The Book of Vagabonds and Beggars, with a Vocabulary of Their Language

by Unknown

This was Luther’s object in affixing his name to the little book. He saw that the Friars, Beggars, and Jews were eating up his country, and he thought that a graphic account of the various orders of vagrants, together with a list of their secret or cant words, issued under the authority of his name, would put people on their guard, and help to suppress the wretched system.

Luther’s statement as to his own experience with these rogues is very naïve—“I have myself of late years,” he remarks, “been cheated and slandered by such tramps and liars more than I care to confess.”

Both priests and beggars regarded him with a peculiar aversion, and many were the nicknames and vulgar terms applied to him. The slang language of the day, therefore, was not unknown to Luther.

At page 204 of Williams’ Lectures on Ecclesiastical History, 4to. (apparently privately printed for the use of the students of St. Begh’s College,) is the following foot-note:—

Of the violence with which Luther’s enemies attacked his character, and strove to render his name and memory odious to the people, we have an example in the following production of a French Jesuit, Andreas Frusius, printed at Cologne, 1582:—

Elogium Martini Lutheri, ex ipsius Nomine et Cognomine.
Depinget et dignis te nemo coloribus unquam;
Nomen ego ut potero sic celebrabo tuum.

Magnicrepus Ambitiosus Ridiculus Tabificus Impius Nyctocorax Ventosus Schismaticus Lascivus Ventripotens Tartareus Heresiarcha Erro Retrogradus Vesanus Sacrilegus

Mendax Atrox Rhetor Tumidus Inconstans Nebulo Vanus Stolidus Leno Vultur Torris Horrendus Execrandus Reprobus Varius Satanas

Morofus Astutus Rabiosus Tenebrosus Impostor Nugator Vilis Seductor Larvatus Vinosus Tempestas Hypocrita Effrons Resupinus Veterator Sentina

Morio Apostata Rabula Transfuga Iniquus Noxa Vulpecula Simia Latro Vappa Tarbo Hydra Effronis Rana Vipera Sophista

Monstrum Agaso Raptor Turpis Ineptus Nefandus Vecors Scurra Lanista Voluptas Tyrannus Hermaphroditus Eriunis Rebellis Virus Scelestu

Magnicrepus Ambitiosus Ridiculus Tabificus Impius Nyctocorax Ventosus Schismaticus Lascivus Ventripotens Tartareus Heresiarcha Erro Retrogradus Vesanus Sacrilegus

Mendax Atrox Rhetor Tumidus Inconstans Nebulo Vanus Stolidus Leno Vultur Torris Horrendus Execrandus Reprobus Varius Satanas

Morofus Astutus Rabiosus Tenebrosus Impostor Nugator Vilis Seductor Larvatus Vinosus Tempestas Hypocrita Effrons Resupinus Veterator Sentina

Morio Apostata Rabula Transfuga Iniquus Noxa Vulpecula Simia Latro Vappa Tarbo Hydra Effronis Rana Vipera Sophista

Monstrum Agaso Raptor Turpis Ineptus Nefandus Vecors Scurra Lanista Voluptas Tyrannus Hermaphroditus Eriunis Rebellis Virus Scelestu

Each column is an acrostic of the name Martinvs Luthervs, making 80 scurrilous epithets.

ENGLISH BOOKS ON VAGABONDS