Vincenzo per la Gratia di dio duca di Mantoua & di Monferrato

(ITALY)

n.p., January 17th

Mantua

1588

Printed pamphlet. Woodcut crest. Opening letter within decorative woodcut vignette

S. Simonsohn, History of the Jews in the Duchy of Mantua (1977), no. 19

Duke Vincenzio I issued this proclamation, based on a theological pronouncement, forbidding the baptism of Jewish children without the consent of at least one parent. It added, if a Jewish child wished to become Christian against his parents wishes, he would not be baptized until the permission of the Bishop of Mantua had been received. The Bishop would first need to examine the child’s intelligence; “in order that in the course of time there shall arise no scandal to the holy Christian religion if they recant their Christianity.” While apostasy was encouraged and rewarded with automatic citizenship, there is little evidence of the conversion to Christianity among the Jews of Mantua at this period. See: S. Simonsohn, History of the Jews in the Duchy of Mantua (1977), pp.26-27