Of Vagrants (Vagierern), or Strollers.
Of Vagrants (Vagierern), or Strollers.
HE vijth chapter is about Vagrants. These
are beggars or adventurers who wear yellow
garments, come from Venusberg, know the
black art, and are called rambling scholars. These
same when they come into a house speak thus:—“Here
comes a rambling scholar, a magister of
the seven free arts (id est, the various ways of cheating
[BESEFLEN] the farmers [HANZEN]), an exorciser
of the devil for hail, for storm, and for witchcraft.”
Then he utters some magical words and crosses his
breast ii or iij times, and speaks thus:—
and many more precious words. Then the farmers (HANZEN) think it all true, and are glad that he is come, and are sorry they have never seen a wandering scholar before, and speak to the vagrant:—“This or that has happened to me, can you help me? I would willingly give you a florin or ij”—and he says “Yes,” and cheats the farmers (BESEFELTDEN den HANZEN ums MESS) out of their money. And after these experiments they depart. The farmers suppose that by their talking they can drive the devil away, and can help them from any trouble that has befallen them. Thou canst ask them nothing but they will perform thee an experiment therewith; that is, they can cheat and defraud thee of thy money.
Conclusio: Beware of these Vagrants, for wherewith
they practise is all lies.