[149] _Spangenberg._ In the county of Mark, the Jews were no better off than in the rest of Germany. Margrave _Ludwig_, the Roman, even countenanced their persecutions, of which _Kehrberg_, Loc. cit. 241, gives the following official account: Coram cunctis Christi fidelibus praesentia percepturis, ego _Johannes_ dictus _de Wedel_ Advocatus, inclyti Principis Domini, _Ludovici_, Marchionis, publice profiteor et recognosco, quod nomine Domini mei civitaten Königsberg visitavi et intravi, et ex parte Domini Marchionis Consulibus ejusdem civitatis in adjutorium mihi assumtis, _Judaeos inibi morantes igne cremavi_, bonaque omnia eorundem Judaeorum ex parte Domini mei totaliter usurpavi et assumsi. In cujus testimonum praesentibus meum sigillum appendi. Datum A. D. 1351. in Vigilia S. Matthaei Apostoli. [150] _Basnage_ Histoire des Juifs. A la Haye, 1716. 8vo. T. IX. Pt. II. Liv. IX. ch. 23. §. 12–24. p. 664–679. This valuable work gives an interesting account of the state of the Jews of the middle ages. Compare _J. M. Jost’s_ History of the Israelites from the time of the Maccabees to the present day. T. VII. Berlin, 1827. 8vo. p. 8–262. But to return to the fearful accusations against the Jews: it was reported in all Europe, that they were in connection with secret superiors in Toledo, to whose decrees they were subject, and from whom they had received commands respecting the coining of base money, poisoning, the murder of Christian children, &c.;[151] that they received the poison by sea from remote parts, and also prepared it themselves from spiders, owls and other venomous animals; but, in order that their secret might not be discovered, that it was known only to their Rabbis and rich men.[152] Apparently there were but few who did not consider this extravagant accusation well founded; indeed, in many writings of the 14th century, we find great acrimony with regard to the suspected poison-mixers, which plainly demonstrates the prejudice existing against them. Unhappily, after the confessions of the first victims in Switzerland, the rack extorted similar ones in various places. Some even acknowledged having received poisonous powder in bags, and injunctions from Toledo, by secret messengers. Bags of this description, were also often found in wells, though it was not unfrequently discovered that the Christians themselves had thrown them in; probably to give occasion to murder and pillage; similar instances of which may be found in the persecutions of the witches.[153] [151] _Albert Argentinens._ [152] _Hermann. Gygas._ Loc. cit.