Part 3

_Conclusio_: If any of the GRANTNERS cometh before thine house, and simply beggeth for God’s sake, and speaketh not many, nor flowery words, to them thou shalt give, for there are many men who have been afflicted with the sickness by the Saints; but as to those GRANTNERS who use many words, speak of great wonders, tell you that they have made vows, and can altogether skilfully use their tongues—these are signs that they have followed this business for a long time, and, I doubt not, they are false and not to be trusted. As to him who believes them, they take a nut off his tree. Take care of such, and give them nothing.

+Of the Dutzers.+

The ix^{th} chapter is about the DUTZERS. These are beggars who have been ill for a long time, as they say, and have promised a difficult pilgrimage to this or that Saint (_ut supra in precedenti capitulo_) for three whole and entire alms every day, that they, thereby, must go each day from door to door until they find three pious men who will give them three entire alms. Thus speaketh a pious man unto them: “What is an entire alms?” Whereat the DUTZER replieth: “A ‘plaphart’ (_blaffard_), whereof I must have three every day, and take no less, for without that the pilgrimage is no good.” Some go for iij pennies, some for one penny, _et in toto nihil_. And the alms they “must have from a good and correct man.” Such is the vanity of women, rather than be called impious they give a double “blaffard,” and send the DUTZER one to another, who uses many other words which I cannot make bold to repeat. _Item_, they would take a hundred “blaffards” and more a day if they were given them, and what they say is all lies (GEVOPT). _Item_, this also is DUTZING, viz. when a beggar comes to thine house and speaks: “Good woman, might I ask you for a spoonful of butter; I have many young children, and I want the wherewith to cook soup for them?” _Item_, for an egg (BETZAM): “I have a child bedridden now these seven days.” _Item_, for a mouthful of wine, “for I have a sick wife,” _et sic de aliis_. This is called DUTZING.

_Conclusio_: Give nought whatsoever to those DUTZERS who say that they have taken a vow not to gather more _per diem_ than iij or iiij entire alms, _ut supra_. They are half good (HUNT), and half bad (LÖTSCH); but the greater part bad.

+Of Schleppers, or False Begging Priests.+

The x^{th} chapter is about the SCHLEPPERS. These are KAMMESIERERS who pretend to be priests. They come to the houses with a _famulus_ or _discipulus_ who carries a sack after them, and speak thus:—“Here comes a consecrated man, named Master George Kessler, of Kitzebühel (or what else he likes to call himself) and I am of such-and-such a village, or of such-and-such a family (naming a family which they know), and I will officiate at my first mass on such-and-such a day in that village, and I was consecrated for the altar in such-and-such a town at such-and-such a church, and there is no altar cloth, nor is there a missal, _et cetera_, and I cannot afford them without much help from all men; for mark, whosoever is commended for an offering in the angel’s requiem, or for as many pennies as he gives, so many souls will be released amongst his deceased kindred.” _Item_, they receive also the farmer (HANZ) and his wife (HANZIN) into a brotherhood, which they say had bestowed on it grace and a great indulgence from the bishop who is to erect the altar. Thus men are moved to pity; one gives linen yarn, another flax or hemp; one table cloths, or towels, or old silver plate; and the SCHLEPPERS say that they are not a brotherhood like the others who have _questionerer_, and who come every year, but that they will come no more (for if they came again they would certainly be drowned [GEFLÖSSELT]). _Item_, this manner is greatly practised in the Black Forest, and in the country of Bregenz, in Kurwalen, and in the Bar, and in the Algen, and on the Adige, and in Switzerland, where there are not many priests, and where the churches are far distant from each other,—as are also the farms.

_Conclusio_: To these SCHLEPPERS, or Knaves, give nothing, for it would be badly laid out.

_Exemplum_, One was called Mansuetus; he also invited the farmers to his first mass at St. Gallen; and when they came to St. Gallen they sought for him in the cathedral, but found him not. After their meal they discovered him in a brothel (_SONNENBOSS_), but he escaped.

+Of the Gickisses, or Blind Beggars.+

The xi^{th} chapter is of the GICKISSES, or Blind Beggars. Mark: there are three kinds of blind men who wander about. Some are called BLOCHARTS, _id est_, blind men—made blind by the power of God,—they go on a pilgrimage, and when they come into a town they hide their round hats, and say to the people they have been stolen from them, or lost at the places where they had sheltered themselves, and one of them often collects ten or xx caps, and then sells them. Some are called blind who have lost their sight by evil-doings and wickednesses. They wander about in the country and carry with them pictures of devils, and repair to the churches, and pretend they had been at Rome, to Saint James, and other distant places, and speak of great signs and wonders that had taken place, but it is all lies and deception. Some of the blind men are called BROKEN WANDERERS (Bruch Umbgeen). These are such as have been blinded ten years or more; they take cotton, and make the cotton bloody, and then with a kerchief tie this over their eyes, and say that they have been mercers or pedlers, and were blinded by wicked men in a forest, that they were tied fast to a tree and so remained three or four days, and, but for a merciful passer-by, they would have miserably perished;—and this is called BROKEN WANDERING.

_Conclusio_: Know them well before thou givest to them; my advice is only give to those thou knowest.

+Of the Schwanfelders, Blickschlahers, or Naked Beggars.+

The xij^{th} chapter is about the SCHWANFELDERS, or BLICKSCHLAHERS. These are beggars who, when they come to a town, leave their clothes at the hostelry, and sit down against the churches naked, and shiver terribly before the people that they may think they are suffering from great cold. They prick themselves with nettle-feed and other things, whereby they are made to shake. Some say they have been robbed by wicked men; some that they have lain ill and for this reason were compelled to sell their clothes. Some say they have been stolen from them; but all this is only that people should give them more clothes, when they sell (VERKÜMMERN) them, and spend the money with lewd women (VERBOLENS) and gambling (VERJONENS).

_Conclusio_: Beware of these SCHWANFELDERS for it is all knavery, and give them nothing, whether they be men or women, (unless) thou knowest them well.

+Of the Voppers, or Demoniacs.+

The xiij^{th} chapter is about the VOPPERS. These beggars are for the most part women, who allow themselves to be led in chains as if they were raving mad; they tear their shifts from their bodies, in order that they may deceive people. There are also some that do both, VOPPERY and DUTZING, together. This is VOPPING, viz. when one begs for his wife’s or any other person’s sake and says she has been possessed of a devil (tho’ there is no truth in it), and he has vowed to some Saint (whom he names), and must have xij pounds of wax or other things whereby the person will be delivered from the power of the devil. These are called DUTZING-VOPPERS.

_Conclusio_: This is a wicked and false way of begging. They sing,—

A beggar’s (BREGAR) wench (ERLATIN) will cheat, And lie (VOPPEN) and be full of deceit (FERBEN): And he kicks and beats her with his shoe.

There are also some VOPPERINAE, _id est_, women, who pretend that they have diseases of the breast. They take a cow’s spleen, and peel it on one side, and then lay it upon their bosom—the peeled part outside—besmearing it with blood, in order that people may think it is the breast. These are the VOPPERINAE.

+Of the Dallingers, or Hangmen.+

The xiiij^{th} chapter is about the D a l l i n g e r s. These are they who stand before the churches, having been hangmen (although they have left it off i year or ii since), and chastise and whip themselves with rods, and will do penance and pilgrimage for their sin and wickednesses. These often beg with much success. When they have practised for a while and cheated many people thereby, they become hangmen again, as before. Give to them if thou wilt; but they are all knaves who beg thus.

+Of the Dützbetterins, or Lying-in Women.+

The xv^{th} chapter is about the DÜTZBETTERINS. These are the beggarwomen who lay themselves before the churches all over the country. They spread a sheet over themselves, and set wax and eggs by them, as tho’ they were in childbed, and say, their babe died xiiij days ago, altho’ some of them have not had one these x or xx years; and they are called DÜTZBETTERINS. To these nothing is to be given,—_causa_: There lay once, at Strasburg, a man underneath a sheet before the cathedral, and it was pretended he was a woman in childbed. But he was taken by the town serjeants, and put into a halsong, and in the pillory, and then he was forbidden the country. There are likewise some women who pretend they have been pregnant with a monster and have brought forth such, as did a woman who came to Pforzheim in the year one thousand five hundred and nine. This same woman said that a short time before she had given birth to a child and a live toad; and that this very toad she had carried to Our Lady at Einsiedeln, where it was still alive, and that it must have a pound of meat every day,—being kept at Einsiedeln as a miracle. Thus she begs alms as if she were on her way to Ach, to Our Lady. She had also a letter with a seal, which was proclaimed from the pulpit. The same woman, however, had a lusty young man whom she kept in food by such villany, sitting in an ale-house in the suburb waiting for her. All this was found out by the gate-keeper; and they would have been seized, but they had been warned and so took themselves off. _Nota_: All this was utter knavery.

+Of the Süntvegers, or (pretended) Murderers.+

The xvi^{th} chapter is about the SÜNTVEGERS. These are strong fellows who go about the country with long knives and say they have taken a man’s life away, but that it was in self-defence, and then they name a sum of money which they must have, and unless they bring the money at the right time, they will have their heads cut off. _Item_, some are accompanied by a fellow on their begging-rounds who goes in iron chains and fetters fastened with rings, and who says he was bail for the other for a sum of money to the people, and if he gets not the money in time, both of them must perish.

+Of the female Süntvegers.+

The xvij^{th} chapter is about the FEMALE-SÜNTVEGERS. These are the wives (KRÖNERIN), or, in reality, the wenches (GLIDEN) of the above fellows (_supra in precedenti capitulo_). They wander over the country, and say that formerly they led a loose life, but that now they repent and would turn from their wickedness, and beg alms for the sake of Sancta Maria Magdalena, and cheat the people therewith.

+Of the Bil-wearers,[13] or (pretended) pregnant Women.+

The xviij^{th} chapter is about the BIL-WEARERS. These are the women who tie old jerkins, or clothes, or a pillow over their person, underneath the gown, in order that people may think they are with child; and they have not had one for xx years or more. This is called GOING WITH BILS.[14]

+Of the Virgins (Jungfrauen), or pretended Lepers.+

The xix^{th} chapter is about the VIRGINS. These are beggars who carry rattles as though they were real lepers, and yet they are not. This is called GOING WITH THE VIRGIN.

+Of the Mümsen, or Spurious Beggars.+

The xx^{th} chapter treats of the MÜMSEN. These are beggars who go about under the pretence of begging; though it is not real, like that of the Capuchin Friars who are voluntarily poor. These same men have their women sitting in out-of-the-way corners also following the business. This is called GOING WITH THE MÜMSEN.

+Of the Over-Sönzen-Goers,[15] or pretended Noblemen and Knights.+

The xxi^{st} chapter is about OVER-SÖNZEN-GOERS. These are vagrants or beggars who say they are of noble birth, and that they have suffered by war, fire, or captivity, or have been driven away and lost all they had. These clothe themselves prettily and with neatness, as though they were noble, though it is not so; they have false letters (LOE BSAFFOT); and this they call GOING OVER SÖNZEN.

+Of the Kandierers, or pretended Mercers.+

The xxij^{nd} chapter is about the KANDIERERS. These are beggars tidily dressed; they make people believe they had once been merchants over the sea, and have with them a LOE BSAFFOT, from the bishop (as common people think), but the trick has been well related in _capitulo tertio_, together with an account of the LOSSNERS (liberated prisoners),—how they obtain their false letters and seals, saying they have been robbed; but it is all lies. This is called GOING OVER CLANT.

+Of the Veranerins, or baptized Jewesses.+

The xxiij^{rd} chapter is about the VERANERINS. These are women who say they are baptized Jewesses and have turned Christians, and can tell people whether their fathers or mothers are in hell or not, and beg gowns and dresses and other things, and have also false letters and seals. They are called VERANERINS.

+Of Christianers, Calmierers, or (pretended) Pilgrims.+

The xxiiij^{th} chapter is about CHRISTIANERS or CALMIERERS. These are beggars who wear signs in their hats, especially Roman veronicas, shells, and other tokens, which they sell to each other, in order that it shall be thought they have been in distant cities and foreign parts. For this reason they wear these signs, although they have never come thence, and they deceive people thereby. They are called CALMIERERS.

+Of the Seffers, or Salvers.+

The xxv^{th} chapter is about the SEFFERS. These are beggars who besmear themselves all over with salve, and lie down before the churches; thus looking as though they had been ill a long time, and as if their mouth and face had broken out in sores; but if they go to a bath three days after these go away again.

+Of the Schweigers, or the Jaundiced.+

The xxvj^{th} chapter is about the SCHWEIGERS. These are beggars who take horses’ dung and mix it with water, and besmear their legs, hands, and arms with it; thereby appearing as if they had the yellow sickness, or other dreadful disease. Yet it is not true; they cheat people therewith, and they are called SCHWEIGERS.

+Of the Burkhart.+

The xxvij^{th} chapter is about the BURKHART. These are they who thrust their hands into gauntlets, and tie them with kerchiefs to their throats, and say they have Saint Anthony’s penance, or that of any other Saint. Yet it is not true, and they cheat people therewith. This is called GOING ON THE BURKHART.

+Of the Platschierers, or Blind Harpers.+

The xxviij^{th} chapter is about the PLATSCHIERERS. These are the blind men who sit before the churches on chairs, and play on the lute, and sing various songs of foreign lands whither they have never been, and when they have done singing they begin to VOP (to lie) and FERB in what manner they had lost their eye-sight. _Item_, the hangmen (PLATSCHIERERS) also before the DIFTEL door (church-door) will take their clothes off till they are stark-naked, and lash themselves with whips and sticks for the sake of their sins, and they do this VOPPERY to cheat mankind, as thou hast just heard in the previous chapter; and this is called PLATSCHIERING. Also those who stand on stools, and lash themselves with stones and other things, and talk about the saints, usually become hangmen and slayers.

¶ THE SECOND PART.

_This is the Second Part of this Book, which speaketh of several_ Notabilia _that relate to the afore-mentioned customs and methods of getting a living, given in a few words._

_Item_, there are some of the afore-mentioned who neither ask before a house nor at the door, but step right into the house, or into the chamber, whether any body be within or no. It is from no good reason. These thou knowest thyself.

_Item_, there are also some that go up and down the aisles of churches, and carry a cup in their hands. They wear clothes suitable for this purpose, and pass about very infirm as tho’ they were strangely ill, and go from one to the other, and bow towards those people who are likely to give them something. They are called PFLÜGERS.

_Item_, there are also some who borrow children upon All Souls’ or other Feast Day, and sit down before the churches as tho’ they had many children, and they say “these children are motherless” or “fatherless,” but it is not true. This is done in order that people may give to them the more willingly for the sake of ADONE (God).

_Exemplum_: In a village in Switzerland, there is a statute whereby they give to every beggar vs. hellers on condition that he shall for a quarter of a year at least not beg in the same neighbourhood. Once a woman took these same vs. hellers on condition that she would not beg any more in the neighbourhood. After that she cut her hair off, and begged up and down the country, and came again to Swytz, into the village, and sat down at the church gate with a young child. When the child was uncovered it was found to be a dog. Then she had to run away from the country. This person was called _Weissenburgerin_; she had been in prison at Zurich combing wool.

_Item_, there are some who put on good clothes and beg in the streets. They accost any person, be it woman or man, and say, they have lain ill a long time, and are mechanics who have expended all their goods and are ashamed to beg, and ask that thou mayest help them to proceed on their journey. These are called GOOSE-SHEARERS.[16]

_Item_, there are likewise some among those beforementioned who pretend they can dig or search for hidden treasures, and when they find some one who allows himself to be persuaded, they say they must have gold and silver, and must have many masses celebrated to this same end, _et cetera_, with many more words added. Thereby they deceive the nobility, the clergy, and also the laity, for it has not yet been heard that such villains have found these valuables. But they have cheated people enough. They are called SEFEL-(dirt-)DIGGERS.

_Item_, there are also some among the above who treat their children badly in order that they may become lame (and who would be sorry if they should grow straight-legged) for thereby they are more able to cheat people with their LOE VOTS (lying words).

_Item_, there are also others among the above who, when they come into the villages, have a little counterfeit finger and dirt[17] upon it, smearing it all over, and say they have found it, and ask if somebody will buy it. Thus a silly peasant’s wife (HANZIN) thinks it is silver, and knows it not, and gives them vi pennies or more for it, and therewith she is cheated. In like manner with _pater nosters_, or other signs which they carry underneath their cloaks. They are called WILTNERS.

_Item_, there are also some QUESTIONERERS (persons who ask alms) who make evil use of the holy goods which they receive, be it flax, linen-cloth, broken silver plate, or other things; they are easily detected by those who are knowing, but the common man will soon be cheated. I give to no QUESTIONER anything, excepting the four messengers, _id est_, those that are here written down, viz. _Sancti Antonii_, _Sancti Valentini_, _Sancti Bernardi_, _et Spiritus Sancti_. The same have been confirmed by the See of Rome.[18]

_Item_, beware of the pedlers who seek thee at home, for thou wilt buy nothing good of them, be it silver, haberdashery, spicery, or any other wares.

Beware, likewise, of the doctors who travel up and down the country, and offer theriack and roots, and make much ado about themselves, and especially some blind doctors. One called Hans of Strasburg, has been a Jew, and was christened at Strasburg at Whitsuntide; years ago his eyes were bored out at Worms, but he is now a physician, and tells fortunes, and travels from place to place, and cheats and defrauds every body. How? I need not say, I could tell well enough.

_Item_, beware of the JONERS (gamblers) who practice BESEFLERY with the BRIEF (cheating at cards), who _deal_ falsely and _cut_ one for the other, cheat with BÖGLEIN and SPIES, pick one BRIEF (card) from the ground, and another from a cupboard; they cheat also with the REGERS (dice); with _hearts_, the _chest_, in _taking off_ and in _laying on_, with METZES, STABS, GUMNES, PRISSING, with the _four knaves_; they use LOE MESS (bad coins), or LOE STETTINGERS (bad florins), and make use of many other rogueries, such as _drawing out_, the _rot_, _the stake_, &c., which I had better not explain, for your own good.

And these same knaves eat and drink always at such houses as are called the Stick, which means they never pay the landlord what they owe him, but when they leave there “sticks” mostly something to them which commonly departs with them.

_Item_, there is yet another sort among the land-strollers. These are the _tinkers_ who travel about the country. They have women (WEIBER) who go before them and sing and play; some go about full of mischief, and if thou givest them nothing, one of them mayhap will break a hole in thy kettle with a stick or a knife to give work to a multitude of others.

_Et sic de aliis._

[Illustration]

¶ THE THIRD PART OF THIS

LITTLE BOOK IS THE

VOCABULARY.

_ADONE_, God. _Hebrew_, ADHONAIY, the Lord, _i.e._ God.

_ACHELN_, to eat. _Hebrew_, AKÁL.

_ALCHEN!_ to go.

_ALCH DICH!_ go! or, go quickly!

_ALCH DICH ÜBERN BREITHART!_ go far away! remove to a distance!

_ALCH DICH ÜBERN GLENZ!_ go far away! remove to a distance!

_BARLEN_, to speak. _French_, PARLER.

_BESCHÖCHER_, tipsy. _German_, BESOFFEN, drunken, inebriated.

_BETZAM_, an egg. _Hebrew_, BEYTZAH.

_BLECH_, a BLAFFART,—an obsolete coin containing 48 hellers. _German_, BLECH, a thin piece of metal.

_BLECHLEIN_, a kreuzer,—a smaller coin than the preceding, containing 8 hellers. _German_, BLECHLEIN, the diminutive of BLECH.

_BÖLEN_, HELSEN,—probably the _German_, HALSEN, to embrace any one, to jump at one’s neck (HALS); also to veer.

_BOPPEN_, to lie; be placed or situated.

_BOSS_, or BETT, a house. This term would seem to be from the _Hebrew_, BETH, a house. Bo, or BOS, is a common prefix in the old _Cornish_, and signifies a house, as BOSCAWEN, BOSPIDNICK.