An Epitome of the last Lecture.—the Jews treated kindly in the Beginning of Edward’s Reign.—The Son soon began to imitate his Father.—The Jews accused of Treason.—Their Children began to be taxed also.—The Punishment of Imprisonment changed into Transportation.—An Irish Bishop and two Friars appointed to carry the stern Threat into Execution.—[♦]Statutum de Judaismo.—The Colour of their Badges changed.—The probable Reason for the Change.—Jews prohibited to blaspheme.—The Jews considered their Character defamed, if called Christians.—Jewish Women also ordered to wear Badges.—Edward’s Zeal in promoting Christianity amongst the Jews.—The Dominican Monks petition the King to compel the Jews to listen to their Sermons.—The Jewish Converts’ Institution much patronized.—Belager, a Jewish Convert of Oxford.—Edward wants Money.—The Jews are accused of clipping the Coin.—The Charge of clipping the Coin examined.—Edward’s Vow.—The King wanted £20,000; he imprisoned, therefore, all the Jews in England.—Asher chronicles the Imprisonment on the Walls of the Winchester Prison.—The Enmity against the Jews epidemic.—The Clergy and the Laity prevail with the King to banish the Jews.—All the Jews banished this Country, A.D. 1290.—The Barbarities practised upon them.—The King and the Queen profited much by their Banishment.—The Mariner’s Stratagem.—Ben [♠]Virga’s Account of the Banishment of the Jews.—Rabbi G’daliah’s Account.—Dr. Jost’s Estimate of the English Jews incorrect.—The Jewish Chronicle.—The unjust Cruelty the Jews experienced.—A Picture of the Exiles.—De Lyra an English Jew.—His Writings.—L’Advocat’s Account of him incorrect.—Appendix A. Edward’s first impartial Proclamation.—B. The Prohibition of Jewish Blasphemy.—C. Edward institutes an Investigation respecting Suetecota.—D. The Writ for compelling the Jews to attend Church.—E. Belager’s Goods and Chattels.—F. The Proclamation against accusing the Jews of clipping the Coin.—G. The Original of Ben [♠]Virga’s Account.—H. Of Rabbi G’daliah.—I. Letter to the Editor of the Jewish Chronicle.—J. Extract from Bishop Bale.
[♦] ‘Satutum’ replaced with ‘Statutum’
[♠] “Verga’s” replaced with “Virga’s”
LECTURES
ON
THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS.
LECTURE I.
Before I begin with the immediate subject which brings me before your notice this evening, I would venture to crave your indulgence if my lisping, broken accents, and my limited attainments, should not reflect the credit upon your noble Institution which it so richly deserves. I humbly trust, that you will kindly take into consideration that it is comparatively but a short time since I began to pay attention to your language and literature.
It is but little more than eight years since I landed on the shores of England, and eight years to a day[1] since I arrived in your town of Liverpool, at a time when you, in all probability, little thought of erecting such a magnificent edifice for so laudable a purpose. As for me, I positively aver that I did not then entertain the least ambition of ever appearing before you as lecturer in any shape whatever, being then totally ignorant of your language. I trust, therefore, to your kind and well-known courtesy, that you will put the best construction you possibly can on my humble efforts.
[1] – October 28th, 1845.
Whilst it would be unpardonable presumption in me, seeing as I do before me such a host of learned and highly-gifted men, to imagine that there were not those present who, from more extensive reading, were not better acquainted with several, if not with all the subjects which will come before them in the progress of these lectures; it would be, at the same time, regarded as mere affectation and false modesty if I pretended that there were not others less conversant with these subjects than myself, and to whom it may be in my power to impart some information which they may not before have possessed.