09-24-2011, 09:36 AM
OrphanPip Wrote:Also, Cromwell's role in the admittance of Jews is a bit complicated. First of all, Spanish Jews fleeing the inquisition had been tolerated passively by the Tudors and Stuarts in years prior, except in moments of heightened anti-Spanish sentiment. You actually find reflections of English interest in Jews during the Elizabethan period in plays like The Merchant of Venice, The Jew of Malta, and The Tragedy of Mariam. There were Jews in England for a while already, though not legally, and crackdowns occasionally occurred.
Edit: Though, I'm a bit biased as someone who studies 17th century literature, I've always had a soft spot for the Royalists, and the shut down of the theatres during the Commonwealth makes it a rather boring period for literature, unless you like Milton a lot.
[COLOR="Navy"][SIZE="3"]I had no idea that there were Jewish people living in Tudor England, I've learned something today. I would imagine any crackdown by the English authorities were never as bad as the awful Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks or Hammer of the Scots did to the Jews, a really shameful period in English history. I would imagine he beat up my Scottish ancestors a bit too...!
Thank you I think it's been a good conversational point.. [/SIZE][/COLOR]