Of the Schwanfelders, Blickschlahers, or Naked Beggars.
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.