1. from Germany.
2. the fertility of the German land.
3. what spoils Germany.
4. Germany is finished.
6. from a miserly and tyrannical nobleman.
6. about a comet; how Germany will fare.
7. a different one from Germany.
8. D. Luther's lament about the future misfortune that will befall Germany.
Germany lacks a good regent.
10. future penalty via Germany.
11. change of clothes, what it means.
12. Germany is despised.
The Germans lack nothing except understanding and right custom.
14. from the panel in the castle church at Torgau.
15. of a city's ingratitude toward the divine word.
16. from Erfurt.
17 Germans have been great people in the past.
18. from Jerusalem: when the temple at Jerusalem was burned.
19. from the destruction of Jerusalem.
20. from the cities.
21. from England.
22. from swabia and bavaria.
23. from the swiss country.
The difference between the languages.
25. from change of countries.
26. of the whales and Italians.
27. of the roman empire.
28. from the Venetians.
1. from Germany.
(Lauterbach, April 3, 1538, p. 52.)
On (Wednesday), April 3, Luther and Philip made a trip to Torgau. There they talked about many things. Philippus praised the description of the world [cosmographiam] by Cornelius Tacitus, who is said to have lived in the times of Emperor Caligula. He would have described Germany with wonderful praise because of its constancy and faithfulness, especially because of its chastity and marital fidelity, in which it excelled above all nations. But, unfortunately, now in the last times the so highly praised people degenerated. No one doubts that the best age was before the Flood, when the extremely long-lived people lived modestly, without intoxication and wars and discord, and only served God and man and took good care of God's creatures in heaven and on earth. A fresh fountain was more sweet to them than even all malmsey wines. And after that, he greatly cursed drunkenness and revelry. The Germans are the best nation, and it seems to me that § has been changed to G, and they have been called [Germani] Hermani.
2. a different one from the fertility of German land.
Germany is a very good country, has everything enough that one should have, to maintain this life abundantly. It has all kinds of fruit, grain, wine, corn, salt, mines, and everything else that grows and comes from the earth; only that we do not respect it, nor do we use it properly, as we should, in honor of God and for the benefit of our neighbor, and thank Him for it; yes, we abuse it most shamefully, much worse than the swine. God gives all things mildly and abundantly, so that no one has anything to complain about, and demands nothing else from us, except that we be obedient to Him and say Deo gratias.
3. what spoils Germany.
(Cordatus No. 555.)
What the Italians, Turks, Tartars, Spaniards, French know, the Fuggers 1) also know very well and the Frankfurt Fair, namely that the Germans, Bohemians and Poles consume everything with eating and with drinking.
1) A very rich trading house in Augsburg.
4. Germany is finished.
(Lauterbach, Jan. 15, Tuesday, 1538, p. 10.)
On January 15, Luther dined at the home of Hieran. Krappe with other doctors. There was much talk about the peace between the Emperor, the French, the Pope and the Venetians, but there was no mention of a future concilium. Luther answered: "They do not want a concilium at all, but they will condemn us without a concilium and persecute us as heretics. For they will not doubt their prestige, but will defend it with tyranny. Germany has been what it has been. Through its extreme wickedness it is becoming more ripe for slaughter day by day. Either the Turk or an internal war must do it. I have willingly given myself to suffer with it. If we do not want to suffer our sin to be punished [with words], we will have to endure the punishment. One told of the whimsical, cunning plots of the bishop of Mainz, that he was quite desperate and could not endure in peace and under the laws. Therefore he would have a desire for civil war, so that others would perish with him, and he has the same devotion as that á&åïò [atheist] who could not mend his ways: It is better to run to hell than to trot to heaven. Thus he daily challenges GOD and men. He has now borrowed big money, moved cities and jewels, and he has the best helper, Duke H[einrich], 1) the Brunswick, who devoutly invokes his golden saints.
5. from a miserly and tyrannical nobleman.
(Lauterbach, Jan. 15, 1538, p. 10.)
After that, he told of a nobleman near Bitterfeld who had a farmer drowned in his waters. This nobleman wanted to arrogate to himself the right over all the peasant's goods because he had drowned in his waters. A strange, unusual, tyrannical jurisdiction, namely that he wanted to add grief to the sorrowful wife
1) In the original: D. G. Brunschwigensem. - In the German Tischreden H. M., which would have to be resolved: Heinz Mordbrenner.
by robbing them of their goods. This and similar things are a preparation for the future slaughter by the Turk or by the emperor. For we must do as little good to the emperor as to the Turk. Philip said: "It is a very old prophecy that the king of France will be killed before Strasbourg. 2c. And is similar to the truth. For this city lies in the first approach. It is a fortress, which the Emperor and the French will attack first, as an example to others. Luther: Dear God! How godless is the world and how horrible these times, of which Paul says, where there is no hope of repentance, as Christ says: "When the Son of Man comes" 2c. Oh, who would have died!
6. from a comet; how Germany will fare.
(Lauterbach, Jan. 18, 1538, p. 13.)
On January 18, evening 6 o'clock, a comet appeared, dark but of wonderful size in length. The tail extended nearly through twenty degrees through the sign of Pisces, ab occasu brumali ad solstitialem ortum. This comet is said to have been seen by some two days before. Luther, Jonas, Philip, Milich and Erasmus saw it with the greatest admiration. Luther: I will not prophesy to Germany from the stars, but I announce the wrath of God to her from theology. For it is impossible that Germany will be without great plagues, for God is daily provoked to destroy us. The godly will perish with the godless. Let us only pray and not despise God and His Word. Even though we are sinners, we have forgiveness of sins and eternal life, to which the Turk and the Emperor will promote us. They shall not harm us, but promote us. I only feel sorry for the descendants who will be brought back from the light to the darkness. Philip said that in 1505 a comet had appeared before the war with Venice and the conquest of Modena. 2)
2) In the original Mitonas, for which probably Mutl "Ä6 is to be read.
7. a different one from Germany.
Germany is ripe for a female punishment and plague, said D. M. Luther. M. Luther, because it 1) irritates God too much and overpowers it too much. But let us pray and persevere, and not desist, for "the Lord does the will of those who fear Him, and hears their. Prayer," as the 145th Psalm, v. 19, says. He has proven it. How long has peace hung as on a silk thread in so many great practices and bloody counsels of the adversaries, and has been exalted against all hope! God has resisted them, strengthened them, broken their power, and destroyed their plots.
8. M. Luther's lament about the future misfortune that will befall Germany.
In 1542, June 13, D. Martinus lamented with heartfelt sighs the future misfortune, misery and hardship that will befall Germany, which is ripe because of all kinds of sins, especially because of the great ingratitude for the dear Word of God, and security against God's grace, so that He will abundantly shower us, and still provoke God's wrath. That is why the Turk, God's ruthlessness, comes marching on Hungary with a great, mighty army. The Roman Empire is asleep and slumbering; only the princes and cities of the Augsburg Confession have troops against the Turk. F[erdinand] 2) cares little: the Pope, the Venetians and the French are in alliance with the Turk.
O Lord God, have mercy on poor Germany! Control the devil according to your great power. Protect your church against your enemies. O Father, glorify your Son. Do not look upon our sin. Give us thy Holy Spirit, and true, righteous confession of thy pure word, in thy fear.
The devilish, treacherous mob will not be driven out by any human power and force, therefore pray, pray all those who want to be true Christians and fear God.
1) So Stangwald instead of "they".
2) Thus Bindseil I, 391.
Oh, that there were still pious people who could pray! I will also help diligently to cry out to God. For the torturers will not do it... Oh, what a fine, pious and God-fearing youth was Jonathan, 1 Sam. 23, who prayed with great earnestness and trust in God for the poor, afflicted, and fugitive David.
Item: A great cry and lamentation was heard from time to time in all countries, that there were many people everywhere, and little provisions. And it was said that on the 14th of April, early in the morning, a halo like a rainbow was seen around the sun.
Then M. Luther said: It is more certain than certain that Germany will shortly take a great blow and pass over punishment. The same we then ourselves miserably and pitifully provoke with contempt of God's word, blasphemy, security 2c. Theurung and war are at the door. He also said that a letter had come to him, in which it was written that in the whole city of Torgau, in particular and in general, only nineteen hundred bushels of rye and wheat were left. God help us. It is very bad housekeeping.
9 Germany lacks a good regent.
Germany is like a beautiful, pasturing stallion that has enough food and everything it needs. But it lacks a rider. Just as a strong horse goes astray from time to time without a rider to govern it, so Germany is powerful enough in strength and people, but lacks a good head and regent.
10. future penalty via Germany.
Anno 1538, the 30th of July, D. M. Luther and Phil. Melanchthon lamented the future misery that would befall the world, since the descendants would have to repay their ancestors for their ungodly ways, abominable idolatry, ingratitude, disobedience, contempt for God's word, and such great sins. Oh how good it is for the children, who now, because this dear light of the gospel shines, in the
Peace had fallen asleep. And therefore took cause: If the emperor died now, what a desolate being and noise would become, another would hardly be elected by unanimous votes of the princes: there would arise much discord and disunity: so the Turk would not rest nor celebrate. Thus the well-established churches, in which the pure doctrine is preached, will be defeated and devastated. Ah, these are the last times, when everything will be destroyed in doctrine and life. Nothing else can be expected.
11. change of clothes, what it means.
It was thought of the change with clothes and other adornment, so annually is made and happens. Then said D. M. Luther said: "The change of clothes will also bring a change of regiments and manners. Unfortunately, we struggle too much for it.
Emperor Carl is said to have said: The Germans learn to steal from Hispanics, so the Spaniards learn to eat and drink from Germans.
12. germany despised.
There is no nation more despised than the Germans. The Italians call us beasts. France and England mock us, and all other countries. Who knows what God wants and will make of the Germans! Although we deserve a good distemper before God.
13. Germans lack nothing but sense and right custom.
(The first two paragraphs Cordatus No. 43 and No. 47.)
The Germans lack nothing in things, for they have everything. But because the Germans lack the knowledge of things and care, therefore they have nothing, because they do not have the [right] use of things.
One must be so afraid of the word that if I saw all the angels and heard them speak differently, I should not only not be moved to believe any passage of Scripture, but also close my eyes and ears, for they would not be worthy of a glance, nor even heard.
(The first sentence of the following paragraph Cordatus No. 886.)
Pride harms a ruler more than carelessness; the people of Nuremberg will find this out after the death of the excellent councilor Ebner 1). So the prophet says: The Lord will take the prophets from Jerusalem 2c. When God takes the people away, the countries, principalities, cities, fortresses, walls and treasures are all dead.
Nuremberg is even located in an arid, sandy and barren place, according to the saying: Deus non uni cuncta dat, God does not give you everything. The better the land, the naughtier, clumsier, coarser the people. And again, Augsburg is nothing against it, neither for the sake of the soil nor for the sake of the fortress. Nuremberg is a rich and well-ordered city because it has good police. Yes, because it has good people.
14th panel in the castle church at Torgau.
(These verses are already printed in the St. Louis edition, Walch XII, Col. 1960 f.). The introduction is not by Luther, therefore omitted).
15. of a city's ingratitude toward the divine word.
There was thought and talk about the great stubbornness and courtliness of the papists in a city, who mocked God and His preaching ministry, and were annoyed by little things, such as beards and cut shoes 2c. Then said D. M. Luther: "These things are all free, but because they are stiff-necked, and think that Christianity stands on them, we should not and will not put them down or put them away, but only want to bear it in spite of them, so that they are hurt, for they are not worthy to see God's glory, continue in sins, irritate and annoy God-fearing Christians. Therefore, if I now lie and rot, they will seek preachers, Han's unwillingness, whom they will bang and pay again honestly. What should the cow do with muscats? It eats hay; and like and like, the devil said, it likes to breed a black sow. Mocked D. N. and N., who had had trouble and work with them with preaching and preparation.
1) Hieronymus Ebner, to whom Luther dedicated the interpretation of the 110th Psalm in 1518, died in August 1532. (Wrampelmeyer.)
Their churches gave six thalers each. If it had happened to me, I would have brought six more of them and laid them on top, and I would have honored them again to my shame.
16. from Erfurt.
(The first paragraph transfers to Cap. 67, § 2, where it belongs).
(This paragraph in Lauterbach, Dec. 1, 1538, p. 185.)
It was mentioned that Erfurt would have been a very fertile Bethlehem, but the fields were so spoiled by the woad that the blessing turned into a curse. The thalers are so good for the farmers. God will give them thalers and will take away the grain and famine will follow.
Thuringia has a black, slimy soil, which makes it difficult for carters to drive when it has rained and is wet, and the road is bad. In the West and in the Netherlands, the soil is watery, but there are good fields, delicious cattle that give good milk in quantity. That wants to have good, brave and industrious servants, who wait well, not be sleepy, because the milkers should sing, so that they do not sleep and spoil the cows.
Thuringia was once a very fertile land, but now it is in extreme decline, perhaps because of the great avarice of the farmers. Our sandy little land here still has the blessing of being far superior and more fertile. It is a divine miracle. God would gladly give us all enough, if we did not misuse his gifts so shamefully and spoil them with our avarice.
17. Germans have been about big people.
Anno 1538, den 8. Decembris, came a pious, honest matron of nobility, a very long woman, to D. M. Luther of Magdeburg, with her daughter, who was also the length of her mother, and her son, who was longer than M. Antonius Lauterbach, the deacon at Wittenberg, who was a very long man. Then said D. M. Luther said: "Here is an example of the German bodies, which in former times were like giants, but now we are like pygmies and dwarfs compared to them.
18. from Jerusalem. When the temple at Jerusalem was burned.
On the day of Laurentii, August 10, the temple in Jerusalem was burned. After that, on the day of Nativity, September 8, the other inner and strongest part of the city was destroyed and taken.
19. from the destruction of Jerusalem.
Since Jerusalem is the most glorious city from which the Scriptures and the beginning of the Christian Church come, we are presented with an example of how the Christian Church will be, for the Christian Church is the spiritual Jerusalem in which God still walks daily.
The prophet says: I will send plagues upon you: 1) Pestilence, that is, death. 2) Famine, that is, theurung. 3) Sword, that is, war. 4) Evil beasts, that is, sedition. And with all these Jerusalem is destroyed. For there were three captains and parties against each other. And in the same way Christianity is destroyed in our time by the pope, false Christians and prophets, false saints and teachers. For Christ is called an anointed one, for they 1) have anointed and crowned their kings.
But Christ is anointed with the Holy Spirit, therefore we are also Christians, because we are anointed with Him and together with Him we are anointed with the Holy Spirit of God. A prophet, however, is a teacher who dares to instruct the people about things to come. For so also the heathen poets or teachers taught: If you will be pious, it will go well with you; but if you will not be pious, it will not go well with you all your life 2c. And have come no further.
But in Christendom the prophets teach of the future life and blessedness and of eternal damnation. So now the pope is the false prophet and teacher with his rebellious teaching: for no order agrees with the other, and yet they are all radically against Christ. For he has baptized
1) So put by us, instead of: "with that they have".
He has brought it into contempt, and has commanded to keep its confirmation and statutes. Item, he has deprived the Sacrament of its proper use. Item, he has trampled absolution underfoot, 'for he has made atonement for sin, and commanded to do enough for it. Since it is atoned for and enough is done for it, it cannot be called absolved.
Item, the marriage state and worldly rule he has rejected and almost condemned, and made a monasticism out of it.
Item, which is the greatest, he has trampled Christ's merit underfoot, because he has taught that Christ alone has done enough for original sin, but for real sin after baptism we must do enough, and that he is now our strict judge who wants to condemn us.
Then it is seen that unbelief is the root and origin of all sins; again, faith is the root of all good works. For if the faith of the pope had been right, he would not have committed so many errors, sins and doctrines that are contrary to God. Just as the faith of Jerusalem was restored in the time of the Maccabees, so the gospel will also come forth again (praise God). But now the last day will put an end to the game, just as in Jerusalem the word of God through the Lord Christ, John the Baptist, started again, and after forty years it fell; as a fire suddenly burns up in a thorn bush, and after that it goes out again in a hay, like a straw wipe.
20. from cities.
On November 1, 1538, Luther talked with Georg von Minkwitz, knight, a lot about the change of the regiments, and said that at the time of Emperor Sigismund Saxony had been a poor little country; therefore the Emperor asked that Meissen and Thuringia be added to it, and thus become a Churfürstenthum. The princes of Lauenburg held Saxony at that time. Thus the three lands were brought together and became one. If they were still united under one prince of Saxony, it would be a fine country. So also, if
If Germany had only one lord, it could not be won, as it was under Emperor Henrichen, Otten's father; then it was well in Germany. After that, the three emperors, the Otts, ruled very well, resisted the king of France, who threatened them that he would come so strongly and swallow the Rhine. Emperor Otto, however, gave him this answer: He wanted to cover his country and kingdom with shew hats 1). And so it happened.
(This paragraph in Lauterbach, April 15, 1538, p. 63.)
Afterwards Luther asked how he liked this desolate and barren region in comparison with Switzerland? and added: "I believe that our Saxon land is the place of which the Scripture says: In a desolate land, a meager and watery one; there I appeared to you. This is the right description of our land. In such places, God appears.
21. from England.
I believe that England is a piece of Germany, because they need the Saxon language, as in Westphalia and the Netherlands; although it is very corrumpirt. I think that the Germans have been transferred and placed there for a long time, as even today the bishop of Cologne writes himself Duke of England, where Bremen and Hamburg are located: at first it is called Britannia, then Angera, from the people who have been transferred there. The Danish and English languages are Saxon, which is quite German. The Upper German language is not the right German language, takes the mouth full and wide, and reads hard. But the Saxon language goes off finely softly and easily.
Germany has various dialectos, ways of speaking, so that people thirty miles away cannot understand each other well. The Austrians and the Bavarians do not understand the Thuringians and the Saxons, especially the Dutch. Yes, jutha, ju, ke, ha, such "Verjahen" is of many kinds, and one is different from the other. Arnoldus, Ehrenhold; Arnolf, Ehrenhülf; Ulrich, Huldenreich; Leudolf, Leut-.
1) A type of large straw hat. (Förstemann.)
2) Meant is the Swiss Superattendent in Appen". dix No. I. under April 15, 1538.
Hills; even as Alexander, Ludwig, the people's refuge; for Wigk means a castle, refuge, haven, asylum.
22. from swabia and bavaria.
If I, said D. Luther said, "If I were to travel a lot, I would not prefer to go anywhere but through Swabia and Bavaria, because they are friendly and kind, they like to offer lodgings, they accommodate strangers and travelers, and they do good and kind things for people's money. Hesse and Meissen follow suit to some extent, but they take their money well for it. Saxony is very unfriendly and rude, since they neither give good words nor food; they say: "Dear guest, I don't know what I should give you to eat, the wif is not at home, I can't accommodate you. You see here in Wittenberg how unkind the people are, asking neither for respectability and politeness, nor for religion, for no citizen lets his son study, since they see a great example and number of foreign students and guests. Oh, the country does not bear it.
23. from the swiss country.
Switzerland is an arid and mountainous country, therefore they are endelich and hurtig, must look for their food elsewhere: about it also the quarrel arose that one did not let them supply provisions. I hear they will grow together again.
(The following at Cordatus No. 1112. 611 and 581.)
Only GOD can boast of the title of truth, therefore He says [Hos. 11, 9.], "I am GOD and not a man," that is, I do not change, but [Ps. 116, 11.], "All men are liars." And GOD repents not [fetwas], but men very often.
The Swiss argument is: He who has a just cause can justly start war; we have a just cause, therefore we will start war. Both, the upper proposition and the lower proposition, 1) are false and doubtful. For the supersentence does not admit of wars, but only of defense; but the subsentence is a doubtful saying, viz,
1) Major and Minor.
whether you have a righteous cause or not, a doubtful conclusion naturally follows. In short, those who say we want to avenge trust in human powers, but the pious trust in God [Matth. 18, 20]: "Where two or three" 2c. Thus everything goes well, and therefore everything goes back to the papists, because they do not trust in the true God, but in the emperor. Let us only pray, otherwise we cannot vex the devil except by this only way of prayer. Our Lord God is a pious man, therefore he must always be remembered.
When I mention the dialects of Germany, I prefer the Hessian language to all, because they pronounce all words with expression and euphony. The Austrians do not use diphthongs, even the Franks speak with a monotone voice. 2)
The language of the Hessians. The Doctor praised the language of the Hessians above all other German dialects, because they pronounced the words with expression and euphony [accentibus et canendo] The Austrians did not preserve diphthongs, the Franks spoke with a monotonous and coarse voice.
The difference between the languages.
(Lauterbach, Sept. 19, 1538, p. 133 f.)
On September 19, he said various things about the peoples of Germany, all of whom were simpler and more devoted to the truth than the French, Italians, Spaniards, and English, which even the manner of speech indicates, since they pronounce very clumsily, with a hiss and a lisping tongue. That is why it is said of the French that they speak differently than they write; indeed, they speak differently than they mean in their hearts. The German language, however, is the most perfect of all languages; 3) it has much in common with the Greek language. For the Latin language is very small and thin, not regular, because it has no double sounds, not even 0, ÷, æ, o. The Greek language has this in a fine way, and the German language also imitates this.
2) This paragraph also in Kummer p. 295 b. (Lauterbach, p. 134. Note)
3) Similar thoughts in Lauterbach, Feb. 16, 1538, p. 30. - Cf. 27, § 5.
after. But there are so many dialects in the German language that they do not understand each other. The Swiss have almost no double sound. The Swabians and Hessians [Cherusci] do not understand each other, even the Bavarians are strangers [barbari], since they do not understand each other. All nations, compared to the Saxons, are simple-minded. Therefore, when Saxons and Flemish come to Italy, they become worse than the Italians, as they say: the Low Germans [Allemanni Bassi] are very cunning, beware of a German Italian. For as soon as a German learns epicurism in Italy, and digests the infernal little cake, then he is more deceitful than the Italians. Such a one is the bishop of Mainz. He is a true German-Italian, whose supplement [praedicatum] cannot be talked out. For Schantz 1) in his booklet speaks only the subject, but I must add the predicate; for so great is his insolence and malice that he ridicules all upright people, so that the other margraves in Zerbst have suffered that he would be of their blood. When I wrote him a very sharp letter three years ago, he did not answer, but hypocritically passed over it, and left the messenger with a great gift. But this single word brought all the margraves against me, that I scolded his kind. In this way he wanted to incite the whole Brandenburg [Marchionum] family against me, since I simply wrote against his person. For it may well happen that a pious father can bear a loose son, and vice versa, as Hezekiah, the pious king, came from a godless father and also begat a godless son.
25th change of countries.
The dwellings, buildings, and shape of the countries generally change within a hundred years. A few years ago, Hesse, Franconia, and Westphalia were nothing more than wilderness and
1) Hans Schanz or Schenitz was unjustly executed by Bishop Albrecht of Mainz. Cf. Walch, old edition XIX, 2350, and Luther's letter to Duke Albrecht of Prussia, Aug. 15, 1538. De Wette V, 122 ff.
Forests have been: again, in many places, as around Hall, Halberstadt, and with us, it is even, that one crosses three miles of vain heath, where in former times hard land and fields have been. I think that there was a very good land and soil here, not so sandy as now; but God has taken away the fatness. As David says in the 107th Psalm, v. 34, that the fertile land was turned into a barren land because of the wickedness of the inhabitants. So God can find blessing and curse soon.
26. of whales and Italians.
Italians are the most cunning and treacherous people; they must be put to shame, stunned, and their shame revealed to them, so that they become ashamed and do not despise other people as if they alone were wise. For an evil branch wants a hard wedge; you will not split it with a splinter; you must have an ax and a mallet for it. Therefore, it has always been my advice that young apprentices, if they have learned their catechism well beforehand and are properly instructed in God's word, learn about their treachery and malice in Italy, so that they know how to guard against it.
(This paragraph in Lauterbach, Oct. 11, 1538, p. 147.)
D. Basil (Monner), the envoy from. France, said that the wickedness of the Italians was to be wondered at, for they had already poisoned someone by looking in the mirror. They are subtle murderers, the Italians, who can kill all the senses. And he said that they are already asking everywhere for Luther's book of monastic vows. Luther answered: This book has already given great comfort to many and it is recommended by Erasmus of Rotterdam, who was a monk of the rule [Canonicus, regularis] and took off the habit by dispensation of the Roman pope, but not the conscience, which thereafter has been raised by this book, because it is a door, how one should leave the monasteries.
(The following paragraph in Lauterbach, Nov. 14, 1538, p. 165.)
On November 14, there was much talk about the nature of Italian air, which would be very fine,
so that they closed all windows and gaps at night, because the night air would be harmful. Luther said: "This happened to me and my brother in Italy, that we lay all night with the window open in a very deep, heavy sleep until the sixth hour; but when we awoke, our heads were taken, so that we could walk only one mile the whole day, were tormented by great thirst and, since we had the greatest disgust for wine, desired only to drink water (which is deadly). At last we were restored by two pomegranates; thus God preserved us alive, by this very good fruit. An Englishman added that in England pestilential diseases are always present and never cease. Basil then said that the air of France was not at all beneficial and did not agree with the German, but, he said, the French could resist it because they were more temperate. They each drank from their own glass, and only two or three couples danced at a time, while the others watched.
The Italians despise and condemn other nations, since they are an abomination before God, godless and hopeful. Their fasting is more apparent and better than our most glorious meals. Their clothing is delicious, they keep themselves clean: if we wear a cubit of velvet for a florin, they wear a cubit for six florins. Their chastity is like that of Sodom: the fact proves it and testifies to it. They are given into a wrong sense, because they do not respect marriage, which is natural and divine right, and even forbid it. They should also have forbidden throwing.
(This paragraph in Lauterbach, 18 Dec. 1538, p. 193.)
The Italians are unsociable, no one trusts the other to speak freely, as we Germans do, so no stranger is allowed a public conversation with his wife. Compared to the Germans, they are hermits.
(This paragraph Cordatus No. 539.)
The wicked ridicule us because we believe everything in the Scriptures. Pope Clement says that Christ is false because he is a virgin,
who gives birth is a loose woman, this is the faith of the Whales from the Scriptures. And they say: If we should trust in God alone, we would be the poorest people and could never become happy. They also say this: Conscience is an evil beast, because it makes man stand against himself.
(Here 9 lines are omitted because contained in Cap. 27, § 119. - Cf. also Walch, St. Louis Edition, Vol. I, Col. 1243, § 109.)
Italy is a very fertile, good and funny country, especially Lombardia is a valley twenty German miles wide, in the middle of it flows the Eridanus, even a very funny water, as wide as from Wittenberg to Brate is, on both sides are the Alpes and Apenninus mountains.
(This paragraph in Lauterbach, Jan. 29, 1538, p. 16.)
The blindness and superstition of the Italians is great, because they fear St. Anthony and St. Sebastian more than Christ, because of the plagues. Therefore, if someone wants to preserve a place so that it is not polluted in the Italian way, as by dogs, he would have the image of St. Anthony with the fiery lance painted on it; this image would drive away all those who wanted to piss. In short, Italy is nothing but superstition, because without God's word and preaching, they live only in superstition, and thus believe neither in a resurrection of the flesh, nor in eternal life. They fear only physical plagues and misfortunes, so they are more afraid of St. Anthony and St. Sebastian than of Christ, who would be a friendly and kind brother to them.
M. Melanchthon complained that the Serveti's error in Italy had great coincidence, spreading much harmful delusion about the Holy Trinity, denying the verbum caro factum est, the Word has become flesh. Then spoke D. M. Luther said: "Italy is full of very great, very harmful opinions and errors: if such errors come there, terrible abominations will arise there. We Germans and other nations are like a mere blackboard; but the whales are the blackboard, on which are painted many false opinions, which one cannot easily let go, and are skilled to accept much worse ones.
Italians are great fierce zealots, do not let their wives go out unveiled, nor with uncovered faces: only on St. Gregory's Day, once a year, they have privilege and freedom to go out, then they go to all the churches, and rejoice in their freedom.
After that, they said that the chaplains in Italy and Gaul were unlearned donkeys who did not understand Latin well and had not learned their native language in Italy, yet they were supposed to preside over others and teach them.
27. from the roman empire.
The Roman Empire began to become rich and to increase at the time of the Apostles. Then 1) 750 years ago it came under Carolo Magno to the Germans. For Carolus had three sons, among whom he divided Germany, France and Italy. But Germania, the German, remained emperor. If the emperor now had France and Germany in his possession, he would have money and people, and he could probably arouse the Turk's wrath.
(This paragraph in Lauterbach, Nov. 20, 1538, p. 176.)
The Roman Empire did not last long in bloom, they did not have it for two hundred years, after that it came to France. Finally, it has come entirely to the Germans, who have had the Roman Empire, as far as the title is concerned, always in succession over eight hundred years.
Christoph Groß said a lot about Spaniards and Italians, because he had long been the Pope's assistant in Rome, who had helped him on the chair. And if a pope died, then everything would be at a price, so that even the straw in the bed would not remain. There is such a robbery among the whales, whoever is able to rob the other puts him in sackcloth.
After that he said about the countries, so one goes to the holy country, about Arragonia and
1) In the issues: because.
2) In Lauterbach erroneously "in sanguine", likewise the duplicate omitted by us had Cap. 45, § 24: "ist nicht viel ohne Blut gewest." Seidemann p. XIII notes: Some German spoken may already have been written down immediately in Latin; cf. p. 176 Blut und Blüthe, sanAuis und tlos.
Pinskay, which are mountainous countries; there the people pour water into the flour, 3) and put it on the hot stove, and bake bread from it. They put all their wine in goat skins and turn the rough stuff inside so that the hair floats inside. The women cover their heads with sheepskins and sweep out the rough: and the more stains, marks and trickles they have under their faces, the more honest and noble they are kept: they have a little scarlet on their noses, hard under their eyes, as a sign of baptism.
The greatest, richest and mightiest cities, as Antioch, Nineveh, Babylon 2c., are now nothing but little huts, and like old ruined walls or heaps of stones. Thus the kingdoms of the world are passing away. Our Lord God does to the cities and lands as I do to an old fencepost. If I will, I will say, I will tear you down and burn you, and put a new one in your place.
The peoples in the exit of the sun keep themselves very moderate and retracted, need neither tables nor benches, but sit on the ground, and thus hold their meal. The Romans had their lazy bed. Now Turks and Hispanics do not need tables either.
The Scots are the most hopeful, the most proud and the most insolent: they think and allow themselves to think that they are the only people above others: they have woven themselves into Germany, almost into all cities. In Erfurt and Würzburg they have their own monasteries with rich income and interest, only for the Scots; they take no one else from other nations.
The king of France has a hundred Scots and a hundred Swiss as his satellites, who wait for his body and go with him on foot wherever he goes. Although the Scots are despised and rejected by all nations, like the Samaritans by the Jews, and can be seen as if they were therefore called Scotos, Sectos, Sectos, isolated, as they do not keep any neighbors, they fall quite wickedly in England, unawares, and plunder it; so that in England, so after Scots, they are called Scotos, Sectos, Sectos, Sectos, Sectos, Sectos, Sectos, Sectos, Sectos, Sectos, Sectos, Sectos, Sectos, Sectos, Sectos, Sectos.
3) Similarly, Stangwald has improved this passage. In the other editions, the words "there" and "the people" are missing.
The best and most fertile fields lie uncultivated and desolate.
The English have held about all of France, up to Bourges, and built many cities and houses in it; but finally they have been defeated and driven out at Monheri, 1) between Paris and Orleans. However, they still hold the best port in France, Kales, 2) where all inhabitants and citizens must be English and speak English, not French, at certain hours, under a considerable penalty.
28. by Venetians.
(Until from the last paragraph at Cordatus No. 1472. 1556.
Since there were 6,000 robbers in Cyprus, and since it was a mountainous island and could not be cleansed of them, the Venetians made a covenant with them that they would go out safely if only one brought another's head with him. So they got one jack with the other. But they had become robbers because of debts.
When the Venetians were about to receive 24 galleys loaded with grain sent by the Turk with shouts of joy and great rejoicing at the time of the famine, they all sank in the sea; so that God showed them that He wants one to look into His hands.
3) God alone feeds us, not wealth,
1) Monthlery. (Förstemann.)
2) Calais.
3) The same process is also told in the following paragraph.
and available money only makes us lazy, but does not feed us, however abundant it may be. For the Venetians, who are the richest in our time, have suffered a terrible famine, and having bought 24 galleys full of grain from the Turk, these have sunk in the face of the city. The depth [profund] did not hold faith. At that time a citizen sent his wife to a merchant for grain. He promised to give it if she agreed to sleep with him. She gave her consent, but arranged for her husband and her servants to lie down next to the bed in his house. The whore's evil must have passed him by. And when he demanded payment, the man said that his wife had paid by sleeping with him. But when he sued him, the merchant was found guilty by the authorities and ordered to give the grain again. Money does not drive away hunger, but makes it.
An example of this is that in the past everything here was offered for sale, and the butchers were forced to ask people to buy the meat. Now, however, because many strangers are in town, they are not interested in selling, but only in accumulating a lot of money. That's why they sell at a high price; everyone works hard for the money.
Venice, the richest city, does not respect politeness and respectability much, seeks only its own. They are neutrals, wear on both armpits, hang their coats to the wind. Now they are with the Turk, soon with the emperor: whichever part has the victory and is incumbent, that is the one they are with. There is nothing more there than large, beautiful, splendid houses, clothing and stinginess.