III. Jews shall not Absent themselves, or Remove their Children or Slaves, to Avoid the Blessing of Baptism.
While Divine truth teaches us to seek, to investigate, and to knock at the door, that it may be opened unto us, admonishing us, at the same time, that violent men shall not inherit the kingdom of Heaven, it is evident that those will not merit Divine favor, who do not exert themselves to that end, with their entire hearts. Henceforth, where any Jew of those who have not yet been baptized, or have themselves delayed their own baptism; or have, under any pretext, neglected to send their children or slaves to the priest, in order to be baptized; or have removed their slaves in order to avoid their baptism; and the said Jew, after the lapse of one year from the promulgation of this law, shall not have been baptized; said transgressor, whoever he may be, shall receive a hundred lashes, and, having had his head shaved, shall be driven into exile. His property shall be forfeited to the king, and shall be bestowed upon whomever he may direct, as the life of said Jew has shown him to be obstinate and incorrigible.
ERVIGIUS, KING.
IV. Jews shall not Celebrate the Passover According to their Customs, or Practice Circumcision, or Induce any Christian to Renounce the Church of Christ.
If the obstinate perfidy of the Jews had observed the law, and the substance rather than the shadow of the truth, the crucifixion of the Lord of Glory would never have occurred. For our Passover is designated by the sacrifice of Christ; and if He rejoices in the circumcision of our hearts, that symbolic operation ought in no way to be performed in the flesh; for the prophet has said, “Circumcise the Lord, and remove the prepuce from your hearts.” Therefore we, not regarding the shadow of truth aforesaid, but relying upon the promises of truth itself, decree that the following shall be observed: that when any Jew celebrates the Passover according to the rites of his religion, he shall receive a hundred lashes, be scalped, and be driven into perpetual exile, and his property shall be confiscated for the benefit of the royal treasury. Whoever shall circumcise either a Jew or a Christian, shall be mutilated;[55] and his property shall be confiscated for the use of the royal treasury. Should any woman presume to practise the operation of circumcision, or should present anyone to another person to be circumcised, she shall have her nose cut off, and all her property shall be given to the king. They, also, shall undergo a similar penalty who cause a Christian man or woman to renounce the faith of Christ, or induce anyone to return to the practice of the false doctrines of the Jews.
V. Jews shall not Presume to Keep the Sabbath, or Celebrate Festival Days, According to their Ritual.
The delusive phantoms of error having disappeared, it is now incumbent upon us to labor unceasingly; for what other course is open to the lovers of truth? The Lord, speaking by the mouth of His prophet, has denounced this heresy in the following terms: “My soul abhors your Passover, your Sabbath, and all your ceremonies.” Wherefore, as we have been admonished by the apostle, that we should rather act according to the new spirit, than follow the ancient letter of the law, we hereby, in all faith and earnestness, give notice to the infidels, that if any Jew should presume to celebrate the appearance of the new moon, or the Festival of Tabernacles, or the Sabbath, or any holidays, or should observe any other rites or ceremonies of his worship, he shall receive a hundred lashes, shall have his head shaved, and shall be subjected to the misery of exile, and all his property shall be forfeited to the king; with the condition, however, that should he be converted at any time, it may be restored to him; but if not, it shall remain in the possession of those upon whom it has been bestowed.
VI. Every Jew shall Cease from Labor on Sunday, and on all Appointed Holidays.
There is no doubt that he is plainly an enemy of the Catholic religion who does not treat Sunday with due reverence. Hence, while we are pursuing those who deny or disobey our faith, we hereby decree with Divine sanction, that if any Jew, of either sex, should do any work on Christmas, or on any other sacred holiday, or on Sunday, or should spin, or weave, or perform any labor beyond that which the honorable custom of good Christians permits; such a transgressor shall have his head shaved, and shall receive a hundred lashes for his insolence; and where slaves, of either sex, are found occupied in such labors, they, also, shall be liable to the punishment aforesaid. The masters of said slaves, where they permit them to labor in this manner, shall be compelled to pay a hundred solidi to the royal treasury. Those days which shall be devoutly observed by the Jews, are the following, to wit: the Festival of the Holy Virgin Mary, during which the glorious Conception is celebrated; the Festivals of the Nativity and Circumcision; Holy Week and Easter; the day of the Discovery of the Cross; the Day of the Ascension; Pentecost; Sundays throughout the entire year; and all the days that are venerated by true believers in the doctrines of Christ.
VII. Jews shall not make any Distinction in their Food, According to their Custom.