>>512346020Cont.
>>sincerely to embrace the Catholic faith, and has been purifiedby the holy water of baptism, he shall be entitled to retain,
without molestation, all the property which he possessed at
that time.
This edict we declare shall be in force, and shall be observed
by all our subjects throughout our dominions, after the
Kalends of July of the present year. If, after said date, a
Christian slave should be found in the possession of a Jew,
half the property of said Jew shall be forfeited for the benefit
of the royal treasury, and said slave shall be set at liberty; nor shall any Jew have any claim to the person or property of
said slave thereafter.
The aforesaid law which we, induced by piety and religion,
have framed for the benefit of our people and ourselves, we
hereby decree, with the aid of God, shall be forever valid.
And may Christ, the Conqueror, make all our successors,
guardians of this law, victorious, and confirm in the enjoy-
ment of His kingdom those who He knows will faithfully
enforce it. While we are not of the opinion that its provi-
sions will be violated by anyone; nevertheless, should such a
person exist, may he who audaciously disobeys it, or does not
reverently observe it, be regarded by all men as the most
infamous person of the century; may he lose his life at the
moment when he forms the detestable resolution to break
said law; and may he be oppressed by the accumulated mass
of his sins through all eternity, inasmuch as, by his trans-
gression, he has infringed this salutary decree. And, in the
terrible time of the Day of Judgment, reserved for the coming
of the Lord, may the said culprit be separated from the flock
of Christ; and, placed at the left hand with the Jews, be
burned with eternal fire, with the devil for his companion;
in order that avenging punishment may be inflicted upon all
transgressors, and that true Christians may receive a rich
and eternal reward.