¶ Part the First of this little Book.

Of the Bregers or Beggars

HE first chapter is about Bregers. These are beggars who have neither the signs of the saints about them, nor other good qualities, but they come plainly and simply to people and ask an alms for God’s, or the Holy Virgin’s sake:—perchance honest paupers with young children, who are known in the town or village wherein they beg, and who would, I doubt[Pg 9] not, leave off begging if they could only thrive by their handicraft or other honest means, for there is many a godly man who begs unwillingly, and feels ashamed before those who knew him formerly when he was better off, and before he was compelled to beg. Could he but proceed without he would soon leave begging behind him.

Conclusio: To these beggars it is proper to give, for such alms are well laid out.

Of the Stabülers, or Bread Gatherers.

The next chapter is about the Stabülers. These are vagrants who tramp through the country from one Saint to another, their wives (KRÖNERIN) and children (GATZAM) going (ALCHEN) with them. Their hats (WETTERHAN) and cloaks (WINTFANG) hang full of signs of all the saints,—the cloak (wintfang) being made (VETZEN) out of a hundred pieces. They go to[Pg 10] the peasants who give them bread (LEHEM DIPPEN); and each of these Stabülers has six or seven sacks, and carries a pot, plate, spoon, flask, and whatever else is needed for the journey with him. These same Stabülers never leave off begging, nor do their children, from their infancy to the day of their death—for the beggar’s staff keeps the fingers (GRIFFLING) warm—and they neither will nor can work, and their children (GATZAM) grow up to be harlots and harlotmongers (GLIDEN und GLIDESVETZER), hangmen and flayers (ZWICKMEN und KAVELLER). Also, whithersoever these Stabülers come, in town or country, they beg; at one house for God’s sake, at another for St. Valentine’s sake, at a third for St. Kürine’s, sic de aliis, according to the disposition of the people from whom they seek alms. For they do not adhere to one patron or trust to one method alone.

Conclusio: Thou mayest give to them if thou wilt, for they are half bad and half good,—not all bad, but most part.

Of the Lossners, or liberated Prisoners.

HE iijrd chapter is about the Lossners. 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 the SONNENBOSS, 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 (GEVOPT und GEVERBT),—— 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 the DALLINGER’S BOSS, i.e. harlot’s house), or to some [Pg 12]other Saint (in the SCHÖCHERBOSS, 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.

Of the Klenkners, or Cripples.

HE iiijth is about the Klenkners. These are the beggars who sit at the church-doors, and attend fairs and church gatherings with sore and broken legs; one has no foot, another no shank, a third no hand or arm. Item, some have chains lying by them, saying they have lain in captivity for innocence’ sake, and commonly they have a St. Sebastianum or St. Lenhartum with them, and they pray and cry with a loud voice and noisy lamentations for the sake of the Saints, and every third word one of them speaks (BARL) is a lie (GEVOP), and the people who give alms to him are cheated (BESEFELT),—inasmuch as his thigh or his foot has rotted away in prison or in the stocks for wicked deeds. Item, one’s hand has been chopped off in the quarrels over dice or for the sake of a harlot. Item, many a one ties a leg up or besmears an arm with salves, or[Pg 14] walks on crutches, and all the while as little ails him as other men. Item, at Utenheim there was a priest by name Master Hans Ziegler (he holds now the benefice of Rosheim), and he had his niece with him. One upon crutches came before his house. His niece carried him a piece of bread. He said, “Wilt thou give me nought else?” She said, “I have nought else.” He replied, “Thou old priest’s harlot! wilt thou make thy parson rich?” and swore many oaths as big as he could utter them. She cried and came into the room and told the priest. The priest went out and ran after him. The beggar dropped his crutches and fled so fast that the parson could not catch him. A short time afterwards the parson’s house was burnt down; he said the Klenkner did it. Item, another true example: at Schletstat, one was sitting at the church-door. This man had cut the leg of a thief from the gallows. He put on the dead leg and tied his own leg up. He had a quarrel with another beggar. This latter one ran off and told the town[Pg 15]serjeant. When he saw the serjeant coming he fled and left the sore leg behind him and ran out of the town—a horse could hardly have overtaken him. Soon afterwards he hung on the gallows at Achern, and the dry leg beside him, and they called him Peter of Kreuzenach. Item, they are the biggest blasphemers thou canst find who do such things; and they have also the finest harlots (GLIDEN), they are the first-comers at fairs and church-celebrations, and the last-goers therefrom.

Conclusio: Give them a kick on their hind parts if thou canst, for they are nought but cheats (BESEFLER) of the peasants (HANZEN) and all other men.

Example: One was called Uz of Lindau. He was at Ulm, in the hospital there, for xiiij days, and on St. Sebastian’s day he lay before a church, his hands and thighs tied up, nevertheless he could use both legs and hands. This was betrayed to the constables. When he saw them coming he fled from the town,—a horse could hardly have ran faster.

Of Dobissers, or Dopfers, Church-mendicants.

HE vth 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 [Pg 17]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.

HE 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),[Pg 18] 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[Pg 19] 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.

HE vijth 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.

HE viijth 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.

HE ixth 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 [Pg 25] 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.

HE xth 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[Pg 27] 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.

HE xith 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[Pg 29] 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.

HE xijth 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.

HE xiijth 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.

HE xiiijth chapter is about the Dallingers. 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 pe[Pg 33]nance 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.

HE xvth 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,[Pg 34] 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 alehouse 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.

HE xvith 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.

HE xvijth 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.

HE xviijth 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 [Pg 37] 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.

HE xixth 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.

HE xxth 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.

HE xxist 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.

HE xxijnd 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 [Pg 39] 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.

HE xxiijrd 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.

HE xxiiijth 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.

HE xxvth 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[Pg 41] broken out in sores; but if they go to a bath three days after these go away again.

Of the Schweigers, or the Jaundiced.

HE xxvjth 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.

HE xxvijth 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[Pg 42] they cheat people therewith. This is called going on the Burkhart.

Of the Platschierers, or Blind Harpers.

HE xxviijth 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.