Medieval Sourcebook:
Contact between English Jews and Christians:
Two Twelfth-century Views
(1) English Jews drink with Gentiles (Bef. 1184)
It is surprising that in the land of the Isle [England] they are lenient in the matter
of drinking strong drinks of the Gentiles and along with them. For the Law is
distinctly according to those Doctors who forbid it on the ground that it leads to
intermarriage. But perhaps, as there would be great ill feeling if they were to refrain
from this, one not be severe upon them.
Source: Tosafoth R. Elchanan (Heb.), Halberstamm MS. f. 48b, ed.
Joseph Jacobs, The Jews of Angevin England: Documents and Records (London, 1893),
p. 269. Jacobs notes: "This is from an inedited MS. from the Halberstamm Collection,
now at the Judith Montefiore College, Ramsgate, kindly examined and translated by Mr. I.
Abrahams for this work. . . "
(2) The result of entering a Jewish House (Bef. 1193)
By a similar piety we know Godeliva of Canterbury to have been seized, who taking some
water [sanctified by St. Thomas] in a wooden bucket, was passing through the inn
(hospitium) of a certain Jew and entered it at the invitation of a Jewish woman. For
being skilled in charms and incantations she was accustomed to charm the weak foot of the
Jewess. But scarcely had her foot entered the abominate house when the bucket flew
into three pieces and by the loss of the water she learned the wicked intuitions of her
own mind, and understanding that she had committed a fault she returned no more to that
Jewess.
Source.
J.C. Robertson, Materials for History of Thomas Becket, ii. 7., ed. Joseph
Jacobs, The Jews of Angevin England: Documents and Records (London, 1893), p. 153.
Scanned by Elka Klein.
This text is part of the Internet
Medieval Source Book. The Sourcebook is a collection of public domain and
copy-permitted texts related to medieval and Byzantine history.
Unless otherwise indicated the specific electronic form of the document is copyright.
Permission is granted for electronic copying, distribution in print form for educational
purposes and personal use. If you do reduplicate the document, indicate the source. No
permission is granted for commercial use.
© Paul Halsall, January 1999
ihsp@fordham.edu
The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of Fordham University, New York. The Internet
Medieval Sourcebook, and other medieval components of the project, are located at
the Fordham University Center
for Medieval Studies.The IHSP recognizes the contribution of Fordham University, the
Fordham University History Department, and the Fordham Center for Medieval Studies in
providing web space and server support for the project. The IHSP is a project independent of Fordham University. Although the IHSP seeks to follow all applicable copyright law, Fordham University is not
the institutional owner, and is not liable as the result of any legal action.
© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 15 November 2024 [CV]
|
