Louis, by the grace of God King of France and Navarre, to all our faithful subjects in the Kingdom of France, greetings.

We make known that our very dear lord and father, may God have mercy upon his soul, during his lifetime expelled and drove the Jews from his kingdom upon the advice and urging of certain important members of his council.

From that time, the Jews presented to him and later to us and our Great Council several reasons why they should be permitted to remain, as they had been in earlier times and as they are tolerated in other countries. The common people have also called for their return.

Having heard these arguments, we have considered that our mother, the Holy Church of Rome, tolerates the Jews so that the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ may be remembered forever and so that they may be drawn away from their error and converted to the Christian faith. Such conversions often take place through contact with Christians.

We have also considered the teaching of Scripture that Our Lord rejoices more over one repentant sinner than over many righteous people. Our great-grandfather, Lord Saint Louis, was likewise persuaded by certain advisers to expel the Jews, but later recalled and retained them for the reasons stated above.

Having discussed this matter fully with our prelates, barons and Great Council, and wishing to follow the deeds of Lord Saint Louis in this and in all other matters within our power, we have listened carefully to the appeal of the people. For these reasons, we have ordained and established the following provisions.

1. The Jews may return to and remain in our kingdom for twelve years. They may settle in the towns and places where they were permitted to live before their departure, but not in places that were previously forbidden to them.
2. They shall work with their hands in recognized trades or conduct business in good and lawful merchandise.
3. They shall wear the distinguishing badge in the places where they were formerly accustomed to wear it. It shall be no wider than a silver blanc tournois, shall be a different color from the garment and shall be outlined clearly with thick thread or silk so that it can be easily seen.
4. The Jews shall recover one-third of the debts owed to them from the period before their expulsion, while we shall receive the remaining two-thirds. This applies both to debts already due and to those that later become due, provided that the debts are genuine and lawful. If a Jew demands payment of a debt in his own name or as the successor to another person and the debtor can prove payment, produce a receipt or offer equivalent evidence, the Jew shall reimburse the debtor for the costs and losses caused by the claim. The debtor’s sworn statement shall be accepted concerning the amount of those costs and losses.
5. The Jews shall not be called to account for documents, movable possessions or other property that they carried away. They shall likewise not be prosecuted for loans or financial arrangements made after their departure.
6. No one shall hold them responsible or prosecute them for acts committed in the past.
7. Their synagogues and cemeteries shall be restored to them after they repay the purchase price to those who bought them. This shall apply unless buildings have been erected there that are so substantial that they can’t reasonably be removed. Any synagogues or cemeteries still in our possession that haven’t been sold shall be returned to the Jews.
8. If they can’t recover their synagogues or cemeteries for a legitimate reason, we shall arrange for suitable premises and accommodations to be provided to them at a reasonable price.
9. The books of their law that remain in our possession and haven’t been sold shall be returned to them, except for copies of the Talmud that have been condemned.
10. When the twelve-year period has ended, we shall not expel them again from our kingdom without giving them reasonable notice. They shall receive one year in which to collect and remove their possessions safely, under our protection, from the kingdom.
11. No lord within our kingdom other than ourselves may retain on his lands Jews who don’t belong to him by origin or lawful dependency. If Jews belonging to one lord wish to reside on another lord’s land with that lord’s permission, the original lord shall retain the same rights and revenues over them that he would have received had they remained on his land. A Jew’s legal relationship with his lord shall not be changed by moving to another lord’s territory.
12. Since the Jews are required to work with their hands or engage in trade, as stated above, we don’t wish them to lend money at usury and expressly prohibit them from doing so. If a Jew nevertheless makes such a loan, he may charge no more than two deniers per livre for each week.
13. A Jewish lender may settle accounts with his debtor at the end of the year, but not earlier. However, if the debtor wishes to settle the account and repay the Jew during the year, the Jew must accept payment and may not refuse it.
14. Jews may not lend money upon church vessels or ornaments. They may not accept bloodstained objects or objects that have recently become wet as pledges.
15. They may lend only upon physical pledges and not upon written obligations. Enforcement shall be limited to the pledged property, except in the case of written obligations arising from good and lawful commercial transactions, which may be enforced according to established custom.
16. No person shall be compelled by us to pay interest of any kind to a Jew. By interest, we mean any amount beyond the original principal.
17. Jews are forbidden, under penalty, to dispute matters of religion with anyone, whether rich or poor, publicly or privately.
18. Their former charters and privileges shall be returned to them if they can be found. If the originals can’t be located but authentic copies are found, the privileges shall be renewed, except for any provisions that conflict with this ordinance.
19. We shall appoint two honorable men from our court to serve as Auditors of the Jews. They shall ensure that this ordinance is observed and shall administer justice in Jewish affairs according to the customs followed before the Jews’ departure.
20. These two officials, either personally or through their representatives, shall investigate property belonging to the Jews that was sold for less than half its proper value. They shall correct the resulting injustice, summon the necessary parties and apply the customs of the region while considering both our rights and those of the Jews.

Because we have taken these Jews, their households and their possessions under our special protection and safe-conduct, we command every one of you to protect them. You shall cause them to be protected from force, injury, violence and every form of oppression.

Each of you shall observe and enforce the provisions stated above according to your authority. You shall act so that the Jews have no reason to complain to us because of any failure on your part.

In testimony of this act, we have ordered our seal to be affixed to this ordinance.

Given at Paris on the twenty-eighth day of July in the year of grace 1315.