XLVII Rufus and the Jews
Among the evils which the Saxons associated with the Norman Conquest, not the least was the introduction, by William the Conqueror, of a considerable number of Jews into England. Doubtless, ere that event, the fame of their wealth, and of the atrocious means by which it had been acquired, had preceded them. But their arrival from Rouen caused much dismay. Accounts of their usury, their traffic in human beings, and the insults offered by them to the Christian religion, were carried through the land, and so influenced the popular mind, that, of all the nations of modern Europe, the Anglo-Saxons learned most thoroughly to despise the degraded remnants of the chosen people. There was something about the appearance of men of Hebrew race which raised involuntary antipathy in the breasts of the inhabitants of England; and wherever the face of a Jew appeared, with the sensual lip, the sharp, hooked nose, and features the reverse of beautiful, hands instinctively clenched and lips curled with scorn.
The Red King did not share the prejudices of his Saxon subjects. Being an infidel, he could not think the worse of them because they were not Christians; and being a spendthrift, he was glad to avail himself of their wealth, without particularly inquiring into the nefarious means by which it had been acquired. In any case, Rufus gave the Jews considerable encouragement in matters of religion; and, whenever an opportunity occurred, he showed that he was not above pocketing their gold.
It appears that on one occasion the Red King even consented to a disputation being held in his presence between Jews and Christians. Before the arrival of the day appointed, the Jews came to Rufus, laid rich presents at his feet, and implored him to insure them a fair and impartial hearing.
“Doubtless,” he answered; “and you must quit yourselves like men.”
“Assuredly,” said the Jews.
“And if you prevail in argument,” exclaimed Rufus, “I swear by St. Luke’s face that I myself will turn Jew, and be of your religion.”
This disputation, like most disputations of the kind, came to nought, and Rufus was not called upon to redeem his pledge of becoming a convert. He did, however, contrive to turn the conversion of others to account. When a Jew happened to be brought to a knowledge of the truth, Rufus was quite ready, on certain terms, to lay his commands on the convert to return to Judaism. In this way, which ill became the king of a Christian people, he obtained considerable sums of money.
On one occasion a wealthy old Jew, whose son had seen the error of his ways, and embraced Christianity, appeared at the king’s court, told his tale of woe, and entreated assistance.
“I am sore troubled,” said the Hebrew; “I am bowed down with grief. O king,” he continued, presenting Rufus with sixty marks, “command my son to return to the faith of his fathers.”
“Ay,” said Rufus, clutching the money; “bring your son to me, and I will bring him to reason.”
The old Jew retired, and soon after returned with his son. The young Israelite, however, was unabashed as he entered the Red King’s presence, conscious of the goodness of his cause.
“Young man,” said Rufus, by way of settling the business in as few words as possible, “I command you, without delay, to return to the religion of your nation.”
“King,” said the young Israelite, in a tone of mournful reproach, “I marvel that you can give such advice. Being a Christian, you ought to feel it your duty rather to persuade me to remain steadfast to Christianity.”
“Dog!” stammered out Rufus, in a loud tone; “get out of my sight without delay, or it will be the worse for thee.”
The convert went his way, and the old Jew remained, deeply mortified at the result of the royal mediation, for which he had paid so high a price. But even at that instant his intense love of gold, prevailing over all considerations of propriety, prompted an attempt to recover his sixty marks.
“Since, O king,” he said, “you have not persuaded my son to return to his religion, it would be but fair to restore to me the gold I gave to that end.”
“Nay,” answered the king, with his usual oath; “I have taken trouble enough, and have done work enough, for the gold, and more. And yet I would like to show you how kindly I can deal. Therefore you shall have one-half of the sixty marks, and in conscience you cannot deny me the other.”