May 9, 1764

“Ordinance” issued by Adolphus Fredrick (‘Adolf Friedrich’) IV [Archduchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; Present-day Germany]: “[…] If a Jew arrives in a city […] the host/innkeeper – with whom the Jew stays – is to inform the [legal] courts (‘Gerichte’) immediately or face a fine of 5 Rthlr. [Reichstahler] and to stop such (Jew) and require that he show the proper papers (‘sich gebührend zu legitimiren’). If he possesses a letter of protection or concession from His Majesty and has a passport […] that is not expired […] the Jew or the servant of a protected Jew may stay […] as long as his business requires it […]. If it’s a foreign Jew who is merely passing through and can show such proper attestations, he may be granted a 24 hour stay […] However, if he requires a longer stay for whatever reasons, (during which he must, however refrain, from all trade) he may be issued an extension […] which must be from the courts in writing […] and the host/innkeeper may not keep such (Jew) longer than indicated in his passport or […] pay a fine of 5 Rthlr. [Reichsthaler] for each day he’s late. Such a Jew who remains here longer than 24 hours, shall pay for each 24 hour [period] 24 ßl. [Schilling] to the fiscum iudicii in all cities, Altstrelitz, and Fürstenberg. If the Jew does not have a passport but other adequate papers (attestations) of the places he’s been staying and where he’s headed […] he is to be immediately shown to the nearest border crossing […] and to be expelled from the city, except if it’s too late in the day; in that case, he’s to be given a place to stay over night and to be expelled early next morning.  Should such a Jew be found here irrespectively, he’s to be beaten as a punishment (‘am Leibe zu bestrafen’).” [Researcher’s note:  The required amount was modified via the Rescript of Altstreliz on July 11, 1764. This ordinance was confirmed and [re-]issued via a similar ordinance on April 2, 1772.]