Collected Works of Martin Luther

by Martin Luther

  Of Dobissers, or Dopfers, i.e. Church-mendicants.

  The v^{th} chapter is about DOBISSERS. These beggars (STIRNENSTÖSSER, i.e. spurious anointers) go HOSTIATIM from house to house, and touch the peasant and his wife (HANZ und HANZIN) with the Holy Virgin, or some other Saint, saying that it is the Holy Virgin from the chapel, — and they pass themselves off for friars from the same place. Item, that the chapel was poor and they beg linen-thread for an altar-cloth (id est, a gown [CLAFFOT] for a harlot [SCHREFEN]). Item, fragments of silver for a chalice (id est, to spend it in drinking [VERSCHÖCHERN] or gambling [VERJONEN]). Item, towels for the priests to dry their hands upon, (id est, to sell [VERKÜMMERN] them). Item, there are also DOBISSERS, church-beggars, who have letters with seals, and beg alms to repair a ruined chapel (DIFTEL), or to build a new church. Verily, such friars do make collections for an edificium — viz. one which lies not far below the nose, and is called St. Drunkard’s chapel.

  Conclusio: As to these DOBISSERS, give them nought, for they cheat and defraud thee. If from a church that lies ij or iij miles from thee people come and beg, give them as much as thou wilt or canst.

  Of Kammesierers, or Learned Beggars.

  The vjth chapter is about the KAMMESIERERS. These beggars are young scholars or young students, who do not obey their fathers and mothers, and do not listen to their masters’ teaching, and so depart, and fall into the bad company of such as are learned in the arts of strolling and tramping, and who quickly help them to lose all they have by gambling (VERJONEN), pawning (VERSENKEN), or selling (VERKÜMMERN) it, with drinking (VERSCHÖCHERN) and revelry. And when they have nought more left, they learn begging, and KAMMESIERING, and to cheat the farmers (HANZEN-BESEFLEN); and they KAMESIER as follows: Item, that they come from Rome (id est, from the brothel [SONNENBOSS]), studying to become priests (on the gallows, i.e. DOLMAN); item, one is acolitus, another is epistolarius, the third evangelicus, and a fourth clericus (GALCH); item, they have nought on earth but the alms wherewith people help them, and all their friends and family have long been called away by death’s song. Item, they ask linen cloth for an alb (id est, for a harlot’s shift, i.e. GLIDEN HANFSTAUDEN). Item, money, that they may be consecrated at next Corpus Christi day (id est, in a SONNENBOSS, i.e. brothel), and whatever they get by cheating and begging they lose in gambling (VERJONEN), or with strumpets, or spend it in drink (VERSCHOCHERNS und VERBOLENS). Item, they shave tonsures on their heads, although they are not ordained and have no church document (FORMAT), though they say they have, and they are altogether a bad lot (LOE VOT).

  Conclusio: As to these KAMMESIERERS give them nought, for the less thou givest them the better it is for them, and the sooner they must leave off. They have also forged FORMATÆ (literæ).

  Of Vagrants (Vagierern), or Strollers.

  The vij^{th} chapter is about VAGRANTS. These are beggars or adventurers who wear yellow garments, come from Venusberg, know the black art, and are called rambling scholars. These same when they come into a house speak thus:— “Here comes a rambling scholar, a magister of the seven free arts (id est, the various ways of cheating [BESEFLEN] the farmers [HANZEN]), an exorciser of the devil for hail, for storm, and for witchcraft.” Then he utters some magical words and crosses his breast ii or iij times, and speaks thus: —

  “Wherever these words are said,

  No man shall suddenly fall dead,

  No murrain, mildew or other miserie

  Shall touch this ground to all eternitie;”

  and many more precious words. Then the farmers (HANZEN) think it all true, and are glad that he is come, and are sorry they have never seen a wandering scholar before, and speak to the vagrant:— “This or that has happened to me, can you help me? I would willingly give you a florin or ij” — and he says “Yes,” and cheats the farmers (BESEFELTDEN den HANZEN ums MESS) out of their money. And after these experiments they depart. The farmers suppose that by their talking they can drive the devil away, and can help them from any trouble that has befallen them. Thou canst ask them nothing but they will perform thee an experiment therewith; that is, they can cheat and defraud thee of thy money.

  Conclusio: Beware of these Vagrants, for wherewith they practise is all lies.

  Of the Grantners, or Knaves with the falling Sickness.

  The viij^{th} chapter is about the GRANTNERS. These are the beggars who say in the farm-houses (HANSEN-BOSS):— “Oh, dear friend, look at me, I am afflicted with the falling sickness of St. Valentine, or St. Kurinus, or St. Vitus, or St. Antonius, and have offered myself to the Holy Saint (ut supra) with vj pounds of wax, with an altar cloth, with a silver salver (et cetera), and must bring these together from pious people’s offerings and help; therefore I beg you to contribute a heller, a spindleful of flax, a ribbon, or some linen yarn for the altar, that God and the Holy Saint may protect you from misery and disease and the falling sickness.” Nota: A false (LOE) trick.

  Item, some fall down before the churches, or in other places with a piece of soap in their mouths, whereby the foam rises as big as a fist, and they prick their nostrils with a straw, causing them to bleed, as though they had the falling-sickness. Nota: this is utter knavery. These are villanous vagrants that infest all countries. Item, there are many who speak (BARLEN) thus:— “Listen to me, dear friends, I am a butcher’s son, a tradesman. And it happened some time since that a vagrant came to my father’s house and begged for St. Valentine’s sake; and my father gave me a penny to give to him. I said, ‘father, it is knavery.’ My father told me to give it to him, but I gave it him not. And since that hour I have been afflicted with the falling-sickness, and I have made a vow to St. Valentine of iij pounds of wax and a High Mass, and I beg and pray pious folks to help me, because I have made this vow; otherwise I should have substance enough for myself. Therefore I ask of you an offering and help that the dear holy St. Valentine may guard and protect you evermore.” Nota: what he says is all lies. Item, he has been more than xx years collecting for his iij pounds of wax and the mass, and has been gambling (VERJONEN), bibbling (VERSCHÖCHERN), and rioting (VERBOLEN) with it. And there are many that use other and more subtle words than those given in this book. Item, some have a written testimony (BSAFFOT) that it is all true.

  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 t
ime, 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, 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.

  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, 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.