Of the Lossners, or liberated Prisoners.Of the Lossners, or liberated Prisoners.
Of the Lossners, or liberated Prisoners.
HE iijrdchapter is about theLossners. These are knaves who say they have lain in prison vi or vij years, and carry the chains with them wherein they lay as captives among the infidel (id est, in theSONNENBOSS,i.e.brothel) for their christian faith;item, on the sea in galleys or ships enchained in iron fetters;item, in a strong tower for innocence’ sake; and they have forged letters (LOE BSAFFOT), as from the princes and lords of foreign lands, and from the towns (KIELAM) there, to bear witness to their truth, tho’ all the time they are deceit and lies (GEVOPTundGEVERBT),—— for vagabonds may be found everywhere on the road who can make (VETZEN) any seal they like—— and they say they have vowed to Our Lady at Einsiedlin (in theDALLINGER’S BOSS,i.e.harlot’s house), or to somePg 12other Saint (in theSCHÖCHERBOSS,i.e.beer-house), according to what country they are in, a pound of wax, a silver crucifix, or a chasuble; and they say they have been made free through that vow, and, when they had vowed, the chains opened and broke, and they departed safe and without harm.Item, some carry iron fastenings, or coats of mail (PANZER) with them,et sic de aliis.Nota:They have perchance bought (KÜMMERT) the chains; perchance they had them made (VETZEN); perchance stolen (GEJENFT) them from the church (DIFTEL) of St. Lenhart.
Conclusio: To such vagrants thou shalt give nothing, for they do nought but deceive (VOPPEN) and cheat (VERBEN) thee; not one in a thousand speaks the truth.