Henry de Knyghton, in his “De Eventibus Angliæ,” gives us the following
piece of information:――“One John, a most bold Christian, flying from
Stanford with many spoyls of the Jews, to Northampton, was there
secretly slain by his host, to get his money, and thrown without the
city in the night, the murderer flying thereupon. After which, through
the dreams of old women, and fallacious signs, the simple people,
attributing to him the merits of a martyr, honoured his sepulchre with
solemn vigils and gifts. This was derided by the wise men, yet it was
acceptable to the Clerks there living, by reason of the gains.”¹ Strange,
however, Englishmen will attribute avarice and love of money to the
poor Jews, rather than to their own ancestors, who possessed by far the
greater share of both.
¹ See Prynne’s Demurrer, Part i., p. 13.