JEWS. 



559 



had an important bearing upon the interests of the 

 Jews. They are supposed to have had an agency 

 in bringing about the first invasion of Spain by the 

 Saracens, in which Roderick lost his life and 

 crown; an agency, however, which was fully jus- 

 tified by the cruelty they endured from the Gothic 

 kings. These troubled times brought them into 

 notice. Their superior intelligence and education 

 made it necessary to give them offices of profit and 

 trust ; and when Charlemagne determined on send- 

 ing an embassy to Haroun al Raschid, one of this 

 race was employed to represent the European so- 

 vereign, and to conduct the diplomatic intercourse 

 between Bagdad and Aix-la-Chapelle. 



The conquest of Spain by the Moors, and the 

 establishment of Charlemagne's great empire, were 

 circumstances which threw a gleam of light upon 

 the dark current of the Jewish history ; and we 

 are thus particular in allusion to them, because in 

 that age, the Jews fixed that character which they 

 retain at the present day. They did not lose the 

 opportunity; but exerting themselves with their 

 usual sagacious and untiring industry, they became 

 rich ; every stream of commerce in every nation 

 flowed with golden sands for them. In France they 

 took a high stand, and in Spain they were hardly 

 distinguished in wealth, honour, and trust, from 

 their Saracen masters. But the natural result was, 

 that when the wild spirit of chivalry began to pre- 

 vail in the world, ruling in the hearts of men by 

 maxims with which morals and humanity had very 

 little to do ; the fortunes of the great were ex- 

 hausted by martial extravagance, the earnings of 

 the poor were drained by oppression, and as the 

 Jews offered a vast resource to beggarly nobles and 

 princes, their wealth at once became a crime. It 

 was discovered that they were guilty of the mur- 

 der of our Saviour nearly a thousand years before, 

 and for this.it was but reasonable that they should be 

 insulted and plundered in every Christian land. The 

 Jews, with their usual still fortitude, prepared not 

 only to meet, but to draw advantage to themselves 

 from the storm. The soldier of the cross must 

 have his arms; and in the excitement of the mo- 

 ment, the crusaders were ready to pledge every 

 thing for gold. But when the time 1 for payment 

 came, they found that their revenues had not been 

 increased by the prodigality of war, and they were 

 obliged to resort to other means to redeem the 

 pledges they had given. The Jews were then ex- 

 posed to all kinds of violence; their^wealth was 

 confiscated, and their persons banished. Philip 

 Augustus and St Louis in France, distinguished 

 themselves by this saintly extortion. In the reign 

 of Richard I. of England, they were exposed to 

 one of the most infamous massacres recorded in 

 history, and passed through repeated changes of 

 hope and suffering under his contemptible succes- 

 sor.* England has nothing to boast of in this dark 



* The following interesting account of the destruction of 

 the Jinvs at York is given by D'lsraeli, in his " Curiosities of 

 Literature." 



" When Richard I. ascended the throne [in 1189], the Jews, 

 to conciliate the royal protection, brought their tributes. 

 Many had hastened from remote parts of England and appear- 

 ing at Westminster, the court and the mob imagined that they 

 had leagued to bewitch his majesty. An edict was issued to 

 forbid their presence at the coronation ; but several, whose 

 curiosity 'vas greater than their prudence, conceived that they 

 might pass .inobserved among the crowd, and ventured to in- 

 sinuate themselves into the abbey. Probably their voice and 

 their visage alike betrayed them, for they were soon discover- 

 ed ; they flew diversely in great consternation, while many 

 were dragged out with little remains of life. 



- A ruinour spread rapidly through the city, that, in honour 



registry. The only ray of mercy and honour that 

 could be seen in all Europe was in Germany, where 

 Frederick II., the most accomplished prince of his 

 age, had penetration enough to see the baseness of 

 the charges brought against them. When informed, 



of the festival, the Jews were to be massacred. The populace, 

 at once eager of royalty and riot, pillaged and burnt their 

 houses, and murdered the devoted Jews. Benedict, a Jew of 

 York, to save his life, received baptism; and returning to that 

 city, with his friend Jocenus, the most opulent of the Jews, 

 died of his wounds. Jocenus and his servants narrated the 

 late tragic circumstances to their neighbours, but where they 

 hoped to move sympathy, they excited rage. The people at 

 York soon gathered to imitate the people at London , ana their 

 first assault was on the house of the late Benedict, which hav- 

 ing some strength and magnitude, contained his family and 

 friends, who found their graves in its ruins. The alarmed Jews 

 hastened to Jocenus, who conducted them to the governor of 

 York castle, and prevailed on him to afford them an asylum for 

 their persons and effects. In the meanwhile, their habitations 

 were levelled, and the owners murdered, except a few unre- 

 sisting beings, who, unmanly in sustaining honour, were 

 adapted to receive baptism. 



" The castle had sufficient strength for their defence ; but a 

 suspicion arising that the governor, who often went out, in- 

 tended to betray them, they one day refused him entrance. He 

 complained to the sheriff of the county; and the chiefs of the 

 violent party, who stood deeply indebted to the Jews, uniting 

 with him, orders were issued to attack the castle. The cruel 

 multitude, united with the soldiery, felt such a desire of 

 slaughtering those they intended to despoil, that the sheriff, 

 repenting of the order, revoked it, but in vain; fanaticism and 

 robbery once set loose, will satiate their appetency for blood 

 and plunder. They solicited the aid of the superior citizens, 

 who humanely refused it ; but having addressed the clergy, 

 were by them animated and conducted. 



" The leader of this rabble was a canon regular, whose zeal 

 was so fervent, that he stood by them in his surplice, which he 

 considered as a coat of mail. Their attacks continued, till at 

 length the Jews perceived they could hold out no longer, and 

 a council was called to consider what remained to be done in 

 the extremity of danger. 



" Among the Jews, their elder Rabbin was most respected. 

 It has been customary with this people to invite for this place 

 some foreigner, renowned among them for the depth of his 

 learning and the sanctity of his manners. At this time the 

 Haham or elder Rabbin was a foreigner, who had been sent 

 over to instruct them in their laws, and was a person, as we 

 shall observe, of no ordinary qualifications. When the Jewish 

 council was assembled, the Haham rose, and addressed them 

 in this manner 'Men of Israel! the God of our ancestors is om- 

 niscient, and there is no one who can say, Why doest thou this? 

 This day he commands us to die for his law: for that law which 

 we have cherished from the first hour it was given, which we 

 have preserved pure throughout our captivity in all nations, and 

 which, for the many consolations it has given us, and the eter- 

 nal hope it communicates, can we do less than die? Posterity 

 shall behold this book of truth sealed with our blood ; and our 

 death, while it displays our sincerity, shall impart confidence 

 to the wanderer of Israel. Death is before our eyes, and we 

 have only to choose an honourable, and easy one. If we fall 

 into the hands of our enemies, which you know we cannot 

 escape, our death will be ignominious' and cruel ; for these 

 Christians, who picture the Spirit of God in a dove, and con- 

 fide in the meek Jesus, are athirst for our blood, and prowl 

 around the castle like wolves. It is, therefore, my advice, that 

 we elude their tortures; that we ourselves should be our own 

 executioners ; and that we voluntarily surrender our lives 

 to our Creator. We trace the invisible Jehovah in his acts ; 

 God seems to call for us, but let us not be unworthy of that 

 call." Having said this, the old man sat down and wept. 



" The assembly was divided in their opinions. Men of for- 

 titude applauded its wisdom, but the pusillanimous murmured 

 that it was a dreadful council. 



" Again the Rabbin rose, and spoke these few words in a 

 firm and decisive tone' My children! since we are not unani- 

 mous in our opinions, let those who disapprove of my advice 

 depart from this assembly." Some departed, but the greater 

 number attached themselves to their venerable priest. They 

 now employed themselves in consuming their valuables by fire; 

 and every man, fearful of trusting to the timid and irresolute 

 hands of the women, first destroyed his wife and children and 

 then himself. Jocenus and the Rabbin alone remained. Their 

 life was protracted to the last, that they might see everything 

 performed according to their orders. Jocenus, being the chief 

 Jew, was distinguished by the last mark of human respect, in 

 receiving his death from the consecrated hand of the aged 

 Rabbin, who immediately after performed the melancholy duty 

 on himself. 



" All this was transacted in the depth of the night. In the 

 morning the walls of the castle were seen wrapt in flames, 

 and only a few miserable and pusillanimous beings, unworthy 

 of the sword, were viewed on the battlements, pointing to 

 their extinct brethren. V\ hen they opened the gates of the 

 castle, these men verified the prediction of their late Rabbin ; 

 for the multitude, bursting through the solitary courts', found 

 themselves defrauded of their hopes, and in a moment avenged 

 themselves on the feeble wretches who remained. 



" Such is the narrative of the Jews of York, of whom five 

 hundred thus destroyed themselves." 



