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.