Sicut Judaeis (1217 AD)
Just as the Jews ought not to be permitted to presume beyond what is allowed by law in their Synagogues, so too in those things that have been granted to them they must suffer no prejudice.
We, therefore — even though they prefer to persist in their own hardness of heart rather than come to know the words of the prophets and the secrets of their own Scriptures, and to arrive at an understanding of the Christian faith and salvation — yet, because they seek our defense and aid, following in the footsteps of our predecessors of happy memory, the Roman Pontiffs Calixtus, Eugene, Alexander, Clement, Celestine, and Innocent, in the mildness of Christian piety, we receive their petition and grant them the shield of our protection.
We also ordain that no Christian shall compel them, unwilling or refusing, to come to baptism by force. But if any one of them of his own accord flees to the Christians on account of the faith, once his wish has been made known, let him be made a Christian without any calumny against him. For one who is known to have come to Christian baptism not spontaneously but unwillingly is not believed to possess the true faith of Christianity.
Moreover, let no Christian presume to wound, kill, or take their money from their persons without the judgment of the secular authority, nor to alter the good customs which they have thus far held in the region in which they dwell.
Furthermore, let no one disturb them in any way with clubs or stones during the celebration of their own festivals; and let no one exact from them forced services except those which they have been accustomed to render in times past.
In addition, opposing the wickedness and avarice of evil men, we decree that no one shall dare to mutilate or diminish a Jewish cemetery, nor to dig up bodies that have been buried there for the sake of money.
If anyone, having come to know the tenor of this decree, shall rashly — which God forbid — presume to act contrary to it, let him suffer the loss of his honor and office, or let him be struck with the punishment of excommunication, unless he corrects his presumption by making worthy satisfaction.
We wish, however, that only those be fortified by the protection of this present document who shall not have presumed to plot anything to the subversion of the Christian faith.
Given at the Lateran, by the hand of Raynerius, Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church, on the seventh day before the Ides of November, in the fifth indiction, in the year of the Lord’s incarnation one thousand two hundred and seventeen, in the second year of the pontificate of the lord Honorius, third of that name.
Source. Bullarium Romanum, Vol. III – Translated by Claude.AI. Honorius III, Sicut Judaeis. Bullarium Diplomatum et Privilegiorum Sanctorum Romanorum Pontificum, Taurinensis Editio, Vol. III, Bull XV. Turin, 1858.
On the Distinctive Dress of Jews and Their Exclusion from Public Office (1221 AD)
Know that it has come to our hearing that certain Jews dwelling in the province of Bordeaux refuse to wear the distinguishing signs by which they are set apart from Christians in their manner of dress, as was decreed in the general council. On account of this, and other grave offenses which follow from it, Christians are shamefully mixing with Jewish women and Jews with Christian women.
Moreover, the nobles of that province, taking no account of the fact that blasphemers of Christ eagerly oppress Christians whenever they are able, have been entrusting to Jews — who already exercise authority effectively over Christians — public offices to discharge, and have been placing them in charge of castles and villages contrary to the statutes of the aforementioned council, so that as servants they lord it over their masters.
Since therefore it is not only impious but also an abuse that Jews be permitted to grow so insolent, we command your fraternity by apostolic writings that, enforcing the statutes of the said council firmly in these matters, you compel the Jews to distinguish themselves from Christians by a difference of dress — through withdrawal of communion with Christians — and compel the nobles, by ecclesiastical censure with appeal removed in the manner aforesaid, neither to entrust them with public offices to discharge nor otherwise to place them in authority over Christians.
Given at the Lateran, on the third day before the Kalends of May, in the fifth year of our pontificate.
Source. Bullarium Romanum, Vol. III – Translated by Claude.AI. Honorius III, Quod Iudaei Diversitate Habitus Distinguantur a Christianis. Bullarium Diplomatum et Privilegiorum Sanctorum Romanorum Pontificum, Taurinensis Editio, Vol. III, Bull LIV. Turin, 1858.
Regesta Pontificum Romanorum
HONORIUS III — Entry 6089 (Dilecta in Christo, June 21, 1219, year 3°)
He commands the Abbots of Saint-Jean-en-Vignes of Soissons and of Vallée-Secrète of the Premonstratensian order, and G., Dean of Soissons, that — since Blanche, Countess of Champagne, has together with certain archbishops and other church prelates been actively engaged regarding the statute of the Lateran Council concerning compelling Jews to remit usury owed to crusaders — they are to defend the countess from injury. June 21, year 3°.
HONORIUS III — Entry 6385 (Ad audientiam nostram, November 4, 1220, year 5°)
He warns Alfonso, King of León, that when he intends to send envoys to the Miramamolin [the Almohad caliph] or to his subjects, he should send Christians rather than Jews, “since you cannot hope for fidelity from unbelievers.” November 4, year 5°.
Source. Regesta Pontificum Romanorum – Translated by Claude.AI. Honorius III, Letters. Potthast, August, Regesta Pontificum Romanorum, Vol 1. 1957.