148 THE CAUSE OF THAT AWFUL EVENT. These, coming forward upon the ramparts, called out to the assailants, and showed the manner in which their companions had fallen, and offered to receive baptism, if their lives might be spared. This was granted to them; but they no sooner passed the gate than the people fell upon them and slew them, with the exception of one or two who escaped; which proved that the Rabbi was not far wrong in his calculation. The populace afterwards betook themselves to the destroying and burning of all the houses of the Jews in the city which had not been previously demolished. Thus perished fifteen hundred Jews at York on this occasion, besides those who fell in the other parts of England. Now comes the secret. No sooner did the English make an end of butchering that unhappy people, than many gentlemen of the province who having been their debtors, and took, therefore, the most active part in the carnage-repaired to the cathedral, where their bonds were deposited, compelled SOME OF THE OFFENDERS PUNISHED. 149 the officer to deliver those obligations, and burned them in the church with great solemnity before the altar. When the account of these outrages reached the king's ears, he was exceedingly enraged at this insult upon his authority, which at the same time affected his revenue; he sent over immediate directions to the Bishop of Ely, his chancellor, to apprehend and punish the offenders. The chancellor accordingly proceeded to York with a strong force, to execute the king's commands: but the principal actors in the massacres there, being warned of his approach, made their escape; some of them taking refuge into Scotland, but the greater number proceeding on their journey to the Holy Land. The governor of the castle and the sheriff were, however, apprehended, and not being able to clear their conduct, were deprived of their respective offices. A heavy fine was also imposed upon the inhabitants of the city, for which the chancellor took one hundred hostages with him. Richard, mala bestia (wicked beast), or as he is 150 RICHARD ESTABLISHES THE called Mallebisse, was obliged to pay twenty marks for the use of his land, as also for protection to himself and his two esquires,* till the king's return; but, with these exceptions, it does not appear that any individual was brought to punishment for the part he had taken in the late disturbances. When Richard returned home, after his captivity, the affairs of the Jews were again brought under his consideration; and he appointed justices itinerant to proceed through the different parts of England for the purpose of making further inquiries concerning the slaughter of the Jews-who were the murderers ? what lands and chattels belonged to them at the time they were slain ?-who took possession of the same? &c. He established very curious regulations, professedly for the protection of the Jews, but really -as it was well observed-" that he might fleece them at his pleasure." He established the famous EXCHEQUER of the JEWS. * See Appendix E. EXCHEQUER OF THE JEWS. 151 The revenues arising from them were placed under the care of an office for the purpose, in which the justiciaries of the Jews presided. To these places Jews and Christians were indifferently appointed. They had not only the Jewish revenues under their care, but were also judges of all civil matters, where a Jew was one of the parties. Lord Coke takes notice of this court, and calls it the "Court of the Justices of the Jews." "In order to know"-observes Dr. Tovey"what were the particular monies, goods, debts, real and personal estates belonging to every Jew in the nation, he commanded (something after the manner of the Conqueror's Domesday) that all effects belonging to Jews should be registered. "That the concealment of any particular should be forfeiture of body and whole estate. "That six or seven public places should be appointed, wherein all their contracts were to be made. "That all such contracts should be made 152 REGULATIONS OF THE in the presence of two assigned lawyers, who were Jews, and two that were Christians, and two public notaries. "That the Clerks of William de Saneta Maria, and William de Chimelli, should likewise be present at all such contracts. "That such contracts should likewise be made by indenture: one part of which was to remain with the Jew, sealed with the seal of him to whom the money was lent; and the other in a common chest, to which there was to be three locks and three keys. "One key whereof was to be kept by the said Jewish lawyers, the other by the Christian lawyers, and the third by the aforesaid Clerks. "The chest also was to be sealed with three seals. "The aforesaid Clerks were also commanded to keep a transcript roll of all such contracts; which roll was to be altered as often as the original charters of contract were altered. "And the fee for drawing every such char |