The history of the Jews in Spain and Portugal, from the earliest times to their final expulsion from those kingdoms, and their subsequent dispersion

Front matter

-

L I B R A. II Y

OF THE

Preface

An impartial history of the Jews of Spain and Portu¬ gal has long been a desideratum. It is a link uniting the Hebrews of the present day with the Israelites of antiquity ; for, during the many centuries they resided in the Iberian Peninsula, they continued to pursue their studies and cultivate the arts and sciences.

The writings of the learned Rabbins of Spain, served to preserve the works of the ancient philoso¬ phers, while Europe in the Gothic ages was exclu- * sively occupied in the art of war. Seeking only to live in tranquillity, “ every man under his vine, and under his fig-tree,” from their peaceable habits they could dedicate themselves to study, in which their powerful intellects and cultivated minds gave them greater facilities than the other inhabitants of Europe, and in proportion to their population, even in the present enlightened age, they can boast a much larger number of men of genius and learning than any single country in the world can produce.

The Jesuit, Huarte, in his “ Examination of Genius,” in the 16th century, considered that the Jewish mind was better fitted for learning than that of others ; and the author of “ Coningsby” would lead to the supposition that it yet remains unchanged.

IV

PREFACE.

In the present volume by arranging those Hebrew authors, in the respective ages in which they flourished, their learning can be better appreciated by a compar¬ ison with other writers of the same periods, than in a modern work1 where that order has not been ob¬ served.

The digressive chapters in that work have no con¬ nection with the history of the Jews of Spain and Portugal, but appear solely as a tirade against the Talmud and Cabala, subjects not understood by the author; but, from the influence he mentions in his preface, it is not surprising that the work is writ¬ ten more in the style of a conversionist than in that of an impartial historian. Nor does he seem to have been better acquainted with the idiom of the * Spanish language, or he could not have committed so gross an error as to state, in Law VI., of the “ Fuero Real,’7 that the legal interest was three per cent., where the original says, tres por quatro , “ three for four,” that is thirty-three and a third per cent.

Basnage, Maynard, and Jost, in their general his¬ tories of the Jews; and Milman, in his excellent abridgement, give tolerably correct accounts of the Spanish and Portuguese Hebrews; but the author, during a visit to Spain, having had access to many ancient Spanish manuscripts, has obtained information from sources with which those able historians were probably unacquainted.

1 “ Sephardim,” by James Finn.

PREFACE.

V

The petitions to the various Cortes and the answers of the sovereigns, are all from manuscripts which, until now, have never been printed, even in the origi¬ nal Spanish, and therefore are for the most part un¬ known. In a work of this description many events recorded by other historians must be found ; but the author has derived his information from many origi¬ nal and most authentic Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew sources; he has only to regret that some more able pen has not undertaken the task of giving to the world a detailed account of the persecutions the descendants of Israel suffered in the Peninsula; the causes that led to them, and an exact translation of the edicts of the Catholic sovereigns that affected them.

Their history, from the high position they held in those countries, is so connected with the histories of Spain and Portugal, that many events in the histories of those kingdoms are necessary for its elucidation; therefore, there will be found, in the following pages, circumstances recorded that apparently do not belong to Jewish history.

This work being confined to the Hebrews of the Peninsula, is the reason the names of numerous cele¬ brated writers in France, Germany, and Italy, are not mentioned; as R. Solomon ben Isaac (Rashi), R. Levi ben Gershon, and others, although terming themselves Spaniards from following the Spanish ritual, which differs in some minor points from the

VI

PREFACE.

German. But that Germany, at those periods, gave birth to men of first-rate talents and learning, is evident from the enlightened Spanish Jews appointing Babenu Asher, of Rottenburg, Chief Rabbi of the Jews of all Spain.

Hoping for the same indulgent consideration, the author has received for his u Jewish Calendar,” and his translation of the “ Conciliator of Rabbi Manasseh Ben Israel,” he ventures to submit this work to the British public.

Chapter II. Page

Edict of Augustus. — Philosophy taught by Jews at Cordova, Toledo, and Oxford. — Proficiency in Astronomy. — Causes of their Medical knowledge. — Council of Elvira in 304. — Gothic Invasion. — Persecution at Minorca — Third Council of Toledo.

— Persecution by Sizebut. — Fourth Council of Toledo. . . 8

Chapter III

Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth, and Sixteenth Councils of Toledo. — Settlements in Africa. — Seventeenth Council of Toledo . 18

Chapter IY.

The Fuero Juzgo, or “ Yisigothic Code.” . 28

Chapter V

The Jews recalled by Witiza. — Invasion of the Moors. — Jews protected by them. — Capitulation of Toledo. — Pelage forms a Christian Monarchy. — Manuscripts of Granada burnt. — Muley Hassan’s Library at Tunis destroyed. — Change of Moorish Dynasty. — The Persian Schools closed. — R. Moses clad in Sackcloth. — Heroic Conduct of his Wife. — Talmud translated into Arabic

CONTENTS.

Vlll

Chapter VI. Page

Abderachman III. bis remarkable Opinion. — Saracens form petty States. — The Kingdoms of Navarre, Aragon, and Portugal commence. — Rabbinical establishments in Spain. — R. Samuel a Levi, the Prince. — R. Joseph his son succeeds him. — Assas¬ sinated. — Sufferings at Granada. — Council at Coyaca. — Learned Men. — R. Solomon ben Gabriol, comparison of his writings with Rousseau. — Five Isaacs. — Anecdote of Alfez. ... 48

Chapter VII

Ferdinand I. — Persecutions prevented. — Jews protected by Alphonso VI. — Capitulation of Toledo. — Claim of Exemption from Capitation Tax. — Peter of Aragon. — Nicholas de Valencia, Physician of Alphonso, interferes with the Marriage of the Princess Urraca. — Assist in the Attack on Burgos. — Learned Men. — R. Judah a Levi — his Opinions of the Deity compared with Voltaire’s. — Maimonides, his Opinion of Aben Ezra. — Extracts from some of his Writings. — Anecdote of Saladin. . 56

Chapter VIII

Learned Men. — Nachmanides,his Conference with Fr. Paul. —

Riot at Toledo. — Synagogue at Estella taken from them. — Privileges in Aragon. — Alphonso II. of Aragon has two Chris¬ tians executed for the murder of a Jew. — Letter of Innocent III.

— Fuero Viejo. — Caraites. — Alphonso IX. opposed to their innovations. — Fuero Real . . . . 66

Chapter IX

Learned Men. — Poignard of Faith. — Christian Conquest. — Moorish Dissensions. — Cortes of Barcelona — of Saragossa. — Capitulation of Cordova. — 'Valencia surrendered. — Rescript at Gerona. — Ordinance of Lerida. — Seville reduced. — Kindness of Ferdinand. — College of Cordova transferred to Toledo. — Re¬ ported Crucifixion of a Chorister. — Alphonso X. the Wise, succeeds his Father. — Astronomers employed by him. — Jealousy of the Catalans. — A Duty levied on Foreign Jews and Moors. —

CONTENTS.

IX

Protected by Alplionso — his ordinance respecting Pledges. — Charter of Alcala — of Salamanca — of Sahagun. — Bull of Alexander IY . .

Chapter XI

Jews accused of Murder at Ossuna. — Discovery of the Plot. Sahudano, Minister to James II. — Clement IV. wishes James to expel the Jews and Moors. — An additional Tax laid on them.

— Join the Authorities to preserve Estella for Donna Johanna.

— Orders respecting Debts due to them in Navarre. — Their Petition to the Cortes of Barcelona. — Alphonso’s conduct to Don Zag de la Malea. — Cortes of Palencia. — Hebrew Population in Castile and Murcia. — Assessment. — Physician to Don Sancho. —

His Treatment of Fever.— Learned Men. — Cortes of Valladolid. 103

Chapter XII

Privileges enjoyed in Castile.— State of Society.— Ordinance respecting the Capitation Tax at Segovia. — Cortes of Medina del Campo. — Ferdinand’s attachment to them. — Council at Zamora. — Cortes of Carrion. — The Shepherds — the Infante Alplionso and the Jews repulse them. — Riot at Barcelona. — Council of Salamanca. — Relative Population of the towns of Aragon . ]17

Chapter XIII

Alphonso XI. — Their Petitions to him. — Amount of their Debts reduced. — Protection afforded them. — Revolt at Valla¬ dolid against Don Joseph of Ecija. — Murders at Estella, the instigator punished, and the City fined. — Cortes of Valladolid. — Ordinance respecting Bonds at Vittoria. — Council of Salamanca.

— Martinez’s plan to destroy them — his end. — Cortes of Alcala.

— The* Plague. — Massacre of the Jews. — Rabenu Asher. — Suicide of his Son. — Ordinance respecting Usury. — Riot at Barcelona. — Physicians and Men of note . . , .131

X

CONTENTS.

Chapter XIV

Peter the Cruel. — Samuel Levi. — New Synagogue at Toledo.

— Murderers executed at Miranda del Ebro. — Sentences of the Jew Magistrates in Navarre, to be executed by the Bailiff. —

Abu Said beheaded. — Henry, Count of Trastemar, crowned at Burgos. — Cortes of Burgos. — Gallant Defence of Briviesca, Toledo, and Burgos. — Protection offered to Jews of Castile on settling in Navarre. — Cortes of Toro. — Massacre at Granada.

— Cortes of Burgos. — -Learned Men. . 147

Chapter XV

John I. — Joseph Pico. — Prevented leaving Navarre. — Cortes of Soria. — John of Castile claims the Crown of Portugal. — David Negro saves the King by his timely notice. — Cortes of Segovia. — Cortes of Saragossa. — Laws at Briviesca. — Council of Salamanca. — Cortes of Palencia. — Representation of Seville against the Archdeacon of Niebla . 160

Chapter XVI

Henry III. — Riot at Seville — Massacre at Palma. — Jewries of Cordova, Toledo, Burgos, Valencia, Barcelona, etc. attacked and plundered. — The consequences . — Anecdote of Queen Leonora, of Henry. — His Physicians. — State of the Jews in Spain at the end of the 15tli century . 171

Chapter XVII

e

Cortes of Madrid. — Regency of John II. — Ordinance of the Regent. — Vincent Ferrer. — The ancient Synagogue of Toledo converted into a Church. — False Accusation against Don Meir Algudes. — Another False Accusation at Segovia. — Learned Men and celebrated Physicians . 181

Chapter XVIII

Ordinance of the Queen Regent at Valladolid — of Don Fer¬ dinand, the other Regent, at Cifuentes. — Memorial of the Jews. — Continued in Public Offices . 196

CONTENTS.

XI

Chapter XIX

Jerome of Santa Fe. — Disputation at Tortosa. — Benedict’s Address to the Kabbins. — Termination of the Conference. —

Bull of Benedict. — Riot at Toledo. — Council of Tortosa. — Cortes of Burgos. — Comparative Population in Aragon. — Alphonso de Spina. — Fortress of Faith. — Jews and Converts of Toledo plundered by Don Henry . • 209

Chapter XX

Ordinance of John for the Protection of Jews and Moors. — Henry IV. succeeds his Father. — Abraham Benevista, negotia¬ tor between Castile and Aragon. — Cortes of Toledo. — Gaon sent to Biscay to raise the Pedido. — Murdered. — Answer of the Basques to the King’s Demand . 221

Chapter XXI

Laws made at Medina del Campo. — Accused of crucifying a Child. — Persecution of Converts, the Causes. — John II. of Aragon operated on for Cataract. — The Jewry of Pampluna ordered to be repaired. — Cortes of Ocana. — Mock Deposition of Henry. — Persecution in Andalusia. — Riot at Segovia. — Outrages in Sicily. — Assessment in Castile. — Isabella becomes Queen. — The Crowns of Castile and Aragon united. — Cortes of Toledo. — The Inquisition founded. ........ 235

Chapter XXII

The Inquisition. — Opposition to its establishment. — Usque’s picture of it. — Torquemada. — Llorente’s observation on it. —

Its Power. — Number of Victims. — Indications of Judaism of the New Christians. — Inscriptions on the Offices at Seville. — Inquisitors of Toledo. — Extracts of Llorente’s History of it. . 248

Chapter XXIII

Employed in Public Offices. — Town Council of Vittoria. — Appeal of the Jews. — Cortes of Tafalla. — Learned men. — Don Isaac Abarbanel and his Sons. — Donna Leonora of Toledo,

Wife of Cosmo de Medici, educated by Benvenida Abarbanel. . 259

Xll

CONTENTS.

Chapter XXIV. Page

War of Granada. — Assistance rendered by the Jews. — Four Hundred and Fifty Captives redeemed by Abraham Senior. — Improbable Accusations. — Overcharge of Taxes refunded. —

Fall of Granada. — The Edict of Banishment . 270

Chapter XXV

The offer of Abarbanel. — Conduct of Torquemada. — Jews of Vittoria save their Cemetery from Desecration. — Abarbanel’s Account of their Departure. — Bernaldez’s. — Jews of Segovia.

— Sufferings. — Some are baptised. — Number that go to Por¬ tugal — to Navarre. — Orders of the King to assist the Refugees.

— Embark. — Cruelties and Misery experienced in their Voy¬ ages. — The Synagogues converted into Churches . 281

Chapter XXVI

Review of the Consequences of Ferdinand’s Conduct. — Con¬ demned by Mariana. — Surprise of Bajazet. — Declarations of the Grandees. — Forgeries to impose on the People. — Ten ages of Rabbanim. — Opinions thereon of Spaniards of the present Day. •—The Consequences of the Expulsion. — Extracts from Morejon on the Act. — Assistance. — The second Inquisitor-general, Deza. — Additional Decree obtained by him. — A private Syna¬ gogue discovered at Valencia . 293

Chapter XXVII

Jews of Portugal. — Don Solomon Jachia holds the highest Offices of State. — Order of Gregory IX. — Favoured by all the Sovereigns. — Their Civil and Religious Government. — Privileges. — Laws respecting Converts. — Bull of Clement "V I* — Cortes of Lisbon — of Evora. — Paid a Property Tax of Two per Cent. — Ordinance of Duarte — of Alphonso V. — Cortes of Santarem — of Lisbon . 303

Chapter XXVIII. John II. — Cortes of Evora. — The Exiles from Spain

CONTENTS.

Xlll admitted. — Forced to quit.- — Cruelties they suffered. — Emanuel succeeds to the Throne. — Banishes them. — Deliberations of the Council. — Their Children taken from them. — Bishop Osorio’s Account. — Usque’s Relation of their Sufferings. . . 317

Chapter XXIX

The Exiles protected by the Papal See. — The Senate of Venice welcomes them. — Privileges granted them at Leghorn, and other Italian States. — Heroism of Esther Cohen. — Solo¬ mon Rophe — in the Barbary States, raised to the Highest Offices. — Egypt. — Morocco. — Heroism of Alvarensi. — Noble Conduct of the Jews to the Portuguese Prisoners. — Parliament of Paris. — Settle at Bourdeaux and Bayonne. — Deputation to Charles V. — Independence of ^Holland. — The Jews protected there — at Hamburgh — in South America and the West Indies — the North of Europe — England. — Sir Moses Montefiore, Baronet of the United Kingdom — Employed and ennobled by Spain and Portugal. — An Article of the Treaty of Utrecht. . 332

Chapter XXX

New Christians. — Massacres at Lisbon. — John III. — Inqui¬ sition established in Portugal. — Jew Physicians. — Anecdote of Francis I. — Learned Men. — Amatus Lusitanus — Solomon

Malcho, etc . . 35 1

Chapter XXXI

New Christians who escape from Spain and Portugal — R.

Manasseh ben Israel. — Learned Men. — R. Isaac Cardozo _

Specimen of his Writings. — Isaac Orobio, his sufferings in the Inquisition. — R. David Nieto — Prevented from quitting Portugal. — Sugar introduced by them into South America and

the West Indies. — Jews permitted to trade in Portugal. _

Anecdote of the Marquis of Pombal. — Re-admitted into Por¬ tugal. — Sir I. L. Goldsmid created a Portuguese Baron. — Laws of Spain unrepealed. — Some established and trade with it unmolested. — Opinions of the enlightened Spaniards of the present day. . . 3G4

XIV

CONTENTS.

Appendix

Page

No. I. — Extract from Power’s History of the Empire of the

Mussulmans. . 379

II. — Extract from Epitaph of R. Joseph Ben Shoshan. . . 380

III. — Extract from Epitaph of R. Joseph Ben Daoud. . . 381

IV. — Extract from Epitaph of R. Joseph Levi Abulaphia. . ib.

V. — Extract from a Poetical Satire on Sancho the Brave for

his Protection of the Jews. * . . . . ib.

YI. — Extract from Epitaph of R. Abraham Alnakova. . ib. VII. — Privileges granted by the British Government to the

Jews of Surinam . ib.

VIII. — Fac-simile of the Inscription in the Synagogue of Toledo, taken in 1752

THE JEWS IN SP PORTUGAL.

Chapter I

Early Settlement of the Jews in Spain and Portugal.

The first settlement of the Jews in the Iberian Peninsula is lost in the obscurity of ages ; but no doubt can exist of its having been at a very early period ; for if Tarshish was, as is supposed by many learned writers, the ancient Tartessus, a city of the Peninsula, some may have established themselves in this part of Europe in the time of Solomon, upwards of seven centuries before the Christian Era, or even earlier.

The Bible leads us to this conclusion; and the inference may fairly be drawn from the following passages.

“For the king had at sea a fleet of Tarshish: with the fleet of Hiram, triennially came the fleet of Tar¬ shish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.”1

“ And King Solomon constructed a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is close to Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea in Idumea.

“ And Hiram sent in the fleet his servants, navi-

B

FLEET OF SOLOMON.

gators who had a knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.

u And they came to Ophir, and took from thence four hundred and twenty talents of gold, and brought it to King Solomon.”2

This shews that Solomon had two fleets ; one that took its departure from Ezion-geber for Ophir, in the East Indies ; and one for the Mediterranean that sailed from Joppa, which we learn from Jonah, was the port of embarkation for Tarshish.3

Therefore, there is no reason to suppose, although the fleet arrived triennially, that they took the same route as that of Pharaoh Necho, who, it is recorded, employed skilful Phoenician mariners, who having sailed out of the Eed Sea, to discover the coasts of Africa, went successfully round them, and the third year after their setting out returned to Egypt, through the straits of Gibraltar.4

The closest friendship and connection existed not only between the two kings, but likewise between their subjects, the Hebrews and Phoenicians. The immediate vicinity of the kingdoms, their similarity of language, habits and dress, contributed to render them, as it were, one people. Jews appear to have resided at Tyre, even before the reign of Solomon, for it is said : —

“ And Kino; Solomon sent and took Hiram from Sor [Tyre]. The son of a widow woman, he was5 of the tribe of Napthali, and his father was a man of Tyre.0

2 I Kings, ix. 26. 3 Jonah, i. 3. 4 Rollin’s Anc. Hist. vol. i.

5 2 Chro. ii. 14. This is the exact translation from the Hebrew. From the words he was being misplaced in the English version, the widow might be supposed to h:ive been of the tribe of Napthali instead of the

6 1 Kings, vii. 13.

son.

THE PHOENICIAN FLEET.

“ The son of a widow woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre.”

He being a Naphthalite proves that his father, who was married to a daughter of the tribe of Dan, be¬ longed to that tribe; and from being termed a man of Tyre, it must be supposed he enjoyed the same rights of citizenship as the inhabitants of that city, nnd that the Hebrews settled in foreign countries at that early period.

Fiom ancient history we learn, that the Phoenicians were among the earliest navigators. They founded Carthage five centuries before the foundation of Rome, and made voyages to Spain, from which country they drew incredible quantities of silver; for Aristotle assures us that when the Phoenicians first arrived in Spain, they exchanged their naval commodities for such immense quantities of silver, that their ships could neither contain nor sustain its weight, although they used it for ballast, and made their anchors, and other implements of silver. And Jeremiah informs us that “plates of silver were brought from Tarshish.”7

The Hebrew and Phoenician fleets sailing together for Tarshish, accounts for the incalculable quantity and superabundance of silver at that time in Jeru¬ salem, as stated in Scripture.

“ Silver was accounted as nought in the time of Solomon.”8

“ And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones for abundance.”9

When the Carthaginians first went to Spain, they found the quantity of silver undiminished, as the inhabitants at that time made all their utensils, and even their mangers, of that precious metal.

LOCALITY OF TARSHISH.

After the Romans gained possession of Spain, this immense quantity was greatly reduced; but yet in the space of nine years they carried away 111,542 pounds of silver, and 4,095 of gold, besides a large quantity of coin, and other articles of value. Making allowance for the exaggerations of fabulous historians, there is no doubt Spain at this time was exceedingly rich, for if we may believe Strabo, there was a mine near Carthagena, that yielded daily 25,000 drams of silver, or about £300,000 per annum.

According to the Targum of Onkelos, he considers Tarshish to have been in Africa. That he may have been led into that opinion is easily accounted for. The Phoenicians are known to have been very jealous of strangers knowing from whence they drew their riches. It is even said, that if at any time they observed a strange sail keeping them company, or following in their track, they were sure to get rid of him if they could, or deceive him if possible; in which policy they went so far as to venture the loss of their vessels and even their lives, so jealous were they of foreigners and so tenaciously bent on keeping the whole trade to themselves.10

This being the case, and Carthage being a colony of theirs, it is probable that, in later times, to deceive other nations and particularly the Romans when Rome became their powerful rival, the Tarshish fleet touched there in their voyages, which led Onkelos and the Romans to suppose that they drew their wealth from Africa.

This early settlement of the Jews in Spain is further corroborated by an ancient history of Toledo,11 wherein it is stated that 500 years before the Chris-

10 Ency. Brit. 11 Rojas.

CHRONICLE OF TOLEDO.

tian Era, their population had so increased in that city (which could not have been the case unless they had been long settled there), that they spread and built the towns of Escalona, Magueda, Cadaholsa, Guardia, Romeria, Alrnoroz, Noves, Noiubleca, and the present Lembleque, which they had named Beth¬ lehem. Toledo is also said to have been built by them on their first establishment in that country, to which they gave the name of Toledoth ; although the Hebrew writers of the middle ages call it Tolitola, probably the name given to it by the Moors, who held possession of it for four centuries, or a corruption of its Latin name Toletanum.

Some authors of high authority, and to whom the greatest erudition cannot be denied, entertain the

opinion that Jews existed in Spain from the earliest times.

Mariana, and some other Spanish historians, date the establishment of the Jews after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by Nebuchadnezzar; and that many came to Hispania with Hispan, who had accompanied him as an auxiliary in his expedition against Judea; as this event only took place 550 years before the Christian Era, they could not then have built the above-named towns at the period stated, yet Father Mariana, who was no friend to the Jews, and acquainted with the assertion, says, he will neither affirm nor attempt to disprove it ; which he would readily have done if he could.

Some assert it to have been seventy years later, on the restoration to freedom by Cyrus ; at which period they say, one of his captains named Pyrrhus came to Spain, and brought many Hebrews with him.

EARLY EMIGRATION OF JEWS.

Whether at the former or latter periods, their early settlement is confirmed by Don Isaac Abarbanel ; for in his commentary on Zechariah,he states that his and another family resided at Seville during the time of the Second Temple.

Many probably emigrated from the Holy Land during the troubles in the time of the Judges, as we learn Elimelech did12 ; and also during the wars between the kings of Judah and Israel.

Later writers assume the great influx to have taken place after the destruction of the Second Temple. One says, “ After Titus the son of Vespasian subjected Judea, many of those that could escape from the swords of the Roman legions, or the flames that reduced the beautiful Jerusalem to ashes, fled, seeking an asylum, some in the East, some in Babylon, some in Egypt ; and the families of the greatest considera¬ tion were brought to Spain, among whom were the remnants of Benjamin and Judah, descendants of the house of David.”13

At this period many went to Merida; for the historian of that city states, “that they always made their residence in the best towns of a state, and from their general endeavours to assist each other, those expatriated from Jerusalem after the second destruc¬ tion being destitute, came to seek their brethren, who had long resided in that city.14

The anonymous author of the Memorias of Majorca, considers their settling in the Balearic Islands to have been sixty -five years before the Christian Era.

After the conquest of Bither, and the suppression of the revolt against the Roman power caused by Barchochab, the last effort of the Jewish nation to

13 Morejon.

14 Vargas.

ETYMOLOGY OF “ DON.”

regain their independence, Adrian, who was a native of Spain, transported to it a large number of prisoners from Judea; some authors say as many as 50,000 families, thus greatly increasing the Hebrew popula¬ tion of those Horn an provinces.

Although the Spanish title of Don is generally supposed to be derived from an abbreviation of the Latin Dominus , and for which, seeing its univer¬ sal application, there might be good grounds were the word Dom , yet, when the ancient establishment of the Jews in that country is considered, it is by far more probable that it originated from the Hebrew word JHtf Adon (Lord, Master), which is used by Jews, as commonly as Sir in English con¬ versation.

This opinion has also been entertained by some ancient learned lexicographers.15

15 Minsheu, Guichard, and others.

Chapter II

Edict of Augustus — Philosophy taught by Jews at Cor¬ dova , Toledo , and Oxford — Proficiency in Astro¬ nomy — Causes of their Medical knowledge — Council of Elvira in 804 — Gothic Invasion — Persecution at Minorca — Third Council of Toledo — Persecution by Sizebut — Fourth Council of Toledo.

The edict of Augustus in the year 15 b. c., upwards of half a century before the destruction by Titus, addressed to all the Governors of the Roman provinces even to Britain,1 in favour of the Jews, proves, that while Spain was under the dominion of the Romans, they enjoyed security and tranquillity ; yet we have no accounts of the Hebrew Philosophers, Mathemati¬ cians, Astronomers, Historians, Grammarians, Physi¬ cians, Theologians, Jurists and Poets of that period; their names are unknown, but the germs must have existed, that produced so many who in after ages illustrated the Peninsula, and rendered it so famed for learning. At the time that the rest of Europe was veiled in superstition and ignorance, and when it could boast of no other literature than Monkish legends that were unknown beyond the cloisters where they were penned, Jewish Rabbins occupied the highest chairs of Philosophy and Mathematics in the renowned Moorish Schools of Cordova and Toledo. Even in England the first school where experimental Philosophy, Geometry, Algebra and Logic were taught, was that of the Jews at Oxford, in the reign of Henry I.

1 Semach David.

LEARNING OF THE JEWS.

It has yet the record of its ancient teachers in the Hebrew names of Moses’ Hall, and Jacob’s Hall.

By them was the philosophy of the ancients made known to Europe. Accustomed from the earliest times, in the clear unclouded Oriental sky, to watch and observe the courses of the planetary system, their attention was incessantly directed to all the secret mysteries of nature; and they may be classed amongst the earliest astronomers.

In medicine they excelled. Various causes combined to give them this pre-eminence, their industry had rendered them masters of commerce. They travelled more than other people; and their knowledge of foreign languages led them to seek in Greece and the ruins of the Roman Empire for ancient manuscripts. They knew where the choicest drugs were to be found, and how best to preserve them. Their close connection with the East (for every doubtful legal question was sent to the famous Oriental schools for solution), and with Spain, which had become the centre of Arabian medicine, made them the chosen physicians of kings, princes, popes, and nobles, in preference to others. The Arabian medicine was the offspring of the Jewish ; yet some historians have unjustly confounded them, giving to the former the honor that belongs to the latter. The Spanish Hebrews educated at Cordova, Toledo, and Zara, furnished masters to the celebrated schools of Montpelier and Salerno.