages in some of our Historians concerning the English Jews with some few others relating to their misdemeanors in foraign parts which I have since supplied and to be more sparing in refuting reverend Sir Edward Cooks mistakes touching the time of the making of the Statute de Judaismo and the Jews voluntary banishing of themselves thereupon without any particular Act or Edict of the King and Parliament for their universal Exile and Expulsion hence which I have more fully refuted in the second inlarged Edition thereof beyond all contradiction But likewise to leave out most of the unprinted Records in the reigns of King John Henry the 3. and Edward the 1. relating to the History State Affairs of the Iews in England under them and to their final Banishment thence which Records because I could not conveniently insert into the Second Impression for fear of increasing it into an over-large bulke and of over prejudicing those who had bought the first Edition I have therefore digested into a Chronological method according to their series of time and published apart by themselves in this Second Part that so such who have bought the first Impression may annex them thereunto and those who shall buy the second may bind them up with it if they see cause into which Impression I have inserted only such new Records not extant in the first as were necessary to clear some passages in our Histories and to refute our learned Sir Edward Cooks mistakes whose venerable Authority hath misguided many especially of the long robe in point of the Jews expulsion and date of the Statute de Iudaismo VVhat new light information or satisfaction this Additional Publication may yield to the judicious Readers consisting of unprinted and for the most part unknowu Records never formerly published I cannot divine yet the great satisfaction my former Demurrer hath given to and kind acceptation it hath found with most godly and judicious persons throughout the Nation give me some good assurance that this Appendix to back and illustrate it will not be unwelcom but delightfull to them especially to those of my own Profession for whose information I principally intended it I hope both of them united will through Gods blessing prove a perpetual Barr to the Antichristian Iews re-admission into England both in this new-fangled age all future Generations maugre all printed pleas and Endeavors for their present Introduction the sole end of their publication by The unfeigned weak Endeavor to Promote his Saviours Honour Religions Safety with his Native Countries weal and Prosperity by this Undertaking WILLIAM PRYNNE Lincolnes Inne Feb. 1. 1655 6 The Second Part of a short Demurrer to the Iews long discontinued barred 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 Legai 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 ancient 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 â—ifferent 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
bonis catallis debitis Judaeorum quos dictorum arreragiorum inveneritis detentores levandi nostro nomine adnuandi nec non dictos Judaeos qui in hac parte Rebelles fuerint vel contradictores 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 compellendi ad dicta arreragia nobis pro porcionibus ipsis contingentibus sine difficultate qualibet solvenda Et ideo vobis mandamus quod praemissa faciatis in forma praedicta Et fi 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 exire 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 Reddiribus 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 vos tres 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 after 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 Willrelmo 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 Lincoln et Abrahamum fil Samuelis captos et detentos in prisona nostra Turris London Pro Tallagio suo deliberari faciatis Ipsos etiam de corporibus suis pacem habere permittatis usque ad quindenam Sancti Michaelis prox futur et praedictorum Judaeorum Tallagium super eos assessum de clarioribus debitis suis interim levari faciatis Ita quod nisi in quindena praedicta de praedicto Tallagio suo ad plenam satisfecerint ad Prisonam nostram praedictam revertantur ibidem gratiam nostram expectand Teste Rege apud Kenynton X. die Julii Mandatum est Justiciariis ad Custodiam Judaeorum assignatis et Willielmo de Middleton quod executionem Brevium Regis quae pro diversis Judaeis receperunt super allocationem vel respectum de Tallagio super ipsis ultimo assesso habend per ipsos faciend supersedeant omnino nisi aliud eis inde duxerit demandandum T. R. apud Westm X. die Iunii Rex Justiciariis ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis et Willielmo de Middleton salutem monstravit Nobis Hakus fil Roes de Ebor. Iudaeus quod cum ipse Nobis de Tallagio super ipsum ultimo assesso satisfecerit ad plenū vos occasione quorundam Catallorum sub nomine Solomonis fil Isaac dudum defuncti in manu nostra existent quandam pecuniae summam occasione dicti Tallagii exigitis minus juste Et ideo vobis mandamus quod si Nobis constiterit quod catalla praedicta fuerunt in manu nostra die quo dictum Tallagium assessum fuerat et quod dictam pecuniam à praefato Hako occasione Catallorum illorum et non alia exigatis et quod Nobis de toto Tallagio suo praedicto satisfecerit ut praedictum est tunc corpus suum ea occasione detentum prout justum fuerit deliberari faciatis T. R. apud Westm X. die Iunii Rex eisdem et Willielmo de Middleton ad Tallagium super eosdem Iudaeos Angliae nuper assessum colligendum deputatis salutem Mittimus vobis Petitionem Aaronis Crespyn Judaei nostri London praesentibus interclusam Vobis mandantes quatenus retentis in manu nostra de clariobus debitis ipsius Iudaei in Thesaur nostra existentibus usque ad summam Arreragiarum Tallagii super eundem Iudaeum ultimo assessi et aliis
suis usque ad summam praedictum debitorum ad opus nostrum in recompensationem eorundem capiatiâ— vel sibi juxta quantitatem catallorum suorum in Archa Cirografforum Iudaeorum exeuntem rationabiles terminos ad quos dâ—bita illa solvere possit salva sibi et familiae suae sustentatione sua assignari faciatis et catalla sua ea occasione in manum nostram capta sibi interim restituifaciatis Testâ—meipso apud VVindsore 28 die Maii. If the rich wealthy Jews in foreign parts have a desire to be impoverished and fleeced of all their wealth by uncessant arbitrary annual Taxes imposed on them at the Assessors pleasures let them now come into England for that purpose where they shall find persons more skilfull and powerfull to tax and excise them now every moneth or two then those who taxed these their Ancestors only once a year till they have scarce a subsistence left them The Jews Usury being totally suppressed to please the Christians by the Statute de Judaismo the King to enable them to pay their Taxes and subsist granted general Licenses to them to exercise merchandizing according to that Statute as this Record demonstrates Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Cum propter Inhibitionem quam ad commoditatem Christianorum de Usuris poenis Judaismi nostri Nuper fieri fecimus Concessimus quod Judaei regni nostri Merchandiâ—as legales exercere valeant in eodem regno Iuxta formam Statuti inde de Consilio nostro provisâ— Volumus concedimus quod Magister Elyas 〈◊〉 Magistri Mossei Cresseus fil ejusdem Elie Aaron fil Vynes Judaei nostri London hujusmodi Merchandisas exerceant in regno praedicto et quod debitores suos qui eisdem Judaeis per scripta vel alio modo legitime obligati fuerint ad mercandisas et alia quae eis rationabiliter debuerint soluenda per Jnsticiarios ad custod Judaeorum assignatos distringantur secundum legem consuetudinem Regni nostri In cujus c. T. R. apud Windsore 30 die Maii. By this Record of 5 E. 1. it is most apparent that the Statute de Iudaismo prohibiting Usury to the Jews and enabling them to exercise Merchandise was not made in 18 E. 1. as is erroniously affirmed by Sir Edward Cook being 13 years after this Patent which twice precisely mentions it in these words Inhibitionem quam c. nuper fieri fecimus and Juxta formam Statuti inde de Consilio nostro prouisi but in the 3 year of his reigne scarce two years before it as I have here formerly manifested by two other records in 4 E. 1. the very next year after it And it is likewise evident by this record that the banishment of the Jews Usury out of England by this Statute did not cause them voluntarily ro banish themselves out of England as he grosly asserts since they continued here 15 years after notwithstanding all their Usury was suppressed In this last Patent the King seemes to speak to the Jews with Iacobs Voice but in the very first Patent concerning them the next year after he discovers his Esau's hands imposing an heavy Taxe upon their decayed estates with greatest rigor in the exacting of ir witness this memorable Commission to their Aegyptian Task-masters which I fear some now of late do imitate even towards their English Christian Brethren Rex dilectis fidel suis Fratri Josepho de Chancy Priori Hospit Sancti Johannis Jerusalem in Anglia Waltero de Helynn Johanni de Cobham Philippo de Willeby salutem Sciatis quod assignavimus vos ad assidendum quoddam Tallagium super Communitatem Iudaeorum nostrorum ad opus nostrum quà m citius et commodius videritis expedire et prout vobis inâ—unximus viva voce Dante 's vobis potestatem praedictum Tallagium de bonis catallis et debitis praedictorum Judaeorum levandi et nomine nostro adnuandi nec non et hujusmodi Iudaeos qui in hac parte Rebelles fuerint Per Exilium et Abjurationem Regni si necesse fuerit compellendi ad dictum Tallagium pro proportionibus ipsos contingentibus Nobis fine Difficultate qualibet persolvenâ— Et ideo vobis mandamus quod praemissa faciatis informa praedicta Teste Rege apud Windsore 15 die Iulii Et mandatum est universis et singulis Iudaeis infra regnum Angliae constitutis quod eisdem Josepho Waltero Johanni et Philippo in praemissis intendentes sint et respondentes in forma praedicta In cujus c. Teste â—t supra We may perceive by this Commission how intollerably the poor Jews were taxed and fleeced by the Kings Tax-masters every year and what rigorous penalties and assessments were extorted from them yet neither these heavy uncessant annual Tallages nor the banishment of their Usury by the forementioned Statute would expel or force them hence before a direct Edict of Parliament and Proclamation for their exile by a set day under pain of hanging some years after this enjoyned banishment and abjuration to such as refused to pay this Tallage ferretted them all ouâ— of England In the 7th year of King Edward the first I find this memorable Writ Proclamation and Edict of his to his Justices for the inhibiting and punishing the Blasphemies of the Jews then frequent against Christ crucified and the faith of Christ Jesus with loss of Life and Member with other strict Orders for preventing their Apostacyes and propagation of their Jewish Rites and all communion betwixt them and Christians worthy our special observation Rex dilectis 〈◊〉 fidelibus suis Stephano de Pentecester VValtero de Helynn Johanni de Cobham Iusticiariis suis ad Placita Transgressionum Monetae audienda et terminanda assignatis et dilecto Clerico suo Philippo de VVylegheby salutem Quia datum est Nobis intelligi Quod quidam Judaei Regni nostri fidem Catholicam et Sacra Ecclesiastica hactenus diversimode Blasphemare non formidarunt nec adhuc formidant in Divini nominis contumeliam et totius Christianae profefsionis opprobrium Nos hujusmodi Blasphemias sicut Principem Catholicum decet reprimi cupientes Volumus Quod nullus Iudaeus taliter de caetero blasphemare praesumat videlicet aliquod erronenm detestabile aut abhominabile dicendo vel faciendo in Blasphemia Crucifixi fidei Catholicae seu beatissimae matris Mariae Virginis seu Ecclesiasticorum Sacramentorum Volumus etiam quod hoc per omnia loca Regni nostri in quibus Iudaei morantur publice proclamatur et ne aliquis Iudaeus sub periculo Vitae et Membrorum talia facere vel dicere praesumat Et si quis notorius Blasphemat or inveniatur ita quod per Inquisitionem per Sacramentum Christianorum bonorum et graviorum inde convinci possit evidenter Volumus quod quilibet talis puniretur secundum quod in hujusmodi casibus alias fieri consuevit Idem fiat de ipsis
Prior cognoscit quod praedicta pecunia praed Judaeo debebatur nec ei solvebatur Ante Exilium Iudaeorum et quicquid remansit eorum debitis catallis in Regno 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 besiedes as any one Convert there received out of the Rents and profits of the house Particularly he granted to one Alianor Quae non habet unde vivat quod habeat tantum in omnibus pro sustentatione sua tam de pecunia ad Sc accarium videlicet per diem 1 d. et pro â—isâ—amento Domorum Gardinarum sicutuna Conversorum habet et capit ac de Deodandis aliis 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 time received by this ensuing writ of Privy Seal Rex dilecto Clerico suo Hen de Ingleby Custodi Domus nostrae 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 oâ— 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 Loudon 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 the repairing of it out of his own purse which done upon consideration thereof and to keep the same in constant Repair for the future upon the supplication of the said William then Keeper likewise of the Rolls of the Chancery he procured King Edward to annex the house and Chappel of the Converts to the Custos of the Rolls of the Chancery and his Successors for ever in the 51 year of King Edward the 3d. by this Patent Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Sciatis quod Nos considerantes qualiter Domus Conversorum in Suburbio Civitatis nostrae London de Patronatu nostro existens et Capella Edificia Clausura ejusdem tempore quo dilectus Clericus noster Willielmus de Burstall custodiam ejusdem Domus ex collatione nostra primo habuit per negligentiam et incuriam aliorum qui antedictum Willielmum custodiam Domus illius habuerunt et ibidem morari seu inhibitare non curarunt multipliciter debilitata quasi totaliter in ruina extiterunt Et quod praedict Willielmus tempore suo de bonis suis propriis grandes fecit custus et ex pensas super reparatione et emendatione Domus Capellae EdificioruÌ„ Clausurarum praedict At etiam super factura novarum Domorum ibidem Nos ut Domus Conversorum capella edificia clausurae et novae Domus supradicta compatenter sustententur custodiantur in futur ad supplicationem praedicti Will qui Custos Rotulorum Cancellariae nostrae existit in praesenti concessimus de gratia nostra speciali pro Nobis haeredibus nostris quod post mortem ejusdem Willielm dicta Domus Conversorum cum suis Juribus pertinentiis quibuscunque remaneat et moretur in perpetuum Clerico custodi Rotulorum Cancellariae nostrae et haeredum nostrorum pro tempore existenti Et sit annexa ad idem Officium imperpetuum Et quod Cancellarius Angliae vel Custos sive custodes Magni Sigilli nostri et haeredum nostrorum Angliae pro tempore existentes post mortem ipsius Will. habeat et habeant Potestatem ad quamlibet Vacationem dicti Officii custodis Rotulorum per mortem cessionem vel mutationem personae quocunque tempore futuro instituendi successive
defaults before them and thereof to make due punishment as is aforesaid And now Hugh Peters if I may be thy Counsellor in sober sadnesse look to thy neck which as thou hast oft indangered forfeited by thy late Fire-works to blow up Kings Kingdoms Parliaments Lords our old fundamental Lawes Liberties Government as Straffords Canterburies late Impeachments Sentences with Mr. St. Iohns and others Arguments at their Attainders will resolve thee and thy open treasonable advising abetting the seising imprisoning of my self and above 40 more Members of Parliament in Hell on the bare boards Decemb. 6. 1648. whose names thou didst then list with an iron Sword under thy arme instead of the Sword of the Spirit So this thy Iesuitical Project to burn all our old Records whereby all former Judgement Titles Fines Recoveries c. will be nulled reversed which thou publickly abettest counsellest thy Magistrate to effect in Print proclaimes thee by thine own Confession without other evidence a Notorious Felon within this Act in the highest degree The burning avoiding of all our Records in general being a more transcendent Felony yea Treason to the whole Kingdom Nation than the embezelling only of one or two private Records or Writs relating but to one private person And if ever thou be brought to a legal Trial for it before such a Iury and such Iudges as this Act prescibes thou art sure to undergoe a Halter-Martyrdome at Tyburne which all will cry up according to thy Pamphlets Title for A good work of a good Magistrate and a short cut to great quiet for thy devoting all our old Records to a fiery Martyrdom in Smithfield which I trust they shall never undergo And that upon these ensuing weighty Considerations First these old Records which he would have burnt contain in them all the antient Rights Titles Evidences Charters Agreements Leagues Compacts of the Kings Kingdom Nation and people of England to all their pristine and present Dominions Jurisdictions Prerogatives Preheminences Priviledges Hereditaments and enjoyments both at home and abroad by Land and by Sea as they are a Kingdom Nation Republike body Politick in general and that both in relation to themselves and their own intrinsecal affairs at home as they have been owned reputed negotiated treated with upon special occasions as a Kingdom Nation Republike by any forraign Kings Princes Kingdoms States whose ancient undoubted Rights Titles to all or any of our Dominions Territories Jurisdictions Royalties cannot otherwise be legally cleared judicially evidenced upon any emergent occasion or controversie between our Kingdom Nation and other Forraign States and Realms or between our selves at home but by our old Records the only publike evidences of the whole Kingdom and English Nation as necessary to defend maintain justifie their common publick Rights Dominions Possessions Jurisdictions Claims priviledges upon all occasions as any private Noble or Gentlemans ancient Charters Records Writings are to defend manifest his right and Title to his private Inheritance and Injoyments witnesse the famous Letter of the King Parliament and Nobles of England written and sent to the Pope Anno 1302. to clear the subordination of Scotland to the Crown of England and the Homage of the Kings of Scotland made for their kingdom to the Kings of England as their superiour Lords from time to time manifested by the ancient Histories and Records of England beyond all contradiction Mr. Selden his Mare Clausum proving the Dominion and Jurisdiction of the Kings of England over the Narrow Seas by Records and Sir Robert Cottons Posthuma Therefore it must necessarily be as bad and mad a worke for a bad and mad Magistrate to burn all the publick Evidences and Records of the whole Kingdom and Nation upon the frantick motion of a Bedlam in this particular as for a Great landed Nobleman to burne all the old Charters Evidences of his Lands and Honors or for a rich Usurer to burn all his Bonds and Morgages which all wise men will repute an act of Frenzy and Hugh Peters too in his right senses 2. They contein in them all the great publike Charters Contracts Agreements Leagues formerly granted or made by the Kings of England to or with the Prelates Earles Barons Freemen Commons of England Ireland Scotland Wales Gernsey Iersy Man and all other Isles and Dominions belonging to the Crown of England in general all Charters Patents Grants Contracts Writs Releases Gifts Pardons Offices Honors Liberties Franchises Customs Priviledges Faires Markets Inheritances Rents Revenues Licences compositions formerly granted by our Kings to the respective Counties Cities Towns Burroughs Villages Hundreds Arch-bishops Bishops Deans Chapters Prebends Abbies Priories Nunneries Colledges Hospitals Free-schools Universities great Officers Chancellors Generals Admirals Marshals 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 seal if alleged to be false forged sophisticated 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 Recognizances 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 Inheriter 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 Governmeâ—t 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 Pedegree 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 ataxies 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
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 sedâ—ction 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 of 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 molestation trouble or disturbance by any Jew or Englishman in the exercise thereof c. Such a Charter as Menasseh Ben-Israel now aspires after for himself as his Addresses intimate which because I find 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 observation 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 impedimentum 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 Cancellarii nostri apud Rothomagum 31. die Julii Anno Regni nostri primo It is observable that both these Charters were made not in England but at Rhoan in Normandy whence King William the Conqueror first transplanted the Jewes into England And that both the Charters to this High Priest os the Iews were granted by the hand of Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury then Chancellor Primate Metropolitan and High Priest of the English Nation whose Successors have justified the Divinity and Lawfulness of their Archiepiscopal Jurisdiction from the Jewish High Priests Office and Pagan Archflamins Sic mulus mulum scalpit Dignum Patello operculum King John having granted such Priviledges and Protection to this Jewish High Priest and Bishop in the first year of his reign proceeded by his and their monies most powerfull mediation to confirm and grant many ample Priviledges and Immunities to all the English and Norman Jews in his 2 year by these two ensuing Charters not formerly printed which I shall here transcribe verbatim as I finde them on Record The first runs thus Johannes Dei gratia c. Sciatis Nos concessisse Omnibus Judaeis Angliae Normanniae libere et honoâ—ifice habere residentiam in terra nostra omnia illa de Nobis tenenda quae tenuerunt de Rege Henrico Avo Patris nostri et omnia illa quae modo rationabiliter tenent in terris et feodis vadiis akatis suis quod habeant omnes libertates consuetudines suas sicut eas habuerunt tempore praedicti Regis H. Avi patris nostri melius quiecius honorabilius Et si querela orta fuerit inter Christianum et Judaeum ille qui alium appellaverit ad querelam suam dirationandam habeat Testes scilicet legittimum Christianum Iudaeum Et si Iudaeus de querela sua Breve habuerit Breve suum erit ei testis Et si Christianus habuerit querelam adversus Iudaeum sit judicata per Pares Judaei Et cum Iudaeus obierit non detineatur corpus suum super terram sed habeant homines sui pecuniam suam debita sua ita quod mihi non disturbetur si habuerit haeredem qui pro ipso respondeat rectum faciat de debitis suis de forisfacto suo Et liceat Judaeis omnia quae eis apportata fuerint sine occasione
similiter tenementum suum in perpetuum videlicet illud quod tam temere contra praeceptum nostrum obligaverit amittat Teste Rege apud Certes 1 die Sept. The same year Mandatum est Vic. Buck. quod non permittat quod aliquis Judaeus de caetero maneat in villa de VVeycumbe sed Iudaeos qui ibidem sunt manentes sine dilatione amoveri fac et maneant in aliis villis in quibus prius manere consueverant T. R. apud Herwic 28 die Novemb. This year I find this notable proclamation Mandatum est Vicecomiti Norf. et Suff. quod in Civitate de Norwic. et singulis bonis villis Com. suorum clamari faciat quod nulla faemina Christiana de caetero serviat Iudaeis ad alendos puerulos suos vel in aliquo alio officio Teste R. apud VVestm 20 die Ian. per ipsum regem Vrsilla filia Hamonis de Hereford Judaei pays a fine of 5000 marks pro habendis terris domibus et omnibus debitis et caâ—allis quae fuerunt praedict Hamonis to be paid at certain days Such Fines of Iews to enjoy their fathers houses and chattels are frequent in the Fine Rolls Isaac a Jew was this year fined 100l de pluribus transgressionibus de quibus convictus fuit coram Justic Dom. Reg. ad custod Iudaeorum assignatis In this year also the King discharged Aaron a Jew of York from all Tallages whatsoever during his life paying annually into his Exchequer one hundred marks yearly at two terms for his exemption Rex omnibus ad quos presentes litterae perveniunt salutem Sciatis quod concessimus Aaron de Ebor. Judaeo quod ipse toto tempore vitae suae quietus sit de Taâ—lagio reddendo per annum ad Scac nostrum Cent. marc ad duos terminos scil 50 mar ad fest Pasch et 50 marc ad festum Sancti Michis Ita quod de debitis quae nobis debuit de quibus finem fecit nobiscum reddend per annum ad Scac. nostrum cent solidos quietus erit per praedict 100 mar an In cujus c. T. R. apud Suthan 13 die Feb. Et mandatum est Iusticiariis ad custodiam Iudeorum per literas clausas quod ita fieri et irrotulari faciant VVhich exemption is frequently mentioned and ratified afterwards and yet availed him very little as I have elsewhere manifested out of Mat. Paris Aaron de York to pay 100 marks per an to the Kings Exchequer to be free from taxes during all his life In 20 H. 3. I find this pardon of Usury due to a Jew by the King Rex pardonavit Roberto de Peâ—tiling totam usuram debitorum quibus tenetur Isaac Judaeo Nottingh et Benedicto Judaeo Warwic salva praedictis Judaeis â—orte predict debitorum Et mandatum est Justiciariis ad custod Judaeorum assignatis quod de usura praedicta ipsum Robertum quietum esse et ad sortem eorundem debitorum praedict Judaeis redendam eidem Roberto rationabiles terminos habere faciant T. Rege apud Winton 10 die Iunii This year the Inhabitants of Suthampton being weary of the Jews company who intruded themselves into the Town procured this grant from the King to be quit of them unlesse by special command for the future Rex concessit Burgensibus suis Suthampton quod nullus Iudaeus de caetero maneat apud Suthampton sine speciali praecepto Regis Et mandat est Iusticiariis ad custod Iudaeorum assignatis quod illinc nullum Iudaeum mittant ad manendum ibi nec aliquem ibi remanere permittant sine speciali praecepto Regis T. Rege apud Winton 21 die Iunii I conceive all corporations in England will be as unwilling to entertain any Iews now to dwell amongst them as the Inhabitants of Suthampton and those of Newcastle and Wickham forementioned were to receive them in that age In this year I find one Iew extending the lands of another Iew for a debt by this VVrit to their Iustices for that end Mandatum est Iustic ad custod Iudaeorum assignatis quod per Sacramentnm proborum et legalium hominum extendi faciant Domos et terras Aaronis Benedicti Suthampton in Suthampt. et in la Hull videlicet quantum valeant per annum in dominicis redditibâ—s serviciis villenag et omnibus aliis exitibus et fac extendi praedict eidem Aaroni rationabilem finem et rationabiles terminos habere fac ad debita in quibus tenetur David Iudaeo Oxon. et Deuleben fil Ursel Iudaeo Winton secundum valorem praedictar domorum et terrarum eâ— quantitatem praedictorum debitorâ—◠〈◊〉 quod iâ—tâ—rim cessent usurae which here one Jew took of another T. R. apud Winton 11 die Jun. Hen. the 3 in the 21 year of his reign granted the Presbytery of all the Jews of England which I conceive to be rather the Custos Rotulorum or Controlers place in the Kings Exchequer of the Jews than the Priestly function as this Record attests Mandatum â—st Iusticiaâ— iis ad custodiam Iudaeorum assignatis Quod Rex concessit Aaron Iudaeo Ebor. Presbyteratum omnium Iudaeorum Angliae cum omnibus pertinentiis suis tenendum tota vita sua Et quotiens Aaron intendere non possit ad sedend ad Scaccarium Regis ad officium illud therefore certainly it was a temporal office in the Kings Exchequer not an Ecclesiastical Priesthood in the Jewish Synagogues Ioceu fil Copin loco suo recipiat ad ea facienda ad Scaccarium regis quae ad officium illud pertinent therefore a temporal office only to be executed in the Exchequer and that by Deputy as well as in proper person which the Jewish High Priesthood could not be Rotulos etiam qui fuerunt Jocâ—i Presbyteri praedecessoris sui â—his Office therefore was to keep the Rolls as Comptroler eidem Aaron vel praedicto attornato suo habere faciant T. Rege apud Clarendon 29 die September Which record together with that of Claus 27 H. 3. â—ars 2. m. 3. hereafter cited doth most fully convince me upon second thoughts that the Presbyteratus omnium Iudâ—orum totius Angliae granted by King Iohn's Charter forementioned in the 1 year of his reign to Iacob the London Jew was not an ecclesiastical high Priesthood Episâ—opacy or Priestly Aaronical Function but exercised over all the English Jews in their Synagogues as Sir Edward Coook Mâ— Selden Mr. Purâ—has Dr. Fuller and others generally assert as a thing beyond disspute whose venerable Authorities at first induced me to that opinion but a meer secular Office in the Kings Exchequer of the Jews to keep the Rolls of Comptroll which this Aaron had now granted to him in the self-same words as are used in King Iohns Charter and his Predecestors before and successors after him enjoyned by like Charters from the K. A thing now clear to me upon consideration that the Jewish
Katerinae extra Lincoln et Robertus de Blund ad aperiendas Archas Cirograf Judaismi Regis Lincoln Stainford Eodem modo assign Abbas Sancti Augustini Bristol et Bartholm le Ieovene Constabularius Castri de Bristol ad aperiend Archas Cirograf Judaismi Bristol Eodem modo assignatur Bartholomeus de Suthleye una cum aliquo alio fideli ad aperiend Arch. Cirograf Judaismi Wigorn. In cujus c. Teste ut supra Rex dilecto sibi in Christo Priori Norwici et dilecto Clerico suo VVillielm de Middleton salutem Sciatis quod assignavimus vos ad aperiend Archam Cirograf Judaismi nostri Norwici et ad scrutand et examinand Cartas et omnia debita in illa Archa inventa et omnia debita illa irrotulanda et ad plenum scrutinium inde faciend et ad omnia ea nobis distincte et aperte sub sigillis vestris referenda Et ideo vobis mandamus quod ad certum diem quem ad hoc provideatis Archam illam aperiatis et Cartas omnia debita in eadem inventa diligenter scutemini et facto scrutinio illo praemissa omnia irrotuletis et Archa illa secure reclusa eam sigillis vestris sigilletis Ita quod non aperiatur donec aliud inde duxerimus Ordinandum Proviso quod nullas Cartas extra eandem Archam existentes ponatis in eandem nec aliquas ibidem inventas ab eadem extrahatis vel aliquo modo extrahi permittatis Et si quas Cartas in manibus Cirograf nostrorum extra Archam illam inveneritis eas per se irrotulari et in securo loco reponi faciatis In cujus c. apud Turr. London 24 die Novembris Eodem modo assignatur Walt. de Helynn una cum aliquo alio fideli Regis quem sibi assignaverit ad aperiendas Archas Cirograf Judaismi Regis Hereford et Gloucester Eodem modo assignatur Iohannis Wigorn. et Roger de Evesham ad aperiend Arch. Cirograf Judaismi Regis Exon. et ad scrutand ut supra Eodem modo assignatur Hugo de Stapleford una cum aliquo alio fideli Regis quem sibi associau ad aperiendas Archas Cirograf Judaismi Regis Huntindon Bedford Northampt. Oxon. Eodem modo assignatur Prior de London et Willielmus de Stirkeslegh ad aperiend Archas Cirograf Judaismi Regis Lincoln et Stainford In cujus c. Tese ut supra I have rehearsed all these Patents and Commissions at large because they vary some thing from each other in form prescribe general and universal searches of the Jews common Chests and Writings and manifest how and where they were dispersed into most of the chief Cities and Towns of England and where they had Chests more exactly then most other Records This year there falling out some difference between the Jews and the Sheriff of Oxford who had the Custody and Regulation of the Oxford Jews thereupon at the Jews procurement there issued forth this Patent to the Mayor and Bayliffs of Oxford to keep the peace between the Sheriff and them and to have the Protection and Government of them till the next Parliament Rex Majori ad Ballivis suis Oxon. salutem Cum ad occasionem turbationis inter Vici nostrum Oxon. Judaeos nostros ejusdem Villae jam exortae sicut dicitur tollendam et ad pacem in Judaismo nostro ibidem quietius conservandam assignavimus vos ad Custod Judaeorum nostrorum ejusdem villae usque ad Parliament nostrum post instans fest Sancti Michaelis Vobis mandamus qnod sicut de vestra diligentia et fidelitate specialiter confidimus custodiae illi diligenter intendatis Ita quod Pax nostra in Iudaismo praedicto et in aliis quae statum ipsorum Judaeorum in eisdem partibus tangunt vestro mediante â—nvamime et Consilo bene et inviolabiter conservetur Mandavimus enim Vicecomiti nostro praedicto quod ad informationem status ipsorum Iudaeorum non praesumat aliquid attemptare nec de eisdem in aliquo interim se intromittat In cujus c. Teste Rege apud Windsore 31 die Julii King Edward the 1. in the 5 year of his reign appointed Commissioners to impose a Tax upon all the Commonalty of the Jews throughout England whose names and authority are thus expressed in a Commission granted to them for this end Rex dilectis et fidelibus suis Ioh. de Cobham et Phil. de Wileby et Wil. de Middl. salutem Sciatis quod dedimus vobis potestatem obligandi universos et singulos Judaeos regni nostri secundum quod vos vel duo vestrum videritis expedire Et ideo vobis mandamus quod vos omnes vel duo vestrum omnes predictos Judaeos tallietis secundum quod ad opus nostrum melius videritis expedire In cujus c. T. R. apud Windsore 30 die Maii. Hereupon all the Jews were summoned from all parts up to London to be taxed and thereupon all Inquisitions against them during their attendance there upon this occasion afterwards were suspended unless by special command of the King or his Justices for the Iews or these Commissioners and those to be made both by Christians and Iews as was anciently accustomed as this Writ doth evidence issued soon after Rex Vicecomiti Oxon. cum assignavimus quosdam fideles nostros London ad Tallagium super communitatem Judaeorum nostroruÌ„ Angliae assidend per quod oportet Iudaeos nostros Oxon ibidem interesse ad mandatuÌ„ fidelium nostroruÌ„ praedictorum Tibi praecipimus quod Inquisitiones aliquas super dictos Iudaeos dum ibidem fuerint vel postquam inde redierint non facias sine mandaeto nostro vel dictorum fidelium nostrorum seu etiam Iusticiariorum nostrorum ad Custod Iudaeorum assignat hoc per Christianos Iudaeos sicut temporibus aliorum Vicecom ibidem fieri consuevit T. Rege apud Beckell 22 die Iunii These incessant heavy annual Taxes arbitrarily assessed on the Jews without intermission by Aegyptian Taxmasters so impoverished many of them that they were unable to pay them and thereupon all their goods and debts were seized to satisfie them so far as they would reach leaving them only a bare subsistance the residue respited to be annually paid as this record informs us Rex Insticiariis suis ad Custod Iudaeorum assignatis salutem Quia ex testimonio fide dignorum accepimus quod Mosseus de Clare Iudaeus tam pro Tallagio nostro super ipsum assesso quam pro aliis debitis quae nobis solvit post adventum nostrum in Angliam non sufficit ad residua debita in quibus nobis adhuc tenetur tam de tempore Domini Regis Henrici patris nostri quam nostro nobis ad praesens solvend Vobis mandamus quod scrutatis rotulis de Iudaismo nostrâ— de debitis in quibus Nobis tenetur ad Scacc Judaismi nostri praedicti de debitis
habendum et tenendum eidem Judaeo haeredibus suis in perpetuum eidem Judaeo quod praedictum Gardinum ab eadem Auntlera recipere possit tenore praesentium similiter licentiam concedimus specialem Nolentes quod eadem Auntlera vel haeredes sui aut praedictus Iudaeus authaeredes sui ratione venditionis seu recepitionis Gardini praedicti per nos vel haeredes nostros Justiciarios Ballivos aut alios Ministros nostros occasionentur gravantur in aliquo seu molestantur In cujus c T. R. apud West 17. die Junii The like Patent I find to Aaron the Kings Brothers Jew â—orementioned to sell his house and rents in fee to any Christian who should purchase them by his Lords license even after the Edict past and Letters of safe conduct granted for the Jews banishment and departure hence as appears by comparing their dates Rex omnibus c. salutem Sciatis quod concessimus licentiam dedimus Aaron fil Vynes Judaeo Edmundi fratris nostri carissimi quod ipse domos et redditus suos tam infra Civitatem nostram London quam infra Regnum nostrum de licentia voluntate praedicti fratris nostri Domini sui vendere possit upon his banishment hence quibuscunque Christiaenis voluerit absque impedimento nostri vel aliorum nostrorum quorumcunque eisdem Christianis quod domâ—s illas redditus ab eodem Iudaeo emere valeant similiter licentiamconcedimus specialem jure cujuslibet in omnibus semper salvo In cujus c T. R. apud Langeleye 28 die Julii After the date is the Letters for the Jews safe conduct out of England to the Sheriffs It is very observable that these three last Patents were made but a very little before and the last of them clearly after the Jews universal banishment voted resolved both by the King and Parliament For when as the King his Justices and Parliament by all their Inquisitions Commissions Care Providence and Execution of so many Jews in all parts could no ways suppresse their clipping and falsifying of the Money of the Realme nor yet reforme the manifold other wickednesse and misdemeanors of the English Jewes nor all the industry and pains of the Friers Preachers nor all that liberal provisions and grants of the King forecited to the House of Converts for their comfortable support maintenance and confirmation in the Christian faith so far operate upon their obstinate obdurate hearts as to convert any considerable number or any persons of note amongst them to the Christian faith from which many Converts apostatized nor yet suppresse their continual blasphemies against our crucified Saviour the Christian faith Sacraments of the Church and blessed Virgin Thereupon the King at the earnest frequent solicitation of the Commons assembled this year in Parliament after the Feast of St. Hilary enacted published an Edict or Decree in Parliament for the total universal and final banishment of all these wicked blasphemous unbeleeving Jews out of England then generally execrable detestable to all the people who were so desirous to be for ever quit of their company that they granted the King the 15 part of all their goods and moveables for their banishment and expulsion out of England as I have formerly proved at large by a full grand Jury of Historians and several Records in my former Demurrer against Sir Edward Cooks grosse assertion that they only voluntarily banished themselves because their usury was this year suppressed by the Stat. de Iudaismo which I have proved was made full 15 years before to be no cause at all of their exile now In pursuance of this Parliamentary Edict Decree now no where extant on Record all the Parliament Rolls before 5 Ed. 2. being wholly lost and many since by the carelessenesse or iniquity of the times except only an old Parchment Book of some Pleas in Parliam in E. 1 one Statute Roll of K. Ed. the 1. Ed. 2. and Ed. 3. wherein the Statute De Iudaismo with many other printed Acts are not to be found no more than this Edict for the Jews banishment though mentioned in many Histories and Records the King in this very moneth of Iuly sent several Writs Letters and Patents to the Sheriffs of Counties Mayors of Towns Bayliffs and Barons of the Cinqueports and likwise to Mariners reciting that he had prescrib'd a certain time term day to all and every of the Iews within the Realm for their departure out of it into forraign parts commanding them not to doe nor suffer any injury molestation grievance to be done to them by any in their passage beyond the Seas for which he had given them safe conduct but to grant them their wives and children a safe and speedy passage within the time prefixed them at the Jews own costs paying reasonable rates for their freights and passage without immoderate exactions especially on the poorer sort of them lest their passage should be hindred by such immoderate and unreasonable exactions I shall transcribe these Writs and Letters at large out of the Records themselves as most pertinent to my intended Theame beginning with those to Sheriffs Rex Vic Gloucestriae c. Cum Iudaeis Regni nostri universis certum tempus praefixerimus a Regno illo Transfretanoi Nolentes quod ipsi per Ministros nostro aut alios quoscunque aliter quam fieri consuevit indebite pertrectentur Tibi praecipimus quod per totam Ballivam tuam publicè proclamari et firmiter inhiberi facias ne quis eis intra terminum praedictum injuriam molestiam dampnum inferat seu gravamen Et cum contingat ipsos cum catallis suis quae eis concessimus versus partes London causa Transfretrationis suae dirigere gressus suos salvum securum conductum eis habere facias sumptibus eorum Proviso quod Iudaei praedicti ante recessum suum vadia Christianorum quae penes se habent illis quorum fuerint si ea acquietare voluerint restituant ut tenentur Teste Rege apud Westm 18 die Iulii Anno 18. E. 1. Consimiles Literae diriguntur Vicecomitibus Essex Ebor. Northampt. Lincoln Teste ut supra Item Vicecomitibus Hereford Suthampt. The form of the Letters for protection and safe conduct to particular Jews and their Families which the richer sort of Jews purchased at dear rates was this Rex Majoti et Ballivis Eborum salutem Quia certum diem praefixerimus Iudaeis nostris Angliae regnum nostrum exeundi et â—e ad partes alias transferendi Vobis mandamus quod Bonamico Judaeo Eborum uxori pueris vel familiae suae in personis aut rebus interim nullam molesâ—iam inferatis set ipsos quantum in vobis est manuteneatis protegatis et defendatis Et cum idem Bonamicus cum uxore pueris et familia sua post Terminum Proclamationis factae de vadiis Christianorum acquietandis ad partes maritimas causa transfretandi divertere
se voluerint sibi et suis salvum conductum cum ab eo fueritis requisiti suis sumptibus habere faciatis ne eis super bonis quae secum deferre contingerit periculum emineat pro defectu conductus hujusmodi faciendi T. Rege apud Lang. 26 die Julii Et sunt Patentes By this Patent it appears First that the Jewes had a certain day prefixed them by the King to depart out of the Realm of England into Foreign parts of which they all had general and particular notice 2ly That the wealthier Jews thereupon to preserve their own persons wives children families from corporal violence and their goods from plunder purchased particular Letters of Protection and safeconduct from the King to Mayors and other Officers 3ly That the King published a general Proclamation upon the Edict of their banishment that all the pawns of Christians to them should be redeemed and discharged before their departure or left behind them when they departed hence The next day after this private Letter of Protection and Safeconduct on the 27 of July the King sent these Letters to the Bailiffs Barons and Seamen of the Cinque ports for the Jews safe conduct passage and transportation out of England within the term which he had prefixed to all and every of them being general for all the Jews Rex omnibus Ballivis Baronibus et Nautis Quinque portuum suorum salutem Cum certum terminum omnibus et singulis Iudaeis Regni nostri praefixerimus idem Regnum exeundi Nolentes quod ipsi in rebus seu personis interim aliqualiter injurientur Vobis mandamus quod eisdem Iudaeis cum ipsos ad Portus praedictos cum uxoribus pueris Catallis suis venire contingerit ad transfretand INTRA TERMINUM PRAEDICTUM salvum festinum pâ—ssagâ—um securum conductum habere faciatis sumptibus corundem Ita tamen quod Pauperibus Judaies super freto Navium in transportatione parcatur et aâ—â—is juxta facultates inde fiat exactio moderata prout in hujusmodi passagiis alias fieri consuevit ne quis ipsorum per exactiones immoderatas et irrationabiles super passagio suo impediatur Et sub gravi forisfactura nostra firmâ—ter vobis injungimus ne quis vestrum Iudaeis praedictis in rebus aut pe sonis inferat vel quantum in ipso est inferri permittat injuriam molestiam dampnum impedimentum seu gravamen In cujus c. Teste Rege apud Westm xxvii die Julii Besides these general he granted other particular Letters of safe conduct to the Bailiffs Barons and Seamen of the Cinque Ports for some privat Jews their wives children and families who desired them as appears by this Record Rex omnibus Ballivis Baronibus Nautis Quinque Portuum salutem Cum certum terminum omnibus et singulis Iudaeis Regni nostri praefixerimus idem Regnum exeundi Nolentes quod ipsi in rebus seu personis interim aliqualiter injuriatur Et vobis mandamus quod Mosseo filio Jacobi de Oxon Iudaeo nostro Northampt. cum ipsum ad portus praedictos cum uxore pueris familia et catallis suis venire contigerit Ad Transfretandum intra terminum praedictum salvum et festinum passagium et securuÌ„ conductum habere faciatis sumptibus ejusdem Ita quod ei juxta facultates inde fiat exactio moderata prout in hujusmodi passagiis alias fieri consuevit ne ipse per exactiones immoderatas et irrationabiles which the Jews all feared from the English upon this extraordinary occasion of their peremptory Exile super passagio fuo impediatur â—â—t sub gravi forisfactura nostra firmiter vobis inâ—ungimus ne quis vestrum praedicto Mosseo uxori pueris aut familiis suis praedictis in rebus aut personis inferat vel quatemus in ipso est inferri permittat in uriam molestiam dampnum impedimentum seu gravamen In cujus c. Teste Rege apud Selveston 8 die Aug. It is observable that in all these Writs and Letters the King relates that he had prefixed a certain day time or term to all and every the Jews of the Realm to depart out of the same Realm but mentions not in any of them the precise day time or term at all Therfore it is most certain it was mentioned in some other publike Act and Edict for their Banishment made in Parliament which all our Historians remember then publickly known to all the Jews Sheriffs Officers and people for how else should they certainly know or take notice of it if it were not then as notorious as these Writs and Letters which do not particularly expresse it Matthew Westminster in or near this time precisely writes That the Jews were all to depart out of England with their wives and children by the Feast of All Saints QUOD EIS PRO TERMINO PONEBATUR quem sub poenae suspendii transgredi non est causa This therefore was the term prefixed to them in the Parliamentary Act Decree for their Banishment by that day under pain of being hanged if they departed not England before that term The Liber Rubeus or Red Book in the Remembrancers Office in the Eschequer fol. 252. b. hath this Memorand entred in it touching the time the Jews actually departed from London and England De Iudaeis recedentibus ab Anglia Memorandum quod die Martis in crastino Sancti Dionisii Anno Regni Regis Edwardi silii Henrici decimo octavo et Anno Domini Millesimo ducentessimo nonagessimo recesserunt omnes Judaei de London versus Mare ad transfretandum sub protectione Domini Regis And the same Memorandum in effect is written in a hand of that time at the end of the Original Manuscript Copy of Florentius Wigorniensis Now Saint Dionisius day being the 9th of October this their departure from London must necessarily be on the 10. day of Octob. being the next day after it An. 1290. just 21 days before the feast of All Saints by which day they were all to depart out of England under pain of death and accordingly departed as I have elsewhere manifested except some few poor converted Jews who remained like Almesmen in the House of the Converts and were not banished with the rest whose Infidelity was the chief cause of their exile as our Historians attest The King on the 27 day of October but 17 days after the Jews final departure from London out of England committed the custody of this Domus Conversorum and the Converts in London to Walter de Agmodisham during pleasure by this his Patent Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Sciatis quod commissimus Waltero de Agmodisham custodiam Domus nostrae Conversorum London conversorum nostrorum therefore not banished with the rest habendum quamdiu nobis placuerit cum omnibus ad custodiam illam pertinentibus sicut Johis de Sancto Dionis quondam Archidiac Roff. eam dum vixit
habere consuevit Ita quod idem Walterus domos illas in quibus idem Archidiaconus morabatur ibidem inhabitet pro voluntate sua c. T. R. apud Kingestclipton 27 die Octobris On the 16 day of December following the King granted the custody of this house to Richard de Clunpynges by this Patent which manifests that the converted Jews were not banished with the rest Rex omnibus et singulis Conversis Domus suae London salutem Sciatis quod commissimus dilecto clerico nostro Rico. de Clunpynges custodiam Domus praedictae habendum quamdiu nobis placuerit cum omnibus ad dictam custodiam pertinentibus eodem modo quo Johis de Sancto Dionis quondam Archidiaconus Roffensis defunctus eam dum vixit habere consuevit Ita quod dom illas in quibus idem Archidiaconus morabatur ibidem pro voluntate sua inhabitet Et ideo vobis mandamus quod eidem Rico. tanquam custodi vestro in omnibus que ad custodiam illam perâ—inent 〈◊〉 eâ— sitis et respondentes sicut praedictum est In cujus c. T. Rege apud Odyham 16 die Decembris The very next year after the Jews banishment within four moneths of their departure hence I find these Letters Patents directed by the King to all his Sheriffs Bayliffs and Lieges expresly mentioning their banishment hence and the Kings designing of all the rents and profits of their houses from the time of their banishment to be collected and disposed to pious uses as Hugh de Kendale Clerk should appoint specially intrusted with the management of this affair Rex Vicecomitibus omnibus aliis Ballivis fidelibus suis ad quos c. salutem Cum assignavimus totam pecuniam provenientem de Domibus quae fuerunt Judaeorum nostrorum in Anglia in quosdam pios usus convertendam per quod volumus quod totum commodum perveniens ex Domibus illis a tempore exilii eorundem ut ex conventione Domorum earundem rebus aliis in eosdem usus applicetur Assignavimus dilectum Clericum nostrum Hugonâ—m de Kendale ad inquirendum de conductionibus et omnibus receptis hujusmodi plenam veritatem et ad onerandum Vicecomites Ministros et omnes receptoâ—es pecuniae inde provenientis a tempore exilii praedicti et ad pecuniam illam in tuto loco reponendam per Vicecomites vel alio modo prout melius viderit expedire Et ideo vobis mandamus quod eidem Hugoni intendentes sitis credentes respondentes Teste Rege apud Asherugge 22 die Ianuarii King Edward presently after the Jews banishment hence seized upon all their Houses Lands and Revenues throughout England as escheated into his hands by this their sentence of banishment and presently within few moneths after made sale of them to English men by several Letters Patents as appears by a special Pat. Roll of the sales of their houses made in the 19 and 20 years of his reign thus endorsed Carta de Judaismo Literae Patentes de domibus Iudaeorum concessis Post eorum Exilium de Anglia wherein are near one hundred particular Patents of sales of them to several persons running in the selfsame form mutatis mutandis all mentioning their Banishment hence this Kings title to them thereby by way of Escheat take one in the 19. year for an example of all that ensue that year Rex omnibus ad quos c. salutem Sciatis quod concessimus pro Nobis haeredibus nostris Isabellae quae fuit uxor Ade de Sancto Albano Junior Domos illas cum pertinentiis in London quae fuerunt Leonis fil Cressey fil Magistri Eliae Judaei de parochia Sancti Martini Pomer in Ismongerslane Per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei a Regno nostro tanquam Escaeta nostra in manu nostra existentes et quae ad quatuor marcas extenduntur Habendum tenendum eidem Isabellae et haeredibus suis de Nobis et haeredibus nostris imperpetuum Reddendo inde Nobis haeredibus nostris unum denarium per manum Vicecomitis ejusdem Civitatis singulis annis ad Scaccarium nostrum Pasche et faciendo aliis Dominis feodi illius servicia inde debita et consueta In cujus c. Teste Rege apud Asherigge 27 die Decembris Anno regni Regis Edwardi filii Regis Henrici xix This Patent bears date within two Moneths next after the Jews actual departure hence upon the Decree and Edict for their banishment After which follow near one hundred Patents of their houses made this year wherein was the same recital of their banishment as in this transcribed Then follow many other 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 Taburet de Bedeford Katerinae uxori ejus Domos illas quae fuerunt Cok filii Benedicti de Bedeford Per Exilium ejusdem Iudaeia Regno nostro tanquam Escaeta nostra in manu nostra existentes et quae ad sex 〈◊〉 extenduatur Habendum et tenendum eisdem Willielmo Kater et haeredibus suis vel cui ilâ—as 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
Masters of their Law without the Kings special license 10. That the Iews usury was no ways countenanced nor approved but generally condemned and frequently released by our Kings long before the Statute de Judaismo which most infallibly appears to be made in 3 Ed. 1. not in 18. as Sir Edward Cook very grosly mistook And that the banishment of their Usury by it was not the cause of their voluntary banishment hence as he most fondly conceited 11. That the Presbyteratus Judeorum totius Angliae was not the High Priests spiritual function as Sir Edward Cook and others affirm but only a temporal office and Comptrolership in the Kings Exchequer of the Jews 12. That our Kings and Auncestors in times of Popery made and published sundry excellent Ordinances against the blasphemies abuses of the Jews and were very zealous industrious to convert them to Christianity and carefull to maintain support confirm and provide for them when converted in their Domus Conversorum That King Edward the first remitted his right to all the goods of convert Jews by an unchristian usage confiscated formerly to the Crowne by their very conversion allowing all Converts the moity of their estates to maintain them and granting the other moity of their Estates together with his Deodands and all forfeitures and Chevages of the Jews for the support of the Converts and their House Chappel Chaplains Yet very few of them were converted 13. That King Edward the 1 in the 18 year of his reign did by publike Edict of Parliam actually banish all the Jews out of England except the Converts by a set prefixed day beyond all contradiction much against the Jews good wills as I have undeniably proved by sundry Records forecited here and by multitudes of Historians in my first Demurrer against Sir Edw. Cooks grosse error A truth so clear that the very Jews themselves as I am informed by those best versed in their Manuscript Antiquities do make special mention of this their Banishment out of England in their Chronicles in Manasseh Ben-Israels custody taking their later computations of years from thence as a time very remarkable and ominous to their whole Nation And well might they do so seeing learned Mr. Edward Brerewood in his Enquiries touching the diversities of Languages and Religions throughout the chief parts of the world London 1614. c. 13. p. 92. assures us that The first Country of Christendom whence the Iews were expelled without hope of Return was our Country of England whence they were Banished Anno 1290. by King Edward the first By which example Not long after they were likewise banished France Anno 1307. by Philippus Pulcher Only of all the Countries of France in the Iurisdiction of Avignon the Popes State some are remaining Out of Spain An. 1492. by Ferdinand and shortly after out of Portugal Anno 1539. by Emanuel Out of the Kingdome of Naples and Sicilie Anno 1539. by Charls the V. as he there writes Out of which Sir Edward Cooke might have as well averred they only voluntarily banished themselves as that they voluntarily banished themselves out of England with ut any special Edict for their exile thence What other particulars of lester moment concerning the Jews occurre in these Records I have formerly touched in their respective places and shall here omit Having thus compleated my JUDAISMUS ANGLICANUS REDIVIVUS if I may so stile it or Chronological Collections of the Historical and Legal affairs of the English Jews out of the rich unknown Magazine of our generally neglected slighted precious old Records which Hugh Peters the great New-modeller Reformer of our former Lawes Liberties Government Kingdom Republike Church Religion Justice Law Merchandise Navy the Poor and what not but himself out of his rash fiery Zeal and transcendent ignorance would now make all new Martyrs but yet be none himself For which end in his Good Work for a good Magistrate London 1651. after his proposal of A short Model for the Law p. 28. c. he concludes with this advice as a Good Work fit for his good Magistrate p. 33. This being done It is very advisable to burn all the old Records yea even those in the Tower the Monuments of Tyranny that so his New Whimsies only might be known and adored for our English Lawes and Monuments in all succeeding ages I shall therefore crave Liberty to inform the World and this Ignoramus of the incomparable Excellency Utility Necessity of preserving these Records which he hath so brutishly devoted to the fire before he either knew their contents or worth which our Ancestors even in all former Wars Revolutions as well as times of peace and settlement preserved with much care and cost as the richest Pearls Treasures and Jewels of the Nation To which I answer 1. That all our wisest Kings Parliaments Ancestors Statesmen in former ages had ever a special care to record all businesses of publike or private ocncernment and to preserve our ancient Records as the choicest Treasures appointing special Treasuries places to preserve them in and Custodes Râ—tulorum Treasurers Chamberlains Registers Clerks to keep them safe from injury corrupting and embezelling and enacting many Statutes for this purpose witnesse not only the Chests Cyrographers Officers and others forementioned for keeping the Records and Charters of the Jews and their Rolls but also 13 E. 1. c. 25. 30. 1 E. 3. c. 4. 5 E. 3. c. 12. 9 E. 3. c. 5. 6 R 2. c. 4. 13 H. 4. c. 7. 2 H. 5. c. 8. 4 H. 6. c. 3. 8 H. 6. c. 12. 15. 10 H. 6. c. 4. 18 H. 6. c. 1. 9. 27 H. 8. c. 16. 32 H. 8. c. 28. 34 H. 8. c. 22. 28. 37 H. 8. c. 1. 2 E. 6. c. 10. 3 4 E. 6. c. 1. 1 2 Phil. Mar. c. 2. 23 Eliz. c. 3. 27 Eliz. c. 9. 31 Eliz. c. 3. 1 Jac. c. 6. with other Acts And must they now after all these Statutes be all made a burnt-ofâ—ring unto Vulcan upon the crack-brain'd Motion of an Ignatian Incendiary 2. The Statute of 8 H. 6. c. 12. still in force Ordains That if any Record or parcel of the same writ retorn panel proces or warrant of Attorney in the Kings Courts of Chancery Eschequer the one Bench or other or in his Treasury be willingly stolen taken away withdrawn or avoided by any Clerk or other Person by cause whereof any Judgement be reversed thâ— such stealer taker away withdrawer and avoider their Procurers Counsellors and Abettors being thereof indicted and by process theâ—eupon made thereof duly convict by their own confession or by enquest to be taken by legal men whereof the one half shall be of the men of some Court of the same Courts and the other half of other shall be judged for Felons and shall incurre the pain of Felons And that the Iudges of the said Courts of the one Bench and of the other have power to hear and determine such