Of the course of events for the first few months after Edward’s return to England, very meagre accounts have come down to us. His searching inquiry into the conduct of the judges during his absence[223] must have taken up most of his time and energy. As soon as he had meted out punishment to those whom he had found guilty of corruption, he turned to the Jewish question. On the 18th of July, 1290, writs were issued to the sheriffs of counties, informing them that a decree had been passed that all Jews should leave England before the feast of All Saints of that year.[224] Any who remained in the country after the prescribed day were declared liable to the penalty of death.[225] Every effort was made by the King to secure the peace and safety of the Jews during the short period for which they were allowed to remain, and in the course of their journey from their homes to the coast, and from the coast to their ultimate destination. The sheriffs were ordered to have public proclamation made that “no one within the appointed period should injure, harm, damage, or grieve them,” and were to ensure, for such as chose to pay for it, a safe journey to London. The wardens of the Cinque Ports, within the district of whose jurisdiction many of the Jews would necessarily embark, received orders in the same spirit as those that had been addressed to the sheriffs of the counties. They were to see that the exiles were provided, after payment, with a safe and speedy passage across the sea, and that the poor among them were enabled to travel at cheap rates and were treated with consideration.[226] These general orders were reinforced by the issue of special writs of safe-conduct for individual Jews.[227] The exiles were allowed to carry with them all of their own property that was in their possession at the time of the issue of the decree of expulsion, together with such pledges deposited with them by Christians as were not redeemed before a fixed date. A few Jews who were high in the favour of royal personages, such as Aaron, son of Vives, who was a “chattel” of the King’s brother Edmund,[228] and Cok, son of Hagin, who belonged to the Queen,[229] were allowed before their departure to sell their houses and fees to any Christian who would buy them.