Decree, issued by William VIII, Landgrave of Hesse [Present-day Germany]: “1. We order that henceforth, the manufacturers of woolen fabrics at Hanau shall have the first right of refusal regarding all purchases of wool in Our lands between May 1 and July 1 of every year, according to the following rules. 2. During said period, no Jew in Our lands shall dare to purchase any wool, or advance any money against it to Our subjects. 3. In case one Jew or another shall act in violation of this decree, his wool shall be confiscated, in addition to other punishments, depending on the case. 4. The Jews of Hanau may buy any leftover domestic wool as of July 1, and trade it within Our lands and without.”
“Von Gottes Gnaden Wir Wilhelm, Landgraf zu Hessen, Fürst zu Herßfeld… [We, Wilhelm, by God’s Mercy Landgrave of Hesse, Prince of Hersfeld…],” 3/13/1745; Decrees Collection; AR 379; Box 1; Folder 76; Leo Baeck Institute. Researched by Dominik Jacobs 12/16/2019