so many dayes with milk he might living suffer many sorts of torments When the K. returned from the Northern parts of England and was certified of the premisses he reprehended Sir John that he had promised life and members to so flagitious a person which he could not give for that blasphemer and homicide was worthy the punishment of many sorts of death And when as unavoydable Judgement was ready to be executed upon this Offender he said My death is now approaching neither can my Lord John preserve me who am ready to perish I now relate the truth to you all Almost all the Jews of England consented to the death of this child whereof the Jews are accused and almost out of every city in England wherein the Jews inhabit certain chosen persons were called together to the immolation of that child as to a Paschal Sacrifice And when as he had spoken these things together with other dotages being tied to an horses tail and drawn to the Gallows he was presented to the aereal Cacodaemons in body and soul and 91 other Jews partakers of this wickednesse being carried in Carts to London were there committed to prison Who if so be they were casually bewailed by any Christians yet they were deplored by the Caursini the Popes Italian Usurers their corrivals with dry eys Afterwards by the Inquisition of the Kings Justices it was discovered found That the Iews of England by Common Councel had slain the innocent Child punished for many days and crucified But after this the Mother of the said child constantly prosecuting her appeal before the King against them for that iniquity and such a death God the Lord of Revenges rendred them a condigne retribution according to their merits for on St. Clements day 88. of the richest and greatest Jews of the City of London were drawn and hanged up in the air upon new Gibbets especially prepared for that purpose and more than 23 others were reserved in the Tower of London to the like judgement I have transcribed this History at large out of Matthew Paris who flourished at that time because our other Historians doe but briefly touch it and because it undeniably manifests the transcendent impiety blasphemy malice persecution and obloquy of the Jews against our Saviour Jesus Christ and Christians and their constant usual practise of crucifying Children almost every year in contempt and reproach of our crucified Saviour by common consent which Mr. Nye conceived might be easily wiped off as false and not fully proved or charged on them by our Historians which this ensuing passage concerning these Jews will further ratify Certain infamous Jews being 71 in number adjudged to death by the Oath of 25 Knights for the miserable death of the Child crucified at Lincoln being reserved in the Prisons of London to be hanged Anno 1256 the year after their condemnation sent secret Messengers as their enemies affirm to the Friers Minors that they might intercede for them that they might be delivered from death and prison being notwithstanding worthy of the most shamefull death Whereupon they as the world reports if the world in such a case be to be credited by the mediation of money freed them by their prayers and intercession both from the prison and from the death which they had deserved led thereto with a spirit of piety as I think is piously to be believed Because so long as any man is in life and in this world he hath free will may be saved and there is hope of him But yet for the Devil or the manifestly damned we are not to hope nor pray because there is no hope of them for death and a definitive sentence at once irrevobly intangle them Neither could this answer excuse the Minors for although they were not guilty yet the scandal did defame them The common people now hath withdrawn their hands that they do not benefit them with their alms as heretofore and the Londoners devotion is grown cold towards the Minorites For procuring these condemned Jews life and liberty whose money it seemeth could even corrupt these very self-denying Popish Saints who had renounced the world in habit but not in heart All the Prelates of England in the year 1257. drew up certain Articles in writing concerning their liberties which they intended to present to the King and Nobles to be ratified by them in Parliament in due season wherein they complain Artic. 32 33. That when as the Jews are convicted before the Ecclesiastical Judges for delinquency against an Ecclesiastical person or for Ecclesiastical things or for sacriledge or for laying violent hands upon a Clerk or for adultery with a Christian woman the conusans of the cause is hindered by the Kings prohibition because it alleageth that they have their proper Judge the Sheriff of the place and their proper delegated Judges who may and ought to have conusance of these things And yet if they be convented by a Clergy-man or Lay-man before them for such things upon the denial thereof by the person alone the simple assertion of another Jew and of one Christian without the administring of any Oath they purge themselves the proof of the prosecutor being utterly rejected Item If Communion be denied to them by the Church because they bear not their Table or signe or because they retain Christian Nurses against the precepts of the Church or if they be excommunicated for some other excesses the Bayliffs or Officers of the King communicating with them command on the behalf of our Lord the King himself that they be not avoided by any and cause them to be admitted and received to Communion Against which Grievances in derogation of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction the Bishops then thus provided And because in like manner the office of the Prelates is hindred when as it happens a Jew offending against Ecclesiastical things and persons shall be convented for these things before them and for other things which appertaâ—n to the Ecclesiastical Court of meer right We provide that the Jew notwithstanding shall be compelled to answerin these cases by the interdict ofcommerce contracts and communion of the faithfull likewise the inhibiters hinderers and distrainers shall incurre the punishments of interdiction and excommunication l In the year of Christ 1259. On the Feast of Christs Nativity a certain creature Elias a Jew of London whose Sirname was Bishop fearing danger and manifest damnation to himself fled to the laver of defence and salvation and was new-born in the Spirit for being cleansed with wholesom Baptism two others also accompanying him he was delivered out of the lot of the Devil and saved from the revenge of the most wicked crime heretofore committed by him For it was said that in his house that poysonous drink was made which had proved mortal and perillous to many Nobles of England poysoned therewith by the Jews which even he himself as was reported well confessed But then he was a Devil but now throughly changed
and subversion of our only Lord Saviour Redeemer Mediator Jesus Christ his Person Offices Kingdom Gospel and Christianity it self without any thoughts of turning Christians themselves In which case not to be passionately zealous not to contend earnestly for the Faith against these ungodly men turning the Grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ is in a great measure to deny and betray him together with our Church Nation at once unto these their inveterate enemies For whose Conversion not National but of the Elect Remnant of them as I shall pray so I cannot but pray and write against their Re-admission amongst us on these or any other terms for the Reasons here humbly presented to thy view and Christian Consideration by Thy Christian Brother and Companion in tribulation and in the Kindom Patience of Jesus Christ William Prynne Lincolnes-Inne 14 December 1655. ERRATA Title p. for quandam read quorundam p. 9. l. 12. est r. et p. 12. l. 7. homes r. houses p. 22. l. 21. p. 23. l. 26 r. Iuvel p. 37. six r. ten p. 48. l. 3. quod l. 8. coâ—um p. 51. l 16. exâ—aecati p. 70. l. 2. dele record p. 88. l. 1. receive revive A short Demurrer to the Jews long discontinued Remitter into ENGLAND HOw the Nation of the Jewes once Gods own beloved speciall chosen People after their malitious crucifying of our Saviour Jesus Christ and imprecation That his Bloud might be on them and their children were for this their crying sinne especially made the saddest Spectacles of divine Justice and humane Misery of all other Nations in the World being quite extirpated out of their own Land almost totally deleted by the sword pestilence famine carried away Captives and dispersed like so many Vagabonds over the face of the whole Earth as the very off-scowring of the world and execration derision of all other people having no place City Form of Government or Republike of their own in any corner of the Universe according to Gods Comminations against them Levit. 26. 14. to 46. Deut. 28. 15. to 68. Jer. 9. 10. c. 13. 24. Ezech. 5. 2. to the mid c. 12. 15. c. 22. 15. Mich. 1. 21. Mat. 24. Or what banishments punishments oppositions restraints by penal Laws suppressions of their Synagogues Ceremonies they have received in all ages from Christian Kings Princes Republikes in Forreign parts for their implacable malice blasphemie against our Saviour Jesus Christ Christians Christian Religion and other Crimes and Misdemeanors to which they are most addicted is not the subject of my intended Brief Discourse and so fully related by Josephus Egesippus Eusebius Nicephorus Zonaras Paulus Diaconus the Magdeburgian Centuriators out of them and other Historians in their 2. to their 13 Centuries chap. 14 and 15. in Baronius his Annals and Hâ—ylâ—â—s Microcosm p. 568 569 570. where all may peruse them that I shall not spend time to recite them but wholly confine my self to a Brief Relation of their first admission into their ill deportment misdemeanors sufferings popular insurrections against them in and their final banishment by Judgement and Edict of Parliament out of England never to return again collected out of the best Historians to which I shall subjoyn a taste only of such Laws Scriptures and Reasons as seem strongly to plead against their re-admission into our Island especially at this season When the Jews came first into England appears not certainly by any Historians there being no mention of their being here in any of our British or Saxon Kings reigns to my remembrance Antoninus in his Chronicles Tit. 16. ca. 5. records That William the Conqueror King of England translated the Jews from Rhoan to London and the Magdeburg Centuries out of him Centur. xi cap. 14. Col. 686. adds thereto that it was OB NUMERATUM PRECIUM for a summ of money given to him by them which I find not in Antoninus Both these Authors intimate That this was their first arival in England yet in what year of this King they are silent With them concurs Raphael Holinshed Vol. 3. p. 15. where thus he writes Among other grievances which the English sustained by the hard dealings of the Conqueror this is to be remembred That he brought Jews into the Land from Rouen and appointed them a place to inhabit and occupy reputing their very first introduction a Grievance to the English and hard dealing Which John Stow in his Annals of England p. 103. thus seconds King William brought the Jews from Rhoan here to inhabit in England But this Law concerning the Jews inserted amongst the Laws in the Confessors time seems to prove their arrival and settlement in England to be before this Normans reign unlesse mis-placed in point of time amongst his Lawes by Hoveden being rather in my opinion a Declaration of the Jews servile condition under King William and Richard the first when Hoveden writ then any Law in King Edwards reign or before as the words import De Judaeis in Regno constitutis SCiendum est quoque quod omnes Judaei ubicunque in Regno sunt sub tutela defensione Domim Regis sunt nec quilibet eorum alicui diviti se potest subdere sine Regis licentia Judaei omnia sua Regis sunt Quod si quispiam detinuerit eis pecuniam suam perquirat Rex tanquam suum proprium or detmuerit eos vel pecuniam corum perquirat Rex si vult tanquam suum proprium as Sir Henry Spelman renders it This Law or Declaration being the first record making mention of their being and condition in England proves That as all the Jews when they came first into England were under the Kings protection and patronage where ever they resided that they were under him only as his meer Vassals their persons and goods being his alone that they could dispose of neither of them without his License Into which slavish condition they doubtlesse then put themselves being banished out of other Nations for their Villanies only to avoid the fury of the common people to whom they were most detestable who else would have quickly murdered or ston'd them to death and stript them of all their wealth as the sequell will declare The next Passage in Historians concerning the Jews being and condition in England is that of William of Malmsbury in William Rufus his reign The Jews writes he in his time gave a testimony of their insolency Once at Rhoan endeavouring by gifts to perswade and revoke certain men to Judaism who had deserted their error Another time at London being animated to enter into a combate or dispute against our Bishops because the King in merriment as I believe had said That if they should overcome the Christians and confute them by open arguments he would then revolt to them and become one of their Sect Whereupon it was managed with great fear of the Bishops and Clergy and
with pious solicitude of such who were afraid of the Christian Faiths miscarriage And from this combate the Jews only brought away nothing besides confusion although they would many times boast that they were overcome not by argument but by a faction Antoninus relating the story in the same words addes only 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 Magdeburge Centuries accord By which we may observe That the Jews were no sooner transported and setled in Rhoan and London but they 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 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 diverse 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 the 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 guess doth but jest Wherewith the King being moved said VVhat thou dounghil 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 do 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 received the other to himself All which increased the suspition men had of his Infidelity By this History we may perceive what a prevailing Engin the Jews money is both to scrue 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-Engin preferred by too many Christians even 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 VVilliam in the City of Norwich in derision of Christian Religion as Matthew VVestminster Flores Historiarum Ann. 1145. p. 39. Chronicon Johannis Bromton Col. 1048. Hygden in his Polychronicon Antoninus Centuriae Magdeburgenses Cent. 12. c. 14. Mr. John Fox in his Acts and Monuments 1640. Vol. 1. p. 302. Richard Grafton in his Chronicle p. 46. Raphael Holinshed in his Chronicle Vol. 3. p. 56. and others joyntly attest Not long after this Anno 1160. the 6. year of Henry the II. they cracifyed another child at Gloucester in contempt of Christ and his Passion as John Bromtons Chronicon col 1050. Henry de Knyghton de Eventibus Angliae l. 2. col 2394 Polychronicon Fox Acts and Monuments Vol. 1. p. 302. Grafton in his Chronicle p. 46. and others record And in the same Kings reign Anno 1181. upon the same account the Jews 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 For 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 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 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
and a Christian and as the condition so the operation is changed As Mathew Paris Ironically writes of him A certain Jew in the year 1260 fell into a Privy at Teukâ—sbury but because it was then the Sabbath he would not suffer himself to be pulled out except on the following Lords day for the reverence of his Sabbath Wherefore Richard Clare Earl of Glocester commanded him in reverence of the Lords Day to be kept there till Munday at which time he was found dead of the stink or hunger The Barons of England Ann. 1262. robbed and slew the Jews in all places There were slain of them in London to the number of 700. the rest were spoyled and their Synagogues defaced The original occasion of which massacre was because one Jew had wounded a Christian man in London within Cole-church and would have enforced him to have paid more than two pence for the Usury of 20 s. for one week In the year 1264. in the Passion week the Jews that inhabited the City of London being detected of Treason which they had devised against the Barons and Citizens were slain almost all the whole number of them and great riches found in their houses which were taken and carried away by those that ransacked the same houses The disinherited Barons and Gentlemen in the Isle of Oxholme in the year 1266 took and sacked the City of Lincoln spoyled the Iews and slew many of them entred their Synagogue and burnt the Book of their Law In the 7th year of King Edward the 1. Ann. Dom. 1278. as some or 1279. as others compute it the King held a Parliament at London which was chiefly called for the reformation of his coyn which was then sore clipped by reason whereof it was much diminished and impaired In the time of this Parliament in the moneth of November all the Jews throughout England as Matthew VVestminster or many of the Jews in London and other parts of the Realm were apprehended in one day and imprisoned in London for clipping of money and in December following divers Enquests were charged in London to enquire of the said Jews and all others who had so blemished and clipped the Kings Coyn By which Enquests the Jews of the City with the Gold-smiths that kept exchanges of silver were indicted Andshortly after Candelmas the Mayor and Justices of the Land sat at London where before them was cast 297 persons for clipping of the which 3 only were Englishmen and all the other were Jews born either within this Realm or elsewhere but most of them English Jews who were all of them at sundry places and times put to execution in London who impeached the chief men of London and very many Christians who consented to their wickednesses After which a very great multitude of Jews were hanged in other Cities of England for the same offence Anno 1279. The Jews of Northampton crucified a Christian boy but did not throroughly kill him upon Good-Friday for the which fact many of the Jews at London after Easter were drawn at Horses tails and hanged In the year of our Lord 1282. John Peckham Arch-bishop of Canterbury sent an expresse precept and command to the Bishop of London to suppresse and destroy all the Synagogues of the Jews within his Diocesse On May 2. Anno 1287. All the Jews of England were apprehended by the Kings precept for what cause was not known who ransomed themselves for 12000l of silver They had then a Synagogue at Canterbury Fabian writes that the Jews of England were sessed at great sums of mony perchance the cause of their seisure which they paid unto the King But of other Authors it is said That the Commons of England then granted to the King the fifth part of their moveables for to have the Iews banished out of the land For which cause the said Jews for to put the Commons from their purposes gave of their free wills great sums of money to the King which saying appeareth to be true for that the said Jews were exiled within few years after with whom Grafton and Holinshed accord A strong evidence of the potency of Jewish money over-powring the whole Commons of England in Parliament and this their Liberal subsidy for their banishment at that season About this year as I conceive the Statutes of Edward the first Intituled de Judeismo were made and published Printed in rench in Tottles Magna Charta Anno 1556. part 2. f. 58 59. which being not printed amongst our Statutes at large in the English Tongue I shall here insert and translate 1. For that the King hath seen that many mischiefs disherisons of honest men of this land have happened by the Usuries which the Jews have made therein in times past and that many sins have therein risen from thence Albeit he and his Ancestors have had great profit from the Jews both now and in times past Notwithstanding this for the honour of God and for the common benefit of the People the King doth ordain and establish that no Jew hereafter shall take ought for usury upon lands rents nor upon other things and that no Usury shall run from the Feast of St. Edward last past and before but that the Covenants before made shall be held save only that the Usuries themselves shall cease Provided that all those who are indebted to Jews upon pawns moveable shall discharge them between this and Easter at furthest and if not let them be forfeited And if any Jew shall take usury against this establishment The King neither by himself nor any of his Officers will not intermeddle to cause him to recover his debt or use but will punish him at his pleasure for the Trespasse and shall do right to the Christian to recover his gage 2. And it is provided that the distresses for the debt of Jews shall not hereafter be so grievous that the moity of Lands and Chattels to the Christians shall not remain for their sustenance And that no distresse shall be made for the debt of a Jew upon the heir to the Debtor named in the Charter of the Jew nor upon other which holds the Land which was the Debtors before the debt shall be dereigned and acknowledged in Court And if the Sheriff or other Bayliffs by commandment of the King ought to make seisin to a Jew to one or more for their debt of chattels or of lands to the value of the debt the chattels shall be praised by the Oath of honest men the chattels shall be delivered to the Jew or Jewesse or to their Attorney to the value of the debt And if the chattels be not sufficient the lands shall be extended by the same Oath before that the seisin shall be delivered to the Jew or Jewesse every one according to the value and so that they may after know certainly the Debt is discharged that the Christian afterwards may then have his lands saving to the
Christian for ever the moity of his lands and of his chattels for his sustenance as afore is said and the chiefhouse 3. And if any thing stollen at this hour shall be found in the possession of a Jew and any will sue let the Jew have his summons if he may have it and if not he shall answer so that he shall never be privileged for it otherwise than a Christian 4. And that all the Jews shall be residents in the Cities and in the Burroughs which are the Kings own where the Chest for the Jews Indenture is wont to be And that every Jew after he is past 7. years of age shall carry a sign or badge in his chief garment that is to say in form of two Talles of yellow taffety of the length of six fingers and breadth of 3. fingers or handfulls And that every one after he is past 12 years shall pay 3 d. the poll every year to the King which shall be paid at Easter and this shall be intended as well of women as of men 5. And that no Jew shall have power to infeoff another Jew nor Christian of their houses rents or tenements which they have now purchased not to alien them in any manner nor to make an acquittance to any Christian of his debt without the special license of the King untill the King hath otherwise ordained 6. And because holy Church wills and suffers that they should live and be protected the King takes them into his Protection and gives them his peace and wills that they shall live and shall be guarded and defended by his Sheriffs and his other Bayliffs and by his Leiges and commands that none shall doe them harm injury nor force in their bodies nor in their goods moveables or unmoveables And that they shall not be impleaded sued nor challenged in any Court but in the Kings Court wheresoever they are 7. And that none of them shall be obedient respondent nor render rent but to the King and his Bayliffs in his name if it be not of their houses which they now hold rendering rent saving the right of holy Church 8. And the King grants them that they shall live in their lawfull merchandizes and by their labour and that they shall converse with the Christians for lawfull merchandizing in selling and in buying But yet that by this priviledge nor any other shall they be levant rising or couchant lying down amongst them And the King will not that by reason of their merchandize that they should be in lots nor scots nor Tallage with those of the Cities or Burroughs where they remain seeing they are tailable to the King as his own Vassals and to none other 9. Moreover the King grants them that they may buy houses and curtelages in the Cities or Burroughs where they reside so as they hold them in chief of the King saving to the Lords the Services due and accustomed 10. And that they may take Lands to farm for term of six years or under without taking homages or fealties or such manner of service of a Christian and without having advowson of holy Church for to support their life in the world if they know not how to merchandize or be unable to labour And this power for to take Lands to farm shall not endure to them but 15 years from this time forth to come By these Laws this politick King to please his English Christian Subjects who desired and sollicited the Jews banishment in Parliament abridged many of their former priviledges and put many new restraints upon them And yet on the other hand to gratifie the Jews who gave him more monies than the English to reside here still he takes them all into his special protection prohibits all violence to their persons or estates and grants them some petty priviledges for the present which seemed to content them and made for his own advantage more than theirs K. Edward the 1. the next year 1288. being in Gascoigne a certain English Knight decreed to convent a Jew for the undue detention of a certain Mannor morgaged to him before the Judges but the crafty Jew refused to answer pretending a Charter of King Henry heretofore which was granted to him that he should not be drawn into judgement before any Judge except only before the person of the King The Knight being troubled at this went into Gascoigne that he might obtain some remedy hereupon from the King Whom when the King had heard he answered It is not seemly for children to make void the deeds of their parents to whom by Gods Law they are commanded to give reverence wherefore I have decreed not to make void the deed of my Father but I grant to thee and to the rest of my Realm by the like Law lest a Jew might seem better than a Christian that for any injury whatsoever done to the Iew so long as he shall enjoy his Charter you shall not be convented before any Iudge except my self The Knight returning with this priviledge the Jew considering that danger and peril hung over his head voluntarily renounced his Charter evacuating the condition of his priviledge and wishing that both parties might be subject to the Common Law The year following Anno 1289. King Edward taking upon him the character of the Crosse at Blankeford in Gascoigne presently banished all the Jews out of Gascoigne and all other his Lands which he possessed in the Realm of France AS ENEMIES OF THE CROSSE From whence returning into England Anno 1290 he was joyfully received at London both by the Clergy and all the people and the same year exiling the Jews likewise out of England giving them expences into France he confiscated all the rest of their goods Upon what grounds by what Authority for what time in what manner with what desire of and content to all the whole Commons and Realm of England the Jews were then banished thence these ensuing Historians will at large relate in their own words which I shall transcribe for the better information and satisfaction of all sorts of men whether Christians or Jews Matthew Westminster flourishing at that time gives this relation of it About the sâ—â—days namely the 31 of August the exasperating multitude of Jews which dwelt confidently in times past through divers Cities and strong Forts JUSSA EST was commanded with their wives and children together with their moveable goods to depart out of England about the Feast of All Saints which was assigned to them for the term WHICH THEY DARED NOT TO TRANSGRESSE UNDER PAIN OF HANGING whose number was supposed to be 16511. Such A DECREE had issued out before from the landable King of England in the parts of Aquitain from whence all the Jews were likewise banished Thomas Walsinghaem living near that age thus records it The King returning out of Gascoigne to London was solemnly received by the Clergy and all the people who the same year banishing all the
Jews out of England giving them their expences into France confiscated the rest of their goods This year the King held A Parliament in which were made the Statutes called Westminster the 3d. In quo etiam Parliamento pro expulsione Iudaeorum concessa sunt Regi a Populo quinta decima pars bonorum In which Parliament likewise for the banishment of the Iews there was granted to the King by the People a fifteenth part of their goods Henry de Knyghton a Canon of Leâ—cester a most diligent Antiquary flourishing in Richard the 2ds reign rendreth it in these terms King Edward grievously punished the Iews and their consorts for clipping of money and corrupt exchanges where upon in one day he caused all the Iews to be apprehended some he hanged the rest he banished When he had done his will upon his corrupt Iudges fined deposed and some of them banished in the same Parliament that the Jews were exiled presently another cause moved him concerning Money which he found to be basely clipped and corrupted to the preiudice of the Crowns and the great damage of the people By the Infidelity and Malice of the Iews as it was inquired and found Et feâ—it stabilire unum Parliamentum in quo convicti sunt Iudaei de ea falsitate Et statuit quod omnes Iudaeos exirent de Terra Angliae deinceps non redituri propter eorum incredulitatem principaliter et propter falsitatem quam eis dure imposuerat et pro hac causa cum festinatione facienda et sine dâ—latione explenda communes regni â—ederunt Regi quintum denarium de omnibus bonis suis mobilibus And he caused a Parliament to be 〈…〉 ed wherein the Iews are convicted of that falshood And he ordained that all the Iews should depart out of the Realm of England not to return again afterwards for their incredulity principally and for their falsenesse which he had hardly pressed upon them And for this their banishment speedily to be made and executed without delay the Commons of the Realm gave to the King the fifth part of all their moveable goods Iohn Major and the Centuriators of Magdeburgh out of him thus register it to posterity In the year 1290 the Iews were banished out of England for the Englishmen had made a great complaint to Edward the 1. that by their usuries and frauds most mâ—n of the inferior sort were reduced to nothing which thing was gainfull to the King for every of the Commoners gave the King the fifteenth penny that he might banish the Jews = Our learned Iohn Bale Polydor Virgil and the Century VVriters out of him thus expresse it Anno 1291 It should be 1290 In the Parliament at London there was a debate in the first place Concerning the banishing of the Jews whereof there was a great multitude throughout England Sed edicto Publico Concilii Londinensis writes one Publico igitur decreto saith another But by the publick Edict of the Parliament assembled in London and by a publick decree They were all commanded to depart the Realm with their goods which they Concilii jussis obedientes obeying the commands of the Parliament speedily did To these Latin Authors I might annex Thomas Stubs his Act a Pontificum Eboracensium col 1728. who makes mention of this universal banishment of them out of all England in one day but I shall passe to our more Common English 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 Jews were utterly banished the Realm of England for the which the Commons gave the King a fifteen Nicholas Trivet in his Polychronicon and VVilliam Caxton in his Chronicles printed 1502. in the life of K. Edw. the 1. thus stories the Jews banishment out of Hygden and Trevâ—sa in their words A none after the King had done his will of the Justices tho lete he inquere and espye how the Iews dysceyved and beguyled his people thorough the synne of falsness and of Usury And lete Ordain a Prevy Parlement among his Lords So they ordained among theim That all Iewes should voyde 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 Englonde gave vnto the King the XV. Penny of all theyr Goodes mevable and so were the Iewes driven out of Englonde And tho went the Iewes 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 3d. 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 mouth of the River beyond Quinborow The Master Marmer 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 Jews to walk 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 whether he was drawn by a cord The Iews 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 floods 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 mischiâ—vous dealing
Officers and Judges as heretofore 3ly To purchase Houses Habitations Rents Lands Exercise of all sorts of Trades and Manufactures amongst us as free Denizens or Merchants upon such terms and qualifications as shall be indulged to them 1. For our Laws and Statutes these following make directly or obliquely by way of necessary consequence against their re-admission 1. For their Jewish Synagogues worship Sacraments Religion these ancient pious Laws of our Saxon and Danish Kings made in their great Parliaments and Councils before the Jews first coming into England strongly oppose their admission now As namely the Laws of King Alfred and Guthern Lex 1. 2. of King Ethelred in the Council of Aenham c. 1. 3. 27 29 30. of Habam c. 1. with the Laws of King Cnute the Dane Lex 1. 27 28 All which enact That the only true God and our Lord be loved worshipped in all ages by all the people with all their might the one Christian holy Catholick faith orthodoxly kept and the Churches of God to be diligently frequented throughout the Realm That all Paganisme and false Religions be renounced both in words and deeds That who ever wickedly resisteth the Laws of Christ shall be grievously fined and put to death and that all men should diligently seek out by all means Ut recta Christi religio maxime provehatur That the right Religion of Christ might be most of all advanced obtesting all Ecclesiiastical and secular persons again and again most earnestly to keep the sincere faith unanimously in the true God and the right Christian faith in a right manner diligently to hear the Teachers of Gods word studiously to follow their Doctrine and Precepts to maintain peace and tranquility in the Church of God and there diligently to pour forth their prayers All which particulars exclude all Jewish Synagogues and Judaisme and are of perpetual force being grounded on the very Law of God Moreover King Cnute his Ecclesiastical Laws made by the advise of his wise men to be observed throughout all England prohibited That no Christian should be sold or sent out of the Realm or banished amongst those who had not as yet embraced the faith in Christ lest per adventure those Souls should perish at anytime which our Lord Iesus Christ had redeemed with his own blood and life If Christians for this cause ought not to be sent sold or banished amongst Jews and Infidels much more then ought not Infidel Jews with their Jewish Synagogues Religion Ceremonies to be now introduced amongst us Christians to the hazard of many Christian Souls redeemed by Christs blood 2. All the Statutes concerning Uniformity of Common Servicc administration of the Sacraments as 1 Ed. 6. c. 1 2. 2 Ed. 6. c 1. 6 Ed. 6. c. 1. 1 Eliz. c. 2. 23 Eliz. c. 1. 35 Eliz. c. 1. 2. most of them still in force being never legally repealed do fully and directly oppugne the introduction of any Jewish Synagogues Service Sacraments Worship Ceremonies with the use of them in any place within our Realm 3. The Statutes of 3 E. 6. c. 10. 13 Eliz. c. 2. 23 El. c. 1. 28 Eliz. c. 2. 6. 35 Eliz. c. 1. 3 Iac. c. 4. against Popish Recusants Seminary Priests Iesuites Friers Masse-Books Agnus Dei's Popish Books Superstitions for preventing the withdrawing of the Subjects of this Realm from the publique Ordinances Sacraments and Religion here established and for speedy banishing all Seminary Priests and Jesuites and keeping them perpetually out of the Realm upon this account amongst others though professing Christ Christian Religion and agreeing with us in all Articles of the Creed and most fundamental points of Christianity Must in Substance Law Reason in this regard much more perpetually exclude abolish all Jews Jewish Priests Rabbies Synagogues worship Ceremonies Superstitions out of our Dominions being farre more dishonourable to Christ opposite to our Christian Religion and destructive to the peoples souls if once admitted then any Jesuits Seminary Priests Friers Popish Recusants or any Romish Masses Superstitions whatsoever And if the Jewish Priests Judaism and Jewish Ceremonies may be now set up and practised publiquely amongst us notwithstanding all these Statutes then much more Masse-Priests Masses Popery and Prelacy by the self same reason justice equity To these I might annex all the late Ordinances for the Directory The solemn League and Covenant and for Suppressing punishing of Heresy and Blasphemy therefore of Iudaism which is both Heresy and Blasphemy and Jewish assemblies the very Synagogues of Satan and Iews great blasphemers by Christs own resolution Rev. 2. 9. c. 3. 9. Acts 18. 6. Rom. 2. 21. With the late printed Instrument of Government which though it allows not only toleration but protection to all Sects and Religions professing faith in God through Iesus Christ though differing from the Doctrine and Discipline publtkely held forth in the Nation except only to Popery and Prelacy yet certainly it can no ways extend to the toleration or protection of Jews and their Antichristian blasphemies against Christ himself and the Gospel seeing they are so far from professing faith in Jesus Christ that they utterly renounce and professedly decry him to be the true Saviour and Messiah of the world rejecting the whole New Testament and Doctrin of the Gospel and so by consequence are necessarily secluded by this Instrument and Oath for its observation from practising their Jewish worship Ceremonies or erecting any Synagogues in our Nation for that purpose 2ly Though the Kings of England by the Law and their Prerogative may in sundry cases erect New Corporations of their Subjects by their Charters only yet notwithstanding no Corporation or Fraternity of Iews being meer Aliens may can or ought to be erected in England by the Fundamental Lawes and Constitutions of the Realm but only by full consent of the Nation in Parliament by special Acts of Parliament it being one of the greatest Intrenchments that can be upon the English Nations Rights Liberties Customs Priviledges Profit and a violation of all the ancient Charters Priviledges Rights Franchises confirmed to them by the Great Charter of England forty times since ratified by new Acts of Parliament This is evident by the Statutes of Magna Charta c. 9. 37. 34 E. 1. c. 4. 1. E. 3. c. 9. 14. E. 3. c. 1. 1. H. 4. c. 1. 2. H. 4. c. 1. 7. H. 4. c. 1. 9. H. 4. c. 1. 13. H. 4. c. 1. 3. H. 5. c. 1. 2. H. 6. c. 1. compared with 2 E. 3. c. 9. 27. E. 3. c. 1. to 29. 28 E. 3. 13. 15 36. E. 3. c. 7 19 H. 7. c. 12 and all other Acts for the Staple and Styliard and with 3. E. 4. c. 6. 1. R. 3. c. 9. 14 H. 8. c. 2. 21 H. 8. c. 16. 22 H. 8. c. 8. 32 H. 8. c. 16. touching Artificers Merchants and Aliens 3ly The preambles of the Statute of Merton 20 H. 3. 3 E. 1. with c. 17. 48. 6 E. 1.
like chaff before the wind without any fixed habitation according to the ancient comminations and curses long since denounced against and now fully executed upon them Deutr. 28. 63 64 65 c. Levit. 26. 33. 36 37 38 39. Deutr. 4. 27. c. 32. 26. 1 Kings 14 15. Neh. 1. 8. Ps 106. 27. Jer. 9. 16. 17. 24. c. 18. 17 c. 49. 32 36. Ezech. 5. 2. to 13. c. 12 14. 15 c. 20 23. c. 22. 15. Daniel 12. 7. Zach 1. 21. Ezech. 11. 16 17. c. 6. 8. c. 17. 21. which scattering is principally intended only amongst Heathen Nations where they should be totally deprived of all Gods Ordinances and means of salvation where they shall serve other Gods which neither they nor their Fathers have known even wood and stone as these texts expresly resolve and import Therfore to receive them into and settle them in our Christian Kingdom and Island whereunto they have no title nor colour of inheritance which God hath appointed to the English alone for their portion and therefore these Aliens may not invade or intrude themselves into it without the whole Nations general consent is in some sense to crosse these sacred Texts and neither convenient for us to grant nor for them to request being already over-stored with Native Englishmen 6. Since the Jews crucifixion of our Saviour Jesus Christ himself and their extirpation and dissipation for it they have oft-times in sundry places ages in high contempt and despite of his person and passion maliciously acted it over and over again in representation not only by piercing his Images with swords and spears and in stabbing piercing boyling burning braying in a mortar and otherwise despiting the consecrated Sacramental bread representing his crucified body as the Historians in the Margin at large relate and likewise by crucifying a Ram at Easter as they did at Syracusa in the year 1113 but likewise by crucifying sundry Christian children on Good Friday oâ— near Easter on a Crosse in a most barbarous manner in derision of our Saviors death and passion To pretermit those 7. or 8. forecited instances in England alone I shall instance in some forreign ones recorded by Historians About the year of our Lord 430. the Jews in their publike Enterludes and Dances held on their Sabboth openly crucisied a Christian child in contempt and derision of Christs death and passion at Inmestar in Syria first nailing him to a tree and lifting him up on high then deriding and laughing at him after that like mad men scourging him as long as any breath remained in his body whereupon there arose great contention between them and the Christians and by the Emperors command the Jews who had done this in jest were punished in earnest Anno 1172. they crucified in like manner another Christian Child at Bloyes in France And near the same time the Jews at Bray in France crowned a Christian man whom they accused for a Malefactor with thornes then led him publickly about the Town scourged him with many stripes and at last crucified him in contempt of Christ Not long after the Jews at Paris in France in like manner crucified a Christian child called Richard sundry others yearly Anno 1236. the Jews at the Monastery of Fulda killed many Christian Children in a Mill piercing them with ponyards and squeezing out their blood to mix and knead it with their vnleavened bread in their Passeover as was generally reported which being discovered many of them were burnt to death for it the rest grievously persecuted At Prague in Bohemia the Jews on Good-Friday in the year 1283. shutting their gates crucified a Christian man having first of all done unto him in contempt what ever they had learned was done to Christ by their Ancestors which when the people had discovered running to their arms they raged cruelly against and slew many of these impious Murtherers The Jews Anno 1286 stole away cruelly tormented pricked with ponyards drew the blood impiously crucified a Christian Child called VVernerus not far from the Rhene in Germany barbarously murthering him after sundry torments Anno 1287. they tormented and crucified another Christian Child at Bern called Rodolphus for which they were massacred and cruelly handled by the furious vulgar The Jews at Trent on Good-Friday in the year 1475. tortured whipped pierced crucified to dearh a Christian child about 13 years old called Simeon in contempt of Christs passion and Christians kneding their Paschal unleavened bread with his blood which History is as large related by the Marginal Historians And to instance in no more particulars Vincentius Beluacensis Speculum Hist. l. 29. c. 25. Gaguinus l. 6. de Francis Centur. Magd. 12. and 13. c. 14 record That the Jews in Paris did every year steal some Christian child or other brought up in the Kings Court carrying him to a secret house or vault did on Good-Friday or Easter-day in contempt and derision of Christ and Christian Religion crucify him on a Crosse as Christ was crucified and that they had been frequently appprehended per severing in this wickednesse for which upon Detection they were usually murthered stoned burned destroyed hanged by the furious multitudes violence or executed imprisoned banished by Christian Kings and Magistrates yet such was their malâ—ce to Christ that they would stâ—ll persevere thereâ—n and act it over again upon every opportunity How can or dare we then receive into our Christian Island such barbarous bloody obstinate murderers and inveterate incorrigible malicious enemies to and deriders despisers of our blessed Saviours death and passion formerly cast out by our Ancestors amongst other things for their bloody impieties and unchristian blasphemies of this nature unlesse we first renounce both our Christianity and Humanity at once and become as bad as the very worst of Jews 7. The Jews ever since their dispersion in all ages places to their power have been more bitter enemies to the Christians than the worst of Pagans bending all their studies forces wits endeavours to hinder oppugne blaspheme extirstate the Christian Religion and all professors of it out of the world stirred up many bloody persecutions against them upon all advantages confederating both with Julian the Apostate the Pagan Persians the Tartars Sarazens Turks to murder and delete them having a great hand in raising the 4th persecution and murdering stoning to death burning destroying even those of their own Nation yea poysoning their own VVives Children for imbracing Christianity Moreover they have raised up many seditions rebellions against Christian Princes poysoned destroyed some of them and their Nobles yea raised occasioned many great popular Tumults Commotions Seditions against them in all ages places as well as formerly here in England as you may read at large in Socrates Scholasticus Eccl. Hist l. 7. c. 13. Zonaras Tom. 3 Paulus Diaconus l. 16 17 18. Nicepkorus Eccles Hist l. 14 c. 14. l.
Rom. 11. 26 27 28. And so all Israel shall be saved being meant only of the Elect and true Israel of God both Jews and Gentiles as many judicious Expositors and Rom. 2 26 27 28 29. c. 9. 6 7 8. c. 11. 1. to 8. Gal. 3. 7 9 14 16 22 28 29 c. 6. 16. seem to expound it not of the whole Jewish Nations calling and salvation at the last 2ly It is agreed by most who expect such a general calling and conversion of the Iews That it shall not be till the fullnesse of the Gentiles become in as Rom 11 24 25. resolves And whether this fullnesse be yet come in there being so many Gentile Nations yet unconverted especially in Asia Africa and America and those infinitely exceeding the Gentiles yet converted to the Gospel let those consider who now expect the Iews conversion 3ly If this fullnesse of the Gentiles conversion to Christ must preceed the general calling of the Iews as a necessary preparative and introduction thereunto then we ought by this allegation in the first place to call the Turks Tartars Persians Chinoys and all other unconverted Gentile Nations into England and first convert them to the Christian faith before we bring in the Iews whose conversion is to succeed theirs and the Gentiles fullnesse And then we shall have Religions enough in England to please all Novellists and a thousand aliens to each English Native 4ly There are farre more expresse direct promises texts grounds both in the Old and New Testament for the calling conversion of all Gentiles and yet unconverted Heathen Nations to the faith of Christ then of the Iewish Nation not one Nation of them for ought we read being so far rejected broken off and given up to an obduration of heart and blindness of mind by Gods judiciall decree as we read the Jews to be Isa 6. 9 10 11 c. 8 14. 15 16. c. 29. 9 10 11 12. Mat. 13. 14 15. Mar. 4. 11 12. Lu. 8. 10. Iohn 12. 37 38 39 40. Act 28. 25 26 27 28. Rom. 11. 7 8 9 10. Therefore our prayers and endeavours ought first to be for the conversion of all Gentiles yet unconverted to the faith being more hopefull more successfull in all probability than our prayers endeavors for the Iews conversion at least till the Gentiles fullnesse be come in 5ly Admit either a general or special calling and conversion of the Iews in the latter end of the world yet the calling of them into England to cohabit with us in such a manner as they now desire is no ways necessary for that end For 1. it is no where declared in Gods word that they must be called in England or by English men 2ly If they were principally to be converted by English Divines or Laicks we may with more ease lesse danger and prejudice to our Nation and Religion send English Divines and Laicks into other forraign parts where they now reside to instruct teach convert them to the faith than call them into England to convert them now in this giddy unsetled apostatizing age wherein they are likelier to gain a thousand English Proselytes to their Judaisme than we one Jewish convert to Christianity if introduced with their Synagogues and Jewish ceremonies perhaps their hopes of such a harvest here is the principal motive that they are so pressing to be now admitted again into our English climate without delay 3ly If we admit them with all their Jewish worship Synagogues Ceremonies as they now propose it will be rather a means to harden then convert them a doing of evil that good may come of it a swallowing down of a certain deadly poyson in hope to correct it with a subsequent antidote and to set up a present Synagogue of Satan upon hopes hereafter to convert it into a Church of Christ 4ly God can convert them in any other Countries as well as in England and by any other Christian Nations as well as Englishas he hath done some few of them in all ages as Petrus Alphonsus Lyra and Junius three eminent Divines and Writers amongst others And there being as learned able Protestant Divines in Holland Germany France Denmarke as any in England if they cannot convert them what hopes have we to do it 5ly Conversion of their hearts to the truth of the Gospel and saving Grace is only the work of God not men who can work it when where and by whom he pleaseth and is not tied either to place or persons much lesse to our English climate to effect it And it is Gods and Christs usual prescribed way of converting Nations People to send Apostles Ministers to preach the Gospel to and convert them in the Countries places where they dwell not to call them into another Forraign Land where the Gospel first shined or where it is entertained as he sent his Apostles from Jerusalem into all the world to convert the Gentiles not called them all to Ierusalem or Palestine to be there instructed and converted Mat. 9. 38. c. 10. 5. 6. c. 28. 19 20. Mar. 16. 15. Isay 2. 3 4. Acts 9. 15. c. 10. 20. c. 22. 12. Ephes 3. 8. 2 Tim. 4. 17. 3. Iohn 7. Why then we should take this new-found contrary way of calling the Iews in to us to convert them and not rather send out Ministers to them I cannot discern The rather because the Council of Basil An. 143 1. Sessio 19. prescribes this course both for the converting of the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles to the Orthodox Faith That all Diocesans should yearly at appointed times provide certain men well learned in holy Scriptures and in the Tongues to preach and explain the truth of the Catholick Faith IN SVCH PLACES WHERE THE IEWES AND OTHER INFIDELS DID DWELL in such sort that they acknowledging their error might for sake the same To which preaching they should compell all of both Sexes that were at years of discretion to resort by interdicting them commerce with Christians and other sitting penalties Provided the Diocesans and Rreachers should behave themselves towards them mercifully and with all charity whereby they might win them to Christ not only by declaring of the truth but also by other Offices of humanity 6ly If the observation of learned Paraeus be true that the overflowing of all sorts of wickednesses crimes murders wars oppressions rapines injustice tyranny cruelty extortions usuries the infinite multiplicity contrariety of Sects Schisms Religions and unchristian heathen atheisticall practises of one Christian towards another be principal obstacles to hinder the Jews conversion especially amongst Protestants as these with idolatrous worship of Images Saints and the Hostia amongst Papists than the calling of them now into England where all these abound more than ever heretofore and more than in other Nations will be a means more to harden them and hinder their conversion then any furtherance thereunto the rather because the desperate Apostacy and atheistical actions of
A Short DEMURRER To the JEWES Long discontinued REMITTER into ENGLAND Comprising An exact Chronological Relation of their first Admission into their ill Deportment Misdemeanors Condition Sufferings Oppressions Slaughters Plunders by popular Insurrections and regal Exactions in and their total final Banishment by Iudgment and Edict of Parliament out of England never to return again collected out of the best Historians With a Brief Collection of such English Laws Scriptures as seem strongly to plead and conclude against their Readmission into England especially at this season and against the General calling of the Jewish Nation With an Answer to the chief Allegations for their Introduction By William Prynne Esq a Bencher of Lincolnes-Inne 2 Chron. 19. 2. Shouldst thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. Prov. 6. 27. Can a man take coals in his bosome and his cloaths not be burnt Concil Toleta 4. cap. 57. Surius Concil Tom. 2. p. 734. Tanta est quandam cupiditas ut quidam eam appetenles etiam a fide erraverint multi quippe hucusque ex Sacerdotibus atque Laicis accipiâ—ntes a Judaeis munera perfidiam corum suo patrocinio sovent qui non immerito ex corpore Antichristi esse noscuntur quia contra Christum faciunt Quicunque ergo deinceps Episcopus sive Clericus sive Secularis illis contra fidem Christianam suffragium vel munere vel savore praesâ—iterit vere ut prophanus Sacrilegus anathema effectus ab Ecclesia Catholica Regno Dei habeatur extraneus quia dignus est ut a corpore Christi separetur qui inimicis Christi PATRONUS efficitur Printed at London for EDWARD THOMAS dwelling in Green-Arbor 165â— To the Christian Reader THat I may not justly suffer so much as in thy Thought as a busie-body in other men's matters for publishing my Opinion in a publick Case wherein I conceive my self some wayes interessed both as a Christian and English Free-man I shall inform thee of the true original cause of this my sodain unpremeditated undertaking Being much affected with God's late admirable Providence in causing the sixth day of this instant December to be set a part for a Day of Solemn Fasting and Humiliation for the late Rebukes we have received the Tares of Division that have been sown by the envious one and the growth they have had through his subtilty the abominable Blasphemies Apostacies and abuse of Liberty by many professing Religion and the continual Series of Difficulties we have been exercised under and inviting all the People of God in these three Nations on that day to joyn in solemn and earnest Supplications to the Throne of Grace That the Lord will be pleased truely to humble our present Governours and the Nation under his Righteous Hand that we may be every one searching out the Plague of his own Heart and turn unfeignedly from the evil of our wayes This being the very day of the Month whereon this time seven yeers December 6. 1648. Colonel Pride with other Officers of the ARMY besetting the Parliament-House with their armed Forces raised to Defend its PRIVILEDGES and MEMBERS against their Trusts Duties forcibly seised secured my self with above forty Parliament-Members more as we were going into the Commons-House to discharge our duties translating us that day from the Queens Court where they first imprisoned us to Hell in Westminster and there lodging us upon the bare boards without Beds all that miserable Cold Night like so many Turkish Gally-slaves rather than Parliament Members seconded with other succeeding Restraints and high unparalel'd Violations both of our Parliamentary Priviledges and Hereditary Laws and Liberties Which transcendent Exorbitancies as we may justly fear are the Plague of the Heart and Evil of their Wayes who were the chief Contrivers or Actors of them if not the greatest Rebukes the English Parliament or Nation ever received the most dangerous Tares of Division that have ever been sowen by the envious one in our Realm which have since extraordinarily grown and spread amongst us through his subtilty the saddest Apostacy and abuse of Liberty by men prosessing Religion ever heard of amongst Christians and the very Fountain of all that continued series of difficulties we have since been exercised under For which the principal Architects Executioners and whole English Nation had never publickly been humbled nor seriously lamented repented them in seven whole yeers space It pleased God by his over-ruling Providence beyond the Intentions or Thoughts of Men so at last to bring it about that this very forgotten sad day whereon this was publickly acted should be now by a printed Declaration specially devoted for A Day of solemn Fasting Humiliation throughout this Commonwealth to lament and bewail these former enormious Actions on it as well as other Crimes Having informed divers thereof both before and on this Fast-day who were much taken with it On the seventh of December the day after the Fast on which the secured Members that time seven yeers were carried from Hell to White-Hall and there kept fasting till past seven a clock at night to attend the Army-Officers who pretended a desired conference with them and at last without vouchsafing to see them sent them PRISONERS through the dirt with Musqueteers at each of their backs other Guards of Horse by their sides to the King's Head and Swan where they long remained I walked down to Westminster to visit some of my then Fellow-Prisoners and Members to acquaint them with this memorable Providence in my passage thither in Martin's-Lane I unexpectedly met with Sir John Clotworthy who was one of them leading his Lady on foot towards Wallingford-house the place whether the Officers promised to carry and there to confer with us when they thrust us into Hell who taking notice of and saluting me I informed him of the foresaid adorable Providence in appointing the former dayes Fast on that day seven yeers whereon we were seised who prosessing he had forgotten it and that it came not within his thoughts but in truth it was very miraculous and worthy special observation We thereupon walked on discoursing of it till we came to Wallingford-house-gate where Colonel Pride who then seised met us full but and I not perfectly knowing him Sir John told me here is Colonel Pride and then gave him this seasonable Memento Fellow Pride Remember this time seven yeers So we parting company I went visited some others of my then Fellow Prisoners in Westminster discoursing with them of these Providences wherewith they were much affected as having not observed them before and of our Fast at White-Hall this day seven yeers In my return homewards that day by the Garden-wall at White-Hall Mr. Nye the Minister going very fast there overtook and saluting me by name presently demanded this unexpected Question of me Whether there were any Law of England against bringing in the Jews amongst us for the Lawyers had
newly delivered their Opinions there was no Law against it To which I answered That the Jews were in the yeer 1290. all banished out of England by Judgement and Edict of the King and Parliament as a great Grievance never to return again for which the Commons gave the King the fifteenth part of their Moveables and therefore being thus banished by Parliament they could not by the Laws of England be brought in again without a special Act of Parliament which I would make good for Law He replied I wish it might not be done otherwise that this business had been formerly moved in the Bishops time rather than now To which I subjoyned That it was now a very ill time to bring in the Jews when the people were so dangerously and generally bent to Apostacy and all sorts of Novelties and Errors in Religion and would sooner turn Jews than the Jews Christians He answered He thought it was true and was sorry he could not discourse longer with me the Committee about the Jews being sate and staying for him as he feared Whereupon as he was turning in towards White-Hall-Gate I told him The Jews had been formerly great Clippers and Forgers of Mony and had crucified three or four Children in England at least which were principal causes of their banishment To which he replied That the crucifying of Children was not fully charged on them by our Historians and would easily be wiped off Whereto I answered He was much mistaken and so we parted As I kept on my way in Lincolnes-Inne Fields passing by seven or eight maimed Soldiers on Stilts who begged of me I heard them say aloud one to another We must now all turn Jews and there will be nothing left for the poor And not far from them another company of poor people just at Lincolnes-Inne back Gate cried aloud to each other They are all turned Devils already and now we must all turn Jews Which unexpected concurrent Providences and Speeches made such an impression on my Spirit that before I could take my rest that night I perused most of the passages in our English Histories concerning the Jews carriage in England with some of their misdemeanors in other parts to refresh my memory and satisfie my judgement making some Collections out of them which after I enlarged and digested into this ensuing Demurrer with as much speed as the sharpness of the season would permit and was induced to publish it knowing no particular discourse of this Subject extant for the general information satisfaction of others and honour of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the righteous whom the Jews with malicious hearts and wicked hands crucified in person heretofore and their posterity by their blasphemies despiteful actions against Christ his Kingdom Offices Gospel crucifie afresh every day trampling under foot the Son of God putting him to open shame offering despite to the Spirit of Grace counting the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing And in all their publick and private Devotions praying constantly for the sodain universal total final subversion extirpation perishing of Christs Kingdom Gospel and all his Christian Members which they plot and continually expect such is their implacable transcendent malice I have deduced their introduction into England only from William surnamed the Conqueror because I finde not the least mention of them in any of our British or Saxon Histories Councils Synods Canons which doubtlesse would have mentioned them and made some strict Laws or Canons against their Iewish as well as against Pagan Superstitions had they exercised them here as they would have done as well as in Spain other places had they resided here That any of them were here in the time of our famous Emperor Constantine is but a dream of such who because they finde an Epistle of Constantines in the Council of Nice to all the Churches of Christ in Sir Hen. Spelmans Collections of the Decrees Canons and Constitutions of the British World wherein is mention made of the Churches of Britain in that age as well as in Rome France and other parts keeping the Passeover in a different manner from the wicked blinded Iews would thence infer there were then Jews resident in Britain of which there is not one syllable in that Epistle nor in any Classick Author Forrain or Domestick I yet ever saw or heard of That they were setled in our Island in the Saxons time is collected onely from that Law inferted by Hoveden and Spelman amongst Edward the Confessors here cited p. â— But there being no mention of the Jews in any of our Saxon Kings Raigns Councils Decrees Laws before the Confessor out of which all his Laws were wholly extracted and this Law of the Jews being not to be found in the true Original Copy of the Confessors and Conquerors Laws of Abbot Ingulphus who flourished in that age was present at their confirmation and then brought them to Croyland Abby published by Mr. Iohn Selden nor yet in Bromton I cannot but reject it as counterfeit and esteem it rather a Declaration of the Jews Condition in England in Hovedens time inserted by him as well as some other things of puâ—ier date amongst these Laws rather than any Law of or in the Confessors days wherein I can finde no evidence of any Jews residence here but only this interpolation and forged Law which Mr. Selden wholly omittes in his Collection of his Laws The History of King William Rufus his compelling the Iews of Rhoan that were turned Christians to renounce their Christianity and turn Iews again ACCEPTO PRETIO APOSTASIAE upon the complaint and mony given him by the Infidel Jews there with the Dialogue between Him and Stephen the Jew cited out of Holinshed here p. 5 6. I finde originally recorded of him by Eadmerus living in his raign who though very bitter and injurious to him by reason of the great Contests between him Anselme whose Favourite Follower and Companion in adversity Eadmerus was yet he relates it not as a certain Truth but as a Report of others of that Country who had another Opinion of Rufus Quam de Christianis Christianos Lex Christiana docet habere quae tamen sicut illa accepimus simpliciter ponam non astruens vera an secus extiterint an non Onely he addes this passage to the story of Stephen which Holinshed omits That St. Stephen appearing to him as he was travelling on the way he demanding of him who he was Answered That he was long since of a Jew made a Christian and was Stephen the first Martyr but for this cause I have now come down from Heaven to Earth that thou casting away thy Iewish Superstition mightest be made a Christian and being baptized in Christ mightest be called by my name Whereupon he became a Christian and was baptized That immediately after the conference between the King and Stephen which agrees with that in Holinshed he
17. c. 6 Ambrose Epist l. 5. Epist. 29. Jerom. in cap. 4 ad Galatas in Abdiam Sozomen Hist l. 1. c. 8. Mat. Paris Historia Angl. p. 564 Aventinus Annal. Boyorum l. 5. and 7. Abbas Uspergensis Parale p. p. 346. Centur. Magd. 4. c. 14. 15. c. 3 col 85 86. Cent. 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13. â— 3. 14 15. Mr. Fox Acts and Menuments vol. 1. p. 56. with sundry others record Upon this ground certain Christians on the contrary out of an over-furious zeal have endeavoured to extirpate them all from under heaven unlesse they would turn Christians Anno. 1101 Emicho a German Earl and the Inhabitants near the Rhene pillaged plundered banished slew and destroyed all the Jews in those parts who refused to turn Christians slaying no lesse than twelve thousand of them many of the Jews killing each other with their own hands to avoid their fury but the rest receiving baptisme and turning Christians only to save their lives relapsed to their Judaisme again when the storm was over In the year 1146. one Rudolphus a Monk out of a misguided furâ—ous zeal stirred up many thousands of people in France and Germany near the Rhene to take up the Crosse for the holy wars exhorting them in his preaching that they should in the first place kill and destroy all the Jews remaining every where in the Cities and Towns as being the greatestenemies of Christ. The seeds of which doctrin took such deep root in many Cities of France and Germany that in a tumultuous sedition uproar they slew most of the Jews in those parts but such who fled into fenced Cities Castles under the protection of the Emperour Fred. the 1. which bloody Doctrine proceeding was reprehended by St. Bernards Letters to these people informing them that the Jews for their excessive wickednesses were not to be slaughtered but dispersed In the year of Christâ— 298. one Rindflash an Husbandman in Germany openly preached to the people That he was sent from heaven specially chosen by God to root out the Jews in all places And proclaimed whoever will have the Christian Commonwealth to be safe let him follow me Whereupon the people flocking to him in great multitudes chusing him for their Captain sought out the Jews in Wirtzburgh Nurinburgh Rorenburgh Bamberge Orenberge and all other Towns and Villages in Franconia and Bavaria and slew many of them the greatest part of them in these places both men women obstinately setting their own houses on sire burning both themselves wives children with their houses housholdstuff and goods together that they might not fall into the Christians hands In the year 1349. There being a great plague and mortality in Germany the Iews were generally accused for the chief Authors or increasers thereof by poysoning all the VVells and Fountains to destroy all the Christians and corrupting likewise some baptized Jews other Christians with money and charmes so far that they could willingly have destroyed and slain all their fellow Christians which some of them confessed upon their examinations Hereupon the Common people in great rage and fury against their Magistrates Bishops wills commands who neither could nor durst withstand their violence fell upon all the Jews in Bern Friburgh Argentine Wormes Oppenheim Francfort Mentz Spires and other places slew and brained many of them burned other of them hanged up many others upon Gibbets pillaging burning breaking and pulling down their Houses the Jews themselves in many of these places burning both themselves wives children goods to avoid the enraged peoples fury very few of them escaping who were baptized to preserve their lives The Inhabitants of Spire fearing the air would be infected with the stink of the slaughtered Jews dead corps lying in the streets although most of them were burnt put them into empty Caskes and threw them into the Rhene All such who protected any of the Jews for mony as some did were so murmured against and hated by the people that they were in great danger of their lives whâ—ch some of them lost as Albertus Argentinensis records at large which sad calamity came upon them by Gods just judgement many of them being found guilty of all sorts of wickednesses poysonings the murder of many Children forging of Letters counterfeiting and corrupting of moneys thefts deceipts and other villanies whereby they offended the Divine Majesty To these I might adde many other such tumults uproars occasioned by and massacres burnings and destructions of them for their villanies recorded in Hermannus Schedel Chron. f. 243 248. 258. 271 272. and Genebrardi Chronog p. 461 627 660 618 688 824. 830. with those forementioned in England And can we then in point of Christian piety or prudence now bring in such a generation of men as these amongst us especially in these unsetled unquiet discontented times to kindle new flames of discontent and tumults amongst the people 8. The conversation of the Jews is so dangerous to Christians that the 4 Council of Toledo can 59 61 62. made this Decree The Conversations and Companies of evil men do oftentimes corrupt even the good how much more then those who are prone to vices Let therefore the Jews who are converted to the Christian faith have no further Communion henceforth with those who still continue in their old Jewish rites lest peradventure they should be subverted by their Society Therefore we decree that the Sons and Daughters of those Jewes which are baptized that they be not again involved in the errors of their parents shall be separated from their Company and placed with Christian men women fearing God where they may be well instructed and grow in faith and Christian manners and that the Jewes believing Wives shall be divorced and separated from their Husbands unlesse upon admonition they turne Christians The like was Enacted by the Wisigothes Laws lib. 12. Tit. 2. 3. Yea Pope Alex. the 3. Decretal l. 6. c. 7. prohibited all Christians under pain of Excommunication to cohabit with the Jews or keep company with them because their manners and Christians accord in nothing and they by reason of their continual conversation and daily familiarity might EASILY incline the minds of simple people TO THEIR SUPERSTITION AND INFIDELITY And should not those then who pretend themselves far greatet Zealots then the Goths Spaniards or Pope upon these very grounds much more oppose prohibit their readmission into England in this giddy Apostatizing age lest their Company and Society should easily seduce the unstable people to their Judaism and Infidelity to Christs dishonour their own damnetion and the infamy of our Church and Government The rather because if extraordinary care be not taken herein under pretext of Jews we shall have many hundreds of Jesuites Popish Priests and Friers come over freely into England from Portugal Spaine Rome Italy and other places under the title habit and disguise of Jews of purpose to
undermine our Religion Church and State and sow the seeds of Heresie Blasphemy Popery Superstition Schisms and Divisions amongst us they having formerly sent over some of late years amongst us under the notion and vizard of converted Jews as Ramsey the Scot and Eleazer and Joseph Ben-Isaiah all Jesuitical wicked cheating Impostors the two last whereof have cheated the honest people of the Nation of many thousand pounds being notorious Villains one of them formerly a Trooper and Plunderer in Prince Ruperts army as he confessed to his Hostesse at Dursly in Glocestershire in his drink where he would have ravished the Maid-servant of the house locking the door upon her whiles she was warming his bed in the night and upon her crying out for help fled away presently in the night to avoid apprehension And yet wanders about cheating the people in other places instead of being brought to Tyburne for his Villanies And if they abuse and cheat us thus already much more will they doe it upon and after the Jewes admission 9. To pretermit their banishment out of Rome by the Emperor Claudius recorded Acts 18. 2. and that as Ecclesiastical Historians report for their cheating and tumults there raised I shall only in brief relate how they have from time to time been banished expelled many Christian Cities Countries Kingdoms and their Synagogues burnt and destroyed especially for their Infidelity and other forementioned Misdemeanors Crimes Villanies About the year of Chriâ—â— 430. at the instigation of St. Cyril Bishop of Alexandriâ— and the Christians there they were expelled and banished that famous City where they had long inhabited for their insolencies seditious conspiracies against the Christians About the year of Christ 615. they were banished out of Jerusulem it self by Heraclius the Emperour as Zonaras Tom. 3. in his life Paulus Diaconus rerum Rom. l. 18. Cent. Magd. 7. c. 14. storie About Anno 616. King Sisebutus banished them all out of Spaine unlesse they would turn Christians which the most of them refusing to doe departed thereupon into France as the marginal Authors unanimously attest About the year 618. they were all banished out of France by King Dagobert unlesse they would renounce their Judaism and turn Christians upon the command and instigation of Her aâ—lius the Emperour as Regino Chron. l. 1. Cent. Magdeb. 7. c. 14. relate King Wamba about the year 710. banished them out of the Province of Narbon as Rodericus Toletanus de Rebus Hisp. l. 3. c. 11. informs us The Emperor Phocas about the year 60â— banished them out of the City of Antioch for the tumults they had there raised against the Christians and Government About the year 1196. they were banished out of the City of Mentz and near the same time out of the City of Triers and the Bishoprick thereof by Bishop Everhard Philip Augustus King of France banished them all out of France by several Edicts Anno 1152 1162. 1182. for these reasons because they had divers times crucified children of Christians in Paris and elswhere in contempt of Christ and his Passion entertained Christian men servants and maid servants in their houses who did likewise play the Jews with them contrary to the Decrees of God and the Church above measure oppressed impoverished by their Usuries the Citizens Knights Gentry and Country people both in the Cities Suburbs and Villages of France and detained some of them prisoners in their houses like captives binding them by an Oath not to depart out of them most vilely profaned the sacred Vessels pawned to them by church-men in cases of necessity causing their little children ordinarily to drink wine and eat sops out of them in contempt of the Sacrament and casting the silver Vessels Crosses and guilded Books of the Gospel pawned to them into Jakes in a sack that the Christians might not find them and because the Saracens upbraided the Christians for entertaining them amongst them being the professed Enemies of Christ Upon these grounds as also because their wealth and Number were so increased that they had almost gotten half the City of Paris into their hands King Philip caused them to be all apprehended through France in one day as they were in their Synagogues then spoiled them of all their rich gold and silver garments confiscated all their Lands Houses Possessions and banished them the Realm notwithstanding the intercessions of many Bishops and Nobles bribed with their gold and gifts on their behalf and the proffers of great summes of money to him by the Jews wherewith he would not be mollified After which he caused their Synagogues to be prophaned and then consecrated and converted to Churches that so where Christ was first blasphemed after the manner of the Jews he might in the same places be praised both by the Clergy and people as Vincentius records at large After this creeping into that Realm again by money and Bribes they were again banished out of France and their goods confiscated by King Philip the Fair in the year 1293. as some or 1307. as others compute it and driven into Germany In the year 1349. at the earnest importunity of the people they were all banished out of Alsatia and the Imperial Cities by the agreement of the Bishops and Nobles and most of them burnt and destroyed as they had been formerly in those parts by Earl Emicho An. 1102. who then banished them thence Ludovicus Duke of Bavaria about the year 1450 banished all the Iews out of his Territories as Aeneas Picolomâ—neus in his Europâ— staius sub Frederico l. 3. c. 32. p. 79. assures us In the years 1474. 1482. and 1492. they were all banished out of Spain by King Ferdinand surnamed the Catholique from whence they were transported and received into Portugal they paying to K. Iohn 2. 8. Duckets for every poll of them at first for their admission which much augmented his Eschequer though it diminished his piety and honour Not long after Anno 1497. they were driven and banished out of Portugal by King Emanuel And in the year 1539. they were banished out of Naples and Sicily by Charles the 5th To which I might adde the destruction burning and utter extirpation of the Jews by the Rubeaquenses Anno 1309. and 1338. Munst Cosm l. 3. p. 547. out of Worms and Spires An. 1092. Munsteri Cosm l. 3. p. 580. Out of Prague by VVratislaus for hating and slaying the Christians Geor. Bartholdus Pontanus Bohemiae Piae l. 2. p. 20. Out of Berne An. 1287. Munsteri Cosm l. 3. p. 582. Having therefore been thus frequently banished by Christian Kings Princes from time to time at the earnest sollicitation of their godly Christian Ministers Bishops People and by our King and Parliament too out of England so long since never to return again what shadow colour of Piety Policy Prudence Justice Law Reason there can be for any person or persons whatsoever to re-admit them except the