of the castle and the greater part of those who survived, collected themselves together in one of the buildings, set fire to it, and resigned themselves to the flames. A few only, of less courage than their brethren, still remained. These, coming forward upon the ramparts, called out to the assailants, and showed the manner in which their companions had fallen, and offered to receive baptism if their lives might be spared. This was granted to them; but they no sooner passed the gate than the people flew upon them and slew them, with the exception of one or two who escaped; which proved that the Rabbi was not far wrong in his calculation. The populace afterwards betook themselves to the destroying and burning of all the houses of the Jews in the city, which had not been previously demolished. Thus perished nearly two thousand Jews at York on this occasion, besides those who fell in the other parts of England. The elder Disraeli, who drank deeply at this source of information, makes the following remark in his "Curiosities of Literature," at the conclusion of an article on the above melancholy tragedy :-" My Rabin is a companion for Cato. His history is a tale, "Which Cato's self had not disdained to hear.'" Now comes the secret. No sooner did the "Christians" make an end of butchering our unhappy people, than many gentlemen of the province-who had been debtors to the Jews, and took, therefore, the most active part in the carnage-repaired to the cathedral, where their bonds were deposited, compelled the officer to deliver those obligations, and burned them in the church with great solemnity before the altar. When the account of these outrages reached the king's ears, he was exceedingly enraged at this insult to his authority, which at the same time affected his revenue; he sent over immediate directions to the Bishop of Ely, his Chancellor, to apprehend and punish the offenders. The Chancellor accordingly proceeded to York with a strong force, to execute the king's commands. The principal actors in the massacres, however, being warned of his approach, made their escape; some of them taking refuge in Scotland, but the greater number proceeding on their journey to the Holy Land. The governor of the castle and the sheriff were, however, apprehended, and, not being able to clear their conduct, were deprived of their respective offices. A heavy fine was also imposed upon the inhabitants of the city, for which the Chancellor took one hundred hostages with him. Richard (mala bestia, wicked beast), or, as he is called, Mallebisse, was obliged to pay twenty marks for the use of his land, as also for protection to himself and his two esquires till the king's return; but, with these exceptions, it does not appear that any individual was brought to punishment for the part he had taken in the late disturbances. When Richard returned home after his captivity, the affairs of the Jews were again brought under his consideration; and he appointed justices itinerant to proceed through the different parts of England, for the purpose of making further inquiries concerning the slaughter of the Jews:-Who were the murderers ?—what lands and chattels belonged to them at the time they were slain ?—who took possession of the same? &c. He established the famous Exchequer of the Jews. The revenues arising from them were placed under the care of an office for the purpose, in which the justiciaries of the Jews presided. To these places Jews and Christians were indifferently appointed. They had not only the Jewish revenues under their care, but were also judges of all civil matters where a Jew was one of the parties. Lord Coke, observed the venerable representative of the house of Paltiel, takes notice of this court, and calls it the "Court of the Justices of the Jews." The following is a summary of the regulations of that Court. "In order to know what were the particular moneys, goods, debts, real and personal estates, belonging to every Jew in the nation, he commanded (something after the manner of the Conqueror's Domesday') that all effects belonging to the Jews should be registered. "That the concealment of any particular should be forfeiture of body and whole estate. "That six or seven public places should be appointed, wherein all their contracts were to be made. "That all such contracts should be made in the presence of two assigned lawyers who were Jews, and two that were Christians, and two public notaries. "That the clerks of William de Sancta Maria and William de Chimelli should likewise be present at all such contracts. "That such contracts should likewise be made by indenture; one part of which was to remain with the Jews, sealed with the seal of him to whom the money was lent; and the other in a common chest, to which there were to be three locks and three keys. "One key whereof was to be kept by the said Jewish lawyers, the other by the Christian lawyers, and the third by the aforesaid clerks. "The chest also was to be sealed with three seals. "The aforesaid clerks were also commanded to keep a transcript-roll of all such contracts: which roll was to be altered as often as the original charters of contract were altered. "And the fee for drawing every such charter was to be three pence; one moiety whereof was to be paid by the Jew, and the other moiety by him to whom the money was lent ;-whereof the two writers were to have two pence, and the keeper of the rolls the third. "It was ordained likewise, that as no contracts for money, so no payment of it, or acquittance, or any other alterations in the charters or transcript-rolls were to be made, but in the presence of the aforesaid persons, or the greater part of them. "The aforesaid two Jews were to have a copy of the said transcriptroll, and the two Christians another. "Every Jew was to take an oath upon the roll of the Pentateuch, that he would truthfully and faithfully register all his estates, both real and personal, as above directed; and discover every Jew whom he should know guilty of any concealment: as likewise all forgers or falsifiers of charters, and clippers of money." Under these regulations our people live peaceably; for they very seldom, on their part, violate any regulations established between themselves and others, especially when under an oath; and as it is the king's interest to adhere to the above regulations on his part, the Jews enjoy comparative tranquillity-but at no small expense. The justices of the Jews at this time are a certain Benedict and Joseph Aaron. Their contracts, or, as they are called, Shtaroth, from the Hebrew-or, rather, Chaldee word Shtar-are written either in indifferent Hebrew or bad Latin, or the same sort of French. That court where all the documents are deposited goes by the name of "The Star Chamber." (To be continued.) Notes. THE HEBREW CHRISTIAN MUSE. AT the re-opening of Christ Church, Leicester-after being reseated and restored-on Wednesday, the 19th of last November, special hymns were chosen for the solemn services on the auspicious occasion. The following are from the pen of the Vicar, our gifted Brother, the Rev. A. A. Isaacs. We are always glad to record the work of any Hebrew Christian. These hymns are worthy to be embalmed in our pages; for which purpose we obtained the author's sanction. HYMN I. WELCOME, with one accord, the joyous day, When mercy, truth, and love, their beams display: When gathering saints in happy concert meet, To join in praises at the mercy-seat. Welcomes resound from all, from heart and tongue, In holy concord, and in heavenly song. Welcome, the means of grace, the Gospel's sound; The common worship of a common Lord; Welcome, the solemn anthem of the heart; The quickening power, which God Himself imparts; The pledge and earnest of eternal rest; The peace which fills the calm and trusting breast. Here may we thirst, and have our thirst supplied; Here may we hunger and green pastures find; Here may the light of life and love divine, From Jesu's presence, on His people shine : In heart, in voice, in sympathy agree, For us, dear Lord, here it is good to be. HYMN II. To God most High let praise From realm to realm the strains From age to age the ransom'd train Borne on the wings of love In harmony divine Praise and devotion blend, And peace and joy and love entwine World without end. Thine is the Kingly crown, Thine is the sovereign sway, Thine is the glory and renown, From day to day. From earth to heaven we cry, From heaven to earth resound, All honour, might, and majesty, Be Thine, O Lord. HYMN III. HOLY, holy, holy Lord, Send Thy precious Word to heal, In Thy courts on earth we love Oft to think of courts above: In sweet fellowship now given, Pledge of fellowship in heaven. Blest, supremely blest, since we, Our Redeemer then shall see. HYMN IV. HARK! the notes of angels swelling Through the realms of cloudless day: Hark! how each celestial dwelling Echoes with the heaven-born lay. Harps of gold in tuneful measure, Touched by hands divinely skilled : Streams of praise roll on for ever, All the courts of bliss are filled. Rocks and groves and snow-capt mountains Join the anthem of the skies; Foaming floods and silvery fountains, Blend anew their harmonies. From above the sunbeams quiver O'er the crested waves below; While each deep melodious river, Vocal e'er with praises flow. Earth and sky and murmuring ocean, Onward with the tidings roll: Whispering winds in ceaseless motion, Wend their way from pole to pole. Stars in golden clusters sleeping, Dew-drops bright as summer's tears, All the sacred chorus keeping, Praise the music of the spheres. Tribes of earth, of every nation, Magnify Messiah's name; Faithful heralds of salvation, Trumpet-tongued proclaim His fame. E'en from hearts with sorrow broken, E'en amidst the din of strife, Rise to heaven in words unspoken, Songs of everlasting life. Open wide ye gates of glory; Lo! the hosts triumphant come. List! they sing redemption's story, All the work of God is done. Now in humble adoration, One seraphic chant they raise; Christ is all,-complete salvation; Perfect, full, eternal PRAISE. OUTLINES OF PROPHECY. 1. THE Vision of Daniel (in the main), the prophecy on Olivet; and the scriptures concerning the man of sin, are all future in application. 2. With the return of the Jews will recommence the fulfilment of prophecy. 3. The image of Nebuchadnezzar represents one empire under four different dynasties. 4. The Babylonian was the 1st great dynasty: the Persian the 2nd, the Grecian the 3rd; some other the fourth. 5. The Roman has not been the 4th, because it never had the dominion over Babylon as the others had; nor did it arise immediately out of one of the four. 6. No 4th kingdom having yet had dominion over Babylon, this 4th is yet future. 7. This 4th or iron kingdom will be divided into ten kingdoms. These will be " partly strong and partly brittle;" probably in the proportion of seven to three. (Dan. vii. 7, 8.) 8. A kingdom (little horn) arising will, according to Daniel, pluck up three of these and rule over all the rest, another heptarchy resolved into a monarchy. "re Note. John says of the ten horns that they are ten kings. . . ceive power as kings one hour with the beast. . . . have one mind, and will give their power and strength unto the beast. . . . for God hath put it into their hearts." (Rev. xvii. 12, 13, 17.) 66 9. Another kingdom will be set up which shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." (Dan. ii. 44.) 10. The little horn arises out of one of the four horns which succeed the horn of the goat, or Greece (“a horn of sight," in the margin: compare Dan. vii. 20, "that horn that had eyes "). 11. This horn is to be traced through Lysimachus king of Thrace; and afterwards of Macedonia or Greece. Note. Antiochus Epiphanes was not the little horn, for his kingdom (Syria) was a component part of one of the four, not a new 5th kingdom arising out of one of them. 12. Lysimachus lodged his treasure in Pergamos, and entrusted it to Philetarus, who made himself independent, ruled at Pergamos, and left it to his posterity. 13. Five kings reigned at Pergamos. Note. Seven had rule, but only five of these were crowned. The seven are Philetarus, Eumenes 1st, Attalus 1st, Eumenes 2nd, Attalus 2nd, Attalus 3rd, Aristonicus. The last five were crowned. 14. These five are the kings of whom it is said, "five are fallen." 15. Attalus 3rd left his kingdom to the Romans. Aristonicus seized it, but he was defeated by the.Roman general. 16. Thus Rome became the 6th, of whom it is said, "one is," viz., when John wrote. 17. Pergamos passed from the Romans to the Turks-the 7th, of which it is said, "when he cometh, he must continue a short space." 18. "The 8th (the beast) is of the seven," combining and concentrating all their characteristics. Thus John saw a beast "like unto a leopard, with the feet of a bear, and the mouth of a lion," with "ten horns." Daniel saw one "diverse from all," and with "ten horns." Also in Daniel, we have the first three, a lion, a bear, and a leopard. Daniel saw the beast in his unearthly magnate character; John, as uniting all the four earthly dynasties, Greece predominant: the finger of prophecy thus pointing to Constantinople, as the metropolis once more of the polished subtle Greek. 19. The dragon appears with seven crowned heads and ten uncrowned horns the beast with seven uncrowned heads and ten crowned horns. In the 1st dominion, at Pergamos, Satan had no delegate, the heads are therefore crowned as being supreme in the earth under him. In the second dominion, the beast is the delegated supreme authority in the earth, and the horns are crowned, as subordinate to him. Note. Horns, in Scripture, symbolise power, but subordinate and dependent. 20. The 4th kingdom is hellish in its nature, origin, and agencies-“ diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, and shall devour the whole earth, tread it down and break it in pieces." 21. The "little horn" and "the fourth beast" are identical. Comp. Dan. vii. 7, 19, 23; viii. 10-13; Rev. xii. 4. 22. The conquests of "the little horn" from Pergamos, are "toward the south (Egypt); toward the east (Babylonia, Persia, Media, &c.), “ and toward the pleasant land" (Palestine): thus establishing the 4th dynasty, the legs of the image, iron and clay-hellish strength with human weakness, which cannot cleave together (Daniel ii. 40), except for evil concurrent. 23. The beast will probably be a man raised from the dead. (Rev. xiii. 3, 12, 14; xvii. 8, 11; xix. 20.) 66 24. The Messiah mentioned in Daniel, may be the false Messiahthe Antichrist. If another shall come in his own name, him, ye will receive." 'Ye have heard that the Antichrist shall come." 25. The events predicted in Dan. ix. date from "the going forth of the commandment to restore (return) and build Jerusalem." Note. May not the beast, having acquired some name in the earth, like another Cyrus, issue this command. 27. The following has been proposed as a new translation of Dan. ix. 25, &c. "From the going forth of the commandment to restore (return) and build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the prince shall be seven weeks. And threescore and two weeks the street shall be built again, and the wall even in troublous times." Note 1. One MS. gives this verb "shall return' in the masculine gender; then it must be read, "he (Messiah, the prince) will return and the street shall be built." Note 2. "Even in troublous times;" strictly literal it will be "and in strait of the times." The Greek version reads, " and the times shall be emptied out." Is this synchronous with 66 the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when . . . . the mystery of God should be finished?" (Rev. x. 7.) The ancient Latin reads, and the times shall be renewed." |