A Short DEMURRER To the JEWES Long discontinued barred Remitter into ENGLAND.

Comprising, An exact Chronological Relation of their first Admission into, their

ill Deportment, Misdemeanors, Condition, Sufferings, Oppressions, Slaughters,
Plunders, by popular Insurrections, and regal Exactions in; and their total, final
Banishment by Iudgment and Edict of Parliament, out of England, never to return
again: collected out of the best Historians and Records.

With a Brief Collection of such English Laws, Scriptures, Reasons, as seem strongly
to plead, and conclude against their Readmission into England, especially at this
season, and against the General calling of the Jewish Nation. With an Answer to the
chief Allegations for their Introduction.

The second Edition, enlarged.

By William Prynne Esq a Bencher of Lincolnes-Inne.

2 Chron. 19.2.
Shouldst thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is
wrath upon thee from before the Lord.

Prov. 6.27.
Can a man take coals in his bosome, and his cloaths not be burnt?

Concil. Toleta. 4. cap. 57. Surius Concil. Tom. 2. p 734.

Tanta est quorundam isu. a ut quidam eam appetentes etiam a fide erraverint:
multi quippe hucusque ex Sacerdotibus atque Laicis accipientes a Judaeis muner,
perfidiam eoum suo patrocinio fovent, qui non immerito ex corpore Antichristi esse
noscuntur, quia contra Christum faciunt. Quicunque ergo deinceps Episcopus, sive
clericus, sive Secularis, illis contra fidem Christianam suffragium vel munere, vel
favore praestiterit, vere (ut prophanus & Sacrilegus) anathema effectus, ab
Ecclesia Catholica, & Regno Dei habeatur extraneus: quia dignus est ut a corpore
Christi separetur, qui inimicis Christi PATRONUS efficitur.

Printed at London, for EDWARD THOMAS dwelling in Green Arbor, 1656.

To the Christian Reader.

THat I may not justly(a)suffer (so much as in thy Thought) as a busie body in other
men's matters, for publishing my Opinion in a publick Case; wherein I conceive my
self some wayes interessed, both as a Christian and English Free-man: I shall
inform thee of the true original cause of this my sudden unpremeditated
undertaking.

Being much affected with God's late admirable Providence, in causing the (b) sixth
day of this instant December to be set apart for a Day of Solemn Fasting and
Humiliation, for the late Rebukes we have received, the Tares of Division that have
been sown by the envious one, and the growth they have had through his subtilty;
the abominable Blasphemies, Apostacies, and abuse of Liberty by many professing
Religion, and the continual Series of Difficulties we have been exercised under:
and, inviting all the People of God in these three Nations on that day, to joyn in
solemn and earnest Supplications to
the Throne of Grace, That the Lord will be pleased truely to humble our present
Governours, and the Nation, under his Righteous Hand, that we may be every one
searching out the Plague of his own Heart, and turn unfeignedly from the evil of
our wayes. This being the very day of the Month, whereon this time seven yeers,
(December 6. 1648.) Colonel Pride with other Officers of the ARMY, besetting the
Parliament-House with their armed Forces (c) raised to Defend its PRIVILEDGES and
MEMBERS) against their Trusts, Duties, forcibly seised, secured my self, with above
forty Parliament-Members more, as we were going into the Commons-House to discharge
our duties; translating us that day from the Queens Court (where they first
impresoned us) to Hell in Westminster, and there lodging us upon the bare boards
without Beds, all that miserable Cold Night, like so many Turkish Gally-slaves,
rather than Parliament-Members: seconded with other succeeding Restraints, and high
unparallel'd Violations both of our Parliamentary Priviledges, and Hereditary Laws
and Liberties. Which transcendent Exorbitancies, as we may justly fear, are the
Plague of the Heart, and Evil of their Wayes, who were the chief Contrivers or
Actors of them; if not the greatest Rebukes the English Parliament or Nation ever
received; the most dangerous Tares of Division that have ever been sowen by the
envious one in our Realm, which have since extraordinarily grown and spread amongst
us through his subtilty; the saddest Apostacy, and abuse of Liberty by men
professing Religion ever heard of amongst Christians; and the very Fountain of all
that continued series of difficulties we have since been exercised under. For which
the principal Architects, Executioners, and whole English Nation had never
publickly been humbled, nor seriously lamented, repented them in seven whole yeers
space; It pleased God by his over-ruling Providence, beyond the Intentions or
Thoughts of Men, so at last to bring it about, that this very forgotten sad day,
whereon this was publickly acted, should be now by a printed Declaration, specially
devoted for A Day of solemn Fasting & Humiliation, throughout this Commonwealth, to
lament and bewail these former enormous Actions on it, as well as other Crimes.
Having informed divers thereof, both before and on this Fast-day, who were much
taken with it; On the seventh of December, (the day after the Fast, on wch the
secured Members that time seven yeers were carried from Hell to White-Hall, and
there kept fasting till past seven a clock at night to attend the Army-Officers,
who pretended a desired conference with them; and at last, without vouchsafing to
see them, sent them PRISONERS through the dirt with Musqueteers at each of their
backs, & other Guards of Horse by their sides, to the King's Head and Swan, where
they long remained:) I walked down to Westminster, to visit some of my then Fellow-
Prisoners and Members, to acquaint them with this memorable Providence; in my
passage thither in Martin's-Lane, I unexpectedly met with Sir John Clotworthy (who
was one of them) leading his Lady on foot towards Wallingford-house, the place
whither the Officers promised to carry, and there to confer with us, when they
thrust us into Hell; who taking notice of, and saluting me, I informed him of the
foresaid adorable Providence, in appointing the former dayes Fast on that day seven
yeers whereon we were seised: who professing he had forgotten it, and that it came
not within his thoughts; but in truth it was very miraculous, and worthy special
observation. We thereupon walked on, discoursing of it till we came to Wallingford-
house-gate, where Colonel Pride, who then seised, met us full but; and I not
perfecty 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(d)crucified in person heretofore, and their
posterity by their blasphemies, despiteful actions against Christ, his Kingdom,
Offices, Gospel(e)crucifie afresh every day, trampling under foot the Son of God,
putting him to open shame, offering despite to the Spirit of Grace, & counting the
blood of the Covenant an unholy thing. And in all their publick and private
Devotions, praying constantly for the sudden, universal, total, final subversion,
extirpation, perishing of Christs Kingdom, Gospel, and all his Christian Members,
which they plot, and continually expect, such is their implacable transcendent
malice. I have deduced their introduction into England, only from William surnamed
the Conqueror, because I finde not the least mention of them in any of our British,
or Saxon Histories, Councils, Synods, Canons, which doubtlesse would have mentioned
them, and made some strict Laws or Canons, against their Iewish as well as against
Pagan Superstitions, had they exercised ere, as they would have done as well
as in Spain, & other places, had they resided here. That any of them were here in
the time of our famous Emperor Constantine, is but a dream of such, who because
they finde an Epistle of Constantines in the Council of Nice, to all the Churches
of Christ, in(f)Sir Hen. Spelmans Collections of the Decrees, Canons, and
Constitutions of the British World wherein is mention made of the Churches of
Britain, in that age, as well as in Rome, France and other parts, keeping the
Passeover in a different manner from the wicked blinded Iews, would thence infer,
there were then Jews resident in Britain; of which
there is not one syllable in that Epistle, nor in any Classick Author Forrain or
Domestick, I yet ever saw or heard of.

That they were setled in our Island in the Saxons time, is collected, onely from
that Law inserted by (g)Hoveden, and (b)Spelman amongst Edward the Confessors, here
cited, p. 3. But there being no mention of the Jews in any of our Saxon Kings
Raigns, Councils, Decrees, Laws, before the Confessor, out of which all his Laws
were(i)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 (k)Ingulphus, who
flourished in that age, was present at their confirmation, and then brought them to
Croyland Abby, published by Mr. (l)Iohn Selden, nor yet in Bromton, I cannot but
reject it as counterfeit, and esteem it rather, a Declaration of the Jews Condition
in England in Hovedens time (inserted by him, as well as some other things of
punier date, amongst these Laws) rather than any Law of, or in the Confessors days,
wherein I can finde no evidence of any Jews residence here, but only this
interpolation and forged Law, which Mr. Selden wholly omits in his Collection of
his Laws. The History of King William Rufus, his compelling the Iews of Rhoan that
were turned Christians, to renounce their Christianity and turn Iews again, ACCEPTO
PRETIO APOSTASLE, upon the complaint and mony given him by the Infidel Jews there,
with the Dialogue between Him and Stephen the Jew, cited out of Holinshed, here p.
5, 6. I finde originally recorded of him by (m)Eadmerus, living in his raign: who
though very bitter and injurious to him, by reason of the great Contests between
him & Anselme (whose Favourite, Follower and Companion in adversity Eadmerus was)
yet he relates it not as a certain Truth, but as a Report of others of that
Country, who had another Opinion of Rufus, Quam de Christianis Christianos Lex
Christiana docet habere: quae tamen sicut illa accepimus simpliciter ponam, non
astruens vera an secus extiterint, an non. Onely he addes this passage to the story
of Stephen, which Holinshed omits: That St. Stephen appearing to him as he was
travelling
on the way, he demanding of him who he was? Answered, That he was long since of a
Jew made a Christian, and was Stephen the first Martyr; but for this cause, I have
now come down from Heaven to Earth, that thou casting away thy Iewish Superstition,
mightest be made a Christian; and being baptized in Christ, mightest be called by
my name. Whereupon he became a Christian, and was baptized. That immediately after
the conference between the King and Stephen, (which agrees with that in Holinshed)
he being thrust out, and meeting his Father standing before the door, expecting the
event, being animated against him, said; O Son of death, and fewel of eternal
perdition, is not thine own damnation sufficient for thee, unless thou also cast me
headlong into it together with thee? But God forbid, that I to whom Christ is now
revealed, should ever acknowledge thee henceforth for a Father, because the devil
is thy father.

I have omitted in this second enlarged Edition of my Demurrer, no passage to my

knowledge, in any of our Historians, relating to our former English Iews, reciting
them all in a Chronological Order in the Historians own words, quoted in the
Margin: only I finde sundry Records concerning them, which I shall supply by a
subsequent Appendix by themselves, to gratifie those who bought the first Edition,
whom their insertion into this might have injur'd.

Herein (m)I have only briefly touched, not handled, the great Question, of the
general calling & conversion of the Iewish Nation to the Faith of Christ, towards
the end of the world; for which I cannot finde any satisfactory grounds in
Scripture. That Text of Levit. 26.41, to 46. on which some build their general
call, having these two clauses in it, that seem strongly to oppose, or make it very
dubious, v. 41. IF THEN their uncircumcised heart be humbled, and that they accept
of the punishment of their iniquity, &c. & v. 46. I will not cast them away,
neither will I abhor them to DESTROY THEM UTTERLY. And that other Text of Rom. 11.
whereon others most rely, having this conditional passage & express clauses against
it, v. 23. And they also, IF they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in,
for God is able (he saith not resolved) to graffe them
in again. And v. 3, to 8. I have reserved to my self 7000 men, &c. Even so then at
this present time there is a Remnant according to the election of grace, &c. But
the Election hath obtained it, and the rest were hardned, or blinded. Which
compared with Rom. 9.27, 29. (*Isaiah also saith concerning Israel, Though the
number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the Sea, yet a REMNANT of them
(only) shall be saved.*Except the Lord of Hosts had left unto us A SEED, A VERY
SMALL REMNANT (so Isaiah calls it) we had been as Sodom, &c.) will necessarily
evince, that Rom. 11.26. And so all Israel shall be saved, &c. (on which they
ground this general call) must be intended onely of all this small elect remnant of
the Israel of God, and seed of Abraham according to the faith, not flesh, Rom. 4
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Gal. 3.7, 8, 9, 14, 16. Ga. 6.16. of all such who are Jews
inwardly, and have the Circumcision of the heart, Rom: 2.28, 29. not of the whole
Jewish Nation, (whose servants I fear wee as few under the Gospel, as the
Gentiles, Converts, and Proselytes under the Law.) And those who will strain that
Text further, must necessarily aver, not only an Universal Calling, but likewise
Salvation and taking away the ungodliness and sins of the whole Nation then by
Christ, (of which that Text only speaks) not only contrary to these forecited
Scriptures, and Gods dealing with all other(n)Churches, Nations; but to Jer. 3.14.
I will take you, one of a City, and two of a Tribe, and I will bring you to Sion.
Mat. 21.16. Many are called, but few chosen: & few saved, Mat. 7.14. Luke 13.23.
Therefore for any to call in the Jews among us upon this surmise of their general
approaching Conversion, is a strange Solecism, both in State-Policy and
Christianity, especially in this age, wherein that Speech of (o)Waltramus Bishop of
Naumburge, is most truely verified, Diabolus videns Idola derelicta, & per nimium
credentium populum sedes suas ac templa deserta, excogitavit novam fraudem, ut sub
ipso Christiani nominis titulo fallat incautos; haereses{que} invenit & schismata,
quibus subverteret fidem, corrumperet veritatem. Exinde divisa est Ecclesia, &
divisa sunt Ecclesiae Sacerdotia, at{que} omnia scandalorum orta sunt genera.
Exinde crevit grave & diuturrum bellum, & non solum civile bellum, sed & plusquam
civile bellum, & factae sunt abs{que} divino pariter & humano respectu vastationes
Ecclesiarum, & caedes hominum: Exinde etiam corruptae sunt divinae pariter &
humanae leges, sine quibus non subsistit vel Dei Ecclesia, vel Imperii Respublica:
& ex inde violata est fides & publica, & Catholica: exinde etiam illa crevit
injustitia, ut pro veritate falsa testimonia, & pro fide Catholica, abundent
perjuria: ut post quam Leges bello silvere coactae, impleaturiam ista Domini
sententia per Osee Prophetam: Non est veritas, & non est misericordia, & non
scientia Dei in terra: maledictum, & mendacium, & homicidium, & furtum, &
adulterium inundaverunt, & sanguis sanguinem tetigit. Ipse Diabolus videtur nunc de
carcere suo solutus esse. Hinc publicae civium contra Cives congressiones, aliis
pro pastoribus legitimis, aliis vero contra pastores dimicantes: as he and
(p)Gerhobus Richerspergensis writ of Pope Hildebrands dayes.

If any man chance to censure me, as overharsh or earnest in my expressions against

the Jews; I hope that speech of their royal Prophet, (a man after Gods own heart)
Ps. 139.20, 21, 22. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am I not
grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with a perfect hatred, I
count them mine enemies: for they speak against thee wickedly; depart from me
therefore ye bloody men: will apologize for me; especially seeing their*Proposals
are, Not only to be admitted and received into our Commonwealth under the
protection and safeguard of our Governours, AS THE NATIVES THEMSELVES: and that all
the Heads and Generals of Arms may take an Oath to defend them upon all occasions,
that they may be permitted to traffick freely in all sorts of Merchandize as
others; but to be judged by their Judges in differences between themselves,
according to the Mosaick Law: And to be allowed PUBLICK SYNAGOGUES, not onely in
ENGLAND, but also IN ALL OTHER PLACES under our power; and TO OBSERVE IN ALL THINGS
THEIR RELIGION AS THEY OUGHT: That in case there have been any Laws against their
Jewish Nation,
they may IN THE FIRST PLACE, and BEFORE ALL THINGS BE REVOKED. A clear evidence of
an intended design in them, only to set up their (r) Synagogues of Satan, Judaism,
& Jewish Ceremonies in the highest degree, amongst us, as lawful, in direct
opposition and subversion of our only Lord, Saviour, Redeemer, Mediator, Jesus
Christ his Person, Offices, Kingdom, Gospel and Christianity it self, without any
thoughts of turning Christians themselves. As Manasseh Ben Israel his printed
Addresses most fully discovers. In which case not to be passionately zealous, not
to(s)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(a)Gods own beloved, special, chosen People) after
their (b)malitious crucifying of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and imprecation,
That(c)his Bloud might be on them and their children, were for this (d)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.

(e)De Judaeis in Regno consticutis.

SCiendum est quo{que}, quod omnes Judaei, ubicun{que} 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 (f)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 or
reason, but by a faction.(g)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 (h)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 thy 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 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 (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 (k) 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 were then so odious to the whole Nation, that they would not
permit them to bury their very dead corps in any English soyl, for fear of
polluting it, nor near any Christians bodies, without the Kings special License.
Neither did they desire to be interred near, or amongst any Christians corps, out
of detestation to them, as if one earth, could no more contain them, than one
Heaven, which the Jews would engross to themselves alone.

(l)King Richard the first being to be crowned King at London, in the year of our
Lord, 1189. the chiefest of the Jews flocked together from all parts to his
Coronation,
resolving to purchase the favour of the New King with most ample gifts, and to get
their former priviledges confirmed, which they feared they should lose. But they
being suspected of Sorcery and Magick, the King by a publick Proclamation
prohibited all Jews from entring the Church whiles he was crowning, or his Palace
whiles he was therein feasting. Notwithstanding some of the principal Iews secretly
got into the Church and Palace; who being discovered one after another, were well
beaten, and thrust out of the Church and Court by the Kings Officers and
Christians. Upon which the common people then flocking in great multitudes to the
Kings coronation, fell upon the Jews standing in great multitudes at the Palace
gate, first beating them with their fists, and then taking up clubs and stones slew
some of them, and left the others half dead: whereupon one of them called Benedict
of York, being so beaten and wounded, that he despaired of life, and
extraordinarily terrified with the fear of death, received Baptism from William,
Prior of St. Maries of Yorke, and thereby escaped the peril of death, and hands of
the persecutors. In the mean while there was a great rumor spred throughout the
city of London upon this occasion, That the King desired, and had commanded, that
all the Iews should be banished and destroyed; Whereupon an infinite number of
people, as well out of the City as most counties of England then coming to the
coronation, inflamed with the desire of booty, betaking themselves to their arms,
fell pell-mell upon the Jews, and slew and pillaged them both in the streets, and
in their houses; and those who defended themselves for a time in such strong houses
which they could not enter, were there soon after burnt and consumed, together with
their houses by the furious multitude, who put fire to their houses, and burnt down
most of them, Synagogae datae dedecori, and likewise defaced their Synagogues, as
Radulphus de Diceto records. The King being informed hereof whiles he was feasting
with his Nobles, thereupon sent Ranulphus de Glanvil, then chief Justice of the
Realm, a potent and prudent man, together
with other great Noblemen to perswade and restrain these bold people. But all in
vain, for in so great a multitude, none would hear their voices, nor reverence
their persons; but rather murmuring against them, exhorted them speedily to return:
whereupon they advisedly declining their unbridled rage, the fury of these
plunderers ceased not til the next day. Ac licet immensitas tantae rabei si
dissimulata & multa transiret, primordia regiae majestatis denigraret plurimum,
propter reorum tamen infinitam multitudinem dissimulari oportuit quod vindicari non
potuit; writes Henry de Knyghton. Yet the very next day the King sending his
Officers throughout the City, commanded some of the said malefactors to be
apprehended, and brought before him, of which three were hanged by the judgement of
his Court: one, because he had stollen the goods of a certain Christian, and two
because they had made a fire in the City, whereby the houses of Christians were
burned. After which the King sent for the man, who of a Jew was made a Christian,
and demanded of him, in the presence of those who had seen him baptized, Whether he
were made a Christian? Who answered, That he was not, but that he permited the
Christians to do to him what they would, that he might escape death. Then the King
demanded of the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the presence of many Archbishops and
Bishops, What was to be done concerning him? who answering very indiscreetly, said:
If he will not be a man (or servant) of God, let him be a man, (or servant) of the
Devil; And so he returned to the Judaical Law and pravity, like a dog to his
vomit*and soon after died at Northampton, and was deprived of the common burial of
the Jews, because he had been made a Christian in this manner, and likewise of
common burial with the Christians, because he apostatized to the Iewish
wickednesse, for which some would have had him proceeded against as an Apostate. In
the mean time the King sent his Writs throughout all the Counties of England,
prohibiting, That none should doe any harm to the Iews, but that they should enjoy
his peace. But before that Edict was published, the
Jews which were in the Town of Dunstaple (to preserve their lives from the peoples
fury) being converted to the Christian Faith, were baptized, betroathing their
wives after the manner of Christians; which was likewise done through many Cities
of England. And although the King by his Proclamation, had decreed peace to the
Jews, yet notwithstanding the fury against the Jews kindled at London, not verily
out of a zeal of Faith, but of Gain, vehemently raged in other places of the Land.
For a certain Jew at Lynne happening to be made a Christian; thereupon the Jews
persecuting him, as a prevaricator of their Law, taking an opportunity, assaulted
him with arms as he passed throgh the city, whereupon he took sanctuary in the
Church; yet notwithstanding the raging Jews would not rest quiet for this, but with
a continued fury presently began to assault the Church with great violence:
presently hereupon there arose a great clamor, and the Christians assistance was
defired with loud out-cries. This clamor and fame incensed the Christian people,
and young men which were strangers, of which a great number at that time resorted
thither, by reason of traffick; who running to the Church armed, valiantly
assaulted the proud Jews, who being unable to resist the assault of the Christians,
presently betook themselves to flight. After which, the Christians assaulting and
taking their houses, spoyled and then burnt them with fire. Hereupon the young men
who were strangers, laden with prey, departed with it speedily to their ships &
failed thence, lest they should be questioned, & perchance inforced to restore
their booty by the Kings officers. But the Inhabitants of the place, when they were
questioned for this by the Kings Officers, translated this fact to the strangers,
who were then departed from thence; although themselves were not altogether
innocent, taking up arms against the Jews upon the out-cry; but yet doing nothing
against the Jews for fear of the Kings displeasure.

Not long after, in Lent there arose a new storm against the Jews at Stanford; for
there being solemn Fairs there
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 a thousand five hundred of the Iews destroyed at that time
in York alone, (beside those slaughtered in other places) so that this year, which
the Iews took to be their Iubile, was to them a year of confusion. Neither was this
plague of theirs undeserved,*for every year commonly their custom was, to get some
Christian mans child from the Parents, and on Good-Friday to crucifie him, in
despite of our Religion.

King Richard the first, after his return out of the Holy Land in the year 1194.
*appointed Iustices Itinerant through all the Counties of England, who amongst
other Articles, were to enquire; Concerning the slayers of the Iews: who they were
that slew them? and concerning the pawns and chattels, and lands and debts, and
charters of the Iews that were slain? and who had them? and how much any one owed
to them? and what morgages they had, and who held them? and how much they were
worth? and who took the issues of them? and what they were? and that all the
Morgages and Debts of the Iews who were slain should be taken into the Kings hands,
and that those who were present at the slaying of the Iews, and had not made a fine
(or end) with our Lord the King or his Iustices, should be apprehended, and not
delivered, unless it were by the King our Lord or his Iustices. The self-same year
King Richard appointed Justices, Laws, and Orders, for preventing the frauds, and
regulating the contracts of the Jews, both between themselves, and between
Christians and them, thus recorded at large by (m)Roger de Hoveden, and briefly
touched only by some others.

All the Debts, Pawns, Morgages, Lands, Houses, Rents, and

Possessions of the Iews shall be registred. The Jew who shall conceal any of these,
shall forfeit to the King his body, and the concealment, and likewise all his
possessions and chattels; neither shall it be lawfull to the Iew ever to recover
the concealment. Likewise 6 or 7 places shall be provided, in which they shal make
all their contracts, and there shall be appointed two Lawyers that are Christians,
and two Lawyers who are Iews, and two Legal Registers; and before them, and the
Clerks of William of the Church of St. Maries, and William of Chimilli, shall their
contracts be made: & Charters shall be made of their contracts by way of Indenture.
And one part of the Indenture shall remain with the Iew, sealed with his seal to
whom the money is lent; and the other part shall remain in the common chest;
wherein there shall be 3 locks and keys, whereof the 2 Christians shall keep one
key, and the 2 Iews another, and the Clerks of William of St. Maries Church, and
William of Chimilli, shall keep the third. And moreover, there shall be three seals
to it; and those who keep the seals, shall put the seals thereto. Moreover, the
Clerks of the said William and William shall keep a roll of the transcripts of all
the Charters; and as the Charters shall be altered, so let the roll be likewise:
For every Charter there shall be 3 pence paid, one moity thereof by the Iew, and
the other moity by him to whom the money is lent; whereof the 2 writers shall have
2 pence, and the keeper of the roll the third. And from henceforth, no contract
shall be made with, nor payment made to the Iews, nor any alteration made of the
Charters, but before the said persons, or the greater part of them, if all of them
cannot be present. And the aforesaid 2 Christians shall have one roll of the Debts
or receits of the payments which from henceforth are to be made to the Jews, and
the 2 Jews one, and the keeper of the roll one. Moreover, every Iew shall swear
upon his Roll that all his debts and pawns, and rents, and all his goods and
possessions he shall cause to be enrolled, and that he shall conceal nothing, as is
aforesaid: And if he shall know that any one shall conceal any thing, he shall
secretly reveal it to the Iustices sent unto them; and that they shall detect and
shew unto them, all falsifiers or forgers of Charters, and clippers of moneys,
where or when they shall know them, and likewise all false charters.

By these strict politick Laws, the King and his Officers knew the particular
wealth, monies, goods, debts, and real and personal estates of every Jew, and in
whose hands they were, and so could seize and command them at their pleasure, upon
any real or pretended misdemeanors, or complaints against them.

King Iohn, (who in the * 1 and 2 years of his reign, granted them large liberties,
and an high Priest for moneys) in the year of our Lord [n] 1210. commanded all the
Jews of both sexes throughout Englnd to be apprehended and imprisoned, and to be
afflicted with most grievous torments, that so they might satisfie the Kings
pleasure with their money. Some of them being grievously tortured, gave all things
which they had, and promised more, that they might by this means escape so many
kinds of torments. Amongst whom one Jew at Bristol, punished with various torments,
when as he would neither redeem himself, nor submit to any fine: the King commanded
his tormentors, that they should every day pull out one of his grinding teeth,
until he should pay to the King ten thousand marks of silver. And when at last for
7 days space they had pulled out 7 of his teeth, with intollerable torment, and now
on the 8 day the tormentors had begun the like work again; this Jew, an over-flow
provider for his profit, gave him the aforesaid money, that he might save the 8
tooth to himself, the other 7 being pulled out: who with much more wisdom, and
lesse pain, might have done so before, and have saved his 7 teeth, having but 8 in
all.

In the 17 year of King Iohn, the 17 day of May, the Barons coming to London,
brake into the houses of the Jews, and searched their Coffers to stuff their own
purses, that had been long empty: After which they applyed all diligence to repair
the Gates and Walls of the City with the stones of the Jews broken houses.

[o]In the year 1222. 7 H. 3. in a Council at Canterbury under Archbishop Stephen, a

certain Apostate Jew, made of a Christian a Deacon, and afterwards apostatizing,
was there judicially punisht, whom Falco presently apprehending, caused to be
hanged, as Matthew Paris writes; but Bracton and others record, that he was burned
to ashes.

*King Henry the 3. in the 11 year of his reign, Anno Dom. 1226. granted the lands
and houses of Benomye Matton, a Jew in London, escheated to him by a murder
committed by this Jew, to Semain and others, as appears by his Chatter of that
year.

[p]King Henry the 3. Anno. 1230. wanting moneys, constrained the Jews whether they
would or would not, to give him the third part of all their moveable goods, and
that with all expedition.

[q]The Jews in the year of our Lord 1231. builded a Synagogue very curiously, but
the Christians obtained of the King, that it should be dedicated to our blessed
Lady, and was since by the same King Henry granted to the Brethren of St. Anthony
of Vienna, and called St. Anthonies Hospital.

[r]In the year of our Lord 1233. King Henry the 3. at his proper costs built in
London, not far from the old Temple, a decent house & Church, sufficient for a
Covent, with other convenient edifices thereto belonging, called The house of the
Converts. (now the Rolls) To which house the converted Jews flying, leaving the
blindnesse of Iudaism, under a certain honest rule of living, might have a certain
habitation, a safe refuge, and a sufficient livelihood during their whole lives,
without servile labour, and the gain of Usury. Whereupon it came to passe, that in
a short time there was gathered together in that place, a great number of Converts,
who were there baptized and instructed in the Christian Faith, and lived laudaby,
being governed by a skilfull Rector, specially appointed for that purpose.

*This House of the converted Jews was founded by King Henry the 3. in the place of
a Jews house to him forfeited in the year 1233. and the 17 of his reign, who
builded there for them a fair Church, now used and called
the Chapel for the custody of Rolls and Records of Chancery; It standeth not far
from the old Temple and the new, in the which house all such Jews and Infidels as
were converted to the Christian Faith, were ordained and appointed, under an honest
rule of life, sufficient maintenance: Whereby it came to passe, that in short time
there were gathered a great number of converts, who were baptized, instructed in
the Doctrine of Christ, and there lived under a learned Christian, appointed to
govern them. Since the which time, to wit, in the year 1290. All the Jews in
England were banished out of the Realm, whereby the number of converts in this
place was decayed, and therefore in the year 1377. this House was annexed by Patent
to William Berestal Clerk, Custos Rotulorum, or Keeper of the Rolls of the
Chancery, by Edward the 3. in the 51 year of his reign, and the first Master of the
Rolls, who was sworn in Westminst. Hall, at the Table of Marble: since which time
that house hath been commonly called, the Rolls in Chancery lane. Notwithstanding
such of the Jews or other Infidels as have in the Realm been converted to
Christianity and baptized, have been received there; for I find in record, that one
William Peirs a Jew that became a Christian, was baptized in the 5 of Richard the
2. and had 2 d. the day allowed him, during his life, by the said King (out of the
Rolls.)

[s]King Henry in the year 1235. keeping his Court and the Nativity at Westminster,
with many of his Bishops and Nobles, there were brought before him; upon the
complaint of Iohn Toly, 7 Jews, who had circumcised a certain child in Norwich,
whom they had stollen away from his Parents, and kept for a years space from the
fight of Christians; intending to crucifie him on the Feast of Easter. But being
convicted for this fact, they confessed the truth of the thing in the Kings
presence: and so being at the Kings pleasure, both for their life and members, were
deteed in prison for this fact, and some of them drawn and hanged.

[t] In the year of our Lord 1240. the Jews circumcised a Christian child at
Norwich, and being circumcised, they called him Jurninus, but reserved him to be
crucified in contumely of Jesus Christ crucified. But the Father of the child, from
whom the Jews had stollen him, diligently seeking after his Son, at the last found
him shut up in the custody of the Jews; and with loud clamours declared, that his
Son, whom he thought to have been lost, was wickedly kept up in the Chamber of a
certain Jew. Which great premeditated wickednesse coming to the knowledge of the
Bishop William Rele, a prudent and circumspect man, and of other great men, lest
through the slothfulnesse of the Christians so great an injury of Christ should be
passed by unpunished, all the Jews of the City were apprehended, and when as they
would have defended themselves by Regal authority; the Bishop said, These things
belong to the Church, and are not to be determined in the Kings Court, seeing the
Question to be discussed is concerning circumcision, and the breach of faith.
Whereupon 4 of the Jews being convicted of the aforesaid wickednesse, were first
dragged at the tails of Horses, and at last hanged on the Gallows, lamentably
breathing forth the reliques of life.

The Proceedings in this New case I find thus recorded in the Placita of 18 H. 3.
rot. 21. thus endorsed, Placitum loquelae de Iudaeis Norwich, qui sunt in Prisona
apud London. Benedictus physicus appellat Jacobum de Norwich Judaeum, quod cum
Odardus, filius suus puer aetatis 5 annorum ivit ludendo in via Villae Norwich
vigilia Sancti Egidii 4 annis elapsis, venit idem Jacobus Judaeus & coepit eundem
Odardum & eum portavit us{que} ad domum suam & circumcidit eum in membro suo, &
voluit ipsum facere Judaeum, & eum retinuit per unam diem & unam noctem in domo
sua, quous{que} per clamorem vicinorum venit ad quandam domum; & illum invenit in
manibus ipsius Jacobi, & sic psum puerum circumcisum monstravit Officiali
Archidiaconi & Coronatoribus ipso die, qui praesentes simul & hoc idem testantur;
Qui dicunt, quod viderunt praedictum puerum circumcisum,
& qui habuit membrum suum grossum & vald inflatum, & ita aturnatum sicut
praedictum est. Et quod hoc nequiter fecit & in felonia, & in dispectu Crucifixi &
Christianitatis, & in pace Domini Regis, et quod ipse non potuit habere in
perfortiam Christianorum, offert disrationare eum sicut Curia considerabit. Et
postquam circumciderat eum vocavit eum Jurnipin, & puer visus coram Justiciariis, &
liquidum est quod circumcisus erat.

Idem appellat de forcia & consilio Leonem filium Margerie senior, & filium Josce
Bodon. & plures alios Judaeos, qui omnes venerunt praeter Dedone Joppe, Benedictum
Moses & Isaac, & hi totum defendunt sicut Judaei versus Christianum.

Postea praedictus puer, qui tunc fuit aetatis 5 annorum, & nunc est aetatis 9
annorum, requisitus quomodo circumsciderunt eum? dicit, quod ceperunt eum, et
adduxerunt eum usque ad domum ipsius Jacobi; & unus illorum tenuit eum & cooporuit
oculos suos, & quidam alius circumcidit eum quodam cultello, & postea capiunt
peciam illam quam scinderant de membro suo, & posuerunt in quodam vacyno cum
sabelons, & que suenint peciam illam cum parvis sufflatis quousque quidam Judaeus
qui vocabatur Jurnepin invenit eum primo, (tunc) vocaverunt eum Jurnepin.

Et Officialis Archidiaconi venit coram Justiciariis cum magna secta Sacerdotum, qui
omnes dixerunt in verbo Dei, quod praedictus puer ita circumcisus fuit sicut
praedictum est, et per praedictos Judaeos, & quod viderunt praedictum puerum
recenter circumcisum, habentem membrum suum grossum & vald inflatum et
sanguinolentum.

Et Coronatores de Comitatu, et Coronatores de Civitate Norwici, & 36 homines de

villata de Norwic. Jurati venerunt, & troue (inveniunt) ut fuit circumcisus, &c. Et
quod juxta ripam Norwic. il fuittroue (fuit inventus) ululans & plorans per unum
Maude de Berneham, & sa file, & que i luy emesiont a lovr meason; ton esteaut les
Iewes veigne & dioit, que il fuit Judaeum suum; & vocaverunt eum Jurnepin, &c. Et
quando Judaei non potuerunt eum habere propter Christianos,
prohibuerunt eidem Matildae, Ne daret ei carnem porcinam ad manducandum: quia
dixerunt, ipsum esse Judaeum. Ita quod per vim venerant Christiani & abstulerunt
puerum praedictum manibus Iudaeorum.

Et Maude examyne confesse ceo tout, &c. Et omnes Iudaei sunt in prisona apud
Norwich, praeter illos qui fuerunt apud London, quando haec Inquisitio facta fuit.
Et omnes Iuratores requisiti, Qui interfuerunt ad Circumcisionem illam? dcunt.
Quod omnes praedicti Judaei fuerunt consentientes facto illo, praeter Massi filius
Saloni. Haec autem omnia facta fuerunt in Curia Domini Regis apud Norwic, &
Fratribus Praedicatoribus, & Fratribus Minoribus, & pluribus aliis tam Clericis,
quam Laicis praesentibus. Et tout ceo fuit testify, per Ric, de Tresingfield
Constable de Norwich, & auters.

Posteacoram* Domino Rege, & Domino Cantuar. & Majori parte Episcoporum & Baronium
Angliae, quia casus iste nunquam prius accidit in Curia Domini Regs, & praeterea
quia factum illud prim tangit Deum, & sanctam Ecclesiam, eo quod Circumcisio &
Baptismus sunt pertinentia ad fidem; et praeterea non est ibi talis felonia, nec
amissio membri, nec Mahemium, nec plaga mortalis, vel alia felonia Laica quae
possit hominem damnare, sine Mandato Sanctae Ecclesiae: Consideratum est, quod
istud in prim tractetur in sancta Ecclesia, et per Ordinarium loci inquiratur rei
veritas: Et mandetur Domino Regi unum Marcum auri persic, quod puer videatur coram
Iusticiariis, si circumcisus fuit, vel non; & recipitur. Et visus est puer, et
membrum ejus visum est, pelle coopertum ante in Capite: Et in tali statu liberatur
patri suo, ut eum habeat coram Iudicibus Ecclesiasticis, & ipsi Iudaei remaneant in
Prisona. So far this Record relates the proceedings in the Kings Court, and Matthew
Paris informs us what they afterwards did in the Bishops.

It seems the Citizens of Norwich upon this occasion fired the Iews Houses in the
City: for in Placita 18 H. 3. rot. 27. in Dorso, I find a complaint of the Citizens
of Norwich against the Sheriff of Norfolk, for certain injuries done unto them, in
entring their Liberties, beating their Servants, and ayding the Jews; who justified
that
what he did, was because the Citizens had fired the Iews houses; Which business was
debated before the King at Bromholne. And because the Bayliffs of the Town made no
Inquisition concerning these burnings, and beatings of their Servants, as belonged
to their Office, nor made any emendation thereof, neither would the Commonalty of
the City it self, in defence of their Liberties, permit the Sheriff of Norfolke to
reform it, it was adjudged, that they should be in the Kings mercy, as well for
their Liberties as for the other things, and after paid a fine of fifty marks.

The very next year the Jews in Forraign parts, especially in Germany, believing,
that the Tartars were of their own Nation, entred into a secret League with them,
to destroy the Christians, and subdue the whole world to themselves; to which end
they provided many Hogsheads filled with arms to be transported to the Tartars;
pretending to the Christian Princes, that they were Vessels filled only with
poysoned Wines, wherewith they intended to poyson and destroy the Tartars, who
would drink no wines but such as were made by the Iews. But this their treachery
being detected by the Customers in Germany, who found these pretended Vessels of
wine, to be fraught with arms for the Tartars wherewith to destroy the Christians;
thereupon the Iews were delivered to Tormentors, to be perpetually imprisoned, or
slain with their owne swords, as Matthew Paris more at large relates. Anno 1241. p.
564.

(u)King Henry, Anno 1243. exacted a great ransom from the most miserable Iews, both
in gold and silver: so that, besides what he exacted from others, he extorted from
one Iew, Aaron of Yorke, 4 marks of gold, and 4000 marks of silver: the King
himself receiving the gold with his own hand from every Iew, man or woman, being
made of a King, a new receiver of Custom; but the silver was received by others for
the King.

(x)Anno 1244. in August, the corps of a little male child was found buried in the
City of London, in whose
thighs and arms, and under whose paps, there was a regular inscription in Hebrew
Letters. To which spectacle when as many resorted, admiring at it, and not knowing
how to read the letters, knowing that the letters were Hebrew, they called thither
converted Iews, who inhabited the House which the King had founded in London, that
they as they loved their life or members, for the honour, love, and fear of their
Lord the King, without figment of falshood, might declare that writing. For the
Kings Bayliffs and Conservators of the Peace were present. They likewise believed,
neither without cause, that the Iews had either crucified that little child in
obloquy and contumely of Christ (which was related frequently to have happened) or
had afflicted him with sundry torments to crucify him, and when he had given up the
ghost, they had now cast him there, as unworthy the Cross. Moreover, there appeared
in his body blew marks, and rents of rodds, and manifest signs and foot-steps of
some other torment. And when as those Converts were brought to read those things
that were inscribed, and studied that they might perfectly read them, they found
the Letters deformed, and now not legible, being many ways disordered, and tossed
up and down, by reason of the extension and contraction of the skin and flesh. But
they found the name of the Father and Mother of the little child, suppressing their
surnames, and that the child was sold to the Iews; but to whom, or to what end,
they could not find. In the mean time, certain of the London Iews took a secret and
sudden flight, never to return again, who by this very thing rendered themselves
suspected. And some affirmed, that the Lord had wrought miracles for the child. And
because it was found, that the Iews at other times had perpetrated such wickedness,
and the holy bodies crucified had been solemnly received in the Church, and
likewise to have shined brightly with miracles, although the prints of the 5 wounds
appeared not in the hands and feet & side of the said corps, yet the Canons of St.
Paul took it violently away, and solemnly buried it in their Church, not far from
the great Altar.

[y] The same year (1241.) The Barons in Parliament ordered, That there should be
one Justice at the least appointed for the Jews, by the nomination of the
Parliament.

[z]In the year of our Lord 1250. King Henry the 3d. burning with a covetous desire,
commanded money to be extorted from the Jews without all mercy, so as they might
seem to be altogether and irrecoverably impoverished; exacting what monies soever
they had in their chests. Notwithstanding, although they were miserable, yet they
were pittied by none, because they were often proved and convicted to have been
counterfeiters as well of monies as of seals. And to passe by the monies of others,
we shall only mention one, that their malice may the more appear to them. There was
a certain rich Jew, having his abode and house at Berkamstede, and Wallingford;
Abraham in name, not in faith: who was very dear to Earl Richard, who had a very
beautifull wife, and faithful to him, named Flora. This Jew that he might
accumulate more disgrace to Christ, caused the Image of the Virgin Mary, decently
carved and painted, as the manner is, holding her Sonne in her bosom. This Image
the Jew placed in his house of Office, and which is a great shame and ignomy to
expresse, blaspheming the Image it self, as if it had been the very Virgin her
self, threw his most filthy and not to be named excrements upon her, days any
nights, and commanded his wife to do the like. Which when his wife saw, after some
days she grieved at it, by reason of the Sex, and passing by secretly, wiped off
the filth from the face of the Image most filthily defiled. Which when the Jew
here, husband had fully found out, he therefore privily and impiously strangled the
woman her self, though his wife. But when these wicked deeds were discovered, and
made apparent, and proved by his conviction, although other causes of death were
not wanting, he was thrust into the most loathsome Castle of the Tower of London.
Whence to get his freedom, he most certainly promised,
That he would prove all the Jews of England, to have been most wcked Traitors. And
when as he was greatly accused almost by all the Jews of England, and they
endeavoured to put him to death, Earl Richard interceded for him. Whereupon the
Jews grievously accusing him both of the clipping of money, and other wickednesses,
offered Earl Richard a thousand marks, if he would no protect him; which
notwithstanding the Earl refused, because he was called his Jew. This Jew Abraham
therefore gave the King 700 marks, that he might be freed from perpetual
imprisonment, to which he was adjudged, the Earl assisting him therein. The King
thereupon at the same time sent the Justices of the Jews throughout all England, to
search out all their mony both in Debts and Possessions, and with them a certain
most wicked and mercilesse Jew, that he might wickedly and falsly accuse all the
rest against the truth; who verily reprehended the Christians, pittying and weeping
over the affliction of the Jews, and called the Kings Bayliffs, lukewarm and
effeminate; and gnashing with his teeth over every Jew, affirmed with many great
Oathes, that they could give twice as much more to the King, then what they had
given, although he most wickedly lyed against his own head. This Jew, that he might
more effectually hurt the rest, revealed all their secrets dayly to the Kings
Christian Exactors. In the mean time the King ceased not to scrape money together
from all hands, but principally from the Jews; so tha from one Jew alone; born and
living in York, called Aaron, (because he was convicted of falsifying a Charter, as
was reported) he extorted 14000 marks, and 10000 marks of gold for the Queens use,
for a little times respite that he might not languish in prison. All which sums
being paid, it was found that this Aaron had paid to the King since hi return from
foreign parts, 30000 marks of silver, and two hundred marks of gold to the Queen,
as the said Aaron upon the attestation of his honour and faith averred to Matthew
Paris, who records it, Yet notwithstanding although
the Jews might be pittied, yet were they pittied by no man; seeing they were
corrupters and counterfeiters of the Kings money and of charters, and manifestly
and frequently proved, condemned, and reprobated as such.

King *Henry, Anno 1251. Decreed to destroy all the Jews in his Kingdom, but some of
his Counsellors disswaded him from it, and that they should rather be left as
Vagabonds, like Cain, that their misery by this means might be set before the eyes
of men in all ages. Whereupon the Kings mind was mitigated, and his Decree
abolished. Notwithstanding he seriously prohibited them the eating of flesh in
Lent, and on Fridays.

[a]Phlip Luuel, Clerk, called to the service of the King, and deputed to the
custody of the Jews, Anno 1251. was grievously accused before the King, his
adversaries affirming, that when he and Nicholas of St. Albans Clerk, were sent
towards the Northern parts to tax and squeeze the Jews, he privily received most
precious Vessels from a certain Jew, that he might spare him in his Tallage to the
King; and that he likewise took secret gifts from others, that he might spare them;
and that he opprest these Jews notwithstanding, to the dammage of the King, and the
violation of his Faith. Whereupon the King being very angry, commanded Philip
himself to be unworthily handled, until he should satisfie him for this great
transgression. Philip hereupon, a crafty and circumspect man, humbly craved advice
and assistance from the Lord John Mansel, the Kings Prime Counsellor, concerning
his great tribulation, because he had promoted him to the Kings service, who
effectually procured that he recovered the kings favor, giving him a great summe of
money for it, a thousand marks as was reported, Yet notwithstanding he was removed
from his Office, and not a little disgraced.

It seems the kings Officers could fleece the Jews in that age, by secret Bribes and
Gifts, as well as himself, by intollerable Exactions.

[b]King Henry the III. to satisfie the Popes desire in taking a Voyage to the Holy
Land, Anno 1252. extorted
from the Jews whatsoever those miserable wretches might seem to have, not only by
scraping or excoriating, but even by unbowelling them. Being also an Hydropical
thirster after gold, he so greedily sucked talents, or Bullion, or Jewels, as well
from Christians as Jews, that a new Crassus might seem to be raised from the dead.
And this very year Robert de la Ho, to whom the king had committed the custody of
the Jews, and of the Seal which belonged to their Exchequer, was grievously accused
before the king, being charged with this crime, That he had oppressed the innocent
Son of a certain knight, by a certain false Charter, confirmed with the Seal, of
which the said Robert, Iustice of the Iews, was the bearer and keeper. Whereupon he
was basely apprehended, and committed to a close Prison; and defamed with the like
scandal wherewith Philip Luuel but the year just before had been intangled in the
snares of the perfidious Jews, who was then their Iustice. At last, by the great
labour of his friends, the malice of the Jews is detected, but the innocency of the
said Robert then set free, scarce declared. Whereupon being put from his Offices,
he openly paid 4 marks of gold at least for his fine.

[c]This very year (1252.) there came out of the holy Land a Mandate from the king
of France, that all the Jews should be expelled out of the Realm of France, and
condemned to perpetual exile, with this clause of moderation added thereto: But he
who desires to remain, let him be an artificer or handicrafts-man, and apply
himself to mechanical artifices. For it was scornfully objected to the said King by
the Saraccus; That we did little love or reverence our Lord Jesus Christ, who
tolerated the murderers of him to live among us.
[d]In the year of Christ, 1253. November 10. the Obligatory Chatter wherewith the
Abbot and Covent of St. Alban were held bound for the debt of Richard de Oxaie
knight, was taken out of the hand of Elias the London Jew, and freed out of the
chest; and it was proclaimed
in the School of the Jews at London (where it seems they had then a School) that
the foresaid Abbot and Covent should be quit from all this debt against them from
the beginning of the world till then, as the Statute obtained by them protesteth.

[e]The Jews in Northampton about the year of our Lord, 1253. had among themselves
prepared wild-fire, to burn the City of London, for the which divers of them were
taken and burned in the time of Lent in the City of Northampton.

[f]Ann 1254. King Henry after Easter so cruelly raged against the most miserable
people of the Jews, that they loathed even to live. And when they were called
together, Earl Richard exacted of them for the use of the King, who was then in
great want, no small sum of money, under pain of a most loathsom prison, and a most
ignominious death. Elias therefore of London, High Priest of the Jews, taking
counsel with his Companions, answered for them all, who had frequently paid very
great summs of money, whether they would or would not. O noble Lords, we see
undoubtedly that our Lord the King purposeth to destroy us from under heaven. VVe
intreat, for Gods sak that he would give us license & safe conduct of departing
out of his Kingdom, that we may seek and find a mansion in some other place, under
some Prince who bears some bowels of mercy, and some stability of truth and
faithfullnesse, And we will depart; never to return again, leaving here our
houshouldstuff, and houses behind us. How can he love or spare us,*miserable Jews,
who destroyes his own natural English? He hath people, yea his own Merchants, I say
not Usurers, who by usurous contracts, heap up infinite heaps of money. Let the
King rely upon them, and gape after their emoluments. Verily they have supplanted &
impoverisht us. Which the K. howsoever dissembles to know, exacting fro us those
things we cannot give him, although he would pull out our eyes, or out our throats
when he had first pulled off our skins. And speaking this with sighs and tears
hindring his speech, he held his peace, falling almost into an extasie ready to
die. Which
when it came to the knowledge of the Magistrates, they permitted them not to depart
out of the Realm; saying. Whether will ye flee, O wretches! Behold the King of
France hateth and persecuteth you, and hath condemned you to perpetual exile,
shunning Charibdis, you desire to be drowned in Scylla. And so the small little
substance, which was left to them for their mean sustentation, was violently
extorted from them.

(g)King Henry the 3d. An. 1255. exacted with great earnestness from the Jews,
although very frequently impoverished, 8000 marks, to be speedily paid unto him
under pain of hanging. But they seeing nothing else hanging over them, but
destruction with confusion, answered all unanimously. Sir King, we see that thou
sparest neither Christians, nor Iews, but studiest with crafty fetches to
impoverish all men: we have no hope of respiration left us: the surers of the Pope
have supplanted us; permit us to depart out of thy kingdom with safe conduct; and
we will seek for our selves such a mansion as we can, be it what it will. Which
when the King had heard, he cried out with a querulous voice, saying: It is no
marvel if I covet money, it is an horrible thing to imagin the debts wherein I am
held bound, By the head of God, they amount to the sum of two hundred thousand
marks, and if I should say of three, I should not exceed the bounds of truth. I am
deceived on every side. I am a mamed and abridged King, yea, now but an halfed
King. For having made a certain estimate of the expences of my rents, the sum of
the annual rent of Edward my Son amounts to above 15000 marks. There is therefore a
necessity for me to live of the mony gotten from what place soever, from
whomsoever, and by what means soever. Therefore being made another Titus, or
espasian, he sold the Jews for some years to Earl Richard his brother, that those
whom the King had excoriated, he might eviscerate. Yet the Earl spared them,
considering their abbreviated power, and ignominious poverty.

(h)The same year, about the Feast of Peter & Paul, the Jews of Lincoln stole a
child call'd Hugo, being 8 years old, and when as they had nourished him in a
certain most secret
chamber, with milk and other childish aliments, they sent almost to all the Cities
of England wherein the Jews lived, that in contempt and reproach of Jesus Christ,
they should be present at their sacrifice at Lincoln: for they had, as they said, a
certain child hid to be crucified. Whereupon many assembled at Lincoln. And comming
together, they appointed one Lincoln Jew for the Judge, as it were for Pilate. By
whose judgement, by the consent of all, the child is afflicted with sundry
torments. He is whipped even unto blood and lividness, crowned with thorns, wearied
with spittings and shriekings: and moreover he is pricked by them all with
ponyards, made to drink gall, drided with reproaches and blasphemies, and
frequently called by them with grinding teeth,*Jesus the false Prophet. And after
they had derided him in divers manners, they crucified him, and pierced him with a
spear to the heart. And when the child had given up the ghost, they took down his
body from the cross, and took the bowels out of his corps, for what end is unknown;
but it was said it was to exercise Magical arts. The mother of the child diligently
sought for her absent son for some days, and it was told her by neighbors, that the
last time they saw her child whom she sought, he was playing with the children of
the Jews of his age, and entred into the house of a certain Jew. Whereupon the
woman suddenly entred that house, and saw the body of the child cast into a certain
pit. And having warily called the Bayliffs of the City together; the body was found
and drawn forth; and there was made a wonderful spectacle among the people. But the
woman, mother of the child, complaining and crying out, provoked all the Citizens
there assembled together, to tears and sighs. There was then present at the place
Iohn de Lexinton, a circumspect and discreet man, and moreover elegantly learned,
who said. We have sometime heard, that the Jews have not feared to attempt such
things in reproach of Jesus Christ, our crucified Lord. And one Jew being
apprehended, to wit, he into whose house the child entred playing, and therefore
more suspected than the rest; he saith unto him. O
wretch! knowest thou not that speedy destruction abides thee? All the gold of
England will not suffice for thy deliverance or redmption. Notwithstanding I will
tell thee, although unworthy, by what means thou maist preserve thy life and
members, that thou maist not be dismembred. I will save both to thee, if thou dost
not fear to discover to me whatsoever things are done in this case without
falshood. Whereupon this Jew, whose name was Copin, believing he had thus found out
a way of escape, answered, saying, Sir Iohn, if thou makest thy words good by thy
deeds, I will reveal wonderfull things to thee, and the industry of Sir Iohn
animating and exciting him therto, the Jew said. Those things are true which the
Christians say. The Jews almost every year crucify one child,*to the injury and
contumely of Jesus; but it is not found out every year: for they do this secretly,
and in hidden and most secret places; But this child whom they call Hugo, our Iews
have most unmercifully crucified, and when he was dead, and they desired to hide
him being dead, he could not be buried in the earth; nor hid. For the corps of the
innocent was reputed unprofitable for Divination, for he was unbowelled for that
end. And when in the morning it was thought to be buried, the earth brought it
forth, and vomited it out, and the body sometimes appeared inhuman, whereupon the
Iews abhorred it. At last it was cast headlong into a deep pit, neither as yet
could it be kept secret. For the importunate mother diligently searching all
things, at last shewed to the Bailiffs the body she had found. But Sir Iohn
notwithstanding this, kept the Iew bound in chains. When these things were known to
the Canons of the Church of Lincoln, they requested the body to be given to them,
which was granted. And when it had been sufficently viewed by an infinite company
of people, it was honourably buried in the Church of Lincoln, as the corps of a
most precious martyr. The Jews kept the child alive for 10 dayes, that being fed
for 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
premises, he reprehended Sir Iohn, 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 Iews of England consented to the death
of this child,*whereof the Iews are accused: and almost out of every City in
England wherein the Iews 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 wickedness, 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 eyes. Afterwards by the Inquisition of the Kings Iustices,
it was discovered and found; That the Iews of England by Common counsel 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 Gibbers 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, & not fully proved or charged on them by our
Historians, which this ensuing passage concerning these Jews will further ratify.

[i]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 Lncoln, being reserved
in the Prisons of London to be hanged Anno 1256 (the year after their condemnation)
sent secret Messengers to the Friers Minors, (as their enemies affirm) 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 irrevocably intangle them.
Neither could this answer excuse the Minors, for although they were not guilty, yet
the scandal did defame them. The common people now hath withdrawn their hands, that
they doe not benefit them with their alms, as heretofore, and the Londoners
devotion is grown cold towards the Minorites. For procuring these condemned Jews
life and liberty, whose money (it seemeth) could even corrupt these very self-
denying Popish Saints, who had renounced the world in habit, but not in heart.

[k]All the Prelates of England in the year 1257. drew up certain Articles in
writing concerning their liberties, which they intended to present to the King, and
Nobles, to be ratified by them in Parliament in due season;
wherein they complain, Artic. 32, 33. That when as the Iews are convicted before
the Ecclesiastical Iudges for delinquency against an Ecclesiastical person, or for
Ecclesiastical things, or for sacriledge, or for laying violent hands upon a Clerk,
or for adultery with a Christian woman; the conusans of the cause is hindered by
the Kings prohibition: because it alleageth, that they have their proper Judge, the
Sheriff of the place, and their proper delegated Iudges, who may and ought to have
conusance of these things. And yet if they be convented by a Clergy-man or Lay-man
before them for such things, upon the denial thereof by the person alone, by the
simple assertion of another Iew, and of one Christian, without the administring of
an Oath; they purge themselves, the proof of the prosecutor being utterly rejected.

Item, If Communion be denied to them by the Church because they bear not their
Table or sign, or because they retain Christian Nurses against the Precepts of the
Church, or if they be excommunicated for some other excesses; the Bailiffs (or
Officers) of the King communicating with them, command on the behalf of our Lord
the King himself, that they be not avoided by any, and cause them to be admitted
and received to Communion.

Against which grievances in derogation of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, the Bishops

then thus provided. And because in like manner the Office of the Prelates is
hindred when as it happens a Iew offending against Ecclesiastical things and
persons shall be convented for these things before them, and for other things which
appertain to their Ecclesiastical Court of meer right; We provide, that the Iew
notwithstanding shall be compelled to aswer in these cases by the interdict of
commerce, contracts and Communion of the faithfull: likewise the inhibiters,
hinderers and distrainers shall incurre the punishments of interdiction and
excommunication.

[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 delvered out of the lot of the
Devil, and saved from the revenge of the most wicked crime heretofore committed by
hm. For it was said, that in his house that poysonous drink was made, which had
proved mortal and perillous to many Nobles of England, (poysoned therewith by the
Jews) which even he himself, as was reported, well confessed. But then he was a
Devil, but now throughly changed, and a Christian, and as the condition, so the
operation is changed. As Mathew Paris Ironically writes of them.

(m)A certain Iew in the year 1260. fell into a Privy at Teuxsbury, but because it
was then the Sabbath, he would not suffer himself to be pulled out, except on the
following Lords day, for the reverence of his Sabbath; Wherefore Richard de Clare
Earl of Glocester, commanded him (in reverence of the Lords Day) to be kept there
till Munday, at which time he was found dead of the stink; or hunger.

(n)The Barons of England, Anno 1262. robbed and slew the Jews in all places. There
were slain of them in London to the number of 700. the rest were spoiled, and their
Synagogues defaced. The original occasion of which massacre was, because one Jew
had wounded a Christian man in London in Cole-church, and would have enforced him
to have paid more then two pence for the Usury of 20 s. for one week.

(o)In the year 1264 in the Passion week, the Jews that inhabited the City of
London, being detected of treason, which they devised against the Barons and
Citizens, were slain almost all the whole number of them, and great riches found in
their houses, which were taken and carried away by those that ransacked the same
houses.

(p)The dis-inherited Barons and Gentlemen in the Isle of Oxholm, in the year 1266.
took and sacked the City of Lincoln, spoiled the Jews, and slew many of them,
entred into their Synagogue, and burnt the book of their Law, with all their
Charters and Obligations.

Anno 1275. the 3. of King Edward the 1. his reign, the

Statute De Iudaismo was made, not in the 18 E. 1. as * Sir Edward Cooke most grosly
and confidently mistakes, in his commentary thereon. To clear which, I desire the
Reader to take notice, that this Statute is not now extant on record, all the
Parliamentary Rolls before 5 E. 2. (the first extant) with sundry others since that
time, being utterly lost, through the iniquity, injury, or carelesness of the
times, and some Pleas only in the Parliaments of King Edward the 1. extant in a
Parchment Book in the Tower, but no Acts nor Rolls of Parliament during his reign,
except such as are elsewhere extant on the backs of some clause Rolls or Patents,
or in the Red Book of the Exchequer (as some few of them only are) or in our
Manuscript or printed Statutes. This Statute de Iudaismo, was first printed in
French, by Richard Totel in his Magna Charta, Anno 1556. part. 2. f, 58, 59. with
this Title, Statuta Ed. primi, de Iudaismo, with out mention of any year of his
reign wherein it was made, not extant in the Manuscript copies out of which he
printed them: and the first Statute of them is also printed in Iustice Rastall his
Abridgement and Collection of Statutes, Title Usury, sect. 2. without any date; for
which he renders this reason in his Elenchus Parliamentorum, at the end of his
Abridgement. Tempus Ed. 1. Ceux Statutes auxi come semble fueront faits in temps E.
1. mais, LA CERTAINTIE DES ANS JEO NE TROVE UNCORE, (for lack of skill in our
Histories, which too many Lawyers want.) He mentions 5. Statutes in his reign of
this Nature, whereof DE JUDAISMO; De terris & tenementis non amortisandis, (made in
3 E. 1. as Walsingham, Hist. Angl. p. 5. Ypodigma Neustriae, p. 68. Holinshed,
Speed, and others affirm, and Henricus de Knyghton, de Eventib. Angliae, l. 3. c.
1. col. 2462.) and De Tallagio non concedendo; are three: the last whereof was
certainly made in 25. E. 1. (not 34 E. 1. as * Sir Edw. Cooke and most Collectors
of our Statutes and Lawyers mistake) as is clear by Thomas Walsingham, Hist. Angl.
Ann. 1298. p. 37, 38, 40. and Ypodigma Neust. p. 84, 85. The first De Iudaismo was
made, in 3 Ed. 1.
as these subsequent Historians evidence, who are the best and only witnesses in
this case, the Parliament Rolls being not extant to resolve us. *Matthew Westminst.
who lived and writ his History in or near that time, is most clear herein. Anno
gratiae 1275. Rex ad Parliamentu Westm. omnes Nobiles regni sui jusserat
congregari. In quo statuta multa ad utilitatem regni fuerunt publcata. INTER QUAE
JUDAEIS FUIT INTERDICTA EFFRAENATA LICENTIA USURANDI: & ut possint, Christianis
discerni, praecepit Rex, quod ad instar Tabularum, ad vnius palmae longitudinem,
signa fierent in exterioribus indumentis. Who is thus seconded, if not translated
by *Rich: Grafton, Ann. 1273. Soon after he (King Edward 1.) ordained certain new
Laws for the wealth of the Realm, which are too large here to rehearse. He made a
Law also THE SAME TIME AGAINST THE EXCESSIVE TAKING OF USURY BY THE JEWS: and that
they should wear a certain Cognisaunce upon their uppermost garment, whereby they
should be known from Christians. Both which are expresly provided for in these
Statutes, de Iudaismo. The same is attested by Iohn Rouse, and by Iohn Stow out of
him, in his Chronicle, p. 200. in these words. In the 3. year of King Edward the 1.
in a Parliament at Westminster, USURY WAS FORBIDDEN TO THE JEWS, and that they
might be known, the King commanded them to wear a Tablet, the bredth of a palm upon
their outmost garments. Which in his Survey of London, 1633. p. 289. he thus
expresseth, The 3. of Edward the 1. in a Parliament at London, USURY WAS FORBIDDEN
TO THE JEWS, And that all (Jewish) surers might be known, the King commanded that
every surer should wear a Tablet on his brest, the bredth of a paveline, or else
to avoid the Realm. With whom Sir Rich: Baker in his Chronicle of the Kings of
England, Edit. 2. London, 1653. p. 147. concurrs. So that without all question the
Statutes De Iudaismo, were made in the Parliament of 3. not of 18 E. 1. as the
Statutes themselves will sufficiently evidence (which had all been nugatory,
ridiculous, useless, if made in the Parliament of 18 E. 1.
as Sir Edward Cook affirms, wherein they were hence exiled.*) These Statutes I
shall here translate out of French, and insert, being not extant in our Statutes at
large, nor never yet all printed in the English tongue that I can find, but only *
some clauses of the first of them.

1. Forasmuch as the King hath seen, that many mischiefs and disherisons of honest
men of this land have happened by the usuries which the Iews have made therein in
times past, and that many sins have therein risen from thence: Albeit he and his
Ancestors have had great profit from the Jews both now and in times past:
Notwithstanding this, for the honour of God, and for the common benefit of the
People, the King doth ordain and establish; that no Jew hereafter shall take ought
for usury upon lands, rents, nor upon other things: and that no Usury, shall run
from the Feat of St. Edward last past, and before, but that the covenants before
made shall be held, save only that the Usuries themselves shall cease. Provided
that all those who are indebted to Jews upon pawns moveable, shall discharge them
between this and Easter at furthest, and if not, let them be forfeited: And if any
Jew shall take usury against this establishment, The King neither by himself, nor
any of his Officers, will not intermeddle to cause him to recover his debt (or use)
but will punish him at his pleasure for the Trespasse, and shall do right to the
Christian to recover his gage.

2. And it is provided that the distresses for the debt of Jews, shall not hereafter
be so grievous, that the moity of Lands and Chattels to the Christians shall not
remain for their sustenance. And that no distresse shall be made for the debt of a
Jew, upon the heir to the Debtor named in the Charter of the Jew, not upon other
which holds the Land which was the Debtors, before the debt shall be dereigned and
acknowledged in Court. And if the Sheriff or other Bayliffs by commandment of the
King ought to make seisin to a Jew, to one or more, for their debt, of chattels, or
of lands, to
the value of the debt, the chattels shall be praised by the Oath of honest men; &
the Chattels shalbe delivered to the Jew or Jewesse, or to their Arturney, to the
value of the debt; And if the chattels be not sufficient, the lands shall be
extended by the same Oath, before that the seisin shall be delivered to the Jew or
Jewesse, every one according to the value, and so that they may after know
certainly the Debt is discharged, that the Christian afterwards may then have his
lands: saving to the Christian for ever the moity of his lands, and of his chattels
for his sustenance, as afore is said, and the chief house.

3. And if any thing stollen at this hour shall be found in the possession of a Jew,
and any will sue, let the Jew have his summons, if he may have it, and if not, he
shall answer so, that he shall never be priviledged for it otherwise than a
Christian.

4 And that all the Jews shall be residents in the Cities and in the Burroughs which
are the Kings owne, where the * Chest for the Jews Indenture is wont to be. And
that every Jew after he is past 7 years of age, shall carry a sign (or badge) in
his chief garment; that is to say in form of two Talles of * yellow taffety, of the
length of six fingers and breadth of 3 fingers (or an handfull.) And that every one
after he is past 12 years shall pay 3 d. the poll every year to the King, which
shall be paid at Easter; and this shall be intended as well of women as of men.

5. And that no Jew shall have power to infeoffe another Jew nor Christian of their
houses, rents or tenements which they have now purchased, nor to alien them in any
manner, nor to make an acquittance to any Christian of his debt, without the
special license of the King, untill the King hath otherwise ordained.

6. And because holy Church wills and suffers, that they should live and be
protected, the King takes them into his Protection, and gives them his peace, and
wills that they shall live, and shall be guarded and defended by his Sheriffs, and
his other Bayliffs, and by his Leiges; and commands that none shall doe them harm,
injury, nor force in their bodies, nor in their goods, moveables or immoveables.
And that they shall not be impleaded, sued nor challenged in any Court, but in the
* Kings Court, wheresoever they are.

7. And that none of them shall be obedient, respondent, nor render rent, but to the
King and his Bayliffs in his name, if it be not of their houses which they now hold
rendering rent; saving the right of holy Church.

8. And the King grants them, that they shall live of their lawfull merchandizes,
and by their labour, and that they shall converse with the Christians for lawfull
merchandizing in selling and in buying. But yet, that by this privilege, nor any
other, they shall not be levant (rising) or couchant (lying down) amongst them. And
the King will not, that by reason of their merchandize, that they should be in lots
nor scots, nor Tallage with those of the Cities or Burroughs where they remain,
seeing they are tailable to the King, as his own Vassals, and to none other.

9. Moreover the King grants them, that they may buy houses and curtelages in the
Cities or Burroughs where they reside, so as they hold them in chief of the King:
saving to the Lords the Services due and accustomed.

10. And that they may take Lands to farm for term of ten years, or under, without
taking homages or fealties, or such manner of service of a Christian, and without
having advowson of holy Church, for to support their life in the world, if they
know not how to merchandize,* or be unable to labour. And this power for to take
Lands to farm, shall not endure to them but 15 years from this time forth to come.

By these Laws this politick King to please his English Christian Subjects, abridged
many of the Jews former priviledges, and put many new restraints upon them. And yet
on the other hand, to gratifie the Jews, (who gave him more monies than the
English) he takes them all into his special protection, prohibits all violence to
their persons or estates, and grants them some petty priviledges for the present,
which seemed to content them, and made for his owne advantage, more than theirs.

Rot. Clause E. 1. in the Tower, rot. 8. I find, that one who was bound to Gamilel
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 part ne habere DEBEANT 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.

(q)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.

(r)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.

(s)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.

(t)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.

(u)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.

(x)The year following, Anno 1289. King Edwad taking upon him the character of the
Crosse at Blankeford in Gascoigne, presently banished all the Jews out of
Gascoigne,
and all other his Lands, which he possessed in the Realm of France, AS ENEMIES OF
THE CROSSE. From whence returning into England, Anno 1290. he was joyfully received
at London, both by the Clergy and all the people; and the same year exiling the
Jews likewise out of England, giving them expences into France, he confiscated all
the rest of their goods; together with their Lands and Houses, and in 19 & 20 E. 1.
he made several Gifts of the Jews Houses and Lands to others: as appears by the
Patent Rolls in the Tower of London.

Upon what grounds, by what Authority, for what time, in what manner, with what
desire of, and content to all the whole Commons and Realm of England, the Jewes
were then banished thence, these ensuing Historians will at large relate, in their
own words, which I shall transcribe for the better information and satisfaction of
all sorts of men, whether Christians or Jews.

(y)Matthew Westminster (flourishing at that time) gives this relation of it. About
these days, namely the 31 of August, the exasperating multitude of Jews, which
dwelt confidently in times past through divers Cities & strong Forts, JUSSA EST,
was commanded with their wives & children, together with their moveable goods, to
depart out of England, about the Feast of All Saints, which was assigned to them
for the term, WHICH THEY DARED NOT TO TRANSGRESSE UNDER PAIN OF HANGING, whose
number was supposed to be 16511. Such A DECREE had issued out before from the
laudable King of England in the parts of Aquitain, from whence all the Jews were
likewise banished.

(z)Thomas Walsingham, living near that age, thus records it. The King returning out
of Gascoigne to London, was solemnly received by the Clergy and all the people: who
the same year banishing all the Jews out of England giving them their expences into
France, confiscated the rest of their goods. This year the King held A Parliament,
in which were made the Statutes called Westminster the 3d. In quo etiam Parliamento
pro expulsione Iudaeotum.
concessa sunt Regi a Populo, quinta decima pars honorum. In which Parliament
likewise for the banishment of the Jews, there was granted to the King by the
People, a fifteenth part of their goods.

(a)Henry de Knyghton a Canon of Leicester, a most diligent Antiquary flourishing in

Richard the 2ds. reign, rendreth it in these terms: King Edward grievously punished
the Jews and their consorts for clipping of money, and corrupt exchanges, whereupon
in one day he caused all the Iews to be apprehended: some he hanged, the rest he
banished. When he had done his will upon his corrupt Judges (fined, deposed, and
some of them banished in the same Parliament that the Jews were exiled) presently
another cause moved him concerning his money, which he found to be basely clipped
and corrupted, to the prejudice of the Crowne, and the great damage of the people,
By the Infidelity and Malice of the Iews as it was inquired and found or found upon
inqiry) et fecit stabilire unum Parliamentum, in quo convicti sunt Iudaei de ea
falsitate: Et statuit, quod omnes Iudaeis exirent de Terra Angliae, deinceps non
redituri, propter eorum incredulitatem principaliter, et propter falsitatem quam
eis dure imposuerat: et pro hac causa cum festinatione facienda, et sine dilatione
explenda, communes regni dederunt Regi quintum denarium de omnibus bonis suis
mobilibus. And he caused a Parliment to be summoned, wherein the Jews are convicted
of that falshood; And he ordained that all the Jews should depart out of the Realm
of England, not to return again afterwards, for their incredulity principally, and
for their falsenesse, which he had hardly pressed upon them. And for this (their
banishment) speedily to be made and executed, without delay, the Commons of the
Realm gave to the King the fifth part of all their moveable goods.

(d)John Major, and the (c)Centuriators of Magdeburgh, out of him, thus register it
to posterity. In the year 1290. Iudaei Anglia pulsi sunt, the Jews were banished
out of England, for the Englishmen had made a great complaint to Edward the 1. that
by their usuries and frauds
most men of the inferior sort were reduced to nothing: which thing was gainfull to
the King, for every of the Commoners gave the King the fifteenth penny, ut Iudaeos
ejiceret, that he might banish the Jews.

Our learned (d)Iohn Bale(e)Polydor Virgil, and the (f)Century Writers out of him
thus expresse it. Anno Dom. 1291 (it should be 1290) In the Parliament at London,
thee was a debate n the first place de Iudaeorum ejectione, Concerning the
banishing of the Iews; whereof there was a grt mltitude throughout England, Sed
Edicto publico Concilii Londinensis (writes one) Publico igitur Decreto jussi sunt
alio commigrare, ut infra paucos dies omnes exirent; (saith another) But by the
publick Edict of the Parlimet assembled in London, and by a publicke decree, They
were all commanded to depart the Realm with their goods within a few days, which
they, Concilii jussis obedientes obeying the commands of the Parliament, speedily
did.

Thomas Stubs his Acta Fontificum Eboracensium c. 1728 thus relates the universal
banishment of them out of all England in one day, Anno Dom. 1290. In crastino
animarum Exulati fuerunt Iudaei a Regno Angliae, et hoc eodem die per totam
Angliam. Raphael olaterianus, Geograph. lib. 3. f. 25. thus expresseth it: Iudaei
omnes expulsi Annales Dominicanorum Colmarionsium, thus relate it; Anno 1291. Rex
Angliae omnes Iudaeos Regno expulit. Gilbertus Genebrardus, Chronogr. l. 4. p. 659.
thus records it, Anno 1291. Concilium Londinense ad Westmonasterium jussu Edwardi
Regis: Eo in Concilio Publico Edicto jussi sunt Iudaei de Anglia in perpetuum
exire, words most express. Abraham Bzouius thus: Anna: Ecclesiasticorum, Tom. 13.
Anno 1291. n. 1. col. 966. * Londini ad Westmonasterium celebratum est Concilium.
In hoc imprimis agitatum est De ejectione Iudaeorum, quorum erat per omnem Angliam
ingens multitudo: quo sic oves ab hoedis segregarentur. Itaque Publico jussum est
Edicto ut intra paucos dies omnes abierint cum bonis. illi jussis Concilii
parentes, alii alio discesserunt. Ita profuga Gens de
Anglia, in perpetuum exivit: misera semper alicubi terrarum petiura, usque eo dum
denique deleatur. But I shall pass from Latin to our more common Englsh
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.

Ncholas 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 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 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 [g] 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, gving them to bear their enarges till they were out of the
Realm. The number of the Iews then expelled, was fifteen thousand and sixty
persons, whose houss 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 gan, 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 mschiefs 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 no thee 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
Act, appeareth by former records, as take [h] one for many. From the 17 of December
in the 50 year of H. 3. until the Tuesday in Shroveride, the 2 year of Edward the
first, whch was about 7 years, the Crown had four hundred and twenty thousand
pounds, fifteen shillings and four pence De exitibus judaimi: at which time, the
ounce of silver was 20 d. and now it is more than treble so much. So as the recital
of the Preamble is true, That he and his Ancestors had received great profit from
Iudaism. (i)Many provisions were made both by this King and others: Some time they
were banished, but their cruel usury continued, and soon after they returned; and
for respect of lucre and gain, King John in the second year of his reign, granted
unto them lage Privileges, whereby the mischiefs rehearsed in this Act multiplyed.
But the lucre and gain which King John had, and expected of the Infidel Iews, made
him impie judaisare for to the end they should exercise the Laws of their
Sacrifices (which they could not do without a Priesthood) the King by his Charter
granted them to have one, &c. Which for the great rarity thereof, and for that we
find it not either in our Books or Histories, I will rehearse In haec verba.

(k)Rex omnibus fidelibus suis, & omnibus & Judaeis & Anglis, salutem. Sciatis nos
concessisse, Jacobo Judaeo de Londoniis Presbytero, Judaeorum Presbyteratum omnium
Judaeorum totius Angliae. Habendum & tenendum quamdin vixerit, liber & quiet &
honorific & integr it a quod nemo ei super hoc molestiam aliquam, aut gravamen
inferre presumat. Quare volumus & firmiter
praecipimus, quod eidem Jacobo quoad vixerit, Presbyteratum Judaeorum per totam
Angliam, garantetis, manu-teneatis, & pacific defendatis. Et si quis et super eo
forisfacere praesumpserit, id ei sine dilatione (salva nobis emenda nostra) de
forisfactura nostra emendare faciatis, tanquam Dominico Judaeo nostro, quem
specialiter in servicio nostro retinuimus. Prohibemus etiam ne de aliquo ad se
pertinnte ponatur in placitum, nisi coram nobis, aut coram capiali Justiciario
nostro, sicut Charta Regis Richardi sratris nostri testatur. Teste S. Bathonien.
Episcopo, &c. Dat. per manus Huberti Cantuarientis Archiepiscopi Cancellarii nostri
apud Rothomagum 12 die Julii, Anno Regni nostri primo.

To which Charter Sir Edward Cook annexeth this marginal Note, Ths King had a most
troublesom and dishonourable reign, God raising against him, for his just
punishment, two potent Enemies, Pope Innocent the 3. and Philip Kng of France, And
besides, which was the worst, he lost the heart and love of his Baronage and
Subjects, and at the last had a feafull end.

He adds (i)Our Noble King Edward 1. and his Father H. 3. before, sought by dvers
Acts and Ordinances, to use some means and moderation herein, but in the end it was
found, That there was no mean in mschief, and as Seneca, saith, Res profecto
Stulta est nequitiae modus (And will it not be so now in their new limited re-
admission, if consented too?) And therefore King Ed. 1. as this Act saith, for the
honour of God, and for the common profit of his people, without all respect (in
respect of these) of the filling of his own Coffers, did ordain, That no Jew from
thenceforth should make any bargain or contract for usury, nor upon any former
contract should take any usury, from the Feast of St. Edward then last past. So in
effect all Iewish sury was forbidden: This Law struck at the root of this
pestilential weed, for hereby usury it self was forbidden, and thereupon the cruel
Iews thirsting after rich gain, to the number of 15060 departed out of this Realm
into forraign parts, where they might use their Jewish trade of usury,
and from that time that Nation never returned again into this Realm.(m)Some are of
opinion, (and so it is said in some of our Histores) That it was enacted by
authority of Parliament, that the usurious Iews should be banished out of the
Realm:t the truth is, that their usury was banished by ts Act of Paliament,
and that was the cause, that they banished themselves ito other Countries, where
they might lve by their usury: So that by his opinion, they were not then banished
by the King or Parliament, but only voluntarily banished themselves upon the making
of this Statute against their Usury.

But under the favour of this deceased reverend Judge, whose memory and judgement in
Law I generally reverence, this opinion of his is a meer mistake. For 1. This
Statute de Iudaismo was not made in the Parliament of 18 E. 1. as he confidently
affirmeth, without any ground or Authority at all, but in the 3d year of his reign,
as I have *formerly proved; being full 15 years before the Jews banishment out of
England: the term the Statute de Iudasmo allowed them to take Lands and Houses to
farm, but no longer. If then they resided here full 15. years after the banishment
of their Usury by this Statute, it is most certaine, it was not the ground of all
their voluntary banishments in 18 E. 1. as he strangely fancieth, but some
particular Act for their general expulsion then made upon the Commons importunity:
else they would have voluntarily exiled themselves 15 years before, upon the first
publication of this Statute against their Usury, in all probability, rather than so
long after its banishment of it in 3: 2. This Stat. hath not one syllable of their
banishment in it, but expresly authorizeth them, to take houses and lands to farm
and continue here 15 years space, but no longer. Now, had it been made in 18 E. 1.
as Sir Edw. Cooke affirms, the King and Parliament had been so far from banishing
them that year, (as the premised Histories and Records he cites do joyntly attest
they did) that they had thereby authorized them to continue here 15 years longer,
even till 33 E. 1. Yea the Commons
had been much overseen to give the Kng a fifteen in the Parliament of 18 E. 1. for
the present banishment of all the Iews out of England, had they passed the Statute
de Iudaismo at that very time, which allows them 15 years space longer to take
Houses and Lands to farm; to extend the moty of the Lands and Goods of their
Creditors; to be resident in the Kings Cities and Burroughs, where their chests for
Indentures were: to grant them the Kings Peace and Protection, both for their
persons and estates, and exempt them from suits in all Courts but the Kings, and
from all Taxes, with other Subjects. And that clause of this Statute prescribing
them to wear a badge on their uttermost Garments, after they were 7. years of age;
and to pay 3 d. the poll yearly to the King after they were 12 years old: had been
meerly ridiculous, if made but in 18 E. 1. when they were forthwith banished, and
not in 3. before their exile, as our Historians affirm; who are only to be credited
in this case, because all the Parliament Rolls of this Kings reign, and before are
utterly lost, and this very Statute de Iudasmo, not extant on Record in the Tower,
or elsewhere; nor any other Statutes made in his or his Ancestors reigns all lost,
as well as that of 18 Edw. the 1. for the Jewes Banishment; as the Clerks and
Keepers of the Records informed me, upon my searches after them. 3ly. No Record nor
Historian mentions, that the Jews voluntarily banished themselves upon the making
of this Law: and their voluntary departure hence upon the publication of it, could
not be stiled a Banishment, since *Cornelius Tacitus, resolves; Exilium non est,
ubi quis abit non Senatus consulto, non Lege pulsus. This their banishment
therefore must necessarily be by an express Law or Decree of Parliament. 4ly, The
forecited Historians record, that the Jews but a few years before gave King Edw.
the 1. a vast summ of money (full 12 years after this Statute De Judaismo made in
the 3. of his reign) to prevent their banishment hence, urged by the Commons in
Parliament in the 15 year of his reign, with the profer of the 5th part of their
goods to the King for their banishment. Therefore it
is very improbable they would in 18 E. 1. (full 15 years after this Statute)
voluntarily banish themselves only because their Usury was so long before exiled by
it. 5. All the forecited Historians of those and of later times (who are more to be
credited then Sir Edward Cookes singular, groundless opinion) unanimously record,
that the Iews were all judicially, really expelled & banished the Realm in 18 E. 1.
both by the King and Parliament, and that principally for their infidelity not
sury, and other fore-alleged reasons; and commanded under pain of hanging by a
special Decree and Edict to depart hence by a prefixed day: for the effecting and
hastning whereof, the Commons gave the King a fifteenth. Therfore they were all
precisely banished by the King and Parliament, not by themselves alone. 6. The King
then banished them out of England upon the same grounds, and in the self-same
manner, as he had newly banished them the year before out of Gascoigne, and all his
Dominions in France, as Matthew Westminster, Walsingham, and others record. But
then and there he banished their persons by an express Decree, not only for their
sury, but chiefly for their Infidelity and Enmity to Christs Cross. Therefore he
did the like in England. 7ly, All Usury in all persons whatsoever, was strictly
prohibited, and quite banished out of England, long before this Statute De
Judaismo, which was but a meer confirmation of former Lawes with particular
relation to the Jews: not an introduction of any new Law: The clearing whereof (nor
impertinent to my Theam against Jewish Usurers) will most fully discover Sir Edward
Cooks mistake to the very meanest capacity. The famous * Council of Calchuth, Anno
Dom. 787. under King Alfwood, and King Offa, condemned all usury in these terms, c.
17. suras quoque prohibemus, dicente Domino ad David, dignum fore habitatorem
Tabernaculi sui qui pecuniam suam non dederit ad suram, &c. After which King
Edward the Confessor enacted this Law against Usury about the Year, 1050. ratified
by William the Conquerour in the fourth year of his reign.
*Usurarios quoque defendit rex Edwardus, Ne remaneret aliquis in toto regno, &c. &
si qus inde convctus esset, qud frns exger, omni substantia propria careret
& pro Exlege haberetur. Hoc autem asserebat ille Rex se audisse in Curta Regis
Francorum dum ibidem moraretur, quod Usura summa radix est omnium vtiorum. This
Law precisely banished all Usurers, with their Usury out of England, and
confiscateth all their goods to the King as Outlaws upon conviction. If therefore
there had been any Jewish Usurers in England in St. Edwards reign (as the spurious
Law just before it in Spelman & Hoveden* forecited pretends) they had all been
expresly banished the land by this Law, and never permitted to reside therein,
above 270 years before the Stat. de Judaismo was enacted. In * the Council of
London Anno 1128. 25 H. 1 and in the Council of Westminster Anno 1138. the 3 of
King Stephens reign; All usury was prohibited under pain of deprivation both from
Office and Benefice in Clergy men. By virtue of which laws and Canons all the goods
of Usurers became forfeited to our Kings after their deaths & they excomunicted
persons. This is evident by the words of Ranulp. de Glanvil, a famous Lawyer under
King Henry the 2. De legibus & consuetudinibus Regni Angliae lib. 7. c. 16. where
thus he writes. Usurarit ver omnes res, sive testatus, sive intestatus decesserit,
DOMINI REGIS SUNT. Vivus autem non solet aliquis de crimine usurae appellari nec
convinci. Sed inter caeteras Regias Inquisitiones solet inquiri & probari, aliquem
in tali crimine decessisse, per duo decim legales homines de vicneto, & per eorum
Sacramentum. Quo probato in Curia, omnes res mobiles, and omnia catalla quae
fuerunt ipsius usurarii mortui, Ad usus domini Regis capientur penes Quemcunque
inveniantur res illae: Haeres quoque ipsius hac eadem de causa exhaeredatur,
secundum jus regni, & ad Deminu vel Dominos revertetur haereditas. Sciendum tamen,
quod si quis aliquo tempore Usurarius fuerit in vita sua, & super hoc in patria
publice defamatus, si tamen a delicto ipso ante mortem suam destituit, &
poenitentiam egerit, post mortem ipsius, ille vel res ejus lege Usurarii minime
censebuntur; Oportet ergo
constare, quod usurarius decesserit aliquis ad hoc, ut de eo tanquam de usurario,
post mortem ipsuis judicetur, & de rebus ipsius tanquam de rebus usurarii
disponatur; which he likewise affirms for Law in that age, lib. 10. c. 3.8.
Therefore usury in that and former ages, was equally prohibited to all, as well *
Jews as English, under pain of forfeiture of all their real and personal estates to
the King, and their inheritances to the Lords, in case they died usurers. And if
the Jews had not been within the compass of these Laws, but might have freely
exercised usury when the English could not, they had been in this respect in far
better condition than the native English; when as the forecited law concerning them
resolves us, *Iudaei & omnia sua Regis sunt, both in this Kings reign and before
upon this account amongst others, because they were known Usurers. This Law
continued still the same in succeeding ages, as is most apparent by *Captula
placitorum Curiae Regis made, and to be inquired of by the Justices itinerant, in
the 6 year of King Richard the 1. Anno 1194. wherein I find this Article. Item de
Faeneratoribus, & eorum catallis qui mortui sunt: which is general, extending
equally to all Usurers, whether English or Jews, Christians or Infidels. But in the
*Capitula Placitorum Coronae Regis in the 10 year of this King Richard, Anno 1198,
it was thus varied, and confined only to Christian Usurers; Inquirendum est (by the
Justices itinerant, then appointed in each County) etiam de usuris Christianorum, &
eorum Catallis qui mortui sunt. Perchance to put a difference between the Jews,
whose goods the King claimed as his own whiles living, and the English Usurers who
forfeited not their estates for usury, till after their deaths & not unless they
died usurers without publike repentance therof before their death.* This form of
Inquisition continued both before and after the Statute de Judaismo, as is evident
by Capitula itineris, used in the reigns of Henry the 3. and Ed. 1. De Christianis
usurariis, qui fuerunt, & quae catalla habent, & qui catalla illa habuerant? De
catallis Judaeorum occisorum, & eorum chartis & vadiis, & qui ea habeant. King
Henry the 3 rot. finium 29. H. 3. m. 8. De catallis quae fuerunt cujusdam
foeneratoirs: seised the Charters of a certain Usurer, as confiscated by Law unto
him; the Statute of Merton c. 5. in the 20 year of his reign, provided and granted;
That usuries should not run against any, being within age, from the time of the
death of his Ancestors, whose heir he is unto his lawfull age, &c. So neverthelesse
that the payment of the principle debt, with the payment of the usury, that was
before the death of the Ancestor, whose heir he is, shall not remain. On which
Statute St. Edward Cook himself thus Coments. This Statute hath been diversly
expounded (some expounding it only of Nomine poenaes and doubling the rent upon
Leases, Bonds and Recognizances, others literally) That the Statute extended to the
usurious Iews that then were in England, for at that time, and*before the Conquest
also, it was not lawfull for Christians (he might have added, nor yet for Jews) to
take any usury, as it appeareth by the Laws of St. Edward, &c. and Glanvil, and
other ancient Authors and Records: And by this Act it was manifest, that the usury
intended by the Statute was not unlawfull, for the usury before the death of the
Ancestor is enacted to be paid, and after the full age of the heir also. And no
usury was permitted but by the Jews only. But King Edw. the 1. (That mirror of
Princes) By aeuthority of Parliament made this Law, which is worthy to be written
in letters of gold. Forasmuch, &c. That no Jew should take any usury, &c. As if
usury (in his opinion) had been lawfull for Jews, before the Statute de Judaismo,
when it was equally prohibited to Jews and Christians, though not to make to
contractor usury meerly void, except only against Infants during their minority,
yet to make both their chatels goods and estates liable to confiscation to the King
after their deaths, or before, as the premises undeniably evidence. So that the
Statute de Judaismo prohibiting usury to the Jews, was no introduction of any new
Law, as to the unlawfullnesse and penalty of usury it self in the Jews, no more
than in Christians, (to whom Rastal equally extends it. sury 2.) but only in
respect of the legal means for recovevering
the use upon usurious contracts, *Usury it self being even reputed absolutely
unlawfull by Gods Lawes and ours.

Hence I find Rot. claus. 36 H. 3. m 21. A Prohibition by writ to all forain

Merchants within the Realme, Quod nil capiant ad Vsuram: and if they do, Omnia
mobilia & immobilia eorum cedant ad usum Regis, all their goods movable and
immovable, shall be confiscated to the Kings use: Rot. claus. 2. E 1. m. 1. De
Mercatoribus Usurariis, commands all Merchants that were Usurers to depart the
Realm, the year before the Stat. de Iudaismo made. And in the Patent Roll of 5 E 1.
Dors. 26. There is an Inquisition De Usurariis seu Christianis Judaizantibus, ut de
eis fiat justitia secundum legem terrae: which punished them by sines and loss of
Goods in the Temporal Courts, and by Ecclesiastical censures in the Spiritual
Courts, as is clear by Placita. 18 H. 3. rot. 36. and all Canonists in their Titles
De Usura; which is further evident by these Records & Statutes made since the
Statute De Iudaismo, by 15 E. 3. rot. Parl. n. 24.32.21. E. 3. rot. Parl. n, 49.50.
E. 3. rot. Parl. n. 47. 6 R. 2. rot. Parl. n. 57. 14 R. 2. rot Parl. n. 23. 5 H. 4.
rot. Parl. n. 68.15. E. 3. c. 5. 3 H. 7. c. 5, 6. 11 H. 7. c. 8. 37 H. 8. c. 9.5 &
E. 6. c. 20. 23 Eliz. c. 8. 39 Eliz. c. 18.21. Iac. c. 17. Therefore the banishing
of Usury by this Law, thus condemned, prohibited in all former ages, could no wayes
move the Jews voluntarily to banish themselves hence, no more than all other
English and Italian surers, but some new special Act for their final expulsion.
8ly, It cannot be proved, or imagined, that all the Jews then in England were
Usurers, though the most and wealthiest of them were such. And it is very
improbable that all the Jews throughout England with one consent should agree to
banish themselves voluntarily out of England, where they were born and lived so
long, and that on the same day, because the Usury of some of them was there
prohibited, without any Law for their banishment. 9ly, The*Iews by several Laws,
Canons were expresly prohibited Usury elswhere in that age, which they are totally
forbidden to use of late years, and now in Lithuania, Russia, Poland, and some
other places where they reside, living only by * Merchandize, Husbandry, and
Manufactures. Yea Menasseh Ben-Israel himself in his Humble Addresses newly
printed, p. 22.23. writes thus: As for Vsury, such dealing is not the essential
property of the Iews, for though in Germany there be some indeed that practise it,
yet the most part of them that live in Turky, Italy, Holland, and Hamburgh, being
come out of Spaigne, they hold it *infamous to use it. Therfore the bare
suppression of their Usury in England by this Statute would no more induce them to
banish themselves voluntarily out of England, and leave all their houses, morgages,
housholdstuff, amounting to a vast summ, to the King, than out of other Countries
where their usury was restrained, then & since, seeing they might live as well
without Vsury in England, by their Merchandizes, Husbandry, and Manufactures, as in
any other Climate. 10ly, Sir Edward Cooke himself contradicts himself herein, not
only in his 4th Institutes, p. 254. where writing of The Court of the Justices
assigned for the Government of the Jews; he saith, But when the Iews were utterly
banished (as hath been said) this Court ceased with them, in 18 E. 1. Anno Dom,
1290. (misprinted 1293.) but likewise in this very Chapter, his own subseqvent
words and Records in direct terms contradicting this opinion of his no less than 5
times, which I wonder he observed not; I shall recite them at large to undeceive
his over-credulous Readers of the long Robe, who take his words and works for
Oracles (though in many things very full of gross mistakes contradicted by his own
Records, he cites, specially in his Chapter of*Parliament and Admiralty.)

(n)And for that [writes he] they were odious both to God and Men, that they might
pass out of the Realm in safety, they made Petition to the King, that a certain day
might be prefixed to them to depart the Realm [it was prefixed by the King and
Parliament against their wills] to the end that they might have the Kings writ to
his Sheriffs for their
safe conduct, and that no injury, molestation, damage or greivance be offered to
them in the mean time, (for which perchance they did petition, though not for their
departure hence.) One of which Writs we will transcribe.

[o]Rex, Vic: G. Cum Judaeis Regni nostri universis Certum tempus praefixerimus a
regno illo transfretandi: (therefore prefixed by the King hmself, without their
Petition, and that for the banishment of them all out of the Realm.) Nolentes quod
ipsi per ministros nostros, aut alios quoscunque, aliter quam fieri consuevit,
indebite pertrectentur: Tibi praecipimus, quod per totam Ballivam tuam, publice
proclamati, & firmiter inhiberi facias, ne quis eis intra terminum praedictum,
injuriam, molestiam, damnum inferat, seu gravamen. Et cum contingat ipsos cum
catallis suis, quae eis concessimus, versus partes London, causa transfretationis
suae, dirigere gressus suos, salvum & securum conductum eis habere facias sumptibus
eorum. Proviso, quod Judaei praedicti, ante recessum suum, Vadia Christianorum quae
penes se habent, illis quorum fuerint, si ea acquietare voluerint, restituant, ut
tenentur: Teste Rege apud Westmin. 18. die Julii, Anno 18 E. 1.

This Statute De Judaismo, was made at the[p]Parl. post festum Hilarii, Anno 18 E.
1. (a *gross mistake.) At which Parliament the King had a 15 granted to him, pro
expulsione Iudaeorum [Therefore by his own confession they were expelled, banished
by the King and Parlament against their wills, and a fifteenth given for it, as the
former Historians note] And this writ was granted in July following [in pursute
therefore of their Judgement of banishment, not upon their petition] the King
beginning his reign Novemb. 16. For the Parliament knew [a strange conceit of a
Judge, for how could they certainly know it?] that by banishing of Usury [though
they banished it only, not the Jews:] the Jews would not remain. And thus this
Noble King by this means banished for ever these
infidel usurious Iews [Ergo, their persons, not their Usury only] the number of
which Jews, thus banished, was fifteen thousand and threescore.
[q]We will here adde a (Parliament) Record de Priore de Bridlington; thus.

Et quod praedictus Prior cognoscit, quod praedicta peonnia praed. Judaeo debebatur,
viz. 3 col. nec ei solvebatur Ante exilium Iudaeorum (therefore by this
Parliamentary record but 3 years after, they were judicially banished by
Parliament, not voluntarily of themselves, no banishment in Law.) Et quicquid
remansit eorum, debitis aut catallis in regno post eorum Exilium (again repeated,
as most certain) Domino regis suit. Confideratum est, quod Dom. Rex recuperet
pecuniam praedictam: & dictum est eidem Priori, quod non exeat Villa antequam
Domino Regi de praedicta pecunia satisfaciat: Et respondeat Johannes Archiepiscopus
Eborum, quia praecepit dicto Priori solvere Valetto suo praedictam pecuniam in
deceptionem Regis, contra Sacramentum & fidelitatem suam Domino Regi datam. Idem in
alio Rot. Ann. 27. E. 1. rot. 5.

Therefore by these 3 records resolutions cited by himself, the Jews were all
banished by sentence of Parliament, in such sort as our Historians record, and not
in his New sence alone, amounting but to a voluntary Recess. And to put this beyond
all future doubt or controversie, though the particular Act and Parliament Roll for
their Banishment be utterly lost, for ought I can find upon diligent search and
inquiry after it as are all other Parliament Rolls during this Kings reign; yet
there is a particular Roll still extant in the Tower, of the particular sales of
all the Jews Houses and Lands in London, Yorke, Canterbury, Northampton, and all
other places of England where they resided, made by King Edward the 1. in the 19
and 20 years of his reign, (the next years after their exile) reciting, they were
all escheated into the Kings hands
By the Iews banishment out of England, which Roll was thus indorsed in that age:
Charta de Judaismo, Patentes de domibus Iudaeorum concessis post eorum exilium de
Anglia, Annis 19, & 20. E. 1. The fifth Charter mentioned in the Roll of 19 E. 1.
conteins this Kings Grant of the House of one Leo a Jew, in St. Martins Parish in
London. Domus Leonis, filu Cusae, filii Eliae Judaei, de Parochia Sancti Martini,
&c. per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei e Regno nostro tanquam escheata in manu nostra
existentis. After which follow near one hundred other several charters of other
particular Jews houses to particular Englishmen the same year, in the self-same
Roll, as escheated to the King, per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei. After these, in the
same Roll, follow several other Patents of this King of the Jews houses, made in
the 20 year of his reign, the first whereof is this Kings grant, Domus Benedicti
Iudaei, per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei ex Regno nostro, tanquam escheata nostra, in
manu nostra existentis. After which follow several other Charters of other Jews
Houses in the self same form. So that by the testimony of all these Charters and
Records, & likewise of the Patent Roll of 19 E. 1. granting all the profits of the
Jews houses*a tempore Exilii eorundem, to charitable uses (the two very next years
after their exile) the Jews were all immediatly and legally banished out of England
against their wills, and all their houses there upon escheated into the Kings
hands, who upon this Title, made sales of them to Englishmen, recited in all their
Charters, the Rolls whereof I have lately perused in the Tower, where all who
please may examine them for their satisfaction herein.

By all these concurrent irrefragable Records and Testimonies it is apparent

[against Sir Edward Cooks grounlesse conceit.]

1. That all the Jews were then banished out of England, never to return again, at
the special instance and request of the Commons in two several Parliaments, as an
intollerable grievance and oppression under which they then groaned.

2. That the principle grounds of this their perpetual banishment were, their
Infidelity, Usury, Forgeries of Charters, clipping and falsifying of monies, by
which they prejudiced the King and Kingdom, and much oppressed and impoverished the
people.
3. That this their banishment was so acceptable to all the people, who oft-times
pressed it in Parliament, that they gave the King a Fifth and Fifteenth part of
their moveables, to speed and execute it.

4. That this their banishment was by the unanimous desire, judgement, edict and
decree both of the King and his Parliament, and not by the King alone: and this
Banishment, totall of them all, and likewise final, Never to return into England.
Which Edict and Decree, though not now extant in our Parliament Rolls (many of
which are utterly lost) nor in our printed Statutes, yet it is mentioned by all
these Authorities and Records.

From whence I shall inferre and conclude: That as by the fundamental Laws of
England: No Freeman and Natives of England can be justly banished or exiled out of
it, but by special judgement of Parliament, or by act of Parliament, (as well as by
the ancient Romans, Athenians, and Syracusians Laws,*no Citizen of Rome, Athens,
Syracuse could be banished his City or Country, but by the lawfull judgement of the
Senat and People in their Parliamentary Assemblies and Senates, which were very
numerous,) as is evident by Magna Charta c. 29. The banishment of Sir Thomas
Wayband Chief Justice of the Common? Pleas, 19 E. 1. Rot. Pat.
rot. 12. and these Jews then banished. *Exilium Hugonis le Dispenser patris &
filii. Tottles Magna Charta, f. 50.51. The double banishment of Peter de Gaverston
out of England, Assensu communi Procerum & Magnatum, and of the King in Parliament.
Walsingham Hist. Angliae, p. 71, 72. The Statute of 1. Edward the 3. c. 2. 11
Richard the 2. c. 2, 3, 4. for the banishment of Belknap and other Judges into
Ireland, 21 R. 2. Rot. Parl. n. 16, 17. For the banishment of Thomas Arundel Arch-
bishop of Canterbury. The Statute of 35 Elz. c. 1. of & 39. Eliz. c. 4. For
banishing dangerous Sectaries, Rogues, out of the Realm, after conviction upon
Indictment only, not before (which could not be done by Law, before these Acts)
Cooks 2 Institutes, f. 47. Mr. St. Iohns Speech against the Shipmoney Iudges. p.
22. My New Discovery of the Prelates Tyranny, p. 166, 167, 168. Walsingham Hst.
Anglae, p, 394. and other Testimonies: as also by 1 E. 3. c. 54. H. 4. c. 13. The
Statute for the pressing of Souldiers for Ireland. 17 Caroli Exact. Collect. p.
435. The*Barons opposition and refusal to assist King Henry the 3 in their persons
or purses in his foraign wars in Apulia and elsewhere, as no way obliged thereunto.
The Petition and Protestation of the Lords and Commons in*Parliament against
serving the King in person, or contribution to his wars in Flanders, and other
foraign parts. 25 E. 1. Walsingham Hist. p. 35, 37, 38. Henry de Knyghton de Event.
Angl, l. 3. c. 11.14 or in Gascoign, France, Normandy, Scotland, or Ireland, Cook 2
Instit. p. 528. 4 H. 4. n. 48. 1 H. 5. n. 17. 7 H. 5. n. 9.18. R. 2. n. 6. So none
once banished the Realm by Judgement or Act of Parliament, can, may or ought, by
the fundamental and known common Laws of England, to be restored and recalled
again, but only by a like judgement Act and Restitution in full Parliament, as is
adjudged, declared, resolved by the cases and Petitions of the two Spencers, and
Pierce Gaveston, Walsingh. Ypodig. Neust. p. 104, 101 152. Hist. Angl. p. 68.71,
72. Holinshed p. 328. Speeds Hist. p. 674. The Printed Statute of 20 R. 2. c. 6.
for the restitution of Belknap, and the other exiled Judges, 28 E. 3.
Rot. Parl. n. 8. to 14 and 29 E. 3. Rot. Parl. n. 29. touching the repeal of the
Judgement in Parliament against Roger Mortimer Earl of March, 17 R. 2. Rot. Parl.
n. 18. for the pardon and restitution of the Justices banished into Ireland 21. R.
2. n. 55. to 71. for confirmation of the repeal of the exile of Hugh de la Spencer,
Father and Son, An. 15 E. 2. and the revocation of the repeal thereof in 1 E. 3. [A
notable full record in point.] The*revocation of Abbot Dunston his sentence of
banishment by King Edgar and his great Council held at Brentford. Anno Dom. 959. 3
H. 7.10. 4 H. 7.10. 1 H. 7, 4. 10 H. 7.22. b. 15 E. 3. Fitz. Petit. 2. 9 E.
2.23.24. 9 E. 4.1. b. with sundry other Records for the repeals of Iudgements and
Acts of former Parliaments, by the subsequent Judgements and Acts of other
Parliaments, in Cooks 4 Institutes, c. 1. and Ashes Tables. Parliament. 16. and
Statutes 68. Therefore the Jews being so long since by Judgement, Edict and Decree
both of the King and Parliament for ever banished out of England (never since
repealed or reversed) neither may, nor can by Law be re-admitted, reduced into
England again, but by common consent and Act of Parliament, which I conceive they
will never be able to obtain.

I have now presented you with a true Historical and exact Chronological Relation of
the Jews first admission into England; (not in the time of the Emperour Constantine
the great) as some groundlesly would collect, from his *General Epistle to all
Churches, touching the Decrees of the Council of Nice, and the unanimous
observation of the Feast of Easter, not after the Jewish computation; wherein there
is mention of the Churches in Britain, (as well as in Rome, Africk, Spain, France,
and other places) concing with other Churches herein; but not one syllable of
any Jews therein, or in Britain then; nor in any other particular places, but onely
these general passages against Christians complying with them in their Paschal
observation. Ac primum quidem indigna res funt sanctissimum eum diem imitatione,
atque consuetudine Iudaeorum clebrare,
qui manibus suis nefario flagitio contaminatis, non injuria quoque animis sunt
excaecati, homines scelerati. Quidni enim lceat, gente ea rejecta, rectiore,
verioreque ordine, quem primo passionis di hucusque servavimus, ad futura quoque
saecula observationis hujus ritum transmittere? Item nihil nobs commune sit cum
infestissma Judaeorum turba, &c. Quin & strict or ipsa atque exactior ratio
flagitare vdetur, NEQUA NOBIS CUM IUDAEORUM PERIURIO COMMUNIO. From whence, as all
may juily resolve, that the blinded wicked Jews ought not to be introduced
amongst, nor to have communion with us, nor we with them: so no rational man can
thence inferr, that there were any Jews at that time observing their Jewish
passeover in Britain, of which I can find no syllable in any Domestick or foreign
Historians or Writers whatsoever; nor yet that they inhabited here, or were here in
the Briton, Saxon, or Danish Kings Reigns; which if they had, some of our
Historians, Synods, Decrees, and Laws in those ages would have mentioned it, (as
well as the *Gothish, Spanish Histories, Laws, Councils and Constitutions, where
they resided) in which there is not one syllable of them, but only in the forecited
Law foisted in amongst the Confessors, to which doubtless it was puny:) but in
William the Conquerours reign: Together with, their ill deportments, misdemeanors,
sufferings, massacres, servile condition, and manifold popular tumults against
them, during all the time of their residence in England, and final banishment out
of it, never to my knowledge, collected into one intire History before. The
serious consideration whereof, will, in my weake judgement, sufficiently satisfie,
convince the whole English Nation, that they have just grounds and reasons, in
point of piety, of policy, never to re-admit them more into our Island; and
likewise resolve the very Jewes themselves, that they have little cause or reason
at all to desire to re-plant themselves in England, where their ancestors in times
past, susteined so many miseries, massacres affronts, oppressions, fleecings upon
all occasions, & themselves
can expect little better usage for the future. To this principal part of my
undertaking, for fuller satisfaction, I shall hereunto subjoyn a Tast of such Laws,
Scriptures, Reasons, as seem strongly to plead, yea conclude against their re-
admission into England, at least in that latitude and freedom as formerly they
there enjoyed, and now * petition for.

As 1. To erect new Synagogues, Temples amongst us, or turn any of our Churches,
Chappels into Synagogues, for the free publique exercise of their Judaism, Jewish
Worship, Customs, Religion, (h)diametrically contrary to the Gospel, Person,
Kingdom, Priesthood, Offices, Mediation, Redemption of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
they thereby professedly deny, renounce, as false and fabulous.

2ly. To set up a Jewish Corporation or Fraternity amongst us in our Cities and

Corporations, distinct and separate from the English, subject to their own
immediate peculiar Officers and Judges, as heretofore.
3ly. To purchase Houses, Habitations, Rents, Lands exercise Merchandizes and 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 (i) 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 Knute
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 relgio
maxim provehatur; That the right religion of Christ might be most of all advanced:
obtesting all Ecclesiastical 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 (k)Cnute his Ecclesiastical Lawes [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 any
time, which our Lord Jesus 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 Sevice, and 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 Jwish 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 Eliz. c. 1.28 Eliz. c. 2.6, 35

Eliz. c. 1.3. Jac. c. . against Popish Recusants, Seminary Priests, Jesuites,
Friers, Masse-Books, Agnus Dei's, Popish Books, Superstitions: for eventing 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 far more dishonourable to Christ, opposite to our Christian
Religion, and destructive to the peoples souls, if once admitted, then any
Jesuites, 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-fame 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
Judaism, which is both Heresy and Blasphemy, and Jewish assemblies, the very
Synagogues of Stan; and Jews great blaspemers, by Christs own resolution, Rev.
2.9. c. 3.9. Acts 18.6. Rom. 2.21. With the late printed (l)Instrument of
Government, which although it allows not only toleration, but protection to all
Sects and Religions, professing faith in God through Jesus Christ, (though
differing from the Doctrine and Discipline publickly held forth in the Nation)
except only to Popery and Prelacy: yet certainly it can no ways extend to the
toleration or protection of Iews, and their *Antichristian blasphemies against
Christ
himself, and the Gosple; seeing they are so far from professing faith in Iesus
Christ, that(m)they utterly renounce, and professedly decry him to be the true
Saviour and Messiah of the world, rejecting the whole New Testament and Doctrine of
the Gospel: and so by consequence, are necessarily secluded by this Instrument, and
Oath for its observation, from practising their Jewish worship, Ceremomies, or
erecting any Synagogues in our Nation for that purpose.

2ly. Though the (n)Kings of England by the Law and their Prerogative, may in sundry
cases erect New Corporations of their Subjects by their Charters only: yet
notwithstanding, no Corporation or Fraternity of Iews, being meer Aliens, may, can,
or ought to be erected in England, by the Fundamental Lawes and Constitutions of
the Realm, but only by full consent of the Nation in Parliament, by special Acts of
Parliamennt; it being one of the greatest Intrenchments that can be upon the
English Nations Rights, Liberties, Customs, priviledges, profit, and a violation of
all the former Charters, Previledges, Rights, Franchises, confirmed to them by the
great Charter of England, (forty times since ratified by new Acts of Parliament.)
This is evident by the Statutes of Magna Charta, c. 9.37. 34 E. 1. c. 4. 1 E. 3. c.
9. 14 E. 3. c. 1. 1. H. 4. c. 1. 2. H. 4. c. 1. 7. H. 4. c. 1. 9. H. 4. c. 1. 13.
H. 4. c. 1. 3. H. 5. c. 1. 2. H. 6. c. 1. compared with 2 E. 3. c. 9. 27. E. 3. c.
1. to 29. 28 E. 3.13.15, 39. E. 3. c. 7, 19 H. 7. c. 12, and all other Acts for the
(o)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, Mrchants and Aliens.

3ly. The *preambles of the Statute of Merton, 20 H. 3. 3 E. 1. with c. 17.48. 6 E.

1. of Quo Warranto, and of Glocester, 13 E. 1. 12 E. 2. of York, 9, 10, 14, 15, 25,
28, 36, 37. E. 3.1.3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21. R. 2.1, 2, 4, 6. H. 4.1, 8,
10, 12. 36. H. 6. 18 E. 3. c. 1, 2, 3. R. 2. Rot. Parl. n. 36, 40. 6 H. 6. c. 5.
and other Acts, declare and resolve. That the Kings of England
by their Oath and Duty, and the Lords and Commons in Parliament, are all obliged by
their trusts and our Laws, to advance, uphold, maintain and defend the welfare,
wealth, safety of the Church, Realm, Subjects, People of England, and to prevent,
redresse, suppresse, remove by wholesom Laws and Ordinances, all Grievances,
Mischiefs, Damages, Inconveniences, Disinherisons contrary thereunto; it being a
fundamental Maxime both in our Laws and Law-Books, SALUS POPULI SUPREMA LEX: which
the Army Officers in their Declaration of 16 Novemb. 1648. and Mr. John Pym, in his
Speech against Strafford, 12 April 1641. p. 3. &c. printed by the Commons special
Order, much insist on. Moreover, it is another Maxime in our Law, *Summa ratio est,
quae pro religione faecit. Now the admission of the Jews into England, as appeareth
by the Statute de Judaismo, and premised Histories, is no way consistent with the
welfare, profit, wealth, safety of the Church, Realm, Subjects, People, or Religion
of England, and will be an extraordinary damage, mischief, grievance,
inconvenience, and disinherison to them all. Therefore prohibited, enacted against
by the general scope of all these Laws and Maxims, and no ways to be admitted.

4ly. The Jews heretofore in England, and still in all[p]other parts, being most
grievous Clippers, coyners, forgers of money, surers, Extortioners, and the
greatest cheators, cozeners, Impostors in the world, in all their Merchandizes and
Manufactures whatsoever: upon this accompt they are and ought to be still excluded,
and never re-admitted amongst us, by the provisions of [q]all our Laws, yet in
force, prohibiting clippng, coyning, usury, extortion, frauds, deceipts, in any
Merchandizes or Manufactures whatsoever; unless we intend to have them now more
practised by them and others among us, than ever heretofore. The rather, because
they were never admitted free Trading and Habitation in England by [r] any of our
Laws touching Alien Merchants, and Artificers free Traffick amongst us, from the
time of their forementioned banishment, till this present, under the Name and
Notion
of Jews, Foraign Merchants, or Artificers. And therfore not to be admtted to those
new desired priviledges, from which all these forecited Laws (in my weak Judgement)
with the former old Parliamentary Judgement, and Edict, for their perpetual
banishment, in Law, Justice, Conscience, still debarre them re-admittance, til
repealed; and they (if ever readmitted against all these Acts and Statutes) must be
introduced, re-setled by special Acts of Parliament, which no English Parliament
(in probability) will ever indulge unto them, as the peoples general present
declamations in all places, against their endeavoured introduction, prognostick.
And thus much I thought meet to inform the Nation, touching those Laws and Statutes
which in my poor opinion) directly, or by consequence oppose their re-admission,
and refute those Lawyers mis-information, who confidently averred, there is no Law
of England at all against it, if Mr. Nye did truly inform me.

2. For Scriptures, these Texts may resolutely engage us against their re-admission,

1. Matth. 5.13. Luke 14.34, 35. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost its savor,
werewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the
dunghil, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. This is the
condition of the Jews, who have lot both their Saviour and their favor too.
Therefore not fit for our land, nor yet for our dunghils; but to be kept and cast
out from amongst us, and trodden under foot of all true Christian men, whiles
unbeliever s.

2. 1 Cor. 16.22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema
Maranatha. That is, separated and cast out from all Christian society and communion
until the day of Judgement; the highest kind of Jewish Excommunication. Now the
Jews are such, who doe not only not love, * but deny, defie, and hate our Lord
Jesus Christ in the highest degree. Therefore to be excommunicated and secluded
from our Christian communion and cohabitation amongst us, to which they can pretend
no right.

3. 2 Cor. 6.14, 15, &c. Be ye not unequally yoaked together with unbelievers; for,
what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath
light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? and what part hath
he that believeth with an Infidel? and what agreement hath the Temple of God with
Idols? &c. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate saith the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. The unconverted Jews, are both
Unbelievers, Infidels, Darkness, Belialists, and the very Synagogue of Satan, as
the Scripture resolves them, Acts 14.1. Mar. 6.6. Rom. 11.20.23.32. Heb. 4.6.11.
Iohn 1.5. Mat. 8.12. Rev. 2.9. 1 Thess. 2.14, 15, 16. Therefore we Christians ought
not to be unequally yoaked, or to have any fellowship, communion, agreement, part
or mixture with them; much less to receive them into our land and bosoms, from
whence they were formerly spued out, but to keep our selves separated from amongst
them, lest God reject us, as he hath done them.
4. 2 John 6.7. This is the commandement that ye have heard from the beginning, that
ye should walk in it: For many deceivers are entred into the world, Who confess not
that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh: This is a Deceiver and an Antichrist. & v.
10, 11. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath
not God: he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the
Sonne. If there come any unto you, and bring not this Doctrine receive him not into
your house, neither bid him, God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed, is
partaker of his evil deeds. The Jews are these Deceivers and Antichrists, who
confess not, but absolutely deny, that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh & they
abide not in the Doctrin of Christ; and if they come unto us, they will not bring
this Doctrine to us, but the quite contrary. Therefore we ought not to receive them
into our Dominions or Houses, nor bid or wish them Godspeed, in returning to dwell
amongst us. And if any do the contrary, they are and shall be partakers of their
evil deeds.

5. Tit. 1.10, 11, 13, 14. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers,
Especially they of the Circumcision; whose mouthes must be stopped, who subvert
whole houses reaching things which they ought not, for filthy lures sake.
Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the fath: Not giving heed
to Iewish Fables, and commandements of Men that turn from the Truth. I the
circumcised Jews were such unruly Deceiers, educers, and subverters of whole
houes, even in the Apostles own dayes, and their Jewish fables then did turn so
many from the truth, to prevent which, their mouthes were then to be stopped, With
what colour of Christianity, piety, conscience, can we call them in amongst us now,
in these times of fearful, and almost universal Apostacy from the truth, and give
them leave to set up their Synagogues, and open their blasphemous mouthes here in
England, even when many orthodox Ministers mouths are quite stopped up in publick &
privat, without hearing, to the great Joy both of Iesuits and Iews, (even whiles
their re-admission amongst us is in agitation) when less dangerous seducers are
freely permitted to ramble abroad in all places, and have subverted whole houses,
parishes, and almost Cities and Counties too, to Gods dishonour, and the danger of
the peoples souls.

6. 1 Thess. 2.14, 15, 16. For ye also have suffered lke things of your Countrymen,
even as they have of the Iews: who both killed the Lord Iesus, and their own
Prophets, and have persecuted (or chased out) us, and they please not God, and are
contrary to all men:*Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be
saved, to fill up their sins alway: For the wrath is come upon them to the
uttermost. This Gospel character of the Jews, expressing their transcendent malice
to the Lord Jesus, their own Prophets, the very Apostles themselves, the Gentiles,
with their contrariety to God, and all other men, and Gods wrath upon them for it
to the uttermost: administer plenty of invincible arguments, against our receiving
them in again amongst us, lest they bring along with them the extremity
of Gods wrath upon the whole English Nation, who have enough thereof already, and
are likely to feel more of it, if they really imitate or play the Jews, and
silence, cast out their own Prophets, Ministers, Countrymen in these and other
particulars.

7. Acts 18.5, 6, 7.

Paul was pressed in Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
And when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shooke his rayment, and said
unto them, your blood be upon your own heads: I am clean, from henceforth, I will
goe unto the Gentiles. And he departed thence and entred into a certain mans house
named Justus, who worshipped God. &c. compared with Acts 13.44. to 52. The next
Sabbath-day came almost the whole City together to hear the word of God: but when
the Jews saw the multitude, they were filled with envy, and spoke against those
things that were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming: Then Paul and
Barnabas waxed bold, and said, it was necessary the word of God should first have
been spoken unto you; but because ye put it from you, and judge your selves
unworthy of everlasting life; Loe we turn to the Gentiles; For so hath the Lord
commanded us, &c. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the Region.
But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the
City, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of
their coasts, but they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto
Iconium:
See the like, Acts 17.5. to 16. c. 19.8, 9, 10. c. 28.25. to 31. This malitious
carriage and persecution of the Jews, even against the Apostles themselves, their
Doctrine, and the Gentiles salvation, and casting them maliciously out of their
coasts; with their Separation from them, and turning themselves wholly to the
Gentiles upon this account, by Gods own command; demonstrates, what all Gods
faithfull Ministers, and we Christian Gentiles must expect from them now: and that
being formerly cast out of our
Coasts by our Ancestors for their infidelity, crucifying of Christ in his Members,
and such like misdemeanors, and so being totally separated in cohabitation and
communion from us, we neither may nor ought now to resume them into our Land,
Bosoms or Communion again, upon any pretences whatsoever. The rather for that
Martin Luther on Mich. 4.1.2. and Mr. Samuel Purchas in his * Pilgrimage inform us,
That sooner than the Jews would endure that the Gentiles, whom in their dayly
prayers they curse and revile, should have any part with them in their Messias, and
be accounted coheirs thereof, they would crucfy ten Messiahs, yea if it were
ossible would do to death God himself, with all the Angels and creatures else,
although they should therefore undergoe a thousand Hells.
8. When God was bringing the Jews into the promised Land which he gave them to
inherit, he gave them these special commands.

Thou shalt driv the Inhabitants of the land out before thee (s) Thou shalt make no
Covenant with them nor with their Gods they shall not dwell in thy land, lest they
make thee sin against me, and it be a snare in the midst of thee. Thou shalt make
no Covenant with them, nor shew mercy to them, Neither shalt thou make marriages
with them. Thy Daughter thou shalt not give unto his Son, nor his Daughter shalt
thou take unto thy Son, for they will turn away thy Sons from following me, that
they may serve other Gods, so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against thee,
and destroy thee suddenly; If ye doe in any wise go back, and cleave unto the
remnant of these Nations, and go in unto them, and they to you, know for a certain,
that the Lord will no more drive out any of these Nations before you; but they
shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your
eyes, until you perish from the good Land which the Lord your God giveth you: But
thus ye shall deal with them, ye shall destroy their Altars, and break down their
Images, and cut down their groves, &c. for thou art an holy people unto the Lord
thy God.
Now,
the not driving out of these Nations by the Israelites from amongst them, according
to thee command, o God, is charged special sin upon them by God, entce
them to Idolatry, and brought his severe wrath upon them,udges 1.27. to 36. c.
2.2, 3, 12, 13, 19, 20 21, 22, 2. and is thus expressed by the Psalmist Psal.
106.14. to 43. They did not destroy the Ntions concernng m t Ld commanded
them but were mingled amongst the heathen, and learned their works, and they served
their ol, which were a snare unto them, yea they sacrificed their Sons and
Daughters unto Devils, and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their Sons and
Daughters, whom they sacrficed unto the Idols of Canaan, and their Land was
defiled with bood. Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his peole,
insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance, and he gave them into the hands of
the Heathen, and they that hated them were Lords over them; their enemies also
oppressed them, they were brought unto subjection under their hands. The morality,
ground and equity of which precepts, as they justifie our Ancestors expulsion of
the Jews out of England, with their adulterous worship, Ceremonies & Synagogues
heretofore. So I conceive they strongly oblige all English Christians (especially
after our late solemn League and Covenant) to seclude and keep them out from re-
entring, coming in, mingling, and dwelling among us now, for fear they draw the
self-same sad effects, and bring down the same, or like heavy judgements of God
upon us, as these Scriptures threatned, and God himself inflicted on the Israelites
for transgressing them.
In brief, the Parables of the Vineyard and Husbandmen, the King going into foraign
parts, and Marriage-Supper, Mat. 21.33. to 46. c. 22.2. to 11. c. 23.21. to the
end. Mar. 12.1. &c. Luk. 19.12. to 28. c. 20.9. &c. particularly applyed to the
Jews, and notably setting out their desperate malice against our Saviours person,
Kingdom, Government, Ordinances, Ministers, Gospel, and his rejection of them for
it. Together with Rom. 16, 17, 18.31.32. 1 Cor. 5.4. &c. Phil. 3.2.3. Mat. 7.
15. c. 16.7.11.12.17 Col. 2.8. 2 Pet. 3.17. c. 2.1 &c. 7, 8.20, 21, 22. 2 Tim. 3.1.
to 10. c. 2.16, 17 Titus 3.10.11. Rev. 2.9.14. Heb. 6.4. to 9. c. 16.26. to 32. Ph.
4.2, 3. Gal. 4.29.30. will all furnish us with sundry arguments against their re-
admission amongst us, as likewise Prov. 9.27.28. Amos 3.3. Psal. 101.3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8. Psal. 119.104. Psal. 139.21, 22. Numb. 8.13. Numb. 16.26, 27. Psal. 6.8. Psal.
119.115. Psal. 139.16. which every good Christian may peruse at leasure, and apply
as he sees cause.

3. For Reasons against their re-admission into England, they are divers,
Theological, Political, and mixt of boh.

1. God himself by his Prophets, Son, Apostles, before their rejection, while they
were his special, peculiar chosen people, treasure, above all other Nations of the
world, most frequently complains of them, and the generality of the Nation(t)

That they were a most rebellious, disobedient, gainsaying, stiff-necked,

impenitent, incorrigible, adulterous, whorish, impudent, froward, shamelesse,
perverse, treacherous, revolting, back-sliding, idolatrous, wicked, sinfall,
stubborn, untoward, hardhearted, hypocritical, foolish, sottish, brutish, stupid,
ungratefull, Covenant breaking Nation, House, People; a seed of evil doers, a
generation of Vipers, doing evil greedily with both hands, according to all the
Nations that were round about them; as bad, nay worse than Sodom or Gomorrha,
casting all Gods Laws, Ordinances, behind their backs, trampling em under their
feet, rejecting, forsaking, despising God himself, provoking him continually to his
face, grieving him to the heart, forgetting him days without number, alwayes erring
in their hearts, and disobeying his voice, and the like:
And dare, can we then harbour such a Nation as this,
and bring them in amongst us now they are worse in all these resects than ever?
2. God himselfe hath denounced against, and inflicted upon the Iewes, greater,
severer Woes, Iudgments, Calamities Dispersions, Devastations, Captivities,
Desolations, Curses, Plagues of all kinds, for their sins, rebellions,
impenitencies, and to on, their Nation, Kingdom, Countrie, Cities, than to or on
any other Nations, Kingdoms, People, and that more frequently than against any
other: Swearing against them in his wrath, that they should never enter into his
rest, Psal. 95.11. Hebr. 3.10, 11, 18. stiling them, the generation of his wrath;
Jer. 7.29. and averting of them, that wrath is come upon them to the utermost, 1
Thess. 2.15.16. And can or shall we then receive such a Nation as this into our
bosoms now, without entertaining, and pulling upon us, that wrath and these curses
of God which are denounced against, and do now pursue and accompany them in all
places?

3. The Jews were alwaies heretofore a very murmuring, mutinous, discontented,

rebellious, seditious people for the most part, not only against God, but
their(x)lawfull Governors, Kings, Priests, Prophets, oft tumuluously rebelling
against, disobeying, revolting from, deposing, murdering their Kings, and
Soveragns, and contemning, disobeying, slaying, killing, stoning the Prophets,
Messengers whom God sent unto them. Whence God himself gives us this black
Character of them, 2 Chron. 36.15, 16. And the Lord God of their Fathers sent unto
them by his Messengers, rising up betimes, and sending, &c. But they mocked the
Messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his Prophets, until the
wrath of the Lord rose against his people, till there was no remidy, &c. And our
Saviour Christ a worse: Lu. 13.33, 34. It is impossible (or cannot be) that a
Prophet perish out of Jerusalem: Mat. 23.27. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that
killest the prophets, and stonest those that are sent unto thee! Which St. Stephen
thus seconds, Acts 7.51.52. Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears; ye
do alwaies resist the holy, Ghost as your fathers
did, so do ye? Wch of the Prophets have not your Fathers persecuted; and they
have slain them which have shewed them before of the coming of the Just One, of
whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers. Which St. Paul also confirms in
the forecited observable Text of the 1. Thess. 2.14, 15, 16. And can we then in
point of piety or policy, even in these distracted, rebellious, mutinous times,
entertain, or bring in such a Nation, People as this amongst us? Or can our
despised Ministry in this age, when they can hardly convert, keep any of their own
English from seduction, have any hopes of reclaiming or converting such a mutinous,
ever rebellious, stiff-necked people, who have thus abused, murdered, stoned their
own Prophets in former times, though immediatly sent unto them by God himself? and
will quickly teach the English to do the like, who already imitate them in too many
places.

4. (y)

They were the greatest haters, revilers, persecuters, blasphemers, betrayers, and
the only murderers, crucifiers of our (z) Lord Jesus Christ himself, and his (a)
Apostles whiles on earth, as the Evangelists, Acts, and other Scriptures testifie.
And although Christ and his Apostles miraculously converted some thousands of them
by their preaching and miracles, to the faith of Christ, Acts, 2.41. c. 21.20. Yet
the generality and body of the Nation continued still blind, obstinate, under the
very most powerfull Ministry of the Prophets, Apostles and Christ himself, being
then and ever since that time, judicially and penally given up to a blind,
obdurate, obstinate, impenitent, stupid heart and spirit, a reprobate sense, a
cauterized conscience, and divorced, rejected, reprobated, broken off, cast off by
God himself, proclaiming them to be no more his people, to be reprobate silver,
because he hath rejected them; to make way for the calling, conversion, salvation
of the Gentiles, whom he hath ingrafted, called, and taken into special Covenant in
their stead,
as is evident by Acts 13.45, 46, 47. c. 19.9. c. 28.25, 26, 27, 28. Isa. 8.14. to
17. c. 10.22, 23. c. 29.8. to 15. c. 65.2, 3,
9. c. 53. 1. Jer. 6.10. c. 7.29. c. 14. 19 Lam. 5.22. Hos. 1.9.10. c. 4.6. Mat.
13.13, 14, 15. c. 21.24. to 46. c. 22.2. to 11. Mar. 4.12. Luk. 2.34. c. 8.10, &c.
John 9.39.41. c. 12.37. to 44. Rom. 9.24. to 33. c. 10.16.19.20, 21. c. 11.5.7. &c.
1 Thess. 2.14, 15, 16. Heb. 10.26. to 31. compared together. Which Texts conjoyned
with Lu. 18.8. Mat. 24.9. to 15. Joh. 1.11. 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. 2 Tim. 1.3. to 10. c.
4.3, 4. 2 Pet. 2.1.2. &c. c. 3.3.1. John 2.18. Jude 18. in my judgement
unanswerably refute, that commonly received opinion, of the calling and conversion
of the whole Nation and Body of the Iews in these latter dayes to the faith of
Christ, and such glorious Gospel times in the last age of the world, which some
have over-confidently asserted, and now insist on, as the chiefest argument for
calling in the Jews amongst us at this season, as if they were able more
effectually to perswade, convert them, then either their own Prophets, or Christ
himself and his Apostles, and remove that veil of obstinate blindnesse, and
obduration, which God hath laid upon their hearts and eyes, to this very end, that
they might neither see, hear, nor understand, nor be converted, that he might heal
them. Acts 28.25, 26, 27, 28.
5. God himself, (especially for their rejection of Jesus Christ, and refusing him
to be their King to rule and reign over them) hath utterly extirpated and ejected
the Jews out of their own promised land, which himself bestowed on them for their
peculiar(b)inheritance, and habitation, and setled them in actual possession
thereof by an outstretched hand, and power: yea, scattered, dispersed them into
other Nations, 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. Deut. 28.63, 64, 65. &c. Levit. 26.33.36, 37, 38, 39. Deut.
4.27. c. 32, 26. 1 Kings 14, 15. Neh. 1.8. Psal. 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. 6.8.17.21. 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. Therefore, 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(c)appointed to the English alone for their portion,
(and therefore these Aliens may not invade or intrude themselves into it, without
the whole Natios general consent) is in some sence 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 despight of his person, and passion, maliciously acted it over
and over again in representation, not only, by(d)piercing his Images with swords
and spears, and by(e)stabbing, piercing, boyling, burning, braying in a mortar, and
otherwise despighting the consecrated Sacramental bread, representing his crucified
bod, as the Historians in the Margin at large relate; and likewise by crucifying a
Ram at Easter, as they did at(f) Syracusa, in the year, 1113: but likewise by
crucifying sundry Christian children on Good Fryday, or near Easter, on a Crose,
in a most barbarous manner, in derision of our Saviours 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 bick (g)Enterludes and Dances, held on their Sabbath, openly
crucified 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 Emperours command, the Jews who had done this in
jest, were punished in earnest, Anno 1172. (h) they crucifyed in like manner
another Christian child at Bloys in France, and near the same time, the Jews
at[i]Bray in France, crowned a Christian man (whom they accused for a Malefactor)
with thorns, 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 [k] Jews at
Paris in France, in like manner impiously crucified a Christian child called
Richard, and sundry others yearly. Anno 1236. (l) the Jews at the Monastery of
Fulda, killed many Christian children in a Mill, piercing them with ponyards, and
squesing out their blood, to mix and knead it with their unleavened bread in their
Passeover, as was generally reported, which being discovered, many of them were
burnt to death for it, & the rest grievously punished. Anno 1252. they massacred
and crucified a Christian Child * at Wissinburgh. At(m)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 (n)Anno 1286. stole away, cruelly tormented, pricked with ponyards, drew
the blood, and impiously crucified a Christian Child called Wernerus, not far from
the Rhene in Germany, barbarously murthering him after sundry torments. (o)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 [p]Trent on Good-Friday, in the year 1475. tortured, whipped, pierced and
crucified to death a Christian child, about 13 years old, called Simeon, in
contempt of Christs passion and Christians, kneeding their Paschal unleavened bread
with his blood, which History is as large related by the Marginal Historians; for
which many of them were tortured, burnt slain, put to death, and others banished
the City: yet 6 years after *An. 1480. they again perpetrated the like wickedness
in crucifying and torturing a child at a Town called Motta near Friuli,[q] for
which 3 of them were carried prisoners to Venice, and there tortured and burnt to
ashes. 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.
Antonini Chron. p. 2, 3. f, 17. sect. 8. Mat. Par. Mr. Fox, and others record,

That the Jews in Paris & elsewhere, did every year steal some Christian child or
other brought up in the Kings Court, and 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 apprehended persevering 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 malice to Christ, that they would still persevere
therein, and act it over again upon every opportunity:
Which being so fully justified by these many particular presidents, proofs,
authorities, in several ages, places, sufficiently refutes *Menasseh Ben Israel his
bare-denial, and poor shifts to evade it, as false and scandalous. 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 dispersions, 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, extirpate
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 Wives, 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. Nicephorus Eccles. Hist. l. 14. c.
14. l. 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 Paraleip. p. 346. Cent. Magd. 4. c.
14, 15. and c. 3. ol. 85, 86. Cent. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13. c. 3.14.15. Mr.
Fox Acts and Monuments, vol. 1. p. 56. Munsteri Cosmogr. l. 3. c. 71. p. 482. l. 2.
c. 71. p. 310. l. 3. c. 55. p. 583.707. with sundry others. Upon this ground,
certain Christians on the contrary, out of an over-furious zeal, hae endeavoured
to extirpate them all from under Heaven, unlesse they would turn Christians. Anno.
1101. (o)
Emicho a German Earl, and the Inhabitants near the Rhine,
pillaged, plundered, banished, slew and destroyed all the Jews in those parts, wo
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 (o)Rudolphus a
Monk, out of a misguided bloody zeal, stirred up many thousands of people in France
and Germany, near the Rhine, 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 greatest enemies
of Christ. The seeds of which doctrine took such deep root in many Cities of France
and Germany, that in a tumultuous sedition and uproar, they slew most of the Jews
in those parts, but such who fled into fenced Cities and Castles, under the
protection of the Emperor Fred. the 1:
which bloody doctrine and 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 Christ 1298. (q) one Rindflaisch an Husbandman in Germany, openly
preached to the people;
That he was sent from heaven, and specially chosen by God to root out the Jews in
all places: And proclaimed, who ever will have the Christian Commonwealth to be
safe, let him follow me; Whereupon the people flocking to him in great multitudes,
and chusing him for their Captain, sought out the Jews in Wirtzburge, Nurinburgh,
Rotenburgh, Bambergh, Oenberge, 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
and women obstinately setting their own houses on fire, and burning both
themelves, wives, children, with their houses, housholdstuf and goods together,
that they might not fall into the Christians hands.
In
the year (r) 1349.
There being a great plague and mortality in Germany, the Jews were generally
accused for the chief Authors or increasers thereof, by poysoning all the Wells and
Fountains, to destroy all the Christians, and corrupting likewise some baptized
Jews, and other Christians with money and charms 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 and Bishops wills and commands, who neither could nor durst
withstand their violence) fell upon all the Jews in Bern, Friburgh, Agentine,
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 Rhine. All such who protected
any of the Jews for money (as some did) were so murmured against, and hated by the
people, that they were in great danger of their lives, which 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 add many other such tumults, uproars, occasioned by, and
massacres, burnings and destructions of them for their villanies in France, Spain,
Germany, and other parts, recorded
in Hermannus Schedel. Chron. f. 243, 248, 258, 271, 272. and Genebrardi Chronog. p.
461, 627, 660, 618, 688, 824, 830. Abraham Bzouus, Annal. Eccl. Tom. 15. Anno
1239. n. 9. Anno 1391. n. 8. Anno 1464. n. 44. An. 1491 n. 6.7. Cromerus de Rebus
Polonor. l. 25. with those forementonioned in England, and that of *Norlingen An.
1290. where many of them were slain by the Citizens, whom they had undone and
ruined. 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 (r) 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
perverted by their Society: Therefore we decree, that the Sons and Daughters of
those Jews, which are baptised, that they be not again involved in the errors of
their Parents, shall be seperated from their company, and placed with Christian men
and women fearing God, where they may be well instructed, and grow in faith and
Christian manners, and that the Jews believing Wives, shall be divorced and
separated from their Husbands, unless upon admonition they turn Christians.
The e was decreed by the * Council of Basil Sess. 20. and (s)nacted by the
Wisogothes Laws; lib. 12. Tit. 2.3. Yea (t) 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 ther continual conversation, and daily familiarity, might
easily incline the minds of simple people to their superstition and infideity. And
should
not those men, who pretend themelves far greater Zealots than the Goths,
Spaniards, or Pope, and the Popish Canonists (who decree the like upon the sme
reason) upon these very grounds much more oppose, prohibie their re-admission 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
dishonor, their own damnation, 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 Jeuites, (who derive both their Name and pedigree
from the Jews een from Iesui and his family of the Iesuits Num. 16.44., as some of
them affirm in prin,* though others from other grounds.) of Popish Priests and
Friers come over freely into England from Portugal, Spaine, Rome, Italy, Poland,
and othr 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, Supertition, 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 Glocestershre in his rink, where he would have ravished the Maid-
servant of the house, locking the door upon her, whies 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 pople in other places,
instead of being brought to Tybune 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 (t)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 Christians Citis, Countries, Kingdoms, and their
Synagogues burnt and destroyed, especially for their Infidelity, and other
forementioned Mildemeanors, Crimes, Vilanies. [u] About the year of Christ 430. at
the instigation of St. Cyil Bishop of Alexandria, and the Christians there, they
were expelled and banished that famous City, where they had long inhabited for
their insolences, & seditious conspiracies against the Christians. The [x]Emperor
Phocas, about the year 605. banished them out of the City of Antioch, for the
tumults they had there raised against the Christians and Government. The * 6
Council of Toledo Anno 686. c. 3. informs us, That King Chinrilla by the
inspiration of the most high God, inflamed with the ardor of Faith, utterly
extirpated the Infidelity, prevarications and superstitions of the Jews, neither
would he permit any one of them to live in his Realm, who would not become a
Christian: For which this Council highly commended him, rendered special thanks to
God for it, and withall enacted by the conent of the Nobles, that every King of
Spain in future times, before he should be installed and crowned King, should take
an Oath, That he would not suffer the Jews to violate the Christian Faith, and that
he would in no wise favour their infidelity, through any kind of negligene or
covetousnes, nor give entranc to any thing tending to the precipices of infidelity
& prevarication, &c. About the year of Christ, 615. they were banished out of
Jerusalem it self, by Heraclius the Emperour, as Zonaras, Tom. 3. in his life:
Paulus Diaconus, rerum Rom. l. 18. & Cent. Mag. 7. c. 4. storie, & near that age,
out of Arverna Bibl: Patr. Tom. 6. part. 2. p. 243. Venantii Fortun. l. 5. c. 5.
About Anno 616. [y] 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 Heraclius the Emperour; as Regno,
Chron. l. 1. & Cert. 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. About the year 1196. they [z] 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.[a]Philip Augustus King of France banished them all out
of France by several Edicts, Anno 1152. 1162. & 1182. for thee reasons:

Because they had divers times crucified children of Christians in Paris, and
elsewhere, 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 Churchmen in
cases of necessity, causing their little children ordinarily to drink wine and eat
sops out of them, yea to lay their excrements in them (as *Petrus Cluniancensis
records, in contempt of the Sacrament) and casting the silver Vessels, Crosses, and
guilded Books of the Gospel pawned to them, into a 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: pon
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) in
their behalf, and the proffers of great sums 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 [b]again
bannished 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 [c]Alsatia, and the Impeial 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 [d]Emicho, An. 1102. who then banished them thence. Ludovcus Duke of Bavaria,
about the year 1425. banished all the Jews out of his Territories, as Aeneas
Picolomineus in his Europae status sub Frederico, l. 3. c. 32. p. 79. assures us:
and that for conspiring against the Christians, &c. Procul ejicienda Gens mpia
finibus, quae in contumeliam Christi & in subversionem vergit Christianorum:
as*Abraham Bzovius writes. The Jews were banished out of the *Kingdome of Castle
by K. John the 2. about the year 1430. (e) 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 King John the 2.8. Duckets for every poll of them at
first, for their admission; which much augmented his Exchequer, 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 Rubeaqueses, Anno 1309. and 1338.
Munst. Cosm. l. 3. p. 547. * Their banishment out of Germany, Anno 1385. out of
Misnia and Thuringia Anno 1410. out of Wormes and Spires, Anno 1092. Munsteri Cosm.
l. 3. p. 582. Out of Prague, by Wratislans for hating and slaying the christians,
Geor. Bartholdus Pontanus Bohemiae Piae. l. 2. p. 20. Out of Berne, Anno 1287.
Munsteri Cosm. l. 3. p. 582. * Out of Trent, Anno 1475. for crucifying a child: And
out of *Rome it self, Anno 1508. by Pope Pius quintus, for their horrid extravagant
usuries, oppressions, combining with Theeves and Robbers, Forgeries, and ungodly
charmes in wooing of women to their lusts. 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 argument of
dishonest, private, filthy under-hand Bribes or Lucre, by which they usually scrue
themselves into those places, whence they have been exiled) transcends my shallow
capacity to comprehend, especially at this season, when we are so over-stored with
English, that some think of sending and planting Colonies in another world, whithet
these Gold-thirsty Jews may do well to transplant
themselves, if they be weary of their former habitation.
10. The forecited Christian Authors, Historians, old and new, much applaud and
magnifie those Christian Emperors, Kings, Magistrates, States, who have most
opposed, restrained, suppressed by(f)severest Laws, Edicts, the Jewish Synagogues,
Ceremonies, Superstitions, Rites, Abuses: and banished these Antichristian
Blasphemers and Enemies of Christ Jesus out of their Kingdoms and Territories,
especially for their Infidelity, and censured those who favoured them. And Matheus
Flacius Illericus, Johannis Wigandus, Andreas Corvinus, Thomas Holthuter, 4 famous
learned Protestant Historians and Divines, in their laborious, learned
Ecclesiastical centuries, as they every where do the like: So in their 12 Cent.
cap. 7. col. 1078, 1079. they pass this sharp censure against the Decrees of
(g)Pope Alexander the 3. and Clement the 3.

(prohibiting the Jews to build any new Synagogues where were none before, yet
tollerating them only to repair old ones where they were fallen down and defaced,
to use their rites in; But withall forbidding all christians under pain of
Excommunication, any communion with them, for fear of being seucd to their
Superstitions, &.) Denique ut extremamomanorum Paparum impadentiam et stupendam
impletatem videas, non pige iorum Decreta, pro blasphema in deum gente Iudaeorum
lata, adscribere; (ough some Popish Schoolmen, as Alexander Alensis, Summa
Theologiae pars 2. qu. 61 Aquinas. 2.2. quest. 10. Art. 9, 10, 11, 12. Scotus in l.
4. Sent. dist. 4. qu. 9. are not ashamed to justifie, Quod ne deterius quid
contingat, & aliquo modo bonum eliceatur, tollerandi sunt Judaei ritus suos
servare, to grafie their Popes herein, wch they likewise affirm of the iolatrous
Gentiles rites and worship, as well as of the Jews.) And Peter Heylin in his
Microcosme, p. 569, 570. writing, That the Jews having been put to divers fines and
ransoms, they are at last even thrust quite out of Europe also. They were
banished out of England by Edward the 1. Anno 1290. Out of France, Spain, Portugal,
Naples, and Sicil (by the Kings forecited) subjoyns by way of censure: Yet are they
found in great numbers in the Romish part oGermany and Poland, in most Cities of
Italy, especially Rome, where there are no lesse than 15000 or 20000 of them, and
also in the Popes country of Avignion. The reason why they are permitted to live
thus under our holy athers Nose, is forsooth, an expectation of their conversion,
which is a meer pretence, the reason being indeed the benefit hence arising to his
Holinesse coffers,* but the hopes of their converion is small, and the means
lesse, &c.
And therefore we cannot now re-admit them into England upon the self-same pretence,
and ground of gain; without incurring the like censures from Protestants and
Papists too; and bringing intollerable Scandal, Dishonour, Reproach, both on our
Nation and Religion, in these times of pretended highest Reformation; they being
the professed Enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who will not have him to rule over them, Luk. 19.27. and so odious to the [h] very
Turks themselves for crucifying Christ, that they oft use to say in detestation of
a thing, I would I might die a Jew. Neither will they permit a Jew to turn Turk,
unless he be first baptized.
11. Many of the wisest Heathen Law-givers, Politicians, States, have specially
prohibited

the introduction and habitation of foraigners amongst them. Hence [i]Lycurgus the
famous Legislator, and the Spartans by his Law and advice, expelled all foraigners
out of their city and country, lest by insinuating themselves amongst them, they
should teach their Citizens some ill, introduce foraign manners, & an ill
disordered kind of life; upon which ground they also prohibited their Citizens to
travel into foraign countries. Upon these grounds the Thebans & Apoloniatae (in
imitation of the Spartans) banished all foraigners out of their City, as Aelian
Var. Hist. l. 13. c, 16. Alexander ab Alex. l. 4. c. 10 record.
Plato
the Philosopher Dialogo 12. de Legumlatione, though he permits foraigners by way of
study, trade, travel, and embassie to come into his city and Republike under
certain Laws, and Rules, yet he totally secludes them from inhabiting therein, or
to trade, without strict Laws to prevent their danger, upon this ground; Solet enim
civitatum in commerciis permixtio, varios mores civitatibus ammiscere, dum externi
externis vicissim novationes inducunt; quae res civitatibus, per rectas leges ben
institutis maximum deirimentum affert.*Aristotle observes, That the bringing in of
foraigners is the principal cause of seditions, tumults,,
Qui inquilinas aut advenas recipiunt in civitatem, Hi fere omnes aut certe plurimi
seditionibus conflictantur.(k)
Dr. Jo. Case gives the reason of it.
Nam ut nihil citius corpus humanum inficit, quam pestilentium vaporum malis
humoribus copulatio; ita nihil velocius corrumpit Civitatem, quam peregrinorum
admissio, in qua contagio & venenum latet.
And hereupon he raiseth this question from Aristotles Text;
Utrum periculosa sit in Rempublicam peregrinorum admissio? And thus resolves it. It
is perillous to take Snakes into the bosom, and Foraigners into the Commonweal; for
as they being refreshed with heat do bite and sting: So these being enfranchised
destroy the Republike. To prove this by arguments, we may consider, that every
Nation hath its proper ceremonies which they bring along with them, and do not
change with the climat when they come into another Countrey; Wherefore there is
great danger, lest by receiving strangers the ancient manners and Laws should be
changed into new and foraign. Now what sooner begets sedition than alteration of
Laws and Customes?
(as we may see even in sundry Scripture examples, which he remembers not, and of
the Jews especially Acts 14.2. to 7.16. c. 16.19. to 25. c. 18.5, 6, 7.17, 18, 19.
c. 17.12. to 18. c. 19.24. to 41. c. 21.27 to 40. c. 22.22. &c. c. 23, & 24, & 25.)
What therefore is more perillous than the admission of Foraigners into our
Commonwealth? Moreover wherefore
hath Nature instructed like to associate together with like, if it should draw men
of strange and different manners into a Republike? Nature will not that sheep
should be associted with wolves, neither wills Prudence that Natives should be
coupled with Foraigners; For Philosophy perswades this, that contraries cannot
dwell in the same place, but strangrs for the most part are Enemies to the
Citizens with whom they converse. Adde to this, that as Locusis are to the Corn, so
are Foraigners to the Republike, for as they doe wast and consume the grain of
Corn, so these devour the fruit of the Commonwealth; for although they are branches
of the same plant, yet they suck not wholsom juyce, but poyson from the root,
wherewith at length the whoe plant being infected, perisheth. This he proves by
several examples out of* Aristotle himself, by the Trezenii, Zanclei, Sybarites,
Bysantii, Antissiaei, Apoloniatae, Chii, Syracusani, Amphipolitae, who by receiving
strangers into their cities and countries were all much infested, some of them
quite supplanted and ejected by them, the rest enforced to expel them by force of
arms. Then he subjoyneth, That the strangers admitted among Gods own people, proved
briars and thorns unto them; and Solomon himself by many strange women fell into
Idolatry; concluding thus, The Spaniards in my opinion did not unjustly banish the
seditious Iews out of their Coasts: propius non accedo, ed Christum oro, ne
peregrinorum turba immanis turbo in civitate fiat.
As these Grecians in ancient times prohibited the introduction of strangers amongst
them, for the forementioned reasons, so likewise did some of the wisest Romans:
Pennus in ancient times, and Papius after him (as (l)Cicero relates) Peregrinos
rbibus prohibent, eosque exterminant; which although he thus censures as an
inhumanity, suver urbis prohibere peregrinos, san inhumanum est; Yet he intends
it only of excluding strangers from all trading and commerce, not from
cohabitation, as Denizens, from which he holds it just to debarre them, there being
a
special Law then in force for that purpose, which he thus expresseth: Nam esse pro
cive qui civis non sit, RECTUM EST NON LICERE: QUAM LEGEM TULERUNT SAPIENTISSIMI
CONSULES, Crassus & Scaevola. Hence Claudius the Emperour banished the Jews out of
Rome, Acts 18.2 and Suetonius in his life. And the mischief of admitting
forraigners is largely argued in (m)Cornelius Tacitus, who were after his time
banished out of Rome, as (n)Coelius Rhodigmus relates out of Ammianus Marcelinus;
So the (o)Carthaginians, Solthians, Scythotauri, Gamphasantes, Seres, Indians,
Aegyptians in some places; the Epidauri, & Athenians also excluded foraigners their
country, company & conversation; Ne cives longo usu dissimiles mores imbuerent, &
in alienas leges ritusque transirent, as Alex. ab Alexandro, Gen. Dierum l. 4. c.
10. and Bomus de Mor. Gentium record. Yea we read of the (p)Tartars and most
politick Inhabitants of China, at this day,
that they will admit no strangers into their Countries, so much as to travel or
traffick for fear of discerning their secrets, and corrupting their manners, and
those few they admit by special licence to enter into their Country, they will by
no means suffer to return thence, nor permit Merchants and Marriners there trading
to walk abroad publikely in their Cities and Countries, nor to lodge on land, but
only in their ships.
And to come nearer home, our Kings heretofore upon the grievous complaint of the
Nobility, Gentry, People, have frequently banished all strangers out of England, as
the greatest pests, inconveniences and grievances to the Natives.
Thus in the reign (of (a)) King Edward the Confessor, Anno 1052, All the Normans,
except two or three were banished our of England for giving ill counsel to the
King, and incensing him against the English, by agreement both of the King and
Parliament. So King (b)Henry the 2. in the 1 year of his reign, Anno Dom. 1154. or
in the second year of his reign as others write, commanded all strangers to avoid
out of the Realm, by Proclamation, by a certain day
under great penalty, especially the Flemings and Souldiers, who committed all kinds
of mischief, under pretence of a liberty permitted to Souldiers by the Law of arms
in time of war. In the year 1220. (c) King Hen. the 3. by his Proclamation
commanded all strangers, to avoid the land by Michaelmas next following, except
such as came with Merchandize to make sale of their wares under the Kings safe
conduct: After which the (d)Poctouvines coming into England in great number,
obtaining great offices about the King, miscounselling, seducing and encensing him
against the English Nobility, and ingrossing the wealth of the Kingdom into their
hands, were assaulted, plundered, and many of them inforced to retire out of
England by the Barons in the year 1258. And the next year after they were all
banished out of England by Edict of Parliament. After which they returning, and
oppressing the Realm, were again expulsed and exiled by the Barons Anno 1260. So in
the (e) Parliament of 4 Ed. 2. Anno 1311. It was ordained by the Archbishops,
Bishops, Earls, and all the Commons in Parliament, amongst other things, That the
King should banish all Foraigners out of his Court and Kingdom, as his Father had
commanded him; which the King obliged himself by Oath to performe:
And thereupon banished his own Minion Pierce Gaveston into Ireland. Which practices
and proceeding of all these recited Nations and our Ancestors, being if not
grounded on, yet at least warranted by Gods own forcited Precepts to the
Israelites, & being warranted by the Jews own practise, who had no dealings with
the Samaritans, John 4.9. and the Samaritans reciprocal carriage towards the Iews,
whom they would neither lodge nor entertain, Lu. 9.51, 52, 53. Why we should not
upon this account seclude those alien Jews, so different from us both in manners,
customs, Laws, Religion, and obeying not the Laws of our Saviour Christ Jesus, it
being not for the Kings or the Kingdoms profit to suffer them, (as Haman, Esther
3.8. once said of them in another case) I referre it to all wise
Statesmen to resolve, since it may be truly said of such unwelcom guests.
Turpius ejicitur qum non admittitur hospes.
Neither will this contradict that Gospel precept, Heb. 13.2. Be not forgetfull to
entertain strangers: or Deutr. 10.18.19. c. 23.7 Mat. 25.35, 43. which extend only
to Christian hospitality, liberality, and pity towards private distressed exiles,
travellers, and other strangers, coming to lodge or sojourn with us for a short
season into our houses or country, upon extraordinary or just occasions especially
such who stand in need of our releif,, and are of the Houshold of Fath, as is
clear by the Texts themselves, compared with Rom. 12.13. 1 Pet. 4.9.3. Iohn 5. Gal.
6.10. not to Infidels Jews, Pagans, or who are in no such absolute necessity nor
stand in need of our charity or reception, nor yet to the reception of any forraign
Nation or Colony into our Island,* to cohabit perpetually with us (the only point
in question) which the Scripture no where commands nor intends, but disallows in
the aforecited Texts, & Neh. 9.2. c. 13.30. And these Scripture expressions, Prov.
5.10. Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth. Isay 1, 7. your lands strangers
devour in your presence, and it is desolate as overthrown by strangers. Lam. 5.2.
Our inheritance is turned unto strangers, our Houses to aliens. Hosea 7.9.
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not; sufficiently manifest
both the illegallity, folly and sad consequences of our receiving Jews and other
strangers in such a nature, of which our Ancestors had sufficient experience in the
Jews themselves, enforcing them for ever to exile them hence: who have places
enough in many other parts of the world where they now inhabit in peace and plenty,
and enjoy their Merchandizes and other franchies, together with their Schools and
Synagogues, as Benjamin the Sonne of Ionas a Jew records at large in his
Peregrination: together with Mr. Samuel Purchas in his Pilgrims, l. 9. c. 5. And
Menasseh Ben-Israel him self confesseth in his Epistle Dedicatory and Addresses,
where thus he writes; Our Nation at the present is spread
all about, and hath its seat and dwelling in the most flourishing parts of all the
Kingdoms and Countries of the world, as well in America, as in the other three
parts, (which he prosecutes more at large, p. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. boasting of
their extraordinary wealth, Offices, Power and Priviledges in other places.) And
therefore this only remains in my judgement, Before the Messia come and Restore our
Nation that first we must have our seat here kewise: therefore having so much
Elbow-room already throughout the world, their reception here will be no act of
piety or charity in us, neither do they presse it as such; but an act of the
highest impiety, they now insisting on it as a necessary preparative to the coming
of thir long expected false Messia, to restore them to their temporal Kingdom
again, and Fathers inheritance, as he expresly writes.

These general Reasons against the Jews readmission premised, which I hope will
satisfie most men, I shall conclude with some particular Reasons drawn from late
published Declarations, of our Grandees, which I conceive will best satisfie them
of any other: and for this end, (I hope without any just offence, or Scandalum
magnatum) I shall crave leave to presse them home in this common cause, for the
defence of the Glory, Honor, Scepter, Gospel, Kingdome of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the only[q]Potentate, the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, the King of Kings, and
Lord of Lords, the head of all principality and power, and God over all blessed for
ever, before whose feet all other subordinate Kings and Potentates whatsoever ought
to[r]prostrate, not only their persons, but Crowns, and most peremptory Royall
Wills and Edicts too; for whose pleasure, honor and glory alone, all things and
powers likewise both are and were created: in whose cause we must be mot [s]bold
and zealous, not fearing the faces of any Mortals.

My 1. Reason shall be drawn from the very words of the Declaration of 21. Novemb.
1655. inviting the people of this commonwealth to a day of solemn Fasting and
Humliation, on the 6. of December last (a*day of trouble and of rebuke,
of blasphemy, & provocation, in respect of the violence acted on it that time seven
years, when the children were come to the birth, and there was no strength to bring
forth, but only to obstruct and pull out the Members, to prevent out peace and
settlement.) The principal cause whereof they Declare to be; The abominable
Blasphemies vented and spreading of late, through the Apostacy of, and the abuse of
Liberty by many professing Religion. And to joyn with them in solemn and earnest
supplications to the throne of Grace; That the Lord will disappoint the designs of
those, that labour to lift themselves up against the interest of Christ and his
people: That he will rebuke the foresaid Evils, and give his people to know the
things that belong to their Peace, that so we may with one heart and shoulder serve
the Lord, both theirs and ours. The Jews of all other Nations in the world, are the
greatest venters, spreaders of abominable *Blasphemies against our Saviour and the
Gospel; the greatest Apostates from God and abusers of Liberty of any professing
Religion; The greatest designers, plotters and lifters up of themselves against the
interest of Christ and his people; as the Premises undeniably evidence: And their
introduction amongst us at this season, when the generality of the people, and
professors of Religion likewise are so bent to Apostacy, and all kind of Errors, of
Novelties in Religion, will no ways allay, but most certainly increase the venting
and spreading of abominable Blasphemies amongst us, multiply the Apostacies of, and
abuse of liberty by the professors of Religion, and make thousands in probability
turn Apostate Jews, instead of converting any of the Jews to Christianity. It will
not disappoint, but most of all advance the designes of those that labour to lift
up themselves against the interest of Jesus Christ and his people; this being (as
some justly fear) the Jews very end and plot in pressing now to be received amongst
us, to seduce us unto Judaism, to which many are now inclined; and to deny our
Saviour Christ in words, as too many have[t]denied him in their works, and some in
their opinions of late years. It will not rebuke, but
foment the foresaid Evils; obstruct Gods people both from knowing and pursuing the
things that concern their peace; and instead of enabling them with one hart and
shoulder to serve the Lord, divide them into more Sects and Schisms, than formerly,
and set up Judaism to affront Christianity with open face, as 2 Pet. 2.1. Jude 3.4.
&c. Tit. 1.10.11. 1 Joh. 4.3. 2 Joh. 7 resol & so multiply the late Rebukes and
Judgements of God upon the Nation. Therfore their re-admission into England after
such a Solmn Declaration, and Day of Humiliation as this (and some others formerly
prescribed, observed through the Nation, for the late monstrous growth and
spreading of Errors and Blasphemies amongst us,) if resolved and effected, wil be
reputed by God and Men, A most palpable violation, yea contradiction of this
Declaration and Humilation; a mot hypocritical, Atheistical mocking of God himself
to his face; a most prophane abuse, and perersion of this Solemn Fast and
Humiliation; a frustration of all the prayers, hopes of most religious people
thereon, who observed it for far other prescribed ends, and an high Provocation of
Gods severest wrath against the perverters of it, to this very end, to introduce
the long-since banished Jews, the debate whereof was proposed immediately before,
and began the very next day after it.

My 2. Reason shall be deduced from the Declaration of the 24 Novemb. 1655. in order
to the securing of the peace of the Commonwealth; Declaring it necessary to use all
good means to secure the Peace of the Nation, and prevent future troubles within
the same. The bringing in of the Jews at this season, when the people are o
generally divided, discontented, and declare (for ought I can learn) their highest,
unanimous dislike, and detestation of it, is the most probable means to disturb the
peace of the Nation, and to engender future new troubles, Tumults within it; the
generality of the people in England, and in other Countries, having in former *
ages frequently rien up in armes against them, massacred, burnt nd deroyed
them, notwithstanding their Kings and Magirte
Proclamations and Edicts to the contrary. And the [u] Jews themselves in all ages
having been principle firebrands of sedition both in their own Land, and all places
where they have been dspersed, as the Texts and Authors in the 3. and 7. premised
reasons, with the foregoing Relations out of our English Historians attest.
Therefore their re-admission into England, (especially in this unquiet season) must
needs be diametrically contrary to the scope of this Declaration; and neither in
policy nor prudence to be resolved on, but utterly rejected.

My 3d. reason shall be grounded on this clause of that Declaration: That no person
who hath or shall be sequestred, or eected for Delinquency, or being in actual
arms for the late King against the thn Parliament, or for Charis Stuart his Son,
&c. out of any Benefice, School, or Colledge, shall from and after the 1. day of
December, be kept as a Chaplain or School-master in any squestred persons house;
Nor after the 1. day of January, keep any School publike or private; Nor preach in
any publike place, or private meetng of any other persons than those of his own
family; No shall admnister Baptism, or the Lords Supper, or Marry, &c. upon pain
that every person so offending in any of the premisses shl be proceeded against,
as by Orders (therin mentioned) is provided: prescribing 3 months imprisonment for
the 1.6 months for the 2d, and banishmnt for the 3d Offence, as I am informd. If
native freeborn Engishmen formerly ejected out of any Benefice, Colledge or
School, only for their old delinquency in adhering to the lte King and Prince
(though according to their Oaths, duties and dictate of their consciences) after
some years publike liberty to preach, Articles of Agreement confirmed by the Army
and both Houses, and that which some call, An Act of Oblivion, and future
indempnity, though orthodox in Doctrine, unblamable in conersation, and eminent in
learning, without any particular impeachment, hearing, conviction of any new
Delinquency or midemeanors whatsoever, must not have so much liberty as to keep
any School, or preach Gods Word in publike or private, or to be entertained
in formerly sequestred Englishmens huses, under the foresaid penalties at this
season, only in Order to the Nations peace: Then much lesse ought Jws, meer
aliens, who always have been, and still are ofessed Enemies in arms against the
Person, Kingdom, Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (which the late Parliamen by
their solemn Protestation, Vow and Covenant, engged by all good means to dfend
and advance) to be entrtained by any Englih Christians or publikely or privaely
to teach, preach, spread, propagate their Jewish Doctrines, Errors and aboished
Ceremonies in our Island, but to be banished for ever from amongst us, if any o
them should pubikely or privately attempt to creep in amongst us; Else not ony
all sequestred Delinquents, but the whole Engish Nation and world too, will cry
out and say, (x) the faithfull loyal Chaplains, Srvants, followers, Friends of the
late K. and Pr. though English Nativs, Freemen, ye our felow brethren Members in
Christ are more execrable to, more injuriously, unchristianly, uncharitably dealt
with by their Fellow English Christians in present power, only for their loyalty
and conscientious adhering to their late temporal King and Prince, than the very
alien Jews, who both denied, rejected, crucified the Lord Jesus Christ, their own
temoral Soveraign, who[y]was born King of the Iews, and had this very title
inscribed on his Crosse; and their & our only spiritual King and Saviour, whose
Honour, Power, Kingdom, Gospel, we avowedly profess to adance; & that they enjoy
lesse Christian or civil liberty for themselves, their wives and families
necessarie subsistance, (for whom they * must provide, unless worse than Infidels)
now in their Native country then the Jews, where they must neithr teach nor preach
Christ Jesus to any in publique or private, though Gods word and their function,
condition, enoyn,*necessitate them to do both, when as these admitted Jews may
(and all other kind of Sectaries do) both teach and preach against him too in
publick and privat. Which restraints on these English Royalists on the one hand,
and indulged liberty to the alien Jew *Antichrsts on the other, if now put in
execution, I humbly refrre it to the saddest confiderations and conscientious
meditations of all in power to resolve themselves, how scandaous and odious it
will prove both to God and all good men: how much it will resemble the proceedings,
not only of the malicious Jews themselves against the Apostles & Ministers of
Christ, recorded, Acts 4.1. to 24. c. 5.24. to 32.1 Thess. 2.14, 15, 16. & of
beheaded (z)Canterbury, againt Mr. Workman of Glocester, whom he first prohibited
from preaching, then from teaching School and practising Physick, to suport
himself and his family, whereby he was reduced to great extremity; But likewise of
that detestable Apostat Emperour(a) Julian, who out of his desperate malice to
Christ, to undermine and extipate Christian Religon without shedding the bloud of
Christians, first shewed himself a most zealous Christian professor, reducing the
Othodox Bishops, Ministers, christians, whom the persecuting Arian Emperour
Constantius had exiled, and restoring them to their confiscated Bishopricks, to
ingratiate himself with the people; but not long after turning Apostat, he took
away all the priviledges, honours, revenues of the Clergy, setled on them by
Constantine, with the Laws for their establishment, shut up the Churches and
Schools of the Christians, prohibiting them to preach or teach in publike or
private, or to set their Children to School, unless they would renounce their
former Religion, and turn Pagans; impoverished, oppressed the Christians with
extraordinary doubled Taxes, from which the Pagans were exempted, and cast many of
them into prison. But on the contrary at the same time, he shewed extraordinary
favour and affection towards the Iews, sent for the chiefest of them to his Court,
where he dicoursed with them, writing a special Letter to them, wherein the desired
their prayers for him; granted them free exercise of their Jewish ceremonies, and
sacrifices long discontinud, encouraged and assisted them with monies out of his
publike Treasury to re-edifie the Temple at Jerusalem, to revive & set up all their
Jewish Sacrifices and customes there formerly used, whereupon they began to build
it,
till miraculously interrupted therein; and all to vex and undermine the Christians.
By which indulged Liberty, the Jews then grew so insolent against the Christians
that they greivously persecuted divers of them, destroyed and burne down some of
their Churches, and threatned to persecute them worse than the Pagan Romans had
done; as the Marginall Historians record more at large. The imitation of whose
proceedings now in any degree in these particulars, what harsh consructions and
sad events they may produce, I refer to all wise Christian States-men seriously to
ponder, for their own and our Religions honor and Security.

My 4. argument is this, The Orders for securing the peace of the Nation, which the
Declaration relates to; [a]contrary to all the Statutes, Acts, Resolutions of our
Parliaments and Law-books forecited, upon another occasion) authorize the Major
Generals and Commissioners named in them. To banish and send into Foraign parts and
Plantations, all persons of the royal party formerly in arms, of no estate, and
living loosly, and all persons whatsoever that shall appear by their words or
actions to adhere to the party of the late King or his Son, & to be dangerous
Enemies to the peace of the Commonwealth; even without and before any Legal
indictment, tryal, conviction of any particular crime, for which a Sentence of
Banishment is prescribed by our Laws: or any Judgement or Act of Parliament
inflicting this heavy Punishment upon them, far worse to many than death it self.
Now I shall earnestly intreat in the name and fear of God, all those whom it most
concernes, to consider and determine in their own retired thoughts, how unjust, un-
righteous, unreasonable, unchristian and more then * brutish, it will seem to all
Freeborn English men, and conscientious christians, both at home and abroad, and
what great scandals it may bring, both upon our Nation, Government, and Religion it
self, in this manner, (and on this old account alone) to banish these christian
English Freemen out of their Native country, both from their Wives, children,
Kinred, and Gods own publike Ordinances; and at the self-same time to call in
foraign Infidel Jews, (greatest Enemies to Christ himself and Christians, and in
that respect more dangerous to the peace and welfare of the Nation than thoe thus
to be banished) to supply their places, even against an express old Judgement, and
Edict of the whole Kingdom in Parliament, for their perpetual exile. What a sad
pernicious * president it may prove in future ages, (especially to the Authors of
it and their posterities by divine retalliation, as the *Athenian Ostracisme did to
Clisthenes who invented it & was the first exiled by it.) upon eery new revolution
to banish all English freemen of a contrary, party, and call in Forraigners in
their rooms: Whether it will not revive that ancient complaint of*Petrus
Cluntacensis. Lex nam vetusta sed ver diabolca ab ipsis Christianis Principibus
processit, &c. Manet inultum scelus detestabile in Judaeo, quod exilio vel horrenda
morte suspendit punitur in Christiano. Pinguescit inde & deliciis afflut Iudaeus,
unde laqueo suspendtur Christianus? And whether upon consideration of this and the
precedent reasons deduced from these Declarations, and all the premises, they ought
not peremptorily to conclude against the Jews present and future re-admission into
England?

I shall close up all with an Answer to the two principal Allegations for their
reception into our Realm.

1. The main and ony consciencious Argument for their introduction, is this; That
it may be a very probable hopefull means of the general calling and conversion of
the Iewish Nation to the Christ an Faith, which hath been so long prayed for and
expected by Christians, and seems now approaching; which their seclusion from us
may much obstruct.

Not to enter into any large debate of this conversion of the Iews, wherein learned
[b]Orthodox Divines and Writers, are much divided. I say, 1. That I could never yet
be satisfied, that there shall be such a general call and
conversion of the whole or major part of the Nation of the Jews, as some expect,
but only of every smal electremnant of them, The [c] forecited Texts, with Is.
30.8, 9, 10, 11. Now go write it before them in a Table, and note it in a book,
that it may be for the time to come FOR EVER and EVER, That this is a rebellious
people, children that will not hear the Law of the Lord, which say to the Seers see
not, and to the Prophets, prophesie not unto us right things, &c. cause the holy
one of Israel to depart from before us. Luk. 20.16, 17, 18. Mat. 21.41, 42, 43, 44,
45, John 1.11.12. Rom. 9.27.26.33. c. 11.2, 5, 7, 8. contradicting such a general
conversion of them, & that of 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 [d]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[e]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, Indians, & all other unconverted Gentile
Nations with their Religions into England, & first convert them to the Christian
faith, before we bring in the Iews, whose conversion is to succeed theirs, & the
Gentiles fullness: 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[e]Old and[f]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 [g]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 [h]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 English, as he hath done[i]som few of them in al ages
as Hieron: a fide, and Petrus Alphonsus, Lyra, Tremel. 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[k]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 Jerusalem 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 forsake 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 fitting penalties.
Provided, the Diocesans and Preachers 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. 6. If the
observation of learned[m]Paraeus be true, that the over flowing 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, heathenish, 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 Hestia 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 sundry late eminent Professors, have caused many English Christians to
turn Antiscripturists, Seekers, Atheists, and like the Iews, to repute Christ and
Christianity meer Fables. 7ly. Most of the Iews, who since their dispersion have
been baptized, and turned Christians in any age or place, have done it either out
of fear, to save their lives, or estates, when endangered by poular tumults, or
judgments of death denounced against them for their Crimes; or for fear of
banishment, or by coercion of penal Laws, not cordially and sincerely, they still
playing the Jews in private
upon every occasion, and renouncing their baptism and christianity at last, either
before or at their deaths, as our own [n] forecited Historians; Synodus Nicaena 2
Can 8. Surius concil. Tom, 3. p. 193. the 4th Council of Toledo, cap. 58, 59,
62.63. Iustiniani Codicis l. 1. Tit. 10. de Apstates Io, Gregorius Teronersis,
lib. 6. Bibl. Patrum. m. 6. pars 2. p. 467. Leges Wisigethorum, lib. 12. Tit. 23
Vincersius Beluacensis Spec. Hist. l. 29. c. 25. Roderius Teltanus, de rebus
Hisp. l. 2. c. 17. Avertins, Annal. Boiorum l. 5. p. 468: Abbas Uspergensis Chron.
p. 227.228. and[o]other authors attest. Of which we have this late memorable
History recorded by Munster in his Cosmography, l. 2. c. 19. f. 72, 73. There being
no lesse than one hndred twenty four thousand Jews banished out of Spain, Anno
1492. leaving all their gold, jewels, houses behind them, and paying two duckets a
poll to the King for their transportation into Portugal; some of them there
seemingly turned Christians, and were baptized, but yet secretly practised their
Judaical rites, being Christians only in shew, but not in heart, observing the
Passeover, and eating flesh with the Iewes: Upon the discovery hereof, there arose
a great tumult of the people against them in Lisbon, the people complaining thereof
to the King, Anno 1506. Whereupon the King commanded 16 of them to be imprisoned,
and at last dismissed them without other punishment. Upon this the Citizens
conspiring again the King and Governour, raised a commtion against these Iews
and false Christians, slaying all those false converted new Iews they could find
throughout the City, to the number of six hundred, whom they likewise burnt; which
example spreading into the Country, there were slain in the City and Country of
these false Iewish, converts, to the number of 1630: which the King hearing of,
being then absent, he was so incersed against the Iews, that he imprisoned very
many of them, whereof some were burned, others beheaded, others hanged on Gibbets,
and all the rest spoiled of their goods, then expelled and banished the Kingdom, A
sad judgement on them for their Hypocritical
conversion; and such converts mostly we are like to find them, and none other.
Whereupon the 2 Council of Nice, Canon. 3. decreed, That no Iews should be admitted
suddenly into the Christian Church, nor baptized, unlesse they publikely certified,
that they were converted, out of a pure sincere faith, with all their heart, and
utterly renounced their judaical rites. And the Council of gatha Can. 34. decreed,
That the Iews who desired to turn Christians should remain for 8 moneths space
amongst the Catechimeni, for trial of the sincerity of their conversion before they
were baptized, upon this ground, because they frequently returned to their
infidelity & vomit again Judaei qui eorum perfidia FREQUENTER ad vomitum reddit.
Which Alexander Alensis summa Theolog. pars 2. qu. 161. approves. 7ly. If any
private Iews out of meer conscience or sincere desires of being converted to the
Christian faith, shall upon that account alone desire admission into England, to be
instructed by our English Divines, I suppose no English Christians will oppose, but
further their desires herein, and contribute both their prayers and best endeavors
for their conversion, and if ther be cause, admit them also into our Churches
Communion upon real testimonies of the truth of conversion in, and work of grace
upon them; which is as much as they can desire at our hands; But to admit whole
multitudes and Colonies of infidel Iews at once into our Nation, who neither desire
nor pretend conversion to Christianity, (but the quite contrary) together with the
free use of their Iewish Synagogues, Rites, Ceremonies, (which they strongly insist
upon) to establish their Judaism, make way for their long expected Messia his
comming, increase their wealth and traffique, and enable them to recover their
ancient Country and Kingdome again, the only things they now aim at as Menasseh Ben
Israels printed addresses proclaims to all the World, is such an Impious,
Unchristian, Antichristia dangerous president (glossed over only with a
possibility of their future conversion) as no sincere English Christians can
approve of, nor the Iews themselves desire: For as the Iews by[p]Gods own Laws, and
their own Iewish Rabbies precepts, neither might, nor yet would permit any Heathen
Gentiles heretofore to dwell among them, nor to set up any Altars, Images, Idols,
Groves, or exercise any Idolatrous worship amongst them, or to blaspheme, reproach
their God or Religion, under pain of death, if they transgressed therein; There
being the self same Law of God in these things both to Gentiles, & Iews: And like
as they afterwards would not permit the Apostles and Christians in Ierusalem, or
any other Cities, for to preach the Gospel, and exercise the Christian Religion
freely, but raised up present tumults against and persecuted and cast them out
thence, as 1 Thes. 2.14, 15, 17. the whole History of the Acts, and premises
abundantly testifie: So by the very self same justice and equity, they can neither
now demand nor expect that we, or any Christian Realm or State should tollerate or
connive at, much lesse openly countenance and protect them in the publick or
private exercise of their Iudaisme, or Iewish Rites, and Blaspemies against our
crucified Saviour, and his Gospel: All then that English Christians can do for
them, is to(q)desire, and pray for the conversion of all Gods elect amongst them in
his due time, by such means as he shall think meetest, and to instruct them in the
faith, by learned Ministers sent to them, if they desire it; but not to admit them
(and perchance many disguised Iesuits, Papists and Friars with them) promiscuously
into our Nation; to undermine our Church and Religion, and undo many thousand
Souls, it being our duty, * as to give no just offence to the Iew, so neither to
the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God, whom their admission amongst us, especially
upon Manasseth Ben-Israels motives and addresses, (tending nothing at all to Piety
or their converversion,) but worldly gains and obstinate perseverance in their
Jewish Antichristian Rites and Superstitions will
most justly offend. Lastly those Popes & Popish Princes, who have hertofore
admitted any Iews to cohabit amongst them have done it under these several cautions
and limitations prescribed to them by their *Laws, Councils, Canons, Decrees,
Divines and Canonists. 1. That they should build no new Synagogues, nor repair any
old oes qute demolished. 2. Tht where there were old Synagogues formerly used by
them standing; they should only repair, but not enlarge or build them higher than
before, nor extraordinarily adorn them. 3. That they should not stir out of their
doors on good Friday, nor open their doors, windows, shops, or do any servile work
on the Lords days or other solemn Christian Festivals. 4. That they shall utter no
blasphemous words, speeches against God, Christ, Christians, or Christian Religion,
nor manifest their open contempt of them by gestures or actions, under pain of
pecuniary, corporal, and capital punishments, according to the quality of the
offence. Yea King Eringius Leges Wisigothorum, l. 2. Tit. 3. c. 3.4.7. and 12.
Council of Toledo c. 9. prohibited the Jews the use of circumcision, the
observation of their Jewish Passeovers, Sabbaths, differences of meats, and other
Jewish Rites under pain of whipping, confiscation of goods, losse of Noses,
Genitals, Banishment, 5. That they shall be admitted to no degress of learning,
honour, dignity, office or preferment whatsoever in state or Church, because it is
most absurd and unjust, that any blasphemer of Christ, should exercise any power or
authority over Christians in any Christian State. 6. That * they should neither eat
nor drink, nor have any dayly familiarity or communion with Christians, nor
entertain any Christian man or woman in or out of their houses, either as a
Servant, or Nurse to their Children, or otherwise, nor yet administer physick to
any
Christian in his sicknesse, lest any simple Christians should be seduced by them to
Judaisme by these means. 7. That all Iews both males and females should always wear
a specicial*badge or sign in all places upon their outward Garments or heads,
whereby they might be distinguished from Cristians, and known by all men to be
Iews, to avoid commixtion and communion between them and Christians which otherwise
would happen. 8. That they should be disabled to bear witnesse, or give in any
legal testimony against Christians, or to purchase any advowson or Ecclesiastical
preferment, or to bequeath any legacy to the Nation or Corporation of the Iews, or
to exercise usury amongst them. 9. That they should be subject both to the
Ecclesiastical & Temporal Courts and Iudges for all offences properly punishable by
them which they should commit. 10. That they should pay all predial and personal
Tithes to the Christian Ministers where they lived. 11. That though they should not
be compelled to be baptized or turn Christians against their will, yet they should
at certain times*be all constrained to come to the Sermons of such Christian
Priests and Ministers as were appointed to instruct them in the Christian faith,
and to preach unto them to convert them. 12. That their Servants and Children being
Iews; when once baptized and turned Christians, should no more cohabit with, nor be
under their power. 13. That upon their conversion to Christianity, all their goods
and mony gotten by usury and cheating should be distributed to pious uses, and the
rest only retained for their proper use and livelyhood. 14 That if any of them
after their baptisme apostatized and turned Iewes again, or fell into Heresie, they
should be proceeded against and burned, executed as Apostates, and Hereticks. 15.
That no Christians should communicate with them in any kind, except in buying and
selling, nor cohabit with, serve them as a Nurse or Servant, under pain of
excommunication, Yet notwithstanding all these restrictions and cautions, we read
of few Iews really converted by them, and that the Iews have (r)perverted and
seduced sundry Christians to
Iudaisme, and made them professed Iews; perswaded other Christians to observe
Mosaical ceremonies, besides Baptism, whereby they made a confused Chaos of
Religion; yea they corrupted Michael Balbus the Emperor so far, that he commanded
Christians to fast on their Sabbath, and made him as it were a sink of Sects, as
Zonaras and others record; And Frederic. & Isabella banished them out of Spain upon
this ground, that they induced many of the Nobles in Andaluzia to become Jews, as
Manasseh Ben-Israel himself acknowledged, p. 15.25. Yea, Sedechias the Iewish
Physician(s) poysoned the Emperor Charles the Bald his body, as well as others in
that age and after poysoned other Christians souls. What mischiefs then they may
doe to mens bodies in England, by poysoning of them, (as they did the(t)English
Barons heretofore, and Dr. Lopez a Iew, bribed by the Spaniard would have poysoned
*Queen Elizabeth of late whom he professed, he loved as well as he did Iesus Christ
himself) and what desperate venom they may infuse into their souls by their Iewish
Doctrines, Synagogues, and Antichristian Ceremonies, if admitted without, such or
upon these restrictions, or any other, let all prudent Christians resolve:
Since(u)Pope Innocent the 3. himself, and (x)Cardinal Hostiensis, with other Popish
Canonists, who have tolerated them, give us this account of their requital for it,
in positive terms. Iudaei ingrati, pro gratia reddunt contumeliam, pro
familiaritate contemptum, impendentes nobis illam retributionem, quam juxta vulgare
proverbium, MVS IN PERA, SERPENS IN GREMIO, IGNIS IN SINV, suis consueverunt
Hospitibus exhihere, Nam sunt quidam (quod nefandum est dicere) Nutrices
Christianas habentes, non permittunt lactare filios cum corpus Christi sumpserunt,
nisi prius per triduum lac effuderint in latrinam, (quasi intelligunt, quod corpus
Christi incorporetur, & ad secessum descendat.) & alia inaudita committunt, &
detestbilia, quae a fidelibus sunt minime toleranda, ne si haec ngligunt quae
inducunt confusionem fidei INDIGNATIONEM DIVINAM INCVRRANT.
As therefore (y)Oldradus de Ponte; Abbbot Panormitan,(z)Antonius Corsetus, and
other Popish Canonists conclude positively. That Christians and Christian Kings may
lawfully expel and banish all Iews and Infidels out of their Realms, though
peaceable, for their Infidelity, and other just causes: So may all English
Protestants likewise upon the premised reasons conclude: we may as justly, as
lawfully now keep them from re-entring into England, notwithstanding the pretence
of their conversion to the Faith, which I hope I have satisfactorily answered.

The 2.* Allegation for bringing in the Iews is meerly politick, That it will bring
in much present and future gain and mony to the State, and advance trading. This is
the Argument Menassah Ben-Israel most insists on, p. 1. to 11.3. How profitable the
Iews are, adding, That profit is a most powerfull motive, and which all the world
prefers before all other things. And therefore (writes he) we shall handle that
point first. Though he handles it so, that every eye may see he aims more at his
own Nations profit, benefit, advance, than ours.

I answer,* 1. That if this argument overpoysed not the scales, that of conscience,
(the hopes of their conversion) would be lighter than the dust of the ballance and
sticke with no man, their mony being the only engin, which hath opened the gate and
passage for them into any Christian Kingdoms at first, and made new entrance for
them when they have been expelled, as (a)Concilium Toletanum, 4. c. 57. and others
inform us. This opened their first passage into (b)England,(c)Spain, Portugal: and
Philip Augustus who banished them out of France, An. 1182. Postea ver quum propter
bella inopia laboraret pecuniae, accepta grandi Iudaeis pecunia redditum eis
concessit & domicilium Parisiis, as (d)Munster and others inform us. And this kept
them so long in England heretofore, till their very banishment; A sign we love
their money better than their souls or our own. 2ly, This argument,
for their readmission, is but wordly, carnal, sensual: the very same with that of
Hamer to the Shechemites, when he would perswade them to be circumcised, and turn
Iews, Gen. 23.25. shall not their cattle and their substance, and every beast of
theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. An
argument only fit for such whom the Apostle characterizeth, Phil. 3.18, 19. For
many walk of whom I have told you often, and now tell you weeping, that they are
the enemies of the Crosse of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their
belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things; Or for such
Princes or Governours as God of old complained thus of (e)Her Princes in the midst
thereof are like Wolves ravening the prey, and to shed blood, and TO DESTROY SOULS
TO GET DISHONEST GAIN. It proceeds from such (f)whose eyes and hearts are not but
for their Covetousnes(g)who all seek their own, not the things that are Iesus
Christs. And if the root of it be covetousnesse(h)which is Idolatry, which Christ
commands all (i)to take heed and beware of, and(k)is not so much as to be named
(much lesse practised) amongst Christians, whose(l)conversation ought to be without
covetousnesse, and they to rest contented with those things they have; Because
(m)They that will be rich fall into temptations, and a snare, and into many foolish
and noysom lusts which drown men in perdition and destruction; For the Love of mony
is the root of all evill, which whiles some coveted after, they have been sedued
(or erred) from the faith, (as thousands of late years have been) and pierced
themselvs through with many sorrows, Therfore 'tis not so much as once to be named
or insisted on amongst us, unlesse we will renounce our Christianity, make great
gain our only godlinesse, instead of making (n)Godlinesse with contentment our
great gain;(o)betray and sell our Saviour Christ again to the Iews, like Iudas, for
thirty peeces of silver, without repenting and making restitution of it to
the Iews, as he did; and most blasphemously transferre our very Saviours most
blessed Deity, and stamp his most sweet and highest Title (p) GOD WITH US, upon a
contemptible piece of white and yellow shining clay, as some have lately done on
all our New State coyn (as if it were the only God with them and us) how christian-
like, let themselves determine. 3ly. God himself who saith (q)Behold I have smitten
mine hand at thy dishonest gain, which thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbour
by oppression, & other unlawfull means; will certainly smite his hand at this gain
by the Iews re-admission. And therefore let us give that resolute answer to the
Iewish Agents, if they proffer to purchase an indenization amongst us by their
gold, as (r) St. Peter once did to Simon Magus in another case: Thy money perish
with thee; Thou hast neither part nor lot in this businesse, for thy heart is not
upright with God. 4ly. None ever gain'd by the Iews introduction or continuance in
any Christian State, but the King and some of his bribed Officers, and that by
oppressing, squeezing, fleecing, taxing: excoriating, eviscerating, crucifying,
pillaging, plundering the poor Iews in such an unchristian, inhuman, illegal,
unrighteous manner, against(s)the express commands of God, as made both Christians
and Christianity most detestable to them, brought a secret curse of God upon all
those unrighteous gaines as also upon their very persons and Government, (witnesse
(t) King Iohn, and Henry the 3d.) and encouraged them to oppresse, fleece and
pillage their Native Subjects, by illegal Taxes and Projects, and to use them
rather like Iews than Christians, enforcing them thereby to take up arms against
them for their Laws, Liberties and Properties just defence, as those Kings reigns,
and others sufficiently evidence. 5ly, The introduction of the Iews into England
and other Nations, never advanced the publike wealth of the Natives and Republike,*
but much impaired it by their Vsuries and Deceits, clipping and falsifying monies,
ingrossing all sorts of commodities into their
hands, usurping the Natives trades, and becomming such intolerrable grievances to
them, that they were never quiet till they were banished, as their greatest
Annoyance, and purchased their Exiles even with publick Subsidies granted to their
Kings to be quit of them; as the * premises abundantly evidence. 6ly. The Trade of
this Nation flourished more after their banishment hence, then ever it did before;
and their introduction now, will but supplant, undoe our English Merchants and
other Natives, to enrich them, and some few other Grandees, who shall share with
them in their spoils and unrighteous gains: as they utterly supplanted,
impoverished, ruined the City of Norlingen in Germany where they intruded
themselves in great numbers by the Emperours priviledges; whereupon the Citizens
Anno Dom. 1290. being reduced to extreem poverty by them, rose up in arms and slew
a geeat number of them, without destinction of age or sex; for with the Citizens
were put to so great fines by the Emperour Rodolfus and so oppressed by the
Nobility and others obliged to the Jews by morgages and moneys lent them, though
the Jews instigation, that the natives were inforced to leave both their Studies,
Trades, aend the City it self, reduced thereby to extreem penury for above 59 years
space; as *Sebastian Muster. at large records. Wch together with the premises,
sufficiently disproves *Meuasseth Ben Israels Suggestion of the profit the Natives
of England may receive by their readmission. 7ly, The taking off all long
continued, uncessant, new, illegal Taxes, Excises, Imposts *imposed without common
consent in Parliament on the Nation, ingrossing, anticipating most of the current
Monies of the Land, which are the nerves and wheels of Trade, eating up all the
Merchants, Peoples gains and labors, and overclogging all or most Commodities
imported or exported. The disbanding of all unnecessary mercenary Forces and
Garrions, who have devoured most of the publike and private wealth of our three
Kingdoms, and extraordinarily
impoverished them, only to enrich and advance themselves; and setting up the old
unmercinary Trained Bands and Legal Militia of the Realm in their steads: The
encouraging of Merchants to bring in gold and silver Bullion, to set the Mint on
work, which hath lain for the most part idle near 15 years: the suppressing of the
superfluous making, wearing, use of gold and silver lace, wyre, gilding, which
consume many thousand pounds of current coyne every year: The inhibiting of the
excessive use of that late intoxicating smoke of Tobacco, causing such a prodigal
expence of money, time, and hindring more necessary, usefull, staple merchandizes
and plantations. The regulating of the gross abuses of Letters of Mart, now little
better than commissioned open pyracies, occasioning the ruine of Trade and
Merchandize by way of Reprisal: The ordering according to Law, Iustice, Conscience,
that all prizes taken from any foraign Enemy, or other who pillage or damage the
English, by the States Ships, and men of War, set out by the Merchants Customs,
Tonnage, Poundage, Imposts, and therewith maintained for their defence, (u) shall
be equally distributed to our English Merchants that are damnified, or undone by
them, towards the reparation of their losses, who maintain them, to enable and
encourage them in their trading (especially when much impoverished or undone by
their losses) and not at all converted or rather perverted to the use of that some
stile, the Admiralty & State, or Mariners who take them; (at whose cost they are
not maintained:) The binding of all Captains of all States men of war,*to make good
all the English Merchants, and their Allies losses, susteined by their default or
negligence: The * resuming of all the late alienated ancient Lands, rents, revenues
of the Crown, got into private hands, which ought to defray the constant expence of
the Government, now extorted for the most part by arbitrary new devices, out of the
exhausted peoples purses, The speedy preventing of the late unparalleld wasts in
all places of English Timber, fit for shipping,
of which there is like to be such scarcity ere long, as will both destroy our Navy,
shipping Trade. All these and every of them will far more advance the Trade and
Traffique of the Nation, and the publike wealth, and give all the people far better
content and satisfaction ten thousand fold, then this New distastefull pernicious
project of bringing in the Iews: against which I shall only discharge this
ancient(x)Canon of the 4th Council of Toledo in Spain, under their most religious
King Sysenandus in the year of our Lord 681. which thus batters all ecclesiastical
and temporal promoters of this allegation for filthy Lucres sake, with this
direfull thunderbolt; recited and confirmed in consil. Meldenses c. 58. Surius Tom.
3. p. 465. So great is certain mens lucre of money, that some coveting after it,
according to the Apostles saying, have erred from the faith. For many hitherto of
the Priests & Laity receiving gifts from the Iews, foster their perfidiousnesse (or
infidelity) by their patronage; who not undeservedly are known to be of the body of
Antichrist, because they act against Christ: Therefore whatsoever Bishop or Clergy
man, or secular person shall from henceforth give his suffrage to them against the
Christian faith. Either For reward or favour,, being (as prophane & sacrilegious)
really made accursed let him be reputed, excommunicated from the Catholick Church
and Kingdom of God; because he is worthy to be separated from the Body of Christ,
who is made a Patron or Protector to the enemies of Christ.

I shall close up all with the memorable apposite History and words, of that famous
ancient Bishop of Millain St. Ambrose(y)The Eastern Christians, out of Christian
zeal, burnt down a Synagogue of the Iews in the Castle of Callinco, by their
Bishops instigation and command, for which the Emperour Theodosius being much
incensed against them by the Jews and their Instruments, commanded his Lieutenant
of the East to punish the people, and the Bishop to re-edify the Synagogue for the
Iews at his own costs: Of which St. Ambrose being informed; and unable
to go to the Emperour, writ an Epistle to him, wherein he most boldly pleads the
cause both of the Bishop and people, proving by evident arguments; The burning of
this Synagogue of impiety to be just, and that the Emperour should sin both against
his own and his Kingdoms safety if he should do any thing severely against the
Bishop or people for it; Adding, that he himself was prepared rather to suffer
death in this cause, than that he should by his dissimulation make the Emperour a
Prevaricator, who had commanded such an unjust thing against the Church. After
which the Emperour coming to Millain, & St. Amb. hearing that the Iews had built a
Synagogue in the Market at Constantinople: he publikely preached against it, &
justified the peoples burning of the other Synagogue in his Sermon before the
Emperor and people: wherein amongst other passages, he used this Speech to the
Emperor himself in the person of Christ. O Theodosius! I have made thee of an
obscure private person, an Emperor, committing my flock unto thee: I have adorned
thy formerly squalid head with a Crown: I have delivered the forces of thine Enemie
unto thee, I have reduced thine Enemy under thy power, I have made thee triumph
without labour; and dost thou make mine Enemies to triumph over me? and offer
contumely unto me, by preferring those whom I have rejected, before those by whom I
am worshipped? by offering violence unto them, and suffering a Synagogue to be
built in the midst of that City, wherein I am worshipped, and my Crosse adored, by
those who have been my Murderers? When St. Ambrose came forth of the Pulpit, the
Emperor saying to him: O Bishop, you have this day preached against us. He
thereunto replyed; He had not spoken against him, but for him. To which the Emperor
subjoyning, O Bishop, will you have the people in a well governed Commonwealth, to
have license rashly and impudently to do what they please? St. Ambrose thereto
rejoyned: Neither is this verily to be granted, That the Iews should have
Synagogues in the midst of
a Christian City, and offend the ears of the Godly with blasphemous Prayers: Nor
oughtest thou to Decre this, most holy Emperor; Whereupon the Emperor being quite
silenced and convinced of his error, forthwith gave his faith and promise to St.
Ambrose, to reverse his former decree for re-building the Iews Synagogue, before he
went to the Altar to receive the Sacrament at his hands. I wish this my Demurrer
my produce the like effects, & prove a perpetual barre to the present and future
read mission of them and their Synogogues into England.

Gal. 5.2, 3, 4. Behold I Paul say unto you, that if* ye be circumcised, Christ
shall profit you nothing; For I testifie again to every man that is circumcised,
that he is a debtor to do the whole Law: Christ is become of no effect unto you;
whosoever of you are justified by the Law, ye are fallen from Grace.

1 Joh 4.3. Every Spirit that * confesseth not that Iesus Christ is come in the
flesh, is not of God, and THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST, wherof ye have heard
that it should come, and even now already is in the world.

Alexandri ab Alexandro Iuris periti Neapolitani, Genialium dierum lib. VI. cap.
VII. Querebat aliquando exme, dum Comae agerem, Raphael Volaterranus, vlr insignis
doctrinae & virtutis, cui ad mores emend atissimos gravitas libero homine digna,
non modicam accessionem faciebat, quid causae foret, quod cum causarum patrociniis
& foro usque a pueritia essem addictus, illis posthabitis, & quasi forensibu
negotiis praetermissiis, in his studiis mitioribus ita me oblectatem, ut causarum
patrociniis bellum indixisse viderer? cui hoc causae referebam, quod leges, quae ad
communem utilitatem editae, studio & labore maximo quaesitae & meditatae nobis
forent, neque ab his qui jura darent, coli, neque perinde ut oporteret, praecipi
viderem, doleremque juri dicundo illos plerunque peaesidere, qui eas vel turpiter
ignorarent, vel per gratiam & sordes facil corrumpi sinerent: & quibus servandarum
legum
praecipua imminet cura, hi maxim legum scita contemnerent: quibus rebus effici, ut
tot scita & decreta veterum monumentis nobis tradita, maximisque ingeniis
elaborata, & tam pensiculat expensa, unus homunculus nequissimus audacissimusque,
ignarus legum, judiciorum & fori, qui magistratui prae esset, non salubri
temperamento, nec disceptatione ac judicio, sed ausu temerario, & omni jure
neglecto, ad suam libidinem per scelus & nequitiam everteret. Horum non minima
exempla dicebam fore ea, quae dudum experti vidimus. Nuper cm Romae custodias
cognoscerem, operae precium fuit videre, quae rerum miracula monstris & portentis
similia, ac dictu fastidienda, quaeve turpitudines ad aliquorum libidinem
admitterentur contra jus fasque: siquidem sacerdotem quempiam in his nacti sumus,
gravem & sanctum virum, vita & moribus ornatissimu, hominem profect honestae &
magnae laudis, diu tenebris & carcere maceratum, indignissimam fortunam subire
coactum, pro eo qud pecuniam sibi traditam ab eo qui illam furto subtraxerat, ut
vero domino restitueretur, illius jussu mandatoque restituerat suppresso autore,
ipsum{que} quaestionibus subdi vidimus & tormentis vexari, ut illum qui conscientia
culpae, & spe veniae adductus, abstulisse confessus fuerat, palmfaceret
delinquentisque delicta, quae ille poenitens culpae dixerat, enunciaret: quo
discrimine adactus pauper senior, confitentis peccatum & delinquentem enunciare
coactus fuit: quod quidem Scripto jure vetitum, sanctionibusque & decretis
interdictum esse constat. Rursus alium immani scelere coopertum hominem
impurissimum turpissimumque, qui maximorum criminum reus testibus, tabulis,
testimoniis, & certissimis documentis convictus fuerat, quae nec ipse gloriabundus
diffitebatur, qui{que} legum, judiciorumque poenis saevissme coercendus erat, ab
eisdem ergastulis, sola praesidentis temeritate, nullo negotio dimitti & liberari,
aliasque audacias & turpitudines, ne dicam scelera indigna audiru profatuque, quae
vix credenti non mod enunciata, sed visa & comperta fuere. Iason Matassalanus &
Ludovicus
Matha, quum sacerdotalibus quibus fungebantur muneribus cedere nollent, quaesitis
occasionibus ad inimicorum libidinem, tetro carcere usque e tenti fuere, donec
illorum arbitrio singulis ornamentis, fama, & fortunis omnibus exturbati, quoad
illis liberet, excruciati sunt, non ver 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 grati & 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 varetatibus am pensiculat editis, tantum
laboris & vigiliarum suscipere, tantoque nos studio fatigari dicebam, quum ad
ignavissimi impurissimique cujus{que} 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. Ceremones, l. 35. these, p. 109. l: 32: others, r: their.

Margin: p. 35. l. 13. Geogr. p. 9. l. c: 10. p: 105. l. 1. Imo: .23. 1 Ti:

5.8. p. 115. l 17. l. 22. servirebant. p. 116. l. 42. Episcopalis. l. 42.
Calernnus.

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 Lincons-nne.

Amos 3.3.
Can two walk together, unless they be agreed?

Gregorius lib. 7. Registri Epist. 226. Surius Tom. 2. Concil. p. 698.

Cm Excellentia vestra (Reccaredus Rex Gothorum & Suevorum) Constitutionem quandam
contra Judaeorum perfidiam dediet, i de quibus pr fuerat, rectuudinem
vestrae mentis inflectere pecuniarum summam offe sunt; quam Excellentia
vestra contempsit, & omnipotents Dei placere judr quin, auro innocentiam
praetulit. Si igitur ab armato Reg in Sacificiu D vsa c aqua contempta,
pensemus quale sacrificium omnipotenti Do Rx uit, qui pro amore illius non
aquam, SED AURUM ACCIPERE CONTEMPSIT. Ita{que} fili Excellentissime fident dicam,
quia libaiAURUM Dmino, quod contra cum habere noluisti.

LONDON Printed, and sold by Edward Thomas in Green Arbor, 156.

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 incrasing it into an over-large bulke, and of oer
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 Pat; 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
insrted 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 Edwrd 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, consising of unprinted, and for the most part unknown
Records, never formerly published, I cannot diine: 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 (a)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 o King
Iohn preserved in the Tower of London, and Exchequer. Amongst the Charter(b)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 mosation trouble or disturbance by any Jew or English
in the exerse thereof, &c. (Such a Chate as Msseh Bn-Isrel now
aspires after for himelf, as his Addresses inti
which because I finde printed by (c) Mr. Samuel Purchas, and (d) 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 obervation; 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 (e)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.

(f)Johannis Dei gratia, &c. Omnibus fidelibus suis, ad quos Literae praesentes
pervenerint, tm ultr mare, qum citra. Mandans vobis & praecipiens, Quatenus per
quascunque Villas & loca Jacobus Presbyter Judaeorum, dilectus & familiaris Noster;
transierit, ipsum salv & liber cum omnibus ad ipsum pertinentibus transire, &
conduci faciatis; nec ipsi aliquod impedmentum, molestiam aut gravamen fieri
sustineatis, plus quam Nobis ipsis. Et si quis ei in aliquo forisfacere
praesumpserit, id ei sine dilatione emendadari faciatis. Teste VVillielmo Marisco
&c. Dat. per manum Hu. Cantuar. Archiepiscopi, Cancellarii nostri apud Rothomagum,
31. die Julii, Anno Regni nostri primo.

It is observable, that both these Charters were made not in England, but at Rhoan
in Normandy, whence King William(g) the Conqueror first transplanted the Iewes
into England: And that both the Charters to this HigPriest of the Iews, were
granted by the hand of Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury, then Chancellor, Primae,
Metropolian and High Priest of the English Nain, whoe Successors have justified
the Divinity and Lawfulness, of their Archiepiscopal Jurisdiction from the Jewish
High Priests Office, and Pagan Archstius. Sic mu mulum scalpit. Dignum Patello
operculum.

King John having granted such Priviledges and Protection to this Jewish High Priest
and Bishop in the firt year of his reign, proceeded (by his and their monies most
powerfull mediation) to confirm and grant my ample Priviledges and Immunities to
all the English and Norman Jews in his 2 year, by these two ensuing Charers, not
formerly printed, which I shall here transcribe verbatim as I finde them on Record.
The first rns thus.

(h)Johannes Dei gratia, &c. Sciatis Nos concessisse Omnibus Judaeis Angliae &
Normanniae, libere et hoo ifice habere residentiam in terra nostra, & omnia illa
de Nobis tenenda quae tennerunt de Rege Henrico Avo Patris nostri; et omnia illa
quae modo rationabiliter tenent in terris et feodis, & vadiis & akatis suis: & quod
habeaxt omnes libertates & consuetudines suas sicut eas habuerunt tempore praedicti
Regis H. Avi patis nostri, melius & quiecius & honorabilius. Et si querela orta
fuerit inter Christianum et Judaeum, ille qui alium appellaverit ad querelam suam
dirationandam habeat Tstes, scilicet legutimum Christianum & Iudaeum. Et si
Iudaeus de querela sua Breve habuerit, Breve suum erit ei testis. Et si Christianus
habuerit querelam adversus Iudaeum sit judicata per Pares Judaei. Et cum Iudaeus
obierit, non detineatur corpus suum super terram, sed habeant homines sui pecuniam
suam & debita sua, it a quod mihi non disturbetur, si habaerit haeredem qui pro
ipso espondeat & rectum faciat de debitis suis & de forisfacto suo: Et liceat
Judaeis omnia quae eis apportata fuerint sine occasione
accipere & emere, exceptis illis quae de Ecclesia sunt, & panno sanguine lento. Et
si Judaeus ab aliquo appellatus fuerit sine teste, de illo appellatu erit quietus
solo Sacramento suo super librum suum, et de appellatu illarum rerum quae ad
Coronam nostram pertinent, similiter quietus erit solo Sacramento suo super Rotulum
suum. Et si inter Christianum & Iudaeum fuerit dissentio de accommodatione alicujus
pecuniae, Judaeus probabit Catallum suum, & Christianus lucrum. Et liceat Judaeo
quiete vendere vadium, postquam certum erit, eum illud unum annum & unum diem
tenuisse. Et Judaei non itrabant in placitum, nisi coram Nobis, aut coram illis
qui Turres nostras custodierint, in quorum Ballivis Iudaei manserint. Et ubicunque
Iudaei fuerint, liceat eis ire ubicunque voluerint, cum omnibus catallis eorum
sicut res nostrae propriae, & nulli liceat eos retinere, neque hoc eis prohibere.
Et praecipimus quod ipsi quieti sint per totam Angliam & Normanniam de omnibus
Consuetudinibus & Theoliniis & modiatione vini sicut nostrum proprium catallum. Et
mandamus vobis & praecipimus quod eos custodiatis, & defendatis, & manu-teneatis;
et prohibemus ne quis contra Cartam istam de hiis supradictis eos in placitum ponat
super forisfacturam nostram; Sicut Carta Regis H. patris nostri rationabiliter
testatur. T. Humf. filio Petri Com. Essex, Willielmo de Marescal: Com. de Pembr.
Henr. de Bohun Com de Hereford, Robert de Turnham, Willielmo Brywer, &c. Dat. per
manum S. Well. Archidiac. apud Merleberg, Decimo die Aprilis, Anno regni nostri
secundo.

The second Patent runs in these words.

(i)Johannes Dei gratia, &c. Sciatis Nos concessisse, & praesenti Carta nostra
confirmasse Judaeis nostris in Anglia, ut excessus qui inter eos emerserint,
exceptis hiis qui ad Coronam & Justitiam nostram pertinent, & de morte hominis &
mahemio, & de assaltu praemeditato, & de fractura domus, et de Raptu, et de
Latrocino, & de Combustione,
& de Thesauris, inter eos deducantur secundum Legem suam, et emendentur, &
Justitiam suam inter se ipsos faciant. Concedimus etiam eis, quod si quis eorum
alium appellaverit de querela quae ad eos pertineat, Nos neminem compellemus ad
testimonium cuiquam eorum contra alium exhibendum, sed si Appellator rationabilem &
idoneum testem habere poterit, eum secum adducat. Siquod ver opus sceleratum &
apertum inter eos emerserit quod ad Coronam nostram vel ad Justitiam pertineat,
sicut de praedictis Placitis Coronae, licet nullus eorum noster appellator suerit,
Nos ipsam queelam faciemus per Legales Judaeos nostros Angliae inquiti sicut
Carta Regis H. patris nostri rationabiliter testatur. Teste G. filio Petri Com.
Essex, Willielmo Mareschallo Com. de Pembr. Hen: de Bohun Com. de Hereford, Petro
de Pratell. Roberto de Turnham. Willielmo de Waren, Hugo: de Nevil, Roberto de
veteri Ponte. Dat. per manum S. Well. Archidiac. apud Merleberg. X. die Aprilis,
Anno Regni nostri secundo.

Both these Charters were dated at the same place, on the self-same day, by the
self-same hand, and subscribed by the same Witnesses for the most part. The first
of them extends to all the Jews both in England and Normandy, the latter to the
Jews in England alone: The persons subscribing them as witnesses, were eminent both
for honor and power: and it appears by the recitals in the Charters, that the
Liberties granted and confirmed by them to these Jews, were wholly, or for the most
part such as King Henry the first, Grandfather, and K. Henry the 2. Father to King
John had formerly granted and confirmed to them by their respective Charters, And
if you compare that Law inserted by *Hoveden and others amongst the Confessors and
Conqueors Laws. De Judaeis in Anglia constitutis. You will find it taken almost
verbatim out of these Kings Charters, in whose times Hoveden writ his Annals, and
puny to the Confessors
and Conquerors Laws, in the true Original copyes whereof it is not to be found.
We need not much wonder that King Iohn did grant such large Librties and Charters
as these recited to the Jewish High Priests and Jews throughout his Dominions,
since some few years after (as (k)Matthew Paris writes) he sent special Embassadors
to Admirallus the Great Mahometan King of Africk, Fesse and Spain, prfeig to
surrendr up his Crown and Kingdom to him, and hold them under him as his Vassal;
and likewise To renounce the Christian Religion, as vain, and faithfully to Adhere
to the Mahometan Religion. For which he was much scorned and derided by this
Mahometan Prince, as the Dregs both of Kings and Men: He will soon turn a comleat
Turk, who is become half a Jew.

These Liberties thus ratified by King Iohn, drew many Jws into England out of
forraign parts with their wath and treasure, according to the old Proverb,

Histula dulec canit volueres dum decipit auceps.

but when these Decoyes had drawne them and their weath into the Net, you may read
how he plucked off their feathers and tormented their bodies to gain their monies
in our Historians, and my * first Demurrer.
Amongst the Records in the Treasury of the Receiver of the Exchequer in the 4th
year of King Iohn, I find one nfand a Jew indicted at Bdford for gelding and
cutt of the yard of one Richard, whereof upon his trial e was acqited: as the
Record it self will more fully in its own dialect.

capta apud Bedeford a die Sacti Michaelis in : corm Simon de Pateshall,

& Rich de Faunbig & Sociis suis, Anno Regni Regis Johannis 4 to. . 5. n
dorse.

Vdr. de Cipton.

obrtus de Sutton appellat Bonefand Judaeum de Bedeo, quod ise in patr Domini
Regis, & nequiter fecit ementulare
Ricardum nepotem suum unde ipse obiit: Ita quo ipse fecit portare eum usque in
terram suam de Hacton; quam ipse habet in vadio, & ibi obiit: et hoc offert
probare. Et tunc Bonefand venit, et defendit totum, & offert Domino Regi 1 marc.
pro habenda Inquisitione, utrum sit inde culpabilis vel non: Et Iuratores inquisiti
dicunt, quod non est culpabilis inde: et ideo Bonefand st quietus, & Robertus in
misericordia pro falso appill. And in the Margin of the Roll cast diatur is
written. This is the first Indictment I find upon record against a Jew.

Not long after King Iohns Charters confirmed, the Jews self to their usual trade of
clipping and washing the current coyn of the Kingdom, as is evident by this New
Ordinance against this abuse, and touching the Assise of moneys, in the 6 year of
King Iohn.

(l)Assisum est de Moneta, quod vetus moneta currat unde quelibet libra sit lacta
ii. s. vi. d. ad plus, & libra quae plus lactaverit, & denarii qui plus lactaverint
perforentur & reddantur sicut alias provisum fuit. Iudaei vero aurifabri, &
mercatores forinici emant moneta ista victum et vestitum suum tantum, sed non
debent prestitum vel Merchandizas facere, nisi de grossa et forti moneta quae sit
de lege & pondere denatiorum sterlingorum. Et ad cognoscendum denar: de praedicto
lacco, exeat a monetaria nostra I. Pempeis, & liberetur cui voluerit habere
habendam usque ad Pentecosten Anno regni nostri 7. de lacco octavae partis denarii.
Item denarius qui de caetero fuerit, scilicet post Natale. Anno Regni nostri 6.
inventus intonsus in alicujus manu perstietur, et ille cujus manu captus fuerit,
capiatur ut lat. Item prohibitum est, quod nullus vetus dearius reblangietur, et
qui eum reblangiaerit, sit in misericordia nostra de toto catallo suo, et amitat
quod reblangiavit. Item denarius debet omnis fabricari, ita quod st de equa lege &
pondere, habens circulum exteriorem, et quo nil sit extra illum circulum, & ubi
aliter inventus fuerit,
fabricator et custos ejus sint in misericordia nostra de toto catallo suo. Item si
quis cambiaverit Denar. vel argentum alibi quam ad Cambium nostrum (salvo Cambio
Domini Cantuariensis Archi Episcopi apud Cant.) tam cambiens quam recipiens, cum eo
quod cambiaverint, capiantur. Et assisum est, quod nullus capiat ad Cambium pro
libra de sine et argento plus vel minus quam Denar. de lege; et quod nullus
denarius exeat de Cambio nostro, vel Dom Cantuar. nisi sit legalis de Victualorum.
Ite inquiratur per liberos et legales homines in Civitatibus, Burgis & Villis, quis
Christianus vel Judaeus denar. retondit, et qui inventus fuerit retonsor
Christianus vel Judaeus, capiantur omnia catalla sua, et corpus suum mittatur in
prisonam nostram, et sit in potestate nostra de Justitia facienda. Item si denarii
qui non sint rationabiles de lege & pondere inventi fuerint in manu Judaei
aurifabri, vel Mercatoris forinseci vel servientium eorum, pro merchandisa, vel
prestito faciendo, assisum est, quod illi in quorum manu fuerint inventi, (nisi
tantum ad victum & vestitum suum emendo, ut praedictum est) capiantur. T. me-ipso
apud Winton, 26 die Jan.

The same year King Iohn granted this ensuing safe-conduct to one Hamechun a Jew, to
come and reside in England like other Jews.

*Rex, &c. Iusticiariis, &c. Sciatis quod dedimus Hamichuno Judaeo nostro firmam
pacem nostram, ita quod concessit salvo venire et ibi stare, sicut alii Iudaei
nostri in terram nostram, pro bono servicio suo quod nobis fecit in Castro Audel.
cum dilecto & fideli nostro R. Constab. Cestriae. Et ideo vobis mandamus et
firmiter praecipimus, quod firmam pacem nostram sicut praedictum est, habeat. Teste
me-ipso apud Westm. 2 die Novembr.

The Jews by (m)Capitula de Iudaeis, enacted and published by Rich. the 1 recited at
large in my former Demurrer,
were obliged to register all their Contracts, Morgages, Obligations, Debts, and to
put them into a common Chest with 3 Locks and Keyes, kept by certain Christians and
Jewes specially designed for that purpose, as you may there read at last. This
Chest was called (n)Arca Cyrographica, or Cyrographorum Iudaeorum: and the Notaries
or Registers of them stiled, Cyrographi Christiani et Iudaei Arcae Cyrographicae
London, Oxon, or other such City where such Chests were kept. All their Deeds,
Obligations, and Releases were usually called Stars, and Starra, Starrum, Starr: in
our Latin Records. from the Hebrew word SHETAR (contracted by the omission of he)
which signifieth a Deed or Contract. These Stars were written for the most part in
Hebrew alone, or else in Hebrew on the one side or top of the parchment, and in
Latin on the other side, or bottom of the Deed after the Hebrew. Some of these
Stars were lately extant amongst the evidences and writings belonging to the Dean
and Chapter of Westminster, writ in very fair Hebrew Characters; and one of them I
have lately seen in the Treasury of the Exchequer, written in Hebrew without
pricks, In King Iohns Reign, at the Top; the substance whereof is thus expressed in
Latin just under it, lik an English Condition under a Latin Obligation.

I stud Star fecit Hagius filius Magri de London, Domino A de de Strattona, de

acquietantia de Stann. re de omnibus debitis in quibus Dominus S, de Cheyndut ei
tenebatur: Ita quod idem Iudaeus nec haeredes sui, nihil exigere possunt de
praedicto A de, nec de haeredibus suis ratione terrae de Stanmore de praedictis
debitis. If any Christian indebted and obliged to any Jew by any Star or writing
put up & reserved in this Chest payed not the same at the day appointed, to ther
with all the interest where any interest was reserved; then he sued forth Letters
by way of Proces against him, both for the Debt and interest under the Notaries or
Registers hand, to appear before the Iustices specially appointed for the
government and custody of the Jews,
to recover the same, paying to the King for a fine for such Letters and Licence to
sue, unum basantum, or besantum (as it is variously written) for every pound of
money he sued for, as appears by sundry instances in the fine Rolls both of King
Iohn, Henry the 3. and Edward the 1. of which we have these 3 instances together in
the fines of the 6 year of King Iohns reign.

*Iaac filius Joie habet literas super Martinum Martel de xxv marcis, cum lucro,
per Cirograsum.

Elias de Burgi Judaeus habet literas super eundem Martinum Martel de xx libris, cum
lucro, per Cirografum.

Manasserus Grassus habet literas super eundem Martinum Martell de xxiiii marcis,
cum lucro, per Cirografum; Dominus Rex DEBET HABERE DE QUALIBET LIBRA. UNUM
BASANTUM.

*And in the same Roll of this year there is one more such president,

Mosse Judaeus fil. Leonis habet literas super VValterum fil. Radi de Huncetanosiot
de xlviii marc. cum lucro per Cirografum, Capiatur de qualib. libra 1 Besantum ad
opus Domini Regis.

In the Treasury of Receipts in the Exchequer in the xth. year of King Iohn, there
is this Record touching the manner of proving the validity of the Jews Charters, it
denied, or aeged to be counterfeit, by the testimony of two Christians and two
Jews, &c. according to the forementioned Charter of King Iohn.

Inter Placita apud VVestm. Anno x Regis Johannis Termino Hilarii in Octabis Sancti
Hilarii Rotulo 9 in dorso.*

Samuel Mucun & Muriel Judaea petunt versus Herebertum filium Heb. CCCCl. de
Catallis de debito Israel, per quandam Cartam; et producunt duos Christianos & duos
Judaeos paratos ad hoc probandum prout Curia consideraverit. Herebertus dicit, quod
Carta illa falsa est, & ideo falsa, quia Sigilium illud nunquam suum suit,
nec Cartam illam fecit, nec pecuniam illam mutuo recepit: & producit Sigillum suum
Eburneum & plurimas Cartas, Sigillo illo Sigillatas, tam de Abaciis, quam de
confirmatione terrarum. And hereupon I find no further proceedings in this Record
(printed a little out of its due place, before these ensuing proceeding it in time,
could be transcribed.)

It seems every Jew in that age had his proper Seal to Seal Charters, Stars and
Obligations therewith, which yet were good in Law if really sealed by him though
with any other Seal than his own.

In the 5 year of King Iohn, the Jews of London being assaulted, disturbed and
misused by the people against the Kings protection and peace, thereupon the King at
their request, sent this sharp Letter to the Mayor and Barons of London, committing
the Jews there to their protection and defence. and threatning severely to punish,
and require their blood at their hands, if they should suffer any injury through
their default.

*Rex, &c. Majori & Bar. London, &c. Semper dileximus vos multum, & jura &
libertates vestras bene observari fecimus, unde credimus vos nos specialiter
diligere, & ea quae ad bonorem nostrum, & pacem & tranquilitatem terrae nostrae
eduntur, libenter velle prestare. Verum cum sciatis, quod Judaei in speciali nostra
protectione sint; miramur, quod Iudaeis in civitate London morantibus malum fieri
sustinetis; cum id manifeste sit contra pacem Regri, & terrae nostrae
tranquilitatem: Ita quidem magis miramur et movemur, quia alii Iudaei per Angliam
ubicunque moram fecerunt, exceptis illis qui sunt in villa vestra, in bona pace
consistunt. Nunc id tamen diximus pro Iudaeis nostris, pro pace nostra, quia si
onidaem tantum pacem nostram dedissemus, debetur inviolabiter observari. De caetero
autem Iudaeos in civitate London morantes, vestrae committimus custodiae, ut si
quis eis malum facere attentaverit, vos manu forti eis subsidium facientes, eos
defendatis. estris enim manibus eorum sanguinem modo requiremus, si forte per
dfectum vestri aliquid mali eis acciderit, quod absit. Scimus enim ben quod per
fatuos Villae et non per discretos huusmodi eveniunt, et debent discreti fatuorum
Stultitiam compescere. Teste meipso apud Montem fortem 29 die Julii.

This smart Letter demonstrates the Kings cordial affection to the Jews, though more
for his own advantage than theirs.

*In the Fine Rolls of the 6 of King Iohn I find this Kecord.

Galfr. de Salvage dat 10 Mar. ut Willus de Hardreshal acquietet ipsum versus Jacob.
Iudaeum Northampton de ptegagia debiti, unde pleg. Willi. fuit versus eundem
Iudaeum, de queritur, quod pro defectu ejus distringitur: Et mandat. est
licent. quod si ipse Willus non fuerit, et ipse Galfr. ips sect. &c.

In the Claue Rolls of the 7 & 9 years of K. Iohn I find thes 3 short rcords
manifesting the Kings power both to remit their usury, due upon contracts, and to
respite their debts themselves.

*Rex Constabulario Wallingford, &c. Praecipimus tibi quod pacem habere facias
Roberto de Maure de usuris debiti Iudaeorum de termino quem monstrare poterit, quod
fuerit in servicio nostro cum equis et armis ultra mare per praeceptum nostrum.
Teste meipso apud Wodestoke 25 die Maii, per Iusticiarios.

*Rex W. de Warren et sociis suis, &c. Mandamus vobis, quod quietum esse faciatis
Abbatem sanct: Radegunde de usuris debitorum Iudaeorum, de duobus annis proxime
praeteritis usque ad instans Pasche anno reg. nostri 9. dum fuit in servicio
nostro, per praeceptum nostrum. Et Summoneatis Iudaeos quibus ipse debita debet,
quod sint coram Iustiiario nostro G. fil. Petri, & coram nobis a die Pasche in 15
dies, ad recipiendum ab eo finem debitis illis. Et mandetis Vicaquibus necesse
fuerit, quod nullam interim districtinem faciant eidem Abbati pro debitis illis
reddendis, T. G. fil. Petri apud Suth. 25 die Marcii.

*Rex W. de Warren et sociis suis custodibus Iudaeorum, &c. Mandamus vobis quod
quietum esse faciatis Rogerum Wesperill de usuris debitorum quae debet Simoni Iudeo
Oxon. ab hoc inst. Pasce anno Reg. nostri 9. usque ad Pasche prox. sequent. et
interim ei respectum habere faciatis de praedict. debitis. T. Aaron. Norwic. apud
Clarenden 21 die Marcii, per eundem.

By these 3 Presidents it is apparent, that the Jews Usury was condemned, and no
ways favoured by King Iohn and his Justices in that age, long before either the
Statute of Merton 20 H. 3. c. 5. or De Iudaismo 3 E. 1. c. 1. were enacted, and
that the King would by no means permit it to run against any whilst actually
imployed in his service, nor others whom he favoured, to whom he released the Usury
at his pleasure, and his Judges likewise by his command.

In the Roll of Fines of the 9 year of King Iohn I find these two cases concerning
extents of Lands for the debts of Jews in that age.

*Margareta de Lucy dat quinque marcas pro habenda haereditate de Kerchel, et de

Hammes quam Robertus de Lucy quondam vir ejus invadiavit Iudaeis in vita sua; &
quod Iudaei capiant se a debito, quod idem Robertus eis debuit super praedictum
vadium, ad haeredem ipsius Roberti, qui haereditatem suam tenet. Et mandatum est
Vicecomiti, quod accepta ab ea securitate de praedictis 5 marcis, faciat ei habere
plenariam seisinam de praedicta haereditate sua, quae capta fuit in manum Domini
Regis occasione praedicta. Et mandatum est Iusticiariis Iudaeorum, quod de
praedicto debito capiant se ad haereditatem praedicti Roberti, quam haeres ejus
tenet.
The husband morgaged his wives inheritance to a Jew for a debt, and dies, for which
the wives land being taken by way of extent into the Kings hands, upon the Wives
suit and fine of 5 marks, her land is discharged, & the husbands land descended to
his heir charged with, and extended for it; all the lands of the Jews Debtors
on that age (before the Statutes of Acton Burnel, or de Mercatoribus 13 E. 1.)
being liable to extents for their debts, as this Record of the same year resolves,
especially if assigned, forfeited to, or seised by the King.

*Mandatum est Baronibus de Scaccario, quod omnes terras quas Jollarius de Anumdevil
habuit tempore quo ipse mutuo accepit debita de Aaron Judaeo, capiantur in manum
Dom. Regis quicunque illas teneat, pro 200 & 72 libris, quas ipse Domino Regi
debuit de debito Aaron; & similiter districtionem faciatis de omnibus aliis quae
Dom. Regi tenentur de debito Aaron de 26 lib. 8 sol. & 9 d.

By this Record it appears, that debts to Jews in that age were in the nature of
Judgements and Statutes, binding all the debtors lands he had at the time of the
money borrowed, into whose hands soever they came afterwards.

The King at this time claimed such an absolute jurisdiction over the Jews debts,
that he used to discharge or release them absolutely, or for life, and to respite
them as he pleased, as this and other presidents maniest.

*Rex omnibus, &c. Sciatis quod quietavimus Roberto silio Rogori tota vita sua, de
omnibus debitis Judaeoorum, Willi de Chesney patris Margaretae uxoris ejusdem
Roberti; & praecipimus quod inde sit quietus, tota vita sua: & in hujus rei
testimonium, has literas nostras Patentes ei fieri fecimus. Teste meipso apud Wimo,
19 die Augusti.

In the 13 year of King John (of which there are no Rolls or Records in the Tower) I
meet with this notable Record in the Treasury of the Exchequer, touching the Jews
assignment of their debts to Christians and extents upon them by Judgment of the
Justices assigned for the custody of the Jews, whom the assignee thereupon vouched
to warranty in this case.

*Placita a die Sancti Michaelis in 15 dies Anno Regni

Regis Johannis 12. capta apud Westmonasterium, inter alia sic continetur, &
sequitur, Rotulo secundo Assisa venit recogn. si Robertus de Kanvill injuste & sine
Judicio disseseivit Willielmum Couse & Beatricem uxorem ejus in Lincoln infra
Assisas, & Robertus venit & dicit, quod Assisa non debet procedere, quia ipse babet
seisinam inde per preceptum Domini Regis, ut ille qui fecit finem cum Judaeis
quibus idem Willielmus debuit debitum super tenementum illud: unde ipse profert
Cartas Judaeorum, quas ipsis acquietavit per finem illum: & vocat Justiciarios
Judaeorum ad Watrantum, quod habuit inde seisinam per eos ut de vadio suo: Quia
nihil Juris clamat in tenemento illo, nisi ut de vadio, & Justiciarii Judaeorum sic
warrantizant: ideo consideratum est, quod Willielmus in misricordia & Robertus
teneat in vadium suum.

By the Clause Roll of the 15 of King Iohn it appears, that the King then seised,
granted, and sold the houses of the Jews at his pleasure (as a Lord his Villains)
without any other Title but his absolute Soveraignty over them, witnesse these
Writs of his compared together.

*Rex Majori & Vicecom. London, &c. Sciatis quod dedimus dilecto & fideli nostro
Com. de Ferrariis domum Isaac Judaei de Norw. &c. in London in parochia Sanctae
Margaretae, cum redditibus & omnibus pertinentiis suis, & Cartam nostram eo modo
fieri fecimus. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod secundum tenorem ejusdem Cartae nostrae
ei sine dilatione plenam seisinam habere faciatis. T. meipso apud Craneborn 8 die
Julii.
*Rex Vicecom. & Praeposit. Oxon. salutem. Sciatis quod ad petitionem venerabilis
patris nostri N. Tuscul: Episcopi Apostol. sedis. Legati, concessimus Albrico fil.
Isaac Judaeo domos suas, et domos quae fuerunt Isaac patris sui in Oxon., quae non
valent per annum nisi viginti sol. ut dicitur. Unde vobis mandamus, quod plenam
seisinam domorum illarum eidem Albrico fine dilatione habere faciatis, nisi valeant
per annum plus quani
20 s. T. W. Brewer apud Freemer 11 die Novemb.

This year the King laid an heavy Tax upon the Jews, at Bristol, which some Jews in
Southampton refusing and delaying to pay, the King thereupon issued this Writ to
the Sheriff of Southampton to apprehend and send them prisoners to Bristol, unlesse
they presently paid it.

*Rex Vic. Suthampton, &c. precipimus tibi quatenus omnes Judaeos de Balliva tua qui
nondum peracquietaverunt se de Tallagio apud Bristol super eos posito, vel qui
statim se nunc acquietare noluerint ad Castrum de Bristol per literas tuas sine
dilatione remittas, et eis ibidem Constabulario nostro liberari facias.
Significavimus autem illi quod eos recipiat cum illuc venerint, et omnes denarios
quos de illis recipisti vel recepturus es, sicut teipsum diligis, habeas in
Scaccario nostro apud Westm. in crastino assumptionis beatae Mariae. T. meipso apud
Beneden 26 die Iulii.

*These Jews no doubt were ordered thus to be sent to Bristol Castle, to meet with
such a Toothdrawer as one of them there found some years before.

This year King Iohn sent these Letters to his Governers and Officers in Rochel,
Oleron and Zaunt, to cause the Jews to surcease their exaction of usury there,
which you formerly heard he discharged here at home.

*Rex Majoribus et praepositis Rupellae, de Aloron, et de Zante, salutem. Mandamus

vobis, et singulis vestrum, quod Iudaeos Balliva vestra cessare faciatis ab
exactione usurarum quam faciunt. Therefore their usury was suppressed, condemned
long before the Statute de Iudaismo in 3. E. 1. This Precept of the Kings I find
thu seconded by a Decree of the Popes Legat in those parts, made in the Council of
Burdeaux against the Jewish Usury, and rancked in the Van of all the other Decrees
there enacted.

*Haec sunt Statura quae venerabilis Pater Robert: de Tur. sarrosanctae Romanae
Ecclesiae Leg. sancti Stephani in monte Coelio Presbyter Cardinalis statuit
authoritate
Legationis suae, in Concilio celebrato apud Burdegal, cum aliis quae in Francia
statuit. Sicut praecepit Dominus per pro. in locis suis de Judaeis, ita fiat, ut
scilicet Barones omnes quae tenent Judaeos compellant ipsos remittere usuras cruce
signatis: Et si hoc efficere contemnunt, compellantur omnes mercatores per censuram
ecclesiasticam, ne aliquam communionem cum eis, aut in contractibus, aut in
mercimoniis impendant, aut in quibuslibet; Si autem super hoc Barones
incorrigibiles inveniantur censura simili percellentur.

In the Fine Rolls of the 17 of King Iohn pars 1 there is this pardon of a Jews
debt, which this King seised to his own use.

*Dominus Rex pardonavit Nicholao de Wancy 10 lib. quas ei debuit de debitis

Iudaeorum; & mandatum est Baronibus de Scaccario, quod ipsum Nich. de praedict. 10
libr. quietum esse faciant; T. apud Windsore 16 Julii.

In the 18 and last year of King Iohn, I find his Writ to the Barons of the
Exchequer to allow upon the account of Hubert de Burgo, amongst other
things,*Carnarium Judaeorum & Iudaearum in castro de Lossins. It seems some Jews of
both Sexes were then strictly imprisoned, either for their Taxes, or some
misdemeanors not mentioned in the Record.

These are the most material Records I have found in my search relating to the Jews
affairs, during the not long, but unfortunate troublesome reign of King Iohn: I
proceed to those of Henry the 3 his Son and Successor, which are more copious,
various and delightfull both for matter and rarity.

In the very first year of King Henry the 3. being (then an Infant under the
wardship of the Earl Marshal his Protect,) some Iews being formerly arested &
imprison'd, there issued forth these Writs and Mandates for their release, the
cause of rheir imprisonment not appearing.

*Mandatum est W. Marescai juniori, quod sine dilatione deliberari faciat Cheram
Iudaeam de Winton, quam Galfred de Laurton, et Frnket servientes sui ceperunt, et
captam detinent, et ut permittant ipsam Cheram sine impedimento venire usque
Winton, quia Dominus Rex plenam pacem suam ei concessit. T. Com. (to wit W. Earl
Marshal then Protector) apud VVinton 22 die Aprilis, Anno reg. Dom. Regis primo.

Et mandatum est praedictis G. et Franket, quod ipsam Cheram sine dilatione

deliberent, et sine impedimento permittant venire ad VVinton. T. eodem.

*Rex Iosceo de Plugenap, salutem. Mandamus vobis firmiter precipientes, quod sine
dilatione et occasione aliqua deliberetis, et quietum abire permittatis Ioppe fil.
Iocei de VVilton Iudaeum quem cepistis et captum tenetis. Et in hujus rei
testimonium, &c. T. Comite apud Winton 21 die Aprilis An. reg. nostri primo.

*Rex Rico fil. Rog. salutem. Mandamus vobis sicut alias mandavimus firmiter
praecipientes, quod sine dilatione et occasione aliqua deliberetis Isaac fil.
Solomonis Iudaeum quem cepistis apud Winton, ipsumque mittatis quietum ad Comitem
VV. Marescallum Rectorem nostrum et regni nostri apud VVinton. In cujus rei
restimonium, &c. Teste Com. apud VVinton 21 die April. an. reg. nostr. primo.

King Henry in the second year of his raign, being informed by his Counsel what
great advantage he might make by the Jews upon all occasions, by the advice of his
Counsel sent forth thse special Writs and Lerters Patents to 24 Burgesses in each
Town where the Jews resided, to protect them and theirs from injury; appointed
special Justices for their custody and affaires, and likewise confirmed all their
former Liberries for protection of their persons and Estates from violence, and
exempting them from the Bishops Jurisdiction, and all other Courts and Judicatures
whatsoever, but those Justices he specially appointed for their custody. And
likewise
commanding all the Jews to wear two white Tables in their breads that thereby they
might be manifestly distinguished from Christians, and the better known and secured
from injury and violence by thoe their new Protectors.

*Rex Constabulario et Praepositis Gloucest. salutem. Mandamus vobis, quod ine

dilatine liberetis Judos nostro Gloucest. 24. Burgensibus Gloucestriae
custodiendos; Nec permittais quod isi Iudaei ab aliquibus vexentur, & maxime de
Cruce signais vel aliis. Nomina autem Burgensium quibus illos commiteritis
custodiendos imbreviari faciatis. Et ipsi &c. T. Com. apud Glouc. x die Martii.
Anno reg. nostri secundo.

*Rex. ic. Lincoln salutem. Praecipimus tibi quod eligas 24. de meloribus et
discretionibus Civibus Lincoln, qui custodiant Iudaeos nostros Lincoln, et qui non
permittant, quod aliquis eis malum vel injuriam faciat, de Cruce signatis vel
aliis: & qui, &c. T. Com. apud Oxon, 30 die Marcii.

*Rex omnibus Ballivis, et fidelibus suis, salutem, Sciatis, Nos de communi Consilio
nostro, attornasse dilectos et fideles nostros Ric: de Doli, Magist. Alex. de
Dorset, & Elyam de Suvinges ad Scaccarium Iudaeorum custodiend: et ad omnia 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 Chrisianos. Et ideo tibi praecipimus, quod eos custodias,
mnnrenes protegas, non eis infetens vel inferri permitte aiquod gravamen vel
molestiam, & si aliquis forisfecerit, id eis sine dilatione facias
clamari facias per totam Ballivam tuam, pacem nostram dedimus, non obstante
bitione inde facta, ab Episcopo Hereford, quia nihil ad ipsum pertiner de
Judaeis nostris. Et proibemus tibi ne manus mittas in eos, aut in Catalla eoum,
nec eos capias aut imprisones, nec in Placitum trahas, aut a Justiciariis nostris
ab aliquo trahi permittas; Sedu aiquid fecerint quare poni debeant per vadium &
plegios, tunc illos & eorum excessus attachies, quod nt coram Jusiciariis
nostris ad Custodiam Judaerum attornatis, inde responsuri, & hoc facias per vium
legalium Christianorum & Judaeorum; Et non permittas quod placitentur in curia
Christianitatis occasione cujus debiti. Et haec omnia fieri facias, sicut fieri
solebant tempore Johann. Regis patris nostri. Teste Com. apud Trom 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: & cecom. Suthampton & civibus Winton pro Judaeis: There
Jews then residing in all these places.

I the 2 year of King Henry the 3. I find this Kings rit to several Sheriffs where
the Jews resided, to proclm, that all the Jews where ever they did walk or ride,
should on their upper Garments wear a white abes 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 icecomiti Wigorni salutem: Prcipimus tibi,*quod lamari & observari facias
per totam Balliva tm, qud omnes Judaei deferunt in superiori indumento suo,
ubicur ambulaverint aut equitaverint infra villam vel exra, qua duas
Tabulas albas in Pectore, fact as de lineo patano, vel d parcameno: Ita quod per
hujusmodi signum manifeste posint Iudaei Christianis discerni. Tste Cmite (to
wit. William Marshal Earl of Glcester the Kings Guardan 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
Iustciariorum 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 Chae
que fuerunt ipsius Eliae, & debita in eis contenta ipsi patri nstro remneant:
that King Iohn upon Elye his death, seied and granted ll his houses, except two,
which Mirabil by agreement was to have, paying a fine of 15 marks to his Fathe
which was not yet paid; which agreement he confirmd and thereupon orders the
Sheriff to y the aid Fine and Debts. T. Com: apud Gloc. 3. die Ian.

It appears by many Rolls of . (and also of 3 4 & 5.) H. 3. that King Iohn seied
and gae away o other the Houses of divers Jews, both in Gloceter, Oxon.
Nothampton, and that King Hny likewise dipoed of them; as escheated to him,
either by the Jews deaths, oo some other causes: Take these two presdents 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. Gouc. salutem; Constat nbis per inspectionem Rotulorum nostrorum, quod
Dom. J. Rex, pater noster, dedit Guiberto de Rue Domum quae fuit Elye Iudaei Gloc.
&c. cum quadam placia 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 Licene, being once within his
power.

(o)Rex Custodbus Portuum Angliae. Praecipimus vobis quod Judaeos qui venturi sunt
in teram nostram Angiae de traia triis partbus ad morandum in terra nostra
Angliae, cum catalis suis, liber, et sine impedimento in portu nostro ccdere
permittatis, accepta ab eis sufficienti securitate, secundum Lgem Judaeorum per
fidem eorundem, quod quam critis poterint, veniant ad Iusticiarios nostros ad
custodiam Judaeorum assignatos ad inrotuland: nomina eorum in rotulis nst is. Et
si aliquem Judaeum qui de partibus transmarinis
venerit, sicut praedictum est, retinueritis, ipsum et catalla sua sine dilatione
deliberari faciatis. Si quos autem inveneritis Iudaeos de terra nostra qui ad vos
venerint ad transfretandum usque ad partes transmarinas sine literis nostris de
licentia transfretandi, ipsos cum catallis suis arrestari faciatis, donec a Nobis,
vel a Iusticiariis nostris ad custodiam Indaeorum assignatis inde aliud mandatum
habueritis. T. Petro VVinton Episcopo apud VVestm. 13 die Novemb. Anno Regni nostri
tertio.

Divers Debtors of the Jews made a fine with king Iohn in the 10th. year of his
reign to be paid at certain terms, of which payments they failing, the Jews
thereupon paying the fine had these debts assigned them by king Henry the 3. and a
precept to extend all the lands they had in 10 of king Iohn, prohibiting the taking
of any use from them before the kings assignment, but allowing use afterwards, as
this Record demonstrates.
*Rex Vic. Lincoln et Eborum salutem. Quia Gilb. de Bercumworth, Norm: de Arecy (and
5 more there named) non servaverunt terminos suos de fine quem fecerunt cum Dom.
Rege patre nostro de debitis Iudaeorum: Nos de consilio nostro die Sancti. Martini,
An. reg. nostr. 3. Liberavimus Helie de Linc. Iudaeo, debita eorundem de quibus
finem fecerunt, per finem quem idem Helie nobis fecit. Ita quod de eisdem debitis,
exigere possit totum catallum suum sine lucro quod sibi de cetero proveniet. Et
ideo praecipimus G. de Bercumworth quod sine dilatione reddat eidem Helie 316 l. 10
s. (cum lucro quod sib excreverit a praedicto die sancti Martini) Item praecipimus
Norm. de Arecy quod sine dilatione reddat eidem Helie 23 l. 17 s. &c. (reciting the
other 5 debs at large) cum lucris quae de praedictis debitis excreverit a
praedicto termino. Et nisi fecerint, tunc sine dilatione seisiatis ipsum H. (and
the rest) de omnibus terris ei redditibus quae fuerunt praedict. debitorum in
Balliva vestra, An. regni Dom. I. regis patris nostri decimo, quae scil. terrae et
redditus sunt vadia nostra pro praedict. debitis, sicut
contineretur in rotulis nostris in quibus Cartae & Cirographa omnium praedictorum
irrotulentur, et ipsum in seinna illa custodiatis, et manuteneatis; non ei
inferentes aut inferri permittentes in seisina illa aliquod gravamen vel molestiam.
Istud autem mandatum nostrum ita diligenter exequamini, ne pro defectu vestri
debita nostra ad terminos eidem Helie Statutos remaneant insoluta, &c. T. P. Winton
Epo. apud VVinton. 13 die Nov. An. reg. n. tertio.

After which follows this Patent reciting that Isaac of Norwich a Jew made a fine of
10000 marks to King Iohn (a vast summe in that age) to be paid by a mark every day
till it was satisfied.

*Rex Baronibus de Scac. salutem. Sciaris quod recepimus per manum Vener. Patris
nostri P. Wynton, Epis. in 15 dies post Nativ. Sancti. Iohis. Baptistae, an. &c. 2.
Usque ad festum St. Martini An. &c. tertio. Utraque die computata, quolibet die 1
marc. de fine quem Isaac de Norw. fecit nobiscum pro 1 marc. nobis singulis diebus
reddend. pro fine 10 mil. marcarum quem fecit cum Dom. Ioh. Rege patre nostro, Et
rei hujus, &c. per ipsum Com. et ipsum Wynton. Epis An. &c. 3.

The Jews in that age and before, used to assign over Debts to the King, to satisfie
their Taxes, and other duties: whereupon the King gave them a discharge from being
sued for these debts but only before himself, his Chief Justice or the Justices
assigned to them; witness this Prohibition.

*Rex omnibus Ballivis, &c. Prohibemus quod non permittatis quod aliquis Judaeus vel
Judaea, in Balliva vestra trahat in Placitum Mossaeum fil. Isaac de Colecester
Judaeum, de debito W. Hastings, quod ei liberavimus per finem quem modo nobiscum
fecit; quod quidem debitum idem Mosseus et fratres sui, haeredes praedicti Isaac,
liberaverunt quietum in Thesaurarium nostrum in salvatione debiti quod dictus Isaac
debuit Domino Johanni Regi patri nostro, nisi coram Nobis, vel Capitali Justiciario
nostro, vel Justiciariis nostris ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis: sine eo quod
inde speciale mandatum nostrum habuerint. T. H. de Burgo, &c.

In the 5 year of Henry the 3. The King granted the Custody of a Jews house in
Melchstreet escheated to him till his full age by this writ.

*Rex Rico de Dol. et Magist. Alex. de Dorset, et sociis suis ad custod. Judaeorum
assignatis, salutem. Sciatis nos concessisse dilecto nostro Luce Capellano, H. de
Burgo Justiciarii nostri, custod. domus et terrae cum pertinentiis quae fuerunt
Solomonis de Melchstreet Judaei, quae sunt in manu nostra sicut escaeta nostra
occasione Judaeorum, usque ad aetatem nostram. Et ideo vobis praecipimus quod eidem
Luce plenam seisinam sine dilatione habere faciatis. T. H. apud Turr. London 7 die
Ian. an. reg. n. 5. per eundem

In the 7 year of this King the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Bishop of Lincoln had
issued forth Precepts, That none should buy any thing of, nor sell any victuals or
necessaries to the Jews, nor have any communnion with thm (being excommunicated
persons for their infidelity and usury by the Laws of the Church:) whereupon the
King issued forth this ensuing Writ to the Sheriffs and Maior of Canterbury and
Lincoln, and the like Writs to others upon the Jews complaint, commanding all to
sell them victuals and other necessaries, and apprehend and imprison those that
refused, notwithstanding the Bishops inhibition.

*Rex Vicecomiti Lincoln, & Majori Cantuariae, salutem. Ostenderunt nobis Judaei
nostri Lincolniae, quod ratione praecepti Venerab. patr. S.S. Cantuariensis
Archiepiscopi, et Episcopi Lincoln. facti de Judaeis, ne quis eis victualia
vendant, nec communionem habeant cum eis, nec inveniant aliquem qui eis aliquid
vendant: Ideo vobis praecipimus quod visis Literis istis, praecipi et clamari
faciatis ex parte nostra in Balliva vestra, quod vendantur eis victualia, et alia
necessaria in Civitate
Cantuariae et alibi illum capiatis, et corpus ejus salvo custodiatis, donec aliud
mandatum praeciperimus. Teste H. &c. apud Westmon. 10 die Novembris.

Eodem modo scribitur Majori & Praeposito Oxon. de Iudaeis Oxon. et. Ballivis de
Norwic. de Iudaeis Norwic.

In the Fine Rolls of 7 H. 3. I find several respites of Debts demanded from the
Jews by the Kings Officers by procee out of the Kings Exchequer for the Jews,
till the next account upon several grounds, take these two instances for all the
rest of that nature in this Roll, which I shall omit.

*Mandatum est Vicecomiti Eborum, quod Demandam quam facit Eustachiae de Courtenay
de debitis Judaeorum per summonitionem Scaccarii, in respectu ponat usque super
proximum Compotum suum ad festum Sancti Michaelis anno, &c. 7. ut tunc coram S.
Justiciar. ad custodiam Judaeorum assignat. discutiatur, utrum ipsa de debitis
illis respondere debeat, cum ipsa nihil teneat de tertis quae fuerunt Willielmi
filii Anceturi quondam viri sui, qui debita illa bebuit, nisi nomine dotis. Test,
H. &c. apud VVestm. 7 die Sept.

*Mandatum est Vicecomiti Kanciae, quod demanda 46 solidorum et 8 denariorum quam

facit VVillielmo Cissori nostro de debitis Judaeorum, per summonirionem Scaccarii
nostri, in respectu ponat usque super prox. Compotum suum ad festum Sancti
Michaelis, Anno reg. nostri septimo. T. ut supra per eundem.

Four Jews committed for killing an English man, were bailed and delivered to 9
other Jews, their bail, by this Writ in 9 H. 3. and their goods, writings, Letters
rents seised in the interim.

*Rex vic. Sathamt. salutem. Praecipimus tibi quod Abrahamum de Cant. Samaris fil
Lumbard, Eliam fil. Chierie & Abrah. fil. Aiare Iudaeos, capos & detentos in
prisone nostra per praeceptum nostrum, pro morte Willi. fil. Rici, sil. Gervasii,
unde idem Ricus eos appellat, tradas in Ball.
Lumbardo Duleberigint, (and 5 others there named) Judaeis nostris Wint. cum omnibus
catallis quae sunt Judaeorum de morte praedict. appellatorum, quas ipsi habeant in
terris, redditibus, Cirographis, Talliis et rebus alis in manum nostram capiatis,
Et per visum hominum Legalium imbreviatis, usque ad prox. adventum nostrum apud
VVinton. & praedictos Lumbard. &c. qui praedictos Judaeos de praedicta morte
appellatos in ball. ceperum, et corpora dictor. Judaeorum appellatorum ad veritatem
inde plenius attirgena. et dic praedicto Rico. quod tunc sit coram vobis appellum
suum versus eos inde prosecuturus. E habeas ibi hc breve. T. R. apud Winton 12
die Julii, An. 9. coram Justic.

In the 10 of H. 3. I find this Record conteining an agreement with some Jews

concerning a Debt which the King commands to be observed, because inrolled.
*Mandat. est Iustic, ad custodiam Iudaeorum assignatis quod finem quem VVillus de
Lancaster fecit coram eis pro Rogero de Leiburn cum Bonefaunt de Glou. Mirabile
mater ejus Iudi, (and 6 more Jews there named) de debito quod ipse Roger eis
debuit, qui quidem finis irrotulatus est in Rotulo Scac. Iudaeorum ut dicitur,
sicut recordatus fuit coram ipsis Iusticiariis, et irrotulatus, teneri faciant. T.
R. apud Gaytington 17 die Julii Anno R. n. 10.

Fines 10. H. 3. m. 9. Respite is given Benedicto Crespen, & aliis Iudaeis, to pay a
great debt annually to the King at certain terms by set sums, and the Justices for
the Jews to allow it. And Ibid. Dors. 4. Memorandum quod Dom. Rex pardonavit
Roberto de VVolfraton 9 marc. quas debet Leoni Iudaeo Linc. unde loquendum est ei
cum eodem Iudaeo ad Scac. Dom. Reg. coram Iustic. ad custod. Iudaeorum assignatis,
et quod charta sine dilatione ei reddatur, that so he might not sue him on it
afterwards.

In the 11 of H. 3. one Augustine a Iew turning a Christian Convert at Canterbury,

the King commanded the Sheriff to restore him his house, (which was forfeited upon
his conversion) by this Precept.

*Mandatum est Vic. Kant. quod habere faciat Augustino converso quandam domum in
Iudaismo in Cant. quae sua fuit antequam ad fidem converteretur, non obstanteeo
quod conversus est. T. Rege apud Red. 17. die Jan.

Anno 14. H. 3. some Iews were sent up Prisoners to the Tower and ordered to be
speedily tried for stealing of cloth and clipping of money, as this Warrant
manifests.

*Mandatum est Constab. Turris London, quod Iudaeos subscriptos quos Rex ad eum
mittit, per Adam Custard, & Richard de Donne, Servientes Vic. Salop: Viuianum: &
Bell: uxor: ejus, Isaac & Ann. uxor. ejus, et Aguinam Judaeam, et Aaron, rectatos
de latrocinio panni et Tonsura Denariorum, recipiat, et ipsos in Turre London salvo
custodiat, quousque Stephanus de Sedgrave venerit London; cui Rex mandavit, quod in
primo adventu suo usque London, ipsos Judaeos coram se venire faciat: et si ipsos
inde culpabiles invenerit, de ipsis fieri faciat quod secundum consuetudinem
Angliae fuerit faciendum. T. Rege apud Reading 3. die Martii.

Et mandatum est ipsi Stephano quod in primo adventu suo London loquelam illam
audiat, et de illis quos inde culpabiles invenerit fac. judicium fieri secundum
Legem et consuetudinem Regni, non expectata super hoc praesentia Regis, et de aliis
qui non sunt culpabiles, faciat quod viderit faciendum, &c. T. ut supra.

In the 15 of H. 3. the King sent this Writ to the Sheriff of Kent commanding him to
summon 6. of the richest and potentest Jews of Canterbury, and so many more of
Rochester, to appear before him at Westminster to hear his command, and to bring up
with them all their own and the other Jews arrerages of Canterbury and Rochester,
of the 8000 marks, and likwise of the 6000 marks, (not long before imposed on them)
with the arrears of the 1000. marks promised to him by the Jews of England to
respite their debts, witness the Record it self.

*Mandatum est Vicecom. Kanc. quod sicut seipsum et

omnia sua diligit, venire faciat coram Rege apud Westm. die Pasche in 15 dies,
Sex: de ditioribus et potentioribus Iudaeis villae Cantuariae, et totidem de villa
Roff. ad audiendum ibidem praeceptum Regis. Ita quod ad eundem terminum habeant
ibidem omnia arreragia sua propria sine omni dilatione, similter et arreragia
omnium Iudaeorum praedictarum villaru, quae Dom. Regi debent, tam de Tallagio 8.
millia marcarum, quam de Tallagio 6 millia marcarum, et preterea id quod ad Iudaeos
praedictaru villarum adhuc pertinet Regi reddendum de mille marcis quae Regi
promissae fuerunt nomine omnium Iudaeorum Angliae pro respectu habendo debitis quae
ab eis exigebantur: Ea diligentia hoc praeceptum Regis executur: ne pro defectu suo
ad eum Rex se graviter capere debeat. Et habeat ibi nomina illorum sex Iudaeorum,
et hoc breve. T. Rege apud Clarendon, 26 die Marcii.

Anno 16 H. 3. I find this Grant of a Jews house by the King.

*Rex concessit Richo. de Sancto Johanne Capell: domum illam cum pertinentiis in
vico de Pater noster Church London, quae fuit Ricile Ailer, et modo est in manu
Jacobi Iudaei London, et Floriae uxoris ejus: habendum de dom. Rege sibi et
haeredibus suis, vel cuicunque ea dare, vendere, vel aliter assignare voluerit. Et
mandatum est Justic. ad custod: Iudaeorum assignatis, quod eidem Rico: de domo
praedicto cum pertinentiis, plenam seisinam habere faciant, sicut. praedict. est.
Teste Rege apud Westmonast. xviii. die Iulii.

Pro quibusdam Iudaeis to pay their fines and debts by certain portions at some
terms.

In the 17 year of H. 3. the King imposed a Tax upon the Jews of 10000 marks; which
they being unable to pay presently, had certain dayes assigned to pay it in, by
several sums mentioned in this record, some special Jews excepted.

Rex concessit Judaeis Angliae (exceptis Isaac de Norwic. et Ursell, et fratris sui
haeredibus Ham. de Hereford)
quod de 10 mille marcis, quas Regi debent de ultimo Tallagio, solvant ad Scacc.
Regis ad festum Sancti Michaelis, An: 17. 500 l. et ad Pasche prox: sequent: 500 l.
& si bene respondeant Regi de dictis mille libris ad praedict. terminos, et de
aliis arreragiis quae Regi debent; tunc solvant similiter de eisdem 10000 marcis,
anno proximo sequent: 1000 l. ad eosdem terminos scil: ad festum Sancti Michaelis
Ann. 18. 500 l. et ad Pasch. prox. sequen: 500 l. et postea per annum 2000 marc. ad
eosdem terminos, donec dictae 10000 marc. sic Regi plene solvantur. Concessit etiam
Rex eisdem Judaeis, (praeter dictis Isaac, et fratribus ejus) quod interim quieti
sint de Tallagio scil: quousque dictae 10000 marc. persolutae fuerint, sicut
praedict. est. Ita tamen quod illi Judaei qui manuceperunt pro omnibus Iudaeis
Angliae Tallagium 8000 marc. Regi plene respondeant de arreragiis ejusdem Tallagii,
& quilibet Judaeus respondeat pro se de arreragiis Tallagii 6000 marc. quia tunc
Talliati fuerunt per capita, & de aliis debitis et finibus quae Regi debent, non
obstante hoc fine interim Regi respondeant. In cujus &c. T. Pet. Winton Episc. apud
Westm. 2 die Martii. Per eundem & Justic.

It is evident by this record, That there were 3 several Taxes lately imposed, one
by the Pol on every particular Jew, who was obliged to pay his proportion: the
other of 8000 marks, imposed on all the Jews generally throughout England, which
some of them were engaged to see paid to the King, the other of 10000 marks to be
paid at certain dayes, by parcels as aforesaid. The Arrears of all which, besides
other Debts and Fines to the King lay charged all on them at once.

In the pleas of the 18 year of King Henry the 3. I find many things touching the
Jews and their affairs. As namely, that memorable Plea, concerning the Iews
circumcising a child at Norwich; in the Placita 18 H. 3. rot. 21. kept in the
Treasury of the Exchequer; which because I have printed at large in the 2 Edition
of my former
Short Demurrer, &c. p. 19, 20, 21. and for that it is briefly touched in Mr. Samuel
Purchas his Pilgrimage. Edit. 3. lib. 2. c. 10. sect. 7. with this observation on
it, out of Celsus, l. 7. c. 25. That by Chirurgery the skin of a circumcised child
may be dawn forth again to an uncircumcision: I shall here pretermit, to avoid
repetition and prolixity.

The Jews were such unwelcom Guests to all Towns and places in England where they
resided, that King Henry granted this (as a special Priviledg) by his Charter to
the Town of New-castle, and their heirs, that no Iew from thenceforth should remain
or reside in their Town, during the reign of him and his heirs, as is evident by
this record in the Tower.

(t)Rex Vicecomiti Northumberland: salutem: Sciatis, quod concessimus & Carta nostra
confirmavimus probis hominibus nostris de illa Novi Castri super Tynam &
haeredibus eorum, Quod habeant hanc Libertatem, quod nullus Iudaeus de caetero
Tempore nostro, vel haeredum nostrorum maneat, vel residentiam aliquam faciat in
eadem Villa,cut plenius continecur in Carta regis quam eis modo fieri fecimus: &
mandatum est eidem Vicecomiti, quod dictam cartam in pleno comitatu suo legi et
clamaoi faciat, et Praedictam Libertatem eis habere permittat, sicut praedictum
est. Teste Rege apud Kenit. Quarto die Iulii, per Godfrid: de Crancumb.

If then it were a great Priviledge, Liberty, Benefit, happiness to the Town of New-
castle and their heirs, to be thus perpetually exempted from the residence and
cohabitation of any Jews amongst them under this King, his heirs and Successors,
certainly by the self-same reason it must be so likewise to all other Cities,
Towns, and the whole realm of England; and a great violation of their Liberties,
and impeachment of their prosperity now again to introduce these blasphemous old
banished Jews amongst the English, against their wills and consents.

*In the Plea-rolls of Anno 18 H. 3. There are many things concerning the Jws
affaires, sundry complaints and Inquisiions concerning the oppressions and
exactions of Peter de Rivallis, Stephen de Segrave, and Robert de Passelew Justices
of the Iews, & for their Bribes received from the Iews, against whom Simon
Cirographarius Iudaeorum petit Literas; And in rot. 17. & 20, dorso. Peter de
Rivallis being then under a cloud, amongst other things proffered to surrender up
to the King, totam Forestarium Angliae et Iudaismum, which the King had granted
him.

In the 19 H. 3. the King sent this writ to prohibite all Jews hereafter to be
obedient to Robert de Passelew as their Iustice, being discharged of his office
for his bribes and misdemeanors.

Mandatum est Constabulario Turr: London, quod scire faciat Iudeis London, et aliis
Iudeis qui apud London venient, quod de caetero in nullo sint intendentes vel
respondentes Roberto Passelewe de hiis quae ad custodiam Iudaeorum pertinent, donec
Dominus Rex aliud inde praeceperit. T. R. apud Gloc. 30 die Maii.

This year also the Jews accused and imprisoned at Norwich for circumcising a child
at Norwich the year before, were commannded to be removed thence to the Tower of
London, as this record assures us.

*Mandatum est Vic. Norf. quod Iudaeos de Norwic. captos et detentos in prisona
Regis pro transgressione quam fecerunt de quodam parvo Christiano circumcidendo, ut
dicitur, suis literis mitti faciat ad custos eorum, usque London; liberandos ibidem
Constabulario Turris London, cui Rex praecepit per literas suas quas eidem Vic.
mittit ei mittendas, quod eos recipiat,et eos salvo custodiat. T. R. apud West. 21
die Novemb. The Indictment and whole Proceedings against them I have * elsewhere at
large related.

And this respit of their trial for which they paid a fine.

De Respectu. Rex Iustic. suis itinerant. in Com. Suff. salutem.

Mandamus vobis quod Iudicium quod faciendum est de quibusdam Iudaeis de Norwic. qui
capti sunt et detenti in prisona nostra pro transgressione quam fecerunt de quodam
puero Christiano circumcidendo ponatis in respectum coram nobis apud London usque
in 15 dies a die Sancti Hil. An. r. n. 19. accepta prius securitate de praedictis
Iudaeis de centum marcis ad opus nostrum reddendis, pro hoc respectu habendo, Et
habeatis tunc coram nobis recordum, illius loquelae. Mandamus enim Vic. Norf. quod
cum festinatione praedictos Iudaeos mitti faciat usque Lond. liberandos ibidem
Constabulario Turris nostrae London. T. R. apud Westm. 21 die Novemb.

The same year the King sent this writ to the Sheriff of Northfolk and Suffolk to
proclaim, That no Iew should lend any money from thenceforth to any Christian that
held any Demeasne Lands of the King, in Socage or Villenage upon the lands
themselves, but only upon their chattels and moveables, under pain of losing the
money lent, or falling under the Kings amerement.

*Rex Vicecom. Norf. & Suff. salutem. Praecipimus tibi quod clamari facias per totos
Comitatus tuos, Quod nullus Iudaeus de caetero aliquam pecuniam credat alicui
Christiano, qui teneat de nobis in Dominicis et Maneriis nostris, per servicium
Scocagii uel Villenagii, super tetram vel tenementum aliquod quod sit de Dominico
nostro, set si ipsi Christiani mutuam videlicet a Iudaeis pecuniam recipere
vellint, illam recipiant super vadium catallorum, et rerum mobilium: Et si aliquis
contra hoc praeceptum nostrum in posterum venire presumpserit, Iudaeus pecuniam sic
creditam amittat, et in misericordiam nostram incidat, et Christianus similiter
tenementum suum in perpetuum, videlicet illud quod tam temere contra praeceptum
nostrum obligaverit. amittat. Teste Rege apud Certes 1 die Sept. The same year

*Mandatum est Vic. Buck. quod non permittat quod aliquis Judaeus de caetero maneat
in villa de VVeycumbe sed Iudaeos qui ibidem sunt manentes sine dilatione amoveri
fac. et maneant in aliis villis, in quibus prius manete consueverant. T. R. apud
Herwic. 28 die Novemb.

This year I find this notable proclamation.

Mandatum est Vicecomiti Norf. et Suff. quod in Civitate de Norwic. et singulis

bonis vllis Com. suorum, clamori faciat, quod nulla faemina Christiana de caetero
serviat Iudaeis ad alendos pueruls suos, vel in aliquo alio officio. Teste R. apud
VVestm. 20 die Ian. per ipsum regem.

Vrsilla filia Hamonis de Hereford Judaei, pays a fine of 5000 marks, pro habendis
terris, domibus, et omnibus debitis et catallis quae fuerunt praedict. Hamonis to
be paid at certain days.

Such Fines of Iews to enjoy their fathers houses and chattels, are frequent in the
Fine Rolls.

*Isaac a Jew was this year fined 100l. de pluribus transgressionibus de quibus
convactus fuit coram Justic. Dom. Reg. ad custod. Iudaeorum assignatis.

In this year also the King discharged Aaron a Jew of York from all Tallages
whatsoever during his life, paying annually into his Exchequer one hundred marks
yearly at two terms for his exemption.

*Rex omnibus ad quos presentes litterae perveniunt, salutem. Sciatis quod

concessimus Aaron de Ebor. Judaeo, quod ipse toto tempore vitae suae quietus sit de
Talagio; reddendo pr annum ad Scac. nostrum Cent. marc. ad duos terminos, scil.
50 mar. ad fest, Pasch. et 50 marc. ad festum Sancti Michis. Ita quod de debitis
quae nobis debuit de quibus finem fecit nobiscum, reddend: per annum ad Scac.
nostrum cent. solidos qutetus erit per praedict. 100 mar. an. In cujus, &c. T. R.
apud Suthan 13 die Feb. Et mandatum est Iusticiariis ad custodiam Iudeorum per
literas clausas, quod ita fiei et irrotulari faciant. VVhich exemption is
frequently mentioned and ratified afterwards, and yet availed him very little, as I
haveelsewhere manifested out of Mat. Paris.

*Aaron de York to pay 100 marks per an. to the Kings

Exchequer to be free from taxes during all his life.
In 20 H. 3. I find this pardon of Usury due to a Jew by the King.

Rex pardonavit Roberto de Pedtiling totam usuram debitorum quibus tenetur Isaac
Judaeo Nottingh. et Benedicto Judaeo Warwic. salva praedictis Judaeis orte
predict. debitorum. Et mandatum est Justiciariis ad custod. Judaeorum assignatis,*
quod de usura praedicta ipsum Robertum quietum else, et ad sortem eorundem
debitorum praedict. Judaeis redendam eidem Roberto rationabiles terminos habere
faciant. T. Rege apud Winton 10 die Iunii.

This year the Inhabitants of Suthampton being weary of the Jews company, who
intruded themselves into the Town, procured this grant from the King to be quit of
them (unlesse by special command) for the future.

Rex concessit Burgensibus suis Suthampton, quod nullus Iudaeus de caetero maneat
apud Suthampton sine speciali praecepto Regis: Et mandat. est. Iusticiariis ad
custod. Iudaeorum assignatis, quod illinc nullum Iudaeum mittant ad manendum ibi,
nec aliquem ibi remanere permittant sine speciali praecepto Regis. T. Rege apud
Winton 21 die Iunii.

I conceive all corporations in England will be as unwilling to entertain any Iews

now to dwell amongst them, as the Inhabitants of Suthampton (and those of
Newcastle, and Wickham forementioned) were to receive them in that age.

In this year I find one Iew extending the lands of another Iew for a debt, by this
VVrit to their Iustices for that end.

Mandatum est Iustic. ad custod. Iudaeorum assignatis. quod per Sacramentum

proborum et legalium hominum extendi faciant Domos et terras Aaronis Benedicti
Suthampton in Suthampt. et in la Hull, videlicet quantum valeant per annum in
dominicis, redditibus, serviciis. villenag. et omnibus aliis exitibus:
et fac. extendi praedict eidem Aaroni rationabilem finem, et rationabiles terminos
habere fac. ad debita in quibus tenetur David Iudaeo Oxon. et Deuleben fil. Urse.
Iudaeo Winton, secundum valorem praedictar. domorum et terrarum. et quantitatem
praedictorum debitorum, ita quod interim cessent usurae (which here one Jew took of
another) T. R. apua Winton 11 die Jun.

Hen. the 3 in the 21 year of his reign graned the Presbytry of all the Jews of
England (which I conceive to be rather the Custos Rotulorum, or Controlers place in
the Kings Exchequer of the Jews, than the Priestly function) as this Record
attests.

Mandatum tst Iusticiariis ad custodiam Iudaeorum assignatis. Quod Rex concessit

Aaron Iudaeo Ebor. Presbyteratum omnium Iudaeorum Angliae, cum omnibus pertinentiis
suis tenendum tota vita sua: Et quotiens Aaron intendere non possit ad sedend. ad
Scaccarium Regis ad officium illud (therefore certainly it was a temporal office in
the Kings Exchequer, not an Ecclesiastical Priesthood in the Jewish Synagogues)
Ioceu fil. Copin loco suo recipiat, ad ea facienda ad Scaccarium regis quae ad
officium illud pertinent (therefore a temporal office only to be executed in the
Exchequer, and that by Deputy as well as in proper person, which the Jewish High
Priesthood could nor be) Rotulos etiam qui fuerunt Joci Presbyteri praedecessoris
sui (his Office therefore was to keep the Rolls, as Comptroler) eidem Aaron, vel
praedicto attornato suo habere faciant. T. Rege apud Clarendon 29 die September.

Which record, together with that of Claus. 27 H. 3. ars 2. m. 3. hereafter cited,

doth most fully convince me upon second thoughts, that the Presbyteratus omnium
Iudorum totius Angliae granted by King Iohn's Charter forementioned, in the 1 year
of his reign to Iacob the London Jew, was not an ecclesiastical high Priesthood
Escopacy, or Priestly Aaronical Function, but exercised over all the English Jews
in their Synagogues,
as Sir Edward Coook, Mt. Selden, Mr. Purehas,* Dr. Fuller, and others generally
assert, as a thing beyond disspute, whose venerable Authorities at first induced me
to that opinion, but a meer secular Office in the Kings Exchequer of the Jews to
keep the Rolls of Comptroll, which this Aaron had now granted to him in the
selfsame words, as are used in King Iohns Charter, and his Predecessors before,
and successors after him enjoyned by like Charters from the K. A thing now clear to
me upon consideration, that the Jewish Priesthood in the old and new Testam. Latin
Authors, and Records, is never stiled Presbyteratus, but *Sacerdetium, nor their
Priest not High Priest; Presbyter omnium Iudeorum; but Sacerdos, Pontifex, max.
summus Sacerdos, &c. and upon my comparing of several records together since the 3,
4, and 5. pages of this second Demurrer printed (which I could not transcribe, nor
compare together till afterwards) that it is past all dispute.

This year the King imposed a Tax of ten thousand marks upon the Jews, from the
immediate payment whereof no Iew was to be excused or respited, but by the Kings
special Writ, as these two Records informe us in this very year.

*Mandatsm est Iusticiariis ad custod. Iudaeorum assignatis, quod de arreragiis

Tallagii Iudaeorum, de 10 mille marc. quae colligi precipit rex, nullos Iudaeos
quietos. esse permittant, nisi Tallagium illud ad Scac. regis pacaverint, vel
literas regis de quietancia inde habuerint, vel aliud rationabile Warrantum
producant, quod eis de jure sufficere debeat. Teste Rege apud Marleburge 13 die
December.

*Rex quietum clamavit Aaron Iudaeum Ebor. de plegiag. 10 mil. marc. de Tallagio
posito super Iudeos. unde idem Aaron fuit unus de 10 plegiis. In cujus, &c. T. R.
apud Westm. 18 die Iunii: per Archiepisc. Ebor.

It seems 40 rich Iews were pledges to the King for the due payment of this 10
thousand marks Tallage, whereof Aaron being one, was now discharged by this royal
instrument.

Some Iews in Oxford were this year imprisoned for forcibly taking away a Iewish
child, converted and baptized; who bing afterwards found, they were released by
this writ.

*Mandatum est Constab. Oxon: quod omnes Iudaeos quos cepit et captos tenet in
Castro Oxon: occasione cujusdam parvi conversi et baptizati, qui dicebatur per
ipsos Iudaeos raptus esse, et qui jam inventus est apud Oxon, sine dilatione
deliberet. Teste Rege apud Westm. 4 die Novem.

In 22 H. 3. there was a new heavy Tax imposed on the Jews, which some Jews in
Bristol to avoid, thought to flie the Land, whereupon they were there imprisoned;
and at last released, upon giving security not to depart the Realm and to pay the
Tax; as this record attests.

Mandatum est Constabul. Bristol, quod si Lumbard et Isaac Iudaei Bristol capti et
in prisona Bristol detenti, eo quod fugere volebant terra Regis, fecerint eum
securum, quod moram facient in terra Regis, et quod reddent in medio quadragesimae
Ann. &c. 22. id quod ad eos pertinet de Tallagio Regis, tunc eos ita deliberet
prisona. T. R. apud Westm. 5 die Martii.

There are several records this year for extending lands for the Debts of Jews, take
one for a president of the rest.

Mandatum est Justieiariis ad custod. Judaeorum assignatis quod extendi faciant

terram Roberti de Ardern, quae est vadium Crispini, & aliorum Judeorum, et secundum
valorem et quantitatem debiti, rationabiles terras eos habere faciant, T.R. apud
Merleburge 25 die Martii. The like extent (mutatis mutandis) is granted this year
against the lands of William Marschal.

In the Clause rolls of 22 H. 3. & in the Dorse of the Fine roll of 23. I find this
notable case in Law, reciting and expounding the Statute of Merton 20 H. 3. c. 5.
concerning Usurie, made but two years before it.

* Rex Vic. Ebor. salutem. Ostendit Regi Ric: de

Watervill, quod cum in Curia Regis coram Justiciariis suis apud Westm. per
considerationem ejusdem Curiae, recuperasset versus Rogerum de Colevill, custodiam
terrae quae fuit Odmelli de Albano in Dalton usque aetatem haeredis ejusdem
Odmelli; Aaron de Ebor. Judaeus cujus vadium dicta terra dicitur esse, postea per
Breve Regis recuperavit seisinam ejusdem terrae, tanquam vadium suum. Quia vero Rex
generaliter concessit in regno suo, * quod haeredibus infra aetatem existentibus
non currant usurae super terras suas quae vadia sint Judaeorum, nec hujusmodi
invadationes auferre debent Dominis feodorum custodiam terrarum quae de eis
tenentur per servicium militare. Mandatum est Vic. Ebor. quod praedict. Nicho. de
praedicta terra nomine custod: talem seisinam faciat qualem inde habuit antequam
praedicto Judeo per praeceptum Regis seisinam inde habere fecit. T. R. apud
Windsore 17 die Junii.

If Sir Edw: Cook had been so well seen in records as most deem him, he would
certainly have remembred this in his Commentary on the Statute of Merton, cap. 5.

I meet with these four records in 23 H. demonstrating what fines Releifs the Jews
heirs paid to the King to enjoy their Estates after their decease, &c.

Aaron Judeus Ebor. & Benedictus fil. Jossei haeredes Samuelis fil. Joscei Judei,
finem fecerunt cum Rege pro habendis terris et catallis quae fuerunt praedicti
Samuelis pro centum libris, de quibus reddit xx l. per annum: scil. x l. ad Pasch.
An. 23. & ad festum Sancti Michaelis Anno eodem x l. et sic de anno in annum, et de
termino in terminum, donec praedict. 100 lib. plene fuerint solutae. Et mandatum
est Justic. ad custod: Judaeorum assignatis, quod ita irrotulari, & omnes terras et
catalla praedicta eisdem Aaron et Benedicto deliberari faciant; salvo uxori ejusdem
Samuelis rationabili dote sua, secundum Legem et consuetudinem Judeorum, quam
quidem dorem idem Justiciar, ei sine dilatione facient assignari. T.R.
apud VVoodstock, 18 die Novembris.

Rex Baronibus suis de Scac. salutem. Sciatis, quod concessimus Ursello fil. Hamond
de Hereford, et fratribus suis, quod de sine quem fecerunt nobiscum pro habendis
terris t catallis praedicti Hamonis patris sui, habeant eosdem terminos quos eis
prius concessimus, et tantundem Nobis reddent per annum quantu reddere debent per
praefatam concessionem nostram eis prius factam, ita quod primus terminus eorum
incipiet ad Pasch. an. r. n. 23. & sic deinceps reddant nobis de termino in
terminum tantum denar. per ann. quant: reddere debuerunt per praedict.
concessionem, donec totus finis nobis persolvatur, non obstante eo quod praedicti
Ursell: et fratres sui terminos suos quos eis concessimus non observarunt, T. R.
apud Westm. 18 die Ian.

By these two Presidents (and many others in the Fine Rols of this Kings reign,
which I pretermit) is is apparent, 1. That all the Jews goods, chattels, houses,
lands, upon their decease remained in the Kings hands, neither could their children
enjoy them till they had made a special Fine with the Kings Iustices for them, and
thereupon had a special Writ of restitution awarded to give them actuall possession
of them. 2ly. That those Fines were usually ordered to be paid by certain portions
half yearly, till satisfied by their heirs. 3ly, That all the Jews sons were
equally heirs to their Fathers lands, houses, Chattels. 4ly. That their wives were
endowed of their lands and houses, and that by special assignment of the Iustices
assigned for the custody of the Iews. 5ly. That if they failed of paying their
Fines according to their first composition, they must purchase a New order for
confirmation thereof, else all was null.

In the Clause roll of 24 H. 3. pars 1. m. 9. scedula. there is a writ to the

Sheriff of Glocester to receive the debts and goods of one Vinion a Iew of
Glocester, in sundry Abbots, his wives and others hands, to the Kings use, and
deliver them to the Clerk of the wardrobe.

It seems this year the Sheriff of Glocester had arrested

all the Iews of Glocester upon some occasion, whereupon this writ to restore them
issued.

Mandatum est Vic. Glouc. quod Iudeis Glouc. liberam administrationem de cattallis
suis mobilibus & immobilibus quae arestatae fuerunt, habere fciat sicut habere
debent secundum assisam regni nostri et solent, ita quod occasione nullius mandati
prius habiti non impediantur. T. &c.

I find this Writ the same year for extending lands for a Iews debt by the Kings
Almoner.

Rex Vic. Kant. salutem. Sciatis quod Elias le Eveske Iudaeus London concessit
Frari G. Elemosin. nostro. et custodi Hospitalis nostri de Offspringe, pro fine
quem idem frater G. fecit cum eo totum debitum quem Andr: Kinkerel et Rob. de
Syrycon debuerunt praedict. Iudaeo. Et ideo tibi precipimus quod eidem fratri G.
plenam seisinam habere fac. de Manerio de magna Delte cum pertinentiis, quod est
vadium ipsius Iudaei pro dicto debito, et eundem fratrem G. iu seisina praedict.
Manerii manuteneatis, donec a nobis aliud recipies praeceptum. T. R. apud Westm. 24
die Ian.

In the 25 year of Henry the 3. I find this Writ to several Sheriffs, to summon 6 of
the richest Iews out of all Counties and Towns wherein the Iews resided to come to
treat with the King at VVorcester, as well concerning his as their benefit, and to
seise as well their bodies as chattels, if they made default herein.

*Rex Vic. Northampt. salutem. Praecipimus tibi, quod sicut teipsum et omnia tua
diligis, et sicut vis quod ac te gravissime non capiamus, venire facias coram nobis
apud Wigorn die dominica prima ante Cineres, sex de ditioribus et potentioribus
Judaeeis nostris Northampt. et de singulis villis comitatus tui, in quibus Judaei
maneant, vel duos Judaeos, secundum numerum eorum: ad tractandum nobiscum, tam de
nostra quam sua utilitate. Sciturus quod nisi illuc ad terminum praefatum
venenerint, Ita manum nostram tam erga corpus quam catalla tua aggravabimus, quod
tuo perpetuo te sentires
non mediocriter praegravari. T. R. apud Merleberg. 24 die Jan.

Eodem modo scribitur Vic. Salop, Kanc. Lege, Ebor. Suthampt. Worcest. Linc. Essex,
Canteb. Bedford. Herf. Warwic. Gloucest. Buck. Huntindon. Heref. Oxon. et Vicecom.
London. quod praedictis die et loco venire faciant sex de diioribus, et
potentioribus Judaeis London ad tractandum, &c. T. ut supra.

Here we have a Record of a Parliament of Jews summoned out of every County and Town
where they inhabited, to treat with the King about that which concerned both his
and their profit, but the issue proved far otherwise to them, for they were there
constrained to submit unto a Tax of 20 thousand marks imposed on them by the King,
to be paid that year, whereof these Jews themselves were made both the Assessors
and Collectors, and to levy it by most rigorous distresses from their fellow Jews
togethet with the Sheriffs by the terms prescribed, under pain of forfeiting their
goods and estates, and the greatest penalties, to the terror of all others, as
appears by these memorable Records concerning it, wherein most of the principal
Jews then in all places of England are recorded by name (being as I conceive those
summoned by the former Writ to appear before the King at Worcester.)

*Rex Ursello fil. Ham. Leoni fil, Ham. Mosse fil. Ham. Jacobo fil. Iaeobi, Manasser
Leveske, Iacobo de Moster Judeis Hereford, salutem. Sciatis quod constituimus vos
Ballivos nostros una cum Vic. nostro Hereford cui idem mandavimus, ad distringend.
omnes Judaeos de Balliva vestra ad solvend. nobis Tallagium nostrum de parte quae
vos et illos contingit de hoc ultimo Tallagio nostro, viginti millium marcarum. Et
ideo vobis firmiter precipimus, quod sicut corpora vestra, uxorum et puerorum
vestrorum, et omnia catalla sua diligitis talem districtionem faciatis ad praedict.
Tallagium nostrum terminos Statutis tam a vobis quam ab aliis de balliva
vestra, per manum ejusdem Vic. nostri nobis ad Scac. norum plenius solvatur
secundum extractam quam eidem Vic. nostro vobis mittimus ostendendam. Scituri quod
a vobis requiremus, si quid de praedicto Tallagio nostro in terminis nostris
deficerit, et tam graviter contra vos manum nostram aggravabimus, quod poena vestra
erit omnibus ad terrorem. T. R. apud Westm. 1 die Maii.

Rex Vic. Hereford salutem. Sciatis quod potestatem dedimus praedictis Judaeis ad
distingend, omnes Judaeos Hereford ad solvendum nobis Tallagium nostrum de parte
quae universis contingit de hoc ultimo Tallagio nostro viginti mill. marc. Et ideo
tibi praecipimus, quod sicut te et omnia catalla tua diligis, talem districtionem
facias, una cum praedictis Judaeis ad hoc deputatis quod praedict. Tallagium
nostrum terminis statutis, tam ab ipsis Judaeis praedict. quam ab aliis de eadem
villa per manum tuam nobis ad Scac. nostrum plene solvetur secundum extractam quam
tibi mittimus praedictis Vrsello et sociis suis ostendendam; sciturus, quod si
contigerit quod de praedicto Tallagio aliquid in terminis praedict. defuerit, tam
ad corpus tuum quam ad catalla tua nos graviter capiemus. T.R. apud Westm. 13 die
Maii.

Eodem modo scribitur omnibus subscriptis Vicecomitibus; et Judeis de Tallagio regis

colligendo.

The names of the Iews appointed to levy it in all places are thus subscribed under
thse Writs.
London.
Benedictus Crespin, Jacobus Crespin, Aaron fil. Abraham, Aaron Blund, Elias le
Eveske. Leo Blund.
Ebor.
Aaron fil. Jocei, Leo le Eveske, Joseus Nepos Aaron, Joseus de Kent. Ursel fil.
Sampson, Benedictus nepos Aaron.
Linc.
Leo fil. Solomon, Abraham fil. Solomon, Judas de Franceys, Joceus de Burge, Abraham
de Solitoster, Duelcusce fil. Elie.
Cantuar.
Salom. fil. Joce, Magist. Aaron Benomy Coprus, fil. Mulkane, Messe fil. Sampson,
Abraham fil. Leonis.
Winton.
Elias fil. Chere, Deidegrand Lumbard seex, Manasser fil. Ursell, Ayaye de
Walingford, Kendone fil. Ursell.
Stamford.
Jacob gener. Eman: Jacob fil. Elye, Meyr fil. David, Samuel fil. Cok. Dusfaut
fil. Cok. Aaron gener Pictaum.
Norham.
Elias de Pontefracto, Isaac Pickether, Sampson fil. Deulesara, Samps. fil. Samps.
Deud. fil. Vines, Pech fil. Sam de Ivelcester.
Bedeford.
Manser fil. Benedicti, Abraham fil. Benedicti, Ursel fil. Isaac Bovenfunt.
Cantebrig.
Isaac fil. Samuel, Jacob fil. Deusestra, Aaron fil Isaac Blund, Josce de Wilton,
Dyaye fil. Magistri Levi fil. Solomon.
Norwic.
Samuel fil. Isaac, Isaac de Warewic. Aaron Henne Jurninus fil. Jacobi, Deulecrese
fil. Dyaya de Manecroft, Dure de Resing.
Warewick.
Benedictus de Kanc. Elias fil. Abrah. Benedictus de Evesham, Lion fil. Deule
Beere, Dungeun de Warwick, Pettemo fil. Mossi.
Wigorn.
Hake Isaac senior, Hake Mosse fil. Deulo Heneye, Abrah. fil. Abraham, Isaac gener.
Samu: Abraham fil. Jude.
Bristol.
Lumbard Bonefi de Bristol, Salom de Ivelcester, Isaac fil. Jacob, Mile le Eveske,
Isaac de Bath.
Colecester,
Aaron de Colecester, Arcel de Colecester, Isaac fil. Benedicti Jacob fil. Vinis.
Notingham.
David Lumbard, Dendone fil. Deule Cresse Sampson Leve, Benedictus Pinkennye.
Exon.
Jacob de Exon, Benefand fil. Jude, Joce fil. Abraham Doule, Cresse le Eveske.
Dorset.
Solomon de Dorcester, Benedictus fil. Vivian.
Wilts.
Solomon fil. Iosse, Isaac de Herleb. Saom de Merleberg, Abraham Battecoke, Isaac
fil. Iesse.
Oxon.
David de Linc. Bonami fil. Copin, Copin fil. Bonefei, Mosse fil. Dyaye, Vinis fil.
Copin, Samuel fil. le Franceys.
Glou.
Bonefaund fil. Elye. Garsie gener. Belie, Iaac fil. Mosse de Paris, Elias fil.
Bonefnt. Vines fil. Bonenfnd, Elias fil: Isaac.
One of the Jews here nominated for London, excusing himself, thereupon others were
substituted in his place by these writs.

Rex Elie Blunde Judeo London salutem. Scias, quod loco Benedicti Crespyni
assignavimus te una cum icecom. London, et Jacobo Crespin, Aaron fil. Abraham.
Aaron Blunde, Elia le Eveske, et Leone Blnde Judeis London ad districtionem
faciendam circa tallagium nostrum terminis statutis nobis plenarie reddendum. Et
ideo tibi praecip mus, quod sicut teipsum et catalla tua diligis una cum ipsis
virilter te intromittas ad hoc quod praedict. Tallagium termins Statutis nobis
plene reddatur, sicut ipsis vic. & aliis Iudeis sociis tuis dedimus in mandatis. Ne
pro defectu tui paena omnibus tremenda tibi infligatur, T. &c.

Et dirigunter Literae patentes praedictis 4 Judeis sub hac forma.

Rex Constabulario Turris London, Crepin, &c. salutem. Sciatis quod loco Benedicti
Crepini quem prus assignavimus vobiscum ad districtionem facierdam circa
Tallagium Judeorum London, terminis Statutis nobis reddend: assignavimus vobis
Eliam Blundum Iudaeum London. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod amoto praedict. B. loco
ipsius ipsum E.B. admittatis.

This insupportable great Tax being not eyed b the time prefixed thereupon the
King issued these rigid Writs, to apprehend all thee Jewish Collectors Disrainers
persons, together with all their Wies & Infants,
and bring them prisoners before the King, and to seize all their goods and chattels
into the Kings hands, and keep them safe in their hands, as these two records
demonstrate.

*Mandatum est W. de Havershall, quod scire faciat omnibus ic. qui Iudeos habent in
Balliva sua, quod omnes Iudeos de balliva sua qui manuceperunt solvere nobis
Tallagium suum, una cum uxoribus et infantibus suis, habeant Londini die Sancti
Mic. ad unum mensem; ad respondendum nobis de arreragiis Tallagii sui, et quare
Tallagium illud non solverunt terminis statutis sicut manuceperunt: Et omnia
catalla ipsorum capiant in manum Regis, et salvo custodiant donec Rex inde
preceperit. T. R. apud Westm. 26 die Sept.

Another writ issued to imprison them and all those Iews who had not paid the Tax in
the Tower of London.

*Mandatum est W. de Havershal Thes. Regis, quod omnes illos Iudeos, qui denarios
Regi debent de Tallagio Iudaeorum de hoc termino Sancti Johannis Baptist. prox:
praeterito, et etiam illos qui deberent distrinxisse ipsos Iudeos ad terminum
praedict. observand. venire faciat usque Turrim London, et ibidem in prisona salvo
custodiri, donec Rex aliud inde praeciperet. Teste Rege apud Theokesbury 1. die
August.

Hereupon some Jewes assigned over Debts to the King in satisfaction of their
Tallages; whereupon the King pardoned and released so much as their Debts amounted
to, as appears by 3 pardons to 3 Jews in one Schedule, claus. 25 H. 3. m. 17. and
purchased special Licenses to be exempted from these severe proceedings and
distresses upon promise to pay their Taxes at the terms appointed, upon which their
arrears were released, as this Roll informs us, Dors. 9. de respectu Iudaeorum, &c.

*Rex Baron: de Scacc. salutem. Mandamus vobis, quod si Isaac fil. Elye terminos
suos observaverit de debito in quo nobis tenetur ad Scaccarium nostrum, et quamdiu
dictos
terminos observabit, tunc omnia bona et catalla sua ei in pace demittatis, nullam
inde facientes districtionem. Ita quod secundum quantitatem et valorem Catallorum
suorum quae irrotulata sunt in rotulo quae Jere. de Caxton & W. Hardell de Tallagio
Iudaeorum Linc. obis liberaverunt, Tallagium super ipsum assedi faciatis. T.R.
apud Theokesbury, 8. die Aug.

The Jews of London advancing part of this great Tax by assignment of Debts to the
Kings Exchequer, had this Writ to the Barons to allow it in their first payments.

*Rex Baron. suis de Scac. salutem. Monstraverunt nobis Judaei nostri London, quod
quendam finem fecerunt nobis cum aliis Judaeis pro 20 millia marca. pro Tallagio
nostro, unde debent solvere 10 millia marcarum ad quindenam Nativ. Sancti Iohis
Baptist. An. r. n. 25. et 10 millia marcarum ad sancti Michis Anno eodem,
concessimus eis quod id quod receptum est ad Scac. vel in traba per manus suas, vel
per manus Christianorum, pro tertia parte catalloram suorum eis facietis allocari
in primo termino 10 mill. marcarum. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod si praedicti
Judaei London plene nobis persolverint quod ad eos pertinet de primo termino
praedictar. 10 millia marc. usque ad summam quam per manus suas, vel Christianorum
ad Scac. vel in Garderoba praedicta tertia parte nobis reddiderunt, pro residuo
illius termini non distringatis, donec aliud a nobis habueritis mandatum. T.R.

The same year the King issued this writ to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London, to
prevent the Jews and other Goldsmiths exchange and abasing of silver, contrary to
the assize of the Exchange, and seise those who were guilty of it, and their
silver.

*Rex Majori & Vic. London, salutem. Praecipimus vobis quod in praesentia Thes.
nostri, et custodis Cambii nostri, venire faciatis coram vobis Adam de Shoredich,
Thomam de Stanes (and four more named) Aurifabros
London, et ab iis Sacramentum capiatis, quod nec per se, nec per aliquem alium
Christianum vel Judeum, cambient vel ement, vel vendent argentum aliquod vel in
plata, vel in mina, vel in aliquo alio argento, contra assisam et constitutionem
Cambii nostri, nec cambiri; nec etiam procurabunt, nec permitent, nec per se, nec
per alium; et quod diligenter inquirent & inquiri faciant, si qui aurifabri
Christiani vel Judei talia temptaverint, et ex quo aliquem cambientem, ementem vel
vendentem invenerint contra assisam praedicti Cambij, corpus ipsius, cum argento et
catallis suis attachiari faciant, donec aliud inde praeceptum. T. ut supra.

This year I find a Writ to the Justices of the Jews to free one from paying Usury
to a Jew upon the ground expressed in the record, relating the Jews unconscionable
dealing, usual in such cases.

*Rex Justiciar. ad custod. Judaeorum assignat. salutem. Monstravit nobis Magister

Laur. Travers, quod cum die Pentec. An. r. n. 24 quandam summam pecuniae mutuo
recipisset a Benedicto Judaeo Oxon. quam infra mensem a quo pecuniam illam mutuo
recepit per manum ipsius Magistri ad Judeum solvend. transmisit; dictus Judeus eo
quod tempore illo pignora ipsius Magistri quae signata erant in Cista Judeorum
signo nostro restituere non valebat, pecuniam illam non admisit, et de pecunia illa
de toto tempore ejusdem non soluta, usuras exigit a predicto Magistro, ac si per
incuriam ipsius et defectum remaneret per tantum tempus solvend. Quia vero eidem
Magistro non est imputandum, quod pecuniam illam tempore debito non solvit, et
iniquum videtur quod inde usuras solvere debet. Vobis mandamus, quod si idem
Magister monstr. poterit er e el per attornatum suum quod res ita se habeat,
tunc ipsum ab usurarum prestatione quietum esse faciatis a tempore quo dictam
pecuniam paratus fuit eidem Judeo solvere. T. R. apud Windl. 18 die Octob.

The same year I find this Writ to the Constable of the Tower to send some Jews of
Bristol imprisoned in the Tower for a murder, to Bristol Castle, to be there tried
for it before the Justices Itinerant.

*Rex Constabular. Turr. London, salutem. Precipimus tibi quod Puentam uxorem Iacobi
de Custantes, Iacobum fil. Iacobi, et Bestotam uxorem ejus Iudeos Bristol captos et
detentos in prisona nostra predict. Turris, pro motte Alic fil. Eve, cariari fac.
usque Bristol: ad custus Burgensium nostrorum Bristol: Ita quod sint ibi a die
Sancti Ioh. Bapt. in 15 dies, ad standum inde recto coram Iustic. nostr. ibid. in
prox. Itineraturis; eosdemque Iudeos liberari fac. Constabulario castri nostri
Bristol cui praecipimus quod eos cum ibidem venerint recipiat. T. &c. Et mandatum
est Constab. Bristol quod eos recipiat.

In the 26 year of H. 3. these Records concerning the Iews are yet extant, the first
shewing they were then enforced to give their wives and children for hostages.

*Mandatum est Iustic. ad custod, Iudaeorum assignatis, quod si Samaritanus Iudeus

Winton invenerit eis omnem eam securitatem, quae coram W. Ebor. Arch. de consilio
Regis; provisa fuit et ordinata, pro qua securitate invenieud. dedit uxorem suam et
filios suos obsides, qui tenentur in Turr. Regis London, tunc praedicto Samaritano
praedictos uxorem et filios deliberari fac, per eundem Ar. a VVimnodham 25 die Iun.

The King this year appointed a new Keeper of the Iews chest at VVinchester, not
being well kept by the former, by this Writ.

*Quia Rex audivit quod Archa regis Iudeorum Winton, minus bene custodiatur tam ad
opus Regis quam Christianorum & Judeorum, Mandatum est ic. Suthampt. quod per
consilium Roberti Passelewe quem Rex illuc mittit, alium cust. ad hoc apponi fac.
T. &c. The tax not being paid the King at the times appointed, this year he
commanding the Iews Chests to be locked up, so that their creditors could not pay
their debts to them, nor they their
debts to the King, whereupon he granted his Writ to *Samuel fil. Isaac a Iew, upon
his complaint, that they should pay their debts to the King at the terms formerly
appointed, at the rates there expressed at large.

*Rex Iust. suis ad custod. Iudeorum assignatis, salutem. Monstravit nobis Oliva
quae fuit uxor Rob. de Fraynicto, quod cum ipsa cum nuper estemus apud Colecester
probasset coram venerabil. in Christo patre W. Ebor Arch. et aliis de consilio
nostro, tam per Christianos quam per Judaeos, praefatum virum suum reddidisse Aaron
et Ursello Judaeis Colecestr. totum debitum quod eis debuit ante inceptionem itin.
sui in terram sanct. et injunctum eset eisdem Judaeis quod reddent prefato, Ol.
Cartas confect. de debito memorato, licet eidem Judei quasdam Cartas mem.
restituerunt, adhuc tamen unam ei detinent maliriose, praetendentes Cartam esse
Londini in depos. ut sic fraud. machinentur et laboribus frangent dictam mulierem.
Et ideo vobis mandamus quod praedictos Judeos per terras et catalla distringatis,
ad restituendam prefatae mulieri sine dilatione cartam praedictam, Et vos eidem
pedem illius Cartaerestituatis. Ita vos in hac parte gerentes, quod de cetero
nullam inde audiamus querelam. T. W. Ebor. Arch. apud Moreclae 29 die Iulii.

This Record manifests, 1 The manner of the Jewes proving their debts both by Jewes
and Christians. 2 Their Jewish dealing one with another, in detaining goods after
debts satisfied. 3. The usual way of recovering such Bonds from them when the debts
were paid. This year the King removed the Jews and their chests from one place to
another at his pleasure, as this Record besides others informs us.

*Rex concessit Com. Pict. & Cornub. quod Judei regis qui manent in Berchamested,
transferant se usque Wallingford, et ibi remaneant, secundum easdem consuetudines
Judeorum secundum quas apud Berkhamested habere consueverunt, Archamque quam fuit
apud Berkhamsted
simiiter habeant apud VVallingford, et eodem modo quo ipsam habuerunt apud
Berkhamsted. Et mandatum est Justic. ad custod. Jud. assignatis, quod sic fieri
permittant. T. R.

How the Jews heirs after their decease made fines to the King for their real and
personal estates, and how their wives were indowed, this Record will manifest, of
the same year with the former.

*Rex Baron. suis de Scac. salutem. Mandamus vobis quod distringatis Mayden, quae
fuit uxor Jacob. Crespin, ad reddend. Moss. fil. praedict. Iacob. et Isaac fratri
suo terras, domos, redditus, catalla, et omnia debita quae fuerunt praedicti Jacob.
patris sui, pro quibus ipse Moss. et Isaac. finem fecerunt nobiscum, sicut per
alias litetas nostras vobis significavimus. Et cum praedicti Moss. & Isaac seisinam
habuerint de praedict. terris, domibus, redditibus, catal. et debitis, tunc eidem
Mayden rationabilem dotem suam a praedict. Moss. et Isaac faciatis assignari. T.R.
apud Merewel. 2 die Maii.

In the 27 year of King Henry, the King issued this precept to have a Convert Iew
instructed in the Christian Faith and learning in any place where he might.

*Mandatum est Ebor. Archiepiscopo et VV. de Cantelup. (then Commissioners or

Justices for the Jews affairs) Quod Martino converso faciant administrari in aliqua
villa ubi possit, tam de fide Catholica, quam literarum scientia feliciter erudiri.
T. R. apud Burdegal 3 die Febr.

The same year the King commanded the Executors of the Bishop of Winchester by his
Writ, to pay to W. de Haevenshel and Edward son of Odo 100 l. ad terras emendas ad
opus Conversorum London ad sustentationem eorundem,* T. R. apud Burd. 12 die
Aprilis. Et mandatum est praedictis VVillo. et Edwardo quod denarios illos ab illis
recipiant, et terras ad opus praedictor. conversorum emant, Ita quod terrae
praedict. emptae fuerint citra festum Nativ. sancti Iohis, Baptistae. Such was the
care and charity
of those times for the converts support.

This year *the King pardoned several debts of particular Englihmen owing to
particular Jews, respited the payment of other Dbts for a time to others by
several writs to the Iustices assigned for the Iews: And * likewise assigned and
granted the Office of Aarons Presbyteratus Judeorum Angliae in the Exchequer (*
forementioned) to Elie le Eveske a Jew of London, or his Attorney, with all the
Rolls of the Exchequer belonging to Aaron, in as ample manner as Aaron formerly had
them: commanding the Justices assigned for the Jews custody to invest him in this
office of Aaron: Et nullam decetero summonitionem facere de aliquo debito de quo
debetur responderi coram eis, nisi per visum et testimonium predicti Elye, vel
illius quem ad hoc loco suo attornaverit (which clearly proves, that the
Presbyteratus omnium Iudeorum totius Angliae, granted to Aaron, and now transferred
to Elye, was nothing else but the Custos Rotulrum, or Controllership of the
Exchequer) Et mandatum est eisdem, quod quotiens idem Elyas intendere non possit ad
sedendum ad Scac. Joreum fil: Copini loco suo recipiant ad ea facienda, ad idem
Scac. quae ad Presbyteratum Iudaeorum pertia ut. Rotulos etiam qui fuerant Jocei,
predecesso is sui cidem Elye, vel attornato suo habere faciatis, T. apud Westm. 21
die Octob: per Will. de Cantil. & Edward fil. Odonis.

*Quia Abraham Iudeus Berkhamsted clamat partem in debito quod continetur in cartae
Johannis de Brabini confect. inter ipsum Johannem et praedict. Abraham, et Mosseum
Iudeum Hereford: Mandatum est Cirographariis & custod hus Archae Judeorum Hereford,
quod praefata Carta per praefat. Mosseum, vel per alium nemini liberetur donec Rex
aliud inde praeciperit. Which shewes that one Jew could not discharge the debt due
joyntly to him and another Jew, but by the others consent.

In the 28 of H. 3. two Jews being wrongfully arrested for a Debt due by another,
the King sent this writ to discharge them, and imprison the Jewess that owed it.

*Rex Justic. ad cust. Iud. assignatis, slutem. Sciatis, quod probatum fuit coram
nobis apud Stanford, quod Gentilla viduae Iudea de Stanford, debet R. Com. Cornub.
fratri nostro illas 13 lib: pro quibus Coc. & Samuelem Judeos de Stanford arrestari
fecistis in villa praedict: ita quod eam cap. et in prisona detineri pcipimus,
donc solverit pecuniam praedict. Et ideo vobis mandmus, quod praedict. Coc. &
Samuel. ceterosque omnes Iudeos de Stnford, de praedict: 13 lib. quietos esse
faciatis. T. Rege apud Not. 10 die July.

This year Aaron a Jew of York assigned a Debt of 500 l to the King, in part of a
debt which he owed the King,* which the King commanded Hugh Bygod, who owed it in
right of his wife, to pay into the Exchequer. And likewise commanded all the Jews
to be removed out of Nuberry and Spenhamland by this writ.

*Mandatum est Vic. Berks, Quod Judeos qui manent in Villa de Nubury, et in villa de
Spenhamland, remittat sine dilatione usque Winton, et ibi maneant sicut prius
solent, nec de caetero maneant in Villis praedictis. T. R. apud Reading, 27 die
Decemb.

A Jew accused for clipping and falsifying monies fled for refuge to the King, who
thus remanded him.

*Rex W. de Ebor: prepos. Beverley, & Hen: de Bath salutem. Quia intelleximus quod
vos mandaveritis Vic. nostro Hereford, ad capiend. Cok: Judeum Hereford, tanquam
falsarium et retuntorem Denar. et idem Judeus venit ad Curiam nostram apud Reading,
quaerens subterfugium captionis suae. Nos ipsum Judaeum fecimus arrestari, ad vos
mittentes eundem; ut vos super eo quod ei imponitur secundum quod videritis
expedire faciatis T. R. apud Reading, 12 die May.

After which follows this record.

Rex W. de Havershull Thesaur. suo, et Constab: suo London salutem, Mandamus vobis
quod Judeos assignatos ad custodiam catallorum & debitorum quae fuerunt David Judei
Oxon distringatis: ita quod illi Judei qui
manuceperunt finem 5000 marc. quem Licoric quae fuit uxor praedict. David fecit
nobiscum pro habendis catallis et debitis ipsius David ut eum habeamus terminis
assignatis de Tallagio Iudeorum nobis solvend. et ipsam Licoric. a prisona
deliberari faciatis: Ita tamen quod nullam habeat administrationem de catallis &
debitis praedictis ante instans festum Nativitatis beat. Mariae, conc post eundem
festum vobis inde mandaverimus. Et Sciatis quod remissimus Aaron Judeo Ebor.
custodiam praedict. catallorum, et debitorum pro fine quem propter fecit nobis, et
quae solvit in Garderoba nostra, et loco ejus subrogavimus Bondum Judeum Cant.

By which Record it is apparent, That no Jews wife or other Jew could administer or
meddle with her Husbands or Parents chattels or debts without paying a vast fine
for them (as here 500 marks) and that at such time as the King assigned, that the
custody of their Goods and debts were in the mean time committed to other Iews to
be responsible for them; and that their persons were imprisoned, and their
administrations suspended, if they failed in paying the fine at the termes
appointed.

*In the 29 of Hen. 3. the King sends writs to his Iustices for the custody of the
Iews, and to Sheriffs to levy the Debts due to him from the heirs of Hamond the Iew
of Hereford, and that Crespin a Iew should pay him 28 marks, to be laid out in silk
and cloth of gold for Westminster Church as his Alms.

*Mandatum est Baron. de Scacc. et Iusticiariis ad custod. Iudeorum assignatis,

quantum poterint apponant ut 4000 marc. quae Regi debent Iudei ad hoc festum sancti
Michaelis tunc omnibus modis solvantur, Thesaur. & Camerar. ad faciend. inde quod
Rex injunxerit: et si forte in solutione earund 4000 marc. defecerint ad terminum
praedict. tunc capiant aliquos de ditioribus Iudeis, ut corpora eorum mittant ad R.
usque Gannock non omittando illuci pro aliquo custo, et Rex illos faciet
deliberari Iustic. Hyberniae, ducendos in Hyberniam, et ibidem in prisona
detinendos. T. Rege apud Gannock in castris, x. die Septem.

By which record it seems the Iews were taxed to pay 4000 marks at Michaelmas to the
King; and if they failed, then some of the richest of them were to be seised on,
and sent prisoners to the King into his camp, and from thence into Ireland, and
there imprisoned til it was all paid: Such was the rigor then used in levying their
heavy Taxes: Another 4000 marks was then likewise to be paid by them at Christs
Nativity the same year, and commanded by this writ to be effectually levied by the
Justices of the Jews.

*Mandatum est Justic. ad custod Judaeorum assign: quod sicut corpora et catalla sua
diligunt, et ab indempnitate et periculo maximo volunt conservari, provideant quod
4000 marc. quae Regi debentur de Judaismo reddendas citra festum Nativitatis Dom:
citra festum illud reddantur, quia si in eorum solutione aliquis inveniatur
defectus id solummodo negligentiae suae imputaretur. T. Rege apud Woodstoke 4. die
Dec.

Mandatum est Thesaur. et Camerar. quod de illis 4000 m. deliberent Magistro Militis
Templi in Anglia, 2000 marc. deponend. in domo sua ad opus Comitissae Provinciae
sicut alias eis mandat. est, & de resid. mille marc: quantum se extendunt
satisfaciant mercatoribus Vinorum et aliis de debitis in quibus Rex eis tenetur. T.
ut supra.

Ibidem. Dorso 2. There is a command to the Justices of the Jews to respit a suit
there pending against one Mansel by two Jews, for 40 l. and an horse.

In this 29 year of Henry the 3. this writ was issued to the Justices of the Iews to
proclaim in all Counties, that no Iewes wife or childe should fly from, nor obscure
himself in the places he or they resided, for one year then next ensuing, and that
they should be there readily found by the Kings Officers, under pain that their
husbands, as also their wives and children should be outlawed,
banished, and all their lands, rents, and chattels, forthwith forfeited to the
King, and presently sold to his use, and they banished never to return again into
England without his special license.

*Mandatum est Justiciariis ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis, quod statim visis

Literis, clamati faciant per omnes Comitatus Angliae ubi Judaei Regis sunt, quod si
aliqua Iudaea uxor alicujus Iudaei, vel pueri sui diffugiant, vel fugam capiant,
vel aliquo modo lateant a Villa ubi fuerint manentes ad festum Sancti Andreae Anno
regni Regis 29, usque in unum annum proximo sequentem, Ita quod ad Summonitionem
Regis vel Ballivorum suorum in quorum Ballivis ipsi fuerunt manentes prompti
inveniti non possint; quod vir ipsius Iudeae, et etiam ipsa Iudaea, et omnes pueri
sui statim utlagentur, et omnes terrae, redditus, et omnia catalla sua in manum
Regis capiantur, et incontinenti vendantur ad opus Regis: Et quod de caetero non
redeant in regnum Angliae, sine speciali licentia Regis.

The King had then a design to tax all the Iewes wives and children by the poll,
which occasioned this strict proclamation, that they might be alwayes ready to be
polled and fleeced at his pleasure, there being an heavy Tax then imposed on them.

In the same year and Roll this Precept was directed to Aaron the Iew of Yorke, then
taxed (as it seems) at one hundred pounds.

*Mandatum est Aaroni Iudaeo de Ebor. quod sicut diligit corpus suum, statim visis
literis, tradat latori illarum viginti marcas Regi deferendas, de arreragiis centum
librarum quas Regi solvisse debuit in festo Nativitatis Sanctae Mariae, proximo
praeterito. Ita quod hoc quemlibet lateat praeter ipsum Aaronem et latorem
supradictum. Teste Rege apud Woodstock, quinto die Decembris.

In the 30 of H. 3. I find these Records concerning the Jews.

Rex concessiit Iacobo fratri Elie le Eveske Judeo London pro laudabili servicio
suo quod Regi et Reginae impendit sedendo a Scac. Judeorum, domos quae fuerunt
Iocci de Colecester Iudei Linc. in Oxon. quae devenerunt in manum Regis tanquam
escaeta Regis; tenendum tota vita ipsius Jacobi. Reddendo inde singulis annis
Conversis Lond. 10s. viz. 5s. ad fest. St. Mich. et 5s. ad Pasch. In cujus &c. T.
R. apud VVodestoke 10 die Sept. Et mandat. est. Vic. Oxon. quod de praedict.
domibus cum pertidentiis, ei plenam seisinam habere faciat. T. ut supra.

Pat. 30. H. 3. m. 7. The King agreed to receice a fine of 3000 l. of Masse son of
Hamond a Jew of Hereford Pro habenhis catallis et bonis, of his deceased Father, to
be paid at certain times, part whereof is there assigned.

This year many Jews Men and women were accused and ordered to be tried for clipping
of money, as appears by Claus, 30 H. 3. pars 1, m. 9. Mandat. est Justiciariis ad
custodiam Iudeorum assign. quod Iudeos, et Indeas rectatos de retonsura denariorum,
venire faciant coram Justic. de Banco. Ita quod sint ibi in octabis S. Johis.
Baptistae ad Iusticiam de ipsis faciendam: Quia mandt. est Iustie. illis quod una
cum eis ad hoc intendant,

Also *Rex pardonavit Tho. de Pulton 8 lib. quas idem T. debet Mosseo Crespin Iudeo,
una cum omnibus usuris quae inde proveniant, post quam eas ab eodem Iudaeo
mutuaverat. Et mandat. est Baron. de Scac. quod ipsum inde quietum esse, et cartam
suam pro praedicto debito impignoratam eidem Iudeo deliberari fac. Et mandatum est
Edwardo fil. Odonis quod totam pecuniam suam quam rex eidem Tho. donat pro domibus
suis occasione praedict. debiti arrestatam, e deliberantur.

The King this year imposed a Tax of sixty thousand marks upon the Jews, as appears
by these seisures of their debts towards the payment thereof.
*Mandat. est Ed. fil. Odonis &c. quod solvat ad Scac. Regis 23 l. 5 s. 8 d. quas
Tho. de Pulton debet Mosseo
Crespin Iudeo; in parte solutionis debitorum quae idem Iudeus reddere tenbatur ad
Pasche proximo preterit: de portione tallag. 60 mil. marc. eundem Jud. contingent.
T. R. apud Wind. 4 die Iunii. It seems part of this Tax or another was payable the
next year, by this Mandate.

Mandatum est Iusticiar. ad custodiam Judeorum assignatis quod non distringant, aut
distringi permittant Aaron fil Abraham de tallagio 10 millium marc. de termino
sancti Michis. An. r. n. 31, nisi pro 53 marc. et dimid. ipsi inde de eodem termino
contingent. T. R. apud Winds. 23 die Augusti.

These tallages were usually imposed on the Jews in their absence, being not privy
thereto, unlesse specially admitted, as appears by this Record concerning the Iews
of Canterbury, who gave the King half a mark of gold that one of them might be
present at the imposing of the next tax.

Quia Iudei Cantuarii dedrunt dimid. marc. auri quam Regi prae manibus
reddiderunt, pro eo quod concedret eis, quod unus Iudeus ejusdem villae Cantuar.
intersit tallagio assidendo quod assideri debet apud Northamp. Mandatum est
Iusticiaris ad custod. Iudeorum assignatis, quod unam ex ipsis ad hoc eligi, et
dicto tallagio assidendo interesse faciant. T. R. apud Feversham 20 die April.

Amongst the records in the Treasury of Receipts in the Exchequer, I find this,
Inter Placita et Assis: capt. apud Northampton. in crast. Nativ. Sancti Iohan.
Baptistae, Anno Regis Henrici &c. 23. coram Rogero de Thurkelby, et sociis suis
rot. 38.

Ivo fil. Abraham de Stanford Iudeu: rectatus de retonsura denariorum venit, et dat
Domino Regi 20 s. quod possit esse sub placito respondend. ad preceptum Dom. Regis
Plegii sui Solomon fil. Sancho fil. Isaac, & Benioy. fil. Aaron de Stanford.
Whether he were condemned or acquitted for this his clipping of money for which he
was then bailed I find not on Record.

In the 32 year of Henry the 3.* I meet with these Records concerning the Jews.

Rex mandavit Justic. ad custodiam Judaeorum assign. quod non distringant, vel
istringi permittant Aaron fil. Abrahami de Tallagio 60 millium marc. pro duobus
milibus marc. de termino sancti Michis anno 32. nisi pro quinquaginta et tribus
marcis et dimid. ipsum inde de eodem termino contingentibus, sicut ipse talliatus
fuit ad pasch. proximo pretericum. Et si forte ipsum ad plus talliaverint, illud
reaxari, et super communitatem Judeorum assidi. faciant. Teste Rege apud Farendon
29 die Augugusti.

By which it appears the Jews were taxed at sixty thousand marks in this one year. A
vast sum in those dayes.

The same year the King grants respestum de quibuslibet veteribus debitis Iudei, &c.
Particularly.*

*Rex dedit respectum Aaron Judeo. Ebor. de centum libris quas Regi solvisse debuit.
ad scac. Pasch. anno regni Regis 32. usque ad quindenam paschae sancti Iohannis
Baptistae anno eodem, et mandatum est Baronibus de Scaccario, quod respectum illum
ei habere faciant. T. R apud Rading 17 die Maii.

There is this record this year concerning the Jews of Canterbury.

Iudei Cantebr. liberaverunt in Garderoba regis apud sanctum Edmundum die Lunae
prox. post cineres quinque Marc. de quibus praedicti Judei promiserunt regi
respiciendas in adventu regis apud Cantebr.* Et mandat. est Justic. ad custodiam
Judeorum assignatis, quod pro predictis quinque marc. ipsos Judeos non distringant.
Teste Rege apud Windesor. primo die Maii.

*Mandar est, &c. quod distringi faciant terras quae fuerunt Mathei Peverel, &c. for
a debt due to a Jew; and to others to answer a debt to Aaron the Jew

In the 33 of H. 3. I find these records concerning the Jews.

*An Extent of Robert de Muntenay in Littlebar of a Jews land, per Sacramentum

proborum et legalium hominum extendi fac. &c.

The King himself in that age appointed the Jews Bayliffs in the Eschequer, as is
evident by this record.

Mandatum est Justic. ad custodiam Judeorum assign. quod non permittant quod
aliquis Judeus habeat aliquam Ballivam ad Scacc. Judeorum, praeter Jacobum
Episcoum, Abrah. fil. Vines, et Jacob fil. Flurye: et si Elyas Episcopus, qui
prius fuit ad dictum Scac. resideat ad idem Scac. per preceptum Regis, tunc Rex
vult, quod reipiant Aaron fil. Abraham, tanquam socium suum. T. R. apud Westm. xi.
die Julii, anno &c.

The King then likewise appointed the Clerks of the Jews Exchequer, and the
Cirographers of their publick Chests, as this record doth manifest.

*Rex vult, quod Abraham fil. Vines sit clericus Regis in Scac. suo Iudeorum, et
quod sit Cyrograph. Archae Regis Cyrograforum Iudaeorum apud London, loco Abrahamae
fil. Muriell. Et ideo mandatum est Justic. ad custodiam Judeorum assignatis, quod
acceptis ab eodem Abrahamo fil. Vines sufficientibus plegiis de fidelitate, ipsum
ad praemissa Officia admittant, et clavem Archae Cirographorum quam Abraham fil.
Muriel habet, eidem liberari faciant. T. R. apud Westm: xxix. die Junii.

*Rex vult, quod Aaron fil: Abraham Iudeus London resideat ad Scaccarium Regis
Iudeorum tanquam Vines, &c. ut supra. T. R. apud Winton, 26 die Maii.

The same year I find an Extent of John of Coniz of Brewineston his Land for a Debt
to a Jew, per sacram, proborum et legalium hominum extendi fac. &c. T. R. apud
VVestm. 9 die Maii.

*The same year Aaron of Yorke agreed again with the King to pay a certain Tax to
him yearly, expressed in this Patent.

*Rex omnibus &c. salutem. Sciatis quod concessimus Aaroni filio Abrahami Iudeo quod
sicut talliatus fuit ad
decem & octo libras coram Nobis ad terminum Sancti Michaelis, Anno &c. 33. sic
tallietur ad quatuor Annos sequentes ad triginta et sex libras singulis annis
praedictorum quatuor annorum; videlicet, ad festum Paschae, Anno &c. 34 to. ad 18
libras, et ad festum Sancti Michaelis proximo sequn, ad 18 libras, et sie DE
ANNO IN ANNUM, ad eosdem terminos ad 36 libras. Ita quod post praefatum terminum
praedictorum quatuor annorum ad majorem pecuniae summam modo tallitur. In cujus
&c. Teste Rege apud VVindsore, 21 die Sept.

In the Fine Rolls of this year I find these Passages relating to the Jews, who all
joyntly and severally made great fines to the King this year, particularized in the
Fine rolls, what sum every Jew (whose name is there entred at large) was to pay to
the King: whereof take this brief account of some few, as a pattern of all he
rest.

*Mandatum est Vic. Kanc. quod si Judei Cantua. invenerint securitatem sufficientem
de 7 l. 8 s. 8 d. de novo Tallagio super eos assesso, & de 11 l. 17 s. 5 d. de
veteri Tallagio super eos assesso, ad aurum Regi inde emendum, unde alias recepit
mandatum Regis, ita quod pecuniam illam habeat in manu sua quod inde Regi
respondere rossit ad Scacc. Regis in Crastino Sancti Michaelis, tunc praefatos
Judeos permittat in pace, ita quod eos non distringat pro aliquo alio Tallagio
donec aliud a Rege acceperit in mandatis. T. R. apud Merton 12 dle Sept.

*Mandat est Vic. Ebor. quod sicut se ipsum diligit, habeat ad Scac: Regis in
Octabis Sancti Michaelis de Aaron de Ebor. Judeo de novo Tallagio uper eum assesso
16 l. 11 s. Et de eodem de veteri Tallagio uper eum assesso unde Vic. alias recepit
mandatum Regis, 26 l. 7 s. et de caeteris Judeis Civitatis Ebor. de novo Tallagio
14 l. 11 s. et de eidem de veteri Tallagio, unde Vic. alias recepit mandat. Regis
23 l. 7 s. ad aurum
Reg. inde emendum. T. ut supra.

Eodem modo scribitur de Iudaeis Exon de Tallag: Vic. Devon, De Iudeis Bedford,
Merlebr. Bristoll, Warw. Glocest. Cantebr. London, Norwic. Colecester, Winton,
Wigorn, Hereford, Oxon, Nottingh. Northampton, Lincoln, and other Towns; and to
their respective Sheriffs, to levy the particular sums both of the New and Old
Tallage forementioned, there specified, in like manner as to the Sheriff of Yorke,
which particulars fill up an whole roll well nigh.

*In the same Roll the King respites Jacobus Le Eveske a Jew, and Flora his
daughter, a fine of 45 l. 6 s. 8 d. pro Relevio, et aliis finibus: and sundry other
Jews there named paid the like Fines pro Relevio upon their Parents deaths to injoy
their estates; to be paid at certain times here limited into the Exchequer: Et
mandatum est Baron. de Scac. et Justic. ad custod. Judeorum assignatis, quod ic
fieri et irrotulai faciant. T. R. apud Guldeford, 13 die Sept. The like Fines for
relief, pro terris & catallis Patris eorum ratione relevii Regi contingentibus;*
paid by sundry Iews, I meet with in 34 H. 3. and many Fine Rolls else throughout
his reign, and in Edward the 1. which I pretermit: it being entred of some.
Dederunt Regi 20 s. auri (or some other sum of gold) prae manibus.

In 34 H. 3. There was a tax of ten thousand marks imposed on the Jews, and this
composition made between the King and Salmon Bishop, a Jew concerning it, & future
Taxes, thus entred in the Fine roll of that year.

*Rex concessit Salmoni Episcopo Judeo London, quod de Tallagio 10 mil. marc. per
annum sit ad 20 l. dum. Tallagium Judeorum sit in tali statu; et si crescat
Tallagium Judeorum crescat ejus portis quae ipsum continget de Tallagio praedicto,
et si decrescatur simili modo. Ita tamen, quod si tota Communitas Judeorum Regi
gavetur de Tallagio praedicto, aut summa X. millium marc. debeat decrescere, eo
quod idem Salmon est ad talem summam, respondeat
idem Iudeus ad liberatum librae suae de praedict. 20 l. sicut alii Judei faciunt in
tallagio suo. Et reddat Regi praedict. 20 lib. annuatim ad duos terminos, viz. 10
l. ad Scac. S. Michaelis, & 10 l. ad Scac. Paschae. Et mandatum est Iusticiariis ad
custod. Iud: assignatis, quod sic fieri et irrotulari faciant, et pro licentia
concessionis dedit Regi unam marcam auri. T. R. apud Wyndes, 1. die Octob. et habet
inde Literas Patentes per eadem verba. The like compositions were made with the
King by Aaron of York, and many other Jews in this and other years.

In the 34 year of King H. 3. I find this recital in a writ, That the King by the
long received custome of the Realm ought to succeed the Iews themselves in all
houses and other Lands which they should purchase within the realme, (upon their
deaths, outlary, or departure hence,) and that he might grant them to whom he
pleased, (as well as tax them, and seise their goods at his pleasure.)

Rex Vicecomiti Norff. salutem. Licet de consuetudine longeva dicatur obtentum in

regno nostro, quod Nos in Domibus et aliis quas acquisiverint Iudaei in regno
nostro succedere debeamus ipsis Iudaeis; aures tamen nostras precibus Edmundi Kake
de Norwic. Capellani misericorditer inclinantes, concessimus eidem Edmundo, de
gratia nostra, quod non obstante consuetudine praedicta, habeat Messuagium illud in
Norwic: de quo nuper seisinam fieri fecimus Magistro Benedicto, et quod Seigumet
Iudaeus utlagatus tenuit de praedicto Edmundo in eadem villa de Norwic. Et ideo
tibi praecipimus, quod eidem Edmundo de praedicto messuagio, sine dilatione plenam
seisinam habere facias. T.R. apud Clarendon 13 die Decembris.

In the same roll I find a writ to attach both the body and goods of a Jew, and to
bring them both before the Justices assigned for the Iews.

Mandatum est Vicecomiti Dorset, quod habeat coram Iusticiariis regis ad Custodiam
Iudeorum assignatis apud Westm. in Crastino Sanctae Mariae Magdalenae corpus
Solomonis Iudei de Dorcestria, cum omnibus catallis ipsius
Iudaei sub sigillo suo. T. R. apud Merleberge 21 die Junii.

In the Patent roll, of this year, the King granted this License to the Masters of
the Law of the Commonalty of the Jews in London to excommunicate such Jews as
refused to contribute that subsidy they had promised towards the sustaining of
their common Churchyard in London, whom they could not excommunicate without his
leave.

Rx Iusticiariis suis ad Custodiam Iudaeorum assignatis, salutem. Sciatis, quod

concessimus Iudaeis nostris London quod Magistri legis eorundem Iudaeorum in
Ciuitate London promulgare possint summam Excommunicationem in omnes illos Iudaeos,
qui subsidium aliquod promiserunt ad Cimiterium London sustinendum, et illud non
solverint; Ita quod Nos & non alii de Judaeis excommunicatis sufficientes emendas
recipiamus, T. R. 28 Die Julii.

In the 35 of Henry 3. there are these records touching the Jews.

*Mandatum est Philippo Luvel, et Sociis suis Justiciariis Judaeorum sicut alias,
Quod de Tallagio X. milium Marcarum assesso super Communitatem Iudaeorum Angliae,
faciant habere Reginaldo de Salinis 40 ibras ad terras inde emendas ad opus suum,
vel ad commodum suum alio modo faciendum prout sibi viderit expediri, et illas in
eodem Tallagio faciendo allocari Communitati praedictae. Et Rex bene vult quod
eadem 40 l. Ricardo de Salinis allocantur in debitis quod debet in Judaismo pro
eodem Reginaldo, dum tamen idem Reginaldus securus sit de portione sua. T. R. apud
Wherwell, 25 die Maii. Per ipsum Regem.

The wives and children of the Jews oft times used to be distrained and imprisoned
for their Debts, as appears by this record to respite such proceedings against them
for a time Anno 35. H. 3.

Mandatum est Vic. Devon. quod non distringat, nec distringi permittat uxorem
Boneufaunt, Judei Exon. vel
pueros suos per corpora sua, ipsos imprisonando occasione alicujus debiti seu
demandae tangentis ipsum Boneufaunt de fine 100 marc. auri, quia Rex vult ipsam
Iudeam cum predictis pueris suis esse in pace usque ad octabis Sti. Mich. prox.
futuri. Et si ipsos imprisonavit, eos interim deliberari faciat. T. R. apud
Windsore 2 die Septemb. per ipsum regem.

This year there was a tax of 10000 marks imposed on the Iews, as is evident by Pat
35. H. 3. pars 2. m. 4. De tallagio Iudeorum assidendo, for assessing it, and this
Ptecept concerning it.

*Mandatum est Baron. de Scac. ad custodiam Iudeorum assignatis, quod provideant et

ordinent inter se qualiter illa 10 millia marc. quae regi debentur de Tallagio
Iudeorum regi persolvi possint.
And in the same membrana there is this command to buy gold with the Jews money for
the Kings use.

*Mandat W. de Hoverhull Thes. reg. Edward de Westm. et Phil. Luvell quod de omnibus
denariis de Judaismo provenientibus aurum ad opus regis emi faciant, sicut rex
eidem Philippo dudum injunxit, et sicut T. Espernon eis exponet ex parte regis T.R.

What great sums of gold the King received of some Iews this year to be exempted
from taxes, paying set rates for 4 years space, will appear by this record.

*Mandatum est Justiciariis ad custodiam Judeorum assignatis quod illas 10 mil.

marcas auri, quas Elias Judeus London regi dedit pro sic, quod a festo St. Mich.
An. 34. usque in quatuor annos prox. sequentes completos, non talliaretur nisi ad
centum libr. per annum, dum Tallagium regis duraret eidem inde, proximis terminis
suis Tallagii sui fac. allocari. Ita quod de cetero respondeat in tallagio suo
Judeorum secundum facultates suas sicut rex alias eis manda it) non obstanre gratia
regis quam ei concesserit pro donatione predicti auri. T. R. apud Clarendon 10 die
Iunii.

Consimiles literas habet Aaron fil. Abrah. Judeus

London de 25 marc. auri allocari, ut supra continetur eisdem Justic. directas T. ut
supra, per ipsum regem.

Et quia Aaron de Ebor. affirmavit coram rege quod predict. aurum prefatis Aaron et
Eliae alia vice, per mandatum Regis de quo Rex non recolit, fuit allocatum; Mandat.
est prefatis Justic. quod super hoc regem fine dilatione certificent. Scituri quod
dictus Aaron Regi promisit 200 marc. argenti, nisi predicta summa auri praedictis
Iudeis per regem fuit allocata in Tallagio suo, T. R. &c. per ipsum regem.

The King this year allows a Jew to sue for the remainder of a debt which the King
had pardoned, and the Bond to be taken out of the Chest by this Writ.

*Rex Justic. ad custod. Iudeorum assign. Cum nullus Iudeus debeat plac. de
Cirograf. in Archa Iudeorum inventa et catal. Abr. de Berchanster quae capta
fuerunt in manum nostram ex toto credebamus ad opus nostrum retinere, quoru residuu
ad petitionem R. Com. Cornub. eidem remissimus, licet alias dederimus vobis in
mandatis, quod inquiraretis per sacr. legal hominum, qualem summam pecuniae Galfr.
Mansell de dicto Abr. recepit et dict. G. de usuris forte solum quietum remaneret:
Volumus tamen cum dictus Iudeus residuum catallorum suorum recuperaverit quod dict.
G. distringi faciatis ad plenam solutionem totius residui dicto Iudeo faciend.
secundum formam Cyrogr. sui. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod sic fieri et irroulari
fac. Ita quod dictus Iudeus totam summam in parte sua Cyrogr. contentam cum debito
integre possit recuperare. Et licet Cyrogr. alias per preceptum nostrum ab Archa
sit extract. hoc facere non omittatis. T. apud Harding 25. die August.

The Jews in that age could not (without the Kings special license) remove
themselves or goods from one City to another, and acquainting the Justices assigned
for the Jews of his royal pleasure therein, and were enforced to give security for
one another to pay their Taxes to the King, as this record of 36 H. 3. will
evidence.

*Rex concessit Iacobo filio Boneufaunt Judeo, quod

libere recedat a Villa Gloucestriae, et moram facere in civitate London; Et quia
idem Judeus fecit regi securitatem per Iacobum le Eveske Iudeorum de tallagio suo
ad quod tallietur, ad festum sancti Martini regi reddendo. Mandatum est Vicecom.
Glouc. quod ad ipsum, aut ad familiam suam, aut catalla sua manum non apponat, sed
ipsum cum omnibus praedictis a Vila Gloucestriae libere recedere permittat. Tete
Rege apud Woodstoke 19 die Augusti per ipsum regem.
Et mandatum est Iusiciariis ad cusodiam Judeorum assignatis, quod ipsum inter
Iudeos regis in ciitate praedicta manere permittant, Tee ut upra.

*Mandatum est eidem, quod faciant habere Iacobo le Eveske Iudeo residentiam in
Scaccario Judeorum in servicio regis, et quod ad ipsum perinet: secundum legem
Scaccarii regis, sicut et predecessores ui cerici regis ibidem habere
consueverunt. Teste, ut supra per R. Waker.

The Iews could not then reside nor enjoy any office in the Iews Exchequer without
the Kings special grant and license, Neither could they sue for any debt
(especially upon an Obligation out of their common Chest) without the Kings
expresse license and grant. Witnesse the president in the selfsame Roll, and others
forecited.

King Henry in the 36 of his reign granted by * Patent to Aaron of York, Elye le
Eveske de London, and Solomon le Eveske, that for 4 years next ensuing they should
not be taxed above set summes a year there mentioned, to be paid half yearly by
them into the Exchequer, and that their set sums should be allowed in the original
taxes assessed upon the commonalty of the Jews, and be abted proportionably as
their tax was abated; Yea he granted this exemption to Aaron, his Wife & children
not to be distrained and imprisoned for their debts or taxes, o long as he had
goods to satisfie them, and to sue for goods and debts, though out of the chest.

*Rex omnibus salutem. Sciatis quod concessimus Aaron

de Ebor. Iudeo nostro, quod necise, nec uxor ejus, nec eorum pueri distingantur
per corpora sua nec imprisonentur, quamdiu catal. a sua sufficiant ad districtionem
faciend. pro debitis nostris. In cujus &c. duratur: per bieunium. T.R. apud VVestm.
15 die Marcii: Et mandt. est Iustic. ad custodiam Iudaeorum assign. quod sic fieri
et irrotulari faciant. T. ut supra per Regem.

Rex omnibus, &c. Sciatis quod concessimus Aaron de Ebor. Iudeo nostro, quod possit
placitare coram Iustic. nostris ad cust. Iud. assign: pro catallis et debitis suis
recuperandis, et ea petere sine occasione, usque ad summam 400 lib. sine receptone
Usurae, licet catalla illa, et debita fuerunt extra Archam Crogr. In cujus, &c. T.
ut supra.

*The like License to sue for Debts and Chattels out of the Chest to uch a summe
sine receptione Usurae, I inde granted this year to Copin a London Jew, & to other
Jews the same year; with a writ to deliver a Jew out of prison committed upon a
false complaint: and this pardon of two Jews wives for flying to avoid imprisonment
for their husbands taxes.

Rex pardonavit Floriae uxori Elye Blundi, et Pigonae uxori Aaron Blundi, Wayntiam
quam meis Justiciariis promulgarunt pro fuga quam fecerunt pro Tallio super
praedict. Elye et Aaron assesso: et mandat. est praedict. Justic. quod praedict.
Floria et Pygona propter hoc non occasionentur. T. R. apud Windsore 12 die Feb. Per
ipsum Regem.

There was likewise this year a precept to the Iustices to give a Jews wife her full
and reasonable dower of her husbands chattels.

*Mandatum est Iusticiariis ad custod: &c. quod si Rosa quae suit uxor Leonis Epi:
Iudei Ebor. nondum plen habuit Dotem suam de catallis quae fuerunt ejusdem Leonis,
tunc eidem Iudeae plenam et rationabilem dotem suam habere faciant, secundum legem
et consuetudinem Judaismi Regis, T. R. Per ipsum Regem.

This year the King assigned certain Jews of London to

tax the rest of the Jews upon a common tax then imposed on them; in this manner.
Rex assignavit Eliam Epis: et Aaron fil. Abrah. Iudeos London, ad assidend.
Tallagium super Communitate Iudeorum nostrorum London; ita videlicet quod
communitas illa eligat ipsis tercium idoneum ad Tallagium illud una cum dictis Eli
& Aaron assidend. Et mandat. est Constabul: Turris London; quod ipsum tercium sic
electum eis faciat associari; firmiter inungendo eis quod taliter ipsi provideant
de Tallagio illo assidendo, quod Rex illud terminis Statutis habeat, et quod pro
defectu eorum non oporteat regi graviter se capere ad Talliatores praedictos. Teste
per Philip Luvel.

It seems this tax then assessed amounted to 3500 marks by this ensuing record that
year.

*Rex Iustic. ad custod. Jud: &c. Sciatis, quod Manuel Blund Judeus obtulit nobis
dimid. marc. auri ut de Tallagio 3 mill. marc. et 500 marc. talliaretur secundum
catalla sua, sicut ceteri Iudei de Communitate London talliantur. 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: Espernu, 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 concssit 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 queti 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 concedt eis quod ad pace Regis veniant. Rex tamen vult quod nullu 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
posit. 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 Echequer, 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 mndatum est Iustic. ad custod. Iud. assignatis,
quod citra festum S. And: ad Scaccarium Iudeorum, quod justum
fuerit de catallis praedictis fieri facian, 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 wih 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 uniersi Judei in Synagogis suis celebrent submissa
voce, secundum ritum eorum, Ita quod Christiani hoc non audiant. Et quod quilibet
Judeus repondeat Rectori Eccliae, 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 aut emat carnes in
Quadragessima. Et quod nullus Judeus detrahat fidei Christianae, vel publice
disputet de eadem. Et quod nullus Iudeus habeat secretam familiaritatem cum aliqua
Christiana, nec aliquis Christianus cum Iudea. Et quod quiliber Iudeus ferat
manifestam Tabulam. Et quod nullus Judeus ingrediatur aliquam Ecclesiam vel aliquam
Capellam nisi transeundo, nec incis moretur in vituperium Christi. Et quod nullus
Judeus impediat aliquo modo alium Judeum volentem ad fidem
Christi convertere. Et quod nullus Judeus receptetur in aliqua villa sine speciali
licentia regis, nisi in villis illis in quibus Judei manere consueverunt. Et
mandatum est Justiciariis ad custodiam Judeorum assignatis, quod sic fieri, et sub
incursione bonorum praedictorum Iudeorum firmiter teneri faciant. Teste Rege apud
Westm. 31 die Ianuarii.

Per REGEM Et CONSILIUM.

These are the most memorable Constitutions of all others I have met with, made by
the King and his Counsel for restraining the insolencies, rites, and preventing the
Leprosie and leaven of the Iews, except those of 7 E. 1. (which I shall recite in
due place) derived from these, which none of our Historians mention.

In the 39 year of H. 3. I find this large record touching the assessing of a

Tallage upon the Commonalty of the Jews in London and other places, assessed,
levyed, with all diligence and all sorts of new devises.

*Rex Constab. Turris suae London, salutem. Precipimus tibi quod statim visis
literis istis, starim in presentia tua eligi fac. tres de legalioribus et
discretioribus Iudeis de communitate Iudeorum London, de assensu Iudeorum eorundem,
ad assidend. super eandem communitatem 472 marc. quae ipsam commun. contingunt de
Tallio mille libr. super Iudeos nostros Angliae assesio de termino sancti Martini
prox. futuri, et assidend, super eandem communitatem 50 marc quae ipsam contingunt
de portione Tallag. Aaron de Ebor. Iudeo de Tall. predict. cui concessimus ad
instantiam dilecti fratris et fidelis nostri Rici. Com. Cornub. quod hac vice
propter * nimiam suam paupertatem de praedicto Tallagio sit quietus. Et distringas
omnes Iudeos et Iudeas de Com. praedicto, omnibus modis quibus modis sciveris et
poteris per corpora et catalla sua infra Archas Cyrograph. London et extra inventa,
ad reddendum Regi ad opus dicti frattis nostri portionem quae eis continget de
praedict. 522 marc. Et si contigerit quod aliquis Iudeus vel Iudea defecerit
in solutione porcionis quae ipsum Judeum vel Iudeam contingit de tall. et portione
predictis, tunc accedas ad Arch. praedict. et extrahi facias de melioribus et
clarioribus debitis suis in Atchis illis inventis, usque ad portionem quae ipsum
Iudeum vel Iudeam continget de tallio et portione predict. ad distringendum omnes
debitores eorundem debitotum, ita quod habeas omnes denaris illos albos et
integros per manum tuam propriam apud Wallingfod in vigilia St. Andr. Apostoli an.
r. n. 40. lierand. raedicto Com. vel ipsis qui per ipsum Com. ad haec fuerint
deputati, et habeas ad eosdem diem et locum de arreragiis Tallagii 100 l. de
termino Sancti Trinit, praeter: de Coc. fil. Aaron (and 20 other Iews there named
ordered to pay special sums there specified as due from each of them) liberandos
per manum tuam praedicto Com. vel ipsis qui ad hoc fuerint deputati, unde alias
recepisti mandatum nostrum, quod non es exercutus habeas. etiam ad eosdem diem et
locum, corpora Eliae Epi. Aaron fil. Abraham, Solomon Epi. et Iacob Epi Iudeorum,
plegios de tallio praedicto, una cum corporibus illorum Iudeorum & Iudearum quae
aliqua arreragia debuerunt de Tallagio praedict. Et Ita te habeas in hoc mandato
exequendo, quod pro defectu tui ad te graviter capere non debeamus nec de terris et
catallis tuis praedicta debita levari faciemus. T. meipso apud Westm. 24 die Octob.
an. r. n. 39.

Eodem modo mandatum est Vic. Linc. VVigorn. Oxon. Suthampt. Linc. Ebor. Devon.
Wilteshire. Gloucest. Cantebr. Norff. Bedeford, Essex, Hereford, & Constab.
Bristol. to levy other particular summes upon particular Jewes there mentioned, too
tedious to transcribe, conteining an whole Roll, where all who please may view them
at their leasure, and the Jews too names being many.
Then follows Quia Com. Cornub. supplicavit Regi quod mittat aliquem de suis usque
Wallingford in vigil. St. Andr. prox futur. qui intersit solutioni tunc faciendae
ibid. de Tallagio et debitis Judeorum (formerly particularized
at large.) quae ei concessit in parte solutionis debitorum in quibus ei tenetur.
Mandatum est Tho. Espernon, quod omnibus negotiis pretermissis eidem solutioni
dictis die & loco inretersit ad eam videndam et irrotuland. & hoc non omittat. T.
ut supra. Eodem modo mandat. est Cyrogr. Arch. Iudeorum Winton, quod adjuvantes
sint, et consulentes Vic. Suth. ad levand. ad opus dic. Com. Cornub. de 160l. 12
marc. quae communitatem Judeor. Winton contingunt de Tallagio nulle libr. super
Iudeos Angliae assess. de termino St. Martini prox. preter: et quod permittant
predict. Vic. Visis literis ipsis habere liberam administrationem debitorum in
Archis illis inventorum ad levand praedict. 160 l. 12 marc. & hoc sicut se et sua
diligunt non omittant. T. ut supra, Eodem modo mandat. est Cyrograph. Archae
Iudaeorum Colecester, Wigorn, London, to levy other particular summs there
specified in like manner. And Dors. 4. there are the same writs in all things pro
assidendo & levando upon the Commonalty of the Jews of London 247 mar. and of other
sums upon all Jews of England in form aforesaid.

In Claus. 39. H, 3. m. 7: There is order for Vines a Jew to recover his debts owed
by creditors, by reason of his poverty, Also Commands to Sheriffs to seal up the
Iewes Chests, and to others to open and view their writings.

*Mandat. est Cyrogr. Christianis & Judeis Hereford, quod petmittant Vic. Hereford.
& Hug. de Pylardington habere accessum ad Arch. Cyrogr. er illam sigillis suis
signare, et quod permittant Will. Mansell. Vic. War. & praedict. Hug. predict.
sigilla frangere, & Cyro. in praedict. Archa invent. videre et irrotulare prout
injunxit, T. per Philip Luvel. Eodem modo mandat. &c. Cyrogr. Christ. & Jud. et
Vic. Wigorn. statim visis literis accedat ad Arch. Cyr. Wigorn. & illum sigillo suo
signet, & quod capiat corpota Hake de VVigorn. Iud. et Aar. et Samps, fil suor. et
eos duci fac. Lond. & ibi custod. Turr. R. Lond. T. ut supra, The like command is
to the Sheriff of Hereford, to seal up the Jews Chest there, and for Hugh P. to
search it.

In * Claus. 39 H. 3. pats 2. dors. 16, 17. There is a large Catalogue of the Lands,
Houses, Rents, Morgages, real and personal estate and debts of Abraham a Jew in
several Counties, amounting to a vast sum, taking up near two Membranes, which were
all imbreviated and confiscated to the Kings use. And a proclamation by the King,
that No Iew should be suffered to depart out of the realm of England.

In 40 H. 3. the King by his Letters Patents authorized Commissioners to sell the

houses, and enquire after the goods and chattels of the Jews, condemned for *
crucifying a child at Lincoln.

Rex omnibus, &c. Sciatis quod constituimus dilect: et fidel. nostros Simon
Passeeiw, et Will: de Leighton, Vic. nostri London, ad vendend: per visum et
testimonium legalium hominum, domos quae fuerunt Judaeorum Linc. suspensorum pro
parvo crucifixo ibidem, prout commodo nostro magis viderint expedire, et ad
inquirend. quo devenerunt catalla eorundem Iudaeorum, et qui ea habeant, et quantum
valeant. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod eidem Simoni et Vic. ad hoc sitis intendentes
et auxiliantes cum ab eis requisiti fueritis. In cu us, &c. T. R. apud Woodest. 20
die Aug.

It seems some of these Jews that crucified this child turned Christians to save
their lives, for which I find this kind of pardon granted to one of them at the
suit of a Frier.

*Rex omnibus, &c. salutem. Sciatis quod ad instantiam dilecti nobis in Christo
fratris Iohannis de Dorbuton, pardonai Iohanni Converso sectam pacis nostrae quae
ad nos pertinet, pro morte pueri nuper crucifixi apud Lincoln, dum predictus
Iohannis fuit Iudeus ejusdem Civitatis, unde rectatus est, et firmam pacem nostram
ei inde concedimus. Ita tamen quod stet recto in Curia nostra, si quis versus eum
inde loqui voluerit. In cujus &c. T. R. apud Westm. 10 die Jan.

The same year there issued a precept to the Sheriff of

Lincoln, to send the Chest of the Iews of Lincoln to London, belike for the same
crucifying of this child.

*Mandat. est Vic. Linc. quod statim visis literis istis mittat usque London Archam
Cirogr. Lincoln, sub salva custodia liberand. Ph. Luvel Thesaur. Regis et Justic.
ad custodiam Iud: assignatis, et quod venire fac. ibidem, cum eadem Archa omnes
Cyrographarios ejusdem Villae, tam Christianos quam Iudaeos, et hoc non omittat.

This year the King ordained a New Justice for the Iews, who took an Oath of Fealty
to the King, due to his Office, and was formally invested in the place, as this
record relates.

*Rex constituit Adam de Greenvile, Iusticiarium suum Iudrum, et ab eo recipit

Sacramentum fidelitatis Regi debitum pretextu officii sui. Et mandat. est Phil.
Luvel Thesaurar: regis, &c. quod ipsum in locum suum, tanquam Iustic. Regis in
Scac: Iudaeorum sine dilatione ponant. T. R. per R. Walis.

Cok. fil. Aaron Iudeus London, cum instantia supplicavit regi, Quod super Fine
quem nuper fecit coram Philip. Luvel Thes. et Henrico de Bathon, ad opus regis pro
20 marc. auri, eidem Iudeo literae Patentes fieri fac. Et mandatum est eisdem
Philippo, et Ric: quod formam Literarum Patent. quas pred. Judeus inde habere debet
ad terminos solucionis ejusdem auri sub sigillis suis significent, ut Rex literas
illas eidem Judeo fieri et consignari faciat. T. R. apud Clarend. 3 die Iulii. It
seems these Justices directed all the Iews Patents of this nature.

In the 41 year of King Henry the 3d. Elyas Bishop, the High Priest of the Iews, as
Mat. Paris stiles him, for a certain Transgression against the King, and his
Brother King of Almaine, was judicially deprived of his High-Priesthood and
Priestly Office, by the judgement of the Kings Justices assigned for the custody of
the Jews in the Exchequer, and of all his other Offices formerly granted
him by the King; and that he should never be capable to receive or execute these
Offices again: whereupon the King for a Fine of 3 marks of gold paid by the
Commonalty of the Jews, granted unto them by his Charter, that from thenceforth
none should be their Priest, but by the common election of the said Commonalty of
the Jews; and that upon the death of every Priest, they should have free Liberry to
chuse another Priest, and of presenting him to the King, that he might obtain his
assent and savour therein; as this memorable record informs us, wherein the names
of the Justices assigned to the Iews are specified.

*Rex omnibus, &c. Cum Elyas *Episcopus Iudaeus noster London, pro tansgressione
quam feci, tam Nobis, quam dilecto fratri nostro Regi A mannorum a sacerdotio
communitatis Iudaeorum Angliae coram dilectis & fidelibus nostris Philippo Basset,
Philippo Luvel, Henrico de Bathonia, Simon Passelew, & caeteris Iusticiariis ad
custodiam Iudaeorum assignatis, quos ad Transgressionem illam convincendam
Iusticiarios nostros assignavimus, Per Iudicium eorundem ad Scaccarium nostrum
Fuerit abjudicatus, et de ejusdem Sacerdotii Officio, et etiam de omni modis alis
officiis et Ballivis quas a Nobis prius obtinuit sit depositus; Nos de consilio e
rundem Iusticiariorum concessimus praedictae Communitati Iudeorum nostrorum
Angliae, per finem trium marcarum auri quem Cresse et Haginus fratres ejusdem
Iudaei, nobis pro eadem Communitate fecerunt, quod praedictus Elyas Sacerdotium
illud nunquam in posterum habeat et recuperet: Et quod nullus de Communitate illa
de caetero sit Sacerdos nisi per communem Electionem Communitatis ejusdem. Quod
illa Communitas post decessum cujuslibet Sacerdotis sic electi, alium eligendi
quemcunque voluerint Sacerdotem liberam habeat facultatem, ac ipsum Nobis
praesentandi, ut nostrum super hoc assensum optineat et favorem. In cujus, &c.
Teste Rege apud Wodstoke, 20 die Iulii.

I observe in this Record, that Elyas, is stiled, only,

Sacerdos, not Presbyter Iudeorum his only Priestly office called, Sacerdotium
communitatis Angliae. & Sacerdotii officium; not Presbyteratus omnium Judeorum
totius Angliae, as *Jacobs and Aarons forementiontioned Offices are. And he that
should succeed him by common election, is still here stiled Sacerdos, Sacerdotis,
Sacerdotem, thrice together, not Presbyter at all: Therefore certainly these
offices were distinct, the one ecclesiastical, the other temporal in the Exchequer
only as I formerly manifested.

What Elias his offence was, for which he was thus deprived of his Priesthood, is
not expressed in the record, but most probably it was his stout & bold speech to
the King, Earl Richard and the Lords, in behalf of the Jews the year before, when
they exacted an intollerable tax from them under pain of a most loathsom prison,*
hanging, and an ignominious death, recorded at large by *Matthew Paris and in the
first part of my Demurrer, which I shall not repeat, What power the King and his
Justices then had over their Iewish Bishop, & Priests themselves is sufficiently
evident by this Record.

In the Rolls of 41 H. 3. I find the King * at the intercession of his Brother King
of Romans, acquitting Cresse, and two other Iews of London for 5 compleat years
then next ensuing, Ab omnibus Tallagiis & auxiliis ad Nos pertinentibus, pro una
marca auri et dimid.. to be paid by each of them yearly into the Wardrobe, And at
the instance of the Queen he granted this exemption Iacobo le Eveske Judeo, and to
his Son Benedict after his death. Quod toto tempore vitae suae quietus esset de
omnibus Tallagiis, auxiliis, et aliis demandis ad nos pertinentibus, pro 5 marc.
argenti nobis annuatim reddend. ad Scac. nostrum,* salvo tamen nobis & haeredibus
nostris misericordias in quas inciderit pro forisfacto aliquo personam suam
tangente. Likewise he granted by Patent to Cok. a Jew licence to sue for his
fathers debts, for which he paid a fine to the King, and to extend his Debtors
lands for the debts, sine aliqua usura. Yea I find this pardon of an Outlawry
to a Jewesse the same year.

Rex omnibus, &c. Sciatis quod per finem quem Roesia Crespin Iudea London fecit
nobiscum, remissimus ei vtlagariam in ipsam promulgatam, et malas occasiones pro eo
quod ipsa non venit ad mandatum nostrum. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod ipsam contra
hanc concessionem nostram non vexatis. In cujus, &c. Teste R. apud Winton 4 die
Novembris.

This strange Precept was sent the Constable of the Tower, not to bail the Jews upon
any Justices Precept.

*Mandat est Constab. Turris London, quod nec Vic. nec Judeum, vel Judeam arrest.
pro debitis Ri. Rom. R. deliberet admandatum Justiciariorum, vel alterius
cujuscunque, sine assensu et voluntate Cresse & Abrah. Judeorum attornat. praedict.
R. Alemanniae. T. R. apud. Winds. 17 die Jan.

In Cl. 41. H. 3. m. 7. There is respite of a debt granted to Kok a Jew, And Writs
to the Justices of the Jewes, for some Jews Quod non ponantur in Tallagio, quamdiu
terminos suos tenuerint of their annual compositions to be exempted from taxes:
with this prohibition to the Kings Justices itinerant, not to hold Plea of any
matter belonging to the Jews.

*Quia Rex non vult quod Judei sui placitent vel implacitentur alibi quam coram
Justic. Regis ad custod. Jud. assignatis. Mandatum est Rogero de Thurks et sociis
suis Justiciariis Itiner. in Com. Linc. quod omnia placita tangentia Hagium Jud.
Linc. coram eis, ponant coram Justic. praedict. ut ipsi eidem Judeo et aliis de eo
contingentibus Justiciam exhibeant, secundum legem & confretudinem Judaismi. T. R.
apud Westm. 7 die Ian. Per Phil. Lovel, & Simonem Passelewe Iustic. Iudeorum, who
had power to grant prohibitions to the Iustices in such cases.

If the Iewes were sued before their Iustices, and made default, and could not be
found to be distreined, the Iustices thereupon used to seise their Charters and
Debts In the Chests, yea houses into the Kings hands, as till they appeared, as
this record of 42 H. 3. attests.

*Quia Rex accepit per inquisitionem quam per Rog. de Marcio, Simon Passelewe, &
Will. de Haslebech fieri fecit, quod duae Cartae quae fuerunt Manuel fil. Elie
Iudei Linc. inventae in Archa Cyrograph. regis Ebor. captae fuerunt in manum regis
pro defaltis quas fecit vers. Will. de Kinedal. personam Ecclesiae de Martin
Lingeslet in curia regis coram Iusticiariis nostr. ad custod. Iudeorum assign. apud
Westm. eo quod non potuit alio modo distringi & attachiari, & quod idem Iudeus
propter timorem defaltarum illarum, & pro paupertate sua substraxit se a Villa
Linc. & non ob aliam causam. Rex ad instantiam Alfonsi Reg. Castile & Legionum
illust. remisit quantum ad Regem pertinet, eidem Iudeo substractionem praedict. &
ei praedict. cartas reddidit, ita quod in dicta villa Linc. vel alibi inter Iudeos
regis libere & in bona pace morari possit, & stare juri quando et ubi debuerit,
secundum legem & consueudinem Iudaismi regis. Et mandat. est Thesaur. & Baron.
Scac. Et Iustic. quod sic fieri & teneri, & dicto Iudeo praedict. cartas suas
restitui fac. & de domibus ad ipsum Iudeum spectantibus in praedict. villa Linc.
plaenam et celerm Iusticiam exbibeant eidem, secundum legem & consuetud. Judaismi
praedict. T. R. apud Merton 10 die Junii. per Iustic. Mansell, & alios de concilio,

It appears by this and former Records, that the Jews gold could procure Kings,
Queens, and other Grandees to be their Intercestors upon all occasions.

It is plain by this Record, that the Jews claimed an exemption from suits for their
Tallages before the Barons of the Exchequer.

*Rex de consilio suo provide concessit, quod de 500 marc. assesso super
communitatem Judeorum Regi de tallagio suo arentata de termino St. Michis de an.
44. de quibus Barones de Scac. summonitionem fieri fecerunt
Vic. R. per Angliam ad respondend. inde coram praedict. Baron. ad praedict. Scac.
eidem Vic. respondeant ad Scac. R. Judeorum coram Hugone le Bygod. Justic. Angl. &
Justic. R. ad custod. Judeorum assignat. Et mandat. est praedict. Baron. quod sic
fieri et teneri faciant. T. R. apud Woodst. 15 die August. per ipsum regem et
Consilium.

This year divers Jews being imprisoned, the King and his Council gave order for
their release till further provision made concerning them.

*Quia Rex intendit ordinare de Judaismo suo per consilium suum die Dom. prox. post
fest. S. Mar. Magdal. Provisum est per consilium regis, Et mandatum est Ballivo de
Wallingford, Constab. Castri Winton, & Turris Lond. quod omnes prisones Judeos in
custodia sua detentos deliberent quousque provisiopraedicta facta fuerit. Et mandat
est Hugoni de Cresse Judeis Lincoln, quod nullam interim districtionem faciant
super praedict. Judeos sed deliberationem illam ipsam ipsi permittant.

(Anno 43. H. 3. A Jews Wife being banished out of England, the husband paid a fine
in gold to have licence for her to return and dwell there.

Ex parte Judeae uxor Abrahae Russel quondam Judeus de Wilton, factus est finis cum
rege pro 20 ralent. auri pro habenda licentia Regis revertendi in Angliam, & ibidem
vivendi in pace, in rot. claus. T. Rege.

After this the Iews giving the King 500 marks towards his passage into France,
there issued this Patent for the speedy and violent assessing and levying of it.

*Rex Constab. Turris London. salutem. Cum Iudei nostri Angliae dederunt nobis 500
marc. sterling. ad passagium nostrum in Franc. quod erit, deo voleute 1 die Sept.
instantis, tibi precipimus, & in fide qua nobis tener. firmiter injungimus,
quatenus sicut honorem nostrum diligis, et indignationem et grave dampnum tuum
volueris evitare; statim visas literis absque omni dilatione
facias assidi per Coc: fil. Aaron, Man: Blundum, et Leon. Preciosae 100 l. super
Commun: Judaeorum London, quae eis contingunt de praed. 500 mar. Quibus festinanter
assessis statim distringas tres praedictos assessores, quam omnes alios Judaeos
praed. villae per terras, catalla, et corpora eorum, uxorum & puerorum suorum, et
omnibus modis aliis quibus melius scieris et poteris, ad reddendum hoc ad opus
nostrum, portionem quemlibet eorum contingentem de praed. 100 lib. Ita quod
eashabeas plenarie penes te per praedict. assessores Judeos apud Turrim London, die
decol. Sancti Iohannis Baptist. prox. instanti: et ita quod praedict. passag:
nostrum ad praedict. diem pro defectu praedict. denariorium nullatenus impediatur.
Sciturus certissime, quod nos in omnibus mandatum nostrum adimplendis tam graviter
ad te capiemus quod plus ex hoc senties te gravatum, quam si de tuo proprio
solveres pecuniam memoratam. Quia uum gravamen dabit aliis timorem delinquendi. Et
habeas ibi tunc hoc breve. T. R. Archidiac Bed. Thes. nostro apud Westm. 6 die
Augusti.

Mandat. est Constabul. Turris London, (and three more there named) quod omnes
Archas Iudaeorum in pred. Turri oxistentes apariri, et omnia catalla et debita in
eisdem inventa distrahi et aperte irrotulari faciant; et ea quae ibid. invenient
Regi constare faciant. In cujus, &c. T. R. apud Westm: 5. die Nov.

Anno 44 H. 3. Cok and his Brother, two Jews, having four years before made a fine
of 2000 marks in silver, for the goods of their Father, except the Chattels the
Queen would take for her gold, &c. The King granted them for a fine to pay the
arears of the 2000 mark at certain times, and in the mean time to be freed from all
Taxes, unless only for their own proper goods,* as appears by a special Patent;
part of which monyes they were to pay, and paid in gold into the Wardrobe.

This year there issued a Precept to seize and levy all the Jews Debts.

Mandatum est Justic. ad custod. Iud. assignatis, quod omnia debita, tam ea quae
sum in Thesaur. Judaismi Regis, qua ea quae manent in summonitione contenta, in
rotulis Scacc. Iudeorum quae scil. debita excedunt 20 mar. liberent sine dilatione
Thesaurario et Baronibus de Scac. ponend. in summonitionem ibidem, retentis tamen
penes ipsis Iustic. transcriptis eorundem. T.R. apud S. Paulum London 9. die Maii
Per H. le Bygod.

Anno 45 H. 3. The King at the Queens Petition granted Solomon Eveske of London to
be free from all Taxes for two years; he also issued forth these Letters Patents to
search, inroll and inquire after all Jews debts, pawns, estates, &c.

Rex Vic. Constabular. Castrorum, Majoribus, Ballivis, Cirographr. et omnibus

Ministris suis de Wilton, Merleberge, Glouc. Bristol, & Exon, et omnibus aliis
presentes Literas inspecturis, salutem. Sciatis, quod assignavimus Magist. Robert:
de Meleel, et Radul: de Hocest. ad Archas Citogr. Judaeorum aperiendas et
scrutandas, et ad omnia dbita in eisdem inventa irrotulanda; et ad inquirend
omnibus modis quibus melius viderint expedire, de bonis et catallis praed.
Judeorum, mobilibus et immobilibus extra Archas: viz. quantum singuli habeant in
auro et argento, vadiis, jocalibus, terris, redditibus, et omnibus rebus aliis, &
in quorum manibus vel custodiis fuerint et devenerint, tam in Civitatibus, Villis,
domibus religiosis, quam ab omnibus locis aliis; ut de predict. debitis et
catallis, et eorum quantitate certificari possumus. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod ad
omnia praedicta exequenda et expedienda predicto Roberto, et Radul. sitis
intendentes, consulentes et auxiliantes in omni forma quam vobis dicent et
injungent ex parte nostra. In cujus &c. T. R. apud Turr. London, 16 die Iulii.

Consimiles Literas Pat. habet Simon Passelewe Archis Winton, Oxon. Bed. & Northam.
Georgius de Dover, Willielmus Hamselbech apud Cant. Essex, Norff: Suff. et Canteb.
Roger de la Lye, apud Stanford, Lincoln, Not: et Ebor. de Herford, Warwicke,
Wigorn.

This year the King granted this Patent of Safe conduct for a time to Solomon a Jew,
who had abjured the realm, to return for a season for his special service.

Rex omnibus &c. salutem. Licet Solomon le Eveske Judeus abjuravit regnum nostrum,
tamen quia inter homines terrae pro quibusdam negotiis nos specialiter tangentibus
in Angl: revertat, concessimus ei quod salvo et secure venire possit in regnum
nostrum. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod eidem Judeo in veniendo, morando, ceu
recedendo malum non inferatis, vel inferri permittatis, impedimentum, dampnum vel
gravamen. Et si quid, &c. In cujus, &c. Duratatur usque ad Festum Sancti Trin.
prox: futur. T. R. apud Turrim London 16 die April.

This year the Wardens and Constable of the Tower of London claimed this priviledge
by prescription, that they ought to have the atachment & imprisonment of all Jews,
Jewesses of London, and other places, and of all Christians and Jews that were to
be attached or imprisoned by the judgement of the Justices and Exchequer of the
Iews, for any matters concerning Judaisme; and likewise to hold Plea in the Tower
of all Debts of Iews under 40 s. which priviledge the King allowed, and commanded
to be observed by this Writ.

Rex Justic. suis ad custod Iud. assign. salutem. Quia Custodes et Constab. Turris
nostrae London semper habere consueverunt omnia attachiamenta tam Iudeorum quam
Iudearum London; quam aliorum Iud: nostrorum forinsecorum; et etiam
imprisonamentum. tam Christianorum quam Iudeorum, quos occasione Iudaismi Prisonae
nostrae contigerit adjudicari, vel per preceptum nostrum, vel per considerationem
Scac. nostri Judeorum. Quia etiam predicti Custodes et Constab, tenere consueverunt
placita inter Christianos et Iudeos, de vadiis usque ad summam 40 s. Providimus &
volumus, quod de cetero
sic fiet in omnibus. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod omnes tam Christianos, quam
Judeos; quos contigerit per preceptum nostrum, vel considerationem praedicti Scac.
nostri Iudeorum catcerali custodia ratione Judaismi quoquo modo committi, eos
liberari faciatis Constab. Turris nostrae, et per ipsos et Ministros suos praedict.
faciatis attachiamenta de Judeis, et placita vadiorum reneri sicut praedict. est.
Ita quod nullus, nisi Constabulatius predict. Turris nostrae de caetero se
intromittat de hujusmodi attachiamentis vel imprisonamentis, vel placitis vadiorum
praedict. Et hoc faciatis firmiter teneri et observari. T.R. apud Sanctum Paulum
London, 26 die Maii

Which record fully sets forth the Iurisdiction of the Keepers and Constable of the
Tower of London, over the Jews persons and affairs in that age.

*Rex Iustic. ad Custod: &c. Monstravit nobis Cresse Iudeus de Wilton qui decimo
anno preterito finem vobiscum fecisset per aurum ad opus nostrum, ut sine occasione
implacitare posset coram vobis Galf. de Winelesford de debitis quae ei debet extra
Archam Judaeoru; quod idem Galf. recognovisset coram vobis se debere praefato Iudeo
X. libr: attamen quidam prefat. Iudeo invidentes ipsum super dicto debito
frandulenter et maliciose inquietare et molestare nituntur. Et ideo vobis mandamus,
quod si scrutatis rotulis Scac. nostri Judeorum inveneritis ipsum Judeum finem
predict. fecisse, tunc finem illum secundum irrotulat. praedict, et consuetudinem
Judaismi nostri remanere fac. sine occasione. T. R. apud Windes. 5. die Febr.

The King wanting present moneys this year, sent forth this writ.
Quia Rex plurimum indiget ad praesens pecunia. Mandat. est Justic. ad custod.
Iudeorum assignat. quod omnes denarios de Judaismo regis quos reservant ad autum
inde emend. ad opus Regis, sine dilatione liberent in Garderoba Regis Aberico de
Fischamp, & Petro de Winton Cler. et faciend. inde quod Rex eis injunxit.

*Anno 46 H. 3. I find 18 several Jews paying several fines to the King for Patents,
and that they might abide within certain Towns: As likewise a Precept to the
Constable of the castle of Glocester, to seise all the chattels houses, Lands, and
tenements of Caupon a Jew of Glocester, and keep them safe till the King gave
farther Order; with this further command to the Barons.

*Mandatum est Baron de Scac. Quod omnes Cartas, Tallias, et instrumenta inventa in
Archis Regis Cyrographariis de debitis Judeorum per Angliam, Regi relictis seu
concessis post ultimum scrutinium et proventum fact: de debitis predictis, per
illos quos Rex ad hoc deputavit, coram eis venire faciant, ad praedicta debita ad
usus Regis levanda secundum quod Rex eis injunxit. T. &c.

He likewise made several grants to Jews, not to release, pardon, respite, or extend
their Debts, in this form.

*Rex omnibus, &c. Sciatis, Quod per finem quem Benedictus de Lincoln Judeus fecit
nobiscum, et de quo nobis satisfecit in Garderoba nostra, concessimus eidem Iudeo
quod de nullis debitis suis, quae eidem debentur, aliquam extentam, aut terminorum
prorogationem, quietantiam, seu donationem aliquam faciemus infra quinquennium,
tempore confectionis praesentium literatum. In cujus, &c. T. R: apud Windsore 15.
die Maii. The like Patents were then granted to 4 other Jews, and to 8. Jews more
on the 19th of February.

The Jews of Canterbury complaining to the King of violence offered to them by the
people in Canterbury, who broke open their doores, beat them, and intended to burn
their houses with fire, in the night, issued this commission to inquire out the
Malefactors, that they might be punished.

*Cum Rex ex parte Judaeorum Cant. gravem accepit querimoniam; quod quidem
malefactores et pacis Regis perturbatores, tam Clerici, quam Laici, ejusdem
civitatis
nuper venerunt noctanter ad domos eorundem Judeorum in eadem villa, et ostia et
fenestra eorundem domorum securibus exciderunt et fregerunt, et ad domus illas
comburendas ignem ibidem detulerunt, & postmodum quosdam ex Judeis praedictis
enormiter verberaverunt, & maletractaverunt contra pacem Regis. Rex assignavit
Walt. de Bersted ad inquirend. per sacram: &c. qui transgressionem praedict.
fecerunt: & quid per eandem inquisitionem invenerit regi in propria persona sua
sine dilatione scire fac. ut ad insolentiam predict. malefactorum reprimendum et
correctionem debitam de transgressionibus predict. faciendam de consilio suo
faciat, quod super fuerit faciendum. Et mandat. est Vic. Kanc. &c.

The Justices of Assize this year proceeding notwithstanding a Prohibition from the
Justices of the Jews to stay the proceedings in a suit for a Jews house in
Colchester, which was recovered by his default, notwithstanding the Prohibition,
thereupon there issued this writ of restitution for the Jew.

Rex Vic. Essex salutem, Cum Willielmus de Ponte nuper Arraniavit per Breve nostrum
quandam Assisam novae disseisinae coram Nich. de True et sociis suis Justic.
nostris ultimo Itin. in Com. Essex, vers. Hanekun de Flemeg. et Ursellum Judeum de
Colecester, de ten: in Colecester: ac per Iohannem de Weston, et Tho. de Pynkesden,
Iustic. ad custod. Iud. assign. eidem Ursello sit inhibitum, ne alibi quam coram
eis super aliquo respondere praesumeret; per quod idem Ursell: coram praefato
Nicho. et sociis suis Iustic. nostris comparere non audebat praefato Willielmo inde
respondere. Cumque Assisa illa per defaltum praefati Urselli tunc capta fuisset, ac
idem Willus. seisinam de tenem. predicto per ret. Assisae praedict. recuperavit.
Attendentes absentiam praefati Iudaei occasione, Inhibitionis praedict. sibi factae
ei non debere imputari; tibi praecipimus, quod praefato Iudeo tenem. praedict. cum
pertinentiis rehabere fac. tenendum absque destructione vel absque alienatione,
aliqua inde facienda, vizt. usque in crastinum Epiphaniae Dom: prox: futur. ita
quod tunc vel citra, per praedict. Mich. Johan. & Tho. quos Iustic. nostros ad hoc
assignavimus, exhibeant in praemissis utraque parte Iusticiae complementum. Et tu
ipse provideas, quod per judicium supradictum de tenemento illo nulla fiat
alienatio seu domorum deterioratio, nec aliquo modo inde fiat destructio, per quod
tenementum illud interim deteriorari contingat. T. apud Westm. 20 die Octob.

This year the King committed all the Jews to his son Edward, granting him the use
of the Seales of his Exchequer, to seal his Writs, and a new Prison, as this Record
informs us.

*Rex Thesaur. et Baron. suis de Scac. salutem. Sciatis, quod concessimus Edwardo
fil. nostro. cui Judaismum nostrum commissimus, quod Justic. sui ad custod.
Judeorum assignat. habeant Sigillum Scac. nostri Judeorum penes se, & quod omnia
brevia et mandata ad Iudaismum illum spectantia subsigillo Scac. nostri Judeorum
mittant, ad sigilla nostra de cancellaria, vel de Scaccario nostro. Ita quod brevia
et mandata praedict. ibi sine difficultate consignantur. Et mandamus Magistro I. de
Chishal Cancellario Scac. nostri, quod brevia et mandata illa sine difficultate
consignari fac. et atornatos ejusdem filii nostri omnes denar. inde provenient.
percipere permittat ad opus ejusdem fil. nostri, Volumus etiam quod idem fil.
noster habeat ptisonam ad Judeos et aios distringendos et Justiciandos, prout
secundum legem et consuetudinem regni nostri fieri debet et consuevit. Et ideo sic
fieri faciatis. T. R. 12 die Iulii.

Mandatum est I. de Chishal. Cancellar Scac. reg. quod omnia brevia & mandata quae
Justic. ad custod. Jud. assign. sibi mittant sub sigillo Scac. reg. Judeorum, fine
difficultate consignari fac. Et attornatos Edwardi fil. reg. cui rex Iudaismum suum
commisit; et omnes denarios de praedictis brevibus et mandatis provenientes
percipere permittat ad opus ejusdem fil. regis. T. ut supra.

This year the King issued out this Writ to extract quoddam feodum out of the Chests
of the Iews of Maile*
a Iew of Canterbury, which the King granted to another, directed Cyropraph.
Justiciariis & Iudeis Cant. & illum habeatis coram Justic. nostr. ad custod
Iudeorum assign. at a set day, per unum ex vobis sub sigillis vestris, praedict
Iusticiariis nostris liberand. ad faciend. inde praeceptum nostrum, Et habeas ibi
hoc Breve. T. W. Bagod. apud Westm. 4 die Iun. There are 3 more the like Writs this
year.

*The King by his Charters this year granted sundry fees and annuities of several
Iews by their assents (specified in their Charters, in which several persons were
obliged by their Charters to these Iews and their heirs) unto Robert Walerand.
Habend. & tenend. eidem Roberto, & haeredibus suis libere & quiete, integre & in
pace, sine reclamatione nostri & haeredum nostrorum, & Iudeorum praedictorum in
perpetuum, secundum tenorem praedict. Cartarum, &c. Dat. per manum nostram apud
Westm. 2 die Febr.

King Henry in the 47 year of his reign confirmed Prince Edwards grant of the Iews
(to whom he formerly assigned them) unto the Caturcenfian Merchants (to whome the
Iews and Judaisme were morgaged for moneys advanced on them) by this Patent.

*Rex universis ad quos, &c. salutem. Cum Edwardus noster dilectus Primogenitus, ex
praecepto, assessu et voluntate nostra concesserit & tradiderit insolurum Petro
Ceraudo & Willo Bernand. frarribus, pro seipsis, & eorum sociis civibus et
Mercatoribus Caturcens. pro mutuo per Dom. Edwardum ab eisdem Mercatoribus habito &
recepto London, pro negotiis ipsius Edwardi & regn. nostri gravibus & arduis, totum
Iudaismum nostrum ipsius regni nostri cum Scac. ejusdem Iudaismi, et omnibus et
singulis aliis proventibus et exitibus ceterique ad idem Iudaismum spenctantibus.
Habend. et tenend. die confectionis instrumenti interdict. Edwardum et prefatos
mercatores super dicto mutuo confecto usque ad quindenam sancti Iohis Baptistae.
Anno Dom. 1265.
Prout in instrumento praedicto Patente seu literis dicti Edwar. quod seu quas eidem
Mercatores penes se habent plenius continetur. Nos praedict. concessionem et
traditionem ratas habentes et gratas, eisdem praedict. mercatoribus pro nobis et
haeredibus nostris inviolabiter concedimus, ac etiam in omnibus confirmamus.
Promittentes nos praedict. concessionem et traditionem, prout in praenominato
instrumento, seu literis sunt contentae, warrantizare, protegere, seu defendere
contra omnes, pro nobis et heredibus nostris. In cujus rei testimonium has literas
nostras eisdem Mercatoribus fieri fecimus patentes. Dat apud London 11 die Iunii.
An. r. n. 47. his Testibus Dom. Rico. rege Aleman. fratre nostro. Humfred. de
Bohun. Com. Hereford et Essex, Tho. Basset Justic. nostr. Angl. Hugh le Bygod. Iohn
Mansel Thes. Ebor. Rob. Waller, Ebulone de Montibus, Perro de Essevel, et aliis.

This year some Iews were indicted before the Justices itinerant, and imprisoned and
outlawed for receiving stollen goods, as this Record informs us to stop the
Utlawry.

*Rex Vic. Sussex salutem. Cum Manuel de Maford et Jacob fil. Benedict. Iudei nuper
indictati coram Iustic. nostris ultimo itinerantibus in com. tuo de receptamento
latrocinium se reddiderunt ad prisonam nostram, parati inde secundum legem &
consuetudinem regni nostri stare juri, & tibi preceptum fuit ab eisdem Iustic.
nostris ipsos de Comitatu in comit. propter contumaciam suam exigi, & praeter modum
utlagari. Tibi praecipimus, quod ab utlagaria in ipsos promulgata desistas, & bona
eorundem Iudeorum ad opus nostrum reservari, & salvo custodiri fac. donec aliud
inde tibi praecipimus. Teste Rege apud Westm. 14 die Febr.

King Henry, Anno 48. made this Proclamation to prevent all violence against the
Jews in VVinton, and other places, and preserve them & theirs under his peace and
protection, as well as his other subjects, threatning losse of life and Member to
all such as should hurt or molest
them, as this Patent manifests, committing them to the protection of 26 of the
chief Citizens of Winchester by this Patent.

Rex Willo. Fromund (and to 25 more there named) Ciibus suis Winton, salutem. Cum
diina cooperante gratia, Pax in regno nostro orinata sit, firmata, et ubique per
ipsum regnum proclamata; ac de consilio Baronum nostrorum provisum sit, et ex parte
nostra, et ipsorum publice sit inhibitum, ne quis sub poena exhaeredationis et
periculo vitae et membrorum super aliquem currat, nec homicidia vel incendia, de
predationes vel roberias, seu alia hujusmodi faciat enormia, nec cuiquam damnum
inferat contra pacem nostram. Cumque Judeos nostros Winton in nostram defensionem
et protectionem specialem suscepimus, una cum familiis, rebus, et omnibus
possessionibus suis, et ad tuitionem, et majotem securitatem eorum, vos de consilio
Baronum nostrorum ad custodiam ipsorum Judeorum assignavimus. Vobis mandamus
firmiter injungentes, quatenus per totam Civitatem praedict. ex parte nostra, et
Baronum nostrorum praedict. publice proclamari, et firmiter inhiberi faciatis, ne
quis sub periculo vitae et membrorum praedictis Judeis vel suis famiiis in
personis vel rebus suis inferat dampnum, molestiam vel gravamen. Et vos ipsi Judeos
ipsos, familias suas, res, terras, et omnes possessiones eorum infra praedictam
civitatem, et extra, quantum in vobis est manuteneatis, protegatis, et defendatis,
talem ad hoc diligentiam apponentes, quod vos inde merito commendare possumus.
Teste Rege apud St. Paulum, London 14 die Iunii.

The King by the like Letters Patents committed rhe Jews of Nothampton to 26
Burgesses of the Town, to be garded and protected by them, whose names are
specified in the Patent, which recites: Cum propter turbationem nuper habitam in
regno nostro, et maxime propter conflictum nuper habitum apud Northampt. Judei
Northampt. ad cast. fugerunt, & ibidem pro timore moram
hactenus fecerunt Castrum illud exire non audentes, de quo jacturam non modicam jam
incurrimus, ac sedata turbatione praedicta, et inspirante gratia divina, pax inter
Nos et Barones nostros ordinata sit ac firmata, ac in regno nostro publice
proclamata; propter quod de consilio nostro providimus, quod eidem Judei redeant in
villam praedict. ibidem moraturi, sicut prius morari consueverunt. Ac etiam ad
tuitionem et majorem securitatem eorundem, vos ad custodiam eorum assignavimus.
Vobis mandamus, quod Judeos illos, et omnes possessiones suas manuteneatis, &c. (as
in the former.) Cyrographariis autem, et custodibus Archae Judeorum in villa
praedicta cum opus fuerit consulentes sitis et auxiliantes ad ea facienda et
exequenda quae ad officium suum pertinent in eadem villa, pro quo diligentiam
vestram merito commendare debeamus. T. R. apud St. Paulum 2 die Iun.

The like Patents were sent Majori & Vicecomitibus London, reciting the publike
peace proclaimed, as the first Patent doth, thn adding. Cumque Iudeos nostros
London, pro timore turbationis supradict. adhuc existentes apud Turrim nostram
London, in nostram defensionem et protectionem sufcipimus specialem, una cum
familiis, rebus, et omnibus possessionibus eorundem, ac ipsis Judeis concessimus,
quod ad domos suas infra Civitatem praedict. libere redire, & eas secure et absque
aliquo impedimento inhabitare possint, sicut prius ante turbationem praedict. fieri
consueverunt. Vobis de consilio Baronum praedict. mandamus firmiter injungentes,
quatenus per totam civitatem praedict. ex parte nostra, et Baronum ipsorum publice
proclamari et firmiter inhiberi faciatis, ne quis sub periculo vitae et membrorum
praed. Judeis et familis suis in personis vel rebus eorum inferat dampnum,
molestiam, vel gravamen. Vos autem eos de caetero infra Civitaem praed. quam
extra quantum in vobis est, manuteneatis, protegatis, et defendatis, pro quo vos
specialiter recommendare debeamus.
T. R. apud St. Paulum London, 11 die Iunii.

The like Patents were granted to most other Towns where the Jews resided, who by
reason of the late troubles fled into Castles to preserve their lives and good
from plunder during the ciil wars between the King and Barons, wherein many of
them were pillaged of all their estates, and some killed.

In the Fine Roll of 48 H. 3. I find sundry releases made by the King to diverse
English men of the Fees and debts belonging unto Jews, running in this unusuall
form.

*Rex Justic. ad custod. Judeorum assign. salutem. Sciatis Nos de gratia nostra
speciali remisisse diilectis et fidelibus nostris Rogero Bertram (and sundry
others there named) Ut nobis devotiores, et ad obsequium nostrum promptiores
efficiantur, omnia feoda, in quibus ipsi aut eorum antecessor. teneb. quibuscunque
Judeis nostris Angliae. Pardonavimus etiam prefatis R. &c. fidelibus nostris
praedict. omnes usuras et poenas in quibus ipsi vel sui antecessores eisdem Iudeis
per cartas suas teneanur. Ita videlicet quod in pecunia quam praedict. R. &c. a
prefatis Judeis mutuo ceperunt, eisdem Judeis reddere teneantur, super qua quidem
pecunia prefat. R. &c. sacramento suo coram vobis prestito, et aliorum fide
dignorum ad hoc juratorum credantur. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod omnes Iudeos qui
in regno nostr. existunt presntes, vel haetedes eorum qui mortui sunt, quibus
iidem fideles nostri in aliquo debito tenebantur certis diebus et locis coram vobis
venite, et omnes cartas, per quas omnibus Judeis Angliae tenebantur in aliquibus
debitis vel feodis, ab Archis Cyrograph. Judeorum extrahi, et eisdem liberari, et
ipsos de predict. feodi de is et usuris quietos esse, et sic fieri et
irrotulari sact. Ita tamen, quod dict. pecunia sic a Iudeis praefat. mutuo
accepta, praedicti R. &c. eisdem Iudeis ad rationabiles terminos, quos eis
assignabitis satisfaciant, Ita quod dicta pecunia sic mutuata non usuret,
et si praefati Judei, vel aliqui ex ipsis fuerint mortui, ita quod catalla sua sunt
nostra escaeta, tunc praedicti R. &c. nobis inde satisfaciant ad Scac. nostrum. T.
R. apud VVestm. 28 die Octob. The like I find to this in Fines 49 H. 3. m. 6

Anno 49 H. 3. I meet with this Record about a Charter supposed to be forged by a

Jew.

*Rex Majori Northam: salutem. Cum ad suggestionem tuam. Johannem fil: Eustach. &c.
Isaac de Burd, &c. Iudeos pro quadam carta falsa confecta per te arrestari, et
salvt custodiri praecipimus, et Th. de Brampton, &c. manuceperunt coram nobis, ad
habendum praefat. Johan. &c. coram Iustic: nostris ad custod: Iud assignat. a die
&c. ad standum recto si quis versus eos inde lonqui voluerit. Tibi praecipimus,
quod praefat. Iudeos in propria persona tua habeas coram praefat. Justic. die
praedict. ad standum recto de crimine supradicto. Et hoc sicut te et omnia tua
diligis, nullatenus omittas, et habeas ibi cartam praedictam, et hoc Beve. T. R.
apud Hereford, 12 die Maii. There is the like writ for others in the same case.

The same year this writ issued to seise all the Jews and Judaism into the Kings
hand, formerly granted to Pr. Edward, because he had joyned with some Rebels
against the King, allowing some, displacing other of his Officers, and commanding
them not to obey the Prince.

*Rex Thesaur. et Camerariis suis salutem. Quia Edwardus fil. n. cui Judaismum
nostrum scut nostis, ad tempus commissimus, nostro prorsus ac Magnatum et fidelium
nostrorum spreto consilio, subito et ex inopinato jam recessit ad quosdam rebelles
nostros se transferendo, qui nos gravare, et pacem Regni nostri perturbare
proponunt, dictum Iudaismu capimus in manum nostram. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod
assumpto vobiscum Magistro Thom. de Cantelupo Cancellario nostro si adhuc Londini
existat, Tallagium nuper assessum super Iudaismum predict. per Tho. de Irpergue ad
hoc assignat. per praedict. fil. nostr. videri, et illud ad opus nostrum colligi,
et salvo custodiri fac. donec aliud inde praeciperimus.
Adam vero de Winton socium Roberti de Crep: ab officio suo amoveatis, et loco ejus
Will. de Hachelbeche substituatis. Ita, quod idem VVillielmus et Robertus officio
Iusticiariae Iudeorum amodo intendant, donec aliter inde duxerimus ordinand. et
eisdem Iustic. firmier injungatis ex parte nostra, ne praefato fil. nostro, vel
suis, in aliquo intendant, et quod ab omnibus Iudeis Angliae hoc idem scire
faciant. Et hoc non omittatis. T. R. apud Hereford; 30 die Maii.

In the Fine rolls of Ann. 49. The King pardons R de la Hyde his debts, &c. whose
lands and tenements were not sufficient to satisfie the Debts for which they were
obliged to sundry Jews there named.

Omnia debita, usuras, poenas et feoda, in quibus tenetur Iudeis praedictis in

aliquibus debitis, usuris, poenis vel feodis ab Archis Cyrograph: Iudeorum extrahi,
et praef. Rico. liberari, et ipsum de predict. debitis, usuris, poenis et feodis
quietum esse, et sic fieri et irrot. faciant. T. R. apud Hereford 19. die Iunii.
Per Regem et Justic.

The like to this and the former in Fines 48. I find frequent in this *Fine roll: to
above 20 other several persons, after the battel of Lewes therein specified.

In 50 H. 3. *Mandatum est Th. Bacun, quod rotulos et brevia Iudaismum tangentia,

quae sunt in custodia sua, liberet Iustic. ad custod. Iudeor. assign. custodiend.
quamdiu Rex aliud inde praeceperit.

This year the King writing to Hagino a Jew of London, to deliver monyes of the
Merchants of Flanders there arrested and left in his Custody, begins thus. Rex
Hagino fil. Mossei Iudeo London, statum vitae melioris, Cum per literas
nostras,*&c.
The same year the King granted to Aaron le Blund, a Jew, liberty to sue for his
debts, which he formerly pardoned his debtors, Non obstante pardonatione nostra de
debitis dicti Rogeri praefato Judaeo facto.

The Jews sustaining much loss by the Barons and Kings enemies, I find this recitall
thereof by the King,
who granted them other Jews debts for their relief, as this and other presidents
manifest.

Rex Iustic. suis ad custod, &c. Soiatis quod pro dampnis et jacturis quae Haginus
fil. Mossei Iudeus London, pro nobis sustinuit in turbatione habita in regno
nostro, Nos in auxilium relevationis suae status, dedimus ei 50 lib. in quibus
Willielmus de Dyve defunctus per cartam suam tenebatur Jacobo fil. Ladonis Iudeo
London, nuper defuncto, cujus debita et catalla devenerunt ad manum nostram ratione
mortis ejusdem. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod praedict 50 lib. secundum consuetud.
Judaismi nostri leuari, et eidem Hagino, una cum carta supradicta liberari faciatis
de dono nostri. T. R. apud Westm. 1 die April. The like grant of another Jews debt
upon the same account, was this year made to Elyas, sonne of Mosse a Jew, to be
allowed in his Tallages and other debts to the King.

Ibid. m. 10. The King pardons Peter de Novel and Andrew de Winton the debts they
owed to Jews.

The Iews in London both before and after the battel of Lewes, being spoiled of
their houses and goods there during the Civil wars, by the Kings Enemies and the
Barons then in arms against them; he thereupon in the 50 year of his reign, enabled
them to sue for, and recover their goods and houses again, (except such as himself
had sold and disposed of) and restored them to the self-same condition they were in
before the battle of Lewes, by this ensuing writ and grant.

*Rex Hugoni filio Ottonis Custodi Civitatis suae, London, salutem. Cum pro variis
dampnis et injuris Iudeis nostris Angliae in turbatione regni nostri ab Inimicis
nostris illatis, de Consilio Magnatum nostrorum qui sunt de Consilio nostro,
Concessimus omnibus et singulis Iudeis praedictis, quod ipsi quoad bona et
possessiones suas recuperanda sint in eodem statu quo fuerunt die conflictus de
Lewes; ac quidem inimici nostri in turbatione in Regno nostro habita domos
Iudaeorum nostrorum London in eadem Civitate tm ante bellum praedictum qum post
occupaverint: Ac etiam quidam
deorum praedictorum pro timore turbationis praedictae domos suas in eadem Civitate
reliquerunt, et ad alias partes se transtulerunt: Nos eisdem Judaeis gratiam
uberiorem facere volentes, concessimus et reddidimus singulis Iudaeis nostris
London, omnes domos suas praedictas ante bellum praedictum, et post bellum illud
occasione turbationis praedictae occupatas & detentas; exceptis Domibus quorundam
Judaeorum praedictorum London, quas in eadem Civitate quibuscunque prius
concessimus. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod praefatis Iudaeis de Domibus suis
praedictis in quorumcunque manibus existunt, plenam seifinam habere facias, sicut
praedictum est. T. R. apud VVestm. 14 dii Novembris.

In the * Patent Rolls of this year, the King grants the Houses and Debts of several
Jews escheated to him by their deaths or othewise, to several Jews, impoverished
dampnis et gravaminibus sibi ad inimicis nostris illatis tempore turbationis habita
in regno nostro, &c. volens eis gratiam facere specialem.

Besides, upon this account I find this general Patent and Proclamation of
protection for the Jewes of London.

*Rex Rich. de Ceual (and 45 more there named) civibus London salutem. Quia Iudei
nostri London tempore turbationis in regno nostro jacturas quamplurimas et enormia
sustinuerunt, nos dspendiis et jacturis eorum compatientes ipsos, terras, res,
domos, reddius, et omnes eorum possessiones in defensionem et protectionem nostram
suscepimus specialem. Nos ad eorum Majorem tuitionem et securitatem custodiam e
protectionem vos assignantes. Et ideo vobis mandamus firmiter injungentes quatenus
per totam civitatem praedict. London publice proclamari fac. ne quis sub periculo
vitae et membrorum praedict. Iudaeis in personis vel rebus suis dampnum inferat
molestiam, aut gravamen et vos ipsi Iudeos illos, familias suas, terras, vel
redditus, domos, et omnes possessiones suas, et eorum bona infra civitatem praed.
et extra quantum in vobis est manuteneatis, protegatis et defendatis, non
inferentes, &c: (as in the former) Et si quid
&c. talem diligentiam apponentes ut vobis, &c. donatur per vicecomitem T. R.

Consimiles literae habent Iudei Cantebr. Ballivis et probis hominibus Cant.

directae durant, ut supra.

*This year the King granted the custody of the Iews Rolls, and a salary for it by
this patent.

Rex omnibus, &c. Sciatis quod commissimus dilecto Clerico nostro Tho, Wabrun.
rotulos et brevia nostra Iudaismi nostri custodiend. quamdiu nobis placuerit, ita
quod capiat per annum ad Scac. nostr. 10 lib. vid. 100 s. ab Scac. nostr. St.
Michis. et 100s. ad Scac. nostr. Pasche ad se sustentandum in officio praedicto
quamdiu fuerit in eodem.

The same year the King by * Patent granted leave to sundry Jews, presently to sue
for, and levy their debts upon their Creditors, and distrain them for them, and
likewise that he will not release, pardon nor respite the debts due to them from
sundry particular persons expressed in the Patents, in form like those already
cited elsewhere.

Yea I find this Writ for electing a new Cyrographer in the place of one that was
dead, issued this year.

Rex Constab. castri Winton et Ballivis ejusdem villae, salutem. Quia Petrus
Westman Christianus unus Cyrogr. Arch. Iud. Winton diem clausit extremum, ut rex
accepit. Vobis mandamus, quod per Sacramentum 12. tam Christianorum quam Iudeorum
villae praedict. eligi fac. loco praedict. Pet. unum alium Coffrarium, qui
praestito sacramento sicut moris est. officio illo de caetero intendat, et nomen
ejus Regi scire fac. T. R. apud Cant. 26 die Oct.

And this recital of the Kings grant of his Iudaisme to the Prince, and a
confirmation of his grant to a Jew.

Rex omnibus, &c. Sciatis quod cum dudum commiss rimus dilect. primog. nostro
Judaismum nostrum Angliae, habendum ad certum terminum, cum omnibus ad Judaismum
illum pertinentibus; item quod idem fil. noster omnia inde medio tempore illo
perciperet Judeorum, tam ratione mortis Iudeorum,
aliunde quam eodem modo quo nos percipere debuissemus, si Iudaismum praedict, in
manu nostra tenuissemus, et dictus fil. noster tertiam partem omnium catal. et
debitorum quae fuerunt Deulecres filius Aaron qui tunc in fata concessit, ad ipsum
filium nostr. ratione mortis eusdem Deulecres, sicut moris est in Iudaismo
pertinentem occasione nostrae concessionis antedict. dederit et concesserit Hagio
fil. Mosse Iudeo London, una cum custodia catal. et debitorum pertinent. ad pueros
& haeredes ejusdem Deulacres de catallis et debitis supradictis. Nos praedict.
donationem & concessionem ratam habemus & acceptam. Volentes etiam eidem Hagino
gratiam facere specialem, concedimus eidem quod de debitis antedictis extentam, vel
etiam prorogationem seu quietantiam, aliquam vel donum non faciemus infra
quinquennium a tempore confect, presentium. In cujus, &c. T. R. apud Westm. 26 die
Novemb.
In 51 H. 3. I find this grant to divers plundered Jews of Lincoln, and other parts
to recover their pawns which they could prove though their Charters were lost or
not extant on Record.

*Rex diectis et fidelibus suis custodibus pacis in Com. Linc. North. Ebor. & Vic.
eorundem Com. et Vic. Norf. Suff. et Rutland, et omnibus Ballivis et fidelibus
nostris quos, &c. salutem. Volentes Manfro (and to sundry other Iews there named)
Iudeis Linc. et aliis Iudeis nostris ejusdem Civit. pro dampniset gravaminibus eis
ab inimicis nostris illatis in insultu habito apud Linc: nec non et in turbatione
regni nostri gratiam facere ad praesens. Concessimus quod Vadia sua nominata in
Cyrogr. inter ipsos et debit. suos confect. de debitis quae sibi rationabiliter
monstrari poterint, in quorumcunque manibus existent vadia illa in manus suas
secundum legem et consretudinem Iudaismi nostri seisientur, donec debita illa
levantur et persolventur eisdem sicut praedict. est; nisi debitores illi
rationabiliter monstrare poterint, quod de debitis illis debent esse quieti. In
cujus, &c. T. R. apud Windsore.

*The like Patent he made to Aaron the son of Lion le Blund a Jew of London this
year upon the same grounds, being plundered by the King enemies in London and
elsewhere.

*In 52 H. 3. the King confirmed the grant of Sam. a Jew of York to Hagino a Jew of
London, of certain houses in York, and grants to him further: pro nobis et
haeredibus nostris sibi et haeredibus suis, quod supra domos praedict. nulla fiat
districtio pro aliquibus debitis in quibus Aaron (the father of Samuel) nobis
tenebatur die quo in fata concessit. T. R. 30 die Aug. He likewise * ratified the
grant of a Jew of Wilton of a debt due to him to Tho. de Irpeign, with the grants
of several houses in Winton by sundry Christians and Jews to Benedict a Jew of
Winton, Pardons a fee to a Jew, and grants some Jews that had suffered for him
leave to levy their debts on their debtors lands.

There is likewise * mention of what moneys were delivered into the Kings VVardrobe
this year out of the profits of his Judaisme, and an acquittance thereof to his
Iustices.

This year the King granted to Hagino fil. Mossei, and some other Jews, that they
should be exempted & quieti de omnibus auxiliis et Tallagiis super ipsis
assidendis, et de quibuscunque debitis in quibus nobis tenentur, from the feast of
St. Andrew usque in terminum proximo sequent. T. R. apud Clarendon 27 die Novemb.

In the Clause Rolls this year I find fines made by the Jews to the King, to enjoy
the goods and debts of other Iews; Prohibitions to the Iustices iinerant, not to
suffer any Iews to be vexed or prosecuted before them; cum sicut nostis Iudei
Angliae, coram aliquibus. Iustic. nostr. de aliquibus Judaismum nostr. tangentibus
non debean placitare vel respondere, nisi coram Iustic. nostris ad custod. Iud.
assignatis. A grant to some Iews not to pardon acquit prorogue, or extend their
debts for 5 years, with a confirmation thereof, and repeal of all subsequent grants
to the contrary. * And a Grant of one Jews debt to another, and power to levy it,
notwithstanding any former pardons and releases thereof.

In the Plea Rolls of Hilary Term, Anno 52 H. 3. in the Treasury of the Exchequer,
there are several Legal suits. and proceedings before the Justices of the Jews in
the Exchequer, some whereof I shall transcribe.

Decanus et Capitulus Linc. per suum attornatum opt. se 4 die versus Mosseum de
Warwic. de placito, quod injust ab eis exigit debitum per quandam cartam falsam,
et contra Assisam Iudaismi confectam, ut dicunt; et ipse non venit. Et praeceptum
fuit Constabulario, quod ipsum attachiari faciat, ita qued haberet corpus eus
coram Justiciariis, &c. Upon which the Constable returned, Quod dictus Mosseus Non
est inventus, &c. Et similiter praeceptum est Vicecomiti Linc. quod attachiari
faciat, &o.

In this Roll there are divers Actions against Jews, De Placito acquietationis
debiti, &c. to discharge them of Debts, and to deliver up their Charters, Pawnes
and Morgages, pretended to be discharged, released, pardoned, or satisfied.

*Done de Walingford petit versus Henricum Cobbe, custodem haeredis et terrarum

Nicholai Cuppins medietatem unius Messuagii in parochia Sancti Petri in Winton,
quae quondam fuit Dyay viri sui; unde ipse Dyay vir ipsius ipsam secundum Legem et
consuetudinem Iudaismi dotavit, &c.

*In the 7th Roll there is a Confirmation of the Kings of certain Debts and
Annuities assigned by Hagino Son of Moses, a Jew, to Adam of Stratton, and this
ensuing Writ to the Sheriff of Essex and elswhere, to discharge one Peter Fitz-
Roger of all Debts due to the Jews, after proclamation made in the Schools and
Synagogues of the Iews two or three Sabbaths, and not suing for them within a
prefixed time, after such Proclamations returned.

Praeceptum fuit Vicecomiti Essex, quod clamari faciat

per Scolas Judeorum Colecester, per duo vel tria Sabbata, si aliquis Judeus vel
Judea aliquod Debitum exigere poterit de Rogero filio Petri, filii Gilberti, de
debito suo proprio, vel, &c. tunc essent ad compotum. Et Vicecomiti mandatur tam
Litera Latina quam Hebraica, quod nullus Judeus vel Judea aliquod Debitum exiget de
predicto Rogero, &c. Eodem modo praeceptum fuit Constabulario Castri Norwic. and
others, by writs both in Latin and Hebrew; and the certificate returned upon these
writs was made both in Latine and Hebrew; The usual form in that age in such cases.

In like manner, Praeceptum fuit Constabulario Turris London, quod clamari faciat
per Scolas Judaeorum London, per duo vel tria Sabbata, si aliquis Iudeus vel Iudea
aliquod Debitum exigere poterit, &c. that then they should come in ad computandum,
&c. and the returns of them are in Hebrew and Latin.

In the same Roll there is a recital of a Charter made by the King, dilecto fratri
et fideli nostro Willielmo de alence, et haeredibus vel assignatis, of an Annuity
of 50 marks yearly, wherein Peter Fitz Matthew was bound to Aaron ben Abraham a Iew
of London, usque in finem saeculi, (the usual form of the Iews charters, in cases
of fee simple) which Annuity the Iew had given to the King. In the end of the
Charter the King warrants the gift, Secundam Assisam Iudaismi.

In the dorse of the same * Roll, there is a Confirmation by the King of an

Assignment of Annuities & Debts, to William Charls, by Sampson Son of le Mestre a
Jew; and a VVrit Iusticiariis ad custodiam Iudaeorum assignatis, to inroll the
Patent, dated ad Clarendon: with divers other writs of that nature.

In the 8 Roll * of the Pleas that year, there is this writ to the Sheriff.

*Henricus Dei gratia, &c. Vicecomiti Essex salutem. Constat Justiciariis nostris ad
custodiam Judeorum
assignatis per inspectionem Rotulorum de Scaccario nostro, scilicet, quod Aaron
filius Duessad vendidit et demit dilecto et fideli nostro G. de Clare, Com.
Glouc. et Hereford, unum debitum de 20 l. de feodo, sub nomine Willielmi de
Bernham, et Magistri Elye Iudei, together with other Debts, &c. Et quod praedictus
Aaron habuit seisinam per praeceptum nostrum de terris & tenementis quae fuerunt
praedictorum. VVillielmi et Roberti (another of the Debtors) in Borham, pro debitis
praedictis, quam quidam seisinam praefatus Comes habuit per praeceptum nostrum,
occasione venditionis praedictae de terris et tenementis praedictis. Ac postmodum
Iohanna quae fuit uxor Will. de Berneham, et Iohannes Anger in Curia nostra coram
Nobis recuperaverunt seisinam de praedictis terris & tenementis per Judicium Curiae
nostrae praedictae. Et quia eadem seisina sic prefatis Iohannae et Iohanni
adjudicata, &c. nihil debet praejudicare predicto Comiti quin secundum Assisam et
Consuet udinem Judaismi nostri habeat talem seisinam de terris et tenetis
praedictis qualem prius habuit occasione dictorum debitorum ut predictum est, Tibi
praecipimus quod seisinam quam praefatus Comes prius habuit de terris et tenementis
predictis, eidem rehabere facias, &c.

In the same Roll there is this Inquisition made upon the Murder of a Jew slain at
Oxford.

*Praeceptum fuit Constabulario Castri Oxoniae et Cyrographo Christiano et Judeo

Archae Cyrograph: ejusdem; quod per Sacramentum 12 Iudeorum inquirant, quae bona et
catalla Iacobus Baseni de Oxon: Judeus Oxon interfectus, habuit die quo interfectus
fuit. Eodem modo preceptum est Ballivis Oxon: quod per Sacramentum 12 Christianorum
inquirant quae catalla dictus Iacobus habuit die quo interfectus fuit, &c.

Which will well explain the Articles in the ancient Eyres, and the manner of
Inquiry and proceedings thereon, *De catallis Iudaeorum occisorum, &c.

In the Plea Rolls of the same year and Term there is this record, manifesting, that
all Debts and Stars of converted Jews belonged to the King.

*Iospin fil. Solomon de Merlebridge shews to the Court that Iocette his Sister was
married to Salom filius Lumbard. of Kirkland: Et quod ipsa habuit in Archa Cyrogr.
Merlebridge, unum Cyrographum de 32 marcis sub nomine suo et Hugonis Lovel Rectoris
Ecclesiae de Rudburn; that Iocette became a convert Christian, and then did Solomon
alter the Deed in his own name; Quae quidem Carta fuit Domini Regis, per
conversionem praedictae Jocettae, et quod hoc totum sit verum, obligat omnia bona
&c. (out of spight to his Sister for that she was turned Christian to make her
forfeit this debt) Et preceptum est Vice-comiti, quod venire faciat praedictum
Hugonem et Cyrographum Christianum Archae Cyrographorum Merlebrige, et 6.
Christianos de Merlebrig &c. Et postea ipse Iospinus non est prosecutus. Ideo omnia
catalla dicti Iospini capiantur in manum Domini Regis, prout ipse obligavit, &c. A
just requital of his malice.

*Praeceptum fuit Cyrograph. Christianis et Iudaeis Archae Cyrogr. Norwic. quod ad

Archam accedant, &c. and there take out 20 l: Dbt. for Edward the Prince due unto
him, &c.

*Praeceptum est Cyrograph: Christian. & Judeis Archae Cyrogr. Norwic. quod ad
Archam praedictam accedant, and there take out all the Charters, Pawns, and Rolls
belonging to Abraham a few of Norwich for the Kings use, because he had not paid
his Tallage of ten pounds to the King.

Rot. 10, 11, and 12. of the Pleas of Hil. 52 H. 3. consist for the most part of
Stars of the Jews: some whereof are assignments of Debts, and Sales of Annuities by
Jews to Adam de Stratton, Simon de Zouch, and other Christians, ratified by the
Kings confirmation: Others of them, releases of Debts by way of Acquittance. These
Stars usually began thus: Solomon de London
Judaeus, cegnovit per Starrum suum, &c.

In the 53 year of King Henry the 3. a certain Jew abetted by the other Jews, in
high conempt of Christ crucified, in the solemn Procession at Oxford on Ascention
day, threw down and brake in peeces the Crosse that was carried before the
University in Procession, and then fled. Wherupon by the Kings special command all
the in Oxford were apprehended, and their goods secured, till they out of their own
goods and chattels erected a new standing beautifull high Crose, adorned with
guilt Pictures of Christ and our Lady, in the place where this wickednesse was
perpetrated, and made another rich portable silver guilded Crosse, to be carried
before the University of the Masters and Scholars of Oxford in their Processions,
which were to be made by a time prefixed, for the publike manifestation of the
honour of God in this behalf, as these Records at large inform us, though not
mentioned by any of our Historians.

*Rex Vic. Oxon. salutem. Cum Judaei nostri Oxon. nobis adhuc non responderint de
corpore illius Judei qui in vituperium crucifixi Crucem in solemni processione die
Acentionis Domini prostra vit et fregit, per quod tibi pluries praecipimus, quod
omnes Jueos praedictos sine dilatione caperes, et salvo custodires, et quod non
permitteres eos aliquam administrationem habere de bonis et catallis eorum donec
sufficientem tibi prestarent securitatem, quod sumptibus suis quandam Crucem
marmoream pulchram et altam, bene et decenter incisam et pollitam cum imagine
crucifixi in capite ex parte una, et cum Imagine beatae Virginis cum filio suo ex
parte altera, convenienter sitis, et auro depictis, una cum causa predicta
manifeste superscripta, in loco ubi scelus praedictum extitit perpetratum. Et
quandam aliam Crucem portatilem argenteam bene et subtiliter et decenter
fabricatam, et deauratam, cum hasta sine baculo, ejusdem magnitudinls cum crucibus
honorificis quas Archiepiscopi coram se faciunt deportari, deferend. ante
Universitatem
Magistrorum et Scolarium Oxon. deferenda in processionibus suis facerent, Et quod
provid. quod pecunia ad praemissa facienda, cito levaretur, et quod omnia praemissa
cum omni festinatione qua fieri posset expleres, et praedict. Crucem portatilem
Procuratoribus Universitatis praedictae custodiendam liberares; ita quod praemissa
fierent citra festum sancti Edwardi, quod erit in vigiia epiphan. Dom. proximo
futur. Ac tu quosdam de Judeis praedict. juxta mandatum nostrum praedict. ceperis,
qui ante captionem suam bona et catalla sua diversis hominibus Civitatis praedictae
liberaverunt, per quod tu mandatum nostrum praedict. minus plene exequi potes Nos
volentes, quod praemissa modis omnibus fiant in forma praedicta, tibi praecipimus,
quod assumptis tecum Majore villae praedict. et Coffrariis Judeorum nostrorum
ejusdem villae in praesentia proborum et legalium hominum de vila praedicta per
quo rei veritas melius sciri poterit, diligenter inquiras ad quorum manus bon et
catalla praedictorum Judeorum deenerunt, et qui ea enent, et de bonis et catallis
praedictis in quo rumcunque manibus existant omnia praemissa fieri facias per visum
et testimonium hominum praedictorum, prot melius et citius videris expedire, et si
necesse fuerit, bona et catalla praed. ad hoc vendas, et taliter te habea i hoc
mandato nostr. exequendo, quod id quod ad honorem Dei intendimus, in hac parte
mauitestetur publice per effectum, et quod praemissa fiant sine mora, T. R. apud
Winton, 27 die December.

The money hereupon being levied on the Jews to make these Crosses, and the King
being informed that the marble Crosse could not be erected in the place prescribed,
without damage and prejudice to some Burgesses of Oxford, whereupon they purposed
to rect it just over against the Jews Synagogue there. The King and his Counsel
conceiing that place inconvenient, ordered it to be set up within the place of
Mrton Colledge near the Church, and the other portable Cross to
be delivered to the Schollars thereof, to be kept in their said house, by this
Writ.

*Rex Vic. Majori Ballivis & Coffrariis suis Oxon. salutem. Cum Judei nostri Oxon.
quandam Crucem quae in solempni processione die Ascentiones Dom. per villam nostram
Oxon. deferebatur, in vituperium crucifixi prostraverint ec fregerint, per quod
vobis alias praecipimus, quod sumptious Judeorum praedict. fac. quandam Crucem
marmoream pulchram et altam, bene incisam et politam cum imagine Crucifixi in
capite ex parte una, et cum Imagine beatae Virginis cum filio suo ex parte altero
convenienter sitis, et auro depictis. una cum causa praedicta manifeste
superscripta, in loco ubi scelus praedictum extitit perpetratum, et quandam aliam
Crucem portatilem argenteam bene subtiliter et decenter fabricatam et deauratam,
cum hasta sine baculo, ejusdem magnitudinis quam habent Cruces quas Archiepiscopi
faciunt coram se deportari, ante Universitatem Magistrorum et Scolarium Oxon.
deferendam in Processionibus suis. Et post modum intellexerimus, quod Crux
praedicta marmorea in placea ubi scelus praedictum extitit perpetratum sine dampno
et nocumento quorundam. Burgensium ejusdem villae erigi non posset, per quod vobis
alias praecepimus, quod Crucem praedictam in alia placea, ubi sine dampno et
nocumento ejusdem villae fieri possit, erigi faceretis, quod ex opposito Synagogae
Iud, ejusdem villae facere provid. ut accepimus nos prpendientes, quod hoc
indecens et inhonest. esset, de confilio Edwardi primogeniti nostri, et aliorum
fidelium nostrorum, qui sunt de concilio nostro, volumus, quod praedicta Crux
marmorea erigatur in pracea Scholarium de Merton, juxta Ecclesiam suam St. Joh.
Baptistae in villa praed. Et ideo vobis mandamus firmiter injungentes, quod Crucem
praedictam marmoream modo praedicto factam in placea praedictorum Scholarium erigi,
Et praedictam Crucem portatilem praedictis Scholaribus liberari faciatis,
custodiend. in domo sua ibidem; Ita quod eam deferri facian
in solempni Processione coram Magistris et Scolaribus praedictis sicut praedictum
est. Et hocnullatenus omittatis. T.R. apud Westm. 3 die Febr.

I have transcribed these two Records at large, for these reasons: 1. Because they
are not remembred by any of our Chronicles. 2ly. Because they fully manifest the
bold and desperate enmity of the Jews in that age against our crucified Saviour, in
throwing down and breaking his Image, and representation of his passion and Crosse,
even in the solemn Procession of all the University and Scholars of Oxford on
Ascention day. A very bold attempt in that Popish age, which might have endangered
all their lives. 3ly. Because they evidence the Kings and his Councils zeal to
punish this their malicious wickednesse, and to perpetuate the memory of it to all
posterity, at the Jews own costs, by the making of these two Crosses, on which
their wickednesse was to be ingraven in marble, that it might be had in perpetual
memory. 4ly. Because it discovers the malice of the Jews in hiding their goods, and
conveying them to others hands, to prevent the making and erecting of these
Crosses. 5ly. Because they make mention of rhe Jews Synagogue at Ox. by name,
which no other Records remember. 6ly. Because they fully discover the form of the
Popish Crosses and Crucifixes used in that age, which though made at the Jews cost,
yet they held it both undecent and dishonest to erect the standiig Crosse ovet
against the Jews Synagogue, who were such inveterate enemies to Christs Crosse and
passion. 7ly. Because they make much for the Honor and Antiquity of the Univrsity
of Oxford my Nursing-Mother, and Step-Mother to though superiours unjust commands.

This year the King for the fine of 1000 pound per annum paid to him by the
Commonalty of the Iews, granted them this exemption from Taxes for 3 years.

Rex Thes. et Baron. suis de Scac. et Justic. suis ad

custod: Iudeorum assign. salutem. Sciatis, quod per finem mille librarum quam
Communitas Judeorum nostrorum Angliae nobiscum fecit, concessimus eisdem Judeis,
quod a tempore confectionis praesentium per triennium sequens respectum habeant de
Tallagio super ipsos assidendo, nisi nos, aut filii nostri juxta votum nostrum
interim proficiscuntur ad terram Sanctam, ad quod necesse habeamus super
communitatem predict. Tallagium assidendi. Ita quod de fine predict. reddant Nobis
die Martis prox. posi octabis Sanctae Trin. 500 marcas, et in festo Nati. prox:
500 marc. & in festo Sancti Michaelis prox. sequenti residuas 500 marc. Et ideo
vobis mandamus, quod concessionem predict. in forma predict. coram vobis
irrotulari, et pecuniam predict. ad terminos illos de Communitate predicta ad opus
nostrum levari fac. Et quia pauperes Judei commun. predict. ratione sinis praedici
ultra quam facultates suae suppetant nimi exenerari possint, nisi finis ille
circumspecte et fideliter super eos assideatur, vobis mandamus quod divitibus
Iudeis nostris in contributione facienda ad finem predict. non parcatur, et quod
panperes Iudei ultra facultates suas non graventur. T. R. apud Winds. 26 die Maii.
Yet notwithstanding at the same time he granted this writ to search their Chests
and Charters.
*Rex dilectis et fideli suis Iohan. de Westm. et VValtero de Croce assignatis ad
Archas Iudeorum Angl: scrutandas salutem. Sciatis, &c. (relating the agreement and
fine aforesaid.) Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod omnia debitae in Cartis, et aliis
munimentis infra Archas predict. contenta irrotulari faciatis, prout vobis
injunximus viva voce. Et eum praemissa feceritis Coffrariis Archarum predict.
Archas illas liberetis cariandas et reponendas locis quibus prius repositae
extiterunt. Ita quod tam Christiani quam Iudei Archarum illarum administrationem
habeant, sicut alias habere consueverunt. T. R. ut supra.

This year the King called the Iustices of the Jews to give an account of the
profits of his Judaism, as this record informs us.

Rex Thes. et Baron. suis de Scac. salutem. Mandamus vobis, quod ad certum diem
quam duxeritis assignand. audiatis compotum Iustic. nostr. ad custod Iudeorum
assignat. de exitibus eusdem Iudaismi, tempore quo dictis Iustic. cust. ejusdem
Iudaismi commissimus custodiend usque ad festum Sancti Martini, an. reg. n. 53. Et
cum compotum predict. vobis reddiderint sicut predict: est, nobis significatis
qualiter nobis responderint, et in quibus finibus stetit compotus eorundem.
Mandavimus enim eisdem Iustic, quod ad diem quem eis sciri fac. coram vobis
accedant cum Rotulis, Talliis, et aliis compotum suum contingentibus, ad compotum
suum predict. reddendum in forma praedict. T. R. apud West. 8 die Nov. Per Regem et
totum Consilium.

Et mandatum est prefatis Iusticiariis, quod coram prefat. Iusticiariis accedant in

forma predicta. Per Regem et totu Concilium.

This year the Jews without license stragling abroad and setling themselves in
divers places where they had no chest, nor former residence, whereby they did many
mischiefs, and seduced and dishinherited many, thereupon the King issued this writ
to reduce them, and rectifie these abuses.

*Rex Vic. Oxon et Berks salutem. Quia pro certo intelleximus, quod per Judeos in
diversis regni nostri partibus extra Civitates, Burgos et Villas, ubi nulla est
Communitas Iudeorum, nec Cyrograph. Archa, sparsim habitantes in contumeliam
redemptionis nostri, et periculum animarum, nec non et multorum exhaeredationem
malificia plurima committuntur. Nos hujusmodi periculis ne ulterius invalescerent
volentes salubriter providere, tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes, quod per
omnes Civitates, Burgos, & Villas in Balliva tua, ubi expediens fuerit, ex parte
nostra publice proclamari, & firmiter inhiberi facias; Ne quis Judeus vel Judea per
se alibi quam in Civitatibus, Burgis & Villis ubi sit communitas Iudeorum, vel
Cyrograph. Archa, super gravem forisfacturam nostram de cetero presumat habitare.
Et
hoc sicut te et tua diligis non omittas. T. R. apud Winds. 23 die Aprilis.

One of the principal things of Note concerning the Iews, this year, is the
Ordinance concerning the Iews, made by the King, by the advice and counsel of
Prince Edward his Sonne, and other honest men, for the relief of the christians,
touching the grievances they sustained in their Debts and Fees morgaged to the
Jews, and against the Iews assigning of their debts to others, without the Kings
special License first obtained. Which I find enrolled in French in a very fair
hand, in the Dorse of the Clause and Patent Rolls of 53 H. 3. and in the Red Bocke
of the Exchequer in the Remembrancers Office, fol. 242. with this Title there
prefixed to it.

Provisiones de Iudaismo liberatae ad Scaccarium, per Dominum Walterum de Merton.

*A la feste de Seint Hillayre del an du regne le Roy Henry fiz le Roy Iohan.
cinquante tierz, purvieu est per memes le Roy, et per le conseil Sire Edward son
fiz eyne, et de ses autres prodes hommes, a lamendement de la Tere, Et Reliever les
Crestiens des Grevances que il ont eu par la Iuerye de Angletere, Re totes les
Dettes a Gyvues qe sont foez, et qe aparmenes sunt as meines de Gyvus, et ne sont
done a Crestien, ne vendu issint qe a vaunt ceo Jur. seent confirme par le Roy, vel
arroule al Eschekker, soent quites a Crestiens qe les deyvent et a lour Eyres a tuz
Jurs. Ensement les arrerages et les chartres par la ou eles serrunt trouees des
avant dites detres de foez, seent renduz a Crestiens de ke les dettes sont dues ou
a lour eyres. Et si par aventure acune Chatre fust mise en huche ou troue des ore,
mes nul lu ne tyene. Et qe nul Gyvu de ceo jur en avant tel manere de dette de foe
ne ne preigne, ne ne face. Et ensement qe nul Gyvu ceo Feo a Crestien ne venda de
cest jur. en avant sur forfeiture de vie et de chatel, ne Crestien ne lachate sur
forfeiture de son chatel et de son heritage.

Et ensement est purveu par lavant dit Roy, et par le

conseil Sire Edward, et des avant dit prodes homes, qe nul Gyvu des ore mes ne puse
vendre sa dette a Crestien si il ne eyt primes le conge le Roy. Et si Crestien la
chate par le conge le Roy rien ne pusse plus aver ke le Roy ne averoit si la dette
eust en sa mein, ceo est a saver, le chatel qe est troue en chartre saunz Usure.

This Ordinance within few months after, Anno 54 H. 3. was commanded to be put in
execution by this writ to the Barons of the Exchequer, which thus recites it.

*Rex Baron. de Scac. salutem. Quia provisum est per Nos, et Edwardum Primogenitum
nostrum, et alios fideles de consilio nostro ad meliorationem status terrae
nostrae, et ad relevationem Christianorum a gravaminibus, quae hactenus habuerunt
per Judeos et Judaismum nostrum Angliae; Quod omnia debita Judeorum quae sunt
feoda, et quae die Sancti Hillarii An. r. n. 53. fuerunt in manibus Judeorum, et
quae non fuerunt data et vendita Christianis, ita quod ante diem illum essent
confirmata per nos, vel irrotulata in Rotulis nostris ad Scac. nostrum Judeorum,
quieta sint Christianis qui ea debent et eorum heredibus imperpetuum, una cum
arreragiis eorundem debitorum: et quod Chartae de hujusmodi feodis ubicunque erunt
inventae sint liberatae Christianis qui talia feoda debent, vel eorum heredibus: et
quod si forte aliqua hujusmodi Carta sit inventa in Archa Cyrogr. vel. extra amodo
nullius sit valoris. Et quod nullus Judeus a predicto die inantea, talia debita de
feodo recipiat vel faciat. Et similiter quod nullus Judeus talia feoda Christianis
vendat a predicto tempore, super forisfacturam vitae suae, et catallorum ipsius,
nec Christianus ea emat super forisfacturam catallorum ipsius et suae haereditatis.
Vobis mandamus, quod omnia Cyrographa super hujusmodi feodis per quoscunque
confecta, coram vobis ad Scac. nostrum venire faciatis, et ea quae ante praedict.
diem Sancti Hillarii non fuerunt per nos confirmata, nec in rotulis nostris ad
Scac. nostrum Judeorum irrotulata, prout superius est expressum, cancellari
faciatis, et creditoribus, vel eorum haeredibus quieta reddatis. T.R. apud Westm.
14 die Maii.

The later part of this Ordinance (here omitted) against selling debts without
license, is frequently recited in special Licenses granted by the King to Jews to
sell their debts, the very next year after its making, and proved very gainfull to
the King and his Officers.

Rex omnibus &c. salutem. Cum nuper de consilio Edwardi primogeniti nostri, et
aliorum fidelium regni nostri in praesentia nostra provisum esset, quod nullus
Judeus debitum aliquod, quod sibi a Cristiano debetur alicui vendere possit nisi
prius a nobis optenta super hoc licentia speciali: et si Christianus aliquis
debitum hujusmodi de licentia nostra emat, nihil plus inde habeat, quam nos
haberemus si debitum illud esset in manu nostra, viz. Catallum quod inventum est in
Carta inde confecta SINE USURA. Nos Jacobo fil. Mosse Iudeo Oxon, dedimus licentiam
vendendi Galf. de Lukenore debitum illud in quo Laur. de Cheleston eidem Iudeo
tenetur per cartam suam: Et etiam idem Galfredo dedimus licentiam emendi idem
debitum praefat. Judaeo in forma provisionis supradictae. In cujus, &c. T. R.
apud Westm. 7. die Maii.
Claus. 54 H. 3. m. 10. in sced. there is a writ, to discharge some debts of the
King out of the estate of a deceased Iew, directed to the Iustices assigned for
their custody. In the Patent Rolls of this year, I find this recital of the Kings
grant of Aaron a Jew to his Sonne Edmond, and of Edmonds grant and infranchisement
of Aaron, and the Kings confirmation thereof.

*Omnibus, &c. salutem. Inspeximus Cartam quam Edmundus fil. noster fecit Aaron fil.
Vynes in haec verba. Omnibus praesentem cartam visuris vel audituris, Edmundus
illustris Regis Angliae filius, salutem. Cum Dom. Rex pater noster dederit et
concesserit Nobis Aaron fil. Vynes Iudeum, cum omnibus bonis, debitis, & catallis
suis liberam et quietam de omnibus Tallagiis, auxiliis, prestitis et demanmandis
quibuscunque, ita quod eum, cum omnibus bonis &
catallis suis habeamus, et teneamus, cum omnibus libertatibus, legibus, et
consuetudinibus Iudaismi Angliae, prout hujusmodi concessio in praedicti patris
nostri carta super hoc confecta plenius continetur. Nos eidem Aaron Iudeo specialem
gratiam facere volentes, ipsum cum omnibus bonis debitis et catallis suis tenore
praesentium donavimus libertati, concedentes eidem quod ipse toto tempore vitae
suae liber sit de nobis ab omnibus Tallagiis, auxiliis, prestitis & demandis,
reddend. nobis quamdiu vixerit quolibet anno ad festum Pentecost. unum par
caelcarium de aurator. pro omnibus exactionibus & demandis. In cujus rei
testimonium sigillum nostrum fecimus apponi. Dat. Winton. 11 die Augusti Anno Reg.
Dom. patr. nostr. praedicti. 54. Nos autem praedictas donationem & concessionem,
&c. pro nobis & haeredibus nostris, quantum in nobis est, concedimus et confirmamus
sicut carta praedicta rationabiliter restatur. T. ut supra.

Here the King grants a Jews person, with all his goods, debts, and chattels to his
Son, like an absolute Villain, and his Son, thus infranchiseth him afterwards by
this Charter, which the King confirms, and is mentioned in 18 E. 1. * hereafter
cited.

This grant of Aaron by his Son, is recited in this Patent Roll, with this addition.

*Volumus etiam quod idem Aaron habeat Archam ad reponend Cyrogr. sua loco quo in
terris ipsius filii nostri moraturus fuerit, secundum legem et consuetudinem
Judaismi nostri, et quod ministri nostri levari faciant eidem Iudeo debita sua quae
ei debentur vel debebuntur de debitoribus suis in regno nostro, prout rationabiter
monstrare poterit per Cyrogr. sua vel per literas patentes quod ei in debitis illis
teneantur, & prout de jure, & secundum legem et consuetudinem Judaismi praedict.
fuit faciendum.

I find this Patent of the Kings this year, contradicting his Title to a Jews house,
as escheated to him by his death, and ratifying the Jews demise thereof by his last
Will.

*Rex omnibus, &c. Quia accepimus per Inquisitionem quam per Constab. Turris nostrae
London, et Majorem & Vicecomites nostros London fiei fecimus, quod Domus illa cum
pertinemiis in Vico de Melchstreet in Civit. nostra London quae fuerunt Cress. fil.
Mag. Mossei quondam Iudei Lonon, non sunt nec esse possunt Eschaeta nostra per
mortem illius Cress. & quod nunquam in vita sua in aliquo deliquit contranos, sed
tanquam bonus et fidelis Iudeus bene et fidelitermore Judeorum vixit, et
testamentum suum, secundum consuetudinem Judaismi nostri fecit, et domos praedict.
cum omnibus pertinentiis suis Cok. fil. suo legavit in testamento praedicto. Nos
eidem Cok. domos praedict. cum pertinentiis, quantum ad nos pertinet concessimus et
reddidimus; tenend. et habend. in forma Testamenti supradicti, salvo jure
cujuslibet. In cujus, &c. T. R, apud Winds. 29 die Sept.

This year some Jews of Winchester fearing an assault upon them, by reason of some
differences between them and the Citizens, the King granted this new special
protection, and committed them to the custody of sundry Citizens thereof, to
protect them from violence and damage.

*Rex dilecto sibi in Christo Simoni le Draper, (and to 25 others there named)
salutem, Quia per quandam contentionis materiam inter quosdam de Civibus nostris
ejusdem villae, et Benedictum fil. Abrah. Iudeum nostrum illius villae nuper
habitam, multi homines de dicta villa praedicto Benedicto, & aliis Judeis nostris
in eadem villa commorantibus, de corporibus suis manifeste minati, sunt ut
accepimus; Nos volentes dictorum nostrorum Judeorum indempnitati prospicere, ipsos
homines, terras, domos, res, reddtus, et omnes possessiones eorundem in nostram
protectionem et defensionem suscepimus specialem, vos ad eorum maorem tuitionem et
securitatem custodes et Protectores suos assignantes. Et ideo vobis mandamus
firmiter injungentes, quod per totam Civitatem nostram praedict. publice clamari
faciatis, Ne quis sub periculo vitae & membrorum praedict. Judeis in personis vel
rebus suis dampnum inferet,
vel gravamen. Et vos ipsi praedict. Judeos, familias suas, terras, domos, res,
redditus, et omnes possessiones eorum tam infra dictam Civitatem quam extra,
quantum in vobis est, manuteneatis, protegatis, et defendatis. Non inferentes eis
vel inferri permittentes injuriam, molestiam, dampnum, vel gravamen. Et si quid eis
forisfactum fuerit id eis sine dilatione faciatis emendari. Volentes etiam quod
praetextu istius mandati in nullo vos intromitttais de placitis quaerlis aut aliis
ipsos Iudeos tangentibus, quae ad Constab. Castri nosti Winton pertinent, &
hactenus pertinere consueverunt. In cujus T. R. apud Westm, 26 die Decemb.

Patents 54. H. 3. m. 24. The King grants to Benedict, a Iew, that he will not
prorogue, release, pardon or extend any debts due unto him for 5 years space, and
by his Charter confirms a grant of an Annuity in fee made by two Jews Alardo de
Hermigsham et haeredibus suis.

In the 55 year of H. 3. I find * two Prohibitions to the Iustices itinerant in

Sussex and Kent, to hold pleas of the Jews in Sussex or Kent, or concerning
Iudaismum nostrum, contra legem & consuetudinem Iudaismi suprapraedicti. T. R. apud
Winds. 28 die Sept. Also * a Pardon of all usury and penalties due to Jewes by some
poore Debtors. A grant of 30 l. to one Martin out of the debts of Jews. A Writ of
respite of fines not paid by some Jews out of meer poverty at the times appointed
them, to the Justices of the Jews *quatenus termiuos suos praedictos taliter
admensuretis, qod salvo contenemento suo possint nobis de eo quod aretro est de
fine praedicto satisfacere, & etiam Tallagio nostro, simul cum aliis Iudeis
contribuere, & ne per defectum mendicare. T. R. apud Westm. 26 die April. Some
other particulars concerning the fines of Iews are in this Roll.

In the Patent Rolls of this year, there * are divers releases of the King of the
debts, usuries, and penalties due to Jews, and confirmations of grants of Houses
and Debts assigned by Jews to others, Licenses for sundry
Jews to sell their debts, according to the forementioned Ordinance of 53 H. 3. all
running in the same form with that already cited; And a grant to some Jews not to
pardon respite nor extend their debts. But the more special things therein are
these two.

First, this License to a Jew to dwell where he pleased, amongst any Jews, in what
Burrough of England he listed.

*Rex omnibus, &c. salutem. Sciatis quod ad instantiam Edwardi fil. nostri carissimi
concedimus Aaroni fil. Vynes Iudeo, quod in quocunque Burgo Regni nostri voluerit,
ubi alii Judei habitant, morari possit pro voluntate sua sine contradictione
nostra, vel Ballivorum nostrorum quorumcunque. Dum tamen tanquam bonus et fidelis
Judeus se gerat et habeat in eodem. In cujus, &c. T. R. apud Winds. 30 die Octob.
An. 55.

Next, this morgage of Judaisme for payment of 2000 marks to Richard King of Almain.
*Rex omnibus, &c. salutem. Cum ante recessum cariss. fil. Edwardi primogeniti
nostri, versus terram sanctam dederimus eidem Edw. 6000 marc. de Judaismo nostro in
subsidium peregrinationis sux, de quibus 6000 marc. 4000 marc. exceptis quibusdam
arreragiis solvuntur eidem; Ita quod 2000 marc. et eadem arreragia adhuc sibi
reddenda supersunt; & ipse filius noster moram saciens in terra sancta non
mediocriter pecunia indigeat ad expensas suas, propter quod car. fr. & fid. n.
Ricus. Rex Alemani: illustris illa 2000 mar. quae aretro. sunt, &c. fil. nostro
credidit ad partes nostras. Nos eidem Rico. pro praedicta Curialitate dict. fil. n.
facta concessimus, quod ipse vel executores vel assign. sui habant et teneant
Judaismum nostrum, et Judaeos nostros Angliae, a Festo sancti Michis An. 1271.
usque ad Festum sancti Michis prox. sequent. per unum An. completum pro praed.
2000. marc. dicto fil. n. creditis. Ita Scil. quod Iudei nostri Angl. illa 2000
marc. dict. fratri nostro terminis subscriptis solvant infra praedict. An. Then
he limits the time for she Iews to pay it by several summes. Et si pretextu nostro,
vel mandatorum nostrorum huic concessioni nostrae contradictorum dictus frater
noster fuerit impeditus, quo minus dictam pecuniam dictis terminis levare possit,
tunc liceat ei tam diu Judaismum nostrum in manu sua tenere, donec super principale
debito, et paena praedict. fuerit sibi satisfactum. Hanc autem concess. dicto
fratri nostro fecimus, salvis nobis & haeredibus nostris placitis, perquisitis, &
eschaetis dicti Judaismi nostri ad nos pertinentibus de toto tempore praedict. &c.
Nec volumus quod praedict. frat. n. infra terminum praedict. aliquam faciat
pardonationem, quietantiam, vel alienationem de debitis Judaismi nostri memorati,
nec tempore praedict. aliquod aliud recipiat de Judaismo nostro nisi debitum praed.
2000 marc. &c. In cujus, &c. T. R. apud Westm. 15 die Iun.

Anno 56. H. 3. In the Clause Roll I find
Debts, wherein the Ordinance of 53 H. 3.
debts of Jewes, and to take the Charters
other debts due to them, pardon of usury
Lands at reasonable rates.
* Many licenses to Jews to sell their
is recited, A Release and grant of some
of them out of the Chest. Respites of
to others, and an extent of Creditors

But the most material things in this Roll are. The * Kings assignation of 1000 lib.
to Prince Edward out of the Tallage of the Jews this year, de quibusdam certis
personis praedict. Iudeorum percipiendas, some of which having paid their
proportion to the Prince are thereupon discharged of former sequestrations on them
and their estates. And this gift of the Jews Synagogue in London to the Friers
penitents in London, whom the Jewes with their Howlings in it disturbed at their
Masses, and Divine services; yet licensing them; if they pleased, to build another
Synagogue in any convenient place that should be elsewhere allotted them.

*Rex Majori & Vic. suis London. Quia dilecti nobis in Christo fratres de
paenitentia Jesu Christi London
commorantes per strepitum Judeorum confluentium ad Ecclesiam suam quae contigua est
Oratorio dictorum fratrum ibidem, et etiam pro ipsorum Judeorum continuam ululatum
in eadem Schola, juxta ritum suum, impediantur quo minus ea quae ad Officium
spirituale pertinent exercere possint, circa celebrationem divinorum, et praecipue
hora confectionis corporis Jesu Christi, sicut per testimonium fidelium accepimus.
Nos ad divina inibi quietius celebranda, volentes predict. impedimentum modis
omnibus amoveri, ob salutem animae nostrae, et animarum predecessorum, et haeredum
nostrorum, de gratia nostra speciali dedimus et concessimus predictis fratribus &
successoribus suis in augmentum mansi sui ibidem, predict. Scholam, una cum fundo
ejusdem: Habend. & tenend. eisdem fratribus & successoribus suis imperpetuum. Et
ideo vobis mandamus, quod eisdem fratribus de Scola illa sicut praedict. est,
plenam seisinam sine dilatione habere faciatis. Sustinentes quod predicti Judei
sibi aliam Scholam alibi, ubi ad minus nocumentum dictorum fratrum, et Ecclesiae
suae, et Ecclesiarum alirum fieri poterit facere, vel construere possint si
voluerint, et sibi viderint expedire. T. R. apud St. Edmundum. 6. die Sept.
There being some few poor Jews converted this same yeare, and the revenues of the
House of the Converts being swallowed up by rich Jews not living in it, and the
poor Converts there like to starve for want of relief, and enforced to begg from
door to door; thereupon the King assigned to a convert Jew and his wife, a certain
annual pension out of some houses in London belonging to the House of the Converts,
and issued a Commission to inquire of and regulate the abused revenues of the House
of Converts which he had founded, and to bestow them on the poor Jews, &c. as these
Records at large relate.

*Rex omnibus, &c. salutem: Sciatis quod cum de propriis bonis et elemosinis nostris
fundaverimus quandam domum in
honore sanctae Trin. infra suburbium civitatis nostrae London, ad usus Conversorum
ab errore Judaico usque ad fidem Christianam, quosdam redditus nostros ad
sustentationem eorunde assignando, Concessimus pro nobis et haeredibus nostris,
quantum in nobis est, Nich. aurifabro London, et Matildae uxori ejus conversis,
quod ipse Nich. singulis septimanis decem denar. et ipsa Matilda singulis
septimanis octo denar. habeant. et percipiant per manus suas ad sustentationem suam
quoad vixerint, de redditibus predictis dictae domus, a nobis assignatis infra
civitatem predictam: videlicet, de domibus Walteri de Vallibus in parochia Sanctae
Wyburge duas marcas: de quatuor shopis ejusdem Walteri in parochia Sancti Matth. de
Fridaistreet, viginti solidos: de domibus Hugonis Mothon in parochia de
Aldermanchirche, viginti solidos, et de tenementis Will: Bokerell viginti solidos,
et quatuor denarios debitis terminis quibus iidem redditus reddi debent et
consueverunt. Ita etiam quod quandocunque alter praedict. Nich: et Matild. diem
suum clauserit extremum, porcio predicta ipsum Nicholaum seu ipsam Matildam
contingens ad predictam domum integre revertatur imperpetuum. In cujus &c. Teste
Rege apud Westmonasterium 28 die Aprilis.

*Rex dilectis sibi Majori London, et Magistro Johanni de Sancto Dionisio clerico
suo, Custodi domus Conversorum London, salutem. Ex parte pauperum Conversorum
nostrorum London, nobis et consilio nostro est ostensum, quod cum nihil habeant
unde sustentari possint, nec fit, qui eis in aliquo subveniat hostiatim mendicare
coguntur, et quasi fame moriuntur; Et cum certos redditus ad sustentationem ipsorum
in Civitate London et alibi assignari fecerimus, ipsi ex hiis nihil percipiunt, set
quidam alii Conversi divites alios redditus et possessiones habentes qui etiam non
morantur, nec conversantur in domo nostra predicta, redditus ipsos pro magna parte
percipiunt, et ad usus suos pro voluntate sua convertunt, quod ulterius sustinere
nolumus, nec debemus, maxime cum predictos redditus dictae domui, non pro divitibus
set pauperibus et egenis, et ex causa necessitatis fecerimus assignari. Volentes
igitur premissa in melius reformari: vobis mandamus firmiter injungentes, quod per
Sacramentum proborum & legalium hominum de civitate & suburbio London diligenter
inquiratis, qui sunt redditus et bona predicta? & quantum valeant per annum? & quis
vel qui ea percipiunt? & a quibus et qualiter hactenus distributa et dipensata
fuerunt? & quae super premissis corrigenda et reformanda videritis, sine dilatione
corrigatis. Proviso quod bona et redditus domus predictae prefatis conversis qui
magis indigent juxta merita necessitatis ipsorum, decetero assignentur: de aliis
etiam quae ad servicium & debitum statum Capellae nostrae ibidem, ac domus
praedictae in melius reformandum pertinere noscuntur, provideatis in omnibus prout
melius et honestius videritis expedire. Volumus etiam, quod sicut predicti redditus
dictae domui ad sustentationem commorancium in eadem specialiter assignati sunt;
Ita etiam ad domum deferantur et distribuantur ibidem, sicut predictum est; Et si
quos vobis aut ordinationi vestrae resistentes aut contradicentes inveneritis, eos
per sequestrationes porciorum suarum et aliter, prout opus esse videritis,
compescatis. T. R. apud Wesm. 26 die Febr.

This year the King granted this ensuing Pardon to a Jew for selling a pretended
Debt for which he had no Charter, to another; for which he was committed Prisoner
to the Tower, and for making an escape from thence, without License; for which
pardon he paid a Fine to the King.
Rex omnibus &c. salutem. Sciatis quod cum Abraham filius Jocei Judeus Ebor. pro
quater viginti et undecim libris argenti, quas Thomas de Basing civis noster
London, versus eum disrationaverat in Curia nostra coram Iusticiariis nostris ad
custodiam Judeorum assignatis, eccasione cujusdam debiti in quo idem Abraham
dixerat Will. de Dyve, sibi teneri, quod quidem debitum ipse Judeus dicto Thomae
vendidit; unde nulla Carta inter ipsum Judeum et predictum Wil. in Archa nostra
potuit inveniri; per praeceptum Justic, eorundem caperetur et infra Turrim nostram
London detineretur, et eidem Abrahamo quibusdam Emulis suis sit impositum, quod
ab eadem Turri sine licentia custodis sui sive warranto temere recessit; licet per
literas nostras fecissemus eum deliberari, Nos per finem duodecim bisanciarum quas
predictus Abrahamus nobis solvit praemanibus, pardonavimus eidem Abrahamo
transgressionem quam fecisse dicitur vendendo debitum praedictum sine Carta, et
etiam transgressionem quam fecisse dicitur recedendo a Turri praedicta tempore
detentionis suae praedictae. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod praedictum Abraham
occasione transgressionum praedictarum non occasionetis in aliquo vel gravetis. T.
R. apud Westm. 26 die Martii.

This year I find a special Licence for a Jew to assign his Debt, according to the
Provisions in 53. H. 3. therein mentioned in form above rehearsed.

This year the King appointed this special form of Manucaption, body for body for
the Jews then imprisoned in the Tower for their Tallages, and petitioning to be
bailed; discovering how strictly the King dealt with them in levying their heavy
Taxes.

Rex Thes. & Baronibus suis de Scaccario, salutem. Sciatis nos de Consilio nostro
talem formam manucaptionis Iudaeorum incarceratorum apud Turrim London providisse,
videlicet, quod manucaptores manucapiant ipsos Iudeos quos manucapere volunt;
habendo corpora praedictorum Iudaeorum quos manuceperunt die Sancti Johan.
Baptistae, in 15 dies corpus pro corpore, liberand. Constabular: Turr. praedictae
carceri mancipanda ad voluntatem nostram, donec nobis satisfecerint de Tallagiis
suis super ipsos assessis, nisi praedicta tallagia solvere velint ad terminos
subscriptos videlicet medietatem ad quindenam Sancti Johan. Baptist. prox: futur.
et aliam medietatem ad festum Sancti Jacobi Apostoli prox. sequent. Ita quod si
praedecti manucapti praedictam
solutionem fecerint ad praedictos terminos, quieti sint praedicti manucaptores. Et
si in solutione praedicta in toto vel in parte defecerint ad eosdem terminos, et
praedicti manucaptores habeant corpora manucapta ad praedictum terminum in forma
praedicta. tunc similiter quod sint de manucaptione sua. Ita tamen quod praedicti
Manucapti quicquid prae manibus solverint de praedicto tallagio, vel etiam ad
aliquem terminorum praedictorum, nisi totum solverint illud penitus amittant, et
nihilominus corpora sua, una cum omnibus catallis et debitis suis nobis incurrantur
ad voluntatem nostram inde faciendam; et si manucaptores corpora manucaepta ad
praedictum terminum non liberaverint, nec manucapti Tallagium suum solverint, sicut
praedictum est; tunc corpora manucapientium, una cum omnibus Catallis et debitis
suis incurrantur ad voluntatem nostram inde faciendam sicut praedictum est. In
cujus &c. T. R, apud Westm. 21 die Iunii.

In the 57 and last year of King Henry the 3. I find * only a special license for a
Jew to sell his Debt to a Christian, wherein the ordinance of 53 H. 3. is recited.

I have now run through all the most material Records of King Henry the 3 his long
and tedious reign, relating to the Jews and their affairs, pretermitting some few
only of lesse moment and private concerment in some of the Fine, Clause, and Patent
Rolls, where those who are not fully satisfied with these already recited may glean
them at their leasures.

I now proceed to the Records in the reigne of King Edward the first, omitting all
passages of the Jewes in the Fine Rolls of his reign, as of lesse moment, seeing
the Patent and Clause Rolls afford us much plenty and variety of matter concerning
our English Jews affairs, their final banishment out of England, and sale of their
houses eascheated by their exile, which Records were never yet published to the
world in print and are unknown to most men.

King Henry the 3 deceasing, and his Son Edward the 1 succeeding him, Anno 1272.
thereupon he constituted Hamon Hattayn and Robert de Ludham Justices for the
custody of his Jews, commanding the Treasurer and the Barons of the Exchequer to
deliver to them the keys of the Jews Chests, together with the Rolls, Writs, and
other things belonging to the Jews, as they had formerly done to other Justices, by
this Writ.

[a]Quia Rex constituit Hamonem Haittayn et Robernum de Ludham Justiciarios suos ad

custodiam Judaeorum suorum; Mandatum est Thesaurario et Baronibus de Scaccario,
quod eisdem Hamoni & Roberto claves Archarum Judaismi, una cum Rotulis, Brevibus,
et omnibus aliis Judaismum illud contingentibus liberent, prout aliis Justiciariis
ibidem prius consuevit. Dat. per manum W. de Merton Cancellar. apud Westm. 27 die
Ianuarii.

These new Justices were constituted not above 5 weeks after Kings Henries death,
and they were, as all their Predecessors in that Office (first instituted by King
(b)Rich. the 1 Anno 1194.) Iusticiarii sui ad custodiam Iudaeorum suorum, to shew
that the Jews were nothing else but the Kings own VVards and Villaines, and under
his custody and protection only as such, to tax and plunder them at his pleasure,
as his Father and Grandfather had done before him.

It appears by the Liberate of 1 E. 1. m. 1. & 2. that the King allowed 20 marks a

year to these Justices of the Jews for their Salary; And the custody of the Rolls
and writs of the Jews were committed this year to William Middleton, as is evident
by this Record.

*Cum Rex commiserit Willielm. de Middleton Rotulos & brevia Iudaismi sui quae sunt
in custodia Thesauri & Baronum Scaccarii, custodiend: quamdiu Domino Regi
placuerit. Mandatum est eisdem Thesaurario et Baronibus, quod eidem Will. Rotulos &
Brevia liberent sicut praedictum est.

The same year this King in the beginning of his reign caused his peace and
protection to be publikely proclaimed, as well to all the Jews as others within
England, and other his Dominions, as this record recites for the Jews in Buges in
Flanders.

*Rex Vicecomiti Mall. salutem. Cum nuper pacem nostram per totum Regnum nostrum
public proclamai fecimus, et eam omnibus et singulis de regno nostro tam
Iudaeis, quam Christianis observari praecepimus, & praecipimus quod Iudaei nostri
de Bruges in Balliva tua manuteneas, & defendas, ita quod eis pax nostra, prout
ejus per totum regnum nostrum proclamari fecimus, inviolabiliter observetur. Et non
exigas vel exigi permittas ab eisdem redemptiones vei alias extorsiones ad opus
nostrum, vel alicujus alterias, nisi quatenus ad debita nostra, seu Domini Henrici
Regis patris nostri, seu Tallagia, aut alia ad quae de jure tenentur ab eis
levanda, de nostro, aut ejusdem Domini Henr. patris nostri mandato Warrantum
habueris, Datum &c. apud Westm. 15 die Iunii.

Yet notwithstanding this protection and peace granted them by the King, the very
same year, the King grants out this Writ to search all their Chests, to enroll and
certifie him of all their debts and estates, that he might tax them all
proportionably at his pleasure, as he did soon after.

*Rex dilecto & fideli suo Thomae de Espernon, salutem, Quia de debitis in Archa
Cirogtafforum Winton. Oxon. Maleberg. & Wilton contentis volumus certiorari, vobis
mandamus quod ad certum diem quem ad hoc provideritis, ad Archas praedictas
accedatis, & easdem per visum Cirograf. Archarum praedictarum, tam Christianorum
quam Judaeorum aperiatis, et omnia debita in eisdem contenta diligenter scrutari et
inrotulari faciatis. Mandamus enim Cirograffariis nostris Archarum praedictar, quod
ad certum diem quem: eis scire faciatis ad hoc faciendum vobis assistant et
intendant. In cujus, &c. Dat. &c. apud Westm. 20 die. Feb.

Conamies Liteae diriguntur Hamoni Hatayn de debitis in Archa Cirograf. Northampt.

Nottingh. Ebor. Lincol. Stinf. conrents.

Item Consimiles Literae diriguntur Ade de Winton, de debitis in Arca Cirograf.

Judaeorum Bristoll, Oxon, Gloucest. Wigorn. Hereford et Warw. contentis.

Item consimiles Literae diriguntur Roberto de Ludham super hujusmodi debitis

contentis in Archis Cirograff. Judaeorum Bedef: Cantebr. Colecester, et Sudbury.

In all which Cities and Towns the Jews then inhabited, and had common chests,
wherein their Debts and Morgages were reserved.

Also according to the former Custome of the Jews in England, not to remove into any
town where they did not anciently inhabit, he sent this Writ to the Barons and
Bailiffs of Winchelse, to remove some Jews thence who had taken up their habitation
there, without his special license.

*Rex Baronibus & Ballivis suis de Winchelse salutem. Quia secundum consuetudinem
Iudaeismi nostri Angliae, in aliis Civitatibus Burgis aut Villis habitare, vel
morari non debent, quam in illis in quibus antiquitus habitare consueverunt &
morari, & quidam Iudaei, ut intelleximus, villam nostram de Winchelse sunt
ingressi, & eam inhabitent, in quam nullus Iudaeus aliquibus retroactis temporibus
habitare consuevit, vel morari; Vobis mandamus, quod si verum est, tunc Iudaeos ab
eadem villa, absque damno de corporibus seu rebus suis eis faciend. sine damno
faciatis amoveri. Dat. apud Westm, 18 die Iunii.

This King that he might not seem altogether unjust, granted forth a Writ to the
Sheriff of Oxford in behalf of one Lumbard a Jew of Oxford taken and imprisoned for
a fine of fifty marks imposed on one Lumbard a Jew of Bristol for a Trespasse
against the Kings Exchange, ordering him to be bailed, and the mistake examined.

*Rex Vicecom. Oxon. salutem. Ostensum est nobis ex parte Lumbardi de Krikelad.
Judaei nostri Oxoniae,
quod quum quidam Lumbardus Judaeus Bristol amerciatus esset coram Justiciariis
Domini Henr. Regis patris nostri ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis ad quinquaginta
marcas pro transgressione excambii ejusdem patris nostri, et ipse Lumbardus Judaeus
Oxon. de eadem transgressione nunquam calumpniatus, nec de praedicta pecunia
oneratus extiterit, tu easdem 50 marcas ab eodem Lumb. de Oxon. Judaeo exigis, et
omnia bona sua in Balliva tua ea occasione cepisti in manum nostram, et insuper
ipsum cepisti, et in prisona nostra Oxoniae detines. Et quia non est juri consonum,
nec est voluntatis nostrae quod ipse Lumbardus de Oxonia sit in poena pro debitis
alterius, unde ipse Lumbardus de Oxonia penitus est immunis, ut dicitur. Tibi
praeciimus, quod si ipse Lumbardus de Oxonia invenerit tibi sufficientem
manucaptionem perconsuetudinem Judaismi nostri, de veniendo coram Justiciariis
nostris ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis, a die Pascha in 15 dies, ad
satisfaciendum nobis de praedictis 50 marcis, nisi ibidem ratio inabiliter
ostenderit, quod non ipse sed alii de dicta pecunia debent onerari, tunc ipsum
Lumbardum per eandem manucaptionem a prisona qua detinetur, deliberari facias, &
omnia bona sua ea occasione capta in manum nostram interim sine distractione, &
sine dampno dicti Judaei reservari facias. Et habeas ibi nomina manucaptorum suorum
& hoc breve. Datum, &c. apud Sanctum Paulum London 4 die Aprilis, & Dat 20 s. pro
hoc Breve habendo.

No sooner had he provided the foresaid Justices and Guardians for the Jews, but he
presently imposed new heavy annual Taxes and Tallages on them, appointing special
Collectors to levy them and their arrerages upon all their goods, chattels, debts,
and to banish and abjure the Realm all such Jews, together with their wives and
children, as were rebellious and refused to pay them as these ensuing Patents of
his, in the 2 year of his reign demonstrate.

Rex dilectis, & sidelibus suis Fratri Stephano de Foleburn, Ade de Stratten &
Willielmo de Middleton salutem.[c] Sciatis quod assignavimus vos ad omnia arreragia
Tallagii super Judaeos nostros Angliae ultimo assessi ad opus nostrum levanda,
prout citius & commodius videritis expedire. Dantes vobis potestatem Arreragia illa
de bonis, catallis, & debitis Judaeorum quos dictorum arreragiorum inveneritis
detentores, levandi, & nostro nomine adnuandi, nec non & dictos Judaeos qui in hac
parte Rebelles fuerint vel contradictoreper exilium & abjurationem Regui nostri,
si necesse fuerit compellendi, ad dicta arreragia pro porcionibus ipsis inde
contingentibus nobis sine difficultate qualibet solvenda. Et ideo vobis mandamus
quod premissa faciatis in forma praedicta. Et si forte vos tres ad hoc intendere
non poteritis, duo vestrum praemissa ficut praedictum est, nihilominus exequantur.
In cujus, &c. T. Rege apud Westm. 20 die Octobris.

[d]Rex dilectis et fidelibus suis fratri Stephano de Foleburn electo Waterford,

fratri Luce de Hemmington et Willielmo de Middleton salutem. Sciatis quod
assignavimus vos ad omnia arreragia Tallagii super Iudaeos nostros Angliae ultimo
assessi ad opus nostrum levanda, prout citius et commodius videritis expedire,
Dantes vobis potestatem arreragia illa de bonis, catallis, et debitis Judaeorum,
quos dictotum arreragiorum inveneritis detentores levandi, et nostro nomine
adnuandi; nec non et dictos Judaeos qui in hac parte Rebelles fuerint vel
contradictores per exilium et abjurationem regni nostri, si necesse fuerit
compehendi ad dicta retagia nobis pro porcionibus ipsis contingentibus, sine
difficultate qualibet solvenda. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod praemissa faciatis in
forma praedicta. Et si aliquis Judaeorum illorum ad diem per nos sibi prefixum in
solutione porcionis suae defecerit, faciatis ipsum, cum uxore, et pueris suis
exceptis puerisillis, qui sunt in Tallagio, et solverint, eris regnum nostrum
Angliae, et assignetis ei portum
Douorum, quod infra tertium diem post diem solutionis suae sibi per nos praefixum,
sit ibi exiturus sicut praedictum est, et nunquam rediturus. Salvis tamen nobis
terris Domibus, Redditibus, et omnibus catallis suis et suorum.* Et si aliquis
Judaeus post tertium diem sibi assignatum, sicut praedictum est inventus fuerit
alibi in Regno nostro quam apud Douorum, faciatis de eo Judicium tanquam de illo
qui furtive & propria catalla nostra asportaverit. Et si forte vostres ad hoc
intendere non poteritis, duo vestrum praemissa nihilominus exeqauntur. In cujus &c.
Teste Rege apud Luton, primo die Novembris.

By this imposed penal banishment and abjuration of the Realm, prescribed by the
King in these two Pateuts to such Rebellious contradictory Jews, their wives, &
children, as refused to pay the arrears of this last imposed Tax, it is more than
probable, that their total (e) and final general banishment and expulsion out of
England by the King and his whole Parliament in the 18 year of his reign (16 years
afer) was as compulsory and penal to them as this, and no ways voluntary of
themselves, as Sir Edward Cook hath fansied it, against all our Records and
Histories.

In the Clause Roll of this year I find this writ to two of these Collectors, for
the present levying part of these Arrears upon Elias a Jew of London, and paying it
into the Wardrobe.

(f)Rex dilectis & fidelibus suis fratri Stephano de Foleburn electo de Waterford &
Willielmo de Middleton, ad arrerag. Tallag. Judaeor. ultimo super eosdem Judaeos
assesso levanda assignatis, salutem. Mandamus vobis quod illas septies viginti
marcas quos Richardus de Tany debet Magistro Eliae filio magistri Mosseo Iudaeo
London, sine dilatione liberari facias in Garderoba nostra, & eas eidem Judaeo in
dicto Tallagio suo allocari facias. Teste Rege apud Westm. 20 die Octobris.

It is observable, that the first person named as a Collector

of the Arrears of this Tax of the Jews in all these 3. Records, was a Frier, and
Bishop Elect of Waterford in Ireland. How the Jews who neglected, refused, or were
unable to satisfie their Taxes, were handled by these Collectors, and imprisoned in
the Tower of London till they either paid or secured them to the King out of their
best Debts, these Records of the ensuing year will discover.

(g)Rex Thesaurario et Baronibus suis de Scaccario salutem. Mandamus vobis quod

Sampsonem filium Magistri Miles de Stanford; Samuelem fil: Maneser de Lincoln;
nim. fil. Garflye, Abrahamum fil. Droye de Holms, Elyam fil. Vrssellae de Lincoln,
et Abrahamum fil. Samuelis, captos et detentos in prisona nostra Turris London Pro
Tallagio suo, deliberari factatis. Ipsos etiam de corporibus suis pacem habere
permittatis usque ad quindenam Sancti Michaelis prox: futur: et praedictorum
Judaeorum Tallagium super eos assessum de clarioribus debitis suis Interim levari
faciatis. Ita quod nisi in quindena praedicta de praedicto Tallagio suo ad plenam
satisfecerint, ad Prisonam nostram praedictam revertantur; ibidem gratiam nostram
expectand: Teste Rege apud Kenynton X. die Julii,

(h)Mandatum est Justiciariis ad Custodiam Judaeorum assignatis, et Willielmo de

Middleton quod executionem Brevium Regis quae pro diversis Judaeis receperunt super
allocationem vel respectum de Tallagio super ipsis ultimo assesso habend: per ipsos
faciend: supersedeant omnino, nisi aliud eis inde duxerit demandandum. T. R. apud
Westm. X. die Iunii.

(i)Rex Justiciariis ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis, et Willielmo de Middleton

salutem: monstravit Nobis Hakus fil: Roes de Ebor. Iudaeus, quod cum ipse Nobis de
Tallagio super ipsum ultimo assesso satisfecerit ad plenu, vos occasione quorundam
Catallorum sub nomine Solomonis fil: Isaac dudum defuncti in manu nostra existent:
quandam pecuniae summam occasione dicti Tallagii exigitis minus
juste. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod si Nobis constiterit quod catalla praedicta
fuerunt in manu nostra die quo dictum Tallagium assessum fuerat, et quod dictam
pecuniam praefato Hako occasione Catallorum illorum et non alia exigatis, et quod
Nobis de toto Tallagio suo praedicto satisfecerit ut praedictum est; tunc corpus
suum ea occasione detentum prout justum fuerit deliberari faciatis. T. R. apud
Westm. X. die Iunii.

(k)Rex eisdem et Willielmo de Middleton, ad Tallagium super eosdem Iudaeos Angliae

nuper assessum colligendum deputatis, salutem. Mittimus vobis Petitionem Aaronis
Crespyn Judaei nostri London praesentibus interclusam. Vobis mandantes quatenus
retentis in manu nostra de clariobus debitis ipsius Iudaei in Thesaur: nostra
existentibus usque ad summam Arreragiarum Tallagii super eundem Iudaeum ultimo
assessi, et aliis debitis suis secundum tenorem Petitionis praedictae; tunc debita
illa ad opus nostrum levari, et ipsum de dictis arreragiis quietum esse, et
residuum Catallorum suorum occasione dicti Tallagii in Thesauraria existentim, sibi
liberari faciatis, & corpus suum ea occasione in pace esse permittatis. T. R. apud
Westm. V. die Iunii.

(l)Rex Justiciariis suis ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis, & Will. Middleton

salutem. Quia constat Nobis per recordum vestrum quod tertia pars unius debiti
triginta librarum sub nominibus Ricardi Pauncefoot et Aaronis le Bland Iudaei, est
debitum Urselli fil: Isaac Iudaei, et quod unum debitum duodecim libraru sub
nominibus eorundem Ricardi et Aaronis, est debitum Belye de Gloucest. Iudeae, per
quod Nos pro arreragiis Tallagii super praedict. Ursellam et Belyam ultimo assessi,
tertiam partem praedicti debiti triginta librarum, et dictum debitum duodecim
librarum cepimus in manum nostram: Vobis mandamus quod debita pro arreragiis
Tallagii praedicti ad opus nostrum levari, et dictos Iudaeos de Arreragiis dicti
Tallagii, quatenus debita illa sufficerent, extunc in pace permittatis. T. R. apud
Westm. 20 die Maii.

(m)Rex Hammoni Hautyn, et Roberto Ludham Justiciariis

suis ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis, salutem. Quia quibusdam de causis, volumus
quod vos de caetero intendatis ad Tallagium super Iudaeos nostros Angliae assessum
et arreragia ejusdem levand. obis mandamus, quod omnes Rotulos, Cartas, Tallias,
Brevia, Starra, et omnia alia praedict: Tallagium contingentia quae in custodia
dilectorum & fidelium nostrorum fratris Luce de Hemington & Will de Middleton
hucusque remanserunt, ab eisdem admittatis, et Tallagium illud una cum Arreragiis
ejusdem, prout magis ad commodum nostrum videritis expedire, un cum praedicto
Willielmo: quem ad hoc una vobiscum assignavimus, levari faciatis. T. Rege apud
Westmonast. XV. die Maii.

(n)Rex Justiciariis suis ad custodiam Iudaeorum assignatis, et Fratri Luce de

Hemington, & Willielmo de Middleton, Collectoribus Tallagii super quosdam Judaeos
Angliae nuper assessi salutem. Compatientes paupertati Will. fil. Roberti de
Middleton, qui Jospino fil. Solomon: de Merleberge Iudaeo tenetur in diversis
debitis, ad quorum solutionem bona sua et catalla non sufficiant, ut accepimus:
dedimus eidem Willielmo respectum de debitis illis praefato Iudaeo rendend usque ad
quindena Paschae prox: fut: Ita quod penae et Vsurae inde cessant usque ad terminum
supradictum. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod eidem Willielmo respectum illum interim
habere faciatis in forma praedicta: et terras et tenementa in manum praedicti
Iudaei occasione debitorum praedictorum capt: replegiari faciatis. T. R. apud
Windsore 6. die Martii.

(o)Rex Thesaurario et Baronibus suis de Scaccario salutem. Sciatis quod cum

Magistr Elyas fil. Moaei, Judaeus noster London nobis in trecentis et
quinqaginta marcis pro Tallagio ipsum contingnte, de Tallio super Communitatem
Judaeorum nostrorum anno Regni nostri secundo per praeceptum nostrum assesso
eneatur. Et cum Mater nostra A. Regina Angliae eidem Elye in tanta pecunia
teneatur, ut asserit, et concesserit quod praedict: 350 marcas Nobis pro praedicto
Iudaeo solvit ad Scaccarium nostrum
praedict. in crastino Sancti Michaelis prox: futur. obis ad instantiam ejusdem
Matris nostrae mandamus, quod pradictum Iudaeum de praedictis 350 marcis quietum
esse faciatis. T. R. apud Windsore 10 die Feb.

I have recited all these Records at large: partly to inform the world, how strict,
rigorous, and earnest this King and his Officers were in levying their heavy Taxes
upon the Jews, by imprisonment and banishment of their persons, and seising all
their Charters, Debts, Obligations, which they were enforced to assign over to the
King, for want of ready monies to help discharge their Tallages, for which they had
some respite given them where they had assigned real debts for to pay them. And
partly to acquaint those of the Long Robe, how little confidence they ought to
repose in Reverend Sir Edward Cooke his citations of Records in his Institutes and
Reports: who from these very * Records of Rot. Pat. 3. E. 1. m. 14, 17, 20. (which
he mistakes for Claus. 3. E. 1.) William Middleton reddit Compotum, (when as
William Middleton is not so much as named in these Patent Rolls, but only in the
Clause, where he renders no account at all but what you have read) makes this
confident conclusion: (in his 2 Institutes p. 506. upon Statutum de Iudaismo) What
benefit the Crown made before the making of this Act appeareth by former Records,
take*one for many, from the 17 of December in the 50 year of H. 3. until the
Tuesday in Shrovetide the 2. year of Edw. 1. which was about 7. years, the Crown
had four hundred and twenty thousand rounds fifteen shillings and 4 pence, De
exitibus Iudaismi: at which time the Ounce of silver was 20d. and now it is more
than treble so much: VVhen as there is not one syllable of this to be found in the
Patent Rolls of 3, E. 1. he cites in his Margin (which are only licenses to Jews to
assign their Debts) nor any thing more in the Clause Rolls of this year that I can
find, than what you have already heard, and no such Account of Middletons de
Exitibus Iudaismi for any set time, much
lesse from 50 H. 3. till Tuesday in Shrovetide, 2 E. 1. as he here fancieth. That
which I conceive led Sir Edward Cooke into this mistake, was this Note in one of
the Kalenders in the Tower: Rex recepit iiij C. iiij millia libr. de exitibus
Judaismi, ab An 50 H. 3. usque An. 2 E. 1. Pat. 4. E. 1. m 12. citing Pat. 3. E. 1.
m. 14.17. just before it, with reference only to Quod nullus Iudaeus vendere debitu
possit, nisi Regis Lacentia, which Sir Edw. miapplied to the following clause (a
grosse oversight:) when the Kalendr refers only to Pat. 4. E. 1. m. 12. to prove
this vast sum levied of the Jews from the 50 year of H. the 3. to 2 E. 1. in which
Membrane and whose Roll there is no such thing at all appearing, nor ought relating
to the Jews Taxes or Middletons account, as I dare affirm upon my double diligent
perusal of that whole Roll, neither is there any such Acount that I can find in any
other record that I have met with in my search. Doubtlesse this reverend Judge, and
Great Ornament of the Law, took many, if not most of his Records upon trust,
without examination, and so frequently miscites, wrests, or misapplies those he
quotes, especially in brief, (and some he cites at large too) that those Judges,
Lawyers, and young Students, who rely upon him and his Quotations as infallible
Oracles, and deem it a disparagement once to question them, will but deceive both
themselves and others, as I have undeniably manifested in his grosse mistakes
concerning the Statute de Iudaismo, and Jews banishment out of England in my former
Demurrer, and in his mistake in this very Roll. Wherefore I shall adise them all
still to try his Records and Quotations before they trust them, and to practise
that Rule himself so frequently urgeth, but yet overmuch forgot. Tutius est petere
fontes quam sectari rivulos, having never met with so many grosse Misquotations and
mistakes of Records in any Mans writings, as I have found in his, though otherwise
a Man of rare abilities in points of Law, but no such Antiquary, Record-man, or
Historian as the world
esteem him; Which I no ways publish to disparage his honourable Memory or usefull
Publications, but to caution all of his Profession (for whose benefit and
information I have published these Records) to take heed they be not seduced by his
venerable authority to imbrace or rely upon his frequent mistakes, misquotations of
Records and Antiquities for undoubted verities. But to return from this necessary
digression to my former Text.

In these Patents Rolls of 3 E. 1. I find frequent mention of the forcited Ordinance

of 23 H. 3. (recorded in the red Book of the Exchequer) prohibiting any Jews to
grant or assign their debts of Christians to any Christians, without the Kings
special license first obtained, &c. together with sundry special licenses granted
by the King to assign and grant their debts to Christians, and to them to receive
such assignments of them. Take these few presidents of this kind instead of many
oother.

Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. salutem.(p)Cum tempore Domini Henrici Regis Patris nostri
provisum esset; Quod nullus Iudaeus debitum aliquod quod sibi a Christiano
debebatur vendere posset alicui, nisi prius super hoc ab eodem Patre nostro
obtentis gratia & licentia. Et si quis debitum hujusmodi ex licentiasua ab aliquo
Judaeo emeret, non plus haberet in eodem qum ipse Pater noster, vel nos haberemus,
si debitum illud esset in manu nostra, vel in manu ejusdem Patris nostri, videlicet
Catallam contentam, in Carta super hoc confecta, sine Vsura. Nos Mosseo filio Jac.
de Oxon. Josceo filio Benedicti & Jacobo Sablyn de Eboraco Iudaeis, gratiam facere
volentes specialem, dedimus eisdem licentim vendendi dilecto Clerico nostro Thomae
de Gunes quodm debitum quadraginta & septem Librarum in quo Thomas de Tausterne
de Eyton et Walterus de Rodistan eisdem Mosseo, Joceo et Jacobo tenentur per
Cartas suas. Dedimus etiam Licentiam eidem Thomae emendi debitum illud a Judaeis in
formae Provisionis supra-dictae. In Cujus, &c. Teste Rege apud Thame 24 die Julii.
The like licences were granted the same year in the selfsame form to Isaac de
Prouyns a Jew of Lincoln,(q) and to Aaron de la Rye a Jew of London, to sell their
respective debts specified in the Licences, to R. Bishop of Bath and VVells; and to
him to buy them, reciting the foresaid Ordinance of Henry the 3. And in the Patent
Rolls of 4 E. 1. m. 12. and 22. And in diverse other Patent Rols afterwards in this
Kings reign, I find sundry Licences to other Jews to sell their debts therein
specified, and to Christians to buy them, all running in the very same form, and
reciting the foresaid Ordinance in the selfsame Words; which proved very gainfull
to the King and his Officers, who would not grant such Licenses gratis.

As the Jews could not assign nor dispose of their own debts to others without the
Kings special License and grace, so the King on the other side could dispose of,
respite, and release their debts, inquire of and search after them at his pleasure,
and grant them to his own Queen, or others, as these Records in 3 E. 1. inform us.

*Rex Justiciariis suis ad Custodiam Judaeorum assignatis salutem, Cum nuper

concessimus carissimae Consorti nostrae Alienorae Reginae Angliae, omnia debita in
quibus Norman de Arsy tenebatur quibuscunque Judaeis Regni nostri, & vobis
mandaverimus quod dicta debita secundum legem & consuetudinem Iudaismi nostri
levari & praefatae Consorti nostrae habere faceretis: ac eadem Consors nostra,
debita de quibus dictus Normannus tenebatur Aaroni de la Rye, et Mossaeo de Clare
nondum habuerit, ut accepimus. Vobis mandamus quod Cartas praedictas ab Archa
Cirograph. extrahi, et cum irrotulatae fuerint reponi, et debita illa secundum
Legem et consuetudinem Judaismi praedicti levari, et praefatae Consorti nostrae
habere, et sic fieri et irrotulari faciatis. Itaquod praefata Consors nostra eisdem
Cartis commodum suum facere possit, prout magis viderit expedire. Teste Rege apud
Westm. 4 die Julii.

(r)Mandantum est Justiciariis ad Custodiam Judaeorum

assignatis quod Scrutatis Rotulis de Scaccatio Judaismi nostri, Regi sub Sigillo
suo ejusdem Scaccarii sine dilatione onare faciant, quibus & quot debitis
Willimus de Appledresfeld tenetur in Judaismo Regis, vel Judaeis suis quibuscunque
per Cartas suas, vel alio modo. Et hoc Breve remittant T. R. apud Bellum locum
Regis 24 die Ianuar.

(s) Praeceptum est Vicecom. Suthampt. quod demandam quam de dicto VVillo. de
Appledresfeld fac. per summonitionem Scaccarii Regis de Judaismo pro debitis
quibuscun{que} Regis, vel aliquibus Judaeis Regis solvend. ponat in respectum usque
in tres Septimanas, post Festum Purificationis bearae Mariae prox. furtur. Teste ut
supra.

(t)Rex Justiciariis ad Custodiam Judaeorum assignatis salutem. Volentes dilecto &

fideli nostro. VV. de Appledres. gratiam facere specialem; Vobis mandamus quod
demandam quam ei faciis per breve nostr. Scaccatii nostri de Judaismo pro debitis
quibuscunque nobis, vel aliquibus Judaeis nostris solvendis, ponatis in respectum
usque in tres septimanas post festum Purif. Beaae Mariae prox. furtur. Ita quod ex
tunc de debitis illis respondeat prout de jure & secundum legem Judaismi nostri
fuerit faciend. T. R. apud Bellum Locum Regis. 25 die Ian.

These Writs fully manifest the manner of proceedings and respects in cases of Debts
and Obligations before the Justices appointed for the Custody of the Jews, in the
Kings Exchequer for the Jews.

In this 3 year of King Edward the 1. were the Statutes de Iudaismo made and enacted
in Parliament by the King and Nobles, as I (u) have elsewhere proved at large, not
in the 18 year of his reign, as Sir *Edward Cooke very grosly mistakes, which I
shall infallibly evidence by these two Records in 4 E. 1. (the very next year after
their enacting, which I have formerly touched and shall here transcribe at large)
expresly citing
these very Statutes, and awarding execution according to their prescription and
words.

(y)Rex Justiciariis suis ad Custodiam Judaeorum assignatis salutem. Ex parte

Gamalielis de Oxon. Judaeo London, Nobis est ostensum, quod cum nuper Sacro de
Geregrave, per diversas Cartas quandam pecuniae summam mutuasset, et idem Saerus
qui tunc temporis pro libero habebatur servilis conditionis nunc existens, ut
dicitur, omnes terras et tenementa sua quae libere dare, vendere potuit & obligare,
ad voluntatem suam, post confectionem praedictarum Cartarum in tantum vendidit
diversis Christianis adhuc eadem tenentibus, quod nihil penes ipsum remansit
praeter quandam portionem terrae quam nunc tenet in Villenagio, et quam vendere nec
alicui obligare potuit, per quod dictus Judaeus de praedicto debito suo minus juste
elongatur. Volentes igitur eidem Judaeo ad debitum suum recuperandum, pro ut justum
fuerit subvenire, ita quod in hac parte sibi non fiat injuria. Vobis mandamus, quod
licet sic fuerit, quod dictus Saerus terras et ten. quae tempore confectionis
praedict. Cart. libere tenuit post illud tempus vendidit, & nunc servilis
conditionis extiterit, propter hoc non omittatis quin per Sacramentum. 12 liberorum
& legalium hominum, per quod rei veritas melius sciri poterit, et qui nulla
assinitate attingunt praedictum Saerum, vel tenentes terras & tenemnta praedicta,
diligenter inquiri faciatis, quas terras redditus & tenementa dictus Saerus habuit
tempore confectionis praedictarum Cartarum, quae tunc aut postea libere dare,
vendere & obligare potuit ad voluntatem suam: & qui praedictas terras, reddit us &
tenementa quae sunt vadium praedict. Judaei pro praedicto debito nunc tenent, &
quantum valeant per annum, & quantum quilibet inde tenet. Et tunc inspectis debitis
dicti Judaei, ad quantum videlicet se extendunt *SECUNDUM STATUTA NOSTRA IUDAISMI,
omnes quos praedictarum terrarum reddit: et tenementer, quae idem Saerus libere
dare et obligare potuit tempore praedicto, ut praedictum est, et quae sunt vadium
ipsius Judai, per praedictam Inquisitionem tenentes invoneritis in quorum manibus
exllant, ditringi faciatis; viz. tam praefatum Saerum si aliquam liberam terram
teneat, quam alios singulatim, pro portione ipsum de praedicto debito contingente
eidem Judaeo solvend. Et si idem Saerus aut aliquis Christianus de praedictis
tenentibus aliquod Starrum acquietantiae, vel rcepti de praedicto Judaeo ostendere
poterit, illud eidem faciatis allocari. T. R. apud West. 6. die Junii.

(z)Rex Thesaurario et Baronibus suis de Scaccario, et VVillielmo de Middleton

salutem. Cm Secundum Assisam et*Statuta Iudaismi nostri, Judaei nostri in Regno
nostro habere debeant a Christianis debtoribus medietatem terrarum redituum et
Catallrum sucrum quousque debita sua perceperint, ac Willielmus de Lascel de
Oteringham qui Gamalieli de Oxon Judaeo per plures et diversas Cartas in centum et
quinquaginta Libris et amplius tenetur, non habeat terras aut tenementa in quibus
distringi possit, nisi viginti libras, quas Johannes fil. Mart. de Oteringham ei
debet et centum solides et duodecim quarteria frumenti annui redditus percipiend.
dicto Johanne ad terminum vitae ipsius Will. Volentes praefato Iudaeo ad debita sua
praedicta recuperanda subvenie, obis mandamus quod si ita est, tunc praedicto
Judaeo*Secundum Statutum praedictum, habere facias medietatem dictarum 20 librarum;
et medietatem dictorum centum solidorum, et 12. quarter: frumenti per annum
quousque ditus Iudaeus*Iuxta Statutum Nostrum de Iudaismo editum debitum suum
perceperit antedictum. Et nolumus quod praedict. Willielmus possit dare, vendere,
vel alienare medietatem dictarum 20 librarum, nec medietatem dicti annui redditus
quousque dict. debitum praefato Judaeo plenarie per solvatur, T. Rege apud Westm.
14 die Maii.

In these two memorable Records Anno 4 E. 1. wee have an expresse recital of the
Statute de Iudaismo no less
than 4 several times, not only in words and substance, but by name, by the
various stiles. Statuta nostra Iudaismi; Statuta Iudaismi nostri; Secundum Statutum
praedictm; Juxta Statutum nostrum de Iudaismo editum. Thereore beyond all
contradiction this Statute could not be first made in the 18 year of King Edw: the
1. as (a) Sir Edw Cook mo confidently affirms 3. or 4. several times in his
slight Commentary upon it (being 14 years after these Records, which could not
recite and command execution upon it, so long before its making) but in the 3d.
year of his reign, as I have fully einced elsewhere, both by Hiories, reasons,
and a brief touch of these Records; which mistakes with others forecited, I doubt
not but himself would have publiquely retracted had he been living, upon my clear
discoveries of them, which I now presume will henceforth mislead no persons since
his decease, as they have done most heretofore.

This stumbling block of his touching the true date of the Statute de Iudaismo being
removed, I shall proceed to other Records of the same year, pertinent to my
Subject.

(b)Rex Iusticiariis suis ad Custodiam Iudaeorum assignatis, salutem. Quia

accepimus, quod Dominus Henricus Rex Pater noster habere solebat in Scaccario suo
Iudaeorum quendam Iudaeum intendentem Officio Escaetariae de tenementis et catallis
quae ad ipsum Patrem nostrum accidere debent per mortem vel transgressionem
Iudaeorum, vel quacunque alia ratione. Et quod Nos nullum Iudaeum seu alium habemus
nec habuimus post mortem ejusdem Patris nostri qui Officio praedicto intendat,
propter quod damnum non modicum hactenus sustinuimus, ut accepimus. Nos
indempnitati nostrae prospici volentes in hac parte, assignavimus Benedictum de
Winton Iudaeum ad Officium praedictum exequendum in forma praedicta. Et ideo vobis
mandamus, quod accepto ab eodem Sacramento corporali, quod fideliter se habebit in
Offiicio praedicto quamdi steterit in eodem, ipsum
Benedictum ad Officium illud dmttatis in forma praedicta, T. Rege apud Westm. xix
die Iulii.

In this Record we have both the Office, Oath and imployment of the Kings Escheator
of the Jews expressed to the full, which no Histories or Law-books mention. In the
same Roll and Membrana there is this ensuing record, reciting the Kings authority
to release or assign the Jews Debts at his pleasure, and the Tallages imposed on
them which were some times satisfied by Bills.

(c)Rex Justiciariis suis ad Custodiam Judaeorum assignatis saluem. Cum celebris

memoriae Dominus Hen: Pater noster dudum in recompensationem arreragiorum quae
restabant reddenda Philippo de Arcy de annuo feodo viginti Librarum quod dicto
Patre nostro dudum recipere consaevit et quae idem Philippus dicto Patri nostro ex
toto remisit, pardonavit eidem Philippo quoddam debitum centum librarum quod debuit
Magistro Elye fil. Magist. Mossei et Gamelino Judaeis London, et quoddam debitum
viginti libra: quod debuit eisdem Idaeis de annuo feodo: et idem Pater noster
vobis madavit, quod eundem Philippum de praedict: debitis quietum esse et Cartas
per quas dictis Iud is tenebatur in debitis praedictis ei restitui, et eisdem Jud
is in Tallagis suis vel aliis debitis quae Dom. Patri nostro debuerant praedicta
debita allocari faceretis, sicut per inspectionem Rotulorum Cancellariae praedict.
Patris nostri Nobis constat, & quaedam pecuniae summa de praedict. seodo vigint.
librarum praedict. Iudaeis adhuc restat allocanda: Vobis mandamus, sicut alias
mandavimus, quod eisdem Iudaeis id quod adhuc restat allocand: in hac parte in
Tallagio suo super ipsos assesso tempore nostro, vel in debitis si quae nobis
debent, allocatis. T. R. apud Estwode 13 die Julii.

William Middleton one of the chief Collectors of the Jews Taxes and Arrears in this
Kings reign, was so imployed in keping the Records of the Common-pleas this ear,
that he could not well attend his Collectors office,
which occaioned there insuing writs to discharge him from this Office, and for
others to execute it, and for him to deliver up the keys, writs, and rolls of them
and the Jews to others imployed therein.

(d)Rex dilecto Clerico suo Wil: de Middleton salutem. Advertentes quod vos Officio
Custodiae Rotulorum nostrorum coram Justiciariis nostris de Banco taliter estis
onerati, quod levationem arreragiorum Tallagii Judaismi nosri, vel Vicessimae
Nobis concessae commode vacare non potestis, et volentes Breve exhonerationis in
hac parte providere, vos ab Officio levationis arreragiorum praedictorum tenore
praesentium duximus absolvend: In cujus, &c. T. R. apud Westm: 23 die Julii.

(e)Rex dilecto Clerico suo Wil: de Middleton salutem. Advertentes quod vos ex
Custodia Rotulorum et Breuium nostrorum, ac aliorum Instrumentorum placit: Banci
nostri Westmon. tangentium, quae vobis custodiend: commissimus taliter estis
onerati, quod examinat: collectionis vicessimae nostrae cum dilecto Clerico nostro
Nicolao de Castro vel collect: et levat: Tallagii nostri Judaeorum Justiciariis
nostris ad Custod: Judaeorum assignatis, diutius absque dampno vacare non potestis.
Nos vestri exonerationi volentes in haec parte provideri, obis mandamus, quod
Claves quas de praedicta vicessima, et de praedicto Tallagio penes vos habetis,
liberetis Baronibus nostris de Scaccario, ut ipsi claves illas aliis, qui de
praedictis Officiis fideliter se intromittant committere possint, prout ad opus
nostrum viderint expedire. In cujus &c. T. Rege apud VVestmon. 23 die Julii.

(f)Manndatum est, VVil: de Middleton, quod Rotulos & Breva Judaismi Regis liberet
Ade de Wynton: custodiend: quamdiu Regi placuerit. Et hoc nullatenus omittat: In
cujus, &c. T. Rege apud VVestm. 9 die Junii.

You have frequently heard before of the publick Chests of the Jews VVritings and
Charters, wherein they were all reserved, for the searching of which for
several ends either to ascertain the King of their estates, or to deliver up stars
and obligations in them that were really satisfied to the parties bound in them, or
to search for and take out their particular writings and debts upon every occasion,
we have several Presidents in sundry Rolls, especially in this 4 year of King
Edward the 1. three whereof I shall only recite.

(g)Rex dilectis & fideliibus suis Gregorio de Rokesly, Barthol. de Castello, &
Radulpho de Broghton salutem. Sciatis quod assignavimus vos ad Archas Cirograf,
Judaeorum nostrorum London scrutandas, & ad Cartas quas quietas inveneritis & de
hoc vobis veraciter constiterit ab eisdem Archis extral endas. & in quadam alia
cista per se, & ad alias Cartas nomine Christianorum bellicatas, & nondum quietatas
in alia cista per se, & ad alias Cartas in quibus debita clara consistunt, in
tertia cista per se reponendas. Ita quod cistae illae sigillis vestris sigillentur,
et salvo custodiantur donec aliud inde praeciperimus. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod
praedista faciatis in forma praedicta. In cujus &c. T. R. apud Odiham 6 die
Augusti.

(h)Rex dilectis sibi in Christo Abbati de Colcest. et Walt. de Essex salutem.

Sciatis quod assign. vos ad Archas Cirograf. Judaismi nostri Cocest. et Suthbiry
aperiend. et ad scrutand. & examinand Cartas ad omnia debita in Archis illis
inventa, et ad omnia illa irrotulanda, et ad plenum scrutinium inde faciend. et ad
omnia ea nobis aprte et distincte sub sigillis vestris referenda. Et ideo vobis
mandamus qud ad certos dies quos ad hoc provideritis, Arch. praedict as aperiatis,
et Cartas, et omnia debita in eis inventa diligenter scrutemini, et facto scrutinio
illo diligenter illa irrotuletis, et Archis illis sic secure reclusis, eas sigillis
vestris sigilletis, Ita quod non aperiantur, donec aliud inde duxerimus Ordinandum.
Proviso insuper, quod nullas Cartas extra easdem Archas existentes ponatis in
easdem, c aliquas infra easdem Archas existentes, ab eisdem extrahatis, vel
aliquo modo extrahi permittatis. Et si quas Cartas in manibus Cirografforum
nostrorum inveneritis extra
Archas illas, eas per se irroulari, et in securo loco reponi faciatis. In cujus
rei, &c. T. Rege apud Turr. Lond. 27 die Novembr.

Eodem modo assignatur Rogerus de Northwode una cum aliquo asio fideli Regis quem
sibi associaverit ad aperiendas Archas Cirograf. Judaismi Regis Cantuar.

Eodem modo assign. Robertus de Ludham et Willus. Gerebert. ad aperiendas Archas

Cirograf. Judaismi Regis VVinton, Oxon. et de Devisis.

Eodem modo assign. Nicholaus de Stapleton et Abbas sanctae Mariae Eborum, ad

aperiend. Archas Cirograf. Judaismi Regis de Ebor.

Eodem modo assign. Prior Sanctae Katerinae extra Lincoln, et Robertus de Blund. ad
aperiendas Archas Cirograf. Judaismi Regis Lincoln & Stainford.

Eodem modo assign. Abbas Sancti Augustini Bristol, et. Bartholm. le Ieovene
Constabularius Castri de Bristol, ad aperiend. Archas Cirograf. Judaismi Bristol.

Eodem modo assignatur Bartholomeus de Suthleye, una cum aliquo alio fideli, ad
aperiend. Arch. Cirograf. Judaismi Wigorn. In cujus, &c. Teste ut supra.

(i)Rex dilecto sibi in Christo Priori Norwici, et dilecto Clerico suo VVillielm. de
Middleton salutem. Sciatis quod assignavimus vos ad aperiend. Archam Cirograf.
Judaismi nostri Norwici, et ad scrutand. et examinand Cartas, et omnia debita in
illa Archa inventa, et omnia debita illa irrotulanda, et ad lenum scruinium inde
faciend. et ad omnia ea nobis diincte et aperte sub sigillis vestris referenda.
Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod ad certum diem quem ad hoc provideatis, Archam illam
aperiatis, er Cartas, & omnia debita in eadem inventa diligenter scutemini, et
facto scrutinio illo, praemina omnia irrotuletis, et Archa illa secure reclusa, eam
sigillis vestris sigilletis. Ita quod non aperiatur donc aiud inde duxerimus
Ordinandum. Proviso, quod nullas Cartas extra eandem Archam existentes ponatis in
eandem, nec aliquas ibidem inventas ab eadem extranatis,
vel aliquo modo extrahi permittatis. Et si quas Cartas in manibus Cirograf.
nostrorum extra Archam illam inveneritis eas per se irrotulari, et in securo loo
reponi faciatis. In cujus, &c. apud Turr. London. 24 die Novembris.

Eodem modo assignatur Walt. de Helynn una cum aliquo alio fideli Regis quem sibi
assignaverit ad aperiendas Archas Cirograf. Judaismi Regis Hereford et Gloucester.

Eodem modo assignatur Iohannis Wigorn. et Roger de Evesham ad aperiend. Arch.

Cirograf. Judaismi Regis Exon. et ad scrutand. ut supra.

Eodem modo assignatur Hugo de Stapleford, una cum aliquo alio fideli Regis, quem
sibi associau. ad aperiendas Archas Cirograf. Judaismi Regis Huntindon, Bedford,
Northampt. & Oxon.

Eodem modo assignatur Prior de London et Willielmus de Stirkeslegh. ad aperiend.

Archas Cirograf. Judaismi Regis Lincoln et Stainford. In cujus, &c. Teste ut supra.

I have rehearsed all these Patents and Commissions at large, because they vary some
thing from each other in form, prescribe general and universal searches of the Jews
common Chests and Writings, and manifest, how and where they were dispersed into
most of the chief Cities and Towns of England and where they had Chests, more
exactly then most other Records.

This year there falling out some difference between the Jews and the Sheriff of
Oxford who had the Custody and Regulation of the Oxford Jews, thereupon at the Jews
procurement there issued forth this Patent to the Mayor and Bayliffs of Oxford to
keep the peace between the Sheriff and them, and to have the Protection and
Government of them till the next Parliament.

(k)Rex Majori ad Ballivis suis Oxon. salutem. Cum ad occasionem turbationis inter
Vici: nostrum Oxon. & Judaeos
nostros ejusdem Villae jam exortae, sicut dicitur tollendam, et ad pacem in
Judaismo nostro, ibidem quietius conservandam, assignavimus vos ad Custod.
Judaeorum nostrorum eusdem villae usque ad Parliament. nostrum post instans fest:
Sancti Michaelis: Vobis mandamus quod sicut de vestra diligentia et fidelitate
specialiter confidimus custodiae illi diligenter intendatis. Ita quod Pax nostra in
Iudaismo praedicto, et in aliis quae statum ipsorum Judaeorum in eisdem partibus
tangunt, vestro mediante juvamime et Consilo bene et inviolabiter conservetur.
Mandavimus enim Vicecomiti nostro praedicto quod ad informnem status ipsorum
Iudaeorum non praesumat aliquid attemptare, nec de eisdem in aliquo interim se
intromittat. In cujus, &c. Teste Rege apud Windsore 31 die Julii.

King Edward the 1. in the 5 year of his reign appointed Commissioners to impose a
Tax upon all the Commonalty of the Jews throughout England, whose names and
authority are thus expressed in a Commission granted to them for this end.

*Rex dilectis et fidelibus suis Ioh. de Cobham, et Phil. de Wileby et Wil. de

Middl. salutem. Sciatis quod dedimus vobis potestatem obligandi universos et
singulos Judaeos regni nostri, secunum quod vos vel duo vestrum videritis
exedire. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod vos omnes, vel duo vestrum, omnes predictos
Judaeos tallietis, secundum quod ad opus nostrum melius videritis expedire. In
cujus, &c, T. R. apud Windsore, 30 die Maii.

Hereupon all the Jews were summoned from all parts up to London to be taxed, and
thereupon all Inquisitions against them during their attendance there upon this
occasion & afterwards were suspended, unless by special command of the King or his
Justices for the Iews, or these Commissioners, and those to be made both by
Christians and Iews, as was anciently accustomed, as this Writ doth evidence,
issued soon after.

*Rex Vicecomiti Oxon. cum assignavimus quosdam fideles

nostros London, ad Tallagium super communitatem Judaeorum nostroru Angliae
assidend: per quod oportet Iudaeos nostros Oxon ibidem interesse ad mandatu
fidelium nostroru praedictorum. Tibi praecipimus quod Inquisitiones aliquas super
dictos Iudaeos dum ibidem fuerint, vel postquam inde redierint non facias, sine
mandaeto nostro, vel dictorum fidelium nostrorum, seu etiam Iusticiariorum
nostrorum ad Custod: Iudaeorum assignat: & hoc per Christianos & Iudaeos sicut
temporibus aliorum icecom. ibidem fieri consuevit. T. Rege apud Beckell, 22 die
Iunii.

These incessant heavy annual Taxes trarily assessed on the Jews without
intermission by Aegyptian Taxmasters so impoverished many of them, that they were
unable to pay them, and thereupon all their goods and debts were seized to satisfie
them, so far as they would reach, leaving them only a bare subsistance & the
residue respited to be annually paid; as this record informs us.

*Rex Insticiariis suis ad Custod. Iudaeorum assignatis salutem. Quia ex testimonio

fide dignorum accepimus, quod Mosseus de Clare Iudaeus, tam pro Tallagio nostro
super ipsum assesso, quam pro aliis debitis quae nobis solvit post adventum nostrum
in Angliam, non sufficit ad residua debita in quibus nobis adhuc tenetur, tam de
tempore Domini Regis Henrici patris nostri, quam nostro, nobis ad praesens solvend:
Vobis mandamus, quod scrutatis rotulis de Iudaismo nostro de debitis in quibus
Nobis tenetur ad Scacc: Judaismi nostri praedicti, de debitis suis usque ad summam
praedictum debitorum ad opus nostrum in recompensationem eorundem capiatis vel sibi
juxta quantitatem catallorum suorum in Archa Cirografforum Iudaeorum exeuntem
rationabiles terminos ad quos dbita illa solvere possit; salva sibi et familiae
suae sustentatione sua assignari faciatis, et catalla sua ea occasione in manum
nostram capta sibi interim restitui faciatis. Teste meipso apud VVindore 28 die
Maii.

If the rich wealthy Jews in foreign parts have a desire to be impoverished and
fleeced of all their wealth by uncessant arbitrary annual Taxes imposed on them at
the Assessors pleasures, let them now come into England for that purpose, where
they shall find persons more skilfull and powerfull to tax and excise them now
every moneth or two, then those who taxed these their Ancestors only once a year,
till they have scarce a subsistence left them.

The Jews Usury being totally suppressed to please the Christians by the Statute de
Judaismo, the King to enable them to pay their Taxes, and subsist, granted general
Licenses to them to exercise merchandizing according to that * Statute, as this
Record demonstrates.

*Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. salutem. Cum propter Inhibitionem quam ad commoditatem
Christianorum de Usuris & poenis Judaismi nostri Nuper fieri fecimus. Concessimus,
quod Judaei regni nori Merchandias legales exercere valeant in eodem rgno Iuxta
formam Statuti inde de Consilio nostro provisi. Volumus & concedimus, quod Magister
Elya fi. Magistri Mossei, Cresseus fil. ejusdem Elie, & Aaron fil. ynes Judaei
nostri London, hujusmodi Merchandisas exerceant in regno praedicto; et quod
debitores suos qui eisdem Judaeis per scripta vel alio modo legitime obligati
fuerint, ad mercandisas, et alia quae eis rationabiliter debuerint soluenda per
Justiciarios ad custod: Judaeorum assignatos distringantur, secundum legem &
consuetudinem Regni nostri. In cujus, &c. T. R. apud Windsore 30 die Maii.

By this Record of 5 E. 1. it is most apparent, that the Statute de Iudaismo,

prohibiting Usury to the Jews, and enabling them to exercise Merchandise, was not
made in 18 E. 1. as is erroniously affirmed by Sir Edward Cook being 13 years after
this Patent, which twice precisely mentions it, in these words, Inhibitionem quam,
&c. nuper fieri fecimus; and Juxta formam Statuti inde de Consilio nostro prouisi:
but in the 3 year of his reigne, scarce two years before it: as I have here
formerly manifested
by two other records in 4 E. 1. the very next year after it. And it is likewise
evident by this record, that the banishment of the Jews Usury out of England by
this Statute, did not cause them voluntarily ro banish themselves out of England,
as he grosly asserts, since they continued here 15 years after, notwithstanding all
their Usury was suppressed.

In this last Patent the King seemes to speak to the Jews with Iacobs Voice, but in
the very first Patent concerning them the next year after he discovers his Esau's
hands, imposing an heavy Taxe upon their decayed estates with greatest rigor in the
exacting of ir, witness this memorable Commission to their Aegyptian Taskmasters,
which I fear some now of late do imitate, even towards their English Christian
Brethren.

*Rex dilectis & fidel: suis Fratri Josepho de Chancy Priori Hospit. Sancti Johannis
Jerusalem in Anglia; Waltero de Helynn, Johanni de Cobham, & Philippo de Willeby
salutem. Sciatis quod assignavimus vos ad assidendum quoddam Tallagium super
Communitatem Iudaeorum nostrorum ad opus nostrum, quam citius et commodius
videritis expedire, et prout vobis injunximus viva voce. Dantes vobis potestatem
praedictum Tallagium de bonis, catallis, et debitis praedictorum Judaeorum levandi,
et nomin e nostro adnuandi: nec non et huusmodi Iudaeos, qui in hac parte Rebelles
fuerint Per Exilium et Abjurationem Regni,*i necesse fuecompellendi ad dictum
Tallagium, pro proportionibus ipsos contingentibus Nobis sins Difficultate qualibet
persolvend. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod praemissa faciatis in forma praedicta.
Teste Rege apud Windsore 15 die Iulii.

Et mandatum est universis et singulis Iudaeis infra regnum Angeliae constitutis

quod eisdem Josepho, Waltero, Johanni, et Philippo in praemissis intendentes sint,
et respondentes in forma praedicta. In cujus, &c. Teste ut supra.

We may perceive by this Commission how intollerably

the poor Jews were taxed and fleeced by the Kings Tax-masters every year, and what
rigorous penalties and assessments were extorted from them; yet neither these
heavy, uncessant annual Tallages, nor the banishment of their Usury by the
forementioned Statute would expel or force them hence, before a direct Edict of
Parliament and Proclamation for their exile by a set day, under pain of hanging
(some years after this enjoyned banishment and abjuration to such as refused to pay
this Tllage) ferretted them all out of England.

In the 7th year of King Edward the first, I find this memorable Writ, Proclamation
and Edict of his to Justices, for the inhibiting and punishing the
Blasphemies of the Jews (then frequent) against Christ crucified, and the faith of
Christ Jesus, with loss of Life and Member, with other strict Orders for preventing
their Apostacyes and propagation of their Jewish Rites, and all communion betwixt
them and Christians, worthy our special observation.

(l)Rex dilectis et fidelibus suis Stephano de Pentecester, VValtero de Helynn, &

Johanni de Cobham Iusticiariis suis ad Placita Transgressiorum Montae audienda et
terminanda assignatis, et dilecto Clerico suo Philippo de VVylegheby salutem. Quia
datum est Nobis intellig, Quod quidam Judaei Regni nostri fidem Caholicam et
Sacra Ecclesiastica hactenus diversimode Blasphemare non formidarunt, nec adhuc
formidant, in Divini nominis contumeliam, et totius Christianae professionis
opprobrium. Nos hujusmodi Blasphemias sicut Principem Catholicum decet reprimi
cupientes; Volumus, Quod nullus Iudaeus taliter de caetero blasphemare praesumat:
videlicet, aliquod erroneum, detestabile aut abhominabile dicendo vel faciendo in
Blasphemia Crucifiri, fidei Catholicae, seu beatissimae matris Mariae Virginis, seu
Ecclesiasticorum Sacramentorum. Volumus etiam, quod hoc per omnia loca Regni nostri
in quibus Iudaei morantur publice proclamatur: et ne aliquis Iudaeus
sub periculo Vitae et Membrorum talia facere vel dicere praesumat. Et si quis
notorius Blasphemat or inveniatur, ita quod per Inquisitionem per Sacramentum
Christianorum bonorum et graviorum inde convinci possit evidenter; Volumus quod
quilibet talis puniretur secundum quod in hujusmodi casibus alias fieri consuevit.

Idem fiat de ipsis qui aliquando ad fidem Catholicam conversi, baptisati fuerunt,
et postmodum ad Iudaicam pravitatem perversi, ab eadem fide Apostatare
praesumpserint.

Volumus etiam quod Mulieres Iudeae de caetero portant signa in superiori veste
sicut Iudaei Mares.

Et quod Iudaei de caetero nullos habeant servientes Christianos mares aut fminas
secum in quibuscunque obsequis commorantes, nec in domibus propriis, nec aliis in
Civitatibus, am locis aliis ubi morantur, set ipsi Iudaei sibi invicem in omnibus
sibi serviant et ministrent: Et hoc ubique precipiatur tam Christianis quam Iudaeis
sub gravi forisfactura nostra.

Volumus etiam quod omnes Christiani qui pignora sua inter bona Iudaeorum
dampnatorum inventa redimere voluerint, hujusmode pignora per testes fideles et
bonae famae probent esse sua, et ea per certa signa et indicia describant, &
hujusmodi Testibus eatenus credatur quatenus ipsis maoris vel minoris famae esse
constiterit. Et si fort pignora illa sua esse per testes probare non possint, eo
quod testes defuncti vel absentes sunt, ita quod eos habere non possint, vel quia
secrete et absque testimonio impignor atae fuerunt, tunc ad pignora illa
recuperanda sufficiat tantummodo Sacramentum ipsorum, quorum illa existunt, dum
tamen pignora illa certis signis et indiciis descibant sicut praedictum est. Et
hoc propter lapsum anni a tempore impignorationis hujusmodi nullatenus omitatur.
olumus insuper, quod omnes illi qui per Testes fide dignos probare possint debita
sua pro suis pignoribus persolvisse, et pignora illa propter certam aliquam
rationem per ipsos coram vobis ostendendam, aut propter maliciam ipsorum
Iudaeorum ab eisdem Iudaeis non recipisse, ad iteratam solutionem debitorum illorum
faciendam nullatenus compellantur, & testibus illis credatur juxta famam
personarum, additis testibus aliis si necesse fuerit juxta discretionem vestram. De
libris autem apud Oxon impignoratis volumus quod nullum fiat judicium usque ad
Festum omnium sanctorum prox: futurum.

Volumus etiam quod per Civitates, Burgos, illas mercatorias et alias publice
proclametur, ne quis bona Iudaeorum dampnatoru, seu dampnandoru recipiat, seu jam
recepta celet vel occultet, sedea Nobis restituet citra Fest: beati Petri ad
vincula prox: futur: Alioquin Nos versus ipsos tanquam ad caelatores et
occultatores Thesauri regni graeviter capiemus. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod omnia
praedicta fieri et firmiter observari faciatis in forma praedicta. T. Rege apud
Westmon. x. die Maii.

Consimiles Literae diriguntur. Barth: de Sutlegh, Will: de beof, & Ade de Boteler,
& Ioh: de Fauconer.

Consimiles Literae Breve diriguntur. Ioh. Beks, Alex: de Kirketon, & Ranulpho de
Dacre, & Hugoni de Kendale.

In this 7th year of King Edw. the 1. (as our Historians (u) elsewhere cited record)
there was a Parliament held at London, principally to inquire after the great
clipping and falsifying of the Kings coin, and prevent it for the future; during
this Parliament most of the Jews throughout England were apprehended, and hundreds
of them by several Inquests found guilty before the Justices (mentioned in these
VVrits) specially appointed for that end, for clipping counterfeiting, and
corrupting the Kings money, whereof 294 Jews in London alone were convicted and
soon after executed, and multitudes more of them in other places throughout the
Realm; which occasioned these VVrits and Proclamations (made most probably by
advice of the Parliament, and approved by it) to be issued forth and put in
execution for the just punishment of the blasphemous Jewish
Malefactors, and better discovery of their concealed confiscated estates for the
Kings greater advantage, and likewise for releif of such subects who had any pawns
or goods in the then condemned Iews possession. As those Iews who were legally
convicted for clipping and corrupting the Kings coyne, were executed for it in all
places; so many more of them were accused, imprisoned for the same crime, much
oppressed, maligned generally by the people, and inforced to make fines and
ransomes to the King, and the houses and estates of those who were executed sold &
strickt inquiry made after all concealments of their estates, as the last, & these
ensuing Records will at large inform us, far better than any of our Historians. I
shall begin with that which is most large.

*Rex dilectis, et fidelibus suis Stephano de Pentecester, Waltero de Helynn, et

Ioh. de Cobham Justiciariis ad placita Transgressionis Monerae audienda, salutem.
Quia omnes Judaei nuper rectati, et per certam suspicionem indictare de retonsura
monetae nostrae, & inde convicti cum ultimo supplicio puniuntur; & quidam eorum
eadem occasione, omnia bona et catalla sua satisfecerunt, et in prisona nostra
liberantur, in eadem ad voluntatem nostram detinendi. Et cum accepimus quod plures
Christiani ob odium Judaeor. propter discrepantiam fidei christianae,* et ritus
Judaeorum, et diversa gravamina per ipsos Judaeos christianis hactenus illata,
quosdam Judaeos nondum rectatos indictatos de transgressione monetae, per leves
et voluntarias accusationes accusare et indictare de die in diem nituntur, et
proponunt, impouentes eis ad terrorem ipsorum, quod de hujusmodi transgressione
culpabiles existunt super ipsos Judaeos faciendae et sic per minas hujusmodi
accusationis, ipsis Iudaeos metu incutiant, et pecuniam extorqueant ab eisdem; Ita
quod ipsi Judaei super hoc ad legem suam saepe ponuntur in vitae suae periculum
manifestum. Volumus quod omnes Iudaei qui ante primum diem Maii proxim. praeterit.
indictati, vel per certam
suspicionem rectati non fuerunt de transgressione Monetae predictae, et qui facere
voluerint finem juxta discretionem vestram, ad opus nostrum facere pro sic, quod
non occasionentur, de bujusmodi transgressionibus factis ante primum diem Maii
propter novas accusationes christianorum post eundem diem inde factas non
molestentur, sed pacem inde habeant in futurum. Proviso, quod Iudaei indictati, vel
per certam suspicionem rectati de huusmodi transgressione ante praedictum diem
Maii, judicium subeant coram vobis, juxta formam prius inde ordinatam & provisam.
Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod fines hujusmodi capiatis, et praemissa fieri, et
observari faciatis in forma praedicta. Teste Rege apud Cantuar. 8 die Maii.

Consimiles Literae diriguntur Barthol. de Sulley et Sociis suis justiciar. ut

supra, T. Rege, ut supra.

Consimiles Literae diriguntur Iohan. Beks et sociis suis Iusticiariis, ut supra, T.

Rege, ut supra.

*Rex dilect. et fidel. suis Stephano de Pentecester, Walt. de Helynn, & Ioh. de
Cobham Justiciar. ad placita Monetae audiend. et terminand. assignatis salutem,
Quia Omnes Judaei nuper rectati, et per certam suspicionem indictati, de retonsura
Monetae nostrae et inde convicti, cum ultimo supplicio puniuntur, et quidam eorum
eadem occasione, omnia bona et catalla sua forisfecerunt, et in prisona nostra
liberantur, in eadem ad voluntatem nostram detinendi. Volumus quod omnes illi
Judaei qui bona et catalla sua forisfecerunt ut praedict. est, et qui in prisona
nostra ea occasione detinentur, et qui pro deliberatione corporum suorum finem
facere voluerint vobiscum ad opus nostrum, hujusmodi finem juxta vestram
discretionem facere possint. Et quod mulieres Judeae, quae fuerunt uxores Judaeorum
dampnatorum, et etiam uxores Judaeorum, quorum bona et catal. forisfact. sunt, et
quae habent unde redimi possunt, similit. fin. facere possunt vobisc. ad opus
nostr. juxta discretionem vestram, et juxta quantit. bonorum
quae viri sui habuerunt, et quae nondum inventa, et per eosdem Judaeos occulte
deponantur; et sic per hujusmodi finem a prisona, qua occasione praedict.
detinentur. deliberari. Ita quod Judeae pauperes quae fuerunt uxores hujusmodi
dampnat, Judeorum, et similiter uxores Judaeorum quae bona et catalla sua
forisfecerunt, et quae non habent unde redimi possunt, per vos absque redemptione
deliberentur a Prisona. Volumus insuper et mandamus, quod citra festum sancti Ioh.
Baptistae de terris et tenementis Judaeorum hujusmodi quae sunt escaeta nostra,
diligenter inquiratis in quibuscunque locis existent, et pro quanto vendi possint,
et quis plus dare velit pro eisdem, et nobis precium inde citius persolvere. Ita
quod inde infra Terminum praedict. ad plenam nos cerciorare possitis. Et ideo vobis
mandamus quod fines hujusmodi a dictis Judaeis tam Masculis quam femellis, et omnia
praemissa faciatis in forma praedicta. Test. Rege ut supra.

Consimiles literae diriguntur Iohan. Beks, et sociis suis Justiciariis ut supra, T.

R. ut supra.

Consimiles literae diriguntur Barthol. de Suleye et sociis suis Justiciar. ut

supra, T.R, ut supra.

Besides these Patents to the Justices, the King then issued forth special Patents
and Commissions to divers others, to sell the Houses and Tenements of the condemned
and hanged Jews for his best advantage in this form.

*Rex omnibus, &c. salutem. Sciatis quod dedimus potestatem dilectis et fidel.
nostris Thomae de Sodyngton, Hugoni de Lendale, et Majori Eborum, ad domos nostras
quae sunt escaeta nostra in civitate Eborum et extra, per feloniam quorundam
Judaeorum ibid. et alibi nuper suspensorum, et tenementa quorundam aliorum
Judaeorum qui se in patriam ponere renuerunt vendendi, et homines inde feoffandi,
prout ad opus nostrum magis viderint expedire. Dedimus etiam potestatem dilecto et
fideli nostro Hamoni Hauteyn praedict. Hugoni et Thomae fil.
Roberti ad hujusmodi domos in Civitate Lincoln, et extra vendendi in forma
praedicta. Dedimus etiam potestatem eisdem Hamoi, Hugoni. & Gilberto de Cestreton
ad hujusmodi domos in Villa Stanford et extra vendendi in forma praeicta. Dedimus
etiam potestatem eisdem Hamoni, Hugoni, & Viccomiti Warw. ad hujusmodi domos in
Villa Warw. et extra vendendi in forma praedicta. Ratum habituri et firmum quicquid
praedicti fideles nostri, vel duo eorum in singulis Comitatibus & Villis praedictis
nomine nostro duxerint faciendum. Nos enim factum eorum in hac parte per Literas
nosras Patentes ratificabimus. In cujus &c. T. Rege apud Westm. 17 die Novemb.

The like Letters Patents and Commission were then issued forth to others, to sell
the condemned and executed Jews houses, lands, rents in other places.

*Rex dilecto & fideli suo Willielmo de Braybeof salutem: Sciatis quod dedimus vobis
potestatem vendendi omnes terras et redditus Judaeorum dampnatorum pro
transgressionibus sibi impositis in locis in quibus vos ad inquirendum de hujusmodi
Transgressionibus assignati estis, prout vobis injunximus viva voce, et prout ad
opus nostrum magis videbitur vobis expedire. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod hujusmodi
domos, terras, et redditus Judaeorum sic dampnatorum vendatis in forma praedicta:
Ita quod de Exitibus venditionis illius Nobis respondere possetis ad mandatum
nostrum. In cujus, &c. T. Rege apud Brehul: 1 die Aug.

When the Jews had all made fines and ransoms for their Trespasses with the Kings
Justices and Commissioners as aforesaid; then he sent forth a proclamation that
they might freely exercise their lawfull Trades, Merchandizes with Christians and
one another as formerly, and buy victuals, with other necessaries, and have such
communion with Christians as they were wont; prohibiting any to lay violent hands
upon or molest them, as
this Record (with others of the like nature to other Sheriffs, attests.

*Mandatum est Vicecomiti Eborum, quod in pleno Comitatu Eborum, et in Civitate

praedicta publice proclamari faciat, Quod Judaei ibidem de rebus et mercan. disis
licitis cum omnibus tam Christianis quam Judaeis libere negociari possint, et
victualia, & alia necessaria ab omnibus emere, et inter Christianos conversari,
prout premissa facere consueverunt temporibus retroactis. Firtuirer etiam inhiberi
facias, ne qui in eos manus violentas injiciant, vel alias eis malefaciant contra
pacem Regis.

King Edward the 1. in the 8. year of his reign issued forth these Letters patents
following for the sale of all the condemned Jews houses Lands, and Tenements in
London, and 14 other several Counties named in them, in all which they had Lands,
Tenements and Possessions amounting to no small value.

*Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. salutem. Sciatis quod dedimus potestatem pro Nobis &
haeredibus nostris, dilecto & fideli nostro Waltero de Helynn vendendi nomine
nostro omnes domos, terras & tenementa cum pertinentiis, quae fuerunt quorumcunque
Iudaeorum, quae ad manum nostram tanquam Escaeca nostra per forisfacturam eorundem
occasione transgressionum monetam nostram tangentiu devenerunt: videlicet in
Civitate London, & Comitatibus Middle. Sussex, Surr. Kanc' Essex, Hertf. Norf.
Suff. Cantuar. Hunt. Bucks. Bedf. Oxon. & Berks. Ita quod ipsi qui ea emerint
praefato Waltero ea habeant et teneant sibi et haeredibus suis in perpetuum. In
cujus, &c. T. Rege apud Windsore, 28 die Novombris.

As the King sold the Houses of these condemned Jews, so he likewise took into his
hands the Debts of the other Jews to satisfie their Debts due unto him for their
Taxes, which he levied to his own use, and then allowed them for their arrears.

*Rex Thesaurar & Baronibus suis de Scaccario, salutem,

Sciatis quod cum nuper capi fecerimus in manum nosm quoddam debitum quinquaginta
marcarum in quo Robertus de Percy per Cartam suam in Archa Cyrographar: apud Ebor:
existenti tenebatur Bonamy de Ebor: Iudaeo: Et quod levari precipimus ad opus
nostrum: Concessimus eidem Iudeo, quod si praedict. debitum ad opus nostrum levatum
fuerit, vel in manum nostram captum, sicut praedict: est. Idem Iudaeu pro dicto
debito 50 marcarum in recompensationem habeat a 40 marcis in veteribus arreragiis,
tallagiis & aliis debitis quae nobis debet ad Scaccarium praedictum. Et ideo vobis
mandamus, quod si ita est, tunc eidem Iudaeo in hujusmodi veteribus arreragiis,
talagiis, & aliis debitis quae nobis debet ad idem Scaccarium allocationem de
praedictis 40 marcis habere faciatis in recompensatione praedicti debiti 50
marcarum sicut praedictum est. T. R. apud VVestm. 13 die Novemb. By which the King
got x. marks clear from this Jews over and above his pretended debt and arrear for
which this debt was seized and levied.

King Edward in the 8. year of his reign at the supplication of the Friers
predicants in England, who desired to preach unto the obstinate Jews, thereby to
convert them to the Christian Faith, and turn them from their antient errors,
blindness and unbelief, procured this notable ensuing Writ and Patent to all his
Sheriffs, Bayliffs and other Leige people, commanding them to induce the Jews in
all places to resort unto and hear their preaching, without blasphemy or
disturbance, at such times and places as these Friers Predicants should direct, &c.

(u)Rex icecomitibus et omnibus Ballivis & fidelibus suis salutem. Cum dilecti
nobis in Christo Fratres de Ordine Praedicatorum in Anglia. Judaeis, quorum mentes
vetustas erroris et perfidiae obnubulat et obccat, praedicare proponunt verbum
Dei, quo facilius interveniente gratia Spiritus sancti, ad fidei Catholicae
converti valeant unitate; & ob hoc dilectus nobis in Christo, Prior Provincialis
ejusdem Ordine nobis supplicaverit, ut vobis demus in mandatis,
Quod omnes Iudaeos ubicunque locorum in Ballivis vestris conversantes efficaciter
moneatis et inducatis, quod in locis ubi vobis de Consilio Fratrum ipsorum magis
expedire videbitur, ad audiendum verbum Dei conveniant, et illud ab eisdem
Fratribus absq tumultu, contentione, vel blasphemia, audiant diligenter & benigne.
Et si forte Altissimus velamen duritiae a cordibus eorum aufereus aliquibus vel
alicui ipsorum Iudaeorum gratiam dederit convertendi, quod caeteri Iudaei eis super
hoc non impediant, nec per alios impediri procurent. Nos praeattum opotam
ipsorum ratrum altenentes pium et salubre et precibus predicti Priois
favorbiliter annuentes in hac parte vobis madamus Quod omnes Iudaeos in Ballivis
vestris conversantes, ad praemissa facienda efficaciter moneatis, et eos ad hoc
modis quibus melius sciveritis inducatis, prout unicuique vestrum inspiraverit
Spiritus veritatis. In cujus, &c. quamdiu Regi placuerat duratur. Teste Rege apud
Winton. 2 die Jan.

What good effects this zealous, pious project of the Friers preachers, and Patents
of the King in pursuit thereof produced in converting any considerable number of
the Jews to the Catholick faith, I find not mentioned in Histories or Record, but
their universal banishment hence 8. years after, (x)principally for their
infidelity, sufficiently manifests, that all the endeavours then used for their
conversion, by drawing them to these Preachers Sermons, and the provisions made by
the King for the Converts support hereafter specified, were very successlesse.
Wherefore those Zealots and Enthusiasts who so earnestly plead and write for their
readmission amongst us now, upon the future probability of their Conversion by
their powerfull preaching to, and exemplary conversation amongst them, are like to
find no better successe than these preaching Friers then did, and other eminenter
Divines than themselves, of late years, and now, do find in foraign parts where the
Jews reside:
where they may do well now to try what good they can do by preaching and conversing
with them abroad, before they practise upon them at home, as these Predicants
Friers formerly did without any such successe as they expected.

King Edward the 1, to promote the Jews conversion, and for their better maintenance
& corroboration when converted to Christianity, did this very year by two several
Patents grant, That whereas all the estates and goods of the Jews conerted to
Christianity did of right and custome become forfeited to the Crown, that from
thencforth the Jews should jnjoy the moity of them for their own sustenance, & that
the other moity of them should accrew to the house of the Converts, for rhe better
sustentation of the Converts there; And further granted the moity of all the
forfeited estates of the Jews that should any ways accrue unto him nd all Deodands
to be distributed in almes amongst the Converts, and imployed towards the
maintenance and repair of the Society and house of the Converts (now the Rolls)
erected by his father, as these two Patents of his this year most fully relate.

(p)Rex Thesaurario, et Baronibus suis de Scaccario, salutem, Quia ad augmentum

fidei, et cultus nominis christiani conversionem Judaicae pravitatis ad fidem
Catholicam potissime credimus operari, Nos ut illi qui jam a caecitate hujusmodi ad
lucem Ecclesiae sunt conversi, in ipsa fidei firmitate roborarentur, et alii qui
adhuc in errore illo persistunt, libentius et promptius ad gratiam fidei de caetero
convertant; disposuimus auctore Domino de ipsorum sustentatione salubtiter
providere. Licet igitur omnia bona et catalla Judaeorum quae convertuntur ad fidem,
ad nos plenarie de jure et consuetudine pertinent, volentes tamen eis postquam
filii et fideles Ecclesiae sunt effecti, Dei intuitu gratiam facere specialem,
medietatem valoris omnium bonorum suorum ubicunque in regno nostro ad
sustentationem suam
concedimus de dono nostro; aliam autem medietatem bonor. hujusm. bona etiam et
Catal. Judaeor. ex nunc quacunque occasione dampnandorum, una cum bonis et
catallis, quorumcunque Judaeorum quae ex quacunque ratione Nobis sorisfieri
contigerit, nec non et Elemosinam nostram quae Deodanda vocatur (post tempus
concessionis nostrae Fratribus predicatoribus de Elemosina illa facta) una cum *
Chevagio Judaeorum nostrorum Angliae, quae omnia colligi, et deferri volumus ad
Scaccarium nostrum, ad sustentationem Conversorum et convertendorum qui honestae
conversationis extiterint usque ad septennium completum duximus deputanda, eisdem
per vos et custodem Principalem domus praedictae plenarie assignanda. Et quia cura
domus praedictae aliquo viro discreto, qui continue resideat, et negociis dictae
domus personaliter intendat, indigere dignoscitur, volumus, quod auram hujusmodi
aliquis Presbyter idoneus et discretus dicti custodis arbitrio deputetur, qui
capellae nostrae ibidem, cum uno socio Presbytero honesto converso, seu, alio et
Clerico seu Clericis fibi necessariis personaliter deserviat ibidem continue
residendo, qui redditus praedictae domus collegat, bona etiam et catalla, una cum
commemoratis elemosina et chevagio ad dictum Scaccarium recipiat, et hujusmodi
conversis et convertendis porciones suas distribuat, et gerat negotia dictae Domus
in omnibus tam infra quam extra de consilio custodis praedict. Illi autem conversi
qui habiles fuerint ad artificia seu Ministeria secularia addiscenda, volumus quod
ad ea decaetero deputentur, per custodem praedictum, et de portionibus suis eisdem
ut dictum est assignatis sustententur, donec de Artificiis et Ministeriis suis
valeant competenter sustentari; et extunc praedictae portiones subtrahantur, et ad
fabricam et reparationem Capellae nostrae praedictae, vel ad sustentationem aliorum
conversorum arbitrio custodis Principalis praedicti assignentur. Proviso etiam,
quod bona praedicta quae ultra portiones ad sustentationem
conversorum praedictorum assignatas superesse contigerit ad fabricam praedict.
Capel. et usus ejusdem necessarios convertantur. Dictus autem Presbyter
rationabilem sustentationem suam, et Concapellani sui ac Clerici, seu Clericorum
suorum, de bonis et Catallis praedictis percipiet annuatim. Volumus autem, quod
fiin domo praedicta capellanus conversus Idoneus et honestus extiterit, qui
capellae nostrae ibidem deserviat, illum retineat in socium, quibuscunque extraneis
praefarend. Praefatus etiam Presbyter onera capellae praedictae, tam ordinaria quam
extraordinaria sumptibus dictae domus totaliter sustinebit, et de receptis et
impensis suis compotum reddat de anno in annum cum vobis ad Scaccar. praedictum,
prout rationabiliter fuerit faciendum; Et ideo vobis mandamus quod medietatem
bonorum illorum Judaeorum qui ad fidem amodo se convertent; bona etiam et catalla
Judaeorum quorumcunque ex nunc quacunque occasione dampnandorum, una cum Chevagio
Judaeorum Angliae, et elemosina nostra praedicta, quae Deodanda vocatur, statim cum
accederint plenarie ac diligenter colligi, et levari faciatis, Et custodi
principali praedicto seu Presbytero liberari faciatis, conversis et convertendis
praedictis distribuend. in forma predicta, & compotum praedicti Presbyteri de anno
in annum inde audiatis, prout superius est expressum. In cujus, &c. Teste Rege apud
Westm. 26 die Maii.

The King soon after these Letters Patents to the Treasurer and Barons of his
Exchequer, constituted John de Saint Denys Archdeacon of Rochester Custos or
Gardian of this house of the Converts, and thereupon directed these Letters Patents
to him, agreeing in substance with those to the Treasurer and Barons, which I shall
infer at large, as most fully setting forth his Office of any Record I have seen.

(q)Rex dilecto Clerico suo Johan. de sancto Dionisio Archidiacono Roffens. Custodi
Domus conversorum London, salutem. Quia ad augmentum fidei, et cultus Nominis
Christiani conversionem Judaicae pravittis ad fidem Catholicam potissime credimus
operari. Nos ut illi qui a ccitate hujusmodi ad lucem Ecclesiae sunt conversi in
ipsa fidi firmitate roborentur, et alii qui adhuc in errore illo persistunt
libenius et promptius ad gratiam fidei decaetero se convetant; disposuimus
auctore domino, de ipsorum sustentatione slubritr providere. Licet itaque omnia
bona & catallae Judaeorum qui convertuntur ad fidem ad Nos plenarie de jure &
consuetudine pertinent, Volentes tamen eis postquam filii & fideles Ecclesiae sunt
effecti Dei intuitu, gratiaem facere specialem, meditatem valoris omnium bonorum
suorum ubicunque in Regno nostro, eisdem ad sustentationem suam dono nostro
concedimus: aliam autem medietatem bonorum hujusmodi, bona etiam et catalla
Judaeorum ex nunc quacunque occasione dampnandorum, una cum bonis et catallis
quorumcunque Judaeorum quae ex quacunque ratione nobis foris fieri contigerit, ec
non et Elemosinam nostram, quae Deodanda vocatur (post tempus concessionis nostrae
Fratribus predicatoribus, de elemosina illa facta) una cum*Chevagio Judaeorum
nostrorum Angliae: quae omnia colligi et deferri volumus ad scaccarium nostrun, ad
sustentationem conversorum et convertendorum qui honestae conversationis
extiterint, usque ad septennium completum duximus deputanda, eisdem per
Thesaurarium et Barones de Scaccario nostro per vos proportionabiliter assignanda.
Et ut circa Domus conversorum nostrorum Lond. quo ad praemissa propensius, et cum
majori solicitudine pertractetur, Volumus, quod provideatis de aliquo idoneo
Presbytero de cujus industria et discretione merito confidend. sit, qui in domo
ipsa continue resideat, et capellae nostrae ibidem cum uno socio capellano honesto
et uno vel duobus Clericis personaliter deserviat, redditus ad dictam domum
pertinentes colligat, et bona et catalla supradicta ad praedict. Scaccarium nostrum
recipiat, ac portiones conversis et convertendis assignatas distribuat, et ad alia
negocia dictae domus fideliter procuranda, quotiens vos abesse, vel ad hoc
personaliter vacari non possetis, de consilio vel ordinatione vestra diligenter
intendat, qui etiam rationabilem sustentatationem
suam pro se, et socio suo, ac Clerico vel Clericis memoratis, ad servicium capellae
necessariis, de redditibus et bonis praedictis recipiat, et de omnibus receptis et
misis suis compotum suum reddat coram Thesauraro et Baronibus de Scaccario de anno
in annum, secundum quod literis inde dictis Thesaur. et Baronibus directis plenius
continetur. Et si in domo praedicta capellanus conversus idoneus et honestus
extiterit, volumus quod Presbiter seu Procuator praedictus ipsum prae caeeris in
socium retineat ad administrandum una secum in capella praedicta; Si qui autem de
conversis et covertendis, habiles fuerint ad doctrinam, volumus quod Scelus
exerceant: Laici etiam quos ad artificia seu Ministeria secularia addiscenda aptos
esse noveritis, adeo decaetero deputentur, ut habeant singuli eorum sustentationes
suas de portionibus eisdem de bonis praedictis rationabiliter assignandis. Quod si
praedicti Scolares clerici aliquod beneficium Ecelesiasticum adipisci valeant, de
quo sustentationem suam rationabilem habere possint, subtraantur eis ex tunc
portiones praedictae, & eas aliis conversis seu convertendis indigentibus facias
assignari. Et hoc idem fiat de Laicis supradictis, quam cito se possint de
artificiis seu ministeriis suis sustentationem competentem habere. Proviso inter
caetera, quod de redditibus & bonis praedictis quae ultra sustentationem
conversorum capellanorum et Ministrorum Ecclesiae superesse contigerit, ad fabricam
& ornatum Capell predictae, & divini cultus augmentum faciatis ibidem Provide
deputari. Et si quae in domo praedicta in personis aut rebus corrigenda seu
reformanda videritis, ea corrigi & reformari cum omni diligentia facias, prout
indempnitati et honestati dictae domus magis videbitis expedire. In cujus &c. T.
Reg. apud Westm. 3 die Junii.

Yet all this care and diligence both of the King and Preaching Friers
forementioned, made very few Jewish Converts in that age, and those only of the
poorer sort, rather to get a livelyhood to sustein them in this house, than out of
any real affection to Christ or Christianity.

In the Plea Rolls of the Kings Exchequer for the

Jews in the 9 year of his reign, I find this Gardian of the House of the Converts
suing forth this ensuing Writ for the moity of the goods and chattels of one
Belager an Oxford Jew converted to the Christian faith, by vertue of the
forementioned Patent: whereupon they wete deliered unto him for the use of the
House, as the Record it self will more largely expresse.

Placita apud Scaccarium Judaeorum & Termino Pasche, Anno Regis Edwardi nouo part.
7.

*Johannes de sancto Dionisio Custos Domus conversorum tulit Breve Regis de magno
sigillo in haec verba. Edwardus, &c. Justiciariis ad custodiam Judaeorum, &c.
assignatis salutem. Ex parte conversorum domus nosrae London. nobis est ostensum,
quod cum medietas bonorum & catallorum Judorum conversorum sen convertendorum ad
fidem Catholicam ad conversos Domus nostrae praedict. ratione concessionis nostrae
eis inde factae pertineat, alia medietate illis qui sic a tempore concessionis
nostrae praedict. convertunt reservata: ac Belager Judeus Oxon. nuper ad sidem
Catholicam se converterit, &c. Thereupon the King commanded that according to his
former Charters, the one moiety of the goods should be delivered to the convert for
his iustentation, and the other moity to the House of the converts. T. Roge apud
Woodstock 25 die Aprilis, An. Regni nostri nono.

Per hoc Breve liberantur eidem Johanni bona & catalla subscripta, videliz et de
bonis & catallis praedicti conver sorum, viz. vnus liber Prest. Constit: precii 12
d. unus Grecismus precii 6d. una Legenda precii 10d. unum Doctrinale magnum precii
1 d. quidam liber Constitutionum precii 4 s. quidam codex, precii 16 s. quoddam
insciatum precii 16 s. &c.

In the Plea Rolls of this Term and year (Pasche 9 E. . rot. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)
there are very many actions brought by Jews against Christians, and Christians
against Jews, and one Jew against another, and many STARS as well of Grant and
Release, as Obligatory
and by way of Morgage, pleaded and recited at large, and issues joyned upon them,
whether they were their Stars or Deeds, or nor, when denied by them to bee their
Deeds; which issues were tried by a Jury of 6. Legal Christians and 6 Jews. Their
Starrum and Starra, as they are there stiled, began in this form.

Solomon Judaeus de Stanford cognovit per Starrum suum, &c. that he was obliged to
such a one in such a summe, or that he had assigned and granted such a Debt, Starre
or Morgage to such a one; or that he had released such a Debt, Star or Morgage. And
in their Stars of Release they added this clause. Et si inveniatur Carta salis, vel
obligatio in Archa Cirografforum, vel extra nomine praedicti Solomonis, &c. quod
quieta sit, et nil valeat, & quod recognoscit hoc idem sigillo suo. When issue was
joyned upon Non est factum, concerning any of their Stars or Deeds, the entry upon
the trial by 6 sworn legal Christians and Jews in those Rolls, was usually in this
form.

Et Inquisitio inde venit die Pasche in tres Septim: nunc per Thomam Clinch,
Johannem Hubbard, Abraham Sampson &c. et alios probos et legales homines & Iudaeos,
(expressing all their names) Qui dicunt super Sacramentum suum, quod praedictum
STAR: est factum praedicti Solomonis, et litera Ebraica manu sua popria signatum,
& quod dictum STARRUM fecit tempore quo habuit liberam administrationem bonorum
suorum, &c.

I shall transcribe only one of these Records as a Pattern of most of the rest,
whereby the form of the Legal Process and Proceedings before the Justices assigned
for their Custody, will be more fully manifested to the Readers, together with the
forme of their Stars of Releae.

(s)Cum Alicia quae fuit Uxor Clementis de Poringland districta fuisset pro xl. s.
ad opus Regis de Debito Gente quae fuit uxor Ayey: fil: Deulegin: Eadem Alicia
venit et clamat habere quiet antiam de dicto debito per quoddam STARRUM coram: &c.
in haec verba. Isaac filius Jurn: et
Muriel. Leveske Judaei redantur, quod Gente de Glocest. concedit, quod Alicia quae
fuit uxor Clementis de Poringland et haeredes sui quieti sint de ipsa et haeredibus
suis de omnibus Demandis Calumniis & Placitis a creatione seculi usque ad
Pentecosten Anno Edwardi 4to. Et si aliquis Judaeus, homo vel fmina, quid exigat,
vel calumniatur versus praedictam Aliciam occasione alicujus Debiti quod eidem
Gente debebat a principio seculi usque ad praedict. festum Pentecost: supradict:
Gente eam est acquietare, defendere & warrantizare. Et praedicti Judi testantur,
quod eadem Gente spontanea voluntate hoc recognovit, et quod istud STARR: est
factum prdictae Gente, & factum quo tempore habuit liberam administ ationem
bonorum suorum; et petit quod inquiratur. Ideo praeceptum est icecomiti, quod
venire faciat coram Justiciariis sex probos et legales homines Christianos, et sex
legales Iudaeos de Civitate Norwic. ad dies, &c. Et quia constat per praedictam
Inquisitionem (upon the trial) quod praedicta Alicia quieti est de praedicto
debito per praedictum STARR: quod est factum ipsius Gente de debito tempore factum,
&c. Consideratum est, quod de praedicto debito xl s. cedat quieta, &c.

The like trial is in Rotulo 5. of this term in dorso. Kanc. Eustachius de Peckham;
and Rot. 6. Suthampt. between Solomon ben-Solomon and others; with sundry more,
overtedious to insert, since I intend not to be a Reporter of all their Cases, but
only of the form of their Law proceedings, for which these with the former
Instances may suffice.

In the same 9th year of King Edward the 1. I find these Records relating to the
Jews in the Clause and tent Rolls in the Tower of London. The first of them in
time, is concerning a fine made with the Kings Commissioners by a Jew, which
another Jew undertook to satisfie for him to the King, whereupon there issued this
Writ to the Receiver of their goods.

*Rex dilecto Clerico suo Philippo de Wyleby Nuper

Receptori bonorum Iudaeorum dampnatorum in diversis Comitatibus salutem, Quia Aaron
filius Vynes Iudaeus London, manucepit solvere nobis 40 s. in quibus Abraham fil:
Elye filii Magistri Mossei Iudaei London, et quinque Marcas in quibus Mosseus fil:
Hugonis nobis tenentur pro fine quem nobiscum fecerunt coram dilectis & fidelibus
nostris Stephano de Penecestre, & sociis suis tunc Justiciariis nostris ad Placita
de Transgressionibus, monetae nostrae andiend: et terminand: assignatis pro
Transgressionibus monetae. Vobis mandamus, quod praedict. Abraham de praedict. 40
s. et praedict. Mosseum de praedict. 5 marcis quietos esse facias. Et scire facias
Justiciariis nostris ad custodiam Iudaeorum assignatis, quod praedict. 40 s. & 5.
marc. decidant praefato Aaron in debitis quae eidem Aaroni concessimus in
recompensationem cujusdam debiti in quo Galfridus Pecche eidem Aaroni tenebatur. Et
quod idem Aaron carissimae Consorti nostrae, et Alianorae Reginae Angliae nuper
remisit. T.R. apud Westm. 28 die Maii.

The like writ in effect issued for Sarra a Jewesse of London concerning a like Fine
the same year, to the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer.

*Rex Thes: et Baronibus suis de Scaccario, salutem. Cum Sarra de London Judea
Northampt: teneatur nobis in quinque marcis, per quas finem fecit nobiscum coram
dilecto Clerico nostro Hugo de Kendale ad hujusmodi fines recipiend: nuper
assignat: pro Hak: fil. ejus Judeae, pro quibusdam transgressionibus monetae eidem
Hak: impositis, ut dicitur; ad quarum solutionem bona et catalla ipsius Sarrae ad
presens non sufficiant, ut accepimus. Nos paupertati ejusdem Sarrae quae occasione
debiti illius in prisona nostra Northampt. detinetur compatientes, et in co super
hoc gratiam facere volentes; Concessimus eidem Sarrae, quod de illi 5 marcis
solvat nobis per annum ad Scaccarium nostrum, viz. ad Scacc. nostrum Pasche prox:
futur: unam marcam, et sic de anno in annum ad eundem terminum unam marcam,
quousque dictae 5. marcae nobis fuerint persolutae. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod
eidem Sarrae terminum illum habere, et sic fieri et irrotulari
faciatis: & ipsam Sarram a prisona praedicta, si ea occasione, et non alia
detineatur in eadem, sine dilatione deliberari faciatis. Teste Rege apud Winton,
12. die Octobris.

The Jews by the custome formerly used, and the Statute de Iudaismo, could not sell
any of their Houses (no more than their debts) without the Kings special license
first obtained in writing, for which take this president of the foresaid year.

*Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. salutem. Sciatis, quod de gratia nostra speciali dedimus
licentiam Samueli de Eborum Judaeo London, vendendi cui voluerit quoddam Messuagium
suum in Civitae Ebor: quod est in vico de Conyng-street, inter domum Paulini de
Munbray, ex una parte, et domum A de Verdeuel ex altera: dum tamen idem Sam:
messuag: illud ad manum mortuam non ponat, contra formam Statuti nostri. Dedimus
etiam licentiam ei qui Messuag: illud ab eodem Samuele emere voluerit illud emendi,
prout magis viderit expedire, nisi Messuag: illud fit Escaeta nostra, vel alio modo
jus habeamus in eodem. In cujus, &c. Teste Rege apud Winton, 12 die Octobris.

The like Licenses to sell houses I find in other Patent and Clause Rolls.

This year the King to search out all the Debts owing to the condemnd Jews or
others, sent forth this Commission to search all the Chests of the Jews, and the
Stars and writings in them, and to recover all the Debts that were due on them,
somewhat different from those formerly granted.

*Rex dil: & fidel. suis Hamoni Hutteyn, Roberto de Ludham, et Magistro Henrico de
Bray, salutem. Quia volumus quod omnes Cartae, Starra et munimenta omnia Iudaeorum
dampnatorum, et alia quocunque modo ad Nos ratione Iudaismo pertinentia per vos
scrutentur, videantur, et tunc transcribantur distinct et aperte. Ita quod
extractae fieri possint inde ad debita illa ad opus nostrum
levanda, prout de jure et secundum legem et consuetudinem Scaccarii Iudaismi nostri
fuerit faciend. et prout ad opus nostrum magis videritis expedire. Et ideo vobis
mandamus quod ad certos &c. praemissa fac: in forma praedicta. Et de Cartis,
Staris, munimentis et debitis illis tres Rotulos faciatis, quorum unus liberetur
Baronibus nostris de Scaccario; alter ad Scaccarium Iudaismi nostri, et tertius
remaneat in custodia vestra Magistro Henrico nobis liberandus. In cujus, &c. T. R.
apud Guildeford 21 die Octobris.

A like Patent to this, with little variation, De Archis Cirographorum aperiendis et

scrutandis, &c. I find in the patent Roll of 14 E. 1. m. 20. where all may peruse
it at leisure.

This same year the King confirmed the Grant of his Deodands to the House of the
Converts in London, towards the repairing of the Chappel and buildings there by
this Writ directed to his Justices itinerant.

*Rex Justiciariis itinerantibus in Com. Lincoln. salutem. Cum nos dudum pro salute
animae nostrae, et animatum Antecessorum nostrorum Regum Angliae, concessimus
dilectis Nobis in Christo Fratribus Praedicatoribus London, Elemosinam nostram quae
Deodanda vocatur in Regno nostro Angliae, in subsidium translationis Domorum suarum
usque ad finem triennii percipiendam, et post idem triennium, eandem Elemosinam dei
intuitu concessimus Conversis domus nostrae London, ad fabricam Capellae suae, quam
Dom. H. quondam Pater noster Rex Angliae fundavit, ibidem persiciend: et in
subventionem reparationis et sustentationis edificiorum loci illius. obis
mandamus, quod praedictam Elemosinam nostram de Itinere vestro in Com: praedict. et
in caeteris Comitatibus in quibus itineraturi estis, habere faciatis dilecto
Clerico nostro Joh: de Sancto Dionisio custodi Domus praedictae ad fabricam et
sustentationem ad reparationem praedict: inde faciend: T. R. apud Westm. 13 die
Novembris.

Consimiles Literae diriguntur Justiciariis proximo Itineraturis in Com. Devon. pro

conversis praedictis. T. ut supra.

King Edward in the 10th. year of his reign, safely to protect the persons and goods
of the Jews in Hereford from the violence of the people there, committed the
protection of them to 24 of the chief Burgesses of Hereford (as he did the Jews in
other Towns throughout England) an proclaimed, that none should damnifie or moest
them in their persons or goods under pain of losing his goods, as this Patent
manifests.

*Rex dilectis sibi Waltero de la Barre, Hugoni de Clere, Reginaldo Comwood, Thomae
de Anesye (and to 20 more particularly named in the Patent) Burgensibus suis
Hereford salutem. Cum suscererimus in protectionm et defensonem nostram Judaeos
nostros Hereford, res & omnes possessiones suas, & ad tuitionem & maorem
securitatem ipsorum vos assignavimus ad custodiam eorunem. Vobis mandamus, quod
per totam villam praedictam publice proclamari & firmiter inhiberi faciatis ex
parte nostra: Ne quis sub periculo omissionis bonorum suorum, praedictis Judaeis in
personis aut rebus suis, inferat dampnum molestiam seu gravamen. Et vos ipsi
Judaeos illos, res et possessiones suas infra villam praedictam et extra, quantum
in vobis est, manuteneatis, protegatis et defendatis. In cujus, &c. quamdiu Regi
placuerit durat. Teste Rege apud Devises 10 die Aprilis.

It appears the Jews were then very odious and grievous to the English, that they
needed so many Gardians to protect their persons and estates from their plunder and
violence.

Soon after this some Jews of Hereford, being there imprisoned for Trespasses done
to some English there, the King sent this Writ to the Sheriff of the County to
release them upon their putting in of Bail to answer it, and to restore their goods
if seased.

*Rex Vic. Hereford salutem. Quia Mosseus le Blund, Iosseus filius Manasses Judaei
Hereford, & Mosseus fil. Jacobi Judaeus London, manuceperunt habere apud Westm.
coram Justiciariis nostris ad Custodiam Judaeorum assignatis Aaron le Blund, &
Mirabiliam uxorem ejus, Fautinum filium praedicti Aaron, & Bonam uxorem ejus,
Cresseum filium Jacobi & Floriam uxorem ejus, a die sancti Iohis. Baptistae in tres
Septimanas ad standum recto super quibusdam transgressionibus quas dicti Judaei
fecisse dicuntur Ade de Peyntur & Margeriae filiae ejusdem Ade, si ipse vel eadem
Margeria versus eos loqui voluerit, tunc prae ictos Aaron, Mirabilem, Fautinum, &
Bonam, et Cresseum, & Floriam et eorum familiam, si ea occasione, et non alia, in
prisona nostra detineantu, dictis manucaptoribus interim tradas in Ballium, et
catalla praedict. Judeorum, si quae occasione praedicta ceperis in manum nostram,
eis interim restituas per manacaptionem praedictam, & de corporibus eorum
Judaeorum, seu de familia aut catallis eorundem occasione transgressionis illorum,
te non intromittas, donec aliud inde preciperimus, & habeas ibi hoc Breve. T. Rege
apud Salop 2 die Junii.

The Jews (most likely to avoid the rage and plunders of the English Christians)
having left the wearing of their Tables on their upper garments, formerly
prescribed by sundry forecited Writs and Ordinances, and the Statute de Iudaismo,
to distinguish them from Christians, were now by this new Proclamation from the
King sent to the Justices, strictly enjoyned to wear them, as well women as men,
and likewise prohibited to sell any flesh to Christians by any means, or to retain
any Christian man or woman in their houses or elsewhere in their service under
great penalties.

*Rex Justiciariis suis ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis, salutem. Cum nuper

prciperimus & publice proclamari fecerimus; Quod omnes Judaei regni nostri,
Tabulas deferant in indumentis suis exterioribus, ut a cultoribus Catholicae fidei
evidentius decernentur. Volentes hoc idem de Judeabus ejusdem regni generaliter &
firmiter observari; Vobis mandamus, quod tam
in Ciitate notra London, quam in aliis Civitatibus, Burgis, & villis alibi infra
Regnum praedictum ubi Judaei converantur, publice proclamari faciatis sub gravi
forisfactura nostra; Ut omnes & singulae Judeae ejusdem Tabulas hujusmodi publice
deferant in forma quae provisa et de Judeis praedictis. Facias insuper inhiberi &
publice proclamari per totum regnum praedictum, Ne aliquis Judaeus quascunque
carnes quoquo modo presumat vendere Christianis, Nec Christianum secum in hospitio
uo, seu alibi in servicio suo audeat decaetero reinere. Teste Rege apud Westm. 1
die Decembris.

In the 11 year of King Edward the 1, Upon complaint of the Jews clipping and
falsifying his coyn, and other Merchants trading with them therein, the King issued
forth this following Commission to inquire thereof, the hanging and punishing of so
many of them but three or four years before for the like offences, not reclaiming
the Survivers of them from this their usual Jewish practise.

(t)Rex dilecto & fideli suo Hamoni Hauteyn, et aliis, salutem. Qia ex relatu fide
dignorum nostrorum intelleximus, quod quidam Judaei nostri mercantur cum quibusdam
Mercatoribus extraneis & aliis in Platis de Retonsura Monetae nostrae fundatis, &
etiam falsis platis de Stagno exterius deargentatis. Vobis mandamus, quod
diligenter super hoc faciatis inquisitionem quotiescun{que} videritis expedire: Et
si vobis constare poterit ita esse, tunc Mercatores illos, & alios quoscunque
hujusmodi platas mercantes, vel a Judaeis nostris emendas petentes, arrestari, &
salvo custodiri faciatis, donec super hoc alud duxererimus ordinandum. Et Judaeos
illos a quibus ujusmodi platas petierint emendas dummodo hujusmodi venditioni seu
emptioni non fuerint consentientes, per talem munucaptionem qualem videritis
optimam ponatis: in cujus, &c. Teste Rege apud othele 6 die Febr.

In the 12 year of King Edward the 1. I find these 4. several Writs and Records
concerning the Jews in one Schedule. The first, prohibiting them to live or reside
in any City, Burrough or Town where they had no common Chest, and commanding their
Jusices to remove them thence. The second, commanding the Collector of the
condemned Jews goods and estates and his Clerks, to give an Account thereof, and of
the summe they amounted unto. The 3d, commanding the Sheriffs in all Counties where
they resided, with two discreet and egal Knights of the County, to seal up and
secure all there Chests and Charters in them, till farther order. The 4th
commanding the Justices assigned for the Custody of the Jews, to certifie the
Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer the state of all the Jews Debts, and to
distinguish which were clear debts, and which not, that so they might be there
recovered for the Kings use. I shall recite them in order as they are recorded, the
Writs bearing date the (11th) year before.

*Edwardus, Dei Gratia Rex Angliae, Dominus Hiberniae, Dux Aquitaniae, Justiciariis
suis ad custoiam Judaeorum assignatis, salutem. Quia secundum consutudinem
Judaisminostri, Iudaei nostri in aliis Civitatibus, Burgis aut Villis habitare aut
morari non debent, quam in illis quibus Archa Chirographar: Iudaeorum existat, et
diversi Iudaei diversas villas in Regno nostro sunt ingressi & eas inhabitant, in
quibus hujusmodi Archa non existat, per quod eosdem Iudaeos ab hujusmodi villis
volumus amoveri. Vobis mandamus firmiter injungentes, quod universs & singulos
Iudaeos in Civitatibus, Burgis et Villis, in quibus dicta Archa non existit
habitantes seu morantes, absque dmno eis de corporibus, seu de rebus suis
faciendo, sine dilatione faciais amoveri ab eisdem: Ita quod ipsi Judaei ab eisdem
villis modis omnibus amoveantur ante quindenam Pasche prox: futuram, Non
permittentes ipsos in huusmodi villis habitare decetero, vel morari. Et ita vos
habeatis in hoc mandato nostro exequendo, quod non oporteat Nos vobis iterata
mandata
nostra diigere, ex hac causa. T. Rege aud Newark, 28 die Jan. Anno Regni nostri
11.

Edwardus Dei gratia Rex Angliae, &c. Dilecto et fidei suo, Waltero de Warham,
nuper receptori bonorum & catallorum quorundam Judaeorum dampnatorum, salutm. Quia
quibusdam de causis super summa exituum bonorum et catallorum praedict. volumus
certiorari. Vobis mandam is quod die Pasche proximo futuro in quin{que} Septimanas;
stis coram Thesaur. & Baronibus nostris de Scaccario, una cum clericis et rotulis
vestris de bonis et catallis illis, ut iidem Clerici compotum reddant tunc ibidem
de exitibus praedictis; et ulterius faciant ea quae compotum et negoium illud
coningunt. T. R. ut supra.

Eodem modo mandatum est Ioh. Beks, Ade Kirketon, and 7. others more there named.

Rex Vio: Midd. salutem. Praecipimus tibi quod assumptis tecum duobus de
discretionibus et legalioribus Militibus eusdem Comitatus, in propria scil:
persona tua accedas ad universas & singulas Archas Cyrograf. Judaeorum in Balliva
tua existentes, et eas sigillis eorundem Militum, et sigillo tuo igari
facias. Ita quod Archae illio sic consignatae, cum Rotulis in locis, quibus nunc
existunt, sub tua costodia remaneant, donec aliud inde praeceperimus, et hoc nullo
modo omittas T. ut supra.

Eodem modo mandatur Vic. Linc. Cant. Hunt. Kanc. Warw. Leicest. Norff. Suff.
Wigorn, Northampt. Surrey, Suffex, Colcest. Oxon, Berks, Hereford, Essex, Hertford,
Glocest. Darby, Bedeford, Notingh. Devon. Cornub. Wilts, Suthampt. Exon, Devises &
Ebor.

Rex Justiciariis suis ad Custodiam Judaeorum assignaas, salutem. Quia volumus

quod. Thesaur. & Barones nostri de Scaccario, super omnibus debitis quae nobis
deentur ad Scaccarium Judaismi nostri, ex quacunque sa per vos ad plenum
certificentur; Vobis mandamus, quo dd certum diem quem praedict. Thesaur. &
Barones vobis scire facient, coram ipsis in Scaccario praedicto, cum otulis
vestris veniatis, ad certificandum ipsis super debitis
praedictis, quae videlicet sunt clara, et quae non clara, ut ex tunc debita illa
levantur, secundum consuetudinem Scaccarii praedicti, et hoc nullatenus omittatis.
T. ut supra.

Moreover, In the Patent Rolls of this 12 year, the King granted this ensuing
Commission, to enquire of all the concealed goods and chattels of those formerly
condemned, and of their clipping, falsifying, counterfeiting money, and trading
with others in such deceitful coyn.

*Rex dilectis & fidelibus suis Solomoni de Roff. Magist. Hen: de Bray, et Hen: de
Waleyes salutem. Scratis quod assignavmus vos ad inquirendum per Sacramentum tam
Christianorum quam Judaeorum, per quos, &c. de omnibus bonis et catallis
quorumcun{que} Iudeorum dampnatorum nobis concelatis, et modo, et ad quorum manus
hujusmodi bona devenerint. Et etiam de Mercatoribus et Iudaeis invicem vendenibus,
et ementibus, seu cambientibus platas argenteas, et falsas platas de stagno, et
alio metallo conflatas, et exterius deargentatas, et de omnibus aliis
circumstantiis negotium illud qualitercunque contingentibus, prout magis videritis
expedire, & ad plenam et celerem Justitiam inde facindam. Et ideo vobis mandamus
quod ad certos dies et loca quos ad hoc provideritis, praemissa faciatis in form
praedicta. Mandamus enim Majori & icecom: nostris London quod ad certos dies et
loca quos eis scire faciatis, venire faciant coram vobis, tam Christianos quam
Judaeos, per quos rei veritas in praemissis melius sciri poterit, et inquiri. In
cujus, &c. T. Rege apud Cestr. 15 die Septemb.

This Inquisition (as was usual in the case of Jews) was to be made as well by Jews
and Christians, and so were their trials ordinarily per Medietatem linguarum, as in
the case of other Foreigners, for the greater indifferency, and prevention of
Injustice through malice or emulation.

In 14 E. 1. * I find a Commission issued out for opening and searching the Chests
of the Jews, and inrolling
and certiying their Debts, agreeable with those already cited. And likewise a Writ
to the Treasurer and Barons of the Kings Exchequer, to discharge John de Sto.
Dionisio, Custos Domus Conversorum Regis London, from giving any Account of his
Office and Receipts before them; Quia compotus hujusmodi nunquam in Scaccario
hactenus Predecessoribus suis custodibus Domus praedictae fieri consuevit. T.
Rege apud Westm. 24 die Feb.

This Iohn of St. Denys, Custos Domus conversorum, dying in the 16 year of Edw. 1.
the King thereupon granted the Custos Office of this house to Robert de*Scardeburgh
Clerk, Quamdiu Nobis placuerit: and commanded that he should be permitted to dwell
in this house, and that all the Converts therein should be intendent and obedient
to him, as their Governor. His Patent bearing date the 13 of Octob.

This same year the Jews still persevering in their Trade of clipping and
counterfeiting the Kings coin, thereupon there issued out several Letters Patents
and commissions to diverse Justices to make inquiry thereof, and of all concealed
goods and chattels of all the Jews forfeited to the King, as this following
commission of Association, to pretermit all others, will resolve us.

*Rex dilecto & fideli suo Hugoni de Cressingham, salutem. Quia dilectus et fidelis
noster Henricus le Waleys, quem nuper cum dilectis et fidelibus nostris Solomone de
Roff. & Magistro Henrico de Bray assignavimus ad quasdem Inquisitiones faciendas de
omnibus bonis & catallis quorumcunque Judaeorum dampnatorum Nobis concelatis &
forisfactis, & etiam de Mercatoribus & Judaeis invicem vendentibus & ementibus, seu
cambientibus plateas argenteas, & falsas plateas de stagno & alio metallo
conflatas, et exterius deargentatas, & de aliis circumstantiis negotium illud
qualitercunque contingentibus, prout in literis nostris Patentibus, quos eisdem
Solomoni, Henrico & Henrico inde fieri fecimus
plenius continetur, nobiscum in partibus transmarinis pro quibusdam negotiis
nostris specialibus quibus ibidem intendit moram facit; per quod idem Henricus le
Waleys ad praemissa una cum prefatis Solomone & Magistro Hen. facienda, non potest
intendere ad praesens vos loco ipsius H. le Waleyes ad praemissa una cum prefatis
Magist. Henrico ad praedictas Inquisitiones faciendas juxta tenorem literarum
nostrarum patentium praedictarum. Et ideo vobis mandamusquod ad praemissa facienda,
una cum praedictis Solomone, & Magistro Henrico intendatis in forma praedicta.
Mandamus enim eisdem Solomoni & Magistro Henrico, quod vos ad hoc in socium
admittant, sicut praedictum est. In cujus rei, &c. Teste Ed. Comite Cornubii
Consil. Regis apud Westm. 26 die Jan.

This year I find a strange case, A Jew and his wife complained to the King, that
some had maliciously defamed the Wife, in reporting that she had turned Christiand
was baptized, to their great prejudice and grievance, when as it was a malitious
scandal; Whereupon they procured this Writ from the King to the Justices of the
Jews to inquire the truth thereof by an Inquisition of Christians and Jews, and to
do them right if slandered.
*Rex Justic. suis ad custodiam Judaeorum assignatis salutem. Monstraverint nobis
Mosseus de Hornden & Suetecota uxor ejus Judaei Lond. quod cum ipsa Suetecota
christiana non sit, nec aliquo tempore fuerat baptizata, quidam Emuli eorum
maliciose confingentes ipsam Suetecotam baptizatam fuisse inter duo bella de Lewes
& Evesham, eam super hoc defamarunt, in ipsorum Mossei & Suetecotae dampnum non
modicum & gravamen. Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod inquisita inde plenius veritate
per Christianos & Judaeos, sicut mos est; Si inveneritis praedicta Suetecota non
fuit baptizata, sicut sibi imponitur, tunc eisdem Mosseo & Suetecotae, juxta
officii vestri debitum, pacem habere inde faciatis. T, Com.

If the Jews deem it so great a scandal and grievance to them, for others to report
them to have been Christians
and baptized, there is little hopes of their real general conversion to
Christianity now.

The Jews were such absolute slaves and villains to our Kings, that they sometimes
granted them with all their goods and chattels to others by their Charters, as they
did their other villanies, as this memorable Record of 17 E. 1. will inform us.

*Rex driecto & fideli suo, Rado de Berners Constabul. Tur. London salutem. Cum Dom.
H. Rex pater noster per Cartam suam dederit & concesserit Edmundo fratri nostro
carissimo Aaron fil. Vynes Judeo London, una cum omnibus bonis et catallis suis, er
omnibus quae ad ipsum patrem nostrum ratione ipsius Judaei quocunque modo possint
pertinere; et nos postmodum eandem donationem et concessionem continuari volentes,
ipsam prefato fratri nostro confirmavimus per nostras literas Patentes; ac idem
Frater noster manuceperit habere coram nobis eundem Aaron ad voluntatem nostram
adstandum recto super omnibus quae ipsum Aaron contingunt, quandocunque nos vel
alii versus ipsum in aliquo loqui voluerimus; per quod eidem fratri nostro per
manucaptionem suam praedictam concessimus, quod omnia negotia ipsum Aaron
contingentia, et quae examen judiciale requirunt coram nobis, et eodem fratre
nostro audiantur, et prout justum fuerit terminentur. Vobis mandamus, quod de bonis
et catallis ipsius Aaron, aut aliquibus ipsum tangentibus vos in nullo
intromittatis, contra donationem, concessionem, et confirmationem supradictas, nisi
ex voluntate fratris nostri praedicti. T. Edmund. apud Westm. 24 die Maii.

Eodem modo mandatum est, Iohanni de Breton custodi civitatis London. T. ut supra.

In the 18 year of King Edward the 1. I find this grant of his on the 12 day of Iune
of all his Deodands to the House of the Converts, for the better maintenance and
support of the Converts, Chapel and edifices thereof, during his pleasure only.

*Rex Iustieiariis & omnibus aliis Ballivis et fideli suis, &c. salutem. Cum nos
dudum concessimus Conversis Domus nostrae London, ad sustentationem ipsorum,
Deodanda, quae nobis accidere, & coram quibuscunque Iusticiariis nostris adjudicari
contingent, ad certum terminum jam transactum: Nos concessionem illam intuitu Dei
pradictis conversis & convertendis coutinuare volentes; concessimus eisdem
conversis et convertends, ad sustentationem ipsorum, et fabricam Capellae suae et
aedisiciorum suorum perficiendam, omnia Deodanda quae Nobis ubicunque in Regno
nostro Angliae accidere, et coram quibuscunque Iusticiaris seu Ministris nostris,
adjudicari contingent. Habenda & percipienda quamdin Nobis piacuerit. T. Rege apud
Westm. 12 die Iunii.

On the 17 day of the same month and year, I find this special grant made by the
King to Auntlera a Jewesse, to sell the inheritance of a Garden in London to any
Jew and his heirs, and for them to purchase it of her without being questioned or
molested for it, by any of his Officers, which without such license she could not
sell, nor he purchase of her without seisure or forfeiture.
*Rex omnibus, &c. Sciatis quod de gratia nostra speciali Licentiam dedimus
Auntlerae quae fuit uxor Vynes fil. Magistri Mossei Judaei London, quod quoddam
Gardinum suum quod habet in Civitate nostra London, in parochia sancti Laurentii in
Cattestreet, vendere possit cuicunque Judaeo Gardinum illud emere volenti, habendum
et tenendum eidem Judaeo & haeredibus suis in perpetuum: & eidem Judaeo quod
praedictum Gardinum ab eadem Auntlera recipere possit, tenore praesentium similiter
licentiam concedimus specialem. Nolentes quod eadem Auntlera vel haeredes sui, ant
praedictus Iudaeus aut haeredes sui, ratione venditionis seu receptionis Gardini
praedicti, per nos vel haeredes nostros, Justiciarios Ballivos aut alios Ministros
nostros occasionentur, gravantur in aliquo, seu molestantur. In cuus, &c, T. R,
apud West. 17 die Junii.

The ike Patent nd to Aaron the Kings Brothers Jew forementioned, to sell his
house and rents in fee to any Christian who hould purchase them by his Lords
license, even after the Edict past, and Letters of safe conduct granted for the
Jews banishment and departure hence, as appears by comparing their dates.

*Rex omnibus, &c. salutem, Sciatis quod concessimus & licentiam dedimus Aaron fil.
Vynes Judaeo Edmundi fatris nostri carissimi, quod ipse domos et redditus suos tam
infra Civitatem nostram London, quam infra Regnum nostrum, de licentia & voluntate
praedicti fratris nostri Domini si vendere possit (upon his banishment hence:)
quibuscunque Christiaenis voluerit, absque impedimento nostri, vel aliorum
nostroum quorumcunque, & eisdem Christianis quod domos illas & redditus ab eodem
Iudeo emere valeant, similiter licentiam concedimus specialem, iure cujuslibet in
omnibus smper salvo, In cujus, &c, T. R. apud Langeleye 28 die Julii. (After the
date is the Letters for the Jews safe conduct out of Enlgand to the Sheriffs.)

It is very observable, that these three last Patents were made but a very little
before, and the last of them clearly after the Jews universal banishment voted,
resolved both by the King and Parliament. For when as the King, his Justices and
Parliament by all their Inquisitions, Commissions, Care, Providence, and Execution
of so many Jews in all parts, could no ways suppresse their lipping and falsifying
of the Money of the Realme nor yet reforme the manifold other wickednesses and
misdemeanors of the English Jewes, nor all the industry and pains of the Friers
Preachers, nor all that liberal provisions and grants of the King forecitd to the
House of Converts for their comfortable port, maintenance and confirmation in
the Christian faith, so far operate upon their obstinate, obdurate hearts, as to
convert any considerable number, or any persons of note amongst them to the
Christian faith, from which many Converts apostatized, nor yet suppresse
their continual blasphemies against our crucified Saviour, the Christian faith,
Sacraments of the Church and blessed Virgin; Thereupon the King, at the earnest
frequent solicitation, of the Commons assembled this year in Parliament, after the
Feast of St. Hilary, enacte & published an Edict or Decree in Parliament for the
total, universal, and final banishment of all these wicked, blasphemous,
unbeleeving Jews out of England, then generally execrable, detestable to all the
people, who were so desirous to be for ever quit of their company, that they
granted the King the 15 part of all their goods and moveables for their banishment
and expulsion out of England, as I have formerly proved at large by a full grand
Jury of Historians, and several Records in my former *Demurrer, against Sir Edward
Cooks grosse assertion, that they only voluntarily banished themselves, because
their usury was this year suppresed by the Stat. de Iudaismo; which I have proved
was made full 15 years before, & to be no cause at all of their exile now. In
pursuance of this Parliamentary Edict & Decree, now no where extant on Record (all
the Parliament Rolls before 5 Ed. 2. being wholy lost, and many since, by the
carelessenesse or iniquity of the times, except only an old Parchment Book of some
Pleas in Parliam. in E. 1. & one Statute Roll of K. Ed. the 1. Ed. 2. and Ed. 3.
wherein the Statute De Iudaismo, with many other printed Acts, are not to be found,
no more than this Edict for the Jews banishment, though mentioned in many Histories
and Records) the King in this very month of Iuly sent several Writs, Letters and
Patents to the Sheriffs of Counties, Mayors of Towns, Bayliffs and Barons of the
Cinqueports, and likwise to Mariners, reciting, that he had prescrib'd a certain
time, term, day to all and every of the Iews within the Realm, for their departure
out of it into forraign parts: commanding them, not to doe nor suffer any injury,
molestation, grievance, to be done to them by any in their passage beyond the Seas,
for which he had given them safe conduct, but to grant them
their wives and children a safe and speedy passage, within the time prefixed them,
at the Jews own costs, paying reasonable rates for their freights and passage,
without immoderate exactions especially on the poorer sort of them, lest their
passage should be hindred by such immoderate and unreasonable exactions. I shall
transcribe these Writs and Letters at large out of the Records themselves, as most
pertinent to my intended Theame, beginning with those to Sheriffs.

*Rex ic. Gloucestrie, &c Cum Iudaeis Regni nostri universis certum tempus
praefixerimus a Regno illo Transfretandi; Nolentes quod ipsi per Ministros nostros,
aut alios quoscunque, aliter quam fieri consuevit, indebite pertrectentur; Tibi
praecipimus, quod per totam Ballivam tuam publice proclamari, et firmiter inhiberi
facias, ne quis eis intra terminum praedictum, injuriam, molestiam, dampnum
inferat, seu gravamen. Et cum contingat ipsos cum catallis suis, quae eis
concessimus, versus partes London, causa Transfretrationis suae, dirigere gressus
suos, salvum & securum conductum eis habere facias sumptibus eorum. Proviso, quod
Iudaei praedicti ante recessum suum, vadia Christiaoum quae penes se habent illis
quorum fuerint, si ea acquietare voluerint, restituant, ut tenentur. Teste Rege
apud Westm. 18 die Iulii. Anno 18. E. 1.

Consimites Literae diriguntur icecomitibus Essex, Ebor. Northampt. Lincoln. Teste

ut supra. Item Vicecomitibus Hereford, Suthampt.

The form of the Letters for protection and safe conduct to particular Jews and
their Families, (which the richer sort of Jews purchased at dear rates) was this.

*Rex Majori et Ballivis Eborum, salutem, Quia certum diem praefixerimus Iudaeis
nostris Angliae regnum nostrum exeundi, et se ad partes alias transferendi; Vobis
mandamus, quod Bonamico Judaeo Eborum, uxori, pueris, vel familiae suae, in
personis aut rebus interim nullam molesiam inferatis, set ipsos quantum in
vobis est, manuteneatis, protegatis, et defendatis. Et cum idem Bonamicus cum
uxore, pueris et familia sua, post Terminum Proclamationis factae de vadiis
Christianorum acquietandis, ad partes maritimas causa transfretandi, divertere se
voluerint, sibi et suis salvum conductum, cum ab eo fueritis requisiti, suis
sumptibus habere faciatis; ne eis super bonis, quae secum deferre contingerit
periculum emineat, pro defectu conductus hujusmodi faciendi. T. Rege apud Lang. 26
die Julii. Et sunt Patentes.

By this Patent it appears, First, that the Jewes had a certain day prefixed them by
the King to depart out of the Realm of England into Foreign parts, of which they
all had general and particular notice. 2ly, That the wealthier Jews thereupon to
preserve their own persons, wives, children, families from corporal violence, and
their goods from plunder, purchased particular Letters of Protection and
safeconduct from the King to Mayors and other Officers. 3ly, That the King
published a general Proclamation upon the Edict of their banishment, that all the
pawns of Christians to them should be redeemed and discharged before their
departure, or left behind them when they departed hence.

The next day after this private Letter of Protection and Safeconduct, on the 27 of
July, the King sent these Letters to the Bailiffs, Barons and Seamen of the Cinque
ports, for the Jews safe conduct, passage and transportation out of England, within
the term which he had prefixed to all and every of them, being general for all the
Jews.
critical conversion; and such converts mostly we are like to find them, and none
other. Whereupon the 2 Council of Nice, Canon. 3. decreed, That no Iews should be
admitted suddenly into the Christian Church, nor baptized, unlesse they publikely
certified, that they were converted, out of a pure sincere faith, with all their
heart, and utterly renounced their judaical rites. And the Council of gatha Can.
34. decreed, That the Iews who desired to turn Christians should remain for 8
moneths space amongst the Catechimeni, for trial of the sincerity of their
conversion before they were baptized, upon this ground, because they frequently
returned to their infidelity & vomit again Judaei qui eorum per fidia FREQUENTER ad
vomitum reddit. Which Alexander Alensis summa Theolog. pars 2. qu. 161. approves.
7ly. If any private Iews out of meer conscience or sincere desires of being
converted to the Christian faith, shall upon that account alone desire admission
into England, to be instructed by our English Divines, I suppose no English
Christians will oppose, but further their desires herein, and contribute both their
prayers and best endeavors for their conversion, and if ther be cause, admit them
also into our Churches Communion upon real testimonies of the truth of conversion
in, and work of grace upon them; which is as much as they can desire at our hands;
But to admit whole multitudes and Colonies of infidel Iews at once into our Nation,
who neither desire nor pretend conversion to Christianity, (but the quite contrary)
together with the free use of their Iewish Synagogues, Rites, Ceremonies, (which
they strongly in-sist upon) to establish their Judaism, make way for their long
expected Messia his comming, increase their wealth and traffique, and enable them
to recover their ancient Country and Kingdome again, the only things they now aim
at as Menasseh Ben Israels printed addresses proclaims to all the World, is such an
Impious, Unchristian, Antichristia dangerous president (glossed over only with a
10. day of Octob. being the next day after it An. 1290. just 21 days before the
feast of All Saints, by which day they were all to depart out of England under pain
of death; and accordingly departed, as I have elsewhere manifested; except some few
poor converted Jews, who remained like Almesmen in the House of the Converts, and
were not banished with the rest, whose Infidelity was the chief cause of their
exile, as our Historians attest.

The King on the 27 day of October (but 17 days after the Jews final departure from
London out of England) committed the custody of this Domus Conversorum and the
Converts in London to Walter de Agmodisham during pleasure, by this his Patent.

*Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. salutem. Sciatis quod commissimus Waltero de Agmodisham
custodiam Domus nostrae Conversorum London, & conversorum nostrorum, (therefore not
banished with the rest) habendum quamdiu nobis placuerit, cum omnibus ad custodiam
illam pertinentibus, sicut Johis de Sancto Dionis. quondam Archidiac. Roff. eam dum
vixit habere consuevit. Ita quod idem Walterus domos illas in quibus idem
Archidiaconus morabatur ibidem inhabitet pro voluntate sua, &c. T. R. apud Kingest
clipton 27 die Octobris

On the 16 day of December following the King granted the custody of this house to
Richard de Clunpynges by this Patent, which manifests that the converted Jews were
not banished with the rest.

*Rex omnibus et singulis Conversis Domus suae London salutem. Sciatis quod
commissimus ditecto clerico nostro Rico. de Clunpynges custodiam Domus praedictae,
habendum quamdiu nobis placuerit, cum omnibus ad dictam custodiam pertinentibus,
eodem modo quo Johis. de Sancto Dionis. quondam Archidiaconus Roffensis defunctus
eam dum vixit habere consuevit; Ita quod dom. illas in quibus idem Archidiaconus
morabatur ibidem pro voluntate sua inhabitet. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod eidem
Rico. tanquam custodi vestro
in omnibus que ad custodiam illam perinent, intendn es sitis et respondentes,
sicut praedictum est. In cujus, &c. T. Rege apud Odyham 16 di Decembris.

The very next year after the Jews banishment within four moneths of their departure
hence, I find these Letters Patents directed by the King to all his Sheriffs,
Bayliffs and Lieges, expresly mentioning their banishment hence, and the Kings
designing of all the rents and profits of their houses, from the time of their
banishment to be collected, and disposed to pious uses; as Hugh de Kendale Clerk
should appoint, specially intrusted with the management of this affair.

*Rex Vicecomitibus, & omnibus aliis Ballivis & fidelibus suis ad quos, &c. salutem.
Cum assignavimus totam pecuniam provenientem de Domibus quae fuerunt Judaeorum
nostrorum in Anglia in quosdam pios usus convertendam, per quod volumus quod totum
commodum perveniens ex Domibus illis a tempore exilii eorundem, ut ex conventione
Domorum eatundem, & rebus aiis, in eosdem usus applicetur: Assignavimus dilectum
Clericum nostrum, Hugonem de Kendale, ad inquirendum de conductionibus, et omnibus
receptis hujusmodi plenam veritarem, et ad onerandum Vicecomites, Ministros, et
omnes receptores pecuniae inde provenientis, a tempore exilii praedicti, et ad
pecuniam illam in tuto loco reponendam per Vicecomites, vel alio modo prout melius
viderit expedire. Et ideo vobis mandamus quod eidem Hugoni intendentes sitis,
credentes & respondentes. Teste Rege apud Asherugge 22 die Ianuarii.

King Edward presently after the Jews banishment hence, seized upon all their
Houses, Lands and Revenues throughout England as escheated into his hands by this
their sentence of banishment, and prsently within few moneths after made sale of
them to English men by several Letters Patents, as appears by a special Pat. Roll
of the sales of their houses made in the 19 and
20 years of his reign, thus endorsed. Carta de Judaismo. Lire Patens de domibus
Iudaeorum concessis Post eorum Exilium de Anglia; wherein are near one hundred
partiular Patents o saes of them to several persons, running in the selfsame
form (mutatis mutandis) all mentioning their Banishment hence, & this Kings title
to them thereby, by way of Escheat; take one in the 19. year for an example of all
that ensue that year.

(c)Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. salutem. Sciatis quod concessimus pro Nobis &
haeredibus nostris Isabellae, quae fuit uxor Ade de Sancto Albano Junior: Domos
illas cum pertinentiis in London, quae fuerunt Leonis fil: Cressey: fil: Magistri
Eliae Judaei, de parochia Sancti Martini Pomer: in Ismongerstane Per Exilium
ejusdem Iudaei a Regno nostro, tanquam Escaeta nostra in manu nostra existentes,
ad qut marcas extenduntur: Habenm & tenendum eidem Isabellae et
haeredibus suis de Nobis et haeredibus nostis imperpetuum. Reddendo inde Nobis &
haeredibus nostris unum denarium per manum Vicecomitis ejusdem Civitatis singulis
annis ad Scaccarium nostrum Pasche, et facieno aliis Dominis feodi illius servicia
inde debita et consueta. In cujus, &c. Teste Rege apud Asheigge 27: die Decembris,
Anno regni Regis Edwardi filii Regis Henrici xix.

This Patent bears date within two Moneths next after the Jews actual departure
hence, upon the Decree and Edict for their banishment. After which follow near one
hundred Patents of their houses made this year, wherein was the same recital of
their banishment as in this transcribed; Then follow many other Patents made of the
Jews houses by the King in the 20 year of his reign, intituled in the Roll and
Margin. Patentes de Domibus Judaeorum concessis, Post eorum Exilium ab Anglia; the
first whereof in Memb. 2. runs thus.

(d)Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. salutem. Sciatis quod concessimus pro Nobis et
haeredibus nostris Willielmo de Tabrer de Bedeford, & Katerinae uxori ejus, Domos
illas
quae fuerunt Cok: filii Benedicti de Bedeford Per Exilium ejusdem Iudaei a Regno
nostro, tanquam Escaeta nostra, in manu nostra existentes, et uae ad sex soudos
extenduntur. Habendum et tenendum eisdem Willielmo & Kater. et haeredibus suis, vel
cui ilias secundum consuetudine villae praedictae donare vel assignare voluerint
de Nobis & haeredibus nostris imperpetuum. Reddendo inde Nobis & haeredibus nostris
unum denarium per manum Vicecom. nostri Bedf. singulis annis ad Scaccarium nostrum
ad festum Sancti Michaelis. Et faciendo aliis dominis feodi illius servicia inde
debita & consueta. T. Rege apud Westm. 29 die Novemb.

After which follow near 20 patents more of other Jews houses, made that year in the
same form.

Therefore by the unanimous irrefragable verdict of all these manifold Patents; the
Jews were legally and judicially Banished out of England, and by this their
Judgment of Banishment (both by the King and Parliament) all their houses and lands
actually escheated into the Kings hands, who thereupon seized and sold them to
others in fee, upon this very Title of Escheat by their Exile out of England: which
had Sir Edward Cooke known or observed, I am confident he would never have asserted
this untruth, that they voluntarily banished themselves out of England, only
because their Usury was banished thence.

To these Records I might annex the case of the Prior of Bridlington, which*himself
cites in the Placita Parliamenti post Pascha apud London, 21 E. 1. rot. 4. recited
again in alio Rotulo, Anno 22 E. 1. rot. 5. wherein there is this double recital of
the Jews exile hence, and of a Debt of 200 l. due to the King thereby, which he had
Judgement to recover against the Prior. Et quia praedictus Prior cognoscit, quod
praedcta pecunia praed: Judaeo debebatur, nec ei solvebatur, Ante Exilium
Iudaeorum; et quicquid remansit eorum debitis & catallis in RegPost eorum Exilium
Domino Regi fuit: Consideratum est, quod Dominus Rex recuperet pecuniam praedictam.
An
unanswerable euidence of their judicial, legal, actual Banishment hence, here twice
together repeated in this Plea in Parliament but three years after their exile.

I have now traced the History of the English Jewes through the obscure, untrodden,
generally unknown, and almost forgotten path of our English Records, yet remaining
in the Tower of London, and Exchequer, from the very first year of King John, where
our yet extant Records begin, to the 22. of King Edward the first, full 4 years
after their universal Banishment out of England; which as it then put a period to
any further memorial of them in our subsequent Records, so it now sets a final
conclusion to this my Chronological Collection of such Records as concern the
generality of the English Jews and their affairs. To which I shall only annex some
few Records in succeeding times, relating to some particular Jewish Converts since
their general banishment hence, and to the forementioned house of the Iewish
Converts (now the Rolls in Chancery Lane) which are some wayes pertinent (like so
much gleanings after the Harvest) to the Jewish History, and so draw toward a
conclusion of this my Undertaking.

There being a great want of Jewish Converts after the Jews banishment hence to
receive the Alms, Revenues formerly setled on their house by the premised charters
of our Kings, I find King Edw. the 3d in the 18th year of his reign, by special
Patents granted to other poor people who had nothing to live on, both the benefit
and easment of the Houses and Gardens of the House of the Converts, together with a
penny a day out of the Exchequer, and so much besides as any one Convert there
received out of the Rents and profits of the house. Partiularly he granted to one
Alianor, Quae non habet unde ,(e)quod habeat tantum in omnibus pro
sustentatione sua iam de pecunia ad Scaccarium, videlicet per diem 1 d. et pro
aisiamento Domorum & Gardinarum, sicut una Conversorum habet et capit, ac de
Deodandis & alis proficuis quam de
Redditibus & Tenementis Conversorum Domus London, et alibi infra Regnum Angliae
commorant, &c. quantum una Conversa inde percepit.

After this a converted Jew, John Castell by name, coming over into England in the
30 year of King Edward the 3d. the King thereupon granted him such admittance into,
and sustenance in this house of Convertr, as other Converts had in former times
received, by this ensuing writ of Privy Seal.
(f)Rex dilecto Clerico suo Hen: de Ingleby, Custodi Domus nostra Conversorum in
civitate nostra London, salutem. Quia volumus quod Johannes de Chastell, ritu
Judaeorum conversus, qui in Regnum nostrum Angliae nuper venit, habeat talem
sustentationem in Domo nostra praedicta de Elemosina nostra, qualem alii ejusdem
conditionis in eadem ante hoc tempus habuerunt. obis mandamus, quod ipsum Johannem
in domum nostram praedictam admittatis, et ei sustentationem hujusmodi pro uno
converso consuetum de eadem domo liberari & habere facias. T. Rege apud Westm.
primo die Iulii.

Per Breve de privato Sigillo.

This Henry de Ingelby afterwards resigning his Office of Keeper or Gardian of the
House of Converts to the King, thereupon King Edward the 3. in the 45 year of his
reign granted this Office to William de Burstall Clerk, during his life, by this
following Patent.

(g)Rex omnibus ad quos &c. Sciatis quod dedimus & concessimus dilecto Clerico
nostro Will: de Burstal custodiam domus nostrae conversorum London, vacantem per
resignationem Hen. de Ingleby ultimi Custodis domus praedictae, et ad nostram
Donationem spectantem: habendum & tenendum cum omnibus ad custodiam illam quoquo
modo spectantibus ad totam vitam ipsius Willielm. In cujus, &c. T. R. apud Westm.
22 die Julii.

Per ipsum Regem.

Et Mandatum est Vicecomit. London, quod ipsum Will. in corporalem possessionem
Domus praedictae inducant
vel induci faciant, habendum juxta tenorem Literarum Regis praedictarum. Teste ut
supra.

Per ipsum Regem.

This house with the Chappel and other Edifices being greatly ruined after the Jews
banishment, through the negligence of former Guardians, William Burstal being made
keeper thereof, bestowed much money upon the repairing of it out of his own purse;
which done, upon consideration thereof, and to keep the same in constant Repair for
the future, upon the supplication of the said William, then Keeper likewise of the
Rolls of the Chancery, he procured King Edward to annex the house and Chappel of
the Converts to the Custos of the Rolls of the Chancery and his Successors for
ever, in the 51 year of King Edward the 3d. by this Patent.

(h)Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. salutem: Sciatis quod Nos considerantes qualiter Domus
Conversorum, in Suburbio Civitatis nostrae London, de Patronatu nostro existens, et
Capella, Edificia & Clausura ejusdem tempore quo dilectus Clericus noster
Willielmus de Burstall custodiam ejusdem Domus ex collatione nostra primo habuit,
per negligentiam et incuriam aliorum, qui antedictum Willielmum custodiam Domus
illius habuerunt, et ibidem morari, seu inhibitare non curarunt multipliciter
debilitata, & quasi totaliter in ruina extiterunt. Et quod praedict. Willielmus
tempore suo de bonis suis propriis grandes fecit custus et expensas super
reparatione et emendatione Domus, Capellae, Edificioru & Clausurarum praedict. At
etiam super factura novarum Domorum ibidem. Nos, ut Domus Conversorum, capella,
edificia, clausurae et novae Domus supradicta compatentur sustententur, &
custodiantur in futur. ad supplicationem praedicti Will: (qui Custos Rotulorum
Cancellariae nostrae existit in praesenti) concessimus de gratia nostra speciali,
pro Nobis & haeredibus nostris, quod post mortem ejusdem Willielm: dicta Domus
Conversorum cum suis Juribus & pertinentiis quibuscunque, remaneat et moretur in
perpetuum Clerico custodi Rotulorum Cancellariae nostrae, et haeredum
nostrorum pro tempore existenti, Et sit annexa ad idem Officium imperpetuum. Et
quod Cancellarius Angliae, vel Custos sive custodes Magni Sigilli nostri, et
haeredum nostrorum Angliae, pro tempore existentes, post mortem ipsius Will. habeat
et habeant Potestatem ad quamlibet acationem dicti Officii custodis Rotulorum per
mortem, cessionem, vel mutationem personae, quocunque tempore futuro, instituendi
successive Custodes Rotulorum praedictorum in dicta Domo Conversorum, et Custodes
illos ponendi in possessionem ejusdem, cum suis juribus et pertinentiis
quibuscunque. In cujus, &c. T. Rege apud Shene x. die Aprilis.

Per Breve de privato Sigillo.

Since which by vertue of this Patent, this house of the Converts hath continued
annexed to the Custos and Mastership ol the Rolls of the Chancery, yet still liable
and subject to the first charitable uses for habitation and sustentation of such
Jewish and other Converts, to which it was at first designed: For which I shall now
only recite one president more already printed by*John Stow out of the Records of 5
R. 2. One William Pierce a Jew that became a Christian, and was baptized, was by
this Kings Charter in the 5th of his reign, admitted and received into this ancient
Domus Conversorum, and had there 2 d. a day allowed him by the King during his
life: And by the self-same Equity, if the Jews be now readmitted into England, and
any of them shall chance to be converted to Christianity and baptized, either upon
real, or hypocritical, or politick grounds, they ought to be there received and
maintained in the self-same manner as they were in former times.

I have now (courteous Reader) presented thee and the world with the exactest
Chronicle and History of the English Iews (from the 1. year of King Iohn, Anno Dom.
1599. till their total and final banishment hence in the 18 year of Edward the 1.
Anno Dom. 1290, and some years after it) hitherto published in any age, sincerely
collected (with no little diligence, pains, search, and cost)
out of the most excellent Rolls & Records of those times, yet extant in the Tower
and Exchequer, all which I diligently perused with mine own eys, & faithfully
transcribed, not taking them upon trust, as others commonly do, and so frequently
miscite or mistake them: all which Records (being diligently entred very year
successively under these Kings reigns, by publick Clerks and Notaries imployed for
that end, and faithfully relating every thing concerning the Jews, and all other
transactions, publick or private, as they were then really acted) are the truest,
best, most unerring guides that posterity can follow, the infalliblest evidences
they can surely rely on, or any Historians make use of in relating the History or
proceedings of former ages; the ignorance of which Records hath occasioned many
mistakes both in matters of fact and Law in most of our Historians, Chronicles, and
Law Books; Some whereof, (relating to the English Jews) I have here rectified in
the by.

From all the Records here printed in their own words and language, give me leave in
brief to observe for thy better information, these few general heads concerning the
Jews, to which they are reducible.

1. That though our Kings by their forementioned Charters, Writs, and Proclamations,
granted many large Priviledges, Protections, Immunities to the Jews, especially in
the beginning of their reigns, as if they were their only favourites and darlings,
above all other of their Subjects; yet these their Royal Protectors, and their
Justices specially appointed for their custody, soon after, notwithstanding all
their former Charters, Declarations, and promised Liberty, Peace, Protection,
proved their most unsatiable, merciless, perfidious, tyrannical Exactors, Fleecers,
Oppressors, Taxmasters, Tormentors, almost without any intermission in one kind or
other.

2 That the Jews under all these Kings reigns, notwithstanding all their indulged
Liberties, were but their most absolute Bondslaves, and exquisite Villains, in all
respects, as these particulars will evidence: First, their names were all inrolled
in the Kings Exchequer for the Jews, and they confined to live and abide only in
such places as the King and his Justices assigned for their custody should
prescribe them, from which they might not remove without special license. 2ly, They
were to be there constantly resident, that the Kings Officers might there finde
both them and their families upon all occasions. 3ly, They were translated from
place to place at the Kings pleasure, and permitted to reside in no place but where
they had a common chest. 4ly, Their persons, wives, children, infants, families,
were imprisoned, distrained, sent to remote Prisons, Castles, banished, executed,
tormented, put to fines and ransoms upon all occasions, especially for their Taxes
and Debts to the King. 5ly. They were both by poll and wholesale granted and sold
to others like Bondslaves and Villains in grosse by the King, and morgaged to those
who would purchase them, or advance any monies upon their assignment. 6ly, They
were alwayes to wear a badge and Table on their outmost garments, as well females
as males, whereever they rod or went, to distinguish them from Christians, with
whom they were to have no intimate communion, (who were prohibited to be servants,
nurses to any of the Jews in any kind:) and were all of them to be slaves and
servants to the King in one kinde or other. 7ly, They were all prohibited to depart
the Realm, when once entred, without special licence, which they could not obtain;
and imprisoned yea put to fines and ransoms when they attempted it, to avoid their
Taxes. Such was their Vassallage in respect of their persons. As for their real and
personal estates, they were wholly at the Kings disposal. First, the King could
seise all their Lands, Houses, Rents, Annuities, Fees, Morgages, Debts, Goods,
Chattels, god silver, and sell, grant, release, give them unto whom he pleased at
his pleasure. 2ly, All their real and personal
estates, chattels, debts escheated to the King upon their deaths, neither could
their children, wives, heirs, executors enjoy them, without making Fines, reliefs,
and compositions with the King for them, at high rates. 3ly, They could not sue for
any debt, morgage, house, fee, duty, nor assign, grant, sell, give, release them
unto others, without the Kings special license, for which they paid such fines as
he thought fit to impose. 4ly, The King could stay their actions, debts, usury,
respite them for what time he pleased, order them to be paid at other Terms, and by
other summes than those expressed in their charters and obligations: and finally
pardon, release them, and deliver up their Charters to their Debtors, when and
where he pleased. 5ly. The King seised, searched, inrolled, sealed up all their
publick Chests, Charters, Writings, Debts, Goods, Chattels, Estates, and disposed
of them to his own use upon all occasions, notwithstanding all Grants and Charters
to them; and appointed all their Judges, Officers, Cyrographers, Cofferers,
Escheators, Presbyters, Priests and Tallagers at his pleasure: yea inforced them to
tax, distrain, imprison one another, under pain of perpetual imprisonment,
banishment, confiscation of all their estates, and the severest penalties, as the
premised Records assure us.

3ly, They alwayes lived under uncessant, perpetual, arbitrary unsu portable Taxes
and Tallages, imposed on them (without any act of Parliament, or their common
assents) by our Kings and their griping Officers at what rates soever they pleased,
sometimes 5000. or 6000. somtimes 20000. & 60000 but commonly 8000. & 10000. marks
or pounds by the year; levyed with the greatest rigour, which some of the richest
Jews in all places were commonly engaged to see punctually paid in at the terms
appointed, and when any of them opposed, or neglected to pay or levy them, their
persons, wives, children,, families, infants were all distrained, imprisoned, their
estates, Debts seised, confiscated, some of them
sent Prisoners into Ireland, and frequently menaced with perpetual banishment hence
and loste of their estates, their taxes being levyed by the strictest menacing
warrants, and all rigorous violent ways the King and his instruments could possibly
invent, And are not their Taxes (in case they will now return again) like to be
more high, frequent, oppressive, since the very English themselves, after all their
late contests, wars, consultations, and prodigal expences of their blood,
treasures, estates, are now brought under heavy, uncessant, monthly arbitrary
Taxes, Excises, Imposts, decimations, levyed with the greatest rigour, and such as
dare oppose them out of conscience or defence of publike liberty, though in a legal
way, imprisoned, close imprisoned, ruined, yea threatned with perpetual banishment,
even by such who pretend themselves the Patrons, Protectors of the English
liberties, franchises, Properties from such Aegyptian and Jewish Bondage, and
greatest Antagonists against such arbitrary exorbitant Tyranny?

4. That besides these constant annual Taxes, our Kings upon all occasions enforced
them by way of Loans, to lend what sums they demanded, under pain of imprisonment,
confiscation of their estates, seisure of all their Debts, Pawns, Chests: And
frequently seised, searched, released, granted, sold all their gold, silver,
chests, debts, houses, fees, annuities, pawns, and imprisoned their persons, wives,
children, to extort and raise monies upon all extraordinary necessities.

5. That when they had fleeced them to their very skins, and could expect no more
moneys from them, then they morgaged and sold their persons, estates, and the
revenues proceeding from them unto others, to adance present moneys before hand,
like so many Slaves and Villains. And though many of them, notwithstanding all
their endlesse Taxes, Extortions, Squeezings, fleecings, grew rich again in a short
time through asury, broccage, clipping and falsifying coyn, plate, frauds and
extortions of all kinds, and their base parsimony, industry, frugality; yet their
wives, children, heirs, friends enjoyed little or no benefit at all by it, but the
King and his Officers commonly fleeced them of al they gained, by one device or
other. So that England was little better han a second Aegypt, and our Kings and
their griping Officers nothing else but so many new Pharoahs and Aegyptian Tax-
matters to them, during all their continuance here, they haing no assurance of
lives, liberties, etates under them by any Charters, Grants, Protection,
Engagements, which they made no conscience to revoke and violate at their
pleasures, as some of fate have done, een to their own Christian Brethren, in as
high a degree as they did to the Jews.

6. That they were so exceeding execrable and detestable to the people in all places
where they resided, both for their infidelity, blasphemies, apostacies, enmity to
Christ and Christianity, circumcising and crucifying Christian Children, clipping
of coin, falsifying of Charters, extortion, brokage, usury, frauds, unconscionable
Jewish cut-throat dealing, and discrepancy of maners from the English, that many
places and ports opposed their coming over, other Towns, (as Newcastle, Winchelse,
Wycombe, Newbury, Berkhamsted, Suthampton, & other places) purchased exemptions or
removals of them. And those Towns where they resided, frequently rose up in a
tumultuous maner against them, burning their houses, beating, abusing, kiling their
persons, pillaging their goods, and forcing them to fly to the Kings Castles for
Sanctuary, notwithstanding all the Kings Charters, Proclamations, Provisions of all
sorts for their protection and defence against violence, and committing them to the
protection of the Sheriffs, Maiors, Chief Officers and Burgesses of the places
where they resided. But especially they were above measure assaulted, beaten,
slaughtered, pillaged by the Cruce-signati and Saint-like Souldiers of that age,
who listed, crossed themselves for the Holy-Wars,,
and by the Barons, Souldiers who took up arms against their Soveraigns under
pretext only of defending the Great Charters, Laws, Liberties of the Church and
Realm of England, usually stiling themselves *exercitus Dei et sanctae Ecclesiae in
Anglia. Neither were they free from violence, plunder, nor the common people
satisfied till their universal final banishment hence, which they oft sollicited,
their implacable enmity against them being such, that the symptoms thereof yet
continue amongst us in our proverbiall speeches. I hate thee as I do a Jew. I would
not have done so to a Jew. None but a Jew would have done so, and the like.

7. That notwithstanding all the Injuries, Oppressions, Indignities, cruelties they

here sustained both from our Kings, their Officers & the generality of the people
by Gods just curse and vengeance on them fot their sins, yea notwithstanding all
means used by our Kings, Magistates, Bishops, preaching Friers, and others, both
for their reformation and conversion to the Christian Faith, yet the generality of
them continued, persevered still in their willfull obstinacy, infidelity,
blindnesse, enmity, malice, blasphemies, despite against our crucified Saviour, and
Christianity; which they manifested upon all occasions in publike and private by
circumcising and crucifying chistian children, breaking the Crucifix in Oxford, and
trampling it under foot in the midst of the Universities soleme Procession, and
otherwise; expressed at large in the forementioned records: as likewise in their
extorsions, clipping and falsifying moneys, Charters, usuries, frauds, rapes,
murders, forgeries, very few of them turning Christian converts, and that either to
save their lives, or prevent some imminent dangers to their persons, families,
estates; and those of the poorer sort for the most part, to get a present
livelyhood from the Christians, who frequently turned Apostates, or flagitious
malefactors, to the scandal of religion.

8. That the Jews here had their Synagogues, Schools,

Priests, Presbyter and Comptroller of their Exchequer, Escheator, Cofferers,
Cyrographers, Attornies, Bayliffs, with their proper Judges and Court of Exchequer,
(wherein only they were to be sued proceeded against, and by whom they were Iudged)
their Prisons, Attachers, Tax-Masters, Record-Keepers, ordered in all things
according as the King by his Writs and Letters directed. All which Offices were
appointed by the Kings special Patents, Writs,, whose Names, Powers, Jurisdictions,
Salaries, together with their legal trials and proceedings of all sorts civil,
criminal, the forms of their Starrs, Charters, Extents of Lands, assignments of
Debts, Releases, Reliefs, Fines, with the names of the chiefest Jews, are
registred, and most clearly, fully related in the forecited Records, and in no
other prined History or Law-book whatsoever.

9. That the Jews were exempt from all other Temporal and Ecclesiastical Courts and
Jurisdictions but the Justices specially appointed for their custody, and the Kings
Exchequer for the Jews; yea from all publike Taxes imposed on the English, and
could not be excommunicated by the Masters of their Law, without the Kings special
license.

10. That the Iews usury was no ways counenanced nor approved, but generally
condemned, and frequently released by our Kings long before the Statute de
Judaismo. which most infallibly appears to be made in 3 Ed. 1. not in 18. * as Sir
Edward Cook very grosly mistook. And that the banishment of their Usury by it, was
not the cause of their voluntary banishment hence, as he most fondly conceited.

11. That the Presbyteratus Judeorum totius Angliae, was not the High Priests
spiritual function, as * Sir Edward Cook and others affirm, but only a temporal
office and Comptrolership in the Kings Exchequer of the Jews.

12. That our Kings and Auncestors in times of Popery made and published undry
excellent Ordinances against
the blasphemies, abuses of the Jews; and were very zealous, industrious to convert
them to Christianity, and carefull to maintain, support, confirm, and provide for
them when converted in their Domus Conversorum; That King Edward the first remitted
his right to all the goods of convert Jews, (by an unchristian usage confiscated
formerly to the Crowne by their very conversion) allowing all Converts the moity of
their estates to maintain them, and granting the other moity of their Estates,
together with his Deodands, and all forfeitures and Chevages of the Jews, for the
support of the Converts, and their House, Chappel, Chaplains; Yet very few of them
were converted.

13. That King Edward the 1: in the 18 year of his reign, did by publike Edict of
Parliam. actually banish all the Jews out of England, except the Converts, by a set
prefixed day, beyond all contradiction, much against the Jews good wills; as I have
undeniably proved by sundry Records forecited here; and by multitudes of
Historians, in my first *Demurrer against Sir Edw. Cooks grosse error. A truth so
clear, that the very Jews themselves (as I am informed by those best versed in
their Manuscript Antiquities) do make special mention of this their Banishment out
of England in their Chronicles (in Manasseh Ben-Israels custody) taking their later
computations of years from thence, as a time very remarkable and ominous to their
whole Nation; And well might they do so, seeing learned Mr. Edward Brerewood, in
his Enquiries, touching the diversities of Languages and Religions throughout the
chief parts of the world, London 1614. c. 13. p. 92. assures us, that The first
Country of Christeom whence the Iews were expelled without hope of Return, was
our Country of England, whence they were Banished Anno 1290. by King Edward the
first. (By which example) Not long after they were likewise banished France, Anno
1307. by Philippus Pulcher: Only of all the Countries of France, in the
Iurisdiction of Avignon
(the Popes State) some are remaining. Out of Spain, An. 1492. by Ferdinand; and
shortly after out of Portugal, Anno 1539. by Emanuel. Out of the Kingdome of Naples
and Sicilie Anno 1539. by Charls the V. (as he there writes) Out of which Sir
Edward Cooke might have as well averred, they only voluntarily banished themselves,
as that they voluntarily banished themselves out of England, withut any special
Edict for their exile thence.

What other particulars of leser moment concerning the Jews occurre in these
Records, I have formerly touched in their respective places, and shall here omit.
Having thus compleated my JUDAISMUS ANGLICANUS REDIVIVUS, if I may so stile it, or
Chronological Collections of the Historical and Legal affairs of the English Jews,
out of the rich unknown Magazine of our generally neglected, slighted precious old
Records; which Hugh Peters, (the great New-modeller,*Reformer of our former Lawes,
Liberties, Government, Kingdom, Republike, Church, Religion, Justice, Law,
Merchandise, Navy, the Poor, and what not but himself) out of his rash fiery Zeal
and transcendent ignorance, would now make all new Martyrs, but yet be none
himself; For which end, in his Good Work for a good Magistrate, London 1651. after
his proposal of A short Model for the Law, p. 28. &c. he concludes with this
advice, as a Good Work fit for his good Magistrate, p. 33. This being done, It is
very advisable to burn all the old Records, yea even those in the Tower; the
Monuments of Tyranny: that so his New Whimes only might be known and adored for
our English Lawes and Monuments in all succeeding ages; I shall therefore crave
Liberty to inform the World and this Ignoramus, of the incomparable Excellency,
Utility, Necessity of preserving these Records, which he hath so brutishly devoted
to the fire, before he either knew their contents or worth, which our Ancestors
(even in all former Wars, Revolutions, as well as times of peace and settlement)
preserved with much care and cost, as the richest Pearls, Treasures, and Jewels of
the Nation.

To which I answer 1. That all our wisest Kings, Parliaments, Ancestors, Statesmen
in former ages had ever a special care to record all businesses of publike or
private ocncernment, and to preserve our ancient Records as the *choicest
Treasures, appointing special Treasuies, places to preserve them in, and Custodes
Rtulorum, Treasurers, Chamberlains, Registers, Clerks to keep them safe from
injury, corrupting and embeling and enacting many Statutes for this purpose,
winee not only the Chests, Cyrographers, Officers and ohers forementioned, for
keeping the Records and Chartes of the Jews and their Rolls, but also 13 E. 1. c.
25.30. 1 E. 3. c. 4. 5 E. 3. c. 12. 9 E. 3. c. 5. 6 R: 2. c. 4. 13 H. 4. c. 7. 2 H.
5. c. 8. 4 H. 6. c. 3. 8 H. 6. c. 12.15. 10 H. 6. c. 4. 18 H. 6. c. 1.9. 27 H. 8.
c. 16. 32 H. 8. c. 28. 34 H. 8. c. 22.28. 37 H. 8. c. 1. 2 E. 6. c. 10.3 & 4 E. 6.
c. 1.1 & 2 Phil. & Mar. c. 2. 23 Eliz. c. 3. 27 Eliz. c. 9. 31 Eliz. c. 3. 1 Jac.
c. 6. with other Acts, And must they now, after all these Statutes be all mae a
burnt-offring unto Vulcan, upon the crack-brain'd Motion of an Ignatian Incendiary?

2. The Statute of 8 H. 6. c. 12. * still in force: Odais, That if any Record or

parcel of the same, writ, retori, pael, proces, or warrant of Attorney in the
Kigs Couts of Chancery, Eschequer, the one Bench or other, or in his Treasury, be
willingly stolen taken away, withdrawn or avoided by any Clerk or other Person, by
cause whereof any judgement be revesed; alr taker away, wihdr and
avoider, their Procurers, Counsellors and Abettors, being thereof inated, and by
process theeupon thereof duly convict by their own confession, or by enquest
to be taken by legal men, whereof the one half shall be of the men of some Court of
the same Courts, and the other hal of her, shall be judged for Felons, and shall
incurre the pain of Felons. And that the Iudgs of the saiour of the one Bench
and of the other, have power to hear and detrmine such defaults before them, and
thereo to mke due punihment,
as is aforesaid. And now Hugh Peters (if I may be thy Counselor) in sober sadnesse
look to thy neck: which as thou hast oft indangered, forfeited by thy late Fire-
works, to blow up Kings, Kingdoms, Parliaments, Lords, our old fundamental Lawes,
Liberties, Government, (as Straffords, Canterburies late Impeachments, Sentences,
with Mr. St. Iohns and others Arguments at their Attandrs, will resolve thee) and
thy open treasonable advising, abetting the seising, imprisoning of my self, and
above 40 more Members of Parliament, in Hell, on the bare boards, Decemb. 6. 1648.
(whose names thou didst then list with an iron Sword under thy arme, instead of the
Sword of the Spirit:) So this thy Iesuitical Project to burn all our old Records,
(whereby all former Judgement, Titles, Fines, Recoveries, &c. will be nulled
reversed) which thou publickly abettest, counsellest thy Magistrate to effect in
Print; proclaimes thee by thine own Confession, without other evidence, a Notorious
Felon within this Act, in the highest degree. The burning, avoiding of all our
Records in general, being a more transcendent Felony, (yea Treason,) to the whole
Kingdom, Nation, than the embezelling only of one or two private Records or Writs,
relating but to one private person. And if ever thou be brought to a legal Trial
for it, before such a Iury, and such Iudges as this Act prescribes, thou art sure
to undergoe a Halter-Martyrdome at Tyburne; which all will cry up (according to thy
Pamphlets Title) for A good work of a good Magistrate, and a short cut to great
quiet; for thy devoting all our old Records to a fiery Martyrdom in Smithfield;
which I trust they shall never undergo; And that upon these enuing weighty
Considerations,

First, thee old Records which he would have burnt, contain in them all the antient
Rights, Titles, Evidences, Charters, Agreements, Leagues, Compacts of the Kings,
Kingdom, Nation and people of England, to all their pristine and present Dominions,
Jurisdictions,
Prerogatives, Preheminences, Priviledges, Hereditaments and enjoyments, both at
home and abroad, by Land and by Sea, as they are a Kingdom, Nation, Republike &
body Politick in general; and that both in relation to themselves and their own
intrinsecal affairs at home, & as they have been, owned, reputed, negotiated,
treated with upon special occasions as a Kingdom, Nation, Republike, by any
forraign Kings, Princes, Kingdoms, States; whose ancient undoubted Rights, Titles
to all or any of our Dominions, Territories, Jurisdictions, Royalties, cannot
otherwise be legally ceared & judicially evidenced upon any emergenr occasion or
controversie between our Kingdom, Nation and other Forraign States and Realms, or
between our selves at home, but by our old Records, the only publike evidences of
the whole Kingdom and English Nation, as necessary to defend, maintain, justifie
their common publick Rights, Dominions, Possessions, Jurisdictions, Claims,
priviledges upon all occasions, as any private Noble or Gentlemans ancient
Charters, Records, Writings are to defend, manifest his right and Title to his
private Inheritance and Injoyments; witnesse the *famous Letter of the King,
Parliament and Nobles of England, written and sent to the Pope, Anno 1302. to clear
the subordination of Scotland to the Crown of England, and the Homage of the Kings
of Scotland made for their kingdom to the Kings of England as their superiour Lords
from time to time, manifested by the ancient Histories and Records of England
beyond all contradiction; Mr. Selden his Mare Clausum, proving the Dominion and
Jurisdiction of the Kings of England oer the Narrow Seas by Records, and Sir
Robert Cottons Posthuma. Therefore it must necessarily be as bad and mad a worke,
for a bad and mad Magistrate to burn all the publick Evidences and Records of the
whole Kingdom and Naion, (upon the frantick motion of a Bedlam in this particular)
as for a Great landed Nobleman to burre all the
old Charters, Evidences of his Lands and Honors; or for a rich Usurer to burn all
his Bonds and Morgages, which all wise men will repute an act of Frenzy, and Hugh
Peters too in his right senses.

2. They contein in them all the great publike Charters, Contracts, Agreements,
Leagues, formerly granted or made by the Kings of England, to or with the Prelates,
Earles, Barons, Freemen, Commons of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Gernsey,
Iersy, Man, and all other Isles and Dominions belonging to the Crown of England in
general: all Charters, Patents Grants, Contracts, Writs, Releases, Gifts, Pardons,
Offices, Honors, Liberties, Franchises, Customs, Priviledges, Faires, Markets,
Inheritances, Rents, Revenues, Licences, compositions formerly granted by our Kings
to the respective Counties, Cities, Towns, Burroughs, Villages, Hundreds, Arch-
bishops, Bishops, Deans, Chapters, Prebends, Abbies, Priories, Nunneris,
Colledges, Hospitals, Free-schools, Universities, great Officers, Chancellors,
Generals, Admirals, Marshals, Justices, Nobles, Gentlemen, Citizens, Merchants,
Societies, Fraternities, most private persons both in England, Ireland, Wales,
Scotland, all the British Isles, and other Territories anciently belonging to
England. All whose particular patents, grants, evidences though under sea (if
alleged to be false, forged, sophiticated) must be tryed only by their
exemplifications or inrollments on record. They likewise comprise all the
Judgements, Fines, Common Recoveries, Verdicts, Trials, Suits, Statute Merchants
and Staple, Recognians, Inrolments, yea in any of the private Conveyances,
Contracts between our Kings and private subjects, and one subject & another. What a
universal confusion, subversion then disinherison, destruction of all Rights,
Titles, Interests, Inheritances, Priviledges, the burning of all our old Records
would immediatly bring upon all and every County, City, Corporation, Nobleman,
Gentleman, Inheritor, Freeholder of the Realm
of England, and all the subordinate Dominions thereto annexed, let this Short
Cutter himself, and all Wise men determine, who hold or claim any thing by matter
of Record, their best and surest evidence.

3ly. All the good old Laws, Statutes for the Government, Peace, safety, defence and
wellfare of the Nation are originally conteined in our Records, by which they must
be tryed, examined. Yea all the perambulations and deafforestations of our
forrests, All the Limits, Bounds, Extents, Contents, Jurisdictions, Customs,
Priviledges, Tenures, Rents, Services of all Counties, Cities, Burroughs, Ports,
Honors, Mannors, Parishes, Courts of Justice, Offices, Officers Civil, Military,
Ecclesiastical, Marine, all the Pedegrees, Discents, Successions (by which all
Heirs, Successors hold or claim their inheritances) are for the most part defined,
ascertained, evidenced, proved in and by our Records alone, wherein they are
enrolled: And if they should all be burnt together, what a taxies, confusions,
contentions, oppressions, suits, quarrels, frauds, Disinherisons would thereupon
immediatly ensue, all wisemen may prognosticke. The mighty Nymrods and Grandees of
the times wil then soon question al mens Titles, devour their lesse potent
neighbours estates, inheritances adjoyning near to theirs; all potent Landlords
will exact what services, rents, customs, heriots, releifes they please from their
poor tenants: all superiour, inferiour Courts, Officers, Corporations claim,
exercise what extravagant Jurisdictions, powers they think meet, and all legal
means of defending mens rights, liberties, inheritances against malitious, potent,
vexations Adversaries, will be utterly abolished by Salt Peters new Firework to
burn all our old Records to ashes.

4ly. Whereas this Ignoramus in ou Records (the most whereof he never yet saw, and
cannot so much as read) produceth this only reason for their burning, that they are
the monuments of Tyranny; I would demand of
rhis bold blind Bayard (who judgeth of coulors he never yet saw) how he can make
good this notorious untruth? The greatest part of our Records are the two great
Charters of the Liberties of England, and the Forrest, or sundry subsequent
confirmations of them in several Parliaments: the good old Laws, Statutes,
Ordinances made by our wisest Kings, Nobles, Commons upon long advise and serious
debates in our English Parliaments, for the Government, Peace, defence, wellfare of
the people; The proceedings, debates, Judgements, Resolutions of our sagest
Parliaments, Judges, Courts of Justice, in all matters, cases, publike, private,
civil or criminal, formerly debated or resolved in them. Old Charters, Commissions;
Patents, Writs, Concords, Fines, Recoveries, Statutes, Judgements, Extents,
Indictments, Offices, Grants of Liberties, Lands, Franchises, Fairs, Offices,
Pardons to particular persons & corporations; all matters advancing the defence of
the Realm by Land and Sea in times of danger, war, according to the ancient Laws
and Customes of the Realm: Negotiations, Truces, Leagues with, Embassies, Letters
to & from forain States; All particulars concerning Merchants, Merchandise, Trade,
Coyn, Bulion, Measures, weights, wools, Staples, Ships, and the like. Now how all
or any of these can be stiled Monuments of Tyranny, let this Lindsy-Wolsy great
Clerk demonstrate at his best leasure. Besides, I here averr, ex certa scientia
against this Imposture; That most of our old Records (especially in the Tower are
so far from being monuments of Tyranny, that on the contrary, they are the chiefest
badges, the clearest evidendences of those good old English Liberties which our
noble Ancestors claimed, purchased, and transmitted to us as our richest
Birthrights, yea the principal Bulworks Fences against all sorts of Tyrannical
usurpations, encroachments on the Peoples Liberties, Rights, Properties, in any
kind whatsoever. To put this out of Controversie, I shall appeal only to the many
excellent
*old Reeords produced & most insisted on by the Commons and others in the several
Parliaments of 7, 8 & 21 Jacobi, and 3, 4, 17. Caroli against all Impositions,
Tunnage, Poundage, Customs, Excises, Loans, Taxes, demanded, imposed and exacted
from the Subject, without common consent and Act of Parliament: against imprisoning
Subjects by King or Council Table, without any legal cause expressed in the
warrants, and not bailing them in such cases: against Shipmoney, Court and Conduct
money, the Bishops late Canons and Oath, Commissions for executing martial Law in
times of Peace, impressing and billiting Souldiers, the Commissions of Array, with
other late Grievances, Monopolies, and the arbitrary proceedings of Strafford,
Canterbury, the old Council Table, Star-chamber and High-commission, printed in
sundry Treatises, in Sir Edw. Cooks 2 & 4 Institut. Sir Robert Cottons Posthuma,
and in my Legal, Historical, Vindication and collection of the good old fundamental
Liberties, &c. of England. to which I shall refer the Reader and Hugh Peters: who
if he had St. Augustines ingenuity, hath as much cause and more than he, to write a
book of Retractations, especially of this his rash sentence passed against our old
Records, devoting them to the fire, which his and others New-Medles better deserve
than they.

Now that I may the better excite, encourage all generous English Spirits
(especially Lawyers, Statesmen, Historians, Heralds, and Divines who have
opportunity) not only to the diligent preservation, but inspection, study, perusal
of our ancient over much neglected sleighted Records, so rashly devoted to the fire
by Peters, I shall in brief acquaint each of them, what hidden Treasures and rare
precious pearls are locked up in these old Parchment cabinets.

Citizens, Burgesses, Merchants, and all other Members to our ancient English
Parliaments, Great Councils of State, Synods, Convocations, with the several
prorogations, adjournments, dissolutions of them, & for Knights and others wages.
The Speeches, Proceedings, Petitions, Debates, Consultations, Orders, Ordinances,
Statutes, Judgements, Pleas, Demands, Grants, or Refusals of Aides, Subsidies, with
all transactions, resolves concerning peace, War, Government, Trade, Merchandise,
Bullion, Coyn, Weights, Measure, purviances, Customes, Tunnage, poundage, Imposts,
Fishing, Shipping, defence of King or Kingdom by Land or Sea, Liberties,
priviledges, properties, regulation of abuses, supplies of defects of Law, Justice,
and all other matters formerly discussed in our English parliaments. Which if
faithfully transcribed and methodically digested into a Parliamentary Chronicle,
would for rare usefull matter, Excellency, certainty far exceed all Histories,
Statute-Books, Law-Books, Chronicles ever yet compiled, rectifie many grosse
mistakes in most of them, and make more able, knowing Lawyers, Judges,
parlamentmen, Statesmen, than former ages have produced. Besides the old Records,
in the respective Treasuries of the Tower, Courts at Westminster, and the Rolls,
faithfully relate at large the Institutions, Jurisdictions, procedings, Judgements,
Writs, Formalities, Debates, commissions, Law-cases, Judges, Officers names,
customes, Fees, of all the great courts of Law. Justice, Equity (civil,
Ecclesiastical, Military, Marine) Justices Itinerant, Justices of the Forrest,
Justices of Assize, Oyer and Determiner, & of most other inferiour Courts and
Commissioners boh in England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Gascoyne, Normandy,
Poyters, the Isles of Man, Gernsy, Iersy Alderny, Serk, Silly, and other Isles; the
Stanneries in Cornwall, and in most Corporations, Counties, Hundreds, Honors,
Mannors in them. Record all sorts of commissions, charters, Writs, Warrants,
Instruments relating
to Law, Iustice, Trade, peace, Wa. The Courts Jurisdictions, priviledges, Mannors,
Lands, Fees, Rents, exemptions, Liberties, Royalties, Tenures, Services, customs,
Offices, Successions, pedigrees of the Kings, Princes, Queens, Archbishops,
Bishops, Deans, Chapters, cities, corporations, Fraternities, Guids, Nobility,
Gentry, Freholders of England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and all Dominion, Isles
annexed to them, with sundry other particulars necessary for an accomplished
Lawyer: out of which industrious Lawyers, (if countenanced by authority, and
encouraged by a a publike Salary) might collect such a rare new Body and Systeme of
the Laws, customs, courts, and ancient legal proceedings in all the courts of
Justice throughout our Dominions, as would as far excell all other Abridgements,
collections, Reports, Institutes, Registers, Law-Books, hitherto published, for
use, excellency, as the richest Diamond exceeds the basest pibble, and bring more
honour, benefit to the English Nation, than all the Shepheards Calenders, and New-
corps or Models of our old English Laws, attempted by Hugh Peters, Swordmen, and
ome bold illiterate Ignoramusses of the Law, who neuer yet perused any of our old
Records, nor read over half our English Law-books, and yet will be reformers (or
deformers rather) of what they neer exactly knew nor understood. In brief, the
exact knowledge of our Records wi furnish industrious Lawyers with such rare
usefull materials of all sorts, for the publike service of their Natie country,
upon all emergent occasions, the benefit, information of their clyents, the honour
of their profession, and their own reputation, advancement, profit, as will enable
them to outshine all others of their robe unversed in the Records, as far as the
Sun and Moon outshine the lesser stars, which lose all their borrowed splendor when
hey once apear in place. Witnesse Mr. Noy, Mr. Seldon, Mr. Littleton, and some
other Lawyers of late times, whose real, and
Sir Edward Cooke, whose borrowed superficial insight in Records, advanced not only
their Names, Fames, Arguments, Books, but practise and imployments likewise (whiles
they practisd) above all others of their Profession, and hath immortalized their
memories to posterity. A sufficient Argument to engage all generous Students, and
Practisers of the Law to spend some years, or long Vacations at least, in the Study
of our almost forgotten Records; which, though it may hinder their present gains
and practise for a time, will abundantly increase them afterwards; the longest
Studies in this kind (like Merchants longest voyages) being recompenced with the
richest returns.

2. All persons of quality desirous thoroughly to enable themselves to serve their

Soveraign or Country in any publick great State-Offices, Imployments, at home or in
foreigne parts, may out of our Records furnish themselves with all former publike
Negotiations, Embassies, Treaties, Truces, Leagues, Contracts, Agreements,
Transactions, Letters, Missives, Commissions, Instructions, Claims, Controversies,
Debates between the Kings, Parliaments, Nobles, Clergy, Merchants, Kingdom, People
of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Dominions thereunto annexed, or any of
them; and any other forraigne Kings, Kingdoms, Princes, States, Cities,
Embassadors, Agents, Legates, Merchants, relating to Peace, Warre, Amity, Trade,
Marriages, Alliances, Government, mutual aid, Jurisdictions, Soveraigntie,
Regulation of Injuries, Abuses, Depredations, &c. and likewise between themselves:
All Passages, Writs, Commissions, Debates, resolves relating to the Parliaments,
Judicatories, Laws, Justice, Trade, Merchandise, Manfactures, Navy, Shipping,
Ports, defence, Militia by Land or Sea, Coins, Weights, Measures of England,
Ireland, and other our Dominions formerly specified: with all other particulars fit
for an accomplished Statesman, no where extant but in our Record, wherein
they are faithfully registred for the information and benefit of posterity.

3. All Heroick English Spirits desiring exact knowledg in the History and
Chronology of England, may find in our old Records all the choicest materials
relating there uno faithfully recorded, with all the particular dates,
circumstances of time and place: All Grounds, Occasions, Commissions, Summons of
Arrayes, Armies, Navies, Fleets, Ships, Fortifications of Townes, Castles,
Conultations, Articles, Instructions, transactions relating to our Civil & Foraign
wars by Land or Sea, with the Names of the Generals, Officers, Marshals, Admirals,
and persons of greatest eminency in them: All Truces, Leagues, Embassies,
Contracts, Agreements, Letters, passages of State, Parliamentary affairs,
Coronations, Charters, Patents of our Kings; and what ever may compleat, adorn our
English History, exactly registred; which if faithfully transcribed and digested
into order, would make a farre more usefull, compleat, excellent English History
and Chronicle, then any yet published or compiled. And if all the Charters,
Patents, Commissions, Records, Writs, Mandates, priviledges, Leters granted, sent,
written by our Kings, Parliaments, Counsel, and Officers of State, relating to
England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Jersey, Gernsey, Man, and our other Isles and
Dominions, and to the particular Counties, Hundreds, Cities, Corporations, Ports,
Officers, Bishopricks, Monasteries, Colleges, Hospitals, Free Schooles, Parishes,
Churches, Noblemen Gentlemen, and particular Mannors, places in them, were
judiciously collected, digested after the moddel of Mr. Cambdens Britannia, I dare
affirm, they would as far excel it in use and benefit, as it transcends all former
publications of our British world and Monarchy.

4. Such Gentlemen as are addicted to Heraldry may find a Rich Magazine of all
choice materials belonging to the Office and Study of an English Herald; relating
either
to the Regal, Noble, Gentile families, Great Officers, Pedegrees, Marriages,
Successions, Coats, Titles of Honor, Chivalry, &c. of England, Scotland, Ireland,
Wales, and other parts of our English Dominions. The Coronations and Solemnities of
our Kings, the creations of our Nobles, Knights, Officers of all sorts, with their
Formalities, Robes, &c. Most of our English Heraulds having been either Keepers of
our Records, or Clerks under them, out of which they extracted most of their
knowledge.

5. All Divines studious of*eminency in the Church History of England, may read in
our Records many excellent Letters, Embassies, passages, Debates between our
English Kings, Parliaments, Prelates, Clergy, Councils, Synods, and the Popes,
Cardinals, Legates, Court of Rome, and forraign Councils, Synods, Princes,
Pretes concerning the Popes Ecclesiastical and Temra usurped Jurisdiction,
formerly claimed, usurped in England; his Legates, Bulls, Excommunications,
Interdictons, Peter-pence, Tenths, First-fruits, Palls, Provisions, Letters, Taxes:
all Disputes betweene our Kings, Nobles, Parliaments, Judges, and the Prlaes or
Clergy of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales: and betwixt our Prelate and Clergymen
themselves, concerning their Jurisdictions, Courts, Priviledges, Possessions,
Prcedency, Visitaions Exemptions, Taxes, Tenths, First-fruits, Elections,
consecrations. Investitures, &c. And all Charters, Priviledgs Exemptions, Glebes,
rents, onging to the Bishopricks, Monasteries, clergy of England
Ireland les, Scotland, and the ; which, if igeted into an History, would
not only dorn, but exce all Ecclesiastical Histoies of Englnd hithero
pblishd, and rectifie some mistakes in any of them.

Upon all which considrations, I hope *the God of the Spis of all fleh wiin
this stupid, selfish, degenerated age, raise up some heroick active publike English
Spirits
of all these rankes, not only to preserve our precious antient Records from Hugh
Peters designed Martyrdom, but likewise diligently to study and extract such useful
collections out of them, as I have hinted, for the benefit, honor of their Native
country, and advantage of succeeding ages, of which I have here given them a
leading president in these Historical, Legal, Chronological collections relating
only to our English Iews; the transcendent malice of my former causlesse Enemies,
in *debarring me by a special old Council-Table Order from all accesse to the Tower
Records, during my 5. years Imprisonment in it, (made the very next day after my
commitment thither, to deprive me of their benefit;) seconded with above 3. yeares
close imprisonment and exile in remotest Castles; and the * late ungrateful,
despiteful, unrighteous Oppressions of some of their new Whitehall Successors,
(though my pretended great Friends) in seising all my Papers, Writings, Records,
they could meet with, both in Lincolns Inne, ad the Country,nd keeping me close
Prisoner in , reme Castles under stritst armed Guards near full 3. yars
space, wihou any accusation, heaing, or cause exprssed, ither thn or since;
(of purpose to hinder me from our Rcords, ublishing any thing for the common
good; as ome of them have acnowledged;) having so long debaed, so much
impoeished, so far disabled me from thee Noble Undertakins, (deering all
encouragements een on common publick pure and account) that I must recommend
the pursuite of thm to some other Gentemen of lsser years, but far greater
abilities and estates then my self, who may both demerit, receive in after ages far
better rewards for their Labors and Publications herein, then long tedious
Imprisonments, close imprisonment, Pillories, Stigmatizing, Fines, Exiles,
Degradations, Affronts, Losses, discouragements of all sorts; the only
Encouragements, Guerdons, Recompences, I ever yet received for all my useful
publications, my unmercenary faithful Services and Sufferings for the publike, upon
all occasions.

I shall close up all with some Scripture-Texts discovering the excellent use,
benefit of old Records, and what high esteem the wisest Kings in the Old, and Paul
himself in the New Testament had of them.

The first Text I shall cite, gives us a true character of the Jews seditious
carriage, then manifested by Records.

Era 4.14, 15. Now because we are salted with the Salt of the Palace, and it was
not meet for us to see the Kings dishonour; therefore have we sent and certified
the King, that search may be made in the Books of Records of thy fathers; so shalt
thou find in the Book of the Records, nd know, that this City is a Rebelious
City, and hurtful unto Kings and Provinces, and they have moved sedition within
the same of old times, for which cause was the city destroyed: which appeared true
upon search made in the Records: vers. 19.20.

Esther 6.1. On that niht could not the King sleep, and he commanded to bring the
Book of Records of the Chronicles. and they were rd beoe the King.

Neh. 12.22.23. The evites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, &c. were recorded chief
of the Fathers; also the Priests to the reign of Daruis the Persi: The Sons of
Levy the chief of the Fathers were recorded in the Books of Chronicles, &c.

2 Tim. .1. When thou comest bring with thee the books, buespecially the
Parchments which the Latin Translators, aendMembranas, Parchment Rolls Upon
which words eoet, Oecummus and others thus comment; Mxime
Membranas,*Membranas Latina magis voce, volumina, sive Chartas volubiles appelli
Icomplicatis enm involutis Chartis habebant olim quae ad divinam spectant
Scripturam Quemadmodum tiam ad renm aus puima habent.
If then al our parchment Membranes, Rolls, Records, must be burnt, Hugh Peters
and his good Magistrate, to accomplish this good Work must first burn the old
original
parchment Membranaes & Rolls of the Old and New Testament (the ancientest of all
others) which St. Paul was so carefull to preserve, and then those of the Kingdom
next; And whether this will be a Good or christian work, for a Good or christian
Magistrate or Minister, let all sober men resolve: seeing it will totally deprive
us of all sacred, all civil Antiquities and Records, and be matter of greatest
rejoycing, advantage to our common Romish Enemies and the Jesuites, the original
projectors of this infernal Jesuitical designe and practice, as Ludovicus Lucius
Hist. Iesuiticae l. 1. c. 6. p. 144. manifests & records.

What therefore our Saviour himself concludes of old Wine, that will all learned,
discreet, sage men determine of our good old English Laws, Liberties, Records
compared with Hugh Peters and others New Models, Instruments, papers relating to
the publike.

Lu. 5.39. No man having drunk Old Wine streightway desireth New for he saith the
Old is better.

FINIS.
Errata and Omissions.

In the Epistle: p. 2. l. 27. read Endeavorer. In the Book, p. 3. l. 32.

Priesthood. Pesbytery. p. 11. l. 33. together, p. 13. l. 6. preceding, p. 16. l.
1. on r. in, l. 14. Statutes, p. 18. l. 30 thup. 20. l. 3, Fraket. p. 24. l. 13.
placia, p. 25. l. 32. lucio. p. 27 l. 37 victulia, et si quem inveneritis quae
deneger eis victualia, &c. p. 34. l. 36. snd, p. 37. l. 10. reddendam, p. 38. l.
36. but, then. p 43. l. 1. Jews Chareis, p. 44. l. 37. eminis, p 49. l. 14.
marcar. p. 52. l. 28. goods, r. bonds, p. 68. l. 15. r. nisi in, . 21. um,
folutis, p. 75. l. 5. intesit, p. 76. l. 18. executus, l. 33. names too, p. 81. l.
1. priestly Office only, p. 83 l. 1. as, p. 90. l. 2. earundem, p. 97. l. 11.
salvos, p 102. l. 1. quam alunde, p. 104. l. 4. there. p. 108. l. 7. the Jews, p.
1 9. l. 8. quaerelis, p. 122. l. 3. po, per, Now follow the Errata after H. as the
ages are printed, p. 54. l. 17. r. de, p. 55. l. 20. r. luae in, l. 23. quidam,
p. 54. c. 13. exequuntur, p. 64. l. 10.33. r. 53. p. 65, l. 37. mndatum, p. 82. l.
19. indictati, l. 21. oris fecerunt, l. 27. in. r. nec. l. 33. r. Judaeis metum, p
92. l. 29. continue, p. 94. l. 9. F: l. 28. conversi, p. 105. l. 18. alio.
l. 31. and, as, p. 108. l. 19. ecto, l. 36. Converts, p. 109 l. 1. fidelibus, p.
110. l. 19. in the, of his, p. 114 l. 22. ipsis, l. 10. dele et, p. 115. l. 19.
causa, ausa, p. 126. l. 30. competentur. p. 136. l. 19. dele Law.

Margr. p. 36. . 1. Claus. 19 H. 3. p. 41. l. 1 r. 20 H. 3. p. 43. l. 7. r. Claus.

25 H. 3. p. 114. l. 1. Claus. 53 H. 3. H. 3. p. 89. l. 6. Conversorum.