Page 91 - The Track Of The Jew Through The Ages - Alfred Rosenberg

Alfred Rosenberg

customs and forcibly circumcised them, which became a constant
complaint in all countries. They abused their power over the slaves
in such a way that the latter often had to seek protection against
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mistreatments.
Thus it is not very surprising, especially when one takes
into consideration the character of Rome, that the church councils
abruptly opposed the tolerance of the local inhabitants, forbade
mutual visits between Jews and Christians and prohibited
miscegenation under penalty of excommunication, 146 enacted
ordinances that would prevent the Jews from being able to force
their slaves into customs insulting to the Christian religion and from
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taking up judicial positions in Christian cases. To these conflicts
were added now other events that had to further undermine the good
relationship between Jews and Christians that still prevailed, in spite
of everything, and that even prelates maintained in opposition to
the counciliar decisions.
When, for example, Burgundian Aries was successfully
besieged and defended itself against attack only with difficulty, a
Jew had to stand sentinel one night on the city walls. In order to
obtain a mild treatment for himself and his racial brothers, he threw
a piece ofpaper weighted with a stone in the direction ofthe besiegers
with an invitation to approach the wall at a certain hour with assault
ladders. He then promised them to let them into the city on condition
that they would spare him and his fellow tribesmen. But this letter
did not fly far enough and was found the next day by a soldier of the
garrison. That naturally aroused a great excitement in the city, the
Jew was brought before the court and sentenced to death. The others
stressed they were innocent of the treason and had had no idea of
the plot. One knows nothing of their fate, though Fr. Daniel says
that a Jewish persecution was close to being undertaken which was
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finally satisfied with the prohibition ofJews from standing guard.
,45
Boissi, op.cit., Vol.11, p. 26.
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Orleans, [A.D.] 533.
147
Clermont, [A.D.] 535.
Daniel, Histoire de France, 1729, Vol.1, p.66. [Gabriel Daniel (1649-1728) was
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a Jesuit priest whose Histoire de France depuis I 'etablissement de la monarchic
francaise was published in 1713.
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