Jossen erwürgte seine Frau Hanna mit fünf Kindern, und liess sich dann von dem Rabbi [♦]niederschlachten. Seinem Beispiel folgten alle Uebrigen.
[♦] ‘niedercshlachten’ replaced with ‘niederschlachten’
Now comes the secret. No sooner did the English make an end of butchering that unhappy people, than many gentlemen of the province—who having been their debtors, and took, therefore, the most active part in the carnage—repaired to the cathedral, where their bonds were deposited, compelled the officer to deliver those obligations, and burned them in the church with great solemnity before the altar.
When the account of these outrages reached the king’s ears, he was exceedingly enraged at this insult upon his authority, which at the same time affected his revenue; he sent over immediate directions to the Bishop of Ely, his chancellor, to apprehend and punish the offenders. The chancellor accordingly proceeded to York with a strong force, to execute the king’s commands: but the principal actors in the massacres there, being warned of his approach, made their escape; some of them taking refuge into Scotland, but the greater number proceeding on their journey to the Holy Land. The governor of the castle and the sheriff were, however, apprehended, and not being able to clear their conduct, were deprived of their respective offices. A heavy fine was also imposed upon the inhabitants of the city, for which the chancellor took one hundred hostages with him. Richard, mala bestia (wicked beast), or as he is called Mallebisse, was obliged to pay twenty marks for the use of his land, as also for protection to himself and his two esquires,[1] till the king’s return; but, with these exceptions, it does not appear that any individual was brought to punishment for the part he had taken in the late disturbances.
[1] – See [Appendix E].
When Richard returned home, after his captivity, the affairs of the Jews were again brought under his consideration; and he appointed justices itinerant to proceed through the different parts of England for the purpose of making further inquiries concerning the slaughter of the Jews—who were the murderers?—what lands and chattels belonged to them at the time they were slain?—who took possession of the same? &c. He established very curious regulations, professedly for the protection of the Jews, but really—as it was well observed—“that he might fleece them at his pleasure.” He established the famous EXCHEQUER of the Jews. The revenues arising from them were placed under the care of an office for the purpose, in which the justiciaries of the Jews presided. To these places Jews and Christians were indifferently appointed. They had not only the Jewish revenues under their care, but were also judges of all civil matters, where a Jew was one of the parties. Lord Coke takes notice of this court, and calls it the “Court of the Justices of the Jews.”
“In order to know”—observes Dr. Tovey—“what were the particular monies, goods, debts, real and personal estates belonging to every Jew in the nation, he commanded (something after the manner of the Conqueror’s Domesday) that all effects belonging to Jews should be registered.
“That the concealment of any particular should be forfeiture of body and whole estate.
“That six or seven public places should be appointed, wherein all their contracts were to be made.
“That all such contracts should be made in the presence of two assigned lawyers, who were Jews, and two that were Christians, and two public notaries.