Philip, by the grace of God King of the Franks. Let everyone to whom these present letters shall come know that this is the ordinance we have made concerning the Jews, with the consent and approval of our beloved and faithful Blanche, Countess of Troyes, and Guy of Dampierre. It shall take effect from the first day of September, the Feast of Saint Giles.

No Jew shall lend money at a rate higher than two deniers per pound each week. A Jew may not require his debtor to settle an account within one year unless the debtor wishes to settle and repay it sooner. Whenever the debtor wishes to settle and repay, the Jew may not refuse to accept payment within the period appointed by our bailiffs.

The Jews shall have all their debts sealed with the new seals. If the debts haven’t been sealed by the appointed date, nothing claimed under the old seals shall subsequently be paid to them. If anyone is absent as a fugitive or detained on pilgrimage, his debt shall be held in abeyance, and thereafter interest shall accrue at no more than two deniers per pound each week.

The Jews shall lend nothing against church vessels or ornaments, bloodstained or recently wet pledges, or lands belonging to churches under our authority, except with our permission. They shall likewise lend nothing upon lands belonging to churches under the authority of the Countess of Troyes or other barons, except with the permission of those lords. If they are convicted of doing so, they shall lose the sum they lent and the owner shall recover the pledge free of the debt.

When a debtor receives a loan from a Jew, both the Jew and the debtor shall swear that the debtor received only the amount stated in the written agreement. They shall also swear that the debtor hasn’t given and will not give the Jew anything beyond what is set down in the agreement. If either is convicted of violating this provision, the Jew shall lose his debt and the debtor shall remain at the mercy of the king.

If a Jew lends anything without a seal, no court shall enforce the debt for him unless he holds a pledge consisting of gold, silver, clothing or animals. Two of the most reputable men in each town shall have custody of the Jews’ seal, one keeping the seal and the other its matrix. They shall swear upon the Holy Scriptures that they will authenticate no written debt unless they have reliable knowledge of it, either personally or through another person.

In every town there shall be only one scribe for the documents of the Jews. He shall provide security that he will write them lawfully and faithfully perform his office.

This ordinance shall remain in force until we, the Countess of Troyes and Guy of Dampierre, who have established it, repeal it through our own authority and that of such of our barons as we may wish to summon for this purpose. So that this ordinance may remain valid, we have confirmed the present document with the authority of our seal. Done at Paris in the month of September in the year of the Lord 1206.