Mr. Turner has collected (_Hist. Eng._) many curious facts relative to
the condition of the Jews, especially in England. Others may be found
dispersed in Velly's _History of France_; and many in the Spanish
writers, Mariana and Zurita. The following are from Vaissette's
_History of Languedoc_:--It was the custom at Toulouse to give a blow
on the face to a Jew every Easter;--this was commuted, in the twelfth
century, for a tribute. At Beziers another usage prevailed--that of
attacking the Jews' houses with stones, from Palm Sunday to Easter. No
other weapon was to be used; but it generally produced bloodshed. The
populace were regularly instigated to the assault by a sermon from the
bishop. At length, a prelate, wiser than the rest, abolished this
ancient practice, but not without receiving a good sum from the Jews.
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