To put a stop to the repeated calumnies which were brought against them, as clippers and falsifiers of the coin, they came to the conclusion of paying the king one hundred pounds, in order “that all Jews who should be lawfully convicted of clipping, robbery, or harbouring of clippers or robbers, should be for ever banished the realm.”[1]
[1] – See [Appendix G].
We must also notice the memorable Parliamentum Judaicum, which occurred in the twenty-fifth year of Henry’s reign, A.D. 1240. Soon after this public testimony of their loyalty, as citizens of the state in which they lived, they were agreeably surprised at hearing that a certain number of their nation were summoned to attend a parliament at Worcester, in order, as the writ ran, “to treat with the king as well concerning his own as their benefit.”[1] Many of them entertained the most sanguine hopes that such an occurrence would terminate as much to their honour as to their advantage.[2] But in this expectation they were speedily and sorely disappointed; for the purport of his majesty’s most gracious speech informed them that he wanted money, and that they must raise, among their own people, twenty thousand marks, half of which was to be paid at midsummer, and the other half at Michaelmas. This peremptory command, however, they appeared unable to obey, although they had the singular privilege of appointing their own collectors; but the collectors were not able to raise the demanded sum; and the consequence was, that themselves, their wives and children, were seized, and incarcerated, and their goods and chattels were taken from them.[3]
[1] – See [Appendix H].
[2] – See [Appendix I].
[3] – See [Appendix J].
Henry’s expedition against the King of France, two years afterwards, in order to regain the provinces of Guienne and Poictou, was another reason for demanding money from his Jewish subjects. You are, however, aware that Henry was totally unsuccessful in that ill-advised expedition. After which the king and the queen determined to spend a merry winter at Bordeaux.[1] Whilst there the king became interested in a certain Jewish convert, Martyn by name, whom he sent to this country with orders to the Archbishop of York, whom he had left governor in England, and Walter de Cantelupe, Bishop of Worcester, to provide some convenient place for the well educating of the same Jewish convert, and to furnish him with the means of subsistence.[1] The king seemed always kindly disposed towards Jewish converts.
[1] – A. Strickland.
The Jewish Converts’ Institution, as a matter of course, must have been full; and we find it, therefore, soon after augmented. It appears that Peter Rupibus, Bishop of Winchester, had bequeathed a legacy of one hundred pounds for the existing Jewish Converts’ Institution.[1]
[1] – See [Appendix K].