Note 19 — Chapter II

The whole of these circumstances, from the stealing of the Host to the granting of the Bull, are represented in paintings on the walls of the church. Nearly the same story is told at Bruxelles of three miraculous wafers, which were stolen and stabbed by Jews, in 1369; and for which imputed crime, several of that persecuted people were burnt alive, by order of Duke Wenceslaus. The author of ‘Les Délices des Pays Bas’ tells us, that, “Les hosties et les marques durent encore aujourd’hui, et ne souffrent pas qu’on les approche sans je me sçai quelle horreur toute sainte. On les garde pour un gage particulier de la protection divine envers la ville de Brusselles.” Vol. i. p. 121. It appears that the Deggendorfers owed the Jews a considerable sum of money; it is, therefore, most probable that the story was got up to enable them, as the debt grew troublesome, to wash it out in blood. Vide ‘Das obsiegende Glaubenswunder des ganzen Christl. Churlandes Baiern willsagen unlaugbarer Bericht, etc.’ 8vo. Deggendorf, 1814.