Abstract
The history of the Jewish community of medieval England was relatively brief The chronicler William of Malmesbury states that the Jews of London were brought from Rouen by William I (the Conqueror) as part of a policy of stimulating commercial development. They worked mainly as financiers until they were expelled from England by Edward I in 1290. Their status was unique in that they were protected by, and 'belonged' to, the Crown. Their presence was both tolerated and resisted to the point of violence. The paper highlights the ways in which, throughout their period of residence, the Jews were in England, but never of it, existing in a state of internal exile.
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