New-York tribune., 1903-07-05
WHEN JEWS WERE Prosecuted IN ENGLAND
SOME 500 SOUGHT ESCAPE BY SUICIDE At YORK
IN DAYS OF RICHARD co EUR DE LION

4 number OF Jewish benevolent societies. whose
combined membership mounts into the hundreds
OF thousands, and with ourishing branches in every
state and Territory OF the United States, recently
held their annual meetings at the national capital
where they unanimously resolved TO alleviate the
sU1erings OF their prosecuted brethren wherever
they may be domiciled and to make every effort
TO obtain for them equal rights with their CO.
citizens OF non-Jewfsh persuasion. Committees
called on the President and Secretary Hay and
stated their grievances and asked the assistance
the government at Washington for the furtherance
or their plans President Roosevelt and Secretary
Hay both promised to take up the matter fmrne-
diately and give it their most serious attention
President Roosevelt. in addressing the committees
dwelt on the patriotism OF the Jew and said that
some of the most prominent men Of every civilized
country are either Jews have Jewish blood in
their veins
The recent Kishinetr massacre and the Presidents
speech in this connection bring to mind the story
OF the Jews OF York, who imbued with a desire to
prove their patriotism and love for their King
Richard Of England. in doing excited the
picion of the people. who thereupon plundered their
houses and killed men, women and children.
When Richard aScended the throne, the Jews, to
conciliate the royal protection, brought their rib
utes. Many had hastened from remote parts OF
England, and. appearing at Westminster. the court
and the mob imagined that they had Ieagued to
bewitch then king and ruler. An edict was issued
to forbid their presence at the coronation but
eral says I. DIsraeli. whose curiosity greater
than their prudence. conceived that they might pass
unobserved among the crowd and venture TO in
sinuate themselves into the Abbey. Probably voice
and visage alike betrayed them. for they were
discovered. They few diversely in great consterna
ton. while many dragged with little
mains OF life.
A rumor spread rapidly through the city that in
honor of the festival the Jews were to be mas
sacred The populace, at once eager for royalty
and riot, pillaged and burned their houses and
murdered the devoted Jews. Benedict. Jew of
York to save his life. received baptism; and re-
turning TO that city, to his friend Jocenus, the most
opuent OF the Jews. died Of his wounds. Jocenus
and his servants narrated the tragic circumstances
to their neighbors. but where they hoped to move
sympathy they excited rage. The people of York
gathered to initiate the people at London. and
their first assault the house of Benedict
which. having strength and magnitude. con-
tanned his family and friends, who found their
graves in its ruins. The alarmed Jews FASTENED to
Jocenus, who conducted them to the governor OF
York Castle and prevailed him to afford them
asylum for their persons and effects. In the
mean while their habitations Ieveed and the
owners murdered except few unresistlng beings.
who. unmany in sustaining honor were adapted
| to receive baptism.
| The castle had sufficient strength for their de-
fence; but suspicion arising that the governor.
who often went out intended to betray them,
| they day refused him entrance. He COM
| planned to the sheriff Of the county, and the
chiefs OF the violent party. who stood deeply in
depted TO the Jews uniting with him, orders were
| issued to attack the castle The multitude united
with the soldiery felt such desire for slauSh-
| tering those they intended to despon that the
sheriff. repenting of the order. revoked It, but In
vain. fanaticism and robbery once set loose
were bound to satiate their desire for blood and
plunder They solicited the aid of the better class
| of citizens. who. perhaps owing quite so much
| money to the Jews humanely refused IT; but
| having addressed the clergy were by them ami
mated, conducted and blessed.
AT length the Jews perceived that they could
hold out no longer, and a council was called 70
| consider what remained to be done in the ex-
| tremity Of danger. Among the Jews their elder
! rabbi was most respected. 1t had been customary
with this people invite for this place some for
| eigner, renowned among them for the depth OF
his learning and the sanctity of his manners. At
! this time. the Haham. the elder rabbi, was q
foreigner who had been sent over to instruct them