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Excerpt from History of the "Domus Conversorum": From 1290 to 1891
In the year 1232, King Henry III.1 issued an Order to the effect that he desired, for the health of his own soul and for the souls of his ancestors and heirs, to the honour of God and of the glorious Virgin, to found a Home for destitute Jews converted to Christianity. This novel idea was, in all probability, suggested to the king by his clergy,2 who, by means of the substantial bribes of a free Home and maintenance, hoped to effect a conversion en masse of the English Jews. The king fixed the endowment of the establishment at 700 marks a year, and gave a site for the buildings in what is now called Chancery Lane. This Dumas Oonversorum, or Converts' Inn,3 was situated upon the very spot where the investigations for this paper were conducted, and that is now covered-by the new buildings of the Rolls Office. The history of the House from the year of its foundation until 1290, when the expulsion of the Jews from England took place, is full of interest, but I pass over these fifty-eight years with set purpose. I also omit all reference to the architectural history of the Domus, which Mr. Trice Martin has already detailed before the Society. I intend to devote this paper entirely to the Middle Period of anglo-jewish History (1290 and hope to be able to throw some light upon the question of the presence of Jews in this country from the days of Edward I. Until the days of Cromwell.
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