the first comprehensive history of the Jews of England

D'Blossiers Tovey (1692-1745) was an English clergyman, his work is considered to be the first comprehensive history of the Jews of England. Though concentrating on the medieval period, this work contains a section on the resettlement and on the English Jews of his own day. It shows appreciation of the magnitude of royal exploitation of the Jews in the Middle Ages and a healthy scepticism of ritual murder charges. It is largely based on the Short Demurrer to the Jewes... (1656) by William Prynne. Tovey estimated that at the time of publication there were about 6,000 Jews in England and no settled Jewish communities existed outside of London.

First edition, 4to; full-page engraved plate of St. Hugo's tomb at p.143, light spotting to title and last leaf, p.41 with marginal tear, not affecting text, modern brown morocco-backed cloth boards gilt by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, a very good copy. [8], 319, [1] pp.

ESTC T21895; DNB, 19 (1898-99), 1016-1017; S. Levy, in JHSET, 6 (1912), 9; (V.D.L.).