times amusing, afternoon. Although no clear-cut answer could be provided many different suggestions were put forward. It was inevitable, from the nature of the subject, that the discussion should frequently stray from the point, but it was maintained at the high level characteristic of the Curia. The highlights of the Society's activities were provided by two visits to the York Police Courts. These were both on the same day. In the morning we attended the Magistrates' Court and heard a representative cross-section of the type of cases dealt with. These including cycle thefts, robbery with violence, assault and drinking and driving offences, some of them tragic and some rather humorous. The afternoon was spent in touring the Police Station. The cells were, however, "out of bounds" to visitors. Our thanks are due to Supt. Carter, who acted as our host and answered our many questions on this most interesting visit. J.H.C.
A YORK "POGROM" This country has been so remarkably free from the violent outbreaks of anti-Semitism only too familiar in the history of many continental countries that it is almost forgotten that England too once had its Jewish problem. And it may be of particular interest to recall that the most tragic massacre of English Jewry our annals have to record took place in our own city of York. It occurred in the first year of the reign of Richard Cceur de Lion, and began with his coronation in September, 1189. The Jews settled in this country (they could claim with justice that they had "come over with the Conqueror", since it was Duke William who introduced them from the continent) were alive to the advisability of paying their respects to the new monarch. In the feudal organisation of the day they were the property of the king, his "chattels"; and above all they were anxious to secure his confirmation of Henry II's Charter which ensured their personal security and their freedom to travel and carry on their peculiar traffic of usury. Accordingly leaders of the various Jewish communities repaired to Westminster bearing costly coronation gifts. Unfortunately they were met by an immediate rebuff—a regulation forbidding their entry into Westminster Hall to witness the pageantry. From this came the spark which fired the train. A handful of Jews eluded the vigilance of the gatekeepers, and their discovery and ejection provoked a disturbance which led subsequently, both in Westminster and London, to serious riots involving the murder of large numbers. of Jews and the burning and pillaging of their houses. In this affair two leaders of York Jewry were concerned. Indeed one of them, Benedict, only escaped with his life by accepting baptism; .
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