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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Autobiography of Thomas Platter, a
+schoolmaster of the sixteenth century., by Thomas Platter
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Autobiography of Thomas Platter, a schoolmaster of the sixteenth century.
+
+Author: Thomas Platter
+
+Translator: Elizabeth Anne Finn
+
+Release Date: October 15, 2010 [EBook #33860]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THOMAS PLATTER ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+1. Page scan source:
+   http://www.archive.org/details/autiobiographyt00platgoog
+
+2. Greek text [Greek: ] is transliterated.
+
+3. Diphthong Oe represented by and [Oe]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Thomas Platter.]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                                   THE
+
+                             AUTOBIOGRAPHY
+
+                                   OF
+
+                            THOMAS PLATTER,
+
+                A SCHOOLMASTER OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
+
+
+
+                      TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN,
+
+                             By MRS. FINN.
+
+
+
+                            Second Edition.
+
+
+                      WITH FAC-SIMILE ENGRAVINGS.
+
+
+
+                                LONDON:
+                     B. WERTHEIM, ALDINE CHAMBERS,
+                            PATERNOSTER ROW.
+
+                                 1847.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                                LONDON:
+                 C. F. HODGSON, PRINTER, 1 GOUGH SQUARE
+                             FLEET STREET.
+
+
+
+
+                               CONTENTS.
+
+
+                               CHAPTER I.
+
+MASTER THOMAS BECOMES A GOATHERD
+
+
+                              CHAPTER II.
+
+MASTER THOMAS BECOMES A TRAVELLING SCHOLAR
+
+
+                              CHAPTER III.
+
+MASTER THOMAS BEGINS TO STUDY
+
+
+                              CHAPTER IV.
+
+MASTER THOMAS BECOMES A ROPE-MAKER AND HEBREW PROFESSOR
+
+
+                               CHAPTER V.
+
+MASTER THOMAS BECOMES ARMOUR-BEARER AND THEN SCHOOLMASTER
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VI.
+
+MASTER THOMAS IN THE WAR, AND PROFESSOR IN BASLE
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VII.
+
+MASTER THOMAS TURNS PRINTER
+
+
+                             CHAPTER VIII.
+
+MASTER THOMAS BECOMES PROFESSOR AGAIN--DIES
+
+
+
+
+
+                     ORIGINAL MAXIMS FOR THE YOUNG.
+
+                           BY J. C. LAVATER.
+
+               Translated from the German, by Mrs. FINN.
+
+                          Cloth lettered, 1s.
+
+"We cannot enough recommend this unpretending volume to those who have
+charge of the rising generation."--_Monthly Mag_.
+
+"An epitome of moral duties for Children, drawn up with considerable
+ability by the original author.... the translation does great credit to
+the Daughter of a Clergyman."--_British Mag_.
+
+
+
+
+
+                             AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER I.
+
+                   MASTER THOMAS BECOMES A GOATHERD.
+
+
+[Illustration: I had drawn myself up by the grass about a step but
+could get no farther.]
+
+I came into this world on the Shrove-Tuesday of the year 1499, just as
+they were coming together for mass. From this circumstance, my friends
+derived the confident hope that I should become a priest, for at that
+time that sort of superstition was still every where prevalent. I had
+one sister, named Christina; she alone was with my mother when I was
+born, and she afterwards told it me. My father's name was Anthony
+Platter, of the old family of Platter, who have their name from a house
+which stands on a broad plat (Platte). This plat is a rock on a very
+high mountain, near a village of the name of Grenchen, in the district
+and parish of Visp, a considerable village of the Canton of St. Gall.
+My mother, however, was named Anteli Summermatter, of the very great
+family of that name. Her father attained the age of 126. I conversed
+with him six years before his death; and then he told me that he knew
+ten more men in the parish of Visp who were all older than he. When he
+was 100 years old he married a woman who bore him one son. By his first
+wife he left sons and daughters, of whom some were white-headed and
+some grey before he died. They called him old Hans Summermatter. The
+house in which I was born is near the village of Grenchen, and is
+called Am Graben. My mother could not nurse me herself, therefore I was
+obliged to drink cow's milk through a small horn, as is the custom in
+that country when they wean a child: because they give the children
+nothing to eat, but only milk to drink, till they are four or five
+years old. My father died when I was so young that I do not remember
+ever to have seen him. It is usual in that country for almost all women
+to be able to weave and sew. Before the winter, almost all the men go
+into the territory of Berne to buy wool: this the women spin, and make
+rustic cloth of it for coats and trowsers for the peasants. So also my
+father was in the district of Thun, in the territory of Berne, buying
+wool. There he was attacked by the plague and died, and was buried at
+Staffisburg, a village near Thun. Soon after, my mother married a man
+of the name of Heintzmann, who lived in a house between Stalden and
+Visp, that was called Am Grunde. So the children were all separated
+from her: I do not exactly know how many of them there were. Of my
+sisters, I knew only two;--one, whose name was Elizabeth, died in
+Entlibuch, where she was married;--the name of the other was Christina,
+and she died above Stalden, at Burgen, of the plague, with eight
+persons of her family. Of my brothers, I knew three: the first was
+called Simeon, the other Hans, the third Theodore. Simeon and Hans fell
+in battle. Theodore died at Oberhofen, on the lake of Thun: for the
+usurers had mined my father, so that my brothers were obliged to go to
+service almost as soon as they could do any thing; and as I was the
+youngest, some of my aunts, my father's sisters, had me with them for a
+while. I can still well remember that I was with one whose name was
+Margaret. She carried me to a house that was called "In der Wilde,"
+near Grenchen. One of my aunts was there also: she wrapped me up in a
+truss of straw that was accidentally in the room, and laid me on the
+table, and went to the other women. Once in the night, after my aunts
+had laid me down, they went to the mass at candle-mass time. Then I got
+up, and had run through the snow in winter, naked, to a house. When
+they came back, and did not find me, they were in great distress, but
+found me at last in that house, between two men, who were warming me,
+for I was frozen in the snow. Afterwards when I was also for a while
+with the same aunts, at "In der Wilde," my eldest brother arrived from
+the Savoy war, and brought me a little wooden horse, which I drew along
+by a thread before the door. I still remember well that I really
+thought the little horse could walk, and can therefore well explain to
+myself how the little children often think that their dolls, and what
+they have, are alive. My brother also strode over me with one leg, as I
+still perfectly remember, and said, "Oho! Tommy, now you will never
+grow any more." When I was about three years old. Cardinal Matthew
+Schinner passed through the country to hold a visitation and confirm
+every where, as is the custom in the Catholic Church, and came to
+Grenchen also. At this time there was a priest in Grenchen, whose name
+was Anthony Platter; he was a relation of mine; to him they brought me,
+that he should act as godfather at my confirmation. When however the
+Cardinal had dined, and was gone again into the church to confirm, (I
+do not know what my uncle had to do), I ran without his knowledge into
+the church, that I might be confirmed, and that my godfather might give
+me a crown piece, as it is the custom to give the children something.
+The Cardinal sat in an arm chair waiting till they brought him the
+children. I still recollect very well that I ran up to him. As my
+godfather was not with me, he spoke to me: "What do you want, my
+child?" I said, "I should like to be confirmed." Then he said,
+smiling, "What is your name?" I answered, "My name is Master Thomas."
+Then he laughed, murmured something with his hand laid on my head, and
+gave me a gentle slap on the cheek. At this moment Mr. Anthony came,
+and excused himself by saying that I had run away without his
+knowledge. Then the Cardinal related to him what I had said, and said
+to that gentleman, "Certainly that child will become something
+wonderful,--probably a priest." And because I was born just as they
+were ringing for mass, many people supposed that I should become a
+priest; on which account also they sent me to school earlier than
+usual. When I was about six years old they sent me to Eisenthal behind
+Stalden, where my mother's sister had a husband, called Thomas of Ruedi,
+who lived on a farm called Am Boden. For him I was obliged to keep the
+goats near the house. I can remember how I often stuck in the snow, so
+that I could scarcely get out, and my shoes remained behind, so that I
+came home barefoot and shivering. This farmer had about eighty goats,
+which I had to tend in my seventh and eighth years. When therefore I
+opened the stable, and did not immediately get out of the way, the
+goats, as I was still so little, knocked me down, ran over me, and trod
+on my head, arms, and back; for I usually fell on my face. When I drove
+them over the bridge, then the foremost ran past me into the corn
+field; and when I drove these out, the others ran in. Then I used to
+cry and lament; for I knew well that in the evening I should be beaten.
+When, however, other goatherds came to me from other farmers, they
+helped me; particularly one, called Thomas of Leidenbach. He had pity
+on me, and shewed me much kindness. Then we all sat together, when we
+had led the goats up the high and frightful mountains, and ate our
+supper. Each one had a shepherd's basket on his back, with cheese and
+rye-bread in it. One day when we had dined we set about shooting for a
+trial of skill. On the top of a high rock there was a flat piece of
+ground. As one after the other now shot at the mark, one stood before
+me who wished to shoot. I endeavoured to get out of his way, that he
+should not strike me on the head; but as I stepped back a few paces I
+fell backwards from off the rock. The shepherds all cried out, "Lord
+Jesus! Lord Jesus!" till I was out of sight; for I had fallen under the
+rock, so that they could not see me; and they fully believed that I
+was killed. I however soon got up again, and climbed up by the side of
+the rock to them. If they wept before for grief, they now wept for joy.
+Six weeks after a goat belonging to one of them fell down at the same
+spot, and was killed! So carefully had God watched over me. About half
+a year after, I led out my goats early in the morning before the other
+shepherds, (for I was the nearest,) over a point of rock, called White
+Point, when my goats turned to the right over a piece of rock that was
+a good foot wide, but below which there was, in a frightful abyss more
+than 1000 fathoms deep, nothing but rocks. From the ledge of the rock
+one goat went up after the other, over one where they had scarcely room
+to put their feet on the little roots of grass which had grown on the
+rock. As soon as they were up, I wished to get after them. When,
+however, I had drawn myself up by the grass about a step, I could get
+no farther; neither did I dare to step upon the rock again, much less
+to jump backwards, for I was afraid if I did so that I should jump too
+far, and so fall over the dreadful precipice. I remained therefore a
+good while in this position, and waited for the help of God, for I
+could not help myself; except that I held myself with both hands by a
+little tuft of grass, and supported myself by turns with my great toes
+on another tuft of grass. In this predicament I suffered extreme
+anxiety; for I was afraid that the great vultures that flew about in
+the air below me, would carry me away, as it sometimes does happen in
+the Alps, that they take away children and lambs. Whilst I stood there
+and the wind blew about my garment behind--for I had no trowsers on--my
+comrade Thomas perceived me from a distance, but did not know what it
+was. When he saw my coat fluttering in the wind, he supposed that it
+was a bird. When, however, he recognised me, he was so terrified that
+he became quite pale, and called to me, "Now, Tommy, stand still!" Then
+he hurried upon the ledge of rock, took me in his arms, and carried me
+down again to where we could get after the goats another way. Some
+years after, when I came home from the schools in distant lands, and my
+companion heard of it, he came, and reminded me how he had rescued me
+from death (as indeed is true, for which I give the glory to God). He
+said to me, that when I became a priest I should remember him, and pray
+to God for him. The master, however, with whom I served at that time,
+afterwards told my wife, "That he had never had a better little
+servant, as young and small as I was." Amongst other sisters of my
+father, was one of the name of Frances, who was unmarried, and my
+father had particularly recommended me to her care, as being the
+youngest child. When therefore the people told her in what a dangerous
+employment I was engaged, and that I should certainly kill myself some
+day by a fall, she came to my master and declared to him that she would
+not have me there any longer. At this he was dissatisfied; still she
+took me away again to Grenchen, where I was born, and placed me with a
+rich old farmer who was called "Hans im Boden." For him I was also
+obliged to mind the goats; when it happened one day that I and a little
+girl (who also minded her father's goats) were playing by an artificial
+channel, whereby the water was conducted down the mountain to the
+grounds, and had forgotten ourselves in play. We had made little
+meadows, and watered them as children do. In the mean while the goats
+had gone up the mountain, we knew not whither. Then I left my little
+coat lying there, and ascended the mountain up to the very top; the
+little girl however went home without the goats. I, on the contrary, as
+a poor servant, would not venture to go home unless I had the goats. Up
+very high I saw a kid that was just like one of my young goats, and
+this I followed at a distance till the sun went down. When I looked
+back to the village and saw that at the houses it was quite night, I
+began to descend again; but it was soon quite dark. In the mean time I
+climbed from one tree to another, and held myself by the loose roots
+from which the earth had fallen off. When however it became quite dark,
+I would not venture any farther, but held myself by my left hand on a
+root; with the other I scratched the earth loose under the trees and
+roots, to hollow out a place to lie in, and listened how the lumps of
+earth rolled down into the abyss. Thereupon I forced myself into the
+opening which was made between the earth and roots, in order to lie
+firmly, and not to fall down in my sleep. I had nothing on except a
+little shirt, neither shoes nor hat; for the little coat, in my anxiety
+at having lost the goats, I had left by the watercourse. As I lay under
+the tree the ravens became aware that I was there, and made a noise on
+the tree; so that I was in great terror, being afraid that a bear was
+at hand. I crossed myself, however, and fell asleep, and slept till the
+morning, when the sun was shining over all the mountains. When however
+I awoke, and saw where I lay, I do not know that I was ever more
+frightened in my life: for had I in the night gone four yards deeper, I
+must have fallen down, a frightfully steep precipice many thousand feet
+deep. I was in great trouble too about the mode of getting away from
+thence. I drew myself from one root to the other, till I again got to
+the place from whence I could run down the mountain to the houses. When
+I was just out of the wood, near the farms, the little maid met me with
+the goats which she was driving out again; for they had run home of
+themselves the night before, and the people in whose service I was,
+were very much frightened on account of my not having come home with
+the goats. They believed that I had fallen and killed myself, and asked
+my aunt and the people in that house in which I was born (for that
+stood next to the house in which I served) whether they knew any thing
+of me, for that I had not come home with the goats. From that time on
+they would not allow me to mind goats any more, because they had to
+endure so much anxiety on my account. Whilst I was with this master and
+tended his goats, I once fell into a boiler of hot milk which stood on
+the fire, and scalded myself, so that one could see the scars all my
+life after. I was also in two other perils besides this while I was
+with him. Once there were two of us little goatherds in the wood, and
+were talking of various childish things: amongst others we wished that
+we could fly, for then we would fly out of the mountain to Germany (for
+so Switzerland was called in St. Gall). On a sudden came a frightfully
+large bird darting down upon us, so that we thought it was going to
+carry one or both of us away. At this we both began to scream, and to
+defend ourselves with our shepherd's crooks, and to cross ourselves,
+till the bird flew away; then we said to one another, "We have done
+wrong in wishing to be able to fly; God did not create us for flying,
+but for walking." Another time I was in a very deep fissure looking for
+crystals, of which many were found in it. All at once I saw a stone as
+large as an oven starting from the side, and as I had no time to get
+out of the way, I stooped down upon my face. The stone fell several
+fathoms down to a spot above me, and from thence it made a spring away
+over me, so that I escaped with a whole skin. I had plenty of such joys
+and happiness on the mountains among the goats, of which I now remember
+nothing more. This I well know, that I seldom had whole toes, but often
+great bruises; had many bad falls; without shoes for the most part in
+summer, or else wooden ones; and endured great thirst. My food was in
+the morning, before day, a rye-broth, that is, a soup made of rye-meal.
+Cheese and rye-bread are given in a little basket to be carried at
+one's back; at night cheese-milk; of all however there was a fair
+allowance. In summer, lying on hay; in winter, on a straw mattrass full
+of all sorts of vermin. Such are the resting-places of the poor little
+shepherds who serve the farmers in the wildernesses.
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER II.
+
+              MASTER THOMAS BECOMES A TRAVELLING SCHOLAR.
+
+
+[Illustration: "The urchin has robbed me of a goose."]
+
+As they would not any longer allow me to tend the goats, I entered the
+service of a farmer who had one of my aunts to wife, and was a fiery
+passionate man. I had to keep his cows; for at most places in St. Gall
+they have not shepherds in common, to mind the cows for all; but
+whoever has a mountain whither he can send them during the summer, has
+a little shepherd who watches them upon his own property. When I had
+been with them a while my aunt Frances came, who wished to send me to
+my uncle, Mr. Anthony Platter, that I should learn _the writings_ (such
+was their phrase when they wished to send any one to school). That
+gentleman was at that time no longer in Grenchen, but was become an old
+man at St. Nicholas, in the village that is called Gasse. When my
+farmer, whose name was the "Antsche," or "Anthony an der Habzucht," was
+aware of my aunt's intention, he was much dissatisfied: and said, "That
+I would learn nothing notwithstanding;" and added, putting the
+forefinger of his right hand into the palm of the left, "the urchin
+will learn just as much as I can drive my finger through." That I saw
+and heard myself. My aunt answered, "Oh! who knows? God has not refused
+him his gifts: he may yet become a pious priest." And so she led me to
+the spiritual gentleman, when I was about nine and a half years old.
+Then it was that my sufferings really began, for the gentleman was a
+very passionate man, but I a little awkward peasant boy. He beat me
+barbarously; often took me by the ears and dragged me from the ground.
+I screamed like a goat that had the knife sticking into it, so that
+often the neighbours came screaming in to him to know whether he would
+kill me out and out. I did not remain long with him. Just at this time
+there came one who had travelled to the schools at Ulm and Munich in
+Bavaria, a grandson of my old grandfather. This student's name was Paul
+Summermatter. My friends had told him of me, and he promised them that
+he would take me with him, and in Germany take me to school. As soon as
+I heard of this I fell on my knees, and besought God Almighty to help
+me away from the priest, who taught me sheer nothing, but on the
+contrary beat me unmercifully. I had scarcely learned to sing the
+"Salve" a little, and to go about the village with other scholars who
+were also with the priest, and were obliged to sing before the houses
+for eggs.
+
+Once, when we were about to celebrate mass, the other boys sent me into
+the church to fetch a taper. This I thrust alight into my sleeve and
+burnt myself so, that I still bear about me the scar of it. When Paul
+wished to wander again, I was to come to him to Stalden. Behind Stalden
+is a house called "Zum Muellibach;" there my mother's brother, Simon
+Summermatter, lived; he was to be my guardian, and gave me a golden
+florin: which I carried in my hand to Stalden, and on the way often
+looked at it to see whether I had it, and then gave it to Paul. Thus we
+left the country. I was then obliged to beg for the necessary money on
+the road, and also to share it with Paul my Bacchant. Schools were not
+then established in all places; and young persons who wished to learn
+any thing, or to prepare themselves for any religious office, which at
+that time required but little knowledge, went, either singly or in
+greater numbers, after renowned teachers. As they were for the most
+part poor people, they lived on alms by the way. And when the thing
+degenerated the grown ones were called Bacchants, because they
+lived well on what was obtained by begging, and led a wild and
+dissolute life: the little ones were called _a-b-c_ fags.[1] They, when
+the begging was not sufficient, did not make any scruple about
+stealing, which was called "Sharp-Shooting." They were, however,
+usually called Scholastics, or Travelling Scholars. So bad were the
+school-arrangements; until the Reformation made improvements in this
+department also. On account of my simplicity and provincial dialect,
+people gave very liberally to me. When I crossed over the Grimsel, and
+came into an inn at night, I saw a stove made of tiles of white delft
+for the first time, and the moon shone on the tiles. I thought it was a
+large calf, for I saw only two tiles shining, and believed them to be
+the eyes. In the morning I saw geese, of which I had never seen any
+before. When therefore they set on me hissing, as geese are accustomed
+to do, I ran away from them with a loud cry, for I thought it was the
+devil who wanted to devour me. In Lucerne I saw the first tiled roofs,
+and wondered very much at the red colour. Hereupon we came to Zurich:
+there Paul waited for several comrades who wished to go with us to
+Meissen. In the mean time I went for alms, with which I was obliged
+almost entirely to support Paul: for when I came into an inn the people
+liked to hear me speak the St. Gall dialect, and gave me liberally. At
+that time there was in Zurich a certain fellow, a great rogue, out of
+Leak in St. Gall: his name was Carle. He once came to me--for we lodged
+in the same house--and said to me, that I should allow him to give me
+one blow on the bare back, and that he would give me a Zurich sixer
+(sixpence) for it. I allowed myself to be persuaded. He then laid hold
+of me stoutly, laid me across a chair, and beat me very sorely. When I
+had borne that, he asked me to lend him the sixer again, for he wished
+to sup with the landlady at night, and could not pay the reckoning. I
+gave him the sixpence, but never got it again. Thus were my innocency
+and inexperience abused. After we had waited for company about eight or
+nine weeks, we set out for Meissen; for me, a very long journey,
+because I was not accustomed to travel so far, and besides that, I was
+obliged to provide my provisions on the way. We travelled eight or nine
+together--three little fags, and the rest great Bacchants, as they were
+called, and I was the smallest and youngest of the fags. When I could
+not get on vigorously, my relation Paul walked behind me with a rod or
+stick, and beat me on the bare legs; for I had no hose on, but bad
+shoes. I cannot now remember all that befel us on the road; but some
+adventures I have not yet forgotten. When we were upon the journey, and
+were speaking of all sorts of things, the Bacchants narrated to one
+another how it was the custom in Meissen and Silesia for the fags to be
+allowed to steal geese and ducks, and other articles of provision, and
+that nothing was done to them on that account if they could only escape
+from the owner. In my simplicity I believed every thing, for I knew
+nothing of the commandments of God, and had had no experience of the
+world. We were one day not far from a village; there was a great flock
+of geese there, and the herdsman was not at hand, but pretty far off
+with the cowherds. Then I asked my comrades, the fags, "When shall we
+be in Meissen, that I may throw at the geese and kill them?" They said,
+"We are there already." Then I took a stone, threw it, and hit one on
+the foot. The others fled away, but the lame one could not follow. I
+took another stone, threw, and hit it on the head, so that it fell
+down; for when with the goats, I had learned to throw well, so that no
+shepherd of my age was superior to me: could also blow the shepherd's
+horn, and leap with the pole; for in such arts I exercised myself with
+my fellow-shepherds. I then ran to it, and caught the goose by the
+neck, and put it under my little coat, and went along the road through
+the village. Then the gooseherd came running after, shouting through
+the village, "The urchin has robbed me of a goose." I and my fellow
+fags ran off, and the feet of the goose hung out from under my little
+coat. The peasants came out of their houses with halberds, and followed
+us. When I now saw that I could not escape with the goose, I let it
+fall. I jumped aside into a thicket outside the village; but my two
+comrades ran along the road and were overtaken by two peasants. They
+then fell down on their knees and begged for mercy, for that they had
+done them no harm. The peasants therefore seeing that he was not there
+who had let the goose fall, went back into the village and took the
+goose along with them. When I saw how they ran after my companions, I
+was in a great fright, and said to myself, "O God! I believe that I
+have not blessed myself to-day:" as I had been taught that I should
+bless myself every morning. When the peasants came into the village
+they found our Bacchants in the public-house; for they had gone before,
+and we came after. Then the peasants thought that they ought to pay for
+the goose, which would have made about two bats (four-pence), but I do
+not know whether they paid it or not. When they came to us again they
+laughed, and asked how it had happened. I excused myself with saying,
+that I thought such was the custom of the country; but they said that
+it was not yet time. When, however, some of the Bacchants behaved
+themselves very rudely towards us, some of us, with Paul, determined to
+run away from the Bacchants, and go by way of Dresden to Breslau. On
+the way we had to suffer much from hunger, so that several days
+we ate nothing but raw onions with salt; some days roasted acorns,
+crab-apples, and wild pears. Many a night we lay in the open air,
+because no one would suffer us in the houses, no matter how early we
+might ask for lodging. Now and then the dogs were set at us. When
+however we came to Breslau there was an abundance of every thing; yes,
+every thing was so cheap that the poor fags used to eat too much, and
+often made themselves sick. At first we went to school in the cathedral
+of the Holy Cross; when however we heard that in the principal parish
+of St. Elizabeth there were several Swiss, we went thither. There were
+there two from Bremgarten, two from Mellingen, and others, besides a
+number of Suabians. There was no difference made between the Suabians
+and the Swiss; they addressed one another as countrymen, and protected
+one another. The city of Breslau has seven parishes, each a separate
+school: and no scholar was allowed to go singing into another parish;
+else they immediately shouted "Ad idem! ad idem!" Then the fags ran
+together, and beat one another very sorely. There were, as was said at
+that time, several thousand Bacchants and fags in the city at once, who
+all lived upon alms. It was said also that there were some that had
+been there twenty, thirty, or more years, who had had their fags that
+were obliged to wait upon them. I have often in one evening carried my
+Bacchants five or six loads of provisions home to the school where they
+lived. People gave to me very willingly, because I was little, and a
+Swiss; for they were uncommonly fond of the Swiss. They also felt great
+compassion with the Swiss, because just at that time they had suffered
+sorely in the great battle at Milan; so that the common people said,
+"The Swiss have now lost their Pater-Noster." For before that, they
+imagined that the Swiss were quite invincible.
+
+I one day went up to two gentlemen or country squires in the
+market-place, (I heard afterwards that the one was called Benzenauer,
+the other Tucker,) who were walking there, and asked alms from them, as
+poor fags were accustomed to do. Tucker said to me, "From whence are
+you?" and when he heard that I was a Swiss, he was surprised, together
+with Benzenauer, and said to me, "But are you really a Swiss? If that
+is the fact, I will adopt you as a son, and I will assure you of that
+here before the council in Breslau; but, in return, you must promise to
+remain with me, and accompany me wherever I go." I answered, "In my
+native place I was given in charge to a certain person; I will ask him
+about it." But when I asked my relation Paul about it, he said, "I have
+conducted you out of your own native place, and I will conduct you to
+your own friends again, and then whatever they bid you, that you can
+do." I therefore declined this offer. But whenever I came before the
+house I was not allowed to go empty away. Thus I remained for a time in
+Breslau; was also three times ill in one winter, so that they were
+obliged to bring me into the hospital, for the travelling scholars had
+a particular hospital and physicians for themselves. Sixteen hellers
+were also paid weekly from the Town-house for each sick person, by
+which one person could be well supported. Care was then taken of the
+patients, and they had good beds, only they were not clean; so that I
+rather lay upon the floor than in the beds. During the winter the fags
+lay upon the floor in the school; but the Bacchants in small chambers,
+of which there were several hundreds at St. Elizabeth's. But in summer,
+when it was hot, we lay in the church-yard: collected grass, such as is
+spread in summer before the doors on Sunday in the gentlemen's
+streets,[2] and lay in it, like pigs in the straw. When however it
+rained we ran into the school; and when there was thunder we sang
+responsories and other sacred music the whole night, with the
+Subcantor. Now and then after sapper, in summer, we went into the
+beer-houses to beg for beer. And the drunken Polish peasants would then
+give us so much, that I was often unable to find my way to the school
+again, though only a stone's throw from it. In short, there was plenty
+to eat here, but there was not much study; and of true piety no one had
+an idea. In the school at St. Elizabeth's, indeed, nine Bachelors of
+Arts read lectures at the same hour, and in the same room; still the
+Greek language had not yet made its way anywhere in the country;
+neither had any one printed books, except the Preceptor, who had a
+printed Terence. What was read had first to be dictated, then pointed,
+then construed, and at last explained; so that the Bacchants had to
+carry away thick books of notes when they went home.
+
+From Breslau eight of us migrated again to Dresden; had however to
+suffer much from hunger on the way. We then determined to separate for
+one day; some went to see after geese; some after turnips, and carrots,
+and onions; some about a pot; we little ones however were to procure
+bread and salt in the neighbouring town of Neumark. In the evening we
+intended to assemble again outside the city, and there take up our
+lodging, and cook what we might have. About a gunshot distant from the
+city there was a well, by which we wished to remain during the night;
+but when the fire was seen, they fired at us; still no one was hit. We
+therefore took ourselves off behind a ridge to a little rivulet and
+thicket. The bigger companions hewed branches down, and made a hut;
+others plucked the geese, of which they had managed to get two; others
+cut the turnips into the pot, and put the head and feet and the like in
+also; others made two wooden spits, and began to roast; and as soon as
+it was a little brown, we took it from the spit and ate it, and the
+turnips too. To none of us did it occur that we were partaking of
+stolen provisions, and so were worthy of punishment in the sight of God
+and man. In the night we heard something making an odd noise. There was
+a wear near us from which the water had been let off the day before,
+and the fish were springing up to the wall; we therefore took as many
+as we could carry in a shirt, and on a stick, and set off for the
+nearest village. There we gave part of them to a peasant, that, in
+return, he should boil the others in beer for us.
+
+From Dresden we went to Nuremberg. On the way, not far from Dresden, it
+happened that I went into a village to request alms, and came before a
+peasant's house. Then the peasant asked me where I came from. When he
+heard that I was a Swiss, he asked, if I had any companions. I
+answered, "My companions are waiting for me outside the village."
+"Desire them to come hither," said he, and he got a good meal ready for
+us; also beer enough to drink. When we were comfortable, and the
+peasant with us, he said to his mother, who was lying in bed in the
+room, "Mother, I have often heard from you, that you would like to see
+a Swiss before you die: there you see several; I have invited them for
+your sake." Then the mother raised herself up, thanked the son for
+bringing such guests, and said, "I have heard so much good of the
+Swiss, that I very much desired to see one: methinks that I will now
+die more willingly; therefore make yourselves merry." Whereupon she
+laid herself down again, and we set out again after we had thanked the
+peasant. From thence we came to Munich, where Paul and I found lodging
+with a soap-boiler of the name of Hans Schraell, who was a Master of
+Arts of Vienna, but an enemy to the clerical state. Him I helped to
+make soap, rather more than I went to school; and travelled about with
+him to the villages to buy ashes. Paul at length determined to pay a
+visit to our home, for we had not been at home during five years.
+Accordingly, we went home to St. Gall. My friends were then unable to
+understand me, and said, "Our Tommy speaks so profoundly, that no one
+can understand him:" for, being young, I had learned something of the
+language of every place where I had been.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER III.
+
+                     MASTER THOMAS BEGINS TO STUDY.
+
+
+My stay at home was not long. We soon set out again towards Ulm. Paul
+then took another boy With him, whose name was Hildebrand Kaelbermatter;
+he was also very young. Some cloth, such as was made in that country,
+was given to him for a little coat. When we came to Ulm, Paul desired
+me to go about with the cloth, and beg the money to pay for the making.
+With it I earned a great deal of money; for I understood begging well,
+because the Bacchants had always kept me to it. To the schools on the
+contrary, they did not draw me, not even so much as to teach me to
+read. Thus it was at Ulm too: when I ought to have gone to school, I
+was obliged to run about with the cloth. I suffered great hunger at
+this time; for all that I got I had to bring to the Bacchants, and did
+not dare, for fear of stripes, to eat even a morsel. Paul had taken
+another Bacchant to live with him, of the name of Achatius, a native of
+Mayence; and I, with my companion Hildebrand, had to wait on them both.
+But my companion ate almost all that was given him at the houses
+himself. The Bacchants on that account went after him into the street,
+and found him eating: thereupon they threw him on a bed, covered his
+head with a pillow, so that he could not cry, and beat him with all
+their might. That made me afraid, so that I brought home all that I
+got. They had often so much bread that it became mouldy; they then cut
+off the mouldy outside, and gave it to us to eat. I was often very
+hungry, and frost-bitten too, because I had to go about in the dark
+till midnight, to sing for bread. Now there was at that time a pious
+widow at Ulm, who had a son, Paul Reling, and two daughters. This widow
+during the winter often wrapt my feet in a warm fur, which she laid
+behind the stove, to warm them when I came; gave me also a basin full
+of vegetables, and then allowed me to go home. I was indeed sometimes
+so hungry, that I drove the dogs in the street away from their bones,
+and gnawed them; I also sought together the last crumbs out of the
+bags, and eat them.
+
+From Ulm we went to Munich, where I still had to beg for money to make
+up the cloth, which however was not mine. A year after we came again to
+Ulm, intending to go once more to our native place. I brought the cloth
+again with me, however, and was obliged again to beg for money to make
+it up. I can still well remember that some said to me, "What! has the
+coat never been made? I believe that you are playing tricks." What
+became of the cloth, and whether the coat was ever made, I know not.
+From thence we made a visit to our native place, and after that
+returned again to Munich.
+
+As three of us little fags had no lodging, we intended to go at night
+to the corn-market, and sleep upon the corn sacks. There were several
+women in the street standing before the salt-house, who asked where we
+were going. A butcher's widow was of the number, who, when she
+understood that we were Swiss, said to her maid, "Run, hang the pot
+with the soup and the remainder of the meat over the fire; they must
+lodge with me to-night; I am friendly to all Swiss. I served in an inn
+at Inspruck at the time the Emperor Maximilian held his court there.
+The Swiss had much dealing with him then, and were such good people,
+that I will be friendly to them all my life long." She gave us enough
+to eat and drink, and a good place to rest in. In the morning she said
+to us, "If one of you will stay with me, I will give him lodging, and
+meat and drink." We were all willing, and because I looked a little
+sharper than the others, she chose me. I helped her with her household
+and field occupations; but was still obliged, however, to wait on my
+Bacchant. The woman did not like to see that, and said, "Let the
+Bacchant alone, and stay with me, then you need not beg." For eight
+days, therefore, I went neither to the Bacchant nor to the school. He
+then came and knocked at the house-door. She said to me, "Your Bacchant
+is there, say that you are sick." I did what she desired me, for I did
+not know that a lie of that kind was a sin. When Paul came she said to
+him, "You are truly a fine gentleman, and should have looked after
+Thomas: he has been sick, and is so still." He said then, "I am sorry
+for it, boy: when you can go out again, come to me." Afterwards, on a
+Sunday, I went to vespers; then he said to me after vespers, "You fag,
+you do not come to me, I will trample you under foot some day." Then I
+resolved that he should not trample on me, for that I would run away.
+On Sunday I said to the butcher's widow that I wanted to go into the
+school and wash my shirt. I went, however, over the Iser, for I was
+afraid that if I went to Switzerland Paul would follow me. At the other
+side of the Iser is a hill; there I sat down, looked at the city, and
+cried bitterly, because I had now no longer any one to help me. I
+thought of going to Saltzburg or Vienna in Austria. As I sat there, a
+peasant came by with his waggon. He had brought salt to Munich, and was
+already drunk, although the sun had only just risen. I asked him to
+allow me to get up, and rode with him till he stopped to get something
+for himself and his horses to eat. In the mean time I begged in the
+village; and not far from the village I waited for him, and fell
+asleep. On awaking I cried heartily; for I thought that the peasant had
+driven away, and felt as if I had lost a father. However he soon came,
+quite drunk; told me to get up again, and asked whither I wished to go?
+I said to Saltzburg. When it was evening he drove side-ways off the
+highroad, and said, "Now you can get down, there is the road to
+Saltzburg." We had driven eight miles that day. I came into a village;
+when I got up in the morning there was a hoar frost, as if it had
+snowed, and I had no shoes, only torn socks; no cap, and a jacket
+without folds. I therefore went to Passau, and wished there to get a
+passage, and sail on the Danube to Vienna. In Passau they would not let
+me in. Then I determined to go to Switzerland, and asked the gatekeeper
+which was the nearest road to Switzerland. "By Munich," said he. "To
+Munich!" I answered, "I will not go. I would rather go out of my way
+ten miles to avoid it." He then directed me to Freissing, where there
+was a high-school or university. There I found Swiss. But before many
+days had elapsed Paul arrived with an halberd. The fags said to me,
+"The Bacchant from Munich is here, and is looking for you." Then I ran
+out at the gate as if he had been behind me, and went to Ulm, where I
+came to my saddler's widow, who had formerly warmed my feet by wrapping
+them in fur. After several weeks, one came to me who had been a
+companion of Paul's, and said to me, "Your relation Paul is here, and
+looking for you." So he had come eighteen miles after me; for in me he
+had lost a good benefice, because I had supported him several years.
+When however I heard this, although it was nearly night, I ran out at
+the gate, on the road to Constance; but lamented in my soul, for it was
+very grievous to me on account of the dear woman who had taken care of
+me like a mother. So I crossed the lake to Constance, and went over the
+bridge, and saw some little Swiss peasants in white jackets. Oh how
+glad I was! I imagined I was in the kingdom of heaven. From thence I
+came to Zurich, where I found some fellow-countrymen, natives of St.
+Gall, great Bacchants; to them I offered my services, if in return they
+would instruct me; but that they did as little as the others. After
+several months Paul sent his fag Hildebrand from Munich, to tell me
+that if I would return he would pardon me; but I would not, but stayed
+in Zurich, though indeed without studying. There was one Anthony Benetz
+there, out of Visp in St. Gall, who persuaded me to accompany him on a
+tour to Strasburg. When we arrived, there were a great many poor
+scholars there, and, as was said, not even one good school; we
+therefore went to Schlestadt. A gentleman met us, and asked, "Where are
+you going?" When he heard that we wished to go to Schlestadt he
+dissuaded us from it, by saying that there were many poor scholars
+there, and no rich people. Whereupon my comrade began to cry bitterly,
+because he did not know any other place to go to. I comforted him, and
+said, "Be of good courage! If there is one in Schlestadt who makes
+shift to live alone, I will manage to support us both." Whilst in a
+village outside of Schlestadt, where we got lodging in a mill, I got
+such a pain that I thought I must choke, and scarcely could get breath;
+for I had eaten a great many green nuts, which fall off about that
+season. Anthony then cried again; for he thought that he should lose
+his companion, and then not know how to help himself any more: and yet
+he had ten crowns secretly about him, and I not a halfpenny. When we
+came into the town, and had found lodging in the house of an aged
+married couple, of whom the man was stone blind, we went to the
+preceptor, Mr. John Sapidus, and begged of him to receive us. He asked
+us whence we came; when we said, "From Switzerland, from. St. Gall." He
+said, "There are wicked peasants there; they drive all their bishops
+away out of the country. If you intend to study properly you need not
+give me any thing; but if not, you must pay me, or I will pull your
+coats off your back." That was the first school which seemed to me to
+go on well. At that time the study of languages and sciences came into
+fashion. It was the same year that the diet was held at Worms. Sapidus
+had at one time nine hundred scholars, amongst whom were several fine
+learned fellows, who afterwards became celebrated men. When I entered
+the school I could do nothing, not even read the Donatus,[3] and was
+nevertheless already eighteen years old. I seated myself among the
+little children, but was like the clucking hen among the chickens. When
+we had been there from Autumn till Whitsuntide, and there was a
+continual influx of scholars from all quarters, I was no longer able to
+procure sustenance for us both; we therefore went away to Solothurn,
+where there was a tolerably good school, and also a maintenance easier
+to be found. But as a set-off against this, we had to stay much in
+church, and lose time: so we went again to our native place, where I
+remained awhile, and went to school to a priest who taught me a little
+writing, and other things I know not what. Here I got the ague, and was
+nursed by my aunt Frances in Grenchen. At the same time I taught the
+little son of my other aunt, Simon Steiner, his A B C. He came to
+Zurich a year after, and studied by degrees: then he came to Strasburg,
+where he became Dr. Bucer's Famulus: and because he was attentive to
+his studies, he was made teacher of the thirds and afterwards of the
+second, class; and was very much regretted by the scholars at Strasburg
+when he died.
+
+In the following Spring I left the country again, with two brothers.
+When we took leave of our mother, she cried and said, "God have mercy
+upon me, that now I must see three sons go into misery." Excepting that
+time I never saw my mother cry, for she was a courageous stout-hearted
+woman, but rather rough. When her third husband died, whom she had
+married in my absence, she remained a widow, and did all manner of work
+like a man, in order that she might be better able to bring up her
+youngest children. Hewing wood, hay-making, threshing, and other work
+which belongs more to men than women, were not too much for her. She
+had also buried three of her children herself, who had died in a time
+of very great pestilence; for in time of pestilence it costs a great
+deal to get persons buried by the gravediggers. Towards us her first
+children she was very harsh, for which reason we seldom entered the
+house. Once when I came to her again, after an absence of five years,
+in which I had travelled much in far distant lands, the first word she
+said to me was, "Has the devil carried you hither once more?" I
+answered, "The devil has not carried me, but my feet; I will not
+however be a burden to you long." She then said, "You are not a burden
+to me; but it grieves me that you go strolling backwards and forwards
+in this manner, and doubtless learn nothing at all. If you learned to
+work, as your late father did, that would be better;--you will never be
+a priest: I am not so lucky as to be the mother of a priest." So I
+remained with her two or three days. She was otherwise a respectable,
+honest, and pious woman, as was admitted by every body.
+
+On my departure with my two brothers, as we were crossing the Letshi
+mountain towards Gestelen, my brothers sat down upon the slopes on the
+snow, and so slid down the mountain. I wished to imitate them, but
+because I did not instantly put my feet asunder the snow threw me over,
+so that I slid down the mountain head over heels. It would have been no
+wonder if I had killed myself by knocking my head against a tree; for
+there were no rocks. Three times I had the same mishap, for I always
+thought that I should be able to do it as well as my brothers; but they
+were more used to the mountains than I. Thus we travelled on together.
+They both remained in Entlibuch, but I went on to Zurich. There I
+lodged with the mother of the far famed, pious, and learned Mr. Rudolph
+Gwalther, who is now pastor at St. Peter's. He was then in the cradle,
+and I used often to rock him. I now visited the school in
+Frauenmuenster, in which Wolfgang Knaueel, a pious Master of Arts,
+taught. I was quite in earnest in my desire to study, for I perceived
+that it was high time. They said at that time, that a teacher would
+come from Einsiedeln, a learned and faithful man, but extremely old. So
+I made a seat for myself in a corner not far from the teacher's seat,
+and said to myself, "In this corner you will study or die." When he
+came into the school for the first time, he said, "This is a nice
+school, but methinks there are stupid boys: still we shall see; only be
+industrious." This I know, that had my life depended on it I could not
+have declined a noun of the first declension, although I had learned
+Donatus off by heart to a nicety. For when I was at Schlestadt, Sapidus
+had a certain Bachelor of Arts, George von Andlau, a very learned man:
+he plagued the Bacchants so grievously with the Donatus, that I
+thought, "If it be such a good book, then you must learn it by heart,"
+and as I learned to read it I learned it by heart at the same time.
+That turned to good account for me in the opinion of Father Myconius,
+my new teacher in Zurich; for he began at once to read Terence with us,
+and then we had to decline and conjugate every little word of a whole
+comedy. He used often to deal with me until my shirt was wet with
+perspiration through fear, and my eyes grew dim; and yet he never gave
+me a blow, except on one single occasion with the left hand on my
+cheek. He also read lectures upon the Holy Scriptures, which were
+attended by many of the laity; for at that time the light of the Gospel
+was just beginning to dawn, although Mass and the idolatrous pictures
+in the churches were continued for a long time after. Whenever he was
+rough towards me, he afterwards took me to his house, and gave me a
+meal; for he liked to hear me relate how I had travelled through all
+the countries in Germany, and what I had suffered every where, which I
+could much better remember then than now. Myconius without doubt was
+already acquainted with the pure doctrine; but was obliged,
+notwithstanding, to go to church at Frauenmuenster with his scholars to
+sing the Vesper, Matins, and Masses, and to direct the singing. Once he
+said to me, "Custos,"[4] (for I was his Custos), "I would now rather
+read four lessons than sing one Mass; do me a favour, and sometimes
+attend to an easy Mass, a Requiem, and such like for me: I will not let
+it be unrewarded." With that I was well content, for I was accustomed
+to that sort of thing, not only at Zurich, but also at Solothurn and
+elsewhere; for everything was still Popish. Many a one was to be found
+who could sing better than expound a Gospel; and it was daily to be
+seen in the schools that wild Bacchants went off and were ordained, if
+they could only sing a little, though they understood nothing either of
+grammar or Gospel. During the time that I was Custos, I was often in
+want of wood for heating the school. One morning Zuinglius was to
+preach before day in Frauenmuenster; and as they were ringing the bell
+for service, there being no wood for heating the school, I thought in
+my simplicity, "You have no wood, and there are so many idols in the
+church!" As no one was there I went into the church to the nearest
+altar, seized a wooden St. John, hurried with him into the school, put
+him into the stove, and said to him, "Johnny, now bend yourself; you
+must go into the stove, even though you do represent a St. John." When
+he began to burn, there were nasty great blisters from the oil paint. I
+thought, "Now hold still; if you stir, which you however will not do, I
+will shut-to the door of the stove, and you dare not come out, unless
+the evil one fetches you." In the mean time the wife of Myconius came,
+intending to go to church to the sermon, and said, "God give you a good
+day, my son; have you heated the stove?" I closed the stove door, and
+said, "Yes, mother; I am quite ready." I would not however tell it to
+her; for if it had been known, it would have cost me my life at that
+time. In the school Myconius said, "Custos, you have had famous wood
+to-day," I thought, "St. John deserves the most praise." When we were
+to sing the Mass two priests were quarrelling together, and one said to
+the other, "You Lutheran knave, you have robbed me of a St. John." This
+they continued a good while. Myconius did not know what the matter was,
+but St. John was never found again. Of course I never told it to any
+one, till several years after, when Myconius was preacher at Basle; I
+then told it to him, and he wondered very much, and remembered well how
+the priests had quarrelled together. Although it appeared to me then
+that Popery was mere mummery, yet I still had it in my mind to become a
+priest, and to do the duties of my office faithfully, and deck out my
+altar smartly. For of real piety I understood at that time nothing; all
+rested merely on outward ceremonies. When, however, Ulrich Zuinglius
+preached severely against it, my scruples increased more and more in
+course of time. Otherwise I had prayed much, and fasted rather more
+than was agreeable to me; had also my saints and patrons, to whom I
+prayed: our Lady, the Virgin Mary, that she would be my intercessor
+with her Son; St. Catherine, that I might become learned; St. Barbara,
+that I might not die without the sacrament; St. Peter, that he would
+open heaven to me. What I neglected I wrote in a little book, and when
+there was a holiday at school, as on Thursday and Saturday, I went to
+Frauenmuenster to a school: began and wrote all my offences upon a
+chair, and paid one debt after the other with prayers, blotting them
+out one after the other, and thought then that I had done right. Six
+times I went with processions from Zurich to Einsiedeln; was diligent
+in confession, and have often fought with my companions for Popery. One
+day, however, Ulrich Zuinglius preached in Soellnau upon the Gospel of
+St. John x., "I am the good Shepherd," &c.: that he explained so
+pointedly, that I felt as if some one had pulled me up into the air by
+the hair of my head, and made known to me how God would require the
+blood of the lost sheep at the hands of the shepherds who are guilty of
+their destruction. Then I thought to myself, "If that be the meaning,
+then adieu to the priest's office! a priest I will never be!" I
+continued however in my studies; began also to dispute with my
+comrades; attended the sermons diligently, and was fond of hearing my
+preceptor Myconius. Mass and the idolatrous pictures, however, were
+still continued at Zurich.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER IV.
+
+                  MASTER THOMAS BECOMES ROPE-MAKER AND
+                           HEBREW PROFESSOR.
+
+
+[Illustration: I read as I went backwards and forwards when I twisted.]
+
+
+At that time six of us went home to St. Gall: and on our arrival at
+Glyss, one Saturday, we heard that the priests were singing Vespers.
+After Vespers one of them came and asked, "Whence do you come?" I, as
+the boldest, replied, "From Zurich." On this the priest said, "What
+have you done in that heretic city?" I became angry and said, "Why
+heretic city?" The priest replied, "Because they have put away the
+Mass, and removed the pictures from the church." Thereupon I said,
+"That is not so, for they still celebrate Mass there; they have also
+pictures; why are they then heretics?" "For this reason," he replied,
+"because they do not consider the Pope as the head of the Christian
+Church, and do not call upon the Saints." I went on, "Why is the Pope
+the head of the Christian Church?" He said, "Because St. Peter was Pope
+at Rome, and has given the Popedom there to his successors." I said,
+"St. Peter very likely was never at Rome;" pulled my New Testament out
+of the bag, and shewed him how in the Epistle to the Romans the Apostle
+salutes so many, and yet never mentions St. Peter, who, according to
+his assertion, was the most eminent among the Christians of that place.
+Thereupon he said, "How could that be true, then, that Christ met St.
+Peter outside the city of Rome, and was asked by him where he was going
+to? whereupon he answered. To Rome, to allow myself to be crucified." I
+asked, "Where have you read this story?" He said, "I have often heard
+it from my grandmother." Thereupon I answered, "So, then, I perceive
+that your grandmother is your Bible! And why should we call upon the
+Saints?" Answer--"Because it is written, God is wonderful in all his
+works." Then I stooped down, plucked a little plant, and said, "If one
+were to collect all men together, they would not be able to make a
+plant like this." He then became angry, and so our conversation ended.
+We had besides more than an hour's walk before us that night. Early on
+Sunday we came to Visp, where a lazy ignorant priest was to celebrate
+his first mass; for which reason a great many priests and scholars, and
+a great crowd of other people, came together. We scholars helped the
+priest to sing the mass. Then one who passed for the most eminent
+preacher preached from a window, and said amongst other things, to the
+young priest, "O thou noble knight! thou holy knight! thou art holier
+than the mother of God herself: for she only bore Christ once, but thou
+shalt hear him every day of thy life henceforth." Then one on the
+bridge, a Basle Master of Arts, out of Sitten, said a little too loud,
+"Priest! you lie like a miscreant." The priests had all an eye upon
+me;--I knew not why, till I saw the priest with whom I had disputed the
+day before; then I could well imagine that he had complained of me.
+When the mass was over, all the priests and scholars were invited to
+dinner; but no one invited me. No man can believe how happy I then was,
+and how willing I was to fast for Christ's sake. When however my mother
+saw me, she said, "How comes it that they have not invited you also?"
+and she put bread and cheese into a bowl, and prepared me some
+porridge. Once when I was there at home, I visited my uncle (my
+mother's brother) who was at that time Castellan (that is, chief person
+in the Visper tenth), and said to him after supper, "Uncle, tomorrow I
+shall set out again." He asked "Whither?" I said: "To Zurich." He:
+"Pray do not go to that place, at your peril; for the Confederates will
+invade it; and have sent deputies from all places. They will be taught
+to give up the heretic faith." I: "And is no one here from Zurich?" He:
+"There is a messenger here with a letter." I: "Have they read the
+letter before the deputies and country people?" He: "Yes." I: "And what
+does the letter contain?" He: "In the letter they declare that they
+have adopted a doctrine by which they intend to abide! But if any one
+can convince them of another out of the Old or New Testament, then they
+will give it up." I: "Is not that right?" Upon that he said distinctly,
+and in these very words, "Let the devil take them and the New Testament
+together." I was horrified, and said, "O God! how you speak! It would
+be no wonder if God were to punish you both in body and soul. What then
+is the New Testament?" "It is their new heretic doctrine," said he; "so
+the deputies have acquainted us, particularly the one from Berne."
+Thereupon I said, "The New Testament is the new covenant which Christ
+established with the faithful, and sealed with His blood. That is
+recorded in the four Gospels and in the Epistles of the holy Apostles."
+Then he said, "Is that so?" "Yes," I answered; "and if you will, I will
+go with you to-morrow to Visp, and, if they will let me speak openly, I
+shall not let myself be restrained either by shame or by fear." He then
+said, "If the matter stands thus, I will not give my voice for making
+war upon them." On the following day the country people consulted
+together, and determined that this was a religious matter, and because
+the people of Zurich desired to be taught by the Holy Scriptures, the
+learned should be left to fight it out together. So nothing came of it,
+and I went again to Zurich, and pursued my studies in great poverty. I
+lodged in the house of an old woman of the name of Hutmacherinn, and
+had a room in company with a good and tolerably clever companion. There
+God knows that I often suffered great hunger, and many days had not a
+mouthful of bread to eat. More than once I put some water into a pan,
+begged of the woman a little salt to put into the water, and then drank
+it from sheer hunger. I had to give a Zurich shilling to the woman
+every week for the room; I therefore went now and then with messages
+across the country, for I got a bat (two-pence) for a mile; or I helped
+to carry wood, or to do other work of which many a student would be
+ashamed, and got something to eat for it, of which I was very glad and
+well satisfied. I was also Custos, for which I got at every quarterly
+fast a Zurich angster from each of the boys, of whom there were nearly
+sixty, sometimes more. Zuinglius and Myconius used also often to employ
+me to carry letters to the lovers of the truth in the allied districts.
+In this service I have often ventured my life with joy, that the
+doctrine of the truth might be spread, and several times narrowly
+escaped. So I remained in poverty in Zurich till Mr. Henry Werdmueller
+engaged me as tutor to his sons; one of whom, Otho Werdmueller,
+afterwards became Master of Arts in Wittenberg, and then preacher at
+Zurich; the other, however, was killed in the battle of Kappel. My
+sufferings from want were now at an end, for I got my dinner every day,
+but was near over-doing myself with study. I wished to study Latin,
+Greek, and Hebrew, all at the same time; and many a night slept very
+little, but tormented myself grievously with struggling against sleep;
+often I took cold water, raw turnips, or sand into my mouth, that the
+grating of my teeth might awake me. My dear father Myconius often
+warned me against it, and said nothing to me if it sometimes happened
+that sleep overpowered me during the lesson. Though I never had the
+fortune to hear lectures on Latin, Greek, and Hebrew grammar, yet I
+began to read them with others, in order to practise myself in them;
+for Myconius only drilled us diligently in the Latin language; not
+being himself thoroughly master of the Greek, as this was something
+very rare at that time. In private I occupied myself with Lucian and
+Homer, of which I had translations. Now also it happened that Father
+Myconius took me to live in his house. He had several boarders, among
+whom was the late Dr. Gessner, with whom I was to work Donatus and the
+declensions: this exercise was uncommonly useful to me. At that time
+Myconius had the very learned Theodore Bibliander as assistant, who was
+extraordinarily well versed in all languages, but particularly in the
+Hebrew, and had written a Hebrew grammar. He also boarded at Myconius's
+table, and instructed me, at my request, in Hebrew. I used to get up
+early every morning, made a fire in the stove in Myconius's little
+apartment, seated myself before the stove, and copied the grammar as
+long as Bibliander slept, and he never found it out. In this year
+Damian Irmi, of Basle, wrote to Pellican in Zurich, that he was going
+to Venice, and that if there were any poor fellows who might like to
+have Hebrew Bibles, he would bring some with him as cheap as possible.
+Dr. Pellican told him to bring twelve. When they came a copy cost a
+crown. I had still a crown left of a legacy which I had received a
+short time before; that I gave with joy for one, and then began to
+compare the original Hebrew Bible with the translation, and so to make
+myself acquainted with the meaning of the words. One day Conrad Pur,
+preacher at Mettmenstetten, in the Canton of Zurich, came; and
+when he saw me sitting at work over the Hebrew Bible, he said, "Are you
+a Hebrew? you must teach it to me also." I said, "I know nothing;" but
+he would not let himself be put off his purpose, till I promised him;
+for I also thought that by staying there longer I might become a
+burden to Myconius. I therefore went with him to Mettmenstetten,
+instructed him in Hebrew, had plenty to eat and to drink, and remained
+seven-and-twenty weeks with him. From him I came to Hedingen, to pastor
+Weber, who likewise desired instruction in Hebrew, and remained about
+twenty weeks with him. After that I came to another pastor at
+Rifferswyl; he was eighty years old, and wished to begin to learn
+Hebrew. From him I came again to Zurich. In the mean time there came a
+very learned young man from Lucern, of the name of Rudolph Collin; he
+was to go to Constance to receive priest's orders. Zuinglius, however,
+and Myconius, persuaded him to learn the rope-making trade with his
+money instead. After he had married, and become a master, I asked him
+to teach me the rope-making trade also. He said he had no hemp. Now
+just at that time a small legacy had fallen to me from my mother; with
+that I bought the master a cwt. of hemp, and learned as much as
+possible, till it was used up; but had, at the same time, always a
+desire for study, I used to get up quietly when the master thought I
+was asleep, and strike a light, and had a Homer, and secretly my
+master's translation, out of which I made notes into my Homer. When I
+was working at my trade, I took Homer with me. When the master
+discovered that, he said, "Platere! pluribus intentus, minor est ad
+singula sensus:" (Either study or follow your trade!) Once as we were
+eating our supper, and drinking water to it, he said, "Platere! how
+does Pindar begin?" I answered, "[Greek: Ariston men to hudor]," (Water
+is the best). He then laughed and said, "Then we will follow Pindar's
+advice and drink water, because we have no wine." When I had used up
+the cwt. of hemp my apprenticeship was over, and I intended to go to
+Basle. I therefore took leave of my master, as if I was going early
+next morning; but I went to my old lodging at the house of the hatter's
+widow, and remained there six weeks privately, and wrote a gloss upon
+Euripides, that I might be able to take it as well as Homer with me;
+for I intended also to study on the way. I then took my bundle and left
+Zurich at day-break, came in one day as far as Muttentz, and the next
+morning to Basle. Here I inquired after a master, and came to Hans
+Staeheli at the Ox-market, whom they called the Red Rope-maker. They
+said that he was the rudest master on the whole length of the Rhine, on
+which account the rope-making journeymen did not like to be with him,
+and I found a place open the sooner. When he first employed me I could
+scarcely hang up the hemp, and could twist it very little. Then the
+master shewed me his manners, began to be abusive and to curse, and
+said, "Go stick out the eyes of the master that taught you; what shall
+I do with you? you can do nothing!" He did not however know that I had
+not worked up more than one cwt. of hemp in my whole life. That I did
+not dare to tell him; for he had a very bad apprentice who could work
+better than I, and who treated me very contemptuously, and insulted me.
+After the master had tried me eight days, I spoke to him in a friendly
+manner, and said that he should have patience with me; and whether he
+gave me wages or not, that I would render him faithful service, and
+write down every thing punctually; for no one in the house could write.
+"I have," said I, "learned little--that I clearly perceive;--my master
+had seldom any hemp." So he allowed himself to be persuaded to keep me,
+and gave me two-pence a week wages. With this money I bought candles
+and studied at night although I was obliged to work till the trumpet
+sounded in the evening and to get up again in the morning at the sound
+of the trumpet. Yet I was willing to bear that, if I could only stay
+and learn the trade. In the course of half a year I was able to twist a
+day's work, and act as foreman. I also worked often, when we made the
+large ropes or cables, in the sweat of my brow. Then the master used to
+laugh at me, and say, "Had I studied so much as you, and had such a
+love for it, I would let the rope-making go where it liked;" for he saw
+well that I had a singular love for books. I had made acquaintance with
+a pious printer, Andrew Cratander; he presented me with a Plautus,
+which he had printed in octavo. As it was not yet bound, I took one
+sheet after the other, and stuck it in a little wooden fork split at
+the bottom, and the little fork I stuck in the hemp. This I read as I
+went backwards and forwards when I twisted, and then when the master
+came I threw the hemp over it. Once, however, he caught me in the act,
+and behaved very wildly. "If you wish to study," said he, "follow it,
+or follow the trade. Is it not enough that I allow it you by night, or
+on a holiday, that you must also read while you twist?" On holidays, as
+soon as I had eaten my dinner, I took my little book, went into a
+summer-house, and read the whole day, till the watchman at the city
+gate called. By degrees I made acquaintance with a few students,
+particularly with the scholars of Dr. Beatus Rhenanus. These and others
+often passed my shop, and wished me to give up the rope-making trade,
+and they would recommend me to Erasmus of Rotterdam, who at that time
+lived at Basle. But it was all of no use, although Erasmus himself came
+to me once, as I was helping to make a great rope on the Peter's-place;
+although with great exertion and labour I only got bad food, and not
+enough of that, and in winter had to suffer sadly from cold. I became
+acquainted with Dr. Oporinus, amongst others. He requested me to
+instruct him in Hebrew; but I excused myself, saying that I myself knew
+but little of it, and also that I had not time. As however he left me
+no peace, I made my master the offer, that if he would only let me have
+some time free, I would serve him for nothing, or else take less wages
+than hitherto. He then allowed me every day one hour in the afternoon,
+from four to five. Now Oporinus put up a notice on the church, that a
+certain person intended to give lessons in the elements of the Hebrew
+language, about four o'clock on Monday, at St. Leonard's. When I came
+there at the appointed hour, thinking that I should find Oporinus
+alone,--for I had not seen the bill on the church door,--there were
+eighteen very learned gentlemen there. I wished directly to run away;
+but Dr. Oporinus called to me, "Do not run away; these are also good
+fellows." Although I was ashamed of being seen in my little apron which
+ropemakers are in the habit of wearing, yet I allowed myself to be
+persuaded, and began to read them "Munster's Hebrew Grammar," which had
+not yet come to Basle, also the Prophet Jonah, as well as I was able.
+The same year a Frenchman came from Basle, whom the Queen of Navarre
+had sent that he should learn Hebrew. He also came into the school; and
+when I went in with my poor clothes, I seated myself behind the stove,
+where I had a comfortable little seat, and allowed the students to sit
+at the table. The Frenchman now asked, "When does our Professor come?"
+Oporinus pointed to me. At this he looked at me, and without doubt felt
+surprise, because he thought such an one ought to be otherwise dressed,
+and not so badly. When the lesson was over, he took me by the hand, led
+me over the little bridge, and asked me how it happened that I was so
+badly clothed; and offered to write respecting me to the Queen, saying
+that she would make me a great man if I would only follow him. This
+person was expensively dressed, had a golden cap, and a servant who
+carried his hat and cloak after him. He also attended my lectures till
+he left the place; but I had no wish to follow him.
+
+
+
+
+                               CHAPTER V.
+
+                  MASTER THOMAS BECOMES ARMOUR-BEARER
+                         AND THEN SCHOOLMASTER.
+
+
+When for the first time they took the field against the five Cantons,
+(Lucern, Schwyz, Uri, Unterwalden, and Zug,) my master was also
+summoned, and I carried his armour to Mettmenstetten. When however a
+truce was concluded, I remained a while in Zurich with Myconius; and
+studied. He and his wife recommended me to marry their housekeeper
+Anne, and give up the wandering hither and thither, and then they would
+make us their heirs. I allowed myself to be persuaded, and after a few
+days we went to Duebendorf, to Myconius's brother-in-law, to church,
+and celebrated the wedding with such pomp, that there were people at
+table with us who did not know that it was a wedding. Myconius owed my
+wife fourteen florins wages, of which he gave her two florins. With
+these we went away the first day to Mettmenstetten to the gentleman
+whom I had taught Hebrew, by way of Lucern, and Sarnen, to Visp in St.
+Gall. At first we visited my sister Christina in Buergendorf; she had
+there a husband and nine children. He had two aunts, who were so old
+that they did not know how old they were, and no one else did. With her
+we remained until St. Gall's day. I had inherited some household
+furniture, which my sister had kept for me; and she lent me her ass,
+that I might bring it to Visp. There happened to be an empty house
+there with a bed that was not wanted, and we got it lent to us rent
+free. It was almost the best house in the village, with nice windows
+that had panes. There all went on well at first. I began to prepare my
+rope-making trade, and to keep a school. In winter I had about thirty
+scholars; in summer scarcely six. Each had to pay a penny every
+quarterly fast; besides which, I got many presents. I had many
+relations; one brought me eggs, another cheese, or a ball of butter.
+Also others, whose children came to me to school, brought the like;
+some a quarter of a sheep; those who were at home in the village gave
+milk, vegetables, jugs of wine; so that seldom a day passed in which
+something was not given to us. At times we have reckoned at night, that
+in one day eight or nine different presents had been sent to us. A few
+weeks before my arrival, several women in Eisterthal, who were in a
+room together, had spoken of me, how magnificent the first Mass would
+be that I should celebrate, and how large the offerings which I should
+receive. For of the Summermatters alone, the family of my mother, I had
+seventy-two cousins, not one of whom was yet married, and who therefore
+would have been able to carry their offerings to the altar themselves.
+Through my marrying, however, all these splendid hopes were
+disappointed. When we began our housekeeping I borrowed fifteen
+Swiss bats of my uncle, Anthony Summermatter. With this we began to
+trade--bought wine, and sold it again retail; bought apples also,
+which, my wife sold again to the boys who would have them; so that we
+did very well, and had no want. I had never been so well off. The
+priests however were not very friendly to me, although they did me an
+occasional kindness, and often invited me as a guest, that I might not
+take too much to the Lutheran ways. But when I had to go to church, and
+help to sing the Mass, it was a burden to me, and against my conscience
+to be obliged to help in the commission of idolatry,--to be present,
+and not to be able to speak my mind freely at all times. I therefore
+began to think over the matter, what I should do in order to get out
+again, and went to Zurich to consult with Father Myconius. He advised
+me to leave the place, for that I had prospects of being able to go to
+Basle again. When I set out on the journey home, I had a scholar with
+me, who was not able to keep up with me on the Grimsel. It began to
+snow and to rain, and was very cold; so that we were almost frozen. As
+however I was acquainted with the manner of living upon the mountains,
+I told the boy that he should not sit down, but keep going forward. Now
+and then I went on far before him to warm myself, and then ran back to
+the boy; till at last, by the help of God, we came to the hospital, a
+good inn on the mountain, where one can find good victuals and drink.
+That was before the middle of August. It happened once before, that I
+went over the same mountain, and because I was alone, and did not know
+the method of travelling over the mountains, becoming faint and tired I
+sat down, and wished to rest. I then suddenly felt an odd sensation
+about my heart; I became delightfully warm, and fell asleep with my
+arms laid on my knees; when a man came to me, laid his hands upon both
+my shoulders, awoke me, and said, "Hey! why do you sit there; stand up
+and walk?" What became of the man I know not; but whithersoever I
+looked, above or below, I could see no one. I then stood up, took out
+of my bag a bit of bread, and ate it. When I related that to several
+people who were acquainted with the life on the mountains, they said I
+had been good as dead; for if any one feels excessively cold on the
+mountains, and sits down from weakness, the blood rushes from the heart
+into the face and extremities, and the person must die. I cannot think
+otherwise than that God preserved my life in a wonderful manner, as the
+people also assured me, for there is no easier death than freezing. On
+that account persons are sometimes found upon the mountains sitting as
+though they slept, and they are dead. When however the inhabitants of
+the mountains, who are acquainted with this danger, are overtaken by
+night, they take each other's hands and move round and round in a
+circle, if it be ever so dark, till it becomes day again. My wife was
+glad when I came home; for the pastor of the village had been seized
+with the plague, and no one would attend on him. She was also anxious
+as to how it might fare with herself, if she should become sick. I had
+experienced the same thing several years before; for whilst going to
+school at Zurich, there was a terrible plague there; so that in the
+great Minster they laid nine hundred persons in one grave, and in
+another seven hundred. At that time I went home with others of my
+countrymen, and had a boil on my leg, which I looked upon as a plague
+boil; by reason of which they would scarcely let us in any where. I
+went to Grenchen to my aunt Frances, and between Galpentran (a little
+village at the foot of the mountain) and Grenchen, I fell asleep
+eighteen times in half a day. My aunt, however, put on a bandage of
+herb-leaves, and no evil consequence ensued to me or others; yet
+neither I nor my aunt was allowed to go near any one for six weeks.
+
+Being now desirous to leave the country, when the Bishop Baron Adrian
+you Rietmatt heard of it he sent his cousin John von Rietmatt to me
+with a message that I should come to him at Sitten, and become
+schoolmaster of the whole country; and that a good salary should be
+given me. I thanked his Grace, but begged several years' more leave of
+absence, for that I was still young and unlearned, and should like to
+study more. At this he shook his finger at me, and said, "O Platter!
+you would be old and clever enough, but you have something else in your
+mind; but when we call upon you at some future time we hope that you
+will be more ready to serve your native country than a foreign land." So
+I took my baby that had been born meanwhile, the cradle suspended from
+a hook on my back, and left the place. The child's godmother gave it at
+parting a double ducat. Besides that, from twelve to fifteen pieces of
+money had also been given to us. The little household furniture which
+we took with us I carried, and the mother followed after as a calf the
+cow. The books, however, I had sent by way of Berne to Basle; thither
+we also went by way of Zurich. I carried the child, and a scholar went
+with us who helped the mother to carry her bundle. After looking for a
+dwelling for a long time, we at last got a small house which was called
+the sign of the Lion's Head. Dr. Oporinus was living in the great court
+by the Bishop's Palace (where afterwards the Baroness von Schoenau
+lived), and was schoolmaster at the Castle. Through the solicitation of
+some pious people I was appointed assistant to Dr. Oporinus, and the
+gentlemen deputies fixed my salary at forty pounds. So much, they said,
+they had never given to any one before me. Out of this I had to pay ten
+pounds house-rent; at that time too every thing was dear; for a
+quartern of corn cost six pounds, and a quart of wine eight rapps. The
+scarcity however did not last long. I went to the market and bought a
+little cask of wine--I think it was an aulm--which I carried home upon
+my shoulder. During the drinking of this wine my wife and I had many
+disputes; for we had no drinking vessel but an anker, and as soon as we
+went into the cellar with the anker, there was a quarrel. I said, "Do
+you drink; you have to nurse." My wife said, "Drink you; you have to
+study, and to work yourself to death in the school." Afterwards a good
+friend bought us a glass, in shape something like a boot; with which we
+went into the cellar when we had bathed. This glass held rather more
+than the anker. The cask lasted long; and when it was out we bought
+another. I went into the Hospital, and bought a little kettle and a
+tub, both of which had holes in them. I also bought a chair, and a
+tolerably good bed, for five pounds. We had not much superfluous
+furniture; but God be praised, poor, as we were from the beginning, I
+cannot remember we ever had a meal without bread and wine. I studied
+every day,--got up early, and went to bed late;--in consequence of
+which I often had the headache, and great dizziness; so that at times I
+had to hold by the benches. The physicians would gladly have helped me
+by bleeding and the like, but it was all in vain. At that time a famous
+physician--Epiphanius, a native of Venice--came to Bruntrut, who cured
+me in a very simple manner; so that I never had dizziness again, except
+when I stayed up too long, and remained fasting.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VI.
+
+                   MASTER THOMAS IN THE WAR--BECOMES
+                          PROFESSOR IN BASLE.
+
+
+Not long after that, the inhabitants of Zurich and the five Cantons
+went to war again. The event was very lamentable, for many a worthy and
+honest man met his death there; amongst others that eminent man, Ulrich
+Zuinglius. I was at that time in Zurich. When the battle was lost, and
+the report reached Zurich, they sounded an alarm on the great bell,
+just about the time the candles were lighted. Then many people ran out
+of the town towards the Sihlbridge, lower down on the Albis. I also
+snatched up a halberd and sword in Myconius's house, and ran out with
+the others: but when we had proceeded some distance, the sight was so
+dreadful that I thought to myself, "Better for you to have staid at
+home;" for many met us who had only one hand; others held their head
+with both hands, grievously wounded and bloody; others suffering still
+more dreadfully, and men with them who lighted them along, for it was
+dark. When we came to the bridge they let every one out over the
+bridge; but into Zurich they would let no man; for there were armed men
+standing on the bridge to hinder it;--otherwise I believe the most
+would have fled into the city. They then exhorted each other not to be
+disheartened. There was one man out of the Zurich territory, a very
+stout-hearted fellow, who spoke with a loud voice, so that every one
+could hear, and reminded them how it often happened that at the
+beginning the prospect was gloomy, and yet afterwards matters turned
+out well; he also advised that during the night they should march
+towards the Albis, for the purpose of receiving the enemy should they
+come on the morrow. When we reached that place no captain was any where
+to be found; for they had all been shot in the night. Besides this, it
+was excessively cold at that time: for in the morning there was a
+severe frost. We then made fires; and I seated myself close to one of
+the fires, and pulled off my shoes to warm my feet. There was also one
+Fuchsberger at my fire, at that time trumpeter of the States of Zurich;
+he had neither shoes nor cap, nor any sort of weapon. As we sat there
+an alarm was sounded to see how the people would behave themselves; and
+while I was going to draw on my shoes, Fuchsberger snatched up my
+halberd, and was going into the ranks with it. I said to him, "Hold,
+comrade! leave me my weapon:" when he gave it back instantly, and said,
+"Well, in God's name they knocked me about so grievously yesterday,
+they may kill me outright to-day;" and with these words he laid hold of
+a large hedge-stake, and placed himself in the rank directly before me.
+Then I thought, "What a fine fellow that is! and there he stands quite
+unarmed!" I repented very much that I had not let him keep my halberd.
+Otherwise I had given myself up to my unalterable fate, and thought,
+"Now it must be." I was not at all frightened; but thought I would
+defend myself stoutly with my halberd; and if I lost my halberd, then I
+would defend myself vigorously with my sword. When however they saw
+that no enemy was at hand, they allowed the ranks to disband
+themselves; and I was not less glad than many another whom I knew, and
+who used to walk about very haughtily in Zurich, but trembled there
+like an aspen leaf. Then I heard a brave man, who stood on an elevated
+place, call out aloud, "Where are our captains? O God of heaven! is
+there then no one here to direct us what to do?" Although several
+thousands of us were assembled, yet no one knows what would have
+happened if the enemy had come up. When it was about nine o'clock in
+the morning the chief captain was seen coming across a meadow; he had
+lost his way in the flight: the other captain, William vom rothen
+Hause, had been killed. The third, however, George Goeldin, had so
+conducted himself, that afterwards in Zurich he was convicted of
+treachery, and had to leave the country. What further happened there I
+know not: for I was not equipped like the others; and having nothing to
+eat, I went back again to Zurich. My old teacher Myconius asked me,
+"What is the news? has Ulrich Zuinglius been killed?" When I said
+"Yes," he said, with a grieved heart, "My God! have mercy upon us: now
+I have no wish to remain any longer in Zurich;" for Zuinglius and
+Myconius had been good friends for many years. When I had got something
+to eat; we went out together into a chamber, and Myconius said, "Where
+shall I now go to? I have no desire to remain longer in Zurich."
+Hearing a few days after, that the preacher Hieronymus Bodanus, of St.
+Alban's in Basle, had also been killed in the battle, I said to
+Myconius, "Go to Basle, and become preacher there." He answered, "What
+preacher would give way to me, and let me occupy his place?" I now
+acquainted him that the preacher of St. Alban's had been killed, and
+that I believed he would be received there: there was however nothing
+more said about it.
+
+After the peace was concluded, four hundred Swiss came, who were
+desirous to get into the town at night. This caused a tumult among the
+citizens, who feared that they were going to make a murderous night of
+it; for there were but too many traitors in the town, who could have
+pointed out which were to be murdered. They then locked the gate, and
+the whole Rennway was filled with people. The traitorous blockhead
+Escher, who had become colonel in Lavater's place, rode out to the
+Swiss at the Sihl, and gave them lodging--whoever would not let them
+into his house he forced the door, and was very friendly to them. When
+every one had gone home from the Rennway, Dr. Ammianus came to
+Myconius, and said to him, "Mr. Myconius, I will not allow you to sleep
+in your house to-night. No one knows what may happen, and they will
+certainly not spare you; come therefore with me." Several of his
+scholars escorted him to Dr. Ammianus's house, and I amongst them.
+Myconius said to me, "Thomas, do you sleep with me to-night;" so we
+both slept in one bed, and each had a halberd lying beside him in the
+bed. On the following day the Swiss went up along the lake of Zurich
+towards home. When all was quiet again, and as I was losing my time, I
+determined to go again to Basle to my studies. I studied in the
+college, and slept in my own bed; I had my board at the sign of the
+Pilgrim's Staff, for my wife was still in Zurich. There I have often
+dined for threepence; so that one can well imagine what sort of plenty
+I had. At that time I said to Henry Billing, the son of the
+burgomaster, that I had heard from Myconius that he did not like to
+stay longer in Zurich now that Ulrich Zuinglius had been killed. He
+said, "Do you think that he could be persuaded to come here to us?" I
+related my conversation with him respecting the preacher's office at
+St. Alban's. He informed his father, the burgomaster, of it; and he in
+turn told it to the gentlemen deputies, who sent for me to come to the
+convent of the Augustines, in order to converse with me. After they had
+heard me they sent me to Zurich to fetch Myconius. The travelling
+expences I had however to bear myself. On the journey to Basle, four
+horsemen met us in the field above Mumpf, and as that was not in the
+jurisdiction of the confederacy Myconius said, "What if those men
+should take us prisoners, and carry us to Ensen?" I comforted him
+however when they came nearer, by saying, "Do not be afraid, they are
+Baslers." They were the cadets Wolfgang von Landenberg, Eglin
+Offenberg, Landenberg's son, and a horse-soldier. When they were come
+nearer I said, "I know that they are Baslers, for I have often seen
+them at [Oe]colompadius's sermons." At Mumpf they turned in at the Bell
+Inn, for it was near night, and we also turned in there. When we came
+into the room, cadet Wolfgang asked, "Whence do you come?" Myconius
+answered, "From Zurich." The cadet said, "What news in Zurich?"
+Myconius replied, "They are in great trouble because Master Ulrich
+Zuinglius has been killed." Cadet Wolfgang continued, "Who are you?"
+Myconius answered, "My name is Myconius, and I am schoolmaster in
+Zurich, at the Frauenmuenster." Thereupon he also asked him who he was?
+He said, "I am Wolfgang von Landenberg." A little while afterwards
+Myconius taking me by the coat, led me aside, and said, "Now I see how
+industriously you go to church in Basle: it appears to me that this
+cadet did not take up much room in the church." This he said because he
+had heard him much talked of. Whilst we sat, the cadet Eglin also came
+into the room, together with the two others. After supper they began to
+drink immoderately, and the horseman brought Myconius a glass full to
+the brim. Myconius drank a little out of the glass; then the horseman
+said, "O, Sir, you must not put me off so." As he continued importuning
+him, Myconius became angry, and said, "Hark ye, comrade, I was able to
+drink before you were able to count five--leave me alone." The cadet
+Eglin, who sat at the top of the table, heard that, and asked, "What is
+the matter with you there?" Myconius answered, "That young fellow there
+wants to force me to drink." On that Eglin became very angry with the
+horseman; so that we thought that he would beat him; he spoke very
+sharply to him: "Thou miserable fellow, wilt thou force an old man to
+drink?" and the like. Thereupon he asked Myconius, "Dear sir, who are
+you?" "My name is Oswald Myconius." "Were you not once schoolmaster at
+St. Peter's in Basle?" "Yes." The cadet said, "My dear sir, then you
+were my preceptor: had I minded you then I should have become an honest
+man; whereas at present I can scarcely say what I am." They then went
+on drinking immoderately. The cadet Wolf, however, had not taken any
+part whatever in the quarrel. When Elgin had had enough, he laid
+himself down with his elbows on the table. On this his father began to
+scold him harshly, as if he had committed the greatest crime. After
+supper Myconius and I went to bed: they however drank more before they
+went to bed, and made an abominable noise with singing and shouting. We
+heard afterwards that they had been about fourteen days in Zurich, and
+had, with those who felt rather joy than sorrow, assisted at the
+funeral of Zuinglius, and others who had been killed. Next morning, as
+we were going over the Melifeld, Myconius said to me, "How did you like
+the education of those gentlemen yesterday? To make a person drink till
+he is sick, is no shame; but to lay the elbows a little on the table
+deserves all that cursing and scolding!" On our arrival in Basle,
+Myconius went to Dr. Oporinus, but I to the college. Several days
+after, Myconius was to preach the council-sermon. I do not know whether
+he had been told of it or not. When I came to him he was still in bed;
+I said, "Father, get up; you are to preach." "What," replied he, "must
+I preach?" and raising himself up quickly, he turned to me with these
+words: "Tell me what I shall preach." "I do not know," I said. He
+continued, "I am determined you shall tell me." Thereupon I proposed to
+him to shew in his sermon whence and wherefore the misfortune came that
+had befallen us. He required me to make a note of it on a slip of
+paper. That I did, and gave him my little Testament, into which he put
+the slip of paper, and so entered the pulpit; and expounded the
+question to the learned people who had assembled to hear him, as one
+who had never before preached a sermon. They were however all so
+surprised at his sermon, that I heard amongst others Dr. Grynaeus say to
+a student of the name of Sultzer, after the sermon, "O Simon, let us
+pray to God that _that_ man may be spared to us, for that man CAN
+teach." So then he was received as preacher at St. Alban's. I
+accompanied him again to Zurich, and then went back again to Basle to
+my studies. After he had received his honourable dismissal he came with
+his wife to Basle, and my wife also came with him. When however he
+began to preach at St. Alban's, so many people went to hear him, that
+it was determined to elect him, in place of Dr. [Oe]colompadius, to the
+office of Antistes, or chief pastor, of which situation Mr. Thomas
+Gyrenfalk had hitherto done the duties. I immediately got the
+professorship of the Greek language in the Paedagogium, and lectured
+upon Ceporins' Grammar and Lucian's Dialogues: but Oporinus received
+the professorship of Poetry. Not long after, there was an attack of an
+infectious disease, and Dr. Heerwag's corrector of the press--Jacob
+Rubert, the beloved friend of Oporinus and myself--died; thereupon Dr.
+Sultzer came for a while in his stead into Dr. Heerwag's service: but
+when he saw that the work rather hindered than helped him in his
+studies, he persuaded me to undertake it. I was indeed fearful that it
+would be too much for me; but Dr. Heerwag never ceased to press me,
+until I complied with his request. This business I attended to for four
+years, with much trouble and labour; for there never was a burden taken
+off my shoulders but another was laid on in its place.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER VII.
+
+                      MASTER THOMAS TURNS PRINTER.
+
+
+In the mean time it happened that at the diet at Sitten, in St. Gall,
+it was resolved to call me to the situation of chief teacher; and the
+captain, "Simon in Alben," was commanded to write to me, and tell me to
+come. It was Christmas-time that the resolution was passed, the
+execution was delayed till Shrovetide. Now at that time there was one
+Herbert, provost in the lower college: he had been first at Basle, and
+then went to Friburg, where he gave out that he could not hold out any
+longer among the heretics in Basle. After that he came again to Basle,
+where they were unwilling to receive him, unless he assured them on
+oath that he was devoted heartily to the Reformed Confession. This oath
+he took at once, and said he could not endure the idolatrous doings at
+Friburg. This man had boarders from St. Gall, from whom he learned that
+they wished to have me there as teacher. As I had to superintend Dr.
+Heerwag's printing-office while he was in Frankfort at the fair, and
+could not therefore immediately obey the call I had received, Herbert
+availed himself of the opportunity and hastened to Sitten to the
+Bishop, whom he informed falsely that I would not come; for that I had
+said that I should not like to plunge into the midst of idolatry; and
+also that I was in the habit of eating meat on forbidden days, and the
+like. The Bishop readily believed it; for I was already suspected by
+him as to my religion: so Herbert was received. When he came again to
+Basle I went to him into the college, and asked him, "What have you
+been doing in St. Gall?" (for I already knew of the matter.) He
+answered, that he had had private business. Then I said, "You have had
+the business of a rogue, and a wicked fellow. You have no doubt
+slandered me; but I will also go there, and if you have lied about me I
+will convict you of your wickedness." I really took the journey to St.
+Gall, for I had private business besides. When I arrived at Visp, the
+Bishop happened to be there just then for the purpose of confirming. I
+also met the Captain, Simon, who had a house in Visp, and visited him.
+At first he expressed his dissatisfaction that I had not come at the
+right time, and told me that on that account another had been already
+appointed. He also told me what crooked artifices Herbert had employed
+with the Bishop, and how only the day before, he had written and sent a
+messenger to say that I was coming, and that they should not believe
+me. The Captain finished with these words: "Well! the priests have
+chosen for themselves a teacher, and him they shall have."
+
+I would gladly have waited on the Bishop, but could not manage it till
+he came to Gusten. There he gave me an audience, and as I entered said,
+"Thomas, while Esau was following the chase Jacob took his blessing
+away." I answered, "Has then your princely Grace only one blessing?" He
+then bade me welcome, and said that he had been informed that I would
+not come, also that I was suspected as to my faith; and that at Basle I
+was in the habit of eating meat on forbidden days. Thereupon I
+answered, "Yes, my lord, and he that has told that of me has also eaten
+meat often enough on forbidden days;" which was true, for we had very
+often dined at Dr. Phrygius's when the Doctor invited me, and the
+little man came to see what he could get. Also when I said that, there
+were three Canons standing by, and the Governor, Anthony Venetz, and
+they intimated that if that was the case with the little man, they
+would let him go about his business and take me. But I said, "No; for
+then between two stools he would fall to the ground, and I have a good
+service already;" so I went back to Basle. And here it occurs to me,
+that some time before, my very faithful and dear friend Henry Billing,
+son of the burgomaster in Basle, had requested me to take a journey
+with him into the country of the Confederacy, and then he would go with
+me into St. Gall. We went therefore first to Shaffhousen, Constance;
+after that to Lindau, where he had business; and from thence to St.
+Gall, Toggenburg, Rapperschwyl, Zuge, Schweitz, and Uri. We were
+treated with great respect, when it was known that we were from Basle.
+After that we went into the valley of Urseron to Realp; but when in the
+evening Henry saw the mountains he was terrified, and hesitated about
+crossing the mountain on the morrow. He was so cast down, that the
+landlady said, "If the Baslers are all so faint-hearted, they will not
+go to war with the St. Gallians. I am a feeble woman, yet I would take
+the child to-morrow by the hand and go over the mountains with him."
+Henry did not sleep much during the night. We had engaged a strong
+Alpine guide to shew us the way: he took a staff over his shoulder,
+went forward in the snow, and sang so loud that the mountains echoed
+again. He however slipped a little in the plain, as it was pretty dark;
+and Henry seeing him fall, would not go a single step farther, but
+said, "Do you go to St. Gall, I will go back to Basle." I would not
+however separate from him in the wilds, but determined to accompany him
+out again. This made me so spiritless that we conversed but little
+together that day. We came again to Uri, and from thence to the lake.
+There a little wind arose, so that Henry was very much afraid, and said
+to the boatman, "Get ashore, I will not sail any further." The boatman
+said, "There is no danger." But Henry behaved himself so outrageously
+that we were obliged to get to land not far from the place where
+William Tell sprang on shore. We came to a little village, where we
+slept on straw. In the morning we went to Berkenried, then to
+Unterwalden, and over the Bruenig into the valley of Hasli. Then I said
+to him, "Now you have a good road to Thun, and from thence to Berne and
+Basle." So we parted, and I crossed the Grimsel to St. Gall. When I
+came to Visp, Captain Simon was there, who was very favourably inclined
+towards me. He was Master of Arts at Cologne; had read Cicero's Officia
+at the Academy at Basle; afterwards had business ten years in Rome with
+the Pope, and was well versed in the Latin language. He said to me, "I
+shall take the bath at Briegen to cure the gout; bathe with me, and I
+will pay for you." I went with him; for the bath is not half a mile
+distant from Visp. At first several of us had to carry him into the
+bath; but when he had bathed about two hours he could walk out on two
+crutches. There came thither also the Captain of the Guard of the Duke
+of Milan, who had physicked away nine hundred ducats on one leg without
+being any the better: he also bathed, and in three days his ankle was
+well, and remained so from that hour. That I saw with my own eyes, and
+other things besides; so that I could relate wonders enough concerning
+it. The bath did me a great deal of good, except that I lost all
+appetite, and could scarcely eat any thing but rye bread; neither could
+I drink any wine, for it was too strong for me. I complained of that to
+the host. Captain Peter Oweling, who was a wonderfully fine man, and
+had also studied in Milan; and he said to him, "Oh! if you only had
+sour wine!" He ordered wine for me from Morrill, which was dreadfully
+sour; for it is there very wild, and is the highest wine that grows in
+that country. When the wine came, the host said to me, "Platter, I will
+make you a present of that wine." It was about two saum. He then gave
+me a pretty crystal glass, which held nearly a measure of wine: with
+this I went into the cellar, and drank the largest draught I ever
+remember to have swallowed in my life before, for I had been a long
+time very thirsty, because I drank nothing but warm bath water, and
+there was also an eruption on my skin. When I had taken that draught I
+lost all wish for any more of that wine; but my appetite for eating and
+drinking had returned again. Captain Simon received many presents in
+the bathing place, and amongst others seventy and odd pheasants, some
+feathers of which I brought to Basle. As I had no opportunity of
+sending letters to Basle, and remained away nine weeks, they said that
+I had certainly perished on the mountain. When the bath cure was over I
+went again to Basle, and became, as before, corrector of the press to
+Dr. Heerwag, and professor at the Paedagogium. I afterwards, in
+partnership with Dr. Oporinus, Balthasar Ruch, and Ruprecht Winter,
+bought the printing establishment of Andrew Cratander, and became a
+master-printer. That trade I followed several years with much sorrow
+and trouble, particularly on account of the debts I had to contract,
+because I had no property of my own to advance. One day, as Oporinus
+and I were still professors, it happened that the Town Secretary
+invited me into his house, and asked me how it was that the University
+did not rightly prosper. I said, "Methinks that there are too many
+professors; for there are often more of them than students. It would be
+enough if there were four eminent men, who must however be well
+remunerated, and four with inferior salaries, that would be eight
+persons; if each were to read industriously only one lecture a day,
+there would be students enough." He then said, "What shall we do with
+our Baslers?" I said, "If you will attend to that, and not rather care
+for the youth, then I can advise nothing more; I have always had the
+idea that the Baslers should be preferred if they can be found; but if
+not, then the best that can be had ought to be taken, in order that
+youth may be assisted." This advice was at once followed with respect
+to me and Dr. Oporinus; for as we had engaged in the printing, it was
+expected either that we should give up the printing, and apply
+ourselves to the professorship, or else give up the professorship. The
+latter happened; for we were so deeply engaged in that trade, that we
+could not have given it up without great loss.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER VIII.
+
+                    MASTER THOMAS BECOMES PROFESSOR
+                              AGAIN--DIES.
+
+
+[Illustraton: I went on with the printing.]
+
+I therefore went on with the printing, and had a bad time of it, as
+also my wife and children; for the children were often obliged to fold
+paper till their little fingers bled. But yet my circumstances were
+improved; for with the printing alone I was able to gain 200 florins a
+year, improve my printing-office and household furniture, and always
+found people to advance me money when I wanted it. Notwithstanding,
+from various circumstances, I got tired of my business after some
+time;--and was also requested from different quarters to become
+schoolmaster again: for in a few years they had had I several
+schoolmasters, and the school had almost entirely fallen into decay. I
+one day called on Mr. Rudolph Frey; he was chief deputy, and constable
+in the town. He said, "Pray become schoolmaster; by so doing you will
+oblige the council, and serve God and the world." Dr. Grynaeus said to
+me, "Become schoolmaster! there is no office more heavenly! There is
+nothing I would rather be, if only I had not to say a thing twice
+over." They went on persuading me, until at last I consented. I got a
+salary of 200 florins, of which I had to pay 100 to the assistants; and
+thus I turned professor again; but I had to get through a great deal of
+disputing with the University, because they did not wish me to be
+independent, and to read lectures, the right to which they claimed for
+themselves exclusively. When my wife and I had attained a considerable
+age, a dreadful sickness came, which spared no age, and also seized us
+both. But our heavenly Father allowed us to remain yet a little longer
+here below on earth. The Lord grant us grace that it may serve to the
+glory of God and salvation of our souls! Amen! And to the glory of God
+I cannot conceal, that during the whole of my sickness I did not
+experience the least pain; although my wife and others had to bear
+great suffering. That also I ascribe to the mercy of God! May he
+deliver us all from everlasting torment, through his Son Jesus Christ.
+Amen.
+
+
+                               *   *   *
+
+
+The close of this history, which Thomas wrote for his son Felix, runs
+as follows: "Now I have, according to your desire, dear son Felix,
+written the beginning and continuation of my life up to the present
+time, as well as I could remember it after so many years; but certainly
+not _all_, for who would be able to do that? for I have often been in
+great dangers on the mountains and waters, as on the lakes of Constance
+and Lucerne; and others also on the Rhine; likewise on land in Poland,
+Hungary, Silesia, Meissen, Swabia, and Bavaria, where in my youth
+(besides what is noted in this book) I suffered very much; so that I
+often thought, How is it possible that I am still alive, and can stand
+or walk so long a time, and have neither broken nor injured a limb? God
+protected me by his angels; and however mean my beginning, and however
+full of danger my life has been, I have notwithstanding, as you see,
+arrived at a tolerably comfortable position; for although I had as good
+as nothing of private property, and my wife possessed nothing, still in
+time we have arrived at this point, that I, by great application to
+business, have acquired, in the town of Basle, four houses, with
+tolerable furniture: also, through the blessing of God, possess an
+estate with house and farm, besides the official residence at the
+school; whilst at first I had not a hut in Basle to afford me refuge.
+And, notwithstanding my mean descent, yet God has granted me the honour
+of having been now thirty-and-one years professor in the head-school
+next the university, in the far famed city of Basle, and of having
+instructed the child of many an honourable man, of whom many have
+become doctors, or otherwise learned men: several, and indeed not a
+few, of the nobility, who now possess and rule over land and people,
+and others who sit on the judgment seat, and in the council. Also, at
+all times, I have had many boarders, both of noblemen and other people
+of consequence, who speak well of me, and shew me all manner of
+kindness; so that the worshipful town of Zurich, and other places, have
+sent me presents of their wine of honour. Likewise, in Strasburg,
+eleven doctors have appeared to my honour, because I brought up my dear
+brother Simon, who is preceptor of the second class there. At Sitten,
+when they sent me the wine of the city, the curate said, 'This wine the
+city of Sitten sends to our dear countryman, Thomas Platter, as to a
+father of the children of the province of St. Gall.' What shall I then
+say of thee also, Felix, of thy honour and prosperity, that God has
+granted thee the honour, that thou hast already lived long and happily
+with thy wife, and hast been known to princes and lords, noblemen and
+commons. This all, dear Felix, thou wilt acknowledge and own, ascribing
+nothing to thyself, but giving God alone honour and glory all thy life
+long: thus thou wilt attain to everlasting life.--Written by Thomas
+Platter, the 14th of February 1573, the seventy-third year of my age.
+God grant me a happy end, through Jesus Christ. Amen."
+
+In the year 1582, the 26th January, my dear father died happily.
+Almighty God grant that he may rise again joyfully at the coming of our
+Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.               Dr. Felix Platter.
+
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: Literally "Sharp-Shooters;" but the office is probably the
+same as that known still in England by the name of "Fag."]
+
+[Footnote 2: It is still not unusual in Poland, on certain festival
+days or public occasions, to strew a sort of reed or coarse grass in
+the streets.]
+
+[Footnote 3: The Latin grammar of AElius Donatus, a famous Latin scholar
+and teacher of the 14th century, which was then in general use.]
+
+[Footnote 4: School-Servant in fact.]
+
+
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+
+           Printed by C. F. Hodgson, 1 Gough Square, London.
+
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+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Autobiography of Thomas Platter, a
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