so long as there is any gold. This King--yes, John--oppressed his people
bitterly because they would not give him money. Yet his land was a good
land. If he had only given it rest he might have cropped it as a
Christian crops his beard. But even _that_ little he did not know, for
God had deprived him of all understanding, and had multiplied
pestilence, and famine, and despair upon the people. Therefore his
people turned against us Jews, who are all people's dogs. Why not?
Lastly the Barons and the people rose together against the King because
of his cruelties. Nay--nay--the Barons did not love the people, but they
saw that if the King cut up and destroyed the common people, he would
presently destroy the Barons. They joined then, as cats and pigs will
join to slay a snake. I kept the accounts, and I watched all these
things, for I remembered the Prophecy.

'A great gathering of Barons (to most of whom we had lent money) came to
Bury, and there, after much talk and a thousand runnings-about, they
made a roll of the New Laws that they would force on the King. If he
swore to keep those Laws, they would allow him a little money. That was
the King's God--Money--to waste. They showed us the roll of the New
Laws. Why not? We had lent them money. We knew all their counsels--we
Jews shivering behind our doors in Bury.' He threw out his hands
suddenly. 'We did not seek to be paid _all_ in money. We sought
Power--Power--Power! That is _our_ God in our captivity. Power to use!

'I said to Elias: "These New Laws are good. Lend no more money to the
King: so long as he has money he will lie and slay the people."

'"Nay," said Elias. "I know this people. They are madly cruel. Better
one King than a thousand butchers. I have lent a little money to the
Barons, or they would torture us, but my most I will lend to the King.
He hath promised me a place near him at Court, where my wife and I shall
be safe."

'"But if the King be made to keep these New Laws," I said, "the land
will have peace, and our trade will grow. If we lend he will fight
again."

'"Who made thee a Lawgiver in England?" said Elias. "I know this people.
Let the dogs tear one another! I will lend the King ten thousand pieces
of gold, and he can fight the Barons at his pleasure."

'"There are not two thousand pieces of gold in all England this summer,"
I said, for I kept the accounts, and I knew how the earth's gold
moved--that wonderful underground river. Elias barre