During the reign of John I., in 1388 A.D., a fierce popular preacher of Seville, Ferdinand Martinez, Arch-deacon of Ecija, excited the populace to excesses against the Jews.  The streets of the noble city ran with blood, and 4,000 victims perished.  The cruel spirit spread through the kingdom, and appalling massacres followed in many cities.  A series of intermittent persecutions followed both in Spain and Portugal, in reign after reign.  Jews and Protestants together went through awful ordeals at the hands of the Inquisition.  When her glory had declined, Spain, even in her lowest decrepitude, indulged in what might seem the luxury of persecution.

It was in the reign of Charles II. that the Jews found opportunity to steal insensibly back into England.  Cromwell had felt very favourably disposed towards them, but had not dared to permit the re-establishment which they had openly sought.  But the necessities of Charles and his courtiers quietly accomplished the, change, and the race has ever since maintained its footing, and no doubt contributed a fair share to the national wealth.  Russia throughout her history adhered to her hostility to the Jews, but expulsion became impossible with such vast numbers.  It is estimated that Russia contains half the Jewish population of the world, notwithstanding that Russia proper from ancient times has been sternly inhospitable to the Jewish race, while Poland has ever been hospitable.

The most important measures of amelioration in the lot of the Jews in England were passed in 1723, when they acquired the right to possess land; in 1753, when parliament enacted the Naturalisation Bill; in 1830, when they were admitted to civic corporations; in 1833, when they were admitted to the profession of advocates; in 1845, when they were rendered eligible for the office of alderman and lord mayor; and in 1858, when the last and crowning triumph of the principle was achieved by the admission of Jews into parliament.

In Asia, the Jews are still found in considerable numbers on the verge of the continent; in China, they are now found in one city alone, and possess only one synagogue.  In Mesopotamia and Assyria the ancient seats of the Babylonian Jews are still occupied by 5,270 families.  But England and Anglo-Saxon countries generally have been the most favourable to the race.  Perhaps the most remarkable fact in the history of modern Judaism is the extension of the Jews in the United States.  Writing in 1829, I stated, on the best authority then attainable, their numbers at 6,000.  They are now [in 1863] reckoned at 75,000.

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HERODOTUS

History