A short demurrer to the Jewes long discontinued barred remitter into England Comprising an exact chronological relation of their first admission into, their ill deportment, misdemeanors, condition, sufferings, oppressions, slaughters, plunders, by popular insurrections, and regal exactions in; and their total, final banishment by judgment and edict of Parliament, out of England, never to return again: collected out of the best historians and records. With a brief collection of such English laws, Scriptures, reasons as seem strongly to plead, and conclude against their readmission into England, especially at this season, and against the general calling of the Jewish nation. With an answer to the chief allegations for their introduction. / By William Prynne Esq; a bencher of Lincolnes-Inne.

To the Christian Reader.

THat I may not justly(a) 1.1suffer (so much as in thy Thought) as a busie body in other men's matters, for publishing my Opinion in a publick Case; wherein I conceive my self some wayes interessed, both as a Chri∣stian and English Free-man: I shall in∣form thee of the true original cause of this my sudden un∣premeditated undertaking.

Being much affected with God's late admirable Pro∣vidence, in causing the (b) 1.2 sixth day of this instant De∣cember to be set apart for a Day of Solemn Fasting and Hu∣miliation, for the late Rebukes we have received, the Tares of Division that have been sown by the envious one, and the growth they have had through his subtilty; the abominable Blasphemies, Apostacies, and abuse of Liberty by many professing Religion, and the continual Series of Difficulties we have been exercised under: and, inviting all the People of God in these three Na∣tions on that day, to joyn in solemn and earnest Supplications to

the Throne of Grace, That the Lord will be pleased truely to humble our present Governours, and the Nation, under his Righteous Hand, that we may be every one searching out the Plague of his own Heart, and turn unfeignedly from the evil of our wayes. This being the very day of the Month, where∣on this time seven yeers, (December 6. 1648.) Colonel Pride with other Officers of the ARMY, besetting the Parliament-House with their armed Forces (c) 1.3 raised to Defend its PRIVILEDGES and MEMBERS) against their Trusts, Duties, forcibly seised, secured my self, with above forty Parliament-Members more, as we were going into the Commons-House to discharge our duties; translating us that day from the Queens Court (where they first impre∣soned us) to Hell in Westminster, and there lodging us upon the bare boards without Beds, all that miserable Cold Night, like so many Turkish Gally-slaves, rather than Parliament-Members: seconded with other succeeding Restraints, and high unparallel'd Violations both of our Parliamentary Priviledges, and Hereditary Laws and Li∣berties. Which transcendent Exorbitancies, as we may justly fear, are the Plague of the Heart, and Evil of their Wayes, who were the chief Contrivers or Actors of them; if not the greatest Rebukes the English Parliament or Na∣tion ever received; the most dangerous Tares of Division that have ever been sowen by the envious one in our Realm, which have since extraordinarily grown and spread amongst us through his subtilty; the saddest Apostacy, and abuse of Liber∣ty by men professing Religion ever heard of amongst Christi∣ans; and the very Fountain of all that continued series of dif∣ficulties we have since been exercised under. For which the principal Architects, Executioners, and whole English Na∣tion had never publickly been humbled, nor seriously la∣mented, repented them in seven whole yeers space; It pleased God by his over-ruling Providence, beyond the In∣tentions or Thoughts of Men, so at last to bring it about, that this very forgotten sad day, whereon this was publick∣ly acted, should be now by a printed Declaration, specially

devoted for A Day of solemn Fasting & Humiliation, through∣out this Commonwealth, to lament and bewail these former enormous Actions on it, as well as other Crimes. Having in∣formed divers thereof, both before and on this Fast-day, who were much taken with it; On the seventh of Decem∣ber, (the day after the Fast, on w^ch the secured Members that time seven yeers were carried from Hell to White-Hall, and there kept fasting till past seven a clock at night to attend the Army-Officers, who pretended a desired conference with them; and at last, without vouchsafing to see them, sent them PRISONERS through the dirt with Musqueteers at each of their backs, & other Guards of Horse by their sides, to the King's Head and Swan, where they long remained:) I walked down to Westminster, to visit some of my then Fel∣low-Prisoners and Members, to acquaint them with this memorable Providence; in my passage thither in Martin's-Lane, I unexpectedly met with Sir John Clotworthy (who was one of them) leading his Lady on foot towards Wal∣lingford-house, the place whither the Officers promised to carry, and there to confer with us, when they thrust us into Hell; who taking notice of, and saluting me, I informed him of the foresaid adorable Providence, in appointing the former dayes Fast on that day seven yeers whereon we were seised: who professing he had forgotten it, and that it came not within his thoughts; but in truth it was very miraculous, and worthy special observation. We thereupon walked on, dis∣coursing of it till we came to Wallingford-house-gate, where Colonel Pride, who then seised, met us full but; and I not perfect••y knowing him, Sir John told me, here is Colonel Pride, and then gave him this seasonable Memento; Fellow Pride, Remember this Time seven yeers. So we parting company, I went & visited some others of my then Fellow Prisoners in Westminster; discoursing with them of these Providences, (wherewith they were much affected, as ha∣ving not observed them before) and of our Fast at White-Hall this day seven yeers. In my return homewards that day by the Garden-wall at White-Hall, Mr. Nye the Minister,

going very fast, there overtook, and saluting me by name, presently demanded this unexpected Question of me; Whe∣ther there were any Law of England against bringing in the Jews amongst us? for the Lawyers had newly delivered their Opinions, there was no Law against it. To which I answered, That the Jews were in the yeer 1290. all banished out of England, by Judgement and Edict of the King and Parliament, as a great Grievance, never to return again: for which the Commons gave the King the fifteenth part of their Moveables: and therefore being thus banished by Parliament, they could not by the Laws of England, be brought in again, without a special Act of Parlia∣ment, which I would make good for Law. He replied, I wish it might not be done otherwise; &, that this business had been former∣ly moved in the Bishops time, rather than now. To which I sub∣joyned; That it was now a very ill time to bring in the Jews, when the people were so dangerously and generally bent to Aposta∣cy, and all sorts of Novelties and Errors in Religion; and would sooner turn Jews, than the Jews Christians. He answered, He thought it was true, and was sorry he could not discourse longer with me, the Committee about the Jews being sate, and staying for him as he feared. Whereupon, as he was turning in to∣wards White-Hall-Gate, I told him, The Jews had been former∣ly great Clippers and Forgers of Mony, and had crucified three or four Children in England at least, which were principal causes of their banishment. To which he replied, That the crucifying of Children was not fully charged on them by our Historians, and would easily be wiped off. Whereto I answered, He was much mistaken: and so we parted. As I kept on my way, in Lin∣colnes-Inne. Fields, passing by seven or eight maimed Soldiers on Stilts, who begged of me; I heard them say aloud one to another, We must now all turn Jews, and there will be nothing left for the poor. And not far from them another company of poor people, just at Lincolnes-Inne back Gate, cried aloud to each other: They are all turned Devils already, and now we must all turn Jews. Which unexpected concurrent Provi∣dences and Speeches, made such an impression on my Spirit, that before I could take my rest that night, I perused most

of the passages in our English Histories concerning the Jews carriage in England, with some of their misdemeanors in o∣ther parts, to refresh my memory, and satisfie my judgement; making some Collections out of them, which after I enlarg∣ed and digested into this ensuing Demurrer, with as much speed as the sharpness of the season would permit; and was in∣duced to publish it (knowing no particular discourse of this Subject extant) for the general information, satisfaction of o∣thers, and honour of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the righteous, whom the Jews with malicious hearts, and wicked hands (d) 1.4 crucified in person heretofore, and their posterity by their blasphemies, despiteful actions against Christ, his Kingdom, Offices, Gospel(e) 1.5crucifie afresh every day, trampling under foot the Son of God, putting him to open shame, offering de∣spite to the Spirit of Grace, & counting the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing. And in all their publick and private De∣votions, praying constantly for the sudden, universal, total, final subversion, extirpation, perishing of Christs Kingdom, Gospel, and all his Christian Members, which they plot, and continually expect, such is their implacable transcendent malice. I have deduced their introduction into England, only from William surnamed the Conqueror, because I finde not the least mention of them in any of our British, or Saxon Histories, Councils, Synods, Canons, which doubtlesse would have mentioned them, and made some strict Laws or Canons, against their Iewish as well as against Pagan Superstitions, had they exercised 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ere, as they would have done as well as in Spain, & other places, had they resided here. That any of them were here in the time of our famous Emperor Con∣stantine, is but a dream of such, who because they finde an Epistle of Constantines in the Council of Nice, to all the Chur∣ches of Christ, in(f) 1.6Sir Hen. Spelmans Collections of the Decrees, Canons, and Constitutions of the British World▪ wherein is men∣tion made of the Churches of Britain, in that age, as well as in Rome, France and other parts, keeping the Passeover in a different manner from the wicked blinded Iews, would thence infer, there were then Jews resident in Britain; of which

there is not one syllable in that Epistle, nor in any Classick Author Forrain or Domestick, I yet ever saw or heard of.

That they were setled in our Island in the Saxons time, is collected, onely from that Law inserted by (g) 1.7 Hoveden, and (b) 1.8 Spelman amongst Edward the Confessors, here cited, p. 3. But there being no mention of the Jews in any of our Saxon Kings Raigns, Councils, Decrees, Laws, before the Con∣fessor, out of which all his Laws were (i) 1.9 wholly extracted, and this Law of the Jews being not to be found in the true Original Copy of the Confessors and Conquerors Laws of Ab∣bot (k) 1.10 Ingulphus, who flourished in that age, was present at their confirmation, and then brought them to Croyland Ab∣by, published by Mr. (l) 1.11 Iohn Selden, nor yet in Bromton, I cannot but reject it as counterfeit, and esteem it rather, a Declaration of the Jews Condition in England in Hovedens time (inserted by him, as well as some other things of punier date, amongst these Laws) rather than any Law of, or in the Confessors days, wherein I can finde no evidence of any Jews residence here, but only this interpolation and forged Law, which Mr. Selden wholly omits in his Collection of his Laws. The History of King William Rufus, his compelling the Iews of Rhoan that were turned Christians, to renounce their Christianity and turn Iews again, ACCEPTO PRETIO APOSTASLE, upon the complaint and mony given him by the Infidel Jews there, with the Dialogue between Him and Stephen the Jew, cited out of Holinshed, here p. 5, 6. I finde originally recorded of him by (m) 1.12Eadmerus, living in his raign: who though very bitter and injurious to him, by reason of the great Contests between him & Anselme (whose Favourite, Follower and Companion in adversity Eadmerus was) yet he relates it not as a certain Truth, but as a Re∣port of others of that Country, who had another Opinion of Rufus, Quam de Christianis Christianos Lex Christiana docet habere: quae tamen sicut illa accepimus simpliciter po∣nam, non astruens vera an secus extiterint, an non. Onely he addes this passage to the story of Stephen, which Holinshed omits: That St. Stephen appearing to him as he was travelling

on the way, he demanding of him who he was? Answered, That he was long since of a Jew made a Christian, and was Stephen the first Martyr; but for this cause, I have now come down from Heaven to Earth, that thou casting away thy Iewish Super∣stition, mightest be made a Christian; and being baptized in Christ, mightest be called by my name. Whereupon he became a Christian, and was baptized. That immediately after the con∣ference between the King and Stephen, (which agrees with that in Holinshed) he being thrust out, and meeting his Fa∣ther standing before the door, expecting the event, being animated against him, said; O Son of death, and fewel of eternal perdition, is not thine own damnation sufficient for thee, unless thou also cast me headlong into it together with thee? But God forbid, that I to whom Christ is now revealed, should ever acknow∣ledge thee henceforth for a Father, because the devil is thy father.

I have omitted in this second enlarged Edition of my De∣murrer, no passage to my knowledge, in any of our Histori∣ans, relating to our former English Iews, reciting them all in a Chronological Order in the Historians own words, quoted in the Margin: only I finde sundry Records con∣cerning them, which I shall supply by a subsequent Appen∣dix by themselves, to gratifie those who bought the first Edition, whom their insertion into this might have injur'd.

Herein (m) 1.13I have only briefly touched, not handled, the great Question, of the general calling & conversion of the Iewish Nation to the Faith of Christ, towards the end of the world; for which I cannot finde any satisfactory grounds in Scripture. That Text of Levit. 26.41, to 46. on which some build their general call, having these two clauses in it, that seem strong∣ly to oppose, or make it very dubious, v. 41. IF THEN their uncircumcised heart be humbled, and that they accept of the pu∣nishment of their iniquity, &c. & v. 46. I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them to DESTROY THEM UTTERLY. And that other Text of Rom. 11. whereon others most rely, having this conditional passage & express clauses against it, v. 23. And they also, IF they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for God is able (he saith not resolved) to graffe them

in again. And v. 3, to 8. I have reserved to my self 7000 men, &c. Even so then at this present time there is a Remnant according to the election of grace, &c. But the Election hath obtained it, and the rest were hardned, or blinded. Which compared with Rom. 9.27, 29. (* 1.14Isaiah also saith concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the Sea, yet a REMNANT of them (only) shall be saved. * 1.15Except the Lord of Hosts had left unto us A SEED, A VERY SMALL REM∣NANT (so Isaiah calls it) we had been as Sodom, &c.) will necessarily evince, that Rom. 11.26. And so all Israel shall be saved, &c. (on which they ground this general call) must be intended onely of all this small elect remnant of the Israel of God, and seed of Abraham according to the faith, not flesh, Rom. 4 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Gal. 3.7, 8, 9, 14, 16. Ga. 6.16. of all such who are Jews inwardly, and have the Circumcision of the heart, Rom: 2.28, 29. not of the whole Jewish Nation, (whose servants I fear we••e as few under the Gospel, as the Gentiles, Converts, and Proselytes under the Law.) And those who will strain that Text further, must necessarily aver, not only an Universal Calling, but likewise Salvation and taking away the ungodliness and sins of the whole Nation then by Christ, (of which that Text only speaks) not only contrary to these forecited Scriptures, and Gods dealing with all other (n) 1.16 Churches, Nations; but to Jer. 3.14. I will take you, one of a City, and two of a Tribe, and I will bring you to Sion. Mat. 21.16. Many are called, but few chosen: & few saved, Mat. 7.14. Luke 13.23. Therefore for any to call in the Jews among us upon this surmise of their general ap∣proaching Conversion, is a strange Solecism, both in State-Policy and Christianity, especially in this age, wherein that Speech of (o) 1.17 Waltramus Bishop of Naumburge, is most truely verified, Diabolus videns Idola derelicta, & per nimium cre∣dentium populum sedes suas ac templa deserta, excog••itavit no∣vam fraudem, ut sub ipso Christiani nominis titulo fallat incau∣tos; haereses{que} invenit & schismata, quibus subverteret fidem, corrumperet veritatem. Exinde divisa est Ecclesia, & divisa sunt Ecclesiae Sacerdotia, at{que} omnia scandalorum orta sunt genera.

Exinde crevit grave & diuturrum bellum, & non solum civile bellum, sed & plusquam civile bellum, & factae sunt abs{que} divino pariter & humano respectu vastationes Ecclesiarum, & caedes hominum: Exinde etiam corruptae sunt divinae pariter & huma∣nae leges, sine quibus non subsistit vel Dei Ecclesia, vel Imperii Respublica: & ex inde violata est fides & publica, & Catho∣lica: exinde etiam illa crevit injustitia, ut pro veritate falsa testimonia, & pro fide Catholica, abundent perjuria: ut post quam Leges bello silvere coactae, impleaturiam ista Domini sententia per Osee Prophetam: Non est veritas, & non est misericordia, & non scientia Dei in terra: maledictum, & mendacium, & homicidi∣um, & furtum, & adulterium inundaverunt, & sanguis san∣guinem tetigit. Ipse Diabolus videtur nunc de carcere suo solu∣tus esse. Hinc publicae civium contra Cives congressiones, aliis pro pastoribus legitimis, aliis vero contra pastores dimicantes: as he and (p) 1.18 Gerhobus Richerspergensis writ of Pope Hilde∣brands dayes.

If any man chance to censure me, as overharsh or earnest in my expressions against the Jews; I hope that speech of their royal Prophet, (a man after Gods own heart) Ps. 139.20, 21, 22. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am I not grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with a perfect hatred, I count them mine enemies: for they speak against thee wickedly; depart from me therefore ye bloody men: will apologize for me; especially seeing their* 1.19 Proposals are, Not only to be admitted and received into our Commonwealth under the protection and safeguard of our Governours, AS THE NATIVES THEMSELVES: and that all the Heads and Ge∣nerals of Arms may take an Oath to defend them upon all occasi∣ons, that they may be permitted to traffick freely in all sorts of Merchandize as others; but to be judged by their Judges in differences between themselves, according to the Mosaick Law: And to be allowed PUBLICK SYNAGOGUES, not onely in ENGLAND, but also IN ALL OTHER PLACES under our power; and TO OBSERVE IN ALL THINGS THEIR RELIGION AS THEY OUGHT: That in case there have been any Laws against their Jewish Nation,

they may IN THE FIRST PLACE, and BEFORE ALL THINGS BE REVOKED. A clear evidence of an intended design in them, only to set up their (r) 1.20 Syna∣gogues of Satan, Judaism, & Jewish Ceremonies in the highest degree, amongst us, as lawful, in direct opposition and sub∣version of our only Lord, Saviour, Redeemer, Mediator, Jesus Christ his Person, Offices, Kingdom, Gospel and Christianity it self, without any thoughts of turning Christi∣ans themselves. As Manasseh Ben Israel his printed Ad∣dresses most fully discovers. In which case not to be passi∣onately zealous, not to(s) 1.21 contend earnestly for the Faith against these ungodly men, turning the Grace of our God into lascivi∣ousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ; is in a great measure to deny and betray them, toge∣ther with our Church, & Nation at once, unto these their in∣veterate enemies. For whose Conversion, (not National, but of the * 1.22 very small elect Remnant of them) as I shall pray, so I cannot but pray and write against their Re-admission amongst us on these, or any other terms, for the Rea∣sons here humbly presented to thy view, and Christian Consideration, by

Thy Christian Brother, and Companion in tribulation, and in the Kingdom & Pa∣tience of Jesus Christ, William Prynne.

Lincolnes-Inne, 14 December, 1655.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  1 Pet. 4.15.
• (b) 1.2

  See the De∣claration of 21 Nov. 1655.
• (c) 1.3

  A Collection of Ordinances ••. 5••9, 623.
• (d) 1.4

  Acts 2.23, 36. c. 3.14, 15. 1 Thess. 2.14, 15, 16. Mat. 26. & 27.
• (e) 1.5

  Heb. 6.6. 1 Job. 4.3.
• (f) 1.6

  Spelmanni Concil. p. 43, 44.
• (g) 1.7

  Annal. pars poterio••, p 604.
• (b) 1.8

  Spelmanni Concil. p. 623.
• (i) 1.9

  Malmesbury a••g••st••s Regum Angl. l. 2. c. 3. p. 75. Chronicon Johannis Brom. col. 956, 957. Spelmanni con∣cil. p 625.
• (k) 1.10

  Ingulphi Hist. p. 914.
• (l) 1.11

  Ad Ead∣merum Notae, p. 172 to 195.
• (m) 1.12

  Histo••iae noverum, l. 2. p. 46, 47.
• (m) 1.13

  P. 64, 65, 89, 60.
• * 1.14

  Isa. 10.20, 22, 23.
• * 1.15

  Isa. 1.9. See c. 11.11, 16. Joel 2.32.
• (n) 1.16

  Rev. 3.4.
• (o) 1.17

  De unitate Ecclesiae Fran∣cofurti. 1600. p. 180, 191, 216. See Jacobus Ussertus, De Ec∣clesiarum Chri¦stian. Successione & Statu, c. 5. p. 108, 109, 119.
• (p) 1.18

  De Investi∣gatione Anti∣christi Syntag∣ma, p. 41.
• * 1.19

  See the humble Addresses of Manasseh Ben Israel in behalf of the Jewish Nation, and their printed Proposals.
• (r) 1.20

  Rev. 2.9. c. 5.9.
• (s) 1.21

  Numb. 25.15. Gal. 4.18. Jude 3.4.
• * 1.22

  Isa. 1.9. Rom. 9.27.