Unsere von Gottes Gnaden…Verordung gegen Abhaltung der Zigeuner, fremden Bettler, Bettel-Juden und anderer dergleichen Land-Streicher.

(GERMANY).

Kissling

Osnabrueck

1720

Decree prohibits gypsies, beggars and begging Jews (”Bettel-Juden”) to enter territories under the rule of Ernst August II, Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrueck. Inhabitants of his territories are forbidden to accommodate any of these vagrant groups, violations will be punished and denunciations rewarded. Children of such groups under ten year of age will be removed from their families and raised by Christian foster parents. Male gypsies will be branded with a hot iron and driven out of the country, reentry will be punished by hanging. Other beggars (including Jews) found inside the country will be expelled and threatened with corporal punishment should they return. Ernst August II (1674-1728) was duke of Braunschweig and Lueneburg and younger brother of George I of Great Britain.