The following Lectures form a complete History of the Jews in Great Britain, with reference to their literary, religious, political, and civil constitution, up to the eighteenth year of Edward I., A.D. 1290. They are published in deference to, and compliance with, the strong wishes of many who heard them delivered.
CONTENTS.
Introduction.—Lecturer’s Disadvantages.—Importance of Jewish History.—the Antiquity of the Jews.—The intense Interest now taken in this Subject.—Subject of these Lectures.—Deficiency of Information on the Subject.—The Literary Character of the Jews.—The Dilemma of the Jewish Historian.—Reasons for Historical Deficiency.—The Jews visited Britain before the Norman Conquest.—Jews trained to be a wandering Nation.—A maritime Nation.—The Renown of Solomon’s Fame.—the Phœnicians’ Marine Expeditions.—Ezekiel’s Description of the same.—The Meaning of Tarshish.—Wealth of Spain and of Solomon.—Two Monuments found in Spain.—their Inscriptions.—Villalpando institutes an Inquiry.—Adoniram’s tomb-stone.—Decyphered not by Jewish but by Christian DivinesThe same Monument noticed by a Jewish Traveller.—Villalpando’s Conclusion not premature.—Britain a compound Hebrew Word.—Striking Affinity between the Hebrew and Cornish Languages.—Whole Sentences alike in both Languages.—the Jews Fathers in Literature.—Britain one of “the Isles afar off”.—The Terms of the Alliance between the Jews and the Romans.—Augustus’s Edict in Favour of the Jews in Britain.—A curious ancient Brick found.—Richard Waller’s Conjecture respecting it.—St. Peter may have visited Britain for the sake of the Jews.—The Success a Missionary meets with among unprejudiced Jews.—Wolff’s Success in Bokhara, and Stern’s in Persia.—St. Paul’s Visit to Britain fully established by Bishop Burgess and many other learned Divines.—The British Church established by Jews.—Appendix A. A Letter from Mr. Holdsworth, Governor of Dartmouth.—B. Bochart on תרשיש.—C. Villalpando’s Account of the Inscription on the Monument.—His Opinion respecting the Dispersion of the Jews.—D. The Opinions of the Ancients respecting the Andalusians.—E. Ancient Gentile Writers were not acquainted with Jewish History.—A Chapter from Trogus Pompeius.—F. Bochart’s Etymology of Britain.—G. The Scripture Names of the Welsh.—H. Josipon’s Account of Augustus’s Edict in Favour of the Jews in Britain.—I. Rabbi David Ganz’s Account of the same.
Objections answered.—Bede the first English Writer who mentions the Jews.—Ecgbright’s Edict.—[♦]Whitglaff’s.—Edward the Confessor’s.—William the First invited the Jews.—Two distinct Colonies of Jews.—The Conqueror’s Policy.—Rufus’s Convocation of Christian and Jewish Divines.—Stephen, the Jewish Convert.—The State of the Jews at Oxford.—Jews prosper in the Reign of Rufus and Henry I.—Eum Crescat and St. [♠]Frideswide.—There was no Peace to the Jews after the Reign of Henry I.—With the Reign of Stephen the Jewish Troubles commenced.—The Jews accused of crucifying Christian Children.—Absurd Reasons assigned for the Use of Christian Blood.—Ecclesiastics already Jewish Debtors.—The Ecclesiastics incensed the King against the Jews.—Anecdote of a Jew, and Archdeacon Richard [♣]Peche, and Dean Deville.—The Accusations against the Jews a bountiful Revenue to Church and State.—Jews required to support the Crusade.—The King’s Death afforded them some respite.—their learned Men and their Seats of Learning.—Aben Ezra visits England.—Jews distinguished Physicians.—Appendix A. 146 and 149 Paragraphs of Archbishop Ecgbright’s Canonical Excerptiones.—B. The Original of [♦]Whitglaff’s Edict.—C. Of Edward the Confessor.—D. Of William the First.—E. Dr. M‘Caul’s Remarks on the Charge against the Jews of using Christian Blood.—F. Aben Ezra’s Preface to his אגרת השכת—Drs. Jost and M‘Caul’s Testimonies of Jewish Medical Knowledge.
[♦] ‘Whitglaf’s’ replaced with ‘Whitglaff’s’
[♠] ‘Friedswide’ replaced with ‘Frideswide’