54 



(1263) of the date at which Sir Hugh of Lincoln is said to 

 have been murdered, five hundred Jews were massacred at 

 Easter in the disorders of London, and their houses were plun- 

 dered by the mob. But in the very year of the alleged occur- 

 rence (1255), the extortions of the King himself became at once 

 flagrant and intolerable ; and here again, luckily, Matthew Paris 

 is our guide.* " In 1255 the King demanded 8000 marks from 

 the Jews, and threatened to hang them if they refused compli- 

 ance. They now lost all patience, and desired leave to retire with 

 their effects out of the kingdom. But the King replied, ' How 

 can I remedy the oppressions you complain of ? I am myself a 

 beggar ; I am spoiled, I am stripped of all my revenues ; I owe 

 above 200,000 marks, and if I had said 300,000 I should not 

 exceed the truth ; I am obliged to pay my son, Prince Edward, 

 15,000 marks a year; I have not a farthing; and I must have 

 money from any hands, from any quarter, or by any means' 

 He then delivered over the Jews to the Earl of Cornwall, ' that 

 those whom the one brother had flayed, the other might em- 

 bowel/ to use the words of the historian." It is unnecessary 

 to dwell upon the motives of the accusers ; but it may be re- 

 marked, that during the progress of the Crusades, similar 

 barbarities were currently practised on the Jews, not only as a 

 matter of necessity, but as a matter of duty ! Literally, pain- 

 fully, and frequently, did the prophecy of our Lord, given in 

 reference to others, receive a fulfilment, " the time cometh, that 

 whosoever killeth you, will think that he doeth God service." t 

 It is somewhat curious, that though the prejudices against 

 the Jews, have apparently died away, though their property, 

 life, and honour, are no longer open to injury from the vulgar 

 or ignorant, the feeling still exists, but in an altered form. 

 The writings of our own Shakspeare are familiar to the literary 

 portion of more than a hundred millions of people ; and as our 

 Anglo-Saxon tongue diffuses itself in after ages, they will be- 



* Malt. Paris, p. 606, quoted by Hume, chap. xii. + John, xvi. 2. 



