“Whereas the king having observed, that in times past, many honest men have lost their inheritances by the usury of the Jews, and that many sins have from thence arisen, notwithstanding Judaism is, and has been very profitable to him and his ancestors, yet nevertheless he ordains and establishes for the honour of God, and the common benefit of the people, that no Jew hereafter shall in any manner practise usury; and that no usurious contracts already made, since the feast of St. Edward’s, last past, shall stand good, excepting bonds relating to the capital sum. Provided also, that all those who are indebted to the Jews, upon pledges moveable, shall redeem them before Easter next, under pain of forfeiture. And if any Jew shall practise usury against the intent of this statute, the king promises neither to give him assistance by himself or officers in recovering his debts; but, on the contrary, will punish him for his trespass, and assist the Christians against him in the recovery of their pledges.
“And it is further enacted, that no distress for any Jew’s debt shall hereafter be so grievous, as not to leave Christians the moiety of their lands and chattels for subsistence; and that no distress shall be made by any such Jew, upon the heir of his debtor named in the bond, or any other person in possession of the debtor’s lands, before such debt shall be proved in court. And if the sheriff or other bailiff is commanded by the king to give possession to any Jew, of lands or chattels to the value of his debt, the chattels shall first be appraised by the oath of honest men, and delivered to the Jew or Jewess to the value of the debt. And if the chattels be not found sufficient to answer it, then the lands shall be extended by the same oath, according to their separate values, before seisin is given of them to the Jew or Jewess; to the intent, that when the debt is certainly known to be discharged, the Christian may have his land again, saving to the Christian, nevertheless, the moiety of his lands and chattels, and the chief house for his sustenance, as before expressed.
“And if anything stolen be found in the possession of a Jew, let him have his summons, if he regularly may have it; if not, he shall answer in such a manner as a Christian would be obliged to do without claiming any privilege. Likewise all Jews shall be resident in such cities and boroughs as are the king’s own, where the common chest of their indentures is wont to be kept. And every one of them that is past seven years of age shall wear a badge, in form of two tables, of yellow taffety, six fingers long and three fingers broad, upon his upper garment; and every one that is past twelve years shall also pay annually to the king, at Easter, the sum of three pence, both male and female.
“And no Jew shall have power to alienate in fee, either to Jew or Christian, any houses, rents, or tenements, which they have already purchased, or dispose of them in any manner, or acquit any Christian of his debt, without the king’s special license, till he hath otherwise ordained.
“And because holy Church wills and permits that they should live, and be protected, the king takes them into his protection, and commands that they should live guarded and defended by his sheriffs, bailiffs, and other liege people. And that none shall do them harm, either in their persons or goods, moveable or immoveable, or sue, implead, or challenge them in any courts but the king’s courts, [♦]wheresoever they are.
[♦] ‘wheresover’ replaced with ‘wheresoever’
“And that none of them shall be obedient, respondent, or pay any rent to any but the king or his bailiffs, in his name, excepting for their houses which they now hold, rendering rent; saving likewise the rights of holy Church.
“And the king also grants, that they may practise merchandise or live by their labour, and for those purposes freely converse with Christians. Excepting that on any pretence whatever they shall not be levant, or couchant, amongst them: nor on account of their merchandise, be in scots, lots, or talliage, with the other inhabitants of those cities or boroughs where they remain: seeing they are talliable to the king as his own vassals, and not otherwise.
“Moreover the king grants them free liberty to purchase houses, and curtilages, in the cities and boroughs where they reside: provided they are held in chief of the king, saving to the lords their due and accustomed services.
“And further the king grants, that such as are unskilful in merchandise, and cannot labour, may take lands to farm, for any term not exceeding ten years: provided no homage, fealty, or any such kind of service or advowson to holy Church, be belonging to them. Provided also that this power to farm lands shall continue in force for fifteen years from the making of this act, and no longer.”[1]