tributed to a Jew of this reign by Giraldus Cambrensis, the Jews began to feel buoyed up by the indulgence of the government, and the power and influence which their wealth procured them. It is, perhaps, too much to judge of the state and condition of a body of people by a casual jest, which fell from an individual of that body, and yet we would not wish for better information, concerning the actual condition of a small society of men, dwelling in and at the mercy of an alien country, than the manners and character of a single person out of the whole community. A spirit of free and careless humour, regardless whom the jest stings, is as inconsistent with a state of oppression, subserviency, and contempt, as servility, caution, and fearful and watchful suspicion, are their constant concomitants.

"A certain Jew (says Giraldus) having the honour, about this time, to travel towards Shrewsbury, in company with Richard Peché, (Sin) Arch-deacon of Malpas, (Bad-Steps) in Cheshire, and a reverend dean, whose name was Deville: amongst other discourse, which they condescended to entertain him with, the arch-deacon told him, that his jurisdiction was so large as to reach from a place called Illstreet, all along till they came to Malpas, and took in a very wide circumference of the country. To which the infidel, being more witty than wise, immediately reply'd, Say you so, sir? God grant me then a good deliverance! for it seems, I am riding in a country where Sin is the archdeacon, and the Devil himself the dean; where the entrance into the arch-deaconry is Ill-Street, and the going forth from it Bad-Steps: alluding to the French words, Peché and Mal-pas."

We will apologise for the introduction of this antiquated piece of wit, in the simple words of our good antiquary, Dr. Tovey.

per

"I should not have ventur'd upon this idle story, (says he,) but to prove, likewise, that they must necessarily have been a very offensive people to the common sort of inhabitants, since two such reverend sonages could not escape their railery. And I don't know but, happily, there may be something more gather'd from it, than what I have hinted at: since it is given us by that grave and learned prelate, Giraldus Cambrensis, who was certainly no trifler."*

The reign of Richard was ushered in by a dreadful massacre of the Jews. Many Jews had flocked to London on occasion of the king's coronation, with presents for the new monarch, attended with much pomp and display of riches. Either the king or some of his courtiers, afraid of the witchcraft with which the Israelites were commonly charged, gave orders, that no Jew

* 1 Ger. Camb. Itin. 1. 2. c. 13.

should be admitted into Westminster Abbey, lest they should cast an evil eye on the ceremony of his coronation.

"But several of them, who had come a great way off, on purpose to behold the bravery of it, not careing to lose the labour and expence of their journey, and perswading themselves, that being strangers in London, they should pass undiscover'd, ventur'd, notwithstanding the proclamation, to appear at Westminster; but being, some how or other, found out by the officers of the abbey, they were set upon with great violence, and dragg'd half dead out of the church.

"The rumour of which quickly spreading itself into the city, the populace, believing they should do the king a pleasure, immediately broke open the Jews' houses, and murder'd every one they could meet with, not confining their rage to their persons, but destroying likewise their habitations with fire.

"Happy were they who could find a true friend to shelter them! all kind of cruelty were exercis'd against them: insomuch that the soberest part of the citizens, who had in vain endeavour'd to quiet matters by themselves, sent messengers to Westminster desiring some assistance from the king; for fear the tumult should grow so outrageous as to endanger the whole city."

No interference of the chief-justice and his officers, whom the king had despatched to quell the tumult, availed, until the multitude were gorged with spoil, and tired with the labour of slaughter. Three of the ringleaders of this dreadful riot were hanged; and it is curious to observe, what were the charges which the prejudices of the times allowed to be brought against them. They were executed, not for the murder of Jews, or for the destruction of their houses and goods, but “two for plundering a Christian, under pretence that he was a Jew; and one for burning a Jew's house, which fired a Christian's that was next it."

"While the uproar lasted, one Benedict, a Jew of York, being seiz'd on, and threatn'd with immediate death, unless he would receive baptism, and profess himself a Christian, to save his life, consented. But as soon as matters were quieted, being brought before the king, and ask'd whether or no he retain'd his late profession, and was still a Christian, he confess'd that, for fear of death, he had, indeed, submitted to the ceremony, but that, in his heart, he ever remain'd a Jew. Upon which the king, turning to the Archbishop of Canterbury, it was Baldwin, said, this is a new case, my lord! pray, what must we do in it? to which the archbishop, being an illiterate and worthless man, reply'd, Do, sir? why, if he is not willing to become a servant of God, he must ev'n continue a servant of the devil. With which answer the king being something surpris'd, suffer'd the man to slip away, and there was no further notice taken of him. This archbishop, delighting more in carnal than spiritual warfare, had his brains knock'd out, within a few months after, at the siege of Acres."

This reign was fruitful in sufferings to the poor Jews, in despite of the favorable disposition which the king seems to have entertained for them. But the careless Richard was intent abroad upon his romantic plans of glory and conquest, while his kingdom at home was disgraced by successive massacres of the Jews in almost every principal town of the realm Norwich, St. Edmondsbury, Stamford, Lincoln, and York, were, one after the other, the scenes of the most barbarous outrages on a spiritless and defenceless people. In the latter city, the circumstances attending the tragedy assume a singularly wild and horrible form. We have, in this case, the advantage of a cotemporary historian, Walter Hemingford, who was a Yorkshireman, and resided not far distant from the spot.

"Benedict the Jew, who was forc'd to receive baptism while the massacre was carrying on at London (and who escap'd afterwards from the king's presence, as I have before mention'd) died there of his wounds the next day; but that one Jocenus, who was his friend, and had set out with him from York, had the good fortune (if it may be so call'd) to return thither safely; where, giving an account how matters had pass'd at London, (instead of exciting pity and compassion in his hearers,) he stirr'd up many of them to follow the example; who, accordingly, setting fire to several parts of the town, (that the citizens taken up with extinguishing it might give them no interruption,) began their assault upon the house of the aforesaid Benedict, wherein were his wife and children, with several other relations, and the greatest part of their merchandise. For the house being large, and of some strength, they used to lodge there for greater security. This they quickly got possession of, and, having murder'd every one they found within it, burnt intirely to the ground; which barbarous action giving an alarm to the rest of the Jews, who dispersedly inhabited several parts of the city, (and particularly to Jocenus, a man of mighty wealth,) they most of them, under his conduct, address'd themselves to the governor of the castle, and prevail'd with him to give them shelter, both for their persons and effects; which he had no sooner done, than the rioters, flying to the house of Jocenus, wreak'd their vengeance upon it in the same manner they had done upon that of his friend Benedict; and seizing upon those unhappy wretches who were not so provident as to get into the castle, with their fellows, put them all to the sword, without distinction either of age or sex, except such as comply'd immediately with their offers, and were baptiz'd.

"While they continu'd thus in their strong hold, expecting certain proofs of what they only wish'd for, the governor chancing one day to go forth, some crafty person amongst their enemies, pretending great friendship, insinuated to them that his business was to conclude a treaty with the rioters, about delivering them up, on condition that he was to have the largest share of the booty."

Upon his return, they refused him entrance.

"The sheriff of the county happen'd to be in the city at that time,

about the king's affairs, and a great number of soldiers attending him. The governor complain'd to him of the Jew's treachery. The ringleaders of the disorder joyn'd with him in the complaint. They said it would highly reflect upon the king's authority, if the Jews were suffer'd to continue masters of the castle; adding several other matters to enflame him against them. The sheriff therefore gave immediate orders to attack the castle and rescue it. That was what they wanted. Under protection of his command they joyn'd the soldiers, and began a most furious assault; yet before they had done much mischief, the sheriff perceiving that their intentions were only to get the Jews into their power, repented of his order, and revok'd it, in as publick a manner as he had before given it. But, alas! it was now too late. The rabble was too much heated to be restrain'd by words. All exhortations were fruitless. They continu'd the attack on every side, and even desir'd the better sort of citizens to give them their assistance; which they prudently refusing, the mob apply'd themselves to the city clergy, and found them not so backward to encourage them.

"In particular, a certain Canon Regular, of the Præmonstratensian Order, was so zealous in the cause, that he would often stand by them in his surplice, and proclaim with a loud voice, Destroy the enemies of Christ destroy the enemies of Christ: which did not a little increase their fury. And as the siege continu'd several days (believing, good man, that he was engag'd in the cause of God and religion,) 'tis reported of him, that before he went out in the morning, to assist in battering the walls, he would eat a consecrated host.

"But as he was, one day, very eager at his work, and approach'd too near to some parts that were well defended, he had the misfortune to be crush'd to death, by a large stone that was tumbled down from

the battlements.

"Yet the people, nothing dismay'd even with the loss of so considerable a leader, continu'd their attack so successfully, that the Jews, believing they should not be able to hold out much longer, call'd a council among themselves, to consider what was best to be done, in case they were driven to extremities.

"When they were assembl'd, their senior rabbi, who was a foreigner, (and had been sent for over to instruct them in the law, on account of his great learning and experience,) rose up and said, Men of Israel! the God of our fathers, to whom none can say, what doest thou? commands us, at this time, to dye for his law; and, behold! death is even before our eyes, and there is nothing left us to consider, but how to undergo it in the most reputable and easy manner. If we fall into the hands of our enemies, (which I think there is no possibility of escaping,) our deaths will not only be cruel, but ignominious. They will not only torment us, but despitefully use us. My advice therefore is, that we voluntarily surrender those lives to our Creator, which he seems to call for, and not wait for any other executioners than our selves. The fact is both rational and lawfull; nor do we want examples, from amongst our illustrious ancestors, to prove it so they have frequently proceeded in the like manner, upon the same occasions. "Having thus spoken, the old man sat down, and wept.

"The assembly was divided: some affirming that he had spoken wisely, others that it was a hard saying.

of

"To which the rabbi, standing up a second time, reply'd: Seeing, brethren, that we are not all of one mind, let those who don't approve this advice, depart from this assembly. They departed. But the greater number continu'd stedfastly with him. And as soon as they perceiv'd themselves alone, (their despair encreasing) they first burnt every thing belonging to them, that was consumable by fire, and buried the remainder in the earth, (to prevent its falling into the possession of their enemies,) then setting fire to several places of the castle, at once, they took each man a sharp knife, and first cut the throats of their wives and children; then their own. The persons who remain'd last alive were this rash counsellor, and the aforemention'd Jocenus, occasion'd by nothing but a strong desire of seeing every thing perform'd according to their directions; for as soon as that was over, the rabbi, out of respect to Jocenus, (who was a person of distinction,) first slew him, and then himself.

"To encrease the horror of the fact, this dismal tragedy was acted in the night-time; so that when the assailants return'd, next morning, they found the castle all in flames, and only a few miserable wretches, upon the battlements, who pretended to no resistance; for, acquainting them, (as well as sighs and tears would permit,) with the lamentable fate of their brethren, they offer'd to surrender themselves, with their remaining treasure, and also become Christians, provided they might have assurance of life.

'But, as nothing can appease a religious fury, while the objects of it are remaining: no sooner had these unhappy wretches deliver'd up the gates, (upon having their conditions agreed and sworn to,) than the rioters pour'd in upon them, like a torrent, and destroy'd them utterly; which, notwithstanding, did not put an end to the tumult. For, (whatever pretences they made to religion,) as the main cause of their acting, was the sin of coveting their neighbour's goods, they flew streightway to the cathedral church, and would not lay down their arms till the keeper of it, who had likewise the custody of all the bonds and obligations, which had been given by any Christian man to the Jews, had deliver'd them into their possession; which as soon as they had bundled up, and cast into a fire, made for that purpose, they declar'd themselves satisfied, and the city was restor'd to its former tranquillity."

In justice to the king, it should be observed, that when the news of these outrages reached his ears, he directed strong measures to be pursued for bringing the offenders to punishment. They were, however, in a great measure ineffectual, as the chief leaders in the tumult escaped into Scotland, as soon as the king's proclamation was made public. We may gather the great increase in the Jewish population, in this country, up to this time, from the fact, that no less than five hundred Jews, at least, were slain in this massacre; some say, fifteen hundred. On the return of the king, he took the affairs of the Jews into particular