combate the Jews only brought away nothing besides confusion although they would many times boast that they were overcome not by argument or reason but by a faction Antoninus relating the story in the same words addes onely this That the Jews comming to this King on a certain Solemnity and offering him gifts after their removal from Rhoan to London he thereupon animated them to a conflict against the Christians swearing by St. Lukes face that if they overcame them he would revolt to their Sect as if he spake it in good earnest with whom the Magdeburg Centuries Iohn Stow in his Survey of London p. 288. and Sir Richard Baker in his Chronicle p. 51. accord By which we may observe That the Jews were no sooner transported and setled in Rhoan and London but thâ—y presently began to grow very insolent against the Christians 1. Endeavouring to pervert some of them by monies to Judaism 2ly Attempting to corrupt the King himself by gifts to side with them against the Bishops and Clergy and to become one of their Sect. 3ly By entring into open Disputations with the Bishops and Clergy against the Christian Faith to the great fear of the Professors and hazard of the Christian Religion 4ly By boasting frequently when they were overcome That it was only by power and faction not truth or disputation And will not this be their very practise now if re-admitted to the hazard of our Christian Religion and seduction of many simple unstable souls in this unsetled apostatizing age when not only the ignorant people but many great Professors turn Atheists Hereticks Seekers Apostates Blasphemers Ranters Quakers Antiscripturists and what not but real upright just and mortified self-denying Christians This History of William Rufus causing a disputation between the Christians and the Jews is related by Raphael Holinshed in his Chronicle Vol. 3. p. 27. who likewise records of him That he being at Rhoan on a time there came to him divers Jews who inhabited that City complaining to him that divers of that Nation had renounced their Jewish Religion and were become Christians wherefore they besought him that for a certain summe of money which they offered to give it might please him to constrain them to abjure Christianity and turn to the Jewish Law again He was content to satisfie their desires and so receiving the money called them before him and what with threats and putting them otherwise in fear he compelled divers of them to forsake Christ and to turn to their old errors Hereupon the Father of one Stephen a Jew converted to the Christian Faith being sore troubled for that his Son was turned a Christian and hearing what rhe King had done in such like matters presented to him 60 Marks of Silver conditionally That he should enforce his Son to return to his Jewish Religion whereupon the young man was brought before the King unto whom he said Sirra thy Father here complaineth that without his license thou art become a Christian If this be true I command thee to return again to the Religion of thy Nation without any more adoe To whom the Young man answered Your Grace as I guesse doth but â—est Wherewith the King being moved said What thou dunghill knave should I jest with thee Get thee hence quickly and fulfill my commandement or by St. Lukes face I shall cause thine eyes to be plucked out of thine head The young man nothing abashed thereat with a constant voice answered Truly I will not doe it but know for certain that if you were a good Christian you would never have uttered any such words for it is the part of a Christian to reduce them again to Christ which are departed from him and not to separate them from him which are joyned to him by Faith The King herewith confounded commanded the Jew to avant and get him out of his sight But his Father perceiving that the King could not perswade his Son to forsake the Christian Faith required to have his money again To whom the King said he had done so much as he promised to doe that was to perswade him so far as he might At length when he would have had the King to have dealt further in the matter the King to stop his mouth tendred back to him the one half of his money and reteined the other to himself All which encreased the suspition men had of his infidelity By this History we may perceive what a prevailing Engine the Jews money is both to serue them into Christian Kingdoms though the most bitter inveterate professed Enemies of Christ himself Christians and Christianity and how their money can induce even Christian Princes to perpetrate most unchristian and antichristian actions and enforce by threats and violence even converted Christian Jews to renounce their Christianity and apostatise to their former Jewish Errors which they had quite renounced And do not they still work even by the self-same Money Engine preferred by too many Christians before Christ himself and Christianity In the year of our Lord 1145. during the reign of King Stephen the Jews grew so presumptuous in England that they crucified a child called William in the city of Norwich in derision of Christian Religion as Mathew Westminster Flores Historiarum Ann. 1145. p. 36. and others ioyntly attest Not long after this Anno 1160. the 6 year of Henry the II. they crucified another child at Gloucester in contempt of Christ and his Passion as John Bromtons Chronicon col 1050. and others record And in the same Kings reign Anno 1181. upon the same account the Iews on the Feast of Easter martyred and crucified another child at St. Edmonds-bury called Robert who was honourably interred soon after in the Church of St. Edmunds and grew famous by miracles there wrought as Gervasius Dorobernensis in his Chronica col 1458. relates What punishments were then inflicted on them for these Murders and Insolencies I find not recorded perchance they purchased their peace with monies Yet I read That in the year 1168. King Henry the 2. wanting monies banished the wealthiest of the Jews out of England and fined the rest of them in 5000 Marks most likely for these their Misdemeanors John Stow in his Survey of London p. 288. writes That King Henry the 2. grievously punished the Jews for corrupting his coin which no other Historian mentions The Jews though there were a great multitude of them in England in every quarter of the Realm had only one Church-yard alotted them and that at London near Red-cross-street in which they were enforced to bury all their dead corps wheresoever they died which being a great trouble and annoyance to them thereupon in the year 1178. they petitioned King Henry the 2. being at Stanstede for a License to have church-yards without the Cities wherin they inhabited in convenient places where they could purchase them wherein to bury their dead which he then granted to them It seems the Jews
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
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
audacias turpitudines ne dicam scelera indigna audiru profatuque quae vix credenti non modò enunciata sed visa comperta fuere Iason Matassalanus Ludovicus Matha quum sacerdotalibus quibus fungebantur muneribus cedere nollent quaesitis occasionibus ad inimicorum libidinem tetro carcere usque eò tenti fuere donec illorum arbitrio singulis ornamentis fama fortunis omnibus exturbati quoad illis liberet excruciati sunt non verò judicio sed praesidentis sola temeritate libidine ne prosequar viros vitae inculpassimae summa integritate fide falsis criminibus circunuentos ab impotentibus inimicis miseros laborentes in quos graviter crudeliterque consultum vidimus vel ut afflictas fortunas invaderent ipsosque de possessione antiquissimis sedibus deturbarent vel ut invidorum libidini obtemperarent aliaque in miseros edita exempla nulla pietate in supplices calamitosos eosque innoxios turpibus judiciis conflictari usque premi ab his qui gratiâ opibus plus possunt pollentque alios vero autores manifesti facinoris ne appellari quidem Quae cum viderem patronisque contra vim potentiorum aut gratiam nihil praesidii esse nihil opus frustra nos in legum controversiis ediscendis tot casuum varâ—etatibus â—am pensiculatè editis tantum laboris vigiliarum suscipere tantoque nos studio fatigari dicebam quum ad ignavissimi impurissimique cujusque temeritatem qui jure dicundo praesideret quem leges virum bonum esse volunt non aequo jure sed ad gratiam libidinem judicia ferri decretaque legum tanto consilio edita convelli labefactari viderem FINIS ERRATA EPistle p. 8. l. 17. servants were r. Converts will be l. 33. excogitavit p. 10. l. 10. discover Book p. 9. l. 8. r. multa p. 20. l. 21. r. quesuerunt sufflatis p. 35. l. 10. thence from p. 41. l. 11. r. Claus 4. E. 1. l. 12. r. Gamalict l. 19. parte ne r. Regno nostro p. 45. l. 20. Judaei p. 62. l. 4. fift r. first p. 105 l. 11. CeremonÃes l. 35. these p. 109. l 32 others r their Margin p. 35. l. 13. Geogr. p. â—9 l. â— c 10. p 105. l. 1. Imo â— 23 1 Tiâ— 5.8 p. 115. l 17. 〈◊〉 l. 22. servirebant p. 116. l. 42. Episcopalis l. 42. Calâ—ernâ—nus The Second Part of a Short DEMVRRER TO THE IEWES 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 Lincoâ—ns-â—nne 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 dediâ—â—et â—i de quibus prâ—â—â—â— fuerat rectuudinem vestrae mentis inflectere pecuniarum summam offeâ—â—◠〈…〉 sunt quam Excellentia vestra contempsit omnipotentâ—s Dei placere judâ—â—â—â—r quiâ—â—nâ— auro innocentiam praetulit Si igitur ab armato Regâ— in Sacâ—ificiuâ— Dâ—â— vâ—â—sa câ—â— aqua contempta pensemus quale sacrificium omnipotenti Dâ—o Râ—x â—â—â—uâ—it qui pro amore illius non aquam SED AURUM ACCIPERE CONTEMPSIT Itaque fili Excellentissime fidentâ—â— dicam quia libaâ—iâ— AURUM Dâ—mino quod contra cum habere noluisti LONDON Printed and sold by Edward Thomas in Green Arbor 1â—56 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 incrâ—asing it into an over-large bulke and of oâ—er 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 Paâ—t 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 insâ—rted 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 Edwâ—rd 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 consisâ—ing of unprinted and for the most part unknown Records never formerly published I cannot diâ—ine 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 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
negocia nostra quae pertinent ad officium illud rectand per totam Angliam Et ideo vobis mandamus quod praedicto Ric Alex. et Elye sitis intendentes in omnibus quae spectant ad officium illud sicut fieri solebat tempore Will de Wartun Thom. de Nevil Galfr. de Norwic. T. Com. apud West 8. die Maii. Not long after the same year there were several writs sent to the Sheriff of Hereford and others to protect the Jews persons and estates from violence which the people were prone to offer to them and to preserve them from all suits and arrests against them for contracts or other things both in the Bishops Ecclesiastical Court and before the Sheriffs or Kings ordinary Justices and Judges but only before the Justices specially designed for their custody as in the time of King Iohn which writs were all sent them in this form Rex Vicecomiti Hereford salutem Scias quod de communi Concilio nostro concessimus Judaeis nostris ut ipsi maneant in Hereford sicut solebant tempore Domini Johannis Regis Patris nostri quod talem habeant communionem qualem habere consueverant inter Chrisâ—ianos Et ideo tibi praecipimus quod eos custodias mâ—nnreneâ—s protegas non eis infetens vel inferri permitteâ—â—â— aâ—iquod gravamen vel molestiam si aliquis 〈…〉 forisfecerit id eis sine dilatione facias 〈…〉 clamari facias per totam Ballivam tuam 〈…〉 pacem nostram dedimus non obstante 〈…〉 â—â—bitione inde facta ab Episcopo Hereford quia nihil ad ipsum pertiner de Judaeis nostris Et proâ—ibemus tibi ne manus mittas in eos aut in Catalla eoâ—um nec eos capias aut imprisones nec in Placitum trahas aut a Justiciariis nostris ab aliquo trahi permittas Sedu aâ—iquid fecerint quare poni debeant per vadium plegios tunc illos eorum excessus attachies quod â—â—nt coram Jusâ—iciariis nostris ad Custodiam Judaeâ—rum attornatis inde responsuri hoc facias per viâ—um legalium Christianorum Judaeorum Et non permittas quod placitentur in curia Christianitatis occasione â—â—cujus debiti Et haec omnia fieri facias sicut fieri solebant tempore Johann Regis patris nostri Teste Com. apud Tâ—â—rom London 19 die Junii Anno c. secundo Eodem modo scribitur Vicecomiti Wigorn. Vicecom Civibus Eborum Vicecomiti Constabulario Lincoln 〈◊〉 de Stanford Constabulario Bristol pro Judaeis de Bristol Vicecom Constabul Gloucest pro Judaeis Gloucestriae Vicecom Constab Northamton â—â—cecom Suthampton civibus Winton pro Judaeis There 〈◊〉 Jews then residing in all these places Iâ— the 2 year of King Henry the 3. I find this Kings â—rit to several Sheriffs where the Jews resided to proclâ—â—m that all the Jews where ever they did walk or ride should on their upper Garments wear a white â—abâ—es on their breasts made of Linnen Cloath or parchment as well within the Town as without that so they might be known from Christians Rex Vicecomiti Wigorniâ— salutem Prâ—cipimus tibi quod â—lamari observari facias per totam Ballivaâ— tâ—â—m quâ—d omnes Judaei deferunt in superiori indumento suo ubicur 〈◊〉 ambulaverint aut equitaverint infra villam vel exâ—ra quaâ—â— duas Tabulas albas in Pectore fact as de lineo pâ—atano vel dâ— parcameno Ita quod per hujusmodi signum manifeste poâ—sint Iudaei à Christianis discerni Tâ—ste Câ—mite to wit William Marshal Earl of Glâ—cester the Kings Guardâ—an and Protector apud Oxon. 30. die Martiii Item mandatum est Vicecomit Glocest VVarwick Lincoln Oxon Northampt. Majori Vicecomitious London In the Fine Roll of 2 H. 3. there is a writ directed to the Barons of the Exchequer by the King reciting Constat Nobis per inspectionem rotulorum Iustâ—ciariorum de Iudaismo c. that King Iohn his Father released Mirabilia the wife of Ely a Jew of all Debts due to him by her Husband Ita quod omnes Chaâ—â—e quâ—e fuerunt ipsius Eliae debita in eis contenta ipsi patri nâ—stro remâ—neant that King Iohn upon Elye his death seiâ—ed and granted â—ll his houses except two which Mirabilâ—â— by agreement was to have paying a fine of 15 marks to his Fatheâ— which was not yet paid which agreement he confirmâ—d and thereupon orders the Sheriff to â—â—y the â—aid Fine and Debts T. Com apud Gloc. 3. die Ian. It appears by many Rolls of â— and also of 3 4 5. H. 3. that King Iohn seiâ—ed and gaâ—e away â—o other the Houses of divers Jews both in Gloceâ—ter Oxon. Noâ—thampton and that King Hâ—nâ—y likewise diâ—poâ—ed of them as escheated to him either by the Jews deaths oâ—â—oâ— some other causes Take these two presâ—dents for all the rest Rex Fulk de Breant salutem Mandamus vobis quod sine dilatione habere fac Pho Marc. domum quae fuit Isaac Iudaei de Eboraco in Northampton et domum quae fuit Isaac Judaei Oxon in Oxon quas Dom. Jo. pr. noster dedit Galf. Luterel cujus terrae et haeredis custodiam concessimus eidem Pho. T. Com. apud West 17 die Jan. per ipsum Com. coram Dom. Winton Eodem modo scribitur Vic. Oxon. pro eodem et Ballivis Iudaeorum Oxon. pro eodem Rex Vic. Gâ—ouc salutem Constat nâ—bis per inspectionem Rotulorum nostrorum quod Dom. J. Rex pater noster dedit Guiberto de Rue Domum quae fuit Elye Iudaei Gloc. c. cum quadam placiâ—a quae fuit Mostei Judaei cum pert suis Et ideo tibi praecipimus quod eidem Guiberto de praedict domo placia plenariam seisinam sine dilatione habere fac T. Dom Pet. Winton apud Novum Templum London 23. die Sept. per eundem In the 3d. year of King Henry the 3. some Jews coming into England from foreign parts with their goods to reside there the Wardens of the Ports of England seised upon the persons and estates of these unwelcom Guests which occasioned these new Writs to be sent unto them for their free admission into England without impediment or seizure upon such security and terms as are expressed in the Writs and prohibiting the transportation of any Jews or their Chattels out of this Land into foreign parts without the Kings special Letters and Licenâ—e being once within his power Rex Custodâ—bus Portuum Angliae Praecipimus vobis quod Judaeos qui venturi sunt in teâ—ram nostram Angâ—iae de traâ—â—â—ia triâ—is partâ—bus ad morandum in terra nostra Angliae cum catalâ—is suis liberè et sine impedimento in portu nostro â—ccâ—dere permittatis accepta ab eis sufficienti securitate secundum Lâ—gem Judaeorum per fidem eorundem quod quam câ—ritis poterint veniant ad Iusticiarios nostros ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatos ad inrotuland
Et ideo vobis mandamus quod si judicetis hoc esse ad commodum nostrum sic fieri faciatis T. R. How strictly this tax was levied appears by this writ to destrain the Lands Revenues wives children and chattels of all the Jews in York and for the arrears of Aaron too notwithstanding his former exemption Mandat est Vic. Ebor quod distringat Aaron de Ebor Iudeum et omnes alios Judeos Ebor. per terras et tenementa catalla uxores et filios et omnibus aliis modis quibus melius poterit ad reddend Regi Tallagium suum de terminis Sancti Martini et St. Hillarii prox preteritis et id sicut seipsum diligit non omittat T. R. apud Notingh 14 die Ian. I find a Precept of the King this year to detein a convert Jew in prison accused of a Rape and other Trespasses such Converts were they then Mandatum est Vic. Linc. quod M. conversum commorantem apud Tornie capiat et in prisona Regis salvo custodiat donec c. per Orfanna de Geterleg apellat de raptu et pace Regis fracta T. R. And this year Edw. de Westm Will. de Bretun Tho Espernuâ— assignati sunt ad Inquisitionem fac de concelamentis Iudaismi tam in London quam alibi Anno 37 H. 3. The Jews advancing 5000 marks to the King beforehand for his passage into Gascoigne he thereupon made this Grant to them to be exempted from taxes till Easter and granted them writs in form of appeal if over-taxed witness this record Rex concâ—ssit omnibus Iudeis Angliae quod pro 4000 marc quas regi praemanibus ad passagium suum in Vascon pacaverint et pro 1000 marc quas Regi Ric. Com. Cornub. ad dictum passagium pro eis solvit quod sint quâ—eti de Tallagio facto ad passagium regis in Vascon pro pred 5000 marc et quod non tallientur citra Pasche et omnes Iudei qui utlagati sunt pro dicto Tall. si placare voluerint quod debeant de dicto Tall. Rex concedâ—t eis quod ad paceÌ„ Regis veniant Rex tamen vult quod nulluÌ„ Breve allocationis valeat alicui Iudeo in isto Tallagio quia R. Com. Cornubiae 1000 marc de dicto Tallagio habere debet Rex etiam vult quod si aliquis Iudeus aggravetur de dicto Tallagio quod gravamen suum alteri imponatur qui melius ferre posâ—it Et super hoc scribitur Thes et Baron de Scac et Iustice ad custod Iud assign T. R. apud Portsm 7. die July per Hen. de Wengham Hereupon some Iews complaining they were over-taxed in their tallages procured this writ for their ease herein Monstravit Regi Manuel Blundus Judeus London quod ipse superoneratus est in uItimo Tallvgio suo et solvit plus ad demidium quam solvisse debuit et quam alii solverint secundum facultates suas Et mandatum est Philippo Luvel et Justiciariis ad custod Jud. assign quod si ita est tunc superonerationem illam in praesentia ipsius Judei assidi faciant super alleviatos Judeos regni nostri in Tallagio predicto et pro eadem superoneratione reddenda districtonem fieri et praedict Man returnari fac sine dilatione Ita quod inde querelam rex non audiat pro defectu Justiciae Consimiles Literae habet Solomon Epis Judeus London The same year Rex concessit Hake fil Ioscey Iudeo quod habeat pacem regis et salvum ire redire licet se substraxerit pro quibusdam plateis argenteis ei impignoratis ut dicitur Ita quod plegios regi inveniat quod stabit recto secundum legem Judaismi Et super hoc scribitur Iustic ad custod Jud. assignatis T. R. apud Harwic 2 die Iuly Also Rex per finem quem Mossi de Hereford Judaeus fecit cum rege pardonavit ei transgressionem quam fecit pro eo quod illicentiatus a rege recessit in fine Scac. regis Sanct. Hillarii pro qua transgressione ipsum capi jusserint Justic ad custod Judeorum assignati Et mandatum est eisdem Iustic quod ipsum propter hoc non occasionari nec capi faciant T.R. apud Harling 7 die April Febr. 15. The King writes to the Iustices of the Iews to allow a Debt to two several Christians and Iews which he had pardoned the Debtors to these Iews in their Taxes they were to pay This year a Iews wife proving a convert Christian her husband was attached for her goods by the King as belonging to him upon her conversion who thereupon paid a fine to have this New case judicially determined in the Jews Eâ—chequer as this record attests Cum Abraham Batekot Iudeus attachiatus esset ad respondend regi de catallis Amiciae Judeae quae fuit uxor sua quae quidem catalla post conversionem suam ad regem pertinebant ut dicitur Idem Iudeus finem fecit cum rege pro dimid marc auri quam regi solvit ut secundum legem et consuetudinem Iudaismi ad Scaccarium Iudaeorum super hoc deducatur Et mâ—ndatum est Iustic ad custod Iud. assignatis quod citra festum S. And ad Scaccarium Iudeorum quod justum fuerit de catallis praedictis fieri facianâ— sicut praedict est T. per R. de Essington King Henry in this 37 year of his reign provided and ordained these memorable Laws and ordinances for the better regulation of the Jews in England restraining their Jewish rites erection of new Synagogues or Schools defection from or disputing against the Christian faith entertaining any Christians as Nurses servants and communion wiâ—h Christians to prevent their leavening of Christians with their Iudaisme distinguishing them from them by wearing a white Table on their breasts in joyning paying of tithes to the Christian Minister where they lived c. Rex providit et statuit c. Quod nullus Judeus maneat in Anglia nisi servicium Regis faciat Et quam cito aliquis Iudeus natus fuerit five sit Masculus sive faemina serviar Nobis in aliquo Et quod nullae Scholae Iudaeorum sint in Anglia nisi in locis illis in quibus hujusmodi scholae fuerunt tempore Domini Iohannis regis patris regis Et quod uniâ—ersi Judei in Synagogis suis celebrent submissa voce secundum ritum eorum Ita quod Christiani hoc non audiant Et quod quilibet Judeus reâ—pondeat Rectori Ecclâ—â—iae in cujus parochia maneat de omnibus parochialibus ad domum ipsius Iudei spectantibus Et quod nulla Nutrix Christiana de cetero lactet aur nutriat puerum alicujus Iudei nec asiquis Christianus vel Christiana serviat alicui Iudeo vel Iudeae nec cum ipsis comedat vel in domo sua commoretur Et quod nullus Iudeus vel Iudea comedat
not to be passionately zealous not to contend earnestly for the Faith against these ungodly men turning the Grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ is in a great measure to deny and betray them together with our Church Nation at once unto these their inveterate enemies For whose Conversion not National but of the very small elect Remnant of them as I shall pray so I cannot but pray and write against their Re-admission amongst us on these or any other terms for the Reasons here humbly presented to thy view and Christian Consideration by Thy Christian Brother and Companion in tribulation and in the Kingdom Patience of Jesus Christ William Prynne Lincolnes-Inne 14 December 1655. A Short Demurrer to the Jews long discontinued Remitter into ENGLAND HOw the Nation of the Jews once Gods own beloved special chosen People after their malitious crucifying of our Saviour Jesus Christ and imprecation That his Bloud might be on them and their children were for this their crying sin especially made the saddest spectacles of divine Justice and humane Misery of all other Nations in the World being quite extirpated out of their owne Land almost totally deleted by the sword pestilence famine carried away Captives and dispersed like so many Vagabonds over the face of the whole Earth as the very off-scowring of the World and execration derision of all other people having no place City form of Government or Republike of their own in any corner of the Universe according to Gods Comminations against them Levit. 26.14 to 46. Deut. 28.15 to 68. Jer. 9.10 c. 13.24 Ezech. 5.2 to the end c. 12.15 c. 22.15 Mich. 1.21 Mat. 24. Or what banishments punishments oppositions restraints by penal Lawes suppressions of their Synagogues Ceremonies they have received in all ages from Christian Kings Princes Republikes in Forein parts for their implacable malice blasphemie against our Saviour Jesus Christ Christians Christian Religion and other Crimes and Misdemeanors to which they are most addicted is not the subject of my intended Brief Discourse and so fully related by Josephus Egesippus Eusebius Nicephorus Zonaras Paulus Diaconus Paul Eber the Magdeburgian Centuriators out of them and other Historians in their 2. to their 13 Centuries chap. 14 and 15. in Baronius his Annals and Heylins Microcosm p. 568 569 570. where all may peruse them that I shall not spend time to recite them but wholly confine my self to a Brief Relation of their first admission into their ill deportment misdemeanors sufferings popular insurrections against them in and their final banishment by Judgement and Edict of Parliament out of England never to return again collected out of the best Historians to which I shall subjoyn a taste only of such Laws Scriptures and Reasons as seem strongly to plead against their readmission into our Island especially at this season When the Jews came first into England appears not certainly by any Historians there being no mention of their being here in any of our British or Saxon Kings reigns to my remembrance Antoninus in his Chronicles Tit. 16. c. 5. records That William the Conqueror King of England translated the Jews from Rhoan to London and the Magdeburg Centuries out of him Cent. 11. cap. 14. col 686. adde thereto that it was OB NUMERATUM PRECIUM for a sum of money given to him by them which I find not in Antoninus Both these Authors intimate That this was their first arival in England yet in what year of this King they are silent With them concurs Raphael Holinshed Vol. 3. p. 15. where thus he writes Among other grievances which the English sustained by the hard dealings of the Conqueror this is to be remembred That he brought Jews into the Land from Rouen appointed them a place to inhabit and occupy reputing their very first introduction a Grievance to the English and hard dealing Which Iohn Stow in his Annals of England p. 103. and Survey of London printed 1633. p. 288. thus seconds King William FIRST brought the Iews from Rhoan here to inhabit in England and Sir Richard Baker in his Chronicle of the Kings of England London 1653. p. 39. This King was the FIRST that brought the Iews to inhabit here in England But this Law concerning the Jews inserted amongst the Laws in the Confessors time seems to prove their arival and settlement in England to be before this Normans reign unless mis-placed in point of time amongst his Laws by Hoveden being rather in my opinion a Declaration of the Jews servile condition under King William and Richard the first when Hoveden writ then any Law in King Edwards reign or before amongst whose Laws or the Conquerors it is not to be found in Abbot Ingulphus his Original copy published by Mr. Selden in his Notae Spicilegium ad Eadmerum p. 172 c. as the words themselves import De Judaeis in Regno consticutis SCiendum est quoque quod omnes Judaei ubicunque in Regno sunt sub tutela defensione Domini Regis sunt nec quilibet eorum alicui diviti se potest subdere sine Regis licentia Judaei omnia sua Regis sunt Quod si quispiam detinuerit eis pecuniam suam perquirat Rex tanquam suum proprium or detinuerit eos vel pecuniam eorum perquirat Rex si vult tanquam suum proprium as Sir Henry Spelman renders it This Law or Declaration being the first record making mention of their being and condition in England proves That as all the Jews when they came first into England were under the Kings protection and patronage where ever they resided so they were all under him only as his meer Vassals their persons and goods being his alone and that they could dispose of neither of them without his license Into which slavish condition they doubtless then put themselves being banished out of other Nations for their villanies only to avoid the fury of the common people to whom they were most detestable who else would have quickly murdered or ston'd them to death and stript them of all their wealth as the sequel will declare The next Passage in Historians concerning the Jews being and condition in England is that of William of Malmsbury in William Rufus his reign The Jews writes he in his time gave a testimony of their insolency Once at Rhoan endeavouring by gifts to perswade and revoke certain men to Judaism who had deserted their error Another time at London being animated to enter into a combate or dispute against our Bishops because the King in merriment as I believe had said That if they should overcome the Christians and confute them by open arguments he would then revolt to them and become one of their Sect Whereupon it was managed with great fear of the Bishops and Clergy and with pious solicitude of such who were afraid of the Christian Faiths miscarriage And from this
held in Lent the young men and Souldiers who had taken upon them the sign of the Crosse and were then ready to go to Ierusalem with the King assembling together there out of divers counties disdaining that the Jews being the enemies of the crosse of Christ possessed such great store of goods and wealth when as they had not sufficient to defray the necessary expences of so great a journey and imagining that they should do God good service if they assaulted these his enemies boldly rushed upon them no man opposing himself against so great attempts whereupon divers of the Jews were slain and the rest being received into the castle hardly escaped with their lives their goods being all plundered and the plunderers departing freely away with their booty none of them being so much as questioned or punished by the Kings discipline The citizens of Lincoln hearing what was done to the Jews of Stanford taking occasion and being animated by the examples of others were willing to do something against them and being assembled together against the Jews inhabiting together with them became inraged against them But these Jews being made more wary by the slaughters and damages of others some few of them suffering harm and damages the rest fled timely with their monies into the Royal Fort and there secured themselves In all other places wheresoever the Jews were found they were pillaged and slain by the hands of the Pilgrims who hastning through England towards Ierusalem decreed to rise up first against the Jews before they invaded the Saracens Hereupon all the Jews who were found in their own houses at Norwich were slain on the 8 of February some few of them only escaping to the Castle At the same time the Nobles and Gentry of Yorkeshire nothing fearing the Kings Proclamation the wicked Jews having by Usury reduced them to extreme poverty joyning with them some holy foldiers brake up the Houses of the chief Jews equal to the Kings Palace slew their families spoild their Goods burnt their houses in the night then retired themselves to their homes in the dark After which the promiscuous multitude making an assault upon the Jews slew them without distinction of sex or age except some few who would give up their names to Christ in baptism to save their lives On the 18 day of April being Palm-Sunday the rest of the Jews in the City of Yorke being 500 men and women besides their children fearing the violence of the Christians shut up themselves within the castle of Yorke by the will and consent of the Guardian thereof and of the Sheriff who being thus received into the castle for their defence by the Guardian and Sheriff would not afterwards deliver it up unto them again Whereupon the Sheriff and keeper of the castle being much offended with them assembled the souldiers of the county and men of the city that they might free the castle from those Jews exhorting them to do their utmost endeavors to effect it who when they had assaulted the castle day and night the Jews offered a great summ of money to save their lives but all in vain the people being so incensed against them that they would not accept it whereupon a certain Iew skillfull in their Law stood up and said Men of Israel hearken to my counsel It is better for us to die for our Law then to fall into the hands of the enemies of our Law and our very Law commands the same thing Upon which all the Jews as well women as men consented to his counsel and every Father of a family going with a sharp razor first of all cut the throats of his own wife and children and then of his family casting the dead corps of those whom they had thus sacrificed to Devils over the castle walls upon the Christian people After which burning their rich cloathes and casting their golden Vessels and Jewels into Privies that the Christians might not be inriched by them these murderers shutting up themselves and the rest they had killed in the Kings house set it on fire and so burnt both themselves and it After which the Citizens of Yorke and the souldiers of the county burning all the Jews houses together spoiled their goods seized their possessions to themselves and burn'd all the charters of their debts The King being informed hereof and much incensed both for the contempt of his Royal proclamation and Authority and dammage to his Exchequer to which all the Goods and Debts of the Iews being Usurers belonged commanded his Chancellor to inflict due punishment upon the authors of this Sedition Whereupon after Easter the Bishop of Ely the Kings Chancellor gathering a great Army together came to Yorke to apprehend those as malefactors who had destroyed the Jews of the city And understanding that this was done by the command of the Sheriff and Governour of the castle he put them both from their Offices and took sureties from the Citizens of the City for to keep the Peace of the King and kingdom and to stand to the Law in the Kings court concerning the death of the Jews and commanded the Souldiers of the County who were at the destruction of the Jews to be apprehended but the chief of them flying into Scotland escaped not one of them all being put to death for this great Massacre and Riot Henry de Knyghton De Eventibus Angliae l. 2. c. 13. gives this censure of these slaughters popular tumults against the Jews The Zeal of the Christians conspired against the Jews in England but in truth not sincerely that is for the cause of faith but either out of emulation and envy because of their felicity or out of gaping after their goods The Justice truly of God not at all approving such things but decently ordering them that by this means he might punish the insolency of a perfidious Nation He likewise addes that one Iohn a most bold Christian flying from Stanford with many spoyls of the Jews to Northampton was there secretly slain by his Host to get his money and thrown without the city in the night the murderer flying thereupon After which through the dreams of old women and fallacious signs the simple people attributing to him the merits of a martyr honoured his Sepulchre with solemn vigils and gifts This was derided by wise men yet it was acceptable to the Clerks there living by reason of the gains Which the Bishop hearing of presently unsaincted him and prophaned the Monuments of this false martyr continued by the study of simple and covetous persons I wish no such plunderers as this might be saincted and adored in our age as too many of them are even before their deaths who will be un-saincted after them as well as this bold plunderer of the Jews Mr. Fox in his Acts and Monuments Vol. 1. p. 305. relating the story of the massacres of the Jews this year out of the Chronicle of Westminster saith That there were no less than