=Source.=--Eadmer, _Historia Novorum in Anglia_, ed. Rule, p. 99.
(Rolls Series.)
Over and above the deeds of which we knew the king to be constantly
guilty, when we were living in England, news of some fresh atrocity was
brought every day by those who came thence, wherein he was understood
to be so hardened against God’s righteousness, that many of that
country, men and women alike, cherished sentiments about him other than
the Christian law teaches Christians to hold about a Christian. And
hereon I have thought fit to digress a little, that my charges may not
be thought bare assertion. I will set out simply what we heard, without
affirming its truth or falsity. Those who came told us that almost at
that very time, when the king was staying at Rouen, the Jews dwelling
in that city came to him, complaining that some of their number had
forsaken Judaism and recently become Christians, and asking the king to
take money to force them to reject Christianity and return to Judaism.
He consented, received the price of apostasy, and ordered the Jews
concerned to be brought to him. What shall I add? Many of them were
compelled by his threats and menaces to deny Christ and readopt their
former error. Moreover there was at that time a young Jew, to whom one
day, as he was walking along the road, another young man appeared,
seemly in face and vesture. On being asked whence he came and who he
was, he replied that of old he had been converted from Judaism to
Christianity, and that he was Stephen, the first martyr. “And I have
descended now from Heaven,” he said, “that you may reject the Jewish
superstition, and, becoming a Christian, be baptized in Christ by my
name.” He spoke and vanished out of sight. The young man was seized
with fear and straightway went to a priest and clearly related what
he had seen and heard, and confessing that he believed in Christ,
forthwith received the grace of baptism. When his father discovered
the fact, he was smitten to the heart with sharp grief, and amidst
his anxious efforts to find means of restoring his son to his faith,
learned that William, king of the English, for the sake of money, had
lately given back such converts to Judaism. He went therefore to him
and in plaintive tones set forth how he had lost his son. He prayed
for his compassion and asked that the boy, whom he loved as an only
son, might be restored to his father’s laws by the royal sanction. The
king made no answer to his requests, not hearing a reason why he should
meddle in such a matter. The Jew understood the secret of his silence
and at once promised to give him 60 marks of silver if he would restore
his son to Judaism. So the king ordered the young man to be brought
before him and addressed him as follows: “Your father complains that
you have become a Christian without his permission. If this is so, I
command you to satisfy his desire and without any hesitation to return
at once to Judaism.” The youth replied “My lord king, I suppose you are
jesting.” He replied in a rage, “Jest with you, you guttersnipe? Be
off and do at once what I bid you, else, by the Holy Cross of Lucca, I
will have your eyes put out....” The young man was driven out and found
his father at the door eagerly awaiting the outcome of the matter, and
to him he said with anger, “Son of death, heir of eternal perdition,
is not your own damnation enough, but you must drag me down with you.
Christ has now become my father, and God forbid that I should ever
recognize you for my father, for your father is the devil.” While he
was speaking, at the king’s order the Jew was ushered into the king’s
presence, and the king said to him, “I have done what you asked; pay
me what you promised.” He replied, “My son is now more confirmed than
ever in his confession of Christ, and has become more bitter against
me than before, and yet you say ‘I have done what you asked, pay me
what you promised.’ Rather finish first what you began and then discuss
promises; for that was the covenant between us.” The king replied “I
have done what I could; but, though I have not succeeded, I certainly
shall not do something for nothing.” And the trembling Jew had much ado
to secure his release from half the sum promised, on payment of the
other half.