ABSTRACT
While the Welsh wars were being carried on Edward found time for an active foreign policy. He had cultivated foreign alliances, mainly directed against Charles of Anjou, whom he disliked as the protector of the De Montforts, and as his mother's foe. Edward's efforts as a mediator, however, were not always successful, and he was being drawn into inevitable hostility to France owing to the growing ascendancy of his determined enemy, Charles of Anjou. Having reorganised the Bench, Edward next proceeded to listen to other complaints. The Jews had been growing in unpopularity in England of late, partly owing to religious bigotry, partly to economic reasons. An attempt was made to convert the Jew to Christianity, but the conver's prospects were not tempting, for his whole property reverted to the King, and he was therefore obliged to enter the home for converted Jews, which stood just outside the liberties of London.
