Markup View

Author: shrinkwrapped

Dec 21st 2012 at 11:36:24 AM

Real life & Literature: and much less mild:

August 1255: Lincoln, England: Local Jewish community accused of murder of a Christian child - who subsequently became a local saint "little Saint Hugh".

The 9 year boy probably drowned in a cesspit whilst trying to retrieve a football... However, the Jewish householders who discovered the body felt concealment was a safer option than disclosure and dropped it down a well on the far side of the town. The house belonged to a rich Jewish moneylender and may have contained a school and a synagogue.

On the rediscovery of the body, the blame was placed on the Jews. Hugh was known to play with Jewish children.

Strong evidence that debtors were at the front of the hue and cry.

The "murder" was portrayed as a ritual killing - a "blood libel".

About 100 Jews arrested and 18 hanged at the Tower of London as a result - Richard, Duke of Cornwall had bought the right to tax Jews but Henry III had the right to the estates of Jews convicted of serious offences

A fake well was dug at Jew's Court, Lincoln in 1910 by a new owner, who wished to capitalise on the legend... The remains of the shrine at the Cathedral and Jew's Court can be visited.

The Prioress/Nun's Tale in the Canterbury Tales by Chaucer and the folksong "The Jew's Garden" were directly inspired by this event.