Of Vagrants (Vagierern), or Strollers.Of Vagrants (Vagierern), or Strollers.
Of Vagrants (Vagierern), or Strollers.
HE vijthchapter is aboutVagrants. 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 miserieShall touch this ground to all eternitie;”
“Wherever these words are said,No man shall suddenly fall dead,No murrain, mildew or other miserieShall touch this ground to all eternitie;”
“Wherever these words are said,No man shall suddenly fall dead,No murrain, mildew or other miserieShall touch this ground to all eternitie;”
“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 (BESEFELTDENdenHANZENumsMESS) 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 theseVagrants, for wherewith they practise is all lies.