[Footnote 10]: These names could hardly have been invented by Helmbrecht, to characterise the robbers; it is probable, from what follows, that the like wild nicknames were humorously given by the nobles themselves, and used as party names.
[Footnote 11]: The old German wedding custom. In the thirteenth century the Church had seldom any concern in the nuptials of country people and courtlings. It was only in the fourteenth century it began to be considered unrefined not to have the blessing of a priest. When our junkers declaim against civil marriages they forget that it was the fashion of their forefathers.
[Footnote 12]: An ancient popular superstition. It was similar with the wooers in the "Odyssey" before their end.
[Footnote 13]: This song is to be found in Kornmann's "Frau Veneris Berg," 1614 p. 306. Similar songs in Uhland.
[Footnote 14]: The great poet for the people, a native of Nuremberg.
[Footnote 15]: Means Hoejack, which was adopted by Ulrich von Hutten as a characteristic title of a political squib in defence of the peasantry.--Trans.
[Footnote 16]: Quaint title of a series of pamphlets denouncing abuses in Church and State, published about 1521.--Trans.
[Footnote 17]: A colloquy between a fox and wolf, in the "Staigerwaldt," 1524, p. 6. Under the similitude of a wolf and fox two fugitive junkers of the Sickingen party discourse together. The plundering of the nobles having been strongly spoken of, the wolf says: "By this voracity, we have made enemies of many citizens and peasants, who have lately bound themselves to take away all our lives, if they can catch us." Fox: "Who are these citizens and peasants?" Wolf: "Those who live in Upper Swabia, Augsburg, Ulm, Kempten, Bibrach, Memmingen, and by the Neckar, and the Nurembergers and Bavarians on the frontier."
[Footnote 18]: Full details of the sufferings of the country people during the war will be found in the second volume of "The Pictures of German life."
[Footnote 19]: "Imperial Privileges and Sanctions for Silesia," vols. i., p. 166; iii., 759.