ABSTRACT

AnoteinanMSinTrinityCollege,Cambridge(TheDoctrineoftheHeart,MSTrin.Coli.B.14.15l301)whichbelonged toStephenBatman,authorofatreatiseagainstUsury{1575) andBatmanuponBartholomeHisBookDeproprietatibusRerum (1582),showsthatheregardedtheflesh-bloodantithesisasa legalproblemofsomeinterest:'ThenoteofaJewwchforthe interestofhismoneyrequiredaliofthemansfleshtowhomehe lentthemoney,thebondeforfeitandyettheJewwentwthoute hispurposeIthepartinotwithstandingcondemn'dbyLaweI thequestionwhetherhecouldecutthefleshwthoutespillingof blood••.'1