The Jews in Great Britain / Being a Series of Six Lectures, Delivered in the Liverpool Collegiate Institution, on the Antiquities of the Jews in England.

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

67851

Title

The Jews in Great Britain / Being a Series of Six Lectures, Delivered in the Liverpool Collegiate Institution, on the Antiquities of the Jews in England.

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A historical survey of Jewish life in Great Britain from pre-Conquest times to the expulsion in 1290, examining their legal status, economic role, persecution, and eventual banishment under Edward I.

Summary up to 500 words

Delivered as six lectures at the Liverpool Collegiate Institution, Rev. Moses Margoliouth's *The Jews in Great Britain* chronicles the history of the Jewish community in England from its early presence up to the expulsion in 1290. The work details the fluctuating relationship between the Crown and the Jewish population, highlighting how monarchs like William the Conqueror and Henry II granted charters that allowed Jews to integrate into medieval society, while simultaneously exploiting them financially. Margoliouth documents the establishment of a Jewish parliament and the rise of distinguished physicians and scholars within the community. The narrative explores the tragic deterioration of this relationship under subsequent kings. Margoliouth details the imposition of restrictive badges, the violent outbreaks of anti-Jewish sentiment, and the infamous accusations of ritual murder, such as the case of the boy Hugo of Lincoln. He examines how the monarchy extracted wealth through barbarous tortures and the Exchequer of the Jews, often instigated by clerical hatred and the envy of the populace. The text covers the infamous massacre under King Richard I, the reign of King John, and the oppressive policies of King Henry III, including the infamous trial of Jacob of Norwich and the forced conversion of many Jews. The lectures culminate in the reign of Edward I. Margoliouth describes the increasing persecution, the imprisonment of the entire community to extract a massive tax, and the eventual total banishment of the Jews in 1290. Supported by extensive primary source material, including royal writs, charters, and contemporary chronicles, the work offers a comprehensive view of a community's rise, struggle, and forced departure. Margoliouth also addresses historical deficiencies regarding Jewish learning in Britain, countering claims that no scholars existed there by citing specific figures like De Lyra and the learned men of Norwich and York. The text serves as both a historical record and a defense against the calumnies that plagued the Jewish people during this era.

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Categories

• Biography
• History