CHAP. XIV.
sequence of a complaint of the lords of par-liament to the king, of the malice and perfidy ofthat people, of their usury, their forgeries, andtheir debasement of the coin. Whatever proofsmay have been given of these charges, the kingand council resolved that on a fixed day andhour the whole should be apprehended in everycity of the kingdom and be immediately ba-nished. Apart of their property was confiscated,and a part was allowed to be carried with them.Some of the wealthiest of the race loaded aship with vast treasures. When they had nearlyreached the mouth of the Thames, the masterof the ship cast anchor, and at low water thevessel was dry on the sand. He then per-suaded the Jews to walk with him on the sand,telling them that the tide would not flow for along time. Having led them as far as he couldfrom the ship, and finding the tide was comingin, he stole away from them and ascended theship’s side by a rope.
The wretched Jews , when they discoveredtheir situation, called to him for help; but hemocking them, bade them call on Moses whohad conducted their fathers through the RedSea , and thus left them to perish. He then re-turned to the king, to whom he related what hadhappened, and obtained from him both favourand reward 1 .
1 Hemingford, sub anno 1290.
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