304 CONSUMPTION OF CHAP. xi. 



even the chief bodies made presents of dresses 

 to the wives of the Jews V 



In spite of the temporary influence this tribe 

 might attain, and of the occasional blandish- 

 ments which were sometimes lavished on them, 

 they must have lived in a state of constant ap- 

 prehension if not of terror. This would induce 

 them to adopt secret repositories to secure their 

 more compendious riches ; and, accordingly we 

 find, that both threats and personal inflictions 

 were frequently applied to extort from them 

 their stores of hidden wealth. That part which 

 was withdrawn from circulation and preserved 

 in concealment, probably the most valuable 

 part, would thereby be kept from that consump- 

 tion by friction to which a quick circulation 

 always exposes the coin. It is in this way that 

 we may account for the existence of so many of 

 the gold bezants in the west of Europe, many 

 centuries after that particular coinage had 

 ceased. 



It is further to be observed, that the coinage 

 of the middle ages was conducted with little 

 skill and still less taste. The operation had 

 been rendered hereditary in certain families 

 who were answerable for the intrinsic value of 

 the pieces they issued, but troubled themselves 



1 Agobardus. De Insolentia Judeorum, p. 144. 



