ous character, for his brethren accused him of
coining, and offered one thousand marks rather than that he should be
released from prison. Richard refused the tempting bribe, because
Abraham was "his Jew." Abraham revenged himself by laying information
of plots and conspiracies entered into by the whole people, and the
more probable charge of concealment of their wealth from the rapacious
hands of the King. This led to a strict and severe investigation of
their property. At this investigation was present a wicked and
merciless Jew, who rebuked the Christians for their tenderness to his
brethren, and reproached the King's officers as gentle and effeminate.
He gnashed his teeth, and, as each Jew appeared, declared that he
could afford to pay twice as much as was exacted. Though he lied, he
was useful in betraying their secret hoards to the King.

The distresses of the King increased, and, as his parliament
resolutely refused to maintain his extravagant expenditure, nothing
remained but to drain still further the veins of the Jews. The office
was delegated to Richard, Earl of Cornwall, his brother, whom, from
his wealth, the King might consider possessed of some secret for
accumulating riches from hidden sources. The rabbi Elias was deputed
to wait on the Prince, expressing the unanimous determination of all
the Jews to quit the country rather than submit to further burdens:
"Their trade was ruined by the Caorsini, the Pope's merchants--the Jew
dared not call them usurers--who heaped up masses of gold by their
money-lending; they could scarcely live on the miserable gains they
now obtained; if their eyes were torn out and their bodies flayed,
they could not give more." The old man fainted at the close of his
speech, and was with difficulty revived.

Their departure from the country was a vain boast, for whither should
they go? The edicts of the King of France had closed that country
against them, and the inhospitable world scarcely afforded a place of
refuge. Earl Richard treated them with leniency and accepted a small
sum. But the next year the King renewed his demands; his declaration
affected no disguise: "It is dreadful to imagine the debts to which I
am bound. By the face of God, they amount to two hundred thousand
marks; if I should say three hundred thousand, I should not go beyond
the truth. Money I must have, from any place, from any person, or by
any means." The King's acts display as little dignity as his
proc