. . . The truth is that from among your honors' comrades-in-arms,
several of the officers and their soldiers hunted out the
poor Jews in Swabia, took some of them prisoner and demanded
ransom, destroyed the houses of those that escaped, plundered
and wasted whatever was within, and ruined and chased away
many poor widows and orphans. . . .
Honorable gentlemen, in all my experience of forty years,
whatever unjust and offensive things have been done to me
and my brothers, we have always regarded your honors and
all your kin and dependents as our resort and with the greatest
trust . . . and therefore we remain in the secure hope that
your honors . . . will not permit any of us either collectively
or individually . . . to be asked for ransom of accused,
which would be against the decree of public peace and especially
against the protection granted by the Holy Roman Empire
and its members for all time. . . . Because one can find
in no law . . . that any one could deprive our poor selves
of our possessions and drive us from our established places
of abode against all recognized rights, and it is also publicly
known that at the latest
Reichstag in Worms a petition was circulated by our
enemies to banish us poor Jews from Germany, but through
the gracious favor of the Almighty, the electors and princes,
all the estates, and the most prudent representatives established
and stated that such action was not to be taken. [I pray]
that you will instruct your soldiers and allies that the
poor Jews collectively or singly, wherever they may be found,
may continue to remain unhindered and unharmed. . . .
Your Honors' humble and obedient,
Joslin, Jew of Rosshein,
General Commander of the Jews
