Editing Edict of Expulsion (section)

==Expulsion==
By the time he returned to England from Gascony in 1289, Edward I was deeply in debt.{{sfn|Prestwich|1997|p=307}} At the same time, his experiment to convert the Jews to Christianity and remove their dependence on lending at interest had failed; the fifteen-year period in which Jews were allowed to lease farms had ended. Also, raising significant sums of money from the Jewish population had become increasingly difficult because they had been repeatedly overtaxed.{{sfn|Roth|1964|p=85}}

In 14 June 1290, Edward summoned representatives of the knights of the shires, the middling landowners, to attend Parliament by 15 July. These knights were the group that was most hostile to Jews and usury. On 18 June, Edward sent secret orders to the sheriffs of cities with Jewish residents to seal the ''{{lang|la|archae}}'' containing records of Jewish debts. The reason for this is disputed; it could represent preparation for a further [[tallage]] to be paid by the Jewish population or it could represent a preparatory step for expulsion.<ref>{{harvnb|Huscroft|2006|pp=150-151}}, {{harvnb|Richardson|1960|p=228}}</ref> Parliament met on 15 July; there is no record of the Parliamentary debates so it is uncertain whether the Crown offered the Expulsion of the Jews in return for a vote of taxation or whether Parliament asked for it as a concession. Both views are argued. The link between these seems certain given the evidence of contemporaneous chronicles and the speed at which orders to expel the Jews of England were made, possibly after an agreement was reached.{{sfn|Stacey|1997|pp=78, 100-101}} The taxation granted by Parliament to Edward was very high; at £116,000 it was probably the highest of the Middle Ages.<ref>{{harvnb|Prestwich|1997|p=343}}, {{harvnb|Stacey|1997|p=93}}</ref> In gratitude, the Church later voluntarily agreed to pay tax of a tenth of its revenue.<ref>{{harvnb|Huscroft|2006|pp=151-153}}, {{harvnb|Leonard|1891|p=103}}</ref>

[[File:Letter from King Edward I to the Sheriff of Gloucester, dated 18 July 1290 C54 107, m. 5.jpg|thumb|alt=Original text of a letter from Edward I|Letter from King Edward I to the Sheriff of Gloucester, dated 18 July 1290]] 

On 18 July, the Edict of Expulsion was issued.{{sfn|Prestwich|1997|p=343}} The text of the edict is lost.<ref>{{harvnb|Roth|1964|p=85}}, note 1.</ref> On the [[Hebrew calendar]], 18 July of that year was 9 Av ([[Tisha B'Av]]) 5050, commemorating the fall of the [[Temple at Jerusalem]]; it is unlikely to be a coincidence.<ref> {{harvnb|Richmond|1992|pp=44-45}}, {{harvnb|Roth|1962|p=67}}</ref> According to Roth, it was noted "with awe" by Jewish chroniclers.<ref>Quotation in {{harvnb|Roth|1964|p=85}}</ref> On the same day, writs were sent to sheriffs saying all Jews were to leave by [[All Saints' Day]], 1 November 1290, and outlining their duties in the matter.{{sfn|Huscroft|2006|p=151}}

The edict was implemented with some attempt at fairness. Proclamations ordering the population not to "injure, harm, damage or grieve" the departing Jews were made. Wardens at the [[Cinque Ports]] were told to make arrangements for the Jews' safe passage and cheap fares for the poor, while safe conduct was arranged for dignitaries,{{sfn|Roth|1964|p=85}} such as the wealthy financier [[Bonamy of York]].{{sfn|Hillaby|Hillaby|2013|p=434}} There were limits on the property Jews could take with them. Although a few favoured persons were allowed to sell their homes before they left,{{sfn|Huscroft|2006|p=156}} the vast majority had to forfeit any outstanding debts, homes and immobile property, including synagogues and cemeteries.{{sfn|Roth|1964|p=85}} 

[[File:Letter from King Edward I to the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer, dated 5th November 1290 C54 107, m. 1.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Image of a letter from Edward I|Letter from King Edward I to the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer, dated 5 November 1290]] 

On 5 November, Edward wrote to the [[Barons of the Exchequer]], giving the clearest-known official explanation of his actions. In it, Edward said the Jews had broken trust with him by continuing to find ways to charge interest on loans. He labelled them criminals and traitors, and said they had been expelled "in honour of the Crucified [Jesus]". Interest to be paid on debts seized by the Crown was to be cancelled.{{sfn|Hillaby|Hillaby|2013|p=138}}

===The Jewish refugees===
The Jewish population in England at the time of the expulsion was relatively small, perhaps as few as 2,000 people, although estimates vary.{{sfn|Mundill|2002|p=27}} Decades of privations had caused many Jews to emigrate or convert.{{sfn|Huscroft|2006|pp=86-87, 140-41}} Although it is believed most of the Jews were able to leave England in safety, there are some records of piracy leading to the death of some expelled Jews. On 10 October, a ship of poor London Jews had chartered, which a chronicler described as "bearing their [[Hebrew Bible|scrolls of the law]]",{{efn|{{lang|la|una cum libris suis}}, in Bartholomaeus de Cotton's ''Historia Anglicana''<ref>Quoted by {{harvnb|Roth|1964|p=87}}.</ref>}} sailed toward the mouth of the [[Thames]] near [[Queenborough]] ''en route'' to France. While the tide was low, the captain persuaded the Jews to walk with him on a sandbank; as the tide rose, he returned to the ship, telling the Jews to call upon Moses for help. It appears those involved in this incident were punished.<ref>{{harvnb|Roth|1964|pp=86-87}}, {{harvnb|Prestwich|1997|p=346}}</ref> Another incident occurred in [[Portsmouth]], where sailors received a pardon in 1294,<ref>{{harvnb|Roth|1964|p=87}}, see footnote 1.</ref> and a ship is recorded as drifting ashore near [[Burnham-on-Crouch]], Essex, the Jewish passengers having been robbed and murdered.{{sfn|Huscroft|2006|p=157}} The condition of the sea in autumn was also dangerous; around 1,300 poor Jewish passengers crossed the English Channel to [[Wissant]] near Calais for 4d{{nbsp}}each.{{efn|A labourer's wage for a day's work<ref>{{harvnb|National Archives|2024}}</ref>}} Tolls were collected by the constable of the [[Tower of London]] from those leaving on their departure, of 4d or 2d for "poor Jews".{{sfn|Ashbee|2004|p=36}} Some ships were lost at sea and others arrived with their passengers destitute.{{sfn|Roth|1964|p=87}}

It is unclear where most of the migrants went. Those arriving in France were initially allowed to stay in [[Amiens]] and [[Carcassonne]] but permission was soon revoked. Because most of the Anglo-Jewry still spoke French, historian [[Cecil Roth]] speculates most would have found refuge in France. Evidence from personal names in records show some Jews with the appellation "L'Englesche" or "L'Englois" (ie, ''the English'') in Paris, Savoy and elsewhere. Similar names can be found among the Spanish Jewry, and the Venetian Clerli family claimed descent from Anglo-Jewish refugees. The locations where Anglo-Jewish texts have been found is also evidence for the possible destination of migrants, including places in Germany, Italy, and Spain. The title deeds to an English monastery have been found in the wood store of a synagogue in Cairo, where according to Roth, a refugee from England deposited the document.{{sfn|Roth|1964|pp=87-88}} In the rare case of Bonamy of York, there is a record of him accidentally meeting creditors in Paris in 1292.{{sfn|Hillaby|Hillaby|2013|p=434}} Other individual cases can be speculated about, such as that of [[Licoricia of Winchester]]'s sons Asher and Lumbard, and her grandchildren, who were likely among the exiles.{{sfn|Abrams|2022|p=93}}

===Disposal of Jewish property===
[[File:167 and 169 King Street-The Music House - theatre - geograph.org.uk - 5817647.jpg|thumb|alt=Interior of a building with a vaulted roof|167 and 169 King Street, The Music House, Norwich: one of two surviving Jewish houses dating from before the expulsion. Such properties were forfeit and sold or gifted by the Crown.]]

Following the expulsion, the Crown seized Jewish property. Debts with a value of £20,000 were collated from the ''{{lang|la|archae}}'' from each town with a Jewish settlement. In December, Hugh of Kendall was appointed to dispose of the property seized from the Jewish refugees, the most-valuable of which consisted of houses in London. Some of the property was given away to courtiers, the Church and the royal family's circle in a total of 85 grants. [[William Burnell]] received property in [[Oxford]] which he later gave to [[Balliol College]]; for example, [[Eleanor of Castile|Queen Eleanor]]'s tailor was granted the synagogue in Canterbury. Sales were mostly completed by early 1291 and around £2,000 was raised, £100 of which was used to glaze windows and decorate the tomb of [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] in [[Westminster Abbey]].{{sfn|Huscroft|2006|pp=157-9}} It appears there was no systematic attempt to collect the £20,000 worth of seized debts. The reasons for this could include the death of Queen Eleanor in November 1290, concerns over a possible war with Scotland, or an attempt to win political favour by providing benefit to those previously indebted.{{sfn|Huscroft|2006|p=160}}