"This discourse seemed to us very strange in the trooper; that he should know how to speak of both the Schurfs, of Philip, and Erasmus, and also of the study of Hebrew and Greek.
"Moreover, he now and then used Latin words, so that we deemed he must be more than a common trooper.
"'Friend,' he asked, 'what do they think in Switzerland of Luther.'
"'Sir, there, as elsewhere, there are various opinions. Many cannot enough exalt him, and praise God that He has made His truth plain through him, and laid error bare; many, on the other hand, and among these more especially the clergy, condemn him as a reprobate heretic.'
"Then he said, 'I can easily believe it is the clergy that speak thus.'
"With such conversation we grew quite confidential, so that my companion took up the little book that lay before him, and looked at it. It was a Hebrew Psalter. Then he laid it quickly down again, and the trooper drew it to himself. And my companion said, 'I would give a finger from my hand to understand that language.'
"He answered, 'You will soon comprehend it, if you are diligent; I also desire to understand it better, and practise myself daily in it.'
"Meantime the day declined, and it became quite dark, when the host came to the table.
"When he understood our fervent desire and longing to see Martin Luther, he said,—
"'Good friends, if you had been here two days ago, you would have had your wish, for he sat here at table, and' (pointing with his finger) 'in that place.'