Las Siete Partidas—Laws Concerning Jews On Jews: Jews are a description of people that will not believe in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ; but Christian potentates have always permitted them to reside among them. Whereas, in the preceding title, we treated with diviners and other persons we shall here treat of the Jews, who contradict and deny his name, and the miraculous and holy deed he performed when he sent His son, our Lord Jesus Christ, into the world to save sinners . . . Law 1. The meaning of Jew, and whence the name is derived.—Those are termed Jews who believe the Law of Moses, following it to the letter, who practise circumcision, and perform other ceremonies enjoined by their religion. The name is derived from the tribe of Judah, which was the noblest, and braver than the other tribes; it also had another pre-eminence, the king of the Jews was to be elected from it; besides, in battle that tribe was the foremost. The reason the Church, emperors, kings and princes, permitted Jews to live be themselves among Christians, is, that they might always live as in captivity, and that they may ever be a memorial to mankind, that they are from the genealogy of those who crucified our Lord Jesus Christ. Law 2. Jews residing among Christians must live humbly, and without evil intention, observing their religion, and not speak ill of the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, which Christians observe . . . Law 3. . . .The emperors, who were formerly masters of the whole world, considered it just and right, that for the treason committed in putting their Lord to death, they [the Jews] should lose the honors and prerogatives they formerly enjoyed, so that no Jew should ever hold a post of honor, or public office, by virtue of which he would have to pass sentence on Christians. Law 4. . . . A Synagogue is a place where Jews perform their devotions. In no part of our dominions without our permission, may any new one be erected; but should those they have fall into decay, they may rebuild and repair them on the same site, and in the same manner as before; but they may not enlarge, elevate, or beautify them . . . We . . . forbid Christians putting animals in our near them, or causing any molestation to Jews, while engaged at their prayers, according to their religion. Law 5. . . . Saturday is a day whereon Jews observe their Sabbath . . . We therefore order, that no judge shall condemn or arrest Jews on Saturdays, or bring them to judgment for debt, or seize, or do them any hurt on that day . . . We further command, that all demands Christians may have against Jews, or Jews against Christians, shall be heard and determined by our Judges and not by their elders . . . Furthermore, we forbid any Christian to dare to seize or do any injury to the person or property of a Jew; but if he has any demand against him, he is to bring it before our Judges; and should any person presume to steal, or forcibly take anything from a Jew, he shall be compelled to return double the value. Law 6. . . . No force or compulsion is to be used to make Jews turn Christians, but by good example, kindness, and the maxims of the Holy Scriptures, should they be converted to the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he neither requires nor desires compulsory service. Furthermore, should any Jew or Jewess hereafter wish to become a Christian, other Jews are in no manner whatever to prevent them, and should any of them stone, wound, or kill those that wish to become Christians, or that have been baptized, if proved, we order that the murderers and advisers of such outrage are to be burned . . . We furthermore order, that all persons in our kingdom are to respect Jews that become Christians, and no one insultingly shall reproach them or their descendants with having been Jews. And they shall keep possession of their property and all belonging to them, sharing with their brothers, and inheriting from their fathers, mothers, and other relations, the same as if they were Jews; and they are to be eligible to every honour, post, and employment held by other Christians. Law 7. . . . Such evil results from Christians turning Jews, that we order, that any Christian who does shall suffer death . . . Law 8. . . . We forbid Jews presuming to have Christian slaves in their houses; but they may employ them as labourers and cultivators of their outdoor possessions, and to guard them when travelling on a road considered unsafe. We furthermore forbid Christians to invite any Jew or Jewess, or to accept an invitation to eat and drink wine with them, or to drink wine made by Jews. Further, we order, that no Jew is to presume to bathe in the same bath with Christians. We also prohibit Christians receiving any medicine or purges made up by Jews, nevertheless they may take it on the advise (sic.) of an experienced person, provided it be compounded by Christians, who know and understand the ingredients of which it is composed. Law 9. . . . It is highly disrespectful and insolent for Jews to cohabit with Christian women. We therefore order, that if it be proved of any Jew, that he has committed such an offence he shall suffer death for it . . . and we consider it right that a Christian woman guilty of such a crime should not go unpunished; we therefore order, whether she be a virgin, married woman, widow, or prostitute, she shall suffer the same punishment, as enacted for a Christian woman who cohabits with a Moor [Lindo: the first time she shall lose half her property, the second time, she shall suffer death]. Law 10. . . . Jews may not purchase or possess Christian slaves, either male or female . . . Furthermore, we forbid any Jew presuming to make his slave a Jew or Jewess, although they are Moors or other Barbarians . . . Law 11. . . . Many mistakes and injurious occurrences take place between Christians and Jews or Jewesses, and Christian women, from their living and residing together in towns and dressing alike. Therefore . . . we order that every Jew and Jewess residing in our dominions shall wear a particular sign on their heads, that people may publicly know who are Jews and Jewesses. And we order that any Jew who appears in public without it shall be fined, for each time, ten maravedis of gold; and if he has not the means to pay the fine, he shall publicly receive ten lashes.