There liv'd here also in Times past, a great number of Jews, till they were expell'd by Ferdinand; and as I have read in an old Spanish Legend, the cause was this: The King had a young Prince to his Son, who was us'd to play with a Jewish Doctor that was about the Court, who had a ball of gold in a string hanging down his breast: The little Prince one day snatch'd away the said golden ball, and carried it to the next room; the ball being hollow, open'd, and within there was painted our Saviour kissing a Jew's tail. Hereupon they were all suddenly disterr'd and exterminated; yet I believe in Portugal there lurks yet good store of them.
James Howell, Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ. 1737. Page 160
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