Excerpt from Called to Account

by David West

‘Our father fought in Flanders many years ago. He started fighting with the Sea Beggars, then became a spy working for William of Orange. Papa said he was the finest man he’d met. He insisted on religious tolerance,’ Maria said.

‘That’s true. He was a good man. There are too few of them. Some think they are righteous, and good, but they are not,’ Daniel replied. ‘You have heard of Martin Luther, I take it?’

‘We recently inherited a dog called Luther. But I can’t say I’ve heard of Martin Luther. Is he a wine merchant?’ Antonio asked. Daniel and Edith both laughed, almost choking on their wine. It took some coughing and slaps on the back before Daniel could speak again.

‘Oh, that was funny. Martin Luther has been dead for more than sixty years. He was a priest, who split from the Catholic Church and was a leader of the Protestant reformation. Luther came here to Frankfurt. We suffered, and he saw it. I read what he wrote. “They are compelled to wear yellow rings on their coats. They have no houses of their own, only furniture. They can only lend money at great hazard.” That is what he wrote.’

‘So he was sympathetic to the Jews,’ Antonio said.

‘Briefly. He was trying to convert us to Lutheranism, and when we wouldn’t reject the faith of our fathers and mothers, this is what he said: “Burn the synagogues and the Jewish ghettoes!” He was no William of Orange.’

‘Maria, we should think of a new name for the dog.’

‘If he’ll answer to it,’ Maria said. ‘Why is there this intolerance of Jews, Daniel? And why don’t you move somewhere else? You must have a homeland. I thought the Jews came from Judea.’

‘Yes, we had a homeland, and it was the Kingdom of Judah. But then the Muslims, invaded, followed by the crusaders. As refugees, we were driven to flee our homeland. We settled all over Europe, but the masses did not welcome us. We had our uses. Jews are considered to be excellent organisers, physicians, financiers, and lawyers, so we have been useful to kings and emperors.’

‘So why are the masses intolerant?’

‘Because of the masses,’ Daniel said, smiling. Maria and Antonio looked puzzled. ‘Forgive me, you don’t have a monopoly on jokes. Masses as in Catholic mass. The gospels didn’t give the Jews a sympathetic account concerning the crucifixion. Well, not the gospels that got included in your bible, anyway. It’s a bit much coming from the Roman Catholics, don’t you think? Roman soldiers arrested Christ, who was a Jew, by the way. It was Roman soldiers who nailed him to the cross. Does anyone think the Rabbis had as much say in events as those who had conquered our land?’ He paused, but Maria and Antonio didn’t know what to say. Edith spoke.

‘Your wine is wonderful. Is your vineyard near here?’

‘No. It’s in Frascati,’ Antonio replied.

‘Where is that?’ Edith asked.

‘It’s, er, it’s about twenty miles from Rome.’