1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to Noble Blood, a production of iHeartRadio and Grimm 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: and Mild from Aaron Manky listener Discretion advised. A report 3 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: from early in the reign of King Edward. The first 4 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 1: recounts a shocking crime that happened in England. Quote Licoricea, 5 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: the Jewess, and Alice of Bicton, her servant, were found 6 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: killed in the house of the same Licoricea, each having 7 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 1: a blow to the chest made by a knife to 8 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: the heart end Quote. Licoricea the Jewess, better known as 9 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:44,880 Speaker 1: Licorcia of Winchester, was one of the most powerful financial 10 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: figures in England during her lifetime, having achieved great success 11 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: as a money lender. History has seen a number of 12 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: notable female lenders with great names, like Belast of Bristol 13 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: and Cometisa of Cambridge, but none quite matched the prominence 14 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: or success of Licoricea. Her clients ranged from King Henry 15 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: the Third, who frequently received her at court, to blesser 16 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: nobles to even local women. To call her business an 17 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: empire for its time would not be an overstatement. Influence 18 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: and power, however, came with a price. There were multiple 19 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 1: stays in the Tower of London several legal battles, a 20 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:38,759 Speaker 1: dangerous rise in anti Semitism, and ultimately, finally a tragic, 21 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: bloody end. To this day, Licoricia's death remains an unsolved mystery, 22 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 1: but through the record we can still put together the 23 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: pieces of her life of intrigue. I'm Dana Schwartz and 24 00:01:54,560 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: this is noble blood. Before we can talk about Licurcia, 25 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: let's talk a bit more generally about the history of 26 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: Jews in England. Our earliest record of Jewish people arriving 27 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,959 Speaker 1: on English soil dates back to ten sixty six, when 28 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 1: they were brought at the behest of William the First 29 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: or William the Conqueror. Following his Norman conquest, William needed 30 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: to borrow large sums of money in order to secure 31 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: his position as king in England, and so he turned 32 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: to Jewish merchants from Ruan in his homeland of Normandy. Thus, 33 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 1: England's first Jewish community settled in London, which became the 34 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: country's main financial center, to assist with William's kingdom building. 35 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: Because of their usefulness, they maintained a unique legal status 36 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: where they were both protected and quote unquote owned by 37 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 1: the Crown. Fast forward a few centuries The twelve fifty 38 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: three Statute of Jewelry affirmed that status that had been 39 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 1: in place, explicitly stating quote, all Jews, wheresoever they may 40 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 1: be in the realm, are of right under the tutelage 41 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: and protection of the King. Nor is it lawful for 42 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: any of them to subject themselves to any wealthy person 43 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: without the King's license. Jews and all their effects are 44 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: the King's property, and if anyone withhold their money from him, 45 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: let the King recover it as his own. I think 46 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 1: it's also worth taking a bigger step back to talk 47 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: about the history of Jews in finance. In medieval and 48 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: Renaissance Europe, the Christian Church had an increasingly harsh stance 49 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: against usury, or loaning money at interest, so Jewish people 50 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: filled that gap and became money lenders. Across European countries, 51 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: including England, Jews were permitted to engage in financial transactions 52 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: with Christians, but they were barred from many other types 53 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: of business arrangements with them. On top of those restrictions, 54 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: European Jews were typically not allowed to own farmland, work 55 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:20,040 Speaker 1: for the government, or join artisan guills, so money lending 56 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: was often their best or only option, as usury was 57 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 1: considered sinful by the Catholic Church, Jews gained the reputation 58 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: of being greedy, dishonest, and all of the other adjectives 59 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: that come to mind when you consider anti Semitic stereotypes 60 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 1: that persist to this day. That archetype is most famously 61 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 1: embodied by Shylock, the villainous Jewish money lender in Shakespeare's 62 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: Merchant of Venice, who is ultimately forced into conversion by 63 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: the play's protagonist as atonement for his crimes. For reference, 64 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: Jews were actually a expelled from England back in twelve ninety, 65 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: so there actually would have been no Jews living openly 66 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: in England during Shakespeare's lifetime. In the thirteenth century, Licrosya's time, 67 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:18,280 Speaker 1: Jewish communities had expanded outside of London to other urban areas, 68 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 1: including but not limited to Bristol, Canterbury, Oxford, and of 69 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: course Winchester. To get an idea of the size of 70 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: these communities, the Jewish population of England as a whole 71 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: was estimated to be about five thousand at its peak 72 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 1: in twelve hundred, and it generally declined for years until 73 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: the expulsion I mentioned in twelve ninety, when it would 74 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: have been about two thousand. Jewish people typically lived closely 75 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 1: to one another in these communities, in quarters quite literally 76 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:57,280 Speaker 1: called the Jewury. Some of these cities, including Winchester, still 77 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: feature a Jewry Street. Christians were legally prevented from living 78 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 1: in Jewish homes as servants or as nurses, although the 79 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: maid killed alongside Lcuricia Alice actually was a Christian woman. 80 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: But even so, that law didn't mean there was no 81 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: community between cultures. As you might imagine, there were periods 82 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 1: of relative harmony and also periods of violent discord. When 83 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:28,720 Speaker 1: it comes to the latter types of periods, it's purported 84 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: that in Winchester, a series of blood libel claims. Blood 85 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: libel being the notably false accusation that Jewish people murder 86 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:43,039 Speaker 1: Christians and especially Christian children, to use their blood in 87 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: religious rituals in the twelve thirties led to the lynching 88 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: of the local synagogue head in that same decade. 89 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:57,159 Speaker 2: In that same place, Licoricea was likely already one of 90 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 2: the wealthiest financiers in the city. With all of that context, 91 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 2: let's now talk about the woman herself. Unfortunately, we know 92 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 2: almost nothing about Licarsia's early life. In its place, we 93 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 2: have the fun titbit about the likely origin of her name. 94 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 2: It was fashionable in the twelve hundreds for both Jewish 95 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 2: and Christian women to be given quote exotic names such 96 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 2: as Floria, Sephrania or Comtisa. While the name Licoricia follows suit, 97 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 2: it appears that it wasn't a very popular choice, which 98 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 2: luckily contributes to her life and career showing up more 99 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 2: clearly in records. Speaking of records, the first documentation of 100 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 2: Licarsia's life places her in Winchester in twelve thirty four, 101 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 2: where she is mentioned twice in the close roles the 102 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 2: administrative records of the Royal Chancery. In one such record, 103 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 2: we learn that the King has relieved a man of 104 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 2: quote the interest of ten pounds, which Paytaiven and Licoriceia, 105 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 2: Jews of Winchester, lent him. The second record is a 106 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 2: letter addressed to the quote Jewish justices, this time ordering 107 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 2: a man to repay the money he owes to two lenders. 108 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 2: The latter half of this record reads quote of the 109 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 2: ten marks he owes Licoriceia, who was the wife of 110 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 2: Abraham of Kent, he must repay the said Licoriceia two 111 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 2: marks per annum at the previously stated intervals instruct the 112 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 2: justices and the assigned custodian of the Jews that this 113 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 2: should be recorded in the roles and made to happen. 114 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 2: There are a few things we can unpack from those 115 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 2: very brief records. First, we see the original appearance of 116 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 2: Licurcia's toponym of Winchester. For Christians, toponyms typically identified where 117 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 2: they originated or where they were currently living, but for 118 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 2: Jews they most likely indicated where their main place of 119 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 2: business was. We also learned that Licorcia was already an 120 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 2: established and successful businesswoman at this point, as ten pounds 121 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 2: was not an insignificant sum. The second letter also notably 122 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 2: tells us that Licursia was the wife of Abraham of Kent. 123 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 2: Perhaps contrary to popular belief, divorces actually were possible at 124 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 2: this time. A little bit more on that later, but 125 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 2: the specific phrasing here denotes that Licoricia was a widow. 126 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 2: We don't know when the couple married or when Abraham died. 127 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 2: There are no official records of birth, death, or marriage 128 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 2: in the thirteenth century here, but we know they had 129 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 2: three sons and a daughter together named Benedict Cockerel, Lumbard 130 00:09:55,920 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 2: and Billia. Records regarding Abraham are scarce, but we find 131 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 2: him in Winchester in twelve twenty five, when he and 132 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 2: five other men were accused of murdering a Christian child. 133 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 2: It's unclear what the outcome of the trial was. The 134 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 2: original record finds Abraham and another man guilty, but this 135 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 2: is contradicted when that other man appears alive and well 136 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 2: on record in later years. In the seventeenth century, the 137 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 2: historian William Prynne states that it was not six Jews 138 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:35,599 Speaker 2: on trial, but four, and that they were all acquitted. 139 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 2: Whether Abraham was found innocent, or he was found guilty 140 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 2: and his sentence was reversed, or he was found guilty 141 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 2: and died by the noos, the twelve twenty five trial 142 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 2: is our last record of his activity, and we know, 143 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,560 Speaker 2: because they're framing Licoricia as a widow, that he must 144 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 2: have died some time before twelve thirty four. Knowing more 145 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:06,199 Speaker 2: about Abraham could have helped us learn more about Licoricia, 146 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 2: but were able to make inferences about her life through 147 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 2: more generalized knowledge. Jewish women in money lending traditionally learnt 148 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 2: the trade from their family or from their husband, and 149 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 2: would often start out helping in the family business before 150 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 2: potentially branching out on their own. A rabbinical writer from 151 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 2: the eleventh century remarked that it was common for men 152 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 2: to appoint their wives as quote masters over their possessions, 153 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 2: but there are also records of unmarried daughters who went 154 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 2: into business with their mothers. Within the jewury business was 155 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:47,199 Speaker 2: often conducted through a family consortia, typically headed by a matriarch. 156 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 2: The local consortia would have presented an opportunity for individual 157 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 2: women to get involved in money lending, as those consortia 158 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:58,839 Speaker 2: were known to have accepted extended family as well as 159 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:03,679 Speaker 2: outsiders as men. In her city, when Lecoricia was coming 160 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 2: into her own the local matriarch was an older woman 161 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:13,199 Speaker 2: named Shara of Winchester. While not related, Licursia did begin 162 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 2: to do business with Schera's family In twelve thirty six, 163 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 2: record of her lending to local minor gentry shows her 164 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 2: partnering with Shara's son, Elias and his widowed sister in law, Billia. 165 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 2: After the death of Billia's husband, Billia quickly became a 166 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 2: successful lender in her own right, and we know she 167 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:39,839 Speaker 2: had a close working and likely personal relationship with Licoricea, 168 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 2: who appears to have named her daughter after her likely friend. 169 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 2: Did Licoricea learn her trade from her parents, whoever they 170 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,719 Speaker 2: might have been, or did she take over her husband's 171 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 2: dealings after his death like her friend Billia did. The 172 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:01,559 Speaker 2: former seems more likely, but were left to speculate either way. 173 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,480 Speaker 2: We can see a number of parallels in the lives 174 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 2: and careers of Licoricea and Billia. Through the end of 175 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 2: the decade, they both continued to successfully grow their businesses 176 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 2: in Winchester, to the point that by twelve thirty nine, 177 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 2: Billia was paying the same tallente or taxation as the 178 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 2: prodigiously successful Liquoricea. But the beginning of the next decade 179 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 2: would bring major changes for both of them. In early 180 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 2: twelve forty, Billia remarried and moved with her new husband 181 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 2: to Bedford, where a newly permitted jewelry was being established. 182 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 2: Without Licoricea as her competition, Billia became the most prominent 183 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 2: lender in her new city. We don't know how much 184 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 2: the two women were able to keep in touch, but 185 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 2: we know their respective sons often went into business together 186 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 2: in later years, which I find adorable. As for liquor. 187 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 2: She remained in Winchester, where she too remarried. You can 188 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 2: imagine that as a wealthy widow, Licoricia must have had 189 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 2: her fair share of admirers and suitors, and as you 190 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 2: might expect, the man she ultimately chose to settle down 191 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 2: with for the second time wasn't just any old schmuck. 192 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 2: He was David of Oxford, one of the six wealthiest 193 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 2: Jews in England. There is actually a surprising amount of 194 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:34,200 Speaker 2: documentation and research on David's life, but to sum it 195 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 2: up for our purposes, he came from Lincoln, but moved 196 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 2: to Oxford at the beginning of the reign of Henry 197 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 2: the Third, likely to serve the growing university population there. 198 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 2: He began to accumulate local property, but his businesses were 199 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 2: so far reaching he paid taxes in several cities, and 200 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 2: his clients typically belonged to the highest echelons of English society. 201 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 2: To give an idea of his wealth, David personally contributed 202 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 2: nearly half of Oxford's total talent that was collected to 203 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 2: finance the marriage of the King's sister Joan to King 204 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 2: Alexander of Scotland. We can't say for sure whether his 205 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 2: marriage to Lecrecia was a love match or a business deal, 206 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 2: but no matter the couple's motivation, there was an obstacle 207 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 2: they had to overcome before they tied the knot David's wife. 208 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 2: That's right, David was very much married when he courted Licrecia, 209 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 2: and his wife, Muriel, appears to have been very against 210 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 2: the dissolution of her marriage. Despite Muriel's wishes, David issued 211 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 2: her a bill of divorce and things got marriage story 212 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 2: levels of messy. The question of whether or not the 213 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 2: divorce would be granted was decided by the beth Dean 214 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 2: or rabbinical court. The generals ants from the religious authority 215 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 2: at the time was that it was improper for a 216 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 2: man to divorce his wife without her assent, and the 217 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 2: Beth din followed this philosophy when they favored Muriel in 218 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 2: their ruling. What was David to do but call in 219 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 2: a favor to help? An ordinance from August twelve, forty 220 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 2: two reads quote the King to Masters Moses of London, 221 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 2: Aaron of Canterbury, and Jacob of Oxford, Jews greeting. We 222 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 2: forbid you from henceforth holding any plea concerning David of 223 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 2: Oxford and Muriel, who was the wife of the same. 224 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 2: You are not to distrain him under any circumstances, either 225 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 2: to take or retain her or any other woman as 226 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 2: his wife. Know for a certainty that if you do otherwise, 227 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 2: you will incur grave punishment. Muriel may have had the 228 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 2: people on her side, but David had the actual King 229 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 2: of England. The divorce went through that August, and we 230 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 2: can assume Licuricica and David tied the knot as soon 231 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:11,919 Speaker 2: as the following month. After all that, the marriage was 232 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 2: ultimately faded to be short. David died in early twelve 233 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 2: forty four. His passing left Licurcia a widow, yet again, 234 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 2: this time caring for the couple's infant son, Asher, born 235 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 2: in twelve forty three. Lcoricia's most immediate problem after her 236 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:36,000 Speaker 2: husband's death imprisonment in the Tower of London. Historically, this 237 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:38,679 Speaker 2: would have been done as a safe guarding measure on 238 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 2: occasions when the Crown was expecting to receive a large sum. Legally, 239 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 2: all of a Jewish person's property was entitled to the 240 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 2: king upon the person's death, though customarily the king only 241 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 2: took one third very generous, so Lcuricia's imprisonment in this 242 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 2: case would have been to prevent her from trying to 243 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 2: run off with the money or possessions that the king 244 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 2: technically was owed. Of course, not every wealthy widow was imprisoned, 245 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 2: so there's reason to believe the Crown saw Licoricia as 246 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 2: a particular threat, or maybe there was something of David's 247 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:24,439 Speaker 2: the Crown particularly wanted. Licoricia remained in the tower for 248 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:30,199 Speaker 2: months while Quote six of the richer and discreeter Jews 249 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 2: of England Willing or Nilling and quote were officially ordered 250 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:40,679 Speaker 2: to oversee her business interests and inheritance. By September twelve, 251 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 2: forty four, the estate was finally settled, and it was 252 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 2: determined that the king was owed five thousand marks by 253 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 2: some miracle, or more accurately, by her own negotiation skills. 254 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 2: It appears Licoricea was able to maintain control over all 255 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 2: of her husband's chattels and bonds, which normally would have 256 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 2: been seized by the king as part of the deceased's estate. 257 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 2: Released from the tower, Licursia was now the wealthiest Jewish 258 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:17,880 Speaker 2: woman in the country. She returned to Winchester to care 259 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 2: for her infant Asher. Her elder sons and her daughter, 260 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 2: David of Oxford, had been involved in the King's personal 261 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 2: financial activities, and now Licoricea took on those responsibilities. Whenever 262 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:37,360 Speaker 2: Henry was in Winchester or London, Licoricea could be found 263 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 2: at court. Among the courtiers she maintained business with were 264 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 2: the King's brother in law and the King's cousin. Outside 265 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 2: of court life, the Jewish community began to see Lecrosia 266 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:55,159 Speaker 2: as a representative, and they would bring her their concerns, 267 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 2: sometimes asking for her to advocate to the King himself. 268 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 2: On top of Licursia's originally successful businesses, she was now 269 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 2: also in control of David's enterprises, so she managed the 270 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 2: workload of two careers on her own, but eventually she 271 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 2: brought her older son Cockerell into the fold as her 272 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 2: main agent, starting in twelve forty eight. That same year, 273 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 2: one of Licrasia's clients, Sir Thomas de Charlecote, died. He 274 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 2: was found drowned in a lake on his own estate, 275 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:31,640 Speaker 2: and it was alleged that he had been murdered by 276 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 2: a group of servants, but the case was never actually investigated. 277 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:39,640 Speaker 2: What matters here is that two years earlier, Sir Thomas 278 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 2: had renegotiated the terms of a loan he had originally 279 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 2: made with David of Oxford. The term of the loan 280 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 2: was six years, and the total was to be paid 281 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 2: by the estate in the event that he died before 282 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:57,399 Speaker 2: that time, which we know he did. In that situation, 283 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 2: the creditor was legally entitled to take possession of the pledge, 284 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 2: but a Jewish person in England was unable to permanently 285 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:09,679 Speaker 2: own the land. They could only possess it for a 286 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 2: year and a half before selling it to a Christian 287 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 2: or restoring it to the heir. That year and a 288 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 2: half period passed after Sir Thomas's death, and Licoricia was 289 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 2: still in possession of the land. The King himself had 290 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:30,159 Speaker 2: given her approval to do so, using her unique status 291 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:33,439 Speaker 2: as a Jew to bypass the feudal laws of his 292 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 2: own country. In twelve fifty King Henry officially granted Licracia 293 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 2: an extension, but by twelve fifty two Thomas's heir took 294 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 2: Licorcia to court. She defended herself in trial aggressively advocating 295 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 2: for her interests and attacking her accusers. The courts ultimately 296 00:21:56,680 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 2: ruled in favor of the heir and ordered to pay 297 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 2: rent for the time she had occupied the estate. This 298 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 2: infuriated the King, who took the case to be retried 299 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 2: in his own court on the ground that Jews were 300 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 2: supposed to be answerable only to his personal jurisdiction. Licurasia 301 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 2: was once again placed in the Tower of London for 302 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,720 Speaker 2: the duration of the retrial, while her son Cockrell continued 303 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 2: to collect profits from the estate. King Henry Hands selected 304 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:34,399 Speaker 2: five judges to try the case, headed by his own brother, 305 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:39,040 Speaker 2: the Earl of Cornwall. In a shocking downright Cain and 306 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 2: abel Esque twist, the judges once again ruled in favor 307 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,640 Speaker 2: of the heir, and the Earl prevented his brother from 308 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 2: overturning their decision. Trying to save some face, Henry preempted 309 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:58,440 Speaker 2: the sentencing by ordering Licurcia to pay half a silver mark, 310 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 2: a relatively sun The rest of the twelve fifties are 311 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 2: a gap in our knowledge of Licrosia's life, as records 312 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 2: from twelve fifty three to twelve sixty five were destroyed 313 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 2: during a period of civil unrest, a period that included 314 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:19,200 Speaker 2: a revolt against Henry in twelve fifty eight that would 315 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:24,360 Speaker 2: lead to the Second Baron's War. Civil war was dangerous 316 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:28,640 Speaker 2: for the Jews, who were seen as collectively royalists due 317 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 2: to their financial ties to the crown. The flames of 318 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 2: anti Semitism were stoked by the leader of the Baron's forces, 319 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:41,119 Speaker 2: Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, who played into the 320 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 2: public's fears of violence against Christians and their resentment about debts. 321 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 2: Truly a tale as old as time. While this rise 322 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:56,199 Speaker 2: in anti Semitism did have a body count, Licrosia and 323 00:23:56,240 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 2: her family seemed to have remained safe when they started 324 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:05,720 Speaker 2: appearing again in records in twelve sixty five. Her son 325 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 2: Benedict had already made a name for himself as a 326 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 2: successful and respected businessman, as would Lcrosia's youngest son, Asher, 327 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 2: more commonly referred to by his nickname sweet Man. In 328 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 2: the twelve seventies, Benedict, Cockrell, and Asher all officially conducted 329 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:31,960 Speaker 2: business as quote sons of Licoricea. Records about Licoricia herself 330 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:35,880 Speaker 2: during this time are scarce, but a twelve seventy six 331 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:41,199 Speaker 2: order calls for the Sheriffs of Wiltshire, Norfolk, Warwick, Hampshire, Surrey, 332 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:46,160 Speaker 2: Oxford and Bedford to quote produce the debts of Licoricia 333 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:50,399 Speaker 2: a fortnight after Saint John the Baptist, So she was 334 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:55,399 Speaker 2: still working and her business was far reaching. That brings 335 00:24:55,480 --> 00:25:00,679 Speaker 2: us to where we started with Licoricea's tragic end. On 336 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:05,880 Speaker 2: a spring day in twelve seventy seven, Licursia's daughter Billia 337 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 2: found her mother and the family's made Alice dead by 338 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 2: stab wounds. The scene was found in disarray, with locks 339 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 2: broken off, coffers and strong boxes, and a collection of 340 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 2: goods missing. Quote. She was Jewish, she was rich, and 341 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:28,639 Speaker 2: she was a woman, licorsia biographer Rebecca Abrams told the 342 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 2: Religion News Service all three might have led to her death. 343 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 2: We know Licursia was litigious and made her fair share 344 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 2: of enemies. Without evidence, however, we can only make assumptions. 345 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:47,679 Speaker 2: It's likely that her murder was vengeance, but it's just 346 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:52,199 Speaker 2: as likely that it was a robbery gone wrong. News 347 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 2: of Licursia's murder spread across the country and beyond, even 348 00:25:56,840 --> 00:25:59,880 Speaker 2: reaching Germany, where it was published in a Jewish crom 349 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:04,199 Speaker 2: Local speculation valued the goods in her home at the 350 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 2: time of the break in at ten thousand pounds, but 351 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 2: that was certainly an exaggeration. Three men were initially named 352 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 2: as suspects, but they were soon acquitted and blame instead 353 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 2: turned to a poor saddler who had conveniently fled prior 354 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 2: to the accusation. The inquiry found the man guilty and 355 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 2: outlawed him, which didn't really matter as he was already gone. 356 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:36,680 Speaker 2: Cockrell and Asher didn't accept that verdict and unsuccessfully attempted 357 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:41,400 Speaker 2: to reopen their mother's murder case a year later. Following 358 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:46,199 Speaker 2: Lcrasia's death, her sons continued to build their businesses, but 359 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 2: tensions were rapidly building as the country ultimately headed towards 360 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:55,679 Speaker 2: the twelve ninety Edict of expulsion. When King Edward the 361 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 2: First rose to power after his father's death in twelve 362 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:03,639 Speaker 2: seventy two, so Jewish people lost many of the protections, 363 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 2: no matter how transactional they were, that had been in 364 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:13,400 Speaker 2: place under Henry's rule. Edward increasingly demanded more money from lenders, 365 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:16,400 Speaker 2: going so far as to build a prison for those 366 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 2: he considered too slow in their payments. These increasing demands 367 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 2: led to the rise of coin clipping, illegally shaving metal 368 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 2: from gold and silver coins. An estimated six hundred and 369 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:35,920 Speaker 2: eighty Jews were imprisoned on coin clipping in London alone, 370 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 2: and an estimated ten times more Christians were arrested. In general. 371 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 2: The Tower of London could not keep up with the 372 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:49,160 Speaker 2: demand due to the ongoing renovations, ironically paid in part 373 00:27:49,359 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 2: by Jewish taxation. Despite being named Keeper of the Queen's 374 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 2: Gold only a few years prior Benedict of Winchester, Lcarsia's 375 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 2: son was found guilty of coin clipping and hanged in 376 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:08,640 Speaker 2: London some time between twelve seventy eight and twelve seventy nine. 377 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:12,479 Speaker 2: He was one of an estimated two hundred and seventy 378 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:18,840 Speaker 2: nine Jews executed. Asher managed to avoid capital punishment, and 379 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 2: he continued doing business under increasing restrictions. But of course 380 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:28,720 Speaker 2: he and the rest of Lcoricia's children and grandchildren were 381 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:33,199 Speaker 2: expelled from the country with his fellow Jews in twelve ninety. 382 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,719 Speaker 2: There is no record of what happened to them afterward. 383 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 2: In August twenty eighteen, more than seven hundred years after 384 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 2: the expulsion, permission was granted to erect a statue of 385 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 2: Licoricea on jewelry Street in Winchester. The project was spearheaded 386 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 2: by the Licurcia of Winchester Appeal, which fundraised for five 387 00:28:57,320 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 2: years to build the monument, which they believed would inspire women, 388 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 2: promote tolerance, and shine a light on an overlooked chapter 389 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 2: in English history. King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, 390 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 2: unveiled the statue in a ceremony in March of twenty 391 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:19,400 Speaker 2: twenty two. Sculpted by the artist Ian Rank Broadly, who's 392 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 2: best known for his statue of Diana, Princess of Wales 393 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 2: at Kensington Palace, the monument shows Licresia holding a young 394 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 2: asher's hand, appearing to walk down the street where her 395 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 2: house and the city's thirteenth century synagogue once stood. On 396 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:42,240 Speaker 2: the plinth of the statue are words from the Book 397 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 2: of Leviticus, love thy neighbor as thyself, engraved in both 398 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 2: English and Hebrew. That's the story of Licursia of Winch. 399 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:03,600 Speaker 2: She but keep listening after a brief sponsor break, to 400 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 2: hear a little bit more about another cameo in the 401 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 2: Tower of London during this time. If you thought two 402 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 2: stays in the Tower of London was one too many, 403 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:29,600 Speaker 2: you'll be surprised to hear that Licoricea was actually imprisoned 404 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:34,080 Speaker 2: a third time. In twelve fifty nine, she was accused 405 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:38,960 Speaker 2: of stealing a ring from, of all people, her friend Bellia. 406 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:44,280 Speaker 2: Licoricia's neighbor Vetta, accused her of the theft, and she 407 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:47,720 Speaker 2: was arrested and taken to the Tower to await investigation. 408 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:52,600 Speaker 2: A few months later, it was uncovered that, surprise, surprise, 409 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 2: the thief was none other than Vetta herself, and Licoricea 410 00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 2: was released. That's all the information we have about that inctant. 411 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 2: But would you believe me if I told you there 412 00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:09,080 Speaker 2: was actually a fourth stay for Licorica in the Tower 413 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:13,360 Speaker 2: of London in twelve sixty We know even less about 414 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 2: this arrest, but it likely involved in overdue payment or 415 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 2: an investigation into her business. It appears to have been 416 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 2: another brief sojourn, and for Licoricia, business continued quite literally 417 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 2: as usual. Noble Blood is a production of iHeartRadio and 418 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:45,880 Speaker 2: Grim and Mild from Aaron Mankey. Noble Blood is hosted 419 00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:49,960 Speaker 2: by me Dana Schwartz, with additional writing and research by 420 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:54,760 Speaker 2: Hannah Johnston, Hannahswick, Courtney Sender, Amy Hit and Julia Milaney. 421 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:59,000 Speaker 2: The show is edited and produced by Jesse Funk, with 422 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 2: supervising prima Il Kaali and executive producers Aaron Manke, Trevor Young, 423 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:10,200 Speaker 2: and Matt Frederick. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the 424 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:14,400 Speaker 2: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 425 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:15,160 Speaker 2: favorite shows.