Bishop of Speyer on the Grant of Lands & Privileges to
the Jews
(1084)
In the name of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, I, Rudiger, surnamed
Huozmann, Bishop of Speyer,
When I made the villa of Speyer into a town, thought I would increase
the honor I was bestowing on the place if I brought in the Jews. Therefore
I placed them outside the town and some way off from the houses of the
rest of the citizens, and, lest they should be too easily disturbed
by the insolence of the citizens, I surrounded them with a wall. Now
the place of their habitation which I acquired justly (for in the first
place I obtained the hill partly with money and partly by exchange,
while I received the valley by way of gift from some heirs) that place,
I say, I transferred to them on condition that they pay annually three
and a half pounds of the money of Speyer for the use of the brethren.
I have granted also to them within the district where they dwell, and
from that district outside the town as far as the harbor, and within
the harbor itself, full power to change gold and silver, and to buy
and sell what they please. And I have also given them license to do
this throughout the state. Besides this I have given them land of the
church for a cemetery with rights of inheritance. This also I have added
that if any Jew should at any time stay with them he shall pay no thelony.
Then also just as the judge of the city hears cases between citizens,
so the chief rabbi shall hear cases which arise between the Jews or
against them. But if by chance he is unable to decide any of them they
shall go to the bishop or his chamberlain. They shall maintain watches,
guards, and fortifications about their district, the guards in common
with our vassals. They may lawfully employ nurses and servants from
among our people. Slaughtered meat which they may not eat according
to their law they may lawfully sell to Christians, and Christians may
lawfully buy it. Finally, to round out these concessions, I have granted
that they may enjoy the same privileges as the Jews in any other city
of Germany.
Lest any of my successors diminish this gift and concession,
or constrain them to pay greater taxes, alleging that they have usurped
these privileges, and have no episcopal warrant for them, I have left
this charter as a suitable testimony of the said grant. And that this
may never be forgotten, I have signed it, and confirmed it with my seal
as may be seen below. Given on September 15th, 1084, etc.
Sources: Medieval
Sourcebook |