The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1857-11-20
Ahasuerus,
The SHOEMAKER OF JERUSALEM.


Every one has heard of the Wandering
jew, but the particulars Of the legend
may not be quite so well known There
are several versions of it, Matthew Paris,
monk of St. Albans, reports one which
was current in the East during the thir-
tenth century ltruns thus. " This
year 1929 an Armenian archbishop
came to England, to visit the relics Of
saints and venerable places, even as lie
had done in other countries. He bore
letters of recommendation from our lord
the Pope to the religious and prelates Of
this kingdom. Having repaired To st.
Adams, to offer up prayers at the shrine
of the English proto-martyr, he was re
ceived with honor by the abbot and the
convent. In the course of his sojourn
here, he Inquired particularly Of his hosts
concerning the rites and usages Of En-
gland; and in return he related to them
many traditions of his own country. He
was questioned, among other things, about
that famous Joseph who had caused so
much talk among men-that Joseph
who was present at the Passion of Christ,
and who yet exists as living witness Of
the Christian faith He was asked if he
ever had seen him, or heard anything of
him An officer Of the archbishop's suite,
his interpreter, a native OF Antioch, who
was know to Henry Spigurnel, one Of the
lord abbots servants-replied, in the
French language, that his master knew
this man perfectly, and that he had even
entertained him at his own table little
time previous to his departure for the
west. The Armenian's story as to what
passed between Joseph and our Saviour
is as follows. When Jesus was borne
along by the Jews from the pretorium to
the place of crucitixion, Cartaphilus, one
Of Pontius Pilates doorkeepers, pushed
him sharply behind, saying in a eontemp
tuous voice; Walk faster, Jesus, why
dost thou tarry?' Then answered the
Christ with severe and sorrowful look;
Il walk as it is written, and | shal rest
ere long, but thou shall walk until my
coming At the time of the Passion,
Cartaphilus was thirty years Of age.
Whenever he attains his iftieth year. he
falls into kind of ecstacy, from which
he awakes restored again to youth. He
was converted to the Christian faith, and
baptized by Auanias, the same who bap-
tizod Paul, receiving in baptism the name
of Joseph. He resides generally in Ar
meuia. His conversation is pious and
edifying. The bishops are his chief asso-
ciates. He talks but little, and only
when his society is sought by high digni-
ties of the church, and by holy persons;
then he gives curious details respecting
the Passion and Resurrection of Christ"
&c.
The western tradition is somewhat
different from the above, and it is suppo-
sed by some to be more ancient, although
we know not upon what grounds. This
version supposed the Jew to have been a
shoemaker at Jerusalem, named Ahasue-
rus, and that after his baptism he received
the name of Buttad9us. Here is the YER
table legend, as contained in letter writ
ten in 1918 by Chryostomus Dudul@us,
of Westphalia, to one of his friends at Re-
VEL GIN the year l647, NJ. Paulus Won
Eitzen, doctor OF the holy Scriptures, and
bishop of Schleswig, was attending SER
vice in church at Hamburg one Sunday
during winter; when he saw, most miser-
ably clad, that old Jew who has wander
ed through the world ever since the Pas
sion of Christ. He appeared about fifty
years old, tall sin stature, with long hail
hanging over his shoulders. He remain
ed during the sermon, and listened there
to with much devotion. On leaving the
church the doctor entered into converse.
ton with him. The Jew informed him
modestly that he was born at Jerusalem
where he exercised the trade of a shoema
ken; that his name was Ahasuerus; ane
that he had been present at the crucifx
ion of Christ. Afterwards he talked o
the Apostles. Then he added, that Christ