Under those regulations the Jews lived peaceably; for they very seldom, on their part, violate any regulations established between themselves and others; and as it was the king’s interest to adhere to the above regulations on his part, the Jews therefore enjoyed comparative tranquillity. But at no small expense.
The justices of the Jews at that time were a certain Benedict, and Joseph Aaron. Their contracts, or, as they were then called, Shtaroth, from the Hebrew, or rather Chaldee, word שטר Shtar, were written either in indifferent Hebrew, or bad Latin, or the same sort of French.[1] That court where all those documents were deposited, obtained the name of “The Star Chamber.”[2] It was well remarked that Richard made the Jews most unfortunate. He used them as a press, with which to squeeze his subjects. By which they incurred no small degree of animosity from their Christian neighbours.[3]
[1] – See [Appendix F].
[2] – See [Appendix G].
[3] – See Geschichte der Israeliten, vol. vii., p. 130
APPENDIX TO LECTURE III.
A.
בשנת דתתק״נ בהיות ריקרדו מלך חדש בעיר לונדריש שבאינגלטירה נהדג בקידוש ה׳ רבינו יעקב מאורליינש ויהודים רבים אחרים עמו׃
The same Rabbi Gedaliah, author of the Shalsheleth Hakabalah, makes mention of Rabbi Jacob of Orleans, in another part of the same book, viz., when speaking of the age of the celebrated Maimonides, Jarchi, &c., he names our Rabbi Jacob, as “a distinguished sage,” and also tells us that he was one and the same with Rabbi Tam, grandson of the famous Rabbi Solomon Jarchi, who was one of the authors of the Tosephoth. The following are Rabbi [♦]Gedaliah’s own words:—