This report was written by Rabbi Moses ben Eleazar ha-Kohen of Mainz to his brother-in-law Eleazar ha-Kattan, who received it on April 1, 1188 and preserved it within his account.

I must offer thanks and praise upon every kind of musical instrument to the Lord, who has kept us alive and sustained us.

The imperial court assembled at Mainz. Christians came there by the thousands and tens of thousands, an innumerable multitude, to take up the cross. A small number of Jews remained in their homes in Mainz.

On Friday, a crusader came and struck one of the Jews. The imperial marshal seized the crusader by his hair, beat him with a staff and continued until his blood flowed upon the ground. The others fled.

They then told the crusaders in the marketplace what had been done on account of the Jews. Thousands and tens of thousands of crusaders assembled, intending to raise a banner and invade our quarter.

When the marshal heard about this, he came with his servants and his staff in his hand. He struck and wounded the crusaders until they scattered.

We were in great distress and feared for our lives from Friday until Tuesday. The nobles understood what had happened and said, “See how precious the Jews are in the king’s eyes.”

The emperor then proclaimed:

“Whoever attacks a Jew and wounds him shall have his hand cut off. Whoever kills a Jew shall be put to death.”

The bishops placed under condemnation anyone who raised his hand against the Jews to harm them. They declared that taking the cross wouldn’t protect such a person from punishment.

The emperor also sent oral and written instructions to his officials, commanding them to guard the Jews carefully, even more closely than they had guarded them before.

Rabbi Moses ha-Kohen rode with the emperor and personally wrote a letter assuring peace to the Jews. All this was paid for in full.

May the name of the Lord be blessed from now and forever. May His memory be praised for all eternity. He has done this for us because of His great name, which shall be blessed forever, and not because of our righteousness.