In former ages, God ordered Moses not to make use of blood as food, and it was afterwards declared by the Apostles that persons ought to abstain from nourishment of this description. And although in ancient as well as in modern times such food was considered vile and execrable, the obstinacy and perversity of men induced them to pay no attention to the provisions of the law; but, on the contrary, some of them being influenced by the desire for gain, and others by their appetites, boldly violated the law, and fed upon blood, although its use had been prohibited. It has been brought to Our ears that they now stuff entrails with blood, and use them as their daily food. As We do not think that this should be tolerated, the Divine precepts disobeyed, and the State disgraced by the use of such nutriment, which is a wicked invention due to the gluttony of mankind, We hereby forbid all persons either to use, or to sell it; and We give notice that, if anyone should, in contempt of the Divine Law, he found to have prepared blood as food, whether he sells it or buys it, he shall have all his property confiscated, and, after having been severely scourged, and disgracefully shaved, shall be exiled for life. Again, as magistrates of cities would have been able to prevent this crime if they had been sufficiently vigilant, they shall, for the reason that they have been remiss in the performance of their duty, be sentenced by the same judgment to pay a fine of ten pounds of gold.