The same kind of treatment was experienced by the Israelites in other parts of Spain during the fourteenth century; but during that period the Popes in general treated them with humanity. Troubles and disputes unconnected with the Jews had caused the Popes for a time to leave Rome, and take up their residence at Avignon, in the south of France. Clement the Fifth, then Pope, did all in his power to save the Jews from the violence of the Shepherds, and all their other enemies: he also provided for them the means of instruction, by ordering that Hebrew should be taught in all the Christian universities, or places of education for young men; so that there might be some, able to show the Jews from their own Scriptures, how all ancient prophecies pointed out Jesus Christ as the true Messiah. Again, when the Jews were persecuted on pretence of their having poisoned the rivers, Pope Clement the Sixth exerted himself on their behalf; many of them found a safe asylum in Avignon, and the Pope left nothing undone to relieve their misery, and soften the fury of their persecutors. In Italy, the Jews seem to have been pretty well treated during the fourteenth century, and in Poland they met with favour and indulgence: by their industry they gained wealth and power, and became a prosperous and flourishing people, as they have ever since continued to be in that country. Poland produced many learned Jews; and Jewish children from all parts were sent there to study the Talmud, and to learn and practise all the peculiar rites and ceremonies of their religion.
We have now come to the close of the fourteenth century. The dreadful sufferings endured by the Jews up to this time, and during future years, must remind us how surely all the prophecies contained in Scripture will be fulfilled. The prophets had foretold, that in consequence of their sins they would suffer unheard-of miseries: history shows us the accomplishment of this prediction.
Then again, it is wonderful that with such persecutions, they should not have been utterly destroyed; but, no, the Lord had said by His prophets, that they should be scattered throughout all lands, but not destroyed. The whole history of the Jews proves the truth of the Bible; and it should remind us, that Scripture equally warns us, that if we sin we shall also suffer; and that nothing will be acceptable to God, but a true, loving, and faithful devotion of ourselves to the service of Jesus Christ, Whom we acknowledge to be the Son of God, the promised Messiah.
Chapter XII.—THE JEWS AND THE INQUISITION.
During the fifteenth century there were no Jews in England or France. Of course, there may have been a few scattered here and there; but there was no body of Jews in either country during this period.
In Germany, their condition continued much the same. The slightest pretence sufficed to raise a persecution; and a pretence was afforded, at the close of the century, by an impostor, named David, who declared that the Messiah would positively appear in the year 1500. He afterwards declared, that the Messiah had delayed His coming on account of the sins of the people; and he caused the credulous Jews to appoint a solemn fast, in order to obtain pardon and hasten the appearance of the Deliverer. The Jews of course suffered; and David was imprisoned, and died shortly afterwards.
In the beginning of this century, great efforts were made for the conversion of the Jews in the Spanish kingdom of Arragon. The Pope was zealous in the work; and one of their own race, named Jerome, who had himself embraced Christianity, undertook to convince his countrymen even by passages from the Talmud, that Jesus Christ must certainly be the Messiah. Although the Jews treated the Pope with great respect, they were by no means disposed to listen to Jerome, with whom they were very angry; first, for deserting the faith of his people; and, secondly, for drawing them into disputes, which might bring persecution upon them. It is said, however, that 4,000 Jews were then converted, and that a few years later, through the zeal of one of the clergy, a still larger number were baptized; but the greater part, having only submitted to baptism out of fear, continued to observe in secret all the rites and ceremonies of the Hebrews.
In 1479 a great change took place in the condition of the Jews in Spain, for Ferdinand, King of Arragon, married Isabella, the Queen of Castile; so that from this time the two kingdoms became one, called the Kingdom of Spain. Ferdinand and Isabella were very anxious that all the inhabitants of Spain should be Christians. In 1492 the Moors were driven out of Granada, and their country became also a part of the Kingdom of Spain; but many of the Moors, rather than leave their beloved Granada, pretended to become Christians. Having driven the Moors out of Spain, Ferdinand thought it would be desirable to get rid of the Jews also; and he commanded them either to be baptized or to quit Spain altogether. In order to prevent Jews or Mahometans who had been baptized, from ever returning to the practices of their former faith, Ferdinand and Isabella were persuaded to establish the Court of the Inquisition in Spain. The Inquisition was a Court of Inquiry, the members of which were charged by the Pope to examine all persons accused, or suspected of holding any opinions in religious matters, not agreeing entirely with the doctrines taught by the Church of Rome. They had power to torture the accused, in order to force them to confessions, and to put to death all who continued to hold any opinions condemned by the Pope. So much was this dreadful tribunal feared by the people, that none ventured to withhold their nearest and dearest relations from the officers of the Inquisition, whose duty it was to arrest all persons, upon whom rested the slightest suspicion of what was called heresy. The unfortunate creatures thus dragged from their homes, were kept for a long time in the dungeons of the Inquisition, until they accused themselves and declared the cause of their imprisonment; for they were not told of what crimes they were accused, nor were their accusers ever brought face to face with them to witness against them, as justice would have demanded. Seldom did any, who were once consigned to the dungeons of the Inquisition, return to their families; and so well was this known that, when they were taken away by the officers, their friends and relations looked upon them as dead: nor did they dare to make any effort to save them, lest they should themselves be looked upon as accomplices in some unknown crime.
When no shadow of proof could be brought against the wretched prisoners, they were discharged, with the loss of great part of their property, after suffering the most cruel tortures during a tedious and dreadful imprisonment. Many of those whom the Inquisitors (or Judges in this Court) chose to consider guilty, were secretly put to a cruel death, in the dungeons of the Inquisition. Sometimes a number of these so-called "heretics" were executed publicly, by being all burnt together with great pomp and ceremony, so as to make quite a show of their execution!