Individuals as Debtors

Alongside abbots, bishops, canons and the City of Regensburg, there were also individuals who were in debt to the Jews of Regensburg. Those individuals were acting either privately, in other words for themselves, or as representatives of an institution.

In December 1321, Ludweich der Hiltprant, hansgrave of Regensburg, and Fridrich der Reicher an der Haide, both citizens of Regensburg, confirmed that they owed the young man Eysaac and his wife Michelinn 9.5 pounds of Regensburg pfennigs. They had taken out this loan as representatives of the Hanse (guild) for Chuonrat den Nevnburger. The interest was two pfennigs per pound each week. Cuts into the document show that the matter has been settled.

The Hanse was an association of merchants and the hansgrave its leader. The hansgrave also had the power to act as arbitrator in business disputes.

Just under 150 years later, the Regensburg brothers Hanns and Conrad dy Coppenwallder with their wives Margreth and Erntrawt borrowed 250 guilders from Eberl and Schymszan, both Jews of Regensburg. The weekly interest was one hälbling (half-penny) per guilder. The four issuers authenticated the documents with the signets of Hanns and Conrad, both of whom also signed themselves.

The mark on the back in Hebrew letters is worth highlighting: this is the acknowledgement of a partial repayment in the amount of 100 guilders in 1468.