Latin-Hebrew Receipt (England)

1182

About This Entry

This Latin deed, written on parchment and dated to November 15, 1182, acquits Richard de Malebis of his obligation to pay £4, as part of a much larger debt. The recto, as is common in such texts, contains Hebrew signatures. Less than a decade later, Richard was one of the ringleaders of the 1190 massacre of the Jews of York, which was initiated in part to avoid repayment of such loans. King Richard I (r. 1189–1199) punished Richard for his role in this attack.

Parchment with five lines of Latin script toward the top and the rest blank.

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Parchment with brown Hebrew script upside-down and sideways toward the top, followed by the number 1251 in the center of the page, the rest of which is blank.

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Latin

To all persons seeing this deed, Solomon of Paris, greeting. Know that I have received from Richard de Malbys £4 of the debt which he owes to my master Aaron [of Lincoln] on the first day after Martinmas, the first subsequent to the death of Geoffrey [Kirtling] Archdeacon of Lincoln [15 November 1182]; and thereupon I have made this my deed and testimony; and this is out of the great debt which he owes to my master Aaron whereof I have appointed him a day [for settlement].

Hebrew

I have received £4 from Richard the Evil Beast¹ on the Monday of “And he dwelt”² 143 [1182/3] from his great debt.

Solomon of Paris

Slightly adapted from the translation of Joseph Jacobs.

Notes

A punning translation of the name Malebys, probably suggested by the words: “Some evil beast has devoured him” (Genesis 37:20) read from the Law on the preceding Sabbath. See next note. Richard earned this name later on at the York massacre, where he acted as ringleader. The “great debt” here referred to may have had something to do with his enmity.

Every Sabbath a fixed portion of the Law is read in synagogue. On Saturday, Nov. 13, 1182, the portion beginning “and Jacob dwelt” (Genesis 37) had been read.